Chevron Technology Ventures Launches World’s Largest Solar Enhanced-Oil-Recovery Project

Engineerblogger
Oct 04, 2011

Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. that identifies, evaluates and demonstrates emerging technologies, today launched a unique demonstration project to test the viability of using solar energy to produce oil. The project uses over 7,600 mirrors to focus the sun's energy onto a solar boiler. The steam produced is injected into oil reservoirs to increase oil production. The project is the largest of its kind in the world.

"Through this demonstration, we want to determine the feasibility of using solar power for enhanced oil recovery," said Desmond King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures. "This technology has the potential to augment gas-powered steam generation and may provide an additional resource in areas of the world where natural gas is expensive or not readily available."

One of America's oldest oil fields, the Coalinga Field began operations in the 1890s. Because the heavy crude oil produced at the field does not flow readily, it is more difficult to extract than lighter grades of crude.

Chevron enhances oil production from the Coalinga Field by injecting steam to heat the crude, thereby reducing its viscosity and making it easier to produce. This steam is currently generated by burning natural gas. The solar-to-steam project will supplement the gas-fired steam generators and help determine the commercial viability of using heat from the sun instead of natural gas to generate steam.

Throughout the course of the day, more than 7,600 mirrors track the sun and reflect its rays to a receiver positioned on a solar tower. Using heat from the concentrated sunlight, the solar tower system produces steam that is distributed throughout the oil field and then injected underground for enhanced oil recovery. The solar demonstration generates about the same amount of steam as one gas-fired steam generator.

"Our region has a long history of pioneering innovative technologies," said Bruce Johnson, vice president of Chevron's San Joaquin Valley business unit. "The work we are doing at Coalinga continues that tradition, enabling us to examine a new technology that could have significant implications for heavy-oil production."

Source: Chevron

 Related Information:

• Harnessing the Sun's Energy

Chevron Ombuds Mischaracterized in Press

A federal jury in San Francisco has found Chevron Corporation liable for retaliation and wrongful termination and awarded $5.5 million to a former employee. Unfortunately, in recounting the history of the employee's case, most media reports mischaracterize the role and involvement of Chevron's ombuds:

According to her complaint, in 2001 Pande [the employee] began to suffer harassment and discrimination at the hand of Mitchell [her manager]. By March 2002 Pande complained to Mitchell's supervisor, James Johnson, about Mitchell's conduct. Johnson did not investigate, according to the complaint; rather, Pande was given three choices: leave the company, leave the group, or stay for up to 18 months and get along with Mitchell. Later she filed a formal complaint against Mitchell with a company ombudsman. (Sacramento Business Journal [emphasis added].)

In fact, Chevron's ombuds practices to IOA Standards and would not have formally received such a complaint. The misinformation appears to have originated in a written decision by the appeallate court months before the matter proceeded to trial. (Pande v. Chevron Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3247 [subscription only].) At that point, it's hard to unring the bell.

Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Chevron, Ombuds and Others

Last week, a U.S. Federal District Court judge in San Francisco dismissed a case filed against Chevron Corp., subsidiary companies and several employees, including the corporate Ombuds. In his complaint, Samuel Johnson alleged that discrimination and retaliation lead to his suspension and firing in 2006. Before filing the lawsuit, Johnson had consulted with Chevron's Ombuds and attempted an informal resolution with his supervisors, who were eventually named as individual defendants. The court dismissed the case on a procedural motion after determining that the plaintiff's case was factually insufficient. The case is an unpublished decision available only from subscription services. (Johnson v. Chevron Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42422 (N.D. Cal. May 19, 2009).)

CO-OP Board Announces First Class of Certified Ombuds

The Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners has announced the names of the first Ombuds to become certified. Nineteen individuals from 12 different organizations have now passed the examination and have demonstrated they have at least a year of experience and practice to the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

• Evan R. Arrowsmith, Eaton Corporation
• Thomas W. Barnette, American Express
• Carol L. Breslin, Chevron Corporation
• Victoria Brown, University of Central Florida
• Ilene Butensky Brehm, Eaton Corporation
• Mary Chavez Rudolph, University of Colorado Denver
• Melissa Connell, University of Colorado Denver
• Joan Elaine Engel, Career Concepts, Inc.
• Sylvia L. Powlis Garvin, Career Concepts, Inc.
• Sharon Lanier, Munroe Regional Medical Center
• Bathabile K. S. Mthombeni, Columbia University
• Lisa M. Neale, University of Colorado Denver
• David Richardson, Kaiser Permanente
• Janis Schonauer, AllianceBernstein
• John A. Simonetti, Eaton Corporation
• Albin W. Swenson, Chevron Corporation
• Marc Vaucher, United Nations
• Richard G. Wall, Chevron Corporation
• Theodore R. Williamson III, The Coca-Cola Company

The next CO-OP examination will be offered during the IOA annual conference in New Orleans, April 8, 2010. (CO-OP Directory of Practitioners.)

Update 3/14/10: One Name Added to the List of First Certified Ombuds.

Related posts: IOA Unveils Certification Program for Organizational Ombuds; First Ombuds Certification Exam: 96% Pass Rate.

IOA Opens Registration and Posts Agenda for 2012 Conference

Registration is now open for the Seventh Annual Conference of the International Ombudsman Association on April 13–18, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency in Houston, Texas. Special pricing is being offered for attendees who also register for Ombuds 101. Priority registration closes on March 23. IOA has also posted an expected agenda for the conference.

Day One -- Monday, April 16, 2012

Conference Welcome & Opening Remarks

Keynote Address: David Yamada, Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School

IOA Pre-Annual Business Meeting Discussion (Limited to IOA Members Only)

Lunch

Concurrent Sessions

• Resolving 21st Century Disputes with a Pre-Historic Mind (Geoff Drucker, Manager, Dispute Resolution Services, American Health Lawyers Association)
• Understanding Your Cultural Patterns Across Conflict Styles (Bernard Anderson, Associate University Ombuds, Kennesaw State University; Deidra Dennie, Director of EEO, Kennesaw State University)
• Confidentiality as a Standard of Practice, Challenged and Challenging (Ilene Butensky, VP Office of the Ombuds, Eaton Corporation; Nicholas Diehl, Deputy Ombudsman, American Red Cross; Charles Howard, Partner, Shipman & Goodwin LLP; Craig Mousin, University Ombudsperson, DePaul University; The JIOA Editorial Board)
• Supervisors are People, Too: Ombuds Work with Managers (Kirsten Schwehm, Ombudsperson, Louisiana State University; Jim Wohl, Ombudsperson, Auburn University)
• The Ombuds as Trainer (Melissa Brodrick, Ombudsperson, Harvard Medical School/Dental School/School of Public Health; David Michael, Deputy Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health)
• Systems Thinking in the Ombuds Office: Theory, Tools, and Practice (Howard Gadlin, Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health; Wendell Jones, Ombudsman (Emeritus), Sandia National Laboratories; Jan Morse, Ombudsman, University of Minnesota)

Concurrent Sessions

• Why Internationally Mobile Students Need (more) Internationally Active Ombudsmen (Josef Leidenfrost, Austrian Student Ombudsman)
• Rethinking the Ombuds Role When Mediating (Howard Gadlin, Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health; David Michael, Deputy Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health)
• Exposing the Best Kept Secret - Ombudsing Works (Ilene Butensky, Eaton Corporation)
• Case Review with an Experienced Ombuds (Tom Sebok, Director, Ombuds Office, University of Colorado, Boulder; Mary Chavez Rudolph, Associate Director, Ombuds Office, University of Colorado Denver)
• The Neuro-Ombuds: Apollo 13, the Ombudsman and Helping Visitors Create Breakthroughs (Mauricio Ramos, Corporate Ombudsman, Sandia National Labs)
• Managing the “Proximity Effect” – Impact on Ombuds’ Visitor Demographics and Office Utilization in Global Organizations (Patricia Lynch, Ombudsman, United Technologies Corporation; Odile Rheaume, Respectful Workplace Advisor Program Administrator, The World Bank Group; Thomas Zgambo, Ombudsman, The World Bank Group)

Cocktails with the IOA Board

Day Two -- Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Keynote Address: Michael Dues, Lecturer, University of Arizona, Management Consultant

IOA Annual Business Meeting (Limited to IOA Members Only)

Concurrent Plenary Sessions (for Non-Members)

• The Ombuds Behind the Scenes (Jayla Henry, Halliburton)

Lunch / Lunch for Ombudsman New to the Profession & First Time Attendees*

Concurrent Sessions

• Analyze This! Adapting the Law School IRAC Framework to Ombuds Case Analysis (Donna Douglass Williams, Ombudsperson, World Health Organization; Indumati Sen, Ombudsman, International Baccalaureate Organization)
• Corporate Organizational Ombudsman Round Table (Amos Morale, Ombudsman, Marathon Oil Company; Gary Yamashita, Manager, Global Office of Ombuds, Chevron Corporation)
• A Classical Ombudsman's Survival in Tough Economic Times (Stephanie Maxberry, Ombudsman, Los Angeles County Office of Ombudsman)
• The Process of Bullying (Sue Theiss, University Ombudsman, Oregon State University)
• Increasing Your Effectiveness with Visitors: Establishing Rapport and Engaging in Case Reflection (Mary Chavez Rudolph, Ombudsman, University of Colorado Denver; Howard Gadlin, NIH Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health; Patricia Ponce, Associate Ombuds, California Polytechnic State University; Tom Sebok, Director, Ombuds Office, University of Colorado Boulder)
• Latest Developments in the Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practioner® (CO-OP®) Program (Constance Bernard, Ombudsman, The World Bank Group; Wendy Friede, Consulting Ombuds, Friede Consulting Services; Jennifer Moumneh, Associate Ombudsman, University of California, Irvine; Albin Swenson, Ombudsman, Chevron Corporation; Marsha Wagner, University Ombuds Officer, Columbia University)

Sector Forum Discussions

• Academic
• ADR
• Corporate
• Government
• International
• Other

Day Three -- Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Keynote Address: Sherry D. Williams, Esq., Sr. VP, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Halliburton

General Session (Thomas Zgambo, Ombudsman, The World Bank Group)

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

Concurrent Sessions

• A Quest for Fairness (Douglas Melville, Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (Canada))
• Straight Thinking: Common Logical Fallacies an Ombuds Should Know (Brian Bloch, Ombudsman, ISKCONResolve)
• Inclusion of the Physically Challenged in the Workforce (Chantal Perreault, President, Ombudsman Solution)
• Employment Law for Ombuds – What do we really need to know? (Judy Bruner, UC San Diego)
• Ombudsman Pecha Kucha (Nicholas Diehl, Deputy Ombudsman, American Red Cross)
• The Culture Bump® Approach: Embracing our Prejudices… An Ombudsman’s Guide to Universal Connections (Carol Archer, Instructor, University of Houston; Jim Wohl, Ombudsman, Auburn University; Stacey Nickson, Assistants Director, Biggio Center, Auburn University)
• Concurrent Sessions What Would You Do? (Melinda Miner, Sr. Ombudsman and Analyst, Halliburton Dispute Resolution Program)
• What To Do With All That Data?! (Kelley Alexander, Ombudsperson, Georgia State University)
• You Can Remain Plugged In – Using Electronic Communication and Remaining Confidential – The Next Generation (Craig Mousin, University Ombudsperson, DePaul University; Arlene Yetnikoff, Director of Information Security, DePaul University)
• The Sustainable Ombuds: Taking Charge of Taking Care (R. Ellen Schreiber, Ombuds, University of Idaho)
• Corporate Organizational Ombudsman Round Table (Amos Morale, Ombudsman, Marathon Oil Company; Gary Yamashita, Manager, Global Office of Ombuds, Chevron Corporation)
• Ombudsing in a VUCA World (Dr. Patrick Robardet, Montreal (French) School Board)

(IOA 2012 Conf. Info.)

Related posts: IOA Posts Agenda for 2011 Conference; IOA Announces Keynote Speakers for 2012 Conference.

Chevron Ombuds Announces Retirement

Albin Swenson, Manager of Chevron Corporation's Global Office of the Ombuds, has announced that he will retire later this year. Swenson was recently appointed to the on the Board of the International Ombudsman Association. He also has served on the Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners since its inception in 2009 and has chaired the CO-OP Eligibility Committee.

Related posts: Directors Appointed to Ombuds Certification Board; Corporate Ombuds Named to IOA Board; 2011 Corporate Organizational Ombuds Roundtable Described as Successful.

IOA Posts Agenda for 2011 Conference

 The International Ombudsman Association has posted the tentative agenda for its sixth annual conference in Portland, OR on April 4-6.

Day One: Monday, 4/4/11

Welcome & Opening Remarks: Wim Wiewel, President, Portland State University

Keynote Address: Alicia C. Shepard, Ombudsman, National Public Radio

IOA Annual Business Meeting (IOA Members Only) / General Sessions for Non IOA Members

Lunch

Concurrent Sessions

• The Whistleblowing Ombudsman in Germany (Björn Rohde-Liebenau, Attorney, Mediator, Ombudsman, RCC Risk Communication Concepts)
• Differentiating the role of the Ombudsman from HR in the Corporate Sector & Human Resources and the Collegiate Ombuds Office: Natural Partners (Joanne Jirik Mullen, Carleton College; Isabel Calderon, Mars Inc.)
• The Ombudsman as Servant Leader: Mn/DOT’s Ombudsman Program Resolves Issues and Rebuilds Trust
• Mn/DOT Ombudsman
• Information Session with the Directors of the IOA Board of Certification (Marsha Wagner, Ombuds Officer, Columbia University; Carolyn Noorbakhsh, Ombuds, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Diane Dorion, Employee Ombudsman, Royal Bank of Canada; Albin Swenson, Manager, Global Office of the Ombuds, Chevron; Pierre Niedlispacher, Ombudsman, Coca-Cola)
• Climate change isn’t always bad: Tools for diagnosing and working with your organization’s communication climate (Kerry Egdorf, Ombuds, Marquette University)
• Ombuds Work: Reflections on your lived experience (Carol Gabrielli, Ombuds, Portland State University)

Concurrent Sessions

• Safeguarding the Role of the Ombudsman in College and University Settings (Frank R. Baskind, Ombudsman for Faculty and Classified Staff, Virginia Commonwealth University)
• Raising our Voices: A Town Hall Gathering for Associate, Affiliate, and Retired Members of IOA (Kerry Egdorf, Ombuds, Marquette University; John Carter, The Citadel)
• Conflict Coaching; A Whole New Toolkit for the Ombudsman (Berry Kruijning, Conflict Resolution Coach, Crowning Communications LLC)
• Invisible Preference: the Challenge of Mediator Neutrality (Linda Brothers, Associate Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health)
• When Women Talk: Reflections on Mediating Disputes among Women (Howard Gadlin, Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health; Samantha Levine-Finley, Associate Ombudsman, National Institutes of Health)
• Social media and the virtual soapbox: One institutions approach to bringing 'the conversation' back home (Trey Reckling, Director of Student Development, SCAD)

Day Two: Tuesday, 4/5/11

Keynote Address: John S. Barkat, Ombudsman, United Nations

General Session: The Convergence of Diverse Ombuds/Ombudsman Offices: Comparing the Spectrum of O/O applications to identifying structure, essential characteristics, and value to the organization as well as those served (Michael P. Mills, City of Portland)

The Crystal Ball

Lunch

Concurrent Sessions

• The Ombudsman's Role as a Leader in the Organization (Grace Bartini, Ombudsman, American Student Assistance Association; Joyce DeMoss, Ombudsman, Transportation Security Administration)
• What Ombudsmen Should Know About Whistleblower Laws (Chuck Howard, Shipman & Goodwin LLP)
• Federal and State and Local Ombudsman: What we can learn from the Differences and the Similarities (Gregory A. Burke, Ombudsman, ORM)
• Electronic Communication Strategy: Online Conflict Management Coaching Tutorial (D. A. Graham, University Ombuds Officer, Princeton University)
• Journal Author's Panel: Advocating for Fairly and Equitably Administered Processes . . . as a Designated Neutral (Tom Sebok, Director, Ombuds Office, University of Colorado at Boulder; Journal Authors, JIOA)
• The Untold Millions - Demonstrating Organizational Ombudsmen’s Value Return (Lawrence Jagneaux, Halliburton)

Concurrent Sessions

• Therapeutic Theory and Skills for the Ombuds (Lauren Bloom, Ombudsperson, The University of Texas at Austin; Kevin Jessar, Corporate Ombudsman, American Red Cross)
• Nuts and Bolts of An Universally Accessible Ombuds Office (Suzy Rosen Singleton, Campus Ombuds, Gallaudet University)
• Drawing the Line and Choosing Sides: A Tool for Helping Visitors to Remain Constructive (R. Ellen Schreiber, Ombuds, University of Idaho)
• Using Mediation as a Mean to a More Peaceful Society (Tsipora Dimant, Mediator/Facilitator/Instructor, Portland Community College)
• Improving interactions between Ombudsmen and Compliance Officers/Inside Counsel (Ilene Butensky, Eaton Corporation)
• Emotional Well-Being - R U OK? (Mim Gaetano, Asia-Pacific/AIME Ombudsman, Mars, Inc.)

Day Three: Wednesday 4/6/11

Keynote Address: Michael Moffitt, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Director, ADR Center, University of Oregon Law School

General Session: Adopting Business Excellence and Quality Principles to Create Business Value ... Even in an Ombudsman Office (Nicole Goodfellow, Canada Post Corporation)

Lunch

Concurrent Sessions

• How do Ombudsmen across sectors collect and report data? (Lisa Witzler, Ombudsman Intern, National Institutes of Health; Tom Barnette, Regional Ombudsperson, American Express; Sarah Kith, Associate Ombudsman, American Red Cross; Tom Sebok, Ombudsperson, University of Colorado, Boulder; Sara Thacker, Director & Ombudsperson, University of California, Berkeley)
• Internal Justice Systems in International Organizations: Lessons Learned (Camilo Azcarate, Manager of Mediation Services, World Bank Group)
• Ombuds for Small Business (Clare Fowler, Organizational Consultant, Mediate.com)
• Apology and Forgiveness in Multicultural Settings (Miranda Kato, Ombuds, Bellevue College)
• A life-changing experience: Ombuds in Honduras and Nicaragua (D. A. Graham, University Ombuds Officer, Princeton University)
• Interest Session for Editorial Reviewers for The JIOA (David Miller, Editor, JIOA; Alan Lincoln, Founding Editor, JIOA)

Concurrent Sessions

• Values in Action Dialog -- Putting IOA's Decision Model into Practice (Don Noack, Corporate Ombuds, Sandia National Laboratories; Kerry Egdorf, Ombudsman, Marquette University)
• Challenges to Impartiality and Neutrality (Nora Farrell, Ryerson University)
• Conflict Analysis: Using Models/Frameworks to Understand Our Most Complex Cases (Brian Bloch, Co-Director, ISKCONResolve; Bob Cohen, Co-Director, ISKCONResolve)

(IOA Preliminary 2011 Conf. Agenda.)

2011 Corporate Organizational Ombuds Roundtable Described as Successful

Organizers of the latest Corporate Organizational Ombuds Roundtable (COOR) at M.D. Anderson say the event was a big success. Hoping to generate more interest and attendance at next year's event, COOR has released an Agenda Supplement with presentation descriptions from the roundtable on September 15-16, 2011 in Houston.

2011 Corporate Organizational
Ombuds Roundtable (COOR)

Agenda Supplement

Presentation Descriptions

1. Welcome to M. D. Anderson and Introductions by Anu Rao [bold not in original, see note below] and the M.D. Anderson Ombuds Office

2. ADR Internationally, Locally and Contractually by Dan Fontaine, Esq., M.D. Anderson Senior Vice President Business Affairs and Regulation

Introduction, background and history of the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The role of ADR and the importance of the Ombuds office in the growth of the center locally and internationally using examples of contractual language and process descriptions.

3. Purpose, Direction & Structure of COOR by Sean Banks and Anamaris Cousins Price

Call-in participation and live discussion. History of the COOR group. What should its purpose be and how can it best serve the needs of corporate organizational ombuds? The new Mission Statement. Exploration of various alternative structures for COOR going forward; hurdles to overcome, costs and benefits of independence. Selection of the Host for the next Roundtable, formation of the planning and governance committees.

4. Organizational Ombuds Shield Law Effort by Ralph Hasson

Organizational Ombuds Shield Law efforts then, now and in the future. Progress and roadblocks in previous legislative sessions from 2004 to the next session in 2013. A breakdown of the costs to champion this effort. Thanks to contributors for their efforts, time and funding. Explanation of the challenges and how to overcome them in the next legislative session. A call for support to get a shield law passed in Texas, throughout the United States and internationally.

5. Creating, Managing & Maintaining a Positive Perception of an Ombuds Program by Carol Breslin and Al Swenson

How do ombuds adhere to their charters and manage perceptions? How do you create, maintain and/or change perceptions to market Independence, Neutrality, Impartiality and Informality? Interactive discussions of working scenarios, IOA standards of practice and sharing of ombuds best practices.

6. Roundtable discussion on various topics facilitated by Mauricio Ramos

Ombuds data management, supervisors & employees working at different locations, interacting with EAP & HR, social media, technology, the need to update IOA standards of practice in light of today’s technology, ombuds effectiveness, ombuds reporting, coaching, annual reports, expectations of visitors and confidentiality, leadership changes, ombuds therapy, etc.

Potential topics for the 2012 Roundtable include technology and social media presentations to name just a few.

Special thanks to M.D. Anderson for hosting such a successful Roundtable and to Chevron, Marathon Oil, Shell and Halliburton for sponsoring the meals. Many thanks to all presenters and participants for making this a truly enjoyable professional experience. We look forward to welcoming all corporate ombuds to join us for our 2012 Roundtable.

Related posts: Corporate Ombuds Group Meeting Set for October 14-15 [2010]; Corporate Ombuds Roundtable to Meet in Houston [2011]; Corporate Organizational Ombuds Roundtable Teleconference.

Note: The Ombuds Blog recently adopted a style rule of putting the names of Organizational Ombuds in bold type.  The original document from COOR did not distinguish the names of the participants.

Solar thermal technology seen bolstering renewable energy adoption

 Engineerblogger
 Jan 5, 2012

 
The quest to develop an improved renewable energy storage system is intensifying, as researchers continue to make progress in their drive to spur the adoption of green technology.

One of the biggest hurdles facing the widespread adoption of solar panel and wind turbine systems is that they are still reliant on the whims of nature. Solar panel arrays are capable of generating a substantial amount of electricity when the sun is shining, but energy storage technology has not progressed as rapidly, confounding experts.

However, engineers are growing increasingly optimistic that solar thermal power could overcome the energy storage obstacles currently facing clean technology companies. The New York Times reports that researchers are betting the energy generation scheme, which harnesses the sun's heat to boil water and create electricity, can circumvent storage issues and potentially drive clean adoption throughout the U.S.

Scientists contend that the water used in solar thermal systems can be used to heat salt, which would effectively store energy for later usage. Such a system is optimal, according to experts, because it would supply energy to homes and businesses during the nighttime hours when the sun is no longer helping to drive energy generation.

More specifically, researchers and industry experts are hoping that solar thermal power plants could help meet electricity demand during peak demand hours, designated between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Renewable energy company SolarReserve is currently constructing such a power plant in the Nevada desert, and executives from the firm asserted it should be operational by next year.

Moreover, BrightSource, a company that is backed by more than $165 million in financing from California-based technology giant Google, plans to build three separate solar thermal plants in the Golden State. While BrightSource's facilities would begin generating energy in 2016 and 2017, they are projected to have a massive electricity generation capacity.

In total, the two firms' four solar thermal plants would be able to power tens of thousand of households on a typical summer evening – a feat today's solar panel systems are not capable of accomplishing.

Admittedly, there are hurdles solar thermal technology companies must overcome, but high-profile companies besides Google, including Chevron and Good Energies, are investing in it. Engineers assert that solar thermal plants could play a crucial role in energy production by the end of the decade, and while they will not replace conventional solar panel systems, they will complement them by generating electricity at night.

It is often difficult to connect renewable energy systems to the U.S. electric grid, experts say, with the nation's power supply network plagued by power outages and other grid disruptions. Balancing the supply and demand of energy has become increasingly important and complex, and solar thermal plants could help augment electricity production during times of elevated consumption levels. This would help power providers ensure demand is met, and as a result, would reduce the frequency of power outages.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that state legislation in California is also helping drive the creation solar thermal technology plants. California signed into law regulations mandating power providers derive more than 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. With time quickly dwindling, utilities are working feverishly to comply with the stringent laws, variations of which other states have passed.

Clean energy advocates such as SolarReserve chief executive Kevin Smith are bullish on solar thermal technology.
"As we move forward, we'll get more and more traction with the fact we can provide more capacity," he said.

 Source: Knovel

Court Will Hear Case Against University of Washington Alleging Retaliation Against Ombuds' Visitor

The federal trial court in Seattle has rejected a motion by UW to dismiss an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by an assistant professor. Isabelle Bichindaritz, the plaintiff, has claimed that the university discriminated against her on the basis of sex and retaliated against her for a complaint she filed with the University Ombudsman. The court found that there was sufficient evidence to overcome the university's motion to dismiss the case.

In her lawsuit, Bichindaritz alleged that she was wrongfully denied tenure during the 2005-06 academic year because of discrimination by her department chair. She also alleged that her effort to resolve the conflict through a mediation with the University Ombuds triggered retaliation by the chair. The court's decision was based on a finding that Bichindaritz had produced evidence which, when viewed in a very favorable light, gives rise to an inference of retaliatory motive and causation. Since this decision is from a trial court, it creates little legal precedent. (Bichindaritz v. Univ. of Wash., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 106060, 11-12 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 19, 2011).)

It is IOA's position that organizations should prevent retaliation based on the use of Ombuds services:

The organization should assure that all specified members of the organization have the right to consult with the Ombudsman, and retaliation for exercising that right will not be tolerated. (IOA Best Practices, ver. 3, Standard 2.2, ¶ 2.)

Related posts: Employees Claim Retaliation After Complaints to Bristol-Myers Squibb Ombuds; Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Chevron, Ombuds and Others; U Washington Faces Lawsuit Despite Mediation by Ombuds;

Corporate Ombuds Named to IOA Board

Albin Swenson, Ombudsman for the Chevron Corporation, has been named to fill the Board seat vacated by Carolyn Noorbakhsh, recently announced her retirement. Swenson was a recent candidate for a special election held by the International Ombudsman Association to fill two other board positions and received the next highest number of votes. Swenson also sits on the Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners. (IOA News.)

Related post: Directors Appointed to Ombuds Certification Board.

Tioga Unveils Largest Solar Canopy In Hawaii

Honolulu HI (SPX) 
April 14, 2011

Chevron Energy Solutions, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Tioga Energy have unveiled an 856-kilowatt solar system at Oceanic Time Warner Cable's Mililani Tech Park. The completed project is the largest solar parking canopy project in Hawaii.
To read more click here...