News 2008:

Footnote:  We always attempt to get the news to you AND obey copyright laws.  We apologize if, in our haste to get the news out, we miss a notice that it was copyright protected. We are a non-profit foundation therefore  we do not reprint for profit.  Our sole motivation is to keep our public informed.  If you have an article reprinted here and desire us to eliminate it, just let us know and we will immediately delete it, without question, with apologies.  arizonaenergy on copyright law   FAIR USE NOTICE

*******************************************************

 

##

World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)

*******************************************************

October 31, 2008

2008 Bioneers Conference hosts first indigenous tent

After 19 years of hosting a “green” festival, the 2008 Bioneers Conference hosted its first-ever “indigenous tent” this year.

About the US Fed Cut

The Federal Reserve lowered the Federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 1% today, pointing to the deterioration in economic growth and highlighting that the "intensification of financial market turmoil is likely to exert additional restraint on spending, partly by further reducing the ability of households and businesses to obtain credit."

AEP might know by late November when Cook-1 can restart

American Electric Power said it doesn't expect to have an estimate for Cook-1's return to service until late November. The unit has been shut since September 20, after vibrations damaged the main turbine, causing a hydrogen leak that resulted in a fire in the main generator...

Antarctica hit by climate change

In its landmark Fourth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared in 2007 that human influence on climate "has been detected in every continent except Antarctica". Now a paper in Nature Geoscience says that our impact can be found even in the last wilderness.

Didn't we already know that human activity was warming the Earth?

Bond Yields Drive US Long-Term Mortgage Rates to Higher Levels

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 6.46 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 30, 2008, upfrom last week when it averaged 6.04 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.26 percent.

Canada, Mexico's hot waste comes into Utah under radar

Federal regulators gave their blessing to low-level radioactive waste from Canada and Mexico that is now buried in Utah.

But Utah never got the memo. Nor did the regional radioactive waste oversight organization Utah belongs to.

'Carbon trading' now big business

While recent months have seen a global contraction in both debt and equity markets, at least one financial market has been booming this year, a market that scarcely existed five years ago.

The global market for "carbon trading" grew 36 percent between January and September, to $84 billion from $67 billion,...

Climate Change To Help Short-Lived Creatures - Study

Climate change is likely to disrupt food chains by favouring animals with short lifespans over often bigger rivals that are worse at tolerating temperature swings, scientists said on Thursday.

Climate-Warming Methane Levels Rose Fast In 2007

Levels of climate-warming methane -- a greenhouse gas 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide -- rose abruptly in Earth's atmosphere last year, and scientists who reported the change don't know why it occurred.

Coal plant backers pressure wind supporters

The latest squall to blow through Minnesota energy developers is a letter to wind projects in the western part of the state -- from the agency that controls the power grid -- saying it would be in their best interests to support a new coal plant in South Dakota.

Combined Heat and Power Plants Account for 12 Percent of Global Electricity Production

Just over 12 percent of global electricity production is provided by cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power (CHP).

Credit woes could put more oil, gas rigs offline; Chesapeake CEO

The US oil and gas exploration-and-production industry will likely take out of service between 300 and 500 drilling rigs in the coming months, as the industry continues to be wracked by the global credit crisis and soft energy commodity prices, Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon said Friday.

Dr. Bob Adds It Up

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that things just don't seem to add up anymore? What used to be important to investors now somehow doesn't matter. And things that no one used to focus on suddenly have become the only things that matter in this crazy upside down world of investing.

EIA ANALYSIS; Gasoline stocks resume downward trend

US refiners cut gasoline yields as a negative crack spread deterred output, contributing to a resumption in the downward trend in inventories, an analysis of the weekly US oil data from the Energy Information Administration.

Electricity Projects; Will Feds Seize Control From States?

Connecticut Light & Power Co. has filed plans with the state to build 12 miles of overhead power lines in north-central Connecticut as part of an overhaul of the state's aging and inefficient transmission system.

But while residents and politicians bitterly fight the project on the local level, a bigger power struggle is brewing.

Environment, Economy Weigh On Bottled Water Sector

The world's top sellers of bottled water are trying to stop western consumers turning back to the tap by addressing environmental issues and trumpeting health benefits, while expanding aggressively in emerging markets.

Environmentalists Say Renewable Energy Brings Economic Benefit

A new report said investing in renewable energy would not only help reduce heat-trapping greenhouse gasses, but create a booming industry and help the global financial crisis.

Financial Crisis Has Lessons For Climate Fight - Expert

The world still has the funds and ability to fight climate change and nations should not use the financial crisis to delay policies on tackling global warming, a top carbon expert said on Thursday.

Financial crisis must not put brakes on EU energy research; EC

It would be a "historic error" if the current economic uncertainty were to put the brakes on the EU's development of low-carbon energy technologies, EU research commissioner Janez Potocnik said Tuesday.

Four Projects To Save Jobs And Cut Emissions

A growing "carbon army" of environmentalists and bankers have seized on political support to boost flagging economies to press for more spending on climate-friendly projects.

Fuel cell energy recovery generation

Instead of using a valve which wastes the pressure energy, the DFC-ERG power plant directs the high-pressure gas through a turbo expander, which harvests the waste energy for power generation much like a wind or water turbine. The integration of the fuel cell more than doubles the amount of low-impact electricity that is delivered to the electricity grid, and the non-combustion heat from the fuel cell eliminates the need for the boiler and its emissions

Green Seal program to recognize sustainable companies

Green Seal has launched a new program to recognize truly sustainable U.S. companies to help consumers cut through misleading environmental claims and greenwashing.

Green oil by 2020

The Carbon Trust is launching the Algae Biofuels Challenge seeking to commercialise the use of algae biofuel as an alternative to fossil based oil by 2020.

Humor – Or Rather Poetry

The following is NOT a parody, in the sense that a parody can be “amusing” or “comic”. If anything, ours is a “re-imagining” that is very, very dark.

IBERDROLA RENEWABLES Releases First Company-Wide Avian and Bat Protection Plan Calling for Wildlife and Habitat Protection

IBERDROLA RENEWABLES today released the wind industry's first company-wide Avian and Bat Protection Plan.

Inbox 103008

In recent months the authority, under the guidance of director Norm Steenstra, has come up with creative ways to recycle pretty much you-name-it: plastic bags, wooden pallets, glass, plastic utensils, straws, beverage lids, CD jewel boxes, foil blister packs, bubble wrap, plastic toys, truck bedliners, books, outdoor playsets, water coolers, large appliances ...

Man-Made Climate Change Seen In Antarctica, Arctic

Both Antarctica and the Arctic are getting less icy because of global warming, scientists said on Thursday in a study that extends evidence of man-made climate change to every continent.

NCAI passes record number of resolutions

Seventy-two motions address recognition, litigation, health care, other issues.

NOAA And NSF Commission National Study Of Ocean Acidification

"Carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels is not only contributing to atmospheric climate change," said Dr. Steven A. Murawski, director of scientific programs and chief science advisor for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "These emissions are being absorbed into the oceans with potentially catastrophic effects on life in our oceans.

On Energy Issues, Candidates' Funding Priorities are Fueling the Debate

U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barak Obama clash over tax and foreign policy, but their energy proposals are more alike than their campaign rhetoric suggests.

Ontario Becomes Wind Power Leader In Canada

Ontario is the leader in wind power in Canada with today's launch of the second phase of the Melancthon EcoPower Centre near Shelburne, Ontario.

Operation Energy Transition

The number of plans for developing sustainable energy resources as we face the reality of a global energy crunch are expanding. Many of these plans include crucial elements, which, if combined, would provide us an elemental blueprint for scaling the oil peak, knowing that a solid base camp would be waiting on the other side.

Pickens' wind project finds rough sailing

A deflating economy has taken the wind out of a massive Panhandle alternative energy project.

Tight lending stalled a $2 billion wind farm project headed by billionaire oilman and alternative power proponent T. Boone Pickens

Quote of the Day 103108

"But the biggest part can be played by the countries that have got the biggest surpluses...I think it is the countries that have got substantial reserves, the oil-rich countries and others who are going to be the biggest contributors to this fund."
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Renewable energy-specific batteries

Trojan Battery Company has developed a new RE Series line of batteries for renewable energy applications.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 103108

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels. ACE solar wind measurements indicated Earth remained within a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Solar wind velocities ranged from 632 to 723 km/sec during the period.

Rising CO2 Accelerates Coral Bleaching - Study

Rising carbon dioxide levels in the world's oceans due to climate change, combined with rising sea temperatures, could accelerate coral bleaching, destroying some reefs before 2050, says a new Australian study.

Scientists Deep in Nuclear Waste

Teams from GNS Science and from the United States are assessing whether waste from nuclear power plants could be stored safely underground in earthquake- prone Japan.

Slump Slows Carbon Efforts

The economic downturn is pulling under the sweeping attempt in this country to cap carbon emissions. Until an uptick occurs, the focus will be altered and now concentrate on making gradual adjustments to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

South Carolina utility's plan stirs coal-ash debate

On the banks of the Great Pee Dee River, Santee Cooper wants to build a giant power plant that would consume 410 tons of coal every hour and generate enough electricity for 600,000 homes.

Burning all that coal also will generate huge volumes of potentially harmful ash, and Santee Cooper plans to store it in a landfill and holding pond on a bluff above the river.

State is Poised to Be at Center of Alternative Energy

Wind is the leading alternative energy source in the nation and its development could result in hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of investment.

U.S. EPA Orders California Water Systems To Decrease Arsenic In Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered 11 public drinking water systems throughout the state of California to reduce the level of arsenic in their respective drinking water systems or face penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation.

U.S. Solar Power Manufacturing Growing Dramatically

New manufacturing facilities for solar cells and modules in Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas promise to add enough capacity to produce thousands of megawatts of solar devices per year within the next few years.

UK climate change bill passes third reading in House of Commons

The UK climate change bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons late Tuesday evening, a spokesman for the government Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed Wednesday morning.

The bill would set a legal target on the country to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 from 1990 levels.

UN Scheme Aims To Use Carbon Credits To Save Forests

The United Nations hopes to include a market-based scheme aimed at using carbon credits to save rainforests as part of a broader pact to fight climate change.

US coal production up 6% on year in week ending October 25; EIA

US coal production totaled about 23.2 million short tons in the week that ended on Saturday, 2% above the prior week and 6% above estimated output in the comparable week of 2007, the Energy Information Administration said Thursday.

US energy security needs not falling along with oil prices; Palin

The Alaska governor told voters in the swing state that prices will likely rebound when the economy improves if foreign countries continue to control US energy supply via oil exports.

WFES expects 'record numbers'

A “record number” of heads of state, business leaders, politicians, investors and exhibitors have confirmed plans to participate in the second annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in January.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 103108

•Crude futures fell in early European trading Friday, amid fears that demand will continue to weaken, despite attempts by central banks to bolster the global economy, sources said. "It appears that the falling demand scenario is coming back into play on the back of poor global economic data," Robert Laughlin of MF Global said in a report.

•A series of interest rate cuts by central banks and various stimulus packages have failed to curb falling oil prices, sources noted.

•In addition, weaker global demand and additional global refining capacity have pressured refining margins, limiting a crude oil recovery, sources added.

Windmill on the radar

Early tests of Cambridge Consultants’ Holographic Infill Radar technology indicate that it can distinguish between turbine blades and other moving targets

Wind farms have been found to confuse existing radar systems, compromising air traffic control.

WWF Says Reckless Consumption Threatens The Planet

The Earth's natural resources are being depleted so quickly that "two planets" would be required to sustain current lifestyles within a generation, the conservation group WWF said on Wednesday.

October 28, 2008

74% of top 100 U.S. companies release sustainability data

"With increasing evidence that conducting business responsibly contributes to shareholder value, it´s not surprising that more U.S. companies are highlighting their corporate responsibility efforts,"

A call for unity and activism

Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American Indians, opened the organization’s 65th annual convention with a rousing call for unity and a new, informed activism to move tribal nations forward as full partners in federal government decision making and leaders in the Earth’s healing.

A Rebirth for U.S. Nuclear Sector

After three decades without starting a single new plant, the American nuclear power industry is getting ready to build again.

'Alert' Ends at Susquehanna Nuclear Plant

The "alert" at the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Luzerne County near Berwick, Pa., ended at 5:26 p.m. EDT Monday (10/27) after plant operator PPL Susquehanna confirmed that oxygen levels returned to normal in a pump room related to the Unit 2 reactor, and plant workers shut off the flow of nitrogen that was being used to support maintenance work on water piping in the room.

Amid Economic Downturn, Asia Companies Maintain Optimism

As the global economy slides toward recession, companies in Asia continue to invest in their businesses and report that the credit environment across the region remains more benign than in Europe and the United States, according to a new Greenwich Associates Market Pulse.

Arizona task force releases plan to tap renewable resources

Arizona stakeholders have mapped out a plan to build a series of power lines to reach six renewable energy zones with capacity of about 7,750 MW.

China sets price for cooperation on climate change

China wants rich countries to commit 1 percent of their economic worth to help poor nations fight global warming, and will press for a new international mechanism to spread "green" technology worldwide.

City unveils federal solar power initiative

The City of Milwaukee will seek to expand training for solar panel installers and boost consumer awareness about solar power under a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Climate Change Needs Outlined; People Key Element in Fighting Crisis

Representatives of state government and the business community said Friday they are working aggressively to respond to the current energy and climate crises, but that it also would take a wider cultural change among Americans.

CO2 curbs may be too late for reefs, study warns

A new global deal on climate change will come too late to save most of the world's coral reefs, according to a US study that suggests major ecological damage to the oceans is now inevitable.

CO2 Emissions And Imperiled Species

IN THREE MEMOS released this month, the Environmental Protection Agency and two federal wildlife agencies contend that when making regulatory decisions they need not consider the climate-change impact on endangered species.

Davis-Besse radioactive leak is fixed; NRC says water in area is safe to use and drink

Radioactive tritium was found leaking from a drainage pipe at FirstEnergy Corp.'s Davis-Besse nuclear plant north of Oak Harbor, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said yesterday.

Financial meltdown -- the implications for energy

The latest chapter in the US financial crisis has started to claim victims in the energy world. US investment banks were/are active in many energy markets around the world, from European power and gas to crude oil derivatives and the physical delivery of jet oil and gasoline.

Funding Becoming Harder To Get For Green Startups

Saving the planet is looking a lot less profitable than it was a few months ago, and investors once enamoured with finding the next high-flying alternative energy startup are retrenching.

GMO-Crop Crisis a Rapidly Growing Concern

Green Energy And IT? A Match Made In Heaven!

Electronics giants have various options to produce devices that are less damaging for the environment. Among the easier options is to design products that are less energy consuming. But the companies are increasingly devoting their talent and know how to the creation of proprietary power generating systems for their own manufacturing plants to run on wind or solar energy.

Group to sue government for failing to update standards

An environmental group has put the federal government on notice that it intends to sue over the alleged failure to update emission standards for hundreds of landfills.

Group; Governments forced to invest in climate change

Deutsche Asset Management is predicting the accelerating pace of global warming will force governments to invest more heavily to mitigate climate change impacts despite the current state of the economy.

Hidden Cost Of China's Coal Is $250 Bln – Survey

China's dirty and dangerous coal mining industry cost the country a hidden $250 billion last year in lost and damaged lives, wasted energy and environmental devastation, according to a survey launched on Monday.

Home, business owners harness solar power

"This is a chance for us to see what we can do," he said.

Hundreds of home and business owners and even local governments have been pricing solar panels, small wind turbines and other energy-making systems in the three months since Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law a bill that, for solar equipment, would cut costs by 35 percent.

How will McCain, Obama power America?

The Republican slogan "Drill, baby, drill" and the Democratic chant of "Jobs, baby, jobs" go far in reflecting how John McCain and Barack Obama would approach the nation's energy policy.

Humor - Bar Stool Economics

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

Is the Derivatives Market Illegal?

If much of the derivative market is not regulated under federal law, might it not represent a form of illegal gambling under state or local law? Even if this proved not to be the case, might not an aggressive investigation by state or local prosecutors - unlike the indifference at the federal level - produce valuable information about what has actually been going on, such as the extent of laundered drug money in the derivative markets?

Lawmakers Gain In EU Climate Power Struggle

European parliament leaders will bring forward a vote on steps to combat climate change to try and gain influence in a power struggle with member states, parliament sources said on Thursday.

Michigan reshuffles state government in bid to create energy jobs

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, whose state suffers from the worst unemployment rate in the nation, has announced a governmental reorganization she hopes will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Ontario And China Go Green Together

Canadian Windfields Solar and Renewable Energy Corporation announced that it will build and operate a demonstration plant with Chinese company Wuhan Liren. Wuhan Liren will also invest in an Ontario manufacturing plant that will build and support its biomass power generation systems.

Paulson on Capital Purchase Program

As you know, over the last few weeks we have worked aggressively to implement the authorities provided by Congress in the financial rescue package enacted earlier this month. This morning, I will provide a short update on the capital purchase program that is a key component of that package.

Quote of the Day 102808

"With this low price I guarantee you we will not be able to invest and there will be a shortage of supply in the future."
OPEC secretary-general Abdalla el-Badri told the Oil & Money conference in London on Tuesday that the recent sharp fall in world oil prices and the ongoing global financial crisis were likely to deter investment in new oil projects, paving the way for a shortage in future supply.

"Clearly this is a turbulent time for the petroleum industry as a whole, given the widespread economic uncertainty and destruction of demand that we are currently witnessing."
The current economic slowdown will have a 'minimal' impact on Saudi Aramco's upstream oi

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 102708

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active
conditions for 28 October. Predominately unsettled levels with isolated active conditions, and possible isolated minor storm conditions at high latitudes, are expected for 29-30 October. Increased activity is due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream becoming geoeffective.

Residents; We are powerless, bullied by utility; They feel they have no real say on where the 150-foot-wide power corridor will go

Bear River Valley landowners, angry over Rocky Mountain Power's route for a major northern Utah transmission line, have arrived at a sobering conclusion.

Risks Of Global Warming Greater Than Financial Crisis - Stern

The risks of inaction over climate change far outweigh the turmoil of the global financial crisis, a leading climate change expert said on Monday, while calling for new fiscal spending tailored to low carbon growth.

State Weighs Incentives to Cut Peak Energy Use

What would it take to get you to reduce your home energy use - the sting of paying higher electricity prices during peak hours of demand? A cash incentive to turn the air conditioner off on hot days?

Study Blasts One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Climate Change

A new study on the economy and the environment recommends the federal government combat climate change with a "silver buckshot" of policies rather than a single silver bullet.

Sun Will Shine on Solar Industry

It's a reversal of fortune. The renewable energy sector once had access to inexpensive capital. But during that time it had been at risk of losing of its favorable treatment. Now the tables have turned and the industry must change its game plan.

Towering turbines coming; Dry Lake project to generate power NE of Phoenix

Wind turbines nearly 500 feet high will soon dwarf the low shrubbery of the Colorado Plateau northwest of Snowflake, Ariz.

US EPA still working on NSR rule despite warnings from Senate

The US Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will continue to work on a revised rule for new source review requirements for electric power plants despite calls by the US Congress to withdraw efforts lawmakers believe will weaken current clean air regulations.

US Senator Feinstein says Greenspan helped derail OTC regulation

US Senator Dianne Feinstein late Thursday accused former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan of helping to derail her efforts to establish strict oversight of energy swaps and derivatives markets in 2002 and 2003.

Utility Suppliers Earn Nation's Top Honors for Green Power Efforts

As part of the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Denver this week, DOE along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) are honoring 25 leading corporations, renewable energy suppliers and industry pioneers for helping advance the nation's green power markets.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 102808

•Crude futures moved slightly higher in European trading on Tuesday, as equity markets saw some improvement and the US dollar took a breather from its recent rally, prompting a recovery in petroleum futures prices, sources said.

•"The market has been under a lot of pressure recently so I think what we are seeing today is just a small reduction, with the help of the US dollar," a London-based futures broker said.

•"Global markets will be looking to the decision of the [US] Fed on interest rates tomorrow. A cut of 50 basis points is more or less already priced in

October 24, 2008

‘Spiritual terrorism’ against indigenous people still occurs, Lutheran pastor says

A Lutheran pastor shocked some non-indian members of a multicultural conference in Michigan when he said some Christians still commit “spiritual terrorism” against indigenous peoples and many don’t understand that the land called the United States was stolen from American Indians.

Americans oppose mountaintop removal, according to poll

Americans oppose mountaintop removal coal mining by a wide margin, according to the first nationwide poll on the issue to be made public.

APS System Improvements Help Provide Arizona Customers with Outstanding Summer Service and Reliability

During a summer in which monsoon storms and high temperatures dominated local news, APS continued to provide reliable service to the Company's more than 1.1 million customers throughout Arizona.

Ausra Opens US Solar Plant, Hopes First Of Many

Solar thermal power developer Ausra Inc on Thursday opened a 5-megawatt demonstration plant in California that it says will prove it can deliver on its promise of providing clean energy cheaply.

Australia has best solar cell efficiency

Green said the jump in performance resulted from new knowledge about the composition of sunlight.

"Since the weights of the colors in sunlight change during the day, solar cells are measured under a standard color spectrum defined under typical operational meteorological conditions," he said.

Big Chinese companies join climate group

One of China's biggest companies will today become the first state-controlled business in the country to join an international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Growing Rapidly, Particularly in Asia

In fact, the United States was the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 1992, but China is now leads the pack. The major human-caused sources of carbon dioxide are energy use, cement manufacture (which releases carbon dioxide when limestone is converted to lime), and deforestation, so the ORNL study accounts for two of the three major sources.

China on the way to 135 GW wind by 2020

China is on its way toward 135 GW of installed wind capacity by 2020 representing a US$300 billion investment, according to a report from Emerging Energy Research (EER), an advisory and consulting firm tracking emerging technologies.

Clean Energy from Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Waste

The generation and disposal of organic waste without adequate treatment result in significant environmental pollution. Besides health concerns for the people in the vicinity of disposal sites, degradation of waste leads to uncontrolled release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.

Danish PM Says China Onboard For Climate Pact Goal

China is committed to seeking a climate change pact at key talks next year, the prime minister of Denmark said on Thursday, urging countries not to use global economic upheaval as a reason for delaying a deal.

DOE and EPA Release the 2009 Fuel Economy Guide

DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the 2009 Fuel Economy Guide last week, providing consumers with detailed information about the fuel economy, carbon footprint, and air pollution score for model year 2009 vehicles, as well as information about hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.

DOE announces $7M climate research study

The U.S. Department of Energy says it has selected four proposals to receive total funding of $7 million to conduct climate research field studies.

Duke halves its $100 million plan for solar panels; A state hearing today follow; criticism of the original plan as too aggressive, expensive

Duke Energy has cut in half its $100 million plan to place solar-electric panels on hundreds of N.C. rooftops after consumer advocates for the state Utilities Commission called the proposal too aggressive and expensive.

Electronics industry on right path toward sustainability

The electronics industry has made progress toward environmental sustainability, but still has work ahead of it, according the first industry-wide consumer electronics sustainability report.

Emissions regimes could prove bullish for natural gas; officials

The inevitability of a carbon reduction plan in North America virtually guarantees a strengthening of natural gas prices over the long term, speakers at the Industrial Gas Users Association/LDC Forum in Toronto said Thursday.

Ethanol No Longer Seen As Big Driver Of Food Price

Heavy demand for corn from ethanol makers was seen as a key driver of corn futures to record highs in June, but since then the sharp decline of corn along with other commodities shows that belief was mistaken.

Explorers To Measure Arctic's Vanishing Summer Ice

British explorer Pen Hadow is to return to the North Pole five years after his record solo trek, in an attempt to establish when Arctic summer sea ice will disappear for good.

Firm dollar and interest rate speculation undermine New York gold

A firmer dollar and speculation over possible interest rate cuts in Europe and the UK undermined gold and helped maintain the pressure on non-commercial traders to liquidate long positions in New York trading Wednesday.

Flagstaff readies wind turbine rezoning law

A proposed ordinance could lead to more wind turbines in nonresidential areas of Flagstaff as early as next spring.

The Flagstaff City Council has instructed city staff to fast-track an ordinance that would allow nearly 100-foot-high wind turbines on lots as small as a half-acre in areas zoned for commercial or industrial use.

Fuel Cell Forecast

Alternative energy providers say they will deliver bigger and better projects now that Congress has provided their respective industries with key tax breaks -- but tough economic times might stand in their way.

GE Stepping Up Push For Battery-Powered Cars

General Electric Co is stepping up its investment in developing new battery technologies for autos as it looks to increase its role in electrifying cars -- one of the key strategies to boost autos' fuel efficiency.

Global Shares Plummet on Gloomy Data

Stocks plummeted worldwide on Friday, and United States futures fell so steeply that they reached their daily permissible limits, indicating a sharp decline in share prices when official trading opens in New York.

Global Water Crisis Promotes Desalination Boom

Worldwide growth in the use of desalination to produce a reliable supply of drinking water rose sharply over the past year indicating that desalination technologies are being used more than ever to address the global thirst for new sources of potable water, according to new statistics released by the International Desalination Association (IDA).

Governor puts the focus on energy training

With alternative-energy projects on the horizon, Montana colleges and universities need to provide training that is so specialized that it's scarcely offered elsewhere, Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Tuesday.

Greenhouse gas 4 times higher than thought

Levels of a powerful greenhouse gas are four times as high as previously thought, according to new measurements released on Thursday.

Greening Commercial Facilities

Despite the recent groundswell of greening products and programs, the United States remains the largest energy consumer in the world. Commercial buildings, which comprise 60 billion square feet of space in the U.S. today, account for a significant portion of that consumption, using about 40 percent of total primary energy produced annually. They also consume 15 trillion gallons of water, and produce 136 million tons of construction and demolition debris.

Greens' poll shows opposition to stream buffer changes

A majority of likely US voters oppose mountaintop mining and believe that environmental protections help the economy, according to a survey presented by a coalition of environmental groups Thursday.

Greenspan on Sources of Financial Crisis

Interview - American Community Banks are Doing Fine, Interview with Ric Smith, CEO of Metairie Bank & Trust Co.

"People picture central banks as having magical powers. When a financial market crisis develops, institutions such as the Federal Reserve simply wave their magic wands, lower interest rates, and the financial landscape is once again restored to normalcy. Dream on."

Investment Outlook Mixed for Clean Energy Technologies

Divergent trends for clean energy investments suggest that some companies may need to tighten their belts, even as they prepare for significant future growth. As reported in last week's newsletter, venture capital investments in clean energy were on the upswing in the third quarter, reaching record levels of $2.8 billion, up from only $1.3 billion in the second quarter. But a new report from New Energy Finance also finds that private equity expansion capital is drying up...

Kashkari on Implementation of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

Liquidity Needs Could Be Substantial For New U.S. Nuclear Plants, Report Says

Liquidity requirements of new nuclear power plants in the U.S. will be a key consideration in Standard & Poor's Ratings Services' credit analysis of the facilities...

Lower Than Expected Inflation and Weaker Housing Allowed Most US Mortgage Rates to Ease

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 0.6 point for the week ending October 23, 2008, downfrom last week when it averaged 6.46 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.33 percent. 

McCormick on Root Causes of the Market Turmoil and the Global Economy

These are unprecedented and difficult times for the global economy. The world's financial market conditions are severely strained, and risks to the global growth are significant. The largest advanced economies are feeling this most acutely. In the United States, our financial markets are experiencing unprecedented challenges, and this is adding even greater pressure to our already slowing economy.

New US Nuclear Plants Face New Credit Risks

With the demand for energy growing, high prices for natural gas, and growing environmental concern about coal-burning power plants, some U.S. utilities are now taking a hard look at new nuclear plants, according to report published by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services titled "New U.S. Nuclear Power Plants, New Technologies, New Credit Risks."

Nuclear protesters get fines of $250; Nuclear protesters resentenced

Three anti-nuclear protesters were fined yesterday after pleading guilty to trespassing at the Lake Anna Power Station's visitor center.

OPEC faces fresh dilemma in setting oil targets

With demand slowing and supplies rising, the world is awash in oil — sending prices crashing by more than 50 percent from a record high of $147 a barrel just three months ago. That has prompted oil producers to convene an emergency meeting to try to regain some control over prices.

Orange Appeal To Clean Up Dirty Water

Highly colored industrial waste water is a serious environmental problem as it seriously discolors waterways as well as blocking sunlight for photosynthesizing plant species in the water. Now, researchers in Algeria have discovered that nothing more sophisticated than orange peel could be used to remove acidic dyes from industrial effluent. They describe their findings in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Environment and Pollution.

Patterson to tribes; Adopt an Indian definition of ‘self-determination’

Strengthening tribal sovereignty and intertribal economic development at home, and promoting tribal cultures in the global arena, may sound like an ambitious agenda, but somebody’s got to do it.

Rate hike too big, AEP customers say; Others compliment company's charity at PUCO hearing

Stung by a slumping economy and rising expenses, several American Electric Power customers said yesterday that they can't afford the utility's plan to raise rates about 15 percent in each of the next three years.

"To say that a monumental rate increase would cause hardship is an understatement," said Dianne Garrett of Whitehall.

Recycling group to eliminate disposal of organic materials

A California recycling organization is launching a national effort to eliminate the disposal of organic materials in landfills within 5 years.

Researchers Discover Microbes Are Useful In Environmental Cleanup And Oil Recovery

A unique, patent-pending collection of microbes that can be used both for cleaning up the environment and addressing our energy needs has earned the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River National Laboratory kudos from a newsletter covering the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology.

SolarWorld Opens North America’s Largest Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility

SolarWorld AG opened what it describes as North America’s largest solar cell manufacturing facility. The new plant is located in Hillsboro, Oregon and is expected to reach a capacity of 500MW by 2011.

Spot uranium price continues its slide; further weakness expected

The spot price of uranium continued to decline over the past week and is currently at $44/lb U3O8...

Tennessee loophole in the sights of nuclear-waste panel

Nuclear regulators from eight states, including Utah, meet Wednesday to look for a way to close a loophole that has allowed low-level radioactive waste from foreign nations to be buried in U.S. landfills.

Thermo-PV with 12% efficiency

CIP Technologies (CIP) has says it has achieved a 12% energy conversion efficiency for thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) cells in partnership with the University of Oxford and Wafer Technology.

UK Government; Uk is world leader in offshore wind

The UK has overtaken Denmark to become the world's number one for wind farms built offshore, with 597MW fully constructed. The achievement has been made possible after building work finished at Centrica's Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms near Skegness

UK's Brown says downturn will not hit green effort

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday the global economic downturn would not affect a government drive to reduce the country's carbon emissions.

However, an industry executive cast doubt on the ability of the UK's existing power transmission network to cope with planned increases in wind power output.

US Federal Reserve Announces the Creation of the Money Market Investor Funding Facility

The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the creation of the Money Market Investor Funding Facility (MMIFF), which will support a private-sector initiative designed to provide liquidity to U.S. money market investors.

US NRC says staff adequately considered attack on waste facility

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a 3-1 vote on Thursday declared that agency staff adequately addressed the potential environmental impacts of a terrorist attack on the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant's dry-cask spent fuel storage facility.

US To Boost Geothermal Energy Use On Federal Lands

The US Interior Department said on Wednesday it would make more than 190 million acres of federal lands in 11 western states and Alaska available to energy companies to develop geothermal energy resources for generating electricity.

US Treasury Hires Accounting Firms Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

The U.S. Treasury Department yesterday announced that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Ernst & Young will assist the Department in the implementation of the Troubled Asset Relief Program authorized under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. Treasury hired PricewaterhouseCoopers on Thursday and hired Ernst & Young on Saturday

US Treasury Names Interim Chief Investment Officer for TARP

The Treasury Department named James H. Lambright this week to serve as the interim Chief Investment Officer for the Troubled Asset Relief Program authorized by Congress earlier this month

US White House calls OPEC output cut an 'anti-market' decision

The US White House Friday criticized OPEC's move to cut its crude output by 1.5 million b/d from November, calling it an "anti-market" decision.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 102408

•Crude futures regained some ground on Thursday, recovering somewhat from strong losses experienced on Wednesday following a bearish set of weekly US stock data and another gloomy day on global financial markets. However, this upswing may only be short-lived due to the overall bearish demand outlook and the persistent strength in the US dollar, sources said

•The upcoming OPEC meeting has provided a floor under prices, with Iran's oil minister Gholamhossein Nozari the latest in a string of OPEC officials to talk of an output cut.

Wind Energy Industry Installs 1,400 MW in 3rd Quarter of What Will Be Another Record Year

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,389 megawatts (MW) this quarter, bringing to 4,204 MW the total of wind power projects completed in what is expected to be another record year, the American Wind Energy Association announced today in its 3rd quarter market report.

Wind farm violates law, environmental groups say

Three environmental groups said Wednesday afternoon that they have obtained federal government records that show that the proposed site of the Shaffer Mountain Wind Project outside Ogletown is indisputably occupied habitat of the endangered Indiana bat, and that habitat used by the species already has been illegally destroyed.

Wind provides alternative energy for Westar

The cheapest way for Westar Electric to add new generating capacity is with wind, a corporate executive on Monday told members of the Salina Noon Rotary.

"Wind does have a place in anybody's portfolio," said Greg Greenwood. "If customers' demand for electricity continues to grow, we're going to need new resources."

October 21, 2008

All 10 NE states to participate in December CO2 auction

All 10 states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeast will offer carbon dioxide allowances at RGGI´s second auction scheduled for Dec. 17.

Boosting Green Energy Can Boost UK Jobs-Minister

Britain must remove bottlenecks holding back wind farms and other renewable energy projects as part of a drive that will create new jobs in green technologies, climate minister Ed Miliband said on Monday.

Can green jobs save us?

This may be hard to believe, but John McCain and Barack Obama actually agree on something: An explosion of new green jobs is the way to get the U.S. economy back on track.

Climate change outracing EU targets, WWF warns

Climate change is happening faster and its extent is wider than the world's leading scientists had predicted, according to a new report by pro-green group the WWF released on Monday (20 October), urging the EU to take ambitious action.

Commentary - It Is Not 1929

It's tough to pick up a paper, listen to the radio, or turn on the financial television news without someone comparing our current stock market correction to the stock market crash of 1929. For any of you that fell asleep in history class, the US stock market fell 89% from 1929 to 1932 and it remains the greatest stock market crash in the history of our country.

Consultant; Green power a threat to W.Va. coal

Solar power plants and other renewable energy sources are real, competitive threats that neither the coal industry nor the state's political and academic leaders should dismiss, a consultant warned Wednesday at the second West Virginia Coal Forum.

Economy delays dismantling of Zion nuclear plant; Fund for $1 billion decommissioning has lost value

A plan to dismantle Zion's nuclear power plant will be delayed by up to 15 months because the fund that will pay for the $1 billion decommissioning has declined in value, officials announced this week.

Florida Hopes Energy Farm Will Be First of Many

If an experiment to plant sweet sorghum in rural Florida and convert it to fuel ethanol pans out, it could herald a fundamental change in how the U.S. and other countries create and use renewable bio-energy, researchers say.

Geothermal Electricity Holds Promise for Older Oil Fields

The Office of Fossil Energy’s Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) and Ormat Technologies Inc., of Reno, Nev., today announced the first successful generation of electricity using geothermal hot water from a producing oil well. The power is used in oil field operations

Global warming causing dramatic decline in Great Barrier Reef’s seabirds

A new research has determined that due to climate change, seabird populations on the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding waters is facing dramatic declines.
The research has been complied by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Growing Green Jobs

Upheaval spawns innovation. With the country in the midst of economic turmoil, it must now concentrate its resources on rebuilding enterprise and creating jobs. The mission is to increase the nation's energy mix and in doing so, bring down those prices.

Inbox 101808

Let´s start today with a cleaned-up version of comedian Chris Rock´s devastating rap on -- hmm, what to call them? -- deadwood, I guess. Loiterers. People who sleepwalk through life taking five.

Japan to Pay 200,000 Yen to Each Household Buying Solar System

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will reintroduce in this fiscal year a subsidy program for home-use solar power systems as part of its anti-global warming effort.

Kansas has potential for wind jobs

Thousands of jobs will be created, and millions of dollars invested, as the United States starts to harness the enormous wind potential in this country.

Navistar unveils new hybrid tractor

Navistar International Corp. is expanding its line of diesel electric hybrid trucks with the introduction of a new hybrid tractor that can be used by general freight haulers and food and beverage distributors.

New Energy Economy Emerging in the United States

As fossil fuel prices rise, as oil insecurity deepens, and as concerns about climate change cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new energy economy is emerging in the United States. The old energy economy, fueled by oil, coal, and natural gas, is being replaced by one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy. The transition is moving at a pace and on a scale that we could not have imagined even a year ago.

Next President Needs to Act on Climate Change, Scientists Say

On the big picture, Barack Obama and John McCain agree - with a shared sense of urgency - that the U.S. can't keep pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere unchecked, because their accumulation threatens to bring rising seas, mass extinction of plants and animals, and more hunger, disease and natural disasters.

Oil to bottom at $65/b in early 2009 if OPEC cuts 1 mil b/d; CGES

Crude prices will "bottom out" at around $65/barrel in the first quarter of next year if OPEC cuts production by 1 million b/d, the Centre for Global Energy Studies said Monday.

On Global Warming, McCain and Obama Agree; Urgent Action Is Needed

Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama part company on many issues, but they agree that the Bush administration’s policies on global warming were far too weak.

Osage chief to advise on energy

With the United States debating energy policy, the chief of an Oklahoma American Indian tribe hopes to bring in a tribal perspective.

PA Governor Rendell Says Clean Energy Projects Will Create Jobs, Promote Conservation, Efficiency

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of nearly $12 million in alternative clean energy projects that will create at least 1,200 full- and part-time jobs and attract nearly $118 million in private investment.

Pakistan approves 23 wind energy projects

Pakistan would be able to produce another 1,000 MW of power through wind energy within a next few years, Director, Technical Alternative Energy Development Board, Irfan Afzal Mirza said Sunday.

Peru Accused Of Failing To Protect Amazon Tribes

Evidence is mounting that unchecked logging in the Peruvian Amazon is pushing some of the world's last isolated tribes into Brazil, increasing conflicts over land and food, a leading Brazilian tribe researcher and indigenous rights groups say.

Pollution Credits Let Dumps Double Dip

America's garbage dumps are reaping a windfall from the fight against global warming. But their payday might not be doing much to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Power transmission grid in line for major overhaul; Minnesota utilities say upgrades are needed to get energy to their customers

Every morning, when Minnesotans hit the brew button on their coffee makers, tune their radios to the news and turn down their thermostats, they are using bits of electricity that reach them through a giant circulation system of energy: the state's power grid.

Now, Minnesota utilities are saying the backbone of that grid is faltering...

Puerto Rico invests $165 million in wind energy

The Puerto Rican government announced Monday an investment of $165 million in 20 wind turbines with the goal of reducing its dependency on electricity-producing oil by 20 percent before the year 2015.

Putting A Price On Nature Can Save Forests, Rivers

Putting a price on nature by creating tradable credits can the limit the loss of forests, wetlands and rivers from the expansion of agriculture, the head of an international forestry investment firm said on Monday.

Carbon, water and biodiversity were emerging as the three main environmental market forces this century, said David Brand, managing director of New Forests...

Reactors Likely to Cost $9 Billion; Progress Energy Doubles Estimate

The cost estimate, disclosed this month to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is Progress Energy's latest projection for the Shearon Harris proposal. It doubles the previous estimate of $4.4 billion provided in February...

River turbine plan advances; Power project gets early permits

A Texas energy company that wants to harness Niagara River current to produce hydrokinetic power has been awarded two preliminary permits to investigate the cutting-edge electricity generation strategy.

SEPA Issues Challenge for Massive Solar Deployment Despite Global Economic Woes

Utility and Solar Industries Called Upon to Work in Collaboration to Increase Solar Capacity Thirty Fold by 2016

So-Called 'Clean Coal' Technology Offers Promise Along with Considerable Risks, New Report Finds

Government Should Back Demonstration Projects; Nix New Coal-Fired Power Plants that Don't Capture and Store Carbon Emissions

Speech – Bernanke on Economic Outlook and Financial Markets

As you know, financial markets in the United States and some other industrialized countries have been under severe stress for more than a year. The proximate cause of the financial turmoil was the steep increase and subsequent decline of house prices nationwide, which, together with poor lending practices, have led to large losses on mortgages and mortgage-related instruments by a wide range of institutions.

State presents bold plan to clean up air

California regulators, following the lead of Bay Area air quality managers, would impose fees on the state's worst air polluters as part of a bold proposal to slash emissions to 1990 levels.

State's largest ethanol plant is up and running

Production has begun at the largest ethanol plant in California, Pacific Ethanol's facility at the Port of Stockton that is projected to produce 60 million gallons per year.

The New Solar Bottleneck; Labor Shortage

With increasing focus on clean, domestic energy generation and federal ITC support now in place, a lack of qualified technicians and installers presents a potentially serious bottleneck to industry growth.

Trilogy by Shea Homes Makes Solar a Standard Feature on New Homes Across the Country

Trilogy® by Shea Homes, the first and only national builder to rollout solar across its entire portfolio, announced today that BP solar power systems will be a standard feature on its Shea Green Certified ™ homes, beginning immediately.

Tucson firm, APS get $4.35M to find key solar answer

The big problem with generating energy from the sun on a large scale is that our demand for electricity doesn't end when the sun goes down -- and electricity is expensive to store

U.S. Forest Service Turns to Cow Power

The U.S. Forest Service, seeking to reduce its environmental impact, has enrolled its Rutland headquarters in CVPS Cow Power(TM) (NYSE: CV), the nation's first manure-based farm-to-consumer energy program.

Uncertainty surrounding US economy 'unusually large'; Bernanke

"The time needed for economic recovery, however, will depend greatly on the pace at which financial and credit markets return to more-normal functioning," Bernanke said.

US Moves Toward New Dumping Rules For Mining Waste

US officials have moved closer to finalizing rules on the disposal of mining waste, a plan environmentalists said gives mountaintop mining companies more freedom to dump debris near rivers and streams.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 102108

•ICE Brent futures were trading 55 cents/barrel lower at $71.48/b Tuesday during morning European trade, but volumes were on the low side

•Signs of recovery in the US economy were supportive of commodity prices Monday, sources said, but energy futures did not hold on to yesterday's gains despite the US Dollar Index on ICE extending its four-week rally.

White House seeks high court review of power-plant mercury rule

The Bush administration has asked the US Supreme Court to review a lower-court ruling that struck down a power industry-backed rule regulating mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants

October 17, 2008

A Slick Solution for Oil Markets

The world has spent the last several weeks reeling from the failure of financial markets. But credit markets are not the only markets that are disobeying the laws of supply and demand. Although oil prices are declining, the global oil market is also out of whack. Oil prices remain high, causing economic suffering around the world. To get the global oil market back on track, policymakers will have to behave differently.

Arizona regulators approve set of net-metering regulations

The ACC expects the net-metering rules to provide an incentive for customers to install distributed generation, most likely solar, on their homes and businesses.

ASU, APS join German firm to form solar-testing venture

Arizona State University, Arizona Public Service and an international solar company are merging their resources to create a new solar-testing joint venture in Tempe.

At last - all Native code talkers recognized

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate last month approved a bill that recognizes the contribution of all Native American code talkers.

Banks; The Fight over Fair Value

In the wake of the recent market stress, some market participants question whether fair value provides useful information for investment and credit decisions. Company executives contend that the performance measures produced using fair value create financial reporting that is misleading and disconnected from the reality of their business activities. They also say it creates unjustified and unexpected economic effects, including covenant and regulatory capital stress and liquidity shocks.

Carbon Constraints Are Here

The evolution toward a carbon-constrained society is well underway. The latest push is coming from the northeastern states that have officially started auctioning carbon credits.

CFL Sales Skyrocket

Citizens and companies around the world are rapidly choosing compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to replace incandescent light bulbs.

Climate Deal to Help Overcome Financial Crisis - EU

Tackling climate change will help, not hinder, governments' efforts to overcome the global financial crisis, the EU's environment chief said on Tuesday.

Credit crisis hits home for AmerenUE

In another sign of the far-reaching impact of the global credit crisis, Missouri's largest electric utility says it's unable to sell commercial paper and has experienced trouble accessing other types of credit.

Crisis Shows Urgency of Going Organic - Shiva

Indian physicist and environmental activist Vandana Shiva said the financial crisis showed it was high time for countries to rebuild local, diverse farms to become independent from global turmoil.


"The lesson to be learned from the financial meltdown is that the world is at a tipping point," Shiva told Reuters at the Frankfurt Bookfair on Thursday, where she is promoting her new book "Soil not Oil".

Easing public concerns key to global nuke capacity growth; OECD

Nuclear power could supply a higher proportion of the world's rapidly rising power demand over next 40 years -- and help meet emissions targets and supply concerns associated with fossil fuels -- but the industry and governments will need to address widespread public concerns about the power source if this is to become a reality, the Nuclear Energy Agency said in a report Thursday.

EU Car Nations Close to Agreeing Slower CO2 Curbs

Italy is close to backing a French plan to phase in European Union curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from cars by 2015, leading to a united front among car-making nations, sources in the talks said on Wednesday.

EU Vows 'Cost-Effective' Climate Plan Amid Crisis

European Union leaders planned on Thursday to appease critics of the bloc's bold plans to fight climate change amid economic turmoil with concessions to heavy industry and former communist nations.

Europe's solar researchers bet on silicon

Crystalline silicon technology remains the big bet in solar cell research at IMEC, but the group is also exploring options in silicon thin films, compound materials and organics.

Gov. Edward Rendell, Energy Leaders and Somerset County Families Celebrate New Wind Farm Rising Above Former Coal Mine

In a public-private partnership that highlights Pennsylvania's history and evolution of energy production, a former coal mine has transformed into a wind power project that generates enough clean, renewable wind energy to sustain 10,000 homes.

Governor Rendell Signs Energy Conservation Bill to Save Consumers Millions on Electricity; Urges Legislature to Pass Rate Mitigation Bill

Pennsylvania families and businesses facing double-digit increases in electricity rates are poised to save more than $500 million over the next five years now that Governor Edward G. Rendell has signed into law a measure that equips consumers with the tools they need to conserve electricity and to make more informed decisions about their energy use.

Green building council to meet

Green building slowly has gained momentum in Northwest Florida and the rest of the country as more home builders and owners look for ways to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Hearings on Yucca Rail Line Doable

The federal railroad board's chairman says he is open to having a public hearing on the Department of Energy application to build a rural Nevada rail line to ship nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain.

Iberdrola and Tecnalia install first prototype to produce wave energy in Spain

The initiative, which has a budget of E4.5 million, aims to install a device for capturing wave energy at a high performance and a competitive cost.

IBERDROLA RENEWABLES Conducts Industry-First Bat Study at Pennsylvania Wind Power Project

In a ground breaking effort to study the interaction between bats and wind turbines, IBERDROLA RENEWABLES has partnered with an independent conservation group, Bat Conservation International (BCI), for wildlife data collection at a southwestern Pennsylvania wind power project.

India, Kazakhstan Mull Nuclear Pact

Kazakhstan is prepared to supply India uranium for its existing and future civil nuclear power plants and in return expects greater intensity in economic ties, including assistance in joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Job at Risk - US Treasury Announces Executive Compensation Rules Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

The U.S. Treasury Department yesterday announced the development of three programs under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and corresponding executive compensation and corporate governance standards.

KEMA Launches Retail Clean Energy Markets Service

Rising prices, aggressive policy change and large scale capital investment are all signs that point to a strong shift toward cleaner, smarter energy use. The initial momentum has been focused upstream, but the adoption of cleaner, smarter energy solutions at the end user level is now emerging.

Khelil says OPEC to hold regular meetings to solve crisis

OPEC president Chakib Khelil said late Thursday that it was obvious that the cartel needed to cut supply as demand has weakened and oil prices have plummeted, warning that unless action was taken oil prices would fall further.

Kohn on US Economic Outlook

We gather in difficult times for our financial markets and our economy. Recent weeks have seen a sharp intensification of the turmoil in financial markets: There has been a broad-based pullback in risk-taking and a virtual seizing up of term lending to many banks and other financial institutions; interest rates have risen for many borrowers, and credit availability has significantly diminished; and equity prices have fallen sharply, on net.

McCain, Obama renew oil import goals in presidential debate

Energy took center stage in the final US presidential debate Wednesday night as both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama pledged to eliminate oil imports from the Middle East and Venezuela in the next decade.

New MSU Center To Turn Waste To Energy For Small Farms

State and foundation grants exceeding $3 million will assist Michigan State University researchers in developing technology for smaller farms to turn animal waste into usable heat, electricity and other valuable products.

OIL IMPORTS ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST HALF OF U.S. TRADE DEFICIT IN 2008

Oil imports now constitute the largest single component in the nation’s annual trade deficit.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, for the first eight months of 2008, net petroleum imports totaled $281.14 billion dollars (or $421.71 billion/year if that level is maintained over a 12-month period).  This is equal to almost one-half (49.1%) of the U.S. trade deficit for January - August 2008.

Oregon company leases roof space for solar power project

ProLogis, a distribution facilities company, is leasing roof space in Portland, Ore., to Portland General Electric, to create the largest solar power project in the Northwest.

The project will feature photovoltaic systems on three ProLogis distribution centers in the Portland area

Oslo Says Forest Plan to Help Indigenous Peoples

Norway promised on Wednesday to promote indigenous peoples' rights as part of investments of almost US$500 million a year in tropical nations to slow deforestation and combat global warming.

Oxfam; 'Forecast for Tomorrow'

A new report from NGO Oxfam argues that the UK Government must work together with the public and private sectors, as well as turn away from high-pollution policies and projects that stand to jeopardise the UK’s carbon emissions reductions target.

Pacific Power increase starts today

State regulators quietly approved an average 8.5 percent rate increase for Pacific Power customers last week.

Paulson on Actions to Protect the US Economy

US Treasury yesterday issued the following statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on actions to protect the economy and restore confidence and stability to our financial markets.

PGE Rolls out Largest Solar Project in Pacific Northwest

Portland General Electric (PGE) (NYSE: POR) and its partners today rolled out the largest solar project in the Pacific Northwest, which is expected to begin producing up to 1.1 megawatts of electricity for PGE customers by December.

PPL's Pre-Pay Plan A Big Hit

Customers have flocked to enroll in a PPL Electric Utilities program that allows them to prepay future bills in an effort to offset significant rate hikes.

Precious metals prices plunge on New York exchanges

Gold prices took a major plunge Thursday morning on the COMEX, with most
of the declining coming in the last few hours.

Proponents Push Fusion Power as Renewable Energy Source

Fusion is the process that powers the sun and other stars. It is the reaction in which two light atoms, such as atoms of hydrogen, combine or fuse to form a heavier atom, such as an atom of helium. In the process, some of the mass of the hydrogen is converted into energy.

Quote of the Day 101708

"We have had a pretty sharp run to the downside and this is a short covering bounce at the end of the [volatile trading] week,"
(a London-based broker said on Friday's move to the upside.)

"We do not think that OPEC will have moved its meeting from Mid-November to next Friday if it had not already decided on a cut,"
(Oliver Jakob of Petromatrix said in a report. OPEC president Chakib Khelil said late Thursday that it was obvious that the cartel needed to cut supply as demand has weakened and oil prices have plummeted.

Recession Will Cut EU Carbon Costs - Deutsche

Industrial carbon emissions will fall faster in Europe as result of a coming recession, cutting the demand for and price of emissions permits under the European Union's emissions trading scheme, said Deutsche Bank analysts.

Report Cards Weigh States' Commitment to Cost Effective Renewable Energy

The Network for New Energy Choices has issued its 2008 report cards grading the states' policies for allowing homeowners and small business owners who generate renewable energy to connect to the grid and receive credit for the electricity they produce. This year’s report has a number of bright spots that are particularly welcome given the declining economy, Americans’ desire for energy independence, and widespread concern about climate change.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 101608

Solar activity was very low with no flares observed. The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet.

Rural Power; The Key to Sustainability

The next twenty years could see up to US $1 trillion of investment in renewable energy in rural areas. Wind and solar power will be harnessed; and non-food crops will provide the fuel for a new generation of biofuels. But will rural areas reap the benefits of this massive investment or will communities merely observe the remaking of rural economies?

Scientists to Probe Antarctica for Sea Rise Clues

Scientists will visit a vulnerable part of an Antarctic ice shelf this year to work out if it will crack off in coming decades and perhaps trigger a rise in sea levels, they said on Thursday.

Siemens and E.ON to build 207 MW offshore wind farm

The project will be among the largest offshore wind farms in the world when the 90 Siemens 2.3 MW turbines are installed in 2010. The order also includes a two-year service contract.

Sirri on Credit Default Swaps

Solar Power International Kicks Off with a Bang

Today, thousands solar energy professionals are in San Diego, California to take part in the the largest solar power conference in North America. With 425 exhibitors, 60 breakout sessions, 200 speakers and more than 16,000 visitors, Solar Power International is expected to shed light on every aspect of solar energy today.

Ten Reasons To Buy Local Food

Brenton Johnson, who hosted a recent local-food gourmet dinner on his organic farm, Johnson's Backyard Garden, just east of Austin, Texas, represents a new breed of young, organic farmer whose philosophy is to live in harmony with the land and bring back the sustainable ways. Naturally (no pun intended), he advocates buying local food.

The Stunning Collapse of Iceland

Even after the government's seizure of top banks, Iceland may face bankruptcy, with dire effects for huge Icelandic investments overseas.

U.S. mayors push for environmentally friendly schools

Mayors from around the country are joining together to push for creation of environmentally friendly schools.

UK advised to cut GHG by 80% in 2050

The CCC, which is an independent body responsible for advising on the UK’s carbon budgets up to 2050 and reporting on progress, says the cut is possible through:

US Solar Field Foresees Cost Parity With Coal, Gas

US producers of solar power will no longer need federal subsidies within eight years because by then solar power will cost less than electricity generated by conventional power plants, industry players said this week.

US Treasury Announces TARP Capital Purchase Program Description

Under the program, Treasury will purchase up to $250 billion of senior preferred shares on standardized terms as described in the program's term sheet.

US Utilities' Refinancing Needs Should Be Manageable

As global credit markets contract, borrowing rates skyrocket, and otherwise fundamentally creditworthy lenders and borrowers eye each other with suspicion, liquidity and counterparty risk become the preeminent credit concerns... Regulated electric and gas utilities and power companies have not been immune to the devastatingly rapid consequences of negative market sentiment.

US working gas in storage rises

US natural gas storage supplies grew by 79 Bcf during the week that ended Friday, raising nationwide inventories to 3.277 Tcf with three weeks remaining in the traditional storage refill season, the US Energy Information Administration reported Thursday.

The build was below most analyst expectations, which ranged from 83 Bcf to 87 Bcf.

Wall Street Meltdown to Hit Main Street Soon

Literally 100% of restructuring experts polled recently say the recent financial meltdown on Wall Street will impact the health of companies in the US before the end of 2008.

Waterborne Disease Risk Upped In Great Lakes

An anticipated increased incidence of climate-related extreme rainfall events in the Great Lakes region may raise the public health risk for the 40 million people who depend on the lakes for their drinking water, according to a new study.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 101708

•Global crude futures firmed in early European trading Friday, on growing expectations of an OPEC production cut, source said.

•"We have had a pretty sharp run to the downside and this is a short covering bounce at the end of the [volatile trading] week " a London-based broker said. The prospect of an OPEC production cut gives "some respite in the bear trend," he added.

•OPEC president Chakib Khelil said late Thursday that it was obvious that the cartel needed to cut supply as demand has weakened and oil prices have plummeted, warning that unless action was taken oil prices would fall further.

When it comes to forest soil, wildfires pack 1-2 punch

For decades, scientists and resource managers have known that wildfires affect forest soils, evidenced, in part, by the erosion that often occurs after a fire kills vegetation and disrupts soil structure. But, the lack of detailed knowledge of forest soils before they are burned by wildfire has hampered efforts to understand fire's effects on soil fertility and forest ecology.

Wildfires Cause Ozone Pollution To Violate Health Standards, New Study Shows

The research, by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), focused on California wildfires in 2007, finding that they repeatedly caused ground-level ozone to spike to unhealthy levels across a broad area, including much of rural California as well as neighboring Nevada.

Wind industry, conservationists to study bat deaths

The wind power industry and conservationists are partnering to study the interaction between wind farms and bats by conducting the first U.S. effort to look at the impact of shutting down wind turbines to reduce bat deaths.

Wind Parks, a Ray of Hope for Power Generation

While India has entered into an agreement for generating nuclear energy with the US to meet its unending demand, Punjab government has also started exploring possibilities of alternate source of energy to meet the domestic need and lessen the dependence for power on other states.

Wind-farm contracts stir up lots of questions

The sight of 40-ton blades turning in the wind means different things to different people.

To some, wind farms are a boon for rural economic development. For others, they are a sign of hope for renewable energy. And, as area farmers are finding out, they can mean thousands of dollars in the pockets of rural landowners each year

Wind-farm workers laid off; Wind-farm firm struggles

Noble Environmental Power has stopped work at its Bellmont and Chateaugay wind-energy projects and laid off its workers.

And it appears the bankruptcy of one of its major financial backers may have played a part.

Working Paper - A Troubled Asset Reverse Auction

The US Treasury has proposed purchasing $700 billion of troubled assets to restore liquidity and solve the current financial crisis, using market mechanisms such as reverse auctions where appropriate. This paper presents a high-level design for a troubled asset reverse auction and discusses the auction design issues.

WWF 'Greenprint' for presidential candidates

The WWF Greenprint highlights how the challenges of climate change, conservation of natural resources, food security and freshwater availability are intertwined, and how they can and should be solved by the next president.

October 14, 2008

As utility rates increase in Duluth, Minn., so do number of shut-offs

The number of people whose electricity or gas has been shut off for nonpayment of their bills is up sharply in Duluth as people struggle to cope with higher prices and a shaky economy.

Blogging For Energy Savings

Bloggers and customers who have good ideas for saving energy now can share them on an innovative new Internet blog launched by Dominion at http://e-conserve.blogspot.com/ . The blog invites customers to share energy-saving tips and ask Dominion questions on energy conservation.

Carbon-capture research is a growing field

The technology to bury carbon dioxide underground instead of releasing it into the air from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants is still many years away.

Climate Change; Pushing Species To The Brink

Thirty-five percent of the world’s birds, 52 percent of amphibians and 71 percent of warm-water reef-building corals are likely to be particularly susceptible to climate change, the first results of an IUCN study have revealed.

Commentary - The End is Near

Cost of Deforestation is Vastly Greater than that of the Current Financial Crisis

While your 401K smolders in ruins, take a gander at this BBC article and it might give you some perspective. Unfortunately, it's not immediately an optimistic perspective: We are actually losing more money through deforestation than through the current financial meltdown.

Dye solar cell pioneer opens facilities in Wales and New South Wales

Dyesol's Dye Solar Cell (DSC) technology has been termed artificial photosynthesis because it uses a dye analogous to chlorophyll to capture the energy from light, releasing electrons which are captured and conducted as electricity in a nanoparticulate titanium dioxide layer.

Energy is Major Concern in Rhode Island

In this tiny coastal state, where government officials see wind and water as vital new pistons in their economic engine, energy tops many minds.

EPA Seeks Comment On Preliminary Perchlorate Drinking Water Decision - Agency Plans To Issue A Perchlorate Health Advisory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted extensive review of scientific data related to the health effects of exposure to perchlorate from drinking water and other sources and found that in more than 99 percent of public drinking water systems, perchlorate was not at levels of public health concern.

Fighting for preservation

The rock images, also called petroglyphs, shown were created by ancestors of the Hopi Indians in what is now called Nine Mile Canyon in Utah. The Hopi Tribe and several environmental groups want to protect the rock art from dust created by industrial traffic heading to the West Tavaputs Plateau Natural Gas development site.

Global warming getting political cold shoulder in U.S. amid economic woes

The global economic crisis has thrown a political chill over one of the main initiatives under consideration in the United States to combat global warming: the so-called cap-and-trade plan.

Global warming grips Greenland, leaves lasting mark

Beyond the howl of sled dogs echoing across this hilly coastal village is the thunderclap of ancient icebergs splitting apart, a deafening rumble you feel in your bones.

Groups To Challenge Feds' Refusal To Limit Perchlorate In Drinking Water

Environmental advocates plan to sue the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its refusal to set limits for perchlorate in drinking water. Perchlorate, a primary ingredient in rocket fuel, munitions, and explosives, has been linked to thyroid problems in pregnant women, newborns and young children nationwide.

Hydrogen energy demo center opens in Wales

The Centre, part of the University's Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, aims to become a world leading research facility and demonstration project integrating renewable energy technologies (solar photovoltaic and wind) with hydrogen and fuel cell energy technologies.

Kashkari Details Implementation of TARP

I am here today to provide a comprehensive update on the Treasury Department's progress in implementing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Nevada sues EPA over Yucca Mt. radiation standard

The state of Nevada has sued the Environmental Protection Agency over EPA?s radiation standard for a nuclear waste repository DOE wants to build in the state at Yucca Mountain, claiming the regulation will not protect the health and safety of people in the area.

New mercury-tracking technology is created

U.S. scientists say they have developed a technique that can track the source of mercury emissions that pollute the environment.

New York tribe nears electric control

"Basically, the tribe is on a quest for self-sufficiency," said David T. Staddon, public information director for the tribe. "Right now, the tribe will control distribution within the community."

NYMEX crude firms as global bourses soar, dollar drops

NYMEX front-month crude futures on the CME's Globex system were $3.31 higher at $84.50/barrel Tuesday, moving in tandem with global equity markets and inverse to the US dollar, which continued to come under pressure.

Quote of the Day 101308

"Crude oil is likely to follow equities for a few more days until it can start again to trade as a separate asset class,"
(Oliver Jakob of Petromatrix said on the relationship between equity and commodity markets.)

"The only olive branch of bullish news came from the fact that oil supply has been under pressure of late from Hurricanes in the US and Geo-political strife in Africa and Arab countries,"
(Robert H Laughlin, analyst at MF Global said, adding that refining activity in the US Gulf of Mexico was nonetheless returning to to normality.)

"Stock markets are all up and oil has taken some encouragement from that,"
(a London based broker said on the fresh strength in commodities complex.)

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 101308

Solar wind velocity, as measured at the ACE satellite, continued at elevated levels averaging about 500 km/s, and indicated the continued influence of the coronal hole high speed stream.

Rich countries must pay for rainforests; UK report

Rich countries should pay tropical nations billions of dollars a year to save their forests, using donor money and global carbon markets to foot the bill, said a UK-commissioned report on Tuesday.

Schwarzenegger; Solar and other clean-technologies are a bright spot in dark economy

Acknowledging the dark clouds of the economy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Silicon Valley on Thursday pointed to clean-technology, and solar specifically, as offering a solution, even a salvation.

Tangier ripe for wind-energy project

Out here in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, the wind can pound any landlubber into submission. And that fact, scientists say, is what makes Tangier Island such an attractive place for a wind-energy project.

TEP wants higher rates for big users

It's not often that a business raises prices on customers who buy more of a product.

But that's what Tucson Electric Power Co. is proposing...

Treasury Hires Investment Adviser Under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

The U.S. Treasury Department yesterday announced that EnnisKnupp and Associates will serve as its investment adviser for the implementation of the Troubled Asset Relief Program authorized under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

UN Says Credit Crisis Could Enable 'Green Growth'

Instead of sidelining the fight against climate change, the global credit crisis could hasten countries' efforts to create "green growth" industries by revamping the financial system behind them, the UN climate chief said on Friday.

Unlikely foes line up against California's alternative energy initiative

A ballot initiative that would dramatically increase the amount of wind, solar and geothermal energy used in California seems a likely candidate for support from environmentalists and renewable power producers.

But instead, Proposition 7 is largely opposed by these groups...

US gas producers likely to cut drilling 20pct in 2009; analysts

The US exploration-and-production sector will likely trim its drilling activity by at least 20% next year, assuming an average natural gas price of $8/MMBtu...

Utilities ready to buy back power

Fly fisherman Fitz Coker, who lives in his home on Von Phister Street in Key West during the summer, last fall became the first customer to sell power back to Keys Energy.

Coker is not powering the Keys, but his 3.5 kilowatt solar array could reduce his energy bills by two-thirds...

What the Chemical Industry Doesn't Want You to Know About Everyday Products

The global chemical industry annually produces about 6 billion pounds of bisphenol A (BPA), an integral component of a vast array of plastic products, generating at least $6 billion in annual sales. The value of BPA-based manufactured goods is probably incalculable. Environmental Working Group studies have found BPA in more than half the canned foods and beverages sampled from supermarkets across the U.S.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 101308

•Global crude futures firmed in early European trading Monday, following further co-ordinated central bank actions to stabilize the global banking system, after last week's plunge in equities and commodities, sources said.

•Global equities were boosted following the British government's plan to invest up to GBP37 billion ($64 billion) in ailing British banks Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and Lloyds TSB. The UK FTSE 100, the German DAX 30 and French CAC 40 indexes rallied 4.82%, 5.83% and 6.05%.

•Meanwhile, the prospect of OPEC production cuts has been gathering pace. Qatari oil minister Abdullah al-Attiyah was quoted Monday as saying that OPEC needed to cut its production as a result of falling demand for crude due to the global financial crisis as OPEC sources said the group would have to cut supply by at least 1 million b/d at its November 18 meeting, the Saudi-owned al-Hayat newspaper reported.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 101408

•Global crude futures firmed in early European trading Monday, following further co-ordinated central bank actions to stabilize the global banking system, after last week's plunge in equities and commodities, sources said.

•Global equities were boosted following the British government's plan to invest up to GBP37 billion ($64 billion) in ailing British banks Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and Lloyds TSB.

•Gains in commodities far lagged those in equities, allowing the market sentiment to remain on the bear-side, analysts said.

October 10, 2008

2008 Ozone Hole Larger Than Last Year

The 2008 ozone hole – a thinning in the ozone layer over Antarctica – is larger both in size and ozone loss than 2007 but is not as large as 2006.

A power grid report card; Top 10 ways to improve power operations and prevent future blackouts

Five years ago, on August 14, 2003, the worst blackout in North American history swept across the northeast. Fifty million people in eight states and in the province of Ontario were left in the dark, some for as long as four days.

Addressing the Variability Factor; Can Wind Power Reliably Be Part of the Electricity Mix

A new AWEA fact sheet aims to promote greater understanding of one of the most complex and frequently confused aspects of wind energy: how wind and other variable energy sources are reliably integrated into electric grid operations.

Air Pollution May Increase Risk Of Appendicitis

Could there be a link between high levels of air pollution and the risk of appendicitis? New research presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Orlando, suggests a novel connection.

Alternative energy to dampen generator coal consumption; US EIA

Growth in electricity generation from alternative sources such as nuclear, natural gas and wind will hold down growth in coal consumption by the electric sector to 1.2% in 2008 from the previous year, the US Energy Information Administration said Tuesday.

Americans likely to spend 15pct more to heat homes this winter; EIA

US households can expect to pay an average of about $1,137 this winter to heat their homes, up about 15% from $986 last year, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Another Inconvenient Truth; The Need for Coal

Another inconvenient truth is that we need coal as part of a balanced approach to providing for the nation’s -- and world’s -- electricity supply. This is not merely the desire of energy industry executives, but the reality when one looks logically and practically at the demand for electricity and the means of meeting that demand.

Arizona UES customers could see up to 8pct hike in gas bills

Heating bills for UniSource Energy Services' Arizona natural gas customers could rise between 8% and 16% this winter compared with last year because of rising fuel prices, the utility said Wednesday.

Birds' Decline Shows Wider Damage to Nature - Study

Dwindling numbers of birds worldwide are a sign that governments are failing to keep promises to slow damage to nature by 2010, an international report said on Thursday.

California ISO worries battery powered cars may strain grid

The California Independent System Operator said Thursday it is eyeing an expected influx of thousands of plug-in electric cars in the state by the year 2012 that could pose a challenge to its grid's power flows unless the cars are developed to charge only at night.

Climate Change Could Force Millions From Homes

Environmental damage such as desertification or flooding caused by climate change could force millions of peoples from their homes in the next few decades, experts said on Wednesday.

Climate Leaders Take Big Steps to Leave Smaller Carbon Footprints

Leading corporations are demonstrating that reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is both good for the environment and their business success.

'Deadly Dozen' Diseases Seen Due to Climate Change

A "deadly dozen" diseases ranging from avian flu to yellow fever are likely to spread more because of climate change, the Wildlife Conservation Society said on Tuesday.

DOE Clean Cities; Where Are They Now?

A decade and a half ago, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated Clean Cities' first three coalitions within weeks of one another

Electric Cars Offer Energy Independence

With fuel prices still high, the electric car is becoming a more attractive form of transportation. Electric cars were first introduced in the 1970s, but the technology has dramatically improved in the last 10 years.

Electric Cars to Dominate Green Car Race

It will be years before demand for hybrid cars in the United States and Europe is big enough for battery manufacturers to make money from that business, but electric cars are nevertheless poised to dominate the market for greener vehicles, the world's largest car battery maker said on Tuesday.

Emissions Rising Faster This Decade Than Last

The latest figures on the global carbon budget to be released in Washington and Paris recently, indicate a four-fold increase in growth rate of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions since 2000.

Energy Programs Receive First Wave of CO2 Mone

Maine will use $750,000 from the first-ever "carbon auction" for weatherization and energy efficiency programs this winter, state officials announced Tuesday.

ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue into early 2009

ENSO-neutral conditions continued during September 2008, as sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained near-average in the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. SSTs remained slightly below-average in the central Pacific, and slightly above-average in the eastern Pacific

EPA identifies wasteland for energy

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified “thousands” of contaminated properties that could be returned to productive use by hosting solar, wind or biomass energy production facilities.

Expect Severe Winter in US East - Accuweather

The winter of 2008-09 will be the coldest and snowiest in years in the eastern United States, threatening homeowners with back-breaking heating bills, private forecaster AccuWeather predicted on Wednesday.

FDA Suppresses Data, Perverts Congressional Mandate to Study Mercury Filling Dangers; Whitewash Continues

And you already know that "dental amalgams" have various toxic metals in them, including, especially, mercury. In fact, they are 50% mercury by weight and release their deadly ingredient day after day, chew after chew.

Focus sharpens on forests for climate fix

Payments from polluters in rich countries to tropical communities in exchange for slowing deforestation may soon play a bigger role in combating climate change if problems like measuring preservation efforts can be overcome.

France Says Burying CO2, EU Gas Shipments Urgent

The European Union must urgently find funding for a new technology to trap and bury carbon dioxide underground and should increase the region's capacity for liquefied gas shipments, the EU's French presidency said.

France, Britain Back Coal Plant Climate Fix

The European Union must fund a new technology to clean up coal plants and fight the twin problems of energy security and climate change, the EU's French presidency and Britain's new climate minister say.

Global oil futures trade at 12-month lows

Global oil futures were lower again in the European morning Friday, trading down to around one-year lows led by a massive selloff in gasoil futures and the spillover effect of turmoil in financial markets.

Global Warming Triggers an International Race for the Arctic

A new epoch is beginning at the top of the Earth, where the historic melting of the vast Arctic ice cap is opening a forbidding, beautiful, and neglected swath of the planet. Already, there is talk that potentially huge oil and natural gas deposits lie under the Arctic waters, rendered more accessible by the shrinking of ice cover

Green Architecture Opportunity in Financial Woes

The current financial downturn could spur demand for sustainably designed buildings and communities, the chairman of one of the world's largest green architecture firms said Tuesday.

Humdinger's Wind Power Alternative

As an MIT engineering undergraduate visiting the rural fishing village of Petite Anse, Haiti, in 2004, Shawn Frayne hoped to devise a way to convert abundant agricultural waste into cheap fuel. But the budding engineer soon found that the community's mainly poor residents faced an altogether more immediate need.

'Hydrogen Cities' Seen Driving Fuel Cell Adoption

Mass adoption of zero-emissions fuel cell cars will start with "hydrogen cities" in which refueling stations are rolled out to serve individual communities rather than a large region, a top California environment official said on Monday.

Idahoans struggle to pay utility bills

More Idahoans are struggling to pay rising utility bills as increasing power costs and declining economic fortunes collide to create harder times as winter nears.

IMF chief warns of looming global economic recession

The world economy is "on the cusp of a global recession" and countries will need to actively cooperate to solve the crisis, the head of the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.

In slowing economy, electricity and gas cutoffs soaring

The number of Americans whose electricity or gas has been shut off for nonpayment of their bills is up sharply in many parts of the country as people struggle to cope with higher prices and a shaky economy.

Inbox100808

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency´s decision not to regulate a toxic rocket-fuel ingredient in drinking water has environmental litigators rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to file.

Indonesia's '09 Palm Biodiesel Use Seen at 1-1.2m T

Indonesia may consume 1 million to 1.2 million tonnes of biodiesel using palm oil as feed stock in 2009, following the introduction of a mandatory biofuel policy, a government official said on Wednesday.

Map reveals species most at risk from climate change

We heard this week that a quarter of all mammals are threatened with extinction. One of those, the polar bear, made headlines earlier this year for being the first animal to be listed on the US Endangered Species Act, because of its vulnerability to climate change.

This begs the question: aren't all species vulnerable to climate change? Why protect the polar bear but not the ringed seal?

N.Y., EPA to spend $1 million cleaning old diesel engines

The U.S. EPA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation plan to spend more than $1 million cleaning up old dirty diesel engines across the state.

New nukes to cost at top end of $4-bil to $10-bil range; analyst

Caren Byrd of Morgan Stanley said the "considerable divergence" of current cost estimates for a new nuclear plant -- she cited figures of $4 billion to $9 billion or $10 billion -- was "risk appearing."

Obama, McCain spar over energy in second presidential debate

From US foreign policy to global warming to a question about top domestic priorities, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain kept returning to major energy and environmental issues during Tuesday night's second presidential debate.

Official; Automakers will wait to see $25 billion in loans

The U.S. Department of Energy will meet a Congressional deadline for a temporary rule governing $25 billion in loans for the U.S. auto industry, but the money may not flow for some time, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said today.

OPEC ready to meet if oil price continues fall below $90b; Iraq

OPEC is ready to convene an extraordinary meeting ahead of its December conference if oil prices continue to drop much below $90/barrel, Iraqi oil minister Hussain Al-Shahristani said Wednesday.

Public Input on Yucca Requested

Federal lawmakers are calling for public hearings and a broader review of the government application to build a rail line across rural Nevada for nuclear waste shipments to Yucca Mountain.

PV system generates more solar electricity, reduces costs

Solyndra, Inc. has introduced a new solar photovoltaic (PV) system, comprised of panels and mounting hardware, for commercial rooftops. The company claims the new PV system can generate significantly more solar electricity on an annual basis from typical low-slope commercial rooftops with lower installation costs than conventional flat-panel PV technologies.

Quote of the Day 100908

"If OPEC decides to cut production in November or December it will take a long time to flow through the system. We are seeing crude stock builds, weak refining margins, gasoline builds as refineries [in the US Gulf] come back on-line,"
(a London-based broker said regarding the time-scale of an OPEC cut to produciton.)

Quote of the Day 101008

"Until such time that credit conditions do not normalise, the prompt price for oil is unlikely to disconnect from sentiment-driven trends in equity markets and can sink further still."
(Harry Tchilinguirian, analyst at BNP Paribas said after revising down the company's average oil price forecast to $104.00/b for 2008.)

Regulating greenhouse gas

After an intensive two-year period that included 27 hearings, four white papers and numerous workshops on climate policy, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality released a "discussion draft" on it's proposed climate change legislation.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 100908

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels for 10-11 October. Unsettled to
active conditions with isolated minor storm levels at high latitudes are expected for 12 October due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream.

Residents frustrated with lack of wind energy regulation

It was just a whisper, voiced from exasperation and, perhaps, an acknowledgment of defeat. "We don't matter."

S&P sees higher coal prices in the long term

"As commodity prices have risen, coal has proven no exception. Even as US power plants have been looking more to natural gas, alternative energy, and new technologies in anticipation of new environmental regulation, they've had to scramble to cope with greater price volatility for this once stable commodity,"

San Jose's Green Vision; One Year Later

"The people of San Jose and Silicon Valley have changed the world. With our history of innovation and environmental stewardship as a foundation, San Jose is on track to become the world's center of innovation in clean, green technologies," said Mayor Reed

Sea-level to rise by one-metre this century; scientists

Global warming calculations have been too optimistic, and the sea level round the globe is likely to rise a full metre this century

Siemens to supply steam turbine for 'Solar Tres' solar tower power plant in Spain

Siemens Energy is to supply an industrial steam turbine for one of the world's first commercial solar tower power plants. The Spanish company Sener will build the innovative solar thermal power plant with a capacity of 19 megawatts (MW) at a site in the vicinity of Seville in Andalusia.

Study shows geothermal potential

The United States is bubbling with geothermal resources, a new study shows, and Nevada may reap the benefits.

Sunny Future Interest Heats Up for Big Solar Plants

The facility being built by eSolar will test what company officials extol as game-changing technology that uses a modular design and mass-manufactured components that can be scaled to fit specific power needs.

"By using modular mass-manufacturable design, we are able to reach economies of scale..

Tax Credits Extended.htm; Renewable Energy Industry Breathes Sigh of Relief

After a disastrous few weeks on Wall Street, the renewable energy industry has come out a winner. It seems there's always a silver lining in even the worst developments.

Technological Innovation Driving Renewed Interest in Geothermal Energy

In the past, geothermal energy might have been called the underdog of renewable energy. But if one were to characterize the industry based on current growth and technological innovation, it might be more accurate to call geothermal the rising star of the industry.

The Sun -- India's Future Powerhouse

India’s growth in power generation since its Independence has been noteworthy making India the third largest producer of electricity in Asia.

U.S. focus on climate could ease financial crisis

If the United States focused on curbing climate change as soon as a new president took office -- or sooner -- it could help pull the world from the financial brink, environmental policy experts told Reuters.

U.S. Power Sector Is Using Different Strategies To Deal With Volatile Coal Prices, Report Says

As commodity prices have risen, coal has proven no exception. Even as U.S. power plants have been looking more to natural gas, alternative energy, and new technologies in anticipation of new environmental regulation, they've had to scramble to cope with greater price volatility for this once stable commodity,

U.S. RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION SURGES BY 32 Percent

According to the latest "Monthly Electricity Review" issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (October 3, 2008), net U.S. generation of electricity from renewable energy sources surged by 32 percent in June 2008 compared to June 2007.  

UK'S Brown urges OPEC not to cut crude output

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Friday urged OPEC not to cut production at its extraordinary meeting next month, saying it would be wrong for the oil cartel to reduce output so as to keep prices high at a time when the world economy was in turmoil.

US House draft climate bill would cut CO2 emissions 80pct by 2050

The jurisdictional committee in the US House of Representatives Tuesday released a draft bill to cut greenhouse gases 80% across the US economy by 2050 from 2005 levels through an emissions cap and allowance trading system.

US Justices Seem Split Over Navy Sonar Whales Case

The Supreme Court seemed on Wednesday closely split on whether President George W. Bush can exempt the Navy from federal environmental laws, a case pitting protection of whales against military training exercises.

US Seen Open to Forestry Offsets in Climate Fight

As it inches toward forming climate policy, the United States is more open to attempting to slow global warming through investments in tropical forests than the European Union is, a broker that works on forestry deals said.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 100908

•Wednesday's US Energy Information Administration data revealed a bearish set of indicators with a 8.1 million barrel build on crude stocks.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 101008

•Global crude futures were trading significantly weaker at one-year lows Friday during European trading, supported by a massive sell-off in gasoil futures and the spillover effect of turmoiled financial markets

•The International Energy Agency Friday slashed its estimates of world oil demand in the second half of 2008 and in 2009 as a result of the ongoing financial crisis.

October 7, 2008

Appalachian Customer; 'It's Either Pay Up Or Freeze'

With electric rates set to rise from 15 percent to nearly 40 percent across most of the region, reactions from customers range from uneasiness to outrage.

Attorney General Cuomo Sues Bush EPA Over Water Pollution Loophole That Threatens NY's Waterways And Drinking Water

Cuomo is leading a coalition of nine states in suing the EPA for creating an illegal loophole in the federal Clean Water Act by refusing to control the transfer of polluted water from one water body to another.

Australia Fights Climate Change Threat to Rivers

The rapid march of climate change across Australia's main food-growing region has caught the country by surprise and will reshape farming across an area bigger than France and Germany, says the top water official.

Bailout Bill Also Includes Array of Solar Incentives

While bailing out Wall Street this week, Congress also jump-started the renewable-energy industry.

California Greenhouse Emissions Up 14 Percent 1990-2004

California's polluting greenhouse gas emissions rose more than 14 percent between 1990 and 2004, a report issued this week by the California Energy Commission showed.

China Grim on Prospects for Climate Pact

Negotiations seeking a global pact to tackle global warming are troubled and could end in disastrous failure, China's top climate change envoy warned on Monday, saying rich countries are failing to deliver on promises.

Climate Change Strategy To Help Manage Water Resources

"Water is key to clean energy and climate change," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water. "Our water and climate strategy charts a course for timely and practical action, connecting the dots, drops, and watts for coordinated, sustainable results."

Climate Change Threatens Australian Fisheries

Climate change threatens Australia's A$2.1 billion (US$1.6 billion) commercial fishing and aquaculture industry, but may create new wild fisheries as tropical marine species move south as sea temperatures rise.

Commission delays decision on radioactive waste

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today said it's postponing any decision now on whether EnergySolutions can import low-level radioactive waste from Italy and dispose some of it in Tooele County.

Cut the Sprawl, Cut the Warming

For years, while Washington slept, most of the serious work on climate change has occurred in the states, and no state has worked harder than California.

Energy Initiative in Missouri Enjoys Powerful Support

Proposition C, the renewable energy initiative on Missouri's November ballot, appears to have lots of support and little organized opposition.

EPA develops water plan for climate change

The U.S. EPA has prepared a document to help clean water and drinking water officials deal with the potential effects of climate change.

GE Energy's 2.5xl Wind Turbine makes Italian debut

GE is supplying 12 of its 2.5xl wind turbines for the project, which is expected to be completed by June of 2009. The wind farm's total rated capacity is 30 MW with an annual estimated generation of about 74 GWh, or enough electricity to meet the annual requirements of 25 000 households.

German test plant may lead to clean coal power; German plant cuts emissions, with eye to renewables

Coal-burning plants are the world's biggest producers of electricity. But as climate change worries mount, the billions of tons of greenhouse gases they emit each year have put in doubt coal's future as a cheap, home-grown source of electricity.

Government to Fund 21 Geothermal Projects

The U.S. Energy Department says it will fund 21 research, development and demonstration projects up to $78 million to promote enhanced geothermal systems.

Green Energy Plan Criticized

In a proposal that might decide the future of green power in Florida for decades, the staff of the Public Service Commission recommended Thursday that electric utilities be required to provide 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by the year 2041.

Is There a Green Upside to the Economic Meltdown?

Fraser believes that backlash to the recent economic crisis will result in a new era of enlightened regulation and investment akin to Roosevelt's New Deal, which helped America climb out of the Great Depression.

Kansas is Dedicated to the Power of the Wind

Kansas -- the "Saudi Arabia of wind" -- can be proud of leading a "Made in America" energy policy that uses homegrown natural resources, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday.

More Fallout Over Plans for 'Destructive' Coal Power Plant

Midland organisations today joined criticism of the energy giant e.on for its plans to build the UK's first coal plant in three decades.

Nations eye India's vast nuclear market

With an emphatic vote Wednesday, the US Senate assured that America will take part in India's $100 billion nuclear-energy sweepstakes.

Paulson on Emergency Economic Stabilization Act

By acting this week, Congress has proven that our Nation's leaders are capable of coming together at a time of crisis, even at a critical stage of the political calendar, to do what is necessary to stabilize our financial system and protect the economic security of all Americans.

Power plant foes are suing to pull plug

Opponents of a proposed $200 million power plant fueled by poultry waste filed a lawsuit in Sampson County to stop its construction.

Quote of the Day 100708

"Overnight the Australian Central Bank has lowered interest rates by 1%, the Bank of England should decide its next move on Thursday and the global markets are starting to anticipate and price coordinated rate cuts

"This is technical bounce. The dollar is giving up some of its gains from yesterday and some equities have recovered, the dust hasn't settled yet.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 100208

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at mostly unsettled conditions with isolated active
periods for 03 October. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected for 04-05 October.

Risks Mount for Global Warming Fight - UN

The struggle against climate change must not follow world trade talks into limbo as risks mount that the credit crisis will sap commitment to the fight, the UN climate chief said on Monday. Yvo de Boer said he was worried about the impact of the credit crisis on international action to fight climate change, as US and European governments pour cash into keeping commercial banks afloat.

Silicon supply shifts solar dynamics

A protracted shortage of raw silicon that impacted the fortunes for some makers of solar photovoltaic panels is beginning to ease. The broader supply will put emerging thin-film panel makers under renewed pressure, said one market watcher.

Solar market to reach $100 billion in 2013

Despite projected oversupply in early 2009, leading to significantly lower average selling prices (ASPs), the global solar market will reach $100.4 billion in 2013, up from $33.4 billion in 2008, according to the latest report from Lux Research.

State Fights Desert Rock

"The EAB can and should send this permit back to the EPA with an order to re-evaluate specific issues that we have outlined in our brief," Attorney General Gary King said. "The EPA has a legal obligation to give New Mexicans the full protections afforded to them under the Clean Air Act."

The $700 Billion Question, How Much Is That Exotic Security?

Economists and financial experts don't all agree that a taxpayer-funded purchase of troubled mortgage securities is the best way to attack the credit crunch. Some support it, while others prefer alternatives like a loan program for hard-hit financial institutions or a government-backed mortgage refinancing program -- strategies that could supplement the administration's plan or replace it if it fails.

U.S. to limit oil development in polar bear habitat

The U.S. Interior Department will designate within two years protected areas of the Arctic that are considered critical habitat for polar bears and cannot be harmed by oil development as part of a legal settlement with environmental groups on Monday.

UK Government; Department of Energy and Climate Change established

Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, today welcomed the creation of a new department to tackle the twin challenges of energy security and climate change.

UN Body to Finalise Action on Ship Emissions

Curbing greenhouse gas emissions from ships, possibly by including the sector for the first time in an emissions trading scheme, tops the agenda at a meeting of the industry's top regulatory body in London this week.

US banks still wary despite $700 bil rescue plan; bankers

The $700 billion bank "rescue" program that US lawmakers passed and was signed into law by President Bush last week does not appear to be restoring broad confidence in the banking sector, bankers active in the energy sphere said on Monday.

US House approves extending energy tax credits

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday extending billions of dollars in tax credits for the solar, wind and biodiesel industries, ending months of uncertainty for renewable energy companies.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 100708

•Global crude futures firmed Tuesday, as a 1% interest rate cut in Australia sparked expectations that global central banks would launch a co-ordinated move to lower interest rates to help demand, sources said.

•"Expectations of rate cuts combined with the sharp correction in commodities

Wind farms don't pose danger to some birds

British researchers say they've determined wind farms pose less of a danger to farmland birds than was previously feared.

October 3, 2008

90,000 Homes To Be Powered By Chicken Manure

The world’s largest biomass power plant running exclusively on chicken manure has opened in the Netherlands. The power plant will deliver renewable electricity to 90,000 households. It has a capacity of 36.5 megawatts, and will generate more than 270 million kWh of electricity per year.

AC/DC; Not just a rock band anymore

Sharp Corp. and TDK Corp. have revived the apparently never-ending DC vs. AC debate.

Alaskan Utility Initiates Study for Large Scale VRB Energy Storage System

"The study will help us identify the appropriate size VRB-ESS for Kotzebue's wind/diesel hybrid generation system...

The VRB-ESS can economically store and supply large amounts of electricity on demand and is focused on stationary applications. It is a long life, cost effective, low maintenance, efficient technology that allows for the scalability of power and storage capacity independently.

Alliance changing America's perspective on water is launched

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies formed the Clean Water America Alliance as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help achieve changes in how water issues are discussed, managed and solved, with a focus on holistic, watershed-based approaches.

An Exhausting War on Emissions

In 1991, Norway became one of the first countries in the world to impose a stiff tax on harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, the country's emissions should have dropped. Instead, they have risen by 15%.

As power costs climb, homeowners, TVA exploring way to save, create energy

When David Bolt arises before his family and the sun, he wends through darkened rooms, LED flashlight in hand, to avoid turning on the lights.

It's one of numerous practices the Harriman resident and entrepreneur has adopted to save energy.

Big is Best in Resilient Renewables Sector

The "green economy" will rebound faster than most from global financial turmoil, because of government-guaranteed revenues for renewable energy.

Bodman sees US nuclear energy expanding, regardless of elections

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Wednesday he was confident that the US will rely more on nuclear energy in the future regardless of who wins the country's elections in November.

Brazil Government Biggest Illegal Logger in Amazon

The Brazilian government tops the list of the 100 largest illegal loggers in the Amazon rain forest and will face criminal charges, the Environment Ministry said on Monday.

Breaking Free of Battery Backup

Innovative rotary power protection and conditioning technology keeps rail operations on track despite glitches in utility power and momentary loss of utility supply

California may need emergency $7 billion loan; report

California may need an emergency loan of up to $7 billion from the federal government within weeks, the Los Angeles Times on Friday quoted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as saying in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

Chemical Equator Discovery Will Aid Pollution Mapping

Scientists at the University of York have discovered a ‘Chemical Equator' that divides the polluted air of the Northern Hemisphere from the largely uncontaminated atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere.

Commentary – This Too Shall Pass

Even though most of Wall Street is in shock as the stock market collapsed 777 points (the single- largest point drop in the 200-plus year history of Wall Street) and all because the House of Representatives failed to pass the T.A.R.P. rescue plan with a 205 - 228,

Commentary; Reconciling Poverty, Sustainability, and the Financial Crisis

The health of the world's ecological systems will be decisive in determining our ability to meet all of the Millennium Development Goals. Environmental sustainability is not just another policy goal. The human economy is wholly contained within the global biosphere - and if the biosphere's productivity is undermined, the human economy will suffer.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power

The time seems to be right for concentrating solar thermal technology, with thousands of megawatts of new capacity in the pipeline. There's no doubt this technology can deliver, and utilities like its scale. While trough technology is the established workhorse, investors are eagerly backing a range of alternatives.

Credit Crisis May Delay Biofuels Development

A global pull-back from bank lending may dent the commercialisation of biofuel technologies to replace conventional gasoline, said the chief executive of US cellulosic ethanol firm BlueFire Ethanol.

Crude futures stable, awaiting vote on bailout, US payrolls data

"It has been a rollercoaster ride. We have had exceptional ranges around $5/b for most of the week and most traders are really shell-shocked," one London-based broker said.

Deactivating Radioactive Waste

An efficient transmutation of radioactive waste requires the development of new facilities. In addition to specially designed fast reactors, the Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) present a new potential concept....

An alternative nuclear fuel, which leads to a reduced incidence of radioactive waste, is the "thorium-uranium cycle."

Doe's Energy Savers Website Helps Consumers 'Stay Warm, Save Money'

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today, on the first day of Energy Awareness Month, launched the Stay Warm, Save Money website and educational outreach campaign to help consumers be more energy efficient and save on energy costs.

EcoSecurities And ClimateBiz Announce That More Corporates Are Implementing Carbon Management Strategies To Tackle Climate Change

...the findings of their ‘Carbon Offsetting Trends Survey 2008', one of the first research studies to focus on corporate attitudes in relation to the concept of carbon offsetting.
 

Financial Storm Dims Hope of Tough UN Climate Pact

Global financial mayhem is dimming prospects for a strong new UN pact to fight climate change, but it might aid cheap green schemes such as insulating buildings to save energy, analysts said.

Fraunhofer ISE Researchers Achieve 39.7% Solar Cell Efficiency

At 39.7% efficiency for a multijunction solar cell, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg have exceeded their own efficiency record of 37.6%, which they achieved in July of this year.

Fuming in DC; Time to Draw the Line

Congress just adjourned for the Rosh Hashanah holiday and we in the clean energy industries are without a tax credit extension. And I am hopping mad, as Congress will soon adjourn for the national elections.

Global Green Job Market Expected To Explode

“A sustainable economy can no longer externalize environmental and social costs. The price society pays for the consequences of pollution or ill health for example, must be reflected in the prices paid in the marketplace. Green jobs therefore need to be decent work.”

Great Lakes show great promise for wind energy, researchers find

Michigan has far greater potential for wind energy than anyone previously thought -- offshore in the Great Lakes that surround it, according to a new report.

Greenhouse Gas Capture Policies Missing, GAO Finds

Federal policy-makers have taken few of the steps necessary if greenhouse emissions from coal-fired power plants are to be captured and stored underground, according to a new government report.

House Passes PTC-ITC But Final Approval Unlikely

With time running out, hopes for extending the US Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit before the November elections took a serious hit Friday after the House of Representatives passed an "extenders" bill unacceptable to Senate Republicans and the White House

Introduction to the Climate Action Reserve

The Climate Action Reserve is a new initiative of the California Climate Action Registry that is setting a new standard for transparency and environmental integrity in tracking and registering greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects. This one hour webinar will provide a general overview of the Reserve...

Market Turmoil Overshadows First-Half Gains by Investment Banks

Investment banks achieved a $15 billion turnaround in revenues in the second quarter of 2008, according to a report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), but recent gains have been overshadowed by the collapse of Lehman Brothers and concerns that the financial crisis may continue to deepen.

Melting of Arctic ice 'fascinating ... alarming'

They placed bets, pored over satellite images, and speculated endlessly on how much Arctic ice would survive the summer.

"Everyone was following it," said Louis Fortier, scientific director of the Arcticnet, which funds and co-ordinates much of Canada's polar research. "It was like the hockey final."

Modest CO2 Cutbacks May Be Too Little, Too Late For Coral Reefs

How much carbon dioxide is too much? According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) greenhouse gases in the atmosphere need to be stabilized at levels low enough to "prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."

National Solar Tour Puts Solar Energy On Display Across America

Sometimes the best way to educate the general public about new technology is to show them how it works in the real world. That's what the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) says is at the heart of its National Solar Tour, now in it's 13th year and taking place this weekend in cities and towns across America.

New Management Team Takes Charge at Renewable Energy Lab

A new management team takes charge at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today. The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC was awarded a five-year contract to manage and operate the Laboratory on July 29.

NJ Dietican Licensing Gags Others' Free Speech, Stifles Nutrition Information - to Make You Sicker Longer, and Help You Die Sooner

While 46 other states have some sort of Dietitian's licensing law, New Jersey is trying (like Ohio and a few others) to make Registered Dieticians (RDs) the ONLY people, that's right, the ONLY ones who can discuss food, food components, nutrition, health benefits and other food related concepts and practices with anyone at all under just about any circumstances ("with or without compensation...").

Ocean 'Dead Zones' Spread, Fish More at Risk - Study

The number of polluted "dead zones" in the world's oceans is rising fast and coastal fish stocks are more vulnerable to collapse than previously feared, scientists said on Monday.

Perilous Times Call for Transformational Thinking, and Action

For three late September days in a traffic-clogged New York City, the famous and the powerful gather at the Clinton Global Initiative annual conference to share charismatic thoughts and large-scale commitments to address issues in global health care, education, poverty alleviation, and energy and climate change.

PNM fly ash investigation continues

New Mexico Environment Department confirmed Tuesday that one of its Occupational Health and Safety Bureau teams visited PNM's San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow.

Pollution Slowly Killing World's Coral Reefs

Dainty blue fish dart around coral shaped like moose antlers near the Mexican resort of Cancun, but sickly brown spots are appearing where pollution threatens one of the world's largest reefs.

Rapid Growth in the Algae Market; Managing Risk in the Renewables Space

With over US $180 million in venture capital invested in Algae companies already this year, the market looks ready to explode. That explosion couldn't come soon enough for biodiesel producers who are having trouble getting enough feedstock to meet global demand.

Reliant Energy extends selloff after raising capital

Shares of Reliant Energy plunged as much as 51 percent in early trade on Tuesday after the company said it had to raise $1 billion to replace a credit facility with Merrill Lynch.

Renewable Energy Tops 10% of U.S. Energy Production

According to the latest "Monthly Energy Review" issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy accounted for more than 10 percent of the domestically-produced energy used in the United States in the first half of 2008.

Report Outlines Issues Faced by US Utility Industry During Period of Financial Uncertainty

“The utility industry is not immune to the current financial conditions that government, business and consumers face, even though utility securities are often considered safe havens in times of economic difficulty,” said Richard Rudden, Senior Vice President of Black & Veatch’s Enterprise Management Solutions Division. “Utilities have huge capital requirements.

Scientists Aim to Boost Southern Ocean CO2 Monitoring

Australian scientists set sail later this week on a voyage that could lead to better data from the Southern Ocean, which plays a major role in acting as a brake on climate change.

Solar Paint on Steel Could Generate Renewable Energy Soon

In three years, buildings covered in steel sheets could be generating large amounts of solar electricity, thanks to a new photovoltaic paint that is being developed in a commercial partnership between UK university researchers and the steel industry.

Students to develop solutions to global water crisis

More than five million people die each year due to a lack of safe drinking water, and the UN estimates that 5.5 billion people will lack adequate access to freshwater in the next 20 years. Water scarcity has emerged as a serious threat to peoples across the world. Called "the new oil" for the 21st century, water affects everything.

Study Eases Fear About Wind Farm Threat to Birds

Wind turbines do not drive birds from surrounding areas, British researchers said on Wednesday, in findings which could make it easier to build more wind farms.

Study. Cities don't cause climate change

A British study concludes cities are being unfairly blamed for most greenhouse gas emissions and that threatens efforts to fight climate change.

Suit Over Bird Deaths at Altamont Pass Dismissed

In a Sept. 18 decision, the Court of Appeal in San Francisco dismissed the lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, saying while members of the public may sue under the "public trust doctrine" to protect wildlife, they may sue only government agencies and not private parties.

The decision reaffirms a Superior Court ruling to dismiss the lawsuit...

Tall tale; Trees could power wireless networks

The U.S. Forest Service uses a network of automated stations to track weather conditions, especially during fire season. But the solar-powered remote network needs large forest clearings so the Sun can reach collectors.

Tax credits set to be part of US bailout

Stop Press: Just as it seemed that US renewables tax credit legislation - in the form of extensions to the PTC and ITC - was doomed until at least after the forthcoming US election, who'd have thought it: it has only turned up in the US bailout rescue package...

The U.S. Faces Serious Risks of Brownouts or Blackouts in 2009, Study Warns

A new study released this week highlights what experts have been saying for years: the U.S. faces significant risk of power brownouts and blackouts as early as next summer that may cost tens of billions of dollars and threaten lives.

Uranium Bill Passes Senate

A bill preventing Russia from flooding the U.S. market with cheap uranium and protecting the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is headed to President Bush.

US Could Create 4.2 Mln Green Jobs by 2038 - Study

The US economy could generate 4.2 million new "green" jobs in the next 30 years, about 10 percent of all the jobs created, according to a study for the US Conference of Mayors released on Thursday.

US House may vote on $700-bil bailout, green energy tax credits

The US House of Representatives is slated to vote later Friday on whether to enact a $700 billion financial crisis bill that includes a package of tax credits with $17 billion for renewable and low-emissions energy projects.

US Senate gives final approval to nuclear trade with India

The US Senate voted 86-13 late Wednesday to approve a bill allowing US companies to export nuclear material, equipment and technology to India, lifting restrictions that have been in place for more than 30 years.

Using Advanced Chemometrics for Continuous Monitoring of Source Water

Due to the transient and unexpected nature of the events we are trying to detect, the monitoring systems also need to be on-line and continuous because if we knew when we needed to monitor, we wouldn't need to monitor.

Water security guards against contamination at 2008 Olympic games

While world records were being made and broken at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, strategically placed Hach GuardianBlue® Early Warning Systems were quietly and carefully analyzing the drinking water to guard against contamination.

Weather-related Disasters Dominate

An estimated 874 weather-related disasters occurred worldwide in 2007, representing a 13 percent increase over 2006, according to the latest Vital Signs Update. This was the highest number of such disasters since the systematic recording of these events began in 1974.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 100308

•Crude futures were little changed in early European trading Friday, after a week-long plunge, as traders awaited the US House of Representatives' vote on the revised $700 billion rescue package, and ahead of key US payrolls data released later today, sources said.

• "It has been a rollercoaster ride. We have had exceptional ranges around $5/b for most of the week and most traders are really shell-shocked," one London-based broker said. Nov ICE Brent has slumped $12.26/b or 12.1% relative to last week's settle, as the darkening outlook for global demand in the wake of recent financial turmoil and strength in the dollar, the world's reserve currency continues to weigh on sentiment across the commodity complex.

World Bank's 'green' energy funding up 87 percent

World Bank funding for efficient and renewable energy rose 87 this year to nearly $2.7 billion, reflecting the importance of moving to a low-carbon economy, the bank's energy chief said on Thursday.

September 30, 2008

AEP Wants to Ask Customers to Chip in; The Plan Would Ask People to Volunteer to Pay for Green Energy

Colorado customers may soon be able to write a larger check for the monthly bill to support the generation of electricity with wind, water and other renewable sources.

AEP wants you to pick up storm's tab

With the government's storm-response tab topping $34 million and hundreds of thousands of people struggling to clear trees and replace spoiled food after the Sept. 14 wind storm, American Electric Power is thinking about billing its customers for the cost of restoring their power.

Bank rescues spread as Bush pushes bailout

Bank rescues spread in Europe on Tuesday and President George W. Bush gave assurances that a $700 billion bailout plan for the financial sector was not dead, giving markets around the world a boost.

Bodman plans last appeal for nuclear power at IAEA meeting

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman will attend the International Atomic Energy Agency's general conference next week, advocating again for expansion of civilian nuclear energy and increased protection of nuclear materials worldwide.

Britain Leads Way in Race to Harness Wave Power

Three sites are under investigation - two off Scotland and one off the coast of Northern Ireland - for up to 60 underwater turbines, generating 60 mega watts of power for 40,000 homes.

ScottishPower, the energy firm behind the plans, said the technology could make Scotland the global leader in the field.

Buffett Makes Bid for Constellation

The turmoil in the financial sector is now rattling the utility world. Constellation Energy was about to become the first such casualty, but Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings came to the rescue, finding a fundamentally good company at a garage sale price.

Carbon Capture and Storage; a Very Expensive Silver Bullet?

Scottish Power recently unveiled plans to liquefy CO2 emissions from its coal fired plant at Longannet, and transport the waste gas to burial rocks beneath the North Sea, which it claims have the potential to store all of Europe's CO2 emissions for the next six hundred years. Although doubts over carbon capture and storage technology remain, these concerns are looking increasingly tenuous.

Chairman Gordon Calls For A National Water Initiative To Help Ensure Water Supply

Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) recently introduced H.R. 6997 a bill to create a national Water Initiative. The Initiative will coordinate and support federal water research, education, and technology transfer activities to address changes in water use, supply, and demand in the U.S.

Colorado Could Become Solar Leader

Solar power accounts for a fraction of the megawatts wind generates, but as technology improves and costs fall, solar panels could catch up in a big way.

Conservatives stand firm on opposition to bailout

The failure of a massive Wall Street bailout bill and a steep fall in the stock market was a price worth paying to stand up for principle, some conservatives said on talk radio shows on Tuesday.

Dutch Venture Plans Cheap, Powerful Electric Cars

A Dutch-based company announced plans to produce affordable electric cars by the end of 2009, promising they would be much more powerful than existing models and have zero emissions.

Energy Risk - Informing Congress

Energy is arguably the hottest topic in Congress nowadays.

In July, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was pushing his bill to stop excessive energy speculation through the upper house as lawmakers reacted to the sharp rise in oil and gas prices. In January, the new Congress under a new administration is expected to tackle carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade program or a carbon tax.

Europe Warms Fast; Med Drier, North Ever Wetter

Europe is warming faster than the world average and governments need to invest to adapt to a changing climate set to turn the Mediterranean region arid and the north ever wetter, a study showed on Monday.

Flagstaff unlikely to meet 2012 emissions goal

Flagstaff as a community is unlikely to meet goals to cut global-warming gases below 1990 levels in the next few years, even with aggressive proposals like a carbon tax.

Global energy slowdown nigh in tight-credit environment; analyst

Energy companies unable to make back costs at $60/barrel oil or $6/Mcf natural gas will fail in an emerging environment of tight credit and slower global growth

Gorbachev to form new Russian party

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will join forces with Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev to launch a new political party independent of the Kremlin, the billionaire businessman said on Tuesday.

Herd mentality rules in financial crisis

Herd mentality rules during a financial crisis because people are wired to follow the crowd when times are uncertain, experts say.

House approves renewable energy tax incentives

The Democratic-led House today approved a $60 billion tax package designed largely to spur investment in renewable energy, and funded in part by assessing higher taxes on oil and gas companies.

House Restores Yucca Mountain Funding in Bill

Faced with a White House veto threat, Congress this week is restoring a part of Yucca Mountain funding that had been cut from a major defense bill.

IMF Says Credit Crisis Marks Tectonic Shift in Financial Markets

The upheaval from the U.S. financial crisis is like a tectonic shift on a scale not seen in financial systems around the world, IMF First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky said.

Impacts of Climate Change in Europe

Europe is warming faster than the world average and governments need to invest to help citizens adapt to a global warming, according to a study on Monday.

Investors return to gold 'in a major way'; LBMA Chairman

The Chairman of the London Bullion Market Association, Jeremy Charles, said that due to chaotic market conditions over the past two weeks, investors are returning to gold, "in a major way."

Meltdown unlikely, says Stanford economist

A general economic slowdown is the most likely result of the current woes on Wall Street, according to a leading economist.

Microsoft urges House to rethink bailout vote

Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, urged the House of Representatives to reconsider its vote against the $700 billion financial bailout plan Monday.

More to Outages Than Wind ; AEP's Lower Maintenance Goals, Outdated System Made Bad Situation Worse, Critics Say

American Electric Power's policies for maintaining equipment and a lax regulatory system might have combined to make unprecedented winds in Ohio a perfect storm for about 700,000 customers left in the dark for days.

Japan to Provide Solar Energy Subsidy

Japan plans to provide subsidies to households that buy solar power systems to promote solar power and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Nikkei business daily said Sunday.

NASA delays repair mission to Hubble telescope

Space shuttle Atlantis had been scheduled to blast off in just two weeks, but an unexpected problem with the Hubble appeared on Saturday night when the telescope stopped sending science data.

New Group Seeks to Fortify Nuclear Sites

A new organization is being unveiled Monday in Vienna that seeks to bolster security at thousands of nuclear sites around the globe in an effort to block atomic theft and terrorism. Its aim is to promote the best security practices, eliminate weak links in the global security chain and, ultimately, keep terrorists from getting the bomb

New Solar Generation report; Solar Energy can bring clean energy to over 4 billion people by 2030

With the publication of its up-dated Report "Solar Generation V", EPIA and Greenpeace confirm that solar electricity can contribute largely to the energy needs of two-thirds of the world’s population - including those in remote areas - by 2030.

Northeast Puts on the Carbon Cap

For the first time, a carbon market is opening for business in the United States. The long-awaited Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), takes effect on January 1, 2009. Utilities in ten states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont—will be required to purchase carbon emission rights or find themselves unable to operate.

Offshore Wind Power Considered

Visitors to Rehoboth Beach, Del., soon may be greeted by more than sand dunes, seagulls and beach umbrellas. If offshore wind advocates have their way, scores of 140-foot blades will be spinning in the ocean breeze nearly a dozen miles away, barely visible to the sunbathers.

PNM fly-ash release gets local attention

Electric company PNM will have to explain to the state's Environmental Department why a release of fly ash at its San Juan Generating Station happened Thursday.

Pump prices unfazed amid oil hikes, tight inventories

Despite the recent oil trading fury on Wall Street and a report that gasoline supplies are stretched thin in many parts of the country, pump prices resumed their downward trend

Quote of the Day 093008

"The oil market is linked to whatever is happening in the financial market as opposed to oil fundamentals. After the biggest one day drop, Dow Jones futures are up a couple of hundred points and this is bringing a bit of stability to some commodities including oil this morning,"
a London-based broker said regarding the recent market volatility following the US $700 billion bailout rejection.

"We suspect that Congress will eventually come up with a plan that all sides can live with. There is simply too much at stake by failing to pass a massive cash injection."
Ed Meir of MF Global said in a report regarding the failed US bailout proposal.

Regional and Larger Banks Get Boost as US Businesses Seek Stability

Turmoil in global credit markets and the economic slowdown are prompting many U.S. businesses to establish additional relationships with a wide variety of banks as a means of securing access to credit. As they do so, middle market businesses are turning to a host of large national, regional banks and smaller institutions “perceived” as survivors.

Report calls for international arrangement for spent nuclear fuel

Assurances on disposition of spent nuclear fuel could be more important than guarantees of fresh fuel in convincing new nuclear countries to rely on international supply arrangements rather than pursuing their own uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing programs, according to a study released Tuesday by the US and Russian national science academies.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 092908

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with a slight chance for
isolated active conditions at high latitudes for day one (30 September) of the forecast period. On day two (01 October) activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels with a chance for minor storm periods

Rich Nations' Greenhouse Gases Fell in 2006 - Survey

Rich nations' greenhouse gas emissions dipped for the first time in five years in 2006, easing 0.1 percent despite robust economic growth, a Reuters survey of the latest available information showed on Friday.

Scientists Demand Climate Action From Australia PM

Top Australian climate scientists on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calling for courageous moves to tackle global warming, as a poll showed economic upheaval sapping public support for the climate fight.

Section-by-Section of the Bailout Legislation

“Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.”

Severe fuel shortage grips parts of southeast

A severe fuel shortage has gripped parts of the southeastern United States, causing long lines at filling stations and symbolizing for some people their fears about the wider economy.

Supplying 12% of Europe’s Electricity by 2020

The European Photovoltaic Industry closed the last 23rd European Solar Photovoltaic Conference and Exhibition in Valencia with breaking news: it announced to the whole sector that it was committing to supply 12% of Europe’s electricity demand by 2020.

Tax credit to aid first-time home-buyers, must be repaid over 15 years

First-time home-buyers should begin planning now to take advantage of a new tax credit included in the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Town of Union Might Approve Construction of Wind Tower Despite Moratorium

Despite local opposition and a moratorium on wind farm development, the town of Union might approve construction of a wind- measurement tower.

U.S. invests in solar photovoltaic project

The U.S. Department of Energy says it intends to invest up to $17.6 million for six early stage solar photovoltaic module incubator projects.

U.S. to study effects of wind energy industry on habitats

The Great Plains region, often described as the Saudi Arabia of wind energy, has caught the eye of so many wind developers that the federal government is launching an extensive environmental analysis of the alternative energy source.

Urgent action needed to see 50% global emissions cut by 2050; IEA

Governments around the world need to take urgent action to develop policies to increase the use of renewable energy if they want to meet their pledged reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the International Energy Agency said Monday.

US ban on most offshore oil, gas drilling set to end Weds

A 26-year-old congressional ban on oil and gas drilling in most US waters outside the Gulf of Mexico is set to end on Wednesday, following Senate passage Saturday of a temporary funding bill for the government.

US House offers stand-alone renewable energy tax credit bill

In another attempt to extend renewable energy tax credits before they expire at the end of this year, a member of the US House of Representatives is offering a new bill that contains only the energy tax breaks and budget offsets from a version recently passed by the US Senate.

US ready to help finance global nuclear power expansion; Bush

The US is prepared to help other countries develop nuclear energy, including by "assisting with the necessary financing," President Bush told the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna Monday.

US Treasury Announces Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds

The U.S. Treasury Department yesterday opened its Temporary Guarantee Program for Money Market Funds. The U.S. Treasury will guarantee the share price of any publicly offered eligible money market mutual fund – both retail and institutional – that applies for and pays a fee to participate in the program.

What's Moving the Oil Markets 093008

•Global crude futures recovered from an early selloff in European trading Tuesday, following Monday's plunge across the oil complex and global stock markets, sources said.

•"The oil market is linked to whatever is happening in the financial market as opposed to oil fundamentals.

Wind Jobs in Colorado Expected to Boom

Colorado's northern and eastern plains are some of the best places in the country to site wind farms, comprising 300-foot-tall wind turbines capable of generating 1.5 megawatts of electricity each when the wind blows.

Erecting the turbines creates hundreds of temporary construction jobs, along with lease payments and taxes that pump millions into the rural economy.

World's CO2 emissions increase

U.S. scientists say annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and manufacturing worldwide have grown 38 percent since 1992.