STUFF

In '07, US had ~1.6TCF NG production from shale plays. In '11, it was 7.2TCF.

HOKU Solar to build 7.2MW solar farm on Kaua'i.

NTCXF has created "absolute black" silicon solar cells. 10X reflective redux from cells in use today. 99.7% light absorbed. 3% more light gets into cell. Makes 18% efficient cell 18.5%. Also performs better at low sun angles and on cloudy days. And lower production costs. They're designing production tool to make 2k wafers/hr. Buy it and hold it.

"Planet Under Pressure" soiree wound up in London. Scientists, govt officials, biz leaders signed declaration calling for global action on threats to water, food, biodiversity, other critical resources. Also called for better growth indicator than GDP. Example of India GDP '90-'08 up 120% but, after loss of forests, minerals, other "national capital", "real" growth was 9%. Sounds a little etchy sketchy, but something to consider.

Some of world's forests threatened by warming climate. Especially with pests. Birds slowly migrating north (not just for summer). Indonesian forest fires threathening orangutan. Warmer winters change animal behavior: hunters. Increase in autism raising Q's about chem/enviro links.

Renewable/clean energy and environmental stewardship has become home run for pro sports. Phoenix Suns the latest.

Billion dollar solar plant slated for Baja. Sol Focus snagged concentrating PV project in Mex to be built in 50MW phases.

Rules for new sources of GHG's announced. And questions about present sources.

Biz groups attacking IL "clean coal" plant.

Congress rallied for strong action against EU av emissions law. And, unable to even define "subsidy", our courageously gridlocked Senate shot down the energy tax bill.

Cost overruns plague weather sats.

Emissions trading having slow impact on cutting CO2. (Probably because hardly anyone's doing it.)

NRC rejected claims that renewables could replace OH reactor. I agree. Nukes are clean energy. Dangerous. But clean. Experts warn of assessing cancer risk near reactors. Really. Can't handle the truth?

US shipping industry prepared to handle refinery closures: trade group. Refiners complaining gas prices too low. Huh.

Fukushima operator asks for $12B bailout. German utilities scrap nuke project. I guess they're serious about no nukes. Bulgaria abandoned plans for new nuke plant.

Construction begun on Yangtze dam.

World's oldest bank - Italy's Paschi di Siena - had $6.2B loss in '11. Founded in 1472. Loss from debt crisis, econ slowdown. The '08 crisis lives on.

Hawaii leads US in EV charge stations installed.