MORE NEWS, 1-19 (OBAMA DOI PICK SAYS ‘YES WE CAN’; OUTGOING SEC-ENERGY AN OLD ENERGY NAYSAYER; OBAMA, ENERGY & LATIN AMERICA; NATIVE TRIBES WANT WIND)

OBAMA DOI PICK SAYS ‘YES WE CAN’
Senator to push energy issues as Interior chief
Dina Cappiello, January 15, 2009 (AP via Yahoo News)

“Sen. Ken Salazar said Thursday he would help wean the U.S. off foreign oil if he leads the Interior Department, telling lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that he would seek to expand renewable energy on public lands and promote the "wise use" of traditional energy sources…Salazar said he would work ‘to make sure that we get energy independence, that we take the moon shot to energy we can take and we really set America free.’

“After the hearing, Salazar made it clear that, if confirmed, he wants the Interior Department to play an even larger role in energy policy…’In many ways, the Department of Interior is 'the real energy department' because we house the assets that are used as part of our energy role for this nation…’

“In his four years in the Senate, Salazar, 53, has been a champion for what he calls "responsible" energy production on public lands. He opposed efforts by the Bush administration to open up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but helped broker a deal allowing more offshore production.

“Salazar also has been a vocal advocate of renewable energy.

“Prior to joining the Senate, Salazar was the Colorado attorney general and headed the state's natural resources department.

“The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee is expected to endorse Salazar's nomination…”


OUTGOING SEC-ENERGY, AN OLD ENERGY NAYSAYER
Obama energy goal hard to meet: energy secretary
Tom Doggett (w/Jim Marshall), January 14, 2009 (Reuters via Yahoo News)

President-elect Barack Obama will have a hard time significantly increasing America's alternative energy production, outgoing U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said…As part of his economic stimulus plan, Obama wants to double output of alternative energy over the next three years…

" ‘I think it's going to be extremely difficult to get there in three years,’ Bodman said…”

“Renewable energy sources, which include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels and other biomass, accounted for 7 percent of U.S. energy supplies in 2007…"

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“Bodman said boosting solar energy "would be easier" because there are more companies that make solar panels, while increasing wind power will be more challenging because of tight manufacturing capacity to build wind turbines…

“Steven Chu, Obama's pick to be the next energy secretary, told a Senate committee on Tuesday he was committed to developing more wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy sources.

“Officials with the trade groups of the solar and wind industries said on Wednesday their
members could meet Obama's goal.

“They said to double solar and wind energy production Congress should use the economic stimulus package, which may have a $25 billion energy component, to modify existing energy tax credits so they are refundable to companies that are not making a profit in these hard economic times.”


OBAMA, ENERGY & LATIN AMERICA
Obama's Latin American priority: energy
Andres Oppenheimer, January 18, 2009 (Miami Herald)

“Here's my bet: The Obama administration's top priority in Latin America will be signing a hemispheric energy cooperation deal that -- if carried out -- would reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil, bolster U.S. ties with Brazil, and undermine Venezuela's petrodollar-fueled radicalism in the region.

“It's almost official, although they won't frame it that explicitly. Obama first proposed an ''Energy Partnership of the Americas'' in a May 2008 campaign speech and later advanced the idea to develop alternative fuels in the region in interviews…

“Last week, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton elevated the idea to a maximum regional priority during her confirmation hearings. In her opening statement, when she got to Latin America -- almost at the end of her foreign policy priorities -- her most specific proposal was ``taking up the president-elect's call for a new Energy Partnership of the Americas.''

“…It won't be easy. During the campaign, Obama opposed cutting U.S. import duties on Brazil's sugar cane ethanol. Also, with gasoline prices at their current lows, political pressures to achieve energy independence may diminish. And the monumental U.S. financial bailouts will leave little money for grand hemispheric programs…

“But if Obama can persuade Latin American countries that there is something in it for them -- be it job-creating investments, energy diversification or economic and political independence from Venezuela's erratic President Hugo Chávez -- he may be onto something.

“We may move from regional free trade and anti-drug fatigue to a new stage of hemisphere-wide enthusiasm over development of environmentally safe alternative energies.”


NATIVE TRIBES WANT WIND
Study weighs using more tribal wind energy; Comment period ends Feb. 13
Andrea J. Cook, January 18, 2009 (Rapid City Journal)

“Using wind-generated power to supplement electricity produced by hydroelectric plants on the Missouri River could have financial advantages, but only at certain times, according to an initial study released by Western Area Power Administration.

”Officials with Western were in Rapid City this week to review the findings of an initial study on the impact that wind power produced on tribal lands could have on the power supply in Western's Upper Great Plains Region. The region encompasses North and South Dakota and portions of Montana, Nebraska, and Iowa.
“A public comment period on the draft study closes Feb. 13. Western's goal is to submit a proposal for a further study to Congress by May…"

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”Supplementing hydropower generated by the river with wind power has its advantages during periods of low and normal water levels…

”Several tribes, along with the Intertribal Council on Utility Power were involved in the initial phase of the study…”