Energy
The Lead
China Says U.S. Energy Projects Violate Free Trade
August 20, 2012 9:32 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments
China's government has ruled that U.S. government support to six American solar and wind power projects violates free trade rules, adding to strains between Beijing and its trading partners over renewable energy. The Commerce Ministry announcement Monday made no mention of possible penalties but called on Washington to stop the support that it said violates World Trade Organization rules.
Japan Formally OKs New Nuke Safety Requirements
June 19, 2013 8:21 am | News | CommentsJapan's nuclear watchdog has formally approved new safety requirements for atomic plants, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster. The new requirements approved Wednesday by the Nuclear Regulation Authority will take effect on July 8, when operators will be able to apply for inspections.
U.S. Official: Solar Plane To Help Ground Energy Use
June 18, 2013 7:54 am | by Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsThe lightweight technology will pay off on the ground far more readily than in the air. This project should lead to cleaner appliances, greener cars and more energy-efficient building, said Solar Impulse CEO Andre Borschberg, who also is one of the pilots.
Whey From Greek Yogurt Used To Produce Power
June 17, 2013 2:07 pm | by Michael Hill, Associated Press | News | CommentsAt the Gloversville-Johnstown wastewater plant west of Albany, it's pipelined from the nearby Fage yogurt plant, where it goes into a 1.5 million-gallon tank filled with anaerobic bacteria, called an anaerobic digester. The resulting methane gas becomes combustible fuel that generates nearly enough electricity to power the plant.
Gov't: LNG Export Decisions Due By End Of Year
June 13, 2013 4:15 pm | by Matthew Daly, Associated Press | News | CommentsMoniz, who took office last month, told a House energy panel Thursday that he has been reviewing the issue and will soon begin evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis. Asked whether he would make decisions on export applications this year, Moniz said "yes, absolutely," but he did not give a more specific timeframe.
Cheaper Solar Panels Fuel Rise In Renewable Energy
June 12, 2013 1:45 pm | News | CommentsGlobal energy-generating capacity from renewable sources rose by 115 gigawatts in 2012, compared with 105 gigawatts the previous year, the report by the Paris-based think tank REN21 showed. Installed renewable energy capacity rose to over 1,470 gigawatts, equivalent to about 1,500 nuclear reactors.
BP: U.S. Oil Production Surged In 2012
June 12, 2013 8:35 am | News | CommentsBP says the United States saw its biggest-ever annual increase in oil production in 2012, while the world's demand for energy grew at a slower pace than the year before. In its annual Statistical Review of World Energy released Wednesday, BP PLC says the U.S. produced 8.9 million barrels a day, up 13.9 percent from 2011.
Fukushima Plant Steps Closer To Fuel-Rod Removal
June 12, 2013 7:54 am | by Malcolm Foster, Associated Press | News | CommentsPlant chief Takeshi Takahashi told journalists given a tour of the plant Wednesday that workers have cleaned up much of the debris in their work areas, but that the priorities are keeping the plant stable and working toward shutting it down — a process that operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. estimates will take 40 years.
4 Ways Manufacturers Can Cope With Rising Energy Prices
June 11, 2013 5:30 pm | by Michael Lewis | Articles | CommentsNo segment of American industry has more to gain from energy efficiency than the manufacturing sector, using almost 40 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. Replacing inefficient machinery, employing "smart" environmental controls and upgrading lighting, heating and air-conditioning systems can drop utility bills by 20 percent to 30 percent.
New Insulation Testers Safety Rated To CAT IV 600 V
June 11, 2013 11:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsMegger is now offering a new series of insulation and continuity testers that conform to IEC1010-1 standards and are rated to CAT IV 600 V, which provides greater user safety when testing in higher voltage environments.
Last Engineer Let Go At Idaho Hoku Plant
June 11, 2013 8:03 am | News | CommentsAn estimated $400 million polysilicon plant in eastern Idaho now has only eight workers, all security guards, after its last engineer exited last month amid dwindling hopes the facility will ever produce materials for solar panels.
Canadian Solar Signs Deal For Ontario Plant
June 10, 2013 11:03 am | News | CommentsCanadian Solar landed a $304.2 million contract to construct a power plant in Ontario, sending shares 6 percent higher before the opening bell Monday. Construction begins in the third quarter of 2013 and the plant, being built for Grand Renewable Solar LP, is expected to be fully operational by 2015.
5 Quick Questions: Siemens’ Helmuth Ludwig
June 10, 2013 9:29 am | Articles | CommentsAlthough the company operates a diverse collection of business units in 190 countries, German-based Siemens also employs more than 60,000 people in 130 U.S. manufacturing facilities. So with this in mind, we recently sat down with Helmuth Ludwig, the CEO of Siemens’ Industry Sector in North America.
Environmentalists Celebrate Nuclear Plant Closing
June 10, 2013 8:15 am | by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press | News | CommentsUsing a cane and wearing a hat reading "Peace No Nukes," 85-year-old Lyn Harris Hicks shuffled to the front gates of the San Onofre nuclear power plant on Friday to celebrate a utility company's decision to close the seaside facility for good.
IEA: Energy Emissions Rose To Record High In 2012
June 10, 2013 7:43 am | by Karl Ritter, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn its annual World Energy Outlook report, the Paris-based IEA said top carbon polluter China saw the largest emissions growth last year, up 300 million tons, or 3.8 percent, from 2011. Still, the increase was among the lowest seen in a decade as China continues to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
San Onofre Closure Will Slash Employment
June 7, 2013 2:23 pm | News | CommentsThe planned closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will involve drastic cuts in the power plant's workforce, which currently numbers 1,500. Plans announced Friday by operator Southern California Edison call for reducing the number of employees to 600 over the next few months.
Calif. Utility Says It Will Retire Nuclear Plant
June 7, 2013 10:51 am | by Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsThe troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California is closing, after an epic 16-month battle over whether the twin reactors could be safely returned to service, officials announced Friday.Operator Southern California Edison said in a statement it will retire the twin reactors because uncertainty about the future of the plant.
China Slams EU Solar Duties, Launches Wine Probe
June 5, 2013 8:01 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina announced a trade investigation of European wine Wednesday after the European Union hit Chinese exporters of solar panels with anti-dumping duties.The Ministry of Commerce's announcement of the wine probe came in the same statement that expressed "resolute opposition" to punitive European tariffs on Chinese solar products.
EU Slaps Levies On Chinese Solar Panel Imports
June 4, 2013 12:02 pm | by Juergen Baetz, Associated Press | News | CommentsEU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said Tuesday the 27-nation bloc will impose a tariff of about 12 percent on the import of panels, cells and wafers immediately, increasing it to an average of 47 percent starting in August unless a settlement is reached with China.
Storied Nuke Plant Becomes Environmental Wasteland
June 3, 2013 1:47 pm | by Shannon Dininny, Associated Press | News | CommentsToday Hanford's legacy is less about what was made here than the environmental mess left behind — and the federal government's inability, for nearly a quarter-century now, to rid Hanford once and for all of its worst hazard: 56 million gallons of toxic waste cached in aging underground tanks.
Ill. Passes Nation's Toughest Fracking Regulations
June 3, 2013 7:37 am | News | CommentsQuinn has said he'll sign the bill, which establishes rules oil and gas companies must follow during hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The method uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack underground rock formations and release oil and natural gas.
Xcel Looking To Add 550MW Of Wind Power
May 31, 2013 1:41 pm | News | CommentsXcel Energy Inc. is looking to add about 550 megawatts of wind power to its system in Colorado by 2016, which would boost its wind power by about 25 percent to more than 2,700 megawatts. The utility issued a request for proposals for wind in March after a federal tax credit for developers of new wind projects was extended.
Estonia Eager To Teach World About Oil Shale
May 30, 2013 8:13 am | by Gary Peach, Associated Press | News | CommentsHome to the creators of Skype and the first country to use online voting, Estonia relishes its image as a technological pioneer. But the tiny East European country's most far-reaching economic achievement could come from how it has learned to squeeze oil from a rock.
South Korea Idles 2 Nuke Plants After Cable Tests Faked
May 28, 2013 8:36 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsSouth Korea's trade and energy ministry said Tuesday a company contracted to conduct tests fabricated the results for cables that failed to meet international standards for capacity to withstand changes in voltage and pressure. It warned that the plant shutdowns would result in summer power shortages.
Industry Giant GE Aims To Improve Fracking
May 28, 2013 8:33 am | by Kevin Begos, Associated Press | News | CommentsGE doesn't drill wells or produce oil or gas, but Little said the complexity of the fracking boom plays into the company strengths. Wells are being drilled horizontally at great depths in a variety of formations all around the country, and that means each location may require different techniques.
Stricken Japan Nuke Plant Struggles To Keep Staff
May 24, 2013 8:28 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsKeeping the meltdown-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeastern Japan in stable condition requires a cast of thousands. Increasingly the plant's operator is struggling to find enough workers, a trend that many expect to worsen and hamper progress in the decades-long effort to safely decommission it.
