Technology:
¶ The price of solar power has fallen to the point that it is becoming competitive with fossil fuels. [The Conversation]
¶ Energy storage is becoming increasingly important as the world switches to renewable power. [The Motley Fool]
Japan:
¶ In a press conference, the Japanese trade minister said the new regulatory agency, which is set to begin operations in August, will make its own decisions on the 48 reactors that remain idle, independently of the cabinet. If this is true, then it could be that no additional reactors will be started before fall. [The Daily Yomiuri Online]
¶ In the days following the Fukushima Disaster, the Japanese government received accurate radiation maps from the US Energy Department, but chose not to use them as people evacuated. Some went into areas with high radiation. [The Asahi Shimbun]
¶ The Japanese government approved billions of dollars of subsidies for renewable power. [Eco-Business]
¶ There is a building boom for solar electric installations in Japan. [Bloomberg BusinessWeek]
¶ Those who wish to return to widespread use of nuclear power in Japan do not have a clear path ahead. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Worldwide wind generating capacity increased by 40 GW in 2011. [REVE]
¶ German utility company RWE AG has decided not to replace its German reactors with new reactors outside the country, but is thinking about cooperating with communities to build solar farms. It may enter the private consumer solar business, as well. [Wall Street Journal]
US:
¶ The US is now producing more renewable energy than nuclear. [geoharvey page]
¶ A former nuclear waste dump in Pennsylvania is being closely guarded by Homeland Security after nuclear materials there were found to include materials that should were more “complex” than expected. [Centre Daily Times]
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