TIDBITS

CALIFORNIA SUN
Californians bask in solar energy
January 4, 2007 (UPI via PhysOrg.com)
- Soaring energy costs, environmental consciousness and financial incentives have combined to make solar panels part of the California housing landscape.
- Homeowners see solar panels as a way to be green and save some green…Architects are incorporating solar systems into custom home designs…developers can provide solar systems and solar-ready wiring…

- The trend began after the state legislature approved the California Solar Initiative, a solar program that offers homeowners rebates in addition to the federal tax credit of up to $2,000…
- If it works as planned, the initiative will spark the installation of 3,000 megawatts of solar electrical generating capacity over the next 10 years…That's equivalent to 30 small natural gas-fired power plants.
- Several other states in the Northeast and the Southwest have solar projects in place…

GERMANS MOST RENEWABLE
German Renewable Energy Usages at Record High in 2006
January 5, 2007 (Reuters via Planet Ark)
- Renewable energy usage will rise further in Germany this year after reaching its highest ever level in 2006…

- Renewable energy sources accounted for 7.7 percent of total energy consumption in Europe's biggest economy last year, up from the 2005 level of 6.8 percent…That equates to supplies of about 200 billion kilowatt hours, or the power, heating and fuel consumption of 10 million households…
- In 2006, consumption of electricity alone from renewable sources, including solar and wind power, rose about 11 percent to 71.5 billion kilowatt hours, accounting for 11.6 percent of Germany's power market…the strongest growth in renewable energy consumption in Europe, although Austria and Scandinavian countries were ahead in terms of the proportion of overall energy used.

DESKTOP CONSERVATION
HP researchers tout new tech to save energy in computer chips
January 17, 2007 (AP via KESQ NewsChannel3.com)

- Hewlett-Packard researchers say they've found a way to integrate nanotechnology and traditional circuitry in a development that could help companies dramatically reduce the amount of energy their chips use…
- Scientists say the advance could help a wide range of companies -- from automakers to cell phone companies to even toy makers -- build vastly smaller chips into their products that can be reprogrammed and upgraded…

ATTENTION UNIVERSITIES!
Energy research on the rise; Virginia universities urge state to put up $15 million a year to help capture projects
January 12, 2007 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Virginia needs to be ready with money and other resources to cash in on the growing demand for energy research, the state's universities say.

- An energy plan adopted by the General Assembly last year called for a study of energy research and development in Virginia…conducted by the Center for Innovative Technology…
- It found a broad range of energy research under way in state universities, federal laboratories in Virginia and private businesses…Existing research covers such areas as waste to energy, energy efficiency, solar photovoltaics, wind, clean coal, nuclear and tidal energy.
- Virginia is well-positioned to capture more research dollars because of expertise, the research's natural ties to industries such as coal and natural-gas production, nuclear technologies and maritime and agricultural businesses…A lack of overall vision and focus, lack of coordination among universities and unavailability of state funds to match and take advantage of research grant offerings stand in the way of increasing researchsaid the energy department's Steve Walz, director of administration]…
- The institutions would like to see the state put up $15 million a year to help capture federal and nonfederal, cost-sharing research projects. Additional investment is needed in research equipment as well…Projects also should have a strong economic development component and some should be in Virginia's less well-to-do areas…
- U.S. Department of Energy grants are extremely important to Virginia…States that win DOE grants will jump far ahead of other states…

OIL “FAMILIES” SHARE TERRITORY
Had a sit-down, talked it out, not going to the mattresses…
Gazprom, Chevron join up for Russian energy project
January 11, 2007 (AFP via Yahoo News)

- Gazprom and Chevron, two of the world's biggest energy producers, have set up a joint venture for oil projects in Russia, the two companies said…
- The joint venture will be called Northern Taiga Neftegaz…
- Chevron's subsidiary will initially own 70 percent of the joint venture. Gazprom will eventually increase its share to more than 50 percent…
- The joint venture was set up "to facilitate our companies' cooperation on technically and commercially feasible projects", Sergei Kuznetsov, head of public affairs at Chevron Neftegaz, said…