MORE NEWS, 1-15 (D.C. CUTS CARBON FOR OBAMA-RAMA; WIND WILL KEEP GROWING—REPORT; STANFORD’S $100 MIL TO NEW ENERGY R&D CENTER; OIL FINALLY GETS IT?)

D.C. CUTS CARBON FOR OBAMA-RAMA
D.C. cuts back on carbon for Obama inauguration
Richard Simon and Jill Zuckman, January 11, 2009 (Chicago Tribune via Baltimore Sun)

“For the inauguration of a president who promised to be a friend of the environment, what would you expect but carbon-neutral inaugural balls, hybrid Lexuses, organic menus and valet bicycle parking?

“…Two Green Inaugural Balls are planned, including one featuring a green carpet made from - what else? - recycled rug. Official invitations to the Jan. 20 inauguration are being printed on recycled paper. The homeless will be handed unsellable furs…Nearly every imaginable group is planning an event to promote a cause.

“The greening of the inauguration is drawing a special effort, because Obama has made "green" projects a centerpiece of his economic stimulus plan and is expected to highlight the environment in his inaugural address.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has provided a liaison to the Presidential Inaugural Committee to advise on "best practices" …

“Attendees are being encouraged to carpool or ride public transit, even in evening gowns and tuxedos. If they must drive, they are being encouraged to drive a hybrid vehicle or purchase carbon offsets.

“Organizers of a number of balls plan to use energy-efficient lighting…Some of the floats in the inaugural parade are being recycled from past parades, including a 60-foot-long, 24-foot-tall American flag float built for Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration…

“Not everyone's buying it, though…noting the huge carbon footprint that millions of people will leave…”


WIND WILL KEEP GROWING—REPORT
Wind Energy Market at Forefront of Renewable Energy Initiatives
January 9, 2009 (EarthTimes)

“Harnessing America's renewable energy sources is a priority on President-elect Barack Obama's political agenda, and American businesses and consumers are poised to follow his lead to make the U.S. a greener, more energy responsible nation…

“Market research publisher SBI expects Obama's commitment to long-term U.S. economic recovery will advance the development of alternative energies as a key factor. This will drive the already steadily strengthening wind energy market in 2009 and beyond.

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“The U.S. wind industry expanded rapidly in 2008, and in the all-new report "Wind Power in the U.S. and the World," SBI estimates that the total wind energy market in the U.S. was valued at $151 billion. By 2013, SBI projects that the total U.S. market value for wind energy will reach an estimated $180 billion, representing a compounded annual growth rate of 3% for the five-year period starting in 2009.

"Wind Power in the U.S. and the World identifies key dynamics and economic and market trends driving the wind power industry, and profiles major market players, outlining their strategies to maximize growth and profitability. The report also covers shipments, imports and exports, and provides historical data for 2002 through 2008, and forecast data from 2009 to 2013.”


STANFORD’S $100 MIL TO NEW ENERGY R&D CENTER
Stanford announces $100 million in new funds for research on energy security, sustainability
Terence Chea, January 12, 2009 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

“Stanford University…has raised $100 million to create a new research center focused on combating global warming and developing cleaner sources of energy.

“The new Precourt Institute for Energy will focus on research related to improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, studying national energy policy and developing renewable power sources such as wind, solar and biomass.

“The $100 million in new funding will bolster the $30 million the university already spends annually on energy research.

“The founding donors are Stanford alum and energy executive Jay Precourt, and Thomas Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor. Steyer is a Stanford trustee and managing partner of Farallon Capital Management…

“The Precourt Institute for Energy will be headed by Lynn Orr, a professor of energy resources engineering who has served as director of Stanford's Global Climate and Energy Project, which will become part of the new research center. The new institute will bring together more than 130 faculty members working in 21 departments...[and] add six to eight new faculty members, 20 fellowships for graduate students and more fellowships for postdoctoral researchers…

“In addition, the center will create an "energy innovation fund" to finance promising research projects, and help the university expand course offerings related the energy…”


OIL FINALLY GETS IT?
Oil execs see growth in renewable energy
H. Josef Hebert, January 12, 2009 (AP via Yahoo News)

“Many oil and gas company executives are predicting a significant ramp-up of renewable energy use over the next five years to run cars and trucks and generate electricity, according to a new survey.

“A survey of chief financial officers of 100 U.S. oil and gas exploration and production companies found that nearly nine of 10 executives predicted renewable energy to gain a larger share of the market in the next five years with better than 1 in 5 executives expecting the share to more than double.

“The telephone survey…also found that nearly two-thirds of the executives favored controls on carbon dioxide emissions…although a third of them said they preferred state over federal regulation…"

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“Only 37 said that industry should be left to "self regulation" when it comes to greenhouse gases…A few years ago oil and gas industry executives were largely united in their opposition to mandatory controls on carbon dioxide.

“When asked what market share renewable energy…is expected to have in five years, 64 percent… said it would grow to between 8 percent and 12 percent. Twenty-two percent… said they expect the market share to grow to between 13 percent and more than 16 percent…renewable sources count for about 7 percent of U.S. energy production…

“The executives interviewed were almost evenly split on the future availability of oil and whether the rate of world oil production may soon begin to permanently decline. Forty-eight percent said they agreed that the world had either already reached or within several years will reach its maximum rate of oil production. Fifty-two percent of the executives disagreed…Three-fourths… expect global demand for oil to peak within 20 years, with 31 percent saying it could come within a decade…”