STUFF

Currently, cellulosic ethanol gets the 45 cent/gal ethanol tax credit (refineries get the credits for blending ethanol) plus a 56 cent credit until the end of '12. The Renewable Fuel Standard Act requires ethanol blends at increasingly higher amounts (25% by '15). The current subsidies for regular ethanol expire at the end of this year. And I bet Congress is going to have a battle over that. And word is it would cost more per job saved than the job pays if the credits are extended. Besides all the wrong reasons for ethanol.

Moving onward. We know pollution kills. Well, a report by DARA says climate change will kill 5M more people by '20 and the rate goes up after that. 350k/yr now. Desertification, extreme weather events, agri effects, etc. By '30 (yeah like we're going to be here), US will suffer most econ loss of any nation - ~$40B/yr. Pshaw, what's $40B. Especially in '30. Now the globe is losing $150B/yr to it. Bottom line. Pollution kills and so does climate change from pollution.

US Supreme Court to hear global warming case. Right of states to regulate C emissions as "public nuisance". Brought by 8 states, NYC and environmental groups. From Connecticut v. AEP.

France's Areva signed major contracts with India's Nuclear Power Corp for 2 new reactors, first of 6. I thought the US was working with India on nuke development. O well. France is 80% nuke.

Wi-fi thermostats now at Home Depot. Under $100. Radio Thermostat Company of America. Let's invent. And sell it to the world.

Hertz adding EV's to NYC fleet. Ford starting to ship its electric delivery van. GM hiring 1000 to engineer more EV's.

Czech gov to halve their Feed-In Tariffs (FIT) for PV installs over 30kw in '11. Will have over 1.2GW installed v. 50MW 2 years ago. Electric rates have shot up and grid instabilities. CZ was one of top 5 national markets this year. But their FITs were too high relative to other countries and they are close to reaching their '20 goal way ahead of sked. Italy and Spain cut back more kindly.

55MW Sempra solar farm 40 miles SE of Vegas now largest plant online in US. 775k FSLR panels. 380 acres. Construction began first of year with 350 workers. And it cost how much?

Suntech (STK I think - I don't follow NYSE) predicting 46% growth in shipments (2.2-2.4GW) in '11. Shipped 1.5 in '10.

Happy trails pards.