PSEG Solar Source bought 15Mw Delaware solar project from juwi solar for $50M. Will be largest solar farm in state with 4Q completion. 5th US solar project built by juwi for PSEG.
Georgia Solar Utilities plans to build up to 2Gw of solar in GA by '16. Asked state PSC to be considered a regulated utility. Want to start with 80Mw farm. To op as utility, comp must win state, fed approvals and gain transmission rights to grid. Process in GA takes 6 months or more.
Sunlight Partners (AZ) wants to build two 5Mw projects in NC. Rough rule of thumb: 6 acres/Mw of silicon solar panels.
Americans now work 160 more hours/yr than 20 years ago. Do the math.
Vermont brought solar permitting costs down to zero. Homeowners only need to "register" their system, no permit needed.
India gets 78% of oil imports from OPEC. ~2.5Mb/d. Spent > $140B for imported oil last year. 16% from Iran. India's production ~900Kb/d.
Trans Canada signed with Ontario Power Authority to build 900Mw NG power plant.
Chrysler temporary work halt on test fleet of plug-in hybrid pickups and minivans after several batts overheated. Prototype 12.9Kw lith-ion batts.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
STUFF
Obama blocked privately-owned Chinese comp from building wind turbines close to US Navy site in OR on national security concerns. Ralls Corp and Sany Group forced to shelve plans, divest interest. Projects would have been within or in vicinity of restricted airspace of naval weapons systems training facility. Last time a President blocked a deal for national security was in '90 when GPa Bush stopped Chinese avtech comp from buying a US manufacturer.
Bank of Spain said independent audit of country's troubled banks showed $76B shortfall to cover econ downturn. But they all passed the stress test. O yea.
Stock market's best Q3 since '10.
EIA: last week's US oil production hit avg 6.5Mb/d. Not seen since '97. Foreign oil imports fell to 7.55Mb/d. 1H12 imports avg 10.86M. In '06, imports were 13.7M.
DOE awarded $4M grant (requiring $4M match) for ocean energy test center in OR. 3rd such center.
400M folks in India have no grid el. By '17, domestic coal production will meet only 73% of demand. Already spent $7B on coal pits in Australia and Africa.
China now producing 3.5B tons of coal/yr. And still imported 5.5M tons in '11. Reports that could reach 12M tons this year.
In '11, US exported > 107M tons of coal. Up 25% over '10. This year could be up 32% over last year though only 24% higher in 1H.
Underground el transmission costs ~10x overhead. 1/3 of outages of overhead lines. Take 2x as long to repair. Underground $1M/mile. Florida puts in a little more underground than other areas of US because of hurricanes. But susceptible to flooding. I guess we will stay with overhead. Can't even notice the ugliness anymore.
Suntech turned on 44Mw solar project in Thailand. Southeast Asia's largest PV solar plant.
Here we go. The little ins and outs of energy bottom lines. FERC ruled utilities can't unilaterally curtail wind E bought from a qualifying facility under a long-term fixed avoided-cost PPA. And if you can understand that, you must be a lawyer. Idaho case. Section 210 of Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act. Gotta love it.
Bank of Spain said independent audit of country's troubled banks showed $76B shortfall to cover econ downturn. But they all passed the stress test. O yea.
Stock market's best Q3 since '10.
EIA: last week's US oil production hit avg 6.5Mb/d. Not seen since '97. Foreign oil imports fell to 7.55Mb/d. 1H12 imports avg 10.86M. In '06, imports were 13.7M.
DOE awarded $4M grant (requiring $4M match) for ocean energy test center in OR. 3rd such center.
400M folks in India have no grid el. By '17, domestic coal production will meet only 73% of demand. Already spent $7B on coal pits in Australia and Africa.
China now producing 3.5B tons of coal/yr. And still imported 5.5M tons in '11. Reports that could reach 12M tons this year.
In '11, US exported > 107M tons of coal. Up 25% over '10. This year could be up 32% over last year though only 24% higher in 1H.
Underground el transmission costs ~10x overhead. 1/3 of outages of overhead lines. Take 2x as long to repair. Underground $1M/mile. Florida puts in a little more underground than other areas of US because of hurricanes. But susceptible to flooding. I guess we will stay with overhead. Can't even notice the ugliness anymore.
Suntech turned on 44Mw solar project in Thailand. Southeast Asia's largest PV solar plant.
Here we go. The little ins and outs of energy bottom lines. FERC ruled utilities can't unilaterally curtail wind E bought from a qualifying facility under a long-term fixed avoided-cost PPA. And if you can understand that, you must be a lawyer. Idaho case. Section 210 of Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act. Gotta love it.
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 48/20/6. Volume a little heavy. Oil up a dime over $92.
GERS up 87, off 50-day lines up to 200-days. BOPO up 30 off their bottom. EWRL up 25. BSRC up 18. AMTX up 16, over all lines. EVSI up 15 off bottom. CHGI up 11, 3-day run off 50's up over 200's. GEVO up 7. NENE up 4.
AVRWD down 64 after trading resumed after reverse split. WWPW down 50. AMPD down 40. NGLPF down 35. CBWP down 21. QTMM down 18. BLDW down 17. AQNM down 16. NEXS down 12. PSPW down 10, new low. ZAAP down 10. ASTI down 8, under top 200. NTCXF down 6.
Market down 48/20/6. Volume a little heavy. Oil up a dime over $92.
GERS up 87, off 50-day lines up to 200-days. BOPO up 30 off their bottom. EWRL up 25. BSRC up 18. AMTX up 16, over all lines. EVSI up 15 off bottom. CHGI up 11, 3-day run off 50's up over 200's. GEVO up 7. NENE up 4.
AVRWD down 64 after trading resumed after reverse split. WWPW down 50. AMPD down 40. NGLPF down 35. CBWP down 21. QTMM down 18. BLDW down 17. AQNM down 16. NEXS down 12. PSPW down 10, new low. ZAAP down 10. ASTI down 8, under top 200. NTCXF down 6.
Friday, September 28, 2012
STUFF
Georgia Power proposing to include 210Mw of solar into mix by '15. State has no RPS, so this is voluntary. GA in top 10 states for suitable sunlight.
N England, Wales recovering from worst Sept flooding in 3 decades.
GE, Hitachi joint venture approved for plant to enrich U using classified laser tech.
Sudan, S Sudan signed accord, but several issues unresolved. Oil may flow again soon. We shall see.
Cal Gov signed bill creating Office of Planning and Research as energy liaison between state, DOD.
'11 drought cost TX > 300M trees.
Fat at bottom of Arctic lake indicated its water temp warmest in 1,800 years.
Australia issued 1st round of carbon permits.
Ex-Im Bank of US authorized $5B loan to joint venture of Dow, Saudi Aramco. To build $20B chem park in US. '16 completion. 18K jobs. So, > $1M per job creation if my math is right. But they are 50-year jobs. At least.
WTO to decide on US anti-subsidy duties affecting $7.3B of Chinese products, including solar panels, wind turbine towers.
European Investment Bank approved $257M loan to support refurb, upgrade of 22 hydropower facilities in Ukraine. 980Mw total cap when done, 10% more than now. Co-financed by European Bank for Reconstruction & Development which also announced funding for 2 small hydro projects in Albania recently.
USDA touting benefits of napiergrass as dedicated energy crop in GA. Fairly drought tolerant, grows well on marginal land, filters nutrients out of runoff in riparian areas. Riparian - banks of river, pond, lake. Yep, looked it up.
Brit Airways to start construction of their 1st waste-to-biofuels plant by year end. Cost competitive with fossil fuels by '15.
Bangchak Petrol (Thai) announced plans for 2nd cellulosic ethanol plant. 300K liters capacity to double present cap at site. Completion summer '14.
Sharp plans to end production of solar cells, modules in US, Europe by March. Also plans to sell 3 solar manufacturing plants in Japan and consolidate production at 1 Japanese plant.
Mercedes released new EV. Replaced SLS AMG 6.2 liter V8 with 4 synchronous el motors, 1 per wheel, for 740bhp, 738 ft-lb torque, more than petrol version. Motors powered by 60Kwh lith-ion batt.
UK's clean E capacity up 42% over '11, total 14.2Gw. Now 9.6% of E mix, up from 9% last year.
Ohio up to 14th among states for solar installs this year from 18th last year. Nationally, solar mart up 115% this year over last.
Pub Service OK plans to spend up to $350M in settlement over enviro regs to remove coal from its elgen fleet by '26. PSO a unit of AEP. Could raise customer rates 11% starting in '16. NG replacement from Calpine.
N England, Wales recovering from worst Sept flooding in 3 decades.
GE, Hitachi joint venture approved for plant to enrich U using classified laser tech.
Sudan, S Sudan signed accord, but several issues unresolved. Oil may flow again soon. We shall see.
Cal Gov signed bill creating Office of Planning and Research as energy liaison between state, DOD.
'11 drought cost TX > 300M trees.
Fat at bottom of Arctic lake indicated its water temp warmest in 1,800 years.
Australia issued 1st round of carbon permits.
Ex-Im Bank of US authorized $5B loan to joint venture of Dow, Saudi Aramco. To build $20B chem park in US. '16 completion. 18K jobs. So, > $1M per job creation if my math is right. But they are 50-year jobs. At least.
WTO to decide on US anti-subsidy duties affecting $7.3B of Chinese products, including solar panels, wind turbine towers.
European Investment Bank approved $257M loan to support refurb, upgrade of 22 hydropower facilities in Ukraine. 980Mw total cap when done, 10% more than now. Co-financed by European Bank for Reconstruction & Development which also announced funding for 2 small hydro projects in Albania recently.
USDA touting benefits of napiergrass as dedicated energy crop in GA. Fairly drought tolerant, grows well on marginal land, filters nutrients out of runoff in riparian areas. Riparian - banks of river, pond, lake. Yep, looked it up.
Brit Airways to start construction of their 1st waste-to-biofuels plant by year end. Cost competitive with fossil fuels by '15.
Bangchak Petrol (Thai) announced plans for 2nd cellulosic ethanol plant. 300K liters capacity to double present cap at site. Completion summer '14.
Sharp plans to end production of solar cells, modules in US, Europe by March. Also plans to sell 3 solar manufacturing plants in Japan and consolidate production at 1 Japanese plant.
Mercedes released new EV. Replaced SLS AMG 6.2 liter V8 with 4 synchronous el motors, 1 per wheel, for 740bhp, 738 ft-lb torque, more than petrol version. Motors powered by 60Kwh lith-ion batt.
UK's clean E capacity up 42% over '11, total 14.2Gw. Now 9.6% of E mix, up from 9% last year.
Ohio up to 14th among states for solar installs this year from 18th last year. Nationally, solar mart up 115% this year over last.
Pub Service OK plans to spend up to $350M in settlement over enviro regs to remove coal from its elgen fleet by '26. PSO a unit of AEP. Could raise customer rates 11% starting in '16. NG replacement from Calpine.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 87/20/8. Volume a little above avg. Oil up near $92. Chicago business activity barometer shrinks 1st time since '09. Spain shaky. Japan, S Korea slowing.
LEOM up 31 on 11K shares. Just getting back to where they usually are after getting pushed down. BOPO up 30 on 1K shares. BFRE up 26 on 6K. ORYN up 6. WTWO up 5. AONE up 4. GEVO up 3. XSNX up 1. NENE, NTCXF flat.
NGLPF down 35 on 11K shs. CBWP down 21 on a few thousand. QTMM down 15. HOKU down 10. BIOF down 5.
Market down 87/20/8. Volume a little above avg. Oil up near $92. Chicago business activity barometer shrinks 1st time since '09. Spain shaky. Japan, S Korea slowing.
LEOM up 31 on 11K shares. Just getting back to where they usually are after getting pushed down. BOPO up 30 on 1K shares. BFRE up 26 on 6K. ORYN up 6. WTWO up 5. AONE up 4. GEVO up 3. XSNX up 1. NENE, NTCXF flat.
NGLPF down 35 on 11K shs. CBWP down 21 on a few thousand. QTMM down 15. HOKU down 10. BIOF down 5.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
STUFF
Arundo, a fast-growing grass that yields 3x the ethanol of corn per acre, being proposed as feedstock for NC biofuel refinery. But some scientists say it's a noxious weed that could be as intrusive as kudzu.
GE announced new line of el generators. Gets NG combined-cycle efficiency up to 61% from 60%. Too hot can melt stuff.
Summer '12 set new US record for extreme weather.
DOE: reducing vehicle weight 10% can improve fuel econ 6-8%.
EPA says 2nd round of test results released by USGS supports its prelim finding that fracking contaminated WY groundwater. Major driller in area says serious flaws in EPA's handling of case.
UK plans to use 3B Pound Intl Climate Fund funds to spur clean E projects in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.
Dow Corning, LG Electronics teaming up for PV solar installs, efficiency testing at S Korea university.
India's state of Andhra Pradesh intro'd tax benefits for solar projects, exemptions from power transmission fees. Plants built by June '14 can claim the incentives for 7 years. Will also give refunds on value-added tax paid for equipment and land duty, registration charges. Also plans to speed up approvals process.
Google signed 1st clean power contract with a utility to run OK data center. 48Mw of windpower from Grand River Dam Authority.
EU wind power capacity hit 100Gw.
EIA: NG use by US utilities up 32% 1H12. Coal use down 18%.
Some experts saying this summer was probably the smallest the Arctic ice cap got in 1M years. Appears melt much faster than models have been predicting.
Butamax got patent on tech that provides path to commercial production volumes of biobutanol using their microorganisms.
Pike Research: total global investment in new biorefineries should be $170B next 10 years. 1,810 new refineries. Current advanced biorefineries market $3.9B.
Enterprise partnership with Mansfield Oil to power airport shuttle buses in New Orleans, Houston with synthetic diesel. 1st synth diesel initiative for US rental car industry.
$13.76M DOE project in UK exploring drought-tolerant desert plant photosynth mechanisms for integration into poplar trees. Crassulacean acid metabolism a highly water-efficient form of photosynth found in agave, cacti, succulents. Researchers hoping to modify biofuel crops to increase water efficiency, ability to grow on marginal land.
Canada to build 1st organics biofuel plant for '15 open. Waste to NG. Surrey, BC.
Swede paper mill now operating on 100% biofuel. Boiler project cost $312M. 2nd boiler at England mill to cost $160M, spring '13 completion.
Navy developing system to produce jet fuel from seawater. Last year, 600M gallons of fuel delivered at sea. Harvest CO2, H from sea. CO2 concentration in seawater 140x that in air. CO2, H go through several processes to create olefins, then 2 more steps to jet fuel. $3-6/gal in lab. Sea tests next.
Late June '09, a broker in drunken stupor sent oil price up $1.50/bl overnight with $520M. Just amazing a drunk can get his hands on $500M. Or could and cannot again.
UN wants to supply sustainable E to ALL of world by '30.
1st el cable between Ireland, Britain done. 600M Euro. 500Mw. To benefit Ireland wind and then Ireland can buy el from Brits in calm wind. 1st step to Euro supergrid.
GE announced new line of el generators. Gets NG combined-cycle efficiency up to 61% from 60%. Too hot can melt stuff.
Summer '12 set new US record for extreme weather.
DOE: reducing vehicle weight 10% can improve fuel econ 6-8%.
EPA says 2nd round of test results released by USGS supports its prelim finding that fracking contaminated WY groundwater. Major driller in area says serious flaws in EPA's handling of case.
UK plans to use 3B Pound Intl Climate Fund funds to spur clean E projects in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.
Dow Corning, LG Electronics teaming up for PV solar installs, efficiency testing at S Korea university.
India's state of Andhra Pradesh intro'd tax benefits for solar projects, exemptions from power transmission fees. Plants built by June '14 can claim the incentives for 7 years. Will also give refunds on value-added tax paid for equipment and land duty, registration charges. Also plans to speed up approvals process.
Google signed 1st clean power contract with a utility to run OK data center. 48Mw of windpower from Grand River Dam Authority.
EU wind power capacity hit 100Gw.
EIA: NG use by US utilities up 32% 1H12. Coal use down 18%.
Some experts saying this summer was probably the smallest the Arctic ice cap got in 1M years. Appears melt much faster than models have been predicting.
Butamax got patent on tech that provides path to commercial production volumes of biobutanol using their microorganisms.
Pike Research: total global investment in new biorefineries should be $170B next 10 years. 1,810 new refineries. Current advanced biorefineries market $3.9B.
Enterprise partnership with Mansfield Oil to power airport shuttle buses in New Orleans, Houston with synthetic diesel. 1st synth diesel initiative for US rental car industry.
$13.76M DOE project in UK exploring drought-tolerant desert plant photosynth mechanisms for integration into poplar trees. Crassulacean acid metabolism a highly water-efficient form of photosynth found in agave, cacti, succulents. Researchers hoping to modify biofuel crops to increase water efficiency, ability to grow on marginal land.
Canada to build 1st organics biofuel plant for '15 open. Waste to NG. Surrey, BC.
Swede paper mill now operating on 100% biofuel. Boiler project cost $312M. 2nd boiler at England mill to cost $160M, spring '13 completion.
Navy developing system to produce jet fuel from seawater. Last year, 600M gallons of fuel delivered at sea. Harvest CO2, H from sea. CO2 concentration in seawater 140x that in air. CO2, H go through several processes to create olefins, then 2 more steps to jet fuel. $3-6/gal in lab. Sea tests next.
Late June '09, a broker in drunken stupor sent oil price up $1.50/bl overnight with $520M. Just amazing a drunk can get his hands on $500M. Or could and cannot again.
UN wants to supply sustainable E to ALL of world by '30.
1st el cable between Ireland, Britain done. 600M Euro. 500Mw. To benefit Ireland wind and then Ireland can buy el from Brits in calm wind. 1st step to Euro supergrid.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 21/16/4. Volume a little light. Oil up over $91.
ORYN up 15 on bounceback. BLDP up 13 on product shipment. NPWZ up 8 on product shipment. CERP up 7. GEVO up 5. NENE up 2. NTCXF flat.
EWRL, QTMM down 15. ZNNMF, WTWO down 11. XSNX, VNDB down 9. NEXS down 7. AONE down 4.
Market up 21/16/4. Volume a little light. Oil up over $91.
ORYN up 15 on bounceback. BLDP up 13 on product shipment. NPWZ up 8 on product shipment. CERP up 7. GEVO up 5. NENE up 2. NTCXF flat.
EWRL, QTMM down 15. ZNNMF, WTWO down 11. XSNX, VNDB down 9. NEXS down 7. AONE down 4.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 44/24/8. Volume maybe a little above avg. Oil down under $90. Fed virtually funding entire US deficit. The days we're in.
BHWX up 50. NEXS up 44. With volume. GERS up 28. EFOI up 17. CHGI up 15. XSNX, ZAAP up 14. NENE up 2.
CSOL down 33. VNDB down 23 on huge volume. XDSL down 21. PSPW down 20. ORYN down 16. I guess that scam may be cooked. GEVO down 14 more. Should be turnaround. LEOM down 14. Who knows. NGLPF, SENY down 12. ECOS down 10. BIOF down 9. AONE, CSUN down 5. NTCXF flat.
Market down 44/24/8. Volume maybe a little above avg. Oil down under $90. Fed virtually funding entire US deficit. The days we're in.
BHWX up 50. NEXS up 44. With volume. GERS up 28. EFOI up 17. CHGI up 15. XSNX, ZAAP up 14. NENE up 2.
CSOL down 33. VNDB down 23 on huge volume. XDSL down 21. PSPW down 20. ORYN down 16. I guess that scam may be cooked. GEVO down 14 more. Should be turnaround. LEOM down 14. Who knows. NGLPF, SENY down 12. ECOS down 10. BIOF down 9. AONE, CSUN down 5. NTCXF flat.
STUFF
Lutz: by '20-'25, 10% of world car production will be EVs. And all cars will be driverless. Really?
Mango Materials, Cal startup, captures methane at waste treatment plant, feeds it to bacteria that produces biopolymer that's sold in powder or pellet form to plastic comps to make wide range of products which end up in waste treatment plant.
NGLPF may transfer ownership of NV geothermal plant to a lender after projecting plant will produce less power than expected. To fall below 34Mw this year, decline to ~15Mw by '20. '10 DOE loan guarantee involved.
Drax Group (Brit) to spend $1.1B through '17 to convert half of UK's biggest coal power plant to biomass. 1st of 6 units to burn wood pellets by June. 2 more units later. 3 units will burn a forest 4x size of Rhode Island per year. ~2.3M tons/y needing ~1M acres per unit. Where the hell are we going? Tech deemed carbon neutral. Trees absorb as much C as they emit when burned. Takes minutes to burn, decades to grow. C emissions from wood 70% less than coal, they say. Or is that with the absorption figured in? ~1/2 of Brit coal plants scheduled to close by '16, all nukes by '35. Coal elgen now < 50% of their total.
Vanderbilt U researchers added photosynthetic protein in spinach to silicon to create solar cells with 2.5x more power output than previous designs. Not competitive with today's solar cells.
Alston Renewable Power buying control of Rolls-Royce subsid Tidal Generation Limited. TGL has 500Kw tidal turbine prototype installed offshore Scotland.
Europe installed 2/3 of global solar PV capacity in '11. 18.5Gw, increasing their total to 52Gw.
Cargill filed suit claiming swindle in purchase of fraudulent renewable energy credits - 1.2M biodiesel creds in '10 - from NY broker. Later learned ID #'s invalid. Not regulated by EPA.
BIOF to idle MN ethanol plant due to corn prices. 115M gal/y. To keep similar size NB plant open.
Scot whiskey maker to become 1st distiller to use byproducts for biobutanol. To use draff, a sugar-rich ground barley, and pot ale, a yeasty liquid.
Biodico, Lambda Gen Corp in R&D partnership to integrate nano-based meta-catalytic surface tech with biomass-based diesel, combined heat and power and biochems production. US Navy research involvement.
Airbus, Sinopec partnered up to develop bioavfuels. Production close to airports, factories, local distribution networks.
Another explosion on 1 of Yemen's LNG pipelines.
SE OH coal mine owner closed mine for the day and forced their miners to attend on-site rally for Romney without pay in violation of federal election law.
Last 5 years, China built 20K miles of expressway, finishing 12 national highways 13 years ahead of schedule. 4x faster than US built interstate system. By '25, they will need to pave est. 5B square meters of road just to keep pace with population growth.
DOI to lease 4.5M acres in AK reserve for fossil fuel development.
PCB's found in 2 Connecticut schools.
Happy motoring, pards.
Mango Materials, Cal startup, captures methane at waste treatment plant, feeds it to bacteria that produces biopolymer that's sold in powder or pellet form to plastic comps to make wide range of products which end up in waste treatment plant.
NGLPF may transfer ownership of NV geothermal plant to a lender after projecting plant will produce less power than expected. To fall below 34Mw this year, decline to ~15Mw by '20. '10 DOE loan guarantee involved.
Drax Group (Brit) to spend $1.1B through '17 to convert half of UK's biggest coal power plant to biomass. 1st of 6 units to burn wood pellets by June. 2 more units later. 3 units will burn a forest 4x size of Rhode Island per year. ~2.3M tons/y needing ~1M acres per unit. Where the hell are we going? Tech deemed carbon neutral. Trees absorb as much C as they emit when burned. Takes minutes to burn, decades to grow. C emissions from wood 70% less than coal, they say. Or is that with the absorption figured in? ~1/2 of Brit coal plants scheduled to close by '16, all nukes by '35. Coal elgen now < 50% of their total.
Vanderbilt U researchers added photosynthetic protein in spinach to silicon to create solar cells with 2.5x more power output than previous designs. Not competitive with today's solar cells.
Alston Renewable Power buying control of Rolls-Royce subsid Tidal Generation Limited. TGL has 500Kw tidal turbine prototype installed offshore Scotland.
Europe installed 2/3 of global solar PV capacity in '11. 18.5Gw, increasing their total to 52Gw.
Cargill filed suit claiming swindle in purchase of fraudulent renewable energy credits - 1.2M biodiesel creds in '10 - from NY broker. Later learned ID #'s invalid. Not regulated by EPA.
BIOF to idle MN ethanol plant due to corn prices. 115M gal/y. To keep similar size NB plant open.
Scot whiskey maker to become 1st distiller to use byproducts for biobutanol. To use draff, a sugar-rich ground barley, and pot ale, a yeasty liquid.
Biodico, Lambda Gen Corp in R&D partnership to integrate nano-based meta-catalytic surface tech with biomass-based diesel, combined heat and power and biochems production. US Navy research involvement.
Airbus, Sinopec partnered up to develop bioavfuels. Production close to airports, factories, local distribution networks.
Another explosion on 1 of Yemen's LNG pipelines.
SE OH coal mine owner closed mine for the day and forced their miners to attend on-site rally for Romney without pay in violation of federal election law.
Last 5 years, China built 20K miles of expressway, finishing 12 national highways 13 years ahead of schedule. 4x faster than US built interstate system. By '25, they will need to pave est. 5B square meters of road just to keep pace with population growth.
DOI to lease 4.5M acres in AK reserve for fossil fuel development.
PCB's found in 2 Connecticut schools.
Happy motoring, pards.
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market 45/36/10. Volume normal. Oil down under $90.
NEXS up 44 on financial news. Jump off top (200-day) lines. Up near 5x since earlier this month. NGLPF up 36. Triple off intramorning low. PRHL up 20. XSNX up 7. ORYN up 2. JASO up 2 on 160Mw panel sale.
CBEH down 15. EWRL down 14. GTAT down 8 on downgrade. GEVO down 7 more, hit new low. VNDB down 7. AONE, BIOF down 6. NTCXF down 3. NENE flat.
Market 45/36/10. Volume normal. Oil down under $90.
NEXS up 44 on financial news. Jump off top (200-day) lines. Up near 5x since earlier this month. NGLPF up 36. Triple off intramorning low. PRHL up 20. XSNX up 7. ORYN up 2. JASO up 2 on 160Mw panel sale.
CBEH down 15. EWRL down 14. GTAT down 8 on downgrade. GEVO down 7 more, hit new low. VNDB down 7. AONE, BIOF down 6. NTCXF down 3. NENE flat.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 101//43/15. Doubt. Volume avg. Oil down to $91.
MGLT, LEOM up 23. Meager volume. NEXS up 22. CRCL up 16. WTWO up 12. BIOF up 8.
PSPW down 39. GEVO down 35. Buy that. EWRL, SLMU down 16. REGI down 12. Buy that bottom. TSLA, ALTI down 10. Watch them. NENE down 10. Buy that. CERP down 8. VNDB down 7. AONE, XSNX down 6. NTCXF down 5. GTAT, LSCG down 4. ORYN flat.
Market down 101//43/15. Doubt. Volume avg. Oil down to $91.
MGLT, LEOM up 23. Meager volume. NEXS up 22. CRCL up 16. WTWO up 12. BIOF up 8.
PSPW down 39. GEVO down 35. Buy that. EWRL, SLMU down 16. REGI down 12. Buy that bottom. TSLA, ALTI down 10. Watch them. NENE down 10. Buy that. CERP down 8. VNDB down 7. AONE, XSNX down 6. NTCXF down 5. GTAT, LSCG down 4. ORYN flat.
STUFF
Smart E Capital, BELECTRIC, Obsidian Finance passed 50% completion of 5.7Mw solar PV project in OR. Largest solar project in NW, 1st to BPA system. Online Oct. $5M from Energy Trust of OR, tax creds from OR DOE. Portland General El to buy the power.
Caithners Energy's OR 845Mw wind farm now operational. 1 of world's largest wind farms. S Cal Ed buying the power.
Morgan Stanley sees QE4 by end of year.
Water levels in Great Lakes could soon hit all-time low. Temp or perm harbor closings could become more common if drought continues. Fed taxes on ship cargo in coastal systems, including Lakes, go into Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. $8B in it. Recent appropriations $800M/y. Vessel operators appealing for dredging at Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron ports.
Lawrence Berkeley Lab reports Cal can't reach goal of 80% GHG redux by '50 without major advancements in tech.
Tighter budgets pushing fed agencies to make lasting cuts in E use.
Judge dismissed NY AG's suit seeking enviro reviews of fracking in Delaware River Basin.
TSLA plans to build network of solar powered EV chargers on major US highways for its cars at no charge. System recharges @ 100Kw rate to give 3 hours highway driving with 30-minute charge. Chargers cost $250K each. Can power up 4-6 cars at a time. Plans to install 100 over next 3-4 years. Solar City systems. 1st superhighways San Diego to Vancouver, Miami to Montreal, LA to NYC. Also plans installs in Europe and Asia in '13. TSLA wants to become profitable in '13 from sales of Model S and supplying batt packs, motors to Daimler, Toyota.
Est > 3Gw new baseload (24/7) opportunities next 5-10 years in US from coal plant closings.
EU filed 2nd complaint with EC against Chinese solars. Demanding tariffs. This time for Chinese comps receiving illegal subsidies. 45 days to decide whether to open inquiry. EU govts then have 13 months from begin of probe - 15 months for dumping - to impose "definitive" anti-subsidy duties for 5 years.
For solar to spread mainstream on US homes, installs must move beyond solar contractors to traditional building trades. US has near 93K HVAC contractors, > 63K roofing, siding, sheet metal contractors. 2K solar contractors.
GEVO switching back to ethanol from biobutanol at MN refinery. Does not now expect to reach desired yearend run rate. Maybe that's why stock's down today. Shift to eth to max cash flow. Buy GEVO.
FL's Dyadic Intl verified their biofuels enzyme at eth demo plant in Sweden. EU funded research. Cellulose to fermentable sugars. Got US patent for platform tech of fungal strains. Economical over-production of enzymes, other proteins at industrial scale for food, feed, fuels, pharma, organic acids and antibiotics.
ND State U's Northern Research Extension Center to soon harvest, analyze energy beets already proven to produce 2x eth/acre than corn. 28tons/ac dryland up to 41 tons/ac irrigated.
Novozymes to announce by yearend plans to build plant in Brazil to supply enzymes to convert sugarcane bagasse, other waste to eth.
Fed appeals court says Army Corps immune to Katrina litigation, reversing months-ago decision. What a surprise.
NRC cleared laser tech for NC enrichment plant.
Exxon, Rosneft plan to drill in ex-Soviet nuke waste dump.
Entergy aims to sell high-volt lines to ITC.
Malaysia put hold on rare earths plant operating license.
Haiti banned plastic bags, foam containers. Paper or plastic. How about hemp handles for paper bags?
Manitoba pondering pesticides ban. I'm sure that will go well.
Iran forces arrested Rafsanjani's children. Iran forces arrested Rafsanjani's children. Again?
"Smart sponge" holds key to cleaning frack water. Part of Sponge Bob's bag of patents?
ROHM (JP semiconductors) in collab with Aquafairy (JP fuel cell maker) and Kyoto U for high efficiency FC for smart phones. 1/4 weight of lith-ion batts, same capac. Life span 20 years v. 3-5 of li-ion.
IF auto industry had gotten efficient as quickly as IT industry in last 40 years we'd be getting 450K mpg.
Tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold the 4 "conflict minerals".
NREL improving GHG calculus for power plants. Lifecycle assessment harmonization. Detailed in "Meta-analysis of Life Cycle Assessment" in Journal of Industrial Ecology. (Yale School of Forestry, Enviro Studies).
Cal's 1st allowance auction may overwhelm state's carbon mart by offering too many creds too abruptly too early. 14 Nov.
Caithners Energy's OR 845Mw wind farm now operational. 1 of world's largest wind farms. S Cal Ed buying the power.
Morgan Stanley sees QE4 by end of year.
Water levels in Great Lakes could soon hit all-time low. Temp or perm harbor closings could become more common if drought continues. Fed taxes on ship cargo in coastal systems, including Lakes, go into Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. $8B in it. Recent appropriations $800M/y. Vessel operators appealing for dredging at Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron ports.
Lawrence Berkeley Lab reports Cal can't reach goal of 80% GHG redux by '50 without major advancements in tech.
Tighter budgets pushing fed agencies to make lasting cuts in E use.
Judge dismissed NY AG's suit seeking enviro reviews of fracking in Delaware River Basin.
TSLA plans to build network of solar powered EV chargers on major US highways for its cars at no charge. System recharges @ 100Kw rate to give 3 hours highway driving with 30-minute charge. Chargers cost $250K each. Can power up 4-6 cars at a time. Plans to install 100 over next 3-4 years. Solar City systems. 1st superhighways San Diego to Vancouver, Miami to Montreal, LA to NYC. Also plans installs in Europe and Asia in '13. TSLA wants to become profitable in '13 from sales of Model S and supplying batt packs, motors to Daimler, Toyota.
Est > 3Gw new baseload (24/7) opportunities next 5-10 years in US from coal plant closings.
EU filed 2nd complaint with EC against Chinese solars. Demanding tariffs. This time for Chinese comps receiving illegal subsidies. 45 days to decide whether to open inquiry. EU govts then have 13 months from begin of probe - 15 months for dumping - to impose "definitive" anti-subsidy duties for 5 years.
For solar to spread mainstream on US homes, installs must move beyond solar contractors to traditional building trades. US has near 93K HVAC contractors, > 63K roofing, siding, sheet metal contractors. 2K solar contractors.
GEVO switching back to ethanol from biobutanol at MN refinery. Does not now expect to reach desired yearend run rate. Maybe that's why stock's down today. Shift to eth to max cash flow. Buy GEVO.
FL's Dyadic Intl verified their biofuels enzyme at eth demo plant in Sweden. EU funded research. Cellulose to fermentable sugars. Got US patent for platform tech of fungal strains. Economical over-production of enzymes, other proteins at industrial scale for food, feed, fuels, pharma, organic acids and antibiotics.
ND State U's Northern Research Extension Center to soon harvest, analyze energy beets already proven to produce 2x eth/acre than corn. 28tons/ac dryland up to 41 tons/ac irrigated.
Novozymes to announce by yearend plans to build plant in Brazil to supply enzymes to convert sugarcane bagasse, other waste to eth.
Fed appeals court says Army Corps immune to Katrina litigation, reversing months-ago decision. What a surprise.
NRC cleared laser tech for NC enrichment plant.
Exxon, Rosneft plan to drill in ex-Soviet nuke waste dump.
Entergy aims to sell high-volt lines to ITC.
Malaysia put hold on rare earths plant operating license.
Haiti banned plastic bags, foam containers. Paper or plastic. How about hemp handles for paper bags?
Manitoba pondering pesticides ban. I'm sure that will go well.
Iran forces arrested Rafsanjani's children. Iran forces arrested Rafsanjani's children. Again?
"Smart sponge" holds key to cleaning frack water. Part of Sponge Bob's bag of patents?
ROHM (JP semiconductors) in collab with Aquafairy (JP fuel cell maker) and Kyoto U for high efficiency FC for smart phones. 1/4 weight of lith-ion batts, same capac. Life span 20 years v. 3-5 of li-ion.
IF auto industry had gotten efficient as quickly as IT industry in last 40 years we'd be getting 450K mpg.
Tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold the 4 "conflict minerals".
NREL improving GHG calculus for power plants. Lifecycle assessment harmonization. Detailed in "Meta-analysis of Life Cycle Assessment" in Journal of Industrial Ecology. (Yale School of Forestry, Enviro Studies).
Cal's 1st allowance auction may overwhelm state's carbon mart by offering too many creds too abruptly too early. 14 Nov.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 42/9/4. Volume avg. Oil up near $93. US housing prices up more than forecast.
BIOF up 6 in morning turnaround after hitting top 50-day line. ORYN up 3 more.
GEVO down 29. New low. PSPW down 27. EWRL down 22 after yesterday's jump. Back under 50-day lines. VNDB down 15. LEXG down 14. NENE down 8. TSLA down 7 after update. XSNX down 6. AONE down 4. NTCXF down 3.
Market up 42/9/4. Volume avg. Oil up near $93. US housing prices up more than forecast.
BIOF up 6 in morning turnaround after hitting top 50-day line. ORYN up 3 more.
GEVO down 29. New low. PSPW down 27. EWRL down 22 after yesterday's jump. Back under 50-day lines. VNDB down 15. LEXG down 14. NENE down 8. TSLA down 7 after update. XSNX down 6. AONE down 4. NTCXF down 3.
Monday, September 24, 2012
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 20/19/3. Volume normal. Oil $92. IMF set to lower growth forecast.
CPWY up 71. Back over 50-day lines, up to bottom 200-day. EWRL up 26. Double from earlier in month, over 50-day lines. CBAK up 21. ECOS, VNDB up 18. ECOS over double from mid-month low. NENE up 16. CDTI up 13, jump over top (200-day) line. IFXY up 12. NEXS up 11. XWES up 10. Climbing out since early Aug, up 50, over all lines. HSOL up 9. Jump out over 50-days. NTCXF up 5. XSNX up 3. ORYN up 2 more.
NGLPF down 20. SLMU down 20. CERP down 18. CRCL down 17. BIOF, VLNCQ down 16. BIOF fell off bottom 200-day, heading toward 50's. LEOM down 15. AMLM down 12. VECO down 10 on downgrade. Back down near bottom (200-day) line. AONE, GTAT down 8. GTAT back to a 50-day. AXAS down 4, reportedly have a new gusher well in Texas. Fell back to 50-day.
Market down 20/19/3. Volume normal. Oil $92. IMF set to lower growth forecast.
CPWY up 71. Back over 50-day lines, up to bottom 200-day. EWRL up 26. Double from earlier in month, over 50-day lines. CBAK up 21. ECOS, VNDB up 18. ECOS over double from mid-month low. NENE up 16. CDTI up 13, jump over top (200-day) line. IFXY up 12. NEXS up 11. XWES up 10. Climbing out since early Aug, up 50, over all lines. HSOL up 9. Jump out over 50-days. NTCXF up 5. XSNX up 3. ORYN up 2 more.
NGLPF down 20. SLMU down 20. CERP down 18. CRCL down 17. BIOF, VLNCQ down 16. BIOF fell off bottom 200-day, heading toward 50's. LEOM down 15. AMLM down 12. VECO down 10 on downgrade. Back down near bottom (200-day) line. AONE, GTAT down 8. GTAT back to a 50-day. AXAS down 4, reportedly have a new gusher well in Texas. Fell back to 50-day.
STUFF
Toyota dropping plans for widespread EV sales.
Fed officials discovered Chevron piped HC gases around monitoring equipment at San Fran refinery for 4 years. Criminal investigation underway.
Shenzhen 1 of 5 Chinese cities and 2 provinces selected to launch pilot emissions trading programs next year. Intended to apply to ~800 facilities across 26 econ sectors.
Senate passed bill to bar US airlines from cooperation with EU carbon market. Also released bill sweetening inventives to capture CO2 from smokestacks as long as it's used to produce oil.
Mecca planning first clean E project. Jan selection from bidders for 385Gwh/y, including 100Mw of solar capacity. City will own power plants. Kingdom now has ~3Mw of solar capacity.
1Mw solar array on top of Orlando convention center. Largest rooftop array in SE. Solar World panels installed by Solar Source. Offsets ~10% of building's el use. El bills $1M/mo. In FL, arrays need to withstand wind speeds of 150mph. System cost $8.8M in '08. Today's price < 1/2 of that. Center going to add 400Kw more.
DOE wants to dispose of U-233 stocks.
Eni (Italy) $125M project to convert Venice refinery into biorefinery to produce biodiesel using their own patented tech developed with Honeywell. 2Q13 launch, completion end of '13. Feedstocks from non-edible natural oils, animal fats. Fuel has improved performance over soy biodiesel or petrol-based. Jetfuel option. Also announced significant NG discovery in Pakistan. Est 300-400BCF reserves.
Arcata Cal approved plan for biodiesel plant.
USDA developed near-IR reflectance spectroscopy system able to test oil seeds to reduce inefficiencies in biodiesel processing that stem from variable oil content in seeds.
Brazil to double planned investment to $998M through '14 in biofuels, biochems.
Euro utilities set to open 6x as many coal power plants than NG by '15. Just great.
China wind power capacity could reach 300Gw by '20. This year to install 15Gw.
GOM oil flows to increase ~28% by '22 to 1.8Mb/d.
ND NG production in July 718MCF/d, new record.
GE, Petrobras signed ~ $1.1B subsea wellhead production contract.
5 LNG projects to be developed on Canada west coast could be in service from '14 to '19.
Power Grid Corp of India may exceed $18B spending plan to upgrade network.
Iraq's Kurd region to increase '13 exports to 250Kb/d.
Fed officials discovered Chevron piped HC gases around monitoring equipment at San Fran refinery for 4 years. Criminal investigation underway.
Shenzhen 1 of 5 Chinese cities and 2 provinces selected to launch pilot emissions trading programs next year. Intended to apply to ~800 facilities across 26 econ sectors.
Senate passed bill to bar US airlines from cooperation with EU carbon market. Also released bill sweetening inventives to capture CO2 from smokestacks as long as it's used to produce oil.
Mecca planning first clean E project. Jan selection from bidders for 385Gwh/y, including 100Mw of solar capacity. City will own power plants. Kingdom now has ~3Mw of solar capacity.
1Mw solar array on top of Orlando convention center. Largest rooftop array in SE. Solar World panels installed by Solar Source. Offsets ~10% of building's el use. El bills $1M/mo. In FL, arrays need to withstand wind speeds of 150mph. System cost $8.8M in '08. Today's price < 1/2 of that. Center going to add 400Kw more.
DOE wants to dispose of U-233 stocks.
Eni (Italy) $125M project to convert Venice refinery into biorefinery to produce biodiesel using their own patented tech developed with Honeywell. 2Q13 launch, completion end of '13. Feedstocks from non-edible natural oils, animal fats. Fuel has improved performance over soy biodiesel or petrol-based. Jetfuel option. Also announced significant NG discovery in Pakistan. Est 300-400BCF reserves.
Arcata Cal approved plan for biodiesel plant.
USDA developed near-IR reflectance spectroscopy system able to test oil seeds to reduce inefficiencies in biodiesel processing that stem from variable oil content in seeds.
Brazil to double planned investment to $998M through '14 in biofuels, biochems.
Euro utilities set to open 6x as many coal power plants than NG by '15. Just great.
China wind power capacity could reach 300Gw by '20. This year to install 15Gw.
GOM oil flows to increase ~28% by '22 to 1.8Mb/d.
ND NG production in July 718MCF/d, new record.
GE, Petrobras signed ~ $1.1B subsea wellhead production contract.
5 LNG projects to be developed on Canada west coast could be in service from '14 to '19.
Power Grid Corp of India may exceed $18B spending plan to upgrade network.
Iraq's Kurd region to increase '13 exports to 250Kb/d.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 34/20/4. Volume a little above avg. Oil down under $92.
EWRL up 36. NENE up 14, but very low volume. CSGH up 11. CWET up 9. NTCXF, ORYN up 4.
PPRW down 71 on 2K shares. HOKU down 21. CERP, EFOI down 16. XDSL, RSOL down 14. XSNX, BIOF down 6. AONE down 4. VNDB flat on huge volume.
Market down 34/20/4. Volume a little above avg. Oil down under $92.
EWRL up 36. NENE up 14, but very low volume. CSGH up 11. CWET up 9. NTCXF, ORYN up 4.
PPRW down 71 on 2K shares. HOKU down 21. CERP, EFOI down 16. XDSL, RSOL down 14. XSNX, BIOF down 6. AONE down 4. VNDB flat on huge volume.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
GRAPHENE REPORT
U of Arkansas researchers found when you form covalent bonds by attaching metals to graphene you destroy the unique eltronic properties of graphene. Didn't use doped graphene in research, which will be used with devices. Electrons at these graph-metal junctions behave like light shone on crystal - some scatter, some go through.
Aixtron (AIXG) sold PECVD system to Institute of Metal Research at Chinese Academy of Sciences. To make carbon nanotubes, graphene. Osaka U also placed order for system to make biosensors combining graphene FETs with organic chemicals, also to make C nanotubes for MEMs, E storage devices.
Norwegian U of Science & Tech researchers found new way to grow GaAs nanowires using molecular beam epitaxy. Excellent optoeltronic properties. Can easily be used with existing production equipment. Started comp with patent - CrayoNano.
TX Tech researching photocatalytic effect of composite graphene materials using TiO(2).
Shenyang National Lab, Rensselaer Poly found new graphene-based foams are excellent water repellents. Graphene grown over nickel foam template later leached away. Remaining graphene foam coated with Teflon.
Singapore's A*STAR researchers say graphene may be hazardous, toxic. Graphite, graphite oxide, graphene oxide kill bacteria. Graphene oxide the most dangerous.
Cornell U researchers making thin, flexible, transparent graphene and boron-nitride films. Could lead to substrate-free, atom-thin circuits. "Patterned regrowth."
IBM, U Cal researchers made slimmest graphene nanoribbon ever - 10nm.
Aixtron (AIXG) sold PECVD system to Institute of Metal Research at Chinese Academy of Sciences. To make carbon nanotubes, graphene. Osaka U also placed order for system to make biosensors combining graphene FETs with organic chemicals, also to make C nanotubes for MEMs, E storage devices.
Norwegian U of Science & Tech researchers found new way to grow GaAs nanowires using molecular beam epitaxy. Excellent optoeltronic properties. Can easily be used with existing production equipment. Started comp with patent - CrayoNano.
TX Tech researching photocatalytic effect of composite graphene materials using TiO(2).
Shenyang National Lab, Rensselaer Poly found new graphene-based foams are excellent water repellents. Graphene grown over nickel foam template later leached away. Remaining graphene foam coated with Teflon.
Singapore's A*STAR researchers say graphene may be hazardous, toxic. Graphite, graphite oxide, graphene oxide kill bacteria. Graphene oxide the most dangerous.
Cornell U researchers making thin, flexible, transparent graphene and boron-nitride films. Could lead to substrate-free, atom-thin circuits. "Patterned regrowth."
IBM, U Cal researchers made slimmest graphene nanoribbon ever - 10nm.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
STUFF
ABB pulled its $20M investment in GreenVolts, a concentrated PV solar startup. Solar panels biz is losing money for awhile.
NIPSCO to begin $246M emissions project at IN coal plant next year. To tackle sulfur emissions. Also $510M scrubber project well under way at another plant. Regulators gave OK for surcharges to customers to cover costs. Also planning $200M to bring stations into EPA compliance on mercury, other toxins. And $500M more for 100-mile high-volt line in IN, near all of cost to be borne by other utilities that get power through Midwest grid.
CBO says EV incentives to cost $7.5B next 7 years. But unlikely to have much effect on gas consumption or GHG emissions. Can we get more GHG reduction and less reliance on foreign oil with this $1B/y than this program? What can you do with $1B/y? Maybe we should have a contest.
Centinela Solar Energy, a member of LS Power Group, awarded Fluor a contract to build, op a 170Mw Cal solar project. To be 1 of 1st major projects to tie into new Sunrise high-volt line. Fully online mid-'14.
N Maine Community College commissioned new $1M biomass wood boiler to heat most of campus and gen el. Replacing fuel oil. Will save $43K/y in utility costs, 47K gal/y of fuel oil. 900Kw unit. $500K fed grant. College invested $3M last few years on E efficiency.
Lack of transmission lines preventing SW US solar potential. Let alone other areas in other countries around our world. In NM, 18 utility-scale solar projects in pipeline last year. None in '10. But major transmission projects still in permit phase. Much of US transmission infra needs replacement by '30. By '15, industry expected to spend $66B on improvements. NREL says by '50, clean E could provide 80% of US elgen. You know, if we're going to borrow > $1T/y anyway, we ought to put it into highest and best use. I like the vision of a clean green USA. Let alone the end of war. That's just me.
IKEA plugged in uno mas 940Kw solar rooftop in New Haven. Their 32nd US system. 590M Euros committed worldwide. Connecticut's largest solar array.
Apricus Solar doubling China manufacturing plant capacity. Solar hot water, hydronic heating products. $1.5M. Online 1Q13.
US wind power tax credit cost $12B this year. $12B. 2.2 cents/Kw for 1st decade of wind farm ops. Fossil fuels got $4B? Maybe we should bring wind credits back year by year, but don't just go from $12B to nothing and throw people out of work and businesses into bankruptcy. If I'm reading things right. Thinking clearly. Big assumption. Facts right?
> 1K folks already working on offshore wind E in SC. But no blades spinning yet.
Abe Lincoln gave speech in Bloomington IL referring to power of wind as "an untamed, unharnessed force". Today a wind turbine stands over 36 stories high at a community college just north of where he spoke those words. And if that doesn't hit your gut, well, then you're not much of an American. The college turbine was a $5.2M project. $950K DOE grant, $512K IL grant. Rest financed with bonds to be paid off with energy savings.
PPL Montana mothballing 154Mw coal power plant April '15. Can't afford $38M upgrade. Uses low-sulfur Powder River coal. Began ops in '68.
New ACCCE analysis shows new EPA rules will shut down 16 coal power plants in VA. 2.5Gw. 204 across US. 31Gw. Equivalent to Ohio elgen capacity. So far, announced coal plant retirements 3x EPA prediction. Politics? No war on coal. War on pollution that kills and overheats the globe.
NIPSCO to begin $246M emissions project at IN coal plant next year. To tackle sulfur emissions. Also $510M scrubber project well under way at another plant. Regulators gave OK for surcharges to customers to cover costs. Also planning $200M to bring stations into EPA compliance on mercury, other toxins. And $500M more for 100-mile high-volt line in IN, near all of cost to be borne by other utilities that get power through Midwest grid.
CBO says EV incentives to cost $7.5B next 7 years. But unlikely to have much effect on gas consumption or GHG emissions. Can we get more GHG reduction and less reliance on foreign oil with this $1B/y than this program? What can you do with $1B/y? Maybe we should have a contest.
Centinela Solar Energy, a member of LS Power Group, awarded Fluor a contract to build, op a 170Mw Cal solar project. To be 1 of 1st major projects to tie into new Sunrise high-volt line. Fully online mid-'14.
N Maine Community College commissioned new $1M biomass wood boiler to heat most of campus and gen el. Replacing fuel oil. Will save $43K/y in utility costs, 47K gal/y of fuel oil. 900Kw unit. $500K fed grant. College invested $3M last few years on E efficiency.
Lack of transmission lines preventing SW US solar potential. Let alone other areas in other countries around our world. In NM, 18 utility-scale solar projects in pipeline last year. None in '10. But major transmission projects still in permit phase. Much of US transmission infra needs replacement by '30. By '15, industry expected to spend $66B on improvements. NREL says by '50, clean E could provide 80% of US elgen. You know, if we're going to borrow > $1T/y anyway, we ought to put it into highest and best use. I like the vision of a clean green USA. Let alone the end of war. That's just me.
IKEA plugged in uno mas 940Kw solar rooftop in New Haven. Their 32nd US system. 590M Euros committed worldwide. Connecticut's largest solar array.
Apricus Solar doubling China manufacturing plant capacity. Solar hot water, hydronic heating products. $1.5M. Online 1Q13.
US wind power tax credit cost $12B this year. $12B. 2.2 cents/Kw for 1st decade of wind farm ops. Fossil fuels got $4B? Maybe we should bring wind credits back year by year, but don't just go from $12B to nothing and throw people out of work and businesses into bankruptcy. If I'm reading things right. Thinking clearly. Big assumption. Facts right?
> 1K folks already working on offshore wind E in SC. But no blades spinning yet.
Abe Lincoln gave speech in Bloomington IL referring to power of wind as "an untamed, unharnessed force". Today a wind turbine stands over 36 stories high at a community college just north of where he spoke those words. And if that doesn't hit your gut, well, then you're not much of an American. The college turbine was a $5.2M project. $950K DOE grant, $512K IL grant. Rest financed with bonds to be paid off with energy savings.
PPL Montana mothballing 154Mw coal power plant April '15. Can't afford $38M upgrade. Uses low-sulfur Powder River coal. Began ops in '68.
New ACCCE analysis shows new EPA rules will shut down 16 coal power plants in VA. 2.5Gw. 204 across US. 31Gw. Equivalent to Ohio elgen capacity. So far, announced coal plant retirements 3x EPA prediction. Politics? No war on coal. War on pollution that kills and overheats the globe.
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume huge - double normal, options Friday. Oil under $92 says Yahoo.
NGLPF up 56. CSOL up 35. CBWP up 28. HOKU up 27. GERS up 19. ECTY, LEXG, RSOL up 17. ECTY a peek over 50-day lines. LEXG got up to theirs, then fell back. RSOL off their bottom. CSUN, CPWY, XDSL up 16. CSUN at triple bottom going back to Jan. APWR up 15. WTWO up 13. AONE up 12 in turn back up. AQNM up 12. SLMU up 11. KNDI up 10, back to highs. ELON, CERP up 9. ELON starting to climb out. CERP climbing out off double bottom, over 50-days. JASO up 8. SYNM up 7. XSNX up 3. ORYN up 2, climbing out.
PPRW down 42, back under 50's. VNDB down 38, back to bottom. PEIX down 29 on that new issue. Back to bottom (50-day) line. Reverse split wouldn't surprise me. CSGH down 20. LEOM down 16. ZAAP down 13. NENE down 12, another chance to buy. FSLR down 6.
AVRW flat. Announced 1-for-50 reverse split which will put price up near $100. Only $15M valuation. Extremely low P/B and P/S. Will give them only 160K shares outstanding. Maybe they will issue new stock up at that height. Dallas corn ethanol maker, other related products. Revs ~$900M in '11, double from '10. Last reported in March. So there's a problem. Revs only $200M, $22M loss. May be one to watch.
Market flat and mixed. Volume huge - double normal, options Friday. Oil under $92 says Yahoo.
NGLPF up 56. CSOL up 35. CBWP up 28. HOKU up 27. GERS up 19. ECTY, LEXG, RSOL up 17. ECTY a peek over 50-day lines. LEXG got up to theirs, then fell back. RSOL off their bottom. CSUN, CPWY, XDSL up 16. CSUN at triple bottom going back to Jan. APWR up 15. WTWO up 13. AONE up 12 in turn back up. AQNM up 12. SLMU up 11. KNDI up 10, back to highs. ELON, CERP up 9. ELON starting to climb out. CERP climbing out off double bottom, over 50-days. JASO up 8. SYNM up 7. XSNX up 3. ORYN up 2, climbing out.
PPRW down 42, back under 50's. VNDB down 38, back to bottom. PEIX down 29 on that new issue. Back to bottom (50-day) line. Reverse split wouldn't surprise me. CSGH down 20. LEOM down 16. ZAAP down 13. NENE down 12, another chance to buy. FSLR down 6.
AVRW flat. Announced 1-for-50 reverse split which will put price up near $100. Only $15M valuation. Extremely low P/B and P/S. Will give them only 160K shares outstanding. Maybe they will issue new stock up at that height. Dallas corn ethanol maker, other related products. Revs ~$900M in '11, double from '10. Last reported in March. So there's a problem. Revs only $200M, $22M loss. May be one to watch.
Friday, September 21, 2012
STUFF
Cooper Farms in OH installing 3rd wind turbine. Turbs will produce 3/4 of farm's el needs. 5-year payout.
US '11 seafood catch hit 17-year high.
NOAA predicting warmer-than-usual fall in US with weaker El Nino.
NY calling for health study before OK'ing fracking.
Exxon paying $1.6B for Dewbury stakes in ND, MT Bakken fields. Predicted to produce ~15Kboe/d in 2H12. boe - barrels of oil equivalent.
Sunoco handed over Philly refinery to Carlyle Group.
UK considering guaranteed payments for 7 years, retroactive to July '09, for homes that gen their own heat using geo heat pumps, biomass boilers, solar thermal. 10 months after intro of incentives for biz to gen heat from clean/ren. Also examining air-to-water heat pumps and E from waste.
Recent fire at big box Cal retailer linked to faulty solar install. Concern over qualified workforce while funds for training drying up. And standardization.
China's Wen urges EU to avoid tariffs amid solar panel probe.
Brit's Institute of Directors says country must begin shale gas exploration. Without new resources, imports could grow from $8.5B/y now to $11B by '15. N Sea supplies dwindling. Brits were net exporters of NG until '04. Now importing from Norway, Qatar.
Fracking banned by Quebec Province.
Valero restarted ethanol plants in Neb, Ind. Margins good enough with Dec corn price. Now operating all 10 plants.
Global corn crop 2nd largest in history. US reaping their 8th largest. Argentina up > 30%, Mexico 19%, S Africa 17%, China 4%.
UK researchers at U of Surrey announced breakthrough in microbial fuel cell tech. Could lead to development of self-propelled devices. Also can clean wastewater. Distillers dried grain with solubles.
Shell building floating LNG plant. Will weigh 6x world's largest aircraft carrier. $13B cost. Being built in S Korea. Typical onshore facility costs $20B. To be anchored off NW Australia. Will produce ~3.6M metric tons LNG and 1.3M tons of gas condensate a year costing ~$3-3.5B/M tons LNG.
Inpex to build onshore LNG facility for $34B. Capacity 8.4M tons/y @ $4B/M tons LNG cost.
Deutsche says LNG demand to more than double to ~460M tons/y by '25.
Pipeline comps' leak detection systems only detect 1 of 20 oil spills.
Drilling in US GOM growing again. May soon reach pre-BP spill levels.
Washington State's attorney general and state UTC say Avistar asking too much of customers with push to raise el rates 6.3%, NG rates 6.9%.
ABB (Switz) opened $90M el cable plant in NC. Cable designed to be buried underground. $11M contributed from state, county and city.
US appeals court ruled Alaskan village can't sue oil comps or utilities for damages from climate change under federal common law.
CBO questioning value of EV tax credits.
Oyster die-off in Fla waters.
3 Mile Island reactor unexpectedly shut down. Bad memories.
Brazil plans to increase ethanol exports to US.
US '11 seafood catch hit 17-year high.
NOAA predicting warmer-than-usual fall in US with weaker El Nino.
NY calling for health study before OK'ing fracking.
Exxon paying $1.6B for Dewbury stakes in ND, MT Bakken fields. Predicted to produce ~15Kboe/d in 2H12. boe - barrels of oil equivalent.
Sunoco handed over Philly refinery to Carlyle Group.
UK considering guaranteed payments for 7 years, retroactive to July '09, for homes that gen their own heat using geo heat pumps, biomass boilers, solar thermal. 10 months after intro of incentives for biz to gen heat from clean/ren. Also examining air-to-water heat pumps and E from waste.
Recent fire at big box Cal retailer linked to faulty solar install. Concern over qualified workforce while funds for training drying up. And standardization.
China's Wen urges EU to avoid tariffs amid solar panel probe.
Brit's Institute of Directors says country must begin shale gas exploration. Without new resources, imports could grow from $8.5B/y now to $11B by '15. N Sea supplies dwindling. Brits were net exporters of NG until '04. Now importing from Norway, Qatar.
Fracking banned by Quebec Province.
Valero restarted ethanol plants in Neb, Ind. Margins good enough with Dec corn price. Now operating all 10 plants.
Global corn crop 2nd largest in history. US reaping their 8th largest. Argentina up > 30%, Mexico 19%, S Africa 17%, China 4%.
UK researchers at U of Surrey announced breakthrough in microbial fuel cell tech. Could lead to development of self-propelled devices. Also can clean wastewater. Distillers dried grain with solubles.
Shell building floating LNG plant. Will weigh 6x world's largest aircraft carrier. $13B cost. Being built in S Korea. Typical onshore facility costs $20B. To be anchored off NW Australia. Will produce ~3.6M metric tons LNG and 1.3M tons of gas condensate a year costing ~$3-3.5B/M tons LNG.
Inpex to build onshore LNG facility for $34B. Capacity 8.4M tons/y @ $4B/M tons LNG cost.
Deutsche says LNG demand to more than double to ~460M tons/y by '25.
Pipeline comps' leak detection systems only detect 1 of 20 oil spills.
Drilling in US GOM growing again. May soon reach pre-BP spill levels.
Washington State's attorney general and state UTC say Avistar asking too much of customers with push to raise el rates 6.3%, NG rates 6.9%.
ABB (Switz) opened $90M el cable plant in NC. Cable designed to be buried underground. $11M contributed from state, county and city.
US appeals court ruled Alaskan village can't sue oil comps or utilities for damages from climate change under federal common law.
CBO questioning value of EV tax credits.
Oyster die-off in Fla waters.
3 Mile Island reactor unexpectedly shut down. Bad memories.
Brazil plans to increase ethanol exports to US.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 45/18/6. Volume triple normal (options Friday). Oil up over $93.
WWPW up 50 on 1.5K shares. CSOL up 35. JUHL up 21 on 2K. GERS up 20. MMMW up 17. XDSL up 16. APWR up 15. They've snuck up 50 in last couple days. AQNM up 12. XSNX up 7. BIOF up 3. NEXS up 1, back up to recent high, double from recent bottom. NENE up 1. NTCXF, ASTI, AONE flat.
PPRW down 42 on 1.1K shares. PEIX down 25 after pricing $11M of new shares. Back to 50-day line. VNDB down 22. BSRC down 19. LEOM down 16.
Market up 45/18/6. Volume triple normal (options Friday). Oil up over $93.
WWPW up 50 on 1.5K shares. CSOL up 35. JUHL up 21 on 2K. GERS up 20. MMMW up 17. XDSL up 16. APWR up 15. They've snuck up 50 in last couple days. AQNM up 12. XSNX up 7. BIOF up 3. NEXS up 1, back up to recent high, double from recent bottom. NENE up 1. NTCXF, ASTI, AONE flat.
PPRW down 42 on 1.1K shares. PEIX down 25 after pricing $11M of new shares. Back to 50-day line. VNDB down 22. BSRC down 19. LEOM down 16.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume average. Oil up around $93. Tomorrow options Friday.
VNDB up 38. Working double bottom. PSPW up 28. Double this month. SLMU up 21. CWET up 17. 2-day jump. NEXS up 15. Day 6 of coming alive. CDXS, ECOS up 14. CDXS almost dub since begin Sept, up near 200-day lines. ECOS above all lines. TMEN up 13. NFEC up 12. Double bottoming. CERP up 10. Crossed 50-days. AMRS, ABAT, CBAK up 8. AMRS up off 50's. ABAT even crossed 50's. CBAK yep, 50's. BWEN up 7. Yep, crossed 50's. NENE up 6. Day 2 of "awakening" off double bottom.
CSOL down 44. New low. CPWY down 40. Back below 50's. NGLPF down 35. And the downline continues. ASTI down 28. Sold all 9M and ended up at stated price, resting just above top 200-day. PEIX down 26. Looking like a buy here. SOPW down 15. Continues on down. ZAAP down 14. Back on 50's. CSUN down 12. Triple bottom with Jan and June. Hay, a Chinese solar. WTWO, AMEL down 11. ASPW down 10. AONE, BIOF down 6. BIOF back under bottom 200. NTCXF down 4. Buy it. XSNX down 3. Buy it.
Market flat and mixed. Volume average. Oil up around $93. Tomorrow options Friday.
VNDB up 38. Working double bottom. PSPW up 28. Double this month. SLMU up 21. CWET up 17. 2-day jump. NEXS up 15. Day 6 of coming alive. CDXS, ECOS up 14. CDXS almost dub since begin Sept, up near 200-day lines. ECOS above all lines. TMEN up 13. NFEC up 12. Double bottoming. CERP up 10. Crossed 50-days. AMRS, ABAT, CBAK up 8. AMRS up off 50's. ABAT even crossed 50's. CBAK yep, 50's. BWEN up 7. Yep, crossed 50's. NENE up 6. Day 2 of "awakening" off double bottom.
CSOL down 44. New low. CPWY down 40. Back below 50's. NGLPF down 35. And the downline continues. ASTI down 28. Sold all 9M and ended up at stated price, resting just above top 200-day. PEIX down 26. Looking like a buy here. SOPW down 15. Continues on down. ZAAP down 14. Back on 50's. CSUN down 12. Triple bottom with Jan and June. Hay, a Chinese solar. WTWO, AMEL down 11. ASPW down 10. AONE, BIOF down 6. BIOF back under bottom 200. NTCXF down 4. Buy it. XSNX down 3. Buy it.
STUFF
Overseas Private Investment Corp (US govt development finance institution) approved up to $250M for their 1st solar project in S Africa - 60Mw. ~$4/w.
Scientists announced new record low ice cover in Arctic of 24%, 5% below previous record in '07. Half the avg size recorded '79-'00. But, silver lining - more mineral deposits revealed.
Japan now backing off phase-out of nuke power by '40.
Q2 worldwide PV manufacturing equipment billings up 2% from Q1 at $706M, but just 35% of year-ago Q2. Bookings down 20% in Q2 to $235M, lowest level since 1Q10. 5th consecutive Q that book-to-bill ratio below parity. Estimate a new investment cycle may start mid-'13.
Blackstone to take > 50% stake in home automation giant Vivint for > $2B. Vivent just entered solar market last year with $75M US Bank fund to finance residential solar installs on long-term leases. Blackstone plans to expand solar efforts and other.
In '08, US oil and biofuels production was ~ 7.5Mb/d, demand just under 20M. This year, production to be close to 10M, demand close to 19M. '19 estimate US production to equal US demand - ~18M.
IEA: fuel use in new vehicles could be slashed by half next 20 years. Provided govts set up bold policies (like Obama's new rules for MPG) to boost use of available techs. Transportation uses ~1/5 of global E. Will account for nearly all future demand growth.
US Ex-Im Bank authorized credit insurance to support export of near $900M of US-made crop spraying aircraft to biofuel and soybean grower in Brazil. 20th of ~40 similar deals to benefit Air Tractor (TX) this year.
France's DEINOVE researchers isolated, optimized strain of Deinococcus bacteria able to make ethanol from wheat-based biomass. Alcohol content > 3%. (Mine's higher.)
Brazil to raise anhydrous ethanol blending in gasoline back to 25% early next year from 20% now. May raise to 30% by '20.
Soros Econ Development Fund and Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries investing near $9M in CleanStar Mozambique. Option to invest in more pan-Africa projects.
Algae.Tec, Lufthansa deal to build large-scale algae production facility for aviation biofuels. Site to be in Europe, adjacent to industrial CO2 source.
BP deal in Russia with Rosneft to give BP access to Russia's Arctic fields. Deal looks like $15B cash, maybe $10M more in stock for access.
Summer discovery of est > 1B bls oil offshore Ireland. Known about for 50 years, but today's tech now makes extraction econ viable.
Sauds have offered extra oil supply thru year-end to bring prices down. I guess that's why we went from $100 days ago to closer to $90 today.
Launch of US-Japan smart grid, clean E demo project at Los Alamos LANL.
Pakistan plans to import 1Gw of el from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan starting in '16. Nice to see the Stans getting along. $1B. Turkmen also plans to sell el to Afghan, Turkey, Central Asia in future. 3 combined-cycle NG plants - total capac 1.1Gw - to be built for Pak project.
FERC created cybersecurity office.
Dry conditions spread across US, setting record.
BP reportedly slow on spill cleanup in LA after hurricane.
Scientists announced new record low ice cover in Arctic of 24%, 5% below previous record in '07. Half the avg size recorded '79-'00. But, silver lining - more mineral deposits revealed.
Japan now backing off phase-out of nuke power by '40.
Q2 worldwide PV manufacturing equipment billings up 2% from Q1 at $706M, but just 35% of year-ago Q2. Bookings down 20% in Q2 to $235M, lowest level since 1Q10. 5th consecutive Q that book-to-bill ratio below parity. Estimate a new investment cycle may start mid-'13.
Blackstone to take > 50% stake in home automation giant Vivint for > $2B. Vivent just entered solar market last year with $75M US Bank fund to finance residential solar installs on long-term leases. Blackstone plans to expand solar efforts and other.
In '08, US oil and biofuels production was ~ 7.5Mb/d, demand just under 20M. This year, production to be close to 10M, demand close to 19M. '19 estimate US production to equal US demand - ~18M.
IEA: fuel use in new vehicles could be slashed by half next 20 years. Provided govts set up bold policies (like Obama's new rules for MPG) to boost use of available techs. Transportation uses ~1/5 of global E. Will account for nearly all future demand growth.
US Ex-Im Bank authorized credit insurance to support export of near $900M of US-made crop spraying aircraft to biofuel and soybean grower in Brazil. 20th of ~40 similar deals to benefit Air Tractor (TX) this year.
France's DEINOVE researchers isolated, optimized strain of Deinococcus bacteria able to make ethanol from wheat-based biomass. Alcohol content > 3%. (Mine's higher.)
Brazil to raise anhydrous ethanol blending in gasoline back to 25% early next year from 20% now. May raise to 30% by '20.
Soros Econ Development Fund and Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries investing near $9M in CleanStar Mozambique. Option to invest in more pan-Africa projects.
Algae.Tec, Lufthansa deal to build large-scale algae production facility for aviation biofuels. Site to be in Europe, adjacent to industrial CO2 source.
BP deal in Russia with Rosneft to give BP access to Russia's Arctic fields. Deal looks like $15B cash, maybe $10M more in stock for access.
Summer discovery of est > 1B bls oil offshore Ireland. Known about for 50 years, but today's tech now makes extraction econ viable.
Sauds have offered extra oil supply thru year-end to bring prices down. I guess that's why we went from $100 days ago to closer to $90 today.
Launch of US-Japan smart grid, clean E demo project at Los Alamos LANL.
Pakistan plans to import 1Gw of el from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan starting in '16. Nice to see the Stans getting along. $1B. Turkmen also plans to sell el to Afghan, Turkey, Central Asia in future. 3 combined-cycle NG plants - total capac 1.1Gw - to be built for Pak project.
FERC created cybersecurity office.
Dry conditions spread across US, setting record.
BP reportedly slow on spill cleanup in LA after hurricane.
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 23/11/4. Volume normal. Oil steady around $92. Philly manufacturing down 5th month in row.
PPRW up 58 on 500 shares. Above 50-day lines. VNDB up 23 more, up 60 in 2 days off bottom. CWET up 13. CERP up 8. ORYN up 5 more. AONE, PEIX up 3.
CGYV down 51 on 1K shares. ASTI down 24 on pricing of 9M new shares, fell below 50-days. ECTY down 14. GERS down 13. BIOF down 4. ENOC down 3 on downgrade. XSNX down 3. NENE, NTCXF down 1.
Market down 23/11/4. Volume normal. Oil steady around $92. Philly manufacturing down 5th month in row.
PPRW up 58 on 500 shares. Above 50-day lines. VNDB up 23 more, up 60 in 2 days off bottom. CWET up 13. CERP up 8. ORYN up 5 more. AONE, PEIX up 3.
CGYV down 51 on 1K shares. ASTI down 24 on pricing of 9M new shares, fell below 50-days. ECTY down 14. GERS down 13. BIOF down 4. ENOC down 3 on downgrade. XSNX down 3. NENE, NTCXF down 1.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
WEDNESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 13/4/1. Volume unchecked but feeling new average. Oil down under $92! Yay.
PPRW up 300 on > 2K shares. No kidding. Not bad day there, huh? NGLPF up 43. IFXY up 32. CWET up 28. JUHL up 25. CRCL up 22. APWR up 20. BLDW up 18. AONE up 17. There's a turnaround. CERP up 15. NEXS up 15. ECTY up 15. NENE up 9. Buy it. ORYN up 8. Keep holding. XSNX up 3. NTCXF, VNDB, PEIX flat.
BOPO down 28. CPWY down 25. BIOF down 13. LEOM down 13. SPIR, SLMU down 12. WTWO down 5.
Market up 13/4/1. Volume unchecked but feeling new average. Oil down under $92! Yay.
PPRW up 300 on > 2K shares. No kidding. Not bad day there, huh? NGLPF up 43. IFXY up 32. CWET up 28. JUHL up 25. CRCL up 22. APWR up 20. BLDW up 18. AONE up 17. There's a turnaround. CERP up 15. NEXS up 15. ECTY up 15. NENE up 9. Buy it. ORYN up 8. Keep holding. XSNX up 3. NTCXF, VNDB, PEIX flat.
BOPO down 28. CPWY down 25. BIOF down 13. LEOM down 13. SPIR, SLMU down 12. WTWO down 5.
STUFF
Indonesia elgen market moving away from monopolized fossil fuel base to more competitive structure with increasing share of clean/renew E.
Connecticut Dept of E and Enviro Protect issued draft permit for PSEG's coal- and oil-fired plant. Triggers 45-day EPA review. Plant built in '61. Last remaining coal burner in state. Operated only 24 days this year. 529Mw. $150M spent in recent years to make it "among cleanest of its type".
Progress Energy retiring 872Mw of coal-based power next 2 weeks. > 1/2 of total planned elim by '13 - ~1/3 of total coal fleet. Now NC has to decommission ash pits. Not covered by state's policies for lagoons, wastewater ponds. But Progress announced these closures in '09. 3 new replacement plants to burn NG. By '14, 27% of PE's elgen will be coal, down from 41%, 43% NG. 4 oil-fired units to shut down Oct 1.
Oregon coal-export project delayed year or more over permitting. Start-up now mid-'14.
Sea surface temps along east coast NC to Maine hottest ever recorded in 1H12: NOAA. Above avg temps surface to bottom and out beyond Gulf Stream.
In '10, 12 US agencies decided on $21/ton of carbon as social cost of > 7B tons/y emitted in US. New study suggests cost 2-12x that, considering impact of clime change on future generations.
BMW hedging bets on EVs, trying new ways to get more out of gas, diesel motors. Fiat doing well with NG, propane cars.
US airlines going to UN to fight EU carbon caps. Wah.
Sea level rise destroying mangroves in El Salvador. I've seen the mangrove destruction personally around Marco I, FL about 6 years ago. Now we know why.
German utility to close 2 highly polluting coal plants in UK.
FERC says tighter communications needed between NG suppliers and utilities burning it. Possible shortages with extreme winter wx. My guess is heating would take pref over elgen. Hopefully, enough plants can burn both NG or coal. Besides more clean E contrib (do wind turbine blades have de-icing or anti-icing? And how are solar panels de-iced? Or after the snow is brushed off, maybe ice concentrates sunlight.). Thinking out loud, I guess. Let me know if too much.
Experts say oil comps need to team up to prepare for cyber attacks.
Azerbaijan, Turkey moving ahead with NG pipeline plans.
Siemens to elim 615 jobs at US wind turbine factories as new orders dry up from Congress inaction. > 1/3 of workforce. Siemens invested $100M in those plants in last 5 years.
LDK's latest financials showing meltdown. Revs down 1/2, $254M loss. Word they hired Morgan Stanley to find buyer among China's state-owned comps.
China announced official protest with WTO over US' tariffs on China comps. India launching their own probe into Chinese solar dumping. EU's also ongoing, of course.
NYC 1st US city to make public (on city website) how well (or poorly) each large private bldg in city performs on E and water use. > 2K large comm properties, ~530M sq ft. Part of mayor's goal of 30% redux of CO2 emiss by '30. >2.6K muni bldgs already reporting.
General Biofuels Georgia to build $60M wood pellet plant. Opens in '14. 440K tons/y. Target Euro utilites.
USDA looking at 117 genotypes of sweet sorghum for biofuel feedstock in south US. Drought tolerance, low fertilizer requirement sought.
Up to 3.5B hectares worldwide not suitable for food crop production. But potential for biofuels feedstock.
Or we could make some of those hectares more suitable for food. How? Pumping seawater through reverse osmosis plants and piping it out to where needed. Look at projected population growth. Oops, thinking outloud again. Tell me when.
General Atomics (Cal). Developing "E Multiplier Module". EM2. "Fast/breeder reactor." Helium cools reactor and drives turbine with gas heated to 856C ( > 2x light water nuke tech) @ 6-12K RPM for 30 yrs before maintenance/refuel (today's reactors shut down ev 18 months.) Also unique fuel clad in silicon carbide. Uranium starting fuel, enriched to 12%. Then burns nuke waste or depleted U. Multiplies power from U 262x. Also gens enough radioactive "seed" during ops to refuel another reactor. Largest prob: lack of enthuse from utilities. $4B to build demo. Come on DOE. 71Mw version to come first. Then 240Mw. Cost of elgen would be 1/2 of current reactors. Gen Atomics same comp that gave us Predator drone, rail gun, mag-lev cargo pallets and elmag launch system on USS Gerald Ford. Come on. What's $4B these days? Great export product too.
Gazprom plans to invest > $14B in far east including offshore production, LNG.
But we can't come up with $4B for fast/breeder demo. Or is that the one going up in India? Come on America. Get smart.
Compressed NG cars would be cheaper because catalytic converters wouldn't be needed. They would pollute less. They would be cheaper to run than gasoline engines. (Until NG prices rise, of course.) Maybe govt should also subsidize them and the needed infra. "All of the above" policy.
Falkland Oil & Gas found NG-bearing rock offshore.
Plans in Australia to create 9 mega coal mines would release 705M tons CO2/yr. Could contrib heavily to 6F temp rise that IEA calls "catastrophic".
China set to double '15 solar target to > 40Gw. '12 expected to be 7Gw. May also double '20 target to 100Gw.
Hawaii El relaxing rules for smaller PV system installs.
Comm property owners in Ventura County, Cal can obtain loans for projects that reduce E and water use in new program.
Financing completed for 758Mw NG combined-cycle power plant in Sherman, TX.
LS Power completed financing for 170Mw PV solar plant in Cal.
99 Cents Stores added 40 NG trucks to fleet, 1 of largest NG private fleets in S Cal.
Romney launching "Obama's war on coal" ads. Well, NG elgen is now cheaper or same. Less polluting. Most important, no mercury. And less cause of global warming and climate change. So, Mitt, you may gain coal miners, coal comps, railroads, barge lines and utilities. But they all vote Republican anyway. Oy.
FERC commisioner offered "middle ground" option in wind tax cred debate. Can't wait to see it.
US fish catch hit 17-yr high in '11. And Mitt says they're getting hurt by high fuel costs. And how do fishers vote? Enough politics.
San Fran approved muni E program.
OECD: govt support for farmers at "historic lows". Huh. We should look into that.
Clean/ren comps fighting Bulgaria's regulations for new fees.
India villagers protesting new nuke plant opening. The fast breeder?
Connecticut Dept of E and Enviro Protect issued draft permit for PSEG's coal- and oil-fired plant. Triggers 45-day EPA review. Plant built in '61. Last remaining coal burner in state. Operated only 24 days this year. 529Mw. $150M spent in recent years to make it "among cleanest of its type".
Progress Energy retiring 872Mw of coal-based power next 2 weeks. > 1/2 of total planned elim by '13 - ~1/3 of total coal fleet. Now NC has to decommission ash pits. Not covered by state's policies for lagoons, wastewater ponds. But Progress announced these closures in '09. 3 new replacement plants to burn NG. By '14, 27% of PE's elgen will be coal, down from 41%, 43% NG. 4 oil-fired units to shut down Oct 1.
Oregon coal-export project delayed year or more over permitting. Start-up now mid-'14.
Sea surface temps along east coast NC to Maine hottest ever recorded in 1H12: NOAA. Above avg temps surface to bottom and out beyond Gulf Stream.
In '10, 12 US agencies decided on $21/ton of carbon as social cost of > 7B tons/y emitted in US. New study suggests cost 2-12x that, considering impact of clime change on future generations.
BMW hedging bets on EVs, trying new ways to get more out of gas, diesel motors. Fiat doing well with NG, propane cars.
US airlines going to UN to fight EU carbon caps. Wah.
Sea level rise destroying mangroves in El Salvador. I've seen the mangrove destruction personally around Marco I, FL about 6 years ago. Now we know why.
German utility to close 2 highly polluting coal plants in UK.
FERC says tighter communications needed between NG suppliers and utilities burning it. Possible shortages with extreme winter wx. My guess is heating would take pref over elgen. Hopefully, enough plants can burn both NG or coal. Besides more clean E contrib (do wind turbine blades have de-icing or anti-icing? And how are solar panels de-iced? Or after the snow is brushed off, maybe ice concentrates sunlight.). Thinking out loud, I guess. Let me know if too much.
Experts say oil comps need to team up to prepare for cyber attacks.
Azerbaijan, Turkey moving ahead with NG pipeline plans.
Siemens to elim 615 jobs at US wind turbine factories as new orders dry up from Congress inaction. > 1/3 of workforce. Siemens invested $100M in those plants in last 5 years.
LDK's latest financials showing meltdown. Revs down 1/2, $254M loss. Word they hired Morgan Stanley to find buyer among China's state-owned comps.
China announced official protest with WTO over US' tariffs on China comps. India launching their own probe into Chinese solar dumping. EU's also ongoing, of course.
NYC 1st US city to make public (on city website) how well (or poorly) each large private bldg in city performs on E and water use. > 2K large comm properties, ~530M sq ft. Part of mayor's goal of 30% redux of CO2 emiss by '30. >2.6K muni bldgs already reporting.
General Biofuels Georgia to build $60M wood pellet plant. Opens in '14. 440K tons/y. Target Euro utilites.
USDA looking at 117 genotypes of sweet sorghum for biofuel feedstock in south US. Drought tolerance, low fertilizer requirement sought.
Up to 3.5B hectares worldwide not suitable for food crop production. But potential for biofuels feedstock.
Or we could make some of those hectares more suitable for food. How? Pumping seawater through reverse osmosis plants and piping it out to where needed. Look at projected population growth. Oops, thinking outloud again. Tell me when.
General Atomics (Cal). Developing "E Multiplier Module". EM2. "Fast/breeder reactor." Helium cools reactor and drives turbine with gas heated to 856C ( > 2x light water nuke tech) @ 6-12K RPM for 30 yrs before maintenance/refuel (today's reactors shut down ev 18 months.) Also unique fuel clad in silicon carbide. Uranium starting fuel, enriched to 12%. Then burns nuke waste or depleted U. Multiplies power from U 262x. Also gens enough radioactive "seed" during ops to refuel another reactor. Largest prob: lack of enthuse from utilities. $4B to build demo. Come on DOE. 71Mw version to come first. Then 240Mw. Cost of elgen would be 1/2 of current reactors. Gen Atomics same comp that gave us Predator drone, rail gun, mag-lev cargo pallets and elmag launch system on USS Gerald Ford. Come on. What's $4B these days? Great export product too.
Gazprom plans to invest > $14B in far east including offshore production, LNG.
But we can't come up with $4B for fast/breeder demo. Or is that the one going up in India? Come on America. Get smart.
Compressed NG cars would be cheaper because catalytic converters wouldn't be needed. They would pollute less. They would be cheaper to run than gasoline engines. (Until NG prices rise, of course.) Maybe govt should also subsidize them and the needed infra. "All of the above" policy.
Falkland Oil & Gas found NG-bearing rock offshore.
Plans in Australia to create 9 mega coal mines would release 705M tons CO2/yr. Could contrib heavily to 6F temp rise that IEA calls "catastrophic".
China set to double '15 solar target to > 40Gw. '12 expected to be 7Gw. May also double '20 target to 100Gw.
Hawaii El relaxing rules for smaller PV system installs.
Comm property owners in Ventura County, Cal can obtain loans for projects that reduce E and water use in new program.
Financing completed for 758Mw NG combined-cycle power plant in Sherman, TX.
LS Power completed financing for 170Mw PV solar plant in Cal.
99 Cents Stores added 40 NG trucks to fleet, 1 of largest NG private fleets in S Cal.
Romney launching "Obama's war on coal" ads. Well, NG elgen is now cheaper or same. Less polluting. Most important, no mercury. And less cause of global warming and climate change. So, Mitt, you may gain coal miners, coal comps, railroads, barge lines and utilities. But they all vote Republican anyway. Oy.
FERC commisioner offered "middle ground" option in wind tax cred debate. Can't wait to see it.
US fish catch hit 17-yr high in '11. And Mitt says they're getting hurt by high fuel costs. And how do fishers vote? Enough politics.
San Fran approved muni E program.
OECD: govt support for farmers at "historic lows". Huh. We should look into that.
Clean/ren comps fighting Bulgaria's regulations for new fees.
India villagers protesting new nuke plant opening. The fast breeder?
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil down under $93. Bank of Japan announced asset buying program. US housing starts up 2.3% in Aug.
NGLPF up 56 on nominal volume. BLDW up 29. CWET up 28. VNDB, ORYN, OOIL up 15. NENE, NEXS up 12. NENE mentioned here previously. FSLR up 4. XSNX up 3. NTCXF flat.
AVRW down 82 on 488 shares. Crazy. Their spread. BIOF down 14 more. Back to bottom 200-day line. LEOM, ECOS down 13. WTWO down 11. PEIX down 8. AONE down 5 more.
Market flat and mixed. Volume normal. Oil down under $93. Bank of Japan announced asset buying program. US housing starts up 2.3% in Aug.
NGLPF up 56 on nominal volume. BLDW up 29. CWET up 28. VNDB, ORYN, OOIL up 15. NENE, NEXS up 12. NENE mentioned here previously. FSLR up 4. XSNX up 3. NTCXF flat.
AVRW down 82 on 488 shares. Crazy. Their spread. BIOF down 14 more. Back to bottom 200-day line. LEOM, ECOS down 13. WTWO down 11. PEIX down 8. AONE down 5 more.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume I'm guessing normal. Oil down under $96. Alaskans to get $878 this year from oil funds. MSFT boosted dividend 15%. More negative news from FedEx. IMF to put Argentina on path to censure over inflation data. And Branson says global econ turning the corner.
AEHI up 50. BLDW up 35. WTWO, LEOM up 20. GSFVF up 13. RBCN up 8. NEXS, CWET up 6. NENE up 4. Buy it. NTCXF, GPRE flat.
HOKU down 28. PEIX down 21 on huge volume. VNDB down 18. Up 30% intraday from low. ASTI, OOIL down 13. BIOF down 12. AONE down 9. REGI down 6. XSNX down 3.
Market flat and mixed. Volume I'm guessing normal. Oil down under $96. Alaskans to get $878 this year from oil funds. MSFT boosted dividend 15%. More negative news from FedEx. IMF to put Argentina on path to censure over inflation data. And Branson says global econ turning the corner.
AEHI up 50. BLDW up 35. WTWO, LEOM up 20. GSFVF up 13. RBCN up 8. NEXS, CWET up 6. NENE up 4. Buy it. NTCXF, GPRE flat.
HOKU down 28. PEIX down 21 on huge volume. VNDB down 18. Up 30% intraday from low. ASTI, OOIL down 13. BIOF down 12. AONE down 9. REGI down 6. XSNX down 3.
STUFF
Brit Columbia deal with indigenous people to fast-track development of LNG export terminal.
New software allowing manufacturers to track carbon footprints of individual products.
Fracture found in N Sea carbon storage facility. Raising doubts on viability of tech.
Progress Energy Carolinas switching to NG from coal at power plants.
S Africa shale gas moratorium lifted. Potentially opening world's 5th largest reserves.
Suntech Power (China), world's largest solar panel maker, announced temp reduction of production capacity for solar cells from 2.4Gw/yr to 1.8. Will keep 2.4Gw panel capacity. Solar cell prices down 45% past year. Other solar manufacturers expected to follow suit to return to positive operating cash flows in '13.
US solar industry facing ~$70M shortfall in solar worker training funds next 4 years. Industry avg $30K to train a worker.
Cal PUC analysis says state can add 15Gw of local solar (20Mw (Kw?) and less each) to grid by '20.
New study - Global Biofuels Outlook to '25 - finds disconnect between mandates (RFS in US, RED in EU) and actual market demand. Known, but not acknowledged or addressed.
DOE gave AZ State U $15M to be algae testbed. National labs, universities, corps to contrib.
Canada cut ties with Iran.
Airbus released plan to create sustainable aviation industry by '50. Reduction of flight times by avg 13 minutes would save 9M tons of fuel/yr. 5 concepts, including sustainable biofuels.
UK's National Nuke Lab showed benefits of Thorium have been exaggerated. Advantages only manifest in new high-temp reactor, not traditional water-cooled.
German study found global cleantech industry to be > $4T Euro/yr by mid-20's from > $2T Euro now. Grown almost 12%/yr since '07. So, double in 13 years. Cleantech has reached sustained growth.
Japan now accounts for 7% of world's total installed PV cap. 3rd largest in world. Near 5Gw. My math puts world roughly around 70Gw installed. Check my math. Or past "STUFF".
Spain to intro 6% tax on all domestic energy production.
Summer of '13, NREL to feature largest supercomputer dedicated to clean energy research. To use 3,200 Intel Xeon microprocessors and Xeon Phi co-processors. $10M. Phi focused on reduced energy use for high-performance computing aps. Also new HP cooling system running warm water through racks.
Researchers from Rice U and a Belgian U came up with spray-on lith-ion batt.
IBM making progress on copper-zinc-tin-selenium solar cells.
Honda reusing rare earth metals from old car batts.
US "tight" oil (fracked) production forecasted to rise from 1.5Mb/d this year to 4.1 in '20. Bakken 1.3M, Eagle Ford 1.3M, Permian 440K, Niobrara 90K. And other. May be optimistic.
In '10, China produced almost 1/2 of world's coal tonnage of 8B short tons. (Does that include Mongolia?) World production increased steadily through last decade.
New software allowing manufacturers to track carbon footprints of individual products.
Fracture found in N Sea carbon storage facility. Raising doubts on viability of tech.
Progress Energy Carolinas switching to NG from coal at power plants.
S Africa shale gas moratorium lifted. Potentially opening world's 5th largest reserves.
Suntech Power (China), world's largest solar panel maker, announced temp reduction of production capacity for solar cells from 2.4Gw/yr to 1.8. Will keep 2.4Gw panel capacity. Solar cell prices down 45% past year. Other solar manufacturers expected to follow suit to return to positive operating cash flows in '13.
US solar industry facing ~$70M shortfall in solar worker training funds next 4 years. Industry avg $30K to train a worker.
Cal PUC analysis says state can add 15Gw of local solar (20Mw (Kw?) and less each) to grid by '20.
New study - Global Biofuels Outlook to '25 - finds disconnect between mandates (RFS in US, RED in EU) and actual market demand. Known, but not acknowledged or addressed.
DOE gave AZ State U $15M to be algae testbed. National labs, universities, corps to contrib.
Canada cut ties with Iran.
Airbus released plan to create sustainable aviation industry by '50. Reduction of flight times by avg 13 minutes would save 9M tons of fuel/yr. 5 concepts, including sustainable biofuels.
UK's National Nuke Lab showed benefits of Thorium have been exaggerated. Advantages only manifest in new high-temp reactor, not traditional water-cooled.
German study found global cleantech industry to be > $4T Euro/yr by mid-20's from > $2T Euro now. Grown almost 12%/yr since '07. So, double in 13 years. Cleantech has reached sustained growth.
Japan now accounts for 7% of world's total installed PV cap. 3rd largest in world. Near 5Gw. My math puts world roughly around 70Gw installed. Check my math. Or past "STUFF".
Spain to intro 6% tax on all domestic energy production.
Summer of '13, NREL to feature largest supercomputer dedicated to clean energy research. To use 3,200 Intel Xeon microprocessors and Xeon Phi co-processors. $10M. Phi focused on reduced energy use for high-performance computing aps. Also new HP cooling system running warm water through racks.
Researchers from Rice U and a Belgian U came up with spray-on lith-ion batt.
IBM making progress on copper-zinc-tin-selenium solar cells.
Honda reusing rare earth metals from old car batts.
US "tight" oil (fracked) production forecasted to rise from 1.5Mb/d this year to 4.1 in '20. Bakken 1.3M, Eagle Ford 1.3M, Permian 440K, Niobrara 90K. And other. May be optimistic.
In '10, China produced almost 1/2 of world's coal tonnage of 8B short tons. (Does that include Mongolia?) World production increased steadily through last decade.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume almost normal. Oil over $96.
CGYV up 114 on 1,400 shares. WTWO up 33 on snap back. ECOS up 10. NENE flat.
VNDB down 25 more. They might snap. QTMM down 15. PEIX down 11 with other ethanols. Party's over. BIOF down 7. AONE down 8 more. NTCXF down 4.
Market flat and mixed. Volume almost normal. Oil over $96.
CGYV up 114 on 1,400 shares. WTWO up 33 on snap back. ECOS up 10. NENE flat.
VNDB down 25 more. They might snap. QTMM down 15. PEIX down 11 with other ethanols. Party's over. BIOF down 7. AONE down 8 more. NTCXF down 4.
Monday, September 17, 2012
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 40/5/4. Volume light. Oil down to $96, fell $3 in 1 minute. '08 crash cost Americans $12.8T.
PSPW up 50. Kind of expected. REGI up 39. The EPA announcement of jump in biofuel production target (see "STUFF"). I believe I mentioned to ya yesterday morn. PEIX up 36. Same EPA story. Big last 3 days. Closing in on 200-day (top) lines. CPWY up 31. They do that. SYNM up 19 on EPA thing. Jump from 50's to 200's. Boing. BIOF up 12. Same story. Up off top (200) line. WEST up 11. NTCXF up 10. Buy it. Though it's triple since April. ALTI up 9 on 17K shares. AMRS, TSLA up 7. AONE flat.
AEHI down 66. VNDB down 31. WTWO down 28. AMLM down 25. NEXS down 18. SLMU down 16. NENE, XSNX down 3. GPRE flat (an ethanol!).
Market down 40/5/4. Volume light. Oil down to $96, fell $3 in 1 minute. '08 crash cost Americans $12.8T.
PSPW up 50. Kind of expected. REGI up 39. The EPA announcement of jump in biofuel production target (see "STUFF"). I believe I mentioned to ya yesterday morn. PEIX up 36. Same EPA story. Big last 3 days. Closing in on 200-day (top) lines. CPWY up 31. They do that. SYNM up 19 on EPA thing. Jump from 50's to 200's. Boing. BIOF up 12. Same story. Up off top (200) line. WEST up 11. NTCXF up 10. Buy it. Though it's triple since April. ALTI up 9 on 17K shares. AMRS, TSLA up 7. AONE flat.
AEHI down 66. VNDB down 31. WTWO down 28. AMLM down 25. NEXS down 18. SLMU down 16. NENE, XSNX down 3. GPRE flat (an ethanol!).
STUFF
EDF Renewable Energy turned on 140Mw wind project in Cal. REpower turbines. EDF wind installs in US now total 1.47Gw.
New 100-meter high wind towers increase wind energy ~14% over 80-meter. Blades longer, but turn same 160mph. Juwi Wind (Germany) installing 30Mw, $55M project in Colorado with 100-meter towers.
Westinghouse deal in Czech Republic with comp in support to get contract for 2 nuke reactors for up to $10B to expand current plant. Competing with Areva (France) and consortium led by Russia's Atomstroyexport. Decision expected end of next year.
Canada to stop opposing listing asbestos as hazardous. Only a little behind the times, A?
Shell shutting down Arctic offshore ops for the year after spill response dome aboard a vessel was damaged.
EPA to require 1.28B gallons of biodiesel production in '13, 28% over '12. Now we see why stocks of ethanols have been going gangbusters. A little bit of inside information days early. Same old game.
Enviro group sueing Interior over proposed 300-mile water pipeline from central NV to Vegas.
India planning 100 more coal power plants than China - 455 for 519Gw. Oy.
France president calling for 40% cut in carbon emissions by '30.
Russia rejected "ineffective" extension of Kyoto Protocol.
Turkey's state-run oil comp plans to start offshore oil exploration on its own in '13 in E Mediterranean.
Over 40% of Pakistan textile industry has moved to Bangladesh last 5 years due to Pak energy crisis, better incentives in Bang.
Global production of light-duty passenger vehicles 76.8M in '11. May hit 80M in '12. Hybrids under 2% of total.
Pemex beginning 3-year, $200M program to find shale gas, including in extension of Texas' Eagle Ford formation.
New Asian, Mideast oil refineries coming online outstripping closures in Europe, US. OPEC estimates surplus global refining capacity likely to reach 4Mb/d next year. Growing by 1.3M - 1.7M this year.
China increased gas/diesel prices for 2nd time in about a month to keep adequate profits at refineries.
Joule partnered up with Audi as they head for $1.28/gal cost biofuels from waste CO2, sunlight, saline water. Commercialization by mid-decade target.
U Cal Berkeley researchers found strain of switchgrass 250x starchier than normal. Partial funding from USDA.
DOE awarded $14.3M grant to U of NV Reno team to redesign bioenergy crops for arid, hot climes with night CO2 absorption process.
Qatargas, world's largest NG producer (prod capac 42M tons/yr LNG), has increased short-term supply of LNG to Japan to over 20M tons from 9M last year.
FERC approved 800-mile 7Gw high volt transmission line to connect wind farms - to be built - to mid south, S east US.
UN chief says ozone layer on road to full recovery. This year's Antarctic hole shrunk from last year.
New 100-meter high wind towers increase wind energy ~14% over 80-meter. Blades longer, but turn same 160mph. Juwi Wind (Germany) installing 30Mw, $55M project in Colorado with 100-meter towers.
Westinghouse deal in Czech Republic with comp in support to get contract for 2 nuke reactors for up to $10B to expand current plant. Competing with Areva (France) and consortium led by Russia's Atomstroyexport. Decision expected end of next year.
Canada to stop opposing listing asbestos as hazardous. Only a little behind the times, A?
Shell shutting down Arctic offshore ops for the year after spill response dome aboard a vessel was damaged.
EPA to require 1.28B gallons of biodiesel production in '13, 28% over '12. Now we see why stocks of ethanols have been going gangbusters. A little bit of inside information days early. Same old game.
Enviro group sueing Interior over proposed 300-mile water pipeline from central NV to Vegas.
India planning 100 more coal power plants than China - 455 for 519Gw. Oy.
France president calling for 40% cut in carbon emissions by '30.
Russia rejected "ineffective" extension of Kyoto Protocol.
Turkey's state-run oil comp plans to start offshore oil exploration on its own in '13 in E Mediterranean.
Over 40% of Pakistan textile industry has moved to Bangladesh last 5 years due to Pak energy crisis, better incentives in Bang.
Global production of light-duty passenger vehicles 76.8M in '11. May hit 80M in '12. Hybrids under 2% of total.
Pemex beginning 3-year, $200M program to find shale gas, including in extension of Texas' Eagle Ford formation.
New Asian, Mideast oil refineries coming online outstripping closures in Europe, US. OPEC estimates surplus global refining capacity likely to reach 4Mb/d next year. Growing by 1.3M - 1.7M this year.
China increased gas/diesel prices for 2nd time in about a month to keep adequate profits at refineries.
Joule partnered up with Audi as they head for $1.28/gal cost biofuels from waste CO2, sunlight, saline water. Commercialization by mid-decade target.
U Cal Berkeley researchers found strain of switchgrass 250x starchier than normal. Partial funding from USDA.
DOE awarded $14.3M grant to U of NV Reno team to redesign bioenergy crops for arid, hot climes with night CO2 absorption process.
Qatargas, world's largest NG producer (prod capac 42M tons/yr LNG), has increased short-term supply of LNG to Japan to over 20M tons from 9M last year.
FERC approved 800-mile 7Gw high volt transmission line to connect wind farms - to be built - to mid south, S east US.
UN chief says ozone layer on road to full recovery. This year's Antarctic hole shrunk from last year.
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 24/8/2. Volume very light. Oil up over $99. NY area manufacturing down more than forecast.
REGI up 27. Zoom off 50-day lines. If you remember, I mentioned this ethanol a couple days ago. Now up from $5.50 to $8. PEIX up another 8. BIOF up another 7. GPRE down 2. ASTI up 6. AONE up 2.
ECOS down 23. IFXY down 20. VNDB down 18 more. NGLPF down 16. NEXS, XSNX down 6. NENE down 3. NTCXF down 1.
Market down 24/8/2. Volume very light. Oil up over $99. NY area manufacturing down more than forecast.
REGI up 27. Zoom off 50-day lines. If you remember, I mentioned this ethanol a couple days ago. Now up from $5.50 to $8. PEIX up another 8. BIOF up another 7. GPRE down 2. ASTI up 6. AONE up 2.
ECOS down 23. IFXY down 20. VNDB down 18 more. NGLPF down 16. NEXS, XSNX down 6. NENE down 3. NTCXF down 1.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
STUFF
6 years ago, DOE pegged amount of "stranded" oil reserves in US oil fields at 374B barrels. Companies couldn't figure out how to get it out until recently. Originally the reserves were 582B bls. 43B recoverable now through CO2-enhanced recovery.
Cape Cod AFS to save $1M/yr in el bills with 2 wind turbines - 3.2Mw. AF goal 25% clean E by '25. 12-year payout on this project. $12M for 3.2Mw of wind power seems high to me, though. The number's are more around $2/w. Typical DOD?
Katana Summit likely to close wind tower manufacturing plants (2) in Washington state if buyers can't be found. Near 300 jobs.
AZ Public Service and McCarthy Building started permitting for 14Mw solar PV farm. APS' 6th AZ Sun Project. Program total goal 200Mw by '15. APS finances and owns.
GM 1 of top corp solar power generators in US. 1st in auto sector. A 1.8 Mw rooftop array going up in Toledo. GM paying nothing. 20-year el buyback. They want to double current 30Mw global solar cap by '15. 5.6Mw now in US. Walmart leads with 65Mw in US.
Nexterra Systems and GE opened N Am's 1st commercial demo of renewable waste to energy combined heat and power system on U of BC Vancouver campus. 2Mw el, 3Mw equivalent of steam to replace 12% of NG use. BC contributed $7M.
Seattle City Light calling for proposals for up to 150Gwh of clean/ren E or clean/ren E creds per year starting in '20. SCL now using mostly hydropower.
2Q12 solar PV installs were 742Mw in US. Up 116% from last year. Utility installs 447Mw. Cumulative total 5.16Gw at quarter end. Near 250K systems. 3.2Gw more to be installed this year. Year total to be 71% over '11. Yet 81% of attack ads this election cycle target clean E. Oct issue of Consumer Reports to report on unethical, fraudulent practices in solar industry. Calling it 1 of biggest scams in history. Bottom line: bargain basement prices maybe in months ahead for solar stocks.
JUHL Wind powering Minnesota Vikings home games this season through renewable energy credits to offset 100% of power use.
Cape Cod AFS to save $1M/yr in el bills with 2 wind turbines - 3.2Mw. AF goal 25% clean E by '25. 12-year payout on this project. $12M for 3.2Mw of wind power seems high to me, though. The number's are more around $2/w. Typical DOD?
Katana Summit likely to close wind tower manufacturing plants (2) in Washington state if buyers can't be found. Near 300 jobs.
AZ Public Service and McCarthy Building started permitting for 14Mw solar PV farm. APS' 6th AZ Sun Project. Program total goal 200Mw by '15. APS finances and owns.
GM 1 of top corp solar power generators in US. 1st in auto sector. A 1.8 Mw rooftop array going up in Toledo. GM paying nothing. 20-year el buyback. They want to double current 30Mw global solar cap by '15. 5.6Mw now in US. Walmart leads with 65Mw in US.
Nexterra Systems and GE opened N Am's 1st commercial demo of renewable waste to energy combined heat and power system on U of BC Vancouver campus. 2Mw el, 3Mw equivalent of steam to replace 12% of NG use. BC contributed $7M.
Seattle City Light calling for proposals for up to 150Gwh of clean/ren E or clean/ren E creds per year starting in '20. SCL now using mostly hydropower.
2Q12 solar PV installs were 742Mw in US. Up 116% from last year. Utility installs 447Mw. Cumulative total 5.16Gw at quarter end. Near 250K systems. 3.2Gw more to be installed this year. Year total to be 71% over '11. Yet 81% of attack ads this election cycle target clean E. Oct issue of Consumer Reports to report on unethical, fraudulent practices in solar industry. Calling it 1 of biggest scams in history. Bottom line: bargain basement prices maybe in months ahead for solar stocks.
JUHL Wind powering Minnesota Vikings home games this season through renewable energy credits to offset 100% of power use.
Friday, September 14, 2012
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 53/28/5. Volume a little heavy. Oil looky see around $99. House voted to phase out DOE loan guarantee program. Troops to Libya, Yemen. Today's embassies of the day in beautiful Tunisia and wonderful Sudan. Kenyan police thwarted terrorist attack. I'm hearing Louie Armstrong singing "It's A Wonderful World" somewhere upstairs.
AEHI up 100. No slaggards they. BIOF up 40 more. CRGE up 31. URRE up 21. HOKU up 20. PEIX up 19. REGI woke up on BIOF's lead for ethanols, up 12. APWR up 10. FSLR, KIOR up 8. LSCG up 5. GPRE up 4 (another ethanol). NENE, QTMM up 3. NEXS, XSNX flat.
PPRW down 75. Nuts. SLMU down 19. VNDB down 18. CSGH down 17. LMRMF down 14. AMEL, CREG down 11. OPTT down 10 after reporting. AONE down 5. NTCXF down 2.
Market up 53/28/5. Volume a little heavy. Oil looky see around $99. House voted to phase out DOE loan guarantee program. Troops to Libya, Yemen. Today's embassies of the day in beautiful Tunisia and wonderful Sudan. Kenyan police thwarted terrorist attack. I'm hearing Louie Armstrong singing "It's A Wonderful World" somewhere upstairs.
AEHI up 100. No slaggards they. BIOF up 40 more. CRGE up 31. URRE up 21. HOKU up 20. PEIX up 19. REGI woke up on BIOF's lead for ethanols, up 12. APWR up 10. FSLR, KIOR up 8. LSCG up 5. GPRE up 4 (another ethanol). NENE, QTMM up 3. NEXS, XSNX flat.
PPRW down 75. Nuts. SLMU down 19. VNDB down 18. CSGH down 17. LMRMF down 14. AMEL, CREG down 11. OPTT down 10 after reporting. AONE down 5. NTCXF down 2.
STUFF
Semprius opening 1st solar panel plant this month in N Carolina. Concentrating solar (CSP). ~34% efficient. (SPWR @ 24%.) GaAs (EMKR), of course, over 40%. Semprius plant capac 5-6Mw/yr, potential expansion to 35. Siemens 16% stake. NREL tech.
Chevron unit signed E services agreement with Dublin to overhaul infrastruct, install solar arrays and switch streetlights to LEDs. $14M savings next 25 years to finance, plus $650K in incentives, rebates.
E.ON unit expanding solar operations in US, relocating global solar HQ to San Fran.
Africa Development Bank approved $800M in loans to spur private investment in Morocco's wind and solar markets. Morocco goal 42% clean E by '20. ADB loaned them another 168M Euros in May that, along with $100M from Clean Tech Fund, financing 1st phase (120-160Mw) of concentrated solar plant. Full capacity to be 500Mw. Cost est. 1.04B Euro. More finance coming from 6 more agencies, including World Bank. In June, ADB loaned Morocco 359M Euros for wind/hydro and rural el program. Goal > 1Gw of wind power, el to 80K new users. Cost $2.16B, '17 completion.
Spain govt debt hit 76% of their GDP.
Japan now says will phase out nuke power by end of '30's, extending out another ten years.
Commerce Dept declared disaster for N East's '13 groundfishing industry. Stocks have failed to rebuild. Cod, Haddock, Flounder.
Exelon against extending wind tax cred. Surges of wind E late nights in Midwest (low el demand) drive market price of el below zero. Nuke plants then have to pay grid operators to use their el. So do wind operators, but they have the subsidy to pull out profits.
National Park Service ID'd 30 national parks where oil/gas drilling could begin. Allowed in 12 now.
Some economists say new fuel efficiency standards will do less good than would more tax on gasoline.
Shell spending $15M/yr to research ice conditions, eco systems, sea life and oceanography in Alaska Arctic.
Poll: upstate support tilting NY to favor fracking.
WV not keeping up with abandoned oil/gas wells.
Prius Energy (OH). Sustainable tech harvesting el, fuels, gases, chems while cleaning wastewater. Announced their parent comp. Bacterial Robotics. Prius 3 years old. BactoBot synthetic biotech based on bacterial metabolism.
USDA Sept crop report more optimistic on corn. Avg yield 122.8 bu/ac. New fact: ~1/3 of corn used for ethanol returns to feed market. Net basis, eth uses 26% of corn supply. Global crop projected to be 2nd largest ever. Argentina up > 30%, Mex up 19%, S Africa up 17%, Canada up 9%, China up 4%.
Tests coming soon on 100% unblended renewable jet fuel that meets petrol jet fuel specs.
Ohio State researchers report white rot fungus shows promise of boosting cellulosic ethanol production. 1 month fermentation yields 30% more sugar from corn leaves, 50% more from cobs, stalks. Corn leaves left in field controls soil erosion. Common sense says just go with cobs and stalks.
Draft EU proposal to elim food crops subsidies for biofuels by '20 and cap crop-based fuels at 5% blend. Biofuels now 4.5% of EU consumption. Puts 5% target onto advanced biofuels because of overall 10% by '20 target.
Over 50 Lukoil gas stations in NJ, PA increased prices to > $8/gal to protest N Am Lukoil policy. Normal 7 cents/gal more than competitors, 25 cents in places.
5 months after BP Gulf spill, bacteria had consumed at least 200K tons of oil and NG.
Vestas-commissioned global poll: 85% of folks want more clean/ren E. 49% willing to pay more for it. Corps continue to show preference for investing in it. In '11, new investment in clean/ren $237B v. $223B for fossil.
You gardeners know about global warming. USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map updated early this year from '03. So much uproar, they reverted to '90's map. Now new one out. Planting zones shifting north.
Chevron unit signed E services agreement with Dublin to overhaul infrastruct, install solar arrays and switch streetlights to LEDs. $14M savings next 25 years to finance, plus $650K in incentives, rebates.
E.ON unit expanding solar operations in US, relocating global solar HQ to San Fran.
Africa Development Bank approved $800M in loans to spur private investment in Morocco's wind and solar markets. Morocco goal 42% clean E by '20. ADB loaned them another 168M Euros in May that, along with $100M from Clean Tech Fund, financing 1st phase (120-160Mw) of concentrated solar plant. Full capacity to be 500Mw. Cost est. 1.04B Euro. More finance coming from 6 more agencies, including World Bank. In June, ADB loaned Morocco 359M Euros for wind/hydro and rural el program. Goal > 1Gw of wind power, el to 80K new users. Cost $2.16B, '17 completion.
Spain govt debt hit 76% of their GDP.
Japan now says will phase out nuke power by end of '30's, extending out another ten years.
Commerce Dept declared disaster for N East's '13 groundfishing industry. Stocks have failed to rebuild. Cod, Haddock, Flounder.
Exelon against extending wind tax cred. Surges of wind E late nights in Midwest (low el demand) drive market price of el below zero. Nuke plants then have to pay grid operators to use their el. So do wind operators, but they have the subsidy to pull out profits.
National Park Service ID'd 30 national parks where oil/gas drilling could begin. Allowed in 12 now.
Some economists say new fuel efficiency standards will do less good than would more tax on gasoline.
Shell spending $15M/yr to research ice conditions, eco systems, sea life and oceanography in Alaska Arctic.
Poll: upstate support tilting NY to favor fracking.
WV not keeping up with abandoned oil/gas wells.
Prius Energy (OH). Sustainable tech harvesting el, fuels, gases, chems while cleaning wastewater. Announced their parent comp. Bacterial Robotics. Prius 3 years old. BactoBot synthetic biotech based on bacterial metabolism.
USDA Sept crop report more optimistic on corn. Avg yield 122.8 bu/ac. New fact: ~1/3 of corn used for ethanol returns to feed market. Net basis, eth uses 26% of corn supply. Global crop projected to be 2nd largest ever. Argentina up > 30%, Mex up 19%, S Africa up 17%, Canada up 9%, China up 4%.
Tests coming soon on 100% unblended renewable jet fuel that meets petrol jet fuel specs.
Ohio State researchers report white rot fungus shows promise of boosting cellulosic ethanol production. 1 month fermentation yields 30% more sugar from corn leaves, 50% more from cobs, stalks. Corn leaves left in field controls soil erosion. Common sense says just go with cobs and stalks.
Draft EU proposal to elim food crops subsidies for biofuels by '20 and cap crop-based fuels at 5% blend. Biofuels now 4.5% of EU consumption. Puts 5% target onto advanced biofuels because of overall 10% by '20 target.
Over 50 Lukoil gas stations in NJ, PA increased prices to > $8/gal to protest N Am Lukoil policy. Normal 7 cents/gal more than competitors, 25 cents in places.
5 months after BP Gulf spill, bacteria had consumed at least 200K tons of oil and NG.
Vestas-commissioned global poll: 85% of folks want more clean/ren E. 49% willing to pay more for it. Corps continue to show preference for investing in it. In '11, new investment in clean/ren $237B v. $223B for fossil.
You gardeners know about global warming. USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map updated early this year from '03. So much uproar, they reverted to '90's map. Now new one out. Planting zones shifting north.
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 85/33/11. Volume a little heavy. Oil up near $100. US consumer price index up in Aug most since '09. Industrial production down. Retail sales up .9% on auto demand. Dollar going down.
BHWX up 72 on 8K. Back to 50-day lines. BIOF up another 42. Triple in 6 days. Now over top 200-day line. NEXS up another 15. PEIX up 14. Nobody got the word to other ethanols - GPRE, REGI up 1. May think about picking 1 or both up. URRE up 12, over 50 days. CERP up 11. FSLR up 5 more, closing in on bottom 200. VNDB up 3. XSNX flat.
AMLM down 18. SLMU down 17. AONE down another 6. NTCXF, NENE down 2.
Market up 85/33/11. Volume a little heavy. Oil up near $100. US consumer price index up in Aug most since '09. Industrial production down. Retail sales up .9% on auto demand. Dollar going down.
BHWX up 72 on 8K. Back to 50-day lines. BIOF up another 42. Triple in 6 days. Now over top 200-day line. NEXS up another 15. PEIX up 14. Nobody got the word to other ethanols - GPRE, REGI up 1. May think about picking 1 or both up. URRE up 12, over 50 days. CERP up 11. FSLR up 5 more, closing in on bottom 200. VNDB up 3. XSNX flat.
AMLM down 18. SLMU down 17. AONE down another 6. NTCXF, NENE down 2.
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 206/41/23 on Fed move. Thank God somebody can do something in Washington. Volume a little heavy. Oil up over $99 (Yahoo).
NEXS up 189. Follow this one. Been going down since '08. BIOF up 54, heading for 200-day lines, off double bottom. AEHI up 50. ZNNMF up 29 out of double bottom. GERS up 18, over 50-day lines. SLMU up 16. CERP up 13. PEIX up 11, punch out over 50's. ACFN up 9, day 2 of punch out from all lines. AMRS, GPRE up 6. GPRE on the rise. BWEN up 3, regained Naz compliance. Back to 50's.
BHWX down 35. CPWY down 29. HOKU down 28. PSPW down 25. AMPD down 22. ECOS down 21, back below top 3 lines. AQNM down 20. BFRE down 18. APWR down 16. NGLPF down 11. AONE down 8. Party ended for now. NTCXF, XSNX down 2. NENE flat.
Market up 206/41/23 on Fed move. Thank God somebody can do something in Washington. Volume a little heavy. Oil up over $99 (Yahoo).
NEXS up 189. Follow this one. Been going down since '08. BIOF up 54, heading for 200-day lines, off double bottom. AEHI up 50. ZNNMF up 29 out of double bottom. GERS up 18, over 50-day lines. SLMU up 16. CERP up 13. PEIX up 11, punch out over 50's. ACFN up 9, day 2 of punch out from all lines. AMRS, GPRE up 6. GPRE on the rise. BWEN up 3, regained Naz compliance. Back to 50's.
BHWX down 35. CPWY down 29. HOKU down 28. PSPW down 25. AMPD down 22. ECOS down 21, back below top 3 lines. AQNM down 20. BFRE down 18. APWR down 16. NGLPF down 11. AONE down 8. Party ended for now. NTCXF, XSNX down 2. NENE flat.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
STUFF
Ex-Im Bank of China to finance $2.5B TX Clean E Project - coal plant to capture, sequester 90% of CO2 emissions. China wants to buy another US tech. Fine, let's create more new techs (just sayin as a US'n).
GOM oil production back up post-Isaac.
Global oil production slipped 100kb/d in Aug to 90.8mb/d. Tehran exports up last month to 1.1mb/d. Global demand up 1.2mb/d in Q2 primarily from Japan replacing nuke power.
US and Canada advanced biofuels production projected to increase to 1.6B gal/y by '15, up to 2.6B. Build or retro of 27 biorefineries.
DOE estimates ethanol production to rise later this year to avg 830kb/d July-Dec. Further rise to 870kb/d expected 2H13. Early '12 production was higher (drought hit corn crop).
Project Thunderbird in Cal got go ahead. 10-15 year project for 10 biorefineries producing 550M gal of advanced biofuels in tribal nations. Over $3B investment. Use of 750K+ acres for biofuel crops.
USDA awarded $450K grant to Infinite Enzymes to commercialize its tech and garner new investors. Govt grants to garner investors?! The biz of govt is biz. Lowers cost of producing sugars. Follows on '10 grant. Hay, Barrack, I need investors.
France reconsidering 10% 1st-gen biofuels for food concerns. Calling for 7% cap.
Brazil ethanol production up 10% last half of Aug because of dry weather enabling sugar mills to boost production. Up to 1.92B liters.
NYPA to let contract with Indian Point nuke plant expire next year. Plant up for NRC 20-yr renewal license.
Brazil high court upheld ban on Transocean, Chevron ops.
Decaying US ports, waterways, airports to cost 1M jobs, $1T lost income by '20: report.
EPA awarded $11M for chem industry safety research.
NYC schools had 2nd PCB leak in 1 week.
Italy aims to ease bureaucracy for enviro assessments.
Seadrill investing $7B to build 18 deep water drilling rigs, $4B to build near 50 ships for LNG, oil, propane and other fuels. Singapore yards selling deep water rigs for $535M, down 31% from '08. China, S Korea shipbuilders asking $80M for supertankers, half '07 cost. Always buy the bottom.
MIT proposing magnets for oil spill cleanup. Spilled oil pumped onto ship mixed with water-repelling ferrofluid - magnetic liquid containing nanomagnets in suspension. Fluid then separated from oil. Always go with MIT. Another tech to sell to China.
Tesco (UK) to open supermarket for LEDs. LEDs will drop E consumption 30%. If people will USE THEM.
Downloads of mobile aps hit 32B in June. Expected to dub by yearend.
Heavy clay deposit or industrial dye likely cause of red Yangtze days ago. Or algae bloom. Similar occurences in Lake Maharlou in Iran in April, Lake Retba in Senegal in June, Azov Sea (Russia-Ukraine) in July, Camargue France and Lake Tuz Turkey in Aug. Fairly common phenom. But. On rise?
GOM oil production back up post-Isaac.
Global oil production slipped 100kb/d in Aug to 90.8mb/d. Tehran exports up last month to 1.1mb/d. Global demand up 1.2mb/d in Q2 primarily from Japan replacing nuke power.
US and Canada advanced biofuels production projected to increase to 1.6B gal/y by '15, up to 2.6B. Build or retro of 27 biorefineries.
DOE estimates ethanol production to rise later this year to avg 830kb/d July-Dec. Further rise to 870kb/d expected 2H13. Early '12 production was higher (drought hit corn crop).
Project Thunderbird in Cal got go ahead. 10-15 year project for 10 biorefineries producing 550M gal of advanced biofuels in tribal nations. Over $3B investment. Use of 750K+ acres for biofuel crops.
USDA awarded $450K grant to Infinite Enzymes to commercialize its tech and garner new investors. Govt grants to garner investors?! The biz of govt is biz. Lowers cost of producing sugars. Follows on '10 grant. Hay, Barrack, I need investors.
France reconsidering 10% 1st-gen biofuels for food concerns. Calling for 7% cap.
Brazil ethanol production up 10% last half of Aug because of dry weather enabling sugar mills to boost production. Up to 1.92B liters.
NYPA to let contract with Indian Point nuke plant expire next year. Plant up for NRC 20-yr renewal license.
Brazil high court upheld ban on Transocean, Chevron ops.
Decaying US ports, waterways, airports to cost 1M jobs, $1T lost income by '20: report.
EPA awarded $11M for chem industry safety research.
NYC schools had 2nd PCB leak in 1 week.
Italy aims to ease bureaucracy for enviro assessments.
Seadrill investing $7B to build 18 deep water drilling rigs, $4B to build near 50 ships for LNG, oil, propane and other fuels. Singapore yards selling deep water rigs for $535M, down 31% from '08. China, S Korea shipbuilders asking $80M for supertankers, half '07 cost. Always buy the bottom.
MIT proposing magnets for oil spill cleanup. Spilled oil pumped onto ship mixed with water-repelling ferrofluid - magnetic liquid containing nanomagnets in suspension. Fluid then separated from oil. Always go with MIT. Another tech to sell to China.
Tesco (UK) to open supermarket for LEDs. LEDs will drop E consumption 30%. If people will USE THEM.
Downloads of mobile aps hit 32B in June. Expected to dub by yearend.
Heavy clay deposit or industrial dye likely cause of red Yangtze days ago. Or algae bloom. Similar occurences in Lake Maharlou in Iran in April, Lake Retba in Senegal in June, Azov Sea (Russia-Ukraine) in July, Camargue France and Lake Tuz Turkey in Aug. Fairly common phenom. But. On rise?
THURSDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 21/1/0. Volume very light. We wait for the Fed. Blah blah. Oil up over $98. Yep, oil price goes up with continuing fall of dollar from Fed easing. And another day, another embassy. Yemen.
NEXS up 129 on additional investment in comp. Jump over 50-day lines. AEHI up 50. BIOF up 25. Day 5. ZNNMF up 25. A surge over 50's. NGLPF up 14. AONE up another 8. ALTI up 8. PEIX up 7.
PSPW down 20. ECOS down 15. AQNM down 14. MGLT down 10. GWBU down 5. XSNX down 2. NTCXF, NENE down 1. VNDB flat.
Market up 21/1/0. Volume very light. We wait for the Fed. Blah blah. Oil up over $98. Yep, oil price goes up with continuing fall of dollar from Fed easing. And another day, another embassy. Yemen.
NEXS up 129 on additional investment in comp. Jump over 50-day lines. AEHI up 50. BIOF up 25. Day 5. ZNNMF up 25. A surge over 50's. NGLPF up 14. AONE up another 8. ALTI up 8. PEIX up 7.
PSPW down 20. ECOS down 15. AQNM down 14. MGLT down 10. GWBU down 5. XSNX down 2. NTCXF, NENE down 1. VNDB flat.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
STUFF
Apache plugged Kenyan well - no commercial oil or gas.
NG quietly moving back up to $3. Coal parity, so it's reported.
Carlyle buying Cogentrix N Am - 3 coal, 2 solar projects in 4 states; NG pipeline development; clean/ren E projects; and Charlotte team. 4Q close. Money not disclosed.
Peco Energy (Philly) suspended smart meter installs last month after 26 caught fire. 3 vendors. Spending $650M to upgrade system. $200M DOE grant for 600K meters by '14. PA requiring all large utilities to install smart meters. All fires with Sensus Metering Systems. But location specific embroglios. > 200K meters in. Peco installing software for auto shutdown with overheating.
Tres Amigas stopped courting county, now asking Clovis for $2B industrial revenue bonds. City has experience with IRBs. $155M property taxes Tres may not have to pay over 20 yrs with IRBs. TA project to connect US' 3 major grids with superconducting wire. Build in phases over many years.
Drought causing smallest US soybean harvest in 9 years. Inventory lowest in 40 years. 32% of crop deemed good or excellent by USDA. 5-yr avg 60%.
Existing enviro regs hampering US water utilities to adapt to clime change, more extreme wx events. Decade or 2 window to make changes.
EU supports E efficiency rules as it pursues plan to cut oversupply of carbon credits.
Norway will reimburse big E users for emissions-cutting costs.
Shell exec calls on Canada govt to tax CO2 emissions. Related report says trading CO2 tax for elim of clean E incentives would leave clean E industry worse off.
Comp touting chem-free fracking facing fraud charges. (OOIL?)
BP says it will clean up Gulf spill oil exposed by Isaac. Way to go I just want me life back BP. Aw, hay. We all make mistakes.
Intl Ass of Drilling Contractors calls Romney's plan to turn over fed lands to states for fossil fuel production, enviro regs "populist raw meat". Unfeasible "hodgepodge" of state regs. Even AZ gov vetoed bill to allow state to take over fed lands in concern for leaseholders.
EU biofuels plan to limit fuels includes promise to end all public subsidies by '20. Sector now ~17B Euros/y. Subsidies only for substantial GHG redux, non-food, non-feed crops. (About time.) Biofuel now ~4.5% total EU transport use ('11).
Inner Mongolia rivers feeding China coal industry. Turning grassland into desert. Thousands of India farmers protesting water to feed coal-fired plants, driving farmers to suicide. China and India to build $720B of coal-burning plants next 20 yrs.
Energy abundance is king. World has 343 sextillion gallons of seawater, 2 quintillion tons of atmos CO2, 173 quintillion watts of solar E/y. Let alone wind, hydro, geo, wave/tidal, etc. Or even sensible nuke. Comps heading for commercialization now: Joule (reported in earlier STUFF), Sapphire, Aurora Algae (Australia), Algenol (algae-to-eth). Farther down the road: El Dorado Biofuels (algae), Ceres (salt-tolerant switchgrass), NASA's OMEGA offshore system. Seaweed-based tech: Bio Architecture Lab ("Bullseye Fuel"), U of GA/U of Puerto Rico, Statoil and SES, Ecofys, Novozymes and Sea 6 Energy (eth from seaweed). And Brazil, Ireland, Israel efforts.
Fueling Cal released "Comp Analysis of Current Research and Outlook for Future" brief on Cal's Low Carb Fuel Stds.
Great Lakes Biodiesel to be largest biodiesel producer in Canada this fall with opening. Approved for production incentives up to $65M over next 5 yrs. Govt mandate 2% minimum biodiesel in fuel and heating oil.
Austrian Center of Industrial Biotech working to optimize enzymes developed from fungus Trichoderma reesei. Normally grows on decaying wood (those mushroom-looking things?). Could bring down costs of cellulosic eth prod from E-crops like miscanthus and wastes like wheat straw. Speaking as former wheat rancher, tho, the fallow straw staying in the ground, then plowed under in spring, builds up top soil and, because it fallowed over winter, the higher the straw, the more snow caught for spring moisture. But, maybe that's just east Colorado hard red winter wheat. Balance.
Australia researchers ID'd several sites for large-scale algae production for biofuel in W Australia using GIS (I don't know what GIS is. Yet.)
~100 large hotels in Bangalore India preparing biogas production on site this month to get power from food waste. That's a cool story. Food waste bad enough. At least use it for power if it ain't good enough for pigs.
Costa Rica to start 10% eth blend in '13. Several false starts.
Could cost only $5B/y to get material into stratosophere to block, reduce sunlight hitting Earth. Fraction of cost of doing nothing for global warm'n.
New research shows massive wind power deploy won't damage atmos or nagatively impact clime change. 4M turbines would be able to produce 1/2 world E needs (don't have year on that). (And might reduce # of tornados, hurricanes, typhoons. "Might" is my proposition.)
Methane hydrates (in continental shelf ocean and beneath permafrost) the most abundant fossil fuel on Earth. And we have been talking abundance.
Chevron Calif oil refinery fire last month: air monitoring mistakes delayed public warning.
US trade deficit went up to $42B in July. When will US stop their suck? Or is it give?
Calif comp - Artemis - joined race to space solar. NASA funding. Wireless power transmission. Cost probs. Meteors. And the world turns at 1K mph. And do airliners and other planes have to avoid the beams?
More big biz sees risk from clime change. Investors call for more disclosure. C redux action.
NRDC ID'd 193 House members, 39 Senators as "dirty air boys (and girls?)".
Spain E minister to urge oil comps to cap pump prices to curb inflation. Name a country that can afford higher interest rates other than China. (Higher interest rates come from inflation.)
Dow Chem and farmers struck deal on 2-4-D and GM crops.
Brookings: state-run banks could wean clean E off subsidies. Well, can they wean fossil off subsidies?
NRDC poll: Americans favor transportating over roads. Do that math.
FL: $880M in Everglades restoration. For 'cane? Algae? Sumthin' new?
Cal gov signed new forest lumber tax into law.
USDA also lowered corn crop projections.
Wy gov asking Interior to scale back fracking rules.
Verdant successfully testing tidal turbine in NYC's East River. I talked with these guys back in '03 asking them if it would work in Ohio River. And it was a lot of work to find out Ohio River flow rate ( < 1mph, except after rain or winter).
UK looks to Chinese investors as nuke reactor funding dries up. (Well, new nuke tech or no? Beryllium or Thorium? Modular?)
Retail store chains dominating solar aps (besides utilities).
NG quietly moving back up to $3. Coal parity, so it's reported.
Carlyle buying Cogentrix N Am - 3 coal, 2 solar projects in 4 states; NG pipeline development; clean/ren E projects; and Charlotte team. 4Q close. Money not disclosed.
Peco Energy (Philly) suspended smart meter installs last month after 26 caught fire. 3 vendors. Spending $650M to upgrade system. $200M DOE grant for 600K meters by '14. PA requiring all large utilities to install smart meters. All fires with Sensus Metering Systems. But location specific embroglios. > 200K meters in. Peco installing software for auto shutdown with overheating.
Tres Amigas stopped courting county, now asking Clovis for $2B industrial revenue bonds. City has experience with IRBs. $155M property taxes Tres may not have to pay over 20 yrs with IRBs. TA project to connect US' 3 major grids with superconducting wire. Build in phases over many years.
Drought causing smallest US soybean harvest in 9 years. Inventory lowest in 40 years. 32% of crop deemed good or excellent by USDA. 5-yr avg 60%.
Existing enviro regs hampering US water utilities to adapt to clime change, more extreme wx events. Decade or 2 window to make changes.
EU supports E efficiency rules as it pursues plan to cut oversupply of carbon credits.
Norway will reimburse big E users for emissions-cutting costs.
Shell exec calls on Canada govt to tax CO2 emissions. Related report says trading CO2 tax for elim of clean E incentives would leave clean E industry worse off.
Comp touting chem-free fracking facing fraud charges. (OOIL?)
BP says it will clean up Gulf spill oil exposed by Isaac. Way to go I just want me life back BP. Aw, hay. We all make mistakes.
Intl Ass of Drilling Contractors calls Romney's plan to turn over fed lands to states for fossil fuel production, enviro regs "populist raw meat". Unfeasible "hodgepodge" of state regs. Even AZ gov vetoed bill to allow state to take over fed lands in concern for leaseholders.
EU biofuels plan to limit fuels includes promise to end all public subsidies by '20. Sector now ~17B Euros/y. Subsidies only for substantial GHG redux, non-food, non-feed crops. (About time.) Biofuel now ~4.5% total EU transport use ('11).
Inner Mongolia rivers feeding China coal industry. Turning grassland into desert. Thousands of India farmers protesting water to feed coal-fired plants, driving farmers to suicide. China and India to build $720B of coal-burning plants next 20 yrs.
Energy abundance is king. World has 343 sextillion gallons of seawater, 2 quintillion tons of atmos CO2, 173 quintillion watts of solar E/y. Let alone wind, hydro, geo, wave/tidal, etc. Or even sensible nuke. Comps heading for commercialization now: Joule (reported in earlier STUFF), Sapphire, Aurora Algae (Australia), Algenol (algae-to-eth). Farther down the road: El Dorado Biofuels (algae), Ceres (salt-tolerant switchgrass), NASA's OMEGA offshore system. Seaweed-based tech: Bio Architecture Lab ("Bullseye Fuel"), U of GA/U of Puerto Rico, Statoil and SES, Ecofys, Novozymes and Sea 6 Energy (eth from seaweed). And Brazil, Ireland, Israel efforts.
Fueling Cal released "Comp Analysis of Current Research and Outlook for Future" brief on Cal's Low Carb Fuel Stds.
Great Lakes Biodiesel to be largest biodiesel producer in Canada this fall with opening. Approved for production incentives up to $65M over next 5 yrs. Govt mandate 2% minimum biodiesel in fuel and heating oil.
Austrian Center of Industrial Biotech working to optimize enzymes developed from fungus Trichoderma reesei. Normally grows on decaying wood (those mushroom-looking things?). Could bring down costs of cellulosic eth prod from E-crops like miscanthus and wastes like wheat straw. Speaking as former wheat rancher, tho, the fallow straw staying in the ground, then plowed under in spring, builds up top soil and, because it fallowed over winter, the higher the straw, the more snow caught for spring moisture. But, maybe that's just east Colorado hard red winter wheat. Balance.
Australia researchers ID'd several sites for large-scale algae production for biofuel in W Australia using GIS (I don't know what GIS is. Yet.)
~100 large hotels in Bangalore India preparing biogas production on site this month to get power from food waste. That's a cool story. Food waste bad enough. At least use it for power if it ain't good enough for pigs.
Costa Rica to start 10% eth blend in '13. Several false starts.
Could cost only $5B/y to get material into stratosophere to block, reduce sunlight hitting Earth. Fraction of cost of doing nothing for global warm'n.
New research shows massive wind power deploy won't damage atmos or nagatively impact clime change. 4M turbines would be able to produce 1/2 world E needs (don't have year on that). (And might reduce # of tornados, hurricanes, typhoons. "Might" is my proposition.)
Methane hydrates (in continental shelf ocean and beneath permafrost) the most abundant fossil fuel on Earth. And we have been talking abundance.
Chevron Calif oil refinery fire last month: air monitoring mistakes delayed public warning.
US trade deficit went up to $42B in July. When will US stop their suck? Or is it give?
Calif comp - Artemis - joined race to space solar. NASA funding. Wireless power transmission. Cost probs. Meteors. And the world turns at 1K mph. And do airliners and other planes have to avoid the beams?
More big biz sees risk from clime change. Investors call for more disclosure. C redux action.
NRDC ID'd 193 House members, 39 Senators as "dirty air boys (and girls?)".
Spain E minister to urge oil comps to cap pump prices to curb inflation. Name a country that can afford higher interest rates other than China. (Higher interest rates come from inflation.)
Dow Chem and farmers struck deal on 2-4-D and GM crops.
Brookings: state-run banks could wean clean E off subsidies. Well, can they wean fossil off subsidies?
NRDC poll: Americans favor transportating over roads. Do that math.
FL: $880M in Everglades restoration. For 'cane? Algae? Sumthin' new?
Cal gov signed new forest lumber tax into law.
USDA also lowered corn crop projections.
Wy gov asking Interior to scale back fracking rules.
Verdant successfully testing tidal turbine in NYC's East River. I talked with these guys back in '03 asking them if it would work in Ohio River. And it was a lot of work to find out Ohio River flow rate ( < 1mph, except after rain or winter).
UK looks to Chinese investors as nuke reactor funding dries up. (Well, new nuke tech or no? Beryllium or Thorium? Modular?)
Retail store chains dominating solar aps (besides utilities).
WEDNESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market flat and mixed. Volume a little light. Oil steady over $97. Libya embassy attack. German court cleared way for bailout fund. Spain bond rally shows bailout may not be needed.
AEHI up 50. AVRW up 26. Super low P/S, P/B. Day 2 of rally. LEOM up 17. AONE up another 19. Day 3. XSNX up 14. BLQN up 13 on 100 shares. OOIL up 12. Going to license their clean fracking process. ALTI up 10. ENOC up 9, big insider buying yesterday. On way to double from Aug. VNDB up 3. SPWR up 2. Their installs in '12 to surpass combined totals '00-'10. FSLR up 2 more. BWEN up 1 more, upgraded yesterday.
CGYV down 42. NGLPF down 30. XDSL down 26. BHWX down 23 on no volume. ZAAP down 15. GWBU down 13. BIOF down 6. NTCXF down 2. NENE flat.
Market flat and mixed. Volume a little light. Oil steady over $97. Libya embassy attack. German court cleared way for bailout fund. Spain bond rally shows bailout may not be needed.
AEHI up 50. AVRW up 26. Super low P/S, P/B. Day 2 of rally. LEOM up 17. AONE up another 19. Day 3. XSNX up 14. BLQN up 13 on 100 shares. OOIL up 12. Going to license their clean fracking process. ALTI up 10. ENOC up 9, big insider buying yesterday. On way to double from Aug. VNDB up 3. SPWR up 2. Their installs in '12 to surpass combined totals '00-'10. FSLR up 2 more. BWEN up 1 more, upgraded yesterday.
CGYV down 42. NGLPF down 30. XDSL down 26. BHWX down 23 on no volume. ZAAP down 15. GWBU down 13. BIOF down 6. NTCXF down 2. NENE flat.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
TUESDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 69/0/4. Volume light. Oil up near $99 (says Yahoo, Bloomberg says $97.50).
PPRW up 380 on 12 hundred shares traded. Very low P/B, P/S. Back to 50-day lines. AVRW up 105. Super-low P's. And super low volume. They had news. MGLT up 42. AMPD up 29 on 1K shares. AONE up 24 more. Another 48M shares. Day 2 of short covering. CPWY up 23. Up to top (200-day) line. ZAAP up 13. LEDS, OPTT up 12. NTCXF up 11. Time to get back on. Maybe. NENE might be the better choice. OOIL, CDTI up 11. BWEN, APWR up 10. AMRS, GPRE up 6. FSLR up 4. BIOF up 3 from down 10. REGI up 3. PEIX up 1. Ethanols moving up.
AEHI went from up 200 to down 33. All on less than 20K shares. LEOM down 16. VNDB, GSFVF down 15. AQNM down 14. BLQN, NGLPF down 12. NEXS down 10. XSNX down 6. NENE down 1.
Market up 69/0/4. Volume light. Oil up near $99 (says Yahoo, Bloomberg says $97.50).
PPRW up 380 on 12 hundred shares traded. Very low P/B, P/S. Back to 50-day lines. AVRW up 105. Super-low P's. And super low volume. They had news. MGLT up 42. AMPD up 29 on 1K shares. AONE up 24 more. Another 48M shares. Day 2 of short covering. CPWY up 23. Up to top (200-day) line. ZAAP up 13. LEDS, OPTT up 12. NTCXF up 11. Time to get back on. Maybe. NENE might be the better choice. OOIL, CDTI up 11. BWEN, APWR up 10. AMRS, GPRE up 6. FSLR up 4. BIOF up 3 from down 10. REGI up 3. PEIX up 1. Ethanols moving up.
AEHI went from up 200 to down 33. All on less than 20K shares. LEOM down 16. VNDB, GSFVF down 15. AQNM down 14. BLQN, NGLPF down 12. NEXS down 10. XSNX down 6. NENE down 1.
STUFF
World's only global system of carbon trading - clean development mechanism - in dire need of rescue: UN panel.
Combining photosynthetic protein in spinach with silicon, researchers created solar cell that produces considerably more current than any previous solar biohybrids. Popeye Solar.
Shell forced to stop Arctic drilling off Alaska after 1 day. Sea ice moving into area.
Wisconsin had most extreme heat of 50 states this summer. Iowa, MO, IN, MN round out top 5. '12 on track to be warmest ever for most of US.
Computer modelers say planet has enough wind to meet world E demand 7x.
New Zealand court rejected lawsuit by climate change skeptics.
Calif's geology makes fracking much less water intensive. 164K gal/well v. up to 6M gal in TX. Cal putting together shale auction plan.
Schneider El intro'd low power range inverter/chargers with pure sine wave output. That provides off-grid solar and backup power systems with uninterrupted power that can effectively run modern eltronics. 4Kw and 2Kw. Also new line of Square D PV string combiners and disconnects for solar. 600Vdc.
$100M World Bank loan to help India move toward "enviro model of econ recovery". Energy, watershed management, industry and tourism for northern mountainous state. Plans to increase its hydro cap 10GW next 10 years.
Brazil's Federal Energy Regulatory Agency issued new rules governing rollout of smart metering. ~75M meters, $45B market.
Germany has 7K biogas plants. Total cap ~2.78Gw in '11 (~3.1% of country's E mix). Plant diagnostics and monitoring increasing yields, helping meet transparency requirements of E laws.
Ming Yang Wind Power, Guangdong Nuclear to develop offshore China wind power and "seek overseas market opportunities".
Germany's clean tech industry set to uber double in volume by '25 to maintain global market share of ~15%, and create 1M new jobs. Global clean tech market projected at 4.4T Euros by '25. (If there will be Euros by '25).
Vilsock: no waiver on support for ethanol industry. Well, hell no. Not in an election year.
Western tree mortality down for 2nd year in row. (Except for those dang pesky forest fires this year.)
Rising temps stressing vegitation in SW US.
EU aims to limit crop-based fuels on climate, food concerns.
Utilities finding repairs on nuke plants hard to justify with cheap NG.
Australia moving to block "super trawler" fishing.
EOG Resources - top producer in TX shale oil formation (Eagle Ford?) - and others citing study saying fracking rule for NG on public land may cost > 20x US govt estimates. $254K/well to meet chem disclosure and certified well isolation (leak prevention). BLM says $11.8K/well. Well, there's an election issue, A?
EC study found Euro shale NG won't cut dependence on imports (from Russia). Enviro concerns and different rules on land and resource ownership in Europe v. US. "No fracking should be allowed near aquifers." Fracking sand fills geological pores to prevent horizontal well collapse while NG migrates upward (to aquifers) along with water contaminated with fracking chems (guar bean?) and other pollutants including low-levels of naturally radioactive material. Does that sound good to you? I'm not really sure how bad it is considering everything. But it's certainly something to study.
Joule (Mass) commissioned NM demo plant to prove scalable solar fuel. Direct conversion of solar energy into liquid fuels with optimized microorganisms that act as living catalysts to make fuel rather than biomass and later extracting lipids or sugars. Comp also announced launch of Joule Fuels. "Sunflow-E" (ethanol) to be followed by Sunflow-D (diesel). Getting costs down to $50/bl without subsidies. Ultimate target 25K gal Sunflow-E/acre/yr at cost as low as $1.28/gal. That's sure a go.
LS9 completed production run of fatty alcohols at FL plant. 135K liter scale. Next is switch to diesel fuel production and ester chems. Fatty alcohols are long C-chain alcohols used widely for surfactants.
3 gas pumps on Mass turnpike now offering E85.
Brazil bioethanol lab partnering with Advance Bio Systems to increase sugarcane bioethanol yield 30-40%.
Canada created $500M fund to support small biz including next-gen biofuel producers.
Last Al-Shabaab-held port surrounded in Somalia by largely Kenyan forces. But tribes probably will carry the day.
Norway preparing program to comp industry for CO2 emissions to keep biz in country.
Turkmenistan held 1st-ever naval exercise in Caspian over undersea oil field with up to 50M tons of oil. Contesting with Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan for it. Toss a 5-sided coin? Old news.
BP sold off $5.5B of GOM assets to Plains Exploration & Production (primarily NG comp till now).
Afghans may have trillions of dollars worth of mineral reserves from gold to iron. But development curbed by corruption, violence.
Combining photosynthetic protein in spinach with silicon, researchers created solar cell that produces considerably more current than any previous solar biohybrids. Popeye Solar.
Shell forced to stop Arctic drilling off Alaska after 1 day. Sea ice moving into area.
Wisconsin had most extreme heat of 50 states this summer. Iowa, MO, IN, MN round out top 5. '12 on track to be warmest ever for most of US.
Computer modelers say planet has enough wind to meet world E demand 7x.
New Zealand court rejected lawsuit by climate change skeptics.
Calif's geology makes fracking much less water intensive. 164K gal/well v. up to 6M gal in TX. Cal putting together shale auction plan.
Schneider El intro'd low power range inverter/chargers with pure sine wave output. That provides off-grid solar and backup power systems with uninterrupted power that can effectively run modern eltronics. 4Kw and 2Kw. Also new line of Square D PV string combiners and disconnects for solar. 600Vdc.
$100M World Bank loan to help India move toward "enviro model of econ recovery". Energy, watershed management, industry and tourism for northern mountainous state. Plans to increase its hydro cap 10GW next 10 years.
Brazil's Federal Energy Regulatory Agency issued new rules governing rollout of smart metering. ~75M meters, $45B market.
Germany has 7K biogas plants. Total cap ~2.78Gw in '11 (~3.1% of country's E mix). Plant diagnostics and monitoring increasing yields, helping meet transparency requirements of E laws.
Ming Yang Wind Power, Guangdong Nuclear to develop offshore China wind power and "seek overseas market opportunities".
Germany's clean tech industry set to uber double in volume by '25 to maintain global market share of ~15%, and create 1M new jobs. Global clean tech market projected at 4.4T Euros by '25. (If there will be Euros by '25).
Vilsock: no waiver on support for ethanol industry. Well, hell no. Not in an election year.
Western tree mortality down for 2nd year in row. (Except for those dang pesky forest fires this year.)
Rising temps stressing vegitation in SW US.
EU aims to limit crop-based fuels on climate, food concerns.
Utilities finding repairs on nuke plants hard to justify with cheap NG.
Australia moving to block "super trawler" fishing.
EOG Resources - top producer in TX shale oil formation (Eagle Ford?) - and others citing study saying fracking rule for NG on public land may cost > 20x US govt estimates. $254K/well to meet chem disclosure and certified well isolation (leak prevention). BLM says $11.8K/well. Well, there's an election issue, A?
EC study found Euro shale NG won't cut dependence on imports (from Russia). Enviro concerns and different rules on land and resource ownership in Europe v. US. "No fracking should be allowed near aquifers." Fracking sand fills geological pores to prevent horizontal well collapse while NG migrates upward (to aquifers) along with water contaminated with fracking chems (guar bean?) and other pollutants including low-levels of naturally radioactive material. Does that sound good to you? I'm not really sure how bad it is considering everything. But it's certainly something to study.
Joule (Mass) commissioned NM demo plant to prove scalable solar fuel. Direct conversion of solar energy into liquid fuels with optimized microorganisms that act as living catalysts to make fuel rather than biomass and later extracting lipids or sugars. Comp also announced launch of Joule Fuels. "Sunflow-E" (ethanol) to be followed by Sunflow-D (diesel). Getting costs down to $50/bl without subsidies. Ultimate target 25K gal Sunflow-E/acre/yr at cost as low as $1.28/gal. That's sure a go.
LS9 completed production run of fatty alcohols at FL plant. 135K liter scale. Next is switch to diesel fuel production and ester chems. Fatty alcohols are long C-chain alcohols used widely for surfactants.
3 gas pumps on Mass turnpike now offering E85.
Brazil bioethanol lab partnering with Advance Bio Systems to increase sugarcane bioethanol yield 30-40%.
Canada created $500M fund to support small biz including next-gen biofuel producers.
Last Al-Shabaab-held port surrounded in Somalia by largely Kenyan forces. But tribes probably will carry the day.
Norway preparing program to comp industry for CO2 emissions to keep biz in country.
Turkmenistan held 1st-ever naval exercise in Caspian over undersea oil field with up to 50M tons of oil. Contesting with Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan for it. Toss a 5-sided coin? Old news.
BP sold off $5.5B of GOM assets to Plains Exploration & Production (primarily NG comp till now).
Afghans may have trillions of dollars worth of mineral reserves from gold to iron. But development curbed by corruption, violence.
TUESDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 73/6/5. Volume very light (probably Fed wait). Oil up over $97.
ONYX up 200 on 1.8K shares. MGLT up 42. Up 10x from yesterday's low. Crazy. CPWY up 23. Climbing out, up to top (200-day) line. SENY up 11. BWEN up 10. AONE up 8 more. FSLR up 5, new 72Mw contract. WTWO, ORYN up 5. NTCXF up 1.
NGLPF down 28. BLDW, MMMW down 21. TMEN down 11. VNDB down 9. BIOF down 6 more. XSNX down 4. NENE down 3. HSOL down 2, reported miss on revs and profit losses.
Market up 73/6/5. Volume very light (probably Fed wait). Oil up over $97.
ONYX up 200 on 1.8K shares. MGLT up 42. Up 10x from yesterday's low. Crazy. CPWY up 23. Climbing out, up to top (200-day) line. SENY up 11. BWEN up 10. AONE up 8 more. FSLR up 5, new 72Mw contract. WTWO, ORYN up 5. NTCXF up 1.
NGLPF down 28. BLDW, MMMW down 21. TMEN down 11. VNDB down 9. BIOF down 6 more. XSNX down 4. NENE down 3. HSOL down 2, reported miss on revs and profit losses.
Monday, September 10, 2012
MONDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 52/32/8. Rough on Naz. Think? Volume below avg. Greece overshadows stimulus. Oil is oil. Based on dollar.
Here's what I herd from Romney lately. Taxes on wealthy stay pretty much same. Taxes on middle class go down. More defense spending. And it's all rev neutral. Huh. More blue smoke and mirrors?
Goldman calling banking slowdown structural, not temp.
AMLM up 47. TRKP, PPRW up 25. AONE up 23. 49M shares. BLDW up 22. 4K shares. LEOM up 19. Almost 10K shares. BLQN up 19. A little over 8k shares traded. NGLPF up 16. SATC up 12. CWET up 10. GTAT up 7. ORYN up 2.
VLNCQ down 31. MGLT down 30. PSPW down 22. WTWO down 20. BIOF down 12. CERP down 10. VNDB down 8. XSNX down 6. NENE down 5 more. NTCXF down 4 more.
Market down 52/32/8. Rough on Naz. Think? Volume below avg. Greece overshadows stimulus. Oil is oil. Based on dollar.
Here's what I herd from Romney lately. Taxes on wealthy stay pretty much same. Taxes on middle class go down. More defense spending. And it's all rev neutral. Huh. More blue smoke and mirrors?
Goldman calling banking slowdown structural, not temp.
AMLM up 47. TRKP, PPRW up 25. AONE up 23. 49M shares. BLDW up 22. 4K shares. LEOM up 19. Almost 10K shares. BLQN up 19. A little over 8k shares traded. NGLPF up 16. SATC up 12. CWET up 10. GTAT up 7. ORYN up 2.
VLNCQ down 31. MGLT down 30. PSPW down 22. WTWO down 20. BIOF down 12. CERP down 10. VNDB down 8. XSNX down 6. NENE down 5 more. NTCXF down 4 more.
STUFF
Abrupt shift in early summer N Atlantic circulation ongoing since '07. Effects include poor UK summers, melting sea ice and presumed accelerated warming of Greenland.
Live coral coverage on Caribbean reefs plummeted from near 50% in '70's to < 10% todays. Ocean warming, acidification, overfishing of algae-eating species.
Gazprom signed accord with Japan to proceed with construction of $13B LNG terminal in Vladivostok.
Round of trade talks in VA on US LNG exports to Asia.
Climate change scientists in US get incessant Freedom of Info Act requests and hate mail from skeptics. Counterparts abroad relatively free of harassment. US needs social-political climate change. And respect for science.
Yangtze River turned red. OK, a big prank with food coloring? Some company dumped off a lot of red stuff? Or God. Or what. Always used to be called Red China anyway.
Almost 300 US schools launching sustainability programs to meet demand for climate-conscious professionals.
S Korea preparing to open cap-and-trade market in 3 years.
New US-Canada pact to focus on invasive species, climate issues in Great Lakes. Updates 40-year-old pact made over pollution.
Consol Energy temporarily idling 1 of its biggest coal mines due to weak global demand for steel-making coal.
US' largest coal comp closing Indiana mine. Could be same story. If I knew Consol Energy is US' largest coal comp, it'd be done deal. So, that's my ignorance. Point is, world even cutting back on making steel.
Shell began drilling in Chukchi.
Worldwide wildlife protected areas now size of Russia.
EPA fined Calif landfill for failing to check for PCB's.
Mass city banned plastic water bottle sales.
Beijing set renewable (clean) E quota for major power distributors. I guess we'll see more details later.
US solar installs > doubled in 2Q over '11. On track to increase 71% year on year.
Terrabon - TX advanced biofuels comp - filed bankruptcy. Waste Management declined next finance round needed to finish 1st commercial-scale plant. They use muni waste to make biofuels.
Mainstream Renewable Power (Dublin) secured $77M loan for offshore wind farms, corp expansion. They're planning 450Mw wind farm off Scotland, developing 2 sea-based projects in UK and Germany, and about to start work at 138Mw wind farm and 2 50Mw solar projects in S Africa, a wind farm in Chile, another in Canada and plan to export Ireland wind power to Britain in '17.
Germany agency says, across Europe, countries using FITs develop more wind power and pay less for it than countries using quota systems (RPS). Guess what US uses.
Calif's community solar bill died in senate committee. Currently, 75% of households can't install solar (or other clean E) systems for one reason or another. Bill would have allowed utility customers to buy power shares from community installs up to 20Mw.
Argentina's nationalized YPF talking with Gazprom for partnership terms. Surprise?
Delta's 185kb/d PA refinery to be operational by month end. Trying to get Bakken oil (similar or lower cost of WTI).
France committed to closing their oldest nuke reactors by '17. Accident there recently burned 2.
S Africa to lift year-old moratorium on fracking.
Nigeria's oil production fallen 36kb/d below govt projections.
Pemex Aug. crude production, exports highest of year. 2.56mb/d.
Jordan blocked increased gas station prices. Street protests. Syrian refugees adding to stress.
Sauds expect to net highest ever oil export earnings. Near $335B for '12. Higher prices, higher production. Arithmetic.
Russia record pace of oil extraction - 10.38mb/d in Aug.
Renewed World Energies' commercially-viable SC microalgae plant to open end of month. Closed-loop photobioreactor for biofuel, biomass feed stock and other products.
U Cal Berkeley and USDA geneticists engineering switchgrass more suitable for sugar extraction. No flowers, no seeds, no waste.
Brazil gasoline imports expected to to go up at least 350% by '20 from here. Ethanol industry stagnation. Production fell 15% '10 to '11. And no recovery yet.
Jatropha - the "wonder biofuel" - continues crash and burn in 3rd world. Algae, camelina the other 2 wonder fuels. Tech probs with algae, camelina yield per acre less than jatropha. Processing plant in Zimbabwe (with N Korea JV) now white elephant. Lack of Jatropha seeds. Same reason Indian farmers lost > $5B in similar ventures.
ITRI intro'd dedicated meter for solar market. Cellular communication module.
Japan to buy disputed islands. Angering China. Must be about that oil out there in S China Sea.
China and India together plan to build $720B of coal-fired power plants next 20 years. > 2x today's total US power capacity. China set to vaporize water equal to yearly Niagra Falls flow. A plan to counter global warming sea rise?
Live coral coverage on Caribbean reefs plummeted from near 50% in '70's to < 10% todays. Ocean warming, acidification, overfishing of algae-eating species.
Gazprom signed accord with Japan to proceed with construction of $13B LNG terminal in Vladivostok.
Round of trade talks in VA on US LNG exports to Asia.
Climate change scientists in US get incessant Freedom of Info Act requests and hate mail from skeptics. Counterparts abroad relatively free of harassment. US needs social-political climate change. And respect for science.
Yangtze River turned red. OK, a big prank with food coloring? Some company dumped off a lot of red stuff? Or God. Or what. Always used to be called Red China anyway.
Almost 300 US schools launching sustainability programs to meet demand for climate-conscious professionals.
S Korea preparing to open cap-and-trade market in 3 years.
New US-Canada pact to focus on invasive species, climate issues in Great Lakes. Updates 40-year-old pact made over pollution.
Consol Energy temporarily idling 1 of its biggest coal mines due to weak global demand for steel-making coal.
US' largest coal comp closing Indiana mine. Could be same story. If I knew Consol Energy is US' largest coal comp, it'd be done deal. So, that's my ignorance. Point is, world even cutting back on making steel.
Shell began drilling in Chukchi.
Worldwide wildlife protected areas now size of Russia.
EPA fined Calif landfill for failing to check for PCB's.
Mass city banned plastic water bottle sales.
Beijing set renewable (clean) E quota for major power distributors. I guess we'll see more details later.
US solar installs > doubled in 2Q over '11. On track to increase 71% year on year.
Terrabon - TX advanced biofuels comp - filed bankruptcy. Waste Management declined next finance round needed to finish 1st commercial-scale plant. They use muni waste to make biofuels.
Mainstream Renewable Power (Dublin) secured $77M loan for offshore wind farms, corp expansion. They're planning 450Mw wind farm off Scotland, developing 2 sea-based projects in UK and Germany, and about to start work at 138Mw wind farm and 2 50Mw solar projects in S Africa, a wind farm in Chile, another in Canada and plan to export Ireland wind power to Britain in '17.
Germany agency says, across Europe, countries using FITs develop more wind power and pay less for it than countries using quota systems (RPS). Guess what US uses.
Calif's community solar bill died in senate committee. Currently, 75% of households can't install solar (or other clean E) systems for one reason or another. Bill would have allowed utility customers to buy power shares from community installs up to 20Mw.
Argentina's nationalized YPF talking with Gazprom for partnership terms. Surprise?
Delta's 185kb/d PA refinery to be operational by month end. Trying to get Bakken oil (similar or lower cost of WTI).
France committed to closing their oldest nuke reactors by '17. Accident there recently burned 2.
S Africa to lift year-old moratorium on fracking.
Nigeria's oil production fallen 36kb/d below govt projections.
Pemex Aug. crude production, exports highest of year. 2.56mb/d.
Jordan blocked increased gas station prices. Street protests. Syrian refugees adding to stress.
Sauds expect to net highest ever oil export earnings. Near $335B for '12. Higher prices, higher production. Arithmetic.
Russia record pace of oil extraction - 10.38mb/d in Aug.
Renewed World Energies' commercially-viable SC microalgae plant to open end of month. Closed-loop photobioreactor for biofuel, biomass feed stock and other products.
U Cal Berkeley and USDA geneticists engineering switchgrass more suitable for sugar extraction. No flowers, no seeds, no waste.
Brazil gasoline imports expected to to go up at least 350% by '20 from here. Ethanol industry stagnation. Production fell 15% '10 to '11. And no recovery yet.
Jatropha - the "wonder biofuel" - continues crash and burn in 3rd world. Algae, camelina the other 2 wonder fuels. Tech probs with algae, camelina yield per acre less than jatropha. Processing plant in Zimbabwe (with N Korea JV) now white elephant. Lack of Jatropha seeds. Same reason Indian farmers lost > $5B in similar ventures.
ITRI intro'd dedicated meter for solar market. Cellular communication module.
Japan to buy disputed islands. Angering China. Must be about that oil out there in S China Sea.
China and India together plan to build $720B of coal-fired power plants next 20 years. > 2x today's total US power capacity. China set to vaporize water equal to yearly Niagra Falls flow. A plan to counter global warming sea rise?
MONDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market down 6/15/1. Volume a little light. Oil down under $96. China growth slowing more. Japan lowered growth est. to .7% from 1.4%. France rebounding.
NGLPF up 20. AONE finally rebounding, up 17. ORYN up 5. Climbing out.
XDSL down 14. WTWO down 12. NPWZ down 11. ZAAP down 10. BIOF profit taking, down 10. VNDB, CERP down 8. NENE down 5 more. XSNX down 3. NTCXF flat.
Market down 6/15/1. Volume a little light. Oil down under $96. China growth slowing more. Japan lowered growth est. to .7% from 1.4%. France rebounding.
NGLPF up 20. AONE finally rebounding, up 17. ORYN up 5. Climbing out.
XDSL down 14. WTWO down 12. NPWZ down 11. ZAAP down 10. BIOF profit taking, down 10. VNDB, CERP down 8. NENE down 5 more. XSNX down 3. NTCXF flat.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
STUFF
Jim Rogers (Duke). US has gone through a recession every 4-6 years since the beginning. In modern times, each time US added to debt. Now at $16T. Says Europe will fall apart after German election next year, Euro unlikely to survive. His US solution is cut govt spending with a chainsaw and cut taxes. China's slowing down by design on purpose. Their recent stimulus only $157B for $7T economy.
Gold and silver breaking out.
In 1930 it took 1 barrel of oil to discover, produce 100 barrels. That was easy oil.
Oil accounts for 93% of US transportation. 150K gas stations. > 1/2 of oil-gas pipelines in US built > 60 years ago. 2.5M pipeline miles.
Introducing ORYN. Oryon Tech. Developing, making next-gen electroluminescent (EL) lighting. Initially focused on solutions for textile, apparel, membrane switch industries (keypad lights). "Tron Legacy". Elastolite. Paragon.
Google founder Page on 12th birthday got autobiog of Tesla from parents.
Supposedly, a 3D silicon solar cell produces at least 250% more power than today's standard silicon cell. Solar 3D Inc.
Always try to see through the blue smoke and mirrors.
Aluminum ~20% lighter than copper and cheaper. But there was Beverly Hills Club fire in KY. Aluminum wiring. So the story goes.
Panda Power Funds to break ground on 758Mw NG-fueled combined-cycle power plant in TX. 1st time in 6 years institutional investors have financed a capital intensive construction project with term loan. State's grid operator (ERCOT) declared 6 power emergencies in '11. Reserve power falling below 13.75% requirement for grid reliability. 9.8% in '14, 6.9% in '15 projected. Wind's share of TX power went from 2.9% in '07 to 10.2% in '12. You know Texas. If they do it, they do it big.
Otter Tail sold their wind tower biz.
N Am Project Development (Boston) plans 800 Mw NG-fired plant near Toledo. ~$850M. 2 gas turbines, 1 steam. Hope for fall '13 ground break. Will fill gap of 1.6Gw of regional coal plants going offline soon.
Solar Power Industries (PA) assets to be auctioned this month. Another victim of Chinese solars. Made wafers and cells. Still operating, though.
Michigan ballot question whether to hike state's renewable portfolio standard to 25% by '25. Current RPS 10% by '15. They have 487Mw wind power now. 25% would bring in 5.3-6Gw for all clean E.
Alberta approved Joss Wind Power 78Mw farm. Start in '13. Siemen turbs. Online end of '14.
Silicon Energy, MN solar panel maker, missed 2 payments on $1.5M loan from state agency, asking forebearance, citing slower than expected sales. Opened factory last year. Workforce cut to 11 from 15.
CSIQ broke ground on 2.5Mw solar project in NC. December online.
Prince Edward Island Energy Corp to use ACCIONA Windpower (Spain) 3Mw turbines for 30Mw project. Online in '13. 12K-volt generation.
Allete Clean Energy, unit of Duluth utility, got approval of 1st project - a $200M wind farm in ND. 100Mw. But no buyer for the power yet. And tax subsidies running out at yearend. Or not.
In June '07, US produced 152kb/d of oil. June '12 188. But still way off '70's 3.5B bls/yr. Down 1.45B from that.
Global wind power capacity 238Gw in '11. 197 in '10. From 6.1 in '96. Solar chart the same, just started later. 40Gw total in '10.
And that's the way it is, pards.
Gold and silver breaking out.
In 1930 it took 1 barrel of oil to discover, produce 100 barrels. That was easy oil.
Oil accounts for 93% of US transportation. 150K gas stations. > 1/2 of oil-gas pipelines in US built > 60 years ago. 2.5M pipeline miles.
Introducing ORYN. Oryon Tech. Developing, making next-gen electroluminescent (EL) lighting. Initially focused on solutions for textile, apparel, membrane switch industries (keypad lights). "Tron Legacy". Elastolite. Paragon.
Google founder Page on 12th birthday got autobiog of Tesla from parents.
Supposedly, a 3D silicon solar cell produces at least 250% more power than today's standard silicon cell. Solar 3D Inc.
Always try to see through the blue smoke and mirrors.
Aluminum ~20% lighter than copper and cheaper. But there was Beverly Hills Club fire in KY. Aluminum wiring. So the story goes.
Panda Power Funds to break ground on 758Mw NG-fueled combined-cycle power plant in TX. 1st time in 6 years institutional investors have financed a capital intensive construction project with term loan. State's grid operator (ERCOT) declared 6 power emergencies in '11. Reserve power falling below 13.75% requirement for grid reliability. 9.8% in '14, 6.9% in '15 projected. Wind's share of TX power went from 2.9% in '07 to 10.2% in '12. You know Texas. If they do it, they do it big.
Otter Tail sold their wind tower biz.
N Am Project Development (Boston) plans 800 Mw NG-fired plant near Toledo. ~$850M. 2 gas turbines, 1 steam. Hope for fall '13 ground break. Will fill gap of 1.6Gw of regional coal plants going offline soon.
Solar Power Industries (PA) assets to be auctioned this month. Another victim of Chinese solars. Made wafers and cells. Still operating, though.
Michigan ballot question whether to hike state's renewable portfolio standard to 25% by '25. Current RPS 10% by '15. They have 487Mw wind power now. 25% would bring in 5.3-6Gw for all clean E.
Alberta approved Joss Wind Power 78Mw farm. Start in '13. Siemen turbs. Online end of '14.
Silicon Energy, MN solar panel maker, missed 2 payments on $1.5M loan from state agency, asking forebearance, citing slower than expected sales. Opened factory last year. Workforce cut to 11 from 15.
CSIQ broke ground on 2.5Mw solar project in NC. December online.
Prince Edward Island Energy Corp to use ACCIONA Windpower (Spain) 3Mw turbines for 30Mw project. Online in '13. 12K-volt generation.
Allete Clean Energy, unit of Duluth utility, got approval of 1st project - a $200M wind farm in ND. 100Mw. But no buyer for the power yet. And tax subsidies running out at yearend. Or not.
In June '07, US produced 152kb/d of oil. June '12 188. But still way off '70's 3.5B bls/yr. Down 1.45B from that.
Global wind power capacity 238Gw in '11. 197 in '10. From 6.1 in '96. Solar chart the same, just started later. 40Gw total in '10.
And that's the way it is, pards.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
STUFF
EU launching anti-dumping probe into China solars. Probable punitive tariffs by yearend.
~ 1.5% of el worldwide goes to power data centers. GHG emissions equivalent to 33M cars. Google, Facebook moving to Nordic countries. Intel submerging servers in mineral oil for cooling.
Curbing methane emissions from coal mines a key component in fighting global warming.
New Zealand denied a Kiribati man climate refugee status.
Warming climate benefits Kenyan fruit, veg growers. Challenges corn growers.
New South Wales pledged streamlined clean E planning and improved grid connects. Goal 20% clean by '20. State also to contribute $67M for large-scale solar projects. Clean installed capacity of 5.4Gw to > double to ~12Gw with projects under construction or approved. Also measures for E efficiency, smart meters. "Renewables" accounted for < 10% of elgen in Australia in '11. (Most folks are loose with their "clean" and "renewable" distinctions. To me renewables are biomass, biofuels; clean is zero emission energy, including nuke. They may mean renewables as well as clean in their definition here.) For New South Wales the elgen was 7.8% clean ( I presume they mean clean - no biomass), most from hydropower.
Wind power in S Australia provided > 1/2 of state's power on Sept 5-6. More than coal. During peak at 80% they were exporting el to Victoria. Record 85% last Sept. Over year, ~1/4 of elgen from wind. S AU's power sector emissions down 27% last 5 years. Wind power putting S AU well ahead of curve for 20% by '20.
Do you think wind power could take enough energy out of the wind to reduce hurricanes, typhoons, tornados? Or reduce their strength?
Brazil wind capacity could rocket from 2.7Gw now to 19Gw by '20. And solar will soar from much smaller base. 31Mw to 1.2Gw. Total installed elgen capac 120Gw in '11, 70% hydro. Biomass, wind, solar, small hydro another 10%. Excluding large hydro, their clean/renew capac expected to grow from now 13Gw to 38Gw by '20. Compound annual growth 14%.
Kiverdi (Cal) got $747K grant from Cal E Commission to accel development of CO2 conversion to fuels, chems tech.
Polyera Corp (Cal) achieved world record 5.2% efficient fully-polymeric organic solar cell (in inverted bulk hetero junction architecture). Almost double previous record. Potential of eliminating fullerene-based materials that are costly, hard to scale and have morphology instabilities, poor light absorption.
Germany last year used 2.2M hectares - 18% of their arable land - for renewables. Still potential for further production expansion.
Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (Canada) forecasting global ethanol production to reduce GHG emissions by 100M tons in '12. An increase of 3K tons/d over '11. Eth production to grow 1% in '12 v. '11 to > 85B liters.
Mississippi Power's 582Mw integrated gasification combined cycle plant 40% complete, 2 years from operation.
Poll: most Oklahomans favor switch to clean power.
FERC accusing Deutsche Bank traders of gaming Calif power prices.
Chevron exec may leave Brazil if he posts bail.
Asia-Pacific Econ Coop forum to cut import duties to 5% or less in '15 for 54 green techs. I assume all clean energy included.
As govts work to phase out HCFC-22 (AC coolant), a black market has sprung up for it.
~ 1.5% of el worldwide goes to power data centers. GHG emissions equivalent to 33M cars. Google, Facebook moving to Nordic countries. Intel submerging servers in mineral oil for cooling.
Curbing methane emissions from coal mines a key component in fighting global warming.
New Zealand denied a Kiribati man climate refugee status.
Warming climate benefits Kenyan fruit, veg growers. Challenges corn growers.
New South Wales pledged streamlined clean E planning and improved grid connects. Goal 20% clean by '20. State also to contribute $67M for large-scale solar projects. Clean installed capacity of 5.4Gw to > double to ~12Gw with projects under construction or approved. Also measures for E efficiency, smart meters. "Renewables" accounted for < 10% of elgen in Australia in '11. (Most folks are loose with their "clean" and "renewable" distinctions. To me renewables are biomass, biofuels; clean is zero emission energy, including nuke. They may mean renewables as well as clean in their definition here.) For New South Wales the elgen was 7.8% clean ( I presume they mean clean - no biomass), most from hydropower.
Wind power in S Australia provided > 1/2 of state's power on Sept 5-6. More than coal. During peak at 80% they were exporting el to Victoria. Record 85% last Sept. Over year, ~1/4 of elgen from wind. S AU's power sector emissions down 27% last 5 years. Wind power putting S AU well ahead of curve for 20% by '20.
Do you think wind power could take enough energy out of the wind to reduce hurricanes, typhoons, tornados? Or reduce their strength?
Brazil wind capacity could rocket from 2.7Gw now to 19Gw by '20. And solar will soar from much smaller base. 31Mw to 1.2Gw. Total installed elgen capac 120Gw in '11, 70% hydro. Biomass, wind, solar, small hydro another 10%. Excluding large hydro, their clean/renew capac expected to grow from now 13Gw to 38Gw by '20. Compound annual growth 14%.
Kiverdi (Cal) got $747K grant from Cal E Commission to accel development of CO2 conversion to fuels, chems tech.
Polyera Corp (Cal) achieved world record 5.2% efficient fully-polymeric organic solar cell (in inverted bulk hetero junction architecture). Almost double previous record. Potential of eliminating fullerene-based materials that are costly, hard to scale and have morphology instabilities, poor light absorption.
Germany last year used 2.2M hectares - 18% of their arable land - for renewables. Still potential for further production expansion.
Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (Canada) forecasting global ethanol production to reduce GHG emissions by 100M tons in '12. An increase of 3K tons/d over '11. Eth production to grow 1% in '12 v. '11 to > 85B liters.
Mississippi Power's 582Mw integrated gasification combined cycle plant 40% complete, 2 years from operation.
Poll: most Oklahomans favor switch to clean power.
FERC accusing Deutsche Bank traders of gaming Calif power prices.
Chevron exec may leave Brazil if he posts bail.
Asia-Pacific Econ Coop forum to cut import duties to 5% or less in '15 for 54 green techs. I assume all clean energy included.
As govts work to phase out HCFC-22 (AC coolant), a black market has sprung up for it.
FRIDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 14/0/5. Volume above average. Oil up over $96.
CSKH up 61, back over 50-day lines. PTOS up 58 off the bottom on 20K shares. BIOF up 57 on hedge fund buying. Nearly doubled at intraday high. Extremely low P/S and P/B, according to Yahoo, and maybe they can make profit. But still, corn ethanol. Though they will convert to cellulosic in time. Other ethanols up. PEIX up 14, GPRE up 7. Both now above 50-days. CGYV up 57, back above 50's. Low P #'s. PPRW up 33 on a few thousand shares. APWR up 20. P/S, P/B both .01, according to Yahoo. And P/E .25. If those are true, the price makes no sense at all. XDSL up 16, back to 50's. BFRE up 15. URRE, QTMM up 12. URRE closed on $5M financing. AMEL up 10 on news. CDXS up 9. MXWL up 8. Delayed reaction to upgrade days ago. XSNX up 3.
ECOS down 25. AMPD down 22. VNDB, GERS down 20. AMLM down 18. HOKU, LEOM, AQNM, NGLPF down 16. ALTI down 14. AONE down 2 more. NTCXF down 1. NENE flat, again, double bottom with Jan. Buy it before the next news release.
Market up 14/0/5. Volume above average. Oil up over $96.
CSKH up 61, back over 50-day lines. PTOS up 58 off the bottom on 20K shares. BIOF up 57 on hedge fund buying. Nearly doubled at intraday high. Extremely low P/S and P/B, according to Yahoo, and maybe they can make profit. But still, corn ethanol. Though they will convert to cellulosic in time. Other ethanols up. PEIX up 14, GPRE up 7. Both now above 50-days. CGYV up 57, back above 50's. Low P #'s. PPRW up 33 on a few thousand shares. APWR up 20. P/S, P/B both .01, according to Yahoo. And P/E .25. If those are true, the price makes no sense at all. XDSL up 16, back to 50's. BFRE up 15. URRE, QTMM up 12. URRE closed on $5M financing. AMEL up 10 on news. CDXS up 9. MXWL up 8. Delayed reaction to upgrade days ago. XSNX up 3.
ECOS down 25. AMPD down 22. VNDB, GERS down 20. AMLM down 18. HOKU, LEOM, AQNM, NGLPF down 16. ALTI down 14. AONE down 2 more. NTCXF down 1. NENE flat, again, double bottom with Jan. Buy it before the next news release.
Friday, September 7, 2012
FRIDAY OPEN
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 3/1/4. Volume heavy. Oil down under $95. 96K new jobs, less than forecast, so speculation the Fed will come on with QE3. German industrial production up enexpectedly.
BIOF up 40. Punch out over 50-day lines. PEIX up 11. So, for some reason, ethanol. SPWR up 1 on news of a 100Mw project.
NGLPF down 21. ECOS down 18. HOKU down 16. NENE down 7 more. GWBU down 5. AONE stabilized, for now.
Market up 3/1/4. Volume heavy. Oil down under $95. 96K new jobs, less than forecast, so speculation the Fed will come on with QE3. German industrial production up enexpectedly.
BIOF up 40. Punch out over 50-day lines. PEIX up 11. So, for some reason, ethanol. SPWR up 1 on news of a 100Mw project.
NGLPF down 21. ECOS down 18. HOKU down 16. NENE down 7 more. GWBU down 5. AONE stabilized, for now.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
THURSDAY CLOSE
(stock #'s in %)
Market up 244/68/28. Volume. Oil down under $96.
CGYV up 27. NGLPF up 21. AMLM up 20. VNDB up 18. GWBU up 16. ABAT up 12. CERE up 10. WTWO up 8. FSLR up 7. NTCXF up 1.
XSNX, CPWY flat.
BSRC down 23. AQNM down 20. LEOM, NFEC down 16. FCEL down 14. That's a big time. BHWX down 10. AONE, NENE down 8. Where does AONE find the bottom? And NENE double bottom from Jan. PLUG down 7. Yes, a lot of disappointment with fuel cell comps. But what's the future? GEVO down 6. And LSCG down another 4.
Market up 244/68/28. Volume. Oil down under $96.
CGYV up 27. NGLPF up 21. AMLM up 20. VNDB up 18. GWBU up 16. ABAT up 12. CERE up 10. WTWO up 8. FSLR up 7. NTCXF up 1.
XSNX, CPWY flat.
BSRC down 23. AQNM down 20. LEOM, NFEC down 16. FCEL down 14. That's a big time. BHWX down 10. AONE, NENE down 8. Where does AONE find the bottom? And NENE double bottom from Jan. PLUG down 7. Yes, a lot of disappointment with fuel cell comps. But what's the future? GEVO down 6. And LSCG down another 4.
STUFF
Recent Obama exec order made goal of 40Mw of combined heat/power plants in US over next decade. I guess it was his legal limit. Or what? It's not much. A coal plant is 600-1K Mw.
Protesters in TX tethering themselves to logging equipment being used to clear southern Keystone XL leg.
10's of thousands dead fish washed up on Ontario shores of Lake Erie. Reasons unknown yet.
USGS: measurements in recent years of naturally-occurring methane in NY State wells could serve as baseline for water supply quality if fracking OK'd in state. 1/2 of state's groundwater has methane. And, yes, the fracking occurs underneath aquifers. But you drill a hole, you give methane a way to float up. I guess the answer is continual testing, vigilance. And rules for shut down.
Shell project to capture > 1M tons CO2/yr from oil sands ops scheduled to begin in '15. Est. cost $1.36B, possible breakeven. Canada, Alberta to contribute $874M over next 10 years plus. Will reduce processing emissions 35%. To pipe liquified CO2 near mile underground below multiple layers of rock, mineral formations. Shell partnered up with Chevron, Marathon.
Canada moving to phase out coal elgen. But loosened rules.
Calif grid has reached 1Gw of solar power.
Denver fed appeals court upheld Interior's '09 cancellation of 77 leases near pristine Utah fed lands. Leases sold at Dec '08 auction. Do the timing.
Railroad (probably Buffett's) increasing capacity for Bakken crude shipments.
Russia, Japan near deal on LNG export terminal. My guess is Russian LNG going to Japan.
Latest OPTT grant from Homeland Security to finance redeploy of ocean wave-powered unit off NJ to demo effectiveness of "long duration maritime vessel detection platform". Also $75K grant from MD Tech Development Corp. To build on Navy program funding that ended in Feb.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (Netherlands), solar power developer backed by US' Denham Capital Mgmt, won right to build 20Mw farm near Australia capital. To be largest in country in '14.
UK to launch "Green Deal" in Oct with 200M Pound fund. Loans of up to 10K Pounds to improve homes' E efficiency. Independent assessments will ID best improvements to reduce energy bills. Repay over 20 years attached to property. Goal to cut C emissions 80% by '50 and to end "fuel poverty" - when energy bills are > 10% of income. 20% of UK folks live in that. 2.7K excess winter deaths/yr caused by under heating. In '09, 7.8M UK folks couldn't afford the energy bills. Meanwhile, E.on's profits up 23% in 1H12. NG retail prices up 18%, el prices up 16% in 1st half. Pretty unbelievable, A? Govt has to protect people from business. How long has this been going on?
Ethanol production in US half as profitable now as in May. But still profitable. Net returns late Aug ~28 cents/gal.
Oregon looking to adopt Calif Low C Fuel Standard as early as Dec. The policy now in fed appeals court examining law's constitutionality. Expect that to be sustained.
Volvo Trucks successfully tested biodiesel - "bio-DME" - derived from black liquor wastes. C emissions roughly 95% lower than fossil diesel. Dang. Bio-DME could replace half the diesel used in Europe's commercial vehicles by '20. Go on that.
PTT in Thailand expects algae biodiesel to be commercially viable by '17 @ $150/bl (where they expect Brent oil then).
Ireland comp set to intro country's 1st commercial-scale algae biofuel production. EU 4-yr grant coming to end.
Nestle calling 1st gen biofuels an "aberration". Pushing US, EU support for advanced biofuels.
Citigroup: Sauds could become net oil importer by '30. They now produce 13% of world supply - 11.2mb/d in '11 (Or less). 1/4 going to half their elgen. So that oil's sure putting out CO2s.
QBotix has developed autorobot that can reduce cost of solar power 20% with auto dual-axis tracking systems.
Norway study says Arctic oil/gas reserves not as much as thought.
Analyst at China Financial Markets says commodity prices to fall as much as 50% over next few years. Production has ramped up dramatically. Ebb and flow. Business cycles. Supply demand. Arithmetic. Common sense.
Despite Isaac relief, drought conditions worsen in US.
AL, LA sue Interior over change to offshore drilling royalty payments.
Workers suffered minor injuries in France nuke plant accident. I'm sure we'll hear more about that.
Pope Benedict got an EV. Well, bless that.
Protesters in TX tethering themselves to logging equipment being used to clear southern Keystone XL leg.
10's of thousands dead fish washed up on Ontario shores of Lake Erie. Reasons unknown yet.
USGS: measurements in recent years of naturally-occurring methane in NY State wells could serve as baseline for water supply quality if fracking OK'd in state. 1/2 of state's groundwater has methane. And, yes, the fracking occurs underneath aquifers. But you drill a hole, you give methane a way to float up. I guess the answer is continual testing, vigilance. And rules for shut down.
Shell project to capture > 1M tons CO2/yr from oil sands ops scheduled to begin in '15. Est. cost $1.36B, possible breakeven. Canada, Alberta to contribute $874M over next 10 years plus. Will reduce processing emissions 35%. To pipe liquified CO2 near mile underground below multiple layers of rock, mineral formations. Shell partnered up with Chevron, Marathon.
Canada moving to phase out coal elgen. But loosened rules.
Calif grid has reached 1Gw of solar power.
Denver fed appeals court upheld Interior's '09 cancellation of 77 leases near pristine Utah fed lands. Leases sold at Dec '08 auction. Do the timing.
Railroad (probably Buffett's) increasing capacity for Bakken crude shipments.
Russia, Japan near deal on LNG export terminal. My guess is Russian LNG going to Japan.
Latest OPTT grant from Homeland Security to finance redeploy of ocean wave-powered unit off NJ to demo effectiveness of "long duration maritime vessel detection platform". Also $75K grant from MD Tech Development Corp. To build on Navy program funding that ended in Feb.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (Netherlands), solar power developer backed by US' Denham Capital Mgmt, won right to build 20Mw farm near Australia capital. To be largest in country in '14.
UK to launch "Green Deal" in Oct with 200M Pound fund. Loans of up to 10K Pounds to improve homes' E efficiency. Independent assessments will ID best improvements to reduce energy bills. Repay over 20 years attached to property. Goal to cut C emissions 80% by '50 and to end "fuel poverty" - when energy bills are > 10% of income. 20% of UK folks live in that. 2.7K excess winter deaths/yr caused by under heating. In '09, 7.8M UK folks couldn't afford the energy bills. Meanwhile, E.on's profits up 23% in 1H12. NG retail prices up 18%, el prices up 16% in 1st half. Pretty unbelievable, A? Govt has to protect people from business. How long has this been going on?
Ethanol production in US half as profitable now as in May. But still profitable. Net returns late Aug ~28 cents/gal.
Oregon looking to adopt Calif Low C Fuel Standard as early as Dec. The policy now in fed appeals court examining law's constitutionality. Expect that to be sustained.
Volvo Trucks successfully tested biodiesel - "bio-DME" - derived from black liquor wastes. C emissions roughly 95% lower than fossil diesel. Dang. Bio-DME could replace half the diesel used in Europe's commercial vehicles by '20. Go on that.
PTT in Thailand expects algae biodiesel to be commercially viable by '17 @ $150/bl (where they expect Brent oil then).
Ireland comp set to intro country's 1st commercial-scale algae biofuel production. EU 4-yr grant coming to end.
Nestle calling 1st gen biofuels an "aberration". Pushing US, EU support for advanced biofuels.
Citigroup: Sauds could become net oil importer by '30. They now produce 13% of world supply - 11.2mb/d in '11 (Or less). 1/4 going to half their elgen. So that oil's sure putting out CO2s.
QBotix has developed autorobot that can reduce cost of solar power 20% with auto dual-axis tracking systems.
Norway study says Arctic oil/gas reserves not as much as thought.
Analyst at China Financial Markets says commodity prices to fall as much as 50% over next few years. Production has ramped up dramatically. Ebb and flow. Business cycles. Supply demand. Arithmetic. Common sense.
Despite Isaac relief, drought conditions worsen in US.
AL, LA sue Interior over change to offshore drilling royalty payments.
Workers suffered minor injuries in France nuke plant accident. I'm sure we'll hear more about that.
Pope Benedict got an EV. Well, bless that.
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