Technology:
¶ Researchers have developed a way to have solar components track the sun passively, with no moving parts and no use of electricity. [Energy Matters]
Japan:
¶ Newly released video shows TEPCO made plans to abandon Fukushima Daiichi as the disaster was unfolding. Previously, TEPCO officials had denied this. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ Between August 8 and August 18, there were ten events at nuclear plants. Eight reactors had unplanned shutdowns, at least one of which is probably permanent, there was a fire at a nuclear facility in the UK, and a large leak of radioactive water was found at Fukushima Daiichi. [DigitalJournal.com]
US:
¶ In southern California, temperatures went up, but electricity demand went down. San Onofre’s idled reactors are being largely replaced by conservation. [MENAFN.com]
¶ Installed capacity of solar electric generation in the US increased almost 100% in 2011. Among utilities and other commercial operations it rose 145% and 132% respectively. In the same time, residential installations rose 25%. [SmartPlanet.com]
¶ At the large sinkhole in Louisiana, a metal casing has been driven into the ground, and crews are almost ready to begin their work of drilling an observational well. Meanwhile, natural gas continues to bubble up, and no one is clear on where it is coming from. [The Advocate]
geoharvey 
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