geoharvey

Japan:

¶   Work on removing debris continues at Fukushima Daiichi. Progress is slow, and has to carefully considered. The beam that fell into Unit 3′ s spent fuel pool slipped when touched by a hydraulic fork, and fell on top of the fuel, evidently without damaging it. [World Nuclear News]

World:

¶   The UK city of Peterborough has plans to become energy independent by 2020. [NewNet]

¶   Renewable power output in the UK rose 6.5% in the second quarter over last year, despite a 31% drop in the output of hydro. The combined output of solar PVs, wave and tidal plants was 470 GWh, an 861% increase over last year. [Power Engineering]

US:

¶   Renewable power saves soldiers’ lives, saves money for the military, and makes the military stronger. Nevertheless new proposals continue to come before congress to prevent the military from pursuing it. [The Hill]

¶   The purchase by a Chinese company of four US wind farms has been blocked by President Obama for security reasons. All four wind farms were close to US military bases. [CNN]

¶   Environmentalists agree that the area around San Onofre needs to be examined for geological faults, but object to the damage to ocean wildlife that will be done by 250 decibel blasts every 15 seconds for 12 days. They say other ways of mapping fault lines exist. [Los Angeles Times]

¶   Renewable Energy Trust Capital, Inc. believes it can lower the cost of capital for solar projects dramatically, cutting the cost of generating solar power by up to 20 percent. [Sacramento Bee]

¶   A renewable energy plant at the City of San José Water Pollution Control Plant in California is now coming online. It uses a 1.4 MW fuel cell for power, and biogas from a waste digester for fuel. [Fuel Cell Today]