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March 31, 2006
22 Senators Call for Renewable Energy's Full Funding for FY 2007
A bipartisan coalition of Senators led by Idaho's Mike Crapo and Iowa's Tom Harkin is asking Senate appropriators to ensure that programs improving renewable energy production receive the full funding possible in the coming fiscal year.
Antarctica's Atmosphere Warming Dramatically, Study Finds
The air over Antarctica has warmed dramatically over the past 30
years, according to a new study of archived data collected by weather
balloons floated over the icy continent.
The greatest warming—nearly 1.4ºF (0.75ºC) per decade in the
winter—has occurred about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface.
Scientists are hard pressed to explain the temperature spike, which is
three times larger than the global average.
Boeing completes first cleanup under Pa.-federal brownfield program
Boeing Co. has finished the first industrial cleanup in Pennsylvania under a landmark agreement between state and federal environmental officials regarding brownfield redevelopment, according Gov. Edward Rendell´s office.
Broader hazardous waste definitions lead to increased volume in Europe
Hazardous waste volumes are increasing in Europe as many countries have expanded the definition of what types of waste fall into the hazardous waste category, consulting firm Frost & Sullivan said.
This broader definition of hazardous waste also is creating more demand for waste management services, the company said.
Bush Administration Sued to Protect Arizona Bald Eagles
The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agencies failed to respond to a petition to list the Southwestern desert nesting bald eagle as an endangered Distinct Population Segment under the Endangered Species Act.
Bush wishes for different start on climate change, energy policy
In a stunning admission, President Bush said he wishes he had taken a different tack on climate change and energy policy when he came to office, stressing early on that the US was committed to reducing carbon emissions and pursuing new forms of ethanol and hybrid-electric cars.
Carbon Emissions Market Comes of Age
There is a price for everything and that is now true for carbon emissions where the market is becoming more liquid, allowing policymakers to set more aggressive reduction targets, a fund manager told Reuters.
Caribbean Coral Suffers Record Bleaching, Death
A one-two punch of bleaching from record hot water followed by
disease has killed ancient and delicate coral in the biggest loss of reefs
scientists have ever seen in Caribbean waters.
Researchers from around the globe are scrambling to figure out the
extent of the loss. Early conservative estimates from Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands find that about one-third of the coral in
official monitoring sites has recently died.
China Grapples With Growing Water Shortages
Wang Zhanguo can't remember the last time it rained. "I think it rained once or twice last year, but I'm not sure," said Wang, a Muslim who lives in China's bleak, remote northwestern region of Ningxia.
China Says to Spend US$1 Billion to Clean Up River
China is to spend more than US$1 billion to clean up a river where a toxic spill last year cut off water for millions, state media said on Thursday, as auditors revealed that past funds for clean-up campaigns had been misused.
Climate Change Big Threat to East Asia - World Bank
Climate change is likely to significantly affect economies in the Asia-Pacific region, threatening the increasingly industrialised coastal belt and hurting the region's poor, the World Bank said on Thursday.
Cyclone Glenda Lashes Australian Coast
PERTH, Australia - A tiny town known as "cyclone city" on Australia's remote northwest coast was being lashed by winds of up to 235 kmh (145 mph) late on Thursday as a severe tropical cyclone slammed ashore from the Indian Ocean.
Dam of Three Gorges Project near completion
The giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project on the Yangtze River was near completion, the construction company in charge of the project said Thursday. .
Domenici to cut Yucca Mountain's FY-07 cash, may submit own bill
Senate appropriators are expected to cut fiscal year-2007 funding for the Department of Energy's proposed nuclear waste repository project at Yucca Mountain, Nevada after key members of an appropriations subcommittee said Thursday the $544 million being sought for that program was too high.
Duke's nuclear power plant plans facing opposition
Environmental watchdog groups plan to swarm the Carolinas in coming years as Duke Energy moves forward on plans to construct its fourth power plant just outside of Earl in Cherokee Falls, S.C. Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has already started its campaign to stop the power plant with a mass e-mail alert sent out to activists throughout the region.
Evaluating Solar-- Lawrence Berkeley Report Investigates California PV Market, Part III
"Letting the Sun Shine on Solar Costs," a report from the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, presents some conclusions based on the study's findings and also remarks on some trends regarding the evaluation of cost trends in California’s market for residential and commercial grid-connected PV.
Exelon Plans to Clean Up Tritium Leaks
Exelon has drawn up plans to start removing water with radioactive tritium from the ground near a nuclear power plant in Will County, company officials said Wednesday.
Faith-Based and Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
The collaboration of Faith-Based and Community Organizations with public health agencies will be essential in protecting the public’s health and safety if and when an influenza pandemic occurs. This checklist provides guidance for religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.), social service agencies that are faith-based, and community organizations in developing and improving influenza pandemic response and preparedness plans. Many of the points suggested here can improve your organization’s ability to protect your community during emergencies in general.
Feinstein's global warming bill to benefit nuclear industry
Mandatory cap-and-trade provisions in a global warming bill Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat-California, is expected to unveil next week would make emission-free nuclear power more attractive, according to Peter Darbee, president, chairman and CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric.
German Federal Government announces National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Innovation Program
During the opening ceremony of the second hydrogen filling station in Berlin on 14 March (see below), German Federal Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee announced, that the German Federal Government will support hydrogen and fuel cell technology through a new National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Innovation Program. The Government will intensify its commitment and allocate additional EUR 500 million in funding for the next 10 years.
Global and Hemispheric Temperature Update
Graphically represented. Data runs up to December 2005.GM hydrogen car has to step on gas
GENERAL Motors has said it needs to give a green light to heavy investment to develop a mass-market, hydrogen-powered car within the next 18 months to ensure the US car maker - struggling with a financial crisis - does not get left behind on clean vehicles.
Green groups say forest agency breaking roadless area promise
Environmentalists on Thursday released a report claiming that pending oil and gas drilling projects in national forests violate a US Forest Service pledge to maintain "interim" protections for roadless areas in national forests while the agency rewrites the Clinton administration's roadless rule.
'Hidden costs' bring US oil import bill to $825 billion
An economist told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday the
cost of waging war in Iraq should be considered part of the US' overall bill
for importing oil this year since, he claimed, the war is meant to protect
Washington's oil interests.
IEEE Okays First U.S. Standard to Help Purchasers Buy More Environmentally Friendly Computers
Assessing the environmental impact of computer systems before they are bought has long been a challenge for those who purchase computer equipment for companies, government agencies and other organizations. A new IEEE standard, which was initiated by and developed with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will help resolve this issue.
Ireland's First Wave-Energy Generator Arrives in Galway
An initiative to open a wave energy test site one and a half miles off the coast of Spiddal, County Galway, is under way with the arrival of the first wave energy generator, Wavebob, which has arrived at Galway Docks.
MIT Powers Up New Battery for Hybrid Cars
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new type of lithium battery that could become a cheaper alternative to the batteries that now power hybrid electric cars. Until now, lithium batteries have not had the rapid charging capability or safety level needed for use in cars.
NCC's plan to increase coal use would raise CO2 emissions --NRDC
The Natural Resource Defense Council claims a report by the National Coal Council on how to maximize the country's coal supply is way off base. NRDC said the report makes "unsupportable claims about the economic benefits of the coal industry" and called it "a recipe for accelerating global warming."
Pa., Penn State Univ. to use baled tires as fill to rebuild rural roads
Pennsylvania will invest $700,000 in a scrap tire reuse project that could consume some 500,000 waste tires. Penn State University will used baled tires as fill material to rebuild sunken dirt and gravel roads in rural communities.
Regional global warming plan urged
Great Lakes governors and premiers need to adopt a regional strategy to combat global warming before its effects on the world's largest source of fresh surface water become more acute, a Great Lakes author-activist told about 100 people at Maumee Bay State Park yesterday.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 033106
Solar activity was very low. Today's activity consisted of several B-class flares.There is a fair chance for an isolated C-class event from Region 865 sometime during the next three days (31 Mar - 2 Apr). The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet for the next two days (31 Mar - 1 Apr) and is expected to be generally unsettled by the third day (2 Apr).
Residents Brace for Floods in Central Europe
Emergency crews aided by soldiers were reinforcing river banks in the southern Czech Republic on Thursday as flood waters rose, forcing thousands from their homes.
Scientists Scramble to Find Alternatives to Banned Pesticide
Since the 1940s, methyl bromide has served farmers well as a stunningly lethal fumigant, killing off pests such as fungi, weeds, insects and rodents. The move to phase out the use of methyl bromide is a result of the United Nations' 1992 Montreal Protocol, which identified the pesticide as one of many chemicals that damages the stratosphere's layer of ozone.
Senators warn FERC it may be going too far in loosening PURPA
Three US senators have written to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to express concern that the commission may be going too far in loosening power purchase obligations created by the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.
Top Global Companies Join With WBCSD to Make Energy Self-Sufficient Buildings a Reality
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development announced today that it is forming an alliance of leading global companies to determine how buildings can be designed and constructed so that they use no energy from external power grids, are carbon neutral, and can be built and operated at fair market values.
Venezuelan probe to blame ex-ministers for opening up oil sector
Venezuelan lawmakers will next week present a report blaming former oil ministers and top executives at state oil company PDVSA for the opening up of the country's oil industry to foreign investment in the 1990s, legislators said Friday.
Wetlands Reverse Long Decline -- If Golf Course Ponds Count
More people building ponds for golf courses and subdivisions or to retain stormwater and wastewater helped create the nation's first net gain in wetlands in a half-century of government record-keeping.
The Fish and Wildlife Service reported a gain of 715,300 acres of shallow-water wetlands -- mainly artificial varieties of ponds -- which offset a continued loss of 523,500 acres of marshes, swamps, and other more traditional and natural wetlands that are the so-called nurseries of life.
Windfall Profit Taxes Fuel America's Addiction to Foreign Oil
As compared to other industries, profits in the oil industry are not unusual, despite claims to the contrary by proponents of a so-called "Windfall Profits Tax" (WPT) aimed at our nation's energy companies. Further, according to a new report released by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), such a tax is more likely to increase the United States' dependence on foreign oil rather than reduce it.
Xcel Energy seeks company to build solar power plant in Colorado
Xcel Energy Inc. is seeking a company to build, own and operate Colorado´s largest solar power plant.
The plant will be located in Colorado´s San Luis Valley and will produce 13,700 megawatt-hours per year, enough to power about 1,800 homes. Xcel expects construction to begin this year and be completed by the end of 2007.
March 30, 2006
ARIZONA RESIDENTS--SOLAR TAX CREDIT BILL NEEDS YOUR HELP
Arizona has big energy problems. Rates are
skyrocketing—the state's largest utility has recently requested two rate
increases, and the average consumer faces an increase of $30 a month in utility
bills. And in many places the transmission and distribution system is severely
overloaded, with strong opposition to building new power lines from residents.
Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and the problems
are only getting worse.
Solar energy can help. The Arizona Legislature is
considering a bill, HB 2429, to provide tax incentives for solar energy
installations in the state, making them cheaper to install.
Australia Says No China Uranium Exploration Deal
Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said the government was not negotiating an agreement to allow China access to uranium exploration rights, and the two countries were only discussing a deal to govern uranium trade.
Blair demands green 'revolution'
Tony Blair has called for a "technological revolution comparable to the internet" to slow global warming. Mr Blair promised to push for an international framework to supersede the Kyoto Protocol when it expires. The speech came after the government admitted it was unlikely to meet its target for cutting greenhouse gases.Bush administration to boost fuel economy standards for trucks
US President George W. Bush's administration will tell auto makers later Wednesday that they need to increase the average fuel economy for light trucks, a category that includes pickups, minivans and some sports utility vehicles, the Department of Transportation said.
Carbon cloud over a green fuel
Late last year in Goldfield, Iowa, a refinery began pumping out a stream of ethanol, which supporters call the clean, renewable fuel of the future.There's just one twist: The plant is burning 300 tons of coal a day to turn corn into ethanol - the first US plant of its kind to use coal instead of cleaner natural gas.
China Outlines 2005-2020 Strategy for Nuclear Power Generation
A mid and long-term strategy for China's nuclear power generation development during the period of 2005 to 2020 has won approval from the State Council, the nation's cabinet. Currently, power generated by coal accounts for 74% of the total power; that by hydropower 24%, and that by nuclear power only 1.6%.
'Complete Solar Roof' Offers Power and Heat
The Complete Solar Roof by Solarcentury of England offers an alternative to conventional roofing products by combining solar electric and solar thermal in a tile that is installed like a conventional roofing tile. The two technologies are integrated to generate both power and heat from sunlight.
Energy Ambassadors-- Energy Efficiency Pays Off for Students
Thirty-nine university students from across Canada have seen their future and it is green - in more ways than one. Today, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) announced this year's Energy Ambassadors, a talented group of post-secondary students recognized for their projects related to energy efficiency.
Energy Risk - Russian Oil Group Yukos in Bankruptcy
Former Russian oil giant Yukos was one step closer to the end after a Moscow arbitration court said that it had been placed in bankruptcy. "The court recognizes that demands by Rosneft are founded and has decided to name a temporary administrator" for Yukos, presiding judge Pavel Markov said in reference to a rival Russian oil company.
Energy self-sufficiency – A village’s way forward
An end to the dependence upon limited fossil fuel resources - the dream of steadfast idealists, can actually be observed in the near future while touring the first energetically independent city in Germany: Jühnde (German).
Gazprom to unveil deals with BASF, Eon on gas field early April
Russia's Gazprom plans to announce partnership agreements with Germany's BASF and E.ON Ruhrgas on the development of the Yushno-Russkoye gas field in West Siberia in early April,
House budget resolution does not include ANWR leasing revenues
A draft budget resolution being debated Wednesday in the US House of Representatives Budget Committee does not include revenues from oil and natural gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Iraq needs 8-12 months to resume northern oil exports
Iraq needs eight to 12 months to before being able to resume crude oil exports from northern oilfields through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, acting oil minister Hashem al-Hashemi said Thursday.
Italy raises power tariffs 5.7% in Q2 2006
Italy's gas and power regulator, AEEG, has increased power tariffs for the second quarter 5.7% and gas tariffs 2.1% as a result of "expensive oil" and the "gas emergency" it said Wednesday.
Japan's first nuclear reprocessing plant to begin trial run Friday
Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. plans to begin a test run of Japan's first plant on Friday to extract plutonium and uranium from spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing, the plant operator said Wednesday.
Judge temporarily blocks Massey subsidiary's mine work in W.Va.
This is the latest round in ongoing litigation from the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and other environmental groups against the US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, and various West Virginia coal companies over mountaintop surface mining, which targets the Corps' Nationwide 21 permit process.
Peak Oil Pessimists Ignore American 'Can-Do' Spirit
If you believe that oil and gas companies conspired to receive record high profits, that oil supplies are diminishing and that gasoline companies purposely gouged — buckle up, because this will be a very rough ride.
REEEP Funds More Renewable Energy Projects in Developing Countries
In keeping with increased funding promises made last fall from the UK, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) will now fund more than 30 new projects, including several in new countries. REEEP is attracting co-financing from agencies as diverse as USAID, Cordaid Netherlands, the budgets of local municipalities in South Africa and from other donors such as the government of Ireland and the UK Foreign Ministry.
Renewable Project Finance-- The Tutorial
EVENT: Renewables are hot, and getting hotter by the day. But renewable projects have a variety of constraints and intrinsic economics very different from conventional thermal-energy projects. To gain maximum benefit from the boom in renewables, you need to get the best and the latest insight into the peculiarities of the financing market for renewables from the most experienced players in the field.
SECRETARIES NORTON AND JOHANNS COMMEND GAINS IN U.S. WETLANDS
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today released a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report that shows a net gain in America’s nonagricultural and agricultural wetlands for the first time since the Service began compiling data in 1954. Norton was joined by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns as a partner in achieving this goal.
Snail Slows Down Pace of New Zealand Coal Mine
The battle over the snail, believed to be a unique species which is threatened by extinction, has been holding up the mining of millions of dollars of coal in the region."This is a classic dilemma between economic development and environmental conservation. These are never easy questions," Chris Carter, New Zealand's conservation minister, told Reuters on Wednesday.
Speech - Adams on the Economic Aspects of the US-China Relationship
The following is the testimony by Timothy D. Adams in front of the Senate Finance Committee on the US and China relationship.
Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee, I am pleased to be with you today to discuss Treasury's economic engagement with China, what we have achieved and the critical work to be done. The U.S. relationship with China may be the single most important economic relationship of the 21st century.
Speech – Dodge on Global Imbalances, Why Worry? What to Do?
The following are remarks by Governor David Dodge of the Bank of Canada to the New York Association for Business Economics.
Today, I am going to discuss global current account imbalances—why we should worry about them, and what we can do to encourage their resolution. I will talk about the need to develop an international monetary system that supports market-based solutions to global imbalances and removes existing impediments to these market-based solutions.
Stranded Whales Mystify US Researchers
Several of the animals appear to have been ill, but others were healthy, and there is not enough evidence to blame sonar used by nearby ships, a team of US government researchers said on Wednesday.
The Peak Oil Meme Has Been Let Loose
U.S. Ethanol Makers Say They Can Meet Oil Refiner Demand
U.S. ethanol producers told Congress on Wednesday there will be enough of their mostly corn-based product to meet the demands of oil refiners that will need more of the fuel additive to make gasoline for the summer driving season.
UK government confirms rise in nuclear clean-up cost to GBP70 bil
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) strategy published Thursday that sets out for the first time how the UK will tackle the clean-up of its historic nuclear facilities confirms the estimated cost for this has risen to GBP70 billion from GBP56 billion,
US DOE says to soon release environmental report on SPR expansion
The US Energy Department Tuesday said it would soon be releasing a draft environmental impact statement, including floodplain and wetland assessments, on the potential sites for expansion or new development of the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
US House Republican leader expects broad energy bill this year
US House Majority Leader John Boehner Tuesday predicted the chamber will consider new legislation this year to reduce US reliance on energy imports, one year after Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act of 2005. One goal would be to accelerate and broaden President Bush's goal of reducing US reliance on foreign oil.
WALES-- Underwater Turbines Await Go-Ahead
A green energy company claims its dream of using underwater "windmills" to harness the power of waves off the North Wales coast could be a reality within three years.
What do sewage sludge and fresh laundry have in common?
The sun dries them the best!Since the age of imprudent disposal of human waste has passed, a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly alternative for the disposal of sewage sludge has been sought-after.
Cost Dropping Below Conventional Sources Marks Key Milestone in U.S. Shift to Renewable Energy
"A decade from now, there may be thousands of ranchers who will be earning
more selling electricity than they do selling cattle."
- Lester R. Brown
March 29, 2006
3 senators question EPA proposal to ease toxic reporting rules
Three senators have written to the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, asking it investigate a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to amend the Toxic Release Inventory Program.
Ageing Russian refineries need reconstruction
Some 65 % of Russia's oil refineries are in need of major reconstruction work, the deputy economic development and trade minister said.
The Administration’s pending legislative proposal is vitally important to the continued progress of the Yucca Mountain permanent repository. It is our understanding that the pending legislative proposal might include reclassification of the Nuclear Waste Fund (NWF) fees...
Britain's Blair Endorses Asia-Pacific Climate Pact
Blair said there were a number of climate-change initiatives around the world which could eventually be brought together to tackle greenhouse gas emissions globally, and encourage business to adopt greener technology and energy.
Building a Culture of Conservation in Ontario
Legislation giving Ontarians important tools to manage electricity use and save money on their energy costs has received Royal Assent, Energy Minister Donna Cansfield announced. "Through tools like smart metering, consumers will have better information and more control over the cost of the electricity they consume.
Canadian Renewable Fuels Association-- Canada Ranks Behind Global Leaders in Renewable Fuels
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association today released a new study by international commodities research firm F.O. Licht that shows Canada lags behind the world leaders in renewable fuels production and consumption.
China's Solar Push More than Just Low-Cost
China's low-cost labor will make it a world contender in most inexpensively turning raw silicon (pictured here) into solar modules for the global market. Several Chinese solar companies, in anticipation of a future capital market transaction, have been stockpiling poly to the order of hundreds of metric tons. Additionally, we toured a major wafer reclaim facility that uses low-cost labor to sort and recycle broken/rejected wafers from the semiconductor and solar industry.
Chinese premier sets 2006 energy efficiency target
China will cut the amount of energy it uses to produce each dollar of
national income by 4 % this year, Premier Wen Jiabao will say in a speech that
gives unprecedented prominence to energy challenges. The world's second-largest
oil consumer will also publicly name wasteful energy users, as part of a drive
to curb a booming appetite for resources and a growing reliance on imported
crude.
“Beginning this year, we will publish annually details of the energy consumption
of every region, and of firms in all key industries," Wen said, according to
excepts from his annual address to parliament.
Chinese strategic oil storage base nears completion
China has largely completed construction of a national strategic oil storage base in Zhenhai in eastern Zhejiang province, and will put it into operation by yearend, according to Ma Kai, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
The proposal by Cities Aggregation Power Project, a coalition of more than 80 cities, calls for a decadelong contract with a coal plant to supply electricity to the communities. Under the proposal, CAPP would issue a bond to pay the contract's costs upfront and member cities would reimburse CAPP.
Darling Hints at Future Role for Nuclear Power Stations
Alistair Darling yesterday gave a clear hint that nuclear power would figure prominently in the government's energy review when he ruled out renewable forms of energy for all of Scotland's needs.
Death rules the Niger Delta in battle to control Nigerian oil
Kidnappings and ethnic war in Nigeria have one root cause -- oil. The power struggles and corruption that flow from it have claimed thousands of lives. Eleven years after his father was killed there, Ken Wiwa reports from the Niger Delta on the persistent conflict that is tearing the country apart. Mr Wiwa's article follows:
Declining price for wind is key milestone in U.S. shift to renewables
The climbing price of natural gas has pushed the cost for conventional electricity above the cost of wind-generated electricity, and this crossing of the cost lines is “a milestone in the U.S. shift to a renewable energy economy,” says Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute.
DEP Orders PPL To Install Cooling Towers For High-Temperature Discharges At Brunner Island Power
Three years of negotiation between the state and Allentown-based PPL Brunner Island LLC have ended as the company has agreed to install cooling towers, estimated to cost $120 million, to address high-temperature discharges into the Susquehanna River from its electric generation facility in East Manchester Township, York County.
Dismay over Climate Change Review
Environmental groups have condemned the Government over its Climate Change Review, and the admission that the UK will not meet its emissions target for 2010.
Displacing carbon dioxide is a business opportunity, says report
The goal of displacing 3,500 megatons of CO2 emissions by 2050 gives U.S. businesses “an opportunity to capitalize on technological innovation,” according to the report. Ceres is a national coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations which work with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change.
EU urges an energy pact with Russia
Russia took centre stage in European energy discussions as the European Union urged its 25 members to form an energy pact with Moscow, while Poland, once again the renegade, presented an energy security plan that would exclude Russia, one of the Continent's main suppliers.
FDA Says No Safety Concerns from Early Tests on Benzene in Soda
No safety concerns have arisen from tests for the cancer-causing chemical benzene in soft drinks, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. Still, the agency is not ready to disclose its findings.
French government okays bill endorsing reprocessing, repository
France's Council of Ministers on March 22 approved a landmark nuclear waste policy act that was submitted to parliament the same day. Debate on the measure is set to begin April 6, according to industry minister Francois Loos.
G8 energy ministers support renewables
Wider use of renewable and alternative energies would “contribute substantially” to diversify the world’s energy portfolio, according to energy ministers of the G8 nations.
Hawaiian Utility Looks Inward for Energy
Hawaiian sugarcane crops could be one of the many ethanol feedstocks available for a proposed power plant for the islands. Hawaii's major electric utility, feeling the sting from a nearly 100 percent reliance on imported and increasingly expensive energy, is looking inward to the Islands' considerable biomass and biofuels potential to reinforce its energy supply.
'H-prize' set to highlight hydrogen research
A national competition centered on breakthroughs in hydrogen research and carrying prizes between $1 million and $100 million would launch next year, if an Upstate congressman can garner enough support for the idea in Washington.
Iran’s excessive use of gasoline is major problem
Excessive use of gasoline by the Iranians is a major problem gripping the
national economy and improving the fuel usage can be considered an effective
solution.
"We must follow the proper model of fuel usage and prevent smuggling," said a
member of the parliament, Naser Sudani.
Kuwaiti crude oil reserves in doubt
Doubts over the official Kuwaiti oil reserves were made public as Veteran Kuwaiti lawmaker Ahmad al-Saadun demanded that the government reveal the “truth” about the emirate's oil reserves. These reserves were reported to be only half of the official figure.
Modern South Bay Power Plant Will Pollute Air, Group Contends
The coalition said the elevated emission levels from such a power plant would extend to distances that would put children at more than 60 schools and preschools at risk. A 650-megawatt plant of that size could provide enough electricity to power 500,000 or more homes.
NEMA is Against California Battery Plan
NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, today voiced opposition to a California State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) ruling that California consumers can no longer legally dispose of primary batteries—those standard size alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, and D) used most often—in their household trash.
New NIRS Report Challenges All U.S. Radioactive Waste Policies
A new report from Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) finds that all of the stated U.S. radioactive waste policies have failed, and/or hold no potential for success. The group recommended—as it did 12 years ago—that an independent Blue-Ribbon Commission be established to start from ground zero and establish new, workable, scientifically-defensible radioactive waste policies. Had the U.S. done this 12 years ago, about seven billion dollars would have been saved that have been spent on a pyrrhic effort to open the proposed and unsuitable Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste dump.
New Rosatom appointments seen as paving road toward reform
Sergey Kiriyenko, head of Russian federal nuclear agency Rosatom, last week
named a new director general to national nuclear utility Rosenergoatom, or
REA, in what observers saw as another sign of yet more wrenching reform to
come in the country's nuclear bureaucracy.
Northern Ireland to make clean and green energy available to households
Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Peter Hain has revealed new proposals he says will put the power of cleaner and greener energy into the hands of the ordinary people of Northern Ireland. A £ 59 mm ($ 103 mm) Environment and Renewable Energy funding package will include grant assistance to private householders wanting to install renewable energy systems to heat their homes.
The UKGovernment has announced a new strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides, in a bid to improve the environmental effects of the products. The guidelines cover action plans in the areas of water, biodiversity and amateur usage, among others.
Pipeline break pollutes areas of Russian Republic of Bashkortostan
Some 800 cm of oil spilt as a result of a pipeline rupture in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, the information department of the Emergency Situations Ministry told. The contaminated area is some 500 sq meters. "The incident occurred on March 8.
Planning, not regulation main obstacle for UK renewables-- OFGEM
Planning is more of an obstacle for the development of UK renewable energy sources than the regulatory system, the chief executive of energy regulator OFGEM, Alistair Buchanan, said Tuesday. OFGEM is ahead of the country's planning authorities.
Pressed by Sprawl and Environmental Laws, Dairy Farmers Quitting California
Watching his 18-month-old grandson waddle past a herd of cows on the family's 80-acre dairy farm, Sybrand "Syp" Vander Dussen feels certain the boy, the youngest in a long line of dairymen, will one day follow in his footsteps. The question is where.
Proposed Energy Panel Makeup in Senate Bill Concerns Some
Consumer advocate Susan Glickman ran her finger over a suggested list for a group of people who could decide everything from the types of power plants that are built in Florida to what kind of gasoline consumers put in their cars for the next several years.
Reducing pollution and energy-usage are China’s new targets
China aims to cut the amount of energy used to produce each unit of gross domestic product by 20 % in five years, seeking to conserve resources and reverse a trend of environmental degradation caused by a decade of economic growth averaging 9.5 % a year. The Government is targeting a 4 % reduction this year and aims to cut discharge of major pollutants by 10 % in the five years to 2010.
Russia steps up oil and natural gas exports
Russia's exports of oil and natural gas in January grew by 8 % and 5 % year on year, respectively, the country's customs agency said. Natural gas exports in the first month of this year stood at 18.7 bn cm, with oil exports at 17.2 mm tons (126 mm barrels) in the same period.
Santee Cooper says blackouts possible without new plants
Santee Cooper says South Carolina could face major blackouts in
a decade unless the state-owned utility builds additional power
plants.
Slow PRB coal shipments shrink stocks at Westar Energy Center
Another power plant, this one in Kansas, said Monday that slow coal deliveries have led to dwindling stockpiles.
Solar thermal to meet bulk of Spanish domestic hot water demand
Most of the demand for domestic hot water in Spain must be met from solar thermal systems, under a new building code approved by the national government.
South Africa has high hopes for hydrogen and fuel cells
The hydrogen economy is a billion-dollar research industry. South Africa, with its R 5 mm/year investment, is a mere dabbler. But now government wants to join a hi-tech game that could add value to South Africa's most precious resources and position the country as a player in a new technology arena.
U.S. Geothermal Power Poised to Double, Survey Shows
With 45 geothermal projects under way, the U.S. total geothermal power capacity online in 2005 was 2,828 MW, and that number could nearly double, as a survey on U.S. geothermal power output shows, due to a major surge in developing geothermal power projects within the U.S.
U.S. residents show growing support for renewables
A recent national survey in the United States indicates that 90% of Americans feel that renewable energy is extremely important and that the government should take a major role in creating standards to make it happen.
U.S., Japan Partner on Greenhouse Gases, Sustainable Development
Representatives of two of the world's largest economies met this week to discuss ways to improve air quality and promote clean energy, energy security, and economic opportunities at home and abroad. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Japanese partners explored options for collaborating on projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally and encourage sustainable development.
UK budget promises £50 million for microgeneration technologies
The British government will provide an initial £50 million to support microgeneration technologies to be installed on 25,000 buildings.
UK Government-- New measures to tackle climate change
UK Government pressed on waste measures
Green group Friends of the Earth has urged the Government to introduce a waste prevention target for municipal waste, following the publication of figures that showed a 2.1% increase in the last year. Currently, the national waste strategy review contains no plans for a waste minimisation target.
UK Government-- Wicks wants more microgeneration
Government launches strategy to increase local level energy production and reduce carbon emissions
UniSource Energy Agrees to Sell Global Solar Energy
UniSource Energy Corp. (NYSE: UNS) has agreed to sell Global Solar Energy to Solon AG, a German producer of photovoltaic modules, and a European financial investor.
What's Moving the Market 032906
• IPE
Brent futures in London moved lower on the expectations of a build in crude
stocks in the US stock data reports out later Wednesday and on news that
Shell's 120,000 b/d EA field could soon resume production.
Wind energy is making significant contributions to India’s energy sector
At a time when there is growing concern over country's energy security, the
windmills are making significant contributions.
The demand to develop renewable energy has gained momentum. It is hoped that it
will help in reducing pollution and find an alternative for the exhaustive
fossil fuels. Windmill towers have been constructed in many parts of the
country.
Wind provides fewer economic benefits for smallest rural communities
Development of wind energy facilities in rural areas of the United States has less benefits for small communities than nearby larger communities, according to an analysis prepared for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Small communities with few large industries see greater leakage of revenue into nearby towns that provide more services.”
March 28, 2006
Alternative Energy-- It's Time To Evaluate Our Options
Are we running out of oil? No. Are we running out of affordable oil? Probably. We are certainly running out of the cheap oil that has powered the world economy since the 1950s. Those of us who are willing to face reality have begun to search in earnest for alternative energy solutions.
Alton plant will house recycling operation
WastAway systemconverts solid waste to "fluff," which can be pressed into a building product. Alton Box Board container plant closed in 1998. The new waste- recycling facility could begin operation this year.
Andra expects to begin repository site investigations next year
Andra must begin investigating a potential repository site around its Bure laboratory next year if it is to be ready to apply for a construction license in 2015, as envisaged in the French government's just-approved programmatic\ nuclear waste bill.
Clean-coal effort off to slow start
Three years after he first announced it, the centerpiece of President Bush's plan to produce electricity from coal without adding to global warming is finally getting under way. But it's off to a small start.
About 500 cubic feet of water every second is running through the Northside Canal from Milner Dam near Burley west past Jerome, seeping water into the vast aquifer that has pitted eastern Idaho lawmakers against Idaho Power Co.
Cuba builds new power plants to ease energy shortages
More than 3,000 new generators have been installed, said Cuban government officials, noting that the new plants will provide Havana, a city with a population of 11.2 million, with high quality power service in the sweltering summer season.
Davis-Besse to repair cracking indication
Davis-Besse will perform a weld overlay on an indication of cracking in a cold-leg drain line for a reactor coolant pump later this week, but the work is not expected to delay the unit's ongoing refueling and maintenance outage,
Energy production during December 2005 totaled 5.8 quadrillion Btu, a 4.2-percent decrease compared with the level of production during December 2004. Energy consumption during December 2005 totaled 9.2 quadrillion Btu, slightly lower than the level of consumption during December 2004.
Energy deals take top billing at Sino-Russian talks
IT took half a dozen planes to ferry Russias 800-strong delegation to Beijing last week for President Vladimir Putins two- day state visit to China. Chinese diplomats complained they were dissatisfied with Russias energy cooperation ahead of the trip, but must have been placated by the 29 agreements the two leaders signed, including four important energy deals.
EPA completes amendments to new rules for diesel engines
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized minor amendments to new rules for diesel engines in passenger cars and light trucks, making it easier for manufacturers to comply with tougher emission standards during a transition period.
Ethanol Crunch May Boost US Gasoline Prices
Within a few months gasoline at more than a third of US pumps will contain ethanol, a renewable fuel made from crops like corn and sugar, bringing the world's biggest energy consumer a small step closer to reducing its dependence on foreign oil.
Federal judge blocks expansion of Massey mine
The latest courtroom battle to curb mountaintop removal coal mining is starting to heat up. Over the last seven years, two federal judges in West Virginia have issued rulings to more tightly regulate mountaintop removal.
Freak German Tornado Hits Hamburg, Killing Two
A rare tornado wreaked havoc in the northern German city of Hamburg on Monday, tearing the roofs off houses, overturning cars and killing two people, authorities said. The southern district of Harburg was hardest hit by the violent storm, which knocked down three cranes at a construction site, killing two operators, a police spokeswoman said. Two others at the site also suffered injuries, she added.
Galvin Electricity Initiative Completes First Phase of Visionary Research
Results Define Pathway to 'Perfect Power System' for Meeting Needs of 21st Century Consumers. The Galvin Electricity Initiative, a privately funded activity to create a blueprint for transforming the reliability and value of U.S. electricity service, released the results from the first phase of its landmark research project today.
GE commitment to India’s rural electrification program highlighted at new Delhi event
Reconfirming its commitment to help bring electricity to thousands of people in rural India, GE officially launched its Rural Electrification program for India with a ceremony held yesterday in New Delhi.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells May Help U.S. Military Cut Gas Usage
Several New Orleans City Council members lambasted Waste Management Inc. last Thursday, saying the company´s performance has been unacceptable since Feb. 20 when it took over the collection of New Orleans´ regular trash (as distinct from hurricane debris) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
International Power Group (IPWG) is a waste-to-energy company operating a proprietary technology that not only handles waste management in a more environmentally friendly manner, but also converts the energy generated from the process into meaningful amounts of cost effective electricity. Substantial amounts of purified drinking water can also be extracted from the process.
The Clean Air Act is shining in the eyes of the environmental community. A federal appeals court has struck down the Bush administration's efforts to revise the law to allow modifications to older coal fired plants without installing new pollution controls. Green groups call it a victory for public health but the White House and business organizations counter that the decision diminishes environmental progress.
IPE Brent inches up as market looks to Wednesday's US stock data
IPE Brent futures in London inched higher Tuesday on bad weather slowing shipping operations at Iraq's Basra Oil Terminal, ongoing Nigerian tension and ahead of US crude stock data out Wednesday.
Let's Shine a Light on Energy Efficiency While We Argue About Oil
It is worth mentioning that energy issues are just as important nationally as they are to Wisconsin. In fact, there have been several articles discussing energy legislation, energy policy, energy security, and energy efficiency published recently in such major-media outlets as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. The problem with most of these articles is that they are little more than political diatribes from both the right and the left at a time when we need solutions rather than rhetoric.
Maryland lawmakers fight energy measure
Maryland lawmakers are seeking to delay the upcoming merger of Constellation Energy Group and FPL Group Incorporated. Constellation says a lawsuit is possible if the legislature tries to intervene with what the company calls an intrusive measure. The debate over whether to delay the merger between Constellation and FPL Group
HUGO, Okla. — A growing need for future electric capacity is leading to the development of a new 750-megawatt power plant in Southeast Oklahoma.
Nigeria's Daukoru sees no imminent restart of shut-in oil output
Nigerian oil production currently shut in due to unrest and violence in the Niger Delta is unlikely to be restarted very soon, the country's oil minister Edmund Daukoru said Tuesday. Over 600,000 b/d of Nigerian output is currently shut in.
No oomph in DWP green power, critics say
As the new leadership of the Department of Water and Power makes clean energy a top priority, one of the utility's earliest and most prominent green-power programs is languishing in limbo.
OfficeMax to install kiosks for refilling of printer cartridges
OfficeMax Inc. is installing kiosks at nearly 900 stores to allow customers to refill empty printer inkjet cartridges, which could save them hundreds of thousands of dollars while benefiting the environment.
Progress Energy today released its report on global climate change, saying that there is enough understanding of the issue to warrant action by the private and public sectors. The company also called for the development of a national climate change policy and a balanced solution to address the challenge.
State sees less mercury in future
North CarolinaProgress Energy's large Roxboro power plant north of Durham spews nearly 700 pounds of mercury into the air a year from burning coal, making it one of the state's largest sources of mercury.
The Rising Power of China (pdf)
The People’s Republic of China is the second largest electricity producer in the world after the United States. In 2002, the per capita electricity consumption in China exceeded 1,000 kilowatt hours for the first time, reaching 1,096. Yet it’s still behind the world average of 2,433 kilowatt hours per person—and lower than the Asian average of 1,207. For a growing economy like China’s, investing in and dealing with energy efficiency and control is an important issue.
Today, 88 percent of power consumption in China is for
industrial production. In 2002, there were only 12 provincial power grids
experiencing minor power shortages and limited or interrupted power supply in
summer peaking time and the winter low water period.
Washington becomes fourth state to adopt e-waste law
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the nation´s fourth electronic waste bill March 24, making the state the first to require manufacturers to fully finance the collection and recycling of electronics.
What a surprise-- Prices move both ways
About a month ago, the Wall Street Journal had a page one story (States Seek Ways to Curb Surging Electricity Bills) which reported the shock and dismay of state regulatory officials that prices were rising for consumers, especially due to the increase in natural gas rates. This unrealistic expectation is exacerbated by the failure to incent infrastructure investments as well placing an entire critical industry at risk of financial disaster.
Year On Scenic Indonesia Island Still Reels From Quake
Less than five percent of the 37,000 houses destroyed or severely damaged by the quake. The BRR says progress has been severely hampered by logistical difficulties.
"Unlike in Aceh, we need to provide every single material down from the stones, cement and everything else ... and a lot of times they are stuck because there are not enough ships coming here," said Yunus Situmorang, who heads reconstruction and logistical support in Nias.
March 27, 2006
Aboriginals and environmentalists split over Mackenzie Valley pipeline
A split between some northern aboriginals and southern environmentalists over Arctic energy development burst open like a piece of corroded pipe during hearings on a proposed natural gas pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley.
Africa is important to America's energy security
US-Africa trade ties can grow only stronger as one in five barrels of oil
consumed in America in the next few decades most likely will come from the
continent, says a top US energy official.
Currently, 15 % of US oil imports comes from Africa.
Alberta has enough oil to last for centuries
Alberta has enough oil in its tarsands region to last for hundreds of years,
says Energy Minister Greg Melchin. Albertans and Canadians shouldn't be
concerned about Americans draining oil to meet a growing thirst for energy in
the United States, the minister said.
"We have centuries of supplies," Melchin said. "And our policies are built on a
lot of trade, the United States being our most valuable customer."
Energy security will strongly influence the global security agenda in the 21st century. Germany will see a continued increase in its demand for fossil fuel imports despite our efforts to develop renewable energies and improve energy efficiency. The same goes for Europe as a whole, the United States and Asia's major consumers.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is Germany's minister for foreign affairs.
Boise upholds appeal of smaller power plant
Boise City Council Tuesday heard four appeals on Boise Planning and Zoning Commission's Jan. 9 approval of Mountain View Power's application to build two natural gas-fired power plants in East Boise near Boise Factory Outlet. The council voted to deny the appeals on the larger power plant and uphold the appeals of the smaller plant.
Breaking America's addiction to foreign oil-- Alternative energy resources
In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush outlined a recovery
plan for breaking America's "addiction" to foreign oil -- mostly by prescribing
alternative energy resources that could take years to deploy.
But, the best medicine for breaking the nation's foreign addiction is the
development of the abundant oil and natural gas resources we have here at home.
It would be a mistake to disregard this country's most-important, readily
available energy solution.
Britain Eyes Commercially Viable Clean Energy
A new 1 billion pound (US$1.73 billion) energy research programme, announced by Finance Minister Gordon Brown this week, wants to bring to market clean energy technologies, Paul Golby, Co-Chair of the Energy Research Partnership, said on Friday.
Canada Hunters Start Killing Seals, Tempers Flare
Canadian hunters started shooting and clubbing harp seal pups on Saturday at the start of an annual hunt that is the focus of a tech-savvy protest by animal rights groups.
Canada’s energy security in jeopardy
A report on the Athabasca tar sands by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Parkland Institute, and Polaris Institute warns of the potential enormous economic, social, and ecological threat from Athabasca tar sands development.
Ceres Releases First-Ever Ranking of 100 Global Companies on Climate Change Strategy
A growing number of leading U.S. companies are confronting the business challenges from global warming, recognizing that greenhouse gas limits are inevitable and that they cannot risk falling behind their international competitors in developing climate-friendly technologies.
Coal power plant project on hold
A 1,200-megawatt coal-burning plant planned for the remote northwest of Nevada has been placed on hold while company officials evaluate their $2 billion proposal.
Energy merger might be leverage
House panel considers thwarting deal to force easing of rate increase. Creating leverage in the fight against a 72 percent electric rate increase, a House of Delegates committee voted yesterday to give the General Assembly power to thwart an $11.4 billion merger between Constellation Energy Group and Florida's FPL Group.
Energy Risk - Continuing Turmoil in the Power Industry, What It Means for the Major Players
Five years ago this winter, California's wholesale power market imploded. Power prices soared. California residents endured weeks of rolling blackouts. Two California utilities were forced into bankruptcy even as their suppliers -- independent power companies -- reaped huge windfalls.
Five years later, the tables have turned.
EU Leaders Seek Stronger Renewable Energy Targets
European Union leaders gave a push to renewable energy on Friday, eyeing higher targets for sources like wind and solar power as the 25-nation bloc tries to reduce its dependence on foreign energy suppliers.
EU renewables doubled, emissions slashed since 1980-- Eurelectric
The European Union's renewables capacity went up from 90 GW (for the EU 15) in 1980 to 172 GW in 2004 (EU 25), the EU's power industry umbrella group Eurelectric said Monday.
EU unity on power is elusive Members are divided over common policy
As leaders of the European Union gather for a two-day meeting in Brussels on Thursday, countries are divided over how and whether they can forge a common European energy policy that will allow them meet growing demand in the coming decades and deal with Russia, one of the region's largest suppliers.
Federal aid for heating grows-- Wisconsin gets $26.2 million more for assistance
An additional $26.2 million in federal money will be available to help low-income residents of Wisconsin cope with record heating costs this winter.
FirstEnergy signs 23-year, 80-MW deal with Pennsylvania wind farm
FirstEnergy has signed a 23-year deal to buy 80 MW of wind power from the Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm, a project being developed near Altoona, Pennsylvania,
Homebuilding Goes Green to Save Energy, Provide Comfort
The answers all point to green building, a trend that's picking up speed across the United States as homeowners struggle with high utility bills and leaders begin to talk about shifting the country's diet from oil to more renewable energy sources.
Horicon wind farm foes find unlikely ally in U.S. Air Force
Wildlife groups that want to block construction of a wind power project near the Horicon Marsh and its refuge for migratory birds have found a new and unusual ally: the U.S. Air Force.
IFC Eyes Carbon Market Blueprint for Biodiversity
The World Bank's private sector agency has been lending to nature conservation projects with a view to laying the foundation for a market akin to carbon trading, the project head said Friday.
In Bolivia, World's Highest Ski Resort Melting Away
Times are hard for the world's highest ski resort, a dizzy 17,388 feet (5,300 metres) above sea level in the Bolivian Andes. Its glacier is melting so fast synthetic snow is seen as the only way to save it.
Iraq's March 1-21 crude output averages 2.0-2.1 mil bd-- official
Iraq's crude oil production for the first three weeks of March averaged around 2.0-2.1 million b/d, while exports stood at some 1.5 million b/d for the same period, a senior Iraqi oil ministry official said Monday. "So far, so good," said Shamkhi Faraj, head of ministry's finance and marketing affairs. "
Lyondell urges EPA action on gasoline supply
Lyondell Chemical Co said Friday that the US is likely to see sharp increases in gasoline prices, gasoline supply disruptions and a deterioration in air quality as a result of the rulemaking to remove the reformulated gasoline oxygen content requirement.
Minnesota lawmakers table 25% renewable sourcing by 2025 bill
Minnesota would join the growing ranks of states that have set renewable energy mandates under a bill introduced late Thursday in the state House.
Much of hurricane-impacted energy production still offline
Much of the oil and natural gas production still shut-in after last year's hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico will stay offline because it would not be economical for companies to rebuild the production platforms, Energy Secretary Sam Bodman told Congress.
National Ground Water Association and Irrigation Association to Collaborate
Natural gas boom in western US leads to a conflict of cultures
On a blustery winter day on the rolling plains north of Denver, a herd of
cattle stood grazing a few yards from an idled natural gas pump in a dormant
field as traffic rumbled by on a black-topped, two-lane highway.
Children play near an oil pump surrounded by a housing development in Frederick,
Colorado. Just down the road are shopping centres and subdivisions packed with
new homes,
Nigeria seeks US security for oil sector
Dr Edmund Daukoru, President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Minister of State for Petroleum has stressed the need for more US investment in Nigeria's oil industry to help check insecurity in the sector. He also noted that there was no problem with crude oil prices featuring as high as $ 60 per barrel as long as the global economy continues to grow.
'North to the Future' means clean energy, not Arctic drilling
Alaska's official state motto, "North to the Future," hearkens to the promise of Alaska's country. To some, this conjures oil drilling. To me, it means we northerners can provide leadership on the great challenges of our day.
Nuclear-power plants to increase
CHINA : Nuclear power stations will be integral to the country's energy strategy and will play a significant role in enhancing national strength and technology, participants at the meeting agreed.
PECO WIND Ranked Top 10 by Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently ranked PECO WIND in the top ten green power programs based on total number of customers.
Pennsylvania wins national energy award
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Pennsylvania for its national energy leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy.
Police in Eastport probe threat to LNG opponents
Police are investigating a threat and vandalism apparently aimed at opponents of a proposed liquefied natural gas facility at Split Rock at Pleasant Point. "This is a warning! Stay away from the Passamaquoddy people you and the media and your so-called lawsuit you [expletive] bitch," the note said.
Regulators want Edison to explain why rates shouldn't be cut
Fewer customers and fewer employees mean Detroit Edison Co. may be overcharging customers, state regulators said Thursday in ordering the utility to explain why its electricity rates should not be reduced.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 032706
Solar activity is expected to be very low. The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. The 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was high.
Sea Level, Ice, and Greenhouses
The relation between sea level, ice, and greenhouses (or more generally, climate change) is a recurring issue in these groups. Much of the underpinning, is alas misunderstood or garbled. This FAQ tries to bring a little coherence to the discussion.
Sea Level Rise & Global Warming, Trends & Consequences
Present CO2 levels have increased by approximately 50 ppm or 15%
since the mid-1750s.
Greenhouse gases work to cause global warming by forming an atmospheric boundary
that
traps heat. About 70% of the sunlight that reaches the Earth penetrates the
atmosphere
and heats it. This heat is then transformed into infrared radiation and radiated
back into the
atmosphere.
Severn Trent Provides Arsenic Removal Technology for the City of Goodyear, Ariz.
State to study rising coal price-- Energy regulators also will examine rail delivery disruptions
State energy regulators will investigate the impact that the rising price of coal and disruptions to rail deliveries are having on Wisconsin utilities and electric rates.
Study calls for US to make greater use of coal
Additional use of coal for electricity generation would reduce domestic energy costs by 33 per cent according to a study released by the US National Coal Council.
The Enron trial is coinciding with a similar scandal, the one involving the submission of false pricing information to publishers and which may be coming to an end. Just a short hop from where Enron's former guys are being tried, a federal judge has sentenced a Reliant Energy natural gas trader to prison for nearly five years for falsifying pricing data. At least a dozen former traders face related charges.
Three Years on, Experts Fail to Agree on Nuclear Waste
The organisation looking into ways of disposing of the UK's nuclear waste may not be able to make a unanimous decision when it reports next month, its chairman has admitted.
Time to prepare, before it's too late...
Jan Lundberg, oil industry analyst, founder of Auto-Free Times and www.culturechange.org came to Los Angeles to speak on the issues surrounding peak oil.
The farm may be receiving an eviction notice any day now, and in the light of Jan’s talk, this makes no sense at all. The average distance food travels between the farm and the dinner table in this country is 1,500 miles. Our city’s food supply lines are dangerously dependent on petroleum-powered transportation and petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides.
Uinta Basin gas facilities under scope
Government regulators and the Oklahoma City-based Kerr- McGee Corp. remain tight-lipped about environmental violations alleged at two natural-gas compressors the company operates in the Uinta Basin.
US afraid of Venezuela and Bolivia hindering energy sector investments
The United States expressed fears over the possibility that both Venezuela
and Bolivia may hinder foreign investments in the energy sector.
"We are concerned that some countries in our hemisphere are making decisions
that are not going to optimize the development of energy resources," said Karen
Harbert, US Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs.
US agency says probe of fatal 2005 BP Texas City blast continues
The US Chemical Safety Board said Thursday that its probe into the March 23, 2005 explosion at BP's refinery in Texas City, Texas, is continuing one year after the fatal accident.
US and world oil demand to be lower than expected through June
US and world oil demand will be lower than expected through June as petroleum
prices stay high, the government's top energy forecasting agency said.
The projections of lower demand, particularly for the second quarter, come as
OPEC ministers meet in Vienna to review their production policies and could
justify concerns of some cartel members that output needs to be cut at some
point in the coming months to prevent a drop in crude prices.
US car companies start to see the only salvation is in radical innovation
Even the quintessential gas-guzzling SUV could become energy-efficient if it weighed a lot less and was run by a hybrid engine or a fuel cell, according to noted author and environmentalist Amory Lovins, who spoke on Feb. 27 to a packed crowd in MIT's Wong Auditorium.
US DOE backs enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration
The Energy Department is proceeding with research into technologies that use
industrial carbon dioxide to increase yields from oil and gas fields while also
sequestering the CO2, which is linked to global warming.
DOE's Office of Fossil Energy has begun soliciting proposals for enhanced
recovery using CO2 that gives a preference to CO2 diverted from industrial sites
such as ethanol and gas processing plants, refineries, coal liquefaction plants
and other facilities.
US trade deficit widened more than expected in January
The US trade deficit widened more than expected in January to a record $ 68.5 bn, as record imports fuelled by high oil prices outstripped record exports propelled by stronger foreign demand, a Commerce Department report showed.
Venezuela extends its oil influence
With its vast oil supply and Latin America’s largest natural gas reserves,
Venezuela has quickly become a major energy powerbroker in the region and the
world.
South America’s only member of OPEC has benefited hand over fist from inflated
oil prices and utilized soaring global energy prices to its advantage. Venezuela
is exporting an estimated 3.3 mm barrels of oil per day, with prices set at
about $ 50 per barrel.
'Water Stories' Multimedia Website Launched for World Water Day
WMO Sees Link Between Global Warming and Hurricanes
There is growing evidence of a link between global warming and natural disasters such as droughts and flooding, the head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Friday.
March 24, 2006
Beetle 'Epidemic' Rends Northwest Forests
The region's largest infestation of mountain pine beetles in 20 years has hit more than a million acres of forests in northern Idaho and Montana, while 2.5 million acres in Washington face disease and insect problems.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced plans to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the technology demonstration program of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) initiative.
EPA becomes 3rd-largest green energy purchaser in U.S.
The EPA is using green energy for 100 percent of the power consumption at its Washington headquarters. The agency also uses renewable energy at the majority of its more than 31 regional offices and laboratories. In total, the EPA has contracted to purchase 260 million kilowatt-hours of green power.
Only the U.S. Air Force and Whole Foods Markets LP, a grocery chain, buy more green energy than the EPA.
EU leaders stress renewables, research, right to choose at summit
Renewable energy, research and development and a nation's right to choose its energy mix were all emphasized in talks by European Union leaders at the European Council Thursday, Austria's federal chancellor, Wolfgang Schuessel told journalists late Thursday.
Hydrogen Made from Biodiesel Using Steam Reformer
InnovaTek and Seattle BioFuels announce the first successful production of hydrogen from 100% biodiesel in a microchannel steam reformer. This is the first time a renewable fuel source has been used to produce hydrogen in a microchannel steam reformer to power emission-free fuel cells. InnovaTek's reforming system was initially developed to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels.
Italy used 70% of its gas stocks this winter-- Scajola
Italy used a total of 9.3 billion cubic meters, or 70%, of its 13.2 Bcm of gas stocks during this winter's gas emergency, industry minister Claudio Scajola said Friday.
Lady Liberty Going With Wind Power
By the end of this month, 100 percent of the electricity that powers the Old Lady in the Harbor and Ellis Island, where millions of Americans first set foot in America, will be "green power." Windmills in West Virginia and Pennsylvania will supply the electricity that powers up the floodlights that shine on Miss Liberty's torch and the air conditioning that keeps all those immigration records from mildewing.
LNG seen as 'last resort' to meet New Zealand gas shortfall
Plans for an LNG import terminal in New Zealand would only proceed as a backstop option to ensure the nation did not run out of indigenous supplies of natural gas, the project proponents Contact Energy and Genesis Energy said Friday.
Mass. nuclear power firm to pay $48,000 to settle hazardous waste case
Yankee Atomic Electric Co. will pay $48,750 to settle allegations that it violated federal hazardous waste laws.
Mazda delivers 1st hydrogen-or-gas dual-fuel vehicles
Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday it has delivered its first two rotary-engine hydrogen vehicles featuring a dual-fuel system allowing the driver to select either hydrogen or gasoline.
Melting Ice Sheets Could Spur Oceans' Rise, Study Says
Miami would be a memory, Bangkok a soggy shadow of its former self and the Maldive Islands would vanish if melting polar ice keeps fueling a faster-than-expected rise in sea levels, scientists reported Thursday.
Nevada PUC Approves 402 Applications for Solar Projects
Customers who install photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity could earn $3 per watt of electrical capacity or up to a total of $5.7 million in rebates. Among those eligible to participate in the rebate program are residential customers, small businesses, public buildings and schools.
Plug Power and Honda Prep for Next Phase of Home Energy Station
The third-generation Home Energy Station at Honda R&D America's facility in Torrance, California, is 30 percent smaller in size than its predecessor, with 25 percent more power output, greater hydrogen storage capacity, higher efficiency and faster startup. The continued phase-over-phase improvement trend is expected to continue with Phase 4.
Post-Katrina Landscape-- Refrigerators Gone, Abandoned Cars Linger
The floodwaters are long gone from Dorothy Williams' house, but
there is one reminder of Hurricane Katrina she cannot seem to get rid of -- the
water-damaged car in front of her house.
"We got a bunch of people together Saturday night and were going to push
it into the middle of the street and set it on fire," the retiree said
last week. "We figured the city would have to do something about it
then.
Renewable Ventures To Fund up to $100 Million of Solar Energy Projects
Renewable Ventures, LLC has announced that in partnership with its institutional investors, it is ready to fund $100 million of solar energy and other renewable energy projects nationwide. A specialist in the financing and management of renewable energy projects,
Scottsdale energy plan honored-- State cites Green Building Program
Scottsdale has received the governor's top award for energy
efficiency for its landmark Green Building Program.
U.S. States in CO2 Pact Eye Trees, Methane at Dumps
Power plants in the U.S. Northeast who may face rules to cut carbon dioxide emissions could be allowed to save costs by methods such as planting trees and tapping landfills for methane, according to a draft plan by Northeastern states who have signed the country's first regional greenhouse gas plan.
Uni-Solar Announces New 50 MW Module Production Facility
This past January, President George W. Bush visited a 25-megawatt Uni-Solar facility. This week the company announced plans for a facility twice the size.
Utility officials ponder coal, nuclear plants
Facing a worsening crunch in the supply of electricity, soaring prices, and rolling blackouts, top New England utility officials are thinking about some once-unthinkable solutions: more coal and nuclear power.
Washington Governor Activates Energy Freedom Fund
With agriculture as the number one employer in Washington state, farmers there are constantly on the lookout for new ideas to expand into new markets. Couple this with the Washingtonian's deep sense of environmental stewardship and you have the makings of a partnership devoted to developing clean, homegrown fuels.
Will Biodiesel Get a Boost from the New EPA Diesel Mandates?
Q: Will the EPA mandated change to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel next October provide any stimulus for biodiesel in the U.S.? - Thomas S., Boston, MA
A: In short, expect this to have a very positive effect on biodiesel production throughout the country.
March 23, 2006
Argentina's lower house approves biofuel blendstocks bill
Argentina's lower house of Congress late Wednesday approved a government-backed bill for incorporating crop-derived ethanol and biofuels as blendstocks in diesel and gasoline to cut carbon dioxide emissions, a congressional spokesman said Thursday.
California Solar Initiative-- Can it Deliver?
According to the press release, the program has the stated goal of increasing the amount of rooftop solar units by 3,000 MW by 2017.
Coast Electric Gearing Up-- Hurricane Preparations Ongoing
Coast Electric Power Association has a satellite phone system in place and is stabilizing its line system in preparation for hurricane season.
ConocoPhillips to spend $525 million for upgrades
Another $400,000 fights emissions, buys truck, stove buyback. Money awarded to the Northwest Clean Air Agency for environmental projects was part of a settlement filed Jan. 27, 2005, in federal court in Texas.
CPS Starts Building Its Coal Plant
San Antonio Express-News --CPS Energy officials Tuesday celebrated the start of construction on their new
$1 billion coal-fired plant at Calaveras Lake, the first new coal plant to be
built in Texas in 15 years.
EC President urges decision by states on stance toward nuclear
Ahead of EU summit talks in Brussels on energy issues, European Commission President Jose Barroso March 23 underscored that states must decide where they stand on nuclear power in determining a coherent EU energy policy.
Energy Department to open clean energy loan guarantee office
The Energy Department is in the process of creating an office that will
dole out loan guarantees to help move an array of clean energy technologies to
market, Secretary Samuel Bodman Wednesday.
Exelon's Clinton down today after yesterday's scram
Clinton is out of service today after a reactor scram yesterday caused by a main turbine trip, Exelon Nuclear said in an event report to NRC. Repair plans are being developed and "[t]roubleshooting is underway to determine the cause," Exelon spokesman Adam Slahor said in an e-mail today. Exelon has "no estimate" of when Clinton will return to service, Slahor said.
Fire at Japan Nuclear Plant But no Leak
A fire broke out at a nuclear power plant in western Japan on Wednesday, but operator Kansai Electric Power Co. said there was no radioactive leak.
Forum Says Governments Must Improve Water
Governments, not private companies, should take the lead in
improving public access to safe drinking water, representatives of 148 countries
said Wednesday at the end of a forum on improving global water supplies.
Habitat for Humanity says it has recycled 12 million lbs. of aluminum since ´97
Habitat for Humanity has recycled more than 12 million pounds of aluminum since 1997, raising $4.4 million to construct 95 homes, the group said.
Hawaiian Electric looks to ethanol to meet new electricity needs
Hawaiian Electric Co. has decided to burn ethanol in its proposed 110-MW power plant on the island of Oahu and has sought fuel supply offers from ethanol producers, it said Wednesday.
For the PV industry to achieve a cost level that is competitive with traditional forms of electricity production, overall manufacturing and system costs must be reduced while power output improved, or held steady and lifetime maintained.
To achieve high power output, solar devices must take advantage of as much of the solar spectrum as possible as the photons absorbed by a solar cell directly impacts the power output.
Idaho House OKs coal plant moratorium-- Bill to stall facility in Jerome might not pass Senate
A huge House majority passed a two-year moratorium on coal-fired electricity plants Tuesday, in response to a facility proposed near Jerome. But grass-roots anger in the Magic Valley has failed to turn into electoral challenges for 10 of the 15 legislators from nearby districts, so the fervor to get something done in the Statehouse could dissipate.
Since last week´s federal court decision striking down the EPA´s proposal to loosen the New Source Review section of the Clean Air Act, U.S. newspapers have been editorializing feverishly, flinging opinions left and right. Well ... left, mostly.
Independent Review Reveals Serious Flaws in Sudan's Merowe Dam
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Merowe Dam in Sudan, the largest hydropower project currently under construction in Africa, is of poor quality and does not address many of the project's potential impacts on the environment.
Iran, Iraq Crises Converge Despite U.S. Hardliners
The agreement last week between Washington and Iran to hold direct talks on Iraq has forged a new linkage between the Iraq and Iran crises.
ISRI says EPA ´clearly overstated´ mercury switch progress
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries is taking exception to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson’s characterization of talks regarding the National Mercury Switch Recovery Program.
Japan to cut oil dependency to 40% of energy needs by 2030-- METI
Japan intends to cut its dependency on oil by 10% from the current level to 40% of its total energy needs by 2030 through measures such as encouraging the automobile industry to cut oil use, an official at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Thursday
Maryland Senate passes carbon dioxide bill opposed by governor
The Maryland Senate passed Monday evening a bill that would cut four
pollutants, but has been denounced by Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich, who
opposes single-state regulation of carbon dioxide.
Nevada sues DOE, Energy Secretary Bodman over Yucca Mountain
Nevada has sued DOE and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in an effort to obtain two versions of the department's draft license application for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
NextEnergy incubator jump-starts research-- Nonprofit is bringing national attention
Detroit is known for many things. The nation's 11th- largest city recently hosted Super Bowl XL. General Motors Corp. is still the world's largest automaker. And, of course, there is the Motown sound. And thanks to NextEnergy Corp., the Motor City is quickly becoming an international center for research in the development of alternative energy sources.
Nuclear talks with Iran 'will be led by EU Three'-- Bush
Any negotiations with Iran over the status of the country's nuclear development program "will be led by the EU Three," US President George W. Bush said Tuesday in a televised press briefing.
Oil prices to stay high 'for some time'-- ex-Saudi minister Yamani
Oil prices will remain high "for some time" until major consuming countries reduce their dependence on oil, in particular from the Middle East, former Saudi oil minister Zaki Yamani said Thursday.
Exelon Corp. is distributing bottled water to about 420 residences as it tests drinking-water wells at homes near an underground pipeline that leaked radioactive tritium several times dating to 1996.
Proposed plant would turn methane into electricity
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- A proposed power plant that could be located in Clark County would turn methane gas from a landfill into electricity. Methane _ a byproduct of the garbage dump _ would be collected and used to power generators connected to an electrical substation.
Rain in Spain Eases Drought-Caused Pain
Another week of heavy rain has swollen Spain's water reserves, data showed on Wednesday, and the meteorological office said the danger of a second year of severe drought has receded.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 032306
Region 862 (S06W51) produced an isolated C2.1 flare at 21/2326 UTC along with numerous B-class flares. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on 23 March. On 24 and 25 March, quiet to unsettled conditions are expected with the possibility of isolated active periods.
Safety issues dominated W.Va Legislature's regular session
By the time it concluded its regular session on March 19, the West Virginia Legislature passed 28 coal-related bills and resolutions with the promise of an as-yet unscheduled special session to consider tax-related bills.
South Dakota plant cuts output because of slow rail deliveries
For the second time in less than a month, a coal-fired power plant, this one in South Dakota, has had to scale back production to about 75% of capacity because BNSF Railway isn't delivering the coal needed to run the plant.
Study investigates Hopi wind power potential
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe in Sioux Falls, S.D., invested in wind
energy more than two years ago as a way to provide energy for its community.
Survey of Canadian Forests Raises Protection Calls
Environmentalists say a new survey of logging and other
development in Canada's forests, released Wednesday, shows the need for greater
conservation and protection.
The study found that about 70 percent of Canada's forests have not been
"fragmented" by logging or other human intrusions, but most of the
undisturbed landscape is in the far northern boreal and taiga forests.
U.S. Gas-Fired Power Plants Get A Boost From High Natural Gas Prices
US Gulf jack-up rig fleet could fall by 15-20 by 2008
Operators in the Gulf of Mexico must offer more long-term contracts to drilling companies or face further migration of rigs to other parts of the world that will push dayrates even higher, Rowan Companies CEO Danny McNease said Wednesday.
Vietnam needs 74 more power plants by 2015
Worms, Beetles in Soil Part of Untapped Trove, UN Says
Worms, bacteria and beetles living below ground are part of the largest and least known trove of life on earth that could have spinoffs from farming to pharmaceuticals, a U.N. report said on Wednesday.
Zero-emission, no-noise car draws praise
ZENN cars, short for Zero Emission No Noise, will be made by Toronto-based Feel Good Cars. Production on the electric cars will begin next week. The cars are expected to hit dealers in June and hopefully win the hearts of Americans who have been wedded to their gas-guzzling cars for years.
March 22, 2006
‘Microrenewables’ bill praised
ENGLAND--New legislation aimed at combatting climate change and fuel poverty through the development of ‘microrenewable’ technology has passed the report stage in the House of Commons, winning praise from environmental group Friends of the Earth Scotland.
67 groups to receive EPA Energy Star awards today
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy will give 67 businesses and organizations awards today for their efforts under the federal Energy Star program.
Bill Introduced to Extend Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Bipartisan mine-safety bill appears likely to pass
Eleven weeks after the Sago, W.Va., mine disaster exposed the coal industry's safety record to national scorn, the Kentucky legislature appears poised to pass a bipartisan bill that promises to make the state's nearly 600 coal mines a safer place to work.
Citizen Develops the World's First Hydrogen Sensor with Coiled Coil Construction
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. has developed a catalytic-combustion-type hydrogen sensor that can be used to monitor fuel cells and detect hydrogen leaks. The new product is the world's first hydrogen sensor having a coiled coil (double helix) structure.
Climate Change Puts Pressure on London Defences
London is mustering its flood defences more often as global warming raises sea levels, the UK government's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King told a Reuters conference on climate change and investment.
The world’s largest facility for demonstrating the technology of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from conventional power stations has been opened in Denmark this week. The plant, at Elsam power station, will be used on a pilot basis to test the viability and performance of the technique, which could result in near-zero emissions from fossil fuel-based energy generation.
Corning Says It Has Produced New Glass without Heavy Metals
A heavy metal-free glass developed by Corning Inc. will trim production and recycling costs at a time when prices for the super-thin screens used in liquid-crystal-display televisions are falling more sharply than ever.
It's a blockbuster era. That's what PricewaterhouseCoopers is calling the mergers and acquisitions activity within the utility sector -- all in 2005 that saw 527 deals valued at $196 billion. Europe is leading the charge, as all consumers on the continent will have the right to choose their providers as a result of liberalization by 2007.
All journeys by staff at the European Commission will be as environmentally friendly as possible under a new sustainable mobility plan for 2006-2009, announced this week. The ambitious scheme covers Brussels employees travelling between home and work, as well as between Commission offices.
The European Commission has announced that it is to donate a further €5m to the aid effort for African drought victims, bringing its total response to the crisis to €78m. Around six million people are being severely affected by the situation in parts of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, with the rain in the region between October and December failing, and rain from March until May expected to be below average.
Explosive Growth for PV in China
ENF Ltd. has just released a report showing that the Chinese photovoltaics (PV) market undergoing explosive growth levels. In 2005, cell production increased by +179% over the previous year, and has increased by triple digit growth in the previous two years.
Saturated soils, substantial water in the snowpack (well above average), and streamflows well above normal have produced a risk of moderate to major flooding along the Red River of the North. The flood risk for this spring is above average across the the Red River of the North in North Dakota and Minnesota, Great Basin and parts of the Rockies, northwestern Colorado, parts of the Ohio Valley, the Pearl River in Mississippi and parts of northern Maine.
Go-Ahead for Brockton's Solar Brightfield Project
After almost five years of planning, construction of Brockton, Massachusetts' "brightfield" solar project will soon be under way. At its heart is a plan to make use of a formerly polluted EPA-designated "brownfields" site and convert it into a local solar energy power plant -- said to be the largest such solar project in New England.
Groups Prepare for Contested Seal Hunt
Protesters, celebrities and fishermen were gearing up for Canada's hotly debated seal hunt, set to get under way later this week in the gulf off the Atlantic Ocean.
[Wired News] Researchers hoping to ease America's oil addiction are turning sawdust and wood chips into bio-oil, a thick black liquid that could become a green substitute for many petroleum products. Bio-oil can be made from almost any organic material, including agricultural and forest waste like corn stalks and scraps of bark.
Investor Spending on Environmental Research Soars
LONDON - Investor spending on environmental issues is soaring as climate change presents business opportunities and dangers, investors and business executives told a Reuters conference.
JOHANNS ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM ACTIONS TO REDUCE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS WILDFIRE EFFECTS
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that agricultural producers in six Oklahoma counties and 27 north Texas counties currently being impacted by wildfires can remove dry grass on and move cattle to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage, without facing charges for grazing value or the baled value of removed forage.
Membrane Systems Extract Clean Hydrogen from a Variety of Reformed Fuels
Power+Energy, Inc. (P+E) has introduced a line of commercial hydrogen separators including models that can tolerate and remove sulfur from reformed fuel streams. Based on palladium alloy membranes, the company has developed an entirely new membrane configuration specifically engineered to maximize the recovery efficiency of hydrogen from a mixed gas stream.
NextEnergy Center Provides Detroit Site With New Hydrogen Fueling Station
NextEnergy, Michigan's non-profit alternative energy accelerator, has signed an agreement with BP to establish a hydrogen refueling station at NextEnergy's new facility located in TechTown in Detroit.
NOAA ANNOUNCES U.S. SPRING OUTLOOK
Drought and Wildfire Concerns Highlighted for April through June. potential for a significant wildfire season in the Southwest and central and southern Plains. "Recent storms have eased the drought situation in many areas of the country, but the rain and snow arrived too late to offset the impacts from months of record dry weather across the Southwest, resulting in the continuing potential for a dangerous fire season."
NYC launches Great American Cleanup ´Stomp Out Litter´ campaign
New York City kicked off its part of the Great American Cleanup on Tuesday by unveiling the city´s new anti-litter campaign called "Stomp Out Litter."
Ontario Renewable Energy Policy Breakthrough Hailed
The Ontario government today unveiled a vast, new renewable energy incentive program experts predict will accelerate the use of renewable energy in the province and create a regional market with implications for the global renewable energy industries.
Ontario to set standard price for power from renewable energy projects
Plug Power and Honda to Continue Collaboration
Plug Power Inc. today announced two new agreements with Honda R&D Company, Ltd. of Japan to continue expanding the companies’ collaborative efforts. The agreements relate to fundamental research activities and to the development of a residential fuel cell based cogeneration system.
Rainbow Warrior arrives at Papua
Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship, has arrived at the Indonesian province of Papua this week as part of a global campaign to combat illegal deforestation. The region’s ‘Paradise Forests’ are the last remaining ancient forests in Asia Pacific, because of widespread destructive logging practices.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 032206
Solar activity was low. Region 862 (S07W39) produced five low level C-class flares. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on 22 and 23 March. On 24 March, quiet to unsettled conditions with possible isolated active levels are expected as a coronal hole high speed stream moves into geoeffective position.
Research Center Forms for Energy in Nebraska
The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research received the funding necessary to conduct research projects aimed at developing domestic energy resources and improving energy efficiency.
Scientists Study Feasibility of Switchgrass for Bioenergy
Growing switchgrass for ethanol could bring new industries to rural areas. As a perennial plant, switchgrass has the advantage of not needing annual planting and tillage.
Senators Introduce Renewable Fuels Legislation
"We need a national commitment to energy security. Now is the time for
serious leadership to get us started down the path of energy independence. The
ideas Senator Lugar and I have proposed are bipartisan and common-sense and
would take an enormous step towards energy independence."
-- Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
Some U.S. firms acting on climate change, others lagging
Some U.S. companies are recognizing the global warming issue and addressing it with changes at their firms, while others are lagging, according to a study released today by the Ceres investor coalition.
US Oil Majors Seen Lagging in CO2 Risk Management
US oil majors lag European companies in guarding against potential lawsuits and other risks of emitting gases linked to global warming, according to a study by a group of investors and environmentalists .
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds are the principal emissions from vegetable oil processing. Particulate matter (PM) results from the transfer, handling, and processing of raw seed. VOC emissions are the oil extraction solvent, hexane, which is classified as a hazardous air pollutant.
The evidence increasingly points to global warming as the culprit. And if you think mother nature's shifts from one extreme to another are bad now, brace yourself for the future. From DISCOVER Vol. 21 No. 06 | June 2000.
Calculating CO2 Emissions from Mobile Combustion Sources
This appendix contains factors for use in calculating CO2 emissions for different types of transportation fuels. Please take note that bio-diesel emits MORE emissions than gasoline.
Even if, with the aid of electronic engine controls and efficient catalytic converters, a hydrocarbon fuel is burned completely to water and carbon dioxide, there is now growing concern about carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Measures to cut back on production of carbon dioxide by automobiles without sacrificing performance can focus on efficiency. However, some fuels inherently produce less carbon dioxide when burned completely than gasoline or diesel fuel.
Emission Factors of Various Fuels
Excerpt from EPA's documentation. Please especially note emissions of bio-diesel are MORE than gasoline!!
March 21, 2006
1,460MW of Photovoltaic Power Installed in 2005
World solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 1,460 Megawatts (MW) in 2005, representing annual growth of 34%, says the annual PV market report issued today by Solarbuzz LLC.
2nd reactor being considered for Grand Gulf
The summer of 1979 saw numerous protests against nuclear power plants around the nation, including a Mississippi atomic reactor in Port Gibson. The protests even came before the accident that year at the Three Mile Island nuclear power site in Pennsylvania, which sparked concerns about safety and the environmental harm that could come from the relatively new power source.
Communities like Vicksburg aren't the only ones pushing for more nuclear plants. President Bush, members of Congress, utilities and even a few environmentalists support the technology because it doesn't cause air pollution or burn expensive natural gas.
The development of hydrogen from its discovery as a chemical element to taking up a position as the most important source of energy of the future is a journey through the past and the future. Along this journey, Shell Hydrogen wishes to play a leading role and champion the realisation of a hydrogen-based economy. By actively collaborating with other market parties in creating an infrastructure for hydrogen that will enable this source of energy to become globally accessible for the everyday consumer.
Appeals court vacates EPA equipment replacement rule
In a decision hailed by states but disappointing to the electric utility industry and the Bush administration, a federal court Friday vacated the Environmental Protection Agency's rule that would have allowed utilities to avoid Clean Air Act requirements when upgrading coal-fired power plants.
Calif. outreach program to discourage flushing unwanted meds
A new outreach program will be aimed at encouraging Southern California residents to properly dispose of their unused and expired medications. The campaign, "No Drugs Down the Drain," discourages people from flushing medications down the toilet.
China to add 1.8 million bd of new refining capacity in 2006-10
The Chinese central government has set a target of adding 90 million mt (1.8 million b/d) of new crude processing capacity under its mid- and long-term plans for the country's oil refining and ethylene industries to be implemented during its 11th Five Year Plan spanning 2006-2010.
Climate Change Threatens to Hamper Development in Poorest Countries
Droughts, floods, changing rain patterns and rising sea levels are threatening development in the world's poorest countries, experts and aid workers said Monday at an international water forum.
Company makes strides in solar hydrogen project
A demonstration project that aims to make environmentally-friendly hydrogen from the environmentally-damaging methane produced in Regina's landfill is the latest project for Saskatoon's Solar Hydrogen Energy Corporation (SHEC Labs).
Connecticut Governor presses Bodman on high fuel prices
Connecticut Governor M Jodi Rell sent a letter to US Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Monday asking him to explain "an alarming increase in the retail price of gasoline for no readily apparent reason."
ConocoPhillips expects to raise Lukoil stake to 20% in 2006-- CEO
ConocoPhillips plans to spend $2.5-$3 billion till end 2006 to increase its ownership stake in Russian oil major Lukoil to 20% from around 17% currently, ConocoPhillips chairman and CEO James Mulva told Russian daily Vedomosti in an interview published Tuesday.
Drought May Worsen in US Southwest, Plains -- NOAA
Drought that has shriveled crops and sparked fires in bone-dry forests will persist and could even worsen across the Southwest and central and southern Plains through at least June, US government forecasters said Thursday.
Energy Secretary, Central Europe Counterparts Meet in Hungary
The importance of advancing sufficient, affordable, clean and reliable energy supplies was the subject of discussions among U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and his Central European counterparts during a March 17 meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
Exelon kept leaks quiet, files show
Exelon officials took several steps that for years kept the public in the dark about radioactive tritium spills at a Will County nuclear power plant and the groundwater contamination the spills caused, public records obtained by the Tribune show.
Global Power Companies Scouting For Projects In India
The power biggies are looking at exploiting the potential growth in electricity demand spurred by the 8% growth of the Indian economy. For global power companies, India offers a huge market and exemption from taxes on profit earned for 10 years.
Greenpeace Activists Swim Uruguay River to Protest Paper Mills
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Greenpeace activists calling for Uruguay to halt construction of two large pulp mills swam the Uruguay River on Monday with banners reading "Move out now!"
Grocery chain to clean up spaces to highlight plastic-bag litter
Albertson´s Inc., a grocery store chain, will adopt more than 475 public spaces to help bring attention to plastic shopping bag litter. "Last year, Albertson´s recycled over 6,000 tons of plastic bags, wrap and film."
Hydrogen Fuel Adherents see 2020 as Key Year
Hydrogen fuel proponents see 2020 as the year it all comes together. Not only will there be affordable zero-emissions hydrogen-fueled cars in every showroom but in 2020 a smattering of houses across the world will be lighted with electricity from hydrogen-powered home generators.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington handed down a major decision Friday, striking down the EPA´s proposal to loosen the New Source Review section of the Clean Air Act. So what comes next in this saga? Here are a few off-the-cuff guesses. The power industry and the EPA will appeal this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. if it does get that far and they lose, we´ll see a bunch of old power plants mothballed and new ones built pretty quickly, and along with that, some (gulp) pretty hefty price increases for power.
Indonesia gov't to offer seven power projects
One of the projects, to be built in Pasuruan, East Java, will use gas fuel, while the rest, to be built in other regions including North Sulawesi and North Sumatra, will use coal, Pratomo said.
Kentucky passes bill paving way for IGCC to be built
By a vote of 98-0, the Kentucky House of Representatives on Friday passed and sent to Governor Ernie Fletcher a bill that boosts the prospects for a coal gasification project to be located in the state.
Local resources cover about 26% of German energy demand in 2005
National resources covered 26% of German energy demand in 2005, latest information from the energy agency Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen showed. Energy import dependence did not increase further, said the agency. The most important local German resources by far is brown coal.
Mining lawsuit returning to federal court
A lawsuit over mountaintop removal coal mining is headed back to U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin's courtroom. Through a series of rulings starting in July 2004, Goodwin found the corps never concluded that mountaintop removal valley fills have minimal impact on the environment.
NASA Radar Plane Gauges Arctic Snow Layer
A radar-equipped NASA plane is flying low over the Arctic this week to measure the snow on top of sea ice, a finding with implications for polar bears and possibly humans, an ice scientist said on Monday. "NASA's objective is not so much polar bears, it's really climate change on the larger scale," he said. "The snow depth on the sea ice is a very, very important factor in the polar climate system."
NRC establishes task force to investigate titium leaks
NRC has established a task force to investigate titium leaks, the agency said today. The task force's formation follows recent reports of unmonitored releases of water containing tritium during the last decade at some plants.
Nuclear plant foes see bias in regulators
Critics of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant say the license renewal process is rigged. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that rules on re-licensing, has allied itself with the utility that owns the plant in opposing petitions by the state and a citizens group for public hearings on safety and security issues at Oyster Creek. The regulatory agency shouldn't take sides, the critics say.
Pa. DEP fines pipeline operator for gasoline leak
Pennsylvania has fined Buckeye Pipeline Co. $150,000 for the release of nearly 50,000 gallons of gasoline and other products from its terminal in Upper Milford Township, Pa.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 032106
Region 862 (S07W27) continues to show growth in sunspot area and remains the only spotted region on the visible disk. Magnetic analysis depicts a weak gamma structure developing. Multiple B-class flares were observed. The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels today. The elevated conditions are due to a favorably positioned coronal hole. Isolated active periods may be possible on 21 March due to a waning geoeffective high speed coronal hole stream.
MARYLAND--Amid mounting scrutiny of the commission that sets utility rates, lawmakers will be meeting this week with the governor and energy executives to try to lessen the blow of an estimated 72 percent electricity rate increase this summer.
Six countries' waste dumped at Dounreay
A "POTENT cocktail" of nuclear waste from six countries has been imported to Scotland for storage, it has emerged. Some of the radioactive material, which comes from countries including the former Soviet republic of Georgia, could be kept permanently in the UK. Waste has also come from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Study-- Rates are up, not down
AUSTIN -- Under electricity deregulation, Texans have paid some of the highest rates in the nation -- a reversal of at least a decade of relatively cheap electricity under the state's old regulated system. That's the conclusion of a national utility expert, who also reports that those in deregulated states typically have had larger rate increases than customers in states still under regulation.
TEXAS STILL HAS POSSIBLE SITES FOR FUTUREGEN USE
Texas officials still are hoping one of the state's remaining bidders will land the facility, which is a United States Department of Energy project. FutureGen is a public-private initiative to build the world's first near-zero emissions coal power plant.
Operating as both a power plant and research facility, FutureGen's objective is to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of clean power generation from coal.
The Age of Undersea Windmills Begins
An announcement was made during late February in Bermuda advising that construction was to begin on an undersea windmill installation that will provide up to 10% of Bermuda's electricity. Unlike tidal power stations that can only generate power for up to 10-hours per day, installations like the proposed Bermuda project could generate power throughout the day.
Thirsty Mexican Villages Dispute Waning Water
Rosalia Reyes' dusty village in Mexico is slowly dying of thirst. Its only stream is turning green. To have enough to drink, the women and children of Xaxamayo, in the arid southern central state of Puebla, lead donkeys down a rocky hill to fetch tightly rationed water from another village's well.
U.S., India Collaborate on Deriving Clean Energy from Methane
UK gas prices down sharply on milder weather
UK gas prices at the National Balancing Point dropped sharply Monday morning as warm weather and a well supplied system over the weekend saw spot gas sold as low as 37.5 p/therm in after hours trading.
UK nuke industry must answer basic questions to have future-- Wicks
"I issue a challenge to the nuclear industry," Wicks told the British Nuclear Energy Society and European Nuclear Society Conference in London. "You are calling for greater certainty over licensing. You are calling for shorter planning processes. You are calling for the scope of planning inquiries to be restricted. But my challenge to you then is to show me how this might work in practice. How might you achieve these things while still maintaining the same high levels of scrutiny and safeguards we have now?"
UK's Ceres Power enters deal with Centrica for home fuel cells
The
two companies will launch home fuel cell combined heat and power units in UK
homes, the companies said Monday.
The project is part-funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.
US Government Sees Bird Flu Likely in US This Year
Bush administration officials said Monday it was "increasingly likely" that bird flu could be detected in the United States this year, but added it may not mean the start of a human pandemic. As a result, the government is expanding its early warning system to deal with bird flu's eventual arrival.
US Northeast Due for Major Hurricane - AccuWeather
The 2006 hurricane season will be more active than normal and could bring a devastating storm to the US Northeast, private forecaster AccuWeather said on Monday. The current storm cycle and above-normal water temperatures in the Atlantic are reminiscent of the pattern that produced the 1938 hurricane that struck Providence, Rhode Island, killing 600 people,
US senator sets out details of planned global warming bill
A Democratic member of the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee outlined legislation Monday that would require power plants and other industrial facilities to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
What's So Great About Ethanol?
I don’t know how many years I have been hearing how great ethanol is as a gasoline additive. I mostly thought of it as a boon to farmers who raise corn and other crops that are converted into this form of alcohol. The energy bill, a mishmash of giveaways to all kinds of energy interests, mandated more use of ethanol and biodiesel. Then the President gave his State of the Union speech and talked about using woodchips and who knows what else to make it.
Most homeowners recognize the importance of having an energy efficient home during the winter months to lower their energy bills, but more than 60 percent have yet to implement energy efficiency measures going into the summer months, according to a new survey by GE Sealants & Adhesives. Simple steps such as home sealing can lower a home's heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent, saving a homeowner hundreds of dollars on their utility bills.
Because municipal officials can't ban the placement of 200-foot-tall wind turbines within their borders, township supervisors have decided to do the next best thing. Chairman Robert Stanziola and supervisors Earl Miller and Joyce Stevens on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that regulates the construction, operation and maintenance of wind farms within the township.
March 20, 2006
Awareness Week Puts National Spotlight on Groundwater
Bush Administration Proposes Cut to Clean Water Program
Canada Re-thinks its Kyoto Obligation
Canada has been driving the Kyoto Protocol. Its new administration, however, may soon relegate the global warming treaty to the backseat.
Units for the UK residential market. The programme will design, build and evaluate fuel cell CHP units, delivering electricity, heating and hot water, and substantially reducing both energy bills and CO2 emissions.
MR LUNA'S BRIGHT IDEA
Ken Luna is an 8th grade science teacher in North Babylon, New York. His
plan; To get Oprah to help him give every child in America(PreK-12),
just ONE Compact Fluorescent(CFL) bulb to take home and plug into their
favorite lamp. Helping to help fight global warming by reducing carbon
emissions from electric power plants, saving Americans AT LEAST 2.3
BILLION dollars in electricity costs, and helping to put America on the
path to environmental sustainability.
China to Boost Coal Output to Record Levels Despite Environmental Worries
China plans to boost coal output by up to 18 percent before 2010 to meet soaring energy needs despite environmental concerns, a government newspaper quoted an industry official as saying.
Court Rejects Bush Administration Power Plant Pollution Rule
In a big win for environmentalists, a federal appeals court on
Friday struck down a Bush administration rule that would have made it easier for
coal-burning power plants to make equipment changes without installing controls
to fight the pollution that would result.
DOE looking for hosts for fuel-cycle facilities
Sites that are interested in hosting fuel-cycle facilities under the Department of Energy's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership initiative should submit expressions of interest by March 31, DOE said today.
EPA Study Clears Way for Regulating Small-Engine Pollution
Devices that clean the engines' emissions do not pose a safety problem, the EPA said. Without new pollution controls, engines under 50 horsepower would account for 18 percent of smog-forming emissions from mobile sources by 2020, the agency has estimated.
EVALUATION OF EROSION HAZARDS SUMMARY (Excerpted)
This independent report, Evaluation of Erosion Hazards, provides a much-needed and valuable assessment of coastal erosion and the resulting loss of property along our Nation's ocean and Great Lakes shorelines.
One of the report's most sobering findings is that within the next 60 years approximately 25 percent of homes located within 500 feet of the coast (excluding those located in most urban centers) will fall victim to the effects of erosion.
Finland Eyes 70.5 Million Tonne CO2 Target In 2008-2012
Finland's industries will be allowed to release 70.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year in the 2008-2012 period of the European Union's emissions trading scheme, the country's industry minister said on Tuesday.
Hawaii Landowner Agrees to Pay $7.5 Million for Storm Water Pollution
High oil prices affect poor countries, hamper world economy-- Russian minister
High oil prices had affected poor nations and hampered global economic growth, Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said here on Thursday.
Hydrogen cars on road to viability
Japanese automakers believe 15 to 20 years into the future, hydrogen fuel cells will become a viable alternative to the traditional gasoline engine, but industry experts say significant obstacles remain before mass consumption is possible.
Hydrogen result causes controversy
When is the ground state of a hydrogen atom not the ground state? When it is a "hydrino" state, according to Randy Mills and co-workers at BlackLight Power. "In layman's terms, a catalytic process causes the latent energy stored in the hydrogen atom to be released by allowing the electron that is otherwise in a stable orbit to move closer to the nucleus to generate power as heat, light and the formation of a plasma," Mills told PhysicsWeb.
Is hydrogen economy years away or is it here?
Some people call hydrogen America's future fuel. Others think it's ready for the spotlight today. The question of how quickly to introduce the country to hydrogen technology arose at the National Hydrogen Association's 17th annual meeting, held last week in Long Beach, Calif. Some in the hydrogen field have been wary of pushing it too far into the public eye. They fear that rushing the technology into everyday use could backfire.
Louisiana Faces an Unimaginable Scenario-- An Exodus from the Coast
But since last year's catastrophic hurricanes, this swampy land defined by Cajuns, cypress and tupelo gum forests, bayou-side saloons and, more recently, subdivisions may have become too vulnerable for that lifestyle to continue.
Measure Seeks 'Roadmap' For Use Of Fuel Cells
Connecticut--A bill working its way through the state legislature would earmark about $40 million over the next five years to guide the state toward energy independence through the use of fuel cells and other hydrogen technologies.
“Hydrogen power engineering — is energy of the future”, efforts are being undertaken in the US, Europe and Russia to implement the above postulate. We have tried to calculate the quantity of hydrogen needed to transfer to it all transport of big cities, i.e. the quantity that will be required to replace engine fuels.
Oyster Creek owner sued in Illinois over wastewater
Exelon Corp., owner of the largest number of U.S nuclear reactors including the Oyster Creek nuclear facility 9 miles south of Toms River was sued Thursday by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan over the release of radioactive wastewater from the company's Braidwood nuclear reactor.
Philips Research Press Release
Philips develops a woodstove that saves lives and preserves energy resources. The stove cuts the smoke and toxic emissions which are claimed to cause 1.6 million deaths a year. It also burns more efficiently to reduce the load on the existing energy supply chain, without involving dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
Powerful Cyclone Hits Northeastern Australia
A powerful cyclone hit Australia's far northeast early on Monday near the tropical city of Cairns, with winds of up to 290 kph (180 mph) uprooting trees and ripping off the roofs of several houses.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 032006
Solar activity continues at very low levels. No significant activity was observed during the period. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. The elevated activity is due to a recurrent high speed coronal hole stream. Early in the period, the solar wind speeds increased from 550 km/sec to over 650 km/sec.
Russia to propose finance 'initiatives' on energy security at G8 summit
Russia is to draw up specific initiatives on energy security by the G8 summit in St Petersburg this July, and will finance them. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today at a meeting with G8 energy ministers.
Senate Panel to OK ANWR Drilling Bill by Mid-May
The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will approve legislation by mid-May to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, according to the panel's chairman.
Snow to power electricity glut; Runoff to bring surplus; don't look for rate drop
With snowpack back to normal, a surplus of river-generated electricity is now being predicted for the region, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. During summer's peak runoff, the surplus for the entire Columbia River Basin could be as much as 8,000 average megawatts, which is enough juice to power six cities the size of Seattle
South Carolina nuclear plans to draw concerns, protests
As Duke Power considers building a new nuclear plant in Cherokee County, S.C., a move it announced Thursday, federal officials are still wrestling with what to do with the nation's tons of radioactive used fuel.
State sues ComEd over tritium leak
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan hit Commonwealth Edison and parent company Exelon Corp. with a lawsuit Thursday, alleging their Braidwood nuclear plant leaked radioactive water into the ground and they failed to report it.Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow joined in the suit, which seeks $36.5 million in fines and other remedies -- including drinking water for residents of Braidwood and nearby Godley
The Coca-Cola Company Joins U.N. Global Compact
Reflecting the growing importance of corporate responsibility to the U.S. and international business community, The Coca-Cola Company has officially joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.
Environmentalists view the Three Gorges dam in China, the world's biggest, as a monstrous natural catastrophe waiting to unleash itself on the hundreds of millions of people who live near the Yangtze river.
The Chinese government is fiercely proud of the dam, which is due to open in a few weeks, saying it will stop the river flooding all the time, provide much-needed clean hydroelectric power
The UK taxpayers faces a 'large and uncertain liability'
The government's Department of Trade and Industry took over responsibility for meeting some of British Energy's nuclear liabilities, re-estimated last month at almost 5.3 billion pounds (US$9.3 billion). The department set up a system whereby British Energy contributes about two-thirds of its cash flow each year to pay off these liabilities
Rajesh, a TreeHugger reader, asks "why people in the US are not taught to turn off the lights when they leave the room. This is especially evident in all the businesses (offices and stores) across the country that have most of the lights (computers and other electric appliances) turned on, even at night". Good question.
U.S. Government Plan to Line Canal with Concrete Sparks Mexican Opposition
Despite its name, the All-American Canal has been leaking water
to the Mexican side of the desert border for more than 60 years, nourishing
alfalfa, onion and cotton crops that might otherwise wither.
Now the U.S. government is preparing to line the earthen channel with
concrete. Mexican farmers' loss will be California's gain: Scarce water
that will no longer be able to seep away instead will help flush toilets
and water lawns more than 100 miles west in San Diego.
US has enough ethanol to replace MTBE during phaseout-- Valero
The US will have enough ethanol to blend into gasoline during the current
spike in demand as companies transition away from oxygenate MTBE, according to
Valero Energy CEO William Klesse.
Warning on nuclear clean-up costs
UK TAXPAYERS were warned yesterday that they must be prepared to pick up a multi-billion-pound bill to meet the liabilities of the UK's nuclear power industry.
Will Wal-Mart bring freedom to American Energy Markets?
At the end, Ken Malloy, founder of the Center for the Advancement of Energy Markets, asked Hendrix why Wal-Mart doesn't sell gas and electricity from its 2,900+ stores? "I can't talk about that," Hendrix replied. The audience gasped. His question for the KEMA audience is that since Wal-Mart has to compete with "Target, Costco, all those guys" why shouldn't Wal-Mart's suppliers compete too?
World's Water Problems, and Solutions, Can Be Found on the Farm
Eliminating water waste and mismanagement on farms -- rather than building dams or diverting rivers -- would go far toward alleviating the world's water crisis, officials and activists gathered at an international forum here said.
March 17, 2006
Auto parts maker aims to cut landfill waste by 75%
Denso International America Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer, has released a five-year environmental plan for its North American operations that aims to cut landfill waste by 75 percent.
Boulder is facing the loss of millions of dollars in expected revenue and a possible court fight over renewable-energy credits that city officials say a state commission is unfairly taking away.
Brazil to produce 1.12 bil liters per yr biodiesel by 2008-- official
Brazil's alternative fuel producers are slated to produce more than 1.12 billion liters (296 million gallons) of biodiesel fuel in 2008, almost 40% more than the estimated 800 million liters needed to mix into domestic diesel fuel under Brazilian law by then, energy officials said.
Bush Picks Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior
President Bush chose Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne Thursday to replace Gale Norton as Interior secretary, saying his nominee had a "long and abiding love for nature."
Despite Hype, Hydrogen Moves Ahead
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Finds its Footing and Pushes Ahead Optimistically.
"Sure, the hype has decreased but now we're focused on
making the rubber meet the road. Now you see companies meeting targets towards
commercialization. There's a lot of progress being made out here. The reality is
starting to meet the level of the hype."
-- Patrick Serfass, Technical & Program Development Manager for the National
Hydrogen Association
Exelon Nuclear Responds to AG's Announcement of Civil Penalties
Exelon Nuclear takes full responsibility for low-level tritium contamination near the Braidwood Generating Station in Will County and is moving forward with remediation plans and work, the company said today.
Central Illinois could some day be as well known for wind energy as it is for corn and soybean production. Construction of what could be one of the nation's largest wind farms will begin in April in the Saybrook-Arrowsmith-Ellsworth area.
Germany's StW Hannover to build 1,100MW hard coal plant with E.ON
Germany's Stadtwerke Hannover is to build a 1,100 MW hard coal power plant together with energy giant E.ON, the municipal supplier said.
Hydrogen Industry Holds Annual Conference
The country's largest hydrogen conference features nearly a week of hydrogen-related speakers and events, including an exposition with more than 90 exhibitors. Delegates in attendance represent 24 nations, including Germany, South Africa, China, India and Brazil and 44 of the 50 U.S. states.
Ireland opens ocean power test site off Galway coast
Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Irish Marine Institute have opened a 37-hectare site off the Galway coast to developers who want to test prototype ocean power generators, SEI said March 14. The first generator, the Wavebob, has arrived at Galway Docks and will be deployed 2.4 km off the coast of Spiddal, County Galway, later this month.
Israel energy officials to meet with Gazprom next week
The National Infrastructure Ministry official said that Israel attaches great significance to the visit and this is underscored by the meeting with the acting prime minister. The visit comes as Israel is searching for additional natural gas suppliers as the country's demand is due to increase sharply in the coming decade.
Public Service Gas & Electric of New Jersey has the same problem as a lot of other utilities: Its workforce is getting up in years and will soon experience a shortage of skilled labor. It has taken a proactive position and decided to join with community colleges, urban high schools and technical trade institutions -- all to supply a continuous flow of qualified graduates to work for it.
Louisiana US senator introduces oil, gas royalty-sharing bill
US Senator David Vitter, Republican-Louisiana, introduced legislation Wednesday designed to ensure that oil- and natural gas-producing states gain a share of royalties from production on federal lands off their shores.
Mexico to revive mothballed nuclear power program
Mexico plans to build a new nuclear power plant and spend 150 million U.S. dollars upgrading an existing plant in its efforts to revive a nuclear power program ignored since 1990, Mexico's state Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) said on Tuesday.
Neighbors of nuclear plant sue over leaks into groundwater
Two groups of residents living near the Braidwood nuclear power station have filed separate lawsuits against its operator, seeking compensation for releases of radioactive tritium into groundwater.
The residents who filed the suits rely on private wells for their drinking water and fear the tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, could contaminate the wells and pose a long-range health risk.
Nevada Officials OK solar projects
State regulators on Wednesday approved 402 applications for customer-installed solar energy systems in Nevada that could produce 1,900 kilowatts of power.
Customers who install photo-voltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity may qualify for a rebate of $3 per watt up to a total of $5.7 million statewide this year.
No Safe Water for One Billion Poor, Companies Wary
Ten years ago, many poor countries hoped private cash would bring safe water to the 1 billion people in the world who lack it, but now corporate interest is drying up.
OPEC cuts 2006 world oil demand growth estimate by 110,000 b/d
Pa. coke manufacturer fined for emission violations
Pollution from the company´s coke oven battery, which consists of 58 coke ovens, drew numerous complaints from residents. The state DEP investigated the complaints and found that dust samples contained up to 80 percent coke.
PGE Number One in U.S. for Residential Green Power Sales
Portland General Electric (PGE) is selling more renewable power to residential customers than any other utility in the country.
Power woes continue to simmer; Electrical output hits post- invasion low as summer nears
BAGHDAD, Iraq Electricity output has dipped to its lowest point in three years in Iraq, where the desert sun is rising toward another broiling summer and U.S. engineers are winding down their rebuilding of the crippled power grid.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 031706
Solar activity continues at very low levels. There are just a couple of small, insignificant sunspot groups on the visible disk. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on 17 and 18 March. A high speed coronal hole stream is expected to become geoeffective on 19 March, and produce isolated active to minor storm conditions.
Solarbuzz Reports World Solar Photovoltaic Market Grew 34pct in 2005
World solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 1,460 Megawatts (MW) in 2005, representing annual growth of 34%, says the annual PV market report issued today by Solarbuzz LLC, a San Francisco based solar energy consultancy.
South Carolina University Launches Fuel Cell Initiative
"By partnering with industry from the full supply chain of the hydrogen
and fuel cell economy, Columbia will become the model city for large-scale use
and implementation of fuel cell and alternative energy applications."
-- Larry Wilson, Board Member, South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA)
South Korean Scientists Create New Film for Solar Fuel Cells
South Korean scientists on Thursday announced the creation of a commercially viable film for solar fuel cells that is less brittle and cheaper to make than current products that rely on silicon wafers.
Sri Lanka awards contract to Chinese firm to build-operate coal power plant
Sri Lanka has awarded a contract to China National Machinery and Equipment Corp to build and operate a 450 mln usd coal-fired power plant, the finance ministry said.
Sterling Planet Supplies Renewable Energy to US Air Force
Sterling Planet, a portfolio company of GreenShift Corporation today announced that it is supplying the US Air Force, the nation's largest purchaser of renewable energy, with 530 million kilowatt hours of this clean energy source, representing enough electricity to power 51,000 average U.S. homes for a full year.
UK Government-- Revised building regulations to tackle climate change laid in parliament
Revised building regulations that increase energy efficiency standards for new buildings were laid in Parliament today. The new measures taken together with changes to strengthen Building Regulations in 2002 will improve standards by 40 per cent.
US hopes for 'rebirth' of nuclear power-- Bodman
U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman forecast a global "rebirth" of nuclear power on Thursday. "We have been working very hard on developing alternative sources of energy that do not emit greenhouses into the atmosphere," Bodman told a news conference after a meeting of energy ministers from Group of Eight nations.US to China-- Don't cling to 'old ways'
The White House pressed China on Thursday for further reforms of what it called "discredited" trade policies and criticized its military expansion in a hardening of the U.S. line on the Asia-Pacific power.
Xcel Energy tops in wind-power rankings
Xcel Energy is now ranked as the nation's largest buyer of wind energy. The group says it's the first time in the recent history of the wind energy industry in the United States that Southern California Edison has been overtaken as the largest purchaser of wind energy.
March 16, 2006
Brazil's Thirst for Energy to Flood Amazon Habitats
Brazil's plans to dam two rivers in the Amazon basin to generate power threaten a treasure trove of animals and plants in a region with one of the world's richest arrays of wildlife, environmentalists say.
Canadian Seal Hunt Goes Ahead Despite Calls for Caution
Despite repeated calls for caution based on sound science, conservation and preventing cruelty, the new Canadian government announced today that it is still pushing ahead with one of the highest quotas ever for killing harp seal pups.
CEC chairman says transmission for renewable power needed
Countries Increasingly at Odds Over Water Sharing
Nelida Botello just wants to grow oranges and grapefruits on her small farm in northern Mexico, a patch of green in the parched desert near the border with California. But to keep doing so, she and several thousand other Mexican farmers have had to appeal to a US federal court, to stop a massive canal project in the United States threatening to deny them access to the droplets of water that keep their crops alive.
Democrats Want U.S. Budget Bill to Drop Oil Drilling
Senate Democrats will try to remove language from a pending budget bill that calls for the government to raise billions of dollars in leasing fees from oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
EC official questions nuclear as efficient, economic choice
EU Eyes Raising Targets for Renewables, Biofuels
The European Union is to consider setting higher targets for the use of renewable energies and biofuels by 2015 at a summit next week, a draft statement obtained by Reuters showed on Wednesday.
Europe has sufficient biomass to avoid harming the environment
Europe has enough biomass to support renewable energy targets to 2030, but the continent should require detailed environmental guidelines to safeguard the sector’s biodiversity.
Global Warming Reaches 'Tipping Point,' Report Says
Human-fueled global warming has reached a "tipping point,"
according to a new survey of scientific research that found warming would
continue even if greenhouse gas emissions halted immediately.
"It would keep on warming even though we have stopped the cause, which
is greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuels," David Jhirad
of the Washington-based World Resources Institute said Wednesday.
Greenhouse gas concentrations reached new high in ´04, U.N. reports
A recently released United Nations report concludes that globally averaged concentrations of greenhouse gases reached new highs in 2004, the latest year for which the agency had data. The values supersede those of pre-industrialized times by 35 percent, 155 percent and 18 percent respectively, according to the U.N. organization.
Spring break is upon us. College kids are racing south, hormones raging like wildfire, visions of debauchery dancing in their heads. But not all of them, fortunately. Some, as this Washington Post article describes, have more constructive things on their minds. Like helping clean up and rebuild hurricane-ravaged New Orleans -- and filling their off-hours sightseeing and nightclubbing.
Indian Ocean Coral May Die in 50 Years - Researcher
Rising sea temperatures caused by global warming could kill off the Indian Ocean's coral reefs in the next 50 years, threatening vital marine life, a marine researcher said on Wednesday.
Indiana Utility Regulators Approve Settlement Agreement on Cinergy, Duke Merger
The merger, announced May 9, 2005, was approved by both companies' shareholders March 10 and has been approved by state regulators in Ohio, Kentucky and South Carolina as well as Indiana; by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
New fuel for state-- Research eyes how Pennsylvania could make, use hydrogen
Coal, natural gas, farm waste and other made-in-Pennsylvania materials could help the state build its own hydrogen production and fueling network, according to a study to be presented this month to state officials.
New renewables to invest $1,380 billion over 20 years
The world will invest an average of US$69 billion a year in emerging renewables over the next two decades, according to the latest forecast from the McIlvaine Company.
"One moment Russia is saying they have
made a decision, the next saying that no decision has been made. To date,
there has been no correct information. This is regrettable."
Rail problems, labor shortages continue to plague coal industry
Russian spot coal seen as limited
Startech, Future Fuels to jointly operate waste-to-ethanol plants
The companies have formed an alliance to mutually obtain contracts to operate waste-to-ethanol facilities. The deal includes an $84 million waste-to-ethanol plant that Future Fuels plans to build in Toms River, N.J.
State of the World's Water Resources
- At least 1.1 billion people, or about a fifth of the world's
population, do not have access to safe drinking water. Most of them live
in Asia or sub-Saharan Africa.
- The total volume of water on earth is estimated at about 340 million
cubic miles of which only 2.5 percent is fresh water.
- Agriculture accounts for some 90 percent of the world's water consumption.
With concerns up sharply about global warming, Americans of all political beliefs are disgruntled about weak federal leadership on global warming and energy issues, while lining up solidly behind the growing number of state and local efforts to rein in climate change problems and to tap alternative fuel sources.
TVA Fossil Plant Emissions Lowest in History
TVA's 11 coal-fired power plants achieved their lowest-ever
emission levels in 2005 while producing a near-record amount of
electricity.
Two dozen states might be repository candidate, again
UK advisory group urges support for renewables over nuclear
An aggressive expansion of renewables and energy efficiency, combined with a low-carbon innovation strategy, would allow Britain to meet its energy needs without nuclear power.
Nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply, concludes all 16 commissioners of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in a response to the government’s current energy review.
Upstream cap on CO2 seen as less costly than downstream cap
March 15, 2006
It bears recalling at times that the precursor to the European Union was the European Coal and Steel Community, which was set up in 1951 to reduce the possibility of another continental war by putting a strategic industry under joint control. The European Union is now pushing to do something similar with energy supplies.
Alternative Fuel Bill Heads to Governor's Desk in Indiana
To study a variety of renewable energy resources, alternative fuel House Bill (HB) 1285 recently passed out of the Indiana House of Representatives by 86-0. It calls for the Environmental Quality Service Council (EQSC) to study the most effective way of implementing the Renewable Fuels Standards of the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 for the State of Indiana.
Biofuels Mandated for Wisconsin State Agencies, Fleets
"For every dollar we spend at the gas pump, seventy cents leaves the
Wisconsin economy. But for every dollar we spend on ethanol, seventy cents stays
right here in Wisconsin -- and that's good news for the hardworking farmers all
across this state."
-- Governor Jim Doyle, Wisconsin
Bodman to promote energy security during G8 meeting in Moscow
Brazil closely monitoring ethanol exports to secure local supply
California wants any price gouging law to cover US refiners
Can The World's Energy Supply Meet Rising Energy Demand?
China energy officials and international energy executives will meet to discuss how alternative energy sources can help governments and energy companies meet the world's rising demand for energy at the second annual China Power and Alternative Energy conference in Beijing on June 8th.
Coal Combustion Nuclear Resource or Danger?
Coast Guard to Study 'Cargo Sweepings'
For more than 75 years, shipping companies that haul iron ore, coal, salt and limestone have dumped their "cargo sweepings" -- residual materials and wash water left on freighters after they are unloaded -- into the Great Lakes to avoid contaminating future loads.
Electricity Hits Three-Year Low in Iraq
Electricity output has dipped to its lowest point in three years in Iraq, where the desert sun is rising toward another broiling summer and U.S. engineers are winding down their rebuilding of the crippled power grid.
The Iraqis, in fact, may have to turn to neighboring Iran to help bail them out of their energy crisis - if not this summer, then in years to come.
European gasoline barge prices hit five month high on demand
Extreme Cold Slows Cleanup of Record Oil Spill on Alaska's North Slope
Heavily bundled crews are braving merciless cold to continue
cleaning up the largest oil spill ever on Alaska's North Slope.
In recent days, the wind chill factor dipped to more than 70 degrees
below zero at Prudhoe Bay, barely warming to 44 below on Monday as
workers attacked the estimated spill of up to 267,000 gallons that
seeped into almost two acres of snow-covered tundra.
Federal agency signs on with new natural gas pipeline
The federal government has agreed to ship natural gas it owns through a pipeline being built to carry Wyoming and Colorado gas to markets in the Midwest and East.
Fires Cause Widespread Power Outages
AMARILLO -- The fires have knocked out power to a 700,000 acre area. The company says it will take a while to do it safely. Xcel Energy reports 275 power poles were destroyed in the fires.
Ford Executive Pushes for Biofuels in Senate Testimony
Policies are needed to support an aggressive, integrated approach by industry and government stakeholders to develop renewable fuels and advanced technology vehicles to overcome the nation's future energy needs. In the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, a Ford executive called on lawmakers to "act with urgency" to implement rapid production of renewable fuels, and the infrastructure to support them.
General Electric Agrees to Buy Water Company
General Electric Co. will buy a water treatment company in Canada for $656 million in a deal that will accelerate the conglomerate's plans to tap into a fast growing market in a thirsty world, company officials said Tuesday.
Germany E.ON calls for doubling reactor running times
Getting Ready for the New Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Market
The goal of this one-day workshop is to prepare market participants for the new SPP market, which is planned to start on May 1, 2006. The seminar will use concrete case studies to illustrate the impact of the SPP market on the bottom-line profit for your genco assets.
Hydrogen Conference Starts Big With Schwarzenegger Welcome
Yesterday, the National Hydrogen Association opened its 17th Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US in Long Beach, California, highlighted by personal greetings from the state's chief executive, the President of French Polynesia, and several high- ranking Californian environmental officials. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed over 1,000 delegates by video satellite feed from the State Capitol, declaring his administration's commitment to protect California's environment and encourage the use of clean energy technologies like those using hydrogen.
Illinois Lt. Governor Stumps for Renewable Energy Standard
Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn supported the effort to implement a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard in the State of Illinois. Speaking at the American Wind Energy Association's national workshop on Renewable Portfolio Standards, Quinn urged state utilities to adopt standards such as those outlined in Governor Rod Blagojevich's Sustainable Energy Plan.
IRS Releases Guidance on Energy Efficiency Tax Credits for Homebuilders
The Internal Revenue Service has provided new guidance regarding the energy efficient homes credit available under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Is Nuclear Energy Safe and Sustainable?
The potential emergence of nuclear energy as a safe and sustainable energy source is now under the microscope -- as it should be. Proponents have momentum as the world grapples with how to feed its energy needs in an era with ever-tougher environmental regulations and limited supplies of oil and gas.
Japan eyes using wind power to extract hydrogen for fuel cells
The concept of exploiting wind power to extract hydrogen for fuel cells is gaining momentum in Hokkaido, where the abundant wind can be tapped for this purpose. Although the amount of electricity generated by wind power is unstable, using this energy to extract hydrogen with which to power fuel cells could result in a more stable power source.
Liquid Natural Gas-- A Safe Solution?
With an increased demand for energy and rising gas prices, finding new sources for alternative energy is on many people’s minds. One possible solution is importing LNG or Liquefied Natural Gas.
Low water levels said to affect Mississippi barge availability
Ministers fail to find solution to 'Suez crisis'
French and Italian finance ministers met Monday in Brussels to try to defuse rising tensions over a contested megamerger in the energy sector that some observers have called the "Suez crisis." But they left with the issue unresolved.
NASA Says Northern Ozone Pollution Spurs Arctic Warming
Ozone pollution in the Northern Hemisphere, churned out by factories and vehicles that burn fossil fuels, is a major factor in the dramatic warming of the Arctic zone, NASA climate scientists reported Tuesday.
New Mexico Solar Market Expected to Boom
You might think New Mexico, with its second-in-the-nation solar energy potential, would lead the states in turning the sun's inexhaustible rays into energy. But with less than 100 kW of grid-connected power and the greater majority of its solar installations located in off-grid installations, solar in the Southwest state is by no means a trend -- it is hardly a booming industry. All that may be about to change this year and beyond as a combination of newly established incentives and programs are now offering everything from a $9000 tax credit, to performance-based rebate tariffs upwards of 20 cents per kWh.
Nuclear would face tough tests – Wicks
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has claimed that nuclear power will come under intense scrutiny over its safety and security if it is to play a part in the UK’s future energy policy.
Oil Price-Gouging Bill Points Finger In Wrong Direction
"Oil company collusion is not a factor in the current price of gas," said Burnett. "Oil companies are the mercy of the global market in energy just as much as anyone else."
"Our position based on the market is
that we should have trimmed production. The market is behaving in a
different way, affected by geopolitical factors to a great extent. Nobody at
this moment is in a position to set a floor and a ceiling price for OPEC
oil."
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 031506
Solar activity is expected to continue at very low levels. Occasional B-class flares are expected from Region 860.
Russia to address energy security at G8 energy ministers meeting
Senate tax bill would 'seriously harm' competitiveness-- O'Reilly
Two business groups urge Congress not to set CO2 emission caps
Two business groups recently released reports urging Congress to resist calls for carbon dioxide emissions caps. The reports came out at the same time an environmental think tank issued a report outlining climate changes that it attributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Two Pa. wastewater workers charged with dumping sewage into river
Federal prosecutors have charged two employees at the Bristol Township Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pennsylvania with felony violations of the Clean Water Act for allegedly dumping untreated sewage into the Delaware River.
U.S. Geothermal Power Poised to Double, New Survey Shows
A new survey shows a major surge in developing geothermal power projects in the U.S. Some 45 projects are underway that could nearly double U.S. geothermal power output according to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) -- the industry trade group.
UK and Brazil sign green agreement
The UK-Brazil High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development and Working Group on Climate Change, which follows similar plans with India and China, establishes a framework for co-operative work on issues such as low carbon technology, climate change, natural resource protection and sustainable development. Social problems such as poverty and inequality are also covered under the terms of the agreement.
UK industry minister denies gas supplies 'on a knife edge'
Vietnam Government Favors Nuclear Power Over Water Power
With oil prices rising, hydroelectric and atomic power are emerging as favorite alternate energy sources to feed Vietnam's growing economy. Vietnam plans to bring power to all rural households by 2020. The shortage and difficulties in extending the national power grid to remote areas has prompted experts to consider various renewable energy options and seek outside help.
What's Moving the Markets 031506
•IPE
Brent crude in London edged lower off gains made Tuesday as funds liquidated
some positions ahead of anticipated bullish US energy department stock data
out later Wednesday, traders said.
March 14, 2006
Bush administration violated 1992 alternative-fuel law, court rules
A federal judge in San Francisco has found that the Bush administration violated a 1992 law designed to increase the country´s use of alternative fuels and alternative-fuel vehicles.
The decision was a result of a lawsuit brought by conservation groups who argued that the Department of Energy has shirked its responsibility to reduce foreign oil dependence, global warming and air pollution.
A federal judge agreed.
Ceres Power develops 1 kW micropower fuel stack able to run average home
AIM-listed Ceres Power Holdings plc said it has successfully
designed, built and tested a 1 kilowatt fuel cell stack generating
sufficient power for the average home.
Chevron Fuels AC Transit's HyRoad Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Program
Bay Area residents can breathe easier thanks to a fleet of zero-emission fuel cell buses and cars operated by the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), and powered by Chevron Hydrogen,
Part 2: Harnessing Vermont's frigid winter to keep food cool and
electricity usage down. Since the fall of 2005, my family has been on a
quest to reduce our dependence on external energy sources in our northern
Vermont home. We've been documenting our journey. One of the biggest
drains on our electricity supply--which comes from solar power supplemented by a
gas-powered generator--is refrigeration.
Drought Forces Thames Water to Impose Hosepipe Ban
Britain's largest water company Thames Water said it was imposing a hosepipe ban across London and the southeast because of severe drought. The company said its 8 million customers would face the restriction, the first such hosepipe and sprinkler ban in the region for 15 years, from next month. "The situation is serious."Ethanol Producers Encouraged by New Study
Ethanol supporters say they're encouraged by the results of a
recent study refuting the notion that it takes more energy to produce ethanol
than the corn-based fuel saves.
Scientists at the University of California-Berkeley say there's a 20
percent net energy gain by using fossil fuels to make ethanol compared
to gasoline.
EU ministers adopt efficiency law, aim to save 9% by 2017
'Green' Tax Incentives & Organic Rebates
Does your insurance carrier subsidize your grocery bill? That’s a legitimate question in Wisconsin, where one health insurance company is giving rebates to members who buy their vegetables direct from local farms.
High oil prices causing demand weakness in Southeast Asia-- IEA
The International Energy Agency Tuesday slashed its estimate of world oil demand growth in 2006 by 300,000 b/d, saying there was clear evidence that high prices were eroding demand for oil in Southeast Asia. In its latest monthly oil market report, the Paris-based IEA also cut its forecast for non-OPEC supply this year.
High UK prices point to market flaws, need for storage-- Statoil
IGCC-- It kicks the soot out of coal
The energy industry has grappled for decades with a question: How does the nation use its vast coal resources to satisfy a growing appetite for electricity -- and in a way that doesn't foul the environment?
Reuters and the Associated Press both ran eye-opening stories Sunday about China´s recent pollution woes. The nation, which has undergone a headlong industrialization over the last two decades, does appear to at last be coming to grips with the toll that its lightning-fast growth is exacting on its environment. Funny how events like last November´s spill of benzene into the Songhua River tend to get people to sit up and take notice.
Jobs fears as energy crisis bites
LONDON --Spiralling energy prices are threatening the future of many manufacturing companies which are being forced to make redundancies and cut back on investment plans, it was claimed today.
Part 1: One family's valiant quest to kick the oil habit--and how you can (try to) do it, too.
According to the Department of Energy, the average American household uses 29-plus kilowatt-hours per day; the author uses fewer than three in his 2200-sq.-ft. home.
Energy independence is a compelling concept these days, not just for nations but for individual homeowners as well.
Mesquite-area coal plant moves ahead
While opposition and a change in utility rules appears to have stalled -- if not killed -- a coal-fired power plant project north of Reno, efforts to build one near Mesquite are moving forward with community support.
Nuclear Plant Critics Want Their Say
Environmental groups are challenging Progress Energy and Duke Power's forecasts of energy demand, asking the state utilities commission to consider promoting solar power and options other than building new nuclear power plants.
Oil cycle goes against solar power
A 16 percent drop in the price of crude from its high in 2006 could portend further declines, reducing demand for renewable- energy equipment like solar-power cells from SolarWorld of Germany and wind-turbine generators from Suzlon Energy of India. Their shares soared when oil rose 40 percent in 2005. "There are cycles to oil prices that directly influence renewables," Patsky said.
OPEC president says group could meet soon if prices extend fall
Opponents renew challenge to Corps' Nationwide Permit 21 process
Polish Biodiesel Output seen Surging on Law Change
Biodiesel production in Poland may surge to some 500,000 tonnes by 2010 if the government sticks to plans to introduce new legislation for the industry in June, analysts said on Monday.
Russian nuclear power chief sees surge in generating capacity worldwide
Russia needs to build at least 40 gigawatts of nuclear power generating capacity by 2030, Sergey Kiriyenko, head of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency, has announced. He stressed that development of nuclear power would be a vital task for the international community over the coming 20 years.
South Korea gets Rare Yellow Snowfall
South Koreans were treated to a rare weather phenomenon on Monday when yellow snow fell in the capital and elsewhere across the country. But the snow - containing dust or sand from the desert regions of northern China - could pose a health hazard, the country's meteorological office warned.
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK 06- 11
Minor geomagnetic storms are possible on 19 March due to high speed solar winds from a coronal hole on the Sun.
Spain, France Call For EU Plan To Guarantee Energy Supply
States Look to Regional Cloud-Seeding
TUCSON, Ariz. — Needing more water to
keep up with growth, Arizona and the six other Colorado River Basin
states are looking to the sky.
In three years, officials hope to launch the first phase of a regional
cloud-seeding program to create more snowfall in the Upper Rockies to
feed the Colorado River and its tributaries.
Truckers Choose Hydrogen Power
Hundreds of semitrailer trucks zipping along North American highways are now powered in part by hydrogen. These 18-wheelers make hydrogen as they go, eliminating the need for high-pressure, cryogenic storage tanks or hydrogen filling stations, which, by the way, don't yet exist.
U.S. to explore Pakistan's growing energy needs
Pakistan and the United States have agreed to explore ways to
meet Pakistan's growing energy needs to strengthen its energy
security, according to a joint statement issued here Monday.
UK power prices stay high as gas shows no signs of easing
"It's all on the back of gas," said one. The prices were up from Monday, when balance week got only as high as GBP162/MWh.
US Confirms 3rd Case of Mad Cow in 27 Months
A beef cow from a herd in Alabama has tested positive for mad cow disease, US officials said on Monday, confirming the third case of the disease in 27 months.
US Hopes to Reverse Oil Decline by Burying CO2
Wanted: carbon dioxide. Large quantity needed to help superpower reverse declining oil output and halt rising emissions of heat-trapping gases.
Since the early 1980s, almost as long as US oil output has been waning, companies have been pumping small amounts of CO2 into old Texas oilfields to force to the surface remaining crude that is trapped between complicated rock formations.
Winter Warmest Ever on Record in Canada
The winter of 2005-2006 has been Canada's warmest on record and
the federal agency Environment Canada said Monday it was investigating whether
it's a sign of global warming.
Between December and February, the country was 3.9 degrees above normal
-- the warmest winter season since temperatures were first recorded in 1948.
March 13, 2006
Alaska's North Slope Sees its Biggest Oil Spill
Alaska officials said on Friday that up to 267,000 gallons (6,357 barrels) of crude oil poured out of a pipeline at the Prudhoe Bay field, making it the largest oil spill ever recorded on the state's North Slope.
Blackwell Publishing Becomes First Global Publisher to Become CarbonNeutral
Blackwell Publishing, the world's largest society publisher, has become the first global publisher to become CarbonNeutral and make a commitment to reducing its impact on the environment.
Breakthrough in Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cells
According to sources in the article, the lab uses water heated to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and a ceramic sieve from Ceramatec along with electrical current, and yields the "highest-known production rate of hydrogen by high-temperature electrolysis."
Bulgaria may suspend electricity export after 2007-- officials
Bulgaria is quite possibly to suspend selling electricity abroad after it shuts down two other nuclear units in the end of 2006, warned energy officials from the country's National Electricity Company (NEC) Thursday. The closure of units 3 and 4, which are considered by the European Union to shun a danger of nuclear leak, was negotiated with the EU as part of Bulgaria's pre-accession engagements.
The solution is just right around the corner and has already been test-proven on Malaysian roads. Claimed to cut petrol consumption by half, the Hydrogen Fuel Technology (HFT), developed by HFT Sdn Bhd, works by “supplementing” the conventional fuel-air mixture in petrol and diesel engines with a combustible, yet renewable source of fuel – hydrogen.
The small, green car that buzzes around the twists and turns of Scotland’s most northerly roads certainly does not look like a piece of history, nor like Shetland’s future as most people would imagine it.Yet this, the only road-licensed hydrogen fuel cell car on Britain’s roads, is the evidence of a quiet energy revolution being led by a company with its roots in a small community project
GE says its new machine could make the hydrogen economy affordable, by slashing the cost of water-splitting technology. Now researchers at GE say they've come up with a less expensive, easy-to-manufacture apparatus that can directly produce hydrogen via electrolysis for about $3 per kilogram -- a quantity roughly comparable to a gallon of gasoline
China Warns of Disaster if Pollution not Curbed
"Scientific approach to development" might seem like at empty slogan, but China's environment chief thinks it's the tool he needs to tackle the country's pollution woes. Zhou Shengxian took the position when his predecessor was forced to resign over his handling of a toxic spill last November that poisoned the Songhua River, a source of drinking water for millions, but Zhou said he was looking to avoid the same fate.
Cleaner US Diesel Standard Seen Cutting Asthma Attacks
Maligned as the fuel behind surging rates of asthma and other diseases in the United States, diesel will get an overhaul this year that could save thousands of lives, experts say.
Coal Plants Make Evolutionary Changes
Energy use will rise while environmental regulations get tougher. The two factors will combine to force policymakers and energy suppliers alike to envision cleaner energy alternatives. Because coal is pervasive and provides the bulk of U.S. energy generation, utilities are working hard on next generation plants.
The vast majority of coal used today is pulverized, meaning it has been crushed to a fine dust before it is shifted to a furnace and burned. Older coal-fired plants are the least efficient with about 35 percent of the energy input converted to electricity.
Demolition to Fell Cooling Tower; Trojan landmark to vanish from landscape on May 21
Even though CDI has collapsed dozens of nuclear plant cooling towers in Europe, Africa and the United States, Trojan's is unique, "orders of magnitude" larger and stronger than any other, said Loizeaux.
DOE secretary, Pakistan minister discuss energy cooperation
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Pakistan's foreign minister, Kurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Monday discussed the potential for expanded cooperation on energy issues between the US and Pakistan, the US Dept of Energy said. Their talks included a number of topics, among them clean coal technology, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Nuclear energy, however, was not discussed.
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told lawmakers on Wednesday that the Yucca Mountain Project was "broken," and he appealed for patience as he vowed to get it fixed. Bodman said blame could be shared by the nuclear waste repository contractor, other federal agencies and the Department of Energy itself, "who did not manage it very well."
Gilbert SRP Santan station gets last new natural gas unit
The second and last new unit at the Santan Generating Station in Gilbert has been placed in commercial operation by Salt River Project, in time to help meet the peak summer demand for electricity.
Governor Schwarzenegger speaks at NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference
The National Hydrogen Association announced today that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to address the organization's 17th annual conference. The NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US expects to attract over 1,000 attendees to the Long Beach Convention Center, March 12-16.
Governor wants renewable energy for state agencies by 2010
Gov. Ted Kulongoski wants state government to run entirely on renewable electricity by 2010. Kulongoski had previously set 2025 as the deadline before deciding to accelerate the schedule to create jobs and encourage responsible energy use.
Hydro ships may generate power
The ships, about 70m long -- "the size of the Manly ferries" -- would be anchored in inlets and fiords close to natural or built dams high up the mountainsides. Water would be fed from the dam down to turbines on the ship. The electricity generated would then be sent from the ship by underwater cables to a connection point onshore and into the existing transmission grid.
The hydrogen storage devices developed and patented by the scientists of the Academy of Advanced Technologies (Moscow) break all records. These are hydrogen accumulators based on microporous structures, first of all - microspheres and capillaries. Hydrogen is penetrating through glass and plastic walls inside spheres and capillaries, filling them up. Then the device is cooled off, and the precious gas remains in the cold trap.
Two years ago government had no stake or interest in what flows from one of the most fundamental laws of physics: that hydrogen and oxygen, when combined, generate energy and water. This simple law is at the heart of the so-called "hydrogen economy", a future world where humanity's energy needs are met by hydrogen rather than fossil fuels.Idaho lab, Utah company achieve major milestone in hydrogen research
Bubbles of hydrogen (along with residual steam and nitrogen carrier gas) are seen coming from the high temperature electrolysis cell. Cooling coils condense steam, cool the hydrogen and allow for the safe exhausting of the hydrogen. Laboratory teams have achieved a major advancement in the production of hydrogen from water using high-temperature electrolysis.
Inspired by Past, NY Town Seeks to Get Kids into Nature
With American children increasingly obese and addicted to video games, a small town in upstate New York is looking 100 years into its past to lead them outdoors and maybe help conserve the planet.
Investors Persuade Large Retailers and Shopping Mall Giant to Disclose Energy Efficiency
In response to shareholder requests, two leading big-box retailers and the nation’s largest shopping mall company have agreed to significantly expand reporting and disclosure on energy efficiency performance, with the two big-box retailers also agreeing to discuss greenhouse gas emissions.
Iran nuclear dispute must be resolved 'by peaceful means'-- Straw
The escalating dispute between Iran and the international community over Tehran's nuclear program must be resolved peacefully, Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Monday, stressing that military action against the Islamic Republic was inconceivable.
Iranian backlash seen in Gulf states if US attacks-- analysis
The US Pentagon is drawing up contingency plans to attack Iranian nuclear sites but a military strike is likely to prompt Tehran into a backlash in the Gulf targeted at US forces in Iraq and assets in Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, PFC Energy said in a report.
Iraqi oil output climbs to 2 mil b/d for week ended Mar 5
Iraq's average crude oil production for the week ended March 5 hit the 2 million b/d mark for the first time since the start of the year, the US state department said in its latest Iraq Weekly Status Report.
Lugar calls energy 'the albatross' of US national security
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar Monday sounded a stern warning about US reliance on foreign oil, saying it has diminished the country's influence in the world. No one who is honestly assessing the decline of American leverage around the world due to our energy dependence can fail to see that energy is the albatross of US national security, Lugar said.
Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai Urges Individual Action to Protect Environment
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai says people worried about the environment should rely less on government and more on themselves to protect the planet's limited resources.
Thirsty Mexico City Hosts Conference on Better Use of Water
Mexico City is plagued by an almost diabolical combination of floods and water shortages, rising sewage and sinking water tables. What better place for world leaders to come together to discuss how to better manage water?
U.S. Cigarette Sales Drop to 55-Year Low
The number of cigarettes sold in the United States in 2005 fell to the lowest level in 55 years largely due to enforcement of marketing restrictions imposed on the tobacco industry, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) said on Wednesday.
U.S. Interior Secretary Norton Leaves Bush Cabinet
U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton resigned Friday after five years overseeing federal lands, a tenure that had many clashes with environmentalists.
UN Fears Measles Outbreak in Drought-Hit East Africa
Millions of children in drought-hit East Africa are threatened by a "lethal cocktail" of measles and malnutrition and urgently need vaccinations against the highly infectious disease, a UN official said.
US May Face Big Hurricane Season in 2006 - Earthsat
The United States could face storms as strong as Hurricane Katrina again in 2006 as a mild La Nina weather system brews up conditions for another intense tropical storm season, MDA EarthSat Energy Weather said on Friday La Nina, an unusual cooling of the Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, can trigger a wide range of changes in global weather depending on its intensity. Many forecasters already expect an above average hurricane season.
Washington, Iowa, plans project to create ethanol, beef
A unique project near here will use locally raised grain to make ethanol and beef. The cattle, in turn, will provide the fuel to run the ethanol plant. The $80 million project involves a 30,000-head cattle feedlot and an plant that will produce 30 million gallons of ethanol a year, said Brian Barber, project manager.
March 10, 2006
Advocates call for utility efficiency standard
Establishment of an "energy efficiency resource standard" could cut nationwide energy use by nearly 5% in 2020 and save consumers $170 billion betweeen 2007 and 2020, according to a report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Alliant's switch grass experiment nears conclusion
Alliant Energy has begun the final phase of a project to
evaluate the use of switch grass in electrical generation at its
power plant in south central Iowa.
Ancient Cypriots Fed Olive Oil to Furnaces - Study
It is praised for its culinary and health properties by any cook worth his salt, but long before olive oil made it into the Mediterranean diet Cypriots used it as fuel to melt copper, archaeologists say.
APS, National Grid and WIA Announce Cooperative Study of New Transmission Lines
Arizona Public Service Company (APS), National Grid USA and the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week to collaborate in development of new electric transmission lines between Arizona and Wyoming.
Barton set to complain to Bush about administration energy plans
The Texas Republican said he also would use the meeting with Bush, which was expected to be attended by other Republican and Democratic House members, to urge the president to redouble his commitment to the proposed nuclear waste repository in Nevada.
CO2 Capture Paves Way for Gas Power in Norway
Advances in technology enabling carbon dioxide to be buried below the seabed have paved the way for Norway, Western Europe's biggest gas exporter, to crack domestic resistance to burning gas to produce electricity.
DOE evaluating need for second repository
DOE Solar America Initiative Set to Fund Solar PV Development
Now, says the DOE, the emphasis is on funding industry partnerships to accelerate market-ready PV using aggressive new goals, down-selects, and a new focus on eliminating manufacturing and production R&D barriers.
Evaluating Solar-- Berkeley Livermore Report Investigates California PV Market, Part I
"Markets for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are expanding rapidly, albeit from a small base," says a recent report. "In 2004, more than 955 MW of PV capacity was installed worldwide, up from 658 MW in 2003. The growth in worldwide annual capacity additions has averaged approximately 35 percent since 1996, dominated by grid-connected applications.
Floods Heighten Fears of Malawi Cholera Outbreak
Floods hit the region around Mangochi at the southern tip of Lake Malawi, already coping with a cholera outbreak reported last month, after heavy downpours swept the area this week, making more than 500 families destitute. The storms dumped at least 158 mm (6.2 inches) of rain in the district, famous for its sandy beaches, its sunshine and excellent diving amid colourful tropical fish.
Gray Wolf Numbers in Northern Rockies Up
The number of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies has surpassed 1,000, a decade after wolves were reintroduced in and around Yellowstone National Park, a report released Thursday shows.
Japan's 55th Nuclear Power Generator Set to Start
Japan's new nuclear power generator will start commercial operations next week, its owner Hokuriku Electric Power Co. said on Thursday, the 55th such unit in a domestic industry still recovering from a string of safety scandals.
New Mexico Governor Richardson Signs Solar Tax Credit Bill
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed last week New Mexico Senate Bill 269, which creates a solar tax credit to encourage New Mexicans to purchase solar systems and to stimulate New Mexico’s solar power manufacturing industry. The governor signed the bill at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, home to a solar power array built by Albuquerque’s Sacred Power.
New Spill Intensifies Battle Over Leaky Pipeline
An independent research group and the company building one of Latin America's most ambitious gas pipelines are butting heads over claims that the company used shoddy materials and unqualified staff for a Peruvian pipeline in one of the world's most richly bio-diverse areas.
NRC observing investigation of tritium at Palo Verde-3
APS has not yet determined the source of the tritium--whether it came from an underground pipe leak, the plant's NRC-permitted releases of tritium into the air, or occurred naturally, McDonald said. No leaks have been found
Nuclear Waste-- Bury it and Forget?
It is the regular beeping that grates. But if it stops, prepare to be scared. The nuclear industry says its technology emits no carbon and does not cause global warming but for many, still wary after disasters like the 1986 explosion at Chernobyl, the lingering fear is that the toxic waste might leak and kill. Sellafield, and a plant at La Hague in northern France, can each reprocess 5,000 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel each year, But there will be more waste. China plans to build 30 new nuclear reactors by 2020, India has struck a deal with the United States to build several more plants, the United States is lining up tax incentives for new generators and Britain is considering new plants to plug a looming energy gap.
PA DEP Says Demand for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Rebates Will Soon Exceed Supply of Funds
Pennsylvania is encouraging hybrid electric and alternative fuel vehicles by offering rebates to motorists who buy and operate them in the commonwealth. The program has been so successful, the state is expected to run out of rebate money sometime in April.
Papuans Set for Showdown With US Gold Miner
After two weeks of protests and a sustained blockade, the United States miner, Freeport-McMoran, continues to hang on to the world's largest gold and copper mine in eastern Papua province, on the strength of assurances from the central government.
Poverty in Africa Linked to Water Management - UN
African countries will be hard pressed to emerge from poverty due to poor water management not a lack of available water, the United Nations said on Thursday.
When policymakers first envisioned electricity deregulation, they reasoned that open markets would lead to more efficiencies and greater customer choices. To ease the transition, price caps were set up as an intermediary step. But deregulation has floundered and states are now looking to extend consumer protections.
Price caps -- or standard offers in energy parlance -- are implemented to protect consumers until competitors fill markets. But if alternative suppliers cannot beat the state's authorized prices and go on to earn sufficient margins on the power they sell, then they won't enter the fray -- and the same old utilities will dominate.
Progress Made in Using Hydrogen as Fuel for Cars, Electronics
Researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Michigan have demonstrated the ability to store large amounts of hydrogen at the right pressure, and they have ideas about how to store hydrogen at ambient temperatures.
Putting Conversation Back Into Conservatism -- A Guest Commentary
Rod Dreher, an editorial writer for the Dallas Morning News,, has written Crunchy Cons, a new book that, among other things, urges conservatives to practice “restraint, humility and good stewardship, especially of the natural world.” A conservative with a taste for organic vegetables and Birkenstock sandals, Dreher appears to have tapped into a sudden wellspring of conservative concern for the environment.
Suddenly, conservation is no longer a dirty word. And, just as suddenly, conservative interest is growing in alternative fuels and renewable energy.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 031006
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled for 10-11 March. Isolated active periods are possible during this time, due to a favorably positioned coronal hole. Predominantly quiet conditions are expected on 12 March.
Russian Supreme Court rejects appeal against Siberian oil line
The national pipeline monopoly Transneft plans to announce tenders and start construction of the line after it receives a final approval by the expert bureau of Russia's federal construction service. Grigoryev also said the company was continuing looking for a site for a Pacific coast terminal to be built in addition to the pipeline, and is considering ten possible locations near the port of Nakhodka.
Satellites Uncover Mayan Secrets
Mayan ruins, hidden beneath soil and dense forest, have been located in Guatemala using satellite technology, revealing more secrets of this ancient indigenous culture. The programme encompasses in-depth research of the area's ruins, including architectural structures and murals, to better understand the Mayan culture, which lasted some 3,400 years (until the 9th century), across the region that is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and the western parts of Honduras and El Salvador.
Solar Silicon Division Underway, Maybe
Although nothing is binding or certain about the announcement, Canada's ARISE Technologies Corporation said it plans to form a solar grade silicon feedstock division. A company statement says it believes the best technology path to reduce the cost of solar energy is to produce hetrojunction PV cells on silicon wafers using patented technology that is currently being developed with the University of Toronto.
Survey respondents favor alternative fuels
Most American voters think the country is facing an energy crisis and that government and private industry should invest billions of dollars to increase the role renewable fuels play in the nation's economy.
U.N. Reports a Fifth of World Lacks Clean Drinking Water Despite Abundant Supplies
Mismanagement, limited resources and environmental damage have combined to deny 1.1 billion people access to safe water, a U.N. report said Thursday. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the hardest-hit areas, where ecological degradation, poor water management and a burgeoning population have led to water shortages exacerbating poverty, disease and drought, the report said.
Upcoming Central US Gulf lease sale to likely top 2005 bids-- MMS
US DOE sees its budget rising 4 to 8pct over the next five years
The plan, which maps out DOE spending and management strategies through 2011, calls for the department to increase funding for nuclear technologies by $1.3 billion annually, if the department decides in fiscal 2008 to proceed with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.
March 9, 2006
Until recently, ocean scientists thought of the deep ocean abyss as a dark, cold but serene place where small particles rained gently onto the ocean floor. However, instruments lowered to the sea floor to measure ocean motion or currents and resulting mobilization of bottom sediments detected a much more active environment. Scientists found that bottom currents and abyssal storms occasionally scour the ocean bottom, generating moving clouds of suspended sediment.
Appliance makers, EPA create initiative to cut emissions
Appliance manufacturers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have developed a voluntary program to reduce emissions from the manufacture of household refrigerators and freezers.
APS says Palo Verde-1 to shut for six weeks for repairs
Clean-coal cost recovery bill passes Ky. committee, goes to House
DOE Cites University of Chicago for Nuclear Safety Violations
The identified deficiencies have not caused significant radiation exposures or other nuclear safety incidents. However, DOE noted in a letter to the ANL that it was simply fortuitous that no harm had occurred to ANL staff, given the breadth and duration of the identified violations.
Across the United States, significant drought extended from the Desert Southwest eastward through the Southern Plains. Exceptional drought classification continued through parts of Texas and into adjacent sections of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
EC's energy paper leaves renewables, nuclear groups wanting more
"The EC missed a huge opportunity to create a new, sustainable and ambitious strategy tackling the energy challenges in front of us," said European Parliament member Mechtild Rothe.
Energy Minister Predicts Positive Future for NZ Energy
Coal could play a big part in New Zealand's energy future. Energy Minister David Parker told the New Zealand Petroleum Conference in Auckland that while there was an increasing focus on renewable energy, the role of coal in the energy mix should not be discounted. Coal supplied around 12% of New Zealand's primary energy.
EPA, Auto Industry Reach Deal on Mercury
Hoping to reduce harmful mercury emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency, the auto industry and environmental groups said Wednesday they have agreed to start a national program to collect mercury switches from scrapped automobiles.
EU Takes First Step towards Common Energy Policy
The European Union must diversify its energy supplies and consider stockpiling gas for times of crisis, the bloc's executive said on Wednesday, presenting proposals to form a common EU energy policy.
Europe's energy challenge Supply and demand
Europe is entering a new energy landscape. Gas and oil prices have nearly doubled in the last two years. Europe's import dependency is forecast to rise to 70 percent by 2030, as our hydrocarbon reserves dwindle and demand rises, with implications for our energy security.
Fiji to spend $300 million to diversify into renewables
MANILA--Fiji is aiming to spend $300 million to significantly increase its uptake of renewable energy in the country. Initially, a green power project in Fiji will be developed through a grant of US$650,000 from the Asian Development Bank.
German E.ON to invest $19.5 billion in power plants-- Bernotat
Global Warming Threatens New Guinea Paradise
Exotic species in a little-known "Garden of Eden" in the mountains of New Guinea island are under threat from global warming, New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.
Government funds 50pct of green heat installations
BELFAST--Grants of 50% will be paid to private homeowners who install green heat systems in Northern Ireland. The government has launched a £59 million ‘Environment & Renewable Energy Fund’ to increase the number of homes with solar thermal, geothermal or biomass heating systems by ten fold, to 4,000 homes
House Moves to Strip Warnings from Food Labels
The House voted Wednesday to strip many warnings from food labels, potentially affecting alerts about arsenic in bottled water, lead in candy and allergy-causing sulfites, among others. Pushed by food companies seeking uniform labels across state lines, the bill would prevent states from adding food warnings that go beyond federal law.
HawaiiReporter.com editorializes with searing candor about the Hawaii County Council´s recent decision to close the Hilo landfill, which lies near the Big Island´s sunrise coast. The council´s new plan is to build a trash transfer station and truck the displaced waste to a landfill near Kona while disregarding the fact that "solid waste handling companies [are] falling all over each other to offer free construction of sort stations and waste-to-energy facilities."
Manitoba Govt Launches Ethanol Fuel Program
Government fleets in Manitoba will be filling up with a lower-emission fuel thanks to a C$174,000 sustainable-transportation projected aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of using high ethanol content fuels, a release from the Manitoba Government said.
Militant Peasants Raid Aracruz Farm in Brazil
About 2,000 protesters on Wednesday invaded a plantation in southern Brazil owned by Aracruz, the world's biggest producer of bleached eucalyptus pulp, and caused what the company said was millions of dollars of damage and losses.
New Zealand Power-Drought Prompts Supply Concerns
New Zealand spot power prices stayed high over the past week as water inflows into hydro-electricity catchments remained well below average, cementing fears of winter power shortages.
Nuclear dispute not affecting Iran talks with IOCs-- oil minister
“While we focus a great deal of attention on rising ocean temperatures and the bleaching incidents they cause in corals, we tend to overlook the other consequence of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on our corals: decreases in ocean pH,” Langdon said. “Carbon dioxide in the ocean is creating a growingly acidic environment for corals, and this acidity could ultimately cause our reefs to waste away.”
Oceans may soon be more corrosive than when the dinosaurs died
Increased carbon dioxide emissions are rapidly making the world's oceans more acidic and, if unabated, could cause a mass extinction of marine life similar to one that occurred 65 million years ago when the dinosaurs disappeared.
OPEC President plays down Bush vow to cut Middle East oil imports
PA Governor Rendell Endorses Renewable Fuels Goal - 25 Percent Dependence by 2025
Saying the time is long overdue for America to lead the world in creating clean, safe, renewable fuels, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today endorsed the goal of achieving 25 percent dependence on renewable fuels by 2025.
Planet Organic Markets Harnesses Wind Energy
Canada's leading natural and organic supermarket chain, has become a part of the growing number of businesses harnessing wind power. In an effort to ramp up its environmental efforts, the company has purchased wind power for all their computers.
Prudhoe Bay Restart on Hold for Oil Spill Cleanup
A return to full production at the biggest US oil field after a major spill will take a back seat to Alaska's cleanup and emergency response efforts, state environmental officials said Tuesday.
"Iran will not give up its right to
research and development because this is against the wishes of the Iranian
people."
Renewables offer energy security, U.S. official testifies
Renewables can reduce oil imports in the western hemisphere, but legal and regulatory changes must be made to attract private investments, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 030906
WARNING: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse expected . The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled for the next three days. Isolated periods of active conditions are possible due to a favorably positioned coronal hole.
Russian Jan oil products exports up 21.8% to 7.04-mil mt-- customs
Setback in the push for more nuclear power
TONY Blair's support for nuclear power suffered a blow yesterday when his own advisers condemned the technology, saying it was not the answer to tackling climate change.
Six senators question EPA stormwater reprieve to oil industry
Six senators have written a letter to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency questioning why the agency has proposed granting relief to the oil and gas industry from some stormwater regulations included in the Clean Water Act.
Spain and USA offer strong growth for renewable energy
Spain and the United States remain the most attractive countries in the world for renewable energies, “as both continue to offer strong growth and attract the bulk of capital investment,” according to the latest analysis from Ernst & Young.
Spain next to explain deal limits EU seeking to curb cross-border barriers
European Union regulators switched their attention Monday to Spain from France as a battle to knock down barriers to trade within the 25-member bloc looked set to intensify.
States, green groups ask Supreme Court to overturn CO2 ruling
A dozen states and several environmental groups are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling and force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks.
Surge in cost of oil gives coal value a lift
International Power yesterday ramped up the value of its UK coal- fired power station in Staffordshire after the rocketing cost of gas made other fuel sources more profitable.
Sustainable building code for new homes 'totally inadequate'
LONDON--A draft government Code aimed at setting national sustainability standards for new homes has been branded "totally inadequate" by the Town and Country Planning Association, Friends of the Earth and Renewable Energy Association. The Government consultation on the code ends today.
Tens of Thousands Face Death in Drought-Hit Somalia
Drought-stricken Somalia is facing a new famine on the scale of the catastrophe that killed tens of thousands of people in the early 1990s, a food security analyst told Reuters on Wednesday.
UK government makes 14 rounds of PV grants
The UK government has funded £1.8 million under the 14th round of grants under its solar PV support program.
US ARS-- Using natural-occurring products to build hydrogen fuel cells
In research aimed at reducing American dependence on petroleum-based fuels, a group of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists has found a way to replace the petroleum used in today's hydrogen fuel cell membranes with naturally occurring products.
US Senate Panel OK’s Florida Offshore Drilling Plan
The Senate Energy Committee voted Wednesday to open nearly three million acres of federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to energy exploration, bringing the contentious issue closer to reality.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated counties in Indiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Virginia as primary natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators eligible for low-interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). In Indiana, 24 counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that occurred from May 1, 2005, through Aug. 31, 2005. The entire State of Oklahoma. In South Dakota, Lawrence County. In Texas, 20 counties were designated as primary disaster areas.
Virginia House approves energy plan bill in 74-21 vote
War over clearing the air; In sharp rebuke, scientists say proposed EPA standards don't do enough
New national standards for soot are not tough enough to protect Americans from microscopic air pollution linked to heart disease and respiratory ailments, said members of a federal scientific panel accusing the Bush administration of ignoring their advice.
What's Moving the Market 030906
The latest US inventory data figures showed a 6.8 million build in crude stocks over the past four weeks to 335.1-million barrels, the highest level since April 30, 1999.
The ongoing situation over Iran is also providing some support to the price of Brent as attempts to reach a diplomatic solution to concerns over Iran's nuclear program prove elusive.
World's First 'Zero Emissions' Coal Plant Issues Host Site Request for Proposals
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance today said it has released the final Request for Proposals (RFPs) for parties interested in hosting the world's first coal-fueled "zero emissions" power plant.
March 8, 2006
African Ministers Meet to Cooperate on Hydropower
African ministers of energy and water affairs were to cooperate on developing hydropower's potential to provide affordable energy to Africans, said South African Minerals and Energy Minister Lindiwe Hendricks here Monday.
Air Quality Permit Issued for Arizona Biomass Power Project
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced that ADEQ has issued an air quality permit to Snowflake White Mountain Power LLC for a wood-fired generating station at the company's Snowflake facility in Navajo County.
Barges prepare to move coal down Miss. River again after repairs
A much-shrouded idea could give portable power a real charge, for a change — and change, well, everything. Safe, affordable and eco-friendly batteries that can store immense amounts of energy, allow for lightning-fast charging, and handle virtually unlimited discharging with little affect on quality.
Ernie Rogers drives from Utah to Fresno on less than a tank of gas. The retired physicist, inventor and fuel-efficiency advocate drives a modified diesel Volkswagen beetle that gets 65 miles per gallon in the summertime. He also designed an engine that gets more than 100 mpg.
Its Hydra Fuel Cell Corporation subsidiary will deliver a beta unit of its proprietary HydraStax(TM) hydrogen fuel cell to be tested by Bonneville Power Administration . BPA has indicated to Hydra that there are thousands of remote facilities in their service area for which hydrogen fuel cells could provide backup and primary electric power.
Both Reds and Blues Go Green on Energy
"...Internal conflicts within both parties over the specifics of environmental protection and energy development pose a potential roadblock to consensus on policy alternatives."
With high fuel prices and instability in the Middle East, Americans are increasingly concerned about the nation's energy situation. In January, 58% rated "dealing with the nation's energy problem" a top priority, up from just 47% a year ago and 40% in January of 2003, according to new research and poll analysis from the non-partisan Pew Research Center.
Defense Department holds environmental spending steady
The Defense Department is asking Congress for $3.92 billion in fiscal year 2007 for environmental programs, about the same as it requested last year.
Earth Observation System Closer to Tracking Disaster
Imagine a hi-tech system linked to satellites and deep ocean sensors that can warn against looming natural disasters anywhere on earth. It may sound like something straight out of a H.G. Wells novel, but the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) pioneered by the United States could be reality in less than 10 years' time.
Ethanol Industry Sets Record in 2005
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced that the U.S. ethanol industry set annual production records in 2005, producing just less than 4 billion gallons (3.904 billion gallons) and averaging nearly 255,000 barrels of ethanol production daily, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
EU Seeks Unity on Energy as Utility Mergers Divide
The European Union takes its first step towards a common energy policy on Wednesday, seeking a united front in dealing with foreign suppliers even as member states battle for control of utility mergers within EU borders.
EU to issue warning on foreign energy use
The European Commission will warn governments Wednesday that they are failing to adequately curb fuel consumption and develop alternative forms of energy, a trend that may push Europe's reliance on foreign energy sources to dangerously high levels in coming decades.
French Senate begins debate on nuclear regulatory bill
Hybrid Fuel Systems Changes Name to US Energy Initiatives Corporation
"Our core business remains the delivery of our patent dual fuel technology. To compliment the sale of our technology, we are launching a biofuels division with a mandate to produce a biodiesel with zero emissions that is 100% made in America.
Investment Banks Held to Account
Investment banks know about risk. They also know about the strong-arm of the law. Many may have generated multi-million dollar fees off their Enron accounts but now they are paying dearly for any untoward relationships they might have had. Federal regulators, lawmakers and investors are taking active steps to remedy the situation, which has resulted in multi-billion dollar fines and a host of regulatory changes.
Lovins Invited to Testify on Energy Security
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) CEO Amory Lovins will be among the four invited experts who will testify today before the U.S. Senate’s Energy Committee on the goal of energy independence. Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, top oil strategist Dan Yergin, and Susan Cischke, vice president of environmental and safety engineering for Ford Motor Company, will join Mr. Lovins before the Committee.
Green campaigners have welcomed this week’s report from the Sustainable Development Commission which cast doubt over the economic, practical and environmental viability of a new nuclear energy programme in the UK. The study, in response to the Government’s public consultation on the country’s energy requirements, found that issues such as radioactive waste disposal and the volatile economic stability of the industry could undermine any potential benefits that the programme could deliver.
OPEC ministers agree deal to leave output unchanged-- delegate
PA Governor Rendell Announces Bucks County as Site of Gamesa's Three New Manufacturing Facilities
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa Corp. is expanding operations in Pennsylvania by investing another $34 million to open three new modern manufacturing centers on 20-plus acres of U.S. Steel's former Fairless Hills industrial site.
Plug-In Hybrids-- The New Focus for the Future of Transportation
"In contrast, to the much touted hydrogen economy, there is no need for
massive infrastructure development and construction. The PHEV allows us to
immediately transition from our dependence on oil for transportation to one
where we can begin to transition to cleaner and more efficient electricity
without a need for new infrastructure."
- Prof Andrew Alfonso Frank, Director of Hybrid Vehicle Research
Poll finds Ontario residents split on need for new nuclear plants
Proposed bill would force utilities to try conservation
Legislators unveiled four energy bills on Tuesday, including one that would force utilities to invest in conservation programs before raising rates.
But the problem, according to environmental groups backing the bill, is that major utility companies like National Grid and New England Gas are essentially monopolies that make money charging customers for every unit of energy consumed. Facing little competition, there are few incentives to reduce consumption and keep costs low.
Rain Blesses East Africa, But Drought Not Over
Heavy rains from Burundi to central Kenya have drenched parched fields and flooded streets this week, but forecasters say a months-long drought that has put millions of people at risk is not over yet.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 030806
Solar activity was very low. Region 856 (S08W38) produced a long-duration B2 flare. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled for the next 24 hours. On 09-10 March, predominantly unsettled conditions are expected, with possible isolated active periods. This increased activity is due to a high speed coronal hole stream.
Senate energy chief urges more E85 pumps, does not back mandate
Southern Poised to Expand Investments in New Nuclear Reactors
Southern Company (Southern) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have executed a memorandum of intent to jointly pursue the construction of two new nuclear reactors at TVA's Bellefonte plant site near Scottsboro, Alabama.
The Easy Solution to Household Pollution
"Cleaning up environmental pollution really begins at home," says consumer advocate Debra Lynn Dadd. "Every time we use a toxic product at home, it ends up in the air, or goes down the drain into waterways, in addition to the toxic pollution that occurs during its manufacture." The solution is to use nontoxic products at home.
This French farm runs on rapeseed oil and manure
French farmer Daniel Durand lives in a long, low, traditional farmhouse, a picture postcard scene worthy of any tourist office advertisement extolling the beauty of Brittany. But behind the bucolic facade, Durand's 40-hectare smallholding farm is unlike many others in France as up to 80 per cent of the energy he needs comes from sustainable, environmentally-sound methods.
Warm US Winter Eases Energy Burden for Homeowners
A warm winter in the United States has eased some of the pain for households facing record prices for natural gas and heating oil this year, the US government said Tuesday.
Washington state mandates electronics recycling plan
Washington has passed an electronics recycling bill that requires manufacturers to finance the collection, transportation and recycling of old computers, monitors and televisions.
What's Moving the Market 030806
Analysts are expecting draws in distillate stocks of 1.7 million barrels and gasoline stocks of 900,000 barrels. However, the bearish data is expected to come from a build in crude stocks of 1.7 million barrels.
OPEC has agreed to leave current production unchanged for the time being.
Wind Power Could Top Hydro in China, Expert Says
Wind turbines may one day replace hydropower as China's second-largest source of electricity, if the country continues with a drive to boost renewable generation, a Chinese energy expert said on Tuesday.
Work on Saudi Rabigh refinery, petchem project to start by April
Last week, the two companies signed financing deals to secure $5.8-billion to fund part of the work on the project, which has a total price tag of around $9.8-billion. The project entails building a new petrochemical complex that would center around a steam cracker with an ethylene capacity of 1.3-million mt/year, among the largest in the world. The complex would be integrated with Aramco's existing 400,000 b/d refinery at Rabigh, which si to be upgraded.
March 7, 2006
Alternative energy sources to be discussed
Wind, solar and other renewable energy account for only a 6 percent share of national energy consumption, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.That's down slightly from 7 percent in 1998 and essentially unchanged since the Energy Information Administration starting tracking data in 1989.
With that in mind, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy will host the first of three energy workshops this morning called "Making Renewable Energy Mainstream" discussing energy efficiency policy down to the state level. The others will be in Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Business group seeks cost-benefit study of California GHG plan
"Before the Legislature or governor adopts policies on GHG emissions there needs to be a cost benefit analysis [and an assurance] we are seeing enough GHG reductions for the dollars that we are being asked to spend," said Jeanne Cain, senior vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce and chairwoman of the coalition.
China to cut energy consumption by 4 percent in 2006
China will strive to chop down its energy consumption rate by 4 percent this year, a key index to guide economic and social development, Premier Wen Jiabao announced here Sunday.
"To generate clean, nonpolluting energy from fossil fuels, we just have to capture all of the wastes from energy production and then store that waste back underground where fossil fuels come from in the first place. "However, no matter how clean we make this energy, it still won't be green energy because it is produced from fossil fuels.
Coal industry seeks to reduce safety checks
Since 1969, federal inspectors have been required to inspect every underground coal mine in the nation "in its entirety" at least four times each year.
Consumers burned by their utility choices
Nancy Dailey thought she had done her research and decided to go with an unregulated supplier of electricity and natural gas instead of Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.
But the Greece resident is now facing much higher utility bills than customers who chose RG&E.
East Coast leaders work to create Boston-to-D.C. 'hydrogen highway'
California beat the East Coast onto the hydrogen highway. Now automakers, energy companies and government agencies are making plans to catch up.
EC calls for Europe to 'speak with the same voice' on energy
Giving Water Resources their Due (Diligence)
While few ever consider buying a building without assessing the physical condition of the structure, many valuable properties along rivers and lakes, or with private streams or wetlands, are being purchased with little investigation into the quality or values of those resources.
Global Warming Evidence Grows - UN Expert
Evidence humans are to blame for global warming is rising but governments are doing too little to counter the threat, the head of the United Nations climate panel said on Monday. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), also said that costs of braking climate change in coming decades might be less than forecast in the IPCC's last report in 2001.
Green Energy Sales Seen Quadrupling in Decade
Global annual sales of renewable energies such as wind, solar and biofuels could more than quadruple in a decade to nearly $170 billion if oil prices remain high and technology costs fall, according to a study.
Three conservation groups have sent a letter to the California Department of Parks and Recreation questioning the agency's apparent decision to allow San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to construct the "Sunrise Powerlink" through the heart of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
IEA's Mandil does not expect OPEC to opt to trim output Wednesday
The New York Times editorialized favorably Sunday about Mayor Michael Bloomberg´s on-again, off-again, now-back-on-again proposal to ship the city´s waste to distant landfills via a system of marine transfer stations and barges.
Indonesia to propose OPEC roll over current output target
Kuwaiti oil minister announces 35 Tcf gas find in northern Kuwait
Life on the Mississippi Turned Upside Down for River Pilots
Down where this great American river meets the Gulf of Mexico, river pilots negotiate a new reality as they steer oceangoing oil tankers, cruise ships and gigantic cargo carriers toward the warehouses, docks and rail yards of New Orleans. Their world was turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina.
Majority of Scots oppose nuclear power Poll shows large support for renewable energy
THE majority of Scots remain opposed to building nuclear power stations and disposing of nuclear waste north of the border, according to a new poll. Most would prefer Scotland to turn to renewable sources such as wind, wave and solar power to meet future energy needs, rather than nuclear or gas or coal-fired electricity plants.
The most powerful force resisting new nuclear may be a legion of small, fast and simple microgeneration and efficiency projects
Most nuclear advocates consider the various ‘micropower’ and ‘negawatt’ (electricity saving) alternatives necessary and desirable but relatively small, slow, immature, uncertain, and futuristic – complementing central thermal stations without threatening their primacy. -- Amory Lovins
Minister-- India to shake up Coal industry
Minnesota reaches milestone in number of E85 ethanol fuel outlets
Minnesota has become the first state to reach 200 E85 ethanol outlets for flexible-fuel vehicles.
Flexible-fuel vehicles can use E85, which is a blend of at 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. There are more than 140,000 flexible-fuel vehicles in the state, and more than 5 million registered nationwide, according to the American Lung Association of Minnesota.
The Southeast consistently ranks among the nation's fastest-growing regions, yet it is one of the least active with respect to energy-efficiency programs. The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), a broad coalition formed in 2003 to promote energy-efficiency policies and practices in the region, is now furthering its mission with the launch of its new website (http://www.seea.us).
NRC observing investigation of tritium at Palo Verde-3
Investigation into tritium-laced water found near Palo Verde-3. APS notified NRC of its finding last week after it alerted the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. APS has not yet determined the source of the tritium--whether it came from an underground pipe leak, the plant's NRC-permitted releases of tritium into the air, or occurred naturally, McDonald said. No leaks have been found.
On Beyond Organic-- GMO Lawsuits & Health Risks
Most Americans remain unaware of genetically engineered food, according to a recent survey from the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, despite the fact nearly 75 percent of all processed foods -- from soda to soup -- contain genetically engineered ingredients.
On-Board Production of Hydrogen
Hate to be impolite, but you have to be a real twit to think that you can
create AND consume hydrogen “on demand“ to power your car.
Here’s a simple scientific and life fact: Nothing is free and energy can’t be
created from nothing. (sic)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company Adds More Renewable Geothermal Energy to Electric Mix
Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced it has entered into a contract with Military Pass- Newberry Volcano Project, LLC to purchase up to 120 megawatts (MW) of renewable geothermal energy resources to help meet its customers' future electricity needs. Electric generation from this renewable energy resource will provide enough power to supply nearly 100,000 PG&E customers.
"OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna Wednesday are likely to agree to leave current crude production levels unchanged for the time being due to high prices, a move that would allow oil stocks to rise,"
Rising cost pressures may ramp up utility mergers-- Merrill Lynch
Russian nuclear energy investment plan for Hungary; cooperation deal signed
One of the companies owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg is prepared to invest several hundred million US dollars in a new nuclear power plant in Hungary, or into the construction of two new blocks at the Paks nuclear power plant, according to Moscow newspaper reports on Thursday.
Seminole to turn rotting garbage into electricity for 9,000 homes
Seminole County soon will join a growing number of communities that are converting landfill gases into electricity.
This spring, six industrial generators will begin converting methane gas created by rotting garbage into electricity at the county's landfill.
Senate Democrats Oppose ANWR Oil Drilling in Budget
In its budget proposal to Congress, the Bush administration said it expected $7 billion would be raised by allowing oil drilling in the Alaskan refuge, and the Congressional Budget Office puts the figure at $6 billion.No matter what the number, most Senate and House Democrats are against opening the refuge to oil companies.
States find goals clash with EU Single-market ideals are sidelined by energy dealings
As French officials defend the deal they brokered to keep the French utility Suez out of Italian hands, another, potentially broader clash with the European Union over energy is just getting under way. This one, involving antitrust issues.
Sun's Next 11-Year Cycle Could be 50 Percent Stronger
Sun-spawned cosmic storms that can play havoc with earthly power grids and orbiting satellites could be 50 percent stronger in the next 11-year solar cycle than in the last one, scientists said on Monday. "This prediction of an active solar cycle suggests we're potentially looking at more communications disruptions, more satellite failures, possible disruptions of electrical grids and blackouts, more dangerous conditions for astronauts."
The Case For A Hydrogen Powered Civilization
Hydrogen fuel can be used as a renewable energy medium with immense potential. It is the energy carrier most likely to replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen Fuels Technology (HFT) will transform our largely fossil fuel economy to a new hydrogen powered economy. This transformation will ensure a sustainable and environmentally sane energy future throughout the 21st century, and beyond, for as long as the sun continues to shine.
The City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro pay developers to build green
The City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro are offering developers up to $13,000 for constructing energy efficient buildings (large commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential).
Think Pompeii Got Hit Hard-- Worse Eruptions Lurk
The preserved footprints and abandoned homes of villagers who fled a giant eruption of Mount Vesuvius 3,800 years ago show the volcano could destroy modern-day Naples with little warning, Italian and US researchers reported on Monday.
UK Government Group Rejects New Nuclear Plants
The Sustainable Development Commission, the government's watchdog on sustainable development issues, came down in favour of more renewable energy sources and greater energy efficiency rather than replacing old nuclear plants with new ones.
Versa Power Systems to Develop Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for New U.S. Energy Department Effort
Effort to Develop Coal-Based Multi-Megawatt Power Plant
The 10-year, three-phase Fuel Cell Coal-Based System program award, valued at approximately $85 million is subject to negotiation of a final agreement.
What You Should Know About Hydrogen
Hydrogen can be produced from water, sewage, garbage, landfill accumulations, agricultural biomass, paper product wastes and many other waste streams that contain hydrogen-bearing compounds.
Hydrogen can be used as a clean burning, non-polluting fuel in virtually every application where other fuels are used today.
An energy services company, or ESCO, is an unregulated supplier of gas and electricity that offers either a fixed or variable rate for its products in competition with the local regulated utility.
Why Are We Importing $200 Billion in Crude Oil A Year?
This has to be one of the most profound questions of the century, because
we can produce less-costly and cleaner fuel right here at home—fuels that are
fully compatible with our existing petroleum pipeline infrastructure and that
can be used to run our vehicles on a days notice.
Part of the reason we are importing $200 billion in crude oil per year is
because the people of our great country are not aware that we are capable of
replacing the crude oil with fuels made right here in the USA.
Wind association asks U.S. to expedite permitting of offshore projects
Blanket restrictions or red tape could stymie offshore wind energy development, according to the AWEA´s comments. The Minerals Management Service needs to formulate a development program that does not delay or impede the permitting of offshore wind energy projects, the AWEA said.
Wyoming Governor to Uranium Miners-- Bring Us Your Projects
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal told StockInterview.com in an exclusive tape-recorded, in person interview how he feels about the flock of uranium miners coming to his state; "We're ready. They just need to start bringing the projects." He added, "This state is in play!"
March 6, 2006
An Island Nation in Pursuit of Energy Alternatives
“We have devoted ourselves to the application of renewable energies, whether from biological resources, from wind and hydraulic power, from hydrogen and fuel cells—every reasonable concept is interesting for us.” Muaausa Joseph S. Walter is the General Manager of Electric Power Corporation (EPC) of Samoa.
Another power line across W.Va. proposed
The "Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line" is the second multistate power line being proposed to carry surplus electricity from coal- fired power plants in Appalachia and the Midwest to more populated markets in the East where electricity is more expensive.
Bodman says DOE has no plans to move waste
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman says his department will not begin moving nuclear waste away from power plants around the country until the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain is licensed.
BP says 95,000 b/d of Prudhoe Bay still shut in as leak probed
Buffett cites growing hurricane wariness, hikes rates
China to Spend Nearly $1 Billion to Repel Wetland Rats
China will target a 7.5 billion yuan ($934 million) fund at repelling an invasion of rats eating their way across fragile wetlands on the Tibetan plateau, the China Daily said on Friday. "The rat disaster in the Sanjiangyuan region is huge, with the population of rodents increasing sharply.
China could be a testing ground for new nuclear development in the United States. It plans on building 40 new plants by 2020 in an effort to cut its dependence on coal and to help meet its burgeoning future energy needs. The paradox facing the Chinese is similar to the one confronting the United States and Europe. That is, the demand for energy is expected to escalate but the types of fuel sources that are most prevalent today -- coal and natural gas in many parts of the world -- are dirty and finite.
Chinese Premier Sets 2006 Energy Efficiency Target
China will cut the amount of energy it uses to produce each dollar of national income by 4 percent this year, Premier Wen Jiabao will say in a speech on Sunday that gives unprecedented prominence to energy challenges.
Contamination Feared as Russia Explores 'Lost World'
Hidden about four km (2.5 miles) beneath the ice near the South Pole lies a lake scientists believe represents a lost world, harbouring organisms sealed off from the rest of the planet for millions of years. The lake under the Antarctic ice is uniquely important precisely because it is so pristine, but all that could be lost forever if the tiniest particle of outside matter is allowed in when the Russian drill pokes through into the water.
Costs keep power lines overhead
The potentially staggering cost to bury the lines, a state law that dictates power companies deliver electricity as cheaply as possible, and lingering doubts about the effectiveness of buried lines means electrical power will be carried overhead on poles for many hurricane seasons to come.
REDWOOD CITY — The road from San Francisco to Hollywood may not be paved with hydrogen fuel stations yet, but a new push by Bar Area transportation experts aims to bring that aspiration one step closer to reality.
Czech Oil Spill Raises Fears in Neighbouring Germany
Czech officials said they were laying protective floating barriers around an oil slick discovered on Friday in the Elbe river that has raised environmental concerns in neighbouring Germany. "The slick is about 500 litres. It's maybe 15 kilometres (9 miles) long."
East Africa Must Get Drought Aid in Days – UN
Aid for victims of a drought across east Africa will run out in April unless help arrives in the next 10 days, a top official of the UN food agency said on Saturday. "This is as bad as it gets. The consequences are absolutely catastrophic."
Energy deals signal limited arena Lack of competition is feared in Europe
The scramble by some of Europe's biggest energy companies to forge megamergers before a full opening of the market next year will fuel a tectonic shift in the energy landscape of the entire Continent, creating as few as three or four champions that could monopolize the sector within a decade, according to analysts.
Final report to enact California governor's GHG goals is delayed
Giant Ancient Egyptian Sun Temple Discovered in Cairo
Archaeologists announced Sunday that they have discovered an ancient sun temple containing large statues of the pharaoh Ramses II under an outdoor marketplace in Cairo, Egypt.
GM sees mass-market hydrogen cars by 2010-2015
General Motors Corp has made major steps in developing a commercially viable hydrogen-powered vehicle and expects to get the emission-free cars into dealerships in the next four to nine years, a spokesman told Agence France-Presse.
Groups step up campaign against Bush proposal to open forests
Honda and Climate Energy Provide Innovative and Energy Efficient Heating Solution
The collaborative effort between American Honda Motor Company and Massachusetts-based Climate Energy, LLC has resulted in the first test residential installation of a unique and innovative new form of heat and power technology. Honda supplies its compact home-use cogeneration unit to Climate Energy, which in turn, combines it with a furnace or boiler as a supplemental system to conventional space heating and electric power in new and existing homes.
Alternative energy has become all the rage since gas crept and stayed above $2, since some of our oil markets have increasingly become unstable and since President Bush told the country it's addicted to oil. Of those alternatives, hydrogen is becoming the cool kid on the energy block.
Hydrogen fuel catching fire with buyers
Demand for hybrid vehicles is revving up as businesses seek ways to reduce fuel expense. "Hydrogen is not well known. People are used to going to their neighborhood gas station. Since hydrogen is less dense [than gasoline] there is a compromise in the range in refills," Abele said. Hydrogen-hybrid fleets can be a hard sell because of their limitations, Abele said. Because of the limited availability of hydrogen fuel, costs can spike up to $10 dollars a kilogram. One kilogram of hydrogen fuel has about the same amount of energy as a gallon of gasoline.
'Hypocritical' ministers reject wind power plan
ENGLAND--The role of wind power in the battle against climate change is in doubt after plans for England's biggest turbine development on the eastern fringe of the Lake District National Park were rejected by ministers.
Importance of Optimism in the Face of Climate Change
One of the more poignant points that Al Gore made in last night’s powerful speech about global warming was that a lot of people move directly from a state of denial about this issue to one of despair. People in the first state don’t go out and try to change things because they don’t see a problem. People in the second state are often no more inclined to act because they think the situation is hopeless.
Kingsbridge I Wind Power Project generates power to electrical grid
Ontario CANADA--EPCOR's Kingsbridge I Wind Power Project recently reached a milestone when two completed turbines generated electricity to Ontario's electrical grid system for the first time. To date, six Kingsbridge I turbines are online and producing power.
Kuwait supports maintaining current OPEC production-- minister
'Lost Kingdom' Discovered on Volcanic Island in Indonesia
Scientists announced today the discovery of a small "kingdom" on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa thought to have been obliterated by the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The team, led by University of Rhode Island volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson, hailed the discovery as the "Pompeii of the East."
New UN Fund to Speed Global Disaster Response
The United Nations next week launches a new global emergency fund to provide swifter relief to victims of natural disasters, but with far less money on hand than the $500 million it had hoped to raise.
Nuclear power rebirth still far from reality
Amid signs of a revival in orders for nuclear power reactors, the sale of Westinghouse's former nuclear division to Toshiba last month might stand out as a landmark but not necessarily because the industry seems ready to take off. In fact, nuclear experts around the world, both skeptics and supporters of the technology, are surprised by the high price.
Pennsylvania Gov. Directs DEP to Enhance Water Contamination Alerts
People pack hearing room to consider moratorium on coal-fired power plants
Supporters and opponents of a coal-fired plant proposed near Jerome told lawmakers the issue is not just local but of statewide significance. More than 120 people stuffed themselves into the Statehouse's Gold Room Thursday to testify on a proposed two-year moratorium on permitting of coal-fired power plants in Idaho.
Pesticides Found Throughout the Nation's Streams
Most of the nation's rivers and streams -- and the fish in them
-- are contaminated with pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects and
neurological disorders, but not at levels that can harm humans.
Pesticides were found in almost all U.S. rivers and streams between 1992
and 2001, says a study released Friday by the U.S. Geological Survey,
although most drinking water supplies haven't been affected.
Portugal signals launch of massive wind-power plan
Portugal signalled the launch of one of Europe's biggest wind- power projects on Wednesday a move that will supply enough electricity for 750,000 homes. The contract is the equivalent to a quarter of all the wind power installed in the European Union last year.
Quality, Cost and Legislative Concerns Encourage Water Reuse in Food and Beverage Industry
In the near future, the food and beverage industry will be primarily influenced by the need to comply with EU legislation governing the discharge of industrial effluents. A high and constant requirement for water in the production process as well as related functions is presenting stable demand for water treatment equipment across the food and beverage industry.
Rising fuel costs hitting waste industry hard, NSWMA reports
The solid waste industry is spending an additional $800 million per year due to higher fuel costs compared to 2004 prices, a new white paper from the National Solid Wastes Management Association reports.
Safe Water Project Highlights Global Need for Clean Drinking Water
Scientists Find Antarctic Ice Shrank Significantly
Using data from the NASA/German Aerospace Center Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), scientists concluded that Antarctica's ice sheet decreased by about 152 cubic kilometers annually from April 2002 to August 2005.The estimated loss was enough to raise global sea level about 1.2 millimeters (0.04724 inch) during the study period or about 13 percent of the overall observed sea level rise for the same period.
That is about how much water the United States consumes in three months and represents a change of about 0.4 millimeter (0.01575 inch) per year to global sea level rise, the study concluded.
Source Water Protection Vision Statement Signed
On Feb. 17, 2006, EPA and 13 national organizations signed a vision statement expressing the members’ commitment to work together to protect drinking water now and in the future. “This is an important step forward in our source water and watershed cooperative conservation efforts,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for Water.
States renew push to force US EPA to cut automobile GHG emissions
Supervolcano Raises Yellowstone, Fuels Geysers, Study Says
Molten rock flowing beneath Yellowstone has been causing the national park to rise and fall, scientists say. Periodic uplifting and settling has occurred here over the last 15,000 years. A new model helps explain the latest episode of rapid surface rise and increased geyser activity—from 1997 to 2003—in the volcanically active region in the western United States.
Supreme Court Reviews Water Quality Regulations
The hydrogen economy -- with its vision of gas-guzzling engines replaced by hydrogen fuel cells that produce water instead of smog and greenhouse gases -- is a big mistake, according to George Olah, winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in chemistry.'Too soon to say' if OPEC will keep quotas unchanged-- Daukoru
Daukoru, who is also Nigeria's oil minister, said it was too early to predict whether ministers would agree to keep crude production quotas unchanged at this week's meeting. "It's too soon to say. We'll know in a few days...I need to see the market report, we are meeting tomorrow."
US Nuclear Plant Leaks Fuel Health Concerns
Years of radioactive waste water spills from Illinois nuclear power plants have fueled suspicions the industry covers up safety problems and sparked debate about the risks from exposure to low-level radiation.
US Says CO2 Injection Could Quadruple Oil Reserves
The United States, where oil production has been declining since the 1970s, has the potential to boost its oil reserves four-fold through advanced injection of carbon dioxide into depleted oilfields, the Department of Energy said Friday.
Xcel Energy Begins Solar Rebate Program
Xcel Energy is giving incentives to Colorado customers to install solar panels outside their homes and businesses. Colorado customers can now apply for the Xcel Energy Solar Rewards program on the company’s Web site.
Yucca Mountain faces challenges says former Energy Dept. official
Lake Barrett, a former acting director of the Yucca Mountain project, told officials at a nuclear waste conference in Tucson, Arizona, this week that he believed that "if political solutions can be found to these fundamental Nevada concerns, ... that other technical, regulatory, management and budget issues can be adequately addressed."
March 3, 2006
Alliance to Save Energy Announces Energy State Fact Sheets
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) is helping consumers around the country lower their home energy bills, with state-specific fact sheets that provide current energy costs in their states and estimate monetary savings for recommended energy-efficiency home improvements. Information is also available for the United States as a whole.
Arizona Passes 15 Percent Renewable Energy Standard
"In 2001, when we passed the current rules we were the
first state to do so. Arizona was on the cutting edge. Now we've fallen behind.
By passing these rules, we've put Arizona back in the forefront of renewable
energy."
-- Bill Mundell, Arizona Corporation Commissioner
Bodman optimistic Congress will back parts of Bush energy plans
"We're getting ourselves geared up to convert this rhetoric into action and into specific plans," Bodman said in an interview with Platts. "We're hopeful, and that's all I can tell you...But I'm optimistic that we'll have our fair share of success in some of these areas."
Bolivia and Peru Grow More Coca, Says US
Increased political clout of coca growers in Bolivia and Peru has farmers growing more coca in a trend that is causing concern in Washington, the US State Department said in a report on Wednesday.
Brent crude futures rise on continued supply uncertainty
Business Tax Break Plan for Hybrids in Congress
The Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the panel's ranking Democrat proposed Wednesday new tax incentives for businesses that buy vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
Colorado Unveils Wind Energy Guide
"We hope that this Guide will help ranchers, farmers, and landowners to take a look at this renewable energy as a new option economic benefit."
Crude Spills From Alaska's Prudhoe Bay Pipeline
"Right now we don't know how big of a spill we have," said Daren Beaudo, spokesman for BP Exploration (Alaska).
Energy Efficiency Incentives Database now available on DSIRE
You've always turned to DSIRE for the most comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives for renewable energy. Now, DSIRE contains information on state and federal financial incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, purchases of energy efficient products or systems, and construction of new energy efficient buildings.
EPA proposes standardizing rules for ethanol production plants
Federal environmental regulators have proposed changing regulations for some ethanol production plants to make the standards consistent and encourage increased production of ethanol for fuel.
EPA Seeks to Ease US Ethanol Plant Pollution Rules
In a move that could boost much-needed US ethanol supplies for blending into gasoline, the government is proposing to allow corn milling facilities that make ethanol for fuel to spew more pollution before certain clean air rules are triggered.
EU's Liberalization Threatened
The European Union is opening its electric and gas markets to competition. But progress is threatened because too much power is concentrated in the hands of too few conglomerates.
Global oil at sea set to fall from winter peak-- Oil Movements
It's not on Bush's alternative-energy agenda yet, but moon-driven tides, ocean currents, and waves generate more oomph than wind and are more consistent than solar.
How Does the US Compare to Europe with Biofuels?
Q: Given the high gas pump prices that have prevailed for years in Europe, have the Europeans gone significantly further than the US in producing alternative fuels (including methanol from coal)? If not, why not? Michael C, New York, NY
India to Open 14 Nuclear Reactors to International Safeguards
After hard bargaining on the nuclear deal with the US, India Thursday [2 March] agreed that 14 of its civilian nuclear reactors will be open to international safeguards while fast breeder programme will not be subject to outside inspection.
India, US agree on key part of nuclear deal
The leaders were referring to a commitment, made during Singh's July visit to Washington, to separate India's civilian facilities from military ones so that the civilian ones could be placed under IAEA safeguards.
Industrial businesses urged to reduce use of 31 chemicals
Federal environmental regulators are challenging industrial businesses to reduce their use of 31 priority chemicals as a means of reducing toxic chemical releases. The EPA is challenging government and industrial facilities to reduce their use of one or more of the chemicals by 10 percent over three years.
KYOCERA Raises Wattage Of Solar Modules
By adopting three-bus electrode circuitry in combination with its "d.Blue" solar cell technology, Kyocera has increased the power output of its solar modules by as much as seven percent without affecting the physical size of the modules.
Next Hurricane Season Could Match 2005, or Worse - UN
This year's hurricane season could match the record breaking destruction caused by storms in 2005, the United Nations warned.
"We have reason to fear that 2006 could be as bad as 2005," Jan Egeland, the undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs who coordinates UN emergency relief, told Reuters on Wednesday.
"We have had a dramatic increase in climate related natural disasters and at the same time we have more vulnerable people, so it's a double effect," he said in Guatemala, where he is meeting Central American leaders to plan for future disasters.
Oil spill shuts in 100,000 bd output from Alaska's Prudhoe Bay
A proposal to cast a high-voltage power line through southeastern St. Lawrence County to the tri-lakes region of the Adirondack Mountains is moving forward.
SA Mini Reactor Gets Backing of US Player
SA's mini nuclear reactor, the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), now has US nuclear company Westinghouse as a 15% investor. Japanese firm Toshiba is the preferred bidder for Westinghouse. Nevertheless, the decision by Westinghouse to keep the 15% stake is not only a vote of confidence in the pebble-bed technology, it may ultimately help government to sell the mini reactors internationally.
Shell, Exxon and Chevron to bid for Ukrainian oil, gas license
AN ACT: Full description
HB 2429 requires the Department of Commerce (DOC) to establish a solar energy income tax credit program, increases solar energy tax credits for residential property, establishes solar energy tax credits for commercial and industrial projects, removes the $5,000 tax exemption limitation for retail and prime contracting classifications under the transaction privilege tax (TPT) and prohibits solar energy systems for on-site consumption from being added to property value.
Sydney Battles Invasion of the Tree-Snatchers
In the dead of night, shadowy figures armed with axes, drills and poison are leaving a trail of death around Sydney's wealthiest suburbs.
US energy chief says transmission grid expansion must begin now
US Government Plans Steps to Advance Nevada Nuclear Dump
The Bush administration is planning steps to advance its long-stalled proposal to build a nuclear waste dump in the Nevada desert, officials told Congress Wednesday. The government's plan to build an underground waste dump in the Nevada desert about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas is more than 10 years behind schedule and still plagued by scientific foul-ups and political stonewalling.
US nickel premiums set to rise
In anticipation of a possible strike at Sudbury when Inco's three year labor contract expires at the end of May at its nickel mine and smelter. One trader said that he had received several enquiries from consumers for "hundreds of tons" of nickel as consumers bring forward contingency plans.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced today that USDA is making
$63 million in Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds available to assist agricultural producers struck by hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region during the calendar year 2005.
Warmer Temperatures Complicate Alaska's Iditarod
Warmer weather in Alaska has prompted organizers of the Iditarod Trail sled dog race to divert the famed contest to a route with enough snow.
March 2, 2006
Andean Maize 1,000 Years Older Than Thought – Study
The crop, known as corn in some countries, was first used in Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Although researchers knew it had migrated down to South America, exactly when it was domesticated there was poorly understood.Arizona, New Mexico launch joint global warming initiative
AUTOSHOW - Automakers Look to Plants to Increasingly Fuel Cars
Global carmakers are looking to innovative, clean-burning renewable fuels derived from organic matter as a viable solution to meet ever more stringent climate regulations and the continued rise in the price of crude oil.
AUTOSHOW - High-Powered Cars Still in Vogue Despite Hybrid Buzz
Fuel-efficient cars were prominent new additions at the Geneva car show this week but high pump prices are not deterring Europeans from splashing out on high-powered cars and sport utility vehicles, carmakers say.
Bill Gives Nuclear Plant Guards More Powers
GEORGIA- Guards at the state's two nuclear power plants would be allowed to detain suspicious people and use lethal force if necessary to protect the sites, under a Senate bill introduced this week.
Bill Would Grant Alternative Energy Aid
Oklahoma- As natural gas and oil prices continue to soar, Oklahomans are on the prowl for alternative energy sources, and legislation passed Monday could open the market even more to those seeking solar and wind energy.
Switzerland has confirmed its first case of the deadly H5N1 avian flu strain in a bird found last week in Geneva, the Federal Veterinary Office said on Wednesday.
Brussels in the hot seat as EU goes to war over energy
How much authority the EU has over France's planned merger remains unclear. Yesterday, at a weekly meeting of senior Commission officials, many believed that there was little that Brussels will be able to do to prevent it.
Bush Plan to Sell Public Lands Assailed
The Forest Service has identified 300,000 acres of land that could be offered for sale, although Rey said only about 175,000 acres would probably be needed to raise enough money.
China, Japan increase wind power generation
Demand for Alternative Energy Poses Many Challenges
With the world's oil supply increasingly at risk of terrorist attacks and other disruptions, there is an international rush to develop alternative energy sources to power the growing number of cars around the world. In his recent push to develop alternative energy sources, President Bush has stressed the need for intermediate solutions such as ethanol and hydrogen.
DOE and EPA Recognize Whirlpool Corporation With ENERGY STAR(R) Sustained Excellence 2006 Award
Whirlpool Corporation today announced that it will receive the inaugural ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence 2006 Award from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This special award is given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding environmental leadership year after year, while sustaining product and marketing excellence.
EPA proposal would reduce benzene content of all gasoline in 2011
Under the fuel program, refiners would have to meet an annual average of gasoline benzene content of 0.62% by volume on all their gasoline nationwide. Currently, the national benzene content of gasoline is about 0.97%. Gasoline sold in California already meets standards similar to those EPA is proposing.
Explosions continue at Shoal Creek mine
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, two explosions occurred Sunday and Monday. The first explosion occurred at 2:30 pm on February 26 and the second at 2 pm on February 27.
Former US senator criticizes states eyeing utility re-regulation
Lowe's Recognized for Excellence in Promoting Energy Efficiency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) has received the 2006 Excellence in ENERGY STAR(R) Outreach Award for its contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by marketing and promoting energy-efficient products and solutions.
New U.S. Crop Seeks to Replace Imported Oils
A small North Carolina-based specialty crops company is trying
to turn a humble wildflower into a major new oilseed crop that could produce an
alternative to coconut and palm oils.
After 20 years in development, cuphea (koo-FEE-ah) will start its second
planting this spring in the Midwestern United States.
Official at nuclear power station alleges retaliation
A senior official at Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, Conn., was recently relieved of his duties after he complained that the plant's electronic security system was seriously flawed and that site managers had turned it off on multiple occasions to avoid false alarms, according to a complaint to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Oyster Creek ruling only a first step for plant's critics
While activists gained ground in efforts to get a hearing on corrosion in a critical radiation barrier at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, their climb may be insurmountable.
Paper recyclers aid hurricane victims
Many paper recyclers using Abitibi-Consolidated´s Paper Retriever program donated $27,000, representing proceeds from October and November, to the American Red Cross to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
Putin Urges End to Instability in Energy Markets
President Vladimir Putin, harnessing Russia's authority as an energy superpower, called on Wednesday for a strategy to tackle instability in world energy markets and spare future generations a legacy of conflict.
Refilling Old Mines May Be Acceptable to Dispose of Coal Ash
Using old mines may be an acceptable way to dispose of the ash from burning coal, but the process needs better monitoring, according to an analysis released Wednesday.
Russia hikes crude export duty to record $25.53 per barrel from April
Solar generates power and rewards
COLORADO Homeowners and businesses who want to use the sun's energy to power their homes or companies can get money from Xcel Energy Inc., up to $4.50 per watt generated, for systems generating up to 10,000 kilowatts of energy.
US nuclear refueling outages show effects of aging maintenance
Virtually no change in the overall pattern of US refueling outages in the last three years. Longer outages were attributed largely to steam generator and reactor pressure vessel head replacements, which help ready power reactors to operate for extended lives.
Utilities feeling lineman shortage
As he sat in the dark with the temperature in his house at 52 degrees last weekend, local BOCES Superintendent John Stoothoff wondered if there was anything his school could do to train utility linemen.
West Virginia wind-farm construction moratorium dies in committee
What's Moving the Oil Market 030206
•IPE Brent futures Wednesday rose half a dollar in early trading on expectations that US inventory data due to be released later in the day would have a bullish impact on the market. An 800,000 barrel draw in gasoline stock in expected.
Wind Power Grows as Alternative US Energy Source
Windmills are sprouting across the United States, as Americans search for non-polluting alternative energy sources. The West Coast state of California is the U.S. leader in wind power.
WMI to track greenhouse gas emissions
Waste Management Inc. announced Wednesday it has become the first solid waste company to track, report and certify its California greenhouse gas emissions.
March 1, 2006
Are renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon offsets exchanged in totally different markets?
The reader posing this question was curious that the LEED building rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary program for certifying green buildings) gives credit toward certification for a building purchasing RECs, but not carbon offsets. The reader asked whether RECs and offsets reflect two distinct markets, and if so, what is likely to happen as the markets mature?
Bush Administration Pushes Energy Campaign
Administration officials, including the President himself, fanned out
across the country in all directions promoting the Bush Administration's
energy plans, most of which will need to be approved by Congress.
The Administration's new focus on renewable energy technologies is widely
seen as a move in the right direction but concerns remain over whether policy
and funding will match the President's goals.
California City Approves $250 Million Desalination Plant
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The city of Huntington Beach, California, Tuesday approved construction of the nation's largest desalination plant, ending years of bitter debate with environmentalists.
China Promises to Push Back Spreading Deserts
But it warned the country's long-term development remains threatened by environmental, economic and social damage from expanding deserts -- especially in frontier lands dominated by ethnic groups such as Tibetans and Uighurs.
City supports moratorium on certain coal-fired plants
Twin Falls, Idaho --The City Council on Monday came out in support of House Bill 689, Rep. Sharon Block's bill for a two-year moratorium on coal-fired plants.Climate-Conscious Investor Coalition Widens Net
A group of 211 institutional investors with assets of $31 trillion under management has written to 1,800 of the largest quoted companies in the world by market capitalization, asking for the disclosure of investment-relevant information concerning their greenhouse gas emissions.
DOE Requests $1.2 Billion for Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The FY2007 Budget requests $23.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including $1.2 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Much of this funding is an integral part of the Advanced Energy Initiative and expands key programs that focus on developing new energy choices, including hydrogen fuel technology ($114 million) and fuel cell technology ($82 million).
America's addiction to oil may one day be broken. But can the fuel-additive ethanol help? A study by the University of California at Berkeley says that ethanol can generate higher energy content than petroleum while producing slightly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Editorial- Renewable energy bill a positive step
Plenty of politicians talk about reducing the country's dependency on fossil fuels, but Wisconsin lawmakers are doing something about it.
In a rare display of bipartisanship, the Wisconsin Senate voted 32-1 last week to advance to the Assembly a bill that would allow the state to diversify its energy supply and have alternate energy available for periods of high demand.
Fury as competition 'is stifled' by energy tie-up
THE European energy industry was standing at a crossroads today after the French government's decision to order a e70 billion (Pounds 48 billion) defensive merger between two of its big three power companies prompted demands for the European Commission to act on French protectionism.
Global market for wind increases 43%
A total of 11,769 MW of wind turbines were installed around the world last year, representing an increase of 43.4% over the 8,207 MW installed in 2004.
GM Launches Public Campaign to Promote E85 'Flex-Fuel' Vehicle
At this week's Chicago Auto Show, General Motors is launching a major consumer awareness program to promote and encourage the use of E85 "flex-fuel" vehicles. The company also announced additional E85 refueling pumps to stations in greater Chicago through collaborative partnerships with Shell Oil Products US and VeraSun Energy Corp.
Nevada Official Tells Congress Yucca Mountain Project is Flawed and DOE 'Incompetent'
The head of Nevada's agency overseeing plans for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, plans to tell a congressional committee Wednesday that the repository and its radiation standards are as flawed as the federal agency pushing the project.
New NRC Investigation of Security at Wackenhut-guarded Nuclear Plant
About half of the nation's commercial nuclear power plants are guarded by Wackenhut, a subsidiary of the London-based security conglomerate, Group 4 Securicor. The news comes within days of a Department of Energy decision to award several nuclear security contracts currently held by Wackenhut Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Wackenhut. There have been numerous security problems at multiple nuclear plants guarded by Wackenhut.
No Easing US Ethanol Import Duties as Demand Soars
US drivers may face higher pump prices this summer but Congress seems unlikely to lift import duties on much-needed ethanol to meet a domestic shortfall in the fuel additive due to opposition from US producers and farmers. Current US ethanol production averages 275,000 barrels per day, but the EIA says another 130,000 barrels a day of ethanol may be needed to replace MTBE.
Ohio pursues alternative energy
Ohio is trying to catch up with other states to encourage electricity production from wind power, and to promote the production and availability of biofuels as an alternative fuel for automobiles.
Oil spill potential remains - WWF
"Three of the world's worst oil tanker spills happened in UK waters. The ingredients are still present around our coast for another oil tanker incident," said Alison Champion, WWF marine policy officer.
Renewable energies to transform farmers into ‘energy moguls’ within 20 years
Farmers will move into a strategic position in world energy markets within two decades, concludes a British research analysis.
Farmers receive money for siting wind turbines on their land, but farms with an area of 1 km² could be worth US$600 million to manufacturers of solar PV technology, explains ‘Farming Renewable Energy’ produced by CarbonFree, a UK-based research company
Renewable Ventures to Fund up to $100 Million of Solar Electric Power Plants
Renewable Ventures, LLC today announced that in partnership with its institutional investors, it is ready to fund $100 million of solar energy and other renewable energy projects nationwide. A specialist in the financing and management of renewable energy projects, Renewable Ventures works with project developers, installation companies and energy customers to commission onsite power plants that deliver predictably priced, clean energy without burdening the customer with purchase costs and ongoing system maintenance responsibilities.
Second company hoping to build hydro dams on Black River
A second company has emerged in the race to build hydroelectric dams in Felts Mills and Great Bend. Building the dams would create steady construction work for at least two years and a few long-term jobs maintaining the plants, but the power won't stay local. Instead, either company will sell it to National Grid, which will distribute it throughout its grid network, which lights up homes throughout the Northeast.
Senators opt for target, instead of mandate, on renewable energy in Missouri
The Republican-led Senate shot down a proposed mandate that electric utilities make more use of renewable energy sources, instead endorsing a bill Monday that would set goals for only certain utilities to try to meet.
Ski Bummer-- The Ski Industry's Battle to Stave off Global Warming -- and Its Own Extinction
To skiers and snowboarders, climate change is no distant abstraction -- it's already messing up their powdery playgrounds. To ski resort owners, it's more sinister still, threatening to melt them right out of business. Some in the industry are stepping up and working to reduce greenhouse gases. Others, not so much.
Solar generator firm seeks federal funding to serve farms
A fledgling solar generator company headed by Harrisville's mayor hopes to secure federal funds to set up renewable energy systems on local farms.
The Next Conservative Energy Policy
"Delayed gratification and self-sufficiency are traditional conservative values. That is why the next conservatism should champion policy changes to use less, not more oil through conservation and energy efficiency."
U.S. agriculture department offers $188 million for renewables
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide US$176.5 million in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency by agricultural producers and small businesses.
UK & Japan in ‘low carbon’ collaboration
Defra has announced details of a new research project in collaboration with Japan’s Environment Ministry to look at how to achieve a low carbon society by 2050. Among the issues under discussion will be technological and ‘behavioural’ solutions required to fulfil the goal.
US House Democrats rip White House's international nuclear plan
US Plans to Sell Forests to Fund Rural Schools
The Bush administration, under fire for proposals to sell federal lands to fund a rural school program, said Tuesday that local governments and land trusts will be given the first shot at purchasing the property.
Utilities Required to Use More Solar, Wind Power by 2025 in Arizona
Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power and other regulated Arizona utilities will be required to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025 under a new rule approved by state regulators.
Arizona utilities now only get about 1 percent of their electricity from nonpolluting, renewable sources such as solar and wind power.
What's Moving the Oil Market 030106
Why Have Gas Prices Risen so Sharply in Britain?
* For decades Britain was self-sufficient in gas thanks to plentiful supplies in the North Sea. In the 1990s the government promoted a "dash to gas" for power generation to replace coal. Britain has grown steadily more dependent on imports since North Sea production began declining five years ago.
* Britain imports gas through subsea pipelines with Belgium and Norway
* Britain is Europe's most freely traded and most competitive gas market.
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