‘Acknowledging the easing of the silicon shortage and an overall improvement in the sector, he [Hemlock Semiconductor VP Gary Homan] wondered about how the effect of price erosion will drive demand and how future costs may affect the expansion plans of some poly manufacturers. He believes that all of the extra capacity coming online—essentially a 100% pop over the past year, enough to support 10GW of solar production—is contributing to driving silicon costs closer to grid parity levels.’
News: ‘Climate & Energy’ Archive
Intersolar North America postscripts: Will there be enough polysilicon in 2012? – Photovoltaics International
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009North Carolina to Ban Mountaintop Wind? – Green Inc. Blog – NYTimes.com
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009‘A furious battle over the aesthetics of wind energy has erupted in North Carolina, where lawmakers are weighing a bill that would bar giant turbines from the state’s scenic western ridgelines.’
via North Carolina to Ban Mountaintop Wind? – Green Inc. Blog – NYTimes.com.
Massive glacier in sub-Antarctic island shrinks by a fifth – Yahoo! News
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009‘PARIS AFP – One of the biggest glaciers in the southern hemisphere shrivelled by a fifth in 40 years, French scientists said on Wednesday.’
via Massive glacier in sub-Antarctic island shrinks by a fifth – Yahoo! News.
U.S. top greenhouse gas emitter, counting imports | Reuters
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009‘OSLO (Reuters) – The United States is by far the biggest greenhouse gas emitter ahead of China if consumers in rich nations are given responsibility for energy used to make imported goods, a researcher said on Wednesday.’
via U.S. top greenhouse gas emitter, counting imports | Green Business | Reuters.
This analysis challenges China’s recently acquired position as the world’s greatest greenhouse gas emitter by shifting the focus from production to consumption. The article goes on to quote these statistics:
‘In the ranking of 73 nations, Americans have the biggest annual “carbon footprint” at the equivalent of 29 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, ahead of Australians on 21 tonnes and Canadians on 20 tonnes.
Each Chinese citizen in the survey, based on 2001 data, accounts for just 3.1 tonnes. Adjusted for China’s much bigger population, U.S. emissions were 7.9 billion tonnes and China’s 3.9 billion.’
Smart tech could save billions of liters of water | Reuters
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009‘LONDON Reuters – Americans can save some of the 225 billion gallons of water 852 billion liters wasted each year through over-watering by installing smart systems which deliver just the right amount of moisture.’
via Smart tech could save billions of liters of water | Green Business | Reuters.
This article goes on to include interesting factoids from a RiverNetwork.org report:
“U.S. water-related energy use is at least 521 million megawatt hours a year — equivalent to 13 percent of the nation’s electricity consumption,” said a River Network Carbon Footprint of Water report published in May.
“The carbon associated with moving, treating and heating water in the U.S. is at least 290 million tonnes a year.”
Environmental lawsuits filed against Amazon dam projects | Recharge
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009‘Three non-governmental organizations — Amigos da Terra Amazônia Brasileira, the ethno-environmental Kanindé defense association and the co-ordination of Brazilian Amazon indigenous organizations — have together filed two civil suits against Ibama, the Brazilian institute for the environment and natural renewable resources.’
U.S. says China must pay to cut greenhouse gases | Reuters
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009‘WASHINGTON Reuters – China and other developing nations must help “pay” for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Monday, backing off a recent statement that put a greater burden on the United States.’
via U.S. says China must pay to cut greenhouse gases | Green Business | Reuters.
For Cheap Clean Energy, Go Geothermal, Study Says | Greentech Media
Monday, July 20th, 2009‘The United States got about 2800 megawatts of geothermal energy in 2006, or 0.3 percent of the total. But it only costs 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour to make on average, according to DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy division – close to the ultra-cheap price of energy made from coal, but without coal power’s massive carbon emissions.’
via Greentech Media: For Cheap Clean Energy, Go Geothermal, Study Says.
Solar Goes Modular: GreenRay Raises $2M | Greentech Media
Monday, July 20th, 2009‘The Quercus Trust and 21Ventures said Wednesday they have invested $2 million in Westford, Mass.-based GreenRay, which is pairing solar panels with its microinverters to create AC solar panels.’
via Greentech Media: Solar Goes Modular: GreenRay Raises $2M.
True or False: China Will Be a Bigger Solar Market than the U.S. | Greentech Media
Monday, July 20th, 2009‘China, like the United States, seems ready to take off as a ravenous consumer of solar energy.
Earlier this week, China’s largest solar company, Suntech Power (NYSE: STP), said it had signed letters of intent to build four solar farms totaling 1.8 gigawatts for provincial and city governments in China.’
via Greentech Media: True or False: China Will Be a Bigger Solar Market than the U.S..