QUICK NEWS, July 26: SET A HIGHER (EFFICIENCY) STANDARD; CALIF’S BROWN WANTS NEW ENERGY; NEW ENERGY WINS AGAIN; OUTLOOK FOR ORGANIC SUN

SET A HIGHER (EFFICIENCY) STANDARD
As White House Decision on New Fuel Efficiency Standards Nears, Go60MPG Launches Radio ad Push in D.C.; With Radio Ads, Go60MPG Highlights How Strong Fuel Efficiency Standards Would Create Jobs, Save Consumers at the Gas Pump, Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil
July 25, 2011 (PR Newswire)

"With a decision imminent from the Obama Administration on new fuel efficiency and emissions standards for 2017-2025 vehicles, Go60MPG is launching a radio advertising campaign…The message: A 60 mile-per-gallon standard makes sense for America … and your pocketbook…

"Strong pollution and fuel efficiency standards will save gas-price weary Americans an extra $370 billion by 2030 compared to the weakest proposal. These standards will also cut America's oil dependence by at least 44 billion gallons of fuel and eliminate at least 465 million metric tons of heat-trapping carbon pollution in 2030. A fuel economy and emissions standard requiring a 6 percent improvement each year between 2017 and 2025 would make America safe by reducing U.S. oil use by more than we now import from the Persian Gulf region…"

Click thru to the Go60MPG site

"…[A]utomakers are balking needlessly at a proposed standard of 56.5 MPG by 2025, continuing a theme of balking at every major advancement in auto technology from seatbelts to airbags to catalytic converters. Each of these technologies has proven to be both affordable and good for the American people…

"…[A]utomakers – with the notable exception of General Motors, Toyota and Hyundai - have launched their own set of radio ads through the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers (AAM). These ads continue an ongoing misinformation campaign based on faulty data and incorrect assumptions…The reality is these stronger standards are technologically feasible and automakers are already well on their way to meeting them…"


CALIF’S BROWN WANTS NEW ENERGY
From Governor Moonbeam to Governor Sunbeam -- Brown pushes for alternative energy
Dana Hull, July 24, 2011 (San Jose Mercury News)

"During his first two terms nearly four decades ago, Jerry Brown became famously known as Governor Moonbeam. Now he seems destined to become Governor Sunbeam.

"With the epic battle over the state budget finally behind him, Brown's first major policy initiative aims to fulfill the ambitious goal laid out in his campaign: to develop a clean-energy economy in California."

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"Brown wants the state to produce 20,000 new megawatts of renewable electricity -- enough to power 20 cities the size of San Francisco and roughly one-third of the state's current peak use -- by 2020. That would nearly triple the amount of electricity that California currently gets from renewable sources.

"The plan includes the fast-tracking of large, utility-scale renewable power plants. But 12,000 megawatts are to come from "localized electricity," small systems located close to where energy is consumed that don't require new transmission lines. A variety of technologies, from biogas to wind [to energy efficiency], will play a role. But solar panels -- on the roofs of commercial buildings and along the banks of state highways -- will be a dominant element…[S]ome business interests are worried about the potential costs…"


NEW ENERGY WINS AGAIN
Ontarians show strong support for green energy in run up to provincial election: poll
July 21, 2011 (Ontario Sustainable Energy Association)

"...[O]ver 7 of 10 Ontarians support green energy initiatives…[S]upport was highest among younger respondents. 84% of those polled between ages 18-34 were in favour of the Province’s green energy undertakings.

"…With Ontario on track to eliminate coal-powered generation by 2014, there is much debate as to the source of energy best suited to replace it…The Ontario PC leader has campaigned against the Green Energy Act and its Feed-in Tariff rates. Interestingly, the survey indicated 57% of decided PC supporters were in favour of green energy initiatives. One quarter of these PC supporters ‘strongly agreed.’"

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"82% of both Liberal and NDP identified voters support green energy. Close to half of Liberal supporters (49%) ‘strongly agreed’ with current energy initiatives in Ontario. Similarly, 52% of NDP voters ‘strongly agreed’ with green energy.

"The polling, which was conducted between July 7th and July 13th, 2011, shows the PCs with the highest number of decided votes at 42.8%, followed by the Liberals at 31.5%, the NDP at 17.7% and the Green Party with 8%. A significant 17.7% of voters remain undecided…"


OUTLOOK FOR ORGANIC SUN
Flexible OPV modules sharpen the market’s growth curve through 2020
July 22, 2011 (Lux Research)

"With only a handful of small demonstration products shipped to date, the current market for organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules is essentially zero. That will almost certainly change over the next decade. But OPV’s organic (carbon-containing) polymers and molecules deliver poor conversion efficiencies and short lifetimes compared to conventional solar technologies, which will hinder OPV adoption."

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"The best bet for developers is to target niche applications where unique capabilities like transparency and flexibility give OPV an edge. The current crop – based either on bulk heterojunction (BHJ) or dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) technology – enable transparent solar modules, but require the same brittle flat glass substrates of conventional solar technologies rely. As flexible substrates emerge later this decade they will provide OPV developers with unique options for targeting niche markets…"