Why isn’t Florida
LEADING the WORLD
in solar energy production?

Because “Some People” are Pennywise and Future $tupid
H.R. 6 “CLEAN Energy Act of 2007”

A Vision for a Green Economy and Equitable Development

Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act
http://capwiz.com/y/issues/votes/?votenum=40&chamber=H&congress=1101
Vote Passed (264-163, 8 Not Voting)
This House bill is intended to encourage development of alternate sources of
energy.

We, the residents of Volusia County , said no twice
isn’t that special:)
Rep. Tom Feeney ( East Deltona ) voted NO
Rep. John Mica ( West Deltona ) voted NO

Meanwhile, in the summer of '06
in OUR Senate…

A modern 12 year old could understood more about America’s energy’s needs
then someone who was twelve in 1957

Senator Larry "footsie” Craig.

In case my Senators missed your diatribe in July and fail to respond, let me just say this:

The sun shines 70% of the time in Florida, The Sunshine State, and we would like to think of our coastline fossil fuels in terms of
“capital in the bank”
and/or saving something for our posterity, in the meantime

I am sure you will be supporting any and all efforts to get PV panels onto the ground here in the Sunshine State,

unlike some of our FL representatives

Thank You Senator Pete Domenici (who was 25 in 1957) the Ranking Member

110^th Congress Energy and Natural Resources Committee

for giving Republicans a voice and a chance to speak out regarding America’s Energy Challenges,

so sad for our Florida Senator who missed this opportunity,

we would have LOVED to hear his opinion.

The drilling fight came as Southern senators held up a vote??!!?? on a proposal to require utilities to generate 15% of their electricity from cleaner energy sources, such as the sun and wind, by 2020.
Senator Warner was 30 years old in 1957 Senator Dorgan, was 15 in 1957, from North Dakota, and Senator Craig, was 12 in 1957, cosponsored an amendment for production on the OCS

It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.

It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.

— Mark Twain

Despite boomers' claims of wanting to help society,

is it possible most would rather retire to a life of travel and golf?

Baby boomers could be blowing a lot of hot air.

I think whether they retreat into another round of selfishness or can respond to JFK's challenge

-- to ask not what the country can do for me

but what I can do for the country --

will have to do with whether we as a society call them up to a higher purpose.

"…there is nothing man can do to rebuild exhausted fossil fuel reserves. They were created by solar energy 500 million years ago and took eons to grow to their present volume. In the face of the basic fact that fossil fuel reserves are finite, the exact length of time these reserves will last is important in only one respect: the longer they last, the more time do we have, to invent ways of living off renewable or substitute energy sources and to adjust our economy to the vast changes which we can expect from such a shift. Fossil fuels resemble capital in the bank. A prudent and responsible parent will use his capital sparingly in order to pass on to his children as much as possible of his inheritance. A selfish and irresponsible parent will squander it in riotous living and not care one whit how his offspring will fare" "Energy resources and our future" - Admiral Hyman Rickover, 1957

The Library of Congress > THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions > Search Results H.R.3221 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House) DIVISION A--NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT TITLE I--GREEN JOBS Sec. 1001. Short title. Sec. 1002. Energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program. TITLE IV--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Subtitle A--Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Subtitle D--Solar Energy Part 1--Research and Advancement Sec. 4301. Short title. Sec. 4302. Definitions. Sec. 4303. Thermal energy storage research and development program. Sec. 4304. Concentrating solar power commercial application studies. Sec. 4305. Solar energy curriculum development and certification grants. Sec. 4306. Daylighting systems and direct solar light pipe technology. Sec. 4307. Solar Air Conditioning Research and Development Program. Sec. 4308. Photovoltaic demonstration program. Part 2--Development and Use of Solar Energy Products Sec. 4311. Definitions. Sec. 4312. Solar research and information program. Sec. 4313. Certification of organizations to nominate. Sec. 4314. Referendum. Sec. 4315. Refunds. Sec. 4316. Enforcement. Sec. 4317. Investigations. Sec. 4318. Administrative provision.

No to Solar and No to Clean-up

posted by Laura Flanders on 06/30/2008 @ 11:30pm

So much for the Government's much touted commitment to alternative energy. The New York Times reports that the Bush administration has placed a nearly two-year moratorium on the construction of new solar energy projects on public land. While the amount of oil drilling and gas drilling on public land has reached a new high -- the President approved a record 7,100 new licenses in 2007 alone --- the Bureau of Land Management is saying it needs until the spring of 2010 to study the environmental impact solar projects might have on land in Arizona, Nevada, California and other western states.

Meanwhile in other news, the Washington Post reports that the Defense Department is resisting orders to clean up Fort Meade, and two other military bases where "dumped chemicals pose an imminent threat to the public health and the environment." The Pentagon is also in violation of EPA orders to clean up twelve other military sites on the SuperFund list of most polluted spots. The Pentagon doesn't want to follow the law, and guess what, the EPA isn't going to push it. "Under executive branch policy, the EPA will not sue the Pentagon as it would a private polluter." According to the Post, military officials wrote to the DOJ last month to challenge the EPA's authority. And challenged it was.

Do you feel defended? Protected, Managed? I say it's time for some departmental renaming. What do you call a Defense Department that makes you sicker, an environmental protection agency that can't, and a bureau of Land Management that seems to care most about managing threats to the oil and gas industry. You can post your suggestions here.

The F Word is a daily commentary by Laura Flanders on GRITtv. Watch GRITtv on Free Speech TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415) or at GRITtv.org. And become a subscriber.

Tampa Bay Area House Members Unite Against Drilling Bill
Posted Jun 27, 2007 by Billy House, Tribune Washington Bureau
Updated Jun 27, 2007 at 06:50 PM

WASHINGTON – Tampa Bay area members of the U.S. House united to help defeat efforts to open up natural gas and oil exploration off the nation’s coastlines, including Florida’s, in votes Wednesday.

Republican Reps. John Mica of (Deltona)Winter Park and Dave Weldon of Palm Bay were the only Floridians who voted in favor; Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami did not vote.

“It was great to see members of Florida’s Congressional delegation,

Republicans and Democrats,

actively opposing these drilling amendments

What would the 2008 candidates

do to help "U.S."

recruit the high-tech businesses

the city once planned for the Activity Center?

"Technology for America's Economic Growth, A New Direction to Build Economic Strength."
Why isn’t Florida
The Sunshine State
LEADING the WORLD
in solar energy production?

Because

“Some People”
Pictured Left to Right:  Commissioner Janet Deyette, Commissioner Herb Zischkau, Vice Mayor Michael Carmolingo, Mayor Dennis Mulder,
Commissioner Zenaida Denizac, Commissioner Paul Treusch, and Commissioner Michele McFall-Conte

are

Pennywise and Future $tupid!
March 6, 2007

Weeks months or even YEARS later, people may not remember the source or specifics of a negative message

but they will remember there was something negative, she said.

Just who are they representing???

This is wrong.
This isn’t what we voted for in LAST TWO ELECTIONS!!!!

Mayor Mulder was born in Washington , N.C. on July 8, 1978 and is a graduate of Deltona High School

Gee I guess that explains

his lack of civic understanding and forward thinking,

when you have a history in used cars you do what you know instead of what you know is RIGHT

How sad for Deltona and her children and our expectations for change we had when we elected him.

DEE DEE DEE.

Why can't we all just get along?!?!!

With gasoline heading toward $100 a barrel

it is obvious that our city has its head up its arse

AND DOESN'T CARE WHAT IS DOES TO IT'S SISTER CITY!!!

"Maybe it's a

generational thing,

but there seem to be plenty of people

from world-class companies who

want to do something more meaningful

with their lives."

Lionel Fretz, the chief executive of Carbon Capital Markets

DON'T YOU THINK OUR WEST VOLUSIA FAMILY

SHOULD ACT LIKE ONE?

INSTEAD WE

"SWIPED OUR SISTER CITY"

OF THEIR BUSINESS!!!

WHY WOULD THEY LURE DeLAND NISSAN OUT OF DeLAND

WHEN THEY COULD HAVE HAD A NEW DEALERSHIP

AND

PARTNERED WITH:

January 07, 2008

Demand revs up for microcar

Daimler AG says orders for Smart Fortwo outpacing production capacity

WASHINGTON -- Thousands of motorists want to be among the first owners of the fuel-sipping Smart car in the United States, demand that is racing past production capacity.

Smart, which reaches U.S. dealerships this month, has received $99 deposits from more than 30,000 customers to reserve the two-seater and about nine in 10 are placing full orders, said Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche. More than 50,000 motorists have taken the tiny vehicle for a test drive at road shows around the country.

"We were totally amazed by the kind of reaction we got,"

Zetsche said at a breakfast with reporters. He declined to release the vehicle's 2008 sales projections in the U.S. but said the orders are "going far beyond the production capacity we have available for next year."

The 8-foot, 8-inch Smart Fortwo, which can park nose-to-curb, is being marketed toward urban drivers, college students and baby boomers who no longer need a big car.

Amid concerns about climate change, the company is testing a fleet of about 100 electric-drive Smart cars in London. Zetsche said

the company hopes to develop a similar partnership with a

U.S. city

(Could of/Should of/Would have been Deltona, Mr. Mayor and City Commission)

to study electric versions of the vehicle.

SWIPER, STOP SWIPING!!

VOLUSIA WATCH

Auto dealership to build in center

October 18, 2007

DELTONA - An auto dealership

DeLand Nissan:(

will be the first business to start construction within Deltona's section of the Southwest Activity Center ,

a roughly 1,800-acre parcel at Interstate 4 and State Road 472 that

county and city officials HAD envisioned as a hub for economic development.

The Library of Congress > THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions > Search Results

H.R.3221

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

DIVISION A--NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

TITLE I--GREEN JOBS

Sec. 1001. Short title.

Sec. 1002. Energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.

TITLE IV--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Subtitle A--Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

Subtitle D--Solar Energy

Part 1--Research and Advancement

Sec. 4301. Short title.

Sec. 4302. Definitions.

Sec. 4303. Thermal energy storage research and development program.

Sec. 4304. Concentrating solar power commercial application studies.

Sec. 4305. Solar energy curriculum development and certification grants.

Sec. 4306. Daylighting systems and direct solar light pipe technology.

Sec. 4307. Solar Air Conditioning Research and Development Program.

Sec. 4308. Photovoltaic demonstration program.

Part 2--Development and Use of Solar Energy Products

Sec. 4311. Definitions.

Sec. 4312. Solar research and information program.

Sec. 4313. Certification of organizations to nominate.

Sec. 4314. Referendum.

Sec. 4315. Refunds.

Sec. 4316. Enforcement.

Sec. 4317. Investigations.

Sec. 4318. Administrative provision.

DON'T YOU THINK OUR WEST VOLUSIA FAMILY

SHOULD ACT LIKE ONE?

Pennywise Future $tupid

Representative Tom Price R-GA was just a wee three in 1957, how many sheep followed him and his amendment off the cliff? 158 sheep baaaaacked him or should I say, stood behind him, you know

Thankfully for the rest of us

Scientists and Engineers won the vote on his amendment today

How about those Southern Reps like Lynn Westmoreland who was but seven in ’57?? You have got to catch this guy speaking in OUR House regarding water/energy issues- What a crack up!!! Can you say crumbling infrastructure???

It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.

It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. — Mark Twain

Blast shows age of U.S. infrastructure

When Cities Break Down

By BRENDAN LOWE/NEW YORK Fri Jul 20, 2:15 AM ET

"Out of sight, out of mind is a real accurate way to look at how city funds are spent." Until something dramatic happens. Says LeClair of Boston University:

"Often times these events can be helpful in getting people to take action."

With reporting by Madison Gray
View this article on Time.com

Wed 2/7/2007 5:51 AM

Dearest County of Volusia

Before Mr. Mulder ran for mayor I had discussed with him the possibility of creating a city wide solar incentive.  After he was elected, I met with him, March 6, 2006 to discuss how he was going to implement either a position within the city for staff to help the citizens apply for PV and/or requirements for any new building in Deltona to be as green as possible. 

Then I waited, and waited and waited and finally regained his attention.

After attending the funeral of a 14 year old who died within the "landscaping zone" on Howland I wanted to find out how much said landscaping had cost us. Not just in the human toll but in actual tax dollars.
If the city and county can spend our money on vanity issues, then why can't they help us with incentives to reduce our carbon footprint?
On my site, www.deltonavotes.org you will find all the links you need for helping us reduce our carbon footprint as well as lowering our monthly bills (click on West Volusia Alternative Energy Showcase). Having a position at the county to assist all of our citizens with applying for the state incentives would be of great value.  This isn't brain science but it can be intimidating to start with.

Doesn't "The West Volusia Alternative Energy Showcase" have a nice ring to it? 

Wouldn't we like to see more female and/or male engineers in our side of the county?

Moms and dads in West Volusia want their children to be able to work and live within Volusia,

and reducing their carbon footprints,

with the help of the government,

is the first place to start, IMHO. 

Having all the school buses run on biodiesel would have a tremendous benefit on their budgets as well as the health benefits for our kids not having to choke down that diesel everyday.  It would also be a great learning tool. 

I wish Volusia County could be the leader in converting Florida school buses it would be a great core business in our Showcase. 

Maybe DBCC could offer classes on converting vehicles to biodiesel,

installing solar PV and green building techniques.

Please send someone to help us brainstorm on March 6, 2007.  I know the folks in this government, and their dedication to the people and the land.  If we can get Deltona to focus on commercial development along the I-4 corridor they may stop getting letters from the state asking them to "rethink" the 415 sprawl as well as the Leffler project. 

Speaking of the Leffler project- if they do develop that are they going to hook up to sewer

 or will those new homes just be allowed to poop in our watershed? 

The rest of Deltona needs to be connected to sewer first, IMHO.

Peace

www.deltonavotes.org

March 26, 2007

The 28-year-old announced in a city newsletter this month
Mulder says he'd like to see an upscale outlet mall?????!!!!!

He'd like high-end (RETAIL) stores such as Armani to open there

so he doesn't have to drive

to Orlando.
"I have a whole closet of Armani T-shirts for $10,"

he said.

"I wear nice things, but I don't like to pay [a lot of money]."

The city hired a consultant earlier this year to see whether Deltona would be a good spot.

I will be a very unattractive bald man," he said.

We'll have the camera ready!

March 6, 2007

Hey Mr. Mayor,

While you are sporting your new Armani’s and driving your fancy sports car with your bald head you might want to think about the parents who want/NEED decent employment and lower energy costs!!!!

Get a clue, you have a city on the financial edge, (Can you say sub-prime lenders?) yet are vain enough to “want” us to accept your vision of more of the same crap development that has gotten us into this mess!!

This is NOT innovative Mr. Mayor, why are more crap jobs in West Volusia for your constituents so vital to your soul? Is it just so you can save a little money on your fancy shirts??!!!!

What about us, Mr. Mayor?

Don’t the Parents of the children in “YOUR CITY” deserve better then this, or do you folks in City Hall think we are not watching or don’t care?

DeltonaVotes

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY BECAUSE ALL POLITICS

IS LOCAL

Solar Energy:
An Economic Inevitability Founded in 2003,

the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development is a US-based non-profit focusing on collecting and disseminating information on all types of technology and processes used in promoting global economic, industrial, and societal sustainable development.

Oil giant Saudi

to become solar power centre - oil minister

Isn't that Special......

Unregulated energy markets are an international Wild West of speculative gambling

Wed Jan 2, 2008 4:22 PM ET

Energy Traders Get Their Manufactured $100-Oil Dream,

Consumers Brace for $4.00 Gasoline

While our Florida politicians,

Martinez,

Mica and Feeney,

are wimping out on

solar/alternative energy

Thompson doesn't rule out Everglades oil drilling

Fred Thompson was just a young lad in 1957, he probably never even heard of Admiral Hyman Rickover much less the concept of a finite resource, after all he was just a teenager back then with more important things to worry about then America’s posterity

If Congress and the Bush administration

dont act now

to regulate energy markets,

they are throwing ordinary consumers and the national economy

to the speculative wolves,

said Dugan, research director of FTCR and its

OilWatchdog.org project. .

Regulation is only a balancing of the power of unscrupulous speculators against the good of the citizenry.

Department of Defense Contractors Arrested and Charged

With Conspiring to Steal Information

on Fuel Supply Contracts

The Week before Christmas, in OUR House and Senate.....

$$$$$unpaid royalties$$$$$

"Unintended"

Loophole in Energy Bill

will cost the Nation's solar industry plenty

but Senators and OUR Deltona's Representatives want to keep it-

intentionally this time!!!!!

• Interior Official Steps Down After Report of Rules Violation (May 2, 2007)
• Ex-Auditor Says He Was Told to Be Lax on Oil Fees (March 29, 2007)
• Report Says Interior Official Overrode Work of Scientists (March 29, 2007)
• Another Energy Inquiry On Royalties Collection (February 16, 2007)

The investigation grew out of the discovery that a loophole in leases

signed by the Clinton administration in 1998 and 1999

had allowed oil companies to duck royalties due on oil drilled on

federal lands.

Top officials at the agency also

seemed more concerned about the fortunes of the industry they were supposed to regulate than

those of the federal government.

In one case turned up by Mr. Devaney, officials decided it would impose a “hardship” on oil companies to

demand that they calculate the back interest

they owed.

Officials were also said

to have blocked efforts

by four departmental auditors to recover

the

(READ$$$$OUR$$$$)

$$$$$unpaid royalties.$$$$$

"Unintended"

Loophole in Energy Bill

will cost the Nation's solar industry plenty

but Senators want to keep it-

intentionally this time!!!!!

House seeks tax incentives for renewable energy

By Chris Baltimore Tue Dec 4, 12:21 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the House of Representatives want to include provisions in pending energy legislationthat would strip about

$21 billion

in tax subsidies from oil and gas companies

and

put them toward subsidies for renewable energy sources

like wind and solar.

"As leaders meet in Bali, Al Gore has sent a message that

America is prepared to show real leadership

in combating climate change.

Just last week, the House passed a sweeping energy bill

that included a historic increase in fuel efficiency standards.

Though Republicans in the Senate have blocked action on this legislation, we will continue to work in a bicameral, bipartisan basis to pass a strong energy bill that addresses the climate crisis.

The Library of Congress > THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions > Search Results

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats are (WERE) calling the White House's bluff on a threatened veto of an energy bill by refusing to take out language that would remove

"tax breaks"

(READ-unintentional loopholes signed by Clinton )

for big oil and gas companies.

The legislation's tax package is opposed by the White House, in part because it would end for big companies a tax deduction (READ-unintentional loophole signed by Clinton ) for domestic oil and gas production and also limit the ability of companies to claim foreign tax credits on their foreign oil and gas extraction income.

"This is an opportunity for Republicans

to stand with Americans

who are paying more than ever at the pump,

instead of with the big oil companies

who are raking in record profits"

By the end of the month, the EPA could announce findings that would require it to crack down on emitters of greenhouse gases, says a source familiar with discussions between the White House and EPA.

That may explain why the White House threatened last Friday to veto the energy bill unless it contained a seemingly minor provision to give the Department of Transportation (DOT) authority over auto fuel-economy standards rather than the Environmental Protection Agency. But the language would have effectively stripped the EPA of all authority to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions, thus nullifying the high court's decision in April.

NEVERMIND,

Senate Democrat (Harry -the developer- Reid) lose backbone

ONCE AGAIN

US Democrats "compromise"(READ LOSE SPINE)to get support for energy bill

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Senate Democrats stripped Thursday two key provisions from a sweeping energy bill

aimed at reducing US reliance on foreign oil

in order to gain support from the Republican minority.

The measure was approved Thursday with strong bipartisan support 86-8 after

Democrats abandoned efforts to impose billions of dollars in new taxes on the biggest oil companies,

unable by one vote to overcome a Republican filibuster against the new taxes.

Tax breaks for a wide range of clean energy industries, including wind, solar, biomass

and carbon capture from coal plants, were part of the tax package that was dropped.

• Interior Official Steps Down After Report of Rules Violation (May 2, 2007)
• Ex-Auditor Says He Was Told to Be Lax on Oil Fees (March 29, 2007)
• Report Says Interior Official Overrode Work of Scientists (March 29, 2007)
• Another Energy Inquiry On Royalties Collection (February 16, 2007)

EDITORIAL

Our position: Without tough restrictions, region will never conserve enough water

Ex-oil exec says he paid Alaska lawmaker

ANCHORAGE , Alaska - The former head of an oil field service company admitted Thursday in court that he bribed three Alaska legislators, including the son of a U.S. senator who is the target of a federal investigation.

VECO's business is providing engineering and construction services for oil companies; it does not do home construction.

Alaska trial hints at more politics-oil corruption

By Yereth Rosen Tue Sep 25, 8:20 PM ET

ANCHORAGE , Alaska (Reuters) - The trial of an Alaska politician found guilty of taking bribes from the oil industry has offered a glimpse into more widespread corruption in the state's government.

Details emerged in the trial of former state House Speaker Pete Kott about oil-friendly legislators who dubbed themselves the "Corrupt Bastards Club" and secretly taped booze-soaked hotel conversations showing how leaders of the state's biggest oil-services company used their clout to manipulate Alaska politics.

EDITORIAL

Take big steps

Our position: Congress can't accept modest progress in energy measure.

July 10, 2007

There's a bipartisan proposal to raise standards to 35 mpg by 2018 -- a goal the National Academy of Sciences has found could be reached without sacrificing performance or safety. More than 140 members -- regrettably, none from Central Florida -- have co-sponsored this initiative.

Another proposal with bipartisan backing also deserves to be added to the House energy plan. It would require utilities by 2020 to generate 20 percent of their electricity from cleaner renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. Only the opposition of a determined Republican minority in the Senate kept a similar provision out of its plan.

So far, Democrat Corrine Brown is the only member representing Central Florida to co-sponsor the House proposal for a renewable energy target. More members from the region need to follow her good example.

OPEC may like Congress/FLORIDA dithering over energy policy, but Americans deserve action now.

EDITORIAL

Keeping OPEC happy

Our position: Oil at $80 a barrel should be enough to get Congress moving on energy.

September 19, 2007

The Senate plan would raise fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, eventually cutting U.S. oil consumption by more than 1 million barrels a day. The House plan would require utilities to generate more power from renewable sources, reducing the emissions behind global warming. Both provisions need to become law.

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. (ANNE SMITH)

It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." — Mark Twain

FYI

Someone needs to "EDUCATE" ANNE SMITH and the "Good ole Boys" in

"her chamber":

The sun shines 70% of the time in Florida

and.........

"As we all know, Florida is one of the sunniest places in America,

but this is the sort of thing,

if they can prove it works(??!!??),

it can be done in sunny places all over the world,"

Clinton said.

OH NOOOOooooo!!!

About a decade ago,

while "Mr. Bill",

aka former President Clinton,

was "BUSY" breaking his vows to his wife YET again...

Our local Elected leaders hatched plans for transforming about

1,800 acres along Interstate 4 in southwest Volusia County

Instead of drawing big firms offering high-end salaries, the first piece of the Southwest Activity Center calls for a grocery store, car dealership, retail anchor, movie theater and other businesses on 150 acres in Deltona

Since our city/county/federal leadership has shown no backbone to the “good ole boys” at this point we can only pray that the dealership will bring us some of these.

"Bin Laden hates this car."

You can’t look at Phoenix Motorcars’ electric sport utility truck without thinking it’s sort of cute. The lines are clean, it has four doors and five-passenger seating, and of course there’s that handy integrated pickup bed. Plus – and here’s the clincher it’s electric.

Massive Spanish-German solar project enters second phase

Wed Jul 11, 3:28 PM ET

The companies said they were investing 260 million euros (360 million dollars) in "the largest solar power plant in the world", a solar thermal facility that is to cover 195-hectares (480 acres). According to the German firm, the second phase of the Andasol-2 project will come online in early 2009 and supply "environmentally-friendly solar electricity to as many as 200,000 people."

Photovoltaic solar power grows fast in Spain

"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.

Senator Flips Drilling Vote

Skip directly to the full story.

By BILLY HOUSE The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 22, 2007

Clarifying Martinez's position on the issue remains important.

That's because Warner's amendment - and other proposals to expand offshore drilling still percolating in Congress - would reach beyond Virginia's coastal areas and carry implications for states along the nation's coasts.

Four of Warner's other fellow Republicans from coastal states joined Martinez and 37 Democrats and two independents in opposing the measure.

"Luckily, he changed in mid-vote," Murphy said.

Needing 60 votes, Warner lost 43-44.

Energy lobbyists said the bill, which now will be combined with other energy legislation in the House, would restrict domestic energy production. Environmentalists said it restores a balance between energy development and protecting public lands.

Al Gore to Advise Kleiner Perkins on Green Ventures

Edward Evans Mon Nov 12, 11:04 AM ET

Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Al Gore, the former U.S. vice president who won a Nobel peace price for his global warming campaign, will join venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to find investments in green business.

``Gore will help innovators and entrepreneurs accelerate their business, technology and policy solutions for the most critical problem of our time,'' Doerr said in the statement.

Kleiner will draw on Generation's research into green investment targets.

Venture firms like Kleiner are boosting clean and renewable energy investments

as governments try to cut fossil-fuel emissions.

Founded in 1972,

Kleiner unveiled plans nine months ago to ramp up investments in environmentally friendly technologies

such as solar power.

The firm, based in Menlo Park, California, also started the Greentech Innovation Network, a group of entrepreneurs, investors and academics who discuss and promote emerging energy technologies and policies.

Green investments almost doubled in North America to $3 billion in 2006 from $1.6 billion in 2005, according to CleanTech Venture Network LLC, a research firm in Brighton, Michigan.

He follows former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who joined Kleiner Perkins as a part-time adviser two years ago.

To contact the reporter on this story: Edward Evans in London at at eevans3@bloomberg.net

Report Urges U.S. to Pursue Space-Based Solar Power

Brian Berger
Space News Staff Writer
SPACE.com 23 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon-chartered report urges the United States to take the lead in developing space platforms capable of capturing sunlight and beaming electrical power to Earth.

Space-based solar power, according to the report, has the potential to help the United States stave off climate change and avoid future conflicts over oil by harnessing the Sun's power to provide an essentially inexhaustible supply of clean energy.

The report, "Space-Based Solar Power as an Opportunity for Strategic Security," was undertaken by the Pentagon's National Security Space Office this spring as a collaborative effort that relied heavily on Internet discussions by more than 170 scientific, legal, and business experts around the world. The Space Frontier Foundation, an activist organization normally critical of government-led space programs, hosted the website used to collect input for the report.

Speaking at a press conference held here Oct. 10 to unveil the report, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Paul Damphousse of the National Space Security Space Office said the six-month study, while "done on the cheap," produced some very positive findings about the feasibility of space-based solar power and its potential to strengthen U.S. national security.

"One of the major findings was that space-based solar power does present strategic opportunity for us in the 21st century," Damphousse said. "It can advance our U.S. and partner security capability and freedom of action and merits significant additional study and demonstration on the part of the United States so we can help either the United State s develop this, or allow the commercial sector to step up."

Oil & Gas

Surging oil prices give oil-related studies new life

Midland Reporter-Telegram

10/01/2007

Shell's former chairman, Lord Oxburgh, has said oil may move toward $150 per barrel in the coming years because the industry has its head "in the sand" regarding the depletion of supplies.

His comments were made to The Independent ahead of his talks before the Association for the Study of Peak Oil. Oxburgh's primary concern is that oil demand will continue to outpace supply, causing prices to spike, thereby, supporting alternative fuel projects solely on the basis of price.

We feel another, more immediate issue facing the oil industry is the imminent retirement of a major portion of an aging work force. But for this, it appears help is already on the way.

The University of Texas and Texas A&M will graduate 8 percent more petroleum engineers in 2008. This year 213 students are expected to finish their coursework. Both students and faculty suggest surging oil prices have given oil-related studies renewed life.

- Last week the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent. The oil market took the news as bullish, speculating a rate cut will support the economy, bolster growth, and subsequently increase energy demand.

The rally we've seen since late-August may have been pricing in a larger than discounted cut. It will be interesting to see in coming sessions whether the focus returns to the fundamentals or if the momentum continues to gain strength.

- Shell and Saudi Arabia have agreed to spend $7 billion in order to more than double the size of their Port Arthur, TX refinery. The expansion will be the largest seen in the U.S. in over 30 years and will make the Motiva refinery the largest in the United States; capable of processing 600,000 barrels per day of crude oil.

- A 50 million gallon ethanol plant may use up to 150 million gallons of water annually. Because of that, numerous Corn Belt towns are becoming increasingly conscious of the placement of the plants.

- According to Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, China and Russia are spying on the United States nearly as much as efforts seen during the Cold War. His comments were prepared for a hearing on the government's eavesdropping power.

- The Wall Street Journal reports Congress is moving towards phasing out the conventional light bulb over seven years. The hope is the shift would save energy and reduce emissions. Florescent bulbs are more costly up front, but they cost less to use over their lifetime.

- The solar power industry is estimated to be growing at a pace upwards of 45 percent annually. This growth will likely lead to solar power generation overtaking the semiconductor industry as the primary user of polysilicon.

- In Mexico, following three months of debate, their congress has approved a tax reform bill that will increase the funding for state oil company PEMEX by $2.7 billion next year. PEMEX has struggled to increase production and offset declining rates of production at the giant Cantarell field. PEMEX finances roughly 40% of all government spending.

- The Texas Traffic Institute's urban mobility report claims drivers across the U.S. wasted 4.2 billion hours sitting in traffic during 2005. According to the report, "Too many people, too many trips over too short a time period on a system that is too small."

We tend to think one of the smarter ways for the U.S. to cut fuel consumption would be to travel smarter. For instance, have employers use more flextime so they don't have to sit in traffic. Additionally, allowing employees to telecommute may improve congestion issues.

- In California, a federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by California's attorney general against six automakers. The lawyer sought hundreds of millions of dollars for the automakers damaging the state with greenhouse gases.

- According to E&Y consultants, the U.S. is the world's most attractive destination for new biofuels investment. The Biofuels Country Attractiveness Indices ranked 15 nations according to infrastructure and ethanol and biodiesel investment. The U.S. topped Brazil, Germany, France, and Spain in the top five.

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Portions of this article were produced on Sept. 14th - 19th 2007 by Eric Wittenauer, Energy Futures Analyst, Global Investment Strategy A.G. Edward & Sons, Inc. Its publication is a collaborative effort and the information is obtained from sources considered reliable, however accuracy is not guaranteed by A.G.E. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results and additional information is available upon request (432)684-7335.

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