STUFF

First Energy intends to reduce ops next month at 2.2GW Ohio coal-fired plant because the el's not needed. 7 boilers. Scrubbers installed from '05 to '10 for $1.8B to scrub SO2, NOx. Anti-soot equip put in in '80's for $456M. Plant burns 6-7M tons of coal/yr. 1st boilers installed '59, '62. The el is not needed. Amazing.

U of Washington physicist says buildup of clouds over oceans by spraying salt water into air from ships could reflect sunlight away from planet, potentially slowing warming. Let's see if it works. Would that be under DOE or EPA or NOAA or one of the labs or universities? My guess would be NOAA.

China charging 6 renewable (clean?) energy projects in US violate WTO rules. And the trade war goes on.

Coal-fired power accounted for 10% of 8.1GW new elgen added so far this year in US.

China National Offshore Oil Corp to invest $1.56B next 5 years to explore for coalbed gas.

US pipeline comps looking to expand into Mexico.

Mexico - large supplier of oil to US - experiencing significant fall in crude production: EIA. They need more investment from intl oil comps or will have to import oil as soon as '20.

Developers of $39B plan for tidal power in UK seeking investment from sovereign wealth funds. UK govt rejected proposal 2 years ago. 1,064 turbines in mouth of Britain's longest river would gen 16.4TWh/y (~3 nuke plants).

IHI Corp (Japan) bought up to 50% stake in 3 biomass and 2 coal Calif power plants from Exelon. Plans to convert coal plants to biomass. Plants range from 33-25MW.

Freight rates for ethanol shipments from Houston to Rotterdam at lowest point for year - $45/metric ton for 5K-ton vessels. Started year at $60.

Maple Energy (Peru) completed 1st export sale of ethanol to Mitsui per contract. ~1.56M gallons destined for EU customer. Another sale later this month.

In WV, DOE's project producing algae in ponds from CO2 captured from small coal boiler at Touchstone Research Lab moving to next phase. Will use new material to cover ponds to absorb sunlight in day and release at night to maintain constant temp while minimizing evap and preventing other species getting into ponds.

Germany development minister calling to suspend national E10 blend because of food prices. Only 4% of their corn crop went to biofuel production last year.

Brazil may raise their ethanol blend by year end. But that's sugarcane. Sugar's not good for folks.

Five years of drought forced migration of 1.5M folks from rural to urban living in Syria. And the regime paid little attention to water or agri issues. Country's breadbasket has been depleted and cities can't sustain the extra folks. I guess that's part of the uprising.

Middle Tenn State U professor developing plug-in hybrid retrofit kit for any car. Gas mileage increase 50-100%. El motors at each rear wheel and large lith-ion batt mounted in rear. Can add el motor to wheel without changing any other mechanical parts. With volume, maybe $3K each. Why stop at rear wheels? Maybe the steering?

DC appeals court threw out EPA's latest attempt to regulate harmful air emissions that cross state lines. Huh.

Shade cloths could protect swaths of Great Barrier Reef (and I suppose any reefs): report. Well, something came out of that conference weeks ago.

Shell rig began 2-week journey to Beaufort Sea.

Crews cleaning up ND well blowout.

NOAA: hot weather appears to be linked to fewer tornados. So, 1 global warming silver lining? Aren't tornados exclusive to US? Huh. Amazing.