Solar Discovery-the world’s largest low-concentration photovoltaic solar power plant

I came here about four months ago talking about how White Sands is a national treasure and now we can feel proud that we’re really on the environmental edge,” Bingham said. “It takes passion to do something like this. I’m just excited about the journey that will lie ahead.”
Developed in coordination with the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Ala., Siemens Government Technologies, Inc., and Bostonia, the over-four-megawatt White Sands Missile Range solar energy system will generate about 10 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, and provide an estimated annual savings of $930,000.
Complemented by a 375 kW solar carport, the solar array deployed at White Sands will supply about 10 percent of the total power used at the installation and reduce carbon emissions by 7,400 tons per year. Featuring Solaria’s proprietary technology, the 4.1 MW ground-mounted tracking system is also the world’s largest low-concentration photovoltaic solar power plant.
“This is an exciting project for the U.S. Army,” said Garrison Commander Col. Leo Pullar. “A sunny location like New Mexico provides an ideal site for solar power. This project illustrates the U.S. Army’s commitment to going green, our focus on operating on net zero energy, and doing what we can to help protect the environment.”
“We are very pleased to be inaugurating this milestone photovoltaic installation,” said Will Irby, Huntsville Center program manager. “We’re extremely grateful to the entire team, comprised of the staff from White Sands Missile Range, Huntsville Center, Siemens, their subcontractor Solaria Corporation and Bostonia, working under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham and Col. Leo Pullar. Everyone has done an outstanding job to bring this project to fruition.”
“Siemens is committed to helping the Department of Defense achieve unprecedented levels of energy efficiency, security and independence,” said Judy Marks, president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. “Through this Energy Savings Performance Contract, the value of sustainability is measured not just in terms of financial benefits, but benefits to maintaining mission readiness, and the preservation of options for the Army’s future.”
“The Department of Defense is deploying renewable energy and reducing its reliance on fossil fuel resources. This solar-energy system demonstrates that the U.S. government’s goals for enhancing security through energy independence can be met both economically and practically when the public and private sectors work together,” said Dan Shugar, CEO of Solaria Corporation.

An aerial view of the solar array, the U.S. Army’s largest solar photovoltaic system, located at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. (Photo by Jose Salazar, ATEC)

Construction of the solar power plant began in April 2012 and was completed in December 2012.
The ground-mounted single-axis Solaria tracking system follows the sun across the sky, increasing energy yield by up to 30 percent over fixed systems. All energy generated from the project will be consumed by onsite operations. 

“(As a nation) we are consuming more energy and have an aging infrastructure, it is the responsibility of the Army to help reduce the stress and strain on those power lines and we do this in partnership with the utilities. The power lines end here,” Hammack said. “There’s no better support from the community than here at White Sands and New Mexico. You have a lot of natural resources that contribute to the future of this state.”

The $16.8 million solar PV system was the primary component of an Energy Savings Performance Contract implemented by the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc. Under the contract task order, Siemens will maintain and operate the equipment and will sell the energy it generates to White Sands Missile Range at the same rate they are currently paying the local utility company. 
The Army will own the renewable energy credits, or RECs, and use them toward meeting federal renewable energy mandates. 
The project supports President Barack Obama‘s directive that federal agencies use Energy Savings Performance Contracts to make $2 billion worth of energy efficiency upgrades over the next year, as well as supporting the Army’s renewable energy goals.
By WSMR Public Affairs, from www.army.mil
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Computer Security Employment DOD

Speaking with reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Gen. William L. Shelton said direction for the hires would come from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, fueled by the U.S. Cyber Command.
“Cyber Command is in the midst of determining how they are going to operate across all the geographic combatant commands as well as internal to the United States,” Shelton said, “and it looks like we will be tapped for well over 1,000 additional people into the cyber business, so you can see [cyber] is starting to take root.”
If budget restrictions allow the increase in personnel, they will be hired over two years beginning in fiscal 2014, and 70 percent to 80 percent will be civilians “if it turns out like we think it’s going to turn out,” the general said.
This will represent about a 15 percent increase over 6,000 cyber professionals working today for the 24th Air Force, he added, noting that the 24th Air Force is the numbered Air Force that works under Air Force Space Command.
A numbered Air Force is a tactical Air Force organization that is subordinate to a major command and has assigned to it operational units like wings, squadrons and groups.
Within the 24th Air Force, subordinate units for cyber operations include the 67th Network Warfare Wing and the 688th Information Operations Wing at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and the 689th Combat Communications Wing at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

“I have the responsibility of major command headquarters but in terms of where the work really gets done to operate and defend Air Force networks, to provide exploitation capabilities and develop attack capabilities, that’s the 24th Air Force.”

“They are also the Air Force component to U.S. Cyber Command,” the general said, “so when U.S. Cyber Command wants Air Force capability or wants capabilities the Air Force has developed, that’s where they go.”
Those who work in the Space Command’s cyber arm tend to operate, defend, exploit and attack rather than address cyber policy, Shelton said, “but the 24th Air force certainly gets into the policy area as well just because of the newness of this business.”
The general observed that the policy and legal regimes are not as mature as they need to be because it’s so difficult to segment them.

“The cyber domain — I call it the Wild West because you can be anywhere and do anything and be effective,” Shelton said. “All you need is an Internet connection, the right skills and a laptop and you’re in the game.”

In cyber there are many parallels to the space domain, Shelton said, “because it’s global in nature and yet the effects you want are in somebody else’s backyard in terms of geographic combatant commanders’ ownership. So getting a model that works efficiently and effectively and also respects the geographic combatant commanders’ authorities — that’s the challenge.”
Shelton said one of his biggest problems in planning for the future, including the future of Air Force cyber and space operations, is the uncertainty of the DOD budget process.
“We don’t have an appropriations bill for [fiscal 20]13 so we’re not sure what the ’13 picture is, and here we are over a quarter [of the way] into ’13,” the general said. “That affects planning for the president’s budget for ’14 and that, in turn, impacts … the ’15-and-out budget, which we’re in the throes of right now.”
The budget situation, he added, “is the worst I’ve seen in thirty-six-and-a-half years in this business [in terms of] the pressures on all of us now to try to make decisions without good information. And it is the national security of the nation we’re talking about here.”
Shelton said he’d looked at 2012 as a year to make “a pretty good move into cyber … to show progression, to show grasping the reins of the cyber capabilities of the Air Force. Whether or not we’re going to be able to do that is the question, whether or not we’re going to have sufficient funding.”
But as the budget process plays out, the general said he plans to be a strong advocate for priorities like space and cyber.
“There will be strong advocates coming from other functional areas within the United States military as well,” he added, “so it’s going to be literally the strategy that we adopt based on the budget authority that will be available, and then you let the chips fall from there.”
By Cheryl Pellerin, www.defense.gov
American Forces Press Service

Preventing Flu Illness USA

Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.
The upcoming season’s flu vaccine will protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. This includes an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus.
Influenza Symptoms
Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

* It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
Flu Complications
Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.
Pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections are three examples of complications from flu. The flu can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may have worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.

People at Higher Risk from Flu
Anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children.
Flu Severity
Flu is unpredictable and how severe it is can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including:

• what flu viruses are spreading
• how much flu vaccine is available
• when vaccine is available
• how many people get vaccinated
• how well the flu vaccine is matched to flu viruses that are causing illness

One study found that during the 1990s, flu-related deaths in the United States ranged from an estimated 17,000 during the mildest season to 52,000 during the most severe season (36,000 average). Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older.

The CDC Influenza application for clinicians and other health care professionals makes it easier than ever to find CDC’s latest recommendations and influenza activity updates on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. (Android support will be added in a future update).
When your mobile device is connected to the internet, new information and content will update automatically. This is an official application of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With this application, you can:

• View updated information on national flu activity
• Find influenza vaccination recommendations endorsed by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
• Obtain information on diagnosis and treatment of influenza, including antiviral treatment recommendations by CDC and the ACIP
• Obtain information on laboratory testing for influenza
• Find CDC recommendations on influenza infection control
• View videos of CDC subject matter experts discussing influenza topics
• Order official CDC designed print products for posting in the workplace or distributing to patients.

For more information please visit Information For Health Professionals.
For questions and comments, contact CDC-INFO.

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The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold nomination hearings for former Sen. Chuck Hagel on Jan. 31, the committee announced Wednesday. Hagel was nominated by President Barack Obama to become secretary of defense.

                   

DOD, Duke University Partner in Research Projects

01/18/2013 06:43 AM CST





The Defense Department sponsors Duke University researchers to conduct projects in mathematics, engineering and biology that advance military capabilities and strengthen national security, a university official said in a recent phone interview. Duke University researchers actively participate in DOD programs and awards, and projects are designed to help the warfighter enhance intelligence gathering, avoid battlefield [...]

Free Search Engine Connects Classrooms with Science and Technology


Filed under Education & Culture {no comments}

An educational search engine funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has gone mobile with the release of an iPad app.



Gooru, a free search engine for learning that brings together science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational materials on the web-developed the Gooru Collections iPad app to bring thousands of assorted multimedia resources to teachers and students on the go.



Launched with initial investment from ONR, Gooru provides a one-stop shop for fifth- to 12th-graders and their teachers to discover and share high-quality videos, games, digital textbooks, quizzes and other interactive products related to STEM and eventually other subjects.



“ONR’s STEM efforts are looking for ways to inspire, engage and educate current and future STEM leaders,” said Cmdr. Joseph Cohn, ONR’s deputy director of research for STEM. “This technology promises to have a broad reach and would facilitate millions of students and teachers in developing a deeper understanding of a range of STEM disciplines.”



Last year, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced plans to strengthen the service’s future workforce by doubling the investment in STEM education over the next five years. The secretary shared this vision at a conference sponsored by ONR, which coordinates the Navy’s STEM efforts and offers a collaborative website at STEM2Stern.org.



ONR’s expertise in a variety of STEM initiatives has had a profound influence on Gooru’s development, said Dr. Prasad Ram, founder and CEO of Gooru.



“We view our partnership with ONR as going beyond a funding relationship, to leveraging all of ONR’s experience in the STEM space to help define, develop and continuously innovate on Gooru,” Ram said. “Continued funding from ONR has helped to get us to this point and will allow us to fulfill our mission to bring the highest quality STEM education to every American student.”



Gooru curates, auto-tags and contextualizes millions of STEM related web resources to get the most out of searches. It ranks and suggests items for students and teachers based on usage data, user input, search query logs and social signals.



“The Gooru platform has virtually eliminated many of the obstacles my teachers encounter that prevent significant technological integration to occur [in] today’s classroom,” said Gregory Green, principal of Clintondale High School in Clinton Township, Mich.



“Through Gooru, my teachers can immediately have an extensive online digital resource bank without having to spend countless hours researching and organizing sharable classroom content.”

By Eric Beidel, Office of Naval Research