QUICK NEWS, 10-20: BIG WAVES & TIDAL COMING; THE LOVE OF SUN; WV HAS MORE GEOTHERMAL THAN COAL; COAL GETS MORE COSTLY

BIG WAVES & TIDAL COMING
Global Ocean Energy Prospects Boosted by Established Hydro and Wind Players
October 19, 2010 (Emerging Energy Research)

"The global ocean energy sector is at a turning point, with over 45 wave and tidal prototypes expected to be ocean tested in 2010 and 2011, after only a dozen were installed in 2009, according to a new IHS Emerging Energy Research market study. If these initial projects are successful, the global ocean energy project pipeline is poised to begin scaling. IHS estimates that more than 1.8 GW of ocean projects in 16 countries are currently in the pipeline.

"The ocean energy industry's recent development has attracted a slew of established energy companies with renewable growth ambitions, including leading European utilities and global technology suppliers--many with hydro and offshore wind experience…"

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"Boosted by government and policy support, the U.K. is currently the world's leading market for ocean energy, with 300 MW of projects in the pipeline seeking to be installed over the next five years. The U.K. government hopes to add 1.3 GW by 2020, driven by its need to meet legally binding 2020 renewable targets. Ireland, France, Portugal, South Korea and Australia are also key ocean energy markets and will remain the industry's primary focus for the next decade…"

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"Of the various forms of ocean energy, tidal energy is poised to mature first, with the promise of providing predictable, lower-cost electricity and a standard design. Tidal is attracting major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) into the ocean energy industry's supply side…Greater involvement by large OEMs will help the ocean energy industry overcome its technological challenges and drive down costs.

"Several key players active in Europe's scaling offshore wind industry, are also turning their attention to ocean energy as they scale their renewable portfolios. Major European utilities led by Iberdrola-ScottishPower, Vattenfall, RWE and SSE have an extensive presence in offshore wind, and each has broadened its offshore activities to include ocean energy. While a few have taken equity stakes in ocean technology promoters, most are now shifting to fund project development joint ventures…"


THE LOVE OF SUN
Solar Power 'More Popular Than Puppy Dogs, Ice Cream'
October 19, 2010 (GetSolar)

"Almost 95 percent of Americans believe that developing and employing solar power should be a priority for the country - regardless of their political leanings and affiliations.

"…49 percent of Americans are considering - and are willing to pay more for - solar energy in the next year. These findings, along with other encouraging results, come from the latest Schott Solar Barometer…"

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"The survey was conducted by the independent firm Kelton Research, and…presented just before the Solar Power International trade show…"

Rhone Resch, the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association: "…According to this poll, solar energy is more popular than puppy dogs or ice cream. It is time for policymakers to listen to their constituents and enact measures to rapidly increase our use of solar."

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"Other findings…[are] that 4 out of 5 Americans want the federal government to redistribute oil and fossil fuel subsidies towards clean power sources like solar, and that 51 percent would choose to work with solar power if they joined the renewable energy industry.

"…[There is] reason to take the survey with a grain of salt - since it asked about intentions and attitudes, rather than actions…"


WV HAS MORE GEOTHERMAL THAN COAL
West Virginia offers 18GW geothermal potential, study says
James Cartledge, October 19, 2010 (Brighter Energy)

"Researchers at Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory believe underground temperatures in West Virginia are significantly higher than previously thought…[and the] state could…[support] commercial geothermal energy production…

"Experts believe geothermal power projects could mean a renewable source of baseload power – electricity supplies available day or night – for West Virginia…They have estimated the potential for 18,890 megawatts of power could be available, even taking a conservative 2% thermal recovery rate. The total would surpass West Virginia’s 16,350MW portfolio of coal-fired generating capacity."

Heat verified by wells and hot springs (click to enlarge)

"The estimate marks a 75% increase on previous estimates, in a 2006 study from MIT…High temperature zones were found in the eastern portion of the state, where temperatures above 300 degrees fahrenheit are believed to be located at depths of 15,000 feet below ground level…The research is based on detailed mapping of temperature data from the oil and gas industry, as part of ongoing work to update a [2004] Geothermal Map of North America…

"The geothermal experts also point to newer geothermal power generation technologies, which can make use of lower temperature geothermal resources, as holding potential to develop power projects in West Virginia…[They say there is also] potential in the state for projects generating geothermal energy at oil and gas wells, and for Enhanced Geothermal Systems where underground geothermal reservoirs can be created by injecting high pressure fluids into suitable rock formations."

Heat discovered by drilling at various depths (click to enlarge)

"The next step for the research is to look at specific target sites in more detail, while the researchers are also looking to shed light on geothermal resources in other states."

[David Blackwell, Hamilton Professor of Geophysics/Director, SMU Geothermal Laboratory:] “We now know that two zones of Appalachian age structures are hot – West Virginia and a large zone covering the intersection of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana known as the Ouachita Mountain region. Right now we don’t have the data to fill in the area in between, but it’s possible we could see similar results over an even larger area.”


COAL GETS MORE COSTLY
EPA regional administrator recommends historic veto of Spruce Mine permit
Ken Ward Jr, October 15, 2010 (Charleston Gazette)

"… The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional administrator, Shawn Garvin, has recommended that his agency veto the Clean Water Act permit for the controversial Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, W.Va.

"…Garvin’s recommendation concludes ‘…discharges of dredged and/or fill material to Pigeonroost Branch and Oldhouse Branch for the purpose of constructing the Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine as currently authorized … would likely have unacceptable adverse effects on wildlife …valley fills and sedimentation ponds and other discharges into Pigeonroost Branch and Oldhouse Branch…will bury approximately 6.6 miles of high quality headwater streams…[likely resulting] in effects to downstream waters and downstream wildlife…[and contributing] to conditions that would support blooms of algae that release toxins that kill fish and other aquatic life…’"

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"The regional EPA administrator also concluded ‘… Because construction of the Spruce No. 1 Mine and 11 additional mining operations would increase the percent of the sub-basin that is impacted by mining activity, it can be expected that these water quality effects will likely be exacerbated…[and] contribute to the significant cumulative loss of aquatic resources and degradation of water quality…"

The mine would be nearly as big as the City of Pittsburgh (click to enlarge)

"…EPA said ‘…It is important to emphasize that this is only one step in the process—EPA has not reached a final decision on this project. EPA’s next step will be to reach out to the mining company, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and West Virginia State officials to engage in discussions…EPA’s Office of Water will issue a final decision after a thorough review of the Regional Administrator’s recommendation, the science, the 50,000 public comments received and careful consideration of our discussions with the State, Corps and Company…later this Fall.

"EPA released Garvin’s recommended decision publicly and filed a copy of it in federal court in Huntington, asking U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers to extend for another 120 days — until Feb. 22 — the judge’s order suspending litigation…This is just another step in the process of EPA’s trying to either block this permit or perhaps push the company to find a way to further reduce its potential impacts…"