STUFF

Marine vetenarian linked Peru dolphin deaths to sonar testing used to locate oil deposits. Dolphins showed bleeding and fractures in middle ears (from fast decompression). But what caused large seabird die-off?

House Energy, Commerce Committee Repubs blame EPA for upheaval in biodiesel industry, saying not doing enough to address fraud in fuel credit-trading market. FBI raided NJ biofuels comp offices as part of fraud investigation.

EPA rejected oil industry petition to waive '11 cellulosic ethanol requirements.

Lobsters in US N east losing shells early.

Appeals court backs Shell's exploration plans for Alaska waters.

Radiation-tainted tuna caught off Cal coast.

NRC renewed Mass. reactor license.

LDK Solar (China) headed for bankruptcy. Immense debt burden and global solar market downturn.

Australia out-installing Germany in <10KW solar systems 3rd year in row. AU installed total 837MW solar in '11. 815MW of that systems <100KW, 96% of that <10KW. One of 1st countries to have reached "solar parity". Didn't and doesn't use govt subsidies.

Development of Eagle Ford shale could push San Antonio area over ozone level limits.

U of IL researcher says ethanol plants can't be profitable with corn over $6.75/bu.

Price Waterhouse says high level of debt in Brazil sugarcane sector main factor holding back increased ethanol production. Other factors cited - lack of professionalism, lack of available trained labor.

UK cut '20 solar target to 11.9GW from 22GW after cutting FIT's last week.

In April, Mauna Loy observatory measured ~396PPM of CO2 in atmos, highest ever recorded. Up near 3PPM in last year. 350PPM seen as level world needs to stay under to avoid radical climate change. Before industrial revolution it was 280PPM. 450PPM probably would be catastrophic, researchers say.

You might want to read that again.

Bakken and 3 Forks wells will pump for 30 years. Per well total est. prod ~540K bls, >$20M profit, $7.5M in royalties, $4.5M in taxes, $2M in salaries, wages: ND Dept of Mineral Resources. 6,921 wells producing in state in March, 3,382 in Bakken, 3 Forks. ND prod 152.9M bls in '11, up 35% over last year. Avg Bakken well produces ~923 bls/day 1st couple years, then drops to half and lower with time.