STUFF

US NatGas storage now under 5-yr avg for time of year.

Martifer Solar building 30Mw PV plant in Mexico. Largest to date in Latin Am. Single-axis trackers. August completion. Mexico now has ~13Mw total solar capacity.

Google bought Makani Power - flying kite wind turbine developer. Turbines fly in large circle @ 800-2K feet altitude. Rotors act as turbine and propeller. Direct-drive generators, power sent down tethers. Delivers 2x the power of conventional turbines per unit. Uses 90% less material. 30Kw models tested so far. Plans to scale to 600Kw.

KPMG: 62% of US energy execs believe US can attain energy independence by '30. Up from 52% last year. 23% think it could happen by '20. 17% think it will never happen, down from 27% last year.

OCI Solar Power finished 3Mw AC PV solar farm in NJ. OCI developing 400Mw project in San Antonio, another 100Mw around US.

1st US income tax inaugurated in 1862. Rate was 3%. (A nice holiday trivia Q, A?)

Blue Earth (BBLU) subsid Xnergy finished 2 more PV solar projects for Calif farms. 115Kw total for $530K.

DPR Construction's Phoenix office 1st net-zero energy commercial bldg in AZ.

Australia scientists found way to print lightweight, flexible solar panels with 3D printer, solar ink. Initial aps for cellphones, laptops.

$55M, 60Mw NorthWestern peaker power plant ready to fire up in SD. Came in $10M under budget. NG plant can burn diesel in emergency. 2 employees.

Philippine DOE approved Energy Dev Corp's 87Mw, $300M wind farm and Alterenergy's 67Mw wind project.

Globeleq inaugurated 44Mw wind farm in Nicaragua. Gamesa 2Mw turbines.