STUFF

IKEA to grow their solar presence to 75% with plans to install solar on all their southern US locations.

TVA added 2 new solar generating sites.

40-50% of cost of owning/operating rooftop solar is admin expenses. Much of it from local govt's - permitting and zoning - financing, metering, grid connect. DOE trying to lower these costs. Recently awarded $12.5M in grants to help.

Durban climate talks in overtime as US resists formal treaty.

TX regulators approved plan that would cut off water flow to rice farmers. I guess that's from the drought.

Total net worth of US households was down 4.1% - $2.2T - in 3rd Q this year. $7,800 per person. About the rate when it fell $16.3T from early '07 to early '09. It came back some since, but after 3rd Q, still down $9.4T - 14% from '07 high. Since Dec '07, median household income is down 6.8% after inflation. Ratio of household debt to personal income now 154%. In '10, 2.6M more Americans fell into poverty, an all-time yearly record. Total govt debt, biz debt and consumer debt now >$50T. It was $5T in '80. Since '76, total trade deficit >$7.5T. US fiscal gap est. to be $211T in decades ahead. Total assets of all citizens, businesses and all levels of govt  ~$70T. Some real grim facts we have to have our leaders address. With real truth and real action.

Sapphire Energy got DOE loan to help build $135M 1M gal/year algae plant in NM. Sapphire based in Mexico. Algae oil then to be shipped to LA refinery for processing. Amount of loan not in report.

Well, onward and upward, pards.