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February 6, 2008 Alternative energy 'portfolio' company - Riverstone Holdings New York-based energy investment group Riverstone Holdings is seeking to raise some $4 billion to form a new alternative-energy company. Riverstone has hired John Browne, the former chief executive of BP, to help lead the charge. [Source: Jennifer L. Schenker, "Spanish Eco-Darling Eolia Sets IPO", Spiegel Online, February 6, 2008] January 20, 2008 January 18, 2008 Renewable energy projects - new transmission lines attract other businesses Renewable energy projects increase the development of transmission lines and other related infrastructure, which will attract other business to the area, her report to the county states. [re: [Eileen Christensen is president of Las Vegas-based consulting firm BEC Environmental Inc., which Nye County government has contracted to help bring renewable energy projects to the county] [Source: Mark Waite, "Nye solar options look bright", Pahrump Valley Times (NV), January 18, 2008] November 4, 2007 Clean energy market growth: up $15-billion last year, to $55-billion; expected to quadruple by 2016 The global clean energy market has grown massively, with revenues in the industry climbing from $40 billion in 2005 to $55 billion last year, said leading US research firm Clean Edge. Revenues are projected to hit $226 billion by 2016. [Source: Jessica Cheam, "S'pore poised to take lead in global clean energy stakes; EDB maps out five-pronged strategy to spur sector's growth", The Straits Times (Singapore), November 5, 2007] November 2, 2007 February 17, 2007 *
Bureaucratic stink over co-gen plant may finally end
This is front page story in today's paper. The City of Manteca's biggest energy user has been its wastewater treatment plant, accounting for about 40% of the city's $1.1-million electricity bill in 2002, for example. That was the year that the city decided to purchase a co-generation plant for use at the facility, running off of the methane which had previously been burned off. The flame from the burn-off has been visible from East Yosimite Avenue, and is known locally as the 'eternal flame'. The facility has been ready to generate power since 2003. But the plan became entangled in what the article calls "bureaucratic Bermuda Triangle". "Ironically, it was stalled by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It is the same agency that has targeted methane gas as a leading culprit of valley air pollution and has been pursuing what some claim are draconian measures to reduce it at the primary source -- dairy operations... For awhile, there was a question even if the district would certify the co-gen plant. But the agency has." June 19, 2006 Ethanol - net energy loss as fuel "I wish that ethanol were as good as all the claims are, because I'm an agriculturalist and it would help agriculture, but I must admit, it just doesn't add up," says David Pimentel, an ecology professor at New York state's Cornell University. Last year, Pimentel co-authored (with Tad Patzek, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California at Berkley) a study published in the Natural Resources Research academic journal, examining the energy costs and benefits of ethanol. They discovered that, where corn is used to produce the biofuel, the amount of energy used in production is 29 per cent greater than the amount of energy that will ultimately be derived from the ethanol. When wheat is used, the net energy deficit is about 45 per cent. [Source: Cyril Doll (reporter - Western Standard), "Unpopular science: It's a lot better than Kyoto, but critics say a made-in-Canada plan isn't any more realistic about climate change", Western Standard (Alberta), June 19, 2006, p. 24] April 2, 2006 * Germany - industry chief sees need to extend life of existing nuclear plants * [2006-03-19] Can a bush solve rural energy needs? September 18, 2004 * Wind power - 12% of global electricity supply by 2020 * Renewable energy - possible 50% of global energy supply by 2040 September 1, 2004 * Biodiesel - Brazil test of 30% soybean oil blend showed 16% cleaner, 1% increase in fuel required * Biodiesel - cost disadvantage in Brazil will be reduced through scale and local inputs * Biodiesel - B2 fuel (2% biodiesel) will soon be authorized, soon followed by 5% blend * Biodiesel - Brazil B2 program will require 150,000 hectares * Biodiesel - Brazil plans to use for electric power plants, too June 5, 2004 Renewables have decreased, as percent of power supply, over 1970-2001 The International Energy Agency released a study [this week] that showed renewable energy actually lost ground, as a percentage of the total supply of power, from 1970 to 2001. [Source: Mark Landler (NYT Business/Financial Desk), "China Pledges to Increase Use Of Alternative Energy Sources", The New York Times, June 5, 2004, p. C3] Germany and World Bank announce loan programs for renewables, efficiency in developing nations The German chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, announced 500 million euros ($610 million) in low-interest loans to support renewable-energy projects and energy efficiency in developing countries. The World Bank said it would increase lending for projects by 20 percent a year over the next five years. [Source: Mark Landler (NYT Business/Financial Desk), "China Pledges to Increase Use Of Alternative Energy Sources", The New York Times, June 5, 2004, p. C3] * China pledges to generate 60 GW -- 10% of power -- with renewables by 2010 Renewables - numeric goals for 2010 by EU (22%) and China (10%); US rejects such benchmarks In setting a numeric goal [to generate 10 percent of its power through renewable sources by 2010], Beijing has lined up with the European Union, which has pledged to generate 22 percent of its electricity, and 12 percent of all its energy, from renewable sources by 2010. The United States rejects benchmarks for the adoption of renewable energy... [Source: Mark Landler (NYT Business/Financial Desk), "China Pledges to Increase Use Of Alternative Energy Sources", The New York Times, June 5, 2004, p. C3] * Wind - Four nations accounted for 86% of installed capacity in 2001 (Denmark, Germany, Spain and US) * U.S. not as much of a pariah amongst renewable energy conferees as before May 24, 2004 * Fusion - at best, significant energy by 2070s or 80s, requiring huge investment after 2040 * Fusion - prospects hurt by anti-nuclear public opinion in Europe * Hydrogen - silly to expect total replacement for gas and coal April 4, 2004 * Holland - public hostility to wind farm expansion * Denmark - wind power - public opposition * Denmark - wind power - nearby homes become impossible to sell * Germany - wind power - "the worst desecration of our countryside since war 400 years ago" * UK - wind power - public resistance growing * France - wind power - public hostility prompts shift to offshore sites January 23, 2003 * UK - wind farm noise drives neighbors crazy, but that's no crime January 17, 2003 * Australia - renewable energy progress, outlook January 4, 2003 Green electricity customers aren't the tree huggers expected Green Mountain Energy has about 600,000 customers nationwide, but it does not disclose how many customers it has per state for business reasons, said Andy Prince, a spokesman for the company. The company has found that its customers aren't the Sierra Club members and "tree huggers" that it expected when the company was formed in 1997, said Prince. "It was kind of interesting - most of them are soccer moms," Prince said. The people who have chosen to pay the extra $7 to $10 per month that it costs for the average monthly household electricity consumption of 1,000 kilowatt-hours, do so for a number of reasons. The most common reason people give, Prince said, is, "I want to make this a better place for my kids." [Source: Matthew Sturdevant (Corpus Christi Caller-Times), "Texans can choose solution, not pollution; Lifestyle options can save resources, cut emissions", Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas), January 4, 2004, p. C1] September 10, 2003 Examples of post-9/11 changes at dams At dams operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, initial post-9/11 increases in security personnel, patrols and general surveillance have been augmented in the past year with equipment including motion detectors, video equipment, and new locks. [Source: Craig Sprankle (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation spokesperson), cited by Chris Mulick et al (Tri-City Herald staff writers), "Security constant since Sept. 11", Tri-City Herald, September 10, 2003] June 27, 2003 Preliminary generation data from DOE for 2002 Total US electricity demand increased by 2.7% in 2002 compared to 2001. Electricity from hydro/other renewables was up twenty percent. The electricity mix looked like this: Coal - 1,905 billion kWh
[For more info, see info nugget 20030627-005] June 16, 2003 * Quote of the day: Some people in the environmental community can't take yes for an answer * Renewable energy - EU committed to 22% of electricity & 12% of total energy by 2010 |