GOOD NEWS FOR COAL AND NUCLEAR ENERGY

Looking for the next Big Energy:

Nuclear first:
EU Energy Commissioner Backs Nuclear Power, to Aid Environment
Stephen Voss, Aug. 23 (Bloomberg)

- The European Commissioner for Energy promoted the use of nuclear power for electricity generation on the grounds it can provide the biggest reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases…
- Nuclear power plants account for about 32 percent of the electricity produced in the EU. Uranium, the raw material for nuclear power, is distributed among countries that have ``less geopolitical risks'' than oil and gas-producing nations, Andris Piebalgs said.
- David Cairns, the U.K.'s parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Scotland office, said at the same conference a new generation of nuclear power plants could help the U.K. reduce carbon dioxide emissions, while acknowledging that the government needs to consider issues of ``waste, security and safety.'' …Cairns added that any new power plants would be funded by companies, not the government.

Now coal:
Sasol discussing new S African coal to liquids (CTL) synfuels plant
Gareth Tredway, 23-AUG-06 (Mineweb)
- Amid confusing signals from the South African government, Sasol has confirmed that preliminary discussions have been held regarding a possible future increase in synfuels production capacity in South Africa. The discussions have included the possibility of a new greenfields CTL (coal-to-liquids) project.

With promising research:

Soil Properties and Carbon Sequestration of Afforested Pastures in Reclaimed Minesoils of Ohio
D. A. N. Ussiri*, R. Lal and P. A. Jacinthe, 22 August 2006 (Soil Science Society of America journal)
- Land-use change affects many soil properties, including soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, and the transfer of atmospheric CO2 to terrestrial landscapes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of converting pastureland to Australian pine (Casuarina spp) and Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L) forest on selected soil physical and chemical properties and SOC sequestration in reclaimed minesoils (RMS) of southeastern Ohio...
- The increase in the SOC pool was accompanied by an increase in the C/N ratios and root biomass in both Australian pine and Black locust sites in the 20- to 50-cm depth. Establishment of tree plantation has a greater potential for SOC sequestration than pastures in the RMS.