STUFF

Half of Americans die with almost no money.

US cars, trucks now must meet equivalent 54.5MPG by '25.

Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono plea to beware fracking's water contamination, and industry assurances.

If Japan's 50 nuke reactors permanently close, power comps will be hit with losses totaling $56B, rendering at least 4 comps insolvent: Japan Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. Govt looking at 3 options. Paring nuke elgen to 20-25% of mix by '30 from ~33% now. Cut it to 15% by '30. Or eliminate it all by '30. By '30, majority of reactors would be near or past 40 years old, current planned decommissioning age.

Australia weighing taking global lead in developing concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) tech. A 250MW, $1.2B project proposed. But, in July, a funding deadline passed on it and Queensland withdrew support, leaving a $79M hole. Nearby 44MW project now in construction near 750MW coal power plant that can use the steam.

19 geothermal projects in development in Oregon. Full-sized wells drilled at 3 projects. Land between Rockies and Coast Range has thin crust, so heat comes nearer surface. US Geothermal's 22MW plant expected online 4Q12. Will be state's 1st commercial-scale geo plant.

India may auction 1GW of solar elgen capacity soon, doubling present capacity. 3GW solar capac proposed by '17. Aiming for 20GW by '22. Most of existing 1GW built in past year.

LA Water and Power wrapping up its pilot solar FIT. Decided to move forward with full 150MW FIT, well above 75MW required by '16. 600MW required by '20. 4.6MW to be contracted in Oct for pilot FIT.

Germany draft legislation will cut risks for offshore wind delays. Consumers would be charged up to 25 euro cents/KWh ($11/yr) if wind farms can't sell their power because of delays connecting to grid. Target of 10GW offshore wind by '20.

PA reports severe decline in new shale gas well permits in Marcellus 1st 7 months this year. 350 permits in Jan, ~110 in July. Decline trend began last year. Drilling has moved west to eastern OH.

Tulare (Cal) leased 4 acres next to its wastewater treatment plant for project to produce algae for jet fuel. Algae Intl Grp and Pacific Oil Products. Pilot phase to produce ~.5M gal/y, full-scale hopes of 6M gal/y. To use treatment plant's CO2, other gases.

Construction start expected Oct or Nov on Biomex's $100M 1st ethanol plant in Mexico. Online 1H14. To use 400K metric tons of sorghum/yr. Building in sorghum belt.

MIT researchers have been genetically modifying a soil bacterium - Ratstonia eutropha - with ARPA-E funds. Trying to get organism to use CO2 stream as its C source, to make fuel from emissions.

Washington Post/ABC poll: 49% of voters prefer Obama's E policy, 41% Romney's.

CNOOC (China) preparing auction of oil/gas blocks to foreign comps near disputed waters claimed by Vietnam and Japan. 30 miles off Paracel Islands in S China Sea. (I swam in, and flew over S China Sea.) China plans in motion for military outpost on islands. I've seen the claim area on a map and must say it's closer to China than Vietnam or Japan. What's Law of Sea say? IS there law of the Sea? Isn't US Congress sitting on that too?