STUFF

Wisc state facilities replacing coal boilers with NG. $25M. Stems from '07 lawsuit by Sierra Club over Clean Air Act requirements.

Northwestern U researchers developed new design for organic solar cells. Significantly increases cell efficiency. Using algorithm based on natural evolution. Maximizes amount of time light remains trapped in cell.

2 papers say ozone layer hole is starting to recover because of limits on CFC's since '85. But still influencing major wind patterns, ocean circulation, carbon concentrations in atmos, even Amazon rainfall.

EPA proposing to require refiners to use 11M gal of cellulosic ethanol this year. (Who's going to make it?) Also proposed system to cut down fraud in renewable fuels system and allow victims, mainly refiners, to avoid penalties in some cases. (Go figure.)

Chu says batt costs for EV's fell from $1K/Kwh of storage in '08 to ~$500 today. But has to get to $125 next 10 yrs. Rest of drive system now $30/Kwh. Has to get to $8.

Chu resigning.

Leaders of congressional task force on climate change reaching out to 300 businesses, orgs - including major oil/gas comps - to ask for input on how fed govt can reduce CO2 emissions.

Study: warmer winters linked to earlier flu outbreaks.

Growth in clean energy capacity could shut down German NG power plant.

Prestigious universities to research health effects of oil/gas development in Marcellus.

1366 Technologies opened new solar factory in Mass. 20Mw cap. Plans to remove major chunk of costs, processes out of solar manufacturing chain. 1Mw production this year. 10Mw in '14. 100Mw in '15 with new 1Gw factory.

Mass had 11% growth in clean energy jobs in '12. 5K comps operating. Over 700K jobs.

LDK Solar, Canadian Solar (CSIQ) both got $40M loans. LDK from China Development Bank for ops. CSIQ from Credit Suisse for 4 solar plants in construction in Canada.

US now leading world in flaring off NG at oil wells (especially in Bakken and Eagle Ford). (How long will this go on?) 1 field in ND burning off enough gas to power all home heating systems in Chicago and DC combined. US burn off tripled in last 5 yrs.

DC Biofuels, Beltway Biodiesel combining, expanding waste cooking oil collection, outreach, marketing. Building 7.5M gal/y refinery to blend ultra low sulfur biodiesel for B2 through B20 for fleets, home heating oil. Online late '13.

Novozymes (Denmark) to buy Iogen Bio Products (Canada) for $67M plus $12.5M potential earn-out payments.

EC proposing 9.5% duty on US ethanol through '17. US exports went from 1.9% market share to 15.7% in 12 months ending Sept '11.

Political insiders in Cal started firm targeting cap-and-trade cash.

Court dismissed suit challenging EPA human experiments.

Georgia Power: planned nuke reactors enough to meet region's demand.

Maker of "Tide" (P&G?) agreed to reduce levels of suspected carcinogen in detergents.

Explosion at troubled Mexican oil comp killed at least 25.

Iran informed IAEA they plan to install thousands more uranium centrifuges at Natanz. Could double-triple production rate.

Global offshore wind cap 5.1Gw end of '12. Predicted to grow to 54.9Gw by '21. 34.5% growth rate.

Sun Ed signed agreement with CAP (Chilean mining, steel group) to build 100Mw solar PV plant in Chile, Expected to be largest solar plant in Latin Am.

Blue Energy bought Ridge Wind UK portfolio for $395M from Hg Capital. 45Mw in late-stage construction. 132Mw with planning permission. And significant development pipeline. Price includes cost of development projects. Blue has 9.7Mw of UK wind projects in development. Plans 155Mw solar PV plant in Ghana.

Mainstream Renewable Power (Ireland) raised $70M, including $52M loan from China Development Bank, for 33Mw wind farm in Chile. $18M more funded from their own equity. Construction started. Online Sept. Mainstream building another 150Mw wind farm in Chile. Also working on 5Gw link to export Ireland wind power to UK. And building 1 wind, 2 solar plants in S Africa for $682M.