MORE NEWS, 12-7: HOPENHAGEN; CALIF APPROVES SPACE SOLAR; FEDS PUT $104 MIL+ INTO ALGAE; GREEN APARTMENTS WITH BUILT-IN SUN

HOPENHAGEN
UN upbeat on Copenhagen global climate deal
6 December 2009 (BBC News)

"The UN's top climate official has given an upbeat assessment on the prospects of a global deal at a climate summit which opens in Copenhagen on Monday…192 nations began gathering in Denmark…[to form an agreement] to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol [that expires in 2012], aimed at [fighting global climate change by] curbing greenhouse gas emissions…"

[Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):] "Never in 17 years of climate negotiations have so many different countries made so many pledges. Almost every day now governments are announcing pledges - it's unprecedented…We've got 100 heads of state and government coming to Copenhagen. And, in general, heads of government come to celebrate success, not failure…"

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"Ahead of [the 11-day Copenhagen] talks, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) hit back at claims that human influence on global warming has been exaggerated…[and] said it was standing by its findings in response to a row over the reliability of data…[despite the fact that hacked] e-mail exchanges from [the University of] East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit have prompted climate change sceptics to claim that data has been manipulated…

"Almost all countries attending the meeting agree a deal must be reached…The main areas for discussion include…[1] Targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, in particular by developed countries…[2] Financial support for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change by developing countries…[3] A carbon trading scheme aimed at ending the destruction of the world's forests by 2030…"

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"Environmental activists are planning demonstrations in Copenhagen and around the world on 12 December…But expectations for the meeting have fallen…Whatever is agreed will no longer have a legally binding basis…[but will be] a framework which could lead to the signing of binding final agreements by next year…

"The EU, which had sought a legally-binding agreement, has offered a 20% cut in its emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, rising to 30% in the event of a global agreement...The US is pledging to cut its emissions in several stages, beginning with a 17% cut from 2005 levels by 2020…India and China have both agreed to reduce their "carbon intensity", a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of GDP…"


CALIF APPROVES SPACE SOLAR
California utilities push for solar, wind and carbon-capture projects
Tiffany Hsu, December 3, 2009 (LA Times)

"California regulators went out of this world…and gave the go-ahead to a power-purchase agreement involving the nation’s first solar power plant in space.

"Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the state’s largest utility, will proceed with a 15-year contract with Manhattan Beach start-up Solaren Corp., after receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission."

image from greendiary.com (click to enlarge)

"The project, which is expected to go live in 2016, will use solar cells from Solaren on orbiting satellites to convert energy from the sun into radio-frequency waves. The waves will be transmitted to a receiving station near Fresno and reverted back into electricity.

"The project should produce 1,700 gigawatt-hours of energy each year, according to the commission. The Japanese government said this summer that it intends to pursue a similar space-based solar program."

image from greendiary.com (click to enlarge)

"California hopes that utilities will pull 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2010. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a directive in September pushing for a 33% by 2020 goal.

"San Francisco-based PG&E was also busy today signing a contract to buy and operate its first wind-energy project…[and] the California Public Utilities Commission gave approval for Edison International to spend up to $30 million to co-fund a feasibility study of a carbon-capture and storage plant…"


FEDS PUT $104 MIL+ INTO ALGAE
Feds fund Sapphire Energy algae project
Kevin Robinson-Avila, December 4, 2009 (New Mexico Business Weekly)

"Sapphire Energy will receive $104.5 million in federal funding to build a commercial scale, algae-based biofuel operation…The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $50 million in stimulus money for the [New Mexico] project, and the U.S. Department of Agricultural approved a $54.5 million loan guarantee under the Biorefinery Assistance Program, which was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.

"California-based Sapphire, which formed in 2007, has developed a proprietary process for turning oil from algae into renewable gasoline that is genetically identical to sweet crude pumped from the ground. The company calls its green crude a “drop-in solution” to the search for alternative fuels because its algae-based gasoline can simply replace petroleum as fuel for ground and air transportation, without any modification to refineries, pipelines or vehicles."

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"The company will use the federal funds to build and operate a commercial-scale demonstration plant to grow algae in ponds and refine it into a variety of fuels for ground and air transportation. The project is expected to create 750 direct and indirect jobs…

"USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner said the project will have a huge impact on Luna County along the Mexican border…Sapphire has an option to buy roughly 2,200 acres of land near Columbus. Once the demonstration project shows the commercial viability of Sapphire’s operation, the company hopes to expand the facility into a 1,200-acre operation that can produce more than 1 million gallons per day of green crude…"

Schematic of a desert algae-growing installation (click to enlarge)

"The company has raised more than $100 million in private equity. Investors include financial powerhouses, such as ARCH Venture Partners, the Rockefellers’ Venrock and Cascade Investment LLC – an investment holding company owned by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

"Sapphire already operates an $8 million test-and-development facility at the West Mesa Industrial Park in Las Cruces. The center experiments with algae seed varieties developed at Sapphire’s headquarters in San Diego…[New Mexico] Gov. Richardson [reportedly] helped a great deal to secure the federal funding to move forward with company plans…"


GREEN APARTMENTS WITH BUILT-IN SUN
New apartments to utilize solar energy
Summer Rainbolt, December 3, 2009 (The Daily Aztec)

"A new complex being built near San Diego State aims to provide student housing that makes less of an impact on the environment.

"Twenty-five percent of energy consumption needs [for Sterling University Collwood apartments, a 260-unit complex to finish construction in August] will be provided by solar energy. The complex will hopefully to be the first in the U.S. to receive a Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED]."

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"…[T]o meet LEED certification, it must be a minimum of 14 percent more energy efficient than other buildings of its kind, have at least 20 percent water efficiency, recycle all trash and waste and have reduced carbon emissions…To help promote sustainability…the complex will provide its residents with a free daily shuttle to campus and home football games, a “bum-a-bike” program where students can borrow a bike to ride to campus and free resident parking for hybrid vehicles…

"Although rent for the new apartments is more expensive than many competitors in the College Area…added amenities and energy-saving resources [are expected to] draw students to Sterling Collwood…The new apartments will be located roughly a mile from campus, and many students say an important issue when selecting housing is its proximity to campus…Sterling University Collwood apartments is currently preleasing for fall of next year."