STUFF

Volvo unveiled NG passenger vehicle.

China, other countries to finance Panama Canal bypass through Nicaragua. $40B, 11-year build, 130 miles of channel. Nicaragua final approval this week. Over $5B expansion of Panama Canal completion this year, doubling cap to 600M tons/yr.

Goldman Sachs analysis questions ability of Canada tar sands producers to meet growth targets without Keystone pipeline.

Study: tar sands waste leaks among major threats to Canada's largest river.

EPA study: Keystone pipe would contribute 19M tons of GHGs to atmos per year. Mainly from turning bitumen into crude.

EPA missed 6th deadline to propose new regs to curb stormwater runoff.

Duke started ops at Indiana coal-fired power plant they call 1 of cleanest on planet.

Scientist found chem group called phenolics may help organic soils store more carbon, protect plants from disease, pests.

World Resources Inst: China has at least $40B in clean/renewable assets apread around world.

Switch from coal to NG for power gen in US last year helped cut CO2 emissions 200M tons. China had largest growth in CO2 emiss - 300M tons.

IEA wants govts to:
1, target energy efficiency measures in bldgs, industry, transport;
2, limit construction, use of least-efficient coal-fired power plants;
3, halve methane releases into atmos from oil/gas industry;
4, partially phase-out fossil fuels susbsidies.

Energy expert: plant-by-plant analysis found 200Gw of 220Gw of Europe's thermal power sector is losing money or barely recovering costs. RWE CEO: we spent EUR12B in power plants now proven nearly redundant.

Beta Renewables (Italy) started shipping cellulosic ethanol in commercial quantities from 20M gal/yr plant.

Novozymes' new ethanol enzyme tech boosts yields to 2.9gal/bushel corn. Adds 13% yield in corn oil extraction - saving 5% in corn use, 8% energy use. 100M gal/yr plant would save up to 1.8M bushels (45K tons) of corn/yr, generate up to $5M more profit.

Mascoma, partner's new yeasts boost ethanol production up to 4% in trials. Elims expensive GA enzymes.

Sudan shut down oil pipelines, accusing S Sudan of helping rebs.

ABB developing high-capacity "flash charge" system for electric buses, trams. "Flash stations" can charge vehicles' capacitors in 15 seconds from grid with overhead swinging arm.

Finland's largest power utility bought 5Mw thin-film solar plant in India. Comp wants to build solar portfolio in India.

Vestas won $213M, 94Mw order for GDF Suez wind farm in S Africa. Online May '15. 2Mw turbines. S Africa plans to add over 3.7Gw clean/renewable energy by '17, another 3.2Gw by '20.

Clean energy, biofuels to benefit from $500B US Farm Bill passed by Senate.

Goldpoly closed $270M deal to buy China Merchants New Energy.

Fed appeals court ruled last week it is unconstitutional for Mich to discriminate against out-of-state clean/renewable energy. Helps clean/ren prospects in grid buildout.