STUFF

USGS to reassess Bakken resources at yearend. Output fell in Nov for 1st time in 18 months.

UPS rolling out 100 EV's in Cal.

World Resources Inst: best way for Obama to keep US on track to reduce GHG's is new power plant standards. (Admin's been doing that. We have to get at transportation emissions.)

NM, 3 other states interested in hosting interim or permanent nuke waste storage site.

DOE: Carbon capture/storage coal power plant project in IL moving to 2nd phase - prelim designs, engineering. (How much spent so far?)

Global Crop Diversity Trust, CGIAR Consortium to invest $109M next 5 yrs in world's seed banks maintaining over 700K samples of seeds, veg material.

EPA's addition of oil, NG, coal methane emissions to online GHG tracker revealed 82M metric ton increase in CO2 equivalent over last year when meth figs weren't available.

WY may mandate groundwater testing for oil/NG industry by yearend.

Halliburton suit says former worker sold drilling tech to China.

Portugal turned on next phase of pumped storage hydro plant. Doubled capacity to 520Mw. Cost $138M. Stores power from wind farms.

W2 Energy (WTWO) buying 51% of Malaysia biodiesel plant for $5.5M. 30K metric tons/y from palm oil. Currently plans 20K this year. Malaysia upping biodies blend next year.

Viet comp producing biodiesel from catfish waste.

UAE researchers screening mangrove root sediments for cellulosic enzymes.

Oil majors including Exxon, Total supporting CO2 tax in Canada. Simpler, more predictable, preferable to cap-and-trade debacle in Europe.

US brewers taking up case against fracking. Worried potential contamination of groundwater would ruin their business.

Duke to shut down troubled Crystal River nuke plant in FL. 40-60 yrs to completely decommission. Will save ~$3B over 8 yrs. Now 30 yrs for new nuke plant breakeven.

As late as '07, EIA didn't list any shale gas in its forecast.

Serbia plans over 1Gw new clean/renewable energy capacity to improve energy mix by '20. 11.6% increase of total elgen cap. ~500Mw expected from wind, 200Mw from large hydropower, 200Mw from small hydro, 100Mw from biomass, rest from solar, geothermal. Up to $2.7B cost. New feed-in-tariffs took effect this week.

Oceanlinx (Australia) plans to raise $20M to expand in Europe, US before possible share sale. They make wave power generators. Currently costs ~4x coal power plants. Testing 1Mw generator in Aus. Plans projects in Scotland, Portugal, Cal, China, Japan. Cost competitive with onshore wind in 3 yrs, fossil fuels in 5 yrs.

Demand for India Renewable Energy Credits down 16% in Jan from Dec. Regulators failed to enforce clean energy targets. Credits sold for $28 each, floor price. Credit = 1Mw of clean energy fed into grid.

Atlas Box (Mass) working on reducing energy use 55% in 2 comm bldgs. Installing LEDs, other energy efficiencies. Upfront cost from finance program set up by National Grid.

Emcore (EMKR) reported fiscal Q1. Revs up 31% yoy, 4% over last Q. Stock up 12% today.

Paper: taxing petrol consumption can boost econ while reducing national debt. (How does it boost econ?)

Biodiesel industry goal: 10% of on-road market.

Study links low birth weight to particulate matter in atmos. (Beijing births to look at now.)

2 Great Lakes waterways hit record low levels.

$10M of herring died in Iceland fjord.