STUFF

Average annual home el consumption in Germany 3,100KWh. In US, 11,500KWh.

Oil industry warning folks not to buy E15 at that Kansas gas station because it will ruin your engine. Ethanol industry says they may as well say don't buy anything, whatever that means. EPA says E15 OK for vehicles from '01 and onward. E15 sales at the station ~20% of sales. But, selling for $1.50/gal.

Neb EPA seeking list of data, including chem mix to dilute oil sands, from Transcanada in effort to review proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

American importers of China solar panels facing ~$100M in retro tariffs.

Paris bike-share service was profitable last year. '07 start. 138M users, 225K subscribers.

American oil/NG services comps seeking foothold in China through local partners before country opens 2nd round of bidding on shale gas reserves.

After 8 years, breakthrough in understanding algae/iron interaction to sequester atmos carbon in deep ocean. Scientists add iron to ocean, inducing algae bloom. Most then dies and sinks to ocean floor, carrying sequestered carbon with it.

Chevron made oil exploration deal in Iraq's Kurdistan. Joined Exxon.

Kremlin reportedly allowing Novatek to begin exporting NG to Germany. May break Gazprom's long control of NG exports to Europe.

Panel of presidential advisors: US E policy should focus on E efficiency, new oil/NG development, speed development of "renewable" E and transition to low-C econ. I'm sorry, esteemed advisors, but my granddaughters can come up with that.

UK approved project for storing C below seafloor.

Free shipping on any purchase of LDK solar panels. They're fighting implosion.

Amonix closed Las Vegas 150MW high concentrating PV solar plant, open just over a year. Got near $6M in fed tax credits to build the $18M plant and got $15M DOE grant in '07. CEO killed in Dec plane crash, no perm replacement. Plant idle since May 1. High rate of module performance issues. 16 projects in operation - 12 in US, 4 in Spain. 7 more in US pre-op. Comp will probably restructure.

Semprius, Greenvolts still working in HCPV with financial backing. Soitec (France) ramping up HCPV plant in San Diego, in part backed by $25M from DOE. SunCore positioning to capture Chinese HCPV market, 6MW installed to date. 200MW prod capac, expects ~50MW of installs this year.

UK E secretary ruling out 25% subsidy cut for onshore wind. Working on a smaller number.

Solar PV farm acquisitions $10.8B in '11, more than 2X '10. Developers selling to long-term investors happy with 5-15% returns. 3.9GW changed hands, up 122% over '10. Valuations down ~44% from '08 peak, $8M/MW down to ~$5M in '11.

Indonesia state-owned plantation comp investing $48.8M in 30M liter/y ethanol plant in Java. Online next March. $16.6M grant from Japan in form of equipment - fermentation, dehyd machines. $28M loan.

W2 Energy (WTWO) plans to open biodiesel plant Aug 1. 650K gal/y capac, close to $3M/y revs. Almost $5/gal?

Admin announced upgrades to 5 major ports to kick off infrastructure push.

Nation's largest wood-fired power plant opened in E TX. What are they thinking?

TX woman pulled gun on smart meter installer.

Southern backing away from DOE loan guarantee for nuke plant.

Belarus deal with Russia for $10B nuke plant.