STUFF

So Cal Public Pwr Authority - public authority with 10 muni utilities and an irrigation district - purchased an option on 2 solar updraft towers in dev by EVOMY in AZ. 200MW each. Option gives SCPPA right to buy 1 tower at "fair market" at either 10th or 30th yr of op and option to buy power from other tower. EVOMY has PPA signed for 1 tower. Check this tech out.

A study says it would cost at least $600/ton to capture CO2 from air vs. est. $80/ton to capture from coal plant. Well, there we go.

Methane found in water near fracking sites in PA, NY. Big oops. Members of Sarkozy's conservative party have come out against fracking. Um, instead of trying to solve the problem.

JP scrapping plans to build new nukes. 14 more were planned by '30 to bring nuke fleet to 50% el supply. 54 reactors now for 30% (bfr the quake). Plans to add 2 new "pillars" - clean E and conservation.

GAO: admin's shut down of Yucca Mt. "strictly political". Well, yes, the people who live there were against it. No citing of tech or safety issues. Could set back repository 20 yrs. Um, is all the waste in one place a good idea? Or are fast breeder or thorium reactors a better idea?

Chile okaying 5 dams on wild Patagonia rivers. Well, there goes the kayaking/canoeing.

IL gov released plan to boost clean E, efficiency (conservation).

Brit gov advisors: ramp up nuke, delay offshore wind.

China planning big investment in EV's.

OPEC pumped 344kb/d less in April than March. Iraq not included. Libya fell from 460k in Mar to 200k in Apr. OPEC, tho, pumped 1.39m more in Apr than target of 24.85mb/d.

AEIS selected to supply inverters for 150MW project in AZ. Probably phase I of Sempra's Mesquite solar project (700MW total). Near Phoenix. Suntech the panel supplier. AEIS also has achieved world record 98% efficiency for inverters of the size (500kw) to be used.

Switch - formerly "Superbulbs" - to begin to sell LEDs in Q4. "Switch 75" - 15.5 watt emits equiv 75w incandescent (1,100 lumens). Likely to sell at $20-25 (existing bulbs at $60+). 1-yr payback. Saves $150-200 over life. Bulb dome filled w/ nontox liquid that draws heat away fm LEDs inside. Clear bulbs will let consumers see the physics (like lava lamps I suppose). They use much less LEDs, which account for 65-80% of costs.

Google is developing LED bulbs controllable from Android with LSCG. 60w incandescent equiv.

ENER. Flexible amorphous silicon PV and BIPV (building inegrated PV). Not doing too well. 3Q fiscal rev decrease 70% yoy, 69% fm previous Q. "Euro markets." Laying off 300 peeps (20%). CEO resigned, replaced.