Opinion:
¶ Two big announcements show wind and energy efficiency are financeable and attractive, and new small nuclear reactors are not. MidAmerican Energy is adding wind capacity, while turning down nuclear and natural gas. [RenewEconomy]
Finance and Economics:
¶ Venture Capitalists, driven by their appetite for quick results, are poorly positioned to take advantage of enormous opportunities in renewable energy. The investors who will profit are those who can be patient. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ The IEA once voiced doubt about Germany’s decision to end its use of nuclear power. Now it says though major work remains, Germany is exceeding even its own ambitious targets without damage to its economy. [Bloomberg]
¶ New figures indicate that renewable energy projects in Cornwall now generate about £11.5 million worth of electricity per year. Along with big businesses, there are 85 large independent projects involved. [This is Cornwall]
¶ China Ming Yang Wind Power will form a joint venture with a subsidiary of China National Nuclear to develop wind and solar power projects in China. The first project will be 300 MW of wind in Henan province. [EcoSeed]
¶ The European Commission has published a draft nuclear safety law that includes mandatory EU-wide reviews every six years in response to lessons learnt from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. [Chicago Tribune]
US:
¶ Proponents of Renewable Portfolio Standards that drive adoption of wind energy can be heartened by results so far of the 2013 legislative session. Bills to weaken state renewable energy policies have had little success in 20 states. [AltEnergyMag]
¶ As a result of a lawsuit brought by Earthjustice on behalf of environmental groups, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection updated and strengthened air quality permits for coal plants across the state. [InvestorIdeas.com]
¶ Less than a week after another utility announced it will give up trying to restart a pair of nuclear reactors, the Tennessee Valley Authority said it will shelve a project in northeastern Alabama and eliminate 530 jobs. [Bloomberg]
¶ Southern California Edison has made it official: the utility informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it has closed down the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station — forever. [KCET]
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