The Headlines

Video

The Story of Electronics video to expose the tech industry’s collateral damage – 25 million tons of waste from tech products, poisoned workers and public gets the disposal bill.

Policy: legislation + advocacy

• President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan calls for solar and wind energy for new rural housing and natural gas to be phased out of government buildings.
• Republican victories in Congress to halt national alternative energy policy, while California’s results set to help industry.
• Victories by John Hickenlooper (Colorado Gov.) and Michael Bennet (Colorado US Senate) to aid new energy economy.
• Philippines still pushing renewable energy development in Southeast Asia region; it began with their Renewable Energy Act, implemented in 2008.
• After nationally publicized criticism, Facebook launches a FB page to applaud their efforts to cut energy use.
• Korea and Austria interested in financial and technical support for Pakistan’s energy industry, which is in crisis; the plan includes renewables.
• Switzerland – Liberal Green Party convincing voters to replace the value added tax with a tax on non-renewable energy.
• Low carbon projects can apply for European Union’s €4bn latest green fund; at least one project to be funded from each member state.
• US energy specialists in Israel to discuss strategic partnerships, cooperation and information exchange between the nations.
• Sempra Generation gets local (not state) permission to build a 200-megawatt solar farm in Kern County, California; due to corporate ties it is possible that the solar energy will be sent to San Diego County.
• White House releases the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, identifying 24 solar energy zones in six states.
• Federal cash for alternative energy projects drying up as stimulus programs may cease.
• Missouri rejects wood burning power plant due to debate over potential carbon emissions.
• Energy Secretary Steven Chu asks Congress to consider nuclear power in a mandate for utilities to increase clean energy use.
• Environmental activists march to urge lawmakers to mandate clean energy use among utilities.
• US Congress filibustered renewable energy in the US, while China releases ambitious energy plan for 500 Gigawatts of renewable energy by 2020.
• European Union to invest 1.2B Euros in three new alternative energy projects with plans to invest another 22B Euros in the next 20 years.
• New Mexico may face environmental rollbacks with the state’s new administration.
• Idaho public utilities commission approved major wind energy project to power more than 15,000 homes.
• India likely to increase use of solar power is next 15 years and to reduce coal-based power.
• US Dept of Agriculture sends more than $4.7M in rural energy grants to Nebraska to install renewable energy and increase energy efficiency.
• Iceland leads world with 25% of energy from renewable sources; Russia made no big strides in 2010 and remains at 1%.
• Thailand plans to increase alternative fuel investment in 2011 with expansions in biodiesel and ethanol.
• Scotland is on target to meet 31% of its electricity demand from renewable energy by 2011, and 80% by 2020.
• Saskatchewan, which used to be a world polluter, is now leading the world in renewable energy use.
• Australia’s Energy Transition Plan includes solar and biodiesel in local government buildings.
• Two Egyptian villages install solar energy to light residential and commercial spaces.
• US tax bill (1603 Treasury grant program) extends renewable tax grants to cover up to 30% of project costs until the end of 2011.

  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1714722820101218

Transportation: vehicles + infrastructure

• General Motors and SAIC Motor Corp, Chinese firm, partner to manufacture alternative energy vehicles run on lithium-ion batteries.
• Aspen private airport operators want to add $1 surcharge to every gallon of jet fuel sold for alternative energy projects.
• New Mexico issues $50M in bonds for a energy transmission system upgrade.
• US oil prices jump 2% to $91 a barrel due to the closure of Alaska’s main crude pipeline.
• Kenyan homes, far off the electric grid, are being energized with solar power systems from China for $80 USD.

Environment: climate, pollution, wildlife

Silvr Lining, a California based fashion company, released a new line of clothing that uses solar power cells to power personal devices, like cell phones and digital music players.

Mineral Fuels: crude oil, natural gas + coal

• International Energy Agency says that excess natural gas over next 10 years will curtail investment into alternative energy.
• Kenneth Deffeyes, author of When Oil Peaked, says oil peaked in 2005 and within 100 years the world will not use oil.
• UC Davis study reports that the world will run out of oil 100 years before replacement sources are available; if world oil reserves were 1.332 trillion in 2008 and oil consumption is 85.22 million growing at 1.3% then oil will be depleted by 2041.

Renewable Energy: solar, wind, electric + nuclear

• Hydrogen, the cleanest and most widely available energy, is generally overlooked by investors; the National Hydrogen Association claims the fuel is available, secure, sustainable and economically viable.
• Akutan, Alaska – Akutan progressing on geothermal energy from city’s hot springs as a renewable energy source.
• Green Energy expensive due to strong dollar, weak economy, government unwilling to increase utility costs.
• GE Energy Financial Services reached goal to invest $6 billion (in past 6 years) in renewable energy sources; mostly in wind and technology start-ups.
• Boston Consulting Group reports that concentrated solar power (CSP) and biofuels will become the main sources of energy over the next 10 years, as they become more cost competitive with traditional energy.
• New Mexico started construction on two solar facilities; Xcel to buy power from state’s largest solar plant.
• China holds one out of every two wind turbines in the world; Ernst and Young publishes report moving China to top of list as most attractive country for renewable energy.
• 
  Biomass is a viable fuel for Indonesia since the country produces a large amount of agricultural byproducts.
• Green jobs to Ohio — 169 manufacturers in Ohio are producing materials for solar or wind energy.
• Idaho wind farm conglomerate wants to sell wind energy credits to California and retain the wind energy.
• Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance reports that renewable mandates and a price on carbon could increase renewable energy use to 30% in the South.
• Montana legislators debate counting all non-federal existing dams as renewable energy sources; about 40% of Montana’s electricity is from hydroelectric.

Akutan, Alaska – Akutan progressing on geothermal energy from city’s hot springs as a renewable energy source.

Green Energy expensive due to strong dollar, weak economy, government unwilling to increase utility costs.

GE Energy Financial Services reached goal to invest $6 billion (in past 6 years) in renewable energy sources; mostly in wind and technology start-ups.

Boston Consulting Group reports that concentrated solar power (CSP) and biofuels will become the main sources of energy over the next 10 years, as they become more cost competitive with traditional energy.

New Mexico started construction on two solar facilities; Xcel to buy power from state’s largest solar plant.

China holds one out of every two wind turbines in the world; Ernst and Young publishes report moving China to top of list as most attractive country for renewable energy.

Biomass is a viable fuel for Indonesia since the country produces a large amount of agricultural byproducts.

Green jobs to Ohio — 169 manufacturers in Ohio are producing materials for solar or wind energy.

Idaho wind farm conglomerate wants to sell wind energy credits to California and retain the wind energy.

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance reports that renewable mandates and a price on carbon could increase renewable energy use to 30% in the South.

Montana legislators debate counting all non-federal existing dams as renewable energy sources; about 40% of Montana’s electricity is from hydroelectric.

Video

Jim Gordon, Cape Wind’s President, discusses their 28-year lease with the federal government and the impact on energy costs.

Policy: legislation + advocacy

• Complaint filed by Japan against Canadian subsidies for solar power generation at the World Trade Organization.
• Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, led by Gov. of Iowa and Rhode Island, sent letter to Senate requesting the passage of a strong, federal renewable energy standard.
• British columnist sees alternative energy as “waning fad” that has been used since ancient times while oil is the new energy.
• Offshore renewable energy task force formed in Maine; similar task forces formed in RI, MA, NJ, VI, DE and MD.
• Since natural gas prices are low, Mexico is delaying its decision to build new nuclear power facilities.
• US Dept of Energy to contribute $16.5 million for biomass research and development.
• Deadlines are ahead for stimulus-act money for renewable energy programs in Arizona; about $433M remains.
• Spain approves largest biomass plant in the country at a capacity of 50 megawatts to supply 400,000 people.
• Thailand’s energy development to focus on alternative energy, which they are calling “necessary” energy including biofuel, solar, wind, waste and water.
• California regulators approve laws to require utilities to provide a third of their energy from renewables by 2020.
• China may allocate 30% of its alternative energy spending towards wind power over the next decade.
• Palm Desert is suing the federal government claiming the policy that stopped its alternative energy loan program is invalid.
• The Renewable Energy Development Act is Taiwan is stalled with bureaucratic obstacles.
• White House agrees to install its own solar panels in support of the solar industry.
• At the Renewable Energy Finance Forum-West in San Francisco, business leaders were angry about the governments’ lack of renewable energy policies.
• Hawaiian gubernatorial candidates plan to increase the state’s use of alternative energy.
• Maui County’s mayor (up for re-election) speaks out on pursuing renewable, sustainable energy options.
• U.S. Dept of Energy states that 20% of electricity could be from offshore wind by 2030 if 26 states develop offshore wind farms.
• Obama administration investigates Chinese support of alternative energy firms for unlawful benefits and subsidies.
• Hawaii and Maui counties receive $2.1M in federal stimulus funds for energy storage projects.
• Indian government plans for green bank to fund wind, solar, tidal and other renewable energy projects.
• Blythe solar power plant project ($6B) on public lands in California desert is approved by Obama administration.
• Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund releases $15M to provide grants to clean energy developers in the region.

Transportation: vehicles + infrastructure

• Construction to begin on 500-kilovolt transmission line from Idaho to Nevada, which will enable energy transmission from rural areas.
• Hawaii is becoming the test site for battery storage technology to support renewable energy generation.
• J.D. Powers & Associates reports that electric and hybrid vehicle demand is overstated with global sales to total 5.2M in 2020 or only 7.3% of the world market.

Environment: climate, pollution, wildlife

• Stop focusing on only organic and locally grown food, eat your leftovers to save energy.

Mineral Fuels: crude oil, natural gas + coal

• Global Arab Network says that Saudi Arabia with the largest proven reserves of worldwide oil is developing alternative energy.
• Rice University reports that enacting a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is less effective than electric cars to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Renewable Energy: solar, wind, electric + nuclear

• Since 2000, Chinese electrical production from wind grew 21 times and solar rose by 47 times.
• 
  Minnesota alternative-energy firms find a warm welcome in Beijing; one firm has over 135 Chinese customers.
• Central America is rich in volcanoes as they move to harness the geothermal heat produced from the volcanoes to drive turbines.
• The first offshore wind farm in China is completed – five miles offshore of Shanghai – all before the first wind farm in America begins construction.
• Masdar, an energy company in Abu Dhabi, invests in renewable energy for the Middle East.
• Top economics in Scotland calls for “radical thinking” to boost renewable energy potential.
• Bonaire, Caribbean Island, works towards 100% renewable power by 2015.
• Germany to supply 60% of energy needs from renewables by 2050.
• Scotland aims for 100% renewables by 2025; US only aims for 15% renewables by 2021.
• Park Spark Project in Cambridge, MA is converting dog poop into methane for energy; currently the project is running a street lamp.
• Cape Wind’s 130 turbines in Nantucket Sound, the nation’s first offshore wind farm, will be an expensive energy source.
• Cape Wind’s chief executive is confident that he will find the money to back the project.
• Irish energy fund is moving ahead with investments without waiting for U.N. climate talks to resume.
• Wind farms supported by 90% in Spain, 87% in U.S., and 87% in France as indicated in a Harris Poll.
• Bloom Energy, fuel cell boxes for building power generation, to produce one box per day in coming months.
• China ranks 4th out of 10 in the spot for energy investments, ranking to increase if legislative process improves & financial incentives implemented.
• Google invests in major bid for $5 billion offshore wind energy project.
• Consortium in Rhode Island proposes wind farm for up to 7500 homes.
• Energy Development in Island Nations program to develop renewable energy in Dominica, some Pacific Islands along with the Virgin Islands, including solar, wind energy from trade winds and geothermal energy.

Jobs

San Joaquin Valley, CA potential for 100,000 clean energy jobs related to the renewable energy projects in the area.

Events

• >Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference inaugurated by the President of India on October 27, 2010.
• The next >International Renewable Energy Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi to bring together global government, business leaders & citizens.