STUFF

N India power grid crash took 370M folks offline for hours. Now back on.

EIA: US utilities expected to shut down 27GW of coal-fired elgen over next 5 years.

India, China, Brazil block move to cut "super GHG's".

Italy govt rolled out new solar plan.

NRDC: state disclosure rules for fracking falling short.

Groundbreaking for NG pipeline met with protests in Jersey City.

Insurance problems tie up Iranian crude imports in India.

Wave and tidal energy has potential to bring $4.7B/y to UK's econ: Carbon Trust. The industry could also create near $10B of exports, 26K new jobs. Current wave E costs ~$484/MWh, tidal ~$440. Coal-fired generation $82.UK's Renewable Obligation Certification program now giving wave and tidal 5 certificates/MWh, up from 2. Five ROCs = ~210 Lbs Sterling.

WilderHill global index of clean E stocks hit 9-year low as industry faces oversupply, falling prices, uncertain govt support.

6 years is the longevity of a Bakken oil well before it's down to 10-15bls/d from peak of 400b/d. Production in Montana Bakken fields surpassed 100Kb/d through '06, today @ 60K.

Ecuadoran court says Chevron must pay $19B for enviro damages to Amazon region, up $1B from last assessment.

Argentina to require oil comps operating in country to submit annual investment plan for official approval. Wanting to reverse years of declining output, investment.

TransCanada received last of permits needed to move on US leg of Keystone XL pipeline. But border crossing still needs authorization.

Canada approved Enbridge's flow reversal of oil pipeline to Ontario so refinery can get cheaper western crude.

Russia court ordered BP pay its Russian JV $3.1B for failed Rosneft deal.

China power gen sector used 917M metric tons of coal in 1H12, up 1.5% over last year.

US coal production ~19.7M tons last week, based on railcar shipments. Down 2% from previous week, 4.2% below year ago.

Ford working on pickup truck with largely aluminum body to help them meet tougher fed fuel econ targets.

OECD Nuke E Agency and IAEA: uranium resources and production on rise, security of supply ensured for long term.

India rainfall this year 23% less than avg. Food prices soaring. Govt says they can't maintain ag production growth of last 2 years with so little rain.

AutoMD.com poll: 78% of folks not going to buy cars every 2-3 years anymore, now thinking at least 10 years. Unscientific online poll of 4K.

Worst year in over 10 for Euro carmakers. Overstaffed, underused factories sapping profits.

It will take 3-6 months before China can realistically honor sanctions on Iran oil. Many Chinese refineries designed to only process Iran oil.

Colombian oil supplies disrupted after FARC rebels blew up section of 220Kb/d oil pipeline. Oil poured into river. Spill will likely cause major shortages of fish, enviro devastation.

Eqypt NG pipeline to Israel, Jordan sabotaged for 15th time since early '11 uprising.

Bangladesh comp installing 1K solar home systems a day in rural areas. 1M installs by yearend. Planning 5M by '15.

Global advanced biofuels and renewable chems capacity to reach 5.89B gallons by '17. ~1.15B gal this year.

Irish report predicts S American biofuels market of $83B by '16. $42.5B in '11.

Growth Energy has retrofit kit for flex fuel pumps to accomodate 25% ethanol blends. Certified by UL.

Manitoba truckers balking at govt consideration of increasing biodiesel mandate to 5%. Volvo only diesel engine maker that will accept biodiesel over 5%.

Methes Energies Canada to begin production of est. 50M liters/y of biodiesel at plant that closed in '05. Intend to sell into US.

Shell now planning just 2 exploratory wells in Arctic seas, down from 5.

Parched midwest helping shrink Gulf of Mex dead zone from Mississippi River drainage.

Livestock groups urging EPA to waive ethanol mandate.