Benjamin Franklin
July 4th 1776
G-8 to fight oil prices with efficiency, tech
By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer 55 minutes ago
AOMORI, Japan - The world's top industrialized nations and leading oil consumers pledged Sunday to fight skyrocketing energy prices by increasing efficiency and accelerating investment in new technologies, while urging producers to expand production.
Energy ministers from the Group of Eight countries, joined by China, India and South Korea, voiced concerns over record oil prices and said both producers and consumers would benefit from greater market stability.
Ministers, meeting in the northern Japanese city of Aomori, focused Sunday on how they could diversify their energy sources to both control rising demand for oil and rein in emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
"We simply must increase the level and breadth of investment all around the world," said U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.
"That means promoting aggressive investment in renewable energy and other alternative energies technologies, as well as the development of tradition hydrocarbon resources."
The 11 nations, which account for 65 percent of the world's energy consumption, grappled with oil prices that have hit record highs. Prices made a massive 8 percent gain Friday to $138.54 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The G-8 countries — the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Britain — laid out ways of cutting their dependence on oil in a statement.
They pledged to launch 20 demonstration projects by 2010 on so-called "carbon capture and storage," which would allow power plants to catch emissions and inject them into underground storage spaces.
While that technology is still in its infancy, proponents say it could eventually allow the expanded exploitation of the world's abundant supply of cheap coal without polluting the environment and speeding global warming.
There were clear rifts, however, on how to approach the expansion of nuclear energy. The carefully worded joint statement called for assurances on safety and security of nuclear materials, but several nations said they were enthusiastic about building new reactors.
The International Energy Agency, in a report issued last week, estimated the world would have to construct 32 new nuclear power plants each year from now until 2050 as part of an effort to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent.
"I think we're on the verge of a new nuclear age and that will be a positive thing for the world," said John Hutton, British secretary of state for business enterprise and regulatory reform.
Germany, however, said it would not join the effort. Jochen Homann, Germany's economics minister, said Berlin was sticking to its decision to phase out nuclear power.
The G-8, China, India and South Korea also established the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation to promote best practices in conserving energy.
While the participants called for more oil production, it could take months to get a response. Production levels have been flat for three years and Chakib Khelil, the president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has said the group will make no new decision on output until a Sept. 9 meeting in Vienna.
The ministers met amid rising concerns that soaring oil prices could trigger global economic troubles. Fanning such fears, both Japan and the United States have announced higher unemployment rates in recent weeks.
"The situation regarding energy prices is becoming extremely challenging," warned Akira Amari, Japan's trade and energy minister. "If left unaddressed, it may well cause a recession in the global economy."
The Sunday meeting followed a joint statement by five top energy consumers — the U.S., Japan, China, India and South Korea — that warned high prices were a menace to the world economy and more petroleum should be produced to meet rising demand. They argued the unprecedented prices were against the interests of both producers and consumers, and imposed a "heavy burden" on developing countries.
The group, however, diverged over oil subsidies. The International Energy Agency has estimated that oil subsidies in China, India and the Middle East totaled about $55 billion in 2007.
The United States urged countries such as China to lower oil supports, which buoy demand, while poorer developing nations said removing subsidies could trigger political and economic unrest.
G20 ministers stress need for new energy supplies
by Mariette le Roux Sun Nov 18, 9:14 PM ET
KLEINMOND, South Africa (AFP) - Leaders of the world's 20 largest economies stressed on Sunday the need for new energy supplies as global economic growth continues to stumble over high oil prices.
The G20 represents nearly 90 percent of the world economy and two thirds of its population and trade.
It includes the wealthy G7 nations -- the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Britain and Canada -- as well as the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey.
Business to push carbon pricing at APEC
By MALCOLM FOSTER, AP Business Writer Tue Sep 4, 11:44 PM ET
SYDNEY, Australia - Pacific Rim business leaders say governments must make polluting more costly to businesses and make investing in expensive energy-efficient technologies more attractive if they want to reduce global warming.
That regional businesses are clamoring for government help represents a sea-change in business attitudes about global warming, environmental groups and other observers said.
Cloudy Germany unlikely hotspot for solar power
By
Erik Kirschbaum Sun Jul 29,
BONN, Germany (Reuters) - It rains year round in Germany. Clouds cover the skies for about two-thirds of all daylight hours. Yet the country has managed to become the world's leading solar power generator. "There has also been an enormous interest for solar power from the public in general," added Asbeck, who in 1988 started his Bonn-based company making and marketing PV products. Its 1,350 staff have doubled in number in the last two years.
There are now more than 300,000 photovoltaic systems in Germany -- the energy law had planned for 100,000. Spread out across the country, they are owned by legions of homeowners, farmers and small businesses who are capitalizing on the government-backed march into renewable energy. German battery could jump-start electric car production
by Lenaig Bredoux Sun Dec 9, 7:00 PM ET
FRANKFURT (AFP) - German cars are known for strength, speed and high fuel consumption, but a firm in eastern Saxony has designed a lithium-ion battery membrane that could finally make electric cars common. "The foundations have now been laid" for the building of electric cars that also deliver performance, he added.A spokesman for the German tool and auto parts company Bosch said:
"It's a step towards totally electric cars."
Photovoltaic solar power grows fast in Spain
By
Brandon Reed Wed Oct 10,
MADRID (Reuters) - Photovoltaic solar power plants are springing up throughout Spain, capitalizing on special tariffs for renewable energies and exceeding the government's expectations.
"It's an attractive business for financial entities and promoters," said Francisco Garcia, manager of Spanish electrical installation company Elecnor's photovoltaic department, which is setting up 80 MW of PV installations.
"The utility has the obligation of giving you a connection point to the grid."
PV cells produce electricity when struck by the sun.
Gilbert Cohen, Senior Vice President of Acciona Solar Power , which is developing a 46 MW plant in Portugal, speculated that much of PV's success had to do with more companies lobbying for incentives.
The prime minister said the government would spend an additional 200 million euros to improve energy efficiency in schools and other public buildings in towns and cities with a population of over 50,000 people.
European cities tackling climate change
By KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago
VAXJO, Sweden - When this quiet city in southern Sweden decided in 1996 to wean itself off fossil fuels, most people doubted the ambitious goal would have any impact beyond the town limits. A few melting glaciers later, Vaxjo is attracting a green pilgrimage of politicians, scientists and business leaders from as far afield as the United States and North Korea seeking inspiration from a city program that has allowed it to cut CO2 emissions 30 percent since 1993.
Europe photovoltaic capacity seen tripled by 2010
Mon
Sep 3,
MILAN (Reuters) - Installed capacity of photovoltaic systems, which turn sunlight into power, will triple by 2010 to 3 gigawatts (GW) in Europe due to efforts to fight climate change, the sector's industry association said. Sunny Italy, which lags behind Europe's solar energy leader Germany, plans to boost its photovoltaic energy capacity to 3,000 megawatts in 2016 from about 50 MW installed thanks to new incentives approved earlier this year Europe is the world's leader in renewable energy, with about half of all photovoltaic output produced there last year.
Singapore launches fund to for clean energy research
Tue Oct 30,
SINGAPORE (AFP) - The government said Tuesday it has earmarked 50 million Singapore dollars (34.5 million US) to fund research on clean energy, such as solar power, over the next five years.
Under the programme, Singapore-based local and foreign research and development organisations, public sector agencies, private firms and non-profit research laboratories are encouraged to bid competitively for funding.
The research should focus on "innovative and novel ideas" on clean energy and the proposed projects must have the potential to be turned into commercial ventures, the government's Economic Development Board (EDB) said.
Peres says Israel to focus on green energy
Tue Sep 18,
JERUSALEM (AFP) - President Shimon Peres touted Israel as a future think thank for solutions to global warming, quipping that the sun was a more reliable resource than oil from Saudi Arabia.
"We want to go from oil energy to solar energy. We feel that the sun is more reliable than the Saudis. The sun is more permanent, more democratic and... more objective,"
OPEC may like Congress
dithering over energy policy, but Americans deserve action now.
Tue Nov 27, 12:19 AM ET
In many ways, the United States is dependent on Saudi Arabia. Quite apart from the oil Americans consume so voraciously, the Saudis are essential to finding a solution in Iraq, to fighting the war onterrorism and, most immediately, to support today's Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md. The list goes on from there.
But weighty economic and diplomatic concerns shouldn't leave the United States mute about the case of a teenage Saudi girl who was gang raped.
"We recognize your contributions and value your lives. We will not allow this injustice and waste to continue. We will deliver."
US calls on OPEC to increase oil production
Tue Nov 13, 2:06 PM ET
ROME (AFP) - US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Tuesday upped the pressure on OPEC to help cool record oil prices as leaders from member countries of the exporters' cartel prepare to meet at a rare summit.
No need for more oil now, OPEC tells U.S
Nov 14, 2007 RIYADH (Reuters) - OPEC sees no need to increase oil production at the moment"As far as we are concerned, as far as fundamentals are concerned, there is really no reason for prices to go to $100.""We don't want to interfere with consumer countries' policy. If there is a shortage we want to see if we can supply that shortage," he said.
"We are frustrated with the idea that we have something to do with this (high oil prices)."
G8 must focus on energy, not just economy: Russia
By
Jeff Mason Tue May 29, 12:31 PM ET
The stock-market value of solar-energy companies has jumped globally from $4 billion in 2003 to $190 billion in 2007, said Jerry Karnas, a Florida director for the nonprofit group Environmental Defense, based in New York City.
But
Germany, Japan and California saw most of that investment.
"It's an absolute embarrassment
and missed opportunity for the Sunshine State to not get a piece of that,"
Karnas said.
"This is an opportunity to show solar works and send some strong market signals
that Florida is opening up to it."
Boosters say the project not only should pay for itself
in energy savings
and help curb global warming, but it also could prod politicians and investors to push solar power in a place that has largely ignored it:
the Sunshine State.
1957
AWWA Testifies Before House of Representatives on Carbon Sequestration
To: NATIONAL EDITORS
Contact: Greg Kail of the American Water Works Association, T: +1-303.734.3410, F: +1-303-734-3410, gkail@awwa.org
Testimony raises concerns about unproven technology
WASHINGTON, July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Don Broussard, water operations manager for Lafayette, La., Utilities System, today testified at a Congressional hearing on Geologic Carbon Sequestration (GCS) on behalf of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). The hearing was held by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
Broussards testimony raised serious concerns about the potential effect this unproven technology may have on our nations underground sources of drinking water. GCS is considered one option to prevent carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
Our overarching concern regarding geologic carbon sequestration is the potential contamination of underground sources of drinking water and other unintended and possibly harmful consequences, said Broussard in his testimony. AWWA is particularly concerned about the potential for contamination of sole source aquifers. These aquifers should be provided with special protective measures.
GCS threatens safe water supplies because contaminants released during the power generation process could be absorbed into previously-pristine aquifers during sequestration, rendering them unusable as a drinking water resource. GCS has not yet been proven through study and research, and many experts have raised concerns about the ability to safely contain carbon dioxide once it has been pumped underground.
Water chemistry in an underground setting is complex, Broussard noted in his testimony. We need to consider how geologic carbon sequestration could potentially release iron, manganese, arsenic, mercury, and possibly other inorganic substances into groundwater surrounding the injection zone.
Other issues raised in the testimony concerned undefined water rights between states sharing a single underground source of water and unresolved long-term liability/financial responsibility for sequestration sites.
AWWA offered several recommendations for Congress to consider, including: avoiding deploying commercial-scale GCS technology until the results of large-scale pilot projects by the U.S. Department of Energy have been reviewed by the agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; studying and using renewable/non-greenhouse gas producing power generation sources; improving and supporting water and energy conservation and efficiency programs; and studying alternative geo-engineering approaches to carbon dioxide destruction or immobilization.
AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond. AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. AWWA advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the entire water community. Through our collective strength we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment.
SOURCE American Water Works Association
Water Growth and Voters