GOOD STORIES THERE WASN’T TIME TO GET TO THIS WEEK

Introducing a NewEnergyNews Friday feature.

COST OF COAL IS UP $100 MIL
Cost of power plant rises $100 million
September 10, 2008 (AP/Milwaukee Journal via Chicago Tribune)

“Alliant Energy Corp. says the cost of its proposed coal-fired power plant in southwestern Wisconsin has risen by $100 million…In a securities filing, Alliant now projects the cost to build the Cassville plant will be $1.3 billion because of increases in equipment and labor…”


SEX, DRUGS AND OIL DRILLING
Government workers in oil industry sex and drug scandal
Tom Doggett, September 11, 2008 (Reuters)

“U.S. Interior Department employees who oversaw oil drilling on federal lands had sex and used illegal drugs with workers at energy companies where they were conducting official business, an internal government report said…Employees at the department's Minerals Management Service "socialized with, and received a wide array of gifts and gratuities from, oil and gas companies," according to the department's inspector general, Earl Devaney…”


BETTER MIRRORS = BETTER SOLAR POWER PLANTS
Arch Aluminum & Glass Improves Solar Mirrors for Renewable Energy Industry
September 11, 2008 (PR Newswire via MarketWatch)

“Arch Aluminum and Glass Co., Inc. has developed innovative new mirror manufacturing techniques to meet the demand for lower cost and more efficient concentrator photovoltaic units…The Arch parabolic mirrors optically focus sunlight onto a concentrator containing active solar cell materials that convert the intense light into electricity. The paint backing for these techniques are lead free, which allows Arch to mass produce environmentally friendly lead free mirrors capable of withstanding high temperatures…”


TRUTH SLIPS OUT
Fury over firm’s fuel bill gaffe; An executive at energy firm E.On has sparked anger after saying that the continued high gas and electricity prices would mean "more money for us".
11 September 2008 (BBC News)

“Mark Owen-Lloyd made the comment during a presentation at a seminar run by energy regulator Ofgem looking at the impact of a cold winter on fuel bills. ..The firm, which made £877m profit last year apologised unreservedly and said it was investigating…”


SPAIN BUYING UP NEW ENGLAND POWER
Iberderola to spend 6 billion euros on Energy East
Jonathan Gleave (w/Steve Orlofsky) September 11, 2008 (Reuters)

"Spain's Iberdrola will spend about 6 billion euros ($8.4 billion) buying U.S. power company Energy East...Iberdrola's acquisition of Energy East will transform the electricity company -- which bought Scottish Power in 2007 -- into the fourth-largest in the world in terms of market capitalization...Energy East provides either electricity or natural gas to about 3 million customers in five states in the U.S. Northeast..."