STUFF

Air Products to build world's largest advanced gasification plant in England - 50MW - to convert non-recyclable waste into E. Online '14. Expected to divert up to 350K metric tons/y from landfills. Byproducts are heat, H, other chems. Air Products world's largest H supplier.

Otter Tail sold and shutting down 2 plants that make wind power towers. Tulsa factory closes in Nov. 167 jobs. West Fargo plant in Oct. 216 jobs. Plants sold to large metal products manufacturers, so maybe jobs will stay.

NRDC: KY #1 in toxic air pollution from coal power plants, followed by OH and PA.

DOI to review Statoil (Norway state comp) 12MW proposal for 1st floating wind farm 12 miles off Maine.

VA's Old Dominion El Coop suspending permit process for large coal/biomass power plant in east VA.

MN regulators delaying decision to close old coal plants.

China facing water crisis. I'm sure they know of desalination. And they do have money saved up.

Japan utilities emitting record CO2 since Fukushima.

Alberta allowed to set up their own plan to curb GHG emissions.

Use of biomass in EU Emissions Trading System may increase GHGs. Yes, plants absorb GHG's while alive, but...

Decision to shelve 2 high-volt $2B el transmission projects in US mid-Atlantic region demonstrating impact of slow econ growth.

Okla governor: state NGV fleets could sway public skepticism. (So could state EV fleets.) (Post Office EV fleet.)

New law intro'd in Congress wants to recognize hydropower as "renewable". Really. Is that where we are? Hydro is 24/7 clean. And VERY affordable. Other 24/7 clean is geothermal, tidal, wave, OTEC and, quite possibly, thermal tower. Let alone nuke, cold fusion, or new nuke. (Scream here.)

Looking at "sails" instead of "propellers" in wind energy from Tunisia inventor. And then, of course, there's vertical axis to get going. Why does it take so long to get things right? Will we look like the 17th century Dutch to our grandkids and great grandkids? Saphon Energy.

New Ceres report stating obvious anecdotal evidence: power industry in transition. Happening faster than predicted. Less pollution, clean power a higher mix than ever, air cleaner. More diverse, resilient grid. Hay. Gittin it done.

Codexis (Cal) expects to lose Shell funds. Cellulase enzymes. Shell stopping $60M/y R&D. 116 jobs. Invested $300M. Industry looking for 25 cents/gal cost for enzymes in cellulosic biofuels.

UN urging US to cut ethanol production. Drought. Corn. People's bellies.

INEOS FL bio plant completed EPA registration to sell cellulosic biofuels. Production startup this quarter. Full prod 8M gal bioethanol, 6MW power/yr. Local yard and ag waste. Working with other comps, cities globally to license the tech.

SYNM (flat today) reported Q2 $6.9M net income on $12M revs. ! V. losses last year. 19.9M gal of biofuels sold last 6 mo v. 5.8.

In India, sugar has shot to new high of $640/ton. Poor monsoon rains.

M&A Q2 activity in global chems industry: 32 deals, up from 22 in Q1. But value down to $11.8B from $13.5.

IFPRI: US midwest drought causing undue pressure on food prices that will negatively affect developing world poor. IE: food riots again.

Calif awarded $1.8M to Yokayo Biofuels for expansion, upgrade of biodiesel plant and buy-downs of alt-fuel vehicles. Yokayo to go from 1.4Kgal/d to 2K. Pioneering enzymatic process. Now collects used fryer oil from >1K restaurants and other facilities in N Cal. New process allows more brown grease (from grease traps). Project est. to cost $4.7M.

Thethys Petrol has major oil find in Tajikistan.

China asked to foot bill for Khartoum's S Sudan loss.

EIA: US will rely on foreign E suppliers to meet 39% of needs in '13. Best since '91. Oil consumption in Europe expected to decline by 400Kbpd this year, and another 200K next year.

Walmart to install a GE 1MW turbine at Red Bud Calif distribution center. Will buy the power from Foundation WindPower.

National Oilwell Varco buying Robbins & Meyers for $2.5B to become 1 of largest oilfield equip and svs comp.

USDA predicting smallest US corn crop in 6 years.

Study: freshwater fish going extinct faster than birds or mammals.

Plans stalled for MO horse slaughter plant. Well, we love horses. But we are what we eat. Would we rather be horses or cows? Pigs, fish or chickens? Vegetables, legumes, fruits or nuts? Anyway, plans stalled.

Marijuana crop suffering from the drought. Huh. Who found that out?

Euro rabbits destroying Wash. island eco. I just report this stuff. Never herd of Euro rabbits till now.

Appeals court ruled for EPA on Alaska wastewater permit approval.

Apple engineer redesigned the thermostat. Well, it was about dang time.

Near Fukushima, another nuke plant held firm during the quake. Yea, but what about the tsunami?

Wind farm scrapped in Scotland over concern for eagles.