MORE NEWS, 1-23 (WORLD’S FASTEST EV; GULF WIND WINS TEXAS RANGE WAR; WAVE ENERGY OFF CALIFORNIA COAST; SPAIN WANTS NEW ENERGY, REJECTS NUCLEAR)

WORLD’S FASTEST EV
Shelby SuperCars announces world’s fastest electric production car
Dave Freeman, January 21, 2009 (CrunchGear)
and
SSC Announces Green Technologies Revealing Revolutionary Battery and Electric Powertrain Technology
Dave Freeman, January 19, 2009 (CrunchGear)

"Not content to just make the world’s fastest production car, Shelby SuperCars announced today that they plan on expanding that platform to include the world’s fastest electric production car too. Something they are calling the Ultimate Aero EV [to be unveiled in the second quarter of this year].

"…the Ultimate Aero EV [the Guinness Certified “Fastest Production Car in the World”] will charge up in 10 minutes off a standard 110v outlet, and then run for 200 miles off that one charge. That’s quite an improvement from what Tesla or Fisker has been capable of. And of course it goes very fast."

clcik to enlarge

"…While other auto manufacturers focus on producing Green technology for specific cars, SSC’s focus is on producing Green technologies for a wide range of applications for an even wider range of vehicles. SSC’s electric powertrain package, named AESP (All-Electric Scalable Powertrain) is unique due to its scalable horsepower, light weight, compact size, quick recharge time and liquid cooling.

"SSC’s Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium Battery pack is rechargeable in only 10 minutes on a standard 110 outlet and has a 150-200 mile range on a single charge…

"The AESP is scalable from 200 horsepower for economy and midsize cars, to 500 horsepower for light trucks and SUVs, and up to 1200 horsepower for delivery trucks, heavy duty equipment, buses and military vehicles…

"…SSC will wholesale the AESP to mass production car companies, governments, and to public, private, and niche businesses [at] $5K-$6K per unit for 1000 to 10,000 units (with further reduction in unit cost for increased production.)…"


GULF WIND WINS TEXAS RANGE WAR
Energy in the wind; Ribbon-cutting celebrates Gulf Wind turbines' start this week in Kenedy County
Michael Zamora, January 8, 2009 (Corpus Christi Caller)

"…After three years of studies, development, lawsuits and environmental problem solving, the Gulf Wind project, a $740 million wind farm on 7,851 acres of the Kenedy Ranch, is all but complete.

"Project leaders, Kenedy Foundation members and guests celebrated…with a ribbon-cutting …

"Only a handful of turbines were spinning, but [John Calaway, chief development officer with project developer Babcock & Brown] expects 100 of the 118 [2.4 megawatt] turbines to be producing electricity by the end of the month."

from the Corpus Christi Caller (click to enlarge)

"The other 18 turbines won't be ready until March. Parts for those turbines were at the port in Galveston during Hurricane Ike, so they were sent back to the Mitsubishi company in Japan to check for possible damage.

"An additional 200 megawatts of power will be produced by the end of 2009…when more than 80 additional turbines are completed.

"Part of the farm's delay came from several area groups who protested its construction, citing potential environmental concerns and attempting to halt the project late last year. Those efforts were unsuccessful [because] the project's developers challenged the concerns…royalties from the project will be used by the foundation to continue giving back to the South Texas community…"


WAVE ENERGY OFF CALIFORNIA COAST
One step closer to harnessing wave energy for electricity off coast of Montaña de Oro; Company completes the comment period for renewable energy project off Montaña de Oro
Bill Morem, January 19, 2009 (McClatchy via SanLuis Obispo Tribune)

"A potential project for harnessing Central Coast waves for electricity recently cleared a key hurdle, but it may be years before any such system is installed.

"Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC earlier this month completed a 60-day comment period on its proposal to harvest wave energy in 17 square miles of ocean a couple miles off Montaña de Oro State Park…

"The company — which filed for permits [with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] 1½ years ago — has a similar proposal for a section of ocean off the Mendocino County coast…"

click to enlarge

"According to the company’s application, about 100 megawatts of power would be generated — enough to power 90,000 homes…Prototype wave harvesters off Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Portugal are currently producing two to three megawatts of power…

"…the company is planning on spending $2 million during the feasibility study stages and perhaps as much as $40 million to install a structure…Green Wave chose the Montaña de Oro location for three reasons: wave production, access to a safe harbor for maintenance and the proximity of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s power grid.

"Once a system is identified, impacts on the environment, fishing and navigation — among dozens of other concerns — will be aired and discussed by more regulatory agencies and in town hall meetings…"


SPAIN WANTS NEW ENERGY, REJECTS NUCLEAR
Spain insists on energy saving, not nuclear plants
Martin Roberts (w/Anthony Barker), January 21, 2009 (Reuters)

“Spain…reaffirmed its policy of not commissioning new nuclear power plants a day after its biggest utility unveiled plans to build them in Britain, while repeating pledges to boost renewables and save energy…

“…Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian told journalists…Spanish energy consumption per head was 20 percent above the European average…'Saving 20 percent would be the equivalent of doubling the number of nuclear power plants. It seems easier and cheaper to me…Furthermore, it (saving) is immediate, whereas nuclear plants take 15 years. There is no controversy, no waste or security problems, nothing…'"

Spain wisely chooses the latter. (click to enlarge)

“Spain's government has said it may extend the working lives of the country's eight ageing nuclear power plants, but has urged operators to invest more in safety after a controversial radioactive leak was discovered last year.

“Operating permits for seven of the plants are up for renewal between this year and 2011…Spain's nuclear power plants supply about 7,300 megawatts when all are working normally, or enough to meet about 20 percent of demand for power…Wind farms now have the capacity to generate more than 16,000 MW…”