STUFF

Euro govts are, on average, 49% of their GDPs. Last I think I saw, US govt is 22-4%.

So far this fiscal year, US budget deficit $844B, less than last year.

Every few years, ASCE issues infrastructure report card. We've gotten a D since '88. '98 report gave school infra an F. Est. 5-yr, $2.2T investment need to get back to speed (on all). Solid waste doing best with C+. Bridges got C. D minuses: wastewater, roads, levees (tho New Orleans finished), inland waterways and drinking water. That last one concerns the heck out of me. I don't own a filter for my tap yet.
D's: aviation, dams, hazardous waste, schools, transit. Backroom G20 decision to unleash $50T worldwide for infra. Where will that money come from?

Chavez built their 1st drone of 3 in partnership with Iran, Russia and China. Designed for surveillance. No arms, so it's reported. 60-mile range, so reported. Just cheaper aircraft with pilots on ground. That's all. But shows who's working with whom, A? And if that's what they're reporting or we're finding out, what do they really have?

Renewable E 89% of elgen in Brazil in '11. 6% increase in hydro, 24% increase in wind, decrease in sugarcane biomass. Global avg 20%. But. IEA says Brazil at 44% in '11 and global avg 13%. No clue the source of the 89/20% figs. When in doubt, take the conservative route.

Mutual funds with almost $12T in assets - 35% invested in US - failing to acknowledge financial relevance of climate change. The ostrich money.

National Modern Energy - Chinese biomass power plant comp - and Sun Investment bought Saab and plan to turn it into EV comp.

Consumers Energy building 101MW wind farm in Mich. Vestas turbines. Online in Oct.

Lord & Taylor buying 100% wind power for 7 NJ retail stores from Green Mountain E.

Gamesa halted 60MW Shaffer Mtn. PA wind farm. Locals fought 6 years to preserve the pristine site and Fish & Wildlife held it up over critters' concerns. Gamesa cited govt subsidies uncertainty. Property owner loses.