QUICK NEWS, 5-26: GE MAKES BIG BIG DEAL; ATTACK FROM THE LEFT; NEW U.S. OFFSHORE WIND GAMBIT; GEOTHERMAL IN THE WORLD

GE MAKES BIG BIG DEAL
Pathfinder Selects GE as Technology Partner in Wyoming; Pact to supply Pathfinder's wind power needs for TransCanada's Zephyr Power Transmission Project

"GE…and Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy, LLC (Pathfinder)…[concluded] an agreement naming GE as the wind turbine supplier and technology partner for Pathfinder's Wyoming wind power projects…at the AWEA Windpower 2010 Conference in Dallas. Pathfinder, a Wyoming wind energy developer, is one of three wind developers to be allocated transmission capacity on TransCanada's 3,000 megawatt Zephyr Power Transmission project. Pathfinder's allocation is 2100 megawatts…

"GE is the largest U.S. supplier of wind turbines and the workhorse of the industry, with more than 13,500 units now installed worldwide. The proposed Zephyr project is a 1,000 mile, 500 kilovolt, high voltage direct current line designed to move 3,000 MW of wind-generated electricity from Wyoming to power markets in the southwest U.S…"

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"Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy, LLC…owns and operates Wyoming's historic Pathfinder Ranch…[and] is advancing the development of new wind generation assets and expanded power transmission for markets in the southwest. Pathfinder and its partnering ranchers are leaders in enhancing wildlife habitat while preserving America's ranching heritage…meeting the nation's desire for green energy…[and developing wind while protecting] Wyoming's rural economies, communities, wildlife, scenic viewsheds and cultural resources…"

[Jeff Meyer, managing partner, Pathfinder:] "Pathfinder approaches the development of Wyoming's wind resources from the perspective of a ranching landowner…We've found the GE team to be responsive and creative in supporting Pathfinder's unique vision for wind energy development in the Western US."


ATTACK FROM THE LEFT
Green coalition blasts Senate climate bill
Jim Snyder, May 17, 2010 (The Hill)

"The new Senate climate change bill has some green groups seeing red.

"Fifteen organizations, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation, which is a Quaker lobbying group, have formed the Climate Reality Check coalition to oppose the legislation, released last week by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)…"

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"A number of other environmental organizations have praised the bill, even as they noted problems with some provisions, such as the measure's support for nuclear power and offshore drilling. The climate reality coalition…[wants] sharper pollution reductions; the EPA to retain the authority to regulate greenhouse gases through the Clean Air Act; and…[eliminate] offsets and other loopholes that prevent pollution reductions…"

[Climate Reality Check coalition statement:] “The well-being of our nation and the world are being sacrificed for the interests of big polluters, which continue to rake in record profits at the expense of the environment and the public...”


NEW U.S. OFFSHORE WIND GAMBIT
New Jersey firm floats plan for offshore wind turbines
Tom Wrobleski, May 23, 2010 (Staten Island Live)

"Staten Island could be home to some of the first offshore power-generating wind turbines in the nation by 2013.

"Deepwater Wind, which has offices in Hoboken, N.J., is pitching a plan to build eight wind turbines in the water about three miles off Great Kills Harbor in Lower New York Bay…Deepwater reps have been talking to elected officials, fishing and recreation groups and others here…[Deepwater will] look for another location away from the Island if support is lacking…[It] is involved in similar turbine projects in Rhode Island and elsewhere."

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"The 450-foot-high turbines, which would have half-a-mile of space between them…would generate 30 megawatts of electricity each, enough to power about 14,000 borough homes…[The] site was chosen because it was clear of shipping lanes, commercial fishing areas, and other obstacles…[and] there would be ‘tremendous’ environmental and other reviews that would have to be completed before the project could go forward…

"…[T]he electricity would be brought to the power substation…via armored underground cables…An operation and maintenance facility for the turbines could be built [locally] as part of the project, and one or two support vessels could be homeported there…The turbines would cost around $200 million to build and would have a 20- to 25-year lifespan. They would be made to withstand hurricane-force winds and would be shut down if winds reach 56 miles per hour."

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"While some find offshore turbines to be an eyesore…[others say they are majestic]… [T]urbine areas in places like Denmark have become tourist attractions…[T]he support bases of the turbines attract mollusks that draw fish, making the turbine areas appealing for anglers…But Guy Ahearn, president of the Staten Island Tuna Club, objects to building the turbines…[for aesthetic reasons and because] "no-fishing" buffer zones…around the turbines [might not be enforced]…Ahearn said he is willing to meet with Deepwater again…

"Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said that the turbines should be examined and discussed as a way to help ease American dependence on foreign oil…Borough President James P. Molinaro, who has advocated for building wind turbines at the old Fresh Kills landfill, said he would back the plan as long as it doesn't disturb the offshore environment or fishing grounds…"


GEOTHERMAL IN THE WORLD
Geothermal energy widens its reach to 52 million people: report
Nagesh Narayana, May 21, 2010 (International Business Times)

"Geothermal power is widening its reach fast with over 10,000 MW already installed and reaching more than 52 million people now, said a report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA)…

"Nearly 24 countries increased power online by 20 percent in the last five years and 94 countries are currently developing geothermal energy, the report said…Seventy nations currently have projects underway, a 52% increase from the last report that was compiled by GEA in 2007. Nearly 24 countries in Europe and 11 countries in Africa account for most of the projects…"

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"In 1999 GEA identified 39 nations that could provide 100 percent of their energy needs from geothermal, fully powering their countries but only nine of them had geothermal power online.

"…The US leads in geothermal energy with 3,086 MW capacity from 77 plants…The Philippines, the second highest producer of geothermal power in the world, produces 1,904 MW, which is 18% of the country's electricity generation…Germany has 150 geothermal power plant projects and [will] produce 280 MW by 2020…"

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"…Geothermal power plants provide 26 percent of the electricity in El Salvador…Kenya plans to produce 490 MW by 2012 and about 4,000 MW within 20 years…Turkey aims to produce 550 MW by 2013…Indonesia's National Energy Blueprint aims to produce 9,500 MW, or [an] 800% increase…Iceland gets 25 percent of its electricity and 90 percent of its heating from geothermal resources."

[Karl Gawell, Executive Director, GEA:] "The colossal growth of the international market is only a small fraction of the geothermal power potential we could be utilizing…The development potential here is very obviously tremendous. It's as if we discovered a huge deposit of oil underneath our feet, enough to put gas in our cars forever, and didn't use it; except this is a totally clean, renewable, and constant energy source…"