STUFF

EPA moved up deadline for oil/gas comps to submit requests to use alternative monitoring methods to comply with GHG emissions reporting requirement. (Sort of a squeeze bunt?)

GM joined coalition of major corps urging US action on climate change as way of boosting nation's competiveness in global marketplace. (Hay, the world's going for it, get the money out of it.)

DOE denied Freedom of Info Act request from AP over WY carbon capture project. (Is that the giant lithium find?)

Indiana Gasification project - carbon capture/storage at coal-to-gas plant - suspended. "Likely dead" after passage of bill by state legislature last week. (Probably tech challenging, too expensive.)

China soon to launch emissions trading program (they have to do more than something about their deadly pollution) ... Calif added more offsets to ease cap-and-trade supply crunch (I don't know yet which is supply side.) ... Comps report GHG emissions, but most get it wrong: study. (Study up that.)

Amazon tribes already dealing with drier weather, less humidity. (Might feel better, you think? But change in the air.)

Shell wants to double its 7% share of global LNG production. (Didn't get numbers on it.)

Study: hydrofracking could strain water resources in US west. (We were told that in '70's.) ... Water-stressed areas home to near half of fracked wells in US: report. (And Ogallala has maybe 20 yrs left.)

Researchers from DOE, Stanford have new batt design that could help solar, wind feed grid. Lithium anode, polysulfide cathode flow batt. Energy storage performance over 5.5 yrs of daily cycles in lab tests.

Funding for wind power projects up globally in 1Q13. Most for large projects. 29 deals for $6.2B, up from 22 for $4.2B in 4Q12. $3.42B onshore, $2.74B offshore. 71 deals for ~$14B in '12. VC funding for wind 3 deals for $16M in 1Q13. M&A activity 4 deals for $543M.

US commercial crude oil storage highest level since records began in '82 - 395M ... US oil production up 15.3% yoy in Feb ... 3.8% decline in US gasoline demand yoy ... 300Kb/d production increase by OPEC in April .... NG prices up 29% so far this year.

China's drilled 1st 60 exploration wells into shale formations. No production reported yet. (Will probably be 3-5 yrs before production.)

Clean/renewable energy supplied 70% of total elgen in Portugal in Q1. Increased wind, water flow. Lower demand. In '00, govt bought all el transmission lines, created publicly owned/traded comp to operate them. (Did they have problems of blackouts or brownouts?)

Virent delivered 100 gal of its bio jetfuel to AF Research Lab for tests. Wisc facility can produce 5K gal/yr of bio jetfuel. Also 10K gal/yr of gasoline, fuel chems.

Report: pesticides play part, but not single factor in bee colony collapse. (Low self esteem? We love you bees.)

Exxon pipeline spilled small amount in MO. (Probably the same pipe that spilled in Ark. So, is Exxon still testing the pressure they can run the ancient pipe at?)

FL House rejected attempts to repeal state law that allows utilities to charge customers for nuke power plant development in advance of construction.

Calpine (Houston) asking MN regulators to near double amount of el production at NG plant - 345Mw increase. Plant uses city wastewater for cooling.

Energy conservation kits available to customers of 3 OH utilities. Supports state's energy efficiency law. 9 CFL bulbs of various wattage, 2 LED night lights, a smart power strip and other.

Hawaii lawmakers failed for 2nd year to reform solar tax credit. (Slept near beach in hammock while I was there.)

German wind developer targets growth in Sweden, Belgium.

Car Charging Group (CCGI) close on 350Green acquisition.

Siemens wind profits half in Q2 yoy.

German solar FIT to fall 1.8%/mo through to July.

Rentech bought wood chip maker for $112M.