MORE NEWS, 1-21 (CALL THE WHITEHOUSE TODAY; SARAH PALIN BOOSTS NEW ENERGY; CAPE WIND GETS ANOTHER ‘GO’; 4TH BIGGEST EU ELECTRIC CO BUYS INTO WAVES)

CALL THE WHITEHOUSE TODAY
A message to the Whitehouse
(TheClean.org)

“What are we doing? … On January 21, thousands of people from all walks of life are coming together to call the White House to ask President Obama to support our call to action.

“When are we making the calls? … Starting at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on January 21, 2009

“What's the phone number? … +1 (202) 456-1111 ... (TTY/TDD +1 (202) 456-6213)"

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“What should I say? … Hi, my name is ________ and I'm calling as a member of CLEAN, a collaborative movement of grassroots organizations and individuals with the common goal of implementing a new energy future through safe and clean renewable energy and energy efficiency.

“I wanted to let President Obama know I believe our federal government must invest in renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal and create true incentives to drive energy efficiency, because these are the cleanest cheapest and fastest options we have. I want to see the economic stimulus package include $500 billion over three years for energy efficiency and renewable energy and not a dime in subsidies to the coal and nuclear industries…Thank you.”


SARAH PALIN BOOSTS NEW ENERGY
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin Embraces Renewable Energy
Kate Galbraith, January 20, 2009 (NY Times)

“In his inaugural speech, delivered in Washington on Tuesday afternoon, Barack Obama revisited energy and environmental themes…in keeping with Mr. Obama’s recently announced goal of doubling renewable energy in three years.

“They also put him in rare concert with his campaign opponent, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, who just announced her own wind, geothermal, tidal and wave energy push. Momentarily parting ways with “drill, baby, drill,” the pro-oil refrain made popular during the Republican presidential campaign, Ms. Palin said last week that her oil- and gas-producing state will endeavor to get half its electricity from renewables by 2025…

“The move is part of the Alaska Energy Authority’s …Alaska Energy: A First Step Toward Energy Independence..."

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“Renewable energy advocates were nonetheless pleased by the governor’s plan…Alaska already gets about 25 percent of its electricity from dams.

“Experts say that Alaska probably has the country’s best geothermal, wind, tidal and wave resources. But many of these energy sources are hard to tap effectively because they are far from population centers. Still, energy costs in many Alaskan villages are high, providing long-term incentives to switch.

“The Alaska legislature has already authorized a $100 million fund for renewable energy projects. None of the money has yet been dispersed, but…77 projects, ranging from wind farms to landfill gas recovery, are about to begin receiving funding…”


CAPE WIND GETS ANOTHER ‘GO’
Cape Wind project gets favorable U.S. govt review
Tom Doggett (w/Marguerita Choy), January 16, 2009 (Reuters)

“A proposal to build the first massive U.S. offshore wind energy project, opposed by influential residents of nearby resorts, got a favorable environmental review on Friday…

“The Interior Department's Minerals Management Service found there would be little negative impact from the Cape Wind energy project off the Massachusetts coast aimed at providing power for 400,000 homes…

“With an estimated price tag of more than $1 billion, Cape Wind would consist of 130 wind turbines over 24 square miles (62 sq km) in Nantucket Sound, within view of popular Cape Cod resorts."

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“Opponents include U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and other residents of nearby Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, along with some environmental groups and local fishermen.

“Jim Gordon, president of developer Energy Management Inc., said construction could begin by early next year and Cape Wind could begin producing electricity in 2011 or 2012…

“The incoming Obama administration will decide whether to grant final government approval…


4TH BIGGEST EU ELECTRIC CO BUYS INTO WAVES
Vattenfall prepares for ocean energy farms in Ireland
January 14, 2009 (Vattenfall via)

“Vattenfall has acquired 51 % of the Irish site development company for ocean energy, Pandion Ltd, for EUR 500,000 (around SEK 5 million). The ocean energy developer Wavebob Ltd will hold the remaining 49 % of Pandion…

“Pandion has applied for ocean energy sites on the west coast of Ireland, which will be developed for dem-onstration to a commercial size, over 250 MW electricity, when it is technically and economically viable. For Vattenfall the investment in Pandion is a first step towards a leading position on the emerging ocean energy market…“Ocean energy has large potential to contribute to the implementation of Vattenfall’s climate vision to be climate neutral by 2050. It is important for us to reach our growth targets, which are based on renewables, nuclear power and coal with CCS technology,” says Lars G Josefsson, President and CEO of Vattenfall…”

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“Helmar Rendez, senior vice president Vattenfall AB, explains: “Ireland’s exceptional wave climate, extensive support schemes, strong political support and appointed areas for exploitation of ocean energy makes establishment there favourable. Quick consent processes are foreseen and Vattenfall has an interest to stimulate the development of the market as well as the technical development…The technologies must be further developed and optimised…Establishment of sites with a potential to grow to commercial sites is important for us to support such a development.” …Further ventures to establish ocean energy business in the UK and Ireland are therefore very probable. However, both markets need new investments in transmission capacity before large investments in ocean energy can be realized.”