STUFF

Nissan to have batt replacement program for Leaf.

Trans Canada says Keystone XL won't need expensive, high-tech leak detection systems. They will rely on software, flyovers, surveys. Would only pick up spills of over 12Kb/d. External leak detection could cost over $700K. EPA has recommended external leak detection.

Hanford needs massive wastewater plant to treat millions of gallons of radioactive waste leaking from 177 underground tanks. Latest tally for cleanup $115B. On top of $36B already.

16-year-old developed chem-free algae-to-fuel process ~20% more efficient than current chem-heavy processes. She took 1st place at Intel Science Fair.

GE to supply 105Mw from 62 1.7Mw wind turbines for Consumers Energy project in Mich. Online late '14.

First Energy's OH utilities to reduce customer costs $106M with securitization transaction.

US Supreme Court to hear cross-state air pollution case involving power plant emissions. Lower court ruled against.

Study: 20th Century air pollution may have reduced Atlantic hurricanes.

US pledged $35M to help poor nations prepare for extreme weather.

Costa Rica backed away from China oil refinery deal.

Frito-Lay unveiled 1st CNG fueling station for 208 of their 18-wheelers by yearend. 20% of fleet. They already have 280 short-haul el-powered box trucks. Also building 8 public CNG stations.

China, Vietnam lowering tensions over offshore oil/gas exploration differences.

China moving solar production to other countries to avoid EU tariffs. 11.8% tariffs set to jump 37-68% early Aug.

Moving oil by rail from ND to WA costs ~$10/bl. $3-4/bl more to move it by ship to Cal.

US has 1,142 coal-fired, 3,967 NG-fired power plants to be subject to new limitations on emissions to be announced this week. Coal plants cut emissions 13% '05-'13. But up 7.1% in Q1 from switch back to coal by utilities because of higher NG prices.

Saudi Arabia surpassing Germany in oil consumption with less than 1/3 Germany's population.

Key Nigeria oil pipeline operated by Shell subsid caught fire after spill. JV led by Shell to invest $1.5B on new pipeline to reduce oil theft.

Statoil made big discovery of light crude off Newfoundland.

China National Petrol started building country's 1st shale gas pipeline in Sichuan.

Indonesia to hike gasoline prices 44%, diesel 22%.

Shutdown of 20 reactors globally since Fukushima, most in 3-yr span since Chernobyl, saddles industry with up to $26B in costs.

Exxon seeking permission to export 30M metric tons/yr LNG from Brit Columbia.

Australia Climate Commission calling for 80% of global fossil fuel reserves left to stay in ground to avoid climate change. (All who think that will happen raise your hand.) Global emissions rising ~3%/yr.

US fed fuel excise tax not changed in 20 yrs. 18.4 cents/gal. Value has fallen 40% from inflation. (Have state fuel taxes gone up?)

BP scaling back EU biofuels efforts amidst policy uncertainty.

Novamont (Italy) unveiled 1st product made from 4th gen family of biodegradable, compostable bioplastics.

Uganda says it could start producing commercial oil by '16. Now imports all its fuel. Oil discovered there in '06.

Oregon State U study: in some cases, cumulative damage from many small dams on habitat, biodiversity far more damaging than large-scale dams.

Indonesia, Chile to build 10-100Mw thorium nuke plants made by Thorium Power Canada.

El Paso El christened $95M, 90Mw NG generation unit at its oldest power plant. Can reach full power cap in 10 minutes.

Australia's biggest concentrating solar PV project completed. 1.5Mw. Part of plans to develop 1 of world's largest at site - 100Mw.

US Supreme Court left intact EPA rules allowing higher concentrations - 15% - of corn-based ethanol in gasoline. Let stand appeals court ruling saying trade groups representing grocery, oil, auto industries lacked legal standing. Hadn't shown their members would be injured.

India plans to revive tax breaks for wind farms, raise subsidy.

KDDI to build 3 solar plants in Japan, 8.8Mw total.

Nereus Capital Mgmt raised $140M with $40M credit guarantee from US Agency for Intl Development for India clean energy fund.

K Road Power canceled plans to build 294Mw solar plant in Cal. "Changed market conditions."

Pension funds prepare to boost investment in clean energy.

Enel Green Power secured $100M loan for Mexico project.

SAISC secured $8M loan for 35Mw Ecuador biomass power plant expansion.

DOE opened up performance data on 60K buildings.

XSNX reported 16.4% CIG solar performance.

New Duke study bolsters finding of groundwater contamination from drilling in Marcellus.

Propane group donated lawn mowers to National Mall.