STUFF

TOP STUFF

Gasoline pipeline resuming deliveries in NY region using portable generators. I guess they needed a couple days to make sure everything would work. That's where the dang anger comes from. Why wasn't that done day 1? You knew storm was coming for 4 days or more. Oil tankers can unload soon after shipping channels cleared. Coast Guard reopened NY harbor yesterday. EPA granted clean gasoline waiver to storm-slammed states. Coastline restoration could cost $8M/mile. The US can't afford to subsidize folks who want to live right on the beach anymore. Hell, everybody wants to live on the beach. Rethink needed of HOW to rebuild. O yea, oil spill cleanups beginning.

FERC has been taking aim at 3 big banks suspected of manipulating energy prices. JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche already fined. Now Barclay's for $470M. 19 actions last 2 years. Barclay's already paid $450M fine in June over accusations of manipulating interest rates during financial crisis. FERC authority an '05 law passed after Enron fraud. $245M fine levied against Constellation Energy in Mar for manipulating markets to benefit its trading portfolio.

Venter says biofuels "dead" absent US carbon policy. No matter science breakthroughs. No way to ever beat oil.

EU sanctions on Iran's NG unintentionally also brought LPG exports to near halt. LPG: propane, butane. Comes mainly from oil. Threatens to send Euro heating bills even higher.

OTHER STUFF

Stanford scientists built 1st solar cell made entirely of carbon. Could reduce costs.

U Cal Merced professors created computer algorithm to project how clouds move, change shape across sky. 20-40% more accurate than current model. Could accel adoption of solar, maybe wind power, helps utilites predict AC use, etc.

Next year's Great Plains winter wheat crop still at risk from drought.

Montana fires have burnt most acreage since 1910.

Trans Canada to invest $1B in new Mexico NG pipeline.

Canada's oil sands assets for sale total $17B.

US solar industry added < 14K jobs Sept '11 to Sept '12. Total now 119K. 13.2% growth.

600Mw $1.26B pumped-storage system got support from Scot Highland Council. Next step Scot Ministers.

Cost of running, maintaining onshore wind farms down 38% last 4 years. Now $25K/Mw - 2.5 cents/w.

Scotland launching 103M Pound fund for clean/ren projects. Wave, tidal energy favored.

Desire to turn invasive reed into biofuel drawing concern in TX.

IG: Oak Ridge contractor gave guards cheat sheets ahead of security test.

Admin boosting enforcement of black lung rules.

Puget Sound ports emissions declining: study.

Nations fell short of deal to protect Antartica wildlife.

Pipeline from Alberta oil sands to west coast could cost $5.5B. 730 miles.

Sapphire Energy, Inst for Systems Biology to significantly increase oil yield, improve resistance to crop predators and enviro factors to further commercialized algae biofuel production.

Evodos (Netherlands) got 35th customer for its algae production system. High quality harvested algae. Almost double yield. Lower drying, storage, transportation costs. .1Kwh/dry kg.

Methes Energies (Can) approved by US EPA as foreign renewable fuel producer. Eligible to export biodiesel to US.

American Seed Trade Assoc, Biotech Independent Org completed 1st phase to establish framework for post-patent single trait seeds. Took 5 years for that.

Royal DSM (Netherlands) to buy Cargill's cultures and enzymes for dairy and meat biz for 85M Euros. Manufacturing in Wisc, France. Sales ~45M Euro/y. Standard biz price - 2x sales.

Ecuadorans going to court to seize $2B of Chevron's assets in Argentina.

Largest wind farm in Carib began producing power on Puerto Rico. Siemens turbines. 95Mw. Island's goals 12% clean/ren by '15, 15% by '20, 20% by '35. 24Mw solar project, 23Mw wind farm (Vestas turbs) online soon.

Plans in works for 60 more wind turbines at National Wind Tech Center in Colo.

Lakeside Energy to buy 2 combined-cycle NY power plants from Integrys subsid. 95 and 109Mw.

Patriot Coal in KY (PCXCQ) announced close of Bluegrass Mine by yearend. 1.2M tons of thermal coal this year. And prep plant. 1.9B tons reserves.

Vestas Wind announced another round of layoffs in Colo.