Science and Technology:
¶ The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working with Ecopetrol, the largest oil company in Colombia, to process the residue from sugar cane and palm oil harvesting into fuel ethanol for blending with gasoline. [Biomass Magazine]
World:
¶ The EU-backed All-gas project, the world’s largest project to convert algae into low-cost clean energy using wastewater, has successfully grown its first crop of algae biomass at its site in Chiclana, Southern Spain. [Renewable Energy Focus]
¶ A new poll shows that a majority of each of Conservatives, Labor, Liberal Democrats and UKIP voters say that the Government should continue giving incentives for wind and tidal technologies. [Offshore Technology International]
¶ The U.N. atomic energy agency is following closely the leak of radioactive water from Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea and is ready to help out if asked, it said on Friday. [GMA News]
US:
¶ Colorado’s first biomass plant is nearing completion. The 11.5-megawatt plant will get much of its wood supply from a 10-year, $8.66 million forest stewardship project to remove insect-infested and diseased trees from the surrounding White River National Forest. [Grand Junction Sentinel]
¶ Minnesota Power says it has found a way to meet Minnesota’s renewable energy standard early and reduce costs at the same time, and Northern States Power says wind projects offer lower costs than other possible resources, like natural gas plants. [MinnPost.com]
¶ Massachusetts has approved 41 landfill post-closure permits for renewable energy facilities, including 39 solar and two wind turbine projects. Solar projects have been approved in Acton, Brookfield, Lancaster, Maynard, Norfolk and Winchendon. More are in the works. [Worcester Telegram]
¶ The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is not giving up the fight to dismantle popular clean energy laws across the country — despite completely failing in its last attempt. This year, its record is 0 for 13, so it is devising a new approach. [ThinkProgress]
¶ A report this week from the nonprofit Institute for Energy and Environmental Research asserts that relying on the development of small modular reactors “is unlikely to breathe new life into the increasingly moribund U.S. nuclear power industry.” [Pittsburgh Business Times]
¶ The Nebraska Public Power District’s board has decided against boosting capacity of the Cooper nuclear plant. The board had earlier decided to try to get an uprate raising output by 18%,but the latest estimated cost is $409 million, $120 million above an earlier estimate. [Westport-News]
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