October 8, 2010 News

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Brown Chemists Simplify Biodiesel Conversion http://www.rdmag.com/News/Feeds/2010/10/manufacturing-brown-university-chemists-simplify-biodiesel-conve/

Part 1 What’s Behind Solar Cell Efficiency Breakthroughs http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/10/whats-behind-record-breaking-solar-cell-efficiencies-part-1

Manitoba Waste Wood Pyrolysis Oil Trial a Success http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=4120

ENERGY POLICY

Update on Underground Direct Current Superconductor Cable http://www.fastcompany.com/1693725/american-superconductor-saves-the-grid-from-ugly-overhead-wires

COMPANY NEWS

BLM Approves BrightSource Ivanpah Solar Project http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101007006662/en/U.S.-Bureau-Land-Management-Approves-BrightSource-Energy%E2%80%99s

Samson Oil and Gas Offers Operational Update http://www.marketwatch.com/story/samson-oil-gas-advises-on-strategic-growth-plan-capital-expenditures-and-operations-2010-10-07?reflink=MW_news_stmp

BC Hydro’s Smart Meter System May Capture $100 Million in Stolen Power Annually http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Hydro+growers+stealing+100M+electricity+every+year/3641256/story.html

September 1, 2010 News

Today's article in Energy Policy on the BLM delays on solar project approvals on federal land raises an interesting point. Irrespective of what type of alternative energy project proposed on public lands, the Federal Government has not sufficiently funded the Bureau of Land Management to add the staff with the necessary experience to handle these requests. The article below points to non-industry applicants like Goldman Sachs proposing nonsensical projects as a pipeline bottleneck, but even if you look to sophisticated experienced project teams, like those awaiting NRC and BLM approval to begin in-situ uranium extraction in Wyoming, the story is the same. The Bureau of Land Management staffs are too small and don't have the experience to qualify the requests. In his budget request, President Obama only looked to add around $9 million to the entire BLM budget for next year. If the White House is committed to the proliferation of alternative energy, particularly in the western states, where wind, solar and geothermal energy are prolific, the BLM needs substantially more resources.

TRADITIONAL ENERGY

Power Industry Acquisitions Surge In US http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-31/power-industry-acquisitions-surge-in-u-s-as-blackstone-nrg-hunt-bargains.html

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Energy Secretary Notes Progress in Digital Meter Installations in US http://sunpluggers.com/news/energy-secretary-notes-progress-in-installing-digital-meters-across-us-0880

ENERGY POLICY

Application Glut at BLM Delays Solar Energy on Federal Lands http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9pEOTZycFJI6HebIzK_Lm7z6IKwD9HV26L00

Mountain West Can Lead the Way on Energy Innovation http://www.huffingtonpost.com/devon-swezey/the-mountain-west-can-lea_b_702032.html

Brookings Institute Report on Western States Energy Development http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2010/0901_energy_muro_rahman.aspx

COMPANY NEWS

SkyFuel's Parabolic Solar Troughs are 73% Efficient http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/08/skyfuels-parabolic-troughs-are-73-efficient

Uranium One Shareholders Approve ARMZ Acquisition http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/HeadlineNews/Nuclear/6402812/

JDSU Introduces Concentrated PV Technology http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jdsu-debuts-concentrated-photovoltaic-technology-for-solar-power-generation-2010-09-01?reflink=MW_news_stmp

August 23, 2010 News

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Can Fuel Cells Power the Future? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38817952/ns/technology_and_science-future_of_energy/

BLM Releases Final EIS on Blythe, California Solar Plant http://sunpluggers.com/news/agency-issues-final-environmental-study-for-huge-blythe-solar-power-plant-0854

COMPANY NEWS

Innergex Renewable Energy Announces $85 Million Preferred Stock Offering http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=7056

Energy Solutions Close to Clean Up Contract on Zion Nuclear Plant in Illinois http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/50153563-79/energysolutions-nuclear-contract-decommissioning.html.csp

Idaho Power Pulls out of 150MW Power Call http://www.windpowermonthly.com/go/northamerica/news/1023427/Idaho-Power-pulls-150MW-tender/

IKEA Denver Store to Have Geothermal System http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/20903

GE To Energize Smart Grid Debate at Paris Energy Summit http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ge-set-to-energize-the-smart-grid-debate-at-paris-energy-summit-2010-08-23?reflink=MW_news_stmp

August 3, 2010 News

TRADITIONAL ENERGY

BLM Approves 2000 Acre Expansion for Bridger Coal Mine in Wyoming http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewswy/Wyoming.coal.mine.2.1838359.html

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Venture Investment in Cleantech Reaches $1.5 Billion in Second Quarter http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-vc-investment-in-cleantech-continues-upward-trajectory-with-15-billion-investment-in-q2-2010-99826134.html

ENERGY POLICY

DOE: Common Security Holes Leave Energy Grid Vulnerable http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20012459-54.html

COMPANY NEWS

Bill Barrett Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bill-barrett-corporation-reports-second-quarter-2010-results-2010-08-03?reflink=MW_news_stmp

July 23, 2010 News

TRADITIONAL ENERGY

BLM Delays Release of Gateway West Power Line EIS To Fourth Quarter 2010 http://cbs4denver.com/wireapnewswy/BLM.delays.releasing.2.1820707.html

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Trade Groups Push for Feed In Tariffs in the US http://sunpluggers.com/news/solar-trade-groups-issue-call-for-broad-adoption-of-feed-in-tariffs-0731

Xcel Joins Project Testing Solar Based Heat and Power System http://www.brighterenergy.org/14063/news/heat-efficiency/xcel-energy-joins-project-testing-solar-fuelled-chp-system/

Electric Vehicle Wars: “Dude, Where's My Warranty?” http://www.investmentu.com/2010/July/electric-vehicle-warranty-wars.html

ENERGY POLICY

Hope Fades for Senate Energy Bill http://www.brighterenergy.org/14087/news/legislation/hopes-fade-for-senate-energy-bill-as-limited-version-is-drafted/

Senate Appropriations Approves $10 Billion for DOE Loan Guarantees, No Money For Yucca Mountain http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews.aspx?xmlpath=RSSFeed/HeadlineNews/Nuclear/3880519.xml