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November 21, 2008
Acidic seas threaten coral and mussels
Rising carbon dioxide levels are increasing acidity in the oceans 10
times faster than scientists thought, posing a greater threat to
shell-forming creatures such as coral and mussels.
Aqua America; Water Provider or Profiteer?
Kids in Chuluota, Florida are getting sick from drinking local water. People
in certain parts of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Cambridge, New York are
experiencing, or expect to face, egregious water rate hikes. What do these
communities have in common? Their water is serviced subsidiaries of the
private water company Aqua America.
Arizona faces huge money gap preparing infrastructure for 10 million
The state and local governments must address a projected
gap of $288 billion to develop transportation and water systems,
education and other critical infrastructure needed to support the 10
million people expected to call Arizona home by 2030
Clean Energy Confronts Messy Reality
"Funding has
stalled," says Ezra Green, chief executive of Clear Skies Solar Inc.
The New York company recently canceled plans to build a one-megawatt
solar plant in California's Mojave Desert, unable to get financing
even though a California utility agreed to buy all the output.
Climate panel to continue into Congress' next session; Pelosi
"I think we do have a need for one more term, because our work is not
finished," Pelosi said Friday at her weekly press conference. "We do not
have
the climate change legislation that I had hoped we might be closer to, at
least at this point."
Congress has fast-track power to kill Bush rules
President-elect Barack Obama will have limited authority to overturn federal
regulations approved in the waning months of the Bush administration. But a
little-used power offers the new Democratic Congress an early test of how
aggressively lawmakers might unravel such rules pushed through by
Republicans.
Credit Crisis Threatens Europe Energy Supply
European utilities must keep up investments in power and
gas infrastructure throughout the credit crisis to ensure energy
supplies when the economy recovers, consultants Capgemini said in a report.
Demise of Yucca Project Predicted
President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid have had several
discussions about the Yucca Mountain Project since the election, with Reid
saying this week the nuclear waste burial plan will "bleed real hard" before
being halted.
Despite Uncertainty, New Power Plant Construction and Environmental
Installations Move Forward
To the surprise of just about everyone in the U.S. electric utility
business, in July 2008, a Federal court struck down the Clean Air Interstate
Rule (CAIR), which would enact tighter restrictions on sulfur and nitrogen
emissions from power plants
Food; The Extreme Perils of 'Efficiency'
This spring, disaster loomed in the global food market.
Precipitous increases in the prices of staples like rice (up more than a
hundred and fifty per cent in a few months) and maize provoked food
riots, toppled governments, and threatened the lives of tens of
millions. But the bursting of the commodity bubble eased those
pressures, and food prices, while still high, have come well off the
astronomical levels they hit in April.
Front-month NYMEX crude falls over $3 to $51.06 barrel
Front-month NYMEX light sweet crude fell over $3/barrel Tuesday, reacting
to a temporarily stronger US dollar and paring some of the gains made on
Monday.
Global crisis impact on China more severe than anticipated
The impact of the global financial crisis on the Chinese economy has been
more severe than earlier anticipated and this has drastically reduced the
demand for Chinese exports..
Global Warming Could Lead To More Arctic Energy
The rapid recession of sea ice, snow cover and permafrost were helping to
accelerate global warming and the loss from the Greenland ice sheet would
bring a swift rise in sea levels, it said in a paper.
Government Warns Of 'Catastrophic' US Quake
People in a vast seismic zone in the southern and midwestern
United States would face catastrophic damage if a major earthquake struck
there and should ensure that builders keep that risk in mind, a government
report said on Thursday.
Green Efforts
Embrace Poor
Low-income people who live in old or flimsy housing are becoming prime
targets for cities and groups intent on slashing energy use.
Green Groups Issue Recommendations to President-Elect
A broad coalition of organizations working on federal
climate and energy policy issued the following recommendations today to
President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team:
Green Mountain Power Converts Hybrids to Plug-In Technology
Demonstrating a new way to power cars with solar energy, Green Mountain
Power has converted two of its Toyota Prius fleet vehicles into plug-in
hybrids (PHEV's).
Greenpeace Blockades Ageing Spanish Nuclear Plant
Greenpeace blocked the entrance on Thursday to a Spanish
nuclear power station facing closure next year and urged the government
to shut it down immediately in line with election pledges to phase out
nuclear power.
Groundbreaking PBS series nears completion
After almost five years of planning and production, a
groundbreaking television series depicting more than 350 years of
history from an American Indian perspective is scheduled to premiere
next spring.
How to Read Your Water Quality Report
The Safe Drinking Water Act amendments of
1996 provide for an annual water quality report. Although these reports are
intended to help consumers make informed choices about their drinking water,
they can be confusing and full of jargon. This guide is intended to help you
understand what your water quality report is and how to interpret what it
tells you.
How Trade Policy Undermined Africa’s Food Self-Sufficiency
The 2008 global food crisis is compromising the survival
of 860 million undernourished people and threatens to push a hundred
million people into extreme poverty, erasing all of the gains made in
eradicating poverty in the last decade. Record high prices have put food
out of reach for the poorest people in the developing world, many of
whom already spend more than half their income on food.
Huge Glaciers Detected Under Rocky Debris On Mars
The glaciers, perhaps 200 million years old, also may
entomb genetic fragments of past microbial life on Mars as well as air
bubbles that might reveal the composition of the atmosphere as it was
long ago..
Institute says glass recycling increased to 28.1% in 2007
The glass recycling rate increased to 28.1% in 2007, the first
significant increase since around 2000, according to the Glass Packaging
Institute.
Last chance to have your say on TEP's proposed rate increase
The Arizona Corporation Commission will hold an open meeting to discuss and
vote on a Tucson Electric Power Co. rate increase at 10 a.m. tomorrow at 400
W. Congress, Room 222.
Local fight against global warming; Activitists push for 'Cool Cities
They came with the goal of saving the planet and left
Saturday with a handy tool kit of ideas that began with how to approach
City Hall. About 40 foot soldiers in the battle against global warming
got their marching orders at a workshop in Mountain View offered by the
Sierra Club and two other environmental organizations
Los Angeles boasts world's largest solar energy plan
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Monday unveiled an ambitious plan
that calls for installing solar panels on residents' rooftops to meet 10
percent of the city's energy needs by the year 2020.
New Era, New Rules
There is a growing consensus that keeping the lights on,
developing renewable energy to the maximum of its potential, developing
new nuclear generation and clean coal technology, and creating a grid to
stitch it all together, will take an unprecedented level of spending.
Sitting in judgment of many of these investments will be
state utility regulators.
New Study Predicts Corporate Loan Market is the Next Subprime
In evaluating 1,054 loan-seeking corporations, NYU Stern Visiting Professor
of Finance Anurag Gupta reveals that borrowing firms whose loans are sold by
banks in the secondary loan market underperform other corporate bank
borrowers by between 8% and 14% per year (on a risk-adjusted basis) in the
three years after the loan sale.
Nuke plant raiders may have had inside aid
The unidentified gunmen who attempted to steal bomb-grade uranium from a
South African nuclear plant may have had inside help, a worker's account
indicates.
Obama's Coal Stance
President-elect Barack Obama can't win. Coal associations are skeptical of
his energy plans because he is pushing carbon cuts before the technologies
to fully achieve such aims have matured. Environmentalists are also cautious
and contend that his advocacy of "clean coal" does not make sense.
OPEC source sees need for new 1 mil b/d cut at Dec 17 meeting
OPEC needs to cut its crude production by a further 1 million b/d at its
December 17 meeting in Oran, western Algeria, an OPEC source said Monday.
Poll; World wants green action, despite costs
Sixty-nine percent of those polled in 21 countries say utility
firms should be obliged to use more renewable resources, even if this would
increase their monthly bills.
Proposal may cut pollution by coal-run plants; Environmental panel
weighs modifying exemption from N.C.'s emission standards
Duke Energy might have to curb toxic emissions from four of its coal-fired
power plants under rule changes a state environmental panel is considering.
Regulators propose adding pharmaceutical waste to rule
Federal environmental regulators have proposed adding hazardous
pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule to provide a streamlined
system for disposing of the material and to protect public health and the
environment.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 112408
The geomagnetic field is
expected to be unsettled to occasionally active as a recurrent
coronal hole high speed stream becomes geoeffecttive. There is a
slight chance for isolated minor storm activity at high latitudes.
San Francisco Plans To Be Electric Car Capital
San Francisco Bay Area cities promised to build the
electric car capital of the United States, announcing a plan Thursday to
work with start-up Better Place to put battery-powered autos on the road
in 2012.
Sen. chairwoman to make global warming issue a priority
Senate Environment Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., plans to
make global warming legislation a priority next year, with the first hearing
likely occurring in January.
The hearing will address how global warming legislation can benefit the
economy and create jobs,..
Soaking Up the Sun; Tax Breaks Propel Area Solar Firms, But U.S. Still
Lags
You can see federal energy tax policy in action, rising
out of the ground on the mesa south of Albuquerque as workers rush to
finish the new Schott Solar factory. If all goes according to schedule,
some 350 workers will begin turning out power systems next spring that
generate electricity from the sun.
Surprise Drop in Power Use Worries Utilities
An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies
worried that the trend isn't a byproduct of the economic downturn and could
reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping change
in their industry.
The Financial Meltdown and Our Energy Future
One year ago, Energy Central called on one of the world's leading
researchers looking into the promise of clean coal, Howard J. Herzog, at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "The way we burn coal today is not
compatible with a carbon-constrained world, and we need new technologies to
burn coal cleaner in the future," he said. "We're falling far short of the
level of investments we need to do today in order for coal to play a major
role."
Tibetan
glaciers rapidly melting
Glaciers high in the Himalayas are dwindling faster than anyone thought,
putting nearly a billion people living in South Asia in peril of losing
their water supply.
Toxic contamination starts at home; Study
When women from 120 middle-class homes learned their bodies contained low
levels of toxic chemicals, most of them blamed chemical spills, waste
dumping or secret military experiments.
They were stunned to learn the truth was closer to home. Most of their
exposure came from harmless-looking plastics, flame-retardant clothing,
beauty products and household cleaners.
Waste Connections says recycling markets are drying up
"The precipitous drop in recycled commodity values over the past few weeks
is unprecedented," CEO Ronald J. Mittelstaedt said Nov. 24. "Many of these
commodities generated on the West Coast are shipped to Asia, where demand
has dried up.
Waste-to-energy plant officially off the table
As quickly as the promises of a waste-to-energy plant came this spring, the
proposal to use technology to solve the county's trash problems died this
week.
Waxman Win Elevates Energy, Climate Change Issues
US Rep. Henry Waxman, a California liberal, won the
chairmanship of a key congressional energy committee on Thursday and
promised to work closely with President-elect Barack Obama to promote
alternative energy, ease global warming and expand healthcare.
Western guvs talk energy, climate with Obama team
In a meeting with John Podesta, co-chairman of President-elect Barack
Obama's transition team, the two governors told how Washington can help
update the systems that deliver energy to Americans while reducing the
pollution blamed for global climate change and greening the economy with
clean-energy jobs.
Wind Turbines to Help Rural Townships; Three Wyoming County
Municipalities to Reap Dividends
The rural townships will experience a distinct financial boost for
perhaps the next 25 years, which is the usual lifespan of a turbine. The
townships have already received $2,500 per turbine in permitting fees. For
Noxen, that $87,500 equaled nearly half of the township's annual budget,
said township Supervisor Carl Shook.
November 21, 2008
200 oppose power line route at hearing; No decision made on Tulare Co.
project
About 200 people from Exeter, Farmersville, Lemon Cove and Visalia -- and
even someone from San Francisco -- showed up at the Visalia Convention
Center on Wednesday to show their opposition to a proposed high-voltage
transmission line route.
Adults in Five Largest European Countries and the US Rate Both Their
Government's and Heads of State Handling of Economic Crisis as Poor or
Fair
As the economic crisis continues to deepen around the world, majorities of
adults in the United States (68%), Spain (62%), Italy (57%), and Great
Britain (53%) rate their government’s handling of the financial global
market crisis as poor while a plurality of Germans (43%) and 39% of French
adults rate their government’s handling as fair.
Antarctic Warming Shows 'Human Fingerprints'
The rapid ice melt and temperature rise in the Arctic region has been
widely reported, with a
record summer ice melt occurring last year in the Arctic ocean, and a
near-record this year (the
volume of sea ice, if not the extent, did reach a record low this year,
with autumn temperatures in the Arctic
9 degrees Fahrenheit above normal).
Bair on
Reducing Foreclosures
Despite what we hear about the credit crisis and the problems facing
banks, the bulk of the U.S. banking industry is healthy and remains
well-capitalized. What we do have, however, is a liquidity problem. This
problem originally arose from uncertainty about the value of
mortgage-related assets, but credit concerns have broadened over time,
making banks reluctant to lend to each other or lend to consumers and
businesses.
In my testimony, I will detail recent actions by the FDIC to restore
confidence in insured financial institutions.
Bankrolling
green technology
Halla
was referring to the inherent power efficiency of analog technology over
digital, hence its desirability as a basis for new energy-saving
technologies.
Bernanke on Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Federal Reserve’s
Liquidity Facilities
The following is a statement by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke on the Troubled
Asset Relief Program and the Federal Reserve's liquidity facilities, before
the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives.
Bingaman Sees Opening for New Energy Policy
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said Monday the new Democratic Congress and
White House should push an aggressive energy agenda that includes more
conservation and clean power production as well as a stronger commitment to
curbing climate change.
BioEnergy Solutions; Kern County Supervisors Approve First-In-The-Nation
Biogas Distribution Network
The Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved
construction of a biogas distribution network that will for the first
time produce renewable natural gas from multiple dairy farms to generate
power for utility customers
Bodman says expects 'a lot of volatility over time' in oil prices
US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said Wednesday that he expects
continued price volatility in global oil markets for years to come.
Canadian Wind Energy Association says wind must play major role in
achieving Throne Speech target for clean energy
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today welcomed the federal
government's commitment to clean energy in its 2008 Speech from the Throne.
The federal government outlined its commitment to draw 90 per cent of
electricity from renewable resources by the year 2020, and in support of
this ambitious goal the "Government will continue to provide support for
biofuels, wind and other energy alternatives."
Capturing wind
The battery, the first of its kind to be tested in the United States, will
help partners Xcel Energy and Luverne-based Minwind Energy capture and store
power produced by the 11.5-megawatt Minwind Energy wind farm.
Changing the Climate; Looking Towards a More Cost Effective, Energy
Efficient Future
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S.
Department of Energy are helping states lead the way in an effort to
promote low cost energy efficiency. More than 60 energy, environmental
and state policy leaders from across the country have come together to
produce the updated National Action Plan Vision for 2025..
China consumed one-third of chips in '07
Semiconductor consumption by electronics manufacturers
in the Chinese market grew by 23 percent last year, when China consumed
more than a third of the chips produced globally for the first time,
according to a report released Tuesday (Nov. 18) by
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
CHP a 'no-brainer' energy solution, needs investment'; IEA analyst
Combined heat and power is a "no-brainer next solution that needs to be
invested in," a senior analyst at the International Energy Agency, Tom Kerr,
said Wednesday at the Combined Heat and Power Association annual meeting in
London.
Citizens must sacrifice for U.S. to achieve energy independence
For America to achieve energy independence, citizens and
elected officials must embrace the idea that it's going to require
sacrifice, a former U.S. Energy Department official said.
Duke CEO; Economy mustn't stall energy plan
Duke Energy chief executive Jim Rogers says the nation's economic crisis is
no excuse for Congress to delay work on an energy policy to help reduce
emissions and curb climate change.
During speech, Obama promises to tackle global warming
President-elect Barack Obama in a speech to more than 600 climate change
leaders reiterated his promises to tackle global warming once he comes into
office despite the economic challenges facing the nation.
Electric cars drawing Houston fans
From a small warehouse near Minute Maid Park, Ehrlich has launched Houston's
first electric car dealership, selling the Zenn -- "zero emissions no
noise."
Electric Cars Make Fuel-Free Power Grid Practical
Internal combustion engines are inherently
inefficient due to friction and pumping losses. After a century of evolution
gasoline engines in cars are still typically only 21% efficient! Electric
motors have no such limitations and are actually capable of 98% efficiency
including electronic control losses! Why do we keep wasting our precious
fuel on such an inefficient system? The answer is energy storage.
Energy independence impossible, Southern Co. CEO says
Remember that "energy independence" everybody talked about so much during
the presidential race?
It isn't possible, according to the chairman and CEO of Atlanta utility
giant Southern Co.
Evo Morales, Native leaders gather in friendship, solidarity
Evo Morales, Bolivia’s
indigenous president, attended a historic meeting with North American
tribal leaders at the National Museum of the American Indian Nov. 19.
Forestalling
the Green Chill
The past decade has seen an increasing number of “green”
program announcements from cities like Chicago and New York, and states
like Virginia and Florida, laying out plans for carbon footprint
reduction, which include energy efficient buildings and services,
increased use of clean and renewable energy sources, application of
electricity demand response, and other efficiency measures, and even
carbon cap and trade programs in states like California (which in turn
will require cities to develop responsive initiatives).
Four companies join to commercialize algae production
The joint venture will develop an industrial-scale
solution for continuous algae production, said Tim Burns, president of
BioProcessH2O.
Geothermal Energy Leaves the Window Open for Iceland's Economy
Drive around Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik
on any cold night and look at the houses and apartment buildings lining the
streets. The first thing you may notice is how many windows are wide open,
allowing the frigid outdoor air to mix with the warm indoor heat. In most
places, the scene may seem a bit strange. But in a city that hosts the
world's largest geothermal district heating system, it's a normal
occurrence.
Governors sign MOU to push forestry offsets in US trading schemes
"Tropical deforestation accounts for 20% of all human-caused carbon
emissions in the world, and the governors signing these MOUs with us manage
more than 60% of the world's tropical forest lands," California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger said as the MOU was unveiled at the Governors' Global
Climate Summit in Los Angeles.
IEA World
Energy Outlook 2008
“We cannot let the financial and economic crisis delay the policy action
that is urgently needed to ensure secure energy supplies and to curtail
rising emissions of greenhouse gases. We must usher in a global energy
revolution by improving energy efficiency and increasing the deployment of
low-carbon energy,” says Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of IEA.
Investment in Renewables Will Lead to US Economic Recovery, Leaders Say
...put forth 5 key proposals that they believe are
essential elements in helping bring the U.S. out of these dark
economically-challenged times and into a bright, clean future.
Kangaroo Genes Close To Humans; Came From China
Australia's kangaroos are genetically similar to humans
and may have first evolved in China, Australian researchers said on
Tuesday.
Less Strain on Renewable Energy Than Other Sectors
What a difference two months can make. Back in
September, it seemed like every journalist covering energy issues wanted to
write about the "green" boom. Now, with the precipitous drop in the price of
oil and the increasing scope of the credit crunch, many journalists are
taking a less optimistic approach and writing about renewables as if the
industry was in survival mode.
Long-term US Mortgage Rates Down for Third Consecutive Week
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of
its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate
mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.04 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week
ending November 20, 2008, downfrom last week when it averaged 6.14 percent.
Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.20 percent.
Mercury emissions from older US coal plants rises in 2007
Mercury emissions from most of the 50 oldest US coal-fired power plants
rose in 2007, the Environmental Integrity Project said Thursday in a report.
Monitoring Green Roof Performance with Weather Stations
The investment in covering a roof with soil and plants
can pay off through mitigating stormwater runoff,
lessening the heat island effect and offsetting interior heating and cooling
costs.
Nebraska electric rates still rank low
If your electric bill is putting a dent in your wallet, just remember, it
could be worse.
Obama Climate Pledge 'Very Positive' - UN Official
Barack Obama's pledge to work to reduce emissions
sharply by 2020 is a "huge signal" of encouragement to countries
negotiating a new climate pact, the head of the UN Climate Change
Secretariat said on Wednesday.
Obama names Clinton-era official to head energy, environment team
Carol Browner, who ran the US Environmental Protection Agency under
President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, will head up a "policy working
group" for energy and environmental policies
Obama Vows Climate Action Despite Financial Crisis
Barack Obama said on Tuesday the United States would
"engage vigorously" in climate change talks when he is president and
pledged, despite the financial crisis, to stick to plans to reduce
emissions sharply by 2020.
'Off-grid' couple fight power line; They don't use electricity but were
forced to sell land to AEP
Charles and Melanie Ogle have lived happily off the power grid for 17
years in their solar-powered log home perched on a ridge in the Hocking
Hills.
They don't want or need electric lines, but it seems that a
power line is about to be strung outside their house anyway.
OPPD Tests Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Imagine driving to and from work every week using little or no gasoline, but
still being able to drive long distances when you want. That’s the promise
of a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The Omaha Public Power District
has become the first utility in the state to see if the new vehicles can
deliver on that promise.
Patent office continues to fall behind
...the office still has
not found a route to clearing its growing backlog of applications
despite several programs in the works.
Paulson Explains the Treasury’s Moves
We are working through a severe financial crisis caused by many factors,
including government inaction and mistaken actions, outdated U.S. and global
financial regulatory systems, and by the excessive risk-taking of financial
institutions. This combination of factors led to a critical stage this fall
when the entire U.S. financial system was at risk.
This should never happen again.
Politicians Persuaded To Save Canada Boreal Forest
Politicians actually listened when experts told them to
protect Canada's boreal forest, a potent weapon against global warming,
and the plan for this vast green area could work on some of the world's
other vital places, scientists told Reuters.
Project
to Turn Poop to Power
A new pipeline project is in the works for Kern County but it won't be
transporting fossil fuels.
Quote of the
Day 112108
"Responsible development of Alaska's resources is
critical to the economic prosperity of our state and nation. However,
responsible operators need predictable processes to follow. We must continue
to demand accountability and high standards to protect our air, water, and
biological resources. Unfortunately, this decision casts doubt on what it is
going to take to do things right."
Alaska Governor
Sarah Palin
Rainforest Nations Want Coordinated Carbon Effort
Rainforest nations will lobby the United Nations to set
up a single body to coordinate the use of carbon credit trading to stop
deforestation at a conference next month in Poland, an official from the
countries said on Tuesday.
Renewable energy revolution can become reality
The Energy
Watch Group study “Renewable
Energy Outlook 2030” has come to the conclusion that phasing out the use
of fossil and nuclear fuels can be accomplished at a manageable investment
level.
Saving the Economy by Saving the Planet
The financial crisis and prospect of global recession
has created an unexpected opportunity to take dramatic action on behalf
of the planet. It has become clear that governments will need to
intervene in their economies on an unprecedented scale, and many are now
considering stimulating growth with massive investment programs.
However, it must be recognized that such large-scale intervention will
not succeed unless we also protect the environmental capitol that
underpins our economic health.
Schwarzenegger orders faster push for renewable energy
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order calling on utilities to
provide one-third of their power from renewable resources by 2020.
Shakeout looms for Chinese chip firms, iSuppli says
There are more than 550 fabless semiconductor companies
competing in China today, but at least 100 of them will disappear within two
years, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp.
Sirri on
Credit Default Swaps
The following is testimony Concerning Credit Default Swaps by Erik Sirri,
Director, Division of Trading and Markets, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, before the House Committee on Agriculture
Some Solar, Wind Powers Viable Sources of Energy
The first draft of a report commissioned by state regulators says one
kind of solar power and off-shore wind have great potential as sources of
renewable energy in Florida, but land-based wind and another kind of solar
have almost no future in the state.
Arizona's lag in solar energy production examined; Experts at session
see Legislature as hurting industry bid
Arizona has plenty of sunshine, but that has yet to translate into an equal
amount of solar energy production.
To the dismay of state officials, industry leaders and academics, the state
lags behind cloud-covered places like Oregon in taking advantage of the
ultimate renewable resource. And lost in that lag, they say, are jobs and
economic development.
Thoughts on an Energy Policy for the New Administration
This country needs a good debate on energy policy. While there are many
divergent views on what that policy should be, I thought it would be useful
to begin my thoughts by identifying a set of "facts" on which most people
can agree. So here goes.
UAE won't sign US nuke accord until Obama takes office; sources
The United Arab Emirates has told the US Department of State it will not
sign a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement until after President-elect
Barack Obama takes office in January and after it is confident Congress will
approve the accord, UAE and US diplomatic sources said.
UK first to
auction carbon
The Government today held Europe's first carbon allowance auction in Phase
II (2008 - 2012) of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
US intelligence sees turbulent, energy-constrained world in 2025
A new forward-looking US intelligence report paints a bleak picture of a turbulent world characterized by increasing competition and potential conflict over limited resources of energy, water and other commodities, and warns that market forces alone will not be able to keep supply and demand in balance.
US will 'vigorously engage' in international climate talks; Obama
US President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday said the country under his
administration will "once again engage vigorously" in international talks
designed to develop a post-Kyoto Protocol agreement to slash greenhouse gas
emissions.
Use Flower Power To Save Europe's Bees - EU Lawmaker
Honey bees, whose numbers are falling, must be given
flowery "recovery zones" in Europe's farmlands to aid their survival, a
leading EU lawmaker said on Wednesday.
Utilities to Test Solar at Existing Gas Plants
NV Energy, the electric utility formerly known as Nevada Power Co., and
other energy companies are studying the feasibility of using solar energy
systems to boost production at existing natural gas plants.
Utility's spraying sparks concern; Residents speak out over Appalachian
contractors' use of herbicides near homes and waterways
One man suggested that Roanoke County residents worried about an electric
utility's use of herbicides in their neighborhood consider also the likely
presence in their homes of what he described as more dangerous chemicals.
Volkswagen Diesel Car Wins 'Green Car of the Year'
A clean-burning diesel sedan, Volkswagen AG's Jetta TDI, won
the "Green Car of the Year" award at the Los Angeles auto show on Thursday,
the first time a diesel-powered car has taken the industry's top
environmental honor.
Waxman wins panel's support to chair House energy committee
Representative Henry Waxman of California won support of a Democratic
advisory panel to replace Michigan Representative John Dingell as chairman of
the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Weak Economy Could Curb Obama Coal Cleanup Plan
As US president, Barack Obama is likely to tighten
environmental regulations on generating power from coal, but his
ambitions could be reined in by the cost of such measures given a weak
US economy.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 112108
•Most of the downturn came as a reaction to bearish developments in global
equity markets over the last few sessions on the back of gloomy economic
news, which saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the FTSE plummet to
below 8,000 and 4,000, respectively, their lowest levels in years.
•However, on Friday the crude complex turned a bit higher again as there was
some recovery in equity markets on bargain-hunting as well as a retreat in
the US dollar against other major currencies.
•"Trading has calmed down a bit now, seems like people are taking a
breather.
Wind Energy Could Reduce CO2 Emissions 10B Tons by 2020
The "Global Wind Energy Outlook 2008", published
by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Greenpeace International, looks
at the global potential of wind power up to 2050 and found that it could
play a key part in achieving a decline in emissions by 2020.
Wind farm looking at Gray Mtn., near Cameron, Ariz.
A San Diego company that owns Southern California utilities is considering
building a wind energy park on the western Navajo Nation, near Cameron, and
has been in talks with chapter officials there.
Young activists fired up in fight against coal
Outside the high school here Tuesday night, as people
gathered for a public hearing, three young women wrestled with a big
black inflatable coal plant that looked similar to a jump castle —
except for the words "CLEAN UP DIRTY COAL PLANTS NOW" on the side.
November 18, 2008
America’s Economic Future Must Be Built On a Foundation Of Clean Energy
As President-elect Obama and a new Congress prepare to
meet today’s economic and environment challenges, Environment America
released a
report that lays out a blueprint for how we can power America for the
21st century, protecting our environment while revitalizing our economy.
Argentina Vetoes Glacier Law That Curbed Mining
Argentina's president has vetoed a law protecting the
country's glaciers that would have restricted mining and oil drilling,
officials and environmental campaigners said on Friday.
Atlantic City center begins installation of largest solar roof system in
U.S.
The first section of solar panels has been installed atop the Atlantic
City Convention Center. The power system is to be the largest
single-roof photovoltaic system in the U.S., with some 13,321 panels capable
of generating 2.36 megawatts. The panels will cover 290,000 square feet, or
two-thirds of the venue's roof.
Australia Unveils Blueprint For Clean Coal
A unique program to capture carbon at coal power
stations has been unveiled in Australia. Operators of a demonstration
plant say it is the first of its type in the world and involves burning
coal in oxygen rather than air, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
Australians March Against Climate Change
Tens of thousands of Australians took part in mass
protests around the country on Saturday to call for tough government
action on climate change, organisers said.
Bingaman; Global warming on Congress' back burner
Congress will not act until 2010 on a bill to limit the
heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming despite President-elect
Obama's declaration that he will move quickly to address climate change,
the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee predicted Wednesday.
Biofuels Industry Braces Ahead Of EPA Emissions Report
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon release an analysis of
greenhouse-gas emissions produced by biofuels, prompting industry fears that
the report will curb development by painting biofuels as an environmental
threat.
British Midlands University Unveils Fleet of Hydrogen Powered Cars
The British Midlands Development Corporation today announced that the
University of Birmingham has unveiled a fleet of hydrogen powered cars,
making it the only university in the UK to run a fleet of vehicles powered
in this way.
California Ordered To Prepare For Sea-Level Rise
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday ordered
preparations for rising sea levels from global warming, a startling
prospect for the most populous US state with a Pacific Ocean coastline
stretching more than 800 miles (1,290 km).
Cheap energy, including nuclear, key to Europe's competitiveness
Affordable energy, which includes nuclear power, is key for Europe's
success in globalization and in its efforts to manage its carbon reduction
targets, according to top business and political players in Europe's energy
sector.
China completes planning for second phase of strategic reserve
China has completed planning for the second-phase development of its
strategic petroleum reserve program, which will have a storage capacity of
26.8 million cubic meters (168.6 million barrels)
Climate change; How your city thinks globally
Ames, Ia. - Steve Schainker sometimes makes his rounds as Ames
city manager in a two-seater Zenn, an electric car.
Climate panel agrees on more than 100 recommendations
Virginia should conserve energy better, rely more on nuclear power and
increase protections for wild lands, according to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's
panel on global warming.
Concerns emerge about environmental effects of wave-energy technology
What started out as a mad dash to extract energy from the ocean's waves and
tides has slowed to a marathoner's pace -- complete with a few water breaks
and sprained ankles along the way.
Congressional moratorium on OCS drilling unlikely; API's Gerard
Despite the wider majority of Democrats in Congress since the election
earlier this month, US lawmakers are unlikely to reinstate the legislative
moratorium on offshore drilling in the coming session, American Petroleum
Institute president Jack Gerard said Friday.
Corn cobs could be the new 'green' fuel at Willmar plant
The utility's power plant will conduct a test burn of cobs and coal later
this winter. If the test burn is successful, corn cobs could help the
utility comply with the state's renewable energy mandate and help boost
local farm income.
Dear President-elect Obama, Here's How to Get the Economy Out of the
Ditch
In little more than two months, President-elect Barack
Obama will take the oath of office with virtually no time to bask in his
historic accomplishment of being the first African American elected to
the highest office in the land. His first term will begin amid what are
arguably the most challenging days for a newly elected president since
Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration in 1933...
Eating
carbon - Greenhouse gases
ONE way of helping to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere is to pump the gas into underground caverns or old oil fields.
But there is also a rock that is happy to gobble it up, and according to the
latest research its appetite for the greenhouse gas is not only massive but
could also be increased by a little human intervention.
Energy at a Tipping Point Part 1; A Conversation with Worldwatch's Chris
Flavin
Needless to say, the room was full of some very smart, visionary people with
a singular focus on exploring the state of the energy sector and the
potential of renewable energy to bring solutions to a beleaguered economy
and stressed environment (one might say to civilization and the natural
systems that support it).
EPA Raises '09 US Renewable Motor Fuel Requirement
The Environmental Protection Agency Monday increased the
amount of renewable motor fuels, mostly ethanol, required to be sold in
the United States next year.
EPA Ruling Over Climate Jeopardizes US Coal Plants
US environment regulators late Thursday rejected a
permit for a new coal-fired power plant in Utah over the issue of its
greenhouse gas pollution, putting in question the future of new coal
plants that do not to curb their emissions.
France to launch plan to cut energy, boost renewables; minister
The French government is to launch an energy efficiency program in the
next few weeks with the aim of drastically cutting energy use and boosting
efficiency...
French Court Fines Power Grid For Harming Animals
A French court has ruled that power grid RTE must pay
390,000 euros
(US$493,200) to a farming family after a high-voltage line caused its
animals to fall sick, a prosecutor said on Monday.
Geothermal plant set to produce juice in December
If everything goes as planned, Utah's Raser Technologies Inc.
within the next four to six weeks will begin generating up to 14 megawatts
of electricity from its new geothermal power plant in Beaver County.
Gold and silver rise sharply despite firm dollar
A strong recovery in equities markets across the globe, helped trigger a
general commodities rally Friday in the US, despite a steady dollar against
the Euro.
Gore says no to 'Climate Czar' role
President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is flirting with creating
a White House "Climate Czar," but climate change crusader Al Gore says he
doesn't want the job.
Green house effect; Realtors responding to demand for eco-friendly homes
At a time when the national housing market is singing the blues, real estate
agents are going green.
Homebuilders endorsed the green building concept years ago, and the
commercial development industry has even gotten on the bandwagon, but home
sales agents haven't been as quick to follow their lead.
Icy Battle
to Build Turbines
Engineers are battling extreme cold and high winds to build the world's
most southern wind farm near Scott Base.
The team from Antarctica New Zealand and Meridian Energy are laying
foundations for a three- turbine wind farm at Ross Island. Yesterday, the
temperature was minus 17 degrees celsius, with a wind chill making it -28C.
IEA stokes doubts over world's climate fight
The world will have to bet on extreme measures to avoid
serious global warming, the International Energy Agency said on
Wednesday, adding to growing worries that governments have
under-estimated the problem.
Key African countries 'not keeping health research promises'
Several key African countries have done "very little" to
invest in health research since pledging to do so at a world meeting of
health and science ministers in Mexico four years ago, say critics.
Many States Can Be Energy Independent
At least half of the 50 states can achieve energy self-sufficiency -
meet all their internal energy needs from renewable energy generated
inside their borders - with the help of locally-focused federal energy
policy, says a report released by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Obama signals radical break with Bush on US environmental policy
The move was part of a carefully coded series of messages from Obama meant
to reassure America and the world about the shape of his administration,
which does not assume power until January 20.
Ocean lines likely to trim capacity after slack season
Shipping lines are
reducing their capacity in the trans-Pacific trade by about 15 percent
during the slack season, but don’t expect the carriers to put all of that
capacity back into service next spring.
OPEC cuts 2009 world oil demand growth estimate to 490,000 b/d
OPEC Monday cut its estimates of world oil demand in 2008 and 2009 as
global economic turmoil continues to have a negative impact on consumption.
OPEC may have to wait till Dec 17 to act on supply
OPEC may have to wait until a December meeting in Algeria to decide if
further action is needed to balance markets because ministers will not have
all the data needed to adopt "a realistic decision" when they hold emergency
talks in Cairo on November 29, OPEC president Chakib Khelil said Sunday.
OPEC must make real output cuts to stop oil price slide; CGES
Oil prices will continue to slide until OPEC makes real cuts in crude
output or high-cost non-OPEC production is shut in, the Centre for Global
Energy Studies said Tuesday.
Pirates Hijack Oil Supertanker Off East Africa
Somali pirates have captured a fully laden Saudi
supertanker far off east Africa, seizing the biggest vessel ever
hijacked with a cargo of oil worth over $100 million in an attack that
pushed world crude prices higher.
Quote of the
Day 111808
"Expansion of cooperation with non-OPEC [countries],
including Russia, will be one of the main topics of the Cairo meeting
because at the moment it seems that many non-OPEC countries are trying to
compensate the OPEC supply cuts."
Iran's oil minister
Gholamhossein Nozari said ahead of OPEC's forthcoming meeting in Cairo on
November 29, according to official news agency IRNA.
Renewables to top gas as power source by 2015
Renewable energy, such as wind, solar and
hydropower, will overtake gas to become the second largest source of
electricity behind coal by 2015, the International Energy Agency (IEA)
said on Wednesday.
Study Show Journalists Doubt the Ability of Alternative Energy to Reduce
Fossil Fuel Use
A recent survey of reporters covering energy,
agriculture, and the environment suggests that journalists are skeptical
about whether the United States can significantly decrease its
dependence on fossil fuel.
Summit takes aim at climate change
World leaders in the campaign to address climate change
will confront that question as they gather in Beverly Hills tomorrow and
Wednesday to shape policies aimed at responding to the mounting threats
to food production, public health and the environment
The Importance of Banking Supervision in Financial Stability
Nout Wellink, Chairman of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and
President of the Netherlands Bank, presented the Basel Committee’s strategy
to address the fundamental weaknesses revealed by the financial market
crisis that relate to the regulation, supervision and risk management of
internationally-active banks.
U. S. Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Resources Wall Map - Available
Now
The U. S. Renewable Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Wall Map is one of the most comprehensive maps in the industry.
Unconventional gas will soon dominate US production, says report
Higher gas prices and significant technological advances have led to a
dramatic increase in production of unconventional gas resources in recent
years, and that trend is expected to continue unabated, according to a study
to be released in the US on Monday.
US Gasoline Closer To $2, Cheapest Since March 2005
The average US retail price for gasoline is closing in
on $2 a gallon after falling another 15 cents over the last week to the
lowest level since March 2005, the US Energy Department said on Monday.
US may allow oil shale development on 1.9 mill acres public land
The US Interior Department on Monday announced its final regulations to
govern the commercial leasing of pubic lands for oil production from oil
shale
in three western states...
US Treasury Announces TARP Capital Purchase Program Description
Treasury yesterday announced a voluntary Capital Purchase Program to
encourage U.S. financial institutions to build capital to increase the flow
of financing to U.S. businesses and consumers and to support the U.S.
economy.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111808
•Global crude futures were down slightly Tuesday with the options expiry
on Monday failing to create as much volatility on the front-month NYMEX
light sweet crude contract as anticipated, market sources said.
•"WTI closing slightly below $55/b
•"Crude hasn't moved too much
Wind Farms May Hurt Sea Life, Say Scientists
Wind farms could be having a radical impact on North Sea wildlife, a new
study warns...experts believe the farms could be upsetting the ecosystem.
November 14, 2008
2008 Set To Be About 10th Warmest Year - Expert
This year is on track to be about the 10th warmest
globally since records began in 1850 but gaps in Arctic data mean the
world may be slightly underestimating global warming, a leading
scientist said on Tuesday.
Adding Value to PV Panels In-panel monitoring is the trend to watch as
dumb-panels turn smart
The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market is projected to grow at a 30 +% CAGR
over the next five years – from 53.5 million finished panels and modules
in 2008 to over 198 million panels by 2013....Because PV panels today
are dumb-two terminal devices, the problem comes down to excessive time
and labor cost to find, diagnose and replace the occasional single
failed panel – out of 500,000. This needle-in-a-haystack scenario...
Big Global Investors Urge Action On Climate Change
Global institutional investors holding more than $6
trillion in assets pushed policymakers on Tuesday to quickly hash out a
binding agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean
technology.
Boulder Voters Follow Berkeley with Clean Energy Financing
Voters in Boulder County, Colorado, have approved a
ballot issue for the county to provide financing for energy efficiency
and renewable energy improvements to residential and commercial
properties, an approach also recently adopted by Berkeley, California.
California Approves $1 Billion for Low-Income Energy Efficiency
The program provides energy efficient appliances and
weatherization measures at no cost to California households with low
incomes.
Charles; I'm a bloody nuisance on green issues
Prince Charles has admitted he is a "bloody nuisance" lobbying on green
issues but concedes he will have to curb his campaigning when he becomes
king.
Chevron Chief Calls On Obama To Create Energy Policy
The head of oil giant Chevron Corp on Wednesday called
on President-elect Barack Obama to create a national energy policy that
promotes efficiency, opens up new areas for oil production and sets a
clear policy on carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal plant expansion to be cleaner, but still concerns residents; Coleto
Creek residents discuss possible hazards of coal-fired plant
Susan Purcell used to live in a 150-year-old house before the first coal
plant came....The Victoria County resident doesn't know how much more pollution the area
can take. She's concerned about the proposed coal plant expansion to bring
the long-ago planned Unit 2 online.
"It's very dirty," she said about coal-fired power plants. "Any given
morning right at sunrise, there's this yellow-brown across the sky. Guess
where it's coming from."
Coal to remain world's top power source; IEA
Coal, which produces more climate-warming carbon dioxide
than oil or gas, will remain the world's main source of power until 2030
and nuclear will lose market share, the International Energy Agency said
on Wednesday.
Crude futures trade lower as sentiment remains bearish
Global crude futures were trading lower Friday as bearish sentiment
continues to impact the oil complex, sources said.
Earth May Face Freeze Worse Than Ice Age - Study
The planet could face a freeze worse than an Ice Age
starting in as little as 10,000 years, giving future societies a
headache the opposite of coping with global warming, scientists said on
Wednesday.
EIA ANALYSIS; Little improvement in US oil demand seen
Total US petroleum demand has steadily decreased, down 6.6%
year-over-year on a four-week moving average, but implied gasoline demand
readings improved, a sign that the sharp decline in prices at the pump may
be affecting consumption patterns
Electro-reduction of carbon; a new approach to CO2
Carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere are currently registering as
high as 395 parts per million. This is a full 40% higher than preindustrial
levels of about 280 ppm (Celsias. com, February 23, 2008). Governments and
industry are now scrambling to respond to the enormous output of CO2, which
is pegged at about 80 million tonnes per day, worldwide.
Energy focus during US election is a boon for industry; analyst
The drubbing that Republican members of Congress and presidential
candidate John McCain took in the election should be viewed in the energy
industry as an opportunity to rebuild coalitions and to reshape public
opinion, a top political analyst said in Washington Thursday.
Energy-harvesting scheme targets 'sustainable' buildings
"Wireless in buildings is really getting more and more visibility," said
EnOcean founder Armin Anders.
Energy harvesting captures the energy generated by differences in
temperature, lighting, pressure or position to power devices like sensors
connected via a wireless network. The technique replaces batteries, thereby
saving energy.
EU Seeks New Gas And Wind To Boost Energy Security
Europe must harness more energy from the wind, sun and
sea and tap new gas sources in Africa and the Caspian, the European
Commission said on Thursday, as the EU seeks to limit its growing
dependence on Russian gas.
Fueling
Enlightened Projects
Fuel cell makers are in overdrive trying to deliver efficient and
environmentally friendly technologies. If their enterprises are to succeed,
they must illustrate clearly that their ideas are practical and will "change
the world."
Gateway to the Biofuel Industry in India
India currently ranks as the world's seventh largest
energy producer, accounting for about 2.49% of the world's total annual
energy production. It is also the world's fifth largest energy
consumer...
Geothermal is the Future of Renewable Energy
As the world faces energy shortages and increasing
demands for electricity from renewable resources versus the traditional
coal, oil, and gas, geothermal energy is a valuable, largely untapped
resource. Geothermal literally means, “Earth’s heat.” The earth’s heat
naturally moves from hotter to cooler regions along a geothermal
gradient, from the centre of the earth to the surface.
Germany Defends Pipeline Project After Putin Warnin
Germany defended plans for a Baltic Sea gas pipeline on
Thursday after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned European
partners that Moscow may scrap the project.
Giant Asian Smog Cloud Masks Global Warming Impact - UN
A three-kilometre thick cloud of brown soot and other pollutants
hanging over Asia is darkening cities, killing thousands and damaging crops
but may be holding off the worst effects of global warming, the UN said on
Thursday.
Global Bicycle Production Up 3.2 Percent in 2007
Bicycle production reached 130 million units in 2007, a
continuation of the upward trend that has characterized production for
most of this decade
Global Warming Predicted To Hasten Carbon Release From Peat Bogs
Billions of tons of carbon sequestered in the world's
peat bogs could be released into the atmosphere in the coming decades as
a result of global warming, according to a new analysis of the interplay
between peat bogs, water tables, and climate change.
Green roof, labyrinth opens in Washington
The nation's first green roof and labyrinth in this ever-greener city
opened today at the top of an eight-story office building one block
northwest of Union Station.
Hawaii Takes Bold Renewable Energy Initiatives
Hawaiian governor Linda Lingle announced in
October a comprehensive agreement that is aimed at decisively moving the
state away from its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity and ground
transportation and toward renewable energy.
Inbox 111308
Now, we all know there are plenty of honest,
law-abiding e-waste recyclers in this country. And I don't
think anyone has a good handle on how widespread this
practice of illegal exportation is. But let's be frank
about this: Whether there's a little or a lot of it going
on is immaterial. The fact that it is happening at all is
unacceptable. Our tolerance level for it must be zero. And
lawbreakers must be punished.
Investing in Renewable Energy Funds
Q: I'm interested in
finding renewable energy funds in which to invest my 401k. Could you direct
me to an archived story regarding this and if there isn't one, when can I
expect to see something like that? Thank you for your time. -- Chip A.,
Milwaukee, WI
Kashkari on TARP
I am here today to provide a comprehensive update on the
Treasury Department's progress in implementing the Troubled Asset Relief
Program (TARP), which is a major component of the overall coordinated
effort by the Federal Government to restore confidence in our financial
system and ensure that credit continues to be available to consumers and
businesses.
Klamath dam deal
struck
The federal government and Pacificorp have reached an agreement in principal
on removing four dams on the Klamath River and have floated the deal to
tribes, fishermen, farmers and conservation groups.
Man vs. nature; hurricanes usually beat utilities
From the Gulf Coast to Ohio, the only thing louder than the howling winds
from hurricanes this year were the complaints about how long it took to get
the lights back on.
Minn.
voters protect land, water
Yesterday Minnesota voters approved the Clean Water,
Land and Legacy Amendment, the largest conservation ballot measure in
history,
NCAI endorses UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN
General Assembly on Sept. 13, 2007, in a historic vote by an overwhelming
majority – 143 member states voted in favor, 11 abstained and four –
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States – voted against the
declaration. Each of the four countries that opposed the declaration have
large indigenous populations who own or have claims to huge land masses.
November 4th Was a Great Day for Renewable Energy
With President-elect Obama closing the deal in a
resounding manner, let's review his proposed energy policies. Obama has long
called for action to mitigate climate change and to decrease foreign energy
dependence. Obama has not to my knowledge ever discussed peak oil, but the
general rubric of "energy independence" captures some of the key features of
the peak oil discussion.
Here's the
summary of Obama's stated energy policy:
Now is the Time for Energy and Environmental Leadership
With great electoral change and promise comes the heavy lifting. When
election day euphoria settles down, and reality sets in, the heavy lifting
must begin. In the interim, it is helpful to outline what can be done and
what must be done on energy and environmental policy.
NREL and Private Industry Begin Nationwide Solar Measuring Network
The stations, located across Arizona, are part of NREL's Solar Resource and
Meteorological Assessment Project (SOLRMAP), a collaboration between the
national laboratory and the energy industry to collect precise, long-term
solar resource measurements. The information will be incorporated into
technical analyses that seek to minimize the risk of launching commercial
solar energy conversion projects, including concentrated solar power plants.
Obama Will Act Quickly On Climate Change – Advisor
President-elect Barack Obama will act against climate
change early in his presidency, an environment adviser said on Wednesday
amid doubts that a US carbon-capping program will be in place before
2010.
Offshore
Wind Riding a Wave
While T. Boone Pickens has garnered much attention in
recent months with his well publicized plan to create a massive
infrastructure for wind energy production in America's heartland,
offshore wind energy is getting more attention in the heavily populated
Northeast.
Polish PM Says EU Nearing Climate Deal In Dec
Poland's prime minister said on Thursday he believed a
deal in December on a European Union climate package had come closer
following his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the issue.
PPL lets customers track energy usage hourly
The Allentown company's customers have been able to track their daily
electric use since last year. But the new feature that shows hourly electric
use can help customers experiment with energy saving efforts, such as
lowering the temperature on thermostats for electric heaters, to see what
kind of difference it makes, PPL said.
Recent weakening of oil price reflects demand situation; Tanaka
The International Energy Agency's Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said
Friday that the recent weakening of oil prices reflected the weakening
demand
situation.
Renewable Energy Industries Ready to Lead U.S. Economic Recovery
The fast-growing renewable energy sector is poised to help lead the U.S.
economic recovery with millions of new jobs and billions of private
investment dollars. However, the new Administration and Congress need to
take action to ensure that the renewable industries’ growth continues, given
the current economic realities.
Report details global warming impacts on California economy
Up to $2.5 trillion of the state's $4 trillion in real
estate assets -- homes and other buildings -- are at risk from rising
sea levels, wildfires and other extreme weather events occurring as the
world gets warmer,..
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 111308
Solar activity is expected to be very
low during the forecast period. There is a slight chance of a C-class flare from Region 1008.The
geomagnetic field is
expected to be quiet with isolated unsettled conditions possible
during the forecast period.
Researchers harvest energy from heart beat
A group of researchers has conducted a successful test
of a tiny generator that can power an implanted device using energy from
a heartbeat. Details of the test were presented in New Orleans ...
Researchers, Automakers, Utilities Work Out Issues for Hybrid Vehicles
Gas prices may be plummeting, but carmakers and the electric utility
industry are planning for the day when vehicles will be powered by
electrons, not hydrocarbons.
Revised Theory Suggests Carbon Dioxide Levels Already In Danger Zone
If climate disasters are to be averted, atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO2) must be reduced below the levels that already exist
today, according to a study published in Open Atmospheric Science
Journal by a group of 10 scientists from the United States, the United
Kingdom and France.
Silicon to continue to see high prices and volatility
The reduction or removal of the antidumping duty for silicon from China
into the European Union will not solve price or supply issues and in many
ways the market is in the hands of the Chinese government and taxes,..
State Expanding Solar Lease Program
The state is expanding a program that will allow more homeowners to reduce
their electricity expenses by installing affordable solar energy systems.
The Connecticut Solar Lease program, the first of its kind in the nation,
eliminates the high initial costs associated with the purchase and
installation of residential solar photovoltaic systems.
States & Utilities Unite to Rob Energy Consumers
Energy consumers in ten northeastern States are going to see their bills
rise and probably not even know why. They will assume that it is tied to the
cost of oil, natural gas, or coal, but it does so only obliquely.
Telescopes Get Visual Of Planets Around Another Sun
Telescopes on land have caught the first real visual
images of multiple planets orbiting another star.
The impact of ethanol on world oil prices
Biofuels have come under withering attack in recent months. Critics contend
that federal government-mandated use of ethanol and biodiesel made from
grain and vegetable oil is driving up commodity prices, damaging the
livestock, dairy and poultry industries, and prompting sharp increases in
domestic and world food prices. Critics also charge that biofuels damage the
environment and do little to ease dependence on foreign petroleum.
U.S. consumers behind in selecting fuel efficient vehicles
Car buyers in the United States trail counterparts in Europe and Japan
when it comes to selecting more fuel efficient vehicles with lower carbon
dioxide emissions.
University of Phoenix Teams Up With SRP on Arizonas Largest Renewable
Energy Certificate Purchase
Recognizing the value of clean renewable energy sources in preserving the
environment, University of Phoenix, in partnership with hometown energy
provider Salt River Project (SRP), is making the largest corporate purchase
of renewable energy certificates in Arizona history.
US drilling continues apace despite economic turmoil
Even as energy executives were trying to adjust to multiple shock waves set
off by the US' $700 billion bailout of its banking system and economic
turmoil last month, E&P operators were out drilling up a storm in the
nation's oil and gas fields.
US Mortgage Rates Down for Second Week Running
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary
Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
averaged 6.14 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November
13, 2008, downfrom last week when it averaged 6.20 percent. Last year at
this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent.
US-China Green Energy Conference ’08 To Focus On 'Innovative Energy
Solutions; Fueling the Future'
The US-China Green Energy Council will be presenting its
"US-China Green Energy Conference ’08 – Innovative Energy Solutions:
Fueling the Future." from November 16-18 in Beijing. This conference is
said to present for the first time an opportunity for leaders in four
communities – business, technology, academia, and government policy –
from both China and the United States to come together to discuss energy
issues of mutual interest.
Wells Fargo lends $2 billion to Green Building projects
Banking company Wells Fargo & Co. has now surpassed $2 billion in lending
for projects certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111408
•Global crude futures were trading lower Friday as bearish sentiment
continues to impact the crude futures complex, sources said. "People are
tidying up their books this morning--there's no real volume at the moment.
The sentiment remains bearish. If I were in the market right now, I'd be a
seller," a London-based broker said.
Wildlife Groups See End Of Bush Environment Abuse
US conservation groups on Thursday hailed the imminent
end of "environmental abuse and neglect" by the Bush administration and
promised to work with President-elect Barack Obama to reverse this
course.
Wind-power backers call for federal help
Federal help to build transmission lines will be necessary if Nebraska is to
reach its full potential for wind energy.
That's the word from Nebraska's first wind energy conference...
November 11, 2008
American Rivers Responds To Governor's Report, Calls For Green
Infrastructure Solutions
"The task force's recommendations are an important first step, but we need
to do much more," said Liz Garland of American Rivers. "Nature works best.
Whether it's a natural wetland filtering pollution, green roofs or a
floodplain absorbing floodwaters, when we let nature work, communities save
money and are better prepared to reduce pollution and weather droughts."
Auto Industry Poised for Turnaround While Utilities Could Reach Profits
of Their Oil & Gas Peers
Scores from the Competitive Strength Index are a blend of how well
companies meet consumer expectations while also generating economic
profit.
BP pulls out of UK government's CCS competition
BP also confirmed a report it will now not go forward with plans to
develop wind farms in the UK, admitting that, after undertaking market
research, opportunities for wind investment are "more attractive" in
countries
such as the US.
California Study Shows High Cost Of Renewable Power
If California expands its renewable power generation to
be a third of electricity delivered in the state by 2020, it may cost
$60 billion, the state's utility regulator said in a report issued on
Thursday.
Carbon policy raising doubts over US electric reliability
The early retirement of existing coal-fired power plants as a way of
combating climate-change efforts is a serious concern for utilities and
independent system operators as they consider the potential reliability
effects of greenhouse gas emission reduction plans, officials from the North
American Electric Reliability Corp. said Monday.
Climate Activists Disrupt Australian Power Plant
Protesters forced the evacuation of an Australian power
station on Friday, attempting to chain themselves to a coal
conveyor-belt and ratchet up pressure on an industry blamed for half the
nation's greenhouse gas emissions.
Congress likely to pass major policy priorities in first 100 days
The "first 100 days" of any new administration marks a period where they
will try to work with Congress to pass major policy priorities.
Converting City Refuse And Farm Leftovers To Clean Energy
It's a trashy idea. And it's one that everyone concerned about gas
prices—and the environment—will surely love.
The idea is to combine household garbage and other urban trash—known as
"municipal solid waste" (MSW)—with after-harvest leftovers from fields,
orchards, and vineyards to create ethanol and other forms of bioenergy.
Credit Crunch Could Dull Appetite For Green Tech
The global credit crunch and easing oil prices may take
some of the immediate wind out of the sails for investing in green
energy, a major growth initiative for General Electric Co, but it is
unlikely to reverse a long-term trend toward renewable power sources.
Duke contracts with DOE to dispose of new reactors' spent fuel
Duke Energy has signed a contract with the Department of Energy for
the disposal of spent fuel generated by its proposed William States Lee III
nuclear power plant in South Carolina.
Energy Debate Weighs Clean Versus Costly
How will Florida be judged in the battle against climate change?
For many, it will hinge on what state regulators and legislators do with a
proposal to generate more electricity from renewable resources.
Enviro-Hub delays start of Singapore plastic-to-fuel plant to Q1
Enviro-Hub Holdings has been forced to delay the start-up of a
commercial-scale plastic-to-oil plant in Singapore for a second time this
year, the company said in an earnings release late Monday.
Foreign governments attack White House, Obama, McCain campaign systems
Hmm, anyone want to place bets on what “foreign entity” has been hacking
into Obama and McCain campaign computers, as Newsweek reports? Could it be
the same country (China) that penetrated the White House’s email archive
system and lifted email conversation between top officials, as the Financial
Times reports?
Global investors urge action on climate change
Global institutional investors holding more than $6
trillion in assets pushed policymakers Tuesday to quickly hash out a
binding agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean
technology.
Green Power Needs Reliable US Grid Planning – NERC
As the United States attempts to lower carbon dioxide
emissions from electricity generation, it needs a national policy on
climate change to help ensure reliable power delivery, said the US
watchdog for electric reliability.
Himalayan glaciers may disappear by 2035
The glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster than in any other part
of the world and, if the present rate continues, a large number of them may
disappear by 2035 because of climate change, warn Indian and foreign
environmentalists and geologists.
Industry Survey Provides Insights on TARP
"The industry needed more granular, tangible information on how TARP
implementation could be most effective, and this survey provides that
guidance to our industry and to policymakers
Lower US speed limit only partial measure to trim oil use; GAO
A national speed limit of 55 mph would likely reduce annual oil
consumption in the US by about 1%, but imposing the measure is just one of
many factors including limiting congestion and keeping cars properly tuned
that would cut gasoline use, the Government Accountability Office said
Monday
Nigerian militants threaten fresh 'oil war' in Niger Delta
Nigeria's main oil rebel group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta, Tuesday threatened to wage another "oil war", tagged Hurricane
Obama, if Nigerian military carry out a planned raid on the group's camps in
search of its leader.
Nuclear
Studies Set to Explode
Speeches and debates during the presidential campaign about the country's
energy needs consistently included nods from candidates about the future of
nuclear power.
Nuclear watchdog uncovers fault in Russian nuclear power plant's safety
system
In October 2008 Rostekhnadzor [the Federal Service for Ecological,
Technological and Nuclear Monitoring] uncovered metal deformation in the
Novovoronezh nuclear power plant's control and safety system
Obama Energy Plan and 5 Business Opportunities It Supports
In his inauguration speech, President-Elect Obama said we need an economy
that addresses the “new energy to harness and new jobs to be created.”� But
what are some of the opportunities to watch for? Check out his plan below,
and then lets discuss some of the areas that should see increased
opportunity.
Obama eyes overhaul of energy policy
With his historic win in the US presidential election the week ended
November 7, Barack Obama is poised to enact sweeping new energy policies
that could have major impacts for oil companies, electric utilities,
automakers and other key sectors of the US economy, as well as tens of
millions of working-class Americans.
Obama transition head calls for rollback of Utah energy plan
The head of US President-elect Barack Obama's transition team on Sunday
said the new administration would roll back a Bush administration decision
to
open up to oil and gas exploration some "of the most sensitive, fragile
lands
in Utah."
Oil prices remain above $60barrel...for now
The global energy markets were fairly stable over the past seven days, with
benchmark WTI crude oil prices briefly punching below $60/barrel before
gravitating back to the mid-$60's range.
Ontario Fuelling Alternative Energy Research
World-class research supported by the Ontario government will help create
jobs, develop new energy sources and fight climate change.
The Ontario government is investing more than $5 million to support
innovative research projects in the clean technology sector, an area of the
economy that brings together environmental solutions and economic potential.
Pharmaceuticals In Our Water; What We Know, What We Don't Know And What
We Should Do
This first summit will explore the research needs and possible health
consequences of contaminants in our water from the use of pharmaceutical
products; and identify innovative solution-oriented recommendations that
emphasize research needs, policy changes, education, prevention/intervention
programs and other public health solutions/actions.
Power usage drops when prices rise; Study
A study shows the average U.S. household rapidly reduces its electricity use
when prices rise and fall quickly.
Problems Threaten To Blow UK Wind Energy Off Course
The British government insists it is on track to hit
ambitious renewable energy targets, but the industry says a swathe of
problems in developing wind farms threaten to blow the plans off course.
Qatar-Russia-Iran gas talks to focus on South Pars field
Senior officials from the world's top three gas powers--Russia, Qatar and
Iran--are meeting in the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday to follow up
recent high-level discussions on trilateral gas cooperation...
Quote of the
Day 111008
"It's clear that Russia, as one of the largest exporters
and producers of crude and oil products, cannot sit on the sidelines of the
process of global price-formulating for commodities. We have to develop a
full set of measures which will enable us to actively influence the market."
Russia should assume
a greater role in influencing global oil prices and to provide additional
tax relief to oil companies amid ongoing financial crisis as the country
faces a decline in oil output in 2008 for the first time in the last ten
years, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a governmental meeting focused
on oil industry issues, the government press office said late Monday.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 111008
Solar activity is expected to be
predominantly very low for the next three days (11-13 November).
There is a slight chance for an isolated C-class flare from Region
1008 if it continues to emerge.
ACE solar wind data showed a steady decline of solar wind velocity
during the past 24 hours with day-end values around 400 km/s
Scientists Say A Rock Can Soak Up Carbon Dioxide
A rock found mostly in Oman can be harnessed to soak up
the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide at a rate that could help slow
global warming, scientists say.
Sierra Club to continue Turk plant fight at DEQ, in courts
The Sierra Club said Thursday that it will ask the Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality to reconsider its decision to issue an air permit for
Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s planned 600-MW Turk coal plant...
Solid Waste Industry Launches Major Environmental Program
America's Solid Waste Industry, a national awareness
program to help local communities, public officials and the media better
appreciate the importance of the industry to public health,
environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
Sunflower-like solar panel under construction
Within the walls of Northern Illinois University's Still Hall, a high-tech
"sunflower" is being built.
While the "sunflower" lacks a flowering head and a stem, it acts
similarly
Tax Polluters For Global Warming Funds - UN Official
The global financial gloom will make citizens of rich
nations reluctant to use their taxes to fight global warming and any
plan to help poor nations should make the polluters pay, a top UN
climate official said.
Ten California Water Systems Facing Fines For Failing To Monitor E. Coli
In Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered ten
California public drinking water systems to monitor for Escherichia coli
(E. coli) in the source water of their drinking water systems, or face
penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation.
The Economics
of Recycling
Aluminum has always played a large role in the recycling game. If we were
to recover 75 percent of the aluminum cans we throw away, recycling them
instead, we would save 11.8 million metric tons of carbon generated to
produce new cans.
Utilities bracing for stiffer rules on carbon emissions; Program targets
coal-fired plants
With President-elect Barack Obama taking over the White House and Democrats
solidifying their control over Congress, utilities are bracing for a
cap-and-trade program that rewards those firms that generate electricity
without spewing so much carbon dioxide.
Utilities To Test Solar Power At Traditional Plants
A US utility group announced on Monday a plan to test
adding solar thermal energy to natural gas and coal-fired power plants
in a move designed to cut fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Water Crisis Looms as Himalayan Glaciers Shrink, Environmental Group
Warns
The shrinking of Himalayan glaciers could fuel an
upswing in flooding in China, India and Nepal, before creating water
shortages for hundreds of millions of people across the region, a
leading environmental group warned Monday.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111008
•Global crude futures traded lower in the European
morning session Tuesday, with economic fears continuing to impact
sentiment.
•The ICE Dollar Index traded at 86.118, up 0.206 on the overnight
settle.
Whipping up Support for Transmission
Supporters of wind power are whipping up support for new transmission.
Without a notable increase in the capacity to carry such energy, the
optimistic forecasts for more renewable power will never happen.
Who will
be Energy Secretary?
The transition from the current president to Barack Obama has only just
begun, but already candidates and speculation over positions are everywhere.
Winterizing
Your Compost Pile
Many people assume that the cold temperatures and snow that winter brings
makes composting impossible. The fact of the matter is that composting is
possible year-round, although maintenance is more important in colder
months.
November 7, 2008
$10 per barrel; in Russia, it's actually arrived
Yes, the $10 barrel has reappeared...in Russia. That's where government
policies are slashing prices for local refiners and all but guaranteeing
that the country's extensive reserves of oil are not going to be
developed to their fullest.
‘One Who Helps People Throughout the Land’ elected 44th President
History has been made. Sen. Barack Obama won an
overwhelming victory over Sen. John McCain to become the 44th President
of the United States. He is the first African American ever elected as
the leader of the free world.
Ag Groups Worry California Cage Ban Will Spread
Farm groups on Wednesday criticized a new California law
that bans keeping chickens, calves, and pigs in cages, arguing it will
increase production costs, while animal welfare proponents said they
hope to get similar laws adopted in other states.
Al Gore Group Urges Obama To Create US Power Grid
Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection has some
environmental advice for the incoming Obama administration: focus on
energy efficiency and renewable resources, and create a unified US power
grid.
Bioheat Fires Up Homes in New England
Just as cars are now running on biofuels such as corn-based ethanol or
diesel made from cooking oil, homeowners are now able to turn to Bioheat
to keep warm.
Canada Seeks Climate Pact With United States
Canada's Conservative government is interested in
negotiating a climate change pact with the incoming administration of US
President-elect Barack Obama, which looks set to take a tougher line on
the environment than did President George W. Bush, an official said on
Thursday.
Carbon market slumps on the back of widespread policy uncertainty and
market turmoil
The European Environment Committee has backed plans to revise key clauses in
the landmark climate and energy package just as the financial turmoil and
the expected protracted economic slowdown place severe downward pressures on
carbon credit demand and pricing.
CenterPoint Tally for Ike Damage Leaps to $750 Million
Company officials, who initially estimated it would cost $350 million to
$500 million to get Houston's lights back on, bumped up the estimate when
they learned the full extent of devastation to poles and wires around town
and started getting the bills from thousands of out-of-state utility workers
who helped make the repairs.
Chart of the Day
The US government reported that gross
domestic product (total output of goods and services) contracted at an
annualized rate of 0.3% in Q3 2008. The GDP report showed that consumer
spending (about 70% of the US economy) declined 3.1% during the quarter
which is the biggest decline since 1980.
Chester County, S.C., to harness the power of the sun
Chester County leaders plan to light the way for other counties with help
from the sun.
China tells rich polluting nations to change lifestyle
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said rich nations must
abandon their "unsustainable lifestyle" to fight climate change and expand
help to poor nations bearing the brunt of worsening droughts and rising sea
levels.
Climate-change goals discussed; Means to end may vary, speakers in
Richmond say, but efficiency vital
Reducing carbon-dioxide emissions and increasing
America's energy independence are goals everyone seems to want, numerous
speakers said at a conference on climate change yesterday in Richmond.
But the best way to achieve those goals remains debatable
Coating Helps Solar Panels Soak Up More Of The Sun
A new type of reflective coating can make solar panels
far more efficient, soaking up nearly all available sunlight from nearly
any angle, US researchers said on Monday.
Corporations Cutting Carbon Emissions
Intel Corp has long strived to reduce its carbon footprint. Now, by buying
renewable energy credits -- purchases that guarantee the generation of wind,
solar and geothermal electricity -- it is stepping up the pace. It's all
part of corporate America's attempt to neutralize their carbon emissions.
Democratic gains in Congress portend energy policy changes
Democrats strengthened their control of the US Congress in the general
election Tuesday, bolstering their chances of enacting policies on climate
change, oil company profits and other hot-button energy issues that
Republicans have been able to block for the last two years.
Dems could have majority on Arizona Corporation Commission
The race for Arizona Corporation Commission remains tight, but the
Democratic bid to take control of the regulatory body could prove
successful.
Duke nuke plant's latest cost; $11 billion
Duke Energy now says its new nuclear power plant near Gaffney, S.C., will
cost $11 billion, about double its estimates of two years ago.
Ecologists use oceanographic data to predict future climate change
Earth scientists are attempting to predict the future
impacts of climate change by reconstructing the past behavior of Arctic
climate and ocean circulation.
Eight Nations Warn EU Over Biofuel Barriers
Eight developing nations warned the European Union on
Thursday they could file a World Trade Organisation complaint over what they see as
unfair barriers being raised against their biofuels.
Electric officials say conservation is key
Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper are pushing conservation as
the main way for customers to offset recent and upcoming rate increases
caused by changes in global demand for coal.
ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue into early 2009
ENSO-neutral conditions continued during October 2008,
as equatorial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were near-average across
much of the Pacific Ocean, except for small areas of below-average SSTs
in the east-central Pacific and off the coast of South America
Financing opportunities seen narrowing for energy projects
Despite the turmoil of the financial crisis, clear signs of recession in
the OECD and slowing growth in the developing world, the fundamentals
underpinning current energy projects have not changed, delegates at the
two-day Asian Oil and Gas Investment Congress, which ended Wednesday, said.
Germany Urges Obama To Give World New 'Green' Deal
The United States after Barack Obama becomes president
must work closely with Europe to fight climate change, German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday.
"The world needs a 'new green deal'," Germany's Vice Chancellor said in a
speech opening a two-day conference "Climate Change as a Security Threat".
Steinmeier has warned climate change is a cause of friction and a threat to
peace. Germany long has been a leading critic of US President George W.
Bush's resistance to cuts in greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
Green Energy Players Eager for Obama
Clean-energy advocates say it is time to get started fulfilling the
presidential campaign rhetoric about boosting the use of green fuels in the
United States.
Group files lawsuit to stop incineration of mustard agent
Attorneys for the Government Accountability Project, a whistleblower
group, have filed a lawsuit seeking to stop plans by the federal and Oregon
state government to incinerate mustard agent stored in ton containers.
High Winds for Texas; Lone Star State is Stepping Up
Unlikely as it may seem, a billionaire oilman and
the 'Lone Star State' of Texas are driving wind to new heights of acceptance
and growth in the United States, as the country becomes the top nation for
wind power production for the first time. Elisa Wood reports.
How Will Renewables Fare in the New Political Environment?
Americans have heard the Presidential and Congressional
candidates talk about renewable energy for the last 24 months. Now it's
up to Democrats to live up to the talk. With a Democrat in the White
House and a significant Democratic majority in Congress, industry
leaders are hopeful that renewable energies will become a higher
national priority
IEA says 30 million b/d of new oil capacity needed by 2015
The International Energy Agency said Thursday that investment of $26
trillion, $4 trillion more than previously projected, was needed between now
and 2030 to ensure that the world has enough energy.
Iraq's oil production rises by 130,000 b/d in October; ministry
The decline in production since August was due mainly to lower output
from southern fields, where some wells have been shut due to high water
content, informed sources told Platts
Neighbors at Odds Over Noise From Wind Turbines
Not long after the wind turbines began to spin in March near Gerry Meyer's
home, his son Robert, 13, and wife, Cheryl, complained of headaches.
Nuclear plant drill puts town to test emergency
Local officials yesterday continued work on emergency plans in the event of
a disaster at Seabrook Station nuclear power plant.
NYMEX crude slides as markets focus on economic fundamentals
NYMEX's front-month crude future contract on the CME's Globex system was
$1.89/barrel lower at $68.64/b Wednesday, as markets shifted their focus
back
to the broader economy now that the US presidential election has been
decided.
On the Skids, are US Automakers Running Out of Time and Options
The Big Three U.S. automakers can't seem to catch a break. Demand for
their profitable and gas-gulping SUVs evaporated as oil prices surged to
record highs through the spring and summer. Now, the global financial crisis
is keeping consumers away from showrooms and limiting automakers' access to
the credit that helps sustain them.
Over 5 Billion Of The World's Population Is Expected To Live In Urban
Areas By 2030
By the end of this year a first-time record of 3.3 billion people, more
than half of the world's population, are expected to live in urban areas
according to the UN.
Panel Considers Who Should Pay for Nuke Plant Shutdown
In March 2006, a tiny hole -- a mere one-eighth of an inch -- was discovered
in a critical pipe at the Turkey Point nuclear power plant. The hole ended
up costing at least $6 million.
Quote of the
Day 110708
"Congressman Waxman is very careful, and he has a very
good track record on counting votes. He wouldn't be seeking the chairmanship
unless he believed he could win the chairmanship."
Two titans of the US
House of Representatives squared off Thursday over which one would be
the chamber's leading voice on energy and climate change legislation in
the next Congress,
"The U-turn transaction was used by Iran as a hook
to solicit foreign banks to process transactions through the United States
on its behalf, sometimes with requests to substitute another bank or code
word for the Iranian institution...Given Iran's conduct, it is necessary to
close even this indirect access."
The US government
Thursday sought to further tighten the financial screws on Iran
RE and efficiency could create a US$360bn industry
Aggressive investment in renewable power generation and energy efficiency
could create an annual US$360 billion industry, providing half of the
world’s electricity, and slashing over US$18 trillion in future fuel costs,
according a report from the
European Renewable
Energy Council (EREC) and
Greenpeace International.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 110608
Geomagnetic field activity is
expected to range from active to minor storm levels with a chance
for major storm levels at high latitudes on day 1 (07 November) due
to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to
decrease to unsettled to active levels on day 2 (08 November).
Researchers Explore Hybrid Concentrated Solar Energy System
Australian, American and Chinese researchers are
exploring the possibility of combing solar thermal and PV on rooftops, a
move that could potentially cut the cost of solar energy.
Researchers Seek to Reduce Bat Deaths from Wind Turbines
The Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) announced in
mid-October that it has begun testing a procedure to stop wind turbines
during low-wind conditions to avoid killing bats.
The
Lesser Known Solar Sister
We all know solar energy is in. Not only is it
"in," it's two steps and a jump from being "required."
We all know solar energy is the most dependable energy source we have and
it's free. We all know that our days on fossil-based and carbon-based
fuels are coming to a very abrupt end and very quickly. Though it is just
now gaining momentum in the United States, Europe has converted on a large
scale. Germany alone has developed and put in place enough
solar-generating systems to equal two nuclear plants.
The NEW RE Series from Trojan Battery Company
Introducing the NEW RE Series - products optimized for
renewable energy (RE) applications such as solar/photovoltaic, small
wind, and micro-hydro
U. Minnesota takes grant to make solar energy paint
Imagine a paint that would harness the sun's energy and turn it into
electricity.
Though that's not a reality yet, materials science professor Eray Aydil said
it's a viable vision -- but there are discoveries that have to be made
first.
UK Government; Britain signs new gulf green deal
Britain has teamed up with two oil-rich Gulf states to secure a mix of
reliable and green energy supplies for the UK and which could see hundreds
of millions of pounds pumped into the green energy revolution.
US DOE hopes to keep spent nuke fuel issue out of courts; Sproat
Nuclear power generator operators would go straight to the US Department
of Energy to seek damages instead of to the courts if the agency does not
remove all of the spent fuel from future reactor sites within 10 years after
the unit closes, DOE waste program director Edward Sproat said Monday.
US high court eyes thorny issues in enriched-uranium import case
The critical issue in the case is whether uranium enrichment should be
considered a good or a service. Under the antidumping law, goods are subject
to the import duties but services are not.
Utilities in Colorado and Hawaii Pursue Clean Energy
The largest utilities in Colorado and Hawaii are now
seriously pursuing clean energy...In Hawaii, the state reached an
agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company to pursue several actions that
will increase the state's use of renewable energy.
Weaker Jobs Market Leads to Lower US Mortgage Rates
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary
Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
averaged 6.20 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November
6, 2008, downfrom last week when it averaged 6.46 percent. Last year at
this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 110708
•Global crude futures recovered some of the steep
declines seen late Thursday as market participants took profits. "It has
come off so much--people are having a breather and taking profit," a
London-based broker said.
•Global bourses had suffered Thursday as negative sentiment spread
worldwide.
Wind, Solar Bids Surpass Expectations; Developers Give Xcel Plans for
2,800 Megawatts
Xcel Energy's green makeover is getting astonishing response from renewable
energy investors.
Colorado's biggest utility asked for bids this year for up to 150 megawatts
of wind power projects. So far, it has received 2,400 megawatts of
acceptable bids from 16 wind project developers - more than 15 times the
capacity that Xcel sought.
November 4, 2008
AEP users to pay up for windstorm
American Electric Power has totaled the cost of power failures in September
caused by remnants of Hurricane Ike and has figured out who it wants to pick
up the tab: you.
All-Out Fear
Unwarranted
Electric and gas utilities are not insulated from the financial turmoil now
rankling global credit markets. But those businesses are relatively well
positioned to endure the potential hardship that could befall other
industries. That's because they have solid cash flows and limited
refinancing needs in the short run.
APS' renewable portfolio continues steady increase
The end of October marks the two-year anniversary of the Arizona Corporation
Commission’s (ACC) passage of the state’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).
Since that landmark occasion, APS has increased its renewable portfolio by
650 percent.
Asian sweet crude prices crumble as demand near standstill
Asian sweet crudes prices have crumbled in recent weeks, as demand from
regional refiners has come to a near standstill due to tumbling refining
margins and rising inventories for some refined products.
"It's ugly," one trader said Tuesday.
Bernanke on the Future of Mortgage Finance in the US
My remarks will focus on the mortgage securitization process, how it has
been affected by the financial crisis, and how it may evolve in response
to this crisis.
Bill Clinton; 'We Blew It' On Global Food
Today's global food crisis shows "we all blew it, including me when I was
president," by treating food crops as commodities instead of as a vital
right of the world's poor, Bill Clinton told a U.N. gathering on Thursday.
Despite military assault against indigenous protesters, mobilizations
continue in Colombia
International human rights organizations are beginning
to respond to the urgent appeals sent by indigenous activists; they will
be looking into all of the reports of violence, which include estimates
of 132 wounded and 13 killed.
Environmental leaders push back against biofuels bullies
Environmental groups delivered a letter
to the Environmental Protection Agency today calling on it to meet its
responsibility under the law and reject a biofuel industry attempt to weaken
global warming standards for ethanol.
Environmentalists Protest At Australian Coal-Fired Plant
Environmental activists chained themselves to a conveyor
belt at one of Australia's largest coal-fired electricity plants on
Saturday to protest slow government action on climate change, a
spokeswoman said.
EU Agency Says French GMO Maize Ban Unjustified
Europe's top food safety agency said on Friday that
France's ban on a genetically-modified maize developed by US biotech
giant Monsanto was unjustified.
EU Climate Pact Seen Aiding Shift From Russia Gas
Creation of green jobs and a drive to cut reliance on
Russian gas should help convince the European Union to agree a climate
deal this year despite fears of a world economic slowdown, Denmark's
Climate and Energy Minister said.
First virtual power plant operated by Siemens and RWE Energy on line
With the virtual power plant sales channels can be utilized which would
otherwise not have been available to the operators of the individual
facilities. In the linkup the plants can be operated even more efficiently
and thus more economically than before – thus providing benefits for the
operators of the distributed generating facilities.
Fly Ash Class Action Settlement Announced
The Murphy Firm and the Law Offices of Peter Angelos today announced that the parties have reached a settlement
agreement regarding a class action lawsuit filed by residents in Gambrills,
Md. who alleged they were damaged by the use of coal ash to reclaim a sand
and gravel quarry in Anne Arundel County. The settlement is subject to
approval by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
Global crude futures bounce off 20-month lows
Global crude futures recovered from prior losses in European morning
trading Tuesday, with ICE Brent bouncing off a 20-month low hit earlier in
the
session.
Green Energy Likely Winner, Big Oil Loser In US Senate Races
A strengthened Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate
will likely boost the outlook for renewable-energy companies while large
oil companies could be socked with a multi-billion dollar windfall
profits tax next year.
Hosie offers 'sound' intensive course
From the farthest reaches of ethical spirituality to the
exacting inquiries of leading-edge physics there is agreement on one
thing at least: Everything we sense, think and experience is, at root,
only vibration and potential ... nothing more.
House Democratic Leaders Eye Lame-Duck Stimulus Bill
House Democratic leaders appear to be moving toward
bringing a $100 billion economic stimulus package to the floor during a
lame-duck session the week of Nov. 17, according to senior Democratic
sources.
Houston Retrofits City Buildings to Save Energy, Protect Climate
Houston is about to become the first U.S. city to retrofit municipal
buildings to reduce energy and water consumption as part of the Clinton
Climate Initiative. The energy efficiency improvements are projected to save
enough electricity annually to create millions of dollars in savings and
lower greenhouse gas emissions from America's fourth largest city.
In Bush's End-Game, Lots of Changes on Environment
As the US presidential candidates sprint toward the
finish line, the Bush administration is also sprinting to enact
environmental policy changes before leaving power.
Is more nuclear energy in California's energy future?
Who knew nuclear power was the new green alternative?
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is now pushing that notion, suggesting that
nuclear plants could help the state meet its aggressive long-term goals of
reducing carbon emissions.
Italy Resists As EU Carmaking Nations Sign CO2 Deal
Italy stood by small car makers like Fiat on Friday,
refusing to join France, Germany and Britain in a deal to cut carbon
dioxide emissions.
Methane Gas in the atmosphere on the rise
Methane gas in our atmosphere rose by 27 million tons last year after 10
years of virtually no increase. There is now 5.6 billion tons of methane in
the air. That represents an increase of only 0.125% but, methane is 25 times
more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
Myanmar Cyclone Survivors Rely On Handouts, Struggle On
Six months after Cyclone Nargis slammed into army-ruled
Myanmar, killing more than 130,000 people, many in the worst-hit Irrawaddy
delta continue to rely on handouts to stay alive.
New solar maps help homeowners and installers
Innovations in online mapping are contributing to the rapid growth of solar
energy. The high-tech tools benefit everyone from homeowners and solar-panel
installers to the developers and financiers of large-scale power projects,
industry experts said at a recent solar conference here.
Next US President Faces Economy Hurdle On Climate
Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain
both tout plans to slash US greenhouse gas emissions but the winner of
next week's election will face difficulties signing such a law during
the next year at least.
Oil tankers continue to be targeted by pirates in Asia; ReCAAP
Oil and chemical tankers plying the waters of Asia continued to be
frequently targeted by pirates during the third quarter of the year with
most
of the attacks happening on the busy energy shipping routes of South East
Asia...
Organic PV will be focus topic at LOPE-C
According to the Organic Electronics Association (OE-A),
roll-to-roll production technologies for organic solar cells are
approaching market maturity. The group expects organic solar cells to
power mobile consumer devices soon.
Palin calls for break from Bush energy policy
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
called Wednesday for a "clean break" from the Bush administration's energy
policies, which she says rely too much on importing foreign oil.
Prospects gain steam as state leases geothermal rights
Want to buy some hot water? A lot of hot water? Maybe even enough to supply
Anchorage with cheap, clean, reliable geothermal energy for years to come?
That's essentially the proposition Alaska land managers floated
recently...
Renewable Energy Projects 'Are Being Held Up By Red Tape'
London (UK)--More than 13,000 megawatts (mw) of energy capacity are stuck in the planning
process, enough to power at least 7.5 million homes, add some 17 per cent to
UK electricity generation, and take the country half-way down the road to
the 2020 renewable energy targets.
Select Committee Report; Last 100 Days Could Rival First 100 for Bush
Administration and Environmental Deregulation
On the scariest day of the year, the Select Committee on
Energy Independence and Global Warming is releasing a report detailing
the frightening possible major regulatory rule changes the Bush
administration could make in its final days in energy and environment
issues.
Sharpest One Month Decline in Corporate Credit Quality Since 1990
"The wide-spread recognition that a severe recession is underway
affected the corporate universe across the board,” said Warren Sherman,
Kamakura President and Chief Operating Officer.
Survey Shows Rising Awareness and Confusion About Energy and Renewables
While more consumers are becoming knowledgeable about renewable energy,
one-third erroneously think cars and trucks are the number one cause of
global warming, according to a new survey. Only 4% cited the actual primary
culprit of greenhouse emissions: coal-fired electric plants
The Flawed Economics of Nuclear Power
Over the last few years the nuclear industry has used
concerns about climate change to argue for a nuclear revival.
Although industry representatives may have convinced some political
leaders that this is a good idea, there is little evidence of private
capital investing in nuclear plants in competitive electricity markets.
Turbines energize town; Hull says devices quiet, attractive
...in recent years, tourists traveling to Hull are
coming for another reason, say some town officials. They want to see the
wind turbines.
U.S. Towns Court Green Companies to Bring Back the Paychecks
When the plant closed last year, taking 1,800 jobs out of this town of
16,000 people, it seemed a familiar story of U.S. industrial decline:
another company town brought to its knees by the vagaries of global trade.
Except that Versendaal has a new factory job, at a plant here that makes
blades for turbines that turn wind into electricity.
UK
Renewable Energy Gets Backing
Gordon Brown is to announce a Gulf green deal, with oil-rich nations
investing in renewable energy in the UK.
The Prime Minister arrived in Saudi Arabia last night as part of a four-day
mission to secure billions of pounds from the Gulf States for an expanded
IMF bailout fund for nations caught up in the economic chaos.
UN Chief Urges Climate Change Help Despite Slowdown
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged developed
countries not to neglect climate change as they tend to a global economic
slowdown and called on rich nations to help poor countries prone to global
warming.
US Treasury Issues Additional Information on Capital Purchase Program
The Treasury Department issued additional documents for
publicly traded financial institutions applying for the capital purchase
program authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 110408
•Global crude futures recovered from prior losses in European morning
trading Tuesday, with ICE Brent bouncing off a 20-month low hit earlier in
the session, as market participants awaited the outcome of the US election.
•In the equities markets, the FTSE 100 index traded up. The divergence
between the commodities complex and the equities market suggested that
commodity fundamentals--global oil demand and manufacturing data--are having
a more pronounced effect on the complex than the directional shifts of the
equity markets.
•Auto sales for October offered little inspiration
Wind-farm code of ethics established; Investigation of wind-farm
companies continues
A code of ethics for wind-energy operations was announced Thursday by
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who also formed a new task force to ensure
compliance and oversee complaints.
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