QUICK NEWS, December 3: THE WORSENING METHANE THREAT FROM GASES; UTILITY PAYS FOR WIND TURBINES’ EAGLE TAKES; THE $50 BIL FUTURE OF HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION

THE WORSENING METHANE THREAT FROM GASES U.S. Methane Emissions 50 Percent Higher Than EPA Estimates

November 26, 2013 (Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences)

“Emissions of methane from fossil fuel extraction and refining activities in the South Central U.S. are nearly five times higher than previous estimates…Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is produced through natural gas production and distribution, cattle farming, landfills, coal mining, manure management and many other anthropogenic and natural sources, though human activities are thought to contribute approximately 60 percent of the total…[Overall] total methane emissions in the U.S. appear to be 1.5 times and 1.7 times higher than the amounts previously estimated…Along with carbon dioxide, methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases in terms of its potential to raise global temperatures. It also encourages the formation of surface ozone in cities and affects other aspects of atmospheric chemistry…” click here for more

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UTILITY PAYS FOR WIND TURBINES’ EAGLE TAKES Wind company pays fine over eagle deaths

Julian Hattem, November 22, 2013 (The Hill)

"A renewable power company has agreed to pay $1 million over the deaths of [14 golden eagles and 149 other protected birds at two wind farms in Wyoming within the last three years]…The settlement with Duke Energy is the first time the Obama administration, which has been a strong backer of wind power, has penalized a wind energy company for killing eagles…Golden eagles are not endangered species, but are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act…[T]he facilities were developed…[when the wind industry’s understanding of eagle impacts at wind farms was still evolving…[During the Obama tenure, the wind] industry has grown by about 30 percent each year…The Fish and Wildlife Service grants [five year] permits to allow companies to build wind farms as long as they use ‘advanced conservation practices’ to protect the animals…” click here for more

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THE $50 BIL FUTURE OF HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION High-Voltage Direct Current Transmission Systems; HVDC Converters, Cables, Submarine Interconnections, Multiterminal Grids, and Hybrid Breakers: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts

4Q 2013 (Navigant Research)

“Generally regarded as the most complex machine in the world today, the interconnected power grid started off with a centralized generator and a direct current (DC) transmission line in New York City in 1882. Since then, most grids have been built using alternating current (AC)…While AC transmission still dominates the transmission industry overall, doubts concerning the limited capability of classic [high voltage direct current (HVDC)] transmission have been removed by innovative voltage-source converters (VSCs)…Navigant Research forecasts that global cumulative HVDC converter revenue will amount to $56.6 billion between 2013 and 2020…” click here for more

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