STUFF

I saw a report that Iran has enough U for 5 nuke weapons. And they are "not ready" for visit to suspect nuke weapon development site. "IAEA's reasons to visit 'not good enough'", say they. The world we live in, kids.

Erskine Bowles: US has most inefficient, ineffective, globally anti-competitive tax code that man could dream up.

Apex Wind Energy building 300MW farm in OK. Online late this year. Will increase state's wind energy capacity by 15%. $470M. You see that? Just over $1.50/W! Sold to Atlantic Power Corp, though holding minority ownership.

Projected '13 US elgen mix: coal 37.8%, NG 29.3%, nuke 20.4%, hydro 6.8%, oil 1.3%, others (wind, solar, geotherm, tidal) 4.4%.

El Reliability Council of TX projecting potential power shortages during peak demand times over next decade. Encouraging conservation and raising cap on wholesale prices from $3K/MWh to $4.5. Cited growing demand, weather, economy and plans for new gen. They try to maintain 13.75% reserve over peak power demand forecast to deal with wx or plant/grid failure. They see it falling to 9.8% by '14, 6.9% by '15. Already relying on mothballed plants. New gen typically takes at least 2 years to get online for most techs.

Since '08, EDF "Climate Corps" placed MBA, MPA students in comps, cities, etc to develop customized E efficiency investment plans. To date ID'd $1B in E savings and emissions redux equiv to 200K cars. This year the Corps to work with 88 orgs - total now 186 - including Google, Facebook, Caterpillar, Cummins, Boston/Chicago/Houston school systems, Dallas/New Orleans city govts.

RevTech developing virtual power plant platform and fast response E storage capacity for EV's. To deliver multiple services to ISO's, utilities, microgrids and bldg mgmt/owners.

Bureau of Ocean E Mgmt seeking any developers to compete for proposed Deepwater Wind 34.5kV submerged transmission connect for 30MW wind farm off Block I, RI to mainland. Block I now using diesel-burning plant.

S Africa Dept of E awarded 88MW PV solar project after bids to consortium of Solar Reserve (US) and 2 S Africa comps. 3rd award for total 238MW (20% share of S Af's solar market). Solar Reserve holds worldwide license to molten salt power tower tech.

US environmental tech industry employs ~2M. Positive trade balance. $312B revs in '10. Expected to grow 7%/y.

Shell owns >12% of all NG in N Am, has taken NG drilling lead in Europe and dominating NG dev in China, Africa, Australia. Building multi-B$ "cracker" plant in PA for NG-to-ethylene for plastics, 5 years ago too expensive in US. Now checking gulf coast for gas-to-liquids plant (diesel or JP), the one in Qatar putting $6B/y onto bottom line. Also $250M into infra for NG for trucks, cars. Trucks in US use >$135B/y worth of diesel.

US facing helium shortage soon. Govt started stockpiling in '25. He critical for research, cooling, space, welding. Govt started selling stockpile in '96. In '11, private prices $160/K cu ft, govt price at $75. Law granting access to govt He set to expire in '14 (est. 30% worldwide supply).