STUFF

Seadrill expected to have 18 more offshore ultra-deepwater rigs by '15. Each rig can earn up to $650K/d. (Cost for Repsol's dry well off Cuba was $175M).

SoCalGas demonstrating cogen solar. Mirrors and tracking system to capture sun, then focus on PV solar array. Produces el and hot water. Hot water used in 10-ton AC unit (cools 2 avg-size homes). Cogenra Solar modular plug-and-play equipment. (AC uses ~50% of bldg's el.)

CT's Clean E Finance and Investment Auth has new program to promote residential solar. $10M in subsidies, incentives to add another 5.6MW around the state. Auth charged to achieve 30MW of new rez solar by '22.

Nanosolar completed install of 1MW solar at Cal Nat Guard facility. Part of DOD tech certification program. DOD spends >$4B/y on el. Nanosolar has thin-film CIGS tech. They say they'll have grid parity with fossils by '15. Modules now at 11.5% efficiency, expecting 14% in '13. 115MW/y prod capac.

GE's 1.9GW coal-fired power plant in PA getting 2 new scrubbers by '14 for $750M. A 3rd unit had scrubber installed in '01.

NG prices (delivered) $2.80-3.20/MBTU past 90 days. Coal's been $4-4.50 in same period (down ~30% in past year). 1 reason why Lakeland Energy the latest utility to convert coal-burning unit to either coal or NG. The other reason - new proposed EPA emission rules. NG burns hotter than coal. Costs ~ $5-6M to convert. NG expected to stay at low prices for next 5 yrs.

MD gov signed bill that accels target date 2 years for 2% solar in state.

OH has 72 fracked wells now. 2,250 expected by '15. Cleaning frack water to be $9B biz by '20. Though waterless fracking tech in development.

And on it goes, pards. And here we are at summer. Honor a vet or all of them. Onward and upward.