STUFF

Monterey oil reserves (southern half of Calif central valley) profitable at $80 oil with new drilling tech. Enough deposits to end oil imports to US for decades, it's said. Promises, promises.

Venezuela may soon be shipping its crude to refineries in other countries rather than US, potentially cutting off US supply.

Pemex (Mexico) has abandoned wells in North Mex because of the drug war. Supplies to US may be cut. US may have to send in troops.

China looking to spend big money to get into Marcellus shale reserves (Appalachians) to get hands on the drilling tech to export it to their part of the world.

Clean E firms attracted $575M in 53 deals in Q3, less than half raised in yr-ago Q.

Westinghouse has handed over details of its nuke tech to China in initial part of tech transfer in HOPES of securing future biz. What kind of deal is that?

Vitrification seals nuclear waste into glass matrix to prevent leaching into environment. Kurion a startup with the tech.

Rush Limbaugh still irrational about EV's. If something helps us get off imported oil and cleans the air isn't that good for us? Driving and Oxycontin don't mix.

Senators seeking extension of clean E grants over tax credits.

Energy Sec Chu: US leadership at risk. Global high tech exports in US hit peak in '98 @ ~25% of market. Steady decline to 12-13% now. China '95-'08 went from ~6% to 20%. In '09, for first time, 51% of US patents were awarded to non-US companies. China went from 15th place to 5th in international patents. Fed support for energy R&D critical. Pharm R&D ~19%. Aerospace 11.5%. Computers, electronics 8%. Energy .03%. Stimulus provided huge down payment of additional R&D. But about to run out.

US utilities solar spending to double year over year thru '15. Over 5 GW of PV power under contract. $1B market in '10, est. $8B in '15. FSLR now holds over 40% of capacity in development. Less than 250MW now operating.