STUFF

TOP STUFF

DOE study concluded national econ benefits of significant NG exports far outweigh potential for higher NG prices. More than dozen LNG export projects proposed, 1 approved so far in Louisiana. 1 LNG facility in MD is converting to exporting. Higher NG prices, though, would hit chem and fertilizer sectors hard. Dow Chem immediately challenged the study. "Fails to address the $80B of new spending, 3-5M new jobs already announced predicated on available and low-cost NG." NG exports, study says, could generate up to $47B/yr econ activity by '20.

NRDC plan featuring fed-state partnerships for reducing power plant pollution could save over $25B in climate, health costs while unleashing billions more in clean energy investments.

Euro energy comps considering participating in US offshore wind auctions.

India's Tamil Nadu state to auction 1Gw of solar power capacity next month. Projects must be 1Mw or more. 10 months to build or face fines. Developers pay for power lines to closest substation.

EIA (DOE) forecasts at least $8.68/gal gasoline, $9.86/gal diesel, $268/bl spot Brent crude ($162 in today's money) by '40. Assumes 2.5% annual inflation. Biomass use in '40 est. ~5Quad BTU. (2.7Quad in '11.) E85 will cost 20% less than gasoline. Energy use per capita to decline 15%, but population will increase 29%.

US military working with GE to dev new type of engine that could burn hydrogen or fossil fuels. 25% higher efficiency than combustion engines now converted for H. Could help wind industry. Wind turbines would power electrolyzers to make H. H would be stored and burned at steady rate in new engines with generators making el.

OTHER STUFF

Areva and EDF of France reported cost of Euro Pressurized Reactor up again to $10.6B. 1.65Gw reactor originally scheduled for completion this year for EUR3.3B. Cost doubled in '11, delayed to '16. Similar probs with Areva's EPR project in Finland. Capital costs now over $6.40/w.

Takes 8 years for a wind project to navigate French bureaucracy. 2 years in Germany.

Theolia (FR) began ops at 15Mw wind farm. Nordex (Germany) turbines. France wind capacity now ~6.8Gw.

Utah accuses BP subsid of filing fraudulent clean up claims.

PA city says $5.9M energy efficiency contract will save near $11M over 20 years. But review shows just $3.9M of that is guaranteed.

New head of Australia's $10.4B Green Fund sees 1st investment by July.

Germany and UK started $90.8M fund to finance projects that cut emissions, curb climate change. 1st project a Mexican govt program to build sustainable housing with grant funding, loans.

Orkney wave and tidal center in Scotland to help develop similar site in Taiwan. 200Mw capacity by '25.

Intl Institute for Sustainable Dev says biofuel subsidies often aren't best policy. A price on carbon more effective.

SavOn converting 4th NY gas station to ethanol-free.

Shell releasing oils meant to protect against biofuel engine damage.

Global Bioenergies and Synthos of France getting to biobased butadiene with R&D breakthrough. Butadiene a light olefin at heart of petrochem. 10M tons/yr produced now from oil. $20B market.

Turkey not reducing Iran oil imports. Say they haven't heard from US telling them to reduce.

Yemen struck deal with tribesmen. To repair oil pipelines.

Repsol filed court case to block Chevron from working with YPF in Argentina.

Shell's Arctic plans on hold again after containment dome failed test.

UN: world wild fish catch expected to fall 2% this year to 90M tons. All-time peak in '96 at 94M tons.