STUFF

Next Era Energy subsid Genesis Solar closed on $700M bonds, $150M loan and $83M letter of credit to build 250MW concentrating solar thermal plant using parabolic troughs in S. Cal. DOE loan guarantee of 80%. That makes almost $6B for CST of total $40B in DOE guarantees. Which costs DOE nothing if all the projects are righteous. Carrying the money at these interest rates also is nominal. Energy policy you say? It's happening. Chu is maybe the best energy secretary we've ever had.

GTAT bought Confluence Solar for $60M plus. Equipment to make monocrystalline silicon ingots (for solar) @ lower costs. They will be the only supplier in the market for some time. They expect it to generate $3-400M/y in revs. GTAT already sells equip to make multicrystalline ingots. GTAT $1+ above their 200-day lines, up another 1% today.

In '10, Egypt's debt was 80% of GDP. Mexico's was 37%. Russia's was 9%. Why this is called "stuff". When I get "stuff" I let you know.

VLNC got $7.2M order from EVI's deal with UPS for 100 EV vehicles. VLNC down 1% today.

Exxon got agreement with Rosneft to explore for oil in Russian sector of Arctic Ocean that could grow to a $500B deal over time. Pretty much the BP deal that went south. Initial investment of $3.2B in Kara Sea. Also included Black Sea exploration. Exxon offloaded downstream assets in Malaysia (refining, retail, industrial and av fuel).

E85 pumps opened up in a "green" station in Stuart FL. Corn ethanol will never be green. Sorry corn lobby.

A 24MW hybrid solar PV/geothermal plant to be built in NV. Chinese solar supplier. Oo. With all the solar panels made in USA. Tsk tsk.

8 states got 100-year rains from Irene.

Electrical workers restored power to about 250k customers overnight in MA. Still 250k without power.

Austin expected to break under 100F Sept 1.

DOE put $41M into 16 carbon capture research projects, $141M into new facility. There are solvents, sorbents and membranes. Science rules.

LSCG/Dixon's $15 60W LED to cut price in half. Will 1st appear in India by year-end. Global next year. Consumes even less power than old $30 bulb. 8.5w. Cutting down amount of LED's in the bulb and better use of heat sinks. LSCG also developing bulb w/ Google to be controlled thru Android. LSCG stilll up 4% today.

Construction begun on $208M carbon capture/storage project @ ADM's ethanol plant in Decatur. DOE says it should capture 1M tons CO2/y. Online in '13. Partly funded by govt's $144M. Hm. I guess here we actually put up money. Not just a loan guarantee. Maybe ADM has a strong lobbyist.

Well, that's the stuff, pards. Happier trails.