March - Please scroll to bottom for previous months or years.
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Advisers Assemble Energy Proposal; Governor Pushes for Greater Use of Renewable Power (posted 03/31/05)
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposal to boost the wind-farming industry in Illinois through a mandatory energy policy is in the hands of state regulators and a group of advisers who normally are adversaries.
AES Completes SeaWest Acquisition (posted 03/31/05)
Through the acquisition of SeaWest and its subsidiaries, AES gains operational control of 500 MW of wind facilities in California, Wyoming and Oregon and 1,800 MW of development sites in 10 states in the western United States
Arizona House Passes Solar Energy Tax Credit (posted 03/31/05)
"Arizona should emerge as a major
center of solar economic activity that would include all the jobs associated
with deploying solar electricity."
- Glenn Hamer, President of Americans for Solar Power (ASPv)
Changes in Earth's Tilt Control When Glacial Cycles End (posted 03/31/05)
A new study reported in the March 24 issue of Nature finds that these glacial cycles are paced by variations in the tilt of Earth’s axis, and that glaciations end when Earth's tilt is large.
City of Santa Cruz gets Behind Million Solar Roofs Bill (posted 03/31/05)
"In a world beset by many problems, the issue of global
warming certainly rises somewhere near the top. I think this bill provides a
very real and tangible way that those of us who live in California can do
something about this."
- Mike Rotkin, Mayor of Santa Cruz
CPS will add new source of wind power (posted 03/31/05)
A little more of San Antonio's energy future is blowing in the wind.
Earth's Health is Deteriorating as Growing Human Demands for Food, Water Strain Ecosystems (posted 03/31/05)
Growing populations and expanding economic activity have strained the planet's ecosystems over the past half century, a trend that threatens international efforts to combat poverty and disease
EIA charts boom in US uranium (posted 03/31/05)
US uranium exploration, production, and employment all increased in 2004, the first such increases since 1998
Energy conservation a priority (posted 03/31/05)
Southern California could be running on ``critically thin operating margins'' this summer if temperatures become hotter than normal, according to the state's electric grid operator.
EPA Announces Results of Annual Sulfur Dioxide Auction (posted 03/31/05)
EPA today announced the results of the 13th annual acid rain allowance auction held yesterday at the Chicago Board of Trade
Global Warming of Atlantic Could Hit Fish (posted 03/31/05)
The potential shutdown due to climate warming of the key Atlantic Conveyor current that warms northern Europe could have a major impact on fish stocks in the region, a scientist said on Wednesday.
How Do I Figure Out the Electric Load for my Appliances? (posted 03/31/05)
Once your get the lowest kWh readings per day in those two times it is pretty easy to minimally size your system
Nuvera Announces Sale of New Fuel Cell System (posted 03/31/05)
Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc., an international developer of multi-fuel reforming and proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology, today announced it will begin accepting orders for its new 5 kW PowerFlow(TM) hydrogen fuel cell system at the 2005 Hannover Fair
Ontario and Quebec Partner To Propose Major Hydroelectric Project In Labrador (posted 03/31/05)
Proposal Would Bring On More Clean, Sustainable Power and Strengthen
Power plant near Weston, Mo., moves closer to approval (posted 03/31/05)
A coal-fired power plant near Weston took a big step toward reality Tuesday.
Power Grid Prepares for Summer Heat (posted 03/31/05)
The California ISO Summer Assessment for 2005 predicts there should be adequate energy supplies to meet a growing demand for power, but reserve margins may narrow substantially if there is an unusual heat wave or other adverse conditions.
Profile: Larry Burns, Mr. Hydrogen (posted 03/31/05)
GM today is devoting the single biggest portion of its R&D budget to fuel cell technology. It has set goals of making fuel cell vehicles commercially viable by 2010 and being the first car company to have a million fuel cell vehicles on the road.
Quake Behind Asian Tsunami Was Longest on Record (posted 03/31/05)
The earthquake that triggered the devastating Boxing Day tsunami was the longest on record -- extending over 1,200 km (750 miles) -- but poses little further immediate danger, scientists said on Wednesday.
Ruling May Pull Plug on Peak Power Plan (posted 03/31/05)
A controversial plan to slap sky-high electric rates on large power consumers to encourage energy conservation during key times this summer should be postponed, an administrative law judge has ruled.
States sue over mercury exemption (posted 03/31/05)
New Jersey and eight other states filed suit Tuesday against a new federal rule that exempts coal-fired power plants from installing the best technology available to curb mercury emissions.
Volatile coal prices reflect supply, demand uncertainties (posted 03/31/05)
The volatility and price surges in coal and its competing fuels have attracted new investors to both coal assets and coal trading. For the brokers and traders in the middle, 2004 was a wild ride.
Where Can I get Entrepreneurial Training for Clean Energy Business? (posted 03/31/05)
I would be grateful if you could please provide names of a few organizations that provide this type of training.
Arctic Becoming the World's Chemical Dump (posted 03/30/05)
A new World Wildlife Fund study indicates that the Arctic and its wildlife are increasingly contaminated with chemicals and pollutants that were never produced or used in that region.
Bar-Gadda Develops Self-Contained Hydrogen Production System (posted 03/30/05)
Bar-Gadda, LLC has developed a working prototype system that can produce hydrogen from water or geothermal steam.
Cinergy 2004 Annual Report Asks: Can We Find Common Ground on Global Warming? (posted 03/30/05)
In its 2004 Annual Report, Cinergy Corp. (NYSE:CIN) has taken the unique approach of asking key stakeholders -- from U.S. senators to former EPA administrators -- how common ground can be found in shaping a response to global warming.
Cost of buying sulfur dioxide allowances rises sharply (posted 03/30/05)
One more thing to the list of rising energy-related costs: the price to pollute.
Decentralized energy growing at 0.1% a year, says WADE (posted 03/30/05)
“The long-discussed and expected transition from a central power model to a hybrid DE-central mix may possibly be underway, though slowly,” and it is optimistic that “this market share will continue to expand.”
Florida Rest Area to Receive Fuel Cell (posted 03/30/05)
Ener1's 10-kW fuel cell uses methanol created from Florida's two largest industries – food waste from theme parks and orange peels from citrus processing.
GM, DOE Sign $88-Million Agreement to Advance Fuel Cell Development (posted 03/30/05)
agreement to build a 40-vehicle fuel cell fleet and further develop the technology.
Idea would keep power going when the wind isn't blowin (posted 03/30/05)
When Martha Hewett thinks of wind power, she doesn't just see huge turbines set against Minnesota's landscape. She also pictures large pockets of compressed air deep below ground.
Indonesia Says at Least 1,000 Killed by Quake (posted 03/30/05)
At least 1,000 people were killed by Monday's huge earthquake which hit an Indonesian island famed as a surfing paradise, reducing large parts of its main town to rubble, officials said on Tuesday.
Indonesia Quake Result of More Stress From Dec. 26 (posted 03/30/05)
A massive undersea earthquake that killed hundreds in Indonesia overnight was a result of increased geological stress caused by the Dec. 26 quake that sent a devastating tsunami across Asia, seismologists said.
Iraq says wants bigger role in OPEC affairs, but no quotas yet (posted 03/30/05)
Iraq has sent a senior delegation to OPEC's long-term strategy
meeting due to be held in Vienna Wednesday as part of its bid to strengthen its
position within the producers' cartel, but does not yet plan to join the group's
quota
system
Leaky Pipe Spills Crude, Salt Water onto Tundra (posted 03/30/05)
A mixture of salty water and crude oil spilled out of a leaky pipeline at the Kuparuk oil field on Alaska's North Slope, covering about 2 acres (0.80 hectares) of tundra, state officials said on Tuesday.
MISO leveling the power field (posted 03/30/05)
The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, or MISO, begins full operations to direct the complex movement of power and manage the price of electricity in 15 states and a Canadian province.
More countries join global renewables group (posted 03/30/05)
The governments of Canada and Mexico have joined the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) to accelerate the global market for renewables and energy-efficient technologies.
New Battery from Toshiba (posted 03/30/05)
The new battery fuses Toshiba's latest advances in nano-material technology for the electric devices sector with cumulative know-how in manufacturing lithium-ion battery cells.
Nuclear power plants turn to dry casks for used fuel (posted 03/30/05)
About 40 percent of the nation's nuclear power plants have begun moving spent fuel out of cooling pools and into massive dry casks, embracing a storage approach that a National Academy of Sciences panel said offers safety advantages.
Power supplies seem adequate (posted 03/30/05)
Californians should squeak through even the hottest summer this year without power outages, but conservation could be key to keeping the lights on, a forecast has concluded.
Registry tightens trucking security policies (posted 03/30/05)
The Registry of Motor Vehicles' latest homeland security crackdown will force commercial truck drivers hauling hazardous materials to pass special tests and background checks.
Reintroducing the American Bison: Priceless (posted 03/30/05)
And while the new nickel is still worth five cents, the survival of the American bison as a species is invaluable.
Renewables to grow six-fold within a decade, predicts study (posted 03/30/05)
The global market for solar and wind energy, as well as fuel cells, will grow from US$16 billion last year to $100 billion by 2014, according to a report released by the research firm Clean Edge.
REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES (posted 03/30/05)
Clean Edge has published a new report, entitled "Clean Energy Trends 2005," that examines factors influencing clean-energy markets for solar energy, wind energy, and fuel cells.
Research and Markets: Stationary Fuel Cell: Where is the Market Headed? (posted 03/30/05)
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Stationary Fuel Cell: Market Opportunities, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2005 to 2009 to their offering.
Sandia Demos Nanotubes that Promise Fuel from Water (posted 03/30/05)
Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM) recently demonstrated that hollow organic nanotubes, married to an inorganic catalyst, can harness sunlight to turn water into pure hydrogen and oxygen.
Solar scores high public awareness for climate change potential (posted 03/30/05)
Solar energy has higher public awareness as a climate change solution than wind energy, according to a survey by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Springtime right time to save energy (posted 03/30/05)
Those are some of the ways consumers can be more energy- efficient and shave some money from their monthly utility bill, Florida Power & Light Co. says.
Strong EU support for renewables and efficiency would decrease GHG (posted 03/30/05)
Strong support for renewable energies and energy efficiency in Europe could increase the contribution from renewables by 43% over the next quarter-century and decrease green house gases
U.S. poll indicates support for 1000% increase to renewables (posted 03/30/05)
The American public would increase budgetary spending on renewables by 1000%, according to a national survey.
UK and Brussels clash over emissions (posted 03/30/05)
The government, already at loggerheads with Brussels over greenhouse gases, is on a collision course with the European commission over a second environmental directive.
Valence to Debut Plug-In Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (posted 03/30/05)
The Valence battery allows significant amounts of zero-emission driving with the concept PHEV. With a fuel efficiency that can reach up to 180 mpg for an average commute of 50 to 60 miles per day, the PHEV requires fewer trips to the gas station.
Why No Tsunami This Time? Answer Lies in Location (posted 03/30/05)
The powerful quake that struck off Indonesia on Monday probably did not generate a killer tsunami because it was deep and in a fortuitous location, experts said on Tuesday.
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #05- 13 (posted 03/29/05)
Category G1 (minor) and G2 (major) geomagnetic storming is possible on 02 - 05 April due to high speed solar winds from a coronal hole on the Sun.
Getting Serious About Reliability and Cyber Security (posted 03/29/05)
Beginning this April, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) will put into effect about 90 revised standards and actions to promote the reliability of the high-voltage transmission system. And later this year, NERC members expect to vote on whether to implement a "permanent" standard to promote effective cyber security policies and best practices.
Making Section 45 Tax Credits Work for Renewable Energy (posted 03/29/05)
I have been asked by many, including a few members of Congress, to share my thoughts on the simplest way in which federal tax policy can be changed to more effectively accelerate the development and construction of renewable electric generating capacity in United States.
Quote of the day (posted 03/29/05)
"We still anticipate that the dollar will be a significant price
driver as this week proceeds and that this week's various economic reports may
have as much influence as Wednesday's midweek oil data."
(Energy consultant Jim Ritterbusch points to upcoming economic data as a key
factor in price movements).
See more industry/OPEC viewpoints. http://www.platts.com/Oil/Resources/Quote of
the Day/
OPEC governors in Vienna for extraordinary meet; Iraq attending (posted 03/29/05)
Iraq's strategic long-term plans, and will compare production and consumption indices with other countries attending the meeting, said the ministry press releasee.
US retail regular gasoline price jumps 4.4 cts to $2.153/gal: EIA (posted 03/29/05)
The average price for retail regular gasoline in the US hit a
new all-time
high of $2.153/gal for the survey week ended March 28, up 4.4 cts from the
prior week
Cinergy annual report focuses on efforts to fight global warming (posted 03/29/05)
Cinergy, which burns up to 30-mil tons of coal a year, is
focusing on global
warming in its 2004 annual report scheduled to be released Tuesday.
Bill Would Allow Internet Over Power Lines (posted 03/29/05)
High-speed Internet could be wired into Texas homes through utility power lines -- meaning more homes would get access to the technology -- under a bill pending in the Texas Senate.
Mega wind farm will churn out more than electricity (posted 03/29/05)
Over the next 20 years, it will earn the Des Moines-based utility more than $300 million in tax benefits.
In Renewable Energy Portfolios Biomass is #1, US Govt Confirms (posted 03/29/05)
Wood biomass comprises 48% of all current renewable energy and is the 4th largest energy after oil, gas, and coal.
Nevada Challenges Yucca Rail Action (posted 03/29/05)
The Energy Department rushed to begin developing a Nevada railroad line to carry nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain without completing environmental studies required by a federal law, the state charged in court documents filed Thursday.
World Takes Note of Nevada Energy Resources (posted 03/29/05)
Southern Nevada's potential as a renewable energy market is attracting overseas attention.
USDA taking applications for energy grants (posted 03/29/05)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Tennessee Rural Development Office is accepting applications for a competitive national grant program promoting renewable energy.
Hitting the nuclear button (posted 03/29/05)
No matter who wins the forthcoming general election, the prospect of the UK building new nuclear power stations will be back on the agenda within a matter of months.
Female Deaths in Tsunami Far Outnumber Males (posted 03/29/05)
The Asian tsunami that devastated countries fringing the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26 may have killed up to four times as many women as men, the international aid group Oxfam says.
Hundreds Feared Dead in Indonesia Quake; No Tsunami (posted 03/29/05)
Hundreds of people were feared killed in a massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake that hit a small island off western Indonesia on Monday, but panic across Asia that it could lead to another devastating tsunami soon receded.
Haze Hangs Over Singapore as Air Quality Worsens (posted 03/29/05)
A layer of smoke descended over Singapore on Thursday, blown from Southeast Asia's pockets of raging bush fires and causing the island's air quality to approach unhealthy levels, the government said.
Current State of Affairs in Tsunami-Hit Nations (posted 03/29/05)
Nearly three months after a series of deadly tsunami waves triggered by the Dec. 26 earthquake in the Indian Ocean wreaked havoc on the region, this is the current state of affairs in the worst-hit countries:
Alaska Agency Says BP Failed To Report Spills (posted 03/29/05)
BP Plc's Alaska company and a contractor violated state law by failing to report two spills of drilling muds at the Prudhoe Bay oil field, an Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation official said Monday.
Zimbabwe, Wider Region Faces Drought, Bad Harvest (posted 03/29/05)
Unexpected drought has left Southern Africa facing the threat of serious food shortages from June, aid workers say, with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe likely to be worst hit.
Largest Earthquakes Since 1900 (posted 03/29/05)
An earthquake that struck off the coast of northern Sumatra on Monday was measured by the US Geological Survey at magnitude 8.7, making it one of the eight biggest quakes since 1900 by magnitude.
Unlikely Bedfellows Lobby Against US Gas-Guzzlers (posted 03/29/05)
A group of former national security officials Monday took up the cause of weaning US drivers from their oil addiction -- normally the realm of environmental groups -- and asked the Bush administration to spend $1 billion on lighter, more fuel-efficient automobiles.
Raw Food Vegans Thin But Healthy, Study Finds (posted 03/29/05)
People who adhere strictly to raw food vegetarian diets are thin but have surprisingly robust bones, US researchers reported on Monday.
Green Group Plans New Pollution Suit Against AEP (posted 03/29/05)
An environmental group said Monday it intends to file a federal lawsuit claiming that US power company American Electric Power Co. Inc. burned hazardous waste material at a Texas plant.
Toyota to Launch Lexus RX 400h Hybrid SUV (posted 03/29/05)
The vehicles will go on sale April 15, the federal deadline for filing taxes, as a 2006 model-year vehicle.
Free white paper from Symantec (posted 03/29/05)
Electric utilities interconnect more control systems with public networks every year, opening them to malicious attacks. Core EMA and SCADA systems were designed for reliability and standardization, but long before cybersecurity became a priority.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio Campaigns for Clean Water (posted 03/28/05)
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio helped environmentalists launch an international campaign Tuesday to draw attention to the billion people worldwide who don't have access to clean water.
Astronauts' sweat provides water for drinking (posted 03/28/05)
How do you quench someone's thirst when there is plenty of water, but not a drop of it is drinkable?
China, U.S. interests conflict ; Competion for oil in Middle East increasing (posted 03/28/05)
China's agenda is so different that it threatens to seriously undermine American initiatives in the Middle East.
Dozens of States Declare Support for Nuclear Power (posted 03/28/05)
PARIS — Nuclear power can play a key role in the 21st century in helping nations meet their energy needs and reduce the spread of greenhouse gases, a statement backed by nearly all 74 states at a nuclear conference said.
Energy Crisis Fuels Revival of Uranium Mining (posted 03/28/05)
The rough and rocky terrain of southwest Colorado is once again luring miners with its promise of yellow wealth -- not gold, but uranium.
EPA Chided for Disregarding Study of Benefits from Mercury Curbs (posted 03/28/05)
"Why is the EPA suppressing the evidence that mercury pollution can be controlled better and faster?" asked Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Government Issues Guidelines for Tracking Greenhouse Gas Reductions (posted 03/28/05)
The government will start keeping track of all the "greenhouse" gases that farmers and foresters voluntarily reduce to help combat global warming.
Governor opposes Yucca N-dump, wants to keep the waste where it is (posted 03/28/05)
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Thursday he does not support dumping the nation's radioactive waste at Nevada's Yucca Mountain -- a position that separates the new governor from Utah's two U.S. senators.
India, U.S. Agree to Push Defense, Energy Ties (posted 03/28/05)
India and the United States have agreed to a series of steps to boost defense and energy ties, the foreign ministry said, as Washington announced it would sell F-16 fighters to Pakistan.
Kyoto Protocol Tough for Emerging Economies (posted 03/28/05)
It will be impossible for emerging industrial powers such as China and South Korea ever to comply with the U.N. Kyoto Protocol on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, South Korea's environment minister said on Thursday.
Lawmakers seek Plan B for nuclear waste (posted 03/28/05)
As problems mount with the government's plan to open a national nuclear waste dump in Nevada, lawmakers and industry officials are increasingly pushing for a Plan B.
Maryland Senators Concerned By Power Plant Pollutant Bill (posted 03/28/05)
Senators heatedly debated a bill yesterday that would require Maryland's oldest power plants to reduce emissions of four pollutants by 2011.
Most who attended Urbana, Md., meeting disapproved of power line plan (posted 03/28/05)
So great was their number, they jammed the door and had to step back and let people trickle in two by two as if it was a dance.
OPEC basket price should be $32-38 based on fundamentals: Purnomo (posted 03/28/05)
The price of OPEC's basket of seven crudes should be between $32-38/bbl based on inflation, exchange rate and demand-supply fundamentals, and current high prices are due to non-fundamental factors
Probes begin into cause of fatal BP Texas City refinery explosion (posted 03/28/05)
Investigations into the cause of the deadly explosion and fire that rocked BP's 460,000 b/d Texas City, Texas, refinery Wednesday have begun, following an end to the recovery phase of activity
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity (posted 03/28/05)
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods. Solar wind speed, which is elevated due to a high speed coronal hole stream, is in decline. The wind speed began the period near 650 km/s, but gradually weakened to around 550 km/s.
Scientists warn of earthquake risks for many Russian power plants (posted 03/28/05)
Russian scientists have warned that many of the country's nuclear, hydroelectric and thermal power plants are situated in earthquake-prone areas
Strong earthquake hits off Indonesia island (posted 03/28/05)
A large earthquake struck off the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island late Monday, and the U.S. Geological Survey said it was a major quake measuring a magnitude of 8.2.
Study Points Out Presence of Antibiotics in Waterways (posted 03/28/05)
Antibiotics found in waterways pose a potential threat to aquatic ecosystems and possibly human health, according to research recently published in Elsevier's Marine Pollution Bulletin.
US Senate committee unlikely to ratify sea treaty soon: spokesman (posted 03/28/05)
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has no immediate plans to
take up
ratification of a treaty that some observers say would cede regulation over
much of the world's deepsea energy exploration industry to the United Nations
WEF Commemorates World Water Day 2005 (posted 03/28/05)
The decade of action, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 2003, calls for an increased global focus on water-related issues and encourages greater participation and cooperation on all levels
Did you know that the launching mechanism of an aircraft carrier ship that helps planes to take off could throw a pickup truck over a mile?
Alexandra Paul: Action Hero (posted 03/26/05)
Utility asks to store radioactive fuel in San Luis Obispo (posted 03/25/05)
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wants to create additional storage at Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant for highly radioactive used fuel.
Pennsylvania Becomes Member of EPA's Green Power Partnership (posted 03/25/05)
"Being named to this partnership is recognition of the Rendell Administration's aggressive efforts and the Legislature's recent actions on measures that are helping to make Pennsylvania a national leader
Cracks Worry at Nuclear Reactor (posted 03/25/05)
British Energy (BE) has previously stressed that cracks, found in graphite bricks around one of the two reactors in December, pose no risk to safety.
New Nuclear Plant Needed to Keep Lights on, Say MPs (posted 03/25/05)
A NEW nuclear power station may be necessary to prevent the "lights going out" in Scotland in the not-too-distant future, according to MPs.
The Canadian Hydropower Association Addresses the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable (posted 03/25/05)
"To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Renewable energy and energy efficiency can help us achieve that goal.
PG&E to abandon 2 Shasta County dams (posted 03/25/05)
California's largest utility said Wednesday it will not renew its license to operate a small Shasta County hydroelectric project, dedicating the water instead to threatened salmon and steelhead trout.
DOE Awards $87.5 Million to Develop Vehicle Fuel Efficiency (posted 03/25/05)
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it will award $87.5 million to 12 projects that will develop more fuel-efficient passenger and commercial vehicles.
New Mexico Legislature Passes Energy Efficiency Bill (posted 03/25/05)
Last week, the New Mexico state legislature passed, by unanimous vote, HB 32, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bonding Act. The bill will allow the state to sell $20 million in bonds to fund solar and energy efficiency retrofits for state-owned buildings and schools.
Researchers Develop Membrane-Free Alkaline Fuel Cell (posted 03/25/05)
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a membraneless alkaline fuel cell that can operate without a solid membrane separating fuel and oxidant
Hydrogenics Signs Fuel Cell Agreement with Hitachi Zosen (posted 03/25/05)
"Japan is one the key countries leading the hydrogen economy, and this agreement with Hitz will help Hydrogenics take advantage of these opportunities,"
75 Percent of Scots Favor Wind Energy (posted 03/24/05)
The Scottish people overwhelmingly support using wind power to meet the country's energy needs, backers of the Embrace the Revolution campaign said.
Biggest energy assistance program to be cut by 4.4 % (posted 03/24/05)
For Betty Jenkins and thousands of other Missourians, juggling grocery, utility and medical bills on a fixed income is a day-to-day struggle. The task becomes even more daunting when temperatures dip and home-heating bills reach triple digits, she said.
Biodiesel fans show their go-power (posted 03/24/05)
Carolyn Stein, 35, of
Eugene drove a biodiesel-powered Volkswagen Passat to the state Capitol to make
a point.
"It (biodiesel) is not just for subversives," Stein said. "I'm a
stay-at-home mom with two kids."
Bush says US needs to work with Canada, Mexico on LNG imports (posted 03/24/05)
The US, Canada and Mexico need to work in concert to ensure the
three
countries tap the world's natural gas supplies via growing liquefied natural
gas imports
Calif. energy supplies sufficient to meet summer demand (posted 03/24/05)
But supplies may be a touch tighter than previously expected in Southern California during hot weather, according to the assessment.
Canada to newly study polar natural gas projects (posted 03/24/05)
The quest for natural gas is reaching all the way to the fabled Northwest Passage and discoveries that have hibernated since adventurous drilling hit gushers in the Arctic islands during the 1970s energy crisis.
CERI challenges downward trend of US gas production (posted 03/24/05)
Kuuskraa said the US is not running out of natural gas, only shallow and easy-to-find-and-produce gas. The speaker said there are massive volumes of gas that still remain locked in domestic reservoirs, primarily tight gas sands, gas shales, and coalbed methane basins.
CH2M-WGI wins $2.9-billion DOE cleanup contract (posted 03/24/05)
The contract specifically states that the 2,600 employees now employed by the cleanup program at Idaho National Laboratory will be offered employment by CH2M-WGI.
China and India mull energy partnership (posted 03/24/05)
Former rivals India and China are being driven closer by another thing they have in common besides a massive population -- a growing hunger for energy to fuel their fast-paced economic development.
China to accelerate oil exploration to meet energy shortages (posted 03/24/05)
China plans to accelerate oil, gas and shale-oil exploration this year to meet increasing energy shortages and limit construction of certain power plants to reduce the strain on coal supplies and cut pollution.
Ecuador tribes vow to fight oil threat (posted 03/24/05)
One of South America's poorest countries, Ecuador, is believed to be sitting on huge untapped reserves of oil and gas. Much of it, though, lies beneath remote areas of the Amazon rainforest. Now the indigenous people of the region are starting to organise themselves politically in a bid to keep the oilmen out of their ancestral homes.
Ethanol Joins Fuel Mainstream With CBOT Contract (posted 03/24/05)
Ethanol's role as a viable alternative fuel marched ahead on Wednesday as the Chicago Board of Trade added corn-based ethanol to its stable of agricultural contracts, helping US producers and users manage market risk.
EU Leaders Drop 2050 Emissions Reduction Target (posted 03/24/05)
European Union leaders backed a goal for ambitious cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020 on Wednesday but dropped a longer-term target for 2050, despite support from environment ministers earlier this month.
Europe Nuclear Revival Depends on Government Help (posted 03/24/05)
Nuclear power is back in vogue but talk of a revival in Europe may be premature unless governments offer incentives to persuade companies to invest in new reactors, analysts say.
Foreign investors consider renewing Iraq-Haifa oil pipeline (posted 03/24/05)
Sources inform that a number of foreign consortia, consisting mostly of US investors, recently contacted Israeli government agencies and government company Petroleum and Energy Infrastructures with proposals to renew the oil pipeline to Iraq.
Gearing Up for a Second 'Gas War' (posted 03/24/05)
Bolivia remained paralysed Tuesday by roadblocks and protests demanding the nationalisation of the country's natural gas wealth.
House panel to look into Yucca Mt allegations (posted 03/24/05)
A House panel will probe allegations that some documents were falsified on the DOE repository project at Yucca Mountain
Hyflux Seeking to Quench World's Thirst For Water (posted 03/24/05)
Olivia Lum, founder and chief of water treatment group Hyflux Ltd., reckons fresh water will someday be more valuable than crude oil.
Iran plans oil reforms to attract greater investment (posted 03/24/05)
Iran, the second largest producer in OPEC, is planning reform to make its oil projects more attractive to international energy groups.
Iraq's economy is held hostage to acts of violence (posted 03/24/05)
Two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the tattered and dangerous country has become one of the world's poorest, ranking at the level of Haiti and Senegal, with insurgents working to wreck the economy as fast as the U.S. and Iraqi governments can restore it.
Is Venezuela being destroyed by Chavez? (posted 03/24/05)
Most of the positive, true human values, are found within the reality of the 80 % majority (thankfully)... while most of the blandness and selfishness lies within the boundaries of the 20 % (luckily so). This is my perception... accumulated over a period of 28 years of travelling and/or living and/or working in Venezuela.
Kurds want oil ministry in Iraq and north oil company (posted 03/24/05)
"We have agreed that there should be a north oil company to develop the northern oil fields and agreed some general terms that some oil revenues should be spent on projects for the region.
Land Conflicts - Another Source of Tension (posted 03/24/05)
”Why are we fighting the transnational oil, mining or logging corporations? Because they are destroying the earth: to produce gold they have polluted the water with cyanide, lime and mercury, or they install a gas pipeline with no benefits going to the indigenous people,”
Latin America gets a sweet taste of China’s oil diplomacy (posted 03/24/05)
Latin America is becoming a rich destination for China in its global quest for energy, with the Chinese quickly signing accords with Venezuela, investing in largely untapped markets like Peru and exploring possibilities in Bolivia and Colombia.
Maker of water-powered car still fighting after 30 years (posted 03/24/05)
Today, 30 years later, inventor Daniel Dingel is driving around in the only water-powered car in the world, still complaining that Filipino government officials and scientists refuse to support his invention.
Mr Bush wants the oil which belongs to the Venezuela people (posted 03/24/05)
Since November the government has raised the royalty on projects involving its plentiful heavy crude and all foreign companies have been told it would review deals made over the past decade, and suggested it might sell its refineries in Europe and the US.
New Offensive for Oil Drilling in the Arctic (posted 03/24/05)
After a Senate vote this week, the George W. Bush administration is treating the issue of oil drilling in a pristine Alaskan wildlife refuge as fait accompli. But some oil companies seem to be taking a cautious attitude
New technology could make great impact on US alternative energies (posted 03/24/05)
Government officials can foresee technology created at Clarkson University to produce a cleaner-burning blend of diesel fuel making a significant impact in the US alternative energies market.
Oil and gas disclosure rules must change (posted 03/24/05)
With oil companies facing increased scrutiny over how they account for their underground assets, an industry research firm said that the rules governing how companies disclose their oil and gas reserves should be rewritten to reflect changes in the last three decades.
Oil demands bring change to strategic face of Asia (posted 03/24/05)
The relentless demands of the world energy market have brought three major nations of Southern and Southwest Asia into a new partnership that crosses and obliterates old rivalries and tensions.
Our Glass Is Only Half Full (posted 03/24/05)
Monks, priests, shamans and followers of a dozen different religions spoke at U.N. headquarters Tuesday to mark the first World Water Day in the U.N.'s "Water for Life" decade and to pray for what is the most widely shared resource in the world -- fresh water.
Progress and Pitfalls on the Road to Zero Hunger (posted 03/24/05)
Two years after its launch, the Brazilian government's Zero Hunger Programme has yielded some impressive results, like the 6.5 million families provided with special grants, but it has also earned its share of criticism.
Rodriguez's speech points to growing friction with Bush (posted 03/24/05)
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez warned that the Bush administration may be plotting to overthrow his country's leftist leader, Hugo Chavez, in what he called a throwback to Washington's long history of gunboat diplomacy in Latin America.
Saudi Arabia insists that current oil prices are unrealistically high (posted 03/24/05)
"we don't see shortage in the physical supply of crude oil." He added that global markets are "fairly stretched out" due to shipping pressures to meet rising demand in China, India and the United States.
Texas City blast occurred in isomerization unit (posted 03/24/05)
The unit produces components used to increase the octane level in gasoline
Deadly Explosion Rocks BP Texas Refinery (posted 03/24/05)
The company said it did not suspect a terrorist attack was behind the blast, which caused several scattered fires at the plant that took firefighters about two hours to extinguish.
US sees labour shortage in oil fields (posted 03/24/05)
Years after plummeting prices dismantled its infrastructure and decimated its work force, the nation's oil and gas industry is contending with a labour shortage -- just as demand and prices are soaring again.
Venezuela expresses keenness on oil supply to India (posted 03/24/05)
Chavez is seeking new markets to reduce Venezuela's dependence on oil sale to the United States.
Weather Lifts Western Europe Crops, Worries in France (posted 03/24/05)
Good growing weather has lifted grain crop prospects in much of western Europe, but a lack of rain in parts of France is stoking fears of a repeat of the damaging 2003 drought
Will the Iran-India gas pipeline promote peace? (posted 03/24/05)
Iran and India have been talking since the mid-1990s on a giant gas pipeline to run across Pakistan but strained relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have led to few results.
World crude prices become more volatile (posted 03/24/05)
Among a number of factors which contributed to the price surge, analysts said the most important one was tight supply, as the world's demand was increasing faster than the supply.
Aviation company to buy green power (posted 03/23/05)
A U.S.-based aviation electronic and communication company will purchase 10,000 MWh of green power to offset its carbon emissions.
Billions of new investment needed in U.S. to meet state RPS (posted 03/23/05)
The United States must invest US$53 billion if it is to meet its green power goals during the next 15 years, says a market study.
Biodiesel Mandate for Navy and Marine Facilities (posted 03/23/05)
Beginning June 1, 2005 all U.S. Navy and Marine non-tactical diesel vehicles will be required to operate on a B20 (20 percent) biodiesel blend
Clean Edge Report Forecasts Solar Photovoltaics, Wind Energy, and Fuel Cells to Exceed $100 Billion Market by 2014 (posted 03/23/05)
Markets for solar energy, wind energy, and fuel cells are poised to grow from $16 billion in global revenues in 2004 to more than $100 billion by 2014
Consumers Said They Would Buy Clean Energy In 2004 But Few Did (posted 03/23/05)
75 percent of Americans believe global warming is a real problem requiring action....80 percent say President Bush should develop a plan to reduce such emissions....80 percent of residents, according to the survey, were favorably disposed to renewable energy and said they would prefer it over more traditional forms of power
Encore Clean Energy, Inc. Demonstrates Breakthrough Power Source (posted 03/23/05)
confirming its extraordinary ability to convert both low and high temperature heat resources into electricity.
Ener1 to Create Fuel Cells Powered by Florida Citrus Peel (posted 03/23/05)
Researchers at Ener1 Inc. a developer of lithium batteries and fuel cells, reported that eight million tons of orange peel waste that mostly goes to cattle feed could be used to create power.
G8 agrees African agenda (posted 03/23/05)
'It is disturbing that scientists tell us that climate change will mean Africa can expect more frequent droughts and more serious floods. This will severely affect farming, health and infrastructure, undermining efforts to tackle Africa's poverty,” said UK Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. “Our discussions represent a significant step forward in tackling the growing problem of climate change and will help to save lives.
Green Energy Resources to Open Port (posted 03/23/05)
The port will export up to 1 million tons annually of wood biomass internationally. The renewable energy industry has created an opportunity for the United States to become energy exporters.
Greenhouse gas emissions down--in UK (posted 03/23/05)
New figures released this week by Defra show a 1% per year drop in the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, putting the country on track to meet its Kyoto targets
GT Equipment Technologies Calls for U.S. Solar Tax Credit (posted 03/23/05)
GT Equipment Technologies, Inc., the only worldwide company that designs, manufactures and installs turn-key fabrication lines for all three stages of the photovoltaic manufacturing chain...urging them to support a renewable energy tax credit of 10% to 15% for residential solar (photovoltaic) in the comprehensive energy legislation
'Kifaya' Mantra Also Resounds in UAE (posted 03/23/05)
A new word is resounding in the Arab world - 'kifaya', Arabic for 'enough'. Many Arabs are fed-up and want their freedom
Mayor Joins Effort to Make LA a "Solar City" (posted 03/23/05)
"The writing is on the wall...California, Arizona,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, Chicago...all these states and
cities are seeing the potential of solar energy and LA should be at the front of
the pack."
- Los Angeles Mayor Hahn
North California power outlook looks strong (posted 03/23/05)
Enough power will be on hand in Northern California this summer to meet energy needs at times of peak demand, provide backup here, and even send surplus megawatts to reduce the threat of blackouts in Southern California, state analysts said at a hearing Monday.
Renewable energy could spark 43,000 jobs in NY alone (posted 03/23/05)
New York could create 43,000 jobs by 2013 if the state committed to source 25% of its electricity from green power, says an economic report from the state comptroller.
Renewable energy given priority--in China (posted 03/23/05)
An eagerly anticipated law on the usage of renewable energy will come into force in January 2006.
Senate Energy Committee Considers Federal RPS (posted 03/23/05)
I think a portfolio standard should go beyond wind, solar,
and geothermal energy to include renewable energy like hydropower and clean
alternatives such as coal gasification, clean coal, nuclear energy, and,
finally, credits for achieving new levels of efficiency and conservation."
- Senate Energy Committee chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.)
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #05- 12 (posted 03/23/05)
Category G1 - minor geomagnetic storming is possible on 26 - 27 March due to high speed solar winds from a coronal hole.
Toyota Aims to Sell 62,000 Hybrid SUVs in 2005 (posted 03/23/05)
Toyota Motor Corp. said it planned to sell a combined 62,000 units of its two new hybrid sport utility vehicles (SUVs) worldwide this year, with sales starting in most major markets over the next three months.
U.S. needs a profit model for energy efficiency (posted 03/23/05)
I take issue with his casual characterization of solar power as "a pure, green source of energy."
US greens continue Arctic fight (posted 03/23/05)
The issue has become one of the key objections of US environmentalists to the Bush Administration.
When Carbon Becomes Money (posted 03/23/05)
"The price of the privilege of releasing a ton of CO2 or its equivalent into the atmosphere will start to exert an influence over economic decision making in the halls of the most powerful governments and inside the boardrooms of the world's biggest corporations. "
Windpower is no energy panacea (posted 03/23/05)
if all of our country's electricity were to be generated by nuclear power, would be equivalent to an overweight person increasing his weight by 0.3 ounces.
4th Largest Energy in World Seeks #1 (posted 03/22/05)
Green Energy Resources met coal producers to discuss cofiring and development of premixed fuels.
18th Annual North American Gas Strategies Conference (posted 03/22/05)
the Alaska Gas Pipeline is the single largest U.S. energy project in at least several decades and ONLY major domestic solution that enhances US energy supply security.
| ANWR Vote Might Change Energy Landscape (UtiliPoint.com - Mar. 21, 2005) (posted 03/22/05) |
| UtiliPoint.com - Mar. 21, 2005 - President Bush may be about to claim his biggest energy prize to date: A national policy to allow for the drilling of oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now that the Senate has voted to permit such activity, the measure will be attached to a broader budget bill. If passed, surveys to begin the initial phases of drilling could begin next year. |
| Mar 21, 2005 PowerMarketers Industry Publications |
Barge grounded in Washington State, but no leaks reported (posted 03/22/05)
A barge that ran aground during severe weather in Ilwaco, Washington, over the weekend has not yet begun to leak
China Takes Over as Leading Consumer (posted 03/22/05)
Although the United States has long consumed the lion's share of the world's resources, this situation is changing fast as the Chinese economy surges ahead
Clear Skies or Storm Front on Horizon? (posted 03/22/05)
This week's defeat of the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" legislation does not mean the debate over air quality and greenhouse gas emissions controls is over. Far from it.
DaimlerChrysler Plans First Hydrogen Car Sale for 2012 (posted 03/22/05)
The firm has sent 60 Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars to Japan, Germany, Singapore and the United States for tests. The Mercedes car uses fuel cell technology where electricity is generated through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and air, emitting only water vapor.
Group Plans to Sue Over Arizona River (posted 03/22/05)
Claims Fort Huachuca's expansion is hurting the river's water table and its species diversity.
Indian tribe nears wind turbine deal (posted 03/22/05)
A California Indian tribe was on its way Sunday to becoming the first to have its own commercial wind-energy turbines.
Indonesia misses out on oil market windfall (posted 03/22/05)
Indonesia's oil industry, like the refinery, has been burning money for years, squandering the nation's mineral wealth through underinvestment, bureaucracy, corruption and a wariness of multinational companies.
Nextek Provides Grid-Connected Solar System (posted 03/22/05)
Nextek Power Systems Inc. (Ronkonkoma, NY) announced that the California Energy Commission's Rule 21 Working Group determined that grid-connected, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed using the Nextek technology do not require a utility interconnect agreement.
Nuclear Energy May Be Back in Vogue, UN Says (posted 03/22/05)
Expectations of a sharp rise in energy demand and the risk of climate change are pushing many countries to return to the idea of nuclear power
Rains Help Mexico Repay Water It Owes U.S., but could New Drought Bring New Debt? (posted 03/22/05)
For 12 lean years, Mexico prayed for rain, hoping the water it owed the United States would pour from parched skies over the Rio Grande Basin.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity (posted 03/22/05)
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels.
Saudi Canadia? Indeed (posted 03/22/05)
So little attention has been paid to Alberta's massive 175 billion barrels of oil reserves. He should therefore be pleased that, on Tuesday, the government of Alberta will be opening an office in Washington, one of the express purposes of which is to inform Americans of the vast storehouse of secure, proven energy reserves that lie just across their northern border.
Scientists: Road Salt Harms Environment (posted 03/22/05)
The use of salt to melt snow and ice from slippery roads has an environmental downside that can affect a widespread area long after winter has passed, scientists say.
See The Future At Hydrogen Expo USA (posted 03/22/05)
A flashy hydrogen race car, 15 hydrogen fueled vehicles and the latest in hydrogen infrastructure technology and fuel cell design – this year's Hydrogen Expo USA
Stress May Bring Sumatra Quake, Experts Say (posted 03/22/05)
A buildup of stress on faults in Sumatra is likely to trigger another large earthquake -- and potentially another tsunami -- in the Indian Ocean region, seismologists say.
Survey Shows Myanmar's Marine Mammals Not Harmed by Tsunami (posted 03/22/05)
"The survey has dispelled concerns that (whale and dolphin) habitats may have been damaged by the December 26 tsunami,"
U.S. utilities will need to plan, finance, and build more than 52,000 MW of renewable capacity (posted 03/22/05)
Over the past 30 years, the promise of renewable energy has been touted widely, but the delivery has often fallen short. So, here in 2005, how is it different?
Umbra on Hybrids vs. Biodiesel (posted 03/22/05)
I've recently become enamored with biodiesel vehicles, and specifically with straight vegetable oil (SVO) vehicles. I'm interested in investing in an SVO system fueled by, hopefully, recycled oil from local restaurants.
US senator introduces bill to revamp LNG terminal siting process (posted 03/22/05)
a bill that would require FERC to work with states to pursue a regional approach to approving LNG terminals
Green Households to Get Pounds 600 Tax Breaks (posted 03/21/05)
ENGLAND Homeowners will get tax cuts of up to pounds 600 for making their houses "green" and energy efficient, under official plans to combat global warming.
‘Clean’ coal doesn’t do much to protect environment (posted 03/21/05)
Talk of "clean coal" focuses only on reducing some pollutants released into the air when we burn coal for electricity. Such talk completely ignores massively destructive coal extraction techniques. Mountaintop removal is not "clean."
Officials predict no energy crisis from dry winter (posted 03/21/05)
Drought may be threatening the Pacific Northwest and its hydroelectric capacity, but there will be no repeat of the 2000-01 Western energy crisis despite predictions of higher prices, officials said yesterday.
UN Pilot Project Aims to Give Africa Clean Energy (posted 03/21/05)
As heavily indebted Africa sinks under rising oil prices, a UN-sponsored project aims to give the continent access to vast reserves of cheap, clean energy.
Quote of the day (posted 03/21/05)
"There is plenty of supply. What we in Saudi Arabia want is to alleviate this unnecessary concern about shortage of supply. I have said before that we in Saudi Arabia don't like high prices that negatively impact economic growth, particularly of developing nations."
Senator wins White House pledge to extend Florida drilling ban (posted 03/21/05)
US Senator Mel Martinez said Monday he agreed to vote to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling in exchange for a Bush administration promise to extend by at least five years to 2012 the current moratorium on drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast.
New Mexico Commits $20 Million for Solar Energy (posted 03/21/05)
"By putting solar on state buildings and schools, the New Mexico Legislature is putting its money where its mouth is and leading the country in a more sustainable direction."
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity (posted 03/21/05)
Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels.
Grassroots Arizona refinery looking up (posted 03/21/05)
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to approve an air permit for the new site of a planned 150,000 b/d Arizona Clean Fuels Yuma refinery
Coal, nuclear plants provide over 75% of German power in 2004 (posted 03/21/05)
Coal and nuclear energy accounted for more than three quarters
of German
electricity generation in 2004, with coal accounting for almost half of it,
the association of German power suppliers
Nevada asks attorney general, FBI to investigate allegations (posted 03/21/05)
Nevada officials are asking the U.S. Attorney General and the FBI to investigate allegations that some documents on DOE's repository program at Yucca Mountain, Nev. had been falsified and to protect all records associated with the program from manipulation.
Idaho Senate Finalizes Water Deal with Tribe (posted 03/21/05)
The Idaho state Legislature yesterday ratified a historic agreement between the federal government, the Nez Perce Indian Tribe and the state's water users, setting water policy in Idaho for the next 30 years.
Groups Say NRC Blocked Safety Report (posted 03/21/05)
A coalition of 47 grassroots and public-interest groups have charged the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission with blocking the release of a national report focused on the safety and security of nuclear spent fuel storage.
Florida Senate Bill Allows Rate Hike to Spur Renewable Energy (posted 03/21/05)
Florida utilities wanting to use renewable energy sources such as solar, waste or wind would be allowed to charge customers extra for their trouble under a bill making its way through the state Senate.
Energy ministers of Russia, France, Spain and Germany to get together in Moscow (posted 03/21/05)
Cooperation between the European Union and Russia in energy field will be discussed in the course of the meeting.
“Marketbuzz 2005” Report Reviews Solar Market (posted 03/18/05)
World solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations grew to 927 Megawatts in 2004, representing growth of 62 percent over 2003
Any impact from OPEC ceiling hike depends on Saudis (posted 03/18/05)
"What really is going to be key is Saudi production, in
particular over the
next several months to see whether they increase, because they are the ones
that have some unused production capacity
Norton says ANWR drilling important for future US energy supplies (posted 03/18/05)
US Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton said Thursday oil and
gas drilling in
Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was crucial in order to ensure
continued supplies of domestic energy amid an increasingly competitive global
market.
Crude price rise biggest reason for gas run-up (posted 03/18/05)
Toews said that "as long as the supply of natural gas doesn't increase to meet demand, this will continue to be the case. If you look at the balancing of the market, it's not due to increased supply of natural gas, it is due to decreased demand of natural gas.
Gas prices expected to decline slightly in 2005, S&P says (posted 03/18/05)
Natural gas prices are expected to decline slightly in 2005
N.J. Gags on New Rule to Clean Up Mercury (posted 03/18/05)
New Jersey will sue to overturn a new Bush administration policy they say sets a far-too-liberal deadline for power plants to cut toxic mercury emissions, officials said Tuesday.
Fitch: U.S. Public Power Sector Stable, But for How Long? (posted 03/18/05)
"Public power was largely unscathed by the credit inferno that affected the rest of the utilities sector
Political commitment is needed to promote renewables, says U.S. report (posted 03/18/05)
The “extraordinary level of political commitment” in Denmark and Germany is a key reason why penetration of renewable energy in those countries is more advanced than in the United States.
Extension of U.S. tax credit would help wind and geothermal but not solar (posted 03/18/05)
Extension of the U.S. federal production tax credit would reduce the cost of new wind power in that country to 2.9¢/kWh by 2010.
Europe to prioritize renewables over the next ten years (posted 03/18/05)
Promotion of renewable energy is one of the six key priorities for the European Commission over the next five years.
Bush urges Congress to overhaul U.S. energy policy (posted 03/18/05)
Renewable energy is one of four objectives that must be included in federal energy legislation, says U.S. president George Bush.
Was Yucca data falsified? (posted 03/18/05)
Another roadblock went up Wednesday in front of the planned Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada, with claims that federal scientific studies were falsified.
Mexico's Pemex Cleans Another Oil Pipeline Spill (posted 03/18/05)
Workers at Mexico's state oil monopoly Pemex spent Wednesday cleaning up yet another oil spill, the latest in a series of leaks in recent months from its old and rusting pipeline network.
Thai Farmers Pray For Rain as Drought Bites Hard (posted 03/18/05)
This is the worst drought in my whole life," Luen, 54, told Reuters in her rice field in Phimai district, about 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Bangkok.
POLL - Americans See Fuel Efficient Cars as "Patriotic" (posted 03/18/05)
Most Americans believe it is "patriotic" to buy a fuel-efficient vehicle to help wean their country off Middle Eastern oil
No Stopping Global Warming, Studies Predict (posted 03/18/05)
Even if people stopped pumping out carbon dioxide and other pollutants tomorrow, global warming would still get worse, two teams of researchers reported on Thursday.
Mercury Pollution, Autism Link Found - US Study (posted 03/18/05)
Mercury released primarily from coal-fired power plants may be contributing to an increase in the number of cases of autism
No Drought Relief in US Northwest Seen (posted 03/18/05)
Spring rains will provide the Pacific Northwest with only limited relief from a drought, US government forecasters said Thursday, increasing the risk of wildfires in the region.
EV1 Aficionados Fight GM over Electric Car (posted 03/18/05)
More than 70 EV1s had been stored at the center, and were destined to be destroyed at a recycling plant near Mesa, AZ.
Solar and Geophysical Activity (posted 03/18/05)
Solar activity has been very low. Only B-class events have been observed.
The geomagnetic field has been quiet to active.
Good news to share in New Mexico and California (posted 03/18/05)
Yesterday, the same day that the US Senate controversially voted to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and crude oil prices reached $57 a barrel for the first time, New Mexico voted to go solar.
CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM'S IMPACTS ON CRITICAL BIRD POPULATIONS (posted 03/18/05)
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are providing $367,000 in funding for research to examine the effects of USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on duck, northern bobwhite quail and pheasant populations.
Renewable energy proponents face challenges on path to benefits for farmers (posted 03/17/05)
Renewable energy has the potential to provide agriculture with abundant opportunities, but the industry has some challenges to overcome before the majority of farmers in the Northern Plains and Montana can reap economic benefits
OPEC ups call on own crude for 2005 (posted 03/17/05)
OPEC has raised its estimate of world oil consumption in the
second quarter
and for the full year because of faster-than-expected economic growth in a
number of OECD countries and China.
High oil prices seen denting global economy (posted 03/17/05)
The OPEC minister agreed Wednesday in Iran to increase the cartel's production ceiling by 500,000 b/d
OPEC to discuss new hike next week if prices stay high (posted 03/17/05)
OPEC President Sheikh Ahmed Fahed al-Sabah said Thursday he will begin talks with other ministers next week on adding another 500,000 b/d to the group's output ceiling should prices remain at current levels.
US GAO calls for 'fundamental re-examination' of US energy policy (posted 03/17/05)
US cannot count on a continuation of "plentiful and
relatively cheap energy"
in the 21st century. The "energy systems" that fueled US economic
growth in the 20th century "are showing increasing signs of strain and
instability, and the consequences of our energy choices on the natural
environment are becoming more apparent.
Senate defeats move to pull ANWR provision from budget resolution (posted 03/17/05)
The US Senate, by the narrowest of margins, voted Wednesday to
keep a
provision in the budget resolution that paves the way for oil and gas
development on the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Bush is 'concerned' about energy prices (posted 03/17/05)
"I am concerned about the price of energy," Bush said in response to a question about surging crude oil and gasoline prices. "I'm concerned about what it means to the average American family when they see the price of gasoline going up," he said.
USGS employees say Yucca Mt project procedures were violated (posted 03/17/05)
"Serious questions" have been raised about possible
quality assurance (QA)
improprieties by a handful of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Osmosis as Energy Source (posted 03/17/05)
Pressure Differential between Salt Water and Fresh Water New Renewable Energy Source
From Bio to Chemistry (posted 03/17/05)
The reorientation from fossil to biological commodities is an important issue for the chemical industry.
Canada's Wind Power Capacity Jumps Almost 25 Percent (posted 03/17/05)
Canada's wind-power capacity, already the fastest-growing form of electricity generation in Canada, took another significant step forward today with the announcement of funding for two new wind-power projects
Energy Still on Move in New Mexico (posted 03/17/05)
A package of administration-backed bills aimed at boosting New Mexico's renewable energy production have a good chance of passing in the final days of the legislative session
North Dakota officials says renewable fuel plans are in the works (posted 03/17/05)
It's too soon to write off the 2005 North Dakota Legislature for renewable fuels initiatives, or the state for that matter.
Colorado farmers, ranchers invest in wind-power project (posted 03/17/05)
For generations, southeast Colorado farmers and ranchers have endured unrelenting winds that scour the plains.
Emery
coal mine site all cleaned up (posted 03/17/05) When the bulk of the coal ran out, and no buyer could be found
for what remained, Utah Power faced a challenge -- reclaiming a mine site that
had been in operation for a century. Mercury
rules meet resistance (posted 03/17/05) All four of Maine's representatives in Congress
issued statements saying that the administration's approach, which relies on
market pressures to gain compliance, calls for too little in the way of
reductions that are spread out over too long a time frame. PG&E
to Pay for Chromium 6 Investigation in Arizona (posted 03/17/05) Arizona officials this
week announced they will begin a
$375,000 study to determine whether chromium 6
pollution from a Pacific Gas & Electric natural gas
compressor in California has contaminated groundwater
in Arizona. Washington
Water Worries Lead to Drought Declaration (posted 03/17/05) The disquieting news of
drought conditions in the state of
Washington will likely weigh on the minds of power
traders as we head into spring and prepare for summer
electricity demand. Gas Follows
Oil Upward (posted 03/17/05) The price of natural gas
on the spot market took its cue
from the rise in the cost of a barrel of oil this week.
As the per-barrel price closed in on the $55 mark, gas
costs throughout the West exceeded $6. Space
Weather Message Code (posted 03/17/05) ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 Key
Facts About ANWR's Land, Oil, Wildlife (posted 03/17/05) The
following are key facts about ANWR Caribbean
Vulnerable to Tsunami, Study Finds (posted 03/17/05) Large
cracks off the coast of Puerto Rico show there is a strong chance of quakes,
landslides and tsunamis in the Caribbean region World
Solar Industry Growth Jumped 70 Pct In 2004 (posted 03/17/05) Solar
electricity production growth jumped 67 percent last year as established
industry players increased output and new players entered the industry Tribe
Sues to Stop Yucca Storage Project (posted 03/17/05) The lawsuit, which at
times reads like the narrative
of a television documentary, ...The
treaty allows only certain permitted activities —mines,
ranches, settlements and military posts—regardless
of who holds title to the land, the
lawsuit explains. It also allows telegraph lines, stagecoach
service and railways. Clear
Skies Bill Suffers Defeat (posted 03/17/05) a proposal to revise
the definition of renewables to include nuclear
energy and coal is floated World
energy ministers meet in London for climate change summit (posted
03/16/05) Energy and environment ministers from twenty countries met in
London Tuesday for a two-day summit exploring how to combine global energy needs
with the challenges of climate change. "Well designed policies can actually
stimulate innovation and improve productivity Competing
camps decline to predict victory in ANWR vote (posted 03/16/05) The two camps dueling over whether there should be oil and gas
development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge presented their
respective arguments at separate press briefings Tuesday, but neither side
predicted outright victory when the Senate votes on the issue Administrative
declaration of a disaster for the State of Arizona (posted
03/16/05) This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster
for the State of Arizona, dated 03/02/2005. Incident: Strong Winter Storms. Recycling
success confirmed (posted 03/16/05) Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett
has announced that England successfully met and exceeded its recycling and
composting targets for household waste in the last two years, confirming
forecasts released earlier in the year. US
sought crude supply assurance ahead of OPEC meeting (posted
03/16/05) US energy secretary Samuel Bodman called Algerian oil minister
Chakib Khelil in the run up to Wednesday's OPEC meeting to ask oil producers to
ensure they would pump enough crude to meet demand US
EPA issues cap-and-trade mercury rule for power plants (posted
03/16/05) The US Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday issued a rule
aimed at Study says state
RPS's will add 52,000 MW of renewables by 2020 (posted 03/16/05) State laws requiring electric utilities to obtain a fixed
percentage of their generation from renewable fuels will drive the development
of as much as 52,000 MW of new renewable projects in the next 15 years and
require $53.4-bil in new investment $53
Billion in New Investment Required to Meet U.S. Renewable State Standards
(posted 03/16/05) Improving economics, technology advances and increasingly
favorable government policies are creating unprecedented opportunities for
52,000 MW of new capacity to meet the demand for renewable energy projects
according to a new study, Renewable Energy: The Bottom Line Texas
to Hit Renewable Energy Goal early (posted 03/16/05) Texas is expected to meet a 2009 mandate three years early by
sharply increasing the use of renewable energy to generate electricity. Wind
Turbine to Stir Up Renewable Energy Research (posted 03/16/05) A 230-foot wind turbine has powered its way to center stage at
the new Renewable Energy Research and Demonstration Center at the University of
Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) Conn.
Homeowners Warm Up to Solar Power (posted 03/16/05) The number of homes using the sun as a power source is expected
to more than double this year as Connecticut embraces solar power technology in
the face of higher energy costs. Ormat
Breaks Ground on New Geothermal Power Plant (posted 03/16/05) Known as the Galena Geothermal Project, when completed the plant
will be added to the existing Steamboat geothermal plants and bring the total
output from this geothermal complex to 44 megawatts of electricity Iraq
to Get Electricity From Jordan, Egypt (posted 03/16/05) Jordan and Egypt have agreed on providing Western Iraq with
electrical energy, separately from the Iraqi national electricity grid Five
West African Countries Plan Common Electricity Supply Network
(posted 03/16/05) Five countries from west African, including Nigeria that is rich
in oil and gas, are soliciting proposals for a possible interconnection project
of their electricity supply networks Gas
Price at Second Highest Level Ever (posted 03/16/05) The average price U.S. consumers pay to fill their cars with
gasoline climbed to the second highest level ever, and is less than a penny from
the all-time record Companies
will have option to cut mercury emissions, trade pollution credits
(posted 03/16/05) The U.S. government today is expected to announce
its first plan to cut toxic mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants. Global
Warming Threat Central To Policy - Britain (posted 03/16/05) Britain
told the world's biggest polluters including the United States on Tuesday that
only by placing the environment at the heart of economic policy could they
prevent a crisis caused by global warming. US
Senate to Vote on Alaska Refuge Oil Drilling (posted 03/16/05) Republicans
trying to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling said
Tuesday they had the votes to win US Senate approval of the controversial plan. Houstonians
Can Choose Wind Energy From Reliant (posted 03/16/05) Environment
and energy ministers from some of the world's biggest polluters - including the
United States - met on Tuesday spurred on by stark images of the ravages of
global warming. The Enemy Is Us
(posted 03/16/05) The lack of federal policy gains for renewable energy in the
United States has been disheartening, not just during the past four years but
even during the previous administration. Federal policymakers allowed tax
incentives to lapse, slashed and redirected renewable energy R&D budgets,
and put regulatory policy on hold indefinitely. China
Passes Renewable Energy Law (posted 03/16/05) China's Nanao wind farm will be followed by many others now the
the government has enacted a national renewable energy standard. Million
Solar Roof Initiative Sent to State Legislature (posted 03/16/05) With this initiative, California has linked its efforts to
Germany's and Japan's solar mobilization programs. Major
Fuel Cell Bus Funding Included in House Bill (posted 03/16/05) An eventual transition to a fuel cell / hydrogen based
transportation sector could see its first start in fleets of fuel cell buses Bill
to Expand Ethanol, Biodiesel Tax Credits (posted 03/16/05) "Most new-generation ethanol plants are designed to
produce at least 40 million or 50 million gallons annually, so the existing
definition limits many producers from benefiting from the tax credit." Solar
Power Market Potential is on the Roof (posted 03/16/05) "The whole point was trying to get investors to
understand that if they put money into this business the market is there." Wallenius
Wilhelmsen Develops Fuel Cell Carrier Ship (posted 03/16/05) an ocean transportation company, has developed a new power
concept for large carrier ships that utilizes fuel cells. SPACE
WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #05- 11 (posted 03/16/05) Category G1 - minor geomagnetic storming is
possible on 16 and 17 March due to high speed solar winds
from a coronal hole. A Mighty Wind
(posted 03/15/05) Thanks to the federal wind energy production tax credit (PTC)
that was renewed last fall, wind energy is experiencing yet another boom cycle. Alliant
Vice President of New Energy Resources (posted 03/15/05) the company is executing a strategy to divest its nuclear
generation and add wind energy, among other new plants. BLACKOUTS
AND BLUNDERS: The Failure of Electric Power Policies Part 1 (posted
03/15/05) The August 2003 Blackout of the Northeastern United States and
part of Canada occurred at a time of upheaval for the nation’s electric power
industry. For about a decade, the U.S. Federal Government had worked to
establish a wholesale electric energy market, open to all participants. BLACKOUTS
AND BLUNDERS: The Failure of Electric Power Policies Part 2 (posted
03/15/05) The operation of the bulk power electric system in the United
States is the responsibility of approximately 150 control areas. City
Looks to Turn Garbage to Energy (posted 03/15/05) Electricity generated from Tacoma's burned garbage might be sold
as environmentally friendly "green" power if the folks who manage the
city's refuse can find somebody willing to try. Consumers
Energy Seeks Bids For Independent Renewable Energy Projects (posted
03/15/05) Consumers Energy is seeking sources to supply 265,000
megawatt-hours of renewable energy. Distributed
Power, Inc. To Develop & Own 1.2 Megawatt Facility (posted
03/15/05) its proposal to develop and own a 1.2 megawatt cogeneration
facility at the site of a major California food processing company EPA
Issues Energy Star Challenge (posted 03/15/05) Today, EPA challenged commercial and institutional building
owners to improve energy efficiency by 10 percent or more to conserve energy,
save money and protect the environment. Essential
to economies, electric power is in the spotlight worldwide (posted
03/15/05) In the US, the overriding issue in the electric power industry
is the reliability of electricity delivery. Gas barge unSound?
(posted 03/15/05) Local lawmakers have been making a lot of
noise about the liquid natural gas terminal that an energy company wants to
plunk in the middle of the Long Island Sound. Gas
will cost less to use in 2005 than other energy sources (posted
03/15/05) Natural gas will cost less to use in the United States in 2005
than other Italy,
Democratic Republic of Congo sign clean energy deal (posted
03/15/05) The emission reduction credits generated by the projects would
be purchased by Italy's carbon fund. Libya's
Shatwan says $60/bbl oil would not hurt world economy (posted
03/15/05) Libyan oil minister Fathi bin Shatwan said Tuesday he did not
think the world economy would be hurt by oil price at $60/bbl although OPEC did
not want to see prices at that level. New
clean energy fund links with venture investors (posted 03/15/05) A new $30 million clean energy
investment fund created out of Pacific Gas and Electric's bankruptcy settlement
is announcing Monday that it has agreements with three venture capital firms,
two of which will provide matching money. Nuclear
reactor industry shows signs of revival Companies push for tax breaks
(posted 03/15/05) After years of dormancy, the U.S. nuclear
industry is stirring again, hoping that a friendly White House and Congress will
provide the tax dollars it needs for its first expansion in years to build more
plants in places like Clinton, Ill. OPEC
deal will increase ceiling either now or later: Kuwait (posted
03/15/05) "The resolution will say increase the ceiling but when and
how is the question," Photos
Show Climate Change As Ministers Meet In UK (posted 03/15/05) LONDON
- A photo of Mount Kilimanjaro stripped of its snowcap for the first time in
11,000 years will be used as dramatic testimony for action against global
warming as ministers from the world's biggest polluters meet on Tuesday. Power
bill could grow greener (posted 03/15/05) MONTPELIER — Members of a House committee working on a
renewable power bill already passed by the Senate are considering widening the
scope of the proposed law. Raising
OPEC output would have no impact on prices: Khelil (posted
03/15/05) Algerian oil minister Chakib Khelil said OPEC could raise its
production Regulators
rule against Enron BRIEFLY (posted 03/15/05) Government regulators handed a major victory to
U.S. Western utilities and cities trying to get out of exorbitant contracts they
made with Enron during the power crisis of 2000-01. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission determined that Enron was engaging in illegal activity at
the time it entered in the contracts. Arizona
Schools Engage Students with Alternative Fitness Opportunities
(posted 03/14/05) School officials and health advocates in the Phoenix area are
working to improve children's exercise habits with non-traditional fitness
methods such as yoga and hip-hop dance classes, the Arizona Republic
reports. Chloramines
Found to Cause Leaks in Copper Pipe Systems (posted 03/14/05) Your water might be safer, but your home is at risk of potential
water damage caused by the possible failure of state-mandated copper piping,
warns the California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors (CalPASC). Cuba's
Worst Drought in a Century Worsens (posted 03/14/05) Cuba's
worst drought in a century has left one in six Cubans without running water and
will get worse, a Cuban official warned on Friday, calling on the nation to save
water. Drought
Threatens Water Supply for 10 Percent of Portuguese (posted
03/14/05) A recent study said that a long-lasting drought threatens to
disrupt water supplies for 10 percent of Portugal's roughly 10 million residents
this year if it continues EPA
To Tighten Rules On Lead In Drinking Water (posted 03/14/05) EPA is initiating the Drinking Water Lead Reduction Plan to
strengthen, update and clarify existing requirements for water utilities and
states to test for and reduce lead in drinking water. Flash
Flood Demo Turns Rain into a Resource (posted 03/14/05) A new facility on the Open Charter Elementary School campus is
turning once wasted rain into a resource, and creating a model for managing
urban watersheds across the city and the nation. France
launches probe in Corsica as EDF ends power supply cuts (posted
03/14/05) The company said it was "forced" to cut supplies from
Feb 28 "to safeguard the electric system during a wave of exceptional
cold." Hackers
show power grid vulnerability (posted 03/14/05) Computer hackers have broken into computer systems at
electricity companies, suggesting a vulnerability of the United States' power
grid to terror attacks. Kuwaiti
oil minister: OPEC ceiling could be hiked at Mar 16 meet (posted
03/14/05) "Of course, the option of increasing production
exists," he said. Mexico,
U.S. to Reach Agreement on Water Debt (posted 03/14/05) Mexico and the U.S. have reached an agreement over water that
Texas has claimed its southern neighbor owes under a decades-old treaty. New
Report Card Shows Nation’s Infrastructure Deteriorating (posted
03/14/05) The condition of the nation’s public works infrastructure,
including transportation, drinking water and wastewater systems, has declined
overall since 2001 Onondaga
Indians Sue NY Over Land But Spurn Casino (posted 03/14/05) The
Onondaga Indian Nation on Friday said it had sued New York State for wrongly
taking its tribal lands as well as four companies for polluting them, in a bid
to clean up and protect the area. The
Phoenix Awards are the premier awards for achievement of excellence in
Brownfields redevelopment (posted 03/14/05) The Phoenix Award? Executive Committee is seeking redevelopment
projects to recognize such excellence in Brownfields redevelopment. Tsunami
Concerns Linger for India Hunter-Gatherers (posted 03/14/05) Some
of the Sentinelese or Jarawa tribes could well have fallen victim to the giant
waves. Washington
drought declaration supports dismal water outlook (posted 03/14/05) Washington Gov Christine Gregoire has declared a statewide
drought emergency because of well-below-average snow packs caused by an El Nino
weather pattern. ZAP
Crosses $100 Million Threshold for Micro Car (posted 03/14/05) ZAP (Sebastopol, CA) announced that the company has
crossed the $100 million threshold for purchase orders for its SMARTCAR
vehicles. Zimbabweans
Battle Food Shortages As Drought Worsens (posted 03/14/05) Their
desperate mission is testimony to escalating food shortages in southern
Zimbabwe, which have worsened the plight of villagers grappling with
unemployment and the scourge of HIV-AIDS. A
profile of China's oil industry (posted 03/11/05) Following is a profile of China's
petroleum and chemical industry, updated on February 21, 2005 with figures for
the whole year of 2004: Africa
may double its share of oil reserves (posted 03/11/05) Africa may double its share of oil
reserves to 20 % of the world's total in 15 years, as rising energy consumption
worldwide is pushing oil firms to embark on more exploration Big Wind
(posted 03/11/05) Wind power accounts for more than a quarter of the electricity
consumed in northern sections of Germany. But RE Power of Hamburg thinks that
wind can get bigger still. Bush's
air pollution proposal dies in Senate committee (posted 03/11/05) The proposal was a top White House priority, but its failure to
include carbon dioxide emissions -- which many scientists consider a major cause
of global warming -- among pollution control targets was a big factor in its
defeat. Canada faces
oil glut (posted 03/11/05) Canadian oil producers need to back
a major new pipeline project this year or risk that hundreds of thousands of
barrels of fresh supply from oilsands plays will tank domestic prices down the
road Clear
Skies or Storm Front on Horizon (posted 03/11/05) This week's defeat of the Bush administration's "Clear
Skies" legislation does not mean the debate over air quality and greenhouse
gas emissions controls is over. Far from it. Coal
advocates, environmental group spar on CO2 limits (posted 03/11/05) Coal producers and utilities Thursday resisted calls by an
environmental group and the National Commission on Energy Policy for the Senate
to address carbon dioxide emissions in order to encourage advanced clean-coal
technology. Cold
pushes Italian demand up 0.5% in February (posted 03/11/05) The mean temperature in February was two degrees Celsius lower
than February 2004, GRTN said. Figures released by GRTN also showed that a
greater portion of demand in February was met by imports. Colorado
Green Could Triple Wind Generation (posted 03/11/05) The Colorado Green Wind Power Project, the fifth largest wind
farm in the nation and the largest in the state, may triple in size. Dawn of a New Era
(posted 03/11/05) There is a convergence in rethinking about the significant
importance of nuclear energy, in various countries of the world, including the
United States for each of our nation's future. Despite
EPA Air Rule, US Legislation Talk Continues (posted 03/11/05) Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday
issued a significant rule aimed at reducing air pollution from power plants, the
debate over what is better - the EPA rule or a mandate from Congress -
continues. EU
ministers seek 15-30% CO2 cuts from developed nations by 2020
(posted 03/11/05) Developed countries should consider cutting greenhouse gas
emissions by 15-30% by 2020 and by 60-80% by 2050 compared with Kyoto base year
levels in order to stabilise climate change EU
offshore wind policy must address grid issues (posted 03/11/05) Europe's remaining potential for offshore wind is greater than
for onshore, Experts
believe Iranian gas line may dry up in five years (posted 03/11/05) Even as India, Pakistan and Iran
agree to go ahead with the much hyped Indo-Iran gas pipeline, experts have
voiced apprehension that the Iran gas line may dry up in five years. Farmer
finds oil well in Javanese village (posted 03/11/05) When Slamet Bukhori, a middle-aged
farmer in the village of Kertasinduyasa, in Brebes, Central Java, went to take a
bath, he did not expect anything out of the ordinary, and was surprised to find
that the water he took out from his well was heavily infiltrated by oil. Florida
Governor Proposes Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act (posted
03/11/05) At the recent groundbreaking of Florida’s first hydrogen
energy station, Governor Jeb Bush outlined a proposal for the Hydrogen Energy
Technologies Act, which will spur investment and accelerate the
commercialization of pollution-free energy and transportation technology in
Florida. For
the Bush administration, pitching policy is the key (posted
03/11/05) One of President Bush's top
priorities has been to change the 1970 Clean Air Act. He wants to give
utilities, factories and oil refineries more time to meet national standards for
controlling carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants and also permit
industries to trade "pollution credits." Gas
Price Breaks $2 a Gallon, AAA Says (posted 03/11/05) The average price American drivers pay for a gallon of regular
gasoline rose above $2.00 on Thursday for the first time since autumn last year,
and are likely to keep rising German
coalition parties reach agreement on new draft energy law (posted
03/11/05) The German government coalition parties Thursday agreed on a new
draft of the country's energy law. Massive
oil spill found off Bulgaria's coast (posted 03/11/05) Nearly four tons of black oil have
spilt into the waters of Bulgaria's Black Sea near the cape of Shabla. Grassroots
Group Wants the City of Geneva to Tap Renewable Energy Resources
(posted 03/11/05) When the wind blows, it causes more than five dozen 213-foot
tall turbines' blades to rotate - an amazing sight across 3,000 acres in Lee
County. Increase
in Iran's oil reserve capacity generates hopes (posted 03/11/05) Reports about such an increase in
Iran's oil reserve capacity have generated hopes for the continuation of
activities in the field of oil exports through which the future foreign exchange
requirements of the country would be obtained. Iran
and Iraq to inaugurate power line (posted 03/11/05) The transmission line, which has
been operating on a test basis since summer with the capacity of 80 MW per hour,
will be inaugurated by Iranian energy minister and his Iraqi counterpart. Iraq:
Leave our country now (posted 03/11/05) The media do not show even a
fraction of the devastation that has engulfed Iraq. Journalists who dare to
report the truth of what is happening have been kidnapped by terrorists. This
serves the agenda of the occupation, which aims to eliminate witnesses to its
crimes. Kewaunee
plant may stay shut for 2 months (posted 03/11/05) The Kewaunee nuclear power plant, which has been shut down since
Feb. 20, will not be back at full power until mid-April, Wisconsin Public
Service Corp. told securities regulators Wednesday. Kyocera
Solar Debuts MyGen Meridian (posted 03/11/05) Kyocera Solar, Inc. has introduced MyGen Meridian, a UL-listed
photovoltaic module and mounting system designed to blend in with a tile roof. Kyoto
Protocol Spurs Race to Develop Fuel Cells (posted 03/11/05) Competition to develop fuel cells for practical use is
intensifying with the coming into effect of the Kyoto Protocol obliging
developed countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Learning
from China: Why the Western Economic Model Will not Work for the World
(posted 03/11/05) Could the American dream in China become a
nightmare for the world? For China's 1.3 billion people, the American dream is
fast becoming the Chinese dream. Mexico's
Gulf Coast in Peril from Global Warming (posted 03/11/05) Scraping out a living by fishing, and preoccupied by the
constant threat of water contamination from factory waste and leaky oil
pipelines, fishermen here have never heard of global warming. New
wave of hybrids is bypassing most American auto suppliers (posted
03/11/05) Dozens of less-polluting cars,
including hybrids powered by batteries and others with clean-burning diesel
technology, will hit the market in the next several years, but the auto
industry's new wave is bypassing most American auto suppliers. Oil
firms make huge bet on alternative fuel in Qatar (posted 03/11/05) Here in the Persian Gulf, hundreds
of workers are piecing together a coiled labyrinth of pipes that they hope will
turn natural gas into an ultraclean automotive fuel -- and challenge the oil
industry. Renewable
Goal Blamed for Costlier Electric Bills (posted 03/11/05) Electricity prices will rise by five per cent if the government
continues to pursue its target of generating ten per cent of power from
renewable sources, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). Rhetoric
of democracy vs. reality of oil (posted 03/11/05) Would Bush be so keen on exporting
democracy, were it not for the crude we're importing? Russia
and US pledge to intensify energy cooperation (posted 03/11/05) The United States and Russia have
pledged to intensify their cooperation on removing barriers to energy trade and
investment Russia
to increase oil and gas output (posted 03/11/05) Oil production may increase from 9
mm to 11 mm bpd; gas output may advance from 623 bn cm to 764.6 bn cmpy. Saudi
Arabia and Russia back stable oil prices (posted 03/11/05) Saudi Arabia and Russia agree that
stability in oil prices is best for the global economy, the Saudi oil minister
said. Scientists
confirm drilling in ANWR will harm wildlife (posted 03/11/05) More than 1,000 leading US and
Canadian scientists called on President Bush to protect the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling. Scotts
launch probe after oil found in water supply (posted 03/11/05) Experts were continuing an
investigation after hundreds of people discovered oil in their water supply. Secretary
of Energy Samuel W. Bodman Issues Statement on Clean Air Interstate Rule
(posted 03/11/05) "Coming from the business world, I know that a reliable,
affordable energy supply is essential to America's continued economic growth and
job creation. As we build our economic success, we must also put commonsense
environmental measures in place Tribes
and Forest Service Discuss Sacred Sites (posted 03/11/05) Tribal leaders, elders and members met with National Forest
Service officials in a two-day consultation/listening session to begin a process
of forming an advisory group, define consultation and sacred sites in an
atmosphere a majority of people described as powerful and unprecedented in
dealings with federal agencies. US
boosts domestic energy production (posted 03/11/05) US natural gas production is
soaring, partly as a result of the White House drive to hike such output. Venezuela:
Touching the revolution (posted 03/11/05) In the midst of these powerful
dynamics, my visit informed me about US-Venezuelan relations in ways that reach
far beneath and beyond my years of reading US foreign policy in Latin America. Will
LNG save America's oil-addicted economy? (posted 03/11/05) Later this year, Americans will
likely hear the acronym LNG and see new tankers carrying LNG sailing into some
US ports. LNG is intended to save the heart and core of American civilization --
to save our automotive civilization from possible rust and decay, and the
Republicans from political decline. World
oil output rises 885,000 b/d in Feb (posted 03/11/05) World oil production rose to 84.3-mil b/d in February, up
885,000 b/d from Acetone
in Fuels (A Study of Dimethylketone or Propanone) (posted 03/10/05) This article about
acetone (CH3COCH3) probably draws conclusions that Big
Oil and the American Car Manufacturers
and others do NOT want you to know. Arizona
Meteorite Crater Mystery Solved (posted 03/10/05) It's
a mystery that has puzzled scientists for years but researchers said on
Wednesday they have discovered why there isn't much melted rock at the famous
Meteor Crater in northern Arizona. Bush
urges energy bill's passage, says high prices hurting US (posted
03/10/05) President Bush, saying rising energy costs are serving as a drag
on the US economy, Wednesday again called on Congress to pass a comprehensive
energy bill that he said would rely heavily on new techologies to reduce US
dependence on foreign sources of oil while protecting the environment. Change
in government support threatens solar PV industry in Britain
(posted 03/10/05) The government’s decision to end a ten-year solar PV
demonstration program six years early is a reversal of its previous public and
private commitments to the rapidly-growing solar PV market in Britain, says the
Renewable Power Association. CHINA
- Aggressive Renewable-Energy Law Passed (posted 03/10/05) China's government has passed a renewable-energy law that seeks
to increase the use of sustainable resources, including wind and solar power, to
10% of the country's total consumption. China
Raises Environmental Bar for Heavy Industry (posted 03/10/05) China is raising the environmental bar on the construction of
heavily polluting factories and plants in a move that could bolster efforts to
limit investment and cool the economy. Committee
Vote on Clear Skies Should Not Be the End of 2005 Clean Air Debate
(posted 03/10/05) "Today's vote in the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee should be the beginning of the congressional debate on clean air
issues in 2005...not the end," CPUC
Orders IOUs to Include CO2 Costs in Long-Term Power Acquisitions
(posted 03/10/05) directed the state's investor-owned utilities
to include an added cost of $8 to $25 per ton of carbon dioxide when evaluating
the economics of future energy resource additions Developer
Drops Plans for Tire-Burning Power Plant amid Intense Opposition
(posted 03/10/05) A businessman has abandoned plans to build a tire-burning power
plant in southeastern Minnesota, saying he was giving up in the face of mounting
pressure from opponents and requirements for a costly environmental study. Energy
Risk - Nation's Pipelines Get a Check-Up (posted 03/10/05) The nation's natural gas pipelines have generally gotten an
improved bill of health. Nevertheless, the industry and its regulators face
challenges imposed by new laws Energy
Bill Needs Power Boost; NCPA Adjunct Scholar Says the Time for Action is Now
(posted 03/10/05) As the nearly four-year stall in enacting a national energy bill
continues, scholars with the NCPA's E-Team project said the time is well-passed
for Congress to act to improve not only electric power reliability, but also to
increase competition. EPA
Issues GHG Inventory, Invites Public Comment (posted 03/10/05) The increase in 2003 was due primarily to moderate economic
growth, which included increased demand for electricity and fossil fuels. EPA,
10 States Launch Clean Energy-Environment Partnership (posted
03/10/05) EPA assists states as they develop and implement action plans to
improve air quality, reduce energy use, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and
enhance economic development. California, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas currently are
participating. EU
presidency to propose post-Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets
(posted 03/10/05) Luxembourg will tomorrow unveil a new set of targets for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions Group
Sees Hurdles to Hydrogen Power (posted 03/10/05) New York may be ahead of other states in its push to make
hydrogen as welcome and available an energy source as oil or natural gas, but
there's a long road ahead. Kolevar
Chosen to Head New DOE Office (posted 03/10/05) The new office will develop and help implement national policy
pertaining to electricity transmission and distribution, grid reliability, and
grid technology research and development. LBL
Study Estimates $80 Billion Annual Cost of Power Interruptions
(posted 03/10/05) A study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL)
for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electric Transmission and
Distribution estimates that electric power outages and blackouts cost the nation
about $80 billion annually. Millennium
Cell and Dow in Fuel Cell Development Pact (posted 03/10/05) Millennium Cell Inc. (Eatontown, NJ), a technology
development company that has created a proprietary process to safely store,
generate and deliver pure hydrogen, and Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, MI)
reported that they have reached a three-year pact to develop and promote the use
of portable fuel cells in consumer and military applications. NEW
JERSEY AMERICAN WATER TO USE SOLAR ELECTRICITY TO SAVE ENERGY
(posted 03/10/05) New Jersey American Water will soon install the state’s
largest ground mounted solar electric system at its Canal Road Water Treatment
Plant in Somerset NREL
Publishes Wind Resource for NY Consumers (posted 03/10/05) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has issued a
publication to help New York consumers determine if a small wind-electric system
can provide all or a portion of the energy they need for their home or business NREL
Unleashes Updated Version of HOMER Software The National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (posted 03/10/05) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently
released Version 2.1 of HOMER, a micropower optimization software model that
simplifies the task of evaluating design options for both off-grid and
grid-connected power systems. PSC
Approves Final Net-Metering Rules (posted 03/10/05) Net metering is available to residential and commercial
customer-generators with renewable-energy systems (generally defined as solar,
wind and biomass), CHP systems, fuel cells and microturbines. Renewables
could save US consumers $16 billion (posted 03/10/05) Greater support for renewable energies in the United States
could create 154,000 new jobs each year until 2020 and save US consumers
$billions, says the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Sahara
Rain Kills Three in the Desert (posted 03/10/05) The
heaviest rain in decades hit Algeria's Sahara desert killing at least three
people while four others are still missing, state media said on Wednesday. Senate
panel rejects Clear Skies anti-pollution bill (posted 03/10/05) After weeks of deadlock on the proposed Clear Skies Act, a
Senate committee failed by one vote Wednesday to move the contentious bill to
the Senate floor, though some members predicted it may be taken up again later
in the legislative session. Senate
Tries New Strategy to Win Alaska Drilling (posted 03/10/05) The
Bush administration's aim to open an Alaskan wildlife refuge to oil drilling was
included in a draft Senate budget resolution on Wednesday, improving its chances
of passage after repeated filibusters, a senior Republican senator said. Senators
urge Bush to use SPR to combat high gasoline prices (posted
03/10/05) A group of 17 senators has asked President Bush to use crude
from the US SFC
Reports Fuel Cell Membrane Technology Breakthrough (posted
03/10/05) A new membrane allows substitution of at least 50% of the
expensive catalytic platinum. Somalia's
Environment Minister Calls for Investigation of Suspicious Waste
(posted 03/10/05) Mohamed Osman Maye, a minister in Somalia's new government based
in neighboring Kenya, said strange objects washed ashore all along his country's
coastline, the longest in Africa, when a tsunami struck on Dec. 26, 2004. Sth
African Miners Trapped After "Exceptional" Quake (posted
03/10/05) "It
is difficult to determine the cause. The magnitude tells us that it is most
probably a re-activation of an old fault ... a secondary effect of mining U.S.
solar group aims for annual market of 1 GW (posted 03/10/05) The solar industry in the United States has created an alliance
to promote a market of 1 GW a year for distributed solar electricity within five
years. U.S.
windfarms may shut down to minimize bird mortalities (posted
03/10/05) Thousands of wind turbines in California may be temporarily shut
down in order to reduce raptor mortality by 35% in the next three years. Updated
Global Wind Installation Statistics Released The global wind
(posted 03/10/05) Europe continued to dominate the global market in 2004,
accounting for 72.4% of new installations Utility
Pollution Bill Stalls in Senate Committee (posted 03/10/05) A
Bush administration plan to cut air pollution from coal-fired power plants
failed to pass the Senate Environment Committee Wednesday, a setback for a bill
that critics said favours the utility industry over public health. View
This Comprehensive Study of the Distributed Generation Market Now
(posted 03/10/05) The report is a comprehensive study of the Distributed
Generation (DG) industry. It takes a wide-ranging look at the current and future
state of DG. WADE
Study Finds IFIs Do Not Recognize CHP Benefits The World Alliance for
Decentralized Energy (posted 03/10/05) concluded that the IFIs studied -- the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank -- have not yet
recognized the potential benefits of cogeneration for cutting infrastructure
costs, reducing retail prices and decreasing emissions. Wind
registers 20% increase in 2004 (posted 03/10/05) The world installed 7,976 MW of wind turbines last year, a 20%
increase in capacity. Government
to ‘lead by example’ on sustainability (posted 03/09/05) The UK Government has this week pledged
to lead by example in promoting sustainable development throughout the country,
at the launch of a cross-governmental strategy. Sustainable
strategy welcomed (posted 03/09/05) The UK Government’s new sustainable
development strategy, unveiled earlier this week, has been welcomed by green
group Friends of the Earth. Green
farming set for growth in UK (posted 03/09/05) The newly launched Environmental
Stewardship Scheme is set to be the biggest single change to farming in the UK
for a generation, according to Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. The
scheme benefits farmers and landowners for environmentally sustainable work on
their land, and is expected to see a rise in conservational measures throughout
the country. French
EDF hopes to restore power to Corsica by weekend (posted
03/09/05) The cuts were due to a 30% fall in Corsica's hydro output
caused by a long cold spell late in the winter, EDF said. Swedish
govt willing to talk nuclear (posted 03/09/05) Sweden's energy minister Mona Sahlin said Tuesday she was
prepared to reopen talks on nuclear, but the government remained committed to a
long-term decommissioning program. Cold
snap depletes UK gas storage reserves (posted 03/09/05) Cold weather in late February further depleted reserves of
natural gas in UK storage figures in the week to Mar 7, figures published by
pipeline operator National Grid Transco showed. EU
looks for political solution to ITER nuke fusion stalemate (posted
03/09/05) The EU hopes to convince Japan to drop its rival bid to host
ITER at Rokkashomura by offering it a "privileged role" in building
and operating ITER One
year after restart, debate over nuclear power plant's operation continues
(posted 03/09/05) For the first time in two years, the FirstEnergy-owned plant
along Lake Erie in Northwest Ohio was being allowed to restart following the
discovery in March 2002 of a football-sized rust hole nearly all the way through
the now-replaced steel reactor cap that covers the highly radioactive core. India
to overtake Denmark as world no. 4 wind energy producer (posted
03/09/05) India is on track to overtake Denmark as the world's fourth
largest wind energy producer. India had an installed capacity of about 3,000 MW
in 2004, adding 875 MW generation capacity that year. South
Korea Says No Leak After Nuclear Reactor Shutdown (posted 03/09/05) South Korea's Science Ministry said Tuesday [8 March] that one
of the nuclear reactors at a nuclear power plant in the country's southern part
came to a halt because of electric glitch on cooling pump. Utilities
versus storms (posted 03/09/05) Floridians who sweated for days without electricity after last
year's hurricanes repeatedly knocked down their power lines can take some
comfort in this: They are the motivating force behind several bills in this
year's Legislature. Proposed
power plant no sure thing (posted 03/09/05) The township is home to one of the
largest piles of waste coal in the nation but in order to clean up the eyesore,
owners of the waste coal are proposing the construction of a power plant that
will use the coal refuse as a source of power, raising concerns over future air
pollution. Environment
key issue for LNG plans (posted 03/09/05) As one of the liquefied natural gas
facilities proposed in the area gets a favorable report on its affect on the
environment, concerns arise about the impact on air quality another facility may
have. Putting
the Hydrogen Horse Before the Political Cart (posted 03/09/05) "The point is, there is no one right way to wean
ourselves from the beastly carbon cow and make the conversion to clean hydrogen
fuels." DaimlerChrysler
to Unveil Geneva Fuel Cell Vehicle (posted 03/09/05) The high-torque electric motor used on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class
sports tourer will develop more than 100 kW to 35 kW more power than its
predecessor generatio SMA
America Lists UL Listing of Sunny Central 125U Inverter (posted
03/09/05) SMA can now offer a complete line of inverters in the US. The
Sunny Central, capable of converting 125,000 W of solar energy, is the latest in
the line of commercial-scale inverters to be introduced to the US from Germany. Arizona
Coalitions Team up to Reduce Bus Idling (posted 03/08/05) announce a state initiative to reduce school bus idling. The new
program is based on the successful pilot conducted late last summer by the
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Companies
face higher costs, management challenges from ETS (posted 03/08/05) Companies covered by the European Union's Emission Trading
Scheme (EU-ETS) face higher costs, not just from compliance with emission
reduction targets, but also from higher energy prices. Conference
Speaker Envisions Life after Oil (posted 03/08/05) In his new book, The End of Oil: On the
Edge of a Perilous New World, he examines oil's role in the world economy,
the forces compelling and resisting change to a new energy paradigm, and
scenarios for the world's energy future. Consultants
Say Bad Weather (posted 03/08/05) Mother Nature, not faulty equipment or shoddy
inspections by Nova Scotia's electric utility, led to widespread outages during
a severe fall snowstorm, say two independent consultants. Debunking
Some Myths About Competitive Electricity Markets (posted 03/08/05) Man’s ability to harness electricity is one of the great
technological and business achievements of the twentieth century. EPA
Announces Plan for Stricter Controls on Lead in Drinking Water
(posted 03/08/05) Stricter monitoring and reporting of problems with lead in
drinking water will be required of utilities, states, schools and child care
facilities Ethanol to
Fuel Racecars (posted 03/08/05) Every day sees a new breakthrough for ethanol. EU
looks for political solution to ITER nuke fusion stalemate (posted
03/08/05) "We still hope to receive a clear signal from Japan
indicating a genuine willingness to reach a political agreement." A quick
political agreement was possible France
airlifts generators to supply power in Corsica (posted 03/08/05) to ship 25 generators with a capacity of 25MW to the French
island, which has experienced its worst cold snap in 30 years, EDF said. Governors'
Ethanol Coalition Partners with GM to Promote Ethanol (posted
03/08/05) Twenty-eight member states in the Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC)
will receive E85 Chevrolet Avalanche flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) as part of a
campaign with General Motors (GM) to promote the benefits of ethanol fuels. Green
Energy Resources Announces New Offices in India and Eastern Europe
(posted 03/08/05) Green Energy Resources is a supplier of wood biomass, the
4th largest fuel source in the world behind gas, coal and oil. India is the 6th
largest producer of electricity in the world and the 3rd largest electric
producer in Asia, behind China and Japan. Mexico's
PRI party revives hopes of energy reform (posted 03/08/05) opes of energy industry reform in Mexico have been revived and
by no less than the PRI, the very party that established and resolutely defended
state oil and electricity monopolies during its 71 years of unbroken rule. Ontario
Pushes Ahead to Expand Clean Energy Potential (posted 03/08/05) The Ontario government is expanding the province's clean,
renewable energy capacity by making 18 sites available for waterpower
development and inviting a second round of applications to develop wind power on
Crown land Report
Shows Clear Warming in Trends across the Northeast
(posted 03/08/05) A new report, using data
on a dozen physical and biological occurrences in the New York and New England,
shows significant changes in the region's climate in the past 100 years, with
change accelerating in the last 30 years. SPACE
WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #05- 10 (posted 03/08/05) Space weather for the next week is expected to
reach minor levels. Study could find
new power source (posted 03/08/05) An electricity feasibility study could result in a new source of power in
Oklahoma that's cheaper and cleaner than current supplies. Temporary
rollover of OPEC ceiling most likely (posted 03/08/05) He said oil prices remained high even though supply was
outstripping demand. "Supply is more than demand in the market and despite
higher supply, prices are increasing day by day. So it is a crucial situation
and any production cut can flare the market," The
Lowdown on 'Energy Efficient Mortgages' (posted 03/08/05) A movement is afoot among real estate lenders to offer special
mortgages and other incentives designed to reward energy efficiency and
green-friendly building and restoration. US
senators call on EPA to strengthen mercury rule for coal units
(posted 03/08/05) Citing recent criticism of how the Environmental Protection
Agency developed its pending mercury rule, 29 US senators Monday urged the
agency to conduct further analysis, provide full disclosure and strengthen its
proposed rule to control power plant emissions of the neurotoxin. What about
N-waste? (posted 03/08/05) Until someone comes forward and proves that the disposal of this
dangerous stuff can be achieved at some affordable price, nuclear power plants
are not the answer to anything. What
are the environmental impacts of our voracious appetite for coffee
(posted 03/08/05) According to the Specialty Coffee Association, Americans alone
consume some 300 million cups of coffee every day. Globally, coffee is second
only to oil in terms of dollars traded, and it has a tremendous social and
ecological footprint World
Fish Stocks Strained, U.N. Says (posted 03/08/05) World stocks of most fish, including Atlantic herring and
capelin, are stretched to their limits and nearly a quarter are already
over-exploited, a United Nations agency said on Monday. WWF
Warns that China's Rising Demand for Wood Threatens Other Countries' Forests
(posted 03/08/05) China's rising demand for wood threatens to devastate timber
stocks in countries from Indonesia to Russia, the environmental group WWF said
Tuesday, calling for more efficient wood use and measures to discourage illegal
logging. Rural
Alaska Community Researches Nation's First Tiny
Nuclear Reactor (posted 03/07/05) In need of relief, the community of 700 people is turning to
nuclear power. But Galena's plant would be far different from other U.S.
commercial nuclear power plants -- at 10 megawatts, it would be downright tiny. Alternate
Power Firm Official Outlines Risks in Nevada Market (posted
03/07/05) Nevada will continue to encounter difficulty fostering renewable
energy projects until its investor-owned utilities strengthen their finances and
become more creditworthy, according to the president of a renewable energy
group. Asian
Drought Affects Millions, Hits Crops, Exports (posted 03/07/05) A
severe Asian drought has left millions of people struggling to find water,
damaged crops from India to China and cost millions of dollars in lost exports. Back from the
brink (posted 03/07/05) RAIN GAUGE
OVERFLOWS...ranchers like him who have spent past summers digging for water have
gotten more water, snow, and mud than they ever could have asked for. Blair
to press US for Kyoto talks (posted 03/07/05) Mr Blair said the problem of global warming could
become "a catastrophe" for some parts of the world if it was not
addressed now. Car-sitters
vs. Car-crushers (posted 03/07/05)
Cold
hits French, Italian gas supplies, fuel switching expected (posted
03/07/05) Cold weather in France is hitting gas supplies and seeing
greater use of fuel oil. Denmark
to Push for Ambitious EU Emissions Goals (posted 03/07/05) Denmark's
environment minister will push for more ambitious European Union targets for
lowering emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012, she said on Friday. EPA:
Move the Moab pile (posted 03/07/05) The U.S. Department of Energy in November released its draft
environmental impact study of what to do with 12 million tons of radioactive
uranium ore tailings. Flagstaff
mulls new water deal (posted 03/07/05) Less than three
months after the Flagstaff City Council nixed a $15 million water rights offer,
a new one has surfaced for $13.5 million. Greenhouse
gases 'do warm oceans' (posted 03/07/05) Scientists say they have
"compelling" evidence that ocean warming over the past 40 years can be
linked to the industrial release of carbon dioxide. IEA
urges more investment in renewable energy development (posted
03/07/05) Participants at a meeting in Paris of two International Energy
Agency Committees late Thursday called on industrialized nations to adopt
policies that promote research and development of renewable energy sources, as
well as market entry of renewable energy technologies. Oil
Majors Keep a Distance on Alaska Drilling (posted 03/07/05) Major
oil producers are taking a wait-and-see attitude as a showdown looms in
Washington this month over drilling in a protected area of Alaska. OPEC
quota rollover most likely outcome of Mar 16 meeting (posted
03/07/05) Iran's OPEC governor, Hoseyn Kazempour Ardebili, said Monday a
production cut by OPEC at this time of high oil prices would send the wrong
signal to markets even though maintaining current overproduction would lead to a
1.8-mil b/d excess in the second quarter. OZONE TODAY
(posted 03/07/05) These are near realtime measurements of ozone in the atmosphere. Scientists'
grim climate report (posted 03/07/05) The risks from global warming are more serious than
previously thought, a major climate conference has concluded. Tests
Planned For Fuel Cells Powered By Hydrogen Produced From Industrial Waste
(posted 03/07/05) Plasma Environmental Technologies Inc. (PET), a Canadian company
that turns waste into clean energy and Astris Energi Inc. a company that
produces hydrogen powered alkaline fuel cells, are teaming up USDA-EPA
Partnership Promotes Renewable Energy (posted 03/07/05) USDA Rural Development and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) recently announced a new interagency partnership to support agricultural
and business based renewable energy systems. Venezuela's
Chavez says era of cheap oil over, but OPEC concerned (posted
03/07/05) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said at the weekend the world
could forget about cheap oil and learn to live with $40-$50/bbl oil. No
need for OPEC to raise output: Venezuelan president Chavez (posted
03/04/05) There was no need for OPEC to raise output as the latest
near-record-highs in crude prices were caused by market factors, not OPEC
policies, visiting Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez told reporters US
in 'regular touch' with OPEC over impact of oil prices: Bodman
(posted 03/04/05) US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Thursday said that the Bush
Administration, "is in regular touch with OPEC" over the impact of
high oil prices. Spain
may revise renewables target by mid-year (posted 03/04/05) The Spanish government may revise its target for power generated
by renewable sources given strong energy demand projections NYISO
RELEASES FINAL REPORT ON THE 2003 BLACKOUT (posted 03/04/05) The NYISO’s operators had less than 10 seconds to respond to
the sudden and severe power surge, which originated outside New York. The report
confirms there was no time for human intervention. Not-in-my-back-yard
mentality: U.S. needs wind power today more than ever (posted
03/04/05) THE OPPOSITION to wind energy installations blamed for killing
birds and bats in West Virginia now poses a critical question: Are we going to
allow not-in-my-back-yard sentiment to thwart an energy source that could
produce hundreds of jobs and pump millions of dollars of investment revenue into
our state? Senate
kills Bush plan to price federal power at market rates (posted
03/04/05) Northwest
lawmakers said Wednesday they have blocked a Bush administration plan to force
the Bonneville Power Administration and other federal power suppliers to sell
electricity at market rates. Arizona
Requires New Public Buildings Use Renewable Energy (posted
03/04/05) Last month, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano issued an
executive order that requires all new state-funded buildings to be designed and
constructed to derive at least 10 percent of their energy from a renewable
resource such as solar, wind or use of thermal energy from biomass fuels for
heating and or cooling. ACEEE
Reveals "Greenest" and "Meanest" 2005 Vehicles
(posted 03/04/05) The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has
announced the year's "greenest" and "meanest" vehicles,
along with the environmental scorings of all model year 2005 cars and passenger
trucks. EU
Wants Talks With Japan on Nuclear Fusion (posted 03/04/05) The
EU, anxious to get started on a project to build the world's first nuclear
fusion reactor, said on Thursday it had called on Japan to hold high-level talks
to resolve a dispute on where it should be built. Green
Energy Sector Should Stop Squabbling (posted 03/04/05) The
green electricity sector must stop squabbling or risk being picked off piecemeal
by the entrenched nuclear and fossil fuel industry, a leading investment banker
said on Thursday. Forests
Could Be Key To Curbing Global Warming (posted 03/04/05) Effective
control of forest fires may prove crucial in the fight against global warming
since blazes from Alaska to Indonesia spew out vast amounts of heat-trapping
gases, Canadian foresters said on Thursday. "Big
Chill" Hitting European Travel And Wallets (posted 03/04/05) Snow-covered
palm trees in the Mediterranean, travel chaos on the continent and a rise in
heating costs are the results of an unusual European cold snap. SPACE
WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #05- 9 (posted 03/04/05) Space weather for the next week is expected to reach minor levels. Is
There Any Hope For Small-Town Survival? (posted 03/04/05) It's no secret that small towns are in trouble. "If
communities do not have a proactive response to their issues, they will continue
to suffer". Dear Friend
of Wildlife (posted 03/04/05) Right
now, the stage is set for what could be the greatest battle to save the wildlife
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. EVER! Researcher
Downplays Ozone Hole Risk (posted 03/04/05) The reported risk of a hole in the ozone layer appearing over
the Arctic this winter has been overstated, a Swedish researcher said Wednesday. Energetically
Defending Our Public Lands (posted 03/04/05) The Energy Policy Act Proponents of the bill promise increased domestic energy
production with minimal damage to the country's environment and pay lip service
to the possibilities for energy conservation. New
California Hemp Legislation Represents Huge Opportunity for Organic Farmers
(posted 03/04/05) California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
is the first major agricultural organization to support Assemblyman Mark Leno's
(13th District, San Francisco) new industrial hemp bill based on the huge
economic potential represented by the production of organic hemp in California. Distributed
Energy Resources: Why IEEE 1547 won’t be the Last Word (posted
03/03/05) Advocacy for distributed generation (DG) has a long history. Conservation
activists preached the concept in the early ‘70s, and even before. But it
never really caught on. Now, suddenly, it’s again become a hot topic.
Spiking Fuel
Prices - Our Wake-Up Call (posted 03/03/05) At a time of enduring gasoline and diesel price spikes, there is
the realization that a fundamental shift has occurred. Large
Quake Rocks Indonesia, Australia; No Damage (posted 03/03/05) A
powerful earthquake rocked the northern Australian city of Darwin and eastern
Indonesia on Wednesday but there were no immediate reports of injuries or
damage, seismologists said. Nebraska
Republican Chuck Hagel Chats with Grist about Climate Change
(posted 03/03/05) A possible GOP presidential contender in 2008, Nebraskan Sen.
Chuck Hagel has lately sprung to the public stage as one of the leading
Republican voices on climate change. Scientists
Say Removing All Radioactive Waste from Defense Sites Impractical
(posted 03/03/05) A significant amount of radioactive waste from Cold War
bomb-making should remain at former production sites, and several locations
should be kept open longer than planned to treat waste from elsewhere,
scientists recommended Tuesday. Senate
Republicans Ready to Push Arctic Refuge Drilling Measure (posted
03/03/05) A Senate showdown over an Alaska wildlife refuge is expected
within weeks as Republicans plan to use a budget measure to overcome strong
opposition to allowing oil drilling in the protected area. India
Eyes Role As Big Seller of Pollution Credits (posted 03/03/05) India
can become one of the biggest sellers of greenhouse gas credits under the Kyoto
Protocol Russia
could withhold majority of AAUs from market (posted 03/03/05) Russia's excess availability of carbon emissions allowances is
unlikely to be made available to the world market in its entirety, and in fact
the available pool of Assigned Allowance Units from Russia may be as little as
2-3% of the total Gas
supply constraints predicted to hold through 2006 (posted 03/03/05) Although the US natural gas supply is expanding, constraints on
supply nevertheless are expected to last through next year, according to a new
report from Energy Ventures Analysis in Arlington, Virginia. Utilities
urged to diversify (posted 03/03/05) To keep power prices from rising in Oklahoma and
elsewhere, electric utilities should turn to coal, nuclear and renewables to
offset the increased cost of natural gas, Edison Electric Institute President
Tom Kuhn told state regulators Tuesday. Las
Vegas Valley Water District to Build 3.1 Megawatt Solar Project
(posted 03/03/05) The Las Vegas Valley Water District and Nevada Power Company
jointly announced today the regulatory approval of contracts with PowerLight
Corporation to proceed with a 3.1 megawatt solar power project. Australian
coalition battles election campaign by promoting renewables (posted
03/02/05 The opposition party in Western Australia’s recent election
had advocated that all new off-grid generating systems in remote regions of the
state should be renewable or ‘hybrid-renewable’ design. U.S.
department assesses renewables potential on public lands (posted
03/02/05 Lands under the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior
provide 48% of the country’s geothermal energy, 17% of its hydropower and 10%
of national wind power, according to a report from that department. Mercury
contamination lowering IQ of US newborns: study (posted 03/02/05 Mercury pollution in the US, much of it emitted from coal-fired
power plants, is exposing as many as 637,000 newborns to levels of contamination
high enough to lead to a loss of IQ, according to a study released Monday by the
Mount Sinai School of Medicine. US
greenhouse gas emissions rise 0.6% in 2003: EPA draft report
(posted 03/02/05 US emissions of greenhouse gases increased by 0.6% from 2002 to
2003, a level that was still below those recorded in 2000, the US Environmental
Protection Agency said Tuesday. Mexican
officials study return to nuclear power (posted 03/02/05 The federal government is studying the possibility of
reactivating the nuclear power program that it put on hold nearly 15 years ago Arizona
Works to Avoid Power Disruptions (posted 03/02/05 Arizona Public Service officials said Monday
they are making progress in implementing recommendations from two consultants on
how to avoid power disruptions such as those that afflicted the Valley's
electric system last summer. Solar
Catalyst Group Report Proposes Aggressive Plan to Regain U (posted
03/02/05 A new report, by Co-op America's Solar Catalyst Group and Clean
Edge, Inc., proposes a three-pronged federal program to regain American
leadership in the high-growth global solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. Solar
Leaders Launch New Group (posted 03/02/05 Americans for Solar Power- PV Manufacturers Alliance officially
launched today at Power-Gen, the leading trade show of the fast-growing
renewable energy industry. Based in Arizona, is dedicated to helping America
achieve an annual 1 gigawatt (GW) market for distributed solar electricity in
the year 2010. Energy
Foundation Study Finds Residential and Commercial Rooftops Could Support Vast U
(posted 03/02/05 A new study released today by the Energy Foundation, and
undertaken by Navigant Consulting, Inc, describes the vast market potential for
rooftop solar photovoltaic systems (PV) in the United States. US
Senate Panel Delays Emissions Vote Again (posted 03/02/05 Sen.
James Inhofe, chairman of the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,
again delayed a panel vote on a Bush administration plan to cut utility air
pollution on Tuesday after four panel members asked for more data. Renewables
may have minor impact on GHG emissions (posted 03/02/05 Plans by the British government to expand renewable energies
will have minor impact on national greenhouse gas emissions, according to an
environmental think tank. Green
power certificates could be worth US$900 by 2010 (posted 03/02/05 The current market for renewable energy certificates (REC) in
the United States is worth US$145 million a year, with a potential of $900
million a year by 2010, says a report prepared for the Department of Energy. European
position paper promotes wind, PV and renewable hydrogen (posted
03/02/05 Wind and solar PV are two of 15 technologies identified by the
European Commission as ‘climate-friendly technologies’ to play a key role in
the post-Kyoto period. U.S.
coalition urges federal conference on renewable energies (posted
03/02/05 The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources
should convene a national conference to examine the potential of renewable
energy and energy efficiency technologies to meet energy needs in the United
States. Green
power to expand share in U.S. by 1% over 20 years (posted 03/02/05 Generation from non-hydro green power facilities in the United
States will increase from 84 billion kWh in 2003 (representing 2.2% of national
total generation) to 182 billion kWh in 2025 (3.2%), according to the Department
of Energy. Wind
Energy Economic Myths and Facts (posted 03/01/05 Increasingly, opponents of wind power resort to repeating common
myths about the technology and its impacts. This article is the second in an
occasional series from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) aimed at
debunking those myths with the facts. White
House Budget Slashes Clean Energy (posted 03/01/05 "Taken together, the cuts or anemic funding levels
proposed for many federal sustainable energy programs reflect a continuation of
the policy of slowly bleeding support for renewable energy and energy
efficiency." US
nuclear plants' damage risk from blackouts is lower (posted
03/01/05 US nuclear power plants are at a lower risk of sustaining core
damage from a loss of offsite power than was previously believed, the US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission said in a new draft report. UK
Risks Reliance on Imported Energy by 2020 (posted 03/01/05 The UK will be dependent on foreign imports to supply three
quarters of its total primary energy needs within 15 years, Amicus warns today. The
Hydrogen Economy - Energy and Economic Black Hole (posted 03/01/05 The energy-literate scoff at perpetual motion, free energy, and
cold fusion, but what about the hydrogen economy? Before we invest trillions of
dollars, let’s take a hydrogen car out for a spin. Tsunami,
Earthquake Reshapes, Tilts Indian Islands (posted 03/01/05 The
earthquake that triggered Asia's tsunami has moved, twisted and tilted India's
Andaman and Nicobar islands, raising some out of sea and sinking large parts of
others. Rebirth
of the California Million Solar Roof Plan (posted 03/01/05 "This is the best piece of solar legislation ever
introduced in the U.S." OPEC
president says will not recommend output ceiling change (posted
03/01/05 He also said there was a possibility of an increase in
production if prices Nissan
Announces New In-House Fuel Cell Stack (posted 03/01/05 Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo) announced that it has designed
and developed its first in-house fuel cell stack Legislation
Would Promote Ethanol to Hydrogen (posted 03/01/05 "We have to think creatively in preparing for our energy
future; hydrogen offers us that opportunity." Indian
Tribe Refuses to be Silenced After Tsunami (posted 03/01/05 They are
the forgotten victims of Asia's catastrophic tsunami, but India's gentle
Nicobarese tribe are determined that their voices should finally be heard. Houstonians
Can Choose Wind Energy From Reliant (posted 03/01/05 Reliant Energy now offers Houston area residents who value clean
energy 100 percent renewable energy generated from wind power. Ballard
Achieves Progress in Three Key Areas (posted 03/01/05 Ballard
Power Systems announced significant progress in three areas crucial to the
commercialization of automotive fuel cell stack technology– freeze start
capability, durability and cost reduction Bush
Administration Moves Forward to Develop Next Generation Nuclear Energy Systems
(posted 03/01/05 The Bush Administration today took a major step in advancing
international efforts to develop the next generation of "clean, safe"
nuclear energy systems. Anti-nuclear
group author raises safety question (posted 03/01/05 The lead author of a new report questioning the safety of
depleted uranium opposes plans by competing firms to build new nuclear-fuel
factories California
Energy Commission Uses Power Quality Meters to Study the Impact of Distributed
Generation on the Grid (posted 03/01/05 The California Energy Commission (CEC) has completed a two-year
study evaluating the effects of distributed generation (DG) on the California
utility grid. Earth
Magnetic Field Reversal (posted 03/01/05) Seeing the powerful earthquakes such as
the December 26th, 2004 event that triggered the tsunami disaster, people are
looking for possible causes for the apparent instability of earth's crust.
"End-times" alarmists and backyard researchers believe that the
predicted imminent reversal of the earth's magnetic field may be a significant
clue to these eschatological-scale events. for Current Events go to: Events for News of 2004 go to: News
of 2004 for Events of 2004 go to: Events
of 2004 for News and Events of 2003 go to News
and Events Archive 2003 For News earlier in 2004 go to archives.
controlling mercury emitted by power plants through an emissions trading
system the agency believes will achieve 70% reductions by 2020 with the least
cost to the industry.
major home energy sources, the American Gas Assn said Monday.
ceiling by 500,000 b/d as proposed by Saudi Arabia but he did not think it
would have any impact on prices
but growth in both sectors is constrained by grid access problems and
administrative barriers
Yet their proximity to the sea, with waves lapping just footsteps from their
doorways, means they are likely to be among the first victims of climate change
in Mexico
January
Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat "potentially record-high"
gasoline
prices during the summer driving season.
A French energy trader told Platts he had notification from the government about
the likelihood of interruptions to gas supply nationwide over the weekend
because of the cold weather and the difficulties of gas supply.
- David Hochschild, Director of Programs for the California-based Vote Solar
Initiative
remained high and depending on the level of oversupply.
- U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin