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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:May 11, 2005

News and Events DOE Funds Five Research Projects to Boost Mining Efficiency Washington State Adopts New Renewable Energy and Efficiency Laws Montana Laws Set Requirements for Renewable Energy and Ethanol Ormat Breaks Ground on New Geothermal Plant in California Large Wind Power Plant Moves Ahead in Idaho EPA: Ten U.S. Corporations to Cut Greenhouse Gases Energy ConnectionsStudies Find More Solar Energy Reaching Earth’s Surface News and EventsDOE Funds Five Research Projects to Boost Mining EfficiencyDOE announced last week its selection of five new projects to develop new mining technologies that will reduce energy use and lower costs. DOE will contribute nearly $1.88 million to the five projects, matched by $1.13 million from the private sector. The largest project is the development of an integrated data analysis system that aims to change the way mines measure, predict, control, and monitor their processes, with a goal of making the processes more efficient. The other four projects will investigate the use of high-pressure water jets for hard rock mining, develop a novel processing technology for dry coal, and evaluate two methods to remove water from wet slurries containing small particles of coal. See the DOE press release.Each year, nearly 47,000 pounds of materials […]

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Cape Wind Passes Regulatory Milestone

Marking a major milestone in the Cape Wind permitting process, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), the agency charged with ensuring a reliable energy supply at the least cost and environmental impact, voted to approve the interconnection of Cape Wind’s buried electric cables to the electric transmission system in Massachusetts. The Board’s vote today adopted the EFSB staff’s Tentative Decision issued in July, 2004 to approve Cape Wind’s electric transmission cable. The Tentative Decision states that, “the power from the wind farm is needed on reliability and economic grounds, and to meet the requirements of Massachusetts and regional renewable portfolio standards.” The vote follows a 32-month adjudicatory process that included 2,900 pages of transcripts and 932 exhibits. The EFSB report issued last July also stated the environmental benefits that Cape Wind would create, “Overall, the Siting Board concludes that the air quality benefits of the wind farm are significant, and important for Massachusetts and New England.” The controversial Cape Wind farm would be off-shore off the coast of Cape Cod, MA. Website: http://www.capewind.org     

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Carmanah Graduates to Tier 1 Status on TSX Venture Exchange

Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX Venture: CMH) achieved Tier 1 status on the TSX Venture Exchange. This reclassification recognizes the management experience and current financial strength of the Company. Said Art Aylesworth, Carmanah’s CEO, “This is another step in the maturing of the Company and confirms the overall strength of Carmanah’s business strategy.” The achievement of Tier 1 status follows the recent release of the Company’s December 31, 2004 audited year end results. Carmanah has maintained its annual growth rate of approximately 70% over recent years while retaining healthy average gross margins and record profitability. This increased status should ease Exchange procedures, and facilitate transaction approvals and reporting requirements, as well as allow more flexibility with respect to future financings. Carmanah manufactures proprietary LED-based lighting and illumination products for the public transit, marine, aviation, roadway, and industrial worksite and illuminated signage markets. The Company has more than 100,000 solar-powered LED lighting installations and 50,000 LED illuminated sign installations in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “CMH” and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol “QCX”. Website: [sorry this link is no longer available]     

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Oil and Food: A Rising Security Challenge

by Danielle MurrayFrom farm to plate, the modern food system relies heavily on cheap oil. Threats to our oil supply are also threats to our food supply. As food undergoes more processing and travels farther, the food system consumes ever more energy each year.The biggest political action individuals take each day is deciding what to buy and eat. Preferentially buying local foods that are in season can cut transport and farm energy use and can improve food safety and security. Buying fewer processed, heavily packaged, and frozen foods can cut energy use and marketing costs. Eating lower on the food chain can reduce pressure on land, water, and energy supplies.Fossil fuel reliance may prove to be the Achilles heel of the modern food system. Oil supply fluctuations and disruptions could send food prices soaring overnight. Decoupling the food system from the oil industry is key to improving food security.The U.S. food system uses over 10 quadrillion Btu (10,551 quadrillion Joules) of energy each year, as much as France’s total annual energy consumption. Growing food accounts for only one fifth of this. The other four fifths is used to move, process, package, sell, and store food after it leaves the farm. […]

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