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The LA Times has an article on a new report noting that wind power could meet the entire electricity demand in the US - Wind turbines could more than meet U.S. electricity needs, report says. Wind turbines off U.S. coastlines could potentially supply more than enough electricity to meet the nation's current demand, the Interior Department reported Thursday. Simply harnessing the wind in relatively shallow waters -- the most accessible and technically feasible sites for offshore turbines -- could produce at least 20% of the power demand for most coastal states, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, unveiling a report by the Minerals Management Service that details the potential for oil, gas and renewable development on the outer continental shelf. The biggest wind potential lies off the nation's Atlantic coast, which the Interior report estimates could produce 1,000 gigawatts of electricity -- enough to meet a quarter of the national demand.

Global wind capacity increased an estimated 27,051 megawatts in 2008, with cumulative installations up almost 29 percent. The United States led in new installations, surpassing Germany to rank first in wind energy cumulative capacity and electricity generation. Nearly 400,000 people are employed by the wind industry worldwide, though this number could slide in the near term due to project financing difficulties, particularly in the United States. A new snapshot of wind energy trends from Worldwatch Institute analyzes data since 1980 and reveals that for the first time last year, wind power represented Europe's leading source of new electric capacity (with 8,877 megawatts added), well ahead of natural gas at 6,939 MW and coal at 763 MW.

Large-scale solar power is beginning to take on the job of meeting the demands made by California's air conditioners for electricity. Pacific Gas & Electric and Brightsource Energy today announced they have expanded a series of solar power contracts for a total of 1,310 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 530,000 California homes during peak hours with energy from the Sun. Completion of the first project will nearly double the amount of solar thermal electricity produced in the United States.

Energy Intensive Sectors, IT Industry to Receive Recovery Act Funds WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $256 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency improvements in major industrial sectors across the American economy. The funding is targeted at reducing the energy consumption of America's manufacturing and information technology (IT) industries, while creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. These programs will help create manufacturing jobs quickly, along with jobs for technicians and experts who will be needed in the long-term to maintain and operate the new equipment. "Supporting the development of the latest industrial technologies plays an important role in helping U.S. industry to lead the world in energy efficiency and productivity," said Secretary Chu. "Working together with American manufacturing and IT industries, we will be able to create new jobs, reduce industrial energy use and limit damaging greenhouse gas emissions."

Basically, a cross between the convenience of grabbing a cab and a public bus; the podcars will be a component of Masdar City's public transportation system. As part of Masdar City's car-free design; these podcars will be part of a network of electric taxis without drivers (!). The first of these podcars (also known as personal rapid transit - PRT) are set to debut this year

I read U.S. opens way for wind power off coast and wondered "what's in it for me"? The federal government has cleared the way for developers to plant wind farms in offshore waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, a move that could have a significant impact for North Carolina. ... Eventually, the regulations could help shape energy production in North Carolina, where the Outer Banks jut sharply into the Atlantic. The area has some of the strongest and steadiest winds on the East Coast, according to a report from the U.S. Department of the Interior. ... In a scheme similar to some offshore oil and gas drilling leases, states would get about 27 percent of the revenue sent to the federal government from offshore wind and hydrokinetics leases.

The world is changing, including the way we travel from. There may come a time when everyone will be driving hybrid vehicles rather than ones that use gas, fast becoming a precious resource.

Battery switching technologies make it cheaper and easier to own an electric vehicle. Without the battery, the cost of an electric vehicle (EV) is comparable to that of a traditional car without the problems of oil, gas, and maintenance issues.

Gina Krog (formerly Dagny) oil and gas field is located in Blocks 15/5 and 15/6 of production licenses (PL) 303, PL 048, PL 029C and PL 029B of the North Sea, Norway. It lies in water depth of 120m about 10km away from the Sleipner West field.PL...

Pacific NorthWest liquefied natural gas (LNG) project is a new natural gas liquefaction and export facility proposed to be constructed in Lelu Island near the Port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia (BC). The project is operated by Pacific NorthWest LNG, a consortium comprised of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas 62%), Japan Petroleum Exploration Company (JAPEX 10%), PetroleumBRUNEI (3%), Indian Oil Corporation (10%) and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec 15%).

Petronas Floating Liquefied Natural Gas - 2 (PFLNG - 2) Project involves the installation of a new FLNG facility at the deepwater Rotan Gas field located in Block H within the South China Sea, offshore Sabah.