Renewable Energy — page 11 of 18

Renewable Energy terms

1001. Median housing value Divides housing units into two equal segments, one-half of housing units less than median housing value and the other half valued more.
1002. Megafauna A number of species of presently extinct mammals including mammoths and mastodons.
1003. Megawatt One thousand kilowatts, or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity.
1004. Megawatt (MW) (MW) A measure of instantaneous electric power consumption or production. Equal to one thousand KW.
1005. Megawatt electrical (MWe) One million watts of electrical energy; a measure of electrical power capacity, use in PEIS is synonymous with MW.
1006. Merchantable Logs from which at least of the volume can be converted into sound grades of lumber ("standard and better" framing lumber).
1007. Mesa A broad, flat-topped elevation with one or more steeply-sloping to vertical sides.
1008. Mesic habitat A habitat type characterized by the presence of a moderate amount of moisture or water. Compare: hydric; opposite: xeric.
1009. Mesophilic An optimum temperature for bacterial growth in an enclosed digester (25° to 40°C).
1010. Mesozoic An era of geologic time between the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic, spanning the time between 251 and 65 million years ago.
1011. metabolism (meh-TA-boh-lih-zum) The total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism.
1012. Metamorphic rock A sedimentary or igneous rock that has been changed by pressure, heat, or chemical action.
1013. Metate A portable stone slab upon which seeds and other grains are milled with a mano using a push-pull, back-and-forth motion. See also Mano
1014. Methane A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas composed of one molecule of Carbon and four of hydrogen, which is highly flammable.
1015. Methanogen A methane-producing organism.
1016. Methanol Methyl alcohol having the chemical formula CH30H. Methanol is usually produced by chemical conversion at high temperatures and pressures. Wood alcohol.
1017. methanol (wood alcohol) (CH3OH) An alcohol formed by catalytically combining carbon monoxide with hydrogen in a 1:2 ratio under high temperature and pressure.
1018. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) (MTBE) An ether manufactured by reacting methanol and isobutylene. MTBE has high octane and low volatility. Used as a fuel oxygenate.
1019. Metric Ton (or tonne) 1000 kilograms. 1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lb = 1.023 short tons.
1020. mg/l Milligrams per liter.
1021. MGD Million gallons per day.
1022. Microalgae Unicellular, photosynthetic aquatic plants.
1023. Microbiotic soil crusts See Biological soil crusts
1024. Micron One thousandth of a millimeter.
1025. microorganism An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi.
1026. Microphytic soil crusts See Biological soil crusts
1027. Microsite A small area within an environment with unique features, conditions, or characteristics relative to the surrounding area.
1028. Mid seral species Shade intolerant species, primarily Douglas-fir trees and vine maple shrubs. These species typically follow the early seral species in natural succession.
1029. Mid seral treatment A treatment in which a stand of predominately mid seral species will be established.
1030. Migration corridor A route followed by animals such as big game, birds, or fish when traveling between winter and summer habitats.
1031. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (MBTA) The MBTA implements various treaties and conventions between the United States, and Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the former Soviet Union for the protection…
1032. Military Training Route (MTR) (MTR) A designated corridor of airspace with defined vertical and lateral dimensions established for conducting military flight training at airspeeds in excess…
1033. Mill A common monetary measure equal to one-thousandth of a dollar or a tenth of a cent.
1034. Mill residue Wood and bark residues produced in processing logs into lumber, plywood, and paper.
1035. Mill/kWh A common method of pricing electricity. Tenths of a cent per kilowatt hour.
1036. Milligauss (mG) A unit of measure for magnetic fields.
1037. Millsite mining claim Claim on nonmineral land for processing ore from a mining claim.
1038. Mineral A nutrient required to maintain health.
1039. Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA) (MLA) Authorizes the agency to issue rights-of-way grants for oil and gas gathering and distribution pipelines and related facilities not already authorized…
1040. Mineral materials Widespread deposits of common clay, sand, gravel, or stone which are not subject to disposal under the 1872 Mining Law, as amended.
1041. Mining claim That portion of the public mineral lands which a miner, for mining purposes, takes and holds in accordance with the mining laws.
1042. Mining water use Water use during quarrying rocks and extracting minerals from the land.
1043. Minority population Includes Hispanic, American Indian, or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Black (not of Hispanic origin) or African…
1044. Miocene An epoch of the upper Tertiary period, 23 to 5.3 million years ago.
1045. Mirror A reflecting surface of various physical shapes (parabolic, nearly flat, or flat) used to reflect and/or concentrate the sun's energy to specific…
1046. Mitigation Term usually used to refer to various changes or improvements made in a home; for instance, to reduce the average level of radon.
1047. Mitigation (measures) Methods or actions that will reduce adverse impacts from solar facility development.
1048. MMBF One million board feet.
1049. MMBtu One million British thermal units.
1050. module The smallest self-contained, environmentally protected structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing a single dc electrical output…
1051. Moisture The amount of water and other components present in the biomass sample that are volatilized at 105°C. (Source: Ehrman, T.
1052. Moisture Content (MC) (MC) The weight of the water contained in wood, usually expressed as a percentage of weight, either oven-dry or as received.
1053. Moisture content, dry basis (MCDB) (MCDB) Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of oven-dry wood. weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample…
1054. Moisture content, wet basis (MCWB) (MCWB) Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of wood as-received. Expressed as: weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample…
1055. moisture free basis Biomass composition and chemical analysis data is typically reported on a moisture free or dry weight basis.
1056. Molten salts Mixtures of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate in various proportions that are used as a heat transfer or heat storage medium in CSP Solar Energy…
1057. Monoculture The agricultural practice of cultivating crops consisting of genetically similar organisms.
1058. monosaccharide A simple sugar (e.g. glucose, fructose). See:.
1059. Montane The highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures, and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent…
1060. Mortality The state of being mortal (destined to die). Mortality also refers to the death rate, or the number of deaths in a certain group of people in a certain…
1061. Mortar A stone bowl or bowl-shaped depression (such as in a rock) in which seeds, berries, nuts, meats, and other items are ground or pulverized with a pestle…
1062. Mosses Low-growing, nonvascular plants that are common to moist habitats.
1063. mscf One thousand standard cubic feet.
1064. Multijunction solar cell A photovoltaic device comprised of two or more semiconductor materials or cell junctions, each capable of producing electricity with the photovoltaic…
1065. Multiple use A combination of balanced and diverse resource uses that takes into account the long-term needs of future generations for renewable and nonrenewable…
1066. Multiple Use Classes Class C is for lands designated either as wilderness or for wilderness study areas. These lands are managed to protect their wilderness values.
1067. Multiple use management Coordinated management of the various surface and subsurface resources, without permanent impairment of the productivity of the land, that will best meet…
1068. municipal solid waste Any organic matter, including sewage, industrial, and commercial wastes, from municipal waste collection systems.
1069. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (MSW) Waste material from households and businesses in a community that is not regulated as hazardous.
1070. NAAQS See National Ambient Air Quality Standards
1071. Nameplate rating The maximum power-generating capacity of a generator or power-generating facility.
1072. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (NAAQS) Federal standards established by the Clean Air Act.
1073. National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Pollutants (NESHAPS) (NESHAPS) Federal standards that control pollutants considered toxic to humans.
1074. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (NEPA) A comprehensive federal law requiring analysis of the environmental impacts of federal actions such as the approval of grants; also requiring preparation…
1075. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (NEPA) Requires federal agencies to prepare a detailed statement on the environmental impacts of their proposed major actions that are significantly affecting…
1076. National Forest Management Act (NFMA) (NFMA) A federal law passed in 1976 as an amendment to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act requiring the preparation of Regional Guides and…
1077. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (NHPA) A federal law providing that property resources with significant national historic value be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1078. National Historic Trails These trails are designated by Congress under the National Trails System Act of 1968 and follow, as closely as possible, on federal land, the original…
1079. National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) (NLCS) Created by the BLM in June 2000 to increase public awareness of BLM lands with scientific, cultural, educational, ecological, and other values.
1080. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (NPDES) A federal permitting system controlling the discharge of effluents to surface water and regulated through the Clean Water Act, as Amended.
1081. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (NPDES) The federal water quality program administered in Oregon by the DEQ.
1082. National Recreation Area An area designated by Congress to assure the conservation and protection of natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, fish, and wildlife values, and to provide…
1083. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (NRHP) A comprehensive list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archaeology…
1084. National Scenic Byway See All-American Roads
1085. Native American Of, or relating to, a tribe, people, or culture that is indigenous to the United States. (See Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act)
1086. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) (NAGPRA) This act established the priority for ownership or control of Native American cultural items excavated or discovered on federal or tribal land after 1990…
1087. native lignin The lignin as it exists in the lignocellulosic complex before separation.
1088. Natural drainages Natural systems that convey water (such as a stream channel) that may be perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral.
1089. Natural gas A hydrocarbon gas obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and coal deposits.
1090. NatureServe A nonprofit organization that provides the scientific information and tools needed to guide effective conservation action.
1091. NatureServe Explorer A Web site from NatureServe that provides authoritative conservation information in a searchable database for more than 70,000 plants, animals, and…
1092. Neat fuel Fuel that is free from admixture or dilution with other fuels.
1093. Neotropical migrants Birds (especially songbirds) that summer in North America but migrate to the tropics for the winter.
1094. NEPA See National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
1095. Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) (NTU) A measurement unit of the clarity of water, dependent on the amount of suspended matter.
1096. Nesting habitat See spotted owl habitat.
1097. Net billing The arrangement by which the Bonneville Power Administration financed the cost of nuclear power plants.
1098. Net emissions Applied to greenhouse gas emissions inventory in this report. "Net emissions" means gross emissions (including all industrial activities, mostly fossil…
1099. net heat of combustion see lower heating value
1100. Net heating value (NHV) (NHV) The potential energy available in the fuel as received, taking into account the energy loss in evaporating and superheating the water in the sample.