STUFF

Marin County, Calif criminalized the install of "smart" el meters, citing alleged health effects from EM waves. Also concern of info collection of residents' activities. Um, sounds like a large community of paranoid indoor marijuana growers. But I judge not. PG&E said it will go forward despite the ordinance.

TSLA roadster got 347 miles on one charge in a test.

Verdant Power filed ap to FERC to build country's first tidal power plant. Pilot project of 30 turbines in East River NYC. Earlier project generated 70MWh for grid. No adverse effect on fish. I was in contact with these guys in '03. Discussed feasibility for Ohio River.

Petrobras (Brazil) talking with Italy's ENI to buy out their 33% interests in a Portuguese oil firm operating off Brazil. CNOOC (China oil & gas) to spend $150B thru '15 on offshore, overseas production.

2 American Wind Alliance (T. Boone Pickens) farm projects - 265MW total - received priority ranking for transmission along Lake Huron shoreline in Ontario FIT (feed-in tariff) program. Step closer to getting 20-yr PPA (power production authority). 300MW more AWA projects in 2nd-round aps.

U of W Oshkosh to use food/yard waste to make el and heat for campus. Anaerobic bio-digester converts waste to biogas. 3GWh/yr plus heat for buildings. Will be 1st dry anaerobic digester plant in US (though I think we have some operating on farms already).

Vestas won 49MW wind turbine order in China. 2Q '11 delivery.

WPNV to open full-service facility in Oregon for largest wind turbines. Next location to be in Texas, NM area.

WNDT got $1.5M state, local incentives for proposed expansion near Rochester.

RES got approval from Scotland for 99MW wind farm. In pipe for 6 years.

Beautiful Earth Group began building solar plant in Calif's Antelope Valley. Each of 2 19MW PV plants to generate >16GWh/yr (10k homes). 187 acres. Adjacent to S Cal Edison substation.

Bloomington IN has solar-powered trash compactors around downtown. Lessen trash pickup frequency. $4k each. From stimulus money.

GM, DOE signed license agreement aimed at lowering costs, improving efficiency of advanced batts. GM now gets tech from Korea, but better tech may stay in US.

AMSC got $10M+ contract from Korea's Doosan for wind turbine el control systems (superconduction). 2H '11-1H '12 shipments.