Tuesday, December 29, 2015

BBC News: Barclays fined $13.75m by US regulators

No nook ignored or unsullied.

Barclays fined $13.75m by US regulators
Barclays is to pay more than $13.75m over accusations that it let US customers make unsuitable mutual fund deals over five years.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Brazil launches incentive program for distributed generation: pv-magazine

http://www.pv-magazine.com/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=22487&cHash=f380a876520ac8e5d65d01b8499ba476#axzz3vib7PKHy


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India: 6.5 GW of solar to be auctioned in next 3 months, record tariffs expected: pv-magazine

http://www.pv-magazine.com/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=22534&cHash=de4875e2072974f9d1fa342be9c082ff#axzz3vib7PKHy


Sent from a mobile device.

www.globalenergyworld.com/mobile/news/20437/Chevron_and_China_Huadian_Sign_Heads_of_Agreement_for_Long_Term_LNG_Supply.htm?hash=92c58eed95735629413c777b44237548&campaignid=22191&messageid=22325&l=2&utm_source=GEW&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GEW+Daily+Z&utm_content=mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com

http://www.globalenergyworld.com/mobile/news/20437/Chevron_and_China_Huadian_Sign_Heads_of_Agreement_for_Long_Term_LNG_Supply.htm?hash=92c58eed95735629413c777b44237548&campaignid=22191&messageid=22325&l=2&utm_source=GEW&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GEW+Daily+Z&utm_content=mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com


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Bloomberg: Gamesa and Iberdrola to Build Four Wind Farms in Costa Rica

From Bloomberg, Dec 29, 2015, 3:56:33 AM

Gamesa Corp. Tecnologica SA, Spain's biggest wind turbine maker, and Iberdrola SA, its biggest wind farm developer, won a contract to build and commission four projects in Costa Rica totaling 80 megawatts.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1JGvVKo

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Monday, December 28, 2015

BBC News: German man dies after blowing up condom machine

Candidate for the Darwin awards (posthumously).

German man dies after blowing up condom machine
A man died on Christmas Day after blowing up a condom dispenser with a homemade bomb in a botched robbery, police say.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Inside Costa Rica MobileCosta Rica Central Bank auditor found strangled to death in Escazu » Inside Costa Rica

Definitely a little concerning when the guy auditing the Central Bank of the country is throttled to death!

http://insidecostarica.com/2015/12/28/costa-rica-central-bank-auditor-found-strangled-death-escazu/

Thursday, December 24, 2015

BBC News: Google's BigDog robots pull Santa's sleigh

I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it:

Google's BigDog robots pull Santa's sleigh
Google's roboticists charge three of their BigDog droids with pulling Santa's sleigh to mark Christmas.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Bloomberg: Gain in U.S. Consumer Spending Accompanied by Rising Incomes (first sign of)

From Bloomberg, Dec 22, 2015, 7:40:11 PM
Dec. 23 -- Bloomberg Intelligence's Carl Riccadonna and Bloomberg Gadfly columnist Michael Regan report on the state of the U.S. economy. Regan's opinions are his own.

An increase in consumer purchases in November was accompanied by rising wages and scant inflation, indicating the biggest part of the U.S. economy will continue to underpin growth.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1OiF2lE

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Monday, December 21, 2015

MUST SEE VIDEO: SpaceX rocket lands safely back on earth



SpaceX rocket lands safely back on earth
The private space technology company SpaceX successfully lands a rocket back on land after a mission into space.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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IMPORTANT TO MODELLING ALL USA PROJECTS GOING FORWARD: Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation | Section179.Org

Friday, December 18, 2015

Chile's PV capacity tops 750 MW

Chile's pipeline of approved PV projects totaled 10.35 GW at the end of November. 

18.12.2015: Chile's cumulative installed PV capacity reached 750 MW at the end of November 2015, according to the latest report from Chilean renewable energy research institute Centro para la Innovación y Fomento de las Energías Sustentables (CIFES). In November, only 3 MW of PV power was installed in Chile, down from 6 MW in October and 140 MW in November 2014. In the first eleven months of this year, the country added approximately 350 MW of new PV power. In the same period of last year, the newly installed PV capacity was of around 356 MW. The amount of PV capacity under construction in the country was of 2.27 GW as of the end of November, while the pipeline of approved PV projects totaled 10.35 GW. On top of this, local environmental authorities are still evaluating an additional 4.13 GW of proposed PV projects. Electricity produced by PV systems covered 2.6% of Chile’s total electricity demand in November, up from 2.4% in October. The PV plants installed in the country produced 159 GWh last month. Solar was the third most prolific renewable energy source in November after wind, mini-hydroelectric power which covered 3.6% and 2.8% of total demand, respectively. Total electricity demand reached 5,919 GWh in November. © PHOTON

cifes.gob.cl

cifes.gob.cl/documentos/reportes-cifes/reporte-cifes-diciembre-2015/

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

+1-646-402-5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

 

Thursday, December 17, 2015

NASA Might Get Its Biggest Budget In Decades

Satellite Beach property and economy about to get a boost?

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/nasa-might-get-its-biggest-budget-decades?et_cid=5008992&et_rid=45614407&type=image

Fwd: Environmental Law Alert: New Highway Law Streamlines Federal Permitting and Environmental Review for Large Infrastructure Projects

Useful energy project expedited permitting reference doc included.


Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1 646.402.5076
www.arcstarenergy.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Stoel Rives LLP <stoel_rives@stoel.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 7:05 PM
Subject: Environmental Law Alert: New Highway Law Streamlines Federal Permitting and Environmental Review for Large Infrastructure Projects
To: "Bannerman, Monty" <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>


If you have problems viewing this email, you can view it as a web page.
Click here for a mobile-friendly version: http://www.stoel.com/alerts/ENV_Dec2015.html
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Legal News Alert from the Stoel Rives Environmental Law Team

New Highway Law Streamlines Federal Permitting and Environmental Review for Large Infrastructure Projects

December 17, 2015

Buttons SubscribeUpdateTwitterLinkedInFeedsEnvironmental & Natural Resources
Earlier this month, President Obama signed the Highway Authorization Act into law. Included in the legislation was provision for accelerated federal authorization (licensing, permitting, approval, etc.) and environmental review processes for qualifying large infrastructure projects.

Covered project categories include:
  • Conventional Energy Production
  • Renewable Energy Production
  • Pipelines
  • Ports and Waterways
  • Water Resource Projects
  • Electricity Transmission
  • Manufacturing
  • Broadband
  • Aviation

Read on for our full discussion of the accelerated decision-making and environmental review process, along with the requirements for an infrastructure project to qualify for these benefits.

If you have any questions about the content of this alert, please contact:


 


Cherise Gaffney

(206) 386-7622
cherise.gaffney@stoel.com

 


Jeff Leppo

(206) 386-7641
jeff.leppo@stoel.com

 


Jared Wigginton

(206) 386-7539
jared.wigginton@stoel.com

 

If you currently subscribe to Stoel Rives legal updates, click here to update your contact information and preferences. To join the Stoel Rives mailing list and ensure direct delivery of future alerts, click here to subscribe.

Stoel Rives LLP | (800) 88-STOEL (887-8635) | www.stoel.com
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This is a publication of Stoel Rives LLP for the benefit and information of clients and friends. This bulletin is not legal advice or a legal opinion on specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for informational purposes only. Copyright 2015 Stoel Rives LLP.

View this and other Legal Updates on the web at: http://www.stoel.com/resources.aspx?show=3.

This communication may be considered attorney advertising under the rules of some states.

Information found in our electronic publications and on www.stoel.com is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor a solicitation of legal business. No attorney-client relationship attaches as a result of any exchange of information, including emails that are sent from or to the firm. Please do not send us confidential information or sensitive materials. Unsolicited information sent to Stoel Rives by persons who are not clients of the firm is not subject to any duty of confidentiality on the part of the firm. Furthermore, prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Fwd: Battery prices compared to Tessa Powerwall.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Monty Bannerman" <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>
Date: Dec 16, 2015 2:10 PM
Subject: B
To: "Monty Bannerman" <mbannerman@tnag.net>
Cc:

Chinese company takes power supply in Panama; eyes LNG

This is what happens when the Chinese make a strategic decision to drive their technology deeply into a global market. It’s telecom all over again.

 

The last reference project awarded a large gas PPA to a western group using western technology just several months ago was at $115/MWh.

http://www.icis.com/resources/news/2015/12/17/9954192/chinese-company-takes-power-supply-in-panama-eyes-lng/?cmpid=SOC%7CRSS%7Ctwitter%7CFreeEnerNewsFeed#

Sunny news from Brazil in the midst of a political and economic hurricane

Brazil launches comprehensive program to support distributed renewable energy generation


17.12.2015: Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy (MME) has launched a comprehensive program to support distributed renewable energy generation. The program, named Programa de Desenvolvimento da Geração Distribuída de Energia Elétrica (ProGD), includes all the initiatives implemented by the government to support residential and commercial PV projects over the past two years, as well as additional measures. The Ministry said the program is expected to bring up to 23 GW of new renewable energy capacity in Brazil by 2030. The program will offer, among other things, tax breaks on the import of components for renewable energy projects and low-interest loans from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). In late November, Brazil’s energy regulator ANEEL decided to expand the net-metering scheme for solar and renewable energies. The authority said that the new scheme is expected to allow the installation of distributed generation renewable energy systems with a combined capacity of 4.5 GW by 2024. © PHOTON

www.mme.gov.br

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

+1-646-402-5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

 

US: tax credit for solar likely to be extended at current level to 2020

US: tax credit for solar likely to be extended at current level to 2020


17.12.2015: The US federal 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar installations will likely be extended at its current level to 2020. According to Bloomberg, Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement on the spending bill and year-end tax legislation that also includes a measure to extend the ITC for solar after 2016.The bill will have to be approved by the Congress on December 18. If the congress will pass the bill, the ITC for solar installations will be maintained at its current level to 2020 and will then be reduced to 26% in 2021, to 22% in 2022 and to 10% starting from 2023. If the new legislation will not be approved by the Congress, the ITC will be reduced to 10% starting from Jan. 1, 2017. The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has welcomed the inclusion of the five-year solar investment tax credit (ITC) extension in the bill. » A five-year extension of the ITC will lead to more than $125 billion in new, private sector investment in the US economy. And much of this growth will come from small businesses, which make up more than 85 percent of America’s 8,000 solar companies,« said SEIA in its press release. © PHOTON

www.seia.org/news/seia-commends-congressional-leaders-including-itc-extension-omnibus-bill

docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20151214/CPRT-114-HPRT-RU00-SAHR2029-AMNT1final.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

+1-646-402-5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

 

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

BBC News: Italian masonic leader Licio Gelli dies aged 96

I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it:

Italian masonic leader Licio Gelli dies aged 96
Licio Gelli, an Italian financier and self-professed fascist who was linked to several of the country's most troubling episodes, dies at the age of 96.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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PV Magazine Mobil: Solar for oil: the ITC set to roll on

BIG news if approved tomorrow!

http://m.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/solar-for-oil--the-itc-set-to-roll-on_100022471/

PV Magazine Mobil: BNEF: ITC extension may lead to more pressure on net metering

WOW! If this happens it will be amazing.

http://m.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/bnef--itc-extension-may-lead-to-more-pressure-on-net-metering_100022476/

Mexico to reach 260 MW of PV capacity by the end of 2015, Anes

Mexico to reach 260 MW of PV capacity by the end of 2015, Anes 
16.12.2015: According to Mexican financial newspaper Capital Méxican citing provisional statistics from Mexican solar association Anes, Mexico will reach an installed PV capacity of 260 MW by the end of this year. Anes specified that only 6 MW of this capacity comes from PV systems installed by the Mexican energy regulator Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE) and that the remaining capacity comes from private investments in residential, commercial and utility-scale PV projects. Furthermore, Anes predicts that a further 400 MW could be installed in 2016. According official statistics released by Mexican energy regulator Comision Reguladora de Energia (CRE), approximately 32 MW of PV systems were installed under the country’s net metering scheme at the end of 2014. The cumulative PV capacity installed under the scheme had reached around 58 MW as of the end of last year. To be eligible for the net-metering scheme, PV systems must have a power of up to 500 kW. Of the installed PV power under the scheme, 37.0 MW is represented by small-sized PV installations. Middle-sized PV systems under the scheme had topped a combined capacity of 13.3 MW at the end of 2014. © PHOTON

www.anes.org

www.capitalmexico.com.mx/index.php/principal-detalle/96510-mercado-de-energia-solar-crecera-200-por-ciento-en-2016-anes

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

+1-646-402-5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

 

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Fwd: America's Fastest Growing Occupation Tied to Wind Turbines

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rebecca Van Nichols" <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Dec 15, 2015 4:03 PM
Subject: America's Fastest Growing Occupation Tied to Wind Turbines
To: <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>
Cc:


America's Fastest Growing Occupation Tied to Wind Turbines

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 2:01pm1 Commentby Jake Meister, Real Time Digital Reporter, 

The civilian labor force in the United States will rise to 163.8 million in 2024, with wind turbine service technician jobs growing the most during that span, according to projections made by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

In 2014, the BLS tallied 155.9 million civilian workers, 4,400 of which were wind turbine service technicians. By 2024, the bureau expects there to be 9,200 wind turbine service technicians—which would signify an impressive 108 percent growth.

The fact that the wind turbine service technician career is expected to grow by triple digits between 2014 and 2024 is impressive—when comparing the growth to that of other careers, the projections are fantastic. None of the other occupations listed in the BLS' top 15 list of fastest growing occupations during that time frame will even top a 45 percent growth. (The other five occupations that round out the list are all tied to the healthcare industry.)

So what exactly does a wind turbine service technician do? According to the BLS, a person in that position must "inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines." The worker must also "perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions."

The median annual wage for a wind turbine service technician in 2014 was $48,800. Typically, those looking for an entry level wind turbine service technician have some form of college education, but didn't obtain a degree. For context, nine of the BLS' 15 fastest growing occupations require at least an associate's degree for an entry level position.

Infographic: America's Fastest Growing Occupations | Statista
3
Energy
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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Bloomberg: An Economist Says He Has Proof Poloz Is Worse for the Canadian Dollar Than Carney

From Bloomberg, Dec 11, 2015, 8:44:26 AM
Dec. 9 -- In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg TV Canada's Pamela Ritchie, Stephen Poloz, governor of the Bank of Canada says the nation's economy remains "quite far" from needing unconventional policies such as quantitative easing.

The Canadian dollar has lost nearly one quarter of its value against the U.S. dollar since Stephen Poloz succeeded Mark Carney as governor of the nation's central bank.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1TFcF5h

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Bloomberg: What the Paris Climate Deal Must Get Right

From Bloomberg, Dec 11, 2015, 1:11:34 PM
The party's almost over.

Whatever agreement to lower greenhouse-gas emissions emerges from the Paris climate talks, it probably won't be enough on its own to stop the Earth's atmosphere from warming to dangerous levels. If the deal gets certain things right, however, it can at least put that goal within reach.

To read the entire article, go to http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-12-11/what-the-paris-climate-deal-must-get-right

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Bloomberg: Climate Deal Requires $16.5 Trillion Investment to Cut Pollution

From Bloomberg, Dec 13, 2015, 12:00:00 AM

The deal struck at United Nations climate talks requires an overhaul of historic proportions for energy policies worldwide and a huge investment in cleaning up the pollution now damaging the Earth's atmosphere.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1Op882Z

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Climate Agreement Will Only Hasten Transition Beyond Oil | Stratfor

Excellent article from a highly paid and respected source.

https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/climate-agreement-will-only-hasten-transition-beyond-oil

PV Magazine Mobil: First Solar charts modest 2016 growth

http://m.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/first-solar-charts-modest-2016-growth_100022379/

PV Magazine Mobil: Mexico completes energy reform with passage of the Energy Transition Law

The last major piece of MX legislation reform snaps into place. Clarity on carbon credits (hopefully) has arrived.
This will need to be analyzed quickly.
MB

http://m.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/mexico-completes-energy-reform-with-passage-of-the-energy-transition-law_100022405/#ixzz3u1MTcj6M

PV Magazine Mobil: IDB to fund 100 MW solar PV project in El Salvador

http://m.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/idb-to-fund-100-mw-solar-pv-project-in-el-salvador_100022424/

Oil Prices At Seven-Year Low

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/oil-prices-seven-year-low?et_cid=4997033&et_rid=45614407&type=cta

World’s Largest Stellarator Fusion Device Fires Up For The First Time

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/worlds-largest-stellarator-fusion-device-fires-first-time?et_cid=4997033&et_rid=45614407&location=top

Friday, December 11, 2015

BBC News: German plasma success raises nuclear fusion hopes



German plasma success raises nuclear fusion hopes
A German nuclear fusion experiment produces a special super-hot gas which scientists hope will eventually lead to clean, cheap energy.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Renewables Set to Overcome Nuclear in Europe's Power Generation Projects, According to a New Study on ASDReports - Global Energy World

BBC News: Enceladus: Does this moon hold a second genesis of life?



Enceladus: Does this moon hold a second genesis of life?
The Cassini probe is about to bid farewell to Enceladus, the small moon of Saturn that many scientists now regard as the most likely place to find life beyond Earth. We have to go back to study this bright white world in more detail.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Bloomberg: Westinghouse Races China for $1 Trillion Nuclear Power Prize

From Bloomberg, Dec 9, 2015, 5:00:00 PM

A nuclear windfall is up for grabs.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1HVpbNF

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Bloomberg: Musk’s SolarCity First in Line for Tesla Batteries

From Bloomberg, May 1, 2015, 9:44:20 AM

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who unveiled his "Powerwall" home battery Thursday, is already offering them to SolarCity Corp. customers seeking backup supply when the grid goes down.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1QTq36m

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Bloomberg: Leapfrogging to Solar: Emerging Markets Outspend Rich Countries for the First Time

From Bloomberg, Nov 23, 2015, 8:27:32 AM

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1jfQdTK

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Bloomberg: Brazil Ratings Put Under Review for Cut to Junk by Moody's

From Bloomberg, Dec 9, 2015, 2:59:07 PM

Brazil's sovereign rating was put on review for a cut to junk by Moody's Investors Service as the economy worsens and the government struggles to push through measures that would shore up the budget.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1TBqQsd

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Bloomberg: Google and NASA Hope Lightning-Fast Computers Will Unlock the Secrets of Nature

From Bloomberg, Dec 8, 2015, 7:58:37 PM

Google has a lot of computers. By many accounts, it has more computers than any other company in the world. Yet, even with so much horsepower at their disposal, Google's researchers keep running into barriers when trying to solve certain complex problems, particularly those tied to artificial intelligence. Google, in effect, has been stumped.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1OP4Qe1

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New US Space Mining Law To Spark Interplanetary Gold Rush

http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2015/12/new-us-space-mining-law-spark-interplanetary-gold-rush?et_cid=4990975&et_rid=45614407&location=top

Hyperloop To Start Construction On Nevada Test Track

Obama gives new boost to nuclear energy | EnergyBiz

Pork-barrel time for pols.

http://www.energybiz.com/article/15/12/obama-gives-new-boost-nuclear-energy&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=EB_DAILY2&utm_term=Original-Magazine

NRG changes its change agent | EnergyBiz

http://www.energybiz.com/article/15/12/nrg-changes-its-change-agent&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=EB_DAILY2&utm_term=Original-Magazine

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Fwd: NREL Estimates Economically Viable US Renewable Generation

We have this report if anyone wants to review.



NREL Estimates Economically Viable US Renewable Generation

Tue, 12/08/2015 - 12:30pmby DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Analysts at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are providing, for the first time, a method for measuring the economic potential of renewable energy across the United States.

A study applying this new method found that renewable energy generation is economically viable in many parts of the United States largely due to rapidly declining technology

The report, Estimating Renewable Energy Economic Potential in the United States: Methodology and Initial Results, describes a geospatial analysis method used to estimate the economic potential of several renewable resources. Economic potential is a metric that quantifies the amount of economically viable renewable generation that is available at a specific location. Analysis to date includes photovoltaics (PV), wind, geothermal, biomass and hydropower resources.

"This report presents one method for estimating economic potential," NREL Energy Analyst Philipp Beiter said. "The initial results are intended to explore this method as a screening metric for understanding the economic viability of renewable generation at a detailed geospatial resolution."

Looking at the potential at developable sites, the report found that when the social cost of carbon is taken into account, renewable generation is economically viable in many parts of the country. At 2014 costs, the technologies combine for 820 terawatt-hours of estimated economic potential beyond the generation from renewable energy facilities already in operation. This additional potential is equivalent to nearly 20 percent of total U.S. annual electricity generation from all sources in 2014.

"Declining renewable technology costs are a significant driver for these results," Beiter said. "Economic potential has more than tripled as a result of cost reductions already realized for renewable generation technologies between 2010 and 2014, particularly for wind and solar PV."

The study also found that projected future renewable energy cost reductions yield further increases. At 2020 projected costs, economic potential equals almost half of U.S. annual generation; in 2030, further cost reductions result in over 75 percent of generation, showing the significant impact that could be realized through continued research, development and deployment that drive down renewable energy costs.

This work is a follow-on analysis to NREL's 2012 report that estimated the technical potential of U.S. renewable generation. While technical potential is a measure of renewable potential based on system performance and land use constraints, the new report also considers renewable generation costs in comparison to prevailing electricity prices. This initial application of the method shows a large range of outcomes for the new metric, depending on specific factors considered. This report includes national level estimates of economic potential, along with maps and tables documenting state-level estimates for specific cases.

Economic potential differs from other projections of renewable energy deployment in that it does not directly consider market dynamics, customer demand, exports from one location to another, or most policy drivers that may incentivize renewable energy generation. The methodology represents a first-level screening that identifies where renewable energy can be cost-competitive. As technology costs and other relevant factors change, economic potential may be a useful metric to assess the evolving role of renewable generation in the energy landscape.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-12/drel-nee120815.php

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Indicted ex-leaders a message to Central America elites | Honduras News

Fwd: BBC News: Diesel farms in line for power payout

Nasty Brit conservatives are as bad as the tea party. Kill solar, sign massive overprice PPA and loan guarantees for nukes and now welcoming massive amounts of diesel into their mix.


Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy

Diesel farms in line for power payout
Diesel farms could this week win contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds as part of a Government scheme to keep the lights on.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Monday, December 7, 2015

Tesla’s Powerwall Hooks Up To Vermont’s Largest Utility Grid

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/teslas-powerwall-hooks-vermonts-largest-utility-grid?et_cid=4986989&et_rid=45614407&type=cta

Navy's Largest Destroyer Headed To Sea For Testing

http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/navys-largest-destroyer-headed-sea-testing?et_cid=4986989&et_rid=45614407&location=top

BBC News: Oil price to remain low in 2016, says Total boss

I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it:

Oil price to remain low in 2016, says Total boss
The oil price is unlikely to recover next year, according to the boss of French energy giant Total.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Friday, December 4, 2015

Bloomberg: The Invisible Spill Spewing the Gases of a Half-Million Cars

From Bloomberg, Dec 4, 2015, 7:14:24 PM
Oil flows toward the ocean from an inland oil spill near Refugio State Beach in California.

Call it the invisible spill.  

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1IJXH8v

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Bloomberg: OPEC Unity Shattered as Saudi-Led Policy Leads to No Limits

GOOD RIDDANCE 

From Bloomberg, Dec 4, 2015, 6:00:00 PM
Ali Bin Ibrahim al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's petroleum and mineral resources minister, speaks to journalists ahead of the 168th Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015.

OPEC abandoned all pretense this week of acting as a cartel. It's now every member for itself.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1jEwzRN

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BBC News: New Horizons: Sharpest images of Pluto's surface

I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it:

New Horizons: Sharpest images of Pluto's surface
The New Horizons probe has at last returned some of the super-sharp pictures it took of Pluto during its historic flyby in July.
Disclaimer: The BBC is not responsible for the content of this email, and anything written in this email does not necessarily reflect the BBC's views or opinions. Please note that neither the email address nor name of the sender have been verified.


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Photos Of The Day: World’s Largest Glass-Bottom Bridge Now Complete

http://app.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/photos-day-worlds-largest-glass-bottom-bridge-now-complete?et_cid=4982252&et_rid=45614407&type=cta

Congress Votes To Reauthorize Ex-Im Bank

http://app.manufacturing.net/news/2015/12/congress-votes-reauthorize-ex-im-bank?et_cid=4982252&et_rid=45614407&type=cta

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Fwd: Google Ups Ante, Nearly Doubles Bet on Renewable Energy

If we weren't so busy already I would be tempted to go back into the data center sector.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rebecca Van Nichols" <rvan@tnag.net>
Date: Dec 3, 2015 9:07 PM
Subject: Google Ups Ante, Nearly Doubles Bet on Renewable Energy
To: <mbannerman@arcstarenergy.com>
Cc:


Google Ups Ante, Nearly Doubles Bet on Renewable Energy

Thu, 12/03/2015 - 9:12amby Michael Liedtke, AP Technology Writer
This Oct. 20, 2015, photo, shows a sign outside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Google is nearly doubling the amount of renewable energy feeding its massive data centers that enable more than 1 billion people to search for information, watch video clips and communicate virtually anytime they want.

The long-term commitments announced Thursday cover up to 842 megawatts of power that will flow from six different wind and solar power projects scheduled to be finished within the next two years in the U.S., Chile and Sweden. Google isn't disclosing how much it expects to pay for the power.

Some of the deals were signed several weeks ago, but Google timed its announcement to coincide with the U.N. conference in Paris that is exploring ways to reduce the volume of carbon emissions widely believed to be changing the Earth's climate.

"It's an opportune time to make a strong statement," said Gary Demasi, Google's director of data center energy.

Google has now signed contracts covering 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, putting the company closer to its goal of having 3.6 gigawatts lined up by 2025. The 2 gigawatts currently under contract is enough to supply 2 million European homes annually, based on Google's estimate that the renewable energy projects will generate an average of about 7.4 billion kilowatt hours of power.

The Mountain View, California, company has pledged to have all of its 14 data centers worldwide running on renewable energy as part of its quest to minimize the pollution caused by the rising demand for its Internet search engine, YouTube video service, Gmail, digital maps and other services.

Google, part of a recently formed company called Alphabet Inc., still has a long way to reach that goal. By its latest estimates, renewable energy accounts for 37 percent of the power needed to run its data centers.

Apple, Facebook and other technology companies also have been investing heavily in renewable energy in an effort to reduce the pollution caused by the popularity of their products. All of Apple's data centers, offices and stores in the U.S. already run on renewable energy, but the company is still trying to obtain cleaner power for the overseas factories that make its iPhones, iPads and other devices.

Besides signing long-term contracts with renewable energy providers, Google also has invested about $2.5 billion in companies and projects trying to produce more wind, solar and geothermal power.

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Solar, wind power output to surpass shale in five years, says Goldman report: pv-magazine

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Bloomberg: LNG Falls Faster Than Oil as U.S. Fracking Spurs Growing Glut


The future of fossil and both the complement and competitor to renewables.

From Bloomberg, Dec 1, 2015, 7:01:00 PM
Spare a thought for anyone who bet on a recovery in liquefied natural gas prices after last year's 45 percent plunge.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1QcH2kd

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--
Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1 646.402.5076
www.arcstarenergy.com

Bloomberg: Southern's Clean-Coal Power Plant Costs Balloon to $6.49 Billion

No such thing as clean coal.

From Bloomberg, Dec 1, 2015, 7:24:07 PM

Southern Co.'s clean-coal power plant, a project long plagued by delays and cost overruns, just got $62 million more expensive.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1ICiyuq

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Bloomberg: Dollar Risks Grow as Hedge Funds Make Greenback Most Favored Bet

From Bloomberg, Dec 1, 2015, 7:00:11 PM

The dollar is on the cusp of its longest winning streak since March and traders keep piling in, yet a growing number of influential strategists are starting to sound alarms.

To read the entire article, go to http://bloom.bg/1Ttt3GF

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Sunday, November 29, 2015

BBC News - What is climate change- in graphics

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-5aceb360-8bc3-4741-99f0-2e4f76ca02bb


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Brazil government approves 1.5 GW of new solar and wind power: pv-magazine

http://www.pv-magazine.com/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=21968&cHash=c7086ef4d79491cb19fec5554f39f354#axzz3stWClItM


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Latin America: IDB backs energy efficiency green bonds in LATAM: pv-magazine

http://www.pv-magazine.com/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=22150&cHash=a6594ac9594767d9fa9d8dca4cc0af5c#axzz3stWClItM


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The world could be 100% renewable by 2050: pv-magazine

http://www.pv-magazine.com/index.php?id=9&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=22167&cHash=50f9f533a5fa898d2c02d40b5af34494#axzz3stWClItM


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Fwd: Beyond Policy: The Future of Renewable Energy





Beyond Policy: The Future of Renewable Energy

Wed, 11/25/2015 - 3:43pm1 Commentby Thibault Desclee, Global Strategic Marketing Leader, GE Renewable Energy & Brandon Owens, Strategy & Analytics Director, GE Ecomagination

The pace of growth of renewable energy technologies – hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, biopower, and emerging renewables – has accelerated in the last decade.

Since 2005, 870 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity have been added to the global electric power system. In 2014 alone, 37 GW of hydropower, 51 GW of wind power, and 40 GW of solar power were installed, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Today, when a new power plant is built somewhere in the world, it is just as likely to be renewable as it is fossil fuel or nuclear. We believe this trend will continue and that more than 50 percent of new global electricity capacity additions will come from renewable energy through the end of the decade.

Data from global electricity markets highlight the magnitude of renewable energy's presence on the global power scene. In 2014, generation from renewable energy sources added up to nearly 5,500 terawatt hours (TWh).

Renewables have now edged out natural gas as the second-largest source of electricity generation – second only to coal – and with the current boom, renewable energy will continue to be a leading fuel in the future. Renewables are an important addition to the diverse international electricity generation portfolio.

New investments in renewable power are outpacing investment in additional fossil fuel capacity as well. Global new investment in renewable energy, excluding large hydro, was $270 billion in 2014. That represents a 17 percent increase from 2013.

Investment in renewables was evenly split between developed and developing countries. Total investment in fossil fuel generation capacity was $289 billion. However, many of these investments were made to replace existing power plants that were being retired. Investments for net fossil fuel capacity additions were $132 billion.

Furthermore, for the first time, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has more investments in renewable energy than in thermal power.

A confluence of factors is driving this transition. First, growth in global electricity demand has fueled the rise of all power generation technologies. GE estimates that global electricity generation rose from 16,800 to 21,900 TWh between 2005 and 2014, with nearly 2,000 GW of new sources of electricity installed to meet this growing demand.

Second, the rising threat of climate change, the desire for increased domestic energy security and enhanced economic development have prompted policymakers to implement an increasing number of renewable power support policies across the globe. These policies have been successful in encouraging the adoption of renewable power over the last decade.

Third, and most importantly, as a result of technology innovation, renewable power technologies have become increasingly cost competitive over time and more "grid-friendly" – or compatible with the electric power system.

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for onshore wind power has declined by 15 percent since 2009, which has enabled wind power to be the least-cost source of electricity generation in many jurisdictions around the world.

The largest cost reductions have come from solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, which has experienced a 53 percent decline in costs since 2009. New technologies that incorporate energy storage to reduce the impact of variability from wind and solar PV technologies, as well as the addition of digital technologies that ensure the renewable power system are fully optimized, will continue to push down the cost of renewable energy and facilitate their integration to the grid

Looking ahead, the combination of business innovation and smart renewable energy policies will continue to drive large amounts of renewable energy investment, capacity and generation. GE estimates that another 730 GW of renewable energy capacity will be added between 2015 and 2020.

Renewable energy capacity additions will account for over 50 percent of total global electric power capacity additions through the end of the decade. As in the last decade, hydropower, wind and solar PV are expected to account for the bulk of these additions.

As a result, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation will be up to 13 percent lower in 2020 than they would have otherwise been without non-hydro renewable power technologies in the global electricity portfolio.

However, there are both challenges and opportunities in the path ahead. First, stakeholders must work together to coordinate electricity planning. Second they must develop rules to ensure system flexibility, expansion of electricity access and to improve systems operations according to market evolution expectations.

In order to accommodate the increasing levels of variable renewable energy, both demand- and supply-side technologies within the electric system must become increasingly flexible. Greater levels of deployment and utilization of the existing grid-friendly capabilities of renewables will be required.

Technology innovations like more sophisticated methods of forecasting the wind and sun, and cost-competitive energy storage solutions will be needed to allow renewables to become more predictable and to better manage variability. And finally, the Industrial Internet must be fully leveraged to enable greater control and coordination across the grid.

Through technology and business model innovation, GE believes that these challenges can be transformed into opportunities. At GE, innovation is driven across the organization and accelerated by GE's commitment to Ecomagination.

Innovations like GE's Digital Wind Farm and new Industrial Internet successfully blend the physical and digital in ways that help maximize resource productivity across the global energy system. Over 100 years ago, GE imagined a world where humankind was able to successfully harness the sun, wind, and sea.

Thanks to continuous technology innovation, this is the world that we live in today. Let's seize this opportunity and work collaboratively to further accelerate renewable energy innovation, build new solutions and create a sustainable electric power system for the planet, its people and the world economy.


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--
Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1 646.402.5076
www.arcstarenergy.com