STUFF

Sun Ed closed deals on 3 PV solar projects totaling ~98MW in Europe in Q2.

IKEA plugged-in <1MW rooftop solar systems on 2 more stores. The one in Mich is state's largest solar array. IKEA now 20 stores in US with solar roofs. 19 more on the way. Eventual total ~38MW. Comp has also installed EV charging stations at 9 US stores to date.

GE signed $16.5M contract to double capac of Vietnam transmission line. Capacitor banks to increase power on 500KV line from 1K amps to 2. Will supply ~800MW to southern area. US export-import bank finance.

S Korea planning 11 more nuke reactors online by '21. 23 now. 34 will make nuke power 60% of elgen. Also plans to export 80 reactors by '30. Already $30B deal for 4 reactors to UAE, building 1 in Jordan.

VLNC filed for bankruptcy.

Global clean E investment up 24% in Q2, primarily wind and solar farms. Up 92% in China.

Licensing delays, soaring construction costs, install glitches driving up costs of nuke reactors planned in GA, TN, SC. The same old story.

Russian oil drilling off Cuba delayed by old embargo requiring machinery to have <10% of parts made in US.

Canadian regulators approved 1st large CO2 control project for oil sands.

Heating, AC industry preparing for 30% efficiency gains.

Ukraine opening markets for wind, solar developers with generous rates, "risky" politics.

China aims to build, sell 5M "E-efficient" vehicles by '20. That may mean electric or hybrid. Or both.

High Prairie Pipelines accusing Enbridge of denying request to directly link proposed 450-mile pipe from Bakken in ND, MT to highway of pipes carrying Canada oil sands crude into US. Aren't they different qualities of oil?

Comps that bought fake renewable credits fault EPA for lack of warning. Sounds like a point to me.

DOE distributing $30M to NG vehicle projects.

OH gov banned drilling in Lake Erie. (I guess OH's share of it.)

Honeywell planning shutdown, upgrades for IL uranium plant.

CT lobsters testing positive for pesticides.

Inter-Am Dev Bank approved $250M for Costa Rica el sector. Near-$98M for hydropower project, rest for state power comp's elgen, transmission, distrib capacity. Comp plans to invest $9B next 12 yrs in new hydro, thermal (fossil) and geothermal elgen. Country now gets 12% - 163MW - of el from geotherm. 1 of few countries that could get all their el from geo.

Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act passed US House unanimously. Would increase dev of small hydro, conduit projects by directing FERC to study feasability of 2-yr permitting process.

Over 50 solar PV makers in China have also gone under lately. Global glut to likely persist next few years. 59GW prod expected in '12 to meet 30GW demand. I guess that's just how business is (with govt subsidies, politics, et al.).

Iran announced plans to start building 1st nuke sub. I guess that's just how countries are.

UK has 100-ton stockpile of plutonium nuke waste. They tried converting that to mixed-oxide fuel (Mox) to fuel reactors. But trial plant failed. Another option is fast reactor. UK stockpile enough to power country >500 yrs with that. But it's said decades from commercial viability. Now, GE-Hitachi say their Prism fast reactor available now and competitive. And a Canada firm says it has Candu reactor that can run on Mox fuel. UK's NDA to review and report to govt by yearend. What about thorium reactors my Q.

China wind power group looking to offer $1.7-$2B for Vestas.