STUFF

TOP STUFF

EPA issued waiver to allow Cal to adopt emissions standards for vehicles far stricter than fed's. Applies to '17-'25 models.

At least 100K bls/yr of oil seep out of the ground naturally around the world. Much from sea floor.

Largest Kansas wind farm to begin ops. BP Wind Energy and Sempra. 438Mw. $800M. 274 1.6Mw turbines over 66K acres. 2nd best wind resource in US. State now has 2.2 Gw of wind capacity, counting this farm. Iowa has 4.5Gw capacity.

Best wind sites in US within connection distance to grid now about all developed. These sites can be profitable without current tax credit of 2.2 cents/Kwh generated (that expires at yearend).

German state bordering Denmark recently approved doubling land area devoted to wind power. Already has highest concentration in Germany. Wind currently provides near 50% of state's elgen from over 3.2Gw of capacity. Over 200Kw of wind elgen capacity per sq. km. Highest in Germany or US. Target of 4.8Gw wind by '15, 6.5Gw by '20.

EC formally published decision to nix plan to impose tariff on imported US ethanol.

New research shows W Antarctica warming near 2x as fast as thought. Avg. annual temps increased 2.4C (4.3F) since '50's. 3x global avg. increase. Accounts for faster rise in sea levels than predicted.

Every 41K years, Earth's axis changes. Tilts gradually away from sun, then back. Creates ice ages and warmer periods. Called "obliquity". 1 of 3 "Milankovitch Cycles" that occur over huge time periods. Large volcanic eruptions also occur in 41K year cycles. Earth's obliquity cycle is now about in middle of 2.4 degree range.

OTHER STUFF

Alexander & Baldwin completed 6Mw solar PV farm on Kana'i. Largest solar farm in Hawaii. Almost 10% of local utility's daytime load. 3Mw batt storage system.

Sempra, BP Wind Energy completed 21Mw wind farm on Maui. 10Mw batt storage system.

Canadian Solar (CSIQ) bought 2 solar projects totaling 24Mw from Sun Ed for $38M.

National avg. $119/mo for residential el customers for 1Mw of usage. Utilities use 1Mw/mo as standard.

Calpine sold 847Mw single-cycle, NG-fired S Carolina power plant for $427M+. 12-yr-old plant.

Iraq's Kurds have stopped exporting oil via the northern pipeline as dispute with Baghdad over payments continues.