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November 28, 2006
7 nations sign pact on fusion reactor ; Hope of creating new energy source
PARIS Physicists have dreamt about it for decades: harnessing the fusion process that powers the sun to make clean, safe and limitless energy. A multinational pact signed Tuesday may bring that dream a step closer to reality.
Australia opens door to nuclear power Panel urges Howard to build plants and mine more uranium
An official commission on Tuesday recommended lifting restrictions on nuclear energy and uranium mining, setting up a showdown between a government eager to harness Australia's ample uranium supplies and members of the opposition Labor Party, who remain deeply suspicious of the nuclear industry.
Bulls, bears line up for end-of-year showdown in energy futures
World energy futures are set up for an end of year show down after a year of stabilization and slowly changing long-term sentiment.
Stockpiles of key energies like crude oil and natural gas still hovering at record highs, representing insurance against sudden supply-side shocks.
Business group wants more use of low-carbon energy
The world must immediately increase its use of established low-emission energy technologies, as one focus on managing GHG emissions.
Energy demand could triple by 2050 and, “with the prospect of such increases in energy demand giving rise to further increases in GHG emissions, action on climate change is now a high priority for society.”
California To Evaluate 350 Miles Of Urban Levees
Next week, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will begin an ambitious $35 million project to evaluate 350 miles of levees that protect urban communities. DWR and its contractors will perform exploration, testing and analysis on state/federal levees that stretch from Lathrop to Marysville.
China's October fuel oil imports down for four months in a row
China imported 1.87 million mt of fuel oil in October, a 30% fall from 2.67 million mt in the previous month, figures obtained Thursday from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed.
Climate change conferences should focus on renewables
A coalition of international renewable energy groups says conferences on climate change must focus on improving the framework for renewable energies as key technologies for climate change mitigation.
Cloud Research Indicates A Faster Pace For Stratospheric Ozone Destruction
The greenhouse effect may be happening much faster than previously believed, scientists in Finland and the United States report.Crude nears $61 on weak dollar, cold weather forecast
28Nov2006--Global crude futures neared the $61/barrel level Tuesday, extending gains made Monday on the back of a weak US dollar and a reversal of short positions with colder temperatures forecast for major consuming regions, a broker said.
Early Smog Reductions in 14 U.S. Communities
Fourteen communities across the United States remain ahead of schedule in the effort to reduce ground-level ozone -- or smog -- as part of a program that encourages steps to protect air quality. The progress these areas have made under EPA's Early Actions Compacts program puts them on track to meet clean air requirements one to two years sooner than required.
Eneco is a development stage company that claims to have invented and patented a "solid state energy conversion/generation chip" that will convert heat directly into electricity or alternatively refrigerate down to -200 degrees Celsius when electricity is applied.
EPA Enforcement Cuts Total Pollution By Record 3 Billion Pounds Over Last Three Years
Air Pollution Reductions Alone Result in Health Benefits of $3.5 Billion Yearly
EPA Recognizes Companies, Individual for Saving Water
While population has nearly doubled over the past 50 years, water use has more than tripled. Due to demographic shifts, increased demand, and aging water infrastructure, there is a national need for more efficient use of our water resources. EPA recognizes this need
EU energy ministers back EC plan to save 20% energy by 2020
European Union energy ministers backed a European Commission plan to save up to 20% of the EU's final energy use by 2020 at an EU energy council meeting in Brussels Thursday.
First Underground Water Treatment Plant Opened
Fofanny Water Treatment Works - the only underground water treatment facility in Ireland.The £18 million treatment works in the Mournes has been landscaped with local vegetation including over 10,000 native species of heather planted on the roof.
Germany backs binding 2020 renewables targets-- ministry
The European Union should set binding long term renewables targets, a senior official from Germany's federal economy ministry told EU energy ministers at the EU energy council in Brussels Thursday.
Groups Fight Plan to Build Power Plant
Environmentalists are fighting a proposal to build another coal-fired power plant in the Four Corners area, saying the region cannot handle more pollution.
A new report from the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) concludes that Idaho may have the "largest untapped potential for geothermal development" in the U.S. "Despite not having a single power plant in 2006, Idaho's potential for geothermal electric power development rivals California and Nevada
Iran replaces Saudi Arabia as China's top crude supplier in Oct
Iran became China's largest crude supplier in October with 1.79 million mt, snatching the top slot from Saudi Arabia, according to the latest figures released by the Chinese General Administration of Customs.
Level Of Important Greenhouse Gas Has Stopped Growing
Seven-year stabilization of methane may slow global warming, UCI scientists say
Long Term US Mortgage Rates Lowest Since First of the Year
Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.18 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending November 22, 2006, down from last week when it averaged 6.24 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.28 percent.
New Challenge-- Consider the Six Degrees of Energy Efficiency
The concept of "six degrees of separation" is that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else through a chain of at most five acquaintances. Whether that is true or not, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) and 29 partners from its "Power is in Your Hands" campaign have launched a new "Six Degrees of Energy Efficiency Challenge," which is a take off on the whole "six degrees" concept.
New WHO Report Tackles Fluoride In Drinking-Water
Millions of people are exposed to excessive amounts of fluoride through drinking water contaminated from natural geological sources. As a result, many suffer conditions ranging from mild dental fluorosis to crippling skeletal fluorosis. With the problem continuing to be unrecognized and neglected, guidance is sorely needed.
NYMEX crude fails to hold $60barrel as dollar consolidates
The market rallied above $60/barrel level Friday when US oil markets were
closed for the extended holiday weekend and the US Dollar Index on the New
York Board of Trade skidded to an eight-month low.
"The US dollar has recouped much of its overnight losses after setting
new lows for the year vs. the euro and pound and a new four-month low vs. the
yen,
Ontario Leads Canada In Windpower Generation
Ontario Vaults From Worst To First In Windpower In Canada Over Three Years
An energy plant capable of achieving temperatures of more than 100 million degrees Celsius - the heat of the Sun - could provide the answer to the Earth's dwindling fuel reserves.
Philippine Congress passes law to boost biofuels use
The Philippines' two Houses of Congress approved late Thursday a biofuels bill set to mandate minimum biofuel blending levels in road fuels, the Department of Energy said Friday.
Pivotal Case on Global Warming Case Confronts High Court
The Supreme Court hears arguments this week in a case that could determine whether the Bush administration must change course in how it deals with the threat of global warming.
Problem for Europe-- Ideological disputes over reliability of Moscow may mask a bigger issue
When Gazprom, Russia's giant state-owned gas monopoly, cut supplies to Ukraine last January in a price dispute, shivers went through a wintry Europe, which started looking harder at ways to reduce dependence on Russian gas imports by finding more, and different, suppliers.
Professor Devises New Form of Solar Cell
A University of Idaho professor is devising a new form of solar cell she says could lead to a breakthrough that would make solar energy commercially feasible.
"We will first assess the impact of the measures that were
decided on at the Doha meeting last month and if they serve the purpose of
bringing stability in the global market, then we will not act. But, if these
measures fail, then further cuts cannot be ruled out."
- The newspaper Arab
News quoted Ali Naimi, the Saudi oil minister on Sunday as saying. He said that
OPEC may need to cut output again when ministers meet in Nigeria on December 14
to stabilize markets.
"The only thing that has dragged prices back down is
the weather. In the US temperatures are going to be almost tropical while the
mild weather in Europe is going to continue."
- A broker said Monday
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 112606
There is a slight chance of an isolated C-class flare from Region 926. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. A favorably positioned coronal hole is responsible for the elevated conditions.
Russia stands to make at least $50 billion from Sakhalin 2-- Shell
Russia stands to make at least $50 billion from the Shell-led Sakhalin 2 project despite its well-documented environmental and budget-related problems, the head of Shell Russia said Thursday.
Scientists Find Climate Change Clues in the Sky
Scientists are peering into the clouds near the top of the world, trying to solve a mystery and learn something new about global warming.
Snow Socks Vancouver, but the Water is Safe Again
More than a million Vancouver-area residents got the OK on Monday to drink their tap water without boiling it, but found themselves worrying about a rare heavy snowstorm and a cold snap.
U.N. Highlights Global Warming
A war of words is breaking out. In the aftermath of a U.N. weather agency's predictions that heat trapping greenhouse gases will continue to escalate, U.N. officials and the United States have squared off to discuss this country's role in combating the matter.
U.S. government should lead on national policy for renewables
A “cleverly-designed national net metering policy” would unify the United States behind the important goal of increasing green power output, by standardizing net metering procedures and overcoming the limitations created by a patchwork of state-based initiatives.
U.S. think tank extols benefits of renewables
Switching the U.S. economy to run on renewable energies could save money and reduce pollution, with visible benefits within a decade, says a national think tank.
UK Government-- Local Councils crucial to fighting climate change
"Everyone has a role to play in fighting climate change and reducing emissions," he said.
US EPA asks Supreme Court to review lower court order on NSR rule
The Bush administration on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that struck down a New Source Review rule that was strongly supported by the power sector. NSR, which is part of the Clean Air Act, requires electricity generators to install new pollution-control equipment whenever they undertaking "major" modifications.
Utility E.ON UK calls for long-term carbon targets
E.ON UK's chief executive Monday said the European Union should set carbon reduction targets that run beyond 2012.
Water Crisis is Big Test for Peru's President
Working toilets and clean drinking water are unattainable luxuries for a third of Peru's city dwellers and two-thirds of its rural population, one of the world's highest levels for a middle-income country that boasts a fast-growing economy, huge investor interest and ample Andean water resources.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 112706
•January NYMEX WTI futures jumped 70 cents to
$59.94/barrel during electronic trading on the CME Globex in anticipation of the
return of open outcry trading in New York later in the day. "Things are a little
firmer as the US comes back into the market and this was seen quite prominently
in early trading," a broker said.
•Earlier Monday, January ICE Brent nearly hit $60.50/barrel and January NYMEX
WTI shot through the $60/barrel mark to a high if $60.20//barrel, but both
markets then retreated as forecasts of mild weather in Europe and the US
dampened the bullish mood
Wind generation pledge being met in Western states
Proving that its promises weren't just a lot of hot air, MidAmerican Energy Holdings is making good on its pledge to increase the amount of electricity it generates from wind power for its Utah customers
November 22, 2006
Another Solution to Energy Crunch
From MotherEarthNews-Issue # 56 - March/April 1979 --Obviously, hydrogen isn't the only solution to our "power" problems but it does happen to be one of the better ones.
Audubon Society drops objection to wind farm
A National Audubon Society chapter based in the Twin Cities has withdrawn its opposition to a proposed wind farm near the Mackinaw River on the Woodford-McLean county line.
Barge With Oil Spill Debris Sinks in Philippines
A barge carrying 59,000 sacks of sludge from a devastating oil spill in the central Philippines capsized off the south coast of the country, officials said on Tuesday, raising fears of another environmental mishap.
The following are remarks by Mr Ben S Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System, at the Fourth ECB Central Banking Conference “The role of money: money and monetary policy in the twenty-first century”.
Biomass has Future in Ethanol, but Hurdles Loom
The United States could soon use a billion tons of cellulosic biomass to ease the country's dependence on corn to make renewable fuel, but it must first address costly issues tied to harvest, storage and transportation, a report showed on Tuesday.
BORON-- A BETTER ENERGY CARRIER THAN HYDROGEN
If far-flung energy users each possess several tens of kilograms of the somewhat costly, somewhat toxic substance diboron trioxide (also known as boria), and occasionally send some to a central power station that can reduce it to its elements, that station can, by returning only the boron, transmit back one continuous kilowatt of power for each 5.1 kilograms per day of boria received.
Bush Welcomes Senate Approval of U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement
The U.S. Senate approved the agreement by a vote of 85-12 on November 16. Previously, the House of Representatives approved a similar measure in July by a vote of 359-68. Differences between the two measures will have to be resolved before the president can sign it into law.
Chavez opponent to seek more private investment in oil
Manuel Rosales, the main candidate to face Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez in presidential elections on December 3, said on Tuesday that, if
elected, he will seek more private sector investment in Venezuela's oil
industry.
Chicago Mayor's Green-Power Goal Falls Short
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's ambitious plan to run Chicago government partly on wind and solar energy has drawn praise from environmentalists, envy from other cities and a speaking invitation from actor Robert Redford.
Clean Fuel Vehicles – Saving You Money in America
Today we have 2 different kinds of hydrogen available for use as a motor fuel. The least desirable H2 is what I call "caged" hydrogen. This could be considered "dirty" hydrogen made from non renewable sources.
The global economy could be en route to careening out of control. It's not intended to be an alarmist view. But, some participants at a conference on how to avert such disaster say that the rising demand for oil and natural gas means that power generators and industrial plants will be hard up for basic feedstock that helps feed the American economy.
Courting industry-- Developers say the empty rail yard is a perfect place to build wind towers
Albuquerque is one of four cities vying for a factory to produce giant steel towers for the nation's soaring wind energy industry.
Crude futures weaker ahead of expected US crude stock build
22Nov2006--Global crude futures fell slightly Wednesday ahead of the US inventory data due out later in the day, withdrawing from the highs posted late Tuesday on the back of a surge in product prices.
Crude Oil Prices Rise from Slow Down in Alaska and North Sea
Crude oil prices rose the most in almost a month after the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System limited the amount of oil it will carry, and a North Sea platform was shut because of a gas leak.
Delaware Landfills Produce Green Power
Two solid waste landfills are about to take center stage in the ultimate recycling project - using the landfill gas generated from decomposing organic waste to produce renewable energy.
Deserts offer cheap source of energy
Experts said solar energy from north Africa could help to reduce emissions from European power stations by 70 per cent by 2050 as well as providing energy at a cost equivalent to a dollars 20 barrel of oil - about a third of the current price.
Dickson Piezoelectric Generator
Richard Dickson proposes using the piezoelectric effect for generating electricity, where pressure turns into electricity, from environments such as wave action or roadway impact. The question is one of cost and feasibility, not whether or not it would work.
Energy UK 'facing power cuts in decade'
WITHIN a decade an energy shortage could lead to power cuts that cost British business over pounds 108bn a year as demand exceeds supply by up to 23pc at peak times, according to a study by LogicaCMG.
EPA Issues Final Rule on Aquatic Pesticide Applications
Two specific circumstances in which a Clean Water Act permit is
not required before pesticides are applied. The two situations are when:
· pesticides are applied directly to water to control pests, including mosquito
larvae, aquatic weeds and other pests in the water
· pesticides are applied to control pests that are present over or near water
where a portion of the pesticide will unavoidably be deposited to the water in
order to target the pests effectively
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Grant Guidelines for Underground Storage Tank Inspections
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released for public comment draft grant guidelines that will establish requirements for inspecting underground storage tank systems.
Global Warming and New Energy Sources
Here's a real eye-opener. "Presently, only 1% of the U.S. energy supply comes from renewable sources, including Solar, Wind and Hydro. If we applied the $400 billion dollars that has been spent in the Iraq war toward installing Wind Turbines on non-farmable lands in North and South Dakota, we could power the US, and become independent of imported oil."
Green groups sue President Bush over climate change
Conservation groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the Bush administration for refusing to complete a national assessment of global warming´s impact on the U.S. environment, economy and human health.
Group Offers $150k Sustainable Energy Innovation Prize
A new Cambridge coalition of energy investors and academics being launched today is sponsoring a business-creation contest with a $150,000 prize for new ventures promoting sustainable energy technologies.
Today brings yet another fresh ripple of trash-related intrigue from that ever-dependable wellspring of such stuff, Toronto.
Make A Water Filter From Old Tires
Crumb rubber, chewed up old tires, is used on athletic tracks, playgrounds, and increasingly as an alternative to mulch. Now, Dr. Yuefeng Xie, associate professor of environmental engineering at Penn State Harrisburg, has found crumb rubber makes an excellent water filter.
Karen Green expected some changes when she and her husband moved from Mississippi to Houston last February, but she wasn't prepared for a near-tripling of her electric bill.
Mesa promotes energy conservation
Mesa is looking to promote energy conservation programs that could eventually lead to rate reductions for thousands of residents who now pay 15 percent more for power from the city's utility than customers of surrounding electric companies.
More businesses linking environment, profits
U.S. corporations increasingly are tying profitability to proactive implementation of environmentally preferable building principles and business practices, according to a new survey.
Nuclear Power - One of Humankind's Biggest Mistakes
Nuclear Power was a mistake and remains a mistake. If the human family survives it, our descendants will wonder what we were thinking to justify leaving them nuclear power’s toxic legacy -- a legacy they will be dealing with for hundreds if not thousands of generations.
(This article includes responses from many knowledgeable people. Both article and responses very interesting reading.)
Programs for energy assistance gain steam
Cheaper natural gas prices are expected to mean most households will see lower heating bills this winter, although the price break may not apply to some low-income families.
Puget Sound Energy Announces Renewable Energy Production Incentive Program
Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the first and so far the only Northwest utility to build and operate wind farms, is now giving its customers who generate clean, renewable power the opportunity to become "green energy" partners by providing them with annual incentive payments for all the electricity they produce.
Rell rejects plan to store nuke waste
Gov. M. Jodi Rell is one of 18 governors protesting proposed legislation to use money from utility ratepayers to create temporary sites around the country where spent nuclear fuel would be stored until a national repository can be built.
Renewables Program Promotes Energy Independence
Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program has helped more than 380 Wisconsin businesses and homeowners become more energy independent. By providing financial assistance toward the installation of renewable energy systems, Focus on Energy allowed them to harness energy from the sun, the wind and organic materials.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 112206
Solar activity was very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet on 22 November. On 23 and 24 November, active to minor storm periods are possible, as a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream moves into a geoeffective position.
Russian Businesses Buying American
Russia’s leading steel producer, Evraz, and nickel giant Norilsk Nickel have announced major US acquisitions. With further domestic consolidation not on the cards, and much of the work to secure raw materials already done, Russia’s leading metals firms are now focused increasingly on acquisitions in developed markets.
S.F. Joins Global Effort in Testing Tidal Power As a Source of Energy
If anyone needs another means to experience the energy of the Golden Gate, the narrow channel flowing between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, they someday may find it from their nearest electrical outlet.
Their solution is to harness the solar energy stored in the sea by tapping the thermal gradient that exists naturally between the surface and deep waters, using a reverse refrigeration cycle.
Six Nations Plus EU Sign Pact to Build Experimental Fusion Reactor in France
Physicists have dreamt about it for decades: harnessing the fusion process that powers the sun to make clean, safe and limitless energy. A multinational pact signed Tuesday may bring that dream a step closer to reality.
State considers goals or rules for renewable energy
Michigan regulators are considering whether a certain percentage of Michigan's electricity must come from renewable fuel sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric.
Teen creates nuclear fusion at home
Thiago Olson, 17, stands near his nuclear fusion reactor, which he calls "the Fusor," at home in Oakland Township on Friday. After more than two years and 1,000 hours of research, the Stoney Creek High School senior, with a little help from his dad, built the machine.
UK energy gap will be larger, closer and more expensive
The UK's forecast energy gap could be larger, closer and more expensive than previously reported, according to a report published Tuesday by energy services company LogicaCMG. The report says that by 2015 the gap could cost UK businesses GBP108 ($204.5) billion a year.
If the drought-lowered Missouri River drops a few more inches at Kansas City, utilities that use the river may have to turn on emergency equipment to get enough water.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 112206
•Global crude futures fell slightly Wednesday
ahead of the US inventory data due out later in the day, withdrawing from the
highs posted late Tuesday on the back of a surge in product prices. "The market
is really dead at the moment.
•Market players said that crude market data, unless extreme, would not provide
direction to the market, which instead is more likely to come from the refined
product data.
•Expectations are for a 475,000 barrel draw in gasoline stocks for the week
ended November 17.
World Has Under a Decade to Act on Climate Crisis
The world has less than a decade to take decisive action in the battle to beat global warming or risk irreversible change that will tip the planet towards catastrophe, a leading U.S. climate scientist said on Tuesday.
November 17, 2006
‘Green strategy’ could curb carbon emissions without reducing economic growth
A shift to renewables, nuclear and low-carbon fuels could reduce carbon emissions by one-quarter by 2050, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
2.4 million pounds of cans collected in City Recycling Challenge
About 30 cities collected more than 82 million aluminum cans weighing an aggregate 2.4 million pounds during two weeks in September as part of a friendly competition to encourage recycling.
A Climate Change for Renewable Energy
After the Democrats won control of both houses of Congress on Nov. 7, companies across the alternative-energy spectrum saw a pop in their share prices -- a preview, they hope, of gains to come.
Agreements at UN Climate Talks
Following are details of agreements reached so far at a Nov. 6-17 UN conference in Nairobi to find ways to step up the fight against global warming beyond 2012, the end of the first period of the UN's Kyoto Protocol
American Water And WateReuse Foundation Join Forces To Preserve Nation's Water Supply
American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, has announced it has signed a contract with The WateReuse Foundation to conduct a joint research project on the biostability of reclaimed water.
BP Solar to Invest $70 Million to Expand US Facility
BP Solar today unveiled its plans for a $70 million expansion project at its North American headquarters in Frederick, MD.
British Govt to Put Carbon Emissions Cuts into Law
The British government pledged on Wednesday to put into law its goal of cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2050 to tackle global warming, but ignored calls to back annual binding targets on the emissions.
Carbon Offsetting-- Does it Work?
Interest is soaring in how to reduce our carbon footprint.
Working out how many tonnes of CO2 is emitted on account of one's day-to-day actions has never been easier: an online search for a carbon footprint calculator throws up plenty. "In an ideal world, we'd tell people to stop engaging in polluting activities, but in reality that's not going to happen; people have to go on some flights, heat their homes and get to work," Jamal Gore, a director of Carbon Clear, told Reuters.
Balancing energy costs with environmental goals is becoming increasingly difficult, but there are a number of promising opportunities which will make the achievement of this balance possible.
Combined solar thermal and solar PV increases output
Adding solar thermal collectors to solar PV modules will increase system efficiency by 300%, according to a Canadian manufacturer.
Countries lobby for change in Kyoto 'Annex' status
The Conference has yet to debate the JI's report in detail, but is widely expected to approve its work and give it official sanction, much as the Montreal conference last year did for the Clean Development Mechanism.
Crude futures extend gain on possible further OPEC cut, US stocks
Crude oil futures extended gains with bullish momentum sustained from Wednesday's bullish US stock report and talk of a possible further OPEC cut in December, traders said Thursday.
Crude futures fall farther as hedge funds continue to sell
Global crude futures continued Thursday's sharp sell-off on Friday as
hedge funds continued to sell, with prices being driven down with the NYMEX
front-month WTI expiry and bearish natural gas stocks, brokers said.
At 1156 GMT January ICE Brent was changing hands at $58.19/barrel, down
35 cents. Across the Atlantic Ocean, December NYMEX WTI was extending the
front-month yearly low and was trading at $55.40/barrel, down 86 cents.
Cutting costs and cutting carbon - UK Government outlines plans to reduce the energy use at home
New technology in the home so you can track the energy you use and clearer more understandable energy bills are part of a consultation launched by Trade Secretary Alistair Darling today.
EIA ANALYSIS-- US supplydemand balances continue to tighten
US supply/demand balances continued to tighten as crude oil inputs fell back below 15 million b/d and product supplied rebounded, an analysis of the weekly petroleum data from the Energy Information Administration showed Wednesday.
Energy Future Coalition Study, Green Energy Cuts Costs
Switching the US economy to run more on renewable energy sources rather than traditional fossil fuels could save money and reduce pollution and the benefits could be seen within a decade, according to a study commissioned by The Energy Future Coalition, a Washington-based group that champions increased reliance on renewable energy sources.
Energy project could threaten water supply in Salina, Kan
Salina's stretch of the Smoky Hill River nearly ran dry last summer, even though annual rainfall wasn't far below the longtime average.
European renewable energy market growing
European government promotion of renewable fuels will increase that market's value from $11.39 billion in 2005 to $18.63 billion in 2010, a study said.
Increasing awareness about renewable energy and favourable government legislations such as the Directive on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are expected to drive the European renewable energy market.
Floods Hit up to 1.8 Million in Horn of Africa
Torrential rains and floods have hit up to 1.8 million people in the Horn of Africa, driving tens of thousands from their homes and threatening to trigger epidemics, U.N. aid bodies said on Friday.
Forest Fires May Actually Cool Climate
Climatologists have worried for years that forest fires would worsen global warming by adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Now, there is an indication that the fires could have a regional cooling effect.
Groups Fear Piketon Will Become Dumping Ground
Over 50 years, as three U.S. plants churned out enriched uranium for atomic bombs and nuclear reactor fuel rods, workers wheeled giant metal cylinders full of radioactive waste into open-air factory yards where they sat.
And multiplied.
Hydrogen Network Helps North England Become Hub for Fuel Cell Technology Developers
The North of England Inward Investment Agency (NEIIA), responsible for promoting direct business investment from North America into Northern England, announced that it expects the fuel cell technology sector to be an important part of the area's continued growth.
You might think the Zero Waste people would be the last group talking up Big Business.After all, they represent the radical side of recycling, of pushing the envelope as far as they can, right?
India Presses Nuclear Case for Uranium With Australia
India's finance minister on Thursday pressed Australia's prime minister to give India access to the country's uranium, arguing it needs nuclear power if it is to reduce carbon emissions.
Irish regulator approves 1,348MW of renewable energy applications
Ireland's Commission for Energy Regulation published Tuesday a list of qualified renewable energy generator applicants eligible for connection to the national electricity grid. In total 121 applicants have qualified for inclusion for network connections, equivalent to 1,348 MW of renewable generation capacity, almost all of which is wind farm projects.
Kenya Floods Kill 23, Displace 80,000 - Red Cross
Floods in Kenya's northeastern and coastal areas have killed 23 people and displaced more than 80,000, the Red Cross said on Wednesday.
Lack of government support cited as major non-technical barrier for renewables
A lack of government policy that supports renewable energy is the non-technical barrier most frequently identified to the use of renewables, according to an analysis prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Mexico's ethanol ambitions face rocky road
As Mexico's gasoline imports bill threatens to reach $10 billion this
year, President-elect Felipe Calderon has promised to introduce ethanol as a
partial substitute. Yet, the project faces a series of stumbling blocks that
typify the problems the nation faces in its struggles to reach its economic
potential.
Nations divided over Kyoto Protocol
Delegates from around the world are discussing how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the U.N. climate treaty's Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 at a two-week U.N. conference in Nairobi.
NC GreenPower Dedicates First Wind Project Serving State's Energy Supply
NC GreenPower is the first multi-utility green power program in the nation. It was created to encourage the development of renewable energy resources, such as the sun, wind and organic matter by individuals and businesses.
New bank angles for green niche
The tide of green initiatives is set to wash over the Bay Area banking scene.
New Resource Bank, which was founded by an East Bay entrepreneur, is formally launching a business that plans to finance companies and organizations that emphasize green or sustainable operations.
New Global Analysis Shows 400% Increase In Carbon Dioxide Emissions Growth
The global growth in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels was 4 times greater in the period between 2000 to 2005 than in the preceding 10 years, say scientists gathering in Beijing for an international conference on global environmental change.
New State Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Activity Database Now Available
Fuel Cells 2000 and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program have launched a new searchable database that documents fuel cell and hydrogen activity in the United States - stationary installations, vehicle demonstrations, fueling stations, and policies, initiatives, and legislation designed to advance the development and use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
New type of home furnace to be introduced
There's a new fad starting, which might eventually prove to be more a revolution than a fad: an efficient furnace that also generates electricity.
'No Greater Legacy' for Bush than Climate Deal - UK
Britain's environment minister urged President George W. Bush on Tuesday to agree cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases, saying there could be "no greater legacy" for his last two years in office.
North American LNG 2006 - Market and technology analysis
While it is commonly known that the US has imported the majority of its crude oil for some time, it is a lesser known fact that US natural gas production has been unable to keep pace with domestic demand and that incremental increases in natural gas imports from Canada are not expected to offset future demand growth.
Nuclear Power Concerns Cloud US Emissions Benefits
Nuclear power may help the United States cut greenhouse gas emissions one day, experts said, but the industry first must overcome high costs and concern about potential accidents.
Officials-- Oyster Creek can stand 2 more years
Measurements of a radiation barrier at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant show the structure will be able to last another two years. But federal regulators aren't saying whether the 100-foot-tall drywell liner will be safe for another 20 years.
Ohio's Leadership in Alternative Energy Grows
Companies are catching on that Ohio is the ideal location for the alternative energy industry.
OPEC ministers were concerned that the price of oil should have dropped so quickly from $78 to $60. Surely the message here is that $78 was just too high! Furthermore, who can say that a trebling of the oil price in three years from $25 to $75+ was not too fast and unnatural?
OPEC raises 2007 world oil demand growth estimate to 1.33 mil b/d
OPEC has raised its estimate of the "call" on its own crude next year to 28.15 million b/d, up from a previous figure of 28.08 million b/d, it said in its latest monthly oil market report Wednesday.
Plant's nuclear waste plan challenged-- Two groups say agency ignored rules
Two St. Paul-based environmental groups have challenged a regulatory agency's decision to allow highly radioactive nuclear waste to be stored outside the Monticello, Minn., nuclear power plant.
Polar Bear Survival Rate Falls as Climate Warms
Polar bear cubs in Alaska's Beaufort Sea are much less likely to survive compared to about 20 years ago, probably due to melting sea ice caused by global warming, a study released Wednesday said.
Push is on to Restore Clean-Power Credit
Utah--The push is under way to restore a state tax credit for producers of alternative energy, a credit that could make or break a proposed wind farm at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon.
Quebec and Ontario sign an historic agreement for construction of a new transmission interconnection
Québec will be able to meet its own energy needs, create wealth and take advantage of export opportunities," said Minister Corbeil. "Ontario, for its part, wants guaranteed access to clean energy sources in order to meet its electricity needs. The agreement for the construction of an interconnection between the two provinces is therefore extremely meaningful."
"Essentially, the Russian oil industry is not showing signs
of vigorous growth anywhere and there are no positive catalysts that might give
sufficient support to next year's forecast."
- OPEC said in its
latest monthly oil market report Wednesday. They expect production from non-OPEC
countries to average 53 million b/d in 2007, up from a downwardly-revised figure
of 51.16 million b/d for this year.
"Thanks to God, time is on Iran's side and with every
passing day they (the great powers) are having to take a step backwards and
recognize Iran's right while the Iranian people take a step forward to the
summit of technology."
- President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said Wednesday. He added that Iran would "resist to the end" on its
nuclear program, after sparking fresh Western concern by revealing plans to
massively ramp up sensitive atomic work.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 111606
Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to range from quiet to unsettled due to a recurrent high speed stream. An occasional active period is possible.
Rich, Poor Nations Wrangle on Global Warming
Rich and poor nations wrangled on Thursday about how to widen a fight against global warming beyond 2012 to break deadlock at U.N. talks on combating what many delegates call one of the biggest threats to the planet.
Signs of Lower Inflation Push US Mortgage Rates Lower
Freddie Mac yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.24 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending November 16, 2006, down from last week when it averaged 6.33 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.37 percent.
Signs of Warming Continue in the Arctic
Signs of warming continue in the Arctic with a decline in sea ice, an increase in shrubs growing on the tundra and rising concerns about the Greenland ice sheet.
Solar can provide all of Europe’s electricity, suggests German study
A collaboration of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa is needed to generate all of Europe’s electricity from desert solar power by 2050.
Solar energy giant plans state office
To anyone who knows the country's climate, the notion of Germany
being a leader in the solar energy industry is more than a little
odd.
The Economics of Climate Change Identifies Limitations of Emissions Trading
ICF International has completed a scenario-based analysis of the likely impacts on carbon prices from increasing the sectors and geographic regions covered by a linked global cap-and-trade regime post-2012.
Top Scientists Say Man May Need to Dirty Skies to Shield against Warming
If the sun warms the Earth too dangerously, the time may come to draw the shade.
Tropical Storm Sergio Forms off Mexican Pacific
Tropical storm Sergio formed in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico on Tuesday and weather forecasters warned it could become a major hurricane in the next three days.
Two Maine ski resorts offset all of electricity with wind energy
Two of Maine´s largest ski resorts have chosen to offset 100 percent their electricity use with wind-generated energy.
Sugarloaf USA and Sunday River ski resorts are purchasing 30 million kilowatt-hours of Renewable Energy Certificates to offset power used at their base lodges, offices, ski lifts, snowmaking operations and hotel and conference centers.
U.S. group identifies ten opportunities to build energy future
The United States should increase federal funding for clean energy research to US$3 billion a year, according to Environment Maine Research & Policy Center.
U.S. rated most attractive country for renewables
“Observers of the renewable energy sector cannot help but notice the shifting balance in the global market for renewables,” says the latest ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices’ produced by Ernst & Young. “The sheer size and resources available to countries such as the USA, China, India and Brazil, make them formidable markets for domestic and foreign players.”
U.S., India to Form Coal Methane Information Center
The Methane to Markets Partnership is establishing a clearinghouse that will act as a central point of information on coalbed and coal mine methane projects in India, the world's third largest coal producing country.
UK Insurers Fret over Rising Flood Risk
Flood cover for UK properties is under threat as predictions that global warming will cause sea levels to rise are leading insurers to fret over the rising risk of a disaster costing up to 16 billion pounds (US$30.2 billion).
UK Organic Food Demand Soars Sparking More Imports
Imports of organic food into Britain are rising with domestic production unable to keep pace with soaring demand, according to Britain's leading organic certification body, the Soil Association.
UK wants to increase local production of green power and green heat
The UK government wants to encourage a radical shift from centralized to local power production, and wants to know how it can remove obstacles to the growth of distributed power.
UN Talks Seek Extended Kyoto 'as Soon as Possible'
A UN climate change conference has reaffirmed a goal of agreeing an extension of the Kyoto Protocol on curbing global warming "as soon as possible" beyond 2012 but without setting a deadline.
US GHG emissions up 0.6% on year in 2005, EIA says in new report
Total US greenhouse gas emissions were 7,147.2 million metric tons carbon dioxide-equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2005, an increase of 0.6% from 2004, the Energy Information Administration said Tuesday in a new report.
US Mayors Don't Wait for Washington on Warming
US mayors who fight global warming at city hall, on city streets and at the city dump swapped strategies this week at a snowed-in summit in Utah, and some hoped the federal government would follow their lead.
US military to 'jump start' synthetic jet fuel market with tender
The United States military is to issue its first buy tender for synthetic jet fuel, Pamela Serino of the US' Defense Energy Support Center,
US Rejects Annan Plea to Cut Greenhouse Gases
Washington rejected pleas by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and dismissed his charge that there was a "frightening lack of leadership" in combating global warming.
Commentary by region.
Virginia is a coal-producing state, but it is importing coal, too.
Vital Signs Fact-- Oceans in Steep Decline
Of late, the global fish supply has been buoyed entirely by increased production from fish farms, since wild harvests from streams, lakes, bays, and oceans dropped from 81.4 million tons in 2002 to 77.7 million tons in 2003.
As of late 2005, an estimated 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs had been “effectively destroyed,” showing live coral losses of at least 90 percent and no immediate prospects for recovery
Waste-to-Energy Projects Gain Momentum in the United States
A large number of projects are now underway throughout the United States to convert waste into electricity. Most projects are using methane generated either by landfills or by anaerobic digesters, devices that use anaerobic bacteria to break down organic substances.
The device is capable of achieving a peak current as high as 4 MA (million amperes) with a maximum charging voltage of 300kV and has routinely operated at 2.4 MA. By comparison, the range of current theoretically predicted to be optimal for focus fusion is 2.4-3 MA.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111506
•Crude futures rose on fresh comments by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that his country would "resist to the end" on its nuclear program, after sparking fresh Western concern by revealing plans to massively ramp up sensitive atomic work.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111706
•Global crude futures continued Thursday's sharp sell-off
on Friday as hedge funds continued to sell, with prices being driven down with
the NYMEX front-month WTI expiry and bearish natural gas stocks, brokers said.
•Late Thursday, a build in US natural gas stocks as well as the impending
December NYMEX WTI futures expiry pushed prices lower.
•Prices were pulled lower as the US Energy Information Administration reported a 5 Bcf build in US gas stocks
Wind to expand less than nuclear under global green policies
The wind energy industry would install an additional 88,000 MW of onshore turbines by 2030 if world governments adopt policies which support renewable energies and lower GHG emissions.
World Needs To Expand Alternative Energy, U.S. Energy Chief Says
Countries must expand the range and availability of alternative sources of energy to reduce global dependence on oil and to help meet growing energy demand, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman says.
November 14, 2006
7 parties to sign int'l pact on ITER thermonuclear reactor
Japan, the United States, the European Union, Russia, China, South Korea and India will sign in Paris on Nov. 21 an international agreement on plans to build the world's first thermonuclear reactor in France, Japanese government sources said Friday.
'Air shower' set to cut water use by 30 per cent
The scientists have developed a simple 'air shower' device which, when fitted into existing showerheads, fills the water droplets with a tiny bubble of air. The result is the shower feels just as wet and just as strong as before, but now uses much less water.
Bingaman likely to lead energy committee
Barring a major development, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman will likely take over the direction of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee when Congress reconvenes.
Nuclear fusion has the potential to generate power without the radioactive waste of nuclear fission, but that depends on which atoms you decide to fuse. Conventional fusion approaches work with deuterium and tritium, while focus fusion works with hydrogen and boron eleven.
Cold Fusion -- its history and spurning, and its reality and future
Princeton graduate, Scott Chubb, who is doing cold fusion research at the National Research Laboratory, will discuss the 17-year history of cold fusion, where the field is at today, who the key players are, and what solutions it might offer in the future.
Construction Under Way on Wind Projects
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit to NedPower/Shell WindEnergy for the site on Grassy Ridge Road near Mount Storm Lake.
Crude futures stabilize at $59 barrel as hedge funds roll length
Global crude oil futures stabilized from overnight levels with few fresh
headlines driving prices, brokers said. The stability comes after Monday's
sell-off caused by milder than expected weather in the US and the NYMEX WTI
options expiry.
Defendants file motions in wind farm lawsuit
Texas legislators accused power companies of "abusing" their customers by keeping prices at record highs despite a large drop in power plant fuel prices this year.
ENERCOM opens 'Energy Comparison Tool' site for Portland General Electric
The online tool helps customers faced with replacing their home heating and cooling systems and water heaters make the best possible decisions.
Energy futures held down as markets go into winter well-stocked
The biggest movers in the world energy futures complex last week were gasoline on the New York Mercantile Exchange and gasoil on London's ICE Futures. Both contracts ended the week higher, and were the only major contracts to move by more than 1% in value over the week as a whole.
Brown brought his urgent and gloomy message - and a hopeful look at the future - to Wesleyan's third annual environmental studies symposium, which was focused on how we are vulnerable to global climate change.
Global Warming Could Wipe out Most Birds -- WWF
Unchecked climate change could drive up to 72 per cent of the world's bird species into extinction but the world still has a chance to limit the losses, conservation group WWF said in a report on Tuesday.
Ice-Melt Isolates Remote Communities in Canada
"With the toxic waste moving north, and global warming, we don't have that solid ice anymore, and that's why we have problems with winter roads when it's mild."
IEA calls for policy, technology action to reverse CO2 trend
The Paris-based International Energy Agency Tuesday urged ministers attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, to "bridge the gap between our present energy structure and policies" with "policies and technologies that will empower a different energy future."
Independent Experts Find Fatal Flaws in Amazon Dam Studies
“The experts’ review demonstrates that a poorly conceived project with the potential to devastate one of the Amazon’s most bio-diverse regions is being railroaded through by the Brazilian government. It is crucial that IBAMA take these opinions into account before it is too late”.
We´ve all had those moments. The times when we´ve wondered whether what we do in our work is important. Well, allow me to allay any doubts of inadequacy that you, the environmental manager, may have. In August, a petrochemical waste was illegally dumped at various sites around the city of Abidjan. The human toll: 10 deaths, 70 more hospitalized and more than 100,000 reported sick. Symptoms of survivors range from weeping blisters to nausea.
'It's time to simplify the electricity system in Ontario,' says Power Workers' Union President
In a noon-hour speech today to the Economic Club of Toronto, the president of Ontario's largest electricity union proposed that the time has come to "clarify who the real regulator of electricity in Ontario is and cut the red tape to simplify planning and implementation."
Jolting thought-- U.S. short of electricity
People don't work when the power is off. "We in Kentucky are in a little bit better shape than a lot of places." Nationwide, transmission systems and power plants aren't being built fast enough to meet America's increasing demand for electricity.
Mercury limits for power plants
N.C. tops federal rules in restricting release of toxic substance from new, existing coal- fired facilities. North Carolina set its first limits Thursday on the amount of mercury that coal-fired power plants may release, joining several states that have set tougher standards than the Bush administration's for the widespread contaminant.
As inventories of ozone-damaging methyl bromide continue to decline, critical use exemptions help meet the needs of American farmers as they transition to ozone-safe alternatives.
More Facts and Fictions About the World Oil Scene
I can add that since the major producers in OPEC have little or no reason to raise their output to the levels desired by the major oil consumers, they also have no need to indulge the fantasies of assorted experts and pseudo-experts by declaring themselves ready to welcome foreign executives and technicians in order to help them determine optimal extraction programs for their reserves of oil and gas.
NGOs blast 'shocking lack of urgency' at Nairobi UNFCCC talks
Andy Atkins, advocacy director for relief and development agency Tearfund, likened the first week of negotiations to "being in a sinking boat and everyone is debating when we should seriously start baling out the water. There is a scandalous lack of urgency about these talks."
Peak Oil - Investor Strategies for Energy Transition Part 1
At least in Europe, Peak Oil can be surely said to arrived in the shape and form of party political speeches and media references to « after oil ». In Sweden, « after oil » was announced by the outgoing government as meaning that oil would be « eliminated from the energy mix » by about 2025.
Peak Oil - Investor Strategies for Energy Transition Part 2
Concerning oil, we can note that oil depletion, forcing a rapid increase in extreme depth offshore oil, increased land condensates production, increased syncrude and tertiary solvents-based extraction, has led to ‘The Lighter Barrel’, now averaging about 1165 litres-per-ton, compared with under 1100 l/ton in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Philadelphia single-stream system boosts recycling tonnage 29%
Northeast Philadelphia has increased its recycling tonnage by nearly 29 percent since the launch of a single-stream residential curbside system this summer.
Power Crunch Could Lead to Lots More Lines
To meet the nation's fast-growing demand for electricity, utilities are planning to string thousands of miles of high-voltage power lines across the USA in a building frenzy that could mar some of the country's most precious open spaces.
Precious metals prices plunge in New York
All of the precious metals opened weaker in New York Monday morning after being hit by selling pressure in Europe, but the metals have been rebounding in an attempt to reduce their losses.
Renewable Energy Investments on the Rise in the EU
For many years, much talk has focused on the impending widespread rise of renewables. European Union (EU)-wide and country specific policies have been implemented and explicit targets have been set.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 111406
New sunspots emerged southwest of this active region, which appear to be a separate sunspot group. Isolated C-class flares are possible from Region 923. Solar wind speed gradually declined from 500 km/s to 410 km/s by the end of the period. Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu Threshold Reached.
Rough Road Ahead for US Oil Companies
Energy companies now face a democratically controlled House and perhaps Senate, whose leaders have vowed to take aim at the big oil companies.
SDG&E to Buy 120 Megawatts of Solar, Geothermal Energy
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it has signed new contracts to procure an additional 120 megawatts (MW) of solar and geothermal power for its customers by 2010.
Spain Makes Solar Panels a Must on New Buildings
Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings in Spain as part of the country's efforts to bring its building rules up to date and curb growing demand for energy, ministers said on Monday.
With high energy prices, a lot of customers are desperate. Some such as Klingel may rationalize that stealing power is a victimless crime, but the utilities that employ thousands and spend millions on upgrading infrastructure do not.
Steorn completes jury selection to test magnet motor
Steorn, a technology development company, has announced that it has completed its selection process for appointing twelve scientists to an independent jury that will test its free energy technology, which it reported to PESN in August to be an all-magnet motor.
Sweden Tops Climate Change Efforts, U.S. Near Bottom, Environmentalists Say
Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most to protect
against climate change, but their efforts are not nearly enough, according to a
report released Monday by environmental groups.
The United States -- the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases --
ranked at 53, with only China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia doing worse.
Texas law says that if a power company obeys the rules, it will get its permit.
US consumer advocate says automakers' fuel economy declining
Nine of 13 automakers surveyed by the Consumer Federation of America have worse fuel economy averages now than they did 10 years ago, it said in a report issued Monday.
US to Publish New Efficiency Rules for Appliances
The US Energy Department will impose stricter energy-efficiency standards for 22 categories of appliances over the next 5 years as part of a court settlement made public Monday.
Utilities get regulators' OK to start Ely plant
State regulators on Wednesday gave Nevada's investor-owned electric utilities authority to spend $300 million to start developing the $3.7 billion Ely Energy Center and a related transmission line, but split on a proposal to give the utilities investor bonuses for the project if the utilities develop additional renewable energy plants.
Va. is latest state to eye state-specific mercury reduction rules
With the ball in its court after passage of springtime legislation mandating emissions reductions, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is crafting regulations to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Wal-Mart reports mixed results from experimental green stores
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is implementing successful green technology ahead of schedule in Wal-Mart and Sam´s Club locations from its two experimental stores, while the jury is still out on some of the other projects.
Water Clash Warning Evoked by Kenya Climate Talks
Global climate change talks in Nairobi this week may be nowhere more relevant than a nearby settlement where water shortages a year ago sparked clashes which saw 25 people speared, clubbed or chopped to death.
Will lean on coal in Texas, firm says
In a huge pit, gigantic bulldozers and earth-moving machines are removing two layers of coal, the last shavings in a monumental task that has dug 200 feet down and expanded across 20 square miles over the past 35 years.
World's Forests are Making a Comeback
Many of the world's forests appear to be making a comeback, and some are more thickly forested now than they were nearly 200 years ago, a new study reported Monday
November 10, 2006
Action plan to spur 1,800 MW of renewables in non-Kyoto countries
Six countries have endorsed detailed action plans and renewable energy projects that will implement the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development & Climate as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol.
Additional Information Since Seeing Past The Edge
Since SPTE was completed, our research has produced a body of information which led us to formulate a new model of scalar physics. We have called this volume “Y-Bias & Angularity: Self-Organizing Criticality From the Zero Point to Infinity.” Not a catchy title, but it describes the essence of the way this new model slices through the apple of physics phenomena to provide a new way of considering how nature works.
All OPEC ministers have pledged to cut output-- delegate
All OPEC ministers have pledged sincerely to implement their cut in full from actual production, an OPEC delegate said Wednesday. "The EIA is wrong," the delegate told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS-- US Democrats' victory signals push to slash oil use
After a resounding win in Tuesday's elections, Democrats will control the US House of Representatives for the first time since 1994, allowing them to pursue legislation they say will allow the country to cut oil use and control greenhouse gas emissions.
Bank to support renewables as part of EU policy
The European Investment Bank will focus on renewable energies as a means of implementing policies of the European Union.
The EIB has reviewed its financing targets for energy projects and will focus on renewables and four other target areas, including energy efficiency and energy R&D.
Biomass plant may be a blessing for Modesto Irrigation District customers
Wood shavings left behind after construction of a new home could help keep its lights on in the future.
Boron + water = hydrogen + boron-oxide
I've been predicting for a while that once there is the demand - created by proper pricing of oil, that techno-fixes will emerge to the shared problem of global-warming and peak-oil.
Hydrogen has been pitched as part of the solution (along with renewable energy to make it), but the problem is carrying enough of it safely.
Though its too soon to tell, this advance is the sort of out-of-the-box thinking we need.
Bush urges lame-duck votes on OCS bill, US-India nuclear deal
President Bush Thursday listed offshore oil and natural gas legislation and a measure to authorize a US-India agreement on nuclear energy among his priorities for the lame-duck session of Congress scheduled to begin Monday.
California oil tax measure to fund renewables soundly defeated
A controversial measure on California's November 7 ballot that would tax oil production to fund alternative fuels and renewables has gone down to defeat, with 55% voting against and 44% voting for the proposal.
California voters defeat eminent domain ballot initiative
A measure on California's November 7 ballot that would have restricted the use of eminent domain by the state's public utilities and government agencies was defeated.
Carbon Intensity Targets Can Be Effective Tools For Reducing Emissions
Intensity targets (or rate-based targets) on greenhouse gas emissions, despite often being dismissed as ineffective or deceptive, can sometimes be a better option for some countries than absolute targets in setting climate policy.
China and Egypt Reach Nuclear Energy Agreement
China and Egypt agreed to co-operate on the use of nuclear energy, state media said, in a development that could rile the United States.
China to surpass U.S. emissions levels
The International Energy Agency says China will surpass the United States in carbon dioxide emissions by 2009, about a decade ahead of previous predictions.
City buys into first Missouri wind turbines-- Power to start flowing early next year
In late 2004, Tom Carnahan was surfing the Internet when he noticed something strange.
Climate Change Melting Fabled African Glaciers
Climate change is melting a legendary ice field in equatorial Africa and may soon thaw it out completely, threatening fresh water supplies to hundreds of thousands of people, a climate expert said on Thursday.
Coal supporters skeptical about policy changes post-election
As Democrats prepare for leading the House and Senate, environmental groups say the election will bring changes to the administration's flawed energy policy, but representatives of the coal industry are skeptical.
The study examines U.S. energy market dynamics under alternative carbon dioxide (CO2) emission regulations, some form of which ICF views as inevitable. ICF’s global experience in carbon markets and policies leads us to conclude that the United States will have to come to terms with reducing CO2 emissions.
Crude futures fall as IEA reduces global oil demand forecast
10Nov2006--Global crude futures fell on Friday, retracting from strong gains in the previous two days as as the latest International Energy Agency report showed a reduction in projected global oil demand and an increase in non-OPEC supply. At 1024 GMT the December Brent crude futures on ICE was changing hands at $60.47/barrel, down 85 cents from Thursday's settle.
DOE to adopt new rules for acquiring crude for SPR
The US Department of Energy will adopt new rules for acquiring crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserves that would require the department to consider the effects of its purchases on oil markets and prices.
El Nino Likely to Last into Early 2007, US Government Says
El Nino, a weather pattern that can wreak havoc in the Asia-Pacific region, should continue into early 2007, the US Climate Prediction Center said Thursday in its monthly report.
Environment Crises Plague China a Year after Spill
China needs to wake up to its pollution crisis, a top environment official warned on Thursday, saying the country still suffers frequent environmental accidents a year after a disastrous explosion at a chemical plant.
Environmental concerns drive power-generating technology changes
While the majority of new electricity generating stations build remains Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant- due to its low capital cost and high efficiency- environmental concerns and subsequently government policy are having an increasing influence on generating technology development, according to a new report* from independent market analyst Datamonitor (DTM.L).
Environmental leaders cheered by election results
Environmentalists and conservationists are heralding Tuesday´s election results, which will sweep Democrats into control in the House and possibly the Senate.
Europe must have a common energy policy - Wicks
Global crude prices climb as US distillate stocks fall
9Nov2006--Global crude oil futures climbed higher Thursday after the larger-than-expected US distillate stock draw fueled Wednesday a rally back towards $61/barrel, brokers said.
Greenhouse gases may trim world economy
The consequences of global warming may have always been an issue of debate, but the latest report prepared by the former chief economist at World Bank, Nicolas Stern, seems to have taken the world by storm.
Greenpeace Co-Founder Patrick Moore to Introduce Clean and Safe Energy Coalition in Michigan
The Clean and Safe Energy Coalition - CASEnergy - a national grassroots organization of more than 600 members, is bringing the case for America's energy future to Michigan. CASEnergy will be introduced to Michigan on November 10, 2006 at the Detroit Athletic Club in Detroit, Michigan.
Hundreds protest gas rate increase
More than 1,000 Nebraskans have filed protests to an increase in natural gas rates proposed by Kinder Morgan Inc., the private utility that serves most of the state west of York.
Impoverished Africa shudders under global warming threat
Already faced with recurring cycles of flood, drought and crop failures, Africa and its 800 million people are on collision course with devastation from unchecked global warming, experts say.
California´s Proposition 87, a bid to tax oil production in the Golden State and use that money to fund the development of alternative energy, was rejected after one of the most expensive referendum campaigns in U.S. history.
Learning how nature splits water
About 3.2 billion years ago, primitive bacteria developed a way to harness sunlight to split water molecules into protons, electrons and oxygen, the cornerstone of photosynthesis that led to atmospheric oxygen and more complex forms of life -- in other words, the world and life as we know it.
Making Growth Greener a Tall Task for Economists
Economists and ecologists have always made awkward bedfellows, but alarming new evidence of accelerating environmental decay has some experts scrambling to put a greener touch on growth.
Mandatory US carbon caps coming following elections-- observers
Now that Democrats have won control of at least one chamber of the US Congress, electric utilities should expect a strong legislative push for mandatory caps on carbon dioxide emissions that are blamed for global warming.
N.C. authorities at odds over Duke's request to pass along reactors' planning costs
As Duke Energy Corp. moves ahead with plans for a nuclear plant
in South Carolina, officials in North Carolina are at loggerheads.
NextEnergy in Detroit's TechTown
The event is intended to bring together early adopters, niche markets, manufacturers and the supply chain. The day began with an invitation-only meeting between alternative energy executives and Canadian consulate officials, as well as the dedication of a BP hydrogen fueling station at NextEnergy.
North America Sees Security, Economic Gains in Energy Integration
Further integration of energy markets is the best way to advance energy security interests of the United States and its North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, a U.S. Energy Department official says.
Oil Companies Are Target in Congress
Oil companies will be a top target of Democratic lawmakers when they officially take over the House of Representatives early next year. Democrats picked up enough seats in Tuesday's U.S. election to win majority control of the House and have promised to roll back billions of dollars in tax breaks and other financial incentives extended to the oil industry in energy legislation Congress passed last year.
Ontarians used 2.5 percent less electricity in 2006 over the same period in 2005
Ontario Turns Conservation Corner
Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Peter Love, told an Empire Club audience of business, government, and environmental leaders today that electricity consumers in the province are starting to get the message.
Outages feared in Oro Valley-- Two overloaded circuits could disrupt service
Oro Valley residents may have to endure longer power outages, such as those caused by storms, if the town and Tucson Electric Power Co. can't work out a solution for two overloaded circuits.
Parched in Australia Drought alters views on global warming
Australia's long hot summer has barely begun, but the dams are running dry, crops are stunted from lack of water, and livestock markets are being overwhelmed by farmers trying to sell sheep and cattle they cannot feed.
Postdoc proposes hydrogen-powered car
The University newcomer proposed that cars produce hydrogen from water. Tareq Abu Hamed, a mechanical engineering postdoctoral associate, has proposed a mechanism that would power cars with water and boron. The system would recycle the used fuel with solar energy.
FORGET cars fuelled by alcohol and vegetable oil. Before long, you might be able to run your car with nothing more than water in its fuel tank. It would be the ultimate zero-emissions vehicle.
Power plants-- the greenest fuel
For just £1,500, you can convert your diesel car to run on pure, locally grown, cold-pressed rapeseed oil - the greenest fuel there is. So why aren't more drivers doing it?
Public must demand alternative fuels
In the absence of a government-launched Manhattan Project to ignite the alternative fuel revolution, the public must turn not just to the White House or the state house but also to the largest fleet owners in the country.
"Arab Gulf producers are seen as most likely to cut
supply, while others see Iran, Venezuela and the North African producers'
positions as being more ambiguous."
- The International
energy Agency said in its latest monthly report. The IEA said OPEC's pledge to
cut crude production by 1.2 million b/d from November 1, however, is only likely
to result in an actual reduction of 600,000 to 900,000 b/d.
Americans are recycling more and throwing away less according to a new report released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
Margaret River in Western Australia, famed for its wine, is about to become famous for another reason: warning coastal dwellers what they may have to cope with under global warming.
Researchers Link Ocean Organisms with Increased Cloud Cover, Potential Climate Change
Atmospheric scientists have reported a new and potentially important mechanism by which chemical emissions from ocean phytoplankton may influence the formation of clouds that reflect sunlight away from our planet.Discovery of the new link between clouds and the biosphere grew out of efforts to explain increased cloud cover observed over an area of the Southern Ocean where a large bloom of phytoplankton was occurring.
Much of the infrastructure for Ontario's electrical grid is at capacity, in the wrong place or a half-century old. On top of conservation efforts aimed at reducing how much electricity we all consume, the reality is there are plenty of opportunities — some cleaner than others — to generate the power this province needs over the next two decades.
Santa Fe wants new power lines underground
Santa Fe city officials are considering a new law that could require PNM to put all new electric lines of less than 40 kilovolts underground.
Saturday blackouts led to 13,350 MW of load shedding-- UCTE
The blackouts that swept Europe late Saturday led to a total of 13,350 MW of load shedding, according to European grid operator association UCTE. The fault in Germany led to grid operators as far away as Portugal, Italy and Spain cutting users off the network to restore the balance between supply and demand in the European electricity system.
Scientists Say Millions Could Flee Rising Seas
Nations must make plans to help tens of millions of "sea level
refugees" if climate change continues to ravage the world's oceans, German
researchers said on Thursday.
Waters are rising and warming, increasing the destructive power of storms,
they said, and seas are becoming more acidic, threatening to throw entire
food chains into chaos.
Singapore builds trigeneration power plant
Tuas Power and the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday broke ground for the first trigeneration power plant in Singapore, which will produce electricity, steam and chilled water from a single integrated system.
Columbia Gas Transmission wants to build new pipelines and expand natural gas storage sites in West Virginia and Ohio. The Charleston, West Virginia-based subsidiary of NiSource has asked federal regulators for the expansion to supply customers with more gas.
With a Pacific Northwest winter around the corner, some people are reaching for a sweater or cranking up the furnace another notch. Walt Royle of Vancouver is warming up with two wall heaters -- powered by solar electricity.
Survey shows American preference for solar over wind
Residents of the United States rank climate change as the country’s most pressing environmental problem, compared with a sixth-place ranking in a 2003 survey by MIT.
A PLAUSIBLE STRATEGY FOR ACHIEVING A NO-NUCLEAR, LOW-CARBON, HIGHLY-EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE
The Unemployment-Inflation Tradeoff
Edmund Phelps won this year’s Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in large part for his insights on the unemployment-inflation tradeoff that confronts policy makers. He realized that the benefit of very low unemployment was transient and led to accelerating inflation if maintained too long. The economic debate centers on what level of unemployment is consistent with stable inflation.U.S. Geothermal Power Expanding Dramatically, New Industry Survey Finds
Some 58 new geothermal energy projects are now under development in the U.S., according to a survey by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) -- the industry trade group. "This represents the U.S. geothermal industry's most dramatic wave of expansion since the 1980s," noted Karl Gawell, GEA's executive director.
U.S. states would benefit from pro-renewables policies
Development of green power in two states would provide “significant potential job gains,” according to studies developed by the Renewable Energy Policy Project.
U.S. Works On Adaptation, Technology Transfer At Climate Meeting
Adapting to climate change, especially for developing countries, is a main focus for the U.N. Climate Change Conference taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, November 6-17.
US' ACC seeks quick approval of Senate drilling bill
The American Chemistry Council, in the wake of big Democratic pick-ups in the House and Senate in midterm elections, Wednesday urged the House and Senate to pass a modest bill, previously approved by the Senate, to open to leasing part of the Gulf of Mexico now off-limits to development.
US Mortgage Rates Rise Following October Employment Figures
Freddie Mac yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.33 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending November 9, 2006, up from last week when it averaged 6.31 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.36 percent.
The NAO has fully neutralized, now entering its positive phase, and correspondingly the Eastern States are beginning to enjoy the Indian Summer pattern that the Central States have been basking in. It is this "warm-up" which will psychologically erode the previous chilly weeks, and resurrect the Warm Winter beating drums (as it did in 2002).
US will take extra step before naming transmission corridors
In advance of a controversial decision on electricity transmission, the Department of Energy said Thursday that it would take an additional step to consider the public's concerns before designating "national interest" power corridors being sought by utilities and regional grid operators.
Virginia DEQ seeking comment on mercury rule
Reduction of mercury and other emissions from electric power plants in Virginia is the goal of a law passed this year by the General Assembly.
Washington renewables initiative set to be passed-- early results
A Washington ballot requiring the state's 17 largest utilities to acquire 15% of their power supply from renewable sources by 2020 appeared to have been passed by voters on Tuesday.
Waste-eating bacteria explored as power source
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here recently awarded a five-year grant to the University of Southern California worth approximately $4.5 million to lead a study on bioengineered fuel cells.
Depleting water resources and rising concerns about the quality of water is driving the North American markets for commercial water treatment equipment. The recent outbreak of water-borne diseases and prospects of bio terrorism are further accelerating this growth, especially with institutional end users such as factories and businesses providing safe water to employees.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 111006
•Global crude futures fell on Friday, retracting from strong gains in the previous two days as as the latest International Energy Agency report showed a reduction in projected global oil demand and an increase in non-OPEC supply.
•During the past two trading sessions, global benchmark crude prices rose around $2/bbl, primarily on the back of a larger than expected draw in US distillate stocks.
Wind Farm Blown into Court; Lawsuit Filed to Stop Project at Twin Groves
Industrial Wind Action Group, a nationally based grass-roots effort, claims companies are exaggerating the amount of megawatts wind farm projects can produce.
Windfarms Will Boost Economy Says Developer; Government Decision Next Year
Developers behind plans to build up to 250 wind turbines off the North Wales coast yesterday told AMs the project would boost the region's economy and create jobs.
World Energy Body Endorses Nuclear Power as Sustainable Solution
Countries should consider building new nuclear power plants to address rising energy demand and climate change challenges, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report issued November 7.
World Sees Democrats' Win as Rejection of Bush
Democratic gains in Congress were seen around the world Wednesday as a rejection of the U.S. war in Iraq that led some observers to expect a reassessment of the American course there.
The shift in power also was seen as a signal in some capitals that the United States would put a greater emphasis on trade policy and human rights.
Xcel proposal for ash landfill raises fears
Burning 60 rail carloads of coal every day creates a lot of ash, no matter how good the equipment. That's the challenge facing Xcel Energy's Darrell Knutson, who stood on the edge of a huge landfill Wednesday that receives truckloads of ash every day from the Allen S. King power plant in Oak Park Heights, about a mile away.
Y-Bias and Angularity-- The Dynamics of Self-Organizing Criticality
Who we are, how we live and how we think; how the Universe functions, and how we relate to that universe: these are the great questions of our Time. Physics, in the classical sense that has inflamed the passions of untold thinkers in human history, is the quest -- for the answers. It is a quest that ultimately drives how we feel about each other, and profoundly influences how we treat the planet we live on. It frames our attitudes and values about life and living.
November 7, 2006
Australia Calls for State Water Summit Amid Drought
As Australia battles its worst drought in a hundred years, Prime Minister John Howard called for three key states to discuss ways to coordinate decisions on water supplies at a summit to be held on Tuesday.
Australian govt says Kyoto ineffective
Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell says he is against the Kyoto Protocol because it is not environmentally effective.
Australian PM Turns a Light Shade of Green
Australia's conservative prime minister has turned a light shade of green, say political analysts, as global warming and his opposition to Kyoto emerge as key political issues in the lead up to an election in 2007.
Australia's Drought Could Be Worst in One Thousand Years
The drought gripping Australia could be the worst in 1,000 years, government officials said on Tuesday, as Australia started to draw up emergency plans to secure long-term water supplies to towns and cities.
Barbara Kerr receives national solar energy award
Barbara Kerr lives in a house built into a hillside with floor
to ceiling glass windows on the southern side.
Her Taylor home has all the modern conveniences -
computer, telephone, hot and cold running water, stove,
refrigerator, radio and even a microwave and television although
she said she never uses the last two. All this is done "off the
grid" using solar power.
Bio-fuels to cut Filipino oil imports by $ 400 mm
The passage of the bio-fuels bill at the Senate and the House of Representatives will save the Philippines as much as $ 400 mm worth of imported oil, which will translate to earnings by Filipino farmers each year, the Department of Energy said.
BND says terrorists are targeting energy sector
Terrorists are setting their sights on the global energy infrastructure, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) said. Ernst Uhrlau told a Berlin seminar on energy and security there had been a marked increase in the number of terrorist attacks directed at energy targets in recent years.
Britain Pushes India to Join Climate Change Battle
Britain urged India on Friday to do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change to prevent "devastating" effects on millions of poor living in the South Asian subcontinent.
Canada critical to US energy supply
Canada's status as a trusted neighbour and long-time ally will pay enormous
dividends in the race to supply the United States with energy, says Alan
Greenspan, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve.
"We in the United States trust you," Greenspan said to an audience of nearly
2,200 people at the Calgary Convention Centre.
Chavez warns could stop oil exports if violence mars Dec election
Venezuela could stop exporting oil if the run-up to December 3 presidential elections is marred by violence or sabotage in the industry on the part of the country's political opposition, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Saturday.
China poses no threat to global energy supply
"The notion of a Chinese threat to the global energy supply reflects fears about China's rise on the part of some Westerners," Long said in Beijing at an international forum on China's energy strategy.
Court hears arguments in power plant pollution case
Environmentalists argued before the Supreme Court on Wednesday that electric utilities knowingly cheated on federal pollution laws to keep dirty power plants operating, while the industry complained that it was being held to unreasonable and illegal standards in a suit accusing it of violating the Clean Air Act.
The prices for crude oil shed to the 10-month minimum with a barrel of available Brent costing just $ 55.13. For Russia, the price decline below $ 25/barrel could lead to the 40-% inflation, equal devaluation of rouble and losses of the bank sector of 2 % to 2.5 % of the GDP.
Energy Watchdog Doubts Carbon Trading Will Work
The world's leading energy watchdog gave a lukewarm response to the call by the Stern Review for a global carbon trading system as the way to tackle climate change.
Europe Blackout Leaves Millions in Dark
A German electric company said Sunday a high-voltage transmission line it shut down over a river to let a ship pass could have caused the chain-reaction power outages that left about 10 million people in the dark across Europe.
Experiment will try to trap C02 underground
Mississippi Power's Jackson County electric plant will soon be host to an experimental project to trap waste carbon dioxide from burning coal and shoot it almost two miles underground.
Federal Minister of the Environment, Gabriel, starts Competence Centre for Climate Consequences
The startling climate scenarios are coming closer, both in terms of time and space. A new calculation model from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) prognosticates a rise of the annual average temperature leading up to 2100, which will be characterized by strong differences in season.
With fears for the environment growing and the price of fossil fuels rising, a team of Israeli researchers working in Israel and the US is working on a new emission-free method to run your car -- with water. Water may seem like an unlikely source of fuel, but in fact it is full of hydrogen.
Gas created by a Sunland Park landfill is to run a generator to produce electricity
Behold the power of trash. Mix together leftovers from last month's spaghetti dinner, a scrunched pile of junk mail, add a dash of lawn clippings, throw it in a landfill, let it ferment and you have a ready source of methane, a normal part of the natural gas used to heat homes and run power plants.
Geothermal heating easy on environment, wallet
Imagine paying less than 10 cents per square foot to heat and cool your home. A geothermal heat pump system brings heat from the earth into a building in the winter, and puts heat from a building back into the earth in the summer.
Helping Families Save Electricity And Money
McGuinty Government Expanding Three Conservation Programs Across Ontario. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today announced the government will expand three energy conservation programs to help Ontarians save money and reduce the demand on Ontario's electricity system.
ICE Brent falls as market covers positions after Monday's rally
ICE Brent futures in London traded lower on position covering Tuesday after rallying Monday on a Nigerian production shut-in, talk that OPEC might cut output further and a product driven rally, brokers said. At 1106 GMT, the December ICE Brent futures contract traded at $59.69/barrel, down 6 cents from Monday's settle.
IEA raises 25-year energy investment requirement by $3 trillion
The International Energy Agency has raised by $3 trillion its forecast of the cumulative investment needed to meet growing world demand over the next 25 years.
Illinois' coal-fired power plants would have to substantially cut mercury pollution by 2009 under new standards approved Thursday by the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
INTERNATIONAL Power joined the rush into green energy by buying a portfolio of wind farms in Germany and France for Pounds 379m including debt.
Iran’s fossil energy reserves to exceed Saudi deposits
The total amount of Iran's oil and gas reserves is expected to exceed that of Saudi Arabia in the next 20 years provided that the country manages to inject huge amounts of gas into its oil wells.
The following paper was presented by Issam al-Chalabi at the 27th Oil and
Money Conference held in London on 18-19 September 2006.
Mr Chalabi is a former Iraqi Minister of Oil and a former President of the Iraq
National Oil Company.
Kazakhstan to increase oil output five-fold
Kazakhstan plans to increase its oil output five times to 100 mm tons by 2010 from 20 mm tons, said the country's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, B. Izmukhambetov.
Nairobi Talks to Seek Wider Fight on Warming
European nations will try to push the United States and developing countries to get more involved in a U.N.-led fight against global warming beyond 2012 at 189-nation talks opening in Nairobi on Monday.
North American natives seek voice in pipeline plan
Members of the Dene Tha' First Nation have set up a permanent hunting camp beside the proposed right-of-way for the Mackenzie gas project. They're hoping to draw attention to the community's legal fight to halt the pipeline project's regulatory hearings now taking place in the North.
Oil Declines Despite More OPEC Cuts
OPEC President Daukoru described the current price of oil as "low." Regarding OPEC's decision last month to cut production effective November 1, he said the effects of the reduced output have yet to be seen but would be soon. He said it will probably be the middle of the month "before you will start to believe us."
The rules enacted almost five years ago to make the nation's pipelines safer seem to be having a positive effect. Operators have been identifying and addressing the risks associated with pipelines that are located in populated areas, as required by law. U.S. lawmakers are now trying to beef up those pipeline safety laws ratified in 2002.
Plastic Trash Vortex Menaces Pacific Sealife - Study
Old toothbrushes, beach toys and used condoms are part of a vast vortex of plastic trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, threatening sea creatures that get tangled in it, eat it or ride on it, a new report says.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 110706
A C8 flare occurred at 06/1746Z, with an associated Type II radio sweep and tenflare. A new CME-producing active region is just starting to rotate onto the east limb as seen on EIT/SXI imagery. The geomagnetic field was quiet
Russia Has Good Chances in an Upcoming Tender to Build Nuclear Plants in Egypt
Russia is planning to take part in a tender to build nuclear power plants in Egypt, said Boris Alyoshin, head of the Federal Industry Agency (Rosprom).
Russia hits back at US through plan to redirect gas to Europe
A Russian plan to re-route a significant amount of natural gas from a huge new field originally intended for the US market to Europe is a political move linked to deteriorating US-Russian relations, analysts have said.
Russia seeks greater economic influence in Europe
In the world of diplomacy, the balance of power is frequently expressed in linguistic nuances. The weak and the undecided have a propensity to retreat into the meaningless hackneyed phrases of international conference jargon. The strong and the confident have no aversion to straight talk, even in front of TV cameras.
Serbia admits to causing Danube oil spill
Serbia has admitted that the huge oil spill plaguing the Danube River came from the country's Prahovo port. A punctured pipe caused the spill, authorities told, but there is no telling exactly what amount of fuel leaked into the Danube. The problem was faulty equipment, and not a human error, the Serbs explained.
'Seven out of 10 fear UK energy supplies are at risk'
Public concern over possible threats to their energy supply still outranks worries over climate change, despite the publication of the Stern review
Seven wells planned on Alaskan North Slope, up on five last year
At least seven exploration wells are planned so far this winter on Alaska's North Slope, an increase over previous years, company and government agency officials told Platts.
Study Predicts Hotter, Drier Australia
The projections, described by one official as a "frightening picture", were published as Australia grapples with its worst drought in 100 years and follows Prime Minister John Howard's recent conversion to the view that global warming is real.
The time is now-- A vision for US renewable energy
American Energy: The Renewable Path to Energy Security, a report just
released by the Worldwatch Institute and the Centre for American Progress,
details how the emerging renewable energy industries can address US energy
demands, national security, and the environment, as well as similar concerns
around the globe.
"A new and better energy future is possible if the country can forge a
compelling vision of where it wants to be."
Tidal Energy Companies Staking Claims
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In the quest for oil-free power, a handful of small companies are staking claims on the boundless energy of the rising and ebbing sea.
Tropical Peat Bogs Stoke Global Warming - Report
Drainage of tropical peat bogs is a vast uncharted source of greenhouse gases that may be doing more to stoke global warming than fossil fuels, a conservation group and a Dutch research institute said on Friday.
U.N. says 2005 set greenhouse gas record
Heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2005 and are still increasing, the U.N. weather agency said Friday.
U.S. Firms In A 25-Year Creditworthiness Decline, Articles Say
Two articles published today by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services look at the 25-year decline in the average creditworthiness of U.S. companies.
U.S. Reaffirms Emissions Cap Opposition
NAIROBI, Kenya — As delegates from more than 100 nations gathered for talks on the world's changing climate, many looked for signs the United States might ease its stand against mandatory reductions on global-warming emissions.
US boffins tap nature to solve energy crisis
US scientists have unveiled a research project that aims to manufacture microscopic engines which can generate electricity using just water or heat. ...said that the engine was inspired by the way that ferns spread spores.
US controls price of crude oil-- China
Who is controlling the price of crude oil? The British Petroleum Company (BP), OPEC and Russia are all under suspicion, but there is really only one entity controlling the market.
US dependence on oil imports threatens foreign policy and security
"The lack of sustained attention to energy issues is undercutting US foreign policy and US national security," according to the new report from the Council on Foreign Relations, entitled "National Security Consequences of US Oil Dependency."
US urges OPEC to think again on cutting oil output
The US Government pleaded with OPEC not to act on its threat to cut oil
production by 1 mm bpd. Signals from the cartel that it was planning its first
output reduction for two years sent the oil price surging back above $ 60 per
barrel and provoked dismay in Washington.
Sam Bodman, the US Energy Secretary, said that he would urge OPEC to reconsider.
“We still need oil for sure. We still need all the oil we can get,” he told.
Venezuela collects $ 465 mm from retroactive tax increases
Venezuela's tax authority Seniat has collected 1 tn bolivares ($ 465 mm at
official rates) extra from oil companies for 2001-04 due to retroactive tax
increases.
Seniat obtained the extra by retroactively increasing the tax rate for oil
companies from 34 % to 50 %.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 110706
ICE Brent futures traded lower on position covering Tuesday after rallying Monday on a Nigerian production shut-in, talk that OPEC might cut output further and a product driven rally, brokers said. "We're seeing a little covering today after the spook the market got on Friday and Monday due to news from Nigeria," a broker said.
Oil had energy investors reaching for the Tums the last few weeks. After crude tagged a record intra-day high of $ 78.40 on July 14, it drifted lower through the end of summer and on August 29 closed below $ 70 for the first time since June 20. On September 4, the sell-off accelerated: WTI closed at $ 68.60 and continued falling, finally bottoming below $ 61, a price that hadn't been seen since March 10.
Te Apiti wind farm in the Manawatu is having its share of equipment problems two years after commissioning but owner Meridian Energy says it's normal shake down of new kit.
Wind Industry Confident Turbines, Radar Can Coexist
Wind power advocates see a series of recent approvals for major wind farms as proof that the burgeoning industry's growth will not be stunted by US Department of Defense concerns that turbines can interfere with radar.
Wind Power Blows Ahead Of The Pack At S&P Project Finance Conference
The answer, as far as U.S. energy needs are concerned, may indeed be blowin' in the wind. At the Standard & Poor's 2006 Project Finance Hot Topic Conference, held in New York on Nov. 2, renewable energy projects were among the projects generating the most interest among the investors and issuers in attendance.
November 3, 2006
Asian Development Bank Joins Methane to Markets Partnership
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Asian Development Bank has joined the international Methane to Markets Partnership. Manila-based ADB will provide expertise and knowledge on implementing and financing full-scale projects.
At New Resource Bank, Money Talks ... Green
A lot of environmental types get squeamish when the talk turns to money and finance. They believe that most notions of capitalism fly in the face of sustainability, and vice versa. Money is so unseemly, it seems.
Australia to Push for 'New Kyoto' in Asia
After repeatedly blocking domestic carbon trading, Australia said on Thursday it would now push for Asia-wide emissions trading to combat global warming as part of a planned "new-Kyoto" pact.
California ballot measure to curb eminent domain trails in poll
A measure on California's November 7 ballot that would restrict the use of eminent domain by public utilities and government entities in the state is unlikely to win the support of the electorate, according to a public opinion poll released Thursday.
California Greenhouse Emissions Up 14 Percent 1990-2004
California's polluting greenhouse gas emissions rose more than 14 percent between 1990 and 2004, a report issued this week by the California Energy Commission showed.
Chevron, Post Office Stamp Out Energy Waste
The San Ramon-based energy company today unveils one of the nation's larger solar arrays, a nearly 1 megawatt system atop the U.S. Postal Services processing plant in West Oakland.
China Forecasts 18 Million Tonnes Biofuel Use by 2010
China aims to use 6.7 million tonnes of ethanol and 11 million tonnes of biodiesel by 2010, meeting 10 percent of its forecast transport fuel demand, a government economist said on Thursday.
Clean Energy Could Create Thousands of Good Jobs; Significant Job Gains for California
As America's energy dependence rises as a centerpiece of the national political debate, the Apollo Alliance released a report today documenting significant potential job gains from renewable power development in California.
Commissioner opposes new coal plant
City Commissioner Mike Rundle says if Lawrence really wants to be known as an environmentally friendly community, it should start drumming up opposition to a major coal-fired power plant complex proposed for western Kansas.
Companies lauded by investors for support of renewables
Climate change has become a major concern among major financial institutions and companies in the United States, according to a coalition of global investors with US$32 trillion in assets.
DOE adds Yucca Mountain info session amid Nevada complaints
The federal Energy Department on Tuesday scheduled another public meeting on revised plans for a radioactive waste dump in Nevada, while state officials and anti-nuclear advocates complained a first meeting was not informative.
THE White House offered a cool response to the review, acknowledging that it was a "contribution'' to the study of global warming but declining to endorse its findings.
The US energy industry was less cautious, accusing Nicholas Stern of producing a report that owed more to "science fiction'' than economic reality.
Doomsday vision of global warming-- droughts, floods and economic chaos
IN 600 pages, Sir Nicholas Stern spells out a bleak vision of a future gripped by violent storms, rising sea-levels, crippling droughts and economic chaos unless urgent action is taken to tackle global warming.
Earth unable to regenerate due to human footprint, says WWF
Global ecosystems are being degraded at a rate unprecedented in history, and humans are depleting natural resources faster than they can be renewed.
Humanity will be using two planets’ worth of natural resources by 2050 if those resources have not run out by that time, warns WWF.
Efficiency, Efficiency, Efficiency
In a move reflecting Europe's growing fears about record high energy prices, its energy dependence on countries outside of its borders, as well as its clear focus on reducing emissions and protecting the environment, Andris Piebalgs, European Union (EU) energy commissioner, has announced an action plan to cut the EU's energy consumption by 20 percent before 2020.
Elephants Attack Bangladesh Village, Kill One
A herd of wild elephants rampaged through a village in southeastern Bangladesh on Thursday, killing a boy and injuring 15 people, police and witnesses said.
Emissions of Greenhouse Gases FactBox
Following is a ranking of industrialised nations by their rises in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2004, issued by the UN climate change secretariat on Monday.
Ethanol subsidies in U.S. total billions of dollars per year, study claims
The United States provides billions of dollars a year to subsidize the production of green fuels.
Tax breaks and subsidies to produce biofuels will range from US$5.5 to $7.3 billion this year alone, according to the Global Subsidies Initiative in ‘Biofuels - At What Cost? Government Support to Ethanol & Biodiesel in the United States.’
Europe wants to save 20% of energy by 2020
Europe could reduce energy costs by Euro 100 billion a year by 2020 if it takes immediate action on energy efficiency.
Raymond Miller doesn't want to flip a light switch one night and find out he's in the dark because there weren't enough workers to keep the country's power industry going.
Franco's LIHEAP Army Gives New Energy to Low-Income Heating Assistance
Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer and home heating assistance champion Franco Harris joined the region's three largest natural gas utilities today to launch "Franco's LIHEAP Army" at a pep rally at Heinz Field.
Global group endorses clean energy projects
The potential to store more than 600 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in the US is one of the driving forces behind the Department of Energy's decision to fund seven regional CO2 sequestration projects at a cost of roughly $450 million over the next 10 years.
Hedging Bets - October 27, 2006
In many cases, the 'buy-out' firm quickly turns around (in weeks or months) and refloats (IPO's etc.) the generation assets for several times the acquisition cost. A perfect example exists in Houston Texas. HL&P sold generating capacity for $850 MM. In 5 months, the buy-out' firm re-sold for over $5 BILLION! That $4.1Billion was taken from the 'beneficial ownership' of HL&P customers and transferred to the 'buy-out' firm owners. This is but one of MANY such asset transfers that have happened recently. (Business Week has a great article about this and other 'excesses' going on)
The 'Consumer" is usually unaware of this pillaging and 'robbery'--until they see the much higher electric bills.
Home Energy Efficiency Efforts Pay Off in Big Savings
The energy efficiency of more than 325,000 homes and apartment units across the country was improved through better building techniques and energy efficiency improvements, saving consumers close to $150 million in 2005, according to the first annual Partnership for Home Energy Efficiency (PHEE) report.
Honda reports 17% reduction in landfill waste for latest fiscal year
"Even as we continue to grow our North American sales, R&D and manufacturing capabilities, we are seeking ways to make a positive contribution to the environment through improvements to product and process efficiency, reductions in emissions, and elimination of toxic substances and wastes," said Koichi Kondo, chief operating officer of Honda´s North American regional operation.
ICE Brent curbs fall after trading to 2006 low on US product fear
31Oct2006--Prices also fell on comments by Kuwaiti Oil Minister Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah, who said OPEC was unlikely to fully implement its agreement to cut output by 1.2 million b/d starting November 1.
ICE Brent crude drifts lower ahead of weekly US stock data
1Nov2006--Some brokers suggested that prices could still have some way to fall, citing oversupply in crude supply on both sides of the Atlantic.
ICE Brent rises back above $58 barrel, awaits direction from US
2Nov2006--ICE Brent futures rose slightly Friday, waiting to see if the US would provide direction later in the day with little fundamental news moving the market, brokers said.
The Toronto Star yesterday editorialized in favor of building a modern incinerator to burn the city's trash and produce energy. Coupled with Toronto Mayor David Miller's recent brash (some say heavy-handed) move to buy a large landfill in southwestern OntarioIrish power market development continues, despite lack of ESB break up
With relatively robust regulatory polices and demand growth, the Irish power market has future developmental prospects not enjoyed by a number of markets elsewhere in Europe. Recent developments further highlight how the Irish power market remains a market to watch, although the decision not to break up former power monopolist ESB will curtail the development of true competitive intensity.
Japanese premier urges for greater use of biofuels
Japan's new prime minister Shinzo Abe has backed the country's plans to promote the use of biofuels and Wednesday urged agricultural minister Toshikatsu Masuoka to ensure that 10% of total domestic gasoline demand is met with biofuels, according to a report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Leap in China oil imports leaves Asia dynamos behind
China has decoupled from the other Asian economic giants with its oil appetite in 2006 and is set to stand apart with another bumper year-on-year growth in petroleum consumption, an analysis of government and company statistics from the countries shows.
Like Something from Outer Space
It may sound like something from outer space. But, a cosmic phenomenon in which the sun releases violent blasts is real. Indeed, just three years ago, geomagnetic storms could have wrecked havoc on satellites and power grids. Scientists have the tools to provide some notice when such geomagnetic storms are ready to hit Earth.
LNG's Future - October 25, 2006
LNG does not congeal (turn to solid) at the conditions a terminal operates at. It is vaporized when it turns from a liquid to a gas to be sent out to natural gas pipelines. The liquid itself is not explosive. Like gasoline, you can put a burning match out in liquid natural gas. The vapors are potentially explosive, but so are the gas lines in many people's homes.
Natural gas costs are still a problem. Prices may be down from their record highs of a year ago but they are still too much for society's most vulnerable citizens. The low income households still need help paying their energy bills and the assistance available to them from the federal government is too little.
The cities of Virginia and Hibbing are just weeks away from a new era in energy production.The grand opening for the $80 million biomass energy project was held Monday with the promise of employment and steam rate stability. Numerous local, county and state officials attended the event in Virginia.
Many Risk Long-Term Damage from SE Asia Haze - Experts
From asthma attacks and sore throats to scarring and abnormal development of lungs in children, Southeast Asia's annual haze is a health menace that affects millions of people and costs regional economies dearly.
Mississippi distributes $360 mil to utilities damaged by Katrina
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour late Monday said the state has awarded $376 million to Mississippi Power and $81.4 million to Entergy Mississippi to help the two investor-owned utilities pay for damage Hurricane Katrina caused last year to their transmission and distribution systems.
More cheerleading than money going toward environment
Cheers swept a hotel ballroom as 1,800 entrepreneurs and experts watched a presentation of promising technologies for solar power, wind, ethanol and other farmed fuels, energy-efficient buildings and fuel-sipping cars. There was talk of "a solution" to global warming. But for all the convention's talk of a solution to the problem of global warming, it will be an immense challenge to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, which traps heat, and it will take a long while.
Ocean Fish, Seafood Could Collapse By 2048 - Study
The world's fish and seafood populations will collapse by 2048 if current trends in habitat destruction and overfishing continue, resulting in less food for humans, researchers said on Thursday.
OECD nations increase renewables share by 50% over 30 year
Wind, solar, geothermal and other non-hydro non-combustible renewables provided 37.8 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2004, according to the latest ‘Energy Balances of OECD Countries’ produced by the International Energy Agency.
OPEC may cut crude output again in December-- secretary-general
OPEC may cut production further when it meets on December 14 if the 1.2 million b/d output cut agreed by ministers on October 19 does not result in a more balanced market, OPEC secretary general Mohammed Barkindo said Friday. "I would not be surprised if they cut more," Barkindo said.
Personal view The smartest companies will act now to boost their environmental credentials
The mood has definitely shifted from the early Nineties, when B&Q launched its sustainable timber policy to preserve tropical hardwood forests. Then there was polite enthusiasm but it felt like we were leading the customer. Now there are worrying headlines and statistics every day, but also customer expectations and vast business opportunities.
Prompt action could avert worst climate change impacts
The economic impact of unchecked global climate change could be devastating, especially for poorer countries, according to a study released Oct. 30 by the British government.However, the study´s author, Nicholas Stern, said the outcome is not inevitable.
Public debate over wind farm still blows strong after 7 years
Opponents say the farm will produce a tiny amount of energy, but supporters tout it as a good source of clean power
Renewable Choice Energy Inc. launches retail wind energy credit product
Milk? Check.
Wind power? Check.
Starting today, wind power credits could join grocery staples in some shopping carts.
Renewables to be an issue in state elections
Residents of Colorado support the use of more renewable energy, and the issue is expected to play an important role in upcoming elections.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 110306
There is an increasing probability of an isolated M-class event pending further development in Regions 921 and 922. The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Activity increased slightly with the very pronounced crossing of a sector boundary midway though the day. The energetic electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels once again.
Richardson Pushes Clean-Energy Plans
New Mexicans will be driving cars easier on global warming, living in more energy efficient homes and getting more power from the sun and wind if Gov. Bill Richardson has his way.
Rupert dairy takes part in program that seeks earth-friendly way to dispose of waste
There's a cash cow in the dairy industry, and it isn't milk.
Russia to cut oil export duty 24% to $24.75 barrel from Dec 1
Russia will reduce its export duty on crude to $180.7/mt ($24.75/barrel) starting from December 1, 24% down from the current $237.6/mt ($32.55/bbl) effective in October and November due to the recent decline in Urals crude prices, a senior finance ministry official said Wednesday.
Scientists detail desert solar power
A German study suggests Europe can make deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions and phase out nuclear power at the same time.
Slow Economic Growth Pushes US Mortgage Rates Lower
Freddie Mac yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.31 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending November 2, 2006, down from last week when it averaged 6.40 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.31 percent.
Solar thermal reaches 12 087 MW in Europe
The solar thermal market in Europe is growing at 23% per year, and the continent has installed 2 million m2 of glazed, vacuum and unglazed collectors.
Supreme Court questions interpretation of modifications
Duke Energy finally got its day in court on Wednesday when the Supreme Court
heard oral arguments in a case that pits Environmental Defense against the
utility.
Environmental Defense said Duke violated New Source Review rules under the
federal Clean Air Act when it made 29 modifications to eight coal-fired power
plants over a 12-year period from 1988 to 2000, without adding pollution
control equipment to the plants in question.
Sweden's SKI recommends government increases waste fund fees
Sweden's SKI is recommending the government increase waste fund fees that nuclear operators pay. The fund covers handling of nuclear waste and spent fuel, including building a final spent fuel repository. The utilities are also required to post guarantees to cover any shortfall in financing the repository.
Tariffs aim to reduce energy consumption
CHINA: Temporary tariffs on 110 export categories of products which are energy-guzzling or resource-intensive have been hailed by experts as a major step towards optimizing the national energy structure.
U.S. regulator proposes reliability standards to assist renewables
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will approve 83 new reliability standards for the U.S. power grid, which should create mandatory and enforceable standards before next summer.
U.S. Wind Industry Completes Largest Energy Farm
“To strengthen our energy independence we need safe, domestic, and inexhaustible energy, and wind power provides just that,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “The U.S. wind energy industry is working all-out to meet current demand for new wind farms.
U.S. wind industry to install 2,700 MW this year
The wind energy industry in the United States is expected to install a record 2,750 MW of generating capacity this year, according to latest data from the American Wind Energy Association.
UK Government-- Climate change legislation
Climate change legislation will form a fundamental part of the UK's strategy to tackle climate change and address the issues raised by the Stern Review, Environment Secretary David Miliband announced today.
UK's Blair Pushes to Speed up Climate Change Talks
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, armed with evidence of the disastrous impact of ignoring climate change, will talk to Germany's leader on Friday about speeding up a drive for a new international pact against global warming.
Understanding Natural Gas Prices - October 23, 2006
You could observe that, just as the Hunts tried to corner silver thereby creating an artificial price rise and then price collapse in silver futures, one hedge fund was cautioned by regulators more than once for the size of their position in natural gas futures when the market was running up. Further, surprise, surprise, when the futures market started to converge with the physical market which could not justify double digit gas prices, the very same hedge fund collapsed, losing billions, leading to a similar collapse of the futures market.
US productivity growth stalls
Productivity in the non-farm business sector was unchanged in the third quarter, disappointing market forecasts for a 1% increase. Second-quarter productivity was revised lower to show a 1.2% increase compared to the previously reported 1.6% rise.
US Electric Transmission System Shows Its Age
Strains on the US power delivery system are beginning to show with the current system characterized by aging infrastructure, significant underinvestment and outdated technologies, according to a Fitch Ratings report.
Market participants and regulators are placing new functions on the system, such as facilitating competitive regional markets for which it was not designed.
US ExxonMobil to support European carbon capture research
US major ExxonMobil said Thursday it would support European research into carbon capture and storage technology that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
US Supreme Court hears arguments in Duke Energy NSR litigation
The US Supreme Court held oral arguments Wednesday in a landmark case
that could radically alter the New Source Review program, a provision of the
Clean Air Act that requires power generators and others to install new
pollution controls when undertaking certain modifications.
Thereafter, the next NAO and PNA phase pattern flip should usher in truer Canada-to-Gulf Heating Degree Days. Similar to last November and November 2002, tangible results might come in the form of a series of Low Temperatures in the Teens for Chicago, or 20's for New York, or Below Freezing across the deep South. The timing of this could be Thanksgiving week or the following week, approximately.
Utilities focusing on efficiency, new technologies-- EEI's Kuhn
With US electricity costs this winter expected to be 7% higher than last
year, electric utilities will strive to reduce demand and use new technologies
that increase efficiency at customer facilities, Thomas Kuhn, president of the
Edison Electric Institute said Tuesday.
What's Moving the Oil Markets 110206
•ICE Brent futures hovered around $58/barrel Thursday morning as market players awaited fresh news. Traders, however, said the market would be kept active on colder weather forecasts in the US and Europe.
Most people I know are very much in support of utilizing alternative energy sources, including wind. The primary point of contention is the insistence that ridgetops are the only places that they can be placed to generate "viable" amounts of electricity, even though studies have shown that existing sites in the state only produce about 30 percent of their rated capacity.
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