Based on how the Tigers are playing, it is a good thing college football starts this weekend and pro football starts next weekend. Although I am not a big football fan, I do pay attention to it. It will be a good distraction from the Tigers. No matter how bad the Lions are this year, they cannot be as big of disappointment as the Tigers. See my Video of the Day.
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This article from the Detroit News about police officers leaving Detroit, should scare the hell out of all the businesses that have invested in the rebirth of Detroit. Here are excerpts from the article.
During a summer of multiple mass shootings, an explosion in carjackings and random gun violence, dozens of Detroit cops are leaving the police force for neighboring agencies, despite the city’s efforts to stem the blue flight to the suburbs.
The Detroit Police Department has lost 223 sworn officers since January, an average of about 28 per month. With four months remaining in the year, the number of outgoing officers has already more than doubled the 103 cops who turned in their DPD badges in 2021.
About half the officers who have left this year joined suburban law enforcement agencies that are struggling to fill their own vacant positions amid a nationwide labor shortage, Detroit police officials said. Other officers went to police departments outside Metro Detroit, officials said.
The departure of Detroit cops to the suburbs for more money, better benefits and safer working conditionshas been an issue for years, despite repeated attempts by the city and police department to halt the exodus. In the most recent effort, the Detroit City Council in March approved a proposal by Mayor Mike Duggan to pay each officer a $2,000 “retention incentive bonus.”
And then there is this article that appeared in Mlive last week, that really hit home with me as one who has lived in Ypsilanti, for over 50 years.
The Ypsilanti Police Department is currently facing a significant loss of officers amid a rising crime rate. Since the start of 2022, five officers and the police chief have all left the department, officials confirmed. As of Thursday, Aug. 18, the department was down 21 percent in its uniformed police force amid low morale, Ypsilanti City Manager Frances McMullan said.
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I continue to get feedback on my blog about electric vehicles. Although there is much pessimism about whether the “grid” can handle it, I want to share excerpts from an article that appeared in Electrik that gives me optimism. However, it didn’t help that California’s grid operator issued a warning for citizens to conserve their use of electricity over the Labor Day weekend, because of the strain the excessive heat will put on the system. Here is the excerpt from Electrik article.
A recent report from Physics Today interviewed several energy experts from acclaimed research laboratories throughout the US, who are all in agreement that there is no foreseeable threat of the electrical grid being overloaded by EVs.
In fact, some of them like Matteo Muratori, who leads a research team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), are frustrated by social media posts spreading FUD about EVs and their negative effect in the electrical grid.
On the contrary, Muratori stated that the increased demand from EVs charging on the grid should be no different from the past when air conditioners became commonplace in homes and businesses. Furthermore, Muratori said that utilities are excited for this zero-emissions transition because, well… selling electricity is their entire business.
As new buildings like offices and schools are erected each day in the US, the grid continuously evolves to support their required energy demand. Adding charger piles outside should not make a difference. “The lights will not go out” says electrical engineer Michael Kintner-Meyer, who leads mobility research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and agrees with Muratori.
There is zero argument that this steadfast transition toward EVs will add a major demand in the electrical grid’s load. Electricity demand could jump up 25% if the country’s entire army of 290 million cars and trucks went electric, but that realistically won’t suddenly happen overnight. According to Muratori, EVs currently account for only 0.2% of grid energy consumption but can jump to 24% when a majority of US transportation becomes electrified. The experts above all agree however, that this transition will be gradual, allowing utility and regulatory planners ample time to adapt. By ample time, we mean at least eight years, but probably more.
A career employee of a major oil company had this to say in response to my blog. Since tax on fuel consumption is the major source of revenue for existing road repair, what plan is there to replace this revenue as more and more electric vehicles are in use? Are we going to be taxed if we use public chargers and home chargers to fund the roads?
Lots to think about and lots to do.
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Elections Matter. Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence and mass killings?
Orchid of the Day: Serena Williams for advancing past the second round after she beat the # 2 seed and number two player in the world, Anett Kontaveit, last night in a come from behind victory.
Onion of the Day: I am giving the Detroit Tigers an onion for the remainder of September.
Quote of the Day: “I am just Serena.” Serena Williams in a response to the questionby the ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernandez, “Are you surprising yourself with your level at the moment?”
Question of the Day: Which team will best challenge OSU and PSU for the B1G East Division football championship for a right to play in the B1G championship game, MSU or U of M?
Video/Image of the Day: Best College Football Atmospheres