September 21, 2010 News-Wyoming Joint Minerals Committee Meets in Jackson Hole

It's not often that I get to attend meetings with reporters and hear the same thing they did and then read the story and wonder, "Was I in the same room?" Today, I have a story about GE retooling the test coal gasification plant it is building with the University of Wyoming. This story was based upon testimony offered by representatives of GE and the University of Wyoming to the Wyoming Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee during a meeting in Jackson Hole yesterday. What I heard was that GE lost its partner customer, because many utilities canceled coal-related projects totaling 87 gigawatts over the last four years. The customer cancellation is giving GE the opportunity to refine its feedstock assumptions for the plant.

In my view, coal plant cancellations have been in the news for some time, particularly given very low natural gas prices, which make gas-fired plants much more financially attractive, concerns over the financial impact of an implementation of any sort of carbon tax, and objections from special interest groups against new coal plant construction. Though there was some discussion about the failed climate bill and the implications for a renewable energy standard, I didn't hear anyone say that it was failed climate legislation that dealt any setback for the plant.

Maybe it happened when I was out of the room.

TRADITIONAL ENERGY

Consulting Group Recommends Next North Dakota Refinery Produce Diesel Fuel http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUw3w5Yn9y_39mtdpPMtLlMGZVRgD9IBSA801

ENERGY POLICY

Senator Bingaman to Introduce a 15% Renewable Energy Standard http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-20/u-s-senator-to-press-for-15-renewable-power-target.html

COMPANY NEWS

Ormat Gets $108 Million in US Funding Instead of Tax Credit for North Brawley, CA Plant http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000589644&fid=1725

10th Circuit Rules Homestake Mining's Uranium Mill did not Cause Neighbors' Cancer or Deaths http://www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2010/09/20/news/doc4c97e14e7436d885373977.txt

GE Retools High Plains Coal Gasification Plant in Wyoming http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_9798bbc2-6fd1-5ad9-8864-73a2bb891db2.html

US Geothermal Offers Operational Update http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-geothermal-updates-status-of-development-projects-new-wells-drilled-at-neal-hot-springs-2010-09-21-84310?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Xcel Looks to Add 250 MW of Wind through PPA or Acquisition of New Farms http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/wind/article230088.ece

Cotter Refuses to Pay State Fine for Uranium Contamination http://coloradoindependent.com/62240/cotter-corp-refuses-to-pay-state-fine-uranium-contamination

August 26, 2010 News

TRADITIONAL ENERGY

Wyoming Revises Sage Grouse Core Areas http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_4705f9b0-b068-11df-b695-001cc4c03286.html

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

NREL Taking Proposals For EV Battery Performance Software http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/08/nrel-seeks-better-ev-battery-design-tool/

ENERGY POLICY

Texas Project to Connect Grids Raises Questions http://www.texastribune.org/texas-energy/energy/project-to-connect-grids-raises-questions/

COMPANY NEWS

Bayswater to Commence Drilling at Reno Creek http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bayswater-receives-drilling-permit-commences-drilling-of-monitoring-wells-at-reno-creek-project-wyoming-2010-08-24?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Peugeot Launches First Full Diesel Hybrid Vehicle http://www.huliq.com/9508/peugeot-launches-world%E2%80%99s-first-full-hybrid-diesel-vehicle

Wasatch Wind Proposes 100 MW Wind Farm South of Glenrock Wyoming http://trib.com/news/local/article_090aca23-7543-5771-85c5-b87014dd2541.html

Xcel Slammed For Response to Fatal Tunnel Fire http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HPREA00.htm

Resolute and Marathon Oil to Develop 19000 Acres in the Bakken http://www.marketwatch.com/story/resolute-energy-enters-agreement-with-marathon-oil-to-develop-acreage-in-bakken-trend-2010-08-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Enbridge Announces Next Bakken Pipeline Expansion http://www.marketwatch.com/story/enbridge-announces-next-bakken-pipeline-expansion-program-2010-08-24?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Uranerz Sets Shareholder Rights Plan at $8.75 a Share http://www.marketwatch.com/story/uranerz-implements-shareholder-rights-plan-sets-rights-exercise-price-at-us875-2010-08-25?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Petrobras Signs JV With KL Energy to Develop Bagasse Ethanol Technology http://www.marketwatch.com/story/petrobras-america-inc-signs-joint-development-agreement-with-kl-energy-corporation-to-optimize-its-technology-to-produce-cellulosic-ethanol-from-sugarcane-bagasse-2010-08-24?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