Technology:
¶ Researchers at Murdoch University, in Perth, Western Australia, have found a way to make water-based sodium based batteries, similar to lithium batteries. [Climate Spectator]
… Media seems to have been slow picking this up, and my web searches did not catch it early on. Murdoch University issued a news release on August 8, in which they say that though the technology is probably too bulky for portable devices, it should work fine for utility-scale energy storage. [Murdoch University News Release]
Japan:
¶ Two agencies regulating nuclear power in Japan have been closed. The Fukushima Disaster revealed, and was to a large extent caused by, their monumental failures. [The Japan Times]
¶ The new Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Agency has opened up shop. [Power Engineering]
¶ The Japanese government’s pledge to abandon nuclear has loopholes. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ China’s first goal for 2015 was 5 GW of solar capacity. That turned out to be unrealistic, because they are installing 7 GW in 2012 alone. They have increased the goal for 2015 three times so far, and it is now 21 GW. But that may be wrong because it looks like they might have 40 GW in 2015. If that happens, they may increase their 2020 goal from 50 GW to 100 GW. [OilPrice.com]
¶ The Australian Capital Territory is setting a goal to get 90% of its power from renewable energy by 2020. [Climate Spectator]
US:
¶ A study by a “think tank” says closing Indian Point would cost billions to the economy of New York. Critics say the study did not consider all the facts. Its author is a highly experienced economist who has worked as a consultant to the power industry for thirty years. [The Journal News | LoHud.com]
¶ The desert Southwest can provide power all over the country, but there have to be more and better transmission lines to do it. [Washington Post]
¶ The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity says the EPA will shut down 204 coal generating plants in 25 states. They believe this is not good. [L.A. Biz]
geoharvey 
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