STUFF

Earth Day 43. Furlough day for some at EPA. We've come a long way. And have a long way to go.

Deluge ended New Zealand's most widespread drought in 30 yrs.

FL 4th state to sue BP over Gulf spill.

Gorbachev complaining of world's "weak" response to climate change.

Backers halted NG pipeline project from PA to East Coast.

ND legislators seeking to cut NG flaring with tax breaks for oil producers.

Solar PV module industry revenues est. to decline 20% this year to $20.5B. Downturn expected to continue through '14, then turn up through '17 to $32B. Global capacity expanded by '11 to 45Gw/y, but only 29Gw sold in '12.

Annual spending on clean energy may rise to $630B by '30 from $190B last year: Bloomberg. But slower global econ growth, lower fossil fuel prices, weaker climate policies could bring it down to $470B.

Washington farmers expected to grow 67% more canola this year. Oregon 78% more. Idaho 45K more acres. Nationally, though, canola acreage expected to shrink 6% to 1.65M acres. Higher demand for biofuel feedstock, cooking oil.

Aemetis (Cal) (AMTX) transitioned 60Mgal/y corn ethanol plant to advanced biofuels - sorghum (milo). Started back up. Will save over $18M in feedstock costs. Added to $24M cash from RINs, subtract ~$8M for increased use of biogas gives ~$34M/yr increase in net cash flow. Cash flow value of stock then ~$6/share. Trading at 41 cents today. They bought plant in '12 for $15M cash, 11% stock. Plant cost $132M to build. Cost ~$5M to convert from corn to milo.

Algae research project by U Cal and Scripps Inst of Oceanography new harvest system processes up to 9K gal algae-laden water per minute @ 95% capture rate. Yileds up to 20% algae concentrations.

Malay comp bought 30Mg/y biodiesel plant for $11.5M. Online July.

VA Tech researchers succeeded in transforming cellulose into starch - amylose. Good source of dietary fiber. Decreases risk of obesity, diabetes. Cascading enzymes process takes cellulose from non-food plant material, converts ~30% to amylose. Remainder hydrolyzed into glucose suitable for ethanol production.

Chrysler to lose ~$10K on each batt-powered Fiat 500e it sells. Car's lith-ion batt pack delivers 111HP. 87 miles on single charge. $32,500 price. Then $7,500 fed tax cred plus various state creds. Meanwhile, Chrysler has developed 8, 9-speed transmissions that improve efficiency up to 30%.

EPA proposing rule aimed at curbing wastewater discharges laced with heavy metals, other toxins from coal, nuke power plants. Another rule pending on disposal of coal ash.

Supreme Court upheld ruling against Occidental over rainforest pollution.

Report: aviation's push for renewable fuels may cost enviro.

Fracking decision coming for George Washington National Forest.

DOE pledging $18M for pilot projects on "drop-in" biofuels for military.

US, Israeli scientists announced biofuels research collab.

Guard exchanged fire with someone outside Tenn reactor.

Decommissioning Wisc nuke plant to cost near $1B.

WY NG storage site exploded.

Chevron fighting Cal carbon mandate it helped create.

China ramping up subsidies for hybrids.

IAEA: Fukushima cleanup may take up to 40 yrs.

Intl Finance Corp planning to issue $1B/yr of Green Bonds. Resounding success of last month's $1B issue.

Germany's PNE Wind planning to issue $131M corp bond.

Hawaii pushing through legislation to set up new "green infrastructure authority". To make loans for rooftop solar installs repayed by el savings. Hawaii goal 70% of energy from clean/ren, conservation by '30.

New PNC Bank branch in FL 50% more efficient than existing branches. Expected to produce more energy than it uses. Bank has 119 LEED bldgs, more than any other comp in world. Goal to reduce energy use 30% by '20 (from '09).