STUFF

Idaho Power has 500MW of wind power with another 300MW coming online this year. They say, tho, that when it hits 1GW that the cost of integrating the power explodes. It would limit ability to use low-cost hydropower. They pay ~$43/MWh to wind producers. $6.50/MWh goes to integration. 800MW of wind will raise that to $8. 1.2GW takes it to $19. Bonneville Power Admin has been able to integrate a higher % of wind. They can sell power elsewhere through more transmission outlets.

Maine supreme court ruled state PUC failed to resolve health and safety issues of Central Maine Power's install of smart meters and should now do so. But the court didn't agree meters violate constitutional rights of privacy and property. Meter switch was $200M project, half funded from stimulus. And done. Radio freq radiation emitted by wireless meters. Customers can opt out for $12/mo fee.

UK tops 12 top world econs in E efficiency. Germany, Japan, Italy rank high. US 9th under China, France, Australia. Top 12 are 78% of global GDP, 63% of E use, 62% of CO2-equiv emissions. Worse than US - Brazil, Canada, Russia. American Council for E Efficient Economy.

Heilos Solar Works invested $11M in equip to add 3rd shift at Milwaukee solar panel factory.

juwi Wind (Boulder) started on 30MW wind farm in MN. Xcel Energy to buy the power. REPower 2MW turbines. Online Oct. juwi Group in Germany.

TVA's Watts Bar nuke plant completion pushed from this year to '15. Cost inflated from $2.5B to $4.5B.

IAEA still projecting up to 800GW of new nuke plants online globally by '30. 377GW online at end of '10. Most to be built in China, Russia, India.

Construction start on 235MW, $375M wind farm in OK. To send power to Alabama Power. Online by yearend. 1.68MW turbines. Subsid of GE - EFS Chisholm - and Enel Green Power the owners.

First Wind turned on 21MW 2nd phase of 51MW Maui wind farm. Batt storage system. Comp also building  69MW farm on Oahu, adding to 30MW already built.

Brazil expects 10GW of wind farms to come online from '12 through '20 for ~$17B. Most in country's NE region where tradewinds come onshore.