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.