Science:
¶ The University of Texas at Austin will conduct a study of how much methane leaks into the atmosphere as a result of natural gas operations. [Environmental Defense Fund]
Japan:
¶ A probe into Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 finds conditions a little different from what was expected. There is more water in the reactor than anticipated, and though radiation was quite high at some distance above the reactor, it dropped as the probe got to the water. No one really knows where the melted core went. [The Japan Times]
¶ A statement from TEPCO says the company had known safety improvements were needed before last year’s meltdowns, but feared the political, economic and legal consequences of implementing them. [TIME]
World:
¶ Energy investment has fallen for the first time in eight years, as the industry deals with problems of overcapacity. [Environmental Expert]
¶ The German government is looking at ways of capping incentives as the goals for renewable energy generation are realized and renewable power can compete with conventional generation. [Bloomberg]
¶ The British government says it will work with energy officials in Scotland to advance the development of marine and wind energy. Scotland intends to have 100% renewable electric generation by 2020. [UPI]
US:
¶ The US Department of Interior has announced authorization of a 3 GW windfarm complex for Wyoming. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a report on biomass, which says the country could supply 20% of its electrical energy needs by 2030. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
¶ A sinkhole releasing methane, such as the one at Bayou Corne, was predicted in 2010. The prediction said it would be a result of the BP oil disaster, and the way the well was capped. [Examiner.com]
¶ Wells Fargo is investing in solar projects. [NASDAQ]
¶ Two more “imperfections” were found at welds in the reactor head at Beaver Valley in addition to the crack reported earlier. The owner considers this “ordinary” and is applying a new weld. [Timesonline.com]
¶ A roadside solar installation in Carver, Massachusetts brings the state’s capacity to 163 MW, up from 3 MW, when Governor Deval Patrick took office. [Wicked Local]
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