China has 1 out of every 2 wind turbines in world; World to run out of oil 100 years before replacement; Silvr Lining launches solar powered clothing; Kenyan offgrid homes install solar; Pakistan calls for solar and wind energy; Video: The Story of Electronics (2010)

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.