Japan radiation leak evokes Three Mile Island

The radiation leak in Japan immediately recalls memories of accidents at the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island power stations, and how it unfolds will be a critical test for international acceptance of nuclear energy. The Fukushima incident, brought on by the biggest earthquake ever recorded in Japan, took a turn for the worse on Saturday after a blast... 

Progress Energy CEO Johnson Urges Flexibility and Customer Protection in Implementing EPA Rules

The U.S. electric utility industry faces an “unprecedented convergence of new federal environmental rules – unprecedented in scope of change and compression of deadlines,” Progress Energy Chairman, President and CEO Bill Johnson told utility regulators Monday in Washington. And the “current fragmented approach, coupled with rapid-compliance... 

Conduit Capital to Build $127 Million Power Plant in Jamaica

Conduit Capital Partners LLC, a private equity investment firm focused on energy infrastructure investment and development in Latin America and the Caribbean, today announced that it will build a $127 million power plant in West Kingston, Jamaica. The thermal power plant, which will initially run on oil but can also be fitted to run on natural gas,... 

Masdar Set to Capitalise on International Adoption of Renewable Energy

Masdar chief executive Dr. Sultan Al Jaber announced that Masdar, a multi-faceted future energy initiative wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company, is well-positioned to capitalise on the “undeniable momentum and long term viability” of renewable energy technology in his keynote speech at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Dr.... 

Verenium Announces First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Project

Verenium Corporation, a pioneer in the development of next-generation cellulosic ethanol and high-performance specialty enzymes, announced plans to build its first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Highlands County, Florida. The Company has entered into long-term agreements with Lykes Bros. Inc., a multi-generation Florida agri-business... 

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Completes Solar Installation at Valley Center Municipal Water District

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp., developer and marketer of proprietary high-horsepower solar systems, announced that it has completed installation of a 1.1 MW solar power system for the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) of Valley Center, California. The system, which was financed and will be owned, operated, and maintained by... 

State of Illinois, FutureGen Partners Highlight Significant Progress and Unwavering Commitment to Bring Project Home to Mattoon

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin today assembled national, state and local partners to announce new developments in the state’s effort to secure the landmark FutureGen clean energy project. The progress report included new geophysical data that confirm the suitability of the Mattoon host site to securely... 

IFQC Ranks Top 100 Countries by Gasoline Benzene Standards; U.S. Ranks 67th

The International Fuel Quality Center (IFQC) has ranked the top 100 countries based on benzene content standards in gasoline; Colombia came in first with the earliest implementation of the lowest benzene limits. Following in second and third were Canada and Luxembourg, respectively. Benzene is found naturally in crude oil and thus passes into refined... 

CleanTech Biofuels Enters Into Alliance Discussions for Expansion Into France

CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. announces that it has begun exploring opportunities to implement its technology in France with the assistance of the French government economic development arm, the Invest in France Agency. This significant development signals CleanTech’s expansion into international markets, starting with France which is already recognized... 

Platts Survey: October OPEC Oil Output Dropped to 32.26 Mil. Barrels Per Day

The 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped an average 32.26 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in October, according to a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials just released. This is a 210,000 b/d decline from the September level of 32.47 million b/d. Excluding Iraq, production from the 12...