Group items tagged

Now they have developed the ideas in a new book, "Break Through:From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of the Possible," which subordinates regulation and carbon-trading to massive government investment on a scale of Apollo, the Manhattan Project, not to mention Iraq.

CSEM, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, has signed a contract with the government of the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to develop a prototype of a “Solar Island”. The aim of the project is to validate a concept for the large-scale transformation of solar energy into hydrogen and electricity at very low cost. It is funded by 5 mio US$ by the Gouvernment of Ras al Khaimah. The plan is to build large “Solar Islands” floating in the sea. These giant floating islands will be fitted with solar panels which will convert solar energy into electricity and/or hydrogen. A prototype of such a solar island, equipped with thermal solar panels, is to be built and tested in the desert of the United Arab Emirates.

With the UN Bali conference drawing closer, steelmakers have called on governments to adopt a sector-specific approach to tackling CO2 emissions from the iron and steel industry, saying "regional policies" such as the EU-ETS only shift the problem to Asian countries, where environmental rules are less stringent

In a speech this week, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke announced New Zealand's intention to commit to 90% renewable electricity by 2025, according to a press release issued by the New Zealand government. The country already uses 70% renewable electricity, primarily hydro- and geothermal power and will continue to increase its use of renewables over the next 20 years. 

All high-energy light bulbs will be removed from sale in Britain within four years under a pioneering deal between the Government and major retailers.Bulbs rated at 150 watts will be taken off the shelves as early as January under the voluntary agreement launched yesterday by a string of high street names.Millions of 100-watt bulbs will be removed a year later, with all incandescent lights phased out by 2011, under the timetable agreed by the stores.

New regulations governing the connection of distributed generation to lines company networks came into effect on 30 August 2007.

BEIRUT: Heavy spending on electricity continues to drain the financial resources of the government, which cites the sector as a major contributor to the overall budget deficit - which reached 26.41 percent of spending (or LL1.919 trillion) in the first seven months of 2007, an increase of 2.74 percent compared to the same period of 2006.

Under current law, from 1 April 2013 lines companies will no longer be statutorily required to provide a connection to remote rural, or any, customers. The most likely consequence is that, as lines become damaged after weather events or generally become unusable, supply will either be terminated or the cost to consumers in remote rural areas will increase significantly.

The Government has reduced electricity connection charges for rural areas by more than half, aiming to spur growth of small business and boost living standards.

The British government plans to build a wave farm off the Cornish coast that could supply electricity for 7,500 homes.

For all the talk and hype about clean coal, this is a prime example of the risks and high costs associated with such a project, and the fact that government -- while they make good speeches about the potential of "clean coal" -- aren't prepared to put their money behind it

Utilities to Use Renewable Power Sources function getSharePasskey() { return 'ex=1344052800&en=d63cdcfa40d96b86&ei=5124';} function getShareURL() { return encodeURIComponent('http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/washington/05energy.html'); } function getShareHeadline() { return encodeURIComponent('Energy Bill Adopted by House Requires Utilities to Use Renewable Power Sources'); } function getShareDescription() { return encodeURIComponent('Utilities would be required to produce 15 percent of their electricity from sources like wind and solar power. President Bush has promised a veto.'); } function getShareKeywords() { return encodeURIComponent('Electric Light and Power,Law and Legislation,Conservation of Resources,Politics and Government,Nancy Pelosi'); } function getShareSection() { return encodeURIComponent('washington'); } function getShareSectionDisplay() { return encodeURIComponent('Washington'); } function getShareSubSection() { return encodeURIComponent(''); } function getShareByline() { return encodeURIComponent('By JOHN M. BRODER'); } function getSharePubdate() { return encodeURIComponent('August 5, 2007'); }

China was late to join the race to develop novel rare earth materials, elements that are essential constituents of everything from iPods to Patriot missiles. But Western observers agree that China is catching up fast in areas such as fuel cells and magnetic refrigeration. Today, about three-quarters of the world's neodymium magnets are made in China. Domestic industrial demand is rising: Last year, China consumed 60% of all processed rare earths. That unnerves some industry analysts and U.S. legislators, who have expressed concern about China's dominance of the rare earth supply. Last year, China satisfied 95% of global demand—now about 125,000 tons per year—and holds more than half of all proven reserves. In 2005, prices started creeping up when China began to limit production and slap export tariffs on some rare earths. In a policy paper last month, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology floated the idea of prohibiting export of three scarcer rare earths: europium, terbium, and dysprosium. If the Chinese government were to implement such a policy, it would be a big problem for other countries.