News on Energy Technology

Senate climate bill to give free permits: sources

2010-03-19T14:45:52Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. power generating companies would get free pollution permits, at least initially, as part of a compromise climate change bill being written in the Senate that also would give the coal industry $10 billion to develop "clean" technology, sources said on Friday.</p><p>Democratic Senator John Kerry is trying to push a bill th...

ItÕs man vs. bird in quest for power

2010-03-19T02:16:03Z

<div><p> The future of Nevada is tied to the future of the sage grouse because the bird lives in a lot of the same areas that are expected to be used for wind, solar and geothermal energy. And although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to add the bird to the endangered species list Friday, it acknowledges that federal protection is warr...

Amargosa Valley warms up to solar plan

2010-03-19T02:15:28Z

<div id="subtitle">Environmentalists, off-roaders still opposed</div><div><p> When it comes to finding a place to build a solar power plant, what a difference a few miles can make.</p><p>The latest solar plant plan for Amargosa Valley looks more popular with area residents than previous pitches because its farther out of town. And for that same reason, it is likely to be opposed by off-roaders and environmentalists.</p><p>Pacific U.S. military is growing increasingly concerned that proposed wind farms can disrupt or block radar designed to detect threats and protect America's skies, a problem that is stalling the alternative energy projects around the...

Regulators approve Suncor oil sands expansions

2010-03-18T12:45:58Z

<div><p>CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Regulators have approved three expansion stages at Suncor Energy Inc's Firebag oil sands project that will eventually add output of 188,000 barrels of bitumen a day, Suncor said on Thursday.</p><p>The production p...

Putin: Iran's new nuclear plant to start up soon

2010-03-18T12:45:14Z

<div id="subtitle">Putin says Russian-built nuclear power plant in Iran to begin operating this summer</div><div><p>Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Iran's new Russian-built nuclear power plant will begin operating this summer, even as the United States called for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, second left, visits the Volgodonsk nuclear power plant in Volgodonsk, some 1,000 km (600 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 18, 2010. Speaking at Thursday's meeting with nuclear officials in Volgodonsk, Putin said that United States and Russia Thursday clashed over Iran's first nuclear plant which Russia is helping build after strongman Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the station would come online this summer.</p><p>US New Jersey environmental regulators.</p><p>Exelon Corp. says the $800 million it would cos...

Putin worries US with Iran nuclear plant start pledge

2010-03-18T10:17:15Z

<div><p>Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday worried the United States by announcing that Iran's Russian-built first nuclear power plant should come online this summer.</p><p>Russia has been helping Iran build the plant in the southern city of MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday said that Russia's plan to start up the nuclear reactor at an Iranian power station was "premature" without further assurances on Tehran's nuclear pr...

Russia, U.S. disagree over Iran atomic plant start-up

2010-03-18T09:30:43Z

<div><p>VOLGODONSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it would start up the reactor it is building at Iran's first atomic power plant in mid-2010, prompting immediate criticism from visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.</p><p>Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Iran's first nuclear power plant, which Russia is building, should come online this summer, Russian news agencies reported.</p><p>"The launch of the first unit of Iran's nuclear power station should be implemented already this summer," Putin was quoted as saying at a meeting...

Critical Mass – Uranium company deserves a new look

2010-03-17T19:15:12Z

<div id="subtitle">A point or situation at which change occurs - Support for the measure has reached critical mass</div><div><p>As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information – Benjamin Disraeli </p><p>As the world’s population and standard of living continues to climb, demand for more -- and cleaner -- energy grows alongside the pressures we continue ...

More regulation needed for Canada oil sands: report

2010-03-17T15:15:47Z

<div><p>CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Steam-driven projects to extract crude from Canada's oil sands, often held up as more environmentally friendly than mining, have major drawbacks of their own that require more stringent regulation to fix, an environmental think tank said on Wednesda...

Biden to visit NC manufacturer of semiconductors

2010-03-17T15:15:28Z

<div id="subtitle">VP Joe Biden plans to visit NC-based lighting manufacturer Cree; firm rides efficiency boom</div><div><p>Vice President Joe Biden plans to visit a North Carolina maker of light-producing semiconductor chips that the Obama administration is offering as an example of the potential for job gro...

The quest for energy solutions

2010-03-17T11:46:02Z

<div id="subtitle">The essential role of private enterprise</div><div><p>After a great deal of hype and hope, the Copenhagen climate summit produced no more than a vague promise to continue to work together. The only real point of consensus was to agree to meet again in November in Mexico to continue the discussions. </p><p>Last month, we noted the lack of measurabl...

Iran ready for nuclear fuel exchange inside country

2010-03-17T10:16:51Z

<div><p>Iran has said it is ready for a one-shot nuclear fuel exchange on its own soil, edging closer to the conditions of a plan drawn up by the UN atomic watchdog last year as major powers mulled a new round of sanctions.</p><p>Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi revealed the new offer in an interview publis...

Alm Brand buys Headwaters for greentech fund

2010-03-17T09:00:43Z

<div><p>COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Environment and renewable energy are themes in vogue among institutional investors, said Danish fund managers Alm Brand, who recently bought shares in the energy-efficient solutions company Headwaters Inc.</p><p>Alm Brand Invest's Environment Technology fund has ab...

China envoy urges Iran to compromise, wary on sanctions

2010-03-17T08:45:11Z

<div><p>GENEVA (Reuters) - China has urged Iran to accept a nuclear fuel swap proposal to ease demands for new sanctions on Tehran, a senior Chinese diplomat said, adding that Beijing wants "every avenue" tried before considering sanctions.</p>...