Opinion:
¶ “Governor Shumlin: A model for getting energy right” Powerful fossil fuel interests and their climate-denier allies in Congress prevent meaningful action and work to preserve the status quo. Here in Vermont, however, we are showing that progress can be made and that there is a model for energy that is good for our economy and our environment. [Vermont Biz]
A solar array at the Vermont Law School. Photo by SayCheeeeeese. Public domain, CC0.
¶ “Recent hearings were the last gasps of the Yucca Mountain road show” The federal government’s long-winded campaign to mollify the nuclear power industry by adopting Yucca Mountain as the burial grounds for spent, highly radioactive fuel rods is running on fumes. The NRC conducted hearings, but only because of a court order. [Las Vegas Sun]
Science and Technology:
¶ It is not clear where the idea of a “global warming hiatus” originally came from, but over the last several years it has been a widely held idea. Now, two papers by different groups of researchers show there has not been any pause in global warming. NASA says 2015 will very likely break 2014’s record as the warmest ever recorded. [Morning Ticker]
World:
¶ Denmark is preparing what may be the biggest IPO in the nation’s history as it sets up the sale of state utility Dong Energy. The government is giving itself a maximum of 18 months. The company, which comprises units in oil, gas, wind parks and distribution networks, could be worth as much as $11 billion. [The Australian Financial Review]
On the table will be distribution systems and power generation, including by renewables, such as wind. Bloomberg
¶ Gearing up for its plan to provide 24×7 power to all, the Indian government has started the process of drafting National Electricity Plan for next five years which will outline sector’s projections, including generation. The committee in charge started by constituting 11 subcommittees to deal with different aspects of the sector. [Economic Times]
¶ The CEO of Reon Energy Limited, an energy systems provider in Pakistan, urges small and medium enterprises to tap the solar energy source to deal with persistent power cuts and rising electricity tariffs. There are over 3.2 million such businesses in Pakistan, accounting for 40% of the country’s employment. [The News International]
¶ Though renewable energy solutions alone cannot solve Pakistan’s power crisis, it can take the pressure off the traditional forms of energy generation. It can also create a localised mechanism for the production and delivery of energy. Large-scale operations already include a 100-MW solar project in the Cholistan desert. [The News on Sunday]
¶ The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is seeking an Expression of Interest for the 800-MW phase three of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The project, which is based on the Independent Power Producer model, is another project that will establish the leadership of Dubai and the UAE in clean energy production. [Gulf Today]
US:
Apropos of no article. Crystal Mill, an 1892 wooden powerhouse in Crystal, Colorado. Photo by John Fowler. CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons.
¶ It didn’t add up. VW diesel cars were spewing harmful exhaust when testers drove them on the road. In the lab, they were fine. Discrepancies in the European tests on the diesel models of the VW Passat, the VW Jetta and the BMW X5 last year gave Peter Mock an idea. He checked the cars. VW had a cheat device on them. [Bloomberg]
¶ Popularity of solar co-ops is growing in Maryland. Retrofit Baltimore, part of the nonprofit Civic Works, works with homeowners on making their homes more environmentally friendly. Allen said 150 homeowners from the Baltimore area joined Retrofit’s first solar co-op, but there is enough of a demand for another. [ABC2 News]
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