Energy C2C Create 2 Consume

U.S. Clean Energy Needs Private Funding as Stimulus Wanes

U.S. renewable energy developers will need to find new sources of funding after incentives backed by federal stimulus programs wind down, according to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Renewable energy companies have received more than $65 billion in tax credits, grants and loans offered through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the research company said today in a statement.

“Nearly all of those stimulus funds have now been deployed,” BNEF said. “Unless the private sector steps into the breach with substantial new investment, project development will slow.”

One important incentive that’s set to end Dec. 31 is the U.S. Treasury Department’s 1603 cash grant program, which repays developers for 30 percent of projects’ costs.

“Financing for the U.S. renewable sector will look quite different in 2012, compared to the past three years, once the cash grant is gone, but different does not mean dead,” Michel Di Capua, BNEF’s head of North America analysis in New York, said in the statement.

Renewable energy projects will still be eligible for tax credits and large public companies seeking to reduce their tax burdens may become a new source of investments, the report said. The 500 largest U.S. public companies paid $137 billion in taxes in the last year, according to BNEF.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/u-s-clean-energy-needs-private-funding-as-stimulus-wanes.html

The Oil Industry Can Save America — If Washington Lets It

America at the end of WWII produced 60 percent of all the petroleum in the world. In fact, its status as the chief exporter of oil (the United States produced much more than the consumer and war economies needed) was a salient factor in the American victory. Interestingly, at one point the nation produced so much oil and gas that natural gas was “flared” or burned away because it was not economical to transport it. Once, in the lifetime of many Americans, filling stations engaged in “price wars” and sold gas at or near cost to consumers.

Abundant energy has been vital to American prosperity. Coal mines a short train ride from Pittsburgh and iron transported by freighters out of Duluth to ports on Lake Erie made Pittsburgh into the most efficient producer of high quality steel in the world, although other cities such as Birmingham and Bethlehem competed against Pittsburgh.

A few years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that Bakken has between four and five billion barrels of oil. Hamm thinks this estimate is extremely conservative: “No way. We estimate that the entire filed, fully developed, in Bakken is 24 billion barrels.”

But even if the price plummets to $60 a barrel, the value of this oil field could easily be $1.5 trillion.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/commentary-mainmenu-43/9254-the-oil-industry-can-save-america-if-washington-lets-it

Support Anna Hazare: Switch off lights between 8 and 9 pm on 15th August

It is time for all of us citizens to contribute in whatever little way we can in this fight against corruption being led by the elderly 74 year old ex-soldier Anna Hazare.

As a token or gesture of our support to this anti-corruption movement, Anna has requested his fellow countrymen to switch of the lights at their homes/offices between 8 pm and 9 pm on 15th August night. I and all my friends and relatives will do that. May I request all fellow Jatlanders to do the same, whichever part of India they live in.

Even a small gesture counts a lot and will go a long way. Kindly spread the message through sms and emails to all your acquantances.

http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?32244-Support-Anna-Hazare-Switch-off-lights-between-8-and-9-pm-on-15th-August

Government plans major steps to save 30% energy

The officials were confident that the state can conserve 20-30 per cent energy through energy conservation methods that were not only economically viable but also remain environmental-friendly.

Energy consumption has been increasing by 10 per cent every year. As a result, the gap between demand and supply has remained constant with about 10 per cent deficit in peak hours.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/government-plans-major-steps-to-save-30-energy/175377-60-121.html

Energy-saving light bulbs leap in price

The cost of energy saving light bulbs is rising sharply ahead of the European Union ban on the traditioanl 60-watt bulbs.

at the end of this month, comes the biggest reform of all, when all production of basic 60-watt light bulbs will cease.

Once stocks run out, householders will have to rely on low-energy Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) instead.

And with just weeks to go before the September 1 switch date, consumers have suffered another blow: the cost of CFLs is soaring.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/businessandecology/energyefficiency/8699771/Energy-saving-light-bulbs-leap-in-price.html

Key initiatives realise energy savings at DUBAL

“In terms of the four ‘quick wins’ for energy conservation identified by the SCE, DUBAL has fully implemented the directive to set air-conditioning thermostats to 24°C during working hours and 27°C outside working hours; as well the directive to turn off all non-essential lights after working hours,

http://www.albawaba.com/key-initiatives-realise-energy-savings-dubal-388158