ENERGY: Delmarva Power to credit Del. customers $2M

NEWARK, Del. — Close to 300,000 Delmarva Power customers in Delaware will be credited a share of a $2 million security posted by Bluewater Wind now that a power purchasing agreement between the wind energy provider and the region's primary utility is canceled, Delmarva Power announced late Tuesday.

Oil price above $101 as consumer confidence rises

NEW YORK (AP) – The price of crude oil climbed above $101 a barrel in light holiday trading on growing U.S. consumer confidence and tension in the Middle East.Benchmark crude rose $1.66 on Tuesday to end at $101.34 per barrel in New York.

China gets approval for Afghanistan oil exploration bid

China has gained potential access to millions of barrels of oil after it won approval for oil exploration and extraction in Afghanistan.

India's October Mineral Output Value Flat

(RTTNews) - The total value of mineral production, excluding atomic and minor minerals, in India during October was flat at Rs.14,555 crore, compared with Rs.14,572 crore a year-ago, due to decline in production of coal and iron ore, according to data released by the Ministry of Mines.

Consumers have more options to reduce energy bills

As winter begins and federal tax credits for home efficiency upgrades end, consumers need not despair: Options to reduce energy bills are expanding.States and utilities are spending more on energy-efficiency programs such as home energy audits.

EPA rules target mercury pollution, toxics from power plants

The Environmental Protection Agency released far-reaching air pollution regulations Wednesday, 21 years after they were first mandated by Congress and six days after they were signed by the agency.

Ohio set to see oil boom thanks to fracking

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ohio hasn't been an oil powerhouse for nearly 100 years.

Oil boomlet sweeps U.S. as exports and production rise

Looking at your heating bills or gas prices, you may find it surprising that the United States is enjoying a mini oil boom. It's producing more crude oil and, for the first time in decades, has become a net exporter of petroleum products such as jet fuel, heating oil and gasoline.

LEDs offer a brighter future, says report

A field trial of LED light fittings in social housing says the new technology can deliver huge energy savings, reduce costs and makes residents feel safer.

Iraq oil security tested as U.S. forces withdraw

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A bombing of southern Iraqi crude pipelines despite a nationwide alert against a possible surge in insurgent attacks has heightened fears for the future security of Iraq's vital oil sector as American troops withdraw.

Gold Prices Struggle to Stay Near $1, 700

Gold prices fell Wednesday on negative economic news from China and Europe plus concerns that the world's No. 1 economy is barely advancing.

Waking Up to Urgency of a National Climate Policy

As increasingly extreme and erratic weather driven by the earth's changing climate exacts a heavy toll on Jamaica's population, economy and infrastructure, a consensus has emerged among scientists and policy makers here that adaptation measures must include hazard mitigation.

Mukesh Ambani's RIL challenges norms for coal bed gas

NEW DELHI: Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has accused the oil ministry of moving goal posts mid way on pricing and utilisation of gas extracted from coal seams - called coal bed methane (CBM) in industry parlance - and said the move was against the government's own decision and violated terms of the contract with the state.

Suit fails to block oil lease sale in Gulf of Mexico

NEW ORLEANS – The federal government will move ahead with the first auction of offshore petroleum leases in the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon disaster — despite a lawsuit challenging the sale.

Scotland's climate change target 'could cost £11bn'

The cost of reaching Scotland's ambitious climate change targets could top £11bn, according to a report from a money watchdog.

France to strengthen nuclear security after break-ins: EDF

France will beef up security at its nuclear plants after Greenpeace activists broke into two facilities, the head of energy firm EDF said on Friday, denouncing the stunt as "stupid".

Energy diplomacy: State launches energy bureau, with eye on volatile energy markets, impact on US economy

With rising tensions over Iran threatening to spike oil prices, and ongoing efforts to bring post-war Iraq and Libya oil production back online, the State Department launched a new Bureau of Energy Resources this month.

Russia ‘Losing Grip’ on China Gas Talks May Benefit EU, EON Says

China’s decision to boost natural gas deliveries from central Asia while supply talks with OAO Gazprom fail to produce a contract may keep Russia’s gas export monopoly reliant on European buyers, according to EON AG’s Russian unit.

Qatar and UK's Centrica agree to invest in energy

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar's state oil company and British energy firm Centrica PLC agreed Monday to cooperate on pursuing energy investments, laying the groundwork for a further expansion of the wealthy Gulf state's international portfolio.

Renewable energy: US probe 'protectionism,' China says

Renewable energy flap with China escalates as US panel agrees to investigate complaints that Chinese solar panels are unfairly priced. Renewable energy is flash point in US-China trade relations.

Energy Department Announces Technical Assistance Opportunity for Tribal Clean Energy Deployment

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched today the Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) initiative aimed at advancing clean energy generation in Indian Country and providing federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native governments with technical assistance to accelerate clean energy project deployment.

Oil hovers at $100 ahead of key US jobs report

SINGAPORE (AP) — Oil prices hovered above $100 a barrel Friday in Asia as traders awaited a U.S. jobs report for evidence about the strength of the U.S. economy and demand for crude.

Crude Oil Climbs After U.S. Thanksgiving Retail Sales Surge to a Record

Oil climbed as Thanksgiving retail sales advanced to a record in the U.S., a signal of economic growth in the world’s biggest crude-consuming country.

Oil up near $100 in Europe as stock markets gain

Oil prices were up $3 on Monday, to near $100 a barrel, supported by a strong start to the U.S. holiday shopping season, continuing tensions in the Middle East and new hopes for progress in the European debt crisis.

Putin to Coordinate Oil Production with OPEC?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that his country, the world’s leading oil and gas producer, plans to work closely with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the oil cartel.

U.S.: World's Tallest Solar Tower Set for Arizona

In the western desert state of Arizona, a company called EnviroMission is planning to build a new solar tower, the first of its kind, an ambitious new way to produce energy with heat from the sun.

French president clings to nuclear energy despite post-Fukushima fears, waste protests

PIERRELATTE, France — French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday it would be madness to reduce his country’s huge reliance on nuclear power, despite worldwide wariness after Japan’s Fukushima disaster and protests this week over the dangers of waste.

PetroChina Parent Chairman Censured by Government for Accidents

China National Petroleum Corp., the parent of the country’s biggest energy company PetroChina Co. (857), said its chairman was given a “disciplinary warning” by the government after accidents at Dalian port since July last year.

Oil Declines in New York on Speculation Pipeline Reversal Won’t End Glut

Oil in New York declined, widening its discount to Brent crude, on speculation that the reversal of the Seaway pipeline won’t be enough to eliminate a glut in the U.S. Midwest.

Green energy race 'fierce'

ARVADA, Colo., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. energy secretary said during a tour of a solar manufacturing plant in Colorado that global competition in the green energy sector was "fierce."

Crude oil may fall this week, says survey

NEW YORK: Crude oil in New York declined, widening its discount to Brent crude, on speculation that the reversal of the Seaway pipeline won't be enough to eliminate a glut in the US Midwest.

Australia's uranium industry poised for growth

Australia's uranium producers are predicting lucrative times ahead as demand from Asia overshadows the negative effects of Japan's nuclear disaster.

Shell's China Moves

The Anglo-Dutch energy giant and state-owned PetroChina have teamed up to get gas out of the ground in China—and to tap new sources of energy worldwide.

Experts discuss economics, security of energy at Bauer panel

A panel of energy experts helped explain the relationship between economics and energy at “The Energy Management and Policy Group Panel Discussion,” hosted by CT. Bauer College of Business on Friday at the UH Hilton Hotel.

Climate policies can help resolve energy security and air pollution challenges

Policies to protect the global climate and limit global temperature rise offer the most effective entry point for achieving energy sustainability, reducing air pollution, and improving energy security, according to an article published in the latest issue of Nature Climate Change (Vol 1 Dec 2011).

Energy costs to grow faster without nuclear

LONDON – Energy will become “viciously more expensive” and polluting if governments don’t promote renewable and nuclear power in the next two decades instead of burning coal, the International Energy Agency said.

£1bn Pembroke power plant: 'tough permit,' says agency

The Environment Agency has confirmed it has granted a permit for a gas-fuelled power station in Pembrokeshire but says it has imposed "tough standards".

Oil prices are in 'danger zone', warns the IEA

Oil could hit $150 a barrel soon if investment in the Middle East and North Africa fails to rise with demand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says.

Energy Costs to Rise ‘Viciously’ Without Atomic Power, IEA Says

Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Energy will become “viciously more expensive” and polluting if governments don’t promote renewable and nuclear power in the next two decades instead of burning coal, the International Energy Agency said.

Two power plants to create 1,000 jobs in Yorkshire

Two new power stations are to be built in Yorkshire creating more than 1,000 jobs, the government has announced.

More government grey skies for solar power?

Geothermal Engineering's receipt of £6m from the Regional Growth Fund this week was the second bit of good news for Cornwall's renewable energy community in less than a fortnight.

New plans for energy firm bases in Aberdeen area

Three energy firms have announced major plans to establish new offices in the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Oil up to near $95 on improving US economy, Greece

Oil prices rose to near $95 a barrel Friday, boosted by signs the U.S. economy may be improving and hopes that the cancellation of a Greek referendum clears the way for the country's financial rescue.

IAEA: China urges UN atomic watchdog to be tough

China has urged the UN's nuclear watchdog to help developing nations to build safer power stations.

Alberta oil sands producers ‘distracted from ambition and creativity’

Dr. Alan Knight advises the Virgin Group on sustainable development and directs the $25-million Virgin Earth Challenge, an initiative to develop technology to recycle CO2 direct from the air into commercially viable products. He will be speaking about the initiative at the Global Clean Energy Conference in Calgary on November 2.

Dr. Knight has nearly 20 years’ experience of working with global and national companies and governments on sustainability. He is a founder of the Global Association of Corporate Sustainability Officers (GACSO) and a visiting professor at the Exeter University Business School and a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. He was awarded the OBE in June 1998.

Cuba eases curbs to boost food output

Cuba is easing communist rules and nudging its agriculture toward a market economy model as part of a stepped-up government effort to boost food production.

The stranded oil sands: A worst-case scenario

The signs are there: the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline has festered into an uncomfortable election issue for the U.S. president, Barack Obama.

New Energy Technologies Already Helping DOD

Saving energy saves lives, and new technologies championed by Defense Department officials already are making a difference at the Pentagon and on the battlefield, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

BRUSSELS—Will it work?

The deal euro-zone leaders hammered out in the early hours of Thursday sparked a world-wide stock rally. But the market moves belied widespread caution about the accord among economists and analysts—and even some of the decision-makers in the debt crisis.

Emerging Markets Bulls Seeing Rebound Push Calls to Two-Year High: Options

Options traders are making more bets than any time since 2009 that emerging market equities will climb after valuations fell to the lowest levels in three years.

Obama plans for energy security

PRESIDENT Barack Obama is calling for the United States to reduce its oil imports by one third by 2025.

Facing pressure to curb rising fuel prices, President Obama outlined the lofty but difficult goal.

The White House said Obama will seek to reduce the US dependence on foreign oil by boosting domestic energy production, increasing the use of biofuels and natural gas, and making cars and trucks more fuel-efficient.

IEA: Many Months to Restore Libya's Oil Output

An expert at the International Energy Agency says it may be "many months" before Libya's damaged oil industry can resume full production. The head of IEA's Oil Industry and Markets Division, David Fyfe, said Thursday there are "many logistical, operational and security related challenges" to overcome in Libya.

Renewable Energy Can Replace Nuclear Plants

If the Indian Point Energy nuclear plant in NY state isn't relicensed in 2015, it could be replaced with a wide range of renewable energy options available today.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, alone could meet the region's energy demand. And there is additional capacity available through new transmission projects and by making existing natural gas power plants much more efficient.

Oil Trades Near Highest Price in a Month After Goldman Cites ‘Upside Risk’

Oil traded near the highest price in more a month after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicted “upside” potential, amid signs U.S. crude stockpiles are increasing less rapidly than previously forecast.

Futures were little changed after advancing 2.3 percent yesterday. Energy Department data today may show that supplies climbed 2 million barrels. Yesterday’s report by the industry- funded American Petroleum Institute indicated they dropped for a third week. Goldman Sachs said in a report an improving economic outlook in Europe and declining crude supplies may present “a real upside risk” to Brent prices.

BP gets $4bn from Anadarko as part of a Gulf settlement

BP is to receive $4bn (£2.5bn) cash as part of a settlement with Anadarko Petroleum over last year's Deepwater Horizon oil platform disaster.

The money will go into a $20bn trust that BP set up to meet claims against it following the Gulf of Mexico oil spillage and deaths of rig workers.

U.S. solar energy industry is a booming one

Bill O'Reilly's column, "Don't punish Americans for failure of green energy," on Oct. 1 fails to paint an accurate picture of America's energy resources, now and into the future.

Securing a strong economy and national security for America requires a mix of all energy resources. All solutions developed to meet the nation's high energy demands require a serious investment and commitment from public and private sectors.

BP unveils North Sea investment programme

BP has been given the go ahead to proceed with a new £4.5bn oil project west of the Shetland Islands.

The BP-operated scheme is an extension of the existing Clair oil field, and will also include investment by fellow oil firms Shell, ConocoPhillips and Chevron.

David Cameron said the news was a "massive boost for jobs and growth".

SSE energy auction plan may shake up power market

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) will start auctioning its entire electricity supply on the wholesale market.

This is the first time such a move has come from any of the big six suppliers, which use their own power stations to generate electricity.

This could allow new entrants to the energy market, bringing more competition for consumers.

IEA expects lower global oil demand for 2011/12 on downward growth

PARIS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Energy Agency on Wednesday revised down global oil demand projection for 2011 and 2012, based on "lower-than-expected" third quarter readings in the non-OECD area and a downward global growth assumption.

In its new oil market report, the Paris-based IEA put global oil demand down by 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) to an average of 89.2 million bpd for 2011, and down by 210,000 bpd to 90.5 million bpd for 2012.

Oil spill disaster New Zealand's 'worst in decades'

An oil spill from a stranded cargo ship off New Zealand is the country's worst environmental disaster in decades, the government says.

Officials say 350 tonnes of oil may have leaked from the 775ft (236m) Rena, which ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the port of Tauranga on Wednesday.

Thailand aims to be regional energy hub, to up oil reserves

Thailand aims to revive a long-stalled plan to become an oil trading and biofuel hub in Southeast Asia, challenging Singapore's dominance, its new energy minister said on Thursday.

The net oil importer plans to boost its crude reserves, excluding refined oil products, to 29 days from 18 days now to improve energy security, said Pichai Naripthaphan, as consumers face volatile crude prices which continue to hold above $100 a barrel..

Green energy key to future, says ex-prez

Former President Bill Clinton explained how the development of clean energy could stimulate job growth last Tuesday, when he was the keynote speaker at Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Open for Business Statewide Conference.

Cuomo, who served as Clinton's secretary of Housing and Urban Development, introduced his former boss, praising his economic leadership.

"President Clinton wrote a playbook on how to make this nation's economy soar … The longest economic expansion in this nation's history was under Bill Clinton, period."

China In Search of Energy Security – Chávez Lays Welcome Mat

President Hugo Chávez has long desired to minimize his country’s economic dependence on the United States, and since China’s huge and growing energy demands have resulted in expanded business with Venezuela, he may very well get his wish. Beijing and Caracas have a history of affable diplomatic ties, which in recent years have been strengthened by several multibillion-dollar oil-exploration deals that are providing China with a broadening spectrum of new sources of energy while helping to revive Venezuela’s wilting economy. With its petroleum consumption climbing 7.5 percent per year, China represents a significant and growing long-term source of income for Venezuela.

Energy efficient renovations could save Bragg $1.5 million

Fort Bragg expects to save more than $1.5 million in energy costs each year as it renovates aging buildings, according to a report that highlighted Department of Defense energy initiatives.

Fort Bragg is one of several installations mentioned in the 88-page report released last week entitled "From Barracks to the Battlefield: Clean Energy Innovation and America's Armed Forces" from the Pew Charitable Trust.

Oil & Gas - China investing to secure energy supply

Energy security is becoming a priority for economies around the world, not least the world’s biggest energy consumer, China. It will be responsible for most of the 36% increase in global energy demand by 2035, says the International Energy Agency.

It’s therefore not surprising that the the Financial Times reported that Chinese oil and gas companies — PetroChina and its parent company China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), China’s National Offshore Oil Co (CNOOC) and Sinopec — were responsible for 20% of global mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas sector last year.

Fuel and energy focus of Energy review

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy, in a quadrennial review, said strategies aimed are revamping the fuel and energy sector are key factors in energy security.

The Energy Department said energy security and U.S. market competitiveness could increase with better vehicle efficiency, alternative fuels and the use of electrical vehicles in the light-duty fleet.

Customers willing to pay more for energy security claim IET

The vast majority of people are worried enough about energy security to be willing to pay more to guarantee it, new research reveals.

According to new research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), released today (September 26), claims despite rocketing bills energy security is still a huge concern.

Land grab for renewable energy production could impact beef capacity

Rising demand for the dominant form of renewable energy worldwide – wood – could drive yet more foreign acquisitions of land, particularly in developing countries where food insecurity is rising and land rights are weak, researchers say.

In a recent briefing paper, the International Institute for Environment and Development warned that this new trend needed greater public scrutiny and debate.

Renewable energy sector still a bright spot, says DoE

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy said renewable energy remained an attractive investment destination in the country, as it vowed to push for the massive use of these resources to ensure national energy security.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras, however, admitted there was a need to pace the installation of renewable energy facilities, explaining that “each technology has its inherent economic and technical characteristics and must be applied to specific local realities.”

Canada’s energy minister: Keystone XL critics threaten ‘security’

Toronto - Hollywood celebrities and prominent international voices against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline threaten Canada's "security" and hinder the government's goal of being the dominant energy supplier for North America, states a leading Canadian official.

Joe Oliver, Canada’s energy minister, is taking on critics of the proposed $7 billion pipeline planned to run from Alberta to refineries along the Texas Gulf coast. “Criticism of the oil sands - and now the proposed Keystone XL pipeline - is a major concern for us, with implications for our energy industry, our economy and our energy security,” Oliver told a Toronto business audience on Friday, according to Reuters.

Studies Weigh Green Energy Investments Payback

Are investments in green energy programs worth it?

Two studies each released within the last year take contrarian points of view on the subject.

Officials at The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston, a free-market-leaning public policy organization, found in a study published last year that programs that charge ratepayers additional money to encourage renewable energy systems simply don’t have a high return on investment.

Clean energy drive could steer economic growth

Berlin: A major expansion of renewable energy could create millions of jobs worldwide, stir economic growth in heavily indebted countries and help fight climate change at the same time, an American adviser to the German leader Angela Merkel said on Monday.

Jeremy Rifkin, a best-selling author and an adviser to the European Union on climate change and energy security, said Germany has been leading the way by creating some 250,000 jobs in renewable energy in just a few years, but could do more.

US Military's Clean Energy Investments Jump 300% from 2006-2009, to Eclipse $10 Billion by 2030

The US Dept. of Defense (DoD) spends more on energy than 3/4 of the world’s nations. A rapidly growing percentage of that is coming from clean and renewable energy sources, however. The DoD’s clean energy investments jumped 300%, from $400 million to $1.2 billion, between 2006 and 2009, a figure that’s projected to surpass $10 billion annually by 2030, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts’ research report.

The DoD’s investments are helping spur development and deployment of clean energy technologies in three key areas: vehicle efficiency, advanced biofuels and the installation of renewable energy systems at military bases, according to Pew’s, “From Barracks to the Battlefield: Clean Energy Innovation and America’s Armed Forces.”

Tepco considers job cuts as part of restructuring plan

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the owner of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, is considering cutting thousands of jobs.

Reports say Tepco has told a government backed committee that it may cut as many as 5,000 jobs or 10% of its workforce.

The committee is expected to announce a restructuring plan for Tepco next week.

New oil and gas sources on rise

By 2015, 60 per cent of the world's new oil and gas will come from unconventional resources.

The question that should be top of mind is what this means for North America, and, just as important, for energy security.

"The dynamics are changing because of the development of unconventional resources around the world," said Robert Johnston, director of energy and natural resources with the Washingtonbased Eurasia Group.

UAE crucial to global energy security

Trade Arabia reported that the UAE which holds about 10% of the world’s known oil reserves is a vital contributor to world energy security.

Mr Abdalla Salem El Badri the Vienna based secretary general of OPEC said that the UAE has been 'an OPEC member country since the 1960s and is one of the pre eminent players in the global energy arena.

Noda pledges new basic energy plan by next summer

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda pledged Sept. 13 to come up with a new basic energy policy by next summer to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear energy.

Noda, making his first policy speech, said: "It is unproductive to perceive energy policy as a confrontation between those who call for a move away from nuclear energy and those who promote nuclear energy."

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver touts Keystone XL pipeline construction

TransCanada Pipelines Ltd.’s Keystone XL project, which is expected to create 20,000 construction jobs in the United States, was one issue Canadian Natural Resources Minster Joe Oliver addressed at a San Francisco conference on transportation and energy Tuesday.

“We have a number of purposes and one of them is to talk about clean energy and the transport sector, but I’m also taking advantage of the opportunity here in California to talk about the Keystone XL Pipeline as I’ve done before in New York and in Washington where I will be returning next month.”

For Libyan Oil, Security Is Everything

On Monday, OPEC came out with a remarkably optimistic forecast for Libyan oil.

Despite Libya’s oil industry being almost completely shut down by the civil war, OPEC said the country could be producing 1 million barrels a day of oil again within six months.

Bill Gates, others push for energy innovation

Bill Gates and several other formidable technology industry leaders brought a simple message to Capitol Hill on Tuesday: Invest in a more expansive energy and technology policy.

At a briefing hosted by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Gates and other captains of industry unveiled a new report on “energy innovation and proposed reforms of government programs to yield greater economic benefits.”

Minister touts Taiwan's green energy sector at APEC roundtable

San Francisco, Sept. 12 (CNA) Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-shiang pointed to "green growth" as a major factor in Taiwan's economic growth and highlighted Taiwan's achievements in the field at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco Tuesday.

Speaking at the APEC Energy Security Policy Roundtable, Shih pointed to green growth as a major engine of the country's economic growth and emphasized that Taiwan's technological advancements in renewable energy had drawn the interest of other countries attending the meeting.

Free-market energy solutions don't jeopardize national security

By spurring development of the politically favored alternative fuel of the moment, devotees of federal energy subsidies say that we can stop sending dollars overseas. Details of the Solyndra scandal continue to unfold, but what we know so far should teach the Obama administration a valuable lesson: The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.

Unfortunately, some conservatives -- trying to promote national security -- fall into the same trap of arguing for alternative energy subsidies. Interests ranging from solar to wind, from propane to biodiesel, from natural gas to algae, purport to provide the key to America's energy and national security needs, but having the president or Congress pick winners and losers in the energy sector is neither practical nor principled.

Natural gas key to national securty, Ridge tells conference

PHILADELPHIA -- Pointing to natural gas as a key component of a national energy strategy that protects national security and blasting the "hysteria" he sees as accompanying environmental concerns, former Gov. Tom Ridge opened the Marcellus Shale Coalition's conference here on a fiery note.

Mr. Ridge, who spent the past year as a paid adviser to the industry trade group, used his half-hour opening remarks to repeatedly urge greater development of American energy resources.

Putin opens Nord Stream Baltic gas pipeline to Germany

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pressed the start button to open a pipeline carrying natural gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

He said the Nord Stream pipeline would reduce Russia's dependence on Ukrainian pipelines, which were shut during gas disputes between Moscow and Kiev.

Oil prices fall on continuing global economy concerns

Oil prices have fallen on concerns that the US could fall back into recession, and continuing anxiety about eurozone debt levels.

With fears about a slowdown in China also hitting sentiment, US light crude had fallen $2.40 a barrel to $84.05.

Brent crude was also lower, dropping $1.66 to $110.67 per barrel.

Gasoline Advances as Inventories Fall to Lowest Level Since May

Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Gasoline futures advanced after the Energy Department reported inventories of the motor fuel fell to the lowest level since May as drivers filled their tanks before Hurricane Irene.

Futures rose as much as 1.3 percent as gasoline stockpiles fell 2.8 million barrels to 208.6 million last week. Imports to the U.S. East Coast declined 28 percent to 591,000 barrels a day, during the week ended Aug. 26 as Hurricane Irene approached the region, department data showed.

U.S. government seeks biofuel partnership

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy, Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture are forming a public-private partnership to develop drop-in advanced biofuels.

A request for information laying out the administration's goals, assumptions, and tools and requesting from industry specific ideas for how to leverage private capital markets to establish a commercially viable drop-in biofuels industry has been issued by the organizations.

A nuclear fuel bank to secure peaceful atomic energy

Kazakhstan is ready to play a key role in global security by hosting an international nuclear fuel bank under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, writes Kanat Saudabayev, the country's secretary of state, in an exclusive commentary for EurActiv.

"Since regaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has been committed to the global process of non-proliferation and reduction of nuclear weapons. After the Soviet Union's collapse, we gave up the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal and the infrastructure of the old Soviet nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk was completely dismantled, starting in 1991.

Time for smart energy policy is now

WASHINGTON — For decades, securing our nation’s energy future has been a national priority — yet policymakers still have not reached consensus on a long-term, comprehensive platform that will ensure our energy, economic and national security.

Instead, we’ve endured a roller-coaster ride of spiking energy prices that cripple our economy and further compromise our national security.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon: Clean energy top priority

Providing clean, renewable energy to the 1.4 billion people who are living without electricity is the No. 1 priority of the United Nations, the secretary general of the U.N. Ban Ki-moon said during a visit to the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

NREL, through its numerous partnerships with the U.N ., is playing a crucial role in making that happen and building a sustainable world, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a crowd of researchers assembled at NREL's Research Support Facility "When we put a priority on renewable energy we address job creation, we address climate change, women's empowerment and food security," Ban said.

China's Pending Energy Crisis

As mature economies like the U.S. and Europe sputter postrecession, China has caught the world's attention as an economic power. The country's nearly double-digit growth is the envy -- and the concern -- of the traditional economic powers of the world.

One thing China needs to keep its economy clicking is fuel -- lots and lots of fuel. And for China, that's becoming an increasingly dangerous problem.

Military radar deal paves way for more wind farms across Britain

Thousands more wind turbines can now be built across Britain after energy companies struck behind-the-scenes deals to overcome military objections to wind farms.

New mobile radar systems, each costing about £20 million, are being purchased from a US defence contractor to ensure Britain's early warning systems remain effective in detecting enemy aircraft and missiles.

Tests show that wind turbines, whose spinning blades are about the same size as a passenger jet wing, disrupt the radar systems currently in place around the UK coastline.

Natural gas boom is the real deal

"Now we have runs on the scoreboard," says John Hanger, former head of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the natural gas opportunity. Hanger was responding to the updated estimate for natural gas reserves by the United States Geological Survey, which was revised upwards from 2 trillion cubic feet in 2002 to 84TCF this year. Hanger characterizes the current estimate as conservative, and the previous estimate as extremely conservative. "We've already produced 2 trillion TCF from the Marcellus [Shale]. So we've already exceeded [the estimate] from 2002," Hanger explains. "And Pennsylvania alone, over the past 12 months, has produced close to 1 trillionTCF and that was just 1600 wells," Hanger adds for emphasis. Many more wells are coming Hanger says and that is only going to increase production.

UN Chief Calls For Clean Energy Revolution

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for a ‘clean energy revolution’ to transform the global economy.

Ban, during a visit to the United States, underlined the importance of clean energy to put the world on a cleaner, safer, more equitable path, adding that those countries that move quickly into developing clean energy will be the economic powerhouses of the 21st century.

CO Energy Needs: Business as Usual or a Clean Energy Vision?

DENVER - Where should Colorado and 10 other western states turn for energy needs in the future? That's the focus of a report released Wednesday which contrasts the economic, environmental, security and public-health consequences of a "Clean Energy Vision" versus "Business as Usual."

Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter says the Clean Energy Vision's reliance on lowering demand and using renewable resources can be an economic growth engine for states such as Colorado.

Renewable Energy – Energy for future

Introduction
Global warming and its increasing effects have shed light on the many global environmental issues. Our planet's fragile ecosystem is under attack on many fronts as a result of industrialization and our growing transportation and infrastructures. Change is needed in order to avert catastrophe, adaptation and development of alternative energy sources is absolutely necessary. Although, renewable energy will take a long time to gain popularity due to economics associated with the use of conventional fossil fuels and associated traditional habits. Nevertheless, renewable energy is the answer to reducing the effects of climate change and help save environment.

U.S. Navy contracts for solar power

HONOLULU, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Three Hawaiian companies have been contracted by the U.S. Navy for power generation at military installations throughout the state.

The contract from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific was given to Island Pacific Energy LLC, Pacific Energy Solutions LLC, and Photon Finance LLC.

Testimony: Port terrorist attack could cripple energy sector

A terrorist attack on the Houston Ship Channel would be catastrophic for the nation's energy sector, international trade and economy, witnesses testified during a congressional hearing Wednesday at the Port of Houston Authority.

As testimony was under way at the port's executive offices, a Government Accountability Office issued a report finding that the nation must take further measures to secure the maritime energy supply.

Report: Excelsior Energy could run out of gas

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) — Excelsior Energy, once hailed as an innovative project that would bring jobs to Minnesota's Iron Range while cleanly tapping America's abundant coal supply, is in danger of running out of gas if it can't attract additional investments from the public or private sector soon, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

While significant work has gone into planning, engineering and garnering permits, Excelsior has yet to move a shovelful of dirt or find a customer for the power it would produce, the newspaper reported in a two-part series this week .

IAEA seeks safety checks in all atomic energy states

(Reuters) - The U.N. atomic agency will carry out at least one safety inspection in each country with nuclear power plants in the coming three years under proposals aimed at preventing any repeat of Japan's nuclear crisis.

The draft document from the International Atomic Energy Agency, a revised version of a plan presented to IAEA member states this month, outlined a series of steps to help improve global nuclear safety after the Fukushima accident in March.

Smart Grid- The Best Approach to Put America Back to Work

The Smart Grid increases our energy security by reducing dependence on oil that only gets more costly to extract or protect. The Smart Grid improves our economic security with a 21st century energy infrastructure that allows us to cost-effectively participate in competitive global markets. The Smart Grid also creates new domestic white collar and blue collar jobs. Building the Smart Grid benefits us at local, state and national levels in the USA, but the effort will require workforce education, employee reskilling, and services to assist job seekers in finding their best career transition points.

Expert: Greece in better pipeline position

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Greece's move to privatize its incumbent natural gas distributor could help it gain leverage in still-fluid southern energy corridor plans, a U.S. expert says.

Alexandros Petersen, an adviser to the European Energy Security Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, wrote Saturday in the Athens daily I Kathimerini that, until now, Greece, though its state-owned gas company DEPA, was committed to the proposed Interconnector Greece-Italy pipeline -- one of three southern corridor pipelines on the drawing board.

Thar coal to be fully exploited: Sindh CM

KARACHI : Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday said the government is fully  committed for development of Thar coal which has the potential of turning the country’s economy around.

The Sindh CM said this while presiding over the 13th meeting of Thar Coal and Energy Board (TCEB), at the CM House here.

Can the Fracking Industry Self-Regulate?

A new report from the Department of Energy calls for the creation of a shale gas production organization -- a private sector agency that would set safety standards and address environmental concerns.

The boom in natural gas extracted from shale rock through new technology holds out great transformative promise for the future: for consumers in lowering energy costs, for workers in creating domestic jobs, for the environment as a substitute for coal, for balance of trade as we may export more than we import and for energy security as we become less dependent on foreign oil and gas and reduce the influence of nations like Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

U.S. Promotes LEU Fuel Reserve Stockpile

The United States is making available to commercial atomic energy reactors a stockpile of low-enriched uranium fuel that was blended down from excess weapon-grade uranium, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Agency announced on Thursday (see GSN, Dec. 7, 2010).

The American Assured Fuel Supply stockpile is intended to encourage growth in the civilian atomic power field in a manner that does not promote proliferation. Unlike highly enriched uranium that is still used at atomic reactors around the world, LEU fuel is not suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.

U.S. Army to Invest $7.1 Billion in Renewable Energy Projects

The U.S. Army takes energy security seriously, planning to invest $7.1 billion into private sector sourced renewable energy infrastructure on Army land.

The U.S. Army is recruiting… private sector renewable energy companies that is. The Army is taking a lesson from its brothers in the Navy (who are engaging in an aggressive biofuels campaign) and actively pursuing renewable energy options to power bases and operations, breaking the chain of dependence on foreign oil. The Army plans to actively seek out private sector renewable energy companies to develop $7.1 billion worth of renewable energy projects on Army land.

Fukushima plant owner Tepco reports $7.4bn loss

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the owner of the Fukushima nuclear plant damaged in March's earthquake and tsunami, has reported a quarterly loss of 571.8bn yen ($7.4bn; £4.5bn)

The loss includes 400bn yen put aside by Tepco to compensate victims of the disaster, which forced 80,000 people to be evacuated from the area around the Fukushima plant.

Total and Eni blame profit falls on conflict in Libya

Oil companies Total and Eni have both blamed profit falls on the conflict in Libya disrupting their production in the north African country.

France's Total saw its net profit decline 12% to 2.73bn euros ($3.89bn; £2.4bn) in the three months to 30 June.

Also affected by maintenance work reducing output at its oil rigs in the North Sea, this compares with a profit of 3.1bn euros a year earlier.

Oil and Gas Industry Profit Reports Spark Latest Outcry Against Subsidies

Congressional Democrats and environmentalists are resurrecting their calls to end a suite of tax breaks for the oil industry as the largest energy companies have announced their second quarter profits this week and debt discussions are dominating Capitol Hill debates.

The Senate in May voted down a proposal from Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) that would have repealed several tax breaks for the largest oil companies in order to pay down the deficit by $21 billion over the next decade. The vote came as both parties in Washington tried to score political victories from the soaring oil and gasoline prices plaguing the nation.

Gold price seen rising further by African Barrick Gold

FTSE 100 miner African Barrick Gold expects the price of gold to continue rising because of global economic uncertainty.

The company, the largest producer of the metal in Tanzania, said gold's attraction as a safe haven for investors means prices will grow further despite already clearing record levels of $1,600 per ounce.

Greg Hawkins, chief executive of African Barrick, said: "Against a backdrop of continuing uncertainty in the overall economy, we remain positive on the outlook for gold.

"We believe that the fundamental attraction of gold as a store of value as a result of the global credit crisis will continue to support future gold prices."

Mr Hawkins comments came as the company posted an increase in pre-tax profits to $178m (£109m) from $143m for the first half of 2011. Production levels were in line with expectations at 345,857 ounces, although this is a 3pc decline on last year following a security breach at one mine and a mill failure at another.

The results pushed African Barrick shares up 31.9, or 6.5pc, to 521p.

The company is a spin-off of the African assets of Barrick Gold, the world's biggest miner. Its shares had fallen sharply between February and June after missing production targets for 2010 and suffering the further setbacks at mines this year.

Private power contributes to our energy security

Letter writer Doug Morrison has a lot of misperceptions in his letter; I'll address a few. He claims that private power (IPP) is being bought by BC Hydro at three times market value, presumably referring to cheap "spot" power.

IPP power will of course cost more than that from BC Hydro facilities built decades ago, but is comparable or cheaper than new or expanded BCH facilities such as Abercrombie.

The Energy Report - Default to Oil

The Boehner bill goes down in flames and gives the tea party a win. Demands for real spending cuts as opposed to some political whitewash that just makes us feel better for a while has been defeated so now maybe there will actually be some real change we can believe. Default looks like a real option and some are starting to wonder if indeed this will be the end of the world or perhaps it's the medicine that our country needs to attain real long term fiscal responsibility. The type of change that may create an economy that will not saddle our children and our children's children with debt that will harm the dynamism of the US economy for years to come. Debt that will deny businesses to prosper and keep more American workers poor and in poverty with a system that is too bogged down with debt. Maybe this is the time to change Washington for good. Maybe this is time to fix the ridiculous excess in Washington and fix our tax code and Social Security and health care for real.

Energy Crisis and Food Security!

In modern history, due to various reasons, the economic power of any state defines her strength and sovereignty. All the world powers are too sensitive about their energy security.

Exxon profits up on higher oil prices

US oil giant Exxon Mobil has reported a rise in quarterly profits on the back of higher oil prices.

The company said that net profit rose to $10.7bn (£6.6bn) for the three months to June, up 41% from the same period last year.

The profit was its largest since the third quarter of 2008. The firm said production had risen by 10%.

Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant security faulted

Federal nuclear safety inspectors found unspecified "security deficiencies" at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in southern Maryland earlier this year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission disclosed Wednesday.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said the agency could not reveal the nature of the problem or discuss why it had conducted a special inspection of the plant from Jan. 26 through July 13. The five-member commission has refused since the 2001 terrorist attacks to release information about security, out of concern it might help people or groups seeking to attack or sabotage a nuclear plant, the agency spokesman said.

Global oil stocks release seen on halt for now

(Reuters) - Developed nations are unlikely to release more oil on to the market in coming days, a month after the first release failed to curb oil prices to help protect the global economic recovery, officials and analysts said.

The energy watchdog for industrialized nations, the International Energy Agency, shocked oil markets last month by announcing a release of 60 million barrels of oil and products to offset the loss of Libyan production.

Enhancing Pakistan’s Energy Security

With an economy highly dependent on energy imports, Pakistan’s energy security challenges are a liability that is exacerbating the country’s already poor governance record. However, mounting domestic pressures and the global economic rebalancing led by China and India could provide the impetus for Pakistan to emerge as a more responsible energy stakeholder.

£110bn energy investment plan revealed

Plans for £110bn investment into electricity generation in the UK have been unveiled in a white paper by the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

The radical plans aim to tackle the current challenges facing the electricity market to deliver the biggest reforms since privatisation, which Mr Huhne said will end "25 years of policy dithering."

The reforms include long-term price contracts with domestic nuclear power plants and offshore wind farms and measures to increase low-carbon electricity generation, including renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to make electricity prices more stable.

House rejects Dem efforts to restore green energy research program

The House on Tuesday afternoon rejected a several Democratic amendments aimed at restoring funds to the Department of Energy's energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development program. Democrats argued Monday that the GOP's 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act, H.R. 2354, cuts funding for these programs unfairly, while leaving or even increasing funds for oil, gas and coal research and development.

Despite these arguments, the House soundly rejected several of the amendments, including language from Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) to move $100 million into the green energy research program from nuclear and fossil-related programs. This amendment failed in a 154-266 vote.

Shale Gas in Poland Sparks Hopes of Wealth, Energy Security

The rush for shale gas in Poland is attracting some of the world’s biggest energy companies, giving the country hopes of energy security and strengthening ties with the United States.

Recent finds in northern Poland appear to confirm what experts have suspected for years - that Poland has Europe’s largest reserves of shale gas. The news promises to encourage what has become a feeding frenzy of major gas companies and Polish hopes of energy independence from Russia.

Word Choice Matters for Energy Policy

AUSTIN, TEXAS — When President Barack Obama speaks about the fuels of the future, his term of choice is usually “clean energy.”

At the Twitter Town Hall last week, where people asked the president questions via Twitter, Mr. Obama referred to “clean energy” five times.

The only similar term he used was “alternative energy,” once. Other descriptors, like “renewable,” “sustainable” and “green,” were not mentioned.

GOP wages energetic fight against light bulb standards

House Republicans are finally ready to make good on their promise to stay the execution of incandescent light bulbs.

After months of fiery rhetoric from conservative commentators including Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, GOP members confirmed they’re on track for a floor vote Monday on a bill that would stop the federally mandated transition to more energy-efficient home lighting.

Defense Energy Security Caucus Launches

The military has been moving full force into the energy efficiency space. Now it might get a little help.

On Thursday, a bipartisan group of congressmen announced the launch of the Defense Energy Security Caucus, a government group that will focus on educating Congress and the American people on the importance of deploying sustainable and renewable energy solutions in the US military.

Energy companies face investigation over 27pc gap in wholesale price

Forensic accountants hired by Ofgem will scrutinise the wholesale fuel prices paid by the Big Six energy companies, as it emerged there was a 27pc difference in how much suppliers paid for electricity and 15pc in gas last year.

Energy companies regularly use rising wholesale prices as a reason why they raise energy bills for customers – often in quick succession.

RWE sale of npower 'threat to energy industry investment'

Britain's desire to boost investment and competition in the energy sector will be threatened if German utility group RWE presses ahead with a £5bn sale of npower, MPs have warned.

Goldman Sachs is understood to have been hired by RWE to conduct a strategic review of npower, one of the UK's "big six" energy firms.

This has been prompted by RWE's net debts of €27bn (£24bn) and concerns about the Coalition's energy policy, which threatens to diminish profit margins and require billions of pounds of investment in next-generation power stations.

British Gas fined for breaking green energy rules

British Gas will have to hand the energy regulator more than £4m in fines and repayments after breaking the rules on getting energy from green sources.

The company fell foul of the regulations that stipulate energy suppliers must get around 10pc of their power from renewables, such as wind farms.

They have to present documents called Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) to prove this. Any shortfall incurs a financial penalty paid into a central pool

Shell's giant Kazakhstan oil project in crisis

Royal Dutch Shell and its partners are to ask the Kazakh government for an extension to the 2013 deadline for the first oil from their troubled Kashagan field.

Kazakh oil minister Sauat Mynbayev has repeatedly threatened the consortium of oil companies with heavy financial penalties if it misses the 2013 final deadline.

Japan Finance Minister: To Work With South Korea As "Partners" At G-20

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Japan's finance minister said Friday he agreed with his South Korean counterpart to cooperate as "partners" in key international forums such as the Group of 20 largest industrialized and developing nations.

Big Six energy firms made very different profits last year, Ofgem figures show

The big energy companies made wildly different amounts of money from supplying customers last year, with E.ON and Centrica bringing home substantial profits while EDF, npower and Scottish Power suffered tougher times.

According to new figures disclosed to Ofgem, RWE npower, made £14m in profit on revenue of £6.2bn. Scottish Power made £82m on revenue of £3.5bn and EDF said it made a £92m profit on a turnover of £6.3bn.

Oil prices slide gathers pace on Greek worries

Oil prices have extended their falls from the end of last week amid continuing concerns about the Greek debt crisis and the weak US recovery.

The International Energy Agency's decision to release emergency reserves last week has also depressed prices.

Shareholders Push Tepco to Abandon Nuclear Power

Masafumi Asada bought shares of the Tokyo Electric Power Company almost a decade ago with a single purpose: To vote against the use of nuclear power.

Mr. Asada, a 70-year-old resident of Fukushima prefecture, the epicenter of Japan’s nuclear crisis, will speak on behalf of 402 shareholders on Tuesday at the annual general meeting of the utility known as Tepco, to ask it to stop atomic generation.

Oil price drops on reserve sale

The price of oil has fallen after the International Energy Agency said that its members will sell some of their reserves on the world market.

Brent crude ended Thursday trading down $6.95 to $107.26, a four-month low. US light crude fell by $4.39 to settle at $91.02.

Shanghai to ration electricity due to power shortage

Offices and shopping malls in the Chinese city of Shanghai will be urged to close their doors on the hottest days of the year this summer.

The power rationing is necessary due to the country's shortage of electricity.

The electricity grid serving China's financial hub does not have the capacity to meet peak demand the authorities say.

European energy security: Lessons of 2011

In recent years one of the main aims of the EU energy policy was to reduce dependence on Russian energy. In particular, diversification of the fuel basket and increasing the share of gas supplies from the Middle East and North Africa were a clear priority. However, the start of 2011 has prompted to take a different view on the security of energy supply to Europe, especially given an unprecedented increase in gas demand observed in the European market in 2010.

In the first three months of 2011 oil prices rose by over 20%, while European spot gas prices came close to 400 US Dollars / 1000 cm (22% more than the average price of gas supplies to Europe under Gazprom’s long term contracts). This is primarily a reaction to geopolitical risks, since a tense situation in Africa and the Middle East became the main driver behind price rises. Secondly, this was a reaction of the market to the situation in Japan and an abrupt change in the prospects for the European nuclear power industry.

Estonia, Lithuania vow energy security

TARTU, Estonia, June 21 (UPI) -- Regional cooperation between the Baltic states on energy security and other issues is deepening, the presidents of Lithuania and Estonia say.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met late last week in Estonia and stressed their common goal of "enhancing the energy security and independence of the region" as both countries seek to counter the regional energy dominance of Russia.

Green growth critical to Asia-Pacific food and energy security, UN says

Asia-Pacific countries can cushion themselves against food and fuel price shocks and natural disasters by more efficient use of resources and energy, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said today.

The current “energy, resource and carbon-intensive” development pattern must give way to green growth to reduce wasteful use of resources and energy, Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, told 800 people from 25 countries attending the Global Green Growth Summit in Seoul, organized by the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Dr. Alexander Mirtchev Discusses the U.S. Government's Measures to Deal With the Global Economic Crisis and Stresses the Imperative for Viable Exit Strategy on the Riz Khan Show

Dr. Alexander Mirtchev, founder and president of Krull Corporation, discussed the U.S. government's actions in response to the crisis in the economy on Al-Jazeera's Riz Khan Show. The complexities created by the precarious economic and financial situation are exacerbated by what is perceived as a "failure of the reigning 'social contract'" between Main Street, Wall Street and the U.S. government. "To put it simply, Main Street was relying on Wall Street to go about its business, with the government perceived as the arbiter and even guarantor of sure returns. Presently, the collapse of this 'contract' is giving rise to calls from different quarters for overhauling the whole system," according to Dr. Mirtchev.

Tepco Halts Filtering of Tainted Water at Japanese Plant

TOKYO — The Tokyo Electric Power Company said Saturday that the filtration system it had struggled to put into operation at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had broken down after just five hours, a disappointing setback in its efforts to cool the reactors.

The company said that the sprawling system, which is designed to siphon oil, radioactive materials and salt from the water used to cool the reactors, was shut down because of readings that indicated one of the filters had filled up with radioactive cesium. The rapid depletion of a filter that was supposed to have lasted several weeks suggested the presence of far greater radioactive material than anticipated.

Battlefield Energy Plan Aims to Spark Major Changes in the Pentagon

In the most significant step the Defense Department has yet taken to address its substantial thirst for energy, the Pentagon yesterday released its first strategy (pdf) for changing the way it uses energy on the battlefield.

The plan will be fleshed out with more details in the next three months, including the goals and timelines that motivate the Pentagon's bureaucracy. They will target three main areas: reducing consumption on the battlefield, transitioning to alternative energy sources and building more energy-efficient vehicles and weapons systems.

Financing, Incentives Key to Driving Greater Energy Efficiency in Buildings

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Availability of financing and incentives are among the key elements to driving increased energy efficiency in buildings, according to leaders who attended the North America Energy Efficiency Forum. The forum, co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the U.S. Energy Association, examined how advanced efficiency technologies, energy policies and consumer education can improve energy security, global competitiveness and accelerate economic growth.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told leading policymakers and energy experts that: "The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is very interested in advancing opportunities for the federal government to serve as a model for the increased utilization of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies. Such policies and measures can save significant taxpayer dollars, create private sector jobs, and greatly enhance energy markets. Two specific and highly effective ways for the federal government to achieve this goal have been through energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and federal power purchase agreements (PPAs)."

House Panel: Oil Sands Project Critical to U.S. Energy Security

Obama administration is the 'one thing standing in the way,' says energy committee chairman.

The United States should look to its neighbors up north for additional oil supplies that could have a major impact on the nation's energy security, say oil industry analysts and Republican lawmakers.

A proposed oil pipeline called Keystone XL could pump 700,000 barrels per day from Canada's oil sands to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Tokyo Electric stock surges after approval of rescue plan

(CNN) -- Japan's beleaguered Tokyo Electric Power Co. received some rare good financial news Wednesday as its stock soared 32% after the government approved a rescue plan a day earlier.

TEPCO shares added 80 yen to close at 329 yen.

Speculators were in a buying mood after Japan's government approved the rescue plan for the owner of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. The plan also must be approved by the Japanese parliament

U.S. Reactors Gird for the Next Fukushima

If a nuclear plant in the United States had a serious accident and the managers asked for help from a neighboring company, chances are that the nuclear Samaritans would arrive with radios that worked on a different frequency, or with emergency pumps that required hoses of a different size or pressure rating, industry officials say.

But three nuclear organizations said on Thursday that in response to Japan’s Fukushima accident, they are acting jointly to learn everything they can, seeking to reduce the risk of an accident and prepare for the consequences should one occur.

Atomic energy to be safe and affordable, Rosatom chief says

Atomic energy should be safe for people and affordable for everyone, Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko said.

Speaking at the third Moscow International Forum Atomexpo-2011 on Moscow on Monday, June 6, Kiriyenko said, “The number of exhibits showing achievements of the Russian nuclear industry has increased considerably from the previous years.”

Natural gas set to flourish

The world could be entering a 'golden age' of natural gas, according to research by energy policy adviser, the International Energy Agency (IEA), which predicts that gas could provide more than a quarter of global energy by 2035.

Gas is plentiful and widely spread geographically, which helps ease countries' concerns over energy security. The IEA's research shows that global resources exceed 250 years of current production and that each region of the world holds resources of at least 75 years of current consumption. But it has been the success of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (to increase the flow of gas from tightly compressed reservoirs) in recent years that has made it possible to transform these vast resources into usable energy. This technology has transformed the US from the verge of needing to import gas just a few years ago to a substantial exporter of gas.

Defense energy bill will save lives

Saving energy saves lives.

That is how Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the imperative for the Pentagon to reduce the number of fuel convoys headed into harm's way in Afghanistan.

Congress must heed Mullen's advice and move quickly to pass legislation that was introduced last year by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado. Their bill, the Department of Defense Energy Security Act, has been updated and will be reintroduced on June 8 by Udall.

WEF agenda to highlight food and energy security, sustainability

Business leaders will discuss new global trends, food and energy sustainability and security, inclusive growth, competitive connectivity, and regional leadership at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Jakarta from June 12 to 13.

More than 620 participants from across the world are expected to attend the two-day meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel.

Chevron's Welsh refinery buyer considers impact of fatal blast

The prospective buyer of Chevron's oil refinery in Wales is examining whether an explosion which killed four people at the site this week could affect the deal.

Valero, a US refining giant, agreed to buy the plant for $730m (£445m), plus $1bn for oil stocks and other businesses in March. The deal is due to close in the third quarter of this year.

Will Opec raise supplies? What the oil nations and analysts are saying

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), which pumps more than a third of the world's oil, is due to meet in Vienna on June 8 to discuss output and its response to a sharp rise in oil prices that could be a drag on economic growth. Here's what oil nations and analysts are perdicting:

Wood Group family sell most of stake in oil services company for £366m

Sir Ian Wood's family and charities are selling most of their £400m stake in Wood Group, the oil services company, as part of a £1bn share buy-back programme.

Wood Group is returning more than £1bn to its shareholders through the scheme, after selling its well support division to GE Energy last month.

Energy Security Index: U.S., Japan Rated 'High Risk' For Short-Term Energy Supply Interruption

Canada has the unique honor of being the sole "Group of Seven" member nation not to be at "high risk" for short-term energy security, a new report has found.

Released Thursday by British risk analysis firm Maplecroft, the 2011 Energy Security Index takes a look at short-term and long-term energy security in 196 countries. According to the firm, the study "highlight(s) the risks to countries as they strive to secure stable energy supplies in a time of geopolitical upheaval, dwindling traditional resources and a transition to a low carbon world."

Germany: Nuclear power plants to close by 2022

Germany's coalition government has announced a reversal of policy that will see all the country's nuclear power plants phased out by 2022.

The decision makes Germany the biggest industrial power to announce plans to give up nuclear energy.

Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen made the announcement following late-night talks.

Merging their way ahead

“There is combination between more traditional corporate investors achieving a geographical balance and across the energy value chain. For national companies, it’s security,”

The energy sector is experiencing a healthy trend in increasing merger and acquisition (M&A) activity worldwide. The value of deals taking place in the oil and gas sector is back up to pre recession levels.

Energy security and Libya revolution

Political instability in Libya has been worsening after the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was applied. The members of the UN Security Council and NATO have been divided into diverging opinion in interpreting the resolution.

In principle, this will be a bad precedent to the other destabilizing Middle East countries. Despite political unrest, both economic and social unrest in Libya drive an unexpected impact, especially in the surge of the oil prices.

Intra-regional cooperation crucial for energy security

Tehran - Major fossil fuel exporting and importing Asia-Pacific nations, meeting at a United Nations forum, agreed on the need for enhanced cooperation to promote energy self-reliance in the region.

High food and oil prices threaten economic recovery and prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) said here on Wednesday.

Shale-gas drilling unlikely to affect energy security, say MPs

Shale-gas drilling could be given the go-ahead in the UK but is unlikely to have a major impact on energy security or domestic prices.

A report by the Energy Select Committee of MPs found no evidence that the hydraulic fracturing process involved in shale-gas extraction — known as ‘fracking’ — poses a direct risk to underground water aquifers, provided the drilling well is constructed properly.

Electricity pylons to get makeover

For most people, they are one of the least-loved features of our countryside. But now electricity pylons, which have barely changed since the 1920s, could be getting a makeover through a competition to rethink their design.

It comes as ministers and industry say new pylons and infrastructure will be needed as the UK hooks up the equivalent of 20 new power stations over the next decade, including renewable sources such as wind, to meet electricity demand.

The overblown myth of green energy security

Turmoil across the Middle East and Northern Africa has refocused attention on the impact that political tensions or interference can have on the price and availability of energy imports. Against consumer fears of gas-price hikes, energy security ranks high on many Western governments' policy agendas.

Of course, this is hardly a new phenomenon. Europe started trying to build up its energy reserves back in the 1960's . Likewise, every American president since Richard Nixon in the early 1970's has tried, and failed, to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

New direction for U.S. energy security

Right now, we are facing an energy crisis in this country. American taxpayers, being held hostage by foreign dictators, are paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline and sending $2 billion overseas for foreign oil every day. America needs a new direction for energy security, and it's time for natural gas to lead the way.

Our reliance on foreign oil is not just an economic problem, it is a major national security issue. The good news is the answer to both problems is literally right under our feet: American-made natural gas is the bridge fuel to energy security we have been looking for all along.

Energy Security: Green Tech Chatter

With the recent death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American forces inside Pakistan, many new questions open up about U.S. policies on different issues. One question in particular is how this event will affect energy security within the country.

For example, an interesting piece buzzing around the news of late is this National Journal’s article, which addresses talk of how al-Qaeda’s retaliation for bin Laden’s death might strike a spike in oil prices.

DECC prepares Ofgem for clearer low carbon role

The government has provided the clearest signal yet that energy regulator Ofgem will play a greater role in overseeing and enforcing low carbon policies over the next decade, following the publication of a major review into the watchdog's role.

The conclusions of the review, published today, recommend that the coalition introduce new legislation that sets high-level strategic goals that the regulator is under a statutory requirement to help meet

Energy challenges and security solutions

It’s good news for the UK’s renewable energy sector this week as the government prepares to prove its green credentials with an ambitious new set of emissions targets.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne is this week expected to announce targets to reduce CO2 output by around 50 per cent on 1990 levels by 2025.

A golden opportunity for Britain to lead the world in energy production

The government's bold commitment to new sources of power is welcome. But we must not botch it this time.

This week, our leaders are expected to commit Britain to a civic overhaul that no other nation has had the courage – or recklessness, depending on your viewpoint – to contemplate. On Tuesday, the cabinet is set to approve measures that will lead to a revolution in power generation, transport, house construction, planning, manufacturing and farming in Britain over the next 20 years. The aim is to mitigate the worst ravages of global warming.

Securing global economic security

Inflation is a significant factor of global economic security and has the innate capacity to upend carefully laid plans

What Price Security?

Recent headlines and the ascension of a retired military man to head a renewable energy organization were merely coincidence. But they put some of the justification of clean energy into perspective nonetheless. Likewise, energy security, the cost of renewables and new ways to tap underutilized resources were topics on readers’ minds of late.

Road to energy security needs fixing

It might seem unlikely, but just one highway in this country connects nearly 20 percent of our domestic energy to the rest of our nation.

In the tiny area of Port Fourchon on the Gulf Coast lies a fragile road called La. 1.

That lone stretch of pavement is critical to our nation’s energy security.

Washington vs. Energy Security

When President Obama introduced his energy plan in March, he pointed out that the U.S. keeps going "from shock to trance on the issue of energy security, rushing to propose action when gas prices rise, then hitting the snooze button when they fall again."

It's true that since the Nixon administration U.S. leaders have all made the same commitment to cutting our reliance on foreign oil, finding reliable sources of clean energy, and keeping energy prices low. Yet Americans keep hearing only short-term solutions and narrowly focused rules and regulations. The U.S. still imports more than half its oil, gasoline prices are at historic highs, and consumers are paying the price.

Politics threatens energy security

When one hand giveth and the other taketh away, it’s never a good thing. But how will the giving and taking going on today affect our chances for a clean and stable energy future?

You’d be right to cheer the fact that efficiency- and sustainability-focused efforts continue on an accelerating path in cities from Austin to Vancouver, Brighton to Yokohama. That the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we could generate nearly 80 per cent of the energy we need from renewable sources by 2050. That interest and investment in smart-grid improvements has grown so rapidly in the past few years. Chalk up some seriously encouraging achievements in the “Give” column.

Indonesia turns Asean focus to food and energy security

JAKARTA - INDONESIA on Saturday called on fellow South-east Asian states to 'give serious attention' to soaring food and energy prices, warning inflation could drive more people into poverty.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the start of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit that the regional bloc must take steps to ease the surge in consumer prices.

North Sea bosses: George Osborne tax will push up household bills

Fifteen chief executives of gas companies have written to Prime Minister David Cameron warning that his new £10bn tax on North Sea production will lead to job losses and bigger gas bills for British households.

The bosses of major companies, including Centrica, Shell, BHP Billiton and E.ON UK, also told the Government that the tax will increase reliance on imports and damage Britain's energy security. In the Budget, Chancellor George Osborne raised the levy on oil and gas output by 12 percentage points to between 62pc and 80pc of profits depending on the size of the field.

North Sea oil tax: what the bosses are warning

The new £10bn tax on North Sea oil and gas has angered the industry and knocked investor confidence in the sector. Here is the reaction of leading executives to the increased duty.

Actually, we can drill our way to energy security

In the debate over rising gas prices, Washington is creating a massive distraction: whether Congress should eliminate tax “subsidies” for oil and gas companies. Of course oil and gas companies don’t receive checks, grants, or direct payments from the federal Treasury, so the debate is a red herring. What’s really needed is price relief for consumers at the pump. The best way to do that is to produce more affordable energy here at home.

American Energy Act of 2011 Will Enhance U.S. Energy Security, Says Pro-Market Research Group

(CNSNews.com) – To better ensure America’s energy security and help stimulate long-term job and economic growth, the Institute for Energy Research (IER) has released a detailed plan that would limit, it says, “overly burdensome regulations and legislation that prevent Americans from producing homegrown energy,” and “help create millions of jobs” by expanding development of “our nation’s vast energy resources.”

Energy resources are in our backyard

As a twice wounded veteran, I feel strongly about our nation’s energy security. Our government continues to apply an astronomical amount of resources to maintain and secure access to Middle East fuel sources. These countries are unstable and our dependence on them puts our national security and our energy future in jeopardy. The U.S. cannot continue down this path. With rising gas prices and the demand for energy growing every day, we must maximize opportunities to establish energy corridors with friendly neighbors in our own hemisphere.

Nuclear Future Is Now Because That’s Where Profit Is for Exelon: Real M&A

Exelon Corp. (EXC) is trying to pull off its largest takeover by acquiring more nuclear power plants -- less than two months after the industry’s worst disaster since Chernobyl.

The biggest U.S. operator of nuclear power facilities agreed to purchase Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) of Baltimore for about $7.9 billion in stock, giving the Chicago-based company stakes in five more reactors. Including net debt, the transaction would be Exelon’s first acquisition over $1 billion since 2002 after three deals fell apart in the past seven years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Now is not the time for energy-starved India to increase nuclear dependency

Japan's nuclear disaster has fuelled fear and uncertainty among all of the world's producers of nuclear power. For India, an energy-starved country with big nuclear plans, much is at stake.

The wider fear over nuclear power has two main causes. Firstly, although it ranks as a "clean" source of energy, it is accompanied by the terrible shadow of nuclear war and Japan's last reckoning with nuclear catastrophe 65 years ago at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Secondly, the secrecy that attends all things nuclear has left people not knowing enough to feel confident.

World not prepared for climate conflicts - security experts

Accelerating climate change and competition for limited supplies of water, food and energy are poised to ignite long-simmering conflicts in fragile states, monopolising the world's military resources and hampering development efforts, security experts say.

Defusing these new 21st century conflicts – or at least preparing governments and citizens to cope with them – will require a broad range of innovative interventions, a gathering at Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) heard earlier this month.

US govt to train PHL forces in energy exploration security

Filipino naval forces assigned to secure oil and gas exploration activities are set to undergo training from the US government, according to the Energy Department.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of National Defense (DND) will be buying military equipment from the US within a three-year period in exchange for the training services.

Increased calls for nuclear energy use in Jamaica

Professor Gerald Lalor has renewed his call for nuclear technology to be introduced in Jamaica.

This, despite safety concerns raised by the meltdown at Japan’s Dai-ichi nuclear power plant and the Golding administration’s rejection of atomic energy as a near-term contributor to Jamaica’s energy grid.

International Energy Agency Supports Biofuels Roadmap

Biofuels can provide up to 27% of world transportation fuel by 2050, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The report says that “the widespread deployment of biofuels can play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector and enhancing energy security, when produced sustainably.”

Jaitapur decision to be based on 'energy, environment security'

With situation in Ratnagiri remaining volatile, the Congress party Wednesday said Maharashtra will take a decision on the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in the best interest of "energy and environment security".

One person was killed and several others were injured when police opened fire on a crowd protesting the proposed 9,900 MW nuclear power plant Monday.

Iran ready to create 'energy security'

Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says Tehran is ready to cooperate with the West to create lasting global energy security based on “mutual respect” and “fairness.”


Speaking at an energy conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Monday, Larijani said, “Should Western countries enter oil trade in a manner which benefits both the supplier and the customer, the Islamic republic will help create a lasting energy security.”

Iran calls for oil investments, asks West to cooperate on energy security

ccalled for investments in the country's oil industry on Monday and asked the West to be cooperative to create global energy security.

Iran's Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi on Monday urged domestic and international companies to invest in the country's oil industry.

Minister Stresses Iran's Key Role in Energy Security

Addressing the opening session of the 16th Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals Exhibition here in Tehran on Friday, the Iranian minister advised the consumer states to pursue the policy of further engagement rather than confrontation with Iran's oil industry.

"Iran is ready to vigilantly and logically enter negotiation with foreign companies and have transactions to promote global economy in light of energy security," Mir-Kazzemi noted, adding, "Iran is now having high talents and science. The opportunity is now available for domestic industrialists to compete with the foreign rivals."

Energy security top issue in Keystone XL approval: Suncor chief

Energy security will be key to U.S. government's decision on approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, Suncor Energy CEO Rick George told a New York audience Thursday.

"I think energy security will trump in regards to the Keystone XL pipeline," George said at a luncheon sponsored by the Consulate General of Canada and the Alberta government.

White House’s clean energy proposal inadequate, tame

What do turmoil in the Middle East, a Japanese earthquake and the approaching summer all have in common? The answer is that they all raise both the cost of and the public's anxiety about energy. Right on the cue, on March 30, the White House offered its new plan to protect "America's Energy Security." Unfortunately, the plan is incredibly timid. Despite President Barack Obama's attempts to turn his last State of the Union address into a "winning the future" parade, this energy proposal is stuck in the past, coming nowhere close enough to accommodate the pressing demands of a looming energy crisis.

Smart meter security under the spotlight

The saboteurs who struck at Iran's uranium enrichment programme in late 2009 didn't need to set foot inside the heavily guarded underground facility that held the equipment. Instead, the interlopers planted a malicious virus on its computers. The virus, known as Stuxnet, burrowed its way into the the facility's control systems and cranked up the power, causing critical equipment to spin itself apart.

BritNed power cable boosts hopes for European supergrid

It stretches 260km under the North Sea, contains 23,000 tonnes of copper and lead, and may represent the first step towards a renewable energy revolution based on a European electricity "supergrid". The £500m BritNed cable, which has just entered operation, is the first direct current electricity link from the UK to another country in 25 years.

Global Energy Ministers Agree to Speed Up CO2-Capture Projects

Global energy ministers agreed to accelerate the development of projects that capture carbon- dioxide emissions for permanent storage.

Leaders at the Clean Energy Ministerial pledged to speed up carbon capture projects in a meeting in Abu Dhabi, the U.K. government said today in an e-mailed statement. The initiative was proposed by the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Action Group, headed by the U.K. and Australia.

Obama promotes energy policy at wind-turbine plant

Washington – U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday visited a wind-turbine plant near Philadelphia to push his proposals for energy security and he warned that "it won't be easy" to achieve independence from foreign oil imports.

"I think that what you do here is a glimpse of the future, and it's a future where America is less dependent on foreign oil, more reliant on clean energy produced by workers like you," Obama told employees of the Spanish firm Gamesa.

John Lewis to pilot AFC Energy fuel cells in store

John Lewis is to test the use of fuel cells to produce clean energy at one of its stores for the first time.
The John Lewis Partnership has signed a commercial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AFC Energy, to test its low cost alkaline fuel cells in one of the retailer’s stores. If successful, the technology will be rolled out across the retailer’s 226 Waitrose supermarkets, allowing the retailer to reduce its carbon emissions at the same time as increasing its energy security.

Exploding the Myth of Nuclear Energy Security

The old-time claim that nuclear power was not only safe and clean, but also cheap and secure was never strong - and is today even weaker. The time for major energy policy change is now.

In an incredibly ill-fated play of both publishing date and policy being urged on deciders in the energy field, the Japan-based United Nations University (UNU), in February 2011 published a long research paper on how Japan, thanks to nuclear power, could shield itself from a possible new Oil Shock.

UK and Dutch electricity grids united by undersea connection

In a first step towards a single European electricity market, the UK and Dutch electricity grids were united on Friday when the 260 km BritNed undersea cable went live.

The £500 million, 1000 MW high voltage connection runs between the Isle of Grain in Kent and Maasvlakte near Rotterdam and transmits power in both directions, depending on demand, supply and price differentials.
The joint venture between National Grid and TenneT, the Dutch transmission system operator, will also allow more integration of renewable energy such as wind farms in both the UK and mainland Europe into the grid.

Energy independence requires bold goals, bold leadership

The president believes in energy security. I believe in energy independence. In case you missed the president’s weekly radio address, here is what the White House released on energy security, so I will not be accused of not understanding what they meant. The title of the address was “Energy Security Can Only Come If We Invest in Cleaner Fuels and Greater Efficiency.”

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama discussed his strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and secure our nation’s energy future. When the President was elected, America imported eleven million barrels of oil a day. This week he announced a bold, but achievable goal of cutting this number by one-third by 2025.

Kingdom steps up role in global energy security

Saudi Arabia holds the key to global energy security. It plays an extremely significant role in balancing the overall demand and supply.

With many in the Western world continuing to be skeptical of the Saudi potential and capacity, at least in the longer run, eyes continue to remain focused on Riyadh.

Obama's latest vision on energy security

Obama's grab-bag approach, forced by political reality, contains a bit of everything – oil drilling, nuclear, renewables, even coal. But the unifying goal is still less US dependence on foreign oil.

Talk in Washington about “cap and trade” as a way to curb carbon emissions has evaporated like a greenhouse gas. Now, with gasoline prices nearing $4 a gallon and job creation a top priority, there’s talk only of offshore drilling, nuclear power, and domestic shale gas.

U.S. energy security requires partners

Inexhaustible and inexpensive energy have long been core to popular American beliefs in what drives their economic growth and standards of living. But the notion of U.S. energy security as ready, affordable supply is deceptively simple. The reality is, in a highly globalized and interdependent world, a unilateral U.S. solution to energy security is an illusion. As long as the U.S. remains a large net energy importer, its energy security must involve others, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Nuclear Curbs Will Hurt Climate, Energy Security Goal, IEA Economist Says

Slowing the expansion of nuclear power will harm efforts to fight climate change, push up energy prices and set back goals to secure power supplies, said Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency.

Cutting in half the projected new nuclear installations during the next 25 years may add 500 million tons of carbon dioxide output to the global total in 2035, equivalent to five years of extra emissions growth, Birol said today in a telephone interview from Paris.

Wind energy in Asia

In 2010, for the first time ever, more new wind power capacity was installed in developing countries and emerging economies than in the traditional wind farm markets of the OECD.

This puts an end to the assertion that wind power is a premium technology only for rich countries which cannot be deployed at scale in other markets. It is also testament to the inherent attractiveness of wind power for countries striving to diversify their energy mix, improve their security of supply in the face of rapidly growing demand, and relieve national budgets of the burden of expensive fossil fuel imports at volatile prices.