STUFF

FERC criticized by senator for rejecting proposal that would have made it voluntary for utilities in Pacific NW to pay for regional transmission projects.

NRC study: energy tax provisions have little real effect on GHG emissions.

DOE launched facility for testing utility-scale grid integration for intermittent clean energy.

Tesla (TSLA) offering option of 90-second batt swap for S.

NOAA: May tied for 3rd warmest in recorded world history.

Drought shifting to 4 Corners region in US.

Chinese city to cut pollution by limiting vehicle sales.

EPA abandoned investigation of groundwater contamination near oil/gas ops in WY. '11 draft report linked fracking to contaminated groundwater. State will carry on investigation with help of $1.5M grant from comp accused of contamination.

IEA: NG still "stubbornly resistant to globalization".

USGS finding natural methane in PA water.

IEA official urging efficiency push in energy sectors. (Just start with flaring.)

Alberta suffered 3 oil pipeline spills already in June.

Report: adjusting US fed oil/gas royalty rates to mirror state rates would raise millions.

Israel unveiled NG export policy.

Wind, solar capacity up 125% in Ukraine 1st 4 months this year. Solar FIT 2x last year's. Solar generation up 11x in '12 v. '11. Solar capacity 470Mw, 70 added this year. Wind capacity 350Mw, up 50Mw this year. Small hydropower capacity in '12 rose from 2.7Mw to 73. 780Gwh from clean energy in '12, .4% of country's energy mix.

Geothermal Power Tanzania investing up to $350M for country's 1st geothermal plant, up to 140Mw, by '18. Rift Valley fault. Country wants to wean off hydropower dependence with looming droughts from climate change.

Indonesia started $300M fund to back geothermal power exploration. Country now has 1.3Gw of geo capacity. Potential for 29Gw.

Danish pension fund pledged to invest $200M in Cape Wind (US) project conditional on obtaining full finance, begin build by year end.

IL adopted US' strictest fracking regs to date. Comps must detail how wells to be drilled, amount of fluid to be used, at what pressure, how comps will withdraw water, contain waste, disclose chems used before and after use. Folks can force state investigations. Also mandates continual groundwater testing.

Promethean Biofuels, US Energy Initiatives (USEI) agreement to expand Promethean's biodiesel production to 3M gal/yr capacity by next month. Comps will split $6M/y revs. USEI's 1st expansion into fuel production. Plans many more before year end. USEI down 30% at noon today, down 4% at 2:30.

Red Rock Biofuels got $4.1M US military contract to produce fuels. Military hopes fuels to cost under $4/gal by '16. Red Rock matching with $5M.

Amyris (AMRS)/Total successfull demo flight of bio avfuel with Airbus at Paris Air Show.

ABF Economics study says no direct connect between RFS (US), food prices. Found rate of food price infaltion decreased since '07 - when RFS last devised.

US House rejected Farm Bill. Trouble with food stamps, nutrition programs.

IEA: NG demand set to grow more slowly until '18. Europe demand weak, Mideast probs, Africa upstream production growth. 2.4%/y demand growth next 5 yrs. Last yr's forecast 2.7%. NG global use in road transport to rise to 98BCM (billion cubic meters)/y by '18. Total demand to increase to almost 4TCM.

Steelmakers taking advantage of cheap NG in US. Direct Reduced Iron process avoids need for coking coal, added to scrap to make steel.

EIA: global shale oil potential 345B bls oil, 7.2QCF (quadrillion cubic feet) NG.

Russia, China $60B oil deal. Russia oil to China via new pipeline.

U of MD researchers created long-lasting, efficient, enviro friendly rechargable batt from wood splinters 1K x thinner than piece of paper, covered in tin. Add sodium. Potential for large scale.

BP to reduce Iraq production target over 1Mb/d. Baghdad reduced production targets to ensure reserves last longer. 12Mb/d by '17 reduced to 9M.

Maine gov vetoed energy bill. House overrode. To senate it goed. Aims to expand New England NG infra with $75M for new pipeline capacity, boost energy efficiency funds.

EDF Canada dedicated 150Mw Quebec wind farm. $340M. 75 REpower turbines. EDF to build 1Gw wind in province next 3 yrs.

Enel Green Power, 40 South Energy (UK) to install 150Kw wave energy machine off Tuscany. Over $793M invested in wave/tidal energy development in Europe last 7 yrs.

Samsung reduced Ontario clean energy pledge $1.9B. Reduced from C$7B in '10 to develop 2.5Gw wind, solar. Now over 1.3Gw target by '16.

Solar REITs unlikely to win favorable IRS ruling.

Dozens of wild fires now burning up CO, AZ, NM.

Houston to buy 1/2 of el from clean sources.

FBI investigating genmod sugar beet destruction.

NYC taxi commission adopted hybrid rule.

Contract breach halted China-funded refinery project in Costa Rica.

Gazprom moving to buy Belgian power plant.

Small solar producers struggling after Spain slashed subsidies.

Happy weekend trails, pards.