Science and Technology:
¶ New research could help create nuclear batteries that have controllable energy release like conventional batteries but with many times the storage capacity. [The Engineer]
… (The article says the battery depends on natural decay of Bismouth-212. It does not say so, but the radioactive daughter isotopes have extremely short half-lives, and decay into lead-208, which is stable, in minutes.)
World:
¶ The Australian Federal Government has decided to maintain the Renewable Energy Target to ensure at least 20% of Australia’s electricity comes from sources such as solar and wind power by 2020. [eco-business.com]
¶ Pacific countries spend 10% of their GDP on diesel to generate electricity and the region’s leaders are in Auckland lobbying for funds to create renewable energy projects. [TVNZ]
¶ A Democratic Progressive legislator is accusing the Taiwan Power Co of deliberately overestimating future demand and underestimating the future capacity to support projections that a nuclear plant is needed. [Taipei Times]
US:
¶ Proponents of both sides on the fracking debate are in agreement for a voluntary set of tough new standards for hydraulic fracturing in the Northeast that could lead to a major expansion of drilling. [Casper Star-Tribune Online]
¶ Pennsylvania produces 1% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions, and has new bills to increase the percentage of renewable power in the state’s energy portfolio. An opinion piece from a legislator addresses the need. [The Mercury]
geoharvey 
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