STUFF

Southern Comp optimistic on DOE loan guarantee by midyear for US' 1st nuke reactors in over 3 decades.

3 major comps joined DOE program to improve energy efficiency in commercial, industrial bldgs.

1.5 Celsius of more warming likely to melt perma frost.

Poll: climate a low priority, but Americans support power plant restrictions.

Pakistan power plant operators propose transition from oil-fired power to coal.

US set to overtake Germany on utility-scale solar installed.

Coast Guard OK'd Shell Alaska drilling rig to cross Pacific.

IG: EPA mission hampered by limited data on oil/gas industry emissions.

CLEAN LA solar program strong start. LA Dept of Water & Power got aps for 107Mw of projects in opening week. 5 20Mw allocations. 4Mw for 30-150Kw projects. 16Mw for up to 3Mw. LADWP pays 17 cents/Kwh for LA, 14 cents for Owens Valley.

Biogas potential 3-4x higher from combining local waste streams. Denmark project.

Total Arctic Sea ice volume 1/5 of '80 level. Near ice-free Arctic in summer within decade. May usher in permanent change toward extreme, prolonged weather events - drought, floods, cold spells, heat waves, severe storms. Will likely accel disintegration of Greenland ice sheet, release of vast amounts of carbon and methane in permafrost. CryoSat-2 confirms sea ice volume has collapsed.

Monitoring of enviro activists in Canada by Royal Police, security agencies "new normal". "Threat to national security."

Diesel Green (Austin) launched cooking oil drop-off program for residents, schools, churches, other small producers of used cooking oil to avoid dumping in landfills, sewers.

Legislation intro'd in Congress to stop EPA cellulosic ethanol mandate.

2.4M new jobs from clean/renewable energy by '20 in India.

Branson pledging half his fortune for enviro causes. Giving Pledge founded by Gates/Buffett.

Vestas Wind Systems laid off 110 more at Colo turbine blade factory.