Petrochemical & Utilities News

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Frost: N. American Biofuels Market Faces Challenges   Jun 26, 2008
Biofuels enjoy many inherent advantages such as regulatory, infrastructural, environmental, geopolitical and agricultural support, according to Frost & Sullivan.

DOE Seeks to Invest up to $90M in Advanced Geothermal Energy Technology, Research   Jun 26, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $90 million over four years to advance the R&D and demonstration of next-generation geothermal energy technology which will harness the earth's interior heat extracted from hot water or rocks.

EPSA: FERC Briefing Confirms Importance of Both Existing, New Generation to Reliability   Jun 26, 2008
The following statement was released by Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) President and CEO John E. Shelk after a briefing from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the rapidly rising costs associated with existing and new power generation infrastructure:

Trilliant Uses Freescale Tech Based on IEEE 802.15.4 Protocol to Deploy Wireless Smart Grid in N. America   Jun 24, 2008
Trilliant Inc. delivered a two-way fixed wireless smart grid deployment in North America based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) 802.15.4 compliant media access control/physical layer (MAC/PHY) from Freescale Semiconductor.

FAQ on EU Response to High Oil Prices   Jun 23, 2008
This document contains responses from the European Union (EU) to frequently asked questions about rising oil prices.

Farm Bill Addresses Commercialization of Advanced Biofuels   Jun 23, 2008
The U.S. Congress passed a farm bill that is designed to accelerate the commercialization of advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, encourage the production of biomass crops and expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program.

DOE: Gas Prices, Oil Consumption Would Increase Without Biofuels   Jun 23, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a letter outlining perspectives on rising gas prices, biofuels, diesel fuel and food prices.

EPSA Releases Paper on Rising Costs of New Power Plants   Jun 23, 2008
In advance of a briefing on rising power plant costs expected at the June 19 meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) released an issue summary, The Rising Cost of New Power Generation Projects Argues for Greater Reliance on Competitive Markets and Procurement.

NERC Enforces Compliance with Electric Reliability Standards; Reliability Improvements Underway   Jun 23, 2008
The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) submitted the first set of violation notices in the U.S. to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval under Section 215 of the Federal Power Act.

AWEA: Investment in Transmission Key to Clean, Reliable U.S. Electricity Supply   Jun 23, 2008
The U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee held its first-ever hearing focused exclusively on renewable energy and transmission, inviting renewable industry, utility and government leaders to discuss ways to invest in new transmission that will tap the U.S.'s vast - but currently stranded - renewable energy resources.

NETL: Mercury-Control Program Achieves Success   Jun 23, 2008
According to the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), coal-fired power plants, municipal waste combustors and medical-waste incinerators are just some of the sources of mercury emissions that have raised environmental concern for decades.

Waste Analysis Facility Opens at Chalk River   Jun 23, 2008
The new Waste Analysis Facility (WAF) at the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Chalk River nuclear site was officially opened, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

DOE Approves Alaska LNG Export Application   Jun 11, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved an application for the continued export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Kenai, Alaska LNG export terminal for a period of two years.

DOE Announces Effort to Advance U.S. Wind Power Manufacturing Capacity   Jun 11, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DOE and six leading wind industry turbine manufacturers: Ge Energy, Siemens Power Generation, Vestas Wind Systems, Clipper Turbine Works, Suzlon Energy and Gamesa Corporation.

IEA: U.S. CO2 Sequestration Program Will Significantly Advance Carbon Capture, Storage   Jun 11, 2008
A panel of scientific experts from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has validated that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSP) and their large-scale CO2 tests are the world's most ambitious and will significantly advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the U.S., Canada and internationally.

EC Calls for Coordinated Response to Rising Oil Prices   Jun 11, 2008
Based on conclusions reached in a June 11 debate over ways to mitigate the effects of rising global fuel prices, the European Commission (EC) plans to develop a new energy policy communication.

EU Regulators Commit to Stronger Nuclear Safety Measures   Jun 11, 2008
Nuclear safety regulators from all 27 member states of the European Union (EU) recently reached agreement on steps to further strengthen nuclear safety,

Berkeley Lab: Annual Wind Power Report Shows U.S. Market Continues to Grow   Jun 11, 2008
For the third consecutive year the U.S. was home to the fastest-growing wind power market in the world, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).

Frost: Environmental Concerns, Electricity Demands Boost Nuclear Energy Market   Jun 10, 2008
Supplying more than 31% of electricity demand, nuclear energy plays a key role in the European Union's (EU's) generation structure, and emerges as a comprehensive and cost-effective generating option.

Frost: Need for Organic Waste Management Drives Asia-Pacific Biogas Power Generation Markets   Jun 10, 2008
Biogas power generation is fast catching on in the Asia-Pacific region as it not only produces power, but also reduces the negative impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the environment and helps in effective waste disposal.

GAO: DOE Should Reassess Building Approach to Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facilities   Jun 9, 2008
The approach of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for building engineering-scale facilities would meet Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) objectives if the advanced technologies on which it focused could be successfully developed and commercialized, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

DOE Issues Fuel, Feedstock Flexibility Power Solicitation   Jun 9, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) is accepting applications for cost-shared research and development of technologies that enable use of opportunity fuels and nontraditional feedstocks in industrial processes, as well as enable the use of combined heat and power in underused applications.

ACEEE Report Finds U.S. Energy Consumption Cut in Half by One Major Measure Since 1970   Jun 6, 2008
A report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) shows that U.S. energy consumption (as measured per dollar of economic output) will be slashed by the end of 2008 to half of what it was in 1970 from 18,000 British thermal units (Btus) to about 8,900 Btus.

Deloitte: Energy, Resources Companies Make Progress on Security   Jun 5, 2008
Energy and resources businesses are working hard to improve their security and be one step ahead of the latest security threats, according to the 2008 Energy and Resources Global Security Survey from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

DOE to Strengthen U.S.-Portugal Cooperation in Renewable Energy Tech   Jun 5, 2008
The U.S. and Portugal signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance global energy security and address climate change through the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies.

DOE to Invest Up to $2.3M to Identify Renewable Energy Zones in Western States   Jun 5, 2008
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced departmental plans to contribute up to $2.3 million over three years, subject to annual appropriations, to identify areas in the Western U.S. with vast renewable energy resources and expedite the development and delivery of those resources to meet regional energy needs.

DOE Seeks to Invest up to $130M in Advanced Fuel Cell Tech   Jun 5, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $130 million over three years, subject to Congressional appropriations, to advance the development and use of fuel cells for automotive, stationary and portable power applications.

U.S. Continues to Lead the World in Wind Power Growth   Jun 5, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2007 edition of its Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends, which provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the rapidly evolving U.S. wind power market, said DOE.

EC, Norway Agree to Promote Renewable Energy   Jun 2, 2008
Representatives from the European Commission (EC) and Norway's government affirmed their commitment to promoting renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects as part of Europe's energy strategy.

ISO TR 9464:2008 Targets Measuring Pipeline Flowrates in Oil, Gas Sector   Jun 2, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released a technical report (TR) aimed at helping the oil and gas sector measure flowrate in pipelines.

AGA, NRDC: Combating Global Warming with Increased Energy Efficiency Is A 'Win-Win'   May 29, 2008
The American Gas Association (AGA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) joined forces to highlight the importance of energy efficiency in combating global warming.

NREL Industry Partners Move Cellulosic Ethanol Technology Forward   May 27, 2008
Collaborative scientific research between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and DuPont will be used to develop and commercialize technology to produce cellulosic ethanol from non-food sources, said NREL.

NERC: Electricity Reliable Throughout N. America in Coming Summer with Limited Concerns   May 27, 2008
The outlook for electricity reliability for the coming summer season is generally good, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) announced in its annual 2008 Summer Reliability Assessment.

NRCAN: Canada Invests in Carbon Capture, Storage in Nova Scotia   May 27, 2008
Canada will provide $5 million to support carbon capture and storage (CCS) research in the province of Nova Scotia, according to Gary Lunn, Canada's minister of natural resources.

DOE Releases FOA for Restructured FutureGen Approach   May 21, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a draft Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit public input on the demonstration of multiple commercial-scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) or other clean coal power plants with cutting-edge carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology under the DOE FutureGen approach.

DOE Report: Wind Energy Could Produce 20% of U.S. Electricity by 2030   May 21, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report that examines the technical feasibility of harnessing wind power to provide up to 20% of total U.S. electricity needs by 2030.

NRC Releases Previously Withheld Event Reports for NFS, BWXT Facilities for 2004-2007   May 21, 2008
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released event notification reports for two nuclear fuel fabrication facilities, Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) in Erwin, Tenn. and BWX Technologies (BWXT) in Lynchburg, Va., for the period of 2004 - 2007.

NRC Invites Public Comment on Advanced Reactor Design Policy   May 21, 2008
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is updating its policy on advanced nuclear power plant designs and has published a draft policy statement for public comment.

EC, IAEA Pledge to Cooperate on Nuclear Energy   May 13, 2008
Representatives from the European Commission (EC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met on May 7 to discuss increased cooperation on nuclear energy, signing a joint statement to this effect at the conclusion of the meeting.

American Gas Foundation Releases Study on the Direct Use of Natural Gas   May 7, 2008
Increased direct use of natural gas in residential and commercial applications can improve the productivity of available energy supplies, reduce overall energy cost and reduce related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to a study released by the American Gas Foundation (AGF).

DOE to Invest up to $7.3M for 'Deep-Burn' Gas-Reactor Tech R&D   May 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) valued at $7.3 million for universities, commercial entities and national laboratories with expertise in the concept of nuclear fuel

DOE Seeks to Invest up to $60M for Advanced Concentrating Solar Power Tech   May 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Solar Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $60 million in funding over five years, Fiscal Years (FY) 2008-2012, which includes $10 million in FY 2008 appropriations and $10 million in the FY 2009 Budget request, to support the development of low-cost Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology.

NRCAN: Canada Makes Clean Energy Technology Investments   May 5, 2008
Several initiatives to advance clean energy technology in Canada were revealed at the InstEnvironment and Economy at the University of Calgary.

EPRI, EEI Analysis: Utility-Based Energy Efficiency Programs Could Cut Energy Consumption 7-11%   May 5, 2008
Energy efficiency improvements in the U.S. electric power sector could reduce electric consumption by 7-11% more than currently projected over the next two decades if key barriers are addressed, according to a preliminary analysis of potential energy savings released by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

NREL Highlights Leading Utility Green Power Programs   May 5, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs.

EWEA: More Than One-Third of Future EU Electricity Generating Capacity Will Be Wind Power   May 5, 2008
In its latest report, Pure Power - Wind Energy Scenarios up to 2030, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) outlines the road towards large-scale wind energy.

SEIA: U.S. Solar Market Grows 45% After Two Years of Investment Tax Credits   May 5, 2008
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released its 2007 U.S. Solar Industry Year in Review produced in conjunction with the Prometheus Institute.

AGA: Increasing Natural Gas Supply is Fundamental for Reducing GHG Emissions, Increasing Energy Security   May 2, 2008
The American Gas Association (AGA) commended the U.S. federal government for expanding the national debate about developing a responsible climate change policy that will protect the environment, strengthen energy security and continue growing the economy.

NEI: Safety Indicators Show U.S. Nuclear Industry Sustained Near-Record Levels of Excellence in '07   May 2, 2008
U.S. nuclear power plants remained at the zenith of efficiency levels in 2007 with a median unit capability factor for 104 reactors in 31 states hitting 91.5%, reported the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

DOE Selects 3 Small-Scale Biorefinery Projects for up to $86M of Federal Funding in Maine, Tenn., Ky.   May 2, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced three projects in which DOE plans to invest up to $86 million over four years (Fiscal Year 2008-2011) to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in Old Town, Maine; Vonore, Tenn.; and Washington County, Ky.

DOE Seeks to Invest Up to $15M in Funding for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Tech R&D   May 2, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) inviting universities, national laboratories and industry to compete for up to $15 million to advance nuclear technologies closing the nuclear fuel cycle.

European Chemicals Bureau Phases Out of Service   May 2, 2008
The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) recently celebrated 15 years of service, at the same time preparing to hand over operations to the newly created European

FAQ on Italian Energy Programme   May 2, 2008
On Dec. 20, 2007, the European Commission (EC) approved the renewable energy and energy efficiency

DOE Announces Up to $7M for Biomass Research   May 2, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the issuance of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $7 million in federal funding over two years (Fiscal Year 2008-2009) in advanced R&D in converting non-food based biomass to advance clean and affordable biofuels.

EU Hearing Urges Caution on Biofuels Targets   Apr 26, 2008
At an April 17 public hearing on sustainability criteria for biofuels, representatives from the European Union (EU) and industry urged the EU's institutions and member states to exercise caution when considering the role of biofuels in Europe's energy strategy.

EC Adopts Fees Payable Under REACH   Apr 26, 2008
On April 16, European Commission (EC) adopted the fees and charges that will apply to register and authorise chemicals under the new REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) legislation.

Chemicals in EU Must Be Preregistered by End of 2008   Apr 26, 2008
The European Commission (EC) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued an alert reminding companies of their obligation to preregister their chemicals with ECHA between June 1 and Dec. 1, 2008.

IEC Releases Power Transformer Standard - IEC 60076-15   Apr 26, 2008
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) published IEC 60076-15 - Power transformers - Part 15: Gas-filled power transformers, which provides information about gas-filled power transformers.

EIA Report: Federal Energy Subsidies, Support Double Between 1999, 2007   Apr 26, 2008
Total U.S. federal energy-specific subsidies and support to all forms of energy are estimated to have reached $16.6B for Fiscal Year 2007 (FY2007), according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) report Federal Financial Interventions and Subsidies in Energy Markets 2007.

Frost: Agrarian Policies Provide Fresh Impetus to China's Biofuel Market   Apr 26, 2008
China's quest for renewable energy options has opened new avenues for its biofuel market.

DOE Announces Up to $4M for University Research into Advanced Biomass Conversion   Apr 26, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $4 million in funding available to U.S. universities for R&D of cost-effective, environmentally friendly biomass conversion technologies.

FAQ on Preregistration of Chemicals Under REACH   Apr 26, 2008
This document answers frequently asked questions about the European Union's new chemicals legislation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), which became effective June 1, 2007.

Frost: Capital Investment in S. African Power Sector Boosts DCS Market   Apr 10, 2008
Distributed control systems (DCS) remain the control solution of choice in traditional markets, such as metals and minerals, chemicals and petrochemicals, according to Frost & Sullivan, despite end-user conservatism and increasing competition from less expensive supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) solutions.

DOE Tech Monitors CO2 Injection in Australian Gas Field   Apr 10, 2008
Australia launched the first carbon sequestration project in the southern hemisphere with the help of technology developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

EIA: U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation at Record Level in 2007   Apr 9, 2008
According to preliminary Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, the U.S. nuclear industry supplied a record 806.5 billion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity in 2007.

AWEA: Wind Energy Leaders Remain Dominant in 2007 U.S. Market Rankings   Apr 9, 2008
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) annual rankings of wind power leadership in the U.S for 2007 closely resemble the 2006 rankings, said the association.

Frost: Environmental Concerns, Oil Prices Drive SE Asian Renewable Energy Markets   Apr 9, 2008
Rising oil prices and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are ensuring development of the Southeast Asian renewable energy markets, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: Increasing Installed Capacity Drives Euro Wind Service Markets   Apr 9, 2008
The continued growth of the wind energy sector across Europe is contributing to the strong growth of its wind services market.

EPRI Joins Ford-SCE Analysis of Plug-In Hybrids on Grid   Apr 3, 2008
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Ford Motor Company (Ford) announced a three-year agreement to develop and evaluate technical approaches for integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the U.S. electric grid system, a key requirement to facilitate widespread adoption of the vehicles, said EPRI.

DOE to Provide up to $2.4M to Advance Solar Energy in 12 U.S. Cities   Apr 3, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $2.4 million to 12 Solar America Cities chosen for their commitment and comprehensive approach to the deployment of solar technologies and the development of sustainable solar infrastructures.

FERC, Oregon Sign MOU for Wave Energy Projects   Apr 3, 2008
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the state of Oregon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate procedures and schedules for review of wave energy projects in state waters off the coast of Oregon.

DOE Awards $18.3M to Nuclear Industry Consortia for GNEP Studies   Apr 3, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $18.3 million to four industry teams to further develop plans for an initial nuclear fuel recycling center and advanced recycling reactor as part of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

EC Touts Europe's Wind Energy Potential   Apr 3, 2008
Andris Piebalgs, European Commission (EC) energy commissioner, stressed the importance of wind energy at the opening session of the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) on March 31 in Brussels.

ISO Standard Project Targets Transparent Utilities Billing   Mar 31, 2008
An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) project committee (PC), ISO/PC 239 - Network services billing, will develop a standard providing a framework for transparent billing information and enquiry redress systems, as well as a customer-oriented approach to billing and the provision of retail network services.

EC Launches €80M Fund to Boost Energy Efficiency, Renewables   Mar 31, 2008
As part of its initiative to fight against climate change, on March 28 the European Commission (EC) launched the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF).

DOE Makes Thin-Film Solar Cells More Competitive With Silicon   Mar 28, 2008
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) moved closer to creating a thin-film solar cell that can compete with the efficiency of silicon-based solar cells.

EPRI: Solar Parabolic Trough Most Feasible Tech Option for 2011 N.M. Plant   Mar 28, 2008
A study released by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) concludes that for New Mexico to reach its renewable energy goals, solar parabolic trough technology is more feasible than other central station solar energy options.

NRCan: New Regulations Tighten Controls on Restricted Chemicals   Mar 27, 2008
Canada is taking action to better control the sale of chemicals that can be used to make explosives, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Frost: Growing Need for Enhanced Quality Drives Pumps Market in Euro Oil, Gas Sector   Mar 26, 2008
Rising global demand for oil and gas is driving significant demand for energy equipment, such as pumps, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: Energy Cost Savings, Environment-Friendly Profile Motivate Demand for Energy-Efficient UPS   Mar 26, 2008
Rising energy costs and declining power quality are bringing the concept of energy-efficient uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems into the limelight, according to Frost & Sullivan, with the expectation of reduced power losses and ensured power availability to consumers.

EU Advocate General Issues Opinion on 'Polluter Pays'   Mar 19, 2008
The advocate general for the European Union (EU) issued an opinion on March 17 regarding the "polluter-pays" principle in EU waste law.

DOE Announces Policy for Managing Excess Uranium Inventory   Mar 19, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a policy statement on the management, future use and disposition of DOE excess uranium inventory.

DOE to Invest up to $13.7M for Solar Energy Projects   Mar 19, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest up to $13.7 million, over three years (Fiscal Years 2008 - 2010), for 11 university-led projects that will focus on developing advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) technology manufacturing processes and products.

DOE Affirms National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Designations   Mar 17, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) denied requests for rehearing of the Mid-Atlantic and the Southwest Area National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (National Corridors) designated by DOE in October 2007 as areas of significant electricity congestion and constraint.

USGS: Gas Hydrates Are the World's Largest Potential Energy Resource   Mar 17, 2008
Scientists are looking at the potential of gas hydrates as a critical new source of energy, said the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

ASTM Int'l Issues Standard for Polyethylene Line Pipe - ASTM F 2619/F 2619M   Mar 17, 2008
ASTM International Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems developed ASTM F 2619/F 2619M - Specification for High-Density Polyethylene (PE) Line Pipe, which covers the use of PE pipe for gas gathering purposes.

IEEE Begins Work on Standard to Recommend Practices for Investigating Events at Nuclear Facilities - IEEE P1707   Mar 17, 2008
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) began work on IEEE P1707 - Recommended Practice for the Investigation of Events at Nuclear Facilities.

Frost: Solar Effect Boosts European Inverters Market   Mar 12, 2008
Europe's renewable energy boom has opened up an unprecedented market for solar energy-based inverters, according to Frost & Sullivan

Frost: ACS Suppliers Share Rising Fortunes of Sub-Saharan African Oil, Gas Sector   Mar 12, 2008
Major oil- and gas-consuming countries are increasingly turning to sub-Saharan Africa for these commodities, according to Frost & Sullivan.

WRI: Calif. Companies Announce Buyers' Group for Renewable Power   Mar 12, 2008
According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), 14 of California's most prominent energy buyers formed the Green Power Group - California Affiliates, a partnership promoting "green" power in California.

EC Authorises Italian State Aid to Promote Biodiesel   Mar 12, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently authorised an Italian tax reduction to stimulate the production and use of biodiesel.

Frost: Arc Welding Equipment Market Fueled by Energy Sector Investments   Mar 12, 2008
Since 2003, a steady flow of investments in the energy and nonresidential construction sectors have resulted primarily in the construction of new plants, turnarounds, bridges and highway construction projects, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Alstom, EPRI, We Energies Launch Pilot Project to Capture CO2   Mar 5, 2008
The first pilot project that uses chilled ammonia to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fueled power plants is expected to begin operations the first week of March, according to Alstom, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and We Energies.

DOE to Invest up to $33.8M to Develop Commercially Viable Renewable Fuels   Mar 5, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced they will invest up to $33.8 million, over four years, (Fiscal Years 2008-2011) for four projects that will focus on developing improved enzyme systems to convert cellulosic material into sugars suitable for production of biofuels.

APPA Calls for Electricity Market Reforms to Address Growing Crisis   Mar 5, 2008
According to the American Public Power Association (APPA), the restructured wholesale electricity markets in some of the U.S.'s most populous states are driving up energy bills and have failed to provide promised benefits to consumers.

EPSA: APPA Wholesale Electricity Market Proposal 'Would Turn the Country Backward'   Mar 5, 2008
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) expressed serious disappointment in a long-awaited American Public Power Association (APPA) announcement on how it proposes to address wholesale electricity market issues after several years of consideration.

APPA Urges Congress to Consider Carbon Market Manipulation Protections   Mar 5, 2008
Members of the American Public Power Association (APPA) adopted unanimously a resolution urging congress to "include language in any federal cap-and-trade climate change regime that would provide for meaningful and effective oversight and enforcement of any federally established carbon market so that costs to consumers are minimized, market participants retain confidence in the market, and the market produces the desired environmental benefits in the most efficient and cost-effective manner."

Carbon Sequestration Partners Initiate CO2 Injection into Michigan Basin   Feb 27, 2008
Tapping into a Michigan Basin saline formation 3,200 to 3,500 feet below the earth's surface, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) team of regional partners initiated the injection of up to 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) to assess the formation's ability to safely and permanently store the greenhouse gas.

Frost: Polysilicon Shortages Will End in 2008   Feb 26, 2008
Even though the solar energy industry continues to grow at a fast pace, the solar photovoltaic (PV) market has faced several market challenges recently, including severe shortages and allocations of polysilicon - a key component of the majority of solar panels.

Research Touts Hydrogen Energy's Potential to Reduce Oil Use in European Road Transport   Feb 26, 2008
Ministers from the European Union (EU) member states are expected to approve a European Commission (EC) proposal for a new €940 public/private research partnership (joint technology initiative) to develop fuel cell and hydrogen fuel technology when they meet on Feb. 25.

DOE Releases Climate VISION Progress Report 2007   Feb 26, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Climate Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now (VISION) Progress Report 2007, which reports on the actions taken by energy-intensive industries to improve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of their operations from 2002 to 2006.

IEEE Approves Standards for Renewable Energy Batteries - IEEE 1561, IEEE 1562   Feb 26, 2008
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved two standards dealing with battery technologies for renewable energy systems.

NRCan: Industry Partnership Works toward Energy Self-Sufficiency   Feb 22, 2008
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Hydro-Québec, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Rio Tinto Alcan and the Université de Sherbrooke launched a new NSERC chair in industrial energy efficiency at the Université de Sherbrooke.

Canada, Alberta Release Carbon Capture, Storage Report   Feb 22, 2008
The final report of the Canada-Alberta ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force - Canada's Fossil Energy Future: The Way Forward on Carbon Capture and Storage - provides advice on how governments and industry can work together to facilitate and support the development of carbon capture and storage opportunities in Canada.

EC Focuses on Common Euro Rules for Nuclear Safety, Waste Management   Feb 21, 2008
Representatives of the European Commission (EC) and the European High Level Group (HLG) on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management met on Feb. 20 to discuss nuclear energy safety and radioactive waste management issues.

EC Invests €9B in Energy Projects under Cohesion Policy   Feb 21, 2008
The European Commission (EC) will invest nearly €9 billion to develop renewable energy and improve energy efficiency in European Union (EU) regions as part of the EU's cohesion policy for 2007-2013.

EPSA Requests FERC Tech Conference Regarding Delays, Errors Recorded by ICT Annual Report   Feb 21, 2008
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) filed comments calling for a Federal Electric Regulatory Commission (FERC) technical conference to examine persistent, troubling delays and errors recorded by the Southwest Power Pool as the Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) in its annual performance report on the Entergy transmission system operations.

NextEnergy NBEL Accelerates Approval of ASTM Biodiesel Fuel Standard   Feb 21, 2008
Over the past two years, scientists at the National Biofuels Energy Laboratory (NBEL) in Detroit's NextEnergy Center have assisted in developing a national standard for the next generation of biodiesel vehicle fuel (B6 - B20.)

Frost: Privatization Strengthens Brazil's Energy Industry   Feb 20, 2008
Capitalizing on its large crude oil reserves, Brazil increased its offshore oil extraction efforts, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: N. American Wind Energy Generator Market Benefits Foreign Investors   Feb 20, 2008
The booming North American wind energy generator market attracts foreign investors by the droves, according to Frost & Sullivan, all because of the market's increased focus on alternate energy sources, technology advances and tax break extensions.

ASTM Int'l Issues Total Evaporation Standard for Uranium, Plutonium Composition - ASTM C 1672   Feb 20, 2008
ASTM International Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle developed a standard for using the total evaporation method to determine uranium or plutonium composition.

EPRI, INL Release R&D Plan for Near-Term Increase in Nuclear Energy Production   Feb 20, 2008
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) released a joint INL/nuclear power industry strategic plan for light water reactor (LWR) R&D.

EPA Raises 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard   Feb 20, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised the 2008 renewable fuels standard (RFS), which determines how much nonpetroleum fuel will power a vehicle, to 7.76%.

GAO: NRC Needs to Reassess Security of NRC-Licensed Research Reactors   Feb 20, 2008
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) security assessment of research reactors contains questionable assumptions that create uncertainty about whether the assessment reflects the full range of security risks and potential consequences of attacks, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

NIST: Int'l Effort Underway to Accelerate Growth of Global Biofuels Market   Feb 20, 2008
The U.S., Brazil and the European Union (EU) - the world's major producers of biofuels - released an analysis of current biofuel specifications with the goal of facilitating expanded trade of these renewable energy sources.

EPA Loses Federal Court Battle over Mercury   Feb 20, 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must require power plants, which are a source of mercury pollution in the U.S., to better control their emissions of the toxin, a federal court ruled.

EC Approves Regulatory Regime for Austrian Section of Nabucco Pipeline   Feb 13, 2008
The European Commission (EC) recently approved the exemption of the Austrian section of the Nabucco natural gas pipeline from regulated third-party access.

DOE to Invest $114M in Small-Scale Cellulosic Biorefineries   Feb 8, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $114 million over four years in four small-scale biorefinery projects to be located in St. Joseph, Mo.; Commerce City, Colo.; Boardman, Ore.; and Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

FERC Approves Infrastructure Protection Standards to Help Shield Power Grid from 'Malicious' Disruption   Feb 7, 2008
In an effort to safeguard the nation's electrical grid from disruption by cyber attackers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a final rule approving eight mandatory security standards that apply to all users, owners and operators of the U.S. bulk power system.

U.S., France, Japan Increase Cooperation on Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor Prototypes   Feb 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) expanded cooperation to coordinate sodium-cooled fast reactor prototype development through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

FERC Accepts Midwest ISO-PJM Transmission Pricing Plan, Rejects AEP Challenge   Feb 7, 2008
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accepted a compliance filing on fixed cost recovery policies for pricing transmission service between the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator Inc. (Midwest ISO) and PJM Interconnection L.L.C. (PJM) and rejected a complaint by American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP) that challenged those policies.

EPSA Urges FERC to Address Changes to Midwest ISO Resource Adequacy Plan   Feb 7, 2008
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that a resource adequacy plan be implemented in a timely manner in the Midwest Independent Transmission Service Operator (Midwest ISO) region.

Frost: Europe Leads Way in Ocean Energy   Feb 7, 2008
Wave energy sources are not only readily available, but are also consistent, predictable and have the highest energy density among all renewable energy sources, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: Energy Efficiency Powers N. American Distribution Transformer Markets   Feb 7, 2008
The North American distribution transformers market expects stable growth, according to Frost & Sullivan, thanks largely to demand created by additional capacity and the need to replace existing distribution transformers.

Frost: Euro Waste to Energy Market Expects Decade-Long Growth   Feb 5, 2008
Legislative shifts in the past decade have moved toward the implementation of advanced technology and innovative recycling solutions, according to Frost & Sullivan, as waste management in Europe is no longer a haulage and disposal business.

Frost: Operation, Maintenance Drive Demand for N. American Generator Sets   Feb 5, 2008
Developments in the commercial domain are creating lucrative market opportunities for standby and base power application generator sets, according to Frost & Sullivan.

DOE: Alaska North Slope Has Plenty of Potential Oil, Natural Gas Resources   Feb 1, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy issued a report - Alaska North Slope Oil and Gas: A Promising Future or an Area in Decline?

Frost: Cogeneration in South Africa Set for Intense Growth   Feb 1, 2008
Even though the South African cogeneration market is in its early development phase, current electricity problems, the growing prominence of more efficient technologies and the rising prices of fossil fuels will help create a highly lucrative industry for cogeneration in South Africa, according to Frost & Sullivan.

EPSA Addresses 'State of the Energy Industry' Conference   Jan 31, 2008
John E. Shelk, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) addressed the important role of competitive suppliers in meeting future U.S. electricity needs, said EPSA.

EC Details Proposed Renewable Energy Directive   Jan 28, 2008
The European Commission (EC) proposed a renewable energy directive as part of a comprehensive energy and climate change package proposed on Jan. 23.

Regulators Criticise EC's Liberalisation Plan for Electricity, Gas Markets   Jan 28, 2008
European Commission (EC) proposals aimed at further liberalisation of the electricity and gas markets in the European Union (EU) are too far-reaching, according to the findings of a consultation organised by the Subsidiarity Monitoring Network of the EU's Committee of the Regions.

FAQ on EC's Proposed Directive on Geological Storage of CO2   Jan 28, 2008
This document answers commonly asked questions about carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Proposed ASTM Int'l Ink Resin Standard to Replace Manual Methods - ASTM WK17166   Jan 27, 2008
ASTM International is developing a proposed standard that outlines procedures for preparing ink resin solutions in both vegetable oils and petroleum distillates.

AWEA: Installed U.S. Wind Power Capacity Surged 45% in 2007   Jan 27, 2008
Shattering all its previous records, the U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, expanding the U.S.'s total wind power generating capacity by 45% in a single calendar year and injecting an investment of over $9B into the economy, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported in their annual Market Report.

ASTM Int'l Issues Standard for Oil Spill Containment Booms - ASTM F 2682; to Develop Guide for In-Situ Marsh Burning - ASTM WK17360   Jan 27, 2008
ASTM International approved a standard on oil spill containment booms and is working on a proposed standard on the use of in-situ burning of oil spills in marshes.

Microhole Technology Initiative Produces Expandable Wellbore Casing   Jan 27, 2008
Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Natural Gas and Oil Program, a cost-shared project led by Dynamic Tubular Systems Inc. successfully completed all essential steps in developing an innovative, expandable wellbore casing that could revolutionize small-hole drilling, said DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

ISO Standard on Pipeline Coating Targets Costs, Complications - ISO 21809-2   Jan 22, 2008
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released a new standard that it said provides in a single document a unified approach to pipeline coating requirements for suppliers, manufacturers and end-users worldwide.

AEC Refutes U.K. Biofuels Report   Jan 21, 2008
Andris Piebalgs, European Commission (EC) energy commissioner, issued a statement disagreeing with the recent report of the U.K. House of Commons calling for a moratorium on biofuels.

APPA, Carnegie Mellon Study Refutes Claim of RTOs Promoting Renewables   Jan 17, 2008
A study conducted by the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center finds "there is no evidence that membership in an Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) promoted the development of renewables."

AWEA: Competitive Wholesale Markets Promote Wind Power Development   Jan 17, 2008
Following a study by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center questioning the role of competitive wholesale electricity markets in renewable energy development, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) responded by approving a resolution supporting the preservation and expansion of competitive regional wholesale electricity markets and reiterating why competitive wholesale markets promote wind power development.

EPSA: Renewable Energy Development 'Easier' in Organized Electricity Markets   Jan 17, 2008
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) issued the following statement by John E. Shelk, president and CEO of EPSA, in response to a study released by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center that claims the robust growth of renewable energy projects in organized electricity markets is not related to market structure.

WRI: Biofuels Only One Answer for World's Transport Fuel Needs   Jan 15, 2008
Promotion of biofuels should focus on ensuring environmental performance and deploying new technologies, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI), rather than on high-volume production of the biofuels in use today.

ASTM Int'l Issues Manual on Coal, Coke Analysis   Jan 15, 2008
ASTM International published Manual 57, Routine Coal and Coke Analysis: Collection, Interpretation and Use of Analytical Data.

SunEdison: Largest U.S. Photovoltaic Power Plant Activated for Xcel Energy   Jan 7, 2008
SunEdison announced that the 8.22-megawatt (MW) Alamosa, Colo. photovoltaic (PV) solar plant was activated ahead of its scheduled completion date.

FERC Issues First License for Hydrokinetic Energy Project   Jan 7, 2008
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a license for a hydrokinetic energy project, which will be located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington state.

FERC Plans to Make Gas Markets Transparent, Monitor Price Formation   Jan 7, 2008
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a final rule and proposed a new rule to increase transparency in the wholesale markets for physical natural gas.

DOE Releases Filing Instructions for Federal Risk Insurance for New Nuclear Power Plants   Jan 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released instructions for companies building new nuclear power plants in the U.S. to enter into a Conditional Agreement with DOE to qualify for a portion of the $2 billion in federal risk insurance.

DOE Projects Renewable Energy Growth in 'Annual Energy Outlook 2008'   Jan 7, 2008
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects renewable energy to experience 23% faster growth between 2007 and 2030 than previously anticipated.

FERC Largely Affirms Key Order on Open Transmission Access Reform - Order No. 890   Jan 7, 2008
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) largely affirmed its rule on open access transmission, Order No. 890, issued in 2007.

Frost: Need for Reliable Power Drives N. American Voltage Capacitor Markets   Jan 4, 2008
North American utilities strive for efficiency through the improvement of transmission and distribution (T&D) networks, substation upgrades and loss reduction.

Frost: Asia-Pacific Biodiesel Sector Back on Track   Jan 4, 2008
The strong degree of support given to the biofuels sector by many governments across the Asia-Pacific region is creating significant domestic markets, according to Frost & Sullivan.

NRC: Canada Invests $53M in Wind Energy Project   Jan 4, 2008
Canada's government is allocating more than $53 million over 10 years for a significant wind energy project, touted as the largest in Canada.

Frost: Favorable Economic Policies Invigorate Indian Energy Industry   Jan 4, 2008
Energy demand in Asia is expected to grow significantly on the back of substantial economic growth, according to Frost & Sullivan.

NRC: Canada Invests in Clean Solar Energy   Jan 4, 2008
Canadian officials announced $1.1 million for demonstration projects promoting photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power technologies for commercial and residential use.

Acumentrics Canada Investigates Ammonia as Hydrogen Source   Jan 3, 2008
Acumentrics Canada is partnering with Natural Resources Canada's (NRC) Canada Center for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) to investigate the use of ammonia as a fuel for Acumentrics' solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).

NERC: Electricity Projected to be Reliable throughout N. America in Coming Winter Season   Dec 31, 2007
According to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) annual 2007/2008 Winter Reliability Assessment, the outlook for electricity reliability for the coming winter season is good.

DOE Awards $66.7M for Large-Scale Carbon Sequestration Project   Dec 31, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $66.7 million to the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) for the fourth large-scale DOE carbon sequestration project.

ISO Releases New Edition of Quality Management Spec for Int'l Oil and Gas Industries - ISO/TS 2901   Dec 24, 2007
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published an updated edition of technical specification ISO/TS 29001 - Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries - Sector-specific quality management systems - Requirements for product and service supply organizations.

NRC: Canada Joins Global Nuclear Energy Partnership   Dec 20, 2007
Canada's government accepted an invitation to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), an international partnership that promotes the responsible development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Frost: Aging Power Plants, Environmental Concerns Driving New Power Infrastructure   Dec 20, 2007
The Kyoto Protocol - government legislation and stringent emission norms aimed at reducing pollution - will motivate upgrades of existing power plants across Europe, according to Frost & Sullivan, as well as encourage investments in newer facilities.

ANSI: Transatlantic Economic Council Reports Progress of Pure Biofuels   Dec 20, 2007
Representatives of the U.S. and European Union (EU) took new steps to reduce regulatory barriers to trade during the first meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), a forum launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the U.S. government.

Frost: Latin America Sees Extensive Adoption of Low Voltage Drives   Dec 20, 2007
Increasing awareness of its ability to save energy and enhanced production process performance benefits among end-users is powering the demand for low voltage drives in Latin America.

EIA Outlook Reflects Ongoing Transition in Energy Markets   Dec 17, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2008 (AEO2008) reference case includes several changes from earlier AEOs to better reflect trends in the economy and energy markets that are expected to persist, said EIA.

APPEA Report Highlights Greenhouse Benefits of Natural Gas   Dec 17, 2007
The 2006 Greenhouse Challenge Plus Progress Report released by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) shows that the Australian upstream oil and gas industry recorded significant production growth in 2006 while reducing its greenhouse gas emissions impact, said APPEA.

EPSA to FERC: Interrupting Energy Imbalance Flow Could Impair Competition in SPP   Dec 17, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) objected to a proposal by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) that would allow electricity flowing in the region's wholesale "Energy Imbalance Service" (EIS) market to be treated as interruptible.

ASTM Int'l to Develop Water Asset Management Standards   Dec 16, 2007
ASTM International Committee F36 on Technology and Underground Utilities is developing a standard for piping and related support equipment for water and wastewater municipal infrastructure.

ASTM Int'l: Test Method Assists in Sulfur Determination - ASTM D 7183   Dec 16, 2007
Chemical plants and contract and research laboratories will be likely users of ASTM D 7183 - Test Method for Determination of Total Sulfur in Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals by Ultraviolet Fluorescence.

DOE Estimates Future Water Needs for Thermoelectric Power Plants   Dec 11, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released a 2007 update to its study, Estimating Freshwater Needs to Meet Future Thermoelectric Generation Requirements.

Canadian Gov't Funds $1.5B Biofuels Initiative   Dec 10, 2007
The Canadian government is offering $1.5 billion in biofuel production incentives for an "ecoENERGY for Biofuels" initiative.

ASTM Int'l Develops Practice for Designers of Neutron Absorbers - ASTM C 1671   Dec 10, 2007
ASTM International Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle developed ASTM C 1671 - Practice for Qualification and Acceptance of Boron Based Metallic Neutron Absorbers for Nuclear Criticality Control for Dry Cask Storage Systems and Transportation Packaging.

European Council Supports Plan to Accelerate New Energy Technologies   Dec 7, 2007
The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers voiced strong support for the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, which was recently developed by the European Commission (EC) as part of the total energy package it proposed in January 2007.

FAQ on European Strategic Energy Technology Plan   Dec 7, 2007
On Nov. 22 the European Commission (EC) adopted a proposal for a European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, which uses new energy technologies as

DOE to Invest Up to $7.7M for Four Biofuels Projects   Dec 7, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of four biofuels projects in which DOE plans to invest up to $7.7 million.

DOE: Pipeline Robot Revolutionizes Inspection Process   Dec 7, 2007
Testing of a robotic pipeline inspection tool, developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), could revolutionize the pipeline inspection process.

ARC Advisory Group: Control Valve Worldwide Market to Exceed $5B by 2011   Dec 7, 2007
The worldwide control valve market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5% over the next five years.

DOE-Funded 'Deep Trek' Project Yields Rugged Electronic Chips   Dec 5, 2007
Innovative electronic components developed with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oil and Natural Gas Program could revolutionize the process of recovering natural gas trapped miles below the Earth's surface, said the DOE.

M-I Swaco: Innovative Drilling Services Unveiled at SPE Conference   Dec 5, 2007
At the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, M-I Swaco introduced their Meerkat PT dual-motion shale shaker and announced the first successful deepwater application of its Warp Fluid Technology.

EIA: U.S. Natural Gas Proved Reserves Reach 30 Year High in 2006   Dec 5, 2007
U.S. natural gas proved reserves increased 3% in 2006, rising to over 211 trillion cubic feet, the highest level since 1976 according to estimates released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

NARUC Supports Federal Climate Legislation, Spells Out Policy Options   Dec 5, 2007
State public service commissioners expressed support for federal climate change legislation and laid out details for how states should consider regulating in a carbon-constrained world, said the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC).

Newly Patented Process Cleans Up Produced Water without Chemicals   Dec 5, 2007
India's state-owned oil company Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was awarded a patent for a process that removes oily effluent from produced water using the principle of electrolysis.

DOE: Efficiency Could Cut Growth in U.S. Energy Use in Half   Dec 4, 2007
An aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency in the U.S. over the next 18 years could cut the nation's growth in energy use by 50% or more, according to a new report.

DOE Requests Information on Topic Areas for Fuel Cell RD&D   Dec 4, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for information (RFI) on potential topic areas for research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of fuel cell technologies for automotive, stationary, portable power and early market applications.

EC Says European Business Must Lead Move to Low-Carbon Economy   Dec 4, 2007
Europe's High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and Environment recently ended two years of study with a conference called "Towards a global low carbon economy."

EC Endorses Work Programmes of TEN-E Coordinators   Dec 4, 2007
The European Commission (EC) recently endorsed the work programmes of two Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) coordinators - Georg Wilhelm Adamowitsch, the coordinator for the connections to offshore wind power in northern Europe and Wladydlaw Mielczarski, the coordinator for power connection between Germany, Poland and Lithuania.

TPI Facility to Produce Blades for GE Wind Turbines   Nov 29, 2007
GE Energy signed an agreement with TPI Composites whereby TPI will build a 316,000 square foot facility in Newton, Iowa, that will expand TPI's capacity to produce blades for GE's 1.5 megawatt (MW) wind turbines.

NEMA Publishes NEMA MG 1-2006 Revision 1 2007 Motors & Generators   Nov 29, 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA MG 1 -2006 Revision 1 2007 Motors and Generators.

NETL Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil PUC   Nov 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Brazil Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC) to pursue collaborative work that will advance the technical, environmental and cost performance of fossil energy technologies with a focus on carbon capture and storage.

NEMA Publishes ANSI Z535.5-2007 for Safety Tags, Barricade Tapes   Nov 29, 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA/ANSI Z535.5-2007 American National Standard for Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards).

IEA World Energy Outlook Proposes Stepping Up Cooperation with China, India   Nov 29, 2007
The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2007 (WEO-2007) focuses on energy developments in China and India and their implications for the world, said the agency.

NEMA Publishes ANSI Z535.3-2007 Criteria for Safety Symbols   Nov 29, 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA/ANSI Z535.3 - 2007 American National Standard Criteria for Safety Symbols.

Canadian Heavy Oil Field Could Be Exploited Using U.K. Extraction System   Nov 29, 2007
A new method developed in Britain over the past 17 years for extracting oil is now at the forefront of plans to exploit a massive heavy oil field in Canada.

CSIRO, Cleantech Ventures Partner for Smarter Energy Storage for Solar, Wind Power   Nov 29, 2007
Development of a hybrid battery suitable for storing electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is now a step closer, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

CSIRO: Biodiesel Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions   Nov 29, 2007
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) confirmed that using pure biodiesel or blending biodiesel with standard fuel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.

EC Launches European Nuclear Energy Forum   Nov 29, 2007
The European Nuclear Energy Forum, initiated by the European Commission (EC) and supported by the March European Council, was inaugurated on Nov. 26 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Ohio Joins Illinois FutureGen Coalition   Nov 28, 2007
Ohio announced its support for locating the federal FutureGen clean coal project in Illinois, joining an alliance of coal producing and consuming states seeking to locate FutureGen where transferability of the project's technology will be maximized.

UK Scientists Lead China Closer to Carbon Capture, Storage   Nov 28, 2007
China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from using coal are expected to double by 2030, the scale of which is significant in the context of mitigating global climate change.

Stanford Scientists Say Connecting Wind Farms Creates More Reliable Power Source   Nov 28, 2007
Wind power can be groomed to become a steady, dependable source of electricity and delivered at a lower cost than at present, according to scientists at Stanford University.

Baker Institute: Increased Domestic Production Won't Make U.S. Self-Sufficient in Natural Gas   Nov 28, 2007
A report by the Energy Forum at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy found that the U.S. will continue to rely on imported natural gas even if areas that are currently restricted are opened up to drilling.

ASTM Int'l Offers Petroleum Training Courses in Middle East   Nov 26, 2007
ASTM International is offering training courses in the area of petroleum standardization in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Middle East and Asia.

Coal Power Plant Database Available From DOE   Nov 26, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released its 2007 Coal Power Plant Database which contains the most comprehensive collection of coal-fired power plant data in the U.S., said the DOE.

Poet to Power Ethanol Plant Expansion with Alternative Energy Source   Nov 26, 2007
An expansion of a Poet ethanol plant includes technology that will allow ethanol production to double without increasing fossil fuel usage, said the company.

NEI: Nuclear Industry Has Fulfilled Its Obligation to Uranium D&D Fund, Opposes New Levy   Nov 26, 2007
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the nuclear energy industry has fulfilled its statutory obligation to The Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) Fund by contributing more than $2.6 billion.

Energy Coalition Recommends Improvements to FERC Enforcement Program   Nov 26, 2007
A coalition of energy trade associations released a white paper on Implementation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Enforcement Authority, which expresses support for the spirit of FERC enforcement actions, but calls on FERC for greater clarity in its policies, rules, and processes, said the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA).

FERC Acts to Improve Transmission Reliability, Lower Power Costs   Nov 26, 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) acted to improve reliability of the interstate transmission system by approving requests for transmission investment incentives for new grid construction.

NRC: Government, Industry to Advance Clean Coal Technology   Nov 19, 2007
Canada and the province of Alberta will partner with EPCOR Utilities and the Canadian Clean Power Coalition (CCPC) in a $33 million R&D project that

Ireland Launches Single Electricity Market   Nov 19, 2007
The Single Electricity Market for Ireland was launched on Nov. 12 at a meeting with European Commission (EC) representatives and government officials from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

CLNG Cites Nike, Converse for Switch to LNG Vehicles   Nov 17, 2007
The Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) recognized the decision of Nike and Converse to replace much of their drayage trucking fleet with new LNG-fueled vehicles to improve air quality in the port communities of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif.

Honeywell's UOP Expands Tech Portfolio to Help Refiners Expand Clean Gasoline, Diesel Production   Nov 17, 2007
Honeywell's UOP LLC expanded its portfolio of technologies aimed at helping refiners produce clean gasoline from heavier crude oil.

Microsoft Adds 4 Engineering Software Firms to Oil, Gas Industry Computing Partner Ecosystem   Nov 17, 2007
Microsoft Corp. reported that four engineering software firms - Altair Engineering Inc., ANSYS Inc., CD-adapco and Livermore Software Technology Corp. - converted their engineering software to run on Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003.

Frost: Limited Oil Supply Revives Heat Exchangers Market   Nov 16, 2007
As a result of a war-constrained oil supply, the initiation of many projects related to gas to liquid (GTL), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and ethylene crackers plants have increased the demand for heat exchangers, according to Frost & Sullivan.

DOE to Invest $21 Million Plus for Next Generation Solar Energy Projects   Nov 16, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $21.7 million in next generation photovoltaic (PV) technology to help accelerate the widespread use of advanced solar power.

CAPP: Alberta Royalty Review Panel Energy Royalty and Tax Regime Report Flawed   Nov 16, 2007
On Sept. 18, 2007 the Alberta Royalty Review Panel released a Royalty Review Panel Final Report,Our Fair Share, which examined the Alberta energy royalty and tax regime.

U.S. Federal Agencies Publish Draft PEIS on Energy Transport Corridor Designations in 11 Western States   Nov 16, 2007
The U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) released for public review and comment a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PEIS) proposing designation of energy transport corridors on federal lands in 11 Western States in accordance with Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).

IEEE Approves, Revises Electrical Power Standards for Relays, Underground Cables   Nov 15, 2007
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved standards regarding protective relays on distribution lines, Ragowski coils (RC) for protective relaying and concentric neutral corrosion in underground cable.

Calif. Solar Thermal Plant Accepted for Review   Nov 9, 2007
The California Energy Commission (CEC) accepted an application to build a solar thermal power plant - the first large solar thermal facility proposed in California in 16 years.

2006 U.S. Electricity Prices Showed Largest Increase since 1981   Nov 8, 2007
The retail price of electricity in the U.S. increased by more than 9% in 2006, the largest increase since 1981, said the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

EPSA Report Confirms Competition Provides Consumers Benefits, Choices   Nov 8, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) released Decoding Developments in Today's Electric Industry - Ten Points in the Prism, a new report prepared by Dr. Susan F. Tierney of the Analysis Group.

Pluto Gas Project Approved   Nov 8, 2007
The Australian Commonwealth Government approval of the Pluto Liquefied Natural Gas project in Western Australia (WA) underscores the rapidly rising international demand for Australia's natural gas, said Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Limited (APPEA).

NEMA Reaffirms Industrial Control, System Standards   Nov 8, 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) reaffirmed the following industrial control and system standards:

IAEA: Asia Leads Way in Nuclear Power Development   Nov 8, 2007
With 18 of 31 reactors being built worldwide located in Asia, and more planned, Asian nations are at the forefront of the renewed interest in nuclear power generation according to the findings of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report.

Accenture: Consumers Would Switch to Energy Providers That Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions   Nov 6, 2007
Nearly nine out of 10 consumers worldwide said they would switch to energy providers that offer products and services that help reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions, according to Accenture.

IEEE Approves Substation Transformer Standard - IEEE C57.12.36   Nov 6, 2007
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved IEEE C57.12.36 - Standard Requirements for Liquid-Immersed Distribution Substation Transformers, which covers selected electrical, dimensional and mechanical characteristics of these transformers.

EC Warns 12 Member States About Emergency Plans for Chemical Plants   Nov 6, 2007
The European Commission (EC) sent a final written warning to 12 member states of the European Union (EU) for failing to set up emergency plans for areas surrounding industrial installations where hazardous substances are handled.

ITER Agreement on Fusion Energy Enters Into Force   Nov 6, 2007
The agreement creating the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), an international project to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as an energy source, became effective on Oct. 24.

European Gas Regulatory Forum Works to Integrate EU Gas Market   Nov 6, 2007
The development of a fully operational natural gas market across the European Union (EU) was discussed at the 13th meeting of the European Gas Regulatory Forum, held Oct. 16-17 in Madrid.

Frost: Early Entrants Benefit from Growth in Sub-Saharan African Biofuels Markets   Oct 31, 2007
The African biofuels industry is entering a period of extended growth, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: Incentives, Subsidies Fuel W. European Wind Power Market   Oct 31, 2007
According to Frost & Sullivan, Germany created a new era in renewable energy when it introduced meticulously planned energy policies and robust government support for the wind power market.

SDTC: $500M Fund Launched to Support Next-Generation Renewable Fuels   Oct 30, 2007
The future of renewable fuels in Canada was bolstered by the launch of the NextGen Biofuels Fund, which will support up to 40% of eligible project costs for the establishment of first-of-kind, large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels.

Frost: Legislation Buoys Euro Biodiesel, Feedstock Market   Oct 29, 2007
According to Frost & Sullivan, a number of factors are influencing the limited availability and unstable supply of fossil fuels.

ANSI, NAM Establish Manufacturers Network on Chemical Regulation   Oct 29, 2007
Responding to business concerns about the impact of Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) and other foreign chemical controls, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) established the Manufacturers Network on Chemical Regulation to assist companies with compliance and encourage more cooperation within U.S. industry.

CCSP Issues Third U.S. Climate Change Report   Oct 25, 2007
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) released its third in a series of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAP).

CLNG: High Home Heating Costs Signal Increased Need for LNG   Oct 25, 2007
With the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prediction in its Winter Fuels Outlook that home heating bills will increase by 10% this winter, the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) emphasizes the need for more LNG.

IEA Identifies Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Generation Tech to Reduce CO2 Emissions   Oct 25, 2007
The IEA publication Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Generation - Case Studies of Recently Constructed Coal and Gas-Fired Power Plants highlights the challenges of coal-fired power plants.

NIST Calibration Service Arms Phasors for More Reliable Power Grids   Oct 23, 2007
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced its new calibration service for phasor measurement units (PMUs), which provides calibrations for the instruments that measure the magnitude and phase of voltage and current signals in a power system - a combined mathematical entity called a phasor - and reports the data in terms of coordinated universal time (UTC, also known as "the official world atomic time").

ASME Encourages Balanced Energy Mix for Sustainability   Oct 23, 2007
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is urging policy makers to support a national energy policy that relies on a balanced mix of energy resources, while encouraging the development of renewable technologies to promote environmental sustainability.

ASME Middle East Mechanical Expo 2007 Set for Bahrain   Oct 22, 2007
The Middle East Mechanical Expo 2007 Conference (MEMEC), a new technical conference focusing on oil and gas production, will be held Nov. 4-7 at the Gulf International Convention Center in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.

EC Proposes Cutback on Biofuel Crop Subsidies   Oct 22, 2007
The European Commission (EC) proposed scaling back a special farm aid scheme used to develop Europe's energy crops, after determining that farmers in the European Union (EU) had shifted crop production towards biofuels so much they had exceeded the two million hectare target set by the EU.

NERC: N. American Electricity Demand Continues to Outpace Resource Growth; Reliability Concerns Remain   Oct 18, 2007
Electricity usage in the U.S. is projected to grow more than twice as fast as committed resources over the next 10 years, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) announced in its annual 2007 Long-Term Reliability Assessment.

DTF: ULSD Widely Available; High Customer Satisfaction with Clean Diesel Car, Truck Engines   Oct 18, 2007
October 15 was the one-year anniversary of ultra-low sulfur diesel's (ULSD) arrival at U.S. fueling stations nationwide - a pivotal milestone for the diesel industry and America's environmental progress and energy security, according to the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

DOE Awards First Three Large-Scale Carbon Sequestration Projects   Oct 15, 2007
The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the first three large-scale carbon sequestration projects in the U.S. and the largest single set in the world.

NEI: Nuclear Energy 'Indispensable' Part of Portfolio Approach to Climate Change   Oct 15, 2007
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) released its policy position aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG).

NRC Seeks Public Comment on Implementation of Reactor Oversight Process   Oct 15, 2007
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking comment from the public on the implementation of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP), which the commission put in place seven years ago to revamp and improve its inspection and enforcement programs for commercial nuclear power plants.

ANSI Announces Action, Reaction Conference Outcomes   Oct 11, 2007
Results from the recent American National Standards Institute (ANSI) conference - Action and Reaction: Developing a sustainable approach to emerging chemical issues - include the formation of the Manufacturers Network on Chemical Regulation and a plan to identify standards still needed for chemical controls.

Norway Increases Security of EU's Gas Supply   Oct 9, 2007
The Norwegian Ormen Lange gas field, which will bring new gas supplies to the U.K., was inaugurated on Oct. 6.

EC Forum Focuses on Greener Future for Fossil Fuels   Oct 9, 2007
The third annual Fossil Fuels Forum, held Oct. 8-10 in Berlin, focused on solutions for fossil fuels with respect to the

DOE Releases Conditional Agreement for New Nuclear Power Plants   Oct 1, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a Conditional Agreement for companies building new nuclear power plants in the U.S. to qualify for a portion of $2 billion in federal risk insurance.

Frost: EU Legislation, Climate Concerns Drive Euro Air Pollution Control Equipment in Power Plants Markets   Sep 25, 2007
Stringent European Union (EU) legislation and an increased level of environmental awareness are creating excellent growth opportunities for the air pollution control equipment market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Accenture: Global Biofuels Market, Strong Global Competitors to Emerge by 2012   Sep 20, 2007
Despite the uncertainties inherent in a rapidly evolving industry, bioethanol and biodiesel producers with a cost advantage in producing biofuels will become net exporters over the next five years as a global biofuels supply market emerges, according to a study by Accenture.

Start-Up Manufacturers of Biofuels, Renewable Energy Sources Use SAP Tools   Sep 20, 2007
SAP AG announced that producers of biofuels and renewable energy sources selected SAP products as the platform on which to build their IT and business process infrastructure as they work to meet global demand for alternative energy sources.

Potential Gas Committee Report Shows Unprecedented Increase in U.S. Natural Gas Resources   Sep 19, 2007
According to the Potential Supply of Natural Gas in the United States report issued by the Potential Gas Committee (PGC), Colorado School of Mines, the U.S. natural gas resource base is larger than previously estimated, with 1,525 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in total natural gas resources at the end of 2006.

Center for LNG: Carnegie Mellon Life Cycle Air Emissions Study Mix of Fact, Fantasy   Sep 19, 2007
On August 31, 2007 the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) released the following statement in response to a study on life cycle air emissions conducted by a team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers that CLNG found mixes current facts with yet-to-be developed coal technologies:

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Triples in Size   Sep 19, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and senior international officials from 16 nations agreed to increase international nuclear energy cooperation through the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

U.S., China Sign Agreement to Increase Industrial Energy Efficiency   Sep 19, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase cooperation and energy efficiency in China's industrial sector, which accounts for 70% of the country's total energy demand.

EPSA Supports FERC Efforts to Improve Competition in Wholesale Electricity Markets   Sep 19, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) filed extensive comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in connection with FERC's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANOPR) in Wholesale Competition in Regions with Organized Power Markets issued on June 22, 2007.

EPRI Updates 'Red Book' for Transmission Lines   Sep 12, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released an updated and expanded edition of its landmark guidebook EPRI AC Transmission Line Reference Book: 200 kV and Above, Third Edition, which is widely known as the "Red Book."

IAEA Booklet Details Importance, Fundamentals of Nuclear Safeguards System   Sep 12, 2007
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) booklet describes and explains the fundamentals of the IAEA safeguards system and its role as a key element of international security, said the agency.

DOE: Construction Begins on Advanced Clean Coal Electric Generating Facility   Sep 12, 2007
Officials representing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Southern Company, Kbr Inc. and the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) broke ground on an advanced 285-megawatt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facility near Orlando, Fla.

Reaction Design Tapped for DOE FreedomCAR Biofuels Project   Sep 12, 2007
Reaction Design was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a two-year study of the chemical and transport phenomena during biofuel combustion

Canada's Prime Minister Says Biofuels Plan Good for Environment, Farmers   Sep 11, 2007
Under the ecoENERGY for Biofuels initiative, the Canadian government will provide up to $1.5 billion in the form of incentives over nine years to producers of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel.

Canada Awards $16.5M to Wind Energy Project   Sep 11, 2007
According to the Canadian government, Kettles Hill Wind Energy Inc. will be the first company to receive funding under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power initiative.

DOE Awards $30.7M in Nuclear Research Grants   Sep 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected 11 U.S. university-led grant recipient teams for cooperative research projects under the DOE Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) for up to $30.7 million over three years (fiscal years 2007-2009).

DOE to Provide up to $33.8M to Support Commercial Production of Cellulosic Biofuels   Sep 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will make available up to $33.8 million to support the development of commercially viable enzymes - a step touted as enabling bio-based production of clean, renewable biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol.

DOE: Patented Process Improves Energy Recovery, Reduces Coal Prep Wastes   Sep 6, 2007
What began as a small in-house laboratory experiment to find a way to use discarded coal products called "fines" has led to a full-scale demonstration that can boost coal operator profits, reduce waste at plants and recover valuable energy sources for consumers, said the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

NETL, USAF Release Feasibility Study for Conceptual Coal-Biomass-to-Liquids Facility   Sep 6, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) released a study that examines the feasibility of producing l00,000 barrels per day of jet fuel from coal and biomass.

IEC to Develop Wind Turbine Standard - IEC 61400-3   Sep 6, 2007
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is working on a series of standards for wind turbines.

PCOR Partnership Launches Drilling Test in DOE Carbon Sequestration Program   Sep 6, 2007
As an integral part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effort to develop carbon sequestration technologies to capture and permanently store greenhouse gases, the Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership has begun drilling operations to determine the suitability of a North Dakota lignite coal seam to simultaneously sequester the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce valuable coalbed methane, said the DOE.

UHV Technology to Help Growing Global Energy Demands   Sep 5, 2007
Worldwide demand for electricity is rising fast, particularly in nations with rapidly expanding economies.

EPA, India-Based Corporation Team to Address Methane Reduction   Aug 29, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and an oil producer based in India signed an agreement to work together to reduce emissions of methane.

DOE Awards $3.8 Million in Funding to 38 U.S. Universities for Nuclear Research Infrastructure   Aug 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) strengthened its commitment to advancing nuclear power by awarding $100,000 to 38 universities to enhance nuclear R&D under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

DOE-Led Partnership Creates Tool to Raise Output of Non-Conventional Natural Gas   Aug 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy and Pinnacle Technologies successfully demonstrated a new technology that will help optimize the output of natural gas from the often-grudging, non-conventional reserves on which the U.S. will have to depend for half of its domestic production in the future, said the DOE.

New Design, More Energy: Solar Cells with 'Metal Wrap Through' Technology   Aug 29, 2007
In their prototype production line, the scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) - working in close cooperation with industry - successfully completed a multi-crystalline solar cell with rear side contacts.

FERC Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Bradwood Landing LNG Project   Aug 23, 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal proposed by Bradwood Landing LLC and the associated sendout natural gas pipeline proposed by NorthernStar Energy LLC (hereafter, combined as NorthernStar).

EPRI Study Shows 'Full Technology Porfolio' Can Reduce Cost of CO2 Controls   Aug 23, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released a study that shows that the aggressive development and implementation of a full portfolio of advanced electricity technologies could reduce the economic cost of cutting future U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 50% while meeting the continuing growth in demand for electricity.

Pipeline Safety: Notice of Policy Statement on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines Transporting Ethanol, Other Biofuels   Aug 23, 2007
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture and others, considered current and future transportation challenges posed by growing demand for ethanol and other biofuels and biofuel blends in Notice of Policy Statement on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines Transporting Ethanol and Other Biofuels.

ANSI Awarded Contract to Expand Hydrogen Codes, Standards Portal   Aug 22, 2007
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) was awarded a new contract to enhance and expand its Hydrogen Codes and Standards Portal, a web-based hydrogen data center developed under an initial contract from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Frost: Environmental Benefits Help Large Fuel Cells Gain Traction in Industrial End-User Market   Aug 22, 2007
Consumers' increasing environmental awareness helps the popularity of the large fuel cells market for being able to directly produce water, electricity or heat.

Frost: Electricity Demand Boosts Steam, Gas Turbines Market in Central, E. Europe   Aug 22, 2007
Revenues for the Central and Eastern European steam and gas turbines market will increase three times more over the next few years, analysts said, as a result of the rising demand for electricity and the need to replace obsolete power plant equipment.

Frost: Australia, New Zealand Prime for Renewable Energy Tech   Aug 22, 2007
Rising concerns about global climate changes and environmental awareness have paved the way for the development of renewable energy technologies in Australia and New Zealand.

ANSI, ABNT Issue Proposal for ISO Liquid Biofuels Subcommittee   Aug 16, 2007
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) issued a joint proposal for an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) field of activity in the area of liquid biofuels.

DOE: Novel Technology Locates Potential Carbon Sequestration Areas   Aug 15, 2007
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) launched a major breakthrough in carbon storage efforts with Sequre, the only commercially available technology that can search vast areas for abandoned oil and gas reservoirs that could be used to permanently store carbon dioxide (CO2), said the DOE.

FuelCell Energy Signs Federal Contract to Scale Up Hydrogen Gas Separation Product   Aug 15, 2007
FuelCell Energy Inc. announced approval to scale up a product that separates hydrogen from a gas mixture while generating electricity.

General Motors Joins Model Fuels Consortium   Aug 15, 2007
Reaction Design announced that General Motors Corp. (GM) joined the Model Fuels Consortium (MFC).

Frost: Expect Spectacular Growth of Green Energy Market   Aug 10, 2007
The green energy sector is growing at breathtaking speed, according to Frost & Sullivan, and it has already become a multi-billion dollar industry, with high growth potential attracting record investments.

DOE Awards $16M for GNEP Studies   Aug 8, 2007
Four consortia were selected to receive up to $16 million for technical and supporting studies to support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

NSF Introduces Certification Program for Geothermal Piping Applications   Aug 8, 2007
NSF International's plumbing program introduced a new geothermal listing for piping products that is designed to produce cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods to heat and cool buildings.

Climate Technology: DOE Readies First Big U.S. Projects in CO2 Capture and Storage   Aug 7, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared to commission the U.S.'s first large-scale demonstrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and deep geologic storage in fulfillment of a commitment announced last October to Phase III of the Carbon Sequestration Regional Partnerships Program.

UC Experts Detail New Standard for Cleaner Transportation Fuels   Aug 7, 2007
University of California (UC) experts released their blueprint for fighting global warming by reducing the amount of carbon emitted when transportation fuels are used in California.

FPL Energy Announces Expanded Growth Plan for Wind Business   Aug 6, 2007
FPL Energy LLC announced an aggressive goal to add between 8,000 and 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind to its portfolio by the end of 2012.

Westinghouse, Shaw Group to Provide Four AP1000 Nuclear Power Plants in China   Aug 6, 2007
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and The Shaw Group Inc. signed multi-billion-dollar contracts with State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation Ltd. (SNPTC), Sanmen Nuclear Power Company Ltd, Shandong Nuclear Power Company Ltd. and China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) to provide four AP1000 nuclear power plants in China.

DOE-Funded Ultraclean Combustion Technology Successfully Uses Pure Hydrogen as Fuel   Aug 6, 2007
An experimental gas turbine simulator equipped with an ultralow-emissions combustion technology called low-swirl injector (LSI) successfully used pure hydrogen as a fuel in tests by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory.

DARPA Sponsors Pilot-Scale Process Technologies for Very High Efficiency Solar Cells   Aug 1, 2007
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiated a three-year effort with the newly formed DuPont-University of Delaware Very High Efficiency Solar Cell (VHESC) Consortium to drive the efficiency of a new class of solar cell modules to over 50% and develop pilot-scale process technologies to produce them at a cost of less than $1,000 per square meter, which is the current price for commercially available solar cells.

AGA: NARUC Resolution on Climate Policy Recognizes Need to Protect Natural Gas Reliability, Customers   Jul 31, 2007
The American Gas Association (AGA) praised state utility regulators for two resolutions - concerning climate change policies and exploration for natural gas on federal lands, both onshore and offshore - approved at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Committee Meetings.

DOE Seeks Industry Participation to Design Next Generation Nuclear Plant   Jul 31, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) requested expressions of interest from industry teams capable of providing engineering design services to the INL for the conceptual design phase of the department's Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP).

DOE Program Uses Stranded Gas to Revive Oil Production   Jul 31, 2007
A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project turned "stranded" natural gas at marginal, or low-production, oil fields into fuel for distributed electric power.

ACC: Federal Regulations 'Raise the Bar' for Security for U.S. Essential Chemical Facilities   Jul 31, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented comprehensive federal regulations through the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards in an effort to safeguard the nation's "high-risk" chemical facilities, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

DOE Finds Unique Quantum Effect in Silicon Nanocrystals   Jul 31, 2007
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), collaborating with Innovalight Inc., have shown that an effect called Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG) occurs efficiently in silicon nanocrystals.

ANSI Invites Comments on ISO Proposal for Solid Biofuels   Jul 30, 2007
The Swedish Standards Institute (SIS) submitted a proposal to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for a new field of technical activity on the subject of solid biofuels.

Frost: Need for 'Clean' Power Boosts Euro Cogeneration Equipment Market   Jul 27, 2007
To address increasing oil prices, threats of climate change and greater dependence on fuel imports, the beleaguered Western European energy market has turned to cogeneration for a long-term solution to the issues.

EPSA Releases Policy Paper, 10-Point 'Why and How' on Competitive Electricity Procurement   Jul 24, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) applauded state and federal regulators for examining the competitive procurement of electricity and released a policy paper: The Case for Competitive Procurement.

U.S. Climate Change Science Program Releases Second Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report   Jul 23, 2007
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) released the second in a series of 21 Synthesis and Assessment (S&A) reports.

NARUC Board Finalizes Resolutions at Summer Meetings   Jul 23, 2007
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) passed a series of resolutions setting national policy for U.S. state public utility commissioners.

FERC Proposes to Modify Rate of Return Standards for Interstate Gas, Oil Pipeline Companies   Jul 23, 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed to modify its standards to allow the use of master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the composition of proxy groups used to determine the returns on equity in rates charged by interstate natural gas and oil pipeline companies.

EPSA Releases Policy Paper, 10-Point 'Why and How' on Competitive Electricity Procurement   Jul 23, 2007
John E. Shelk, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), applauded state and federal regulators for continuing their examination of the competitive procurement of electricity and announced the release of an EPSA policy paper: The Case for Competitive Procurement.

PHMSA Allowed to Grant Emergency Pipeline Special Permits   Jul 23, 2007
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has new authority under 49 U.S.C. - 60118 to grant special permits in emergency situations.

EPRI to Explore New Concentrating Solar Power Plant in New Mexico   Jul 19, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched a project to study the feasibility of building a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in New Mexico.

GAO NRC Investigation Nets Radioactive License for Bogus Business   Jul 19, 2007
By using the name of a bogus business that existed only on paper, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigators were able to obtain a genuine radioactive materials license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

ACC Releases Performance Data for Public Evaluation   Jul 17, 2007
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) published their Responsible Care performance metrics for its members, providing the public easy access to company-specific and industry-wide data in areas such as environment, energy, safety, security, product safety and economic contributions.

NRC Consolidates Security Upgrades for Operating Reactors   Jul 16, 2007 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) began consolidating existing security-based enhancements for each of the 104 nuclear reactors in the nation.

NRC Introduces USWC Performance Indicator as Part of Nuclear Reactor Oversight Process   Jul 16, 2007
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) updated its reactor oversight process (ROP) by introducing the unplanned scrams with complications (USWC) performance indicator.

CAPP Releases 2007 Canadian Crude Oil Forecast, Market Outlook   Jul 16, 2007
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) released its annual crude oil production, supply, markets and pipelines outlook.

DOE Provides up to $51.8M to Modernize U.S. Electric Grid System   Jul 16, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $51.8 million for five cost-shared projects aimed at modernizing the U.S. electricity grid.

NRC Approves Recommendations to Speed New Reactor License Review Process   Jul 16, 2007
Recommendations that could lead to a more efficient review of applications for new reactor licenses while maintaining a focus on safety were approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

PHMSA to Host Meeting to Discuss Pipeline Safety Regulations   Jul 13, 2007
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee (THLPSSC) will meet to vote on a proposal to extend pipeline safety regulations to certain unregulated hazardous liquid gathering lines and low-stress pipelines.

Equation to Acquire Solar Morph, Spearheading Singapore's First Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Panel Plant   Jul 11, 2007
Singapore is set to launch its first solar panel manufacturing plant using thin-film amorphous silicon technology in Q4 2007 - making it the first country in that region to operate one.

Turkey Wind Park Is GE Energy's 2.5xl Wind Turbine Technology Largest Installation Worldwide   Jul 11, 2007
A 130-megawatt (MW) wind power project in southeastern Turkey will be the world's largest installation of General Electric (GE) Energy's latest 2.5xl wind turbine technology and will more than double the country's installed wind capacity.

Cleaner Off-Road Diesel Fuel Flowing as of June 1   Jul 11, 2007
According to a May 30 press release by the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF), U.S. refineries began producing low-sulfur diesel fuel for use in off-road equipment on June 1.

Frost: Climate Change a Challenge for Oil, Gas Companies   Jul 10, 2007
With climate change now the greatest environmental challenge, analysts said it has become imperative that oil and gas companies reduce carbon emissions dramatically in the future.

ANSI Seeks Comments on ISO Proposed Energy Management Systems Standards   Jul 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) submitted a proposal to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) field of technical activity on the subject of energy management systems standards (MSS).

ORNL to Host DOE Biofuel Research Center   Jul 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) $125 million for a bioenergy research center that will seek new ways to produce biofuels NCERC Partners with Siemens on Alternative Fuel Technology   Jul 9, 2007
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. and the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) announced a partnership to speed the growth of alternative fuel technology.

NARUC Task Force Releases Draft Climate Policy Resolution   Jul 9, 2007
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) Task Force on Climate Policy released a draft resolution, Resolution on Implications of Climate Policy for Ratepayers and Public Utilities, that, if approved by the NARUC membership, will serve NARUC as an initial framework for pursuing policies in response to potential federal climate-change legislation.

ARC: SCADA Systems Market for Oil, Gas Industry to Reach $1,141M   Jul 6, 2007
The worldwide market for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for the oil and gas industry is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% over the next five years, according to research from ARC Advisory Group.

ARC: Market for SCADA Systems for Electric Power to Exceed $1,800M   Jul 6, 2007
Driven by industry dynamics and global demand for electric power infrastructure, the worldwide market for electric power supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% over the next five years, according to ARC Advisory Group.

ASTM Int'l Approves Second Biofilm Standard - ASTM E 2562   Jul 5, 2007
Biofilm, self-organized communities of bacteria that can have both positive and negative effects in a variety of industries, is the subject of an ASTM International standard, ASTM E 2562 - Test Method for Quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Grown with High Shear and Continuous Flow Using CDC Biofilm Reactor.

ASTM Int'l Oil Spill Response Committee Offers Standard on In-Situ Burning - ASTM F 2533   Jul 5, 2007
Navies and coast guards around the world will be the likely users of a standard developed by ASTM International Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response, ASTM F 2533 - Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil in Ships or Other Vessels.

ASTM Int'l Seeks Input for Guide for Investigation of Releases from Underground Storage Tank Equipment - ASTM WK15256   Jul 5, 2007
ASTM International Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action is seeking participation in the development of ASTM WK15256 - Guide for Investigation of Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Equipment Problems and Releases.

U.S., Danish Laboratories Collaborate on Wind Energy Research   Jul 5, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Denmark's Risø National Laboratory, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), signed an agreement to cooperate closely on improving wind energy technologies.

API Issues Industry Guidelines on Portable Building Siting - API RP 753   Jul 3, 2007
The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued a recommended practice (RP) that provides guidance for reducing the risk to personnel located in portable buildings from potential explosion, fire and toxic release hazards.

California Energy Commission Adopts Fuels Report Evaluating Carbon Footprint of Traditional, Alternative Fuels   Jul 3, 2007
The California Energy Commission adopted an alternative fuels evaluation and analysis report as part of the state's process for implementing the governor's Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

ASTM Int'l Develops Geosynthetics Standards - ASTM WK12239, ASTM WK14305   Jul 2, 2007
Three subcommittees of ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics are developing several proposed standards covering geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), geomembranes and the development of a mechanistic-empirical design guide for pavements.

DOE Hosts Meeting on U.S. - Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan   Jul 1, 2007
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dennis R. Spurgeon hosted Director-General of Japan's Agency of Natural Resources and Energy Harufumi Mochizuki to discuss bilateral nuclear energy cooperation under the U.S. - Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan.

DOE Issues Report on Cost, Performance of Fossil Energy Plants   Jul 1, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report establishing baseline performance and cost estimates for today's fossil energy plants.

DOE Launches First Segment of Next-Generation Nationwide Network for Scientific Research   Jun 30, 2007
The first segment of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and Internet2 next-generation, nationwide network went live, marking a key step in upgrading networking services to scientific researchers across the country and around the world.

OSHA Implements National Emphasis Program to Address Highly Hazardous Chemicals in the Petrochemical Industry   Jun 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a directive implementing a National Emphasis Program to help eliminate workplace hazards associated with the release of highly hazardous chemicals at petroleum refineries.

DOE Licenses Mercury Control Patent to Help Meet Clean Air Regulations   Jun 30, 2007
A licensing agreement signed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Johnson Matthey will contribute significantly to the reduction of mercury and other trace elements emitted from coal gasification and coal-fired power plants, while helping to meet ever-stringent clean air regulations, said the DOE.

API: Flat Demand, Rising Imports, Output Helps Rebuild Gasoline Stocks   Jun 30, 2007
Relatively weak U.S. gasoline deliveries, a proxy for demand, combined with record high domestic production and rising imports helped replenish U.S. gasoline inventories in May, though they remained below year-ago levels, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said.

House Committee Approves Legislation to Develop Geothermal, Ocean Energy Research   Jun 30, 2007
The U.S. House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee approved two bills designed to boost research and development into geothermal and ocean energy technologies.

DOE: Seismic Technology Improves Pre-Drill Diagnostics for Deep Oil, Gas Reservoirs   Jun 30, 2007
Technology developed through a cost-shared project managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is improving industry's ability to identify commercially viable deep oil and gas targets prior to drilling, said the DOE.

DOE Invests $4M for Wind Turbine Blade Testing Facilities   Jun 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Partnership in Massachusetts and the Lone Star Wind Alliance in Texas to each receive up to $2 million in test equipment to develop large-scale wind blade test facilities, accelerating the commercial availability of wind energy.

IAEA Report on Possible New Framework for Using Nuclear Energy   Jun 28, 2007
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on a multilateral framework for nuclear energy presented a range of options that seek to guarantee supplies of nuclear fuel while minimizing proliferation risks, said the agency.

NEI: Keystone Center Report Affirms Nuclear Energy's Competitiveness in Carbon-Constrained World   Jun 28, 2007
Capping a year-long evaluation of nuclear energy, The Keystone Center issued a report concluding that U.S. nuclear power plants are safer; climate change policies will improve nuclear energy's economics; and options are available to safely manage used fuel.

NARUC: Keystone Nuclear Report Offers Strong Guidance for State Regulators   Jun 25, 2007
A report on nuclear power from a stakeholder group will provide critical guidance for state public service commissions, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) said.

DOE: Power Plant Catalyst-Activity Testing Tool Reduces NOx Emissions   Jun 24, 2007
A catalyst-activity testing tool developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is commercially available and offers a breakthrough in managing the selective catalytic reduction systems used in power plants to control nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, said the agency.

NRC Report Urges Federal Support for Coal R&D   Jun 24, 2007
Because coal will continue to provide a substantial portion of U.S. energy for at least the next several decades, a major increase in federal support for R&D is needed to ensure that this natural resource is extracted efficiently, safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, said a congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council (NRC).

UW-Madison Engineers Develop Higher-Energy Liquid-Transportation Fuel from Sugar   Jun 24, 2007
In the June 21 issue of the journal Nature, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor James Dumesic and his research team describe a two-stage process for turning biomass-derived sugar into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), a liquid transportation fuel with 40% greater energy density than ethanol.

Single European Electricity Market Agreement Moves Forward   Jun 21, 2007
Germany and Luxembourg signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Energy Council in Luxembourg, joining Belgium, the Netherlands and France in forming a five-country European electricity market.

European Investment Bank Cites Renewable Energy as Top Priority   Jun 20, 2007
The board of governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB), gathering for the institution's annual meeting, made sustainable, competitive and secure energy one of its priority objectives for 2007-2009.

GE, Hitachi Forge Nuclear Power Plant Alliance   Jun 20, 2007
General Electric Co. (GE) and Hitachi Ltd. completed the first half of their agreement to ally their nuclear businesses and become global providers of advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) nuclear power plants and related services.

DOE-funded Coal Dryers Meet Goal of Increased Efficiency, Reduced Emissions   Jun 13, 2007
A prototype coal dryer demonstrated at Great River Energy's Coal Creek Station has proven so successful that the power company intends not only to install full-size dryers on the station's 546-megawatt (MW) Unit 2 as part of the second phase of its cost-shared project with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), but also to install the award-winning technology on the 546-MW Unit 1 -- at its own expense.

EPSA Details Fatal Flaws in APPA Nuclear Report   Jun 13, 2007
In May 2007, the American Power Public Association (APPA) released a paper titled Nuclear Plant Performance: What does restructuring have to do with it?

NEMA Publishes Selection, Installation Guidelines for Fittings for Flexible Electrical Conduit, Cable Use   Jun 13, 2007
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA FB 2.20-2007 - Selection and Installation Guidelines for Fittings for Use with Flexible Electrical Conduit and Cable.

FERC Acts on Long-term Transmission Rights in Midwest ISO, PJM Territories   Jun 13, 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) largely approved two orders on long-term transmission rights (LTTRs) in two broad regions that will help set the stage for planning and expansion of the transmission grid.

Mandatory Reliability Standards Become Enforceable June 18   Jun 13, 2007
As of June 18, 2007, U.S. utilities and other bulk power industry participants that violate any requirements of 83 reliability standards will face enforcement actions by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) under federal law, said NERC President and CEO Rick Sergel.

Deloitte: Consumers Willing to Pay More for Environmentally Responsible Fuels   Jun 12, 2007
According to a recent survey conducted by Deloitte & Touche, a majority of consumers said they would pay more for clean energy because it is good for the environment.

EPA Reduces Sulfur Content of Diesel Fuel for Trains, Ships, Nonroad Equipment   Jun 12, 2007
Emissions from locomotives, most marine vessels and land-based nonroad engines will be cut starting June 1 because of new standards for sulfur content in diesel fuel.

DOE Releases Draft EIS, FutureGen Alliance Releases ICDR   Jun 12, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the FutureGen Project for public comment and FutureGen Alliance Inc. released the initial conceptual design report (ICDR).

EPA Issues Proposed Expansion to Comparable Fuels Exclusion   Jun 11, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to allow certain manufacturing waste to be safely burned for energy recovery in industrial boilers.

U.S. Working with China to Develop Coal, Mine, Methane Capture Projects   Jun 8, 2007
The U.S. discussed four areas for environmental collaboration with the Chinese.

IEC Creating Technical Committee for Ocean Energy Devices   Jun 8, 2007
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standardization Management Board (SMB) will create a new technical committee for marine energy, which would cover all aspects of wave and tidal energy conversion.

DOE Awards $22.7M for Basic Solar Energy Research   Jun 8, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide $22.7 million in basic research projects aimed at improving the capture, conversion and use of solar energy.

WRI: Report Shows Challenges of Providing Clean, Affordable Electricity in Asia   Jun 6, 2007
The governments of India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines must improve transparency and public participation in their electricity sectors to provide citizens with affordable, reliable and clean energy, according to a report from the World Resources Institute (WRI).

CEC Approves Regulations Restricting Purchase of Electricity From Power Plants Exceeding Greenhouse Gas Emission Limits   Jun 6, 2007
The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved regulations that limit the purchase of electricity from power plants that fail to meet strict greenhouse gas emissions standards.

Nuclear Industry Leaders Identify Challenges With U.S. Nuclear Energy Renaissance   Jun 6, 2007
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) leaders told industry executives at an NEI conference that financial, regulatory and communications challenges still must be met to bring the emerging "nuclear energy renaissance" to fruition.

PHMSA Modifies Proposed Rulemaking on Hazardous Liquid Pipelines   Jun 6, 2007
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) modifying its pending proposal for regulating rural, low-stress, hazardous liquid pipelines within a prescribed buffer of an "unusually sensitive area" in the U.S.

U.S. Wind Industry to Install Over 3,000 MW of Wind Power in 2007   Jun 6, 2007
The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to install over 3,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power generating capacity nationwide in 2007.

NREL Updates National Solar Radiation Database   Jun 6, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborators updated the National Solar Radiation Database, a planning tool that provides critical information about the amount of solar energy available at any given location, announced the DOE.

DOE Makes Appointments to Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee   May 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected secretarial appointments to the department's Ultra-Deepwater Advisory Committee (UDAC).

DOE Plans New Round of Clean Coal Demonstrations   May 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is planning a new round of its Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI), aimed at technologies that will capture carbon dioxide for sequestration or other beneficial uses.

NRC: Canada Remains Top Oil, Natural Gas Supplier to U.S.   May 29, 2007
For the eighth consecutive year, Canada is the main source of oil and natural gas for the U.S. From 2005 to 2006, Canada's oil exports grew by 6%, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

DOE Releases Feasibility Study for Midwestern Conceptual Coal-to-Liquids Facility   May 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued a report that examines the feasibility of a commercial 50,000 barrel per day coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility in the Illinois coal basin.

SAP Creates IVN to Foster Collaboration, Co-Innovation in Utilities Industry   May 25, 2007
SAP AG formed the industry value network (IVN) for utilities to bring together customers and partners - including utilities companies, independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators (SIs) and technology vendors - with SAP to address business challenges and solutions for the utilities industry.

Southwest Research Institute Creates Outdoor Lab to Study Limestone Oil Reservoirs   May 23, 2007
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and four major oil companies joined in a multi-year project to study the geology and stratigraphy of the Hidden Valley Fault - a 2002 flood at Canyon Lake, in Comal County, Texas, that carved a deep gorge into the floor of the lake's spillway, exposing the fault.

DOE Awards $11.2M for Hydrogen Research   May 21, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $11.2 million in awards for research aimed at overcoming the scientific challenges associated with the production, storage and use of hydrogen.

SECA Fuel Cell Development Program Completes Tests of the First Solid Oxide Prototypes   May 21, 2007
Six industry teams have successfully completed tests of the first solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) prototypes that can be manufactured at costs approaching those of conventional, stationary power-generation technology.

Airtricity Finalizes 209-MW Wind Farm   May 21, 2007
Airtricity Inc. announced the construction of its largest wind farm to date.

Alcoa Launches 'Carbon Capture' Tech for Alumina Refineries   May 21, 2007
Alcoa launched technology at its Kwinana alumina refinery that has the potential to deliver global greenhouse benefits and is designed to contribute to a reduction in the aluminum industry's environmental footprint.

MGSC Begins Carbon Sequestration Field Test in Louden Field   May 21, 2007
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), one of seven regional partnerships created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2002 to advance carbon sequestration technologies, is conducting its first enhanced oil recovery field test at Louden Field in Illinois.

NIST Updates Refrigerant Database   May 16, 2007
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released an expanded and upgraded version of a popular database that includes a computer package for calculating the properties and modeling the behavior of fluids.

DOE Releases Archive of Unconventional Gas Research   May 15, 2007
A CD archive of nearly two decades of research from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) was released.

DOE Carbon Sequestration Program Releases 2007 Technology Roadmap, Celebrates a Decade   May 15, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Carbon Sequestration Program released the 2007 Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan, available at the DOE Office of Fossil Energy web site.

DOE, Texas A&M Research Opens Way to 218B Barrels of Bypassed Domestic Oil   May 15, 2007
Researchers at Texas A&M University and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) produced a computer tool that will increase recovery of up to 218 billion barrels of bypassed oil remaining in mature domestic fields, said the DOE.

IEC Revises Reference Solar Device Standard - IEC 60904-2   May 11, 2007
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) issued the second edition of its standard for reference solar devices.

EPA Proposes Tougher Petroleum Refinery Standards   May 9, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for petroleum refineries and separate standards of performance for new, modified or reconstructed process units at petroleum refineries.

DOE Tracking Resurgence of Coal-Fired Power Plants   May 8, 2007
A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report showed that many power producers are turning to coal as the most economic and abundant national resource for electricity generation.

DOE, EPA Launch Carbon Sequestration Project   May 8, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have begun a research effort to evaluate how the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, might affect the nation's valuable groundwater resources.

EPA Issues Two Grant Guidelines for State Underground Storage Tank Programs   May 7, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two final guidelines for states that will implement key provisions of the underground storage tank (UST) amendments of the Energy Policy Act of 2005: the inspection grant guidelines and the grant guidelines for state compliance reports on government USTs.

EPA Proposes Refined Emissions Test for Existing Power Plants   May 7, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing further options to change the emissions test used to determine if the New Source Review (NSR) permitting program would apply when an existing power plant makes a physical or operational change.

ANSI, NIST Convene Biofuels Standardization Meeting before EU-U.S. Summit   May 7, 2007
Concerns over energy security and climate protection have positioned biofuels at the forefront of political agendas worldwide, according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Global Experts Lay Roadmaps for Ultra-High Voltage Technology   May 7, 2007
In nations such as Brazil, China and India, governments are faced with the challenge of supplying densely populated urban centers with power from remote generating stations in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

FERC Approval Heralds Transition to Enforceable Electric Reliability Standards   May 7, 2007
In a landmark step toward improving the nation's power grid, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved 83 reliability standards developed and recommended by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

DOE Providing $200M Funding for Biorefineries   May 7, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $200M over five years to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in the U.S.

AWEA Power Rankings Track Rapid Growth   May 4, 2007
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released its annual rankings of wind energy development in the U.S.

NRC Draft Final Rule on Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material Posted   May 4, 2007
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) made the draft text of a final rule to expand the definition of byproduct material subject to NRC regulations available for public viewing on the NRC web site.

NRC Proposes Plane Crash Security Assessments to Nuclear Reactor Design Certification Requirements   May 4, 2007
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) unveiled the third in a series of major steps to enhance the post-Sept. 11 security of nuclear power plants.

Solar Industry Asks U.S. Congress for Eight-year Extension of Solar Investment Tax Credits   May 4, 2007
The solar energy industry called on the U.S. Congress to ensure equitable tax treatment by enacting an eight-year extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credits (ITC) for U.S. homes and businesses and highlighted unprecedented stakeholder support for an energy technology.

SunEdison, Xcel Energy Break Ground on 8.22-MW Photovoltaic Solar Plant   May 4, 2007
An 82-acre tract in south-central Colorado (San Luis Valley) will be the site for one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the U.S.

MRCSP Completes Well for Critical Carbon Sequestration Assessment   May 4, 2007
The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) completed an 8,000-foot well at the FirstEnergy R. E. Burger Plant near Shadyside, Ohio, in preparation for a geologic sequestration field test.

DOE Designates Idaho Nat'l Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor as Nat'l Scientific User Facility   May 4, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated the Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) as a national scientific user facility.

Frost: Investments in Upgrades will Drive Transmission, Distribution Services Market   May 2, 2007
While electricity needs are rapidly increasing in North America, transmission capacity additions have not kept up with this rising demand.

NRC: Biodiesel Study Targets Cleaner Air, Cleaner Engines   May 2, 2007
Cleaner engines, cleaner air and more uses for local farm products were the focus of a recent study of biodiesel as an alternative fuel source at six test farms in Ontario, Canada.

EC Launches Public Consultation on Biofuels   May 2, 2007
The European Commission (EC) launched a public consultation on the biofuels issues in the new European Union (EU) legislation promoting renewable energy.

ANSI Panel Addresses Biofuels Standardization   May 2, 2007
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) launched its biofuels standards panel that will serve as the cross-sector coordinating body to accelerate and promote compatibility among existing standards and identify areas where updated or new standards are needed to support the large-scale commoditization of biofuels.

ASTM Int'l Seeks Participation in Laboratory Competence Standard - ASTM WK14563   May 1, 2007
Users of laboratory services and other interested parties are invited to participate in the development of a new practice that will promote uniformity in quality management practice for all standards under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke.

Construction Begins on Samsun to Ceyhan Oil Pipeline   Apr 26, 2007
The first stone of a new oil pipeline that will link the Turkish ports of Samsun in the Black Sea with the southeast Mediterranean port of Ceyhan was laid on April 24.

CERA: Nuclear Power 'Renaissance' Real   Apr 24, 2007
According to an analysis by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), governments and businesses around the globe have moved beyond talking to real action to renew development of nuclear power.

BTC Exports its 100 Millionth Barrel of Crude Oil   Apr 24, 2007
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), operated by BP, announced the lifting of the 100 millionth barrel of crude oil at the Ceyhan Terminal in Turkey.

EPSA: NOPR Employee Proposals Contrary to Order No. 890, Hinders Transparency   Apr 24, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) took issue with two employee category proposals in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Standards of Conduct notice of proposed rule-making (NOPR).

DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Rule Provides Structure, Penalties   Apr 24, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Interim Final Rule that imposes comprehensive federal security regulations on high-risk chemical facilities.

Stanford Study: Ethanol Vehicles Pose a Significant Risk to Human Health   Apr 24, 2007
Ethanol is widely touted as an eco-friendly, clean-burning fuel.

Frost: Thermal Power Capacity Additions Expand Opportunities in Australia, New Zealand Power Plant Services Markets   Apr 23, 2007
The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) power plant services market should see robust growth in the coming years, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Frost: Electrifying Prospects Emerge in Southern Africa Independent Power Producer Market   Apr 17, 2007
The impetus for independent power projects in Southern Africa is grounded on two evident factors of success - countries in the region are in a much better state to attract funds as their general investment environment has improved, and more countries are initiating reforms to accommodate the development of independent power projects.

EPA Establishes Renewable Fuel Program   Apr 16, 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

ASTM Int'l Develops Remotely Operated Viewing Systems Guide - ASTM C 1661; Begins Nuclear Fuel Pellets Standard   Apr 16, 2007
ASTM International published a new standard for remotely operated facilities and began the development of a proposed new standard on quality of nuclear fuel pellets.

Frost: Demand from Oil, Gas, Power Sectors Driving Industrial UPS Markets   Apr 13, 2007
Although slow technological development and lack of end-user perception pose major challenges, industrial uninterruptible power supply (UPS) markets across the world offer good potential for growth, especially with rising investments in oil and gas (O&G), power and certain process and discrete manufacturing industries.

DOE Signing Paves Way for Funding, Construction of Clean Coal Plant in Florida   Apr 10, 2007
A Record of Decision was signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman that clears the path for construction of a $569M, 285-megawatt coal-fired power plant that is promoted as being one of the cleanest, most efficient plants of its kind in the world.

DOE Extends Opportunity for Public Comment on the Scope of the GNEP PEIS   Apr 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) extended the time to submit comments on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for President Bush's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) from April 4, 2007 to June 4, 2007.

Alberta, Canada Join Forces to Assess Carbon Capture Technology   Apr 5, 2007
The governments of Canada and Alberta formed a Canada-Alberta ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force to recommend the best ways for Canada to implement carbon-capture technology on a large scale.

Europe's First Large Concentrating Solar Power Plant Opens in Spain   Apr 5, 2007
The first commercial-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Europe was inaugurated on March 30 near Seville, Spain.

EC Supports New Pan-European Oil Pipeline   Apr 5, 2007
The European Commission (EC) recently signed a ministerial declaration outlining the next steps to build an oil pipeline that would bring oil directly from the Black Sea to the central European markets, thereby avoiding further oil tanker traffic.

IBM, Honeywell to Provide ERP, MES at Freeport LNG Re-Gas Terminal   Apr 5, 2007
IBM will collaborate with Honeywell to deliver business process integration and manufacturing execution systems (MES) at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal being built by Freeport LNG Development L.P. on Quintana Island near Freeport, Texas.

EC Publishes Map Showing Solar Potential of European Regions   Apr 5, 2007
A new map published by the European Commission (EC) shows the potential of photovoltaic solar cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity in different parts of Europe.

ANSI Conference Addresses Sustainable Approaches to Emerging Chemical Issues   Apr 4, 2007
Global manufacturers are facing mounting pressure from the expansion of domestic and foreign chemical controls and regulations, such as Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

MIT: Lack of Fuel May Limit U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion   Mar 29, 2007
Limited supplies of fuel for nuclear power plants may thwart the renewed and growing interest in nuclear energy in the U.S. and other nations, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) expert on the industry.

DOE Partnerships Find 3,500B Tons of Possible CO2 Storage Capacity in U.S., Canada   Mar 29, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships identified the power plant and other stationary sources of more than 3.8 billion tons a year of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) in the U.S. and Canada and companion candidate storage capacity for more than 3,500 billion tons.

DOE Grants GE $8.1M for Solar Energy Research   Mar 28, 2007
General Electric Co. (GE) received a multimillion-dollar grant to fund a solar energy research program from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the Solar America Initiative portion of the Bush administration Advanced Energy Initiative.

FERC Approves 83 NERC Reliability Standards, Proposes Rule to Eliminate QF Reliability Exemption   Mar 28, 2007
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved 83 reliability standards proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC), the FERC-certified electric reliability organization (ERO), in 2006 to help ensure the reliability of the bulk power system.

NARUC Task Force Addresses Ratepayer, Economic Impacts of Climate Change   Mar 28, 2007
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) established a task force that will study how climate policies being debated in Congress could impact retail electricity consumers.

EPSA Supports Order 890 Implementation, Cites Concerns about Regional Planning   Mar 28, 2007
The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to seek clarification on aspects of the FERC Order 890 rule and urge its swift implementation.

EPRI Launches Research Initiative to Reduce Greenhouse Gases, Increase Electricity Value   Mar 27, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched Dynamic Energy Management, an energy-efficiency collaborative of utilities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the value of electricity for consumers.

EMA Responds to EPA-Proposed Emissions Standards for Marine, Diesel Engines   Mar 27, 2007
The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) committed to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which proposed new emission standards for commercial and recreational marine vessel and locomotive engines.

Cummins Approves B20 Biodiesel Blends for Use in 2002, 2007 Engines   Mar 27, 2007
Cummins Inc. approved 20% biodiesel (B20) blends for use in its 2002 and later emissions-compliant ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB engines and 2007 products.

Utility-Scale CO2 Deployment Promotes Value of Private-Public Joint Ventures   Mar 23, 2007
The American Electric Power (AEP) decision to initiate one of the first commercial demonstrations of carbon capture and geologic storage by a utility underscores the value of joint venture research and development by industry and government, said the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Fossil Energy.

Energy Insights: Renewable Energy Emerging as Utility Hedge Strategy   Mar 21, 2007
Analysis published by Energy Insights, an IDC company, found that natural gas price volatility and greenhouse gas (GHG) policy evolution are legitimizing the acquisition of renewable energy (RE) as a utility economic hedge strategy.

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona: Are Biofuels an Advisable Strategy?   Mar 21, 2007
Biofuels have been a hot topic in the last few years.

Argonne: Solar Energy Conversion Offers Solution to Help Mitigate Global Warming   Mar 21, 2007
Solar energy has the power to reduce greenhouse gases and provide increased energy efficiency, according to a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

Gene Sequencing Advance Could Aid in Biomass-to-Biofuels Conversion   Mar 21, 2007
A collaborative research project between the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute has sequenced and assembled the complete genome of Pichia stipitis, a native xylose-fermenting yeast, which will aid efficient conversion of plant biomass to fuels and chemicals.

Agreement Reached on Construction of Burgas-Alexandroupolis Oil Pipeline   Mar 21, 2007
An agreement between Russia, Greece and Bulgaria on the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline was signed on March 15.

DoE Praises NRC Approval of First U.S. Nuclear Plant Site in 30 Years   Mar 20, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) commended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decision to approve the first-ever early site permit (ESP) for the Exelon Generation Co. Clinton site in central Illinois.

WEF, Methanol Institute Launch Safety Program in Response to CSB Recommendations   Mar 20, 2007
The Water Environment Foundation (WEF) and the Methanol Institute (MI) are launching a methanolsafety program for wastewater treatment facilities in response to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) report into the fatal methanol tank explosion at Bethune Point wastewater treatment plant in Daytona Beach, Fla.

IEEE Approves Substation Standard on Electrical Clearance, Insulation Levels - IEEE 1427   Mar 15, 2007
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) approved a standard on electrical clearances and insulation levels at substations.

Capgemini: SEA to Help Global Utility Industry Adopt Next-Generation Technologies   Mar 9, 2007
The Smart Energy Alliance (SEA) launched six new offerings designed to help utility customers achieve and maintain a competitive advantage in their distribution operations.

DOE Selects Six Cellulosic Ethanol Plants for Up to $385M in Federal Funding   Mar 8, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest up to $385M for six biorefinery projects over the next four years.

NREL, PrimeStar Solar Sign Cooperative R&D Agreement to Bring CdTe PV Tech to Market   Mar 8, 2007
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and PrimeStar Solar Inc. signed an $870,000 cooperative R&D agreement to transition the NREL cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) technology to commercial module production.

AGF: EPAct 2005 Will Bring Some Relief to Natural Gas Market   Mar 8, 2007
Passage and initial implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) has resulted in some progress toward meeting the current and future needs of natural gas customers, but more action is needed if the nation wants to balance natural gas supply and demand and save customers and the economy billions of dollars by 2020, according to an American Gas Foundation (AGF) study.

NETL Awards Patents to 4 Energy-Related Inventions   Mar 8, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) awarded four patents in 2006 for cleaner, efficient fossil fuel use.

AWEA Supports Proposed Incentive for Home, Small Business Wind Systems   Mar 8, 2007
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) praised Sens. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) for introducing legislation that would allow purchasers of a small wind system to receive a tax credit for a portion of the turbine cost.

EPRI Report Guides Electric Utilities on R&D Strategies in Four Situations   Mar 8, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released analysis to guide strategic R&D investments under four scenarios facing the North American electric utility industry in the next 20 years.

EPRI Unveils Project Aimed at Transitioning to a Smart Grid System   Mar 8, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched Dynamic Energy Management (DEM), an energy-efficiency research initiative that will address the near-term needs of utilities and other stakeholders to plan, invest in and implement technologies that transition to a smart power delivery, operation, load management and end-use system.

IEA: U.K. Energy Policy Supports Investment, Energy Efficiency but Challenges Loom   Mar 8, 2007
A publication from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that although the U.K. energy companies are encouraged by market incentives to improve energy efficiency, there is room for improvement, particularly in the area of gas dependence.

CSB Issues Final Report, Safety Video on Formosa Plastics Explosion in Illinois   Mar 8, 2007
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued its final report on the explosion and fire that destroyed the Formosa Plastics plant in Illiopolis, Ill. on April 23, 2004, concluding that the accident occurred when an operator overrode a critical valve safety interlock on a pressurized vessel making polyvinyl chloride.

FERC Approves Multiparty APX Settlement Resolving Matters Related to Western Energy Crisis   Mar 8, 2007
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a comprehensive settlement among APX Inc. and approximately 30 other entities resolving claims arising from the parties' participation in the California Power Exchange (CalPX) and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) energy markets from May 1, 2000 through June 20, 2001 using services provided by APX.

NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation's Nuclear Plants   Mar 8, 2007
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued annual assessment letters to the nation's 103 operating commercial nuclear power plants.

AGA: Clean, Efficient Natural Gas Necessary to Solve Climate Change Problem   Mar 8, 2007
The American Gas Association (AGA) released a set of Climate Change Principles that spell out its position on the role of natural gas in addressing climate change.

DOE-Funded Analyzer Detects Environmental Contaminants   Feb 28, 2007
The X-Wand analyzer, a portable contaminant-detection device developed at Western Research Institute in cooperation with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is being offered commercially by Bacharach Inc.

Xcel/NREL Study Finds PHEVs May Reduce Emissions, Ownership Costs   Feb 28, 2007
A six-month Xcel Energy study found that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) using a 9 kilowatt-hour (kH) battery could reduce overall carbon dioxide (CO2) vehicle emissions by half with the help of smart-grid technologies and save owners more than $450 in annual fuel costs compared with traditional combustion engine vehicles.

EPRI Tech Analysis Reports Potential to Reduce CO2 Emissions from Electrical Sources   Feb 28, 2007
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released results from an assessment of technologies that may reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the U.S. electric power sector within the next 25 to 30 years.

Frost: Growing Need for Power Drives N. American Underground Transmission, Distribution Cables Market   Feb 28, 2007
A rising need for uninterrupted power, in addition to high maintenance and operation costs of overhead lines, will significantly contribute to the growth of the underground transmission and distribution cables market.

Alaskan North Slope Well to Sample, Test Gas Hydrate   Feb 28, 2007
Completed drilling on Mt. Elbert Prospect, an Alaskan North Slope well, may help assess gas hydrate, a potential fossil energy resource for America.

Global Wind Energy Markets Grow by 32% in 2006   Feb 28, 2007
Annual figures from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) show that 15,197 megawatt-hours (MW) of wind energy was installed in 2006.

NRC Issues 'White' Ruling on Tank Design Problem, Calling It of Low to Moderate Safety Significance   Feb 28, 2007
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a final "white" determination that the calculation method used by Clinton Nuclear Power Station to ensure proper functioning of a pump needed in certain accident conditions was inadequate.

Nuclear Energy Industry Experiences Record Year, Anticipates Developments, Growth   Feb 28, 2007
Building the nuclear power plants that the nation needs will require innovative financing approaches and constructive input to the federal government from the financial community, nuclear energy industry leaders told financial analysts at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) annual Wall Street briefing.

Frost: Coal, Gas-based Power Plants to Grow Contractual Services Market in China, Australia, New Zealand   Feb 28, 2007
China, Australia and New Zealand markets are expected to have a high level of power generation activity in the near future, according to Frost & Sullivan, with a boom in the installation of new power plants across these regions.

NETL-Funded Natural Gas Pipeline Tool Makes Repairs without Disrupting Service   Feb 28, 2007
Research funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), developed a tool that remotely repairs plastic natural gas distribution pipelines without disrupting natural gas flow.

AWEA Releases Statement on FERC Transmission Tariff Reform Final Rulemaking   Feb 28, 2007
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released the following statement from Rob Gramlich, policy director, regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) final rule (Order 890) on Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) reform.

EC Approves Construction of French Nuclear Power Plant   Oct 25, 2006
The European Commission (EC) sent the French authorities a favourable opinion on the investment project for the construction of a new European pressurised water reactor (EPR) nuclear power plant.

Society of Petroleum Engineers Posts Updated Reserves Definitions   Oct 24, 2006
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) posted the proposed 2007 Petroleum Reserves and Resources Classification, Definitions and Guidelines on its web site for general industry comment.

CSB Issues Safety Bulletin on BP Texas City Fire   Oct 24, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued a safety bulletin and new safety recommendations based on the investigation of the July 28, 2005 hydrogen fire in the resid hydrotreater unit (RHU) at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.

NERC Issues First Reliability Assessment as ERO   Oct 24, 2006
The adequacy of the North American electricity system will decline unless changes are made soon, said Rick Sergel, president and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).

DOE Announces $13M to Expand Solar Energy Technologies   Oct 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it intends to award more than $13M to fund new research in solar technologies.

IEEE Revises Motor Standards for Nuclear Power Stations   Oct 24, 2006
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) revised IEEE 334 - Standard for Qualifying Continuous Duty Class 1E Motors for Nuclear Power Generating Stations, to reflect the current state of technology and added guidance for qualifying refurbished motors and insulation systems for motor rewinds.

API Offers Safety Qualification Program for Service Station Contractors   Oct 23, 2006
The American Petroleum Institute (API) released a voluntary safety qualification program for contractors performing construction and maintenance work at retail service stations.

DOE Project Injects 700 Tons of Carbon Dioxide into Texas Sandstone Formation   Oct 23, 2006
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) researchers injected 700 tons of carbon dioxide into a Texas rock formation as part of a series of tests to determine the feasibility of storing the CO2 in brine formations.

NERC Updates Reliability Standards Development Procedures   Oct 23, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) released a new version of its Reliability Standards Development Procedure.

NREL, Chevron Establish Research Alliance to Advance Cellulosic Biofuels   Oct 23, 2006
Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) signed a five-year agreement to research and develop new production technologies for biofuels.

DOE, Industry Project Deploys New Stripper Well Tool   Oct 10, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) demonstrated a new technology that could result in significant cost and production benefits for lower-producing wells.

NRC Reorganizes Materials, Agreement State Programs   Oct 10, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reorganized its Nuclear Materials and Agreement State programs into two new program offices, completing a restructuring to help the agency approach new challenges in the materials, waste and environmental areas.

NRC Tritium Task Force Issues Report, Finds No Health Impact   Oct 10, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued the findings of a group of experts concerning inadvertent, unmonitored releases of radioactive liquids containing primarily tritium from U.S. commercial nuclear power plants.

EPA, International Partners to Reduce Methane Emissions   Oct 9, 2006
Seven oil and gas companies are signing on as charter members of the Natural Gas Star International program, an expansion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) domestic program to reduce methane emissions.

EC Presents New International Cooperation Agreement on Energy Efficiency of Office Equipment   Oct 9, 2006
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed a new five-year agreement with the United States on the ENERGY STAR programme, the aim of which is to foster and reinforce the energy efficiency of office equipment.

Frost: Environmental Legislation Drives Auto, Marine Performance Fuel Additives Markets   Oct 2, 2006
Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), fuel additives are being increasingly used in automotive fuels such as gasoline, diesel and marine fuels (bunker fuels) to enhance fuel and engine performance.

European Energy Strategy Needs Diversified Energy Mix   Sep 25, 2006
The European Union (EU) is calling for a diversified mix of energy sources to meet Europe's objectives for an economical, secure, and environmentally sound energy policy.

DOE Assesses Appalachian Basin for Carbon Sequestration   Sep 25, 2006
A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) team is using seismic testing to help determine the potential of sites in the U.S. Appalachian Basin to store carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.

DOE Funds Six New Hydrogen Projects   Sep 25, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected six cost-shared research and development projects that will aid in alternate hydrogen production and greater hydrogen utilization.

NRC Terminates Construction Permits for Unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plants   Sep 25, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) request to terminate the construction permits for the unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.

Frost: OEMs, Independent Service Providers Help Euro Power Plant Services Markets Grow   Sep 25, 2006
Services markets in the power generation equipment sectors across Europe are contributing to increased growth potential for turbine manufacturers.

ASTM Int'l Coal, Coke Standard Provides Guidance for Mechanical Sampling   Sep 25, 2006
ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke published ASTM D 7256/D 7256M - Practice for Mechanical Collection and Within-System Preparation of a Gross Sample of Coal from Moving Streams.

EC Proposes Joint Undertaking for Euro Contribution to ITER Fusion Project   Sep 21, 2006
The European Commission (EC) published proposals for the creation of a joint undertaking to provide the European contribution to the ITER international fusion energy project.

NRC Announces Availability of Vogtle Early Site Permit Application   Sep 19, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released an application from Southern Nuclear Operating Co. for an early site permit (ESP) for property located near the Vogtle nuclear power plant, about 23 miles southeast of Augusta, Ga.

DOE Awards $1.4M to Study Nuclear Energy for Clean Hydrogen   Sep 19, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) intends to fund approximately $1.4M (subject to negotiation) for two projects to study the economic feasibility of producing hydrogen at existing commercial nuclear power plants.

USDA, DOE Fund Genomics Projects for Bioenergy Fuels Research   Sep 19, 2006
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) jointly awarded nine grants totaling $5.7M for biobased fuels research to develop alternative fuel resources.

PHMSA Issues Advisory Bulletin on Operator Public Awareness Programs   Sep 19, 2006
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an advisory bulletin to ensure operators know where and when to submit their public awareness programs.

FERC Requires Pipeline Companies to Report Infrastructure Damage   Sep 19, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) revised its rules to better monitor and assess the physical state of the interstate natural gas pipeline grid and gas storage infrastructure when service is disrupted due to damage caused by a hurricane, other natural disasters or acts of terrorism.

NERC Opens Comment Period for Transmission Relay Loadability Standard   Sep 19, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Standards Authorization Committee (SAC) posted the first draft of the Transmission Relay Loadability Standard for a 45-day comment period.

DOE Releases 2006 Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap   Sep 19, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its updated Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan and Carbon Sequestration Project.

PHMSA Issues Safety Orders for North Slope Pipelines   Sep 19, 2006
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued new orders to BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. requiring additional inspections of the company's entire North Slope pipeline network and outlining the safety criteria BP must meet before it can restart its downed line there.

DoE, IESNA to Advance Standards for Revolutionary Lighting Technologies   Sep 11, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Building Technologies Program and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) agreed to partner on the development of standards for solid state lighting (SSL) - an emerging technology some say promises to transform the way future lighting systems are designed and used.

DOE Selects Six Methane Hydrate Projects   Aug 14, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of six cost-shared research and development projects that seek to unlock a potential source of hydrocarbon energy: methane hydrate.

DOE Tracks Planned Coal-Fired Power Plants   Aug 14, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that 153 new coal-fired plants and 93 gigawatts of capacity are expected to be built by 2025.

DOE Releases National Electric Transmission Congestion Study   Aug 14, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the National Electric Transmission Congestion Study authorized under the Energy Policy Act.

DOE Awards $3.3M for Advanced Remediation Technology Contracts   Aug 14, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded 12 contracts totaling $3.3M to support the development of technologies that have the potential to reduce cleanup costs and increase the safety and efficiency of treating and disposing of radioactive waste.

DOE to Invest $250M in New Bioenergy Centers   Aug 10, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will spend $250M to establish and operate two new Bioenergy Research Centers to accelerate basic research on the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels.

 

Frost: Power Generation Industry Focuses on Reducing Emission Levels   Aug 10, 2006
Pollution control technologies play a vital role in promoting a healthy environment.

FutureGen Alliance Announces Final Candidate Host Sites   Aug 9, 2006
The FutureGen Alliance announced its short list of candidate sites for a $1B first-of-its-kind, low emissions coal-fueled power plant.

DOE Releases Report on 2005 Hurricane Impact on Natural Gas Industry   Aug 9, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report titled Impact of the 2005 Hurricanes on the Natural Gas Industry in the Gulf of Mexico Region.

EPRI Examines Converting Local Electric Systems to Direct Current   Aug 9, 2006
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is examining whether future business and consumer appliances and devices can be made more energy efficient by eliminating the conversion of direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power.

NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule on Expanded Authority   Aug 9, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comments on a proposed rule to incorporate newly added radioactive "byproduct" material into its regulatory framework as mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

U.S. CSB, U.K. HSE Issue Safety Alert on Tank Level Switches   Aug 9, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued a courtesy notice regarding the Dec. 11, 2005 fire and explosion at the Buncefield petroleum storage depot in Hemel Hempstead, England.

Idaho National Lab Issues RFP for Next Generation Nuclear Plant   Aug 3, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for engineering services in support of development of the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) project.

Energy Department Awards Power Plant Improvement Initiative Project   Jul 31, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a contract to Consol Energy Inc., a major coal producer, as part of an effort under DOE's Power Plant Improvement Initiative to reduce the ever-increasing demands on U.S. electricity supplies.

CSB Study Recommends Shutdown Valves, Flame-Resistant Clothing   Jul 31, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued its final report and recommendations related to the Oct. 6, 2005 fire and explosions at the Formosa Plastics Corporation plant in Point Comfort, Texas.

FERC Finalizes Long-term Transmission Rights Guidelines   Jul 31, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finalized guidelines for independent transmission organizations to follow when developing proposals to provide long-term firm transmission rights in organized electricity markets.

FERC Conditionally Approves Transmission Rights for Alberta, Montana Line   Jul 31, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally accepted a proposal that will provide up to 600 megawatts of transmission capacity between Alberta, Canada and Great Falls, Montana.

PHMSA Directs BP Exploration to Complete North Slope Pipeline Testing   Jul 31, 2006
The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) directed BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. to take additional measures to ensure safety on its Prudhoe Bay pipelines as a result of a pipeline failure in March 2006.

NIST Improves Rating for Residential Fuel Cells   Jul 31, 2006
A new performance rating system for residential fuel cells developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can help prospective buyers assess the economic value of alternative fuel cell technologies.

NERC Approved as U.S. Electric Reliability Organization   Jul 25, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) application to become the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) for the U.S.

ASME Announces First Nuclear Accreditation in China   Jul 25, 2006
Shanghai Boiler Works Ltd. (SBWL) became the first manufacturer in China to obtain nuclear accreditation under Section III of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, which sets technical standards for the design and construction of items used in nuclear power plant facilities.

EU Adopts New Guidelines for Trans-European Energy Networks   Jul 25, 2006
The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers adopted the proposal by the European Commission (EC) to revise the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) guidelines.

DOE, PHMSA Develop Technology to Inspect Plastic Gas Pipelines   Jul 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) are developing the first technology that can detect flaws in plastic natural gas pipelines without disrupting pipeline operations.

DOE Selects Projects Targeting 'Tight' Gas Resources   Jul 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of two cost-shared research and development projects targeting low-permeability or "tight" gas formations in the U.S.

Frost: Manufacturers Try to Boost Gas Turbine Efficiency, Reliability   Jul 24, 2006
Huge investments and a long payback period for gas turbines are compelling manufacturers to direct their efforts toward ensuring greater competency in their turbines in terms of efficiency and reliability, according to Frost & Sullivan.

EPRI Launches New Research on Biomass Fuel Electricity Generation   Jul 24, 2006
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched a new research project to explore the potential role of biomass as a renewable fuel for electricity generation that also can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Frost: Regulations, Retrofits Spur Demand for NOx Control Equipment   Jul 24, 2006
The competitive nature of the U.S. oxides of nitrogen (NOx) control equipment markets, coupled with cyclical demand, is tremendously impacting pricing and revenues in this field, according to Frost & Sullivan.

NRC Publishes Notice on Groundwater Contamination Due to Leaks   Jul 15, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sent an information notice to all operators of nuclear power plants and research and test reactors, including those currently undergoing decommissioning, about recent examples of groundwater contamination at reactor sites due to undetected leaks from facility structures, systems or components.

DOE Publishes Roadmap for Developing Cellulosic Ethanol   Jul 15, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a new research agenda for developing cellulosic ethanol as an alternative to gasoline.

Inauguration Held for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline   Jul 14, 2006
The inauguration ceremony for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which connects the South Caucasus and Central Asia to Turkey, and from there to the Mediterranean shore and the European markets, was recently held.

Frost: Central, Eastern Europe Growth Boosts UPS Solutions Investments   Jul 14, 2006
As new and prospective European Union (EU) member states from Central and Eastern Europe strive to harmonize their economies, national infrastructures, commercial activities and technologies with their Western counterparts, power protection is emerging as a key concern.

OSHA Clarifies Jurisdiction for DOE Sites in 14 States   Jul 12, 2006
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that 14 states with OSHA-approved state plans will assume occupational safety and health jurisdiction over private sector contractors at various U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites that are not subject to the Atomic Energy Act (AEA).

DOE Seeks Industry Participation for Next Generation Nuclear Plant   Jul 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking expressions of interest from industry teams interested in participating in the development and conceptual design of the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP).

EPA: Stationary Diesel Engines to Reduce Emissions   Jul 12, 2006
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced requirements that will limit air emissions from new stationary diesel engines by up to 90%.

Federal Agencies Expedite Construction of Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline   Jul 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and 14 other federal departments and agencies signed an agreement to expedite the permitting and construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline which, according to DOE, will substantially increase domestic natural gas supply.

SPE, UNECE to Develop Global Standard for Petroleum Resources   Jul 12, 2006
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further efforts to develop a globally applicable harmonized standard for reporting fossil energy reserves and resources.

DOE Offers $170M for Solar Technology Research   Jul 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a solicitation on June 28 for cost-shared, public-private partnerships to advance solar energy technology.

 

DOE Selects Projects Targeting Deep Natural Gas Resources   Jul 3, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of seven cost-shared research and development projects targeting deep natural gas resources.

U.S., South Korea Sign Agreement on FutureGen Project   Jul 3, 2006
U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and South Korean Minister of Commerce, Industry & Energy, Chung Sye Kyun, signed an agreement making South Korea the second country, after India, to join the U.S. in the FutureGen International Partnership.

Sequestration Test to Demonstrate CO2 Storage, Increase Oil Production   Jul 3, 2006
The Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership, in collaboration with its industry partner Apache Canada Ltd. and the Alberta Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, is evaluating the potential for geological sequestration of carbon dioxide as part of an acid gas stream that also includes high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide.

EPA Issues Final Report on Localized Fuel Blends   Jul 3, 2006
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report by the Boutique Fuels Task Force that fulfilled federal requirements to analyze the impacts of boutique fuels, or fuel blends, on fuel supplies.

NRC Renews Operating Licenses for Brunswick Steam Electric Plant   Jul 3, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) renewed the operating licenses of the Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units 1 and 2, for an additional 20 years.

NRC Issues License for N.M. Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment Plant   Jul 3, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a license to Louisiana Energy Services (LES) to construct and operate a gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in Lea County, N.M.

EC Enforces Target Levels for Biofuels   Jun 30, 2006
The European Commission (EC) sent a reasoned opinion (the second step of an infringement procedure) to Italy for failure to provide adequate reasons for setting a biofuels target considerably lower than the 2% reference value for 2005 laid down by the biofuels directive.

EC Enforces Energy Performance of Buildings   Jun 30, 2006
The European Commission (EC) sent a reasoned opinion (the second step of an infringement procedure) to Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Malta and Sweden for failure to notify about the national implementing measures requested in the 2002 energy performance of buildings directive.

EC, Energy Ministers Agree to Accelerate Nabucco Gas Pipeline   Jun 28, 2006
The European Commission (EC) and the energy ministers of Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey agreed to accelerate commercial, regulatory and legal work in order to rapidly build the Nabucco gas pipeline, which will run from the Caspian basin through Turkey to Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.

IEC Publishes Software Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants   Jun 28, 2006
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) published the second edition of a standard that details software related requirements for computer-based Instrumentation and Control (I&C) systems of nuclear power plants.

CSB Issues Safety Bulletin on Pressure Relief Valve Standards   Jun 26, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued a safety bulletin following an investigation into the June 24, 2005 fire and explosions at the Praxair Distribution Inc. gas cylinder filling and distribution center in St. Louis.

FERC Proposes Expanding Blanket Certificate Eligibility for Natural Gas Projects   Jun 26, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed rules that would extend blanket certificate authority to interstate natural gas facilities previously ineligible for such consideration.

FERC Proposes Transmission Line Siting Guidelines   Jun 26, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed regulations to coordinate all federal authorizations and related environmental reviews of proposed transmission facilities in designated national interest electric transmission corridors.

FERC Finalizes Rules on Rates for Interstate Natural Gas Storage   Jun 26, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted rules intended to mitigate natural gas price volatility by encouraging the development of new natural gas storage capacity.

DuPont, BP Partner to Market Advanced Biofuels   Jun 26, 2006
BP and DuPont created a partnership to develop, produce and market advanced biofuels to help meet increasing global demand for renewable transportation fuels.

Frost: Adoption of Micro-CHP in Europe on the Rise; Partnership is Key   Jun 26, 2006
Projected capacity shortages and increasing electricity prices in the residential market are boosting demand for distributed power generation across Europe.

 

Frost: Steady Growth Predicted in Europe's Biomass Power Plant Markets   Jun 22, 2006
Driven by the European Union (EU) target of achieving a 12% contribution to total energy production from renewable energy sources by 2010, the biomass power plant markets of Europe are set to experience steady growth into 2010, according to Frost & Sullivan, with estimates of reaching $2,204.4M by 2012.

Gulf of Mexico Offshore Energy Industry 'Hoping for Best'   Jun 22, 2006
With new drilling rigs and production platform concepts not yet standardized, oil and gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico are bracing for this year's hurricane season and "hoping for the best," according to industry experts.

Chevron Launches Biofuels Business Unit   Jun 20, 2006
Chevron Corporation launched a biofuels business unit to advance biofuels technology and pursue commercial opportunities relating to ethanol and biodiesel production.

DOE Funds Two New Coal-to-Liquid Projects   Jun 20, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded two projects to further develop a proprietary technology developed by Syntroleum Corp.

CSB Report Calls for Stricter Pressure Vessel Regulations in Houston   Jun 20, 2006
In its final investigation report on a December 2004 chemical plant explosion in Houston, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) called on the city of Houston to adopt new safety regulations governing the construction and modification of pressure vessels - industrial process and storage containers that hold pressurized gases or liquids.

EMA Develops Test Specifications to Evaluate Biodiesel Fuel Blends   Jun 20, 2006
The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) released test specifications for biodiesel fuel to facilitate testing and evaluation of how blended biodiesel fuels perform in clean-burning diesel engines.

NERC Announces Standards Actions   Jun 20, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Standards Authorization Committee (SAC) posted the Reliability Standards Process (Procedure) Manual for review.

Construction Underway on Canada's $140 Million Taber Wind Farm   Jun 16, 2006
Enmax Corporation began construction of an 80 megawatt (MW), $140M wind power-generating facility in the municipal district of Taber in southern Alberta, Canada, with an estimated completion date of first quarter 2007.

Frost: Expansion, Increased Outsourcing Create Growth Potential for European Renewable Power Plant Servicing Market   Jun 15, 2006
Rapid expansion in the installed capacity of renewable power plants in Europe will be accompanied by the rising need for related power plant services.

EU Energy Policy Stresses Strong Commitment to Internal Market   Jun 15, 2006
European Commission (EC) Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs recently addressed the growing role of gas in both the European Union (EU)

DOE Announces Six New Fuel Cell Projects   Jun 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of six research and development (R&D) projects expected to further enhance solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, moving it one step closer to commercialization.

FERC Issues Certification for Renewable Energy Tax Credit   Jun 12, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certified an incremental hydroelectric upgrade for the first time under provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), allowing the applicant to qualify for a renewable energy tax credit.

Concrete Quality Fly Ash Produced in Demonstration Tests   Jun 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that a novel approach to improving coal-combustion fly ash was successfully tested at near full-scale levels.

EU Energy Council Moves Forward with European Energy Policy   Jun 12, 2006
The European Union (EU) Energy Council made progress in its goal to create a cohesive European energy policy at a recent council meeting where it discussed international relations and energy, the internal energy market and the development of a sustainable energy policy for Europe that properly balances the objectives of sustainable development and competitiveness

Energy Community Treaty Will Create World's Largest Internal Energy Market   Jun 12, 2006
The signatories of the Energy Community Treaty, due to take effect on July 1, discussed reform plans for the energy sector at a recent ministerial meeting of the Energy Community.

DOE Initiative Targets Ultra-Low Environmental Impact Oil & Gas Recovery   Jun 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of three research projects designed to find and produce oil and gas with ultra-low environmental impact.

DOE Provides $7M for Solid-State Lighting Product Development   Jun 12, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will provide a total of $7M for five cost-shared projects for solid-state lighting (SSL) product development.

NRC Seeks Comments on Draft Standard Review Plan for DOE Sites   Jun 12, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comment on a draft standard review plan for its technical reviews of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) waste determinations regarding cleanup efforts at several DOE sites.

CEC Announces Six New Power Plants in California   Jun 12, 2006
The California Energy Commission (CEC) announced the commercial operation of six new power plants totaling over 2,000 megawatts (MW).

NRC Proposes Changes to Occupational Radiation Dose Regulations   Jun 12, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering amending several regulations dealing with radiation doses to workers at licensed facilities.

 

NIST Researchers Improve Method for Measuring Complex Fuels   Jun 8, 2006
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed an improved method for measuring basic properties of complex fuel mixtures like gasoline and jet fuel.

June 1 Marks Clean Diesel Milestone   Jun 6, 2006
Starting June 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began requiring refiners and fuel importers to cut the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel 97%, from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm.

EC Approves Record Allocation for ACP-EU Energy Facility   Jun 5, 2006
The European Commission (EC) approved €220 million for the ACP-EU energy facility, which will allow the EC to co-finance selected energy

Advanced Coal Dryer Boosts Power Plant Performance   Jun 5, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that a power plant in North Dakota is successfully operating an innovative clean coal technology drying system that uses the plant's excess heat to wring moisture from the incoming coal.

NRC Publishes Licensing, Inspection, Annual Fees for Fiscal Year 2006   Jun 5, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) amended its regulations to reflect the licensing, inspection and annual fees it will charge applicants and licensees for fiscal year (FY) 2006.

DOE Develops Heat-Resistant Components for Ultra-Deep Gas Wells   Jun 5, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deep Trek research program has achieved a milestone in its efforts to develop tools for finding and exploiting gas resources lying three to five miles below the earth's surface.

EC Launches European Solar Thermal Technology Platform   Jun 1, 2006
The European Commission (EC) launched the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform, an initiative of the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation to facilitate the development of future research and development in this sector.

DOE Revised Efficiency Standard Takes Effect   May 31, 2006
A standard issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to increase the efficiency requirement of residential air-conditioning units and heat pumps by 30% took effect January 2006.

28 Eastern States Face September Power Plant Pollution Deadline   May 30, 2006
Most of the 28 eastern states facing tougher new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards for coal-fired power plants will be unable to meet the September deadline for filing their compliance plans, according to E3 Consulting LLC.

ITER Energy Fusion Project Partners Reach Agreement   May 26, 2006
ITER, a project to demonstrate the potential of fusion as an energy source, will be the world's biggest scientific collaboration of its kind and involve countries representing over half the world's population.

EC Issues FAQ on Fusion Energy Research, ITER Project   May 26, 2006
ITER, a project to demonstrate the potential of fusion as an energy source, will be the world's biggest scientific collaboration of its kind and involve countries representing over half the world's population

Wind-Powered Electricity Generating Capacity Grows in EU   May 26, 2006
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, released new statistics¹ about wind-powered electricity generating capacity in the 25 member states of the European Union (EU-25), as detailed below.

Nuclear Industry Unveils Policy for Inadvertent Radiological Releases   May 24, 2006
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) announced the industry's unanimous approval of a voluntary policy to enhance detection, management and communication about inadvertent radiological releases in groundwater that are below federal standards at nuclear power plants.

FERC Proposes Changes to Open-access Rules   May 24, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed amendments to regulations adopted in Orders 888 and 889 to ensure transmission services are provided in a nondiscriminatory and just and reasonable basis.

FERC Proposes Reforms to Market-based Rate Standards   May 24, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed reforms to its current four-prong analysis for determining whether a wholesale seller of electric energy, capacity or ancillary services is qualified for market-based rate authority.

DOE Awarded Patent for Reformulated Diesel Fuel   May 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has developed, patented and made commercially available reformulated diesel fuels that can reduce nitrogen oxides up to 10% and particulate matter up to 22% compared to those currently available.

CAPP Releases 2006 Canadian Crude Oil Forecast   May 24, 2006
Production of crude oil in Canada is set to nearly double by 2020, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) said today in its annual Crude Oil Forecast that significantly increases the projections from last year.

Suncor Energy to Supply Biodiesel for Toronto Transit Commission   May 22, 2006
Suncor Energy Products Inc. and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) signed a contract for Suncor to supply biodiesel to the TTC fleet of 1,491 buses.

IEEE Approves New Buswork, Hydroelectric Standards   May 22, 2006
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) approved a new standard for flexible busworks at electric substations in seismically active areas.

DOE Drill Pipe Creates Downhole Internet   May 22, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the commercialization of technology that establishes a "downhole Internet" for drilling oil and natural gas.

AREVA Donates Equipment to Examine Used Nuclear Fuel   May 22, 2006
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) expanded its spent nuclear fuel testing capabilities with the help of state-of-the-art eddy current measurement equipment donated and installed by AREVA Inc.

 

Twelve Sites Proposed for FutureGen PLant   May 15, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) named twelve sites in seven states as candidates to host the $1B FutureGen power plant, a piblic-private venture that could produce nearly pollution-free energy from coal.

NREL, Xcel Energy Sign Wind to Hydrogen Research Agreement   May 15, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xcel Energy recently signed a cooperative agreement for a wind to hydrogen research, development and demonstration project.

NRC Proposes Additional Guidance on License Renewal Applications   May 15, 2006
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued for public comment interim staff guidance covering license renewal applications for boiling water reactors with Mark I containments that have steel drywell shells.

NERC Adopts Eight Permanent Cyber Security Standards   May 15, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) adopted eight new cyber security standards that address asset identification, security management controls, personnel and training, perimeter security, systems security, incident reporting and response planning and recovery plans.

PMAA Reminds Marketers of ULSD Labeling, PTD Requirements   May 15, 2006
The Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) issued an update on the ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) rule, reminding marketers that the labeling requirements apply to all pumps that dispense diesel fuel beginning June 1, 2006, for tanks greater than 550 gallons.

DOE National Laboratory Directors Highlight Merits of GNEP   May 9, 2006
Directors of nine of the Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories announced support for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) and discussed the collaboration among the labs in carrying out the partnership.

Project to Add 160 Megawatts of Peak Generating Capacity in New York   May 8, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized the New York Power Authority to rehabilitate the four generating units at its Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Project, which would increase generating capacity and efficiency.

Frost: Increasing Prices Propel Demand for Prime Movers in Oil/Gas Markets   May 4, 2006
Higher oil prices, continuous emphasis on discoveries and new investments in expansion of oil and gas production at existing fields are some key factors driving the prime movers markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), as well as the Former Soviet Union (FSU).

FAO Predicts Major Shift to Bioenergy   May 1, 2006
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) predicted a major international switch from fossil fuels to renewable bioenergy because of soaring oil prices and growing environmental constraints.

EC Endorses €45 Million Aid to First Solar for German Solar Modules Plant   May 1, 2006
The European Commission (EC) authorised a €45.5 million aid that the German government plans to provide to First Solar Manufacturing GmbH (FSM) for the creation of a plant in Frankfurt to manufacture solar modules.

FERC Approves Electric Utility Business Standards   Apr 28, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finalized the first set of standards governing business practices and electronic communications for public utilities.

FERC Process to Resolve Features of Proposed Capacity Market in PJM   Apr 28, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) agreed that PJM Interconnection must replace its existing rules on generation capacity obligations and established administrative procedures to iron out details of the PJM proposal for a new capacity construct.

ESTIA Optimizes Wind Generator Controls Using Intelligent Microsensors   Apr 26, 2006
The School of Engineering at Bayonne (ESTIA) is researching ways to use intelligent microsensors (acceleration sensors with wireless communication) to optimize the control of wind generators.

EPA Aims to Ease Transition to Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel   Apr 24, 2006
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) temporarily adjusted the sulfur testing tolerance with a slightly wider range of variability in sulfur level test results to help enable a smooth transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD).

ASTM Nuclear Fuel Cycle Committee Approves Two Standards   Apr 24, 2006
ASTM International Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle approved two standards under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee C26.05 on Methods of Test.

Latin America to Lead Biofuel Development   Apr 24, 2006
Latin America is poised to become a global leader in biofuels and renewable energy.

ASTM Int'l Seeks Participation for Proposed Microwave Drying Standard   Apr 24, 2006
ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke is seeking participation in the development of ASTM WK10700 - Test Method for Total Moisture in Coal Reduced to 2.36 mm (No. 8 Sieve) Topsize Through Determination of Air-Drying Loss by Microwave Oven.

CDFA Launches Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Web Site   Apr 21, 2006
The Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance (CDFA) launched www.clean-diesel.org to provide comprehensive information about the U.S. transition to ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD).

Industry Approves Cyber Security, Coordinate Interchange Standards   Apr 21, 2006
The electricity industry voted to approve a permanent set of cyber security standards that will establish requirements for identifying and protecting critical cyber security assets.

Model Evaluates Production Potential of Methane Hydrates   Apr 21, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed the TOUGH-Fx/Hydrate program to help researchers and industry partners better understand an emerging natural gas resource: methane hydrates - frozen compounds of flammable methane gas trapped inside water molecules.

IEEE Begins Work on Cyber Security Standard for Electric Utilities   Apr 21, 2006
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) is developing a new standard to help utilities retrofit their communications systems to protect against cyber attack.

FERC Announces Rulemaking for Processing Reliability   Apr 21, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced a rulemaking proceeding to address reliability standards developed by the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).

UL Certifies Capstone MicroTurbines for Renewable Energy Generation   Apr 17, 2006
Capstone Turbine announced that its 30- and 65-kilowatt renewable energy systems are the first generators to be classified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to the UL2200 standards for stationary engine generators under the new category, Engine Generators Fueled by Biogas or Raw Natural Gas.

NRC, Ukraine Sign Cooperation Arrangement on Nuclear Safety   Apr 14, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine (SNRCU) signed a bilateral arrangement for the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety matters.

Florida Power & Light Seeks License for New Nuclear Plant   Apr 14, 2006
Florida Power & Light (FPL) intends to submit a license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that could lead to a decision to build a third nuclear power plant in the state.

NEMA Releases Standard for Multiport Distribution Connectors   Apr 14, 2006
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published ANSI C119.6-2006 - American National Standard for Electric Connectors—Non-Sealed, Multiport Connector Systems Rated 600 Volts or Less for Aluminum and Copper Conductors.

NRC Revises Mitigating Systems Category in Reactor Oversight Process   Apr 14, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) updated its reactor oversight process (ROP) by introducing the mitigating systems performance index (MSPI), which tracks the availability and reliability of systems used to reduce the severity of incidents at a nuclear power plant.

DOE Announces $52.5M Solicitation for Basic Hydrogen Research   Apr 14, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a three-year, $52.5M solicitation to support new innovations in hydrogen technology.

Latest NEIS Covers Armored Cable and Metal-Clad Cable   Apr 14, 2006
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) released National Electrical Installation Standard (NEIS) 120-2006 - Standard for Installing Armored Cable (Type AC) and Metal-Clad Cable (Type MC) (ANSI).

U.S., India Sign Historic Agreement on FutureGen Project   Apr 10, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an agreement with India that makes it the first country to join the U.S. on the steering committee for the FutureGen Initiative.

NRC Makes More Security Information Publicly Available   Apr 10, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a staff recommendation to make more security-related information public as part of the reactor oversight process (ROP).

NERC Files ERO Application in the U.S. and Canada   Apr 10, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) filed its application to become the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in compliance with the commission's final rules concerning certification of the Electric Reliability Organization and procedures for the establishment, approval and enforcement of reliability standards.

U.S. and India Sign Historic Agreement on FutureGen Project   Apr 10, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an agreement with India that makes it the first country to join the U.S. on the steering committee for the FutureGen Initiative.

PHMSA Adopts New Safety Standards for Onshore Lines   Apr 10, 2006
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) adopted a consensus standard to distinguish onshore gathering lines from other gas pipelines and production operations.

Frost: Steam, Gas Turbines Set to Galvanize MENA Power Generation Markets   Apr 10, 2006
Strong economic growth, youthful demographics and diversification away from oil are underlining the escalating demand for power in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

EC Encourages Research Co-operation for Electricity Grids   Apr 10, 2006
An estimated 21% of Europe's energy could be produced by renewable sources, but existing electricity grids are not keeping pace with changes within the energy industry.

EC Takes Legal Action to Enforce Renewable Electricity Legislation   Apr 6, 2006
The European Commission (EC) launched legal proceedings against eight countries that failed to meet the deadline to take necessary measures to transpose European Community legislation on renewable electricity into national law before October 2003.

EC Urges Implementation of Biofuels Directive   Apr 6, 2006
The European Commission (EC) sent a reasoned opinion to Finland and a letter of formal notice to Denmark because the two countries have still not given adequate reasons for having set targets considerably lower than the 2% reference value laid down by the biofuels directive for 2005.

Widespread Interest Shown in Bid to Host FutureGen Project   Apr 3, 2006
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance reported that bidders in nine states (totaling 22 sites) have expressed an interest in hosting the FutureGen Project - the world's first coal-fueled "zero emissions" power plant that will generate electricity and hydrogen while capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide deep underground.

New Processing Steps Promise Cheaper Ethanol Production   Apr 3, 2006
Y.H. Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, developed a more cost-effective process for creating lignocellulosic ethanol.

Frost: North American Gas Turbine Market Will Grow in Next Decade   Mar 31, 2006
Ever-increasing oil and gas prices, combined with volatile electricity costs, are boosting the large gas turbines market.

New Syngas Process Removes Sulfur from Military-grade Fuel   Mar 31, 2006
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed a compact and rugged microchannel distillation unit to create a light fraction of JP-8, the standard military fuel.

AGA Report Helps Utilities Protect SCADA Systems   Mar 31, 2006
The American Gas Association (AGA) released the first report in a four-part series that provides a system to help natural gas, water and electric utilities secure the cryptographic integrity of their supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) communications.

EPA to Amend Diesel Sulfur Rule   Mar 31, 2006
According to the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to amend the diesel sulfur rule in the coming weeks.

Frost: North American Gas Turbine Market Will Grow in Next Decade   Mar 31, 2006
Ever-increasing oil and gas prices, combined with volatile electricity costs, are boosting the large gas turbines market.

NREL Highlights Leading Utility Green Power Programs   Mar 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs.

Congress Reinstates Oil Spill Liability Tax   Mar 24, 2006
Refiners have begun notifying their customers that the Oil Spill Liability Tax, which expired about ten years ago, has been reinstated.

Government, Industry Discuss Canadian Oil Sands Issues   Mar 24, 2006
In January, representatives from the governments and industry in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. held a workshop to address the infrastructure, access and market capacity issues associated with the development of Canada's oil sands.

FERC Establishes Oil Pipeline Index for Five-year Period   Mar 24, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) established a new oil pipeline pricing index for a five-year period ending July 2011.

Renewable Portfolio Standards Help Wind Industry Grow   Mar 21, 2006
Wind power is the fastest growing form of electricity generated in the U.S. In 2005, more than 2,400 megawatts of wind energy were added to the nation's power grid, and it is expected that the market will continue to grow in 2006.

Capgemini: Smart Technology to Improve Utilities' Distribution Options   Mar 21, 2006
A recent survey from consulting firm Capgemini found that global decision-makers see

Frost: Advanced AMR is Key to Profitability for North American Utilities   Mar 21, 2006
Automated Meter Reading (AMR) systems are expected to help cash-strapped utilities increase profitability and reduce costs, according to analysts at Frost & Sullivan.

USGS Assessment Significantly Increases Afghanistan Petroleum Resource Base   Mar 20, 2006
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry completed the first-ever assessment of Afghanistan's undiscovered petroleum resources and determined that the resource base is significantly greater than previously understood.

Project Revives Aging California Oilfield   Mar 17, 2006
A research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Tidelands Oil Production Co. is expected to ultimately add 13 million barrels of incremental oil production in a small portion of the Wilmington oilfield, a 73-year-old giant in the heart of Long Beach, Calif.

Portable Fuel Cell Safety Spec Aids Commercialization, Air Transport   Mar 17, 2006
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) published a safety specification for small fuel cells capable of powering personal electronic devices that will help open the door to fuel cell use on passenger aircraft.

NERC Files Comments on Department of Energy NIETC Inquiry   Mar 17, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) filed comments in response to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability notice of inquiry relating to plans for an electricity transmission congestion study and possible designation of National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs).

ASTM Int'l Prepares Competence of Laboratories Standard   Mar 16, 2006
ASTM Committee D05 on Coal and Coke is developing ASTM WK10380 - Practice for Establishing the Competence of Laboratories Using ASTM Procedures in the Sampling and Analysis of Coal and Coke.

CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology Could Boost U.S. Oil Supplies   Mar 10, 2006
Geologic sequestration of industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) in declining oil fields, now recognized as a potential way of dealing with greenhouse gas emissions, could add 89 billion barrels to the recoverable oil resources of the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

USGS Makes Database of Petroleum Resources Available   Mar 10, 2006
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed and made public a database that has over 65,000 records containing the chemical analysis of crude oil, natural gas and rock samples from thousands of locations worldwide.

CSB Proposes Including Chemical Process Safety Research in NORA   Mar 10, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) presented a proposal for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to incorporate research on chemical process safety and chemical release prevention in their new National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA).

Catalytic Cracking, Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Make Cleaner Petrol   Mar 10, 2006
Delft University of Technology PhD student Xander Dupain investigated a method that produces cleaner petrol using catalytic cracking.

EPA Proposes MSAT Standards for Gasoline, Vehicles, Gas Containers   Mar 10, 2006
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new benzene standards for gasoline, hydrocarbon emissions standards for passenger vehicles at cold temperatures and evaporative standards for fuel containers.

NERC Expands System Operator Certification Program   Mar 10, 2006
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) expanded the System Operator Certification Program to allow continuing education hours (CEH) earned through NERC-approved Continuing Education Program learning activities to be used to maintain a NERC system operator credential.

ASTM Int'l Creates Pipeline Corrosion Inhibitor Standards   Mar 9, 2006
ASTM International Committee G01 on Corrosion of Metals created two new standards to help the oilfield and refinery industries adopt and use state-of-the-art techniques to select corrosion inhibitors:

EPA Proposes to Change Air Permitting Rules for Ethanol Plants   Mar 9, 2006
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that the same air permitting requirements be applied to facilities that produce ethanol for fuel or human consumption.

EC Outlines Priorities for European Energy Strategy   Mar 9, 2006
The basis for a European energy policy has been set out by the European Commission (EC) in a major new green paper, which invites comments on six specific priority areas and contains over 20 concrete suggestions for possible new action.

European Commission Publishes Green Paper on Alternative Energy   Mar 9, 2006
The European Commission (EC) green paper on energy highlights the important role to be played by research into sources of energy that can be an alternative to fossil fuels - research that is already being done at European Union (EU) level.

NECA Publishes New Standard for Installing, Maintaining Liquid-filled Transformers   Mar 6, 2006
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) developed an ANSI-approved standard describing installation and maintenance procedures for liquid-filled transformers.

Gas Turbine Services Drive Middle East, North African Power Plant Market   Mar 3, 2006
Vast capacity additions, spawning of gas turbine-based power plants and the gradual opening up of the power sector are expected to provide impetus to the Middle East and North African power plant services market, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Pipeline Groups Offer RP 1162 Joint Survey Program   Mar 3, 2006
The American Petroleum Institute (API), the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) are offering a joint public awareness survey program for transmission and gathering pipeline companies.

FuelCell Energy Inc. Project Chosen for Coal-Based Fuel Cell Program   Mar 3, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a third project selected under its new Fuel Cell Coal-Based Systems program. FuelCell Energy Inc. will research the feasability of developing near-zero emission fuel cell power plants that efficiently convert coal to electricity.

EPA Revokes Federal Gas Formula Mandate   Mar 1, 2006
On Feb. 14, 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked the 2% oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline (RFG).

DOE Awards $235M to Southern Company for Clean Coal Plant   Feb 24, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $235M to Southern Company, in partnership with the Orlando Utilities Commission and Kellogg, Brown and Root, to develop one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world.

NRC Issues License for Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility in Utah   Feb 24, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a license to Private Fuel Storage LLC (PFS) to construct and operate an independent spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Skull Valley, Utah.

EC and China Increase Cooperation on Clean Coal Technologies   Feb 23, 2006
The European Commission (EC) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government on near-zero emissions power generation technology.

Preliminary Report of EC's Energy Sector Competition Inquiry - FAQ   Feb 22, 2006
The energy sector competition inquiry by the European Commission (EC) was launched in June 2005 and is an investigation based on Article 17 of Regulation 1/2003, which assesses the competition conditions on European gas and electricity markets and examines whether current indications of market malfunctioning result from breaches of competition law (see IP/05/716 and MEMO/05/203).

EC Inquiry Considers Regulatory Remedies to Improve Competition in Energy Sector   Feb 22, 2006
The European Commission (EC) will pursue investigations under EC Treaty antitrust rules into specific cases of closing off gas and electricity markets by means of long-term downstream contracts and of restricting access to gas and electricity transport infrastructure and storage capacity. The EC will also consider competition and regulatory remedies to a number of other serious malfunctions in the energy sector that have been confirmed in the preliminary report just published on the findings of the energy sector inquiry launched in June 2005.

ASTM Int'l Publishes Fuels, Lubricants Analysis   Feb 20, 2006
ASTM STP 1468 - Elemental Analysis of Fuels and Lubricants: Recent Advances and Future Prospects is available for purchase from ASTM International.

FutureGen to Select Site for Zero Emissions Power Plant   Feb 20, 2006
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance began the site selection process to determine the location of the world's first coal-fueled "zero emissions" power plant.

FEMP Designates NEMA Premium Motors Standard for Federal Facilities   Feb 17, 2006
The U.S. Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) accepted recommendations by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) for mandatory federal purchase of NEMA premium motors in federal facilities.

Biodiesel Standards Compilation Available from ASTM Int'l   Feb 17, 2006
A new CD-ROM, "ASTM Standards Related to Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B 100) for Middle Distillate Fuels" is available from ASTM International.

EU Welcomes First Global Agreement to Manage Chemicals   Feb 16, 2006
The The European Union (EU) welcomed the global agreement on a Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) reached in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the auspices of the U.N.

DOE Launches Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Initiative   Feb 16, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of a new research effort aimed at maximizing U.S. oil and natural gas production while sequestering significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Sasol, CEF Consider Joint Feasibility Study into Biodiesel Manufacture   Feb 14, 2006
Sasol and the Central Energy Fund (CEF) are considering the feasibility of constructing a 100 kilotonnes per annum soya bean-based biodiesel plant in partnership with an empowerment consortium group.

IEC Energy Specifications Target Rural Electrification Projects   Feb 10, 2006
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) released technical specifications aimed at increasing the well-being of rural populations.

CERA Endorses SPE Standards for Evaluating Oil, Gas Reserves   Feb 10, 2006
The Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) recommended on Feb. 2 that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopt Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) oil and gas reserves definitions.

NERC Adopts 16 Reliability Standards   Feb 10, 2006
The Board of Trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) approved 13 new reliability standards and approved revisions to three existing standards.

Ford, VeraSun Energy to Create Midwest Ethanol Corridor   Feb 9, 2006
Ford and VeraSun Energy will launch a Midwest ethanol corridor to expand E85 ethanol fuel availability by about one-third throughout the states of Illinois and Missouri this year.

New Study Finds Ethanol Is A Win-Win   Feb 9, 2006
A study published in the journal Science concluded that ethanol yields more energy than it takes to produce and that ethanol decreases dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.

Volkswagen, Shell, Iogen to Study Cellulose Ethanol Production in Germany   Feb 9, 2006
Volkswagen, Shell and Iogen Corporation will conduct a joint study to assess the economic feasibility of producing cellulose ethanol in Germany.

EC Adopts Biofuels Strategy   Feb 8, 2006
The European Commission (EC) adopted a European Union (EU) "Strategy for Biofuels," with market-based, legislative and research measures to boost production of fuels from agricultural raw materials.

CEC Adds Two Power Plants to Licensing Process   Feb 7, 2006
The California Energy Commission (CEC) accepted proposals from Walnut Creek Energy Park and the Sun Valley Energy Project as part of the licensing review process.

NRC Publishes Certification Rule for AP1000 Advanced Reactor Design   Feb 7, 2006
The California Energy Commission (CEC) accepted proposals from Walnut Creek Energy Park and the Sun Valley Energy Project as part of the licensing review process.

FERC Finalizes Electric Reliability Rules, Procedures   Feb 7, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finalized new rules on the certification of an Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) and the procedures for establishing, approving and enforcing mandatory electric reliability standards.

FERC Finalizes Revised Cogeneration Facilities Regulations   Feb 7, 2006
On Feb. 2, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finalized revised regulations for cogeneration and small power production facilities.

DOE Announces Worker Safety Rules   Feb 3, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced regulations aimed at improving worker safety across the DOE complex.

IEEE Begins Five Communication Standards for Utility Metering   Jan 27, 2006
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) began work on five standards to create a multi-source, plug-and-play communications environment for the millions of metering devices operated by water, gas and electric utilities.

PMAA Urges Increased UST Funding and Flexibility   Jan 25, 2006
The Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) requested increased federal funding for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program from the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

FERC Proposes Revisions to PURPA Mandatory Power Purchase Obligation   Jan 25, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed changes to its mandatory power purchase obligation rules under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).

FERC Finalizes Rule Barring Market Manipulation   Jan 25, 2006
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finalized regulations prohibiting energy market manipulation as part of its new Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) authority.

IEEE Revises Two Transformer Standards, Begins Another for Sound Measurement in Transformers   Jan 23, 2006
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) revised IEEE C57.13.3 - Guide for Grounding of Instrument Transformer Secondary Circuits and Cases and IEEE C57.12.01 - Standard General Requirements for Dry-Type Distribution and Power Transformers Including Those with Solid-Cast and/or Resin Encapsulated Windings.

EIA: Fuel Specifications May Stress Fuel Supply   Jan 20, 2006
DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicted fuel specifications going into effect during 2006 will "stress the fuel supply system," keep prices elevated and inventories tight.

NERC Posts Proposed Transmission Operator Certification Standards for Comment   Jan 20, 2006
On Jan. 17, 2006 the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) posted proposed standards on balancing authority, reliability coordinator and transmission operator certification for a 30-day comment period.

Westinghouse AP1000 Reactor Receives NRC Approval   Jan 20, 2006
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the final design certification for the Westinghouse Electric Co. AP1000 advanced design reactor.

CSB Requests Comments on New Evidence Preservation Rule   Jan 20, 2006
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced it is seeking public comments on a proposed rule on the duty of companies to preserve evidence related to significant chemical accidents.

ANSI Reaccredits NERC Reliability Standards Development Process   Jan 20, 2006
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) reaccredited the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) standards development process, effective immediately.

New ASTM Oil Spill Response Standard Covers Single-Point Spray Dispersant Systems   Jan 17, 2006
Over the last three years, single-point spray systems have emerged as a leading form of oil spill dispersant, which has led to the development of a new standard, ASTM F 2465 - Guide for Oil Spill Dispersant Application Equipment: Single-Point Spray Systems.

American Chemistry Council Challenges E.U. REACH Proposal   Dec 30, 2005
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) said further steps are needed to create a workable program from the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) proposal approved by the European Union's Council of Ministers.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OKs Wind Energy 'Grid Code'   Dec 30, 2005
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order on Interconnection for Wind Energy (or

DOE Funds Projects for Advanced Coal Gasification Technologies   Dec 30, 2005
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected four new projects under its Coal and Power R&D Program.

PHMSA Proposes Standards to Reduce Gas Pipeline Corrosion   Dec 30, 2005
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to control internal corrosion in new and replaced gas transmission pipelines.

NERC Posts Draft ERO Application   Dec 30, 2005
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) posted an initial working draft of its application to become an electric reliability organization (ERO).

REACH: EC Agrees on New Chemical Legislation   Dec 29, 2005
The European Commission agreed on details of Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), a system aimed at ensuring greater safety in the manufacture and use of chemical substances in the European Union (EU).

Nortel to Build IP Network Along China's West-East Gas Pipeline   Dec 28, 2005
China's West-East Gas Pipeline Project (WEPP) selected Nortel to build a wired and wireless IP-based network along its 4,200-kilometer route.

ASTM Int'l In-Situ Burning Standard Addresses Oil Spill Cleanup   Dec 22, 2005
The ongoing need to deal with oil in stranded ships, especially those in remote areas, is the impetus behind a proposed new standard being developed by ASTM International Committee F20 on Hazardous Substances and Oil Spill Response.

API Releases Monthly Statistical Report for November 2005   Dec 20, 2005
The U.S. refining industry continued to recover in November from the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) Monthly Statistical Report.

DOE Releases HEPA Specification for Contractors   Dec 20, 2005
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released DOE-STD-3020-2005 - Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE Contractors.

EPA Releases Final Rule Revising Gasoline Deposit Control Additive Regulations   Nov 28, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the requirements on variability in the composition of additives certified under the gasoline deposit control program.

API Issues New Pipeline Welding Standard   Nov 28, 2005
The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued the 20th edition of API 1104 - Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities.

IEA Database Provides Renewable Energy Policy Info   Nov 28, 2005
The International Energy Agency (IEA) in collaboration with the European Commission and the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition launched a global renewable energy policies and measures database.

DOE Database Reflects Resurgence of Coal-Fired Power Plant Construction   Nov 28, 2005
A database maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) tracks proposals for new coal-fired power plants, reflecting continued interest in the use of coal for the generation of electric power.

NREL Collaborates on Solar Electric Power Plant Project   Nov 23, 2005
Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collaborated with Solargenix Energy on the solar collector technology to be used in the development of Nevada Solar One, a 64-megawatt (MW) Solar Thermal Electric Generating Plant in Boulder City, Nev.

CSB Issues Recommendations to Petrochemical Industry - Calls for Safer Worker Trailer Placement   Nov 14, 2005
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued two urgent safety recommendations in its investigation of the March 2005 refinery accident at BP Texas City, calling for the safer placement of trailers for workers at U.S. petrochemical facilities.

ASTM Int'l Coal, Coke Committee Preparing Standard to Determine Trace Amounts of Chloride, Fluoride   Nov 14, 2005
A proposed new standard under development by ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke is designed to determine trace amounts of chloride and fluoride in coal.

Proposed ASTM Int'l Coal, Coke Standard Aims to Determine Loss on Ignition   Nov 14, 2005
ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke is seeking participation in the development of a proposed new standard, WK9165 - Test Methods for Loss on Ignition of Solid Combustion Residues.

U.S. DOE Taps ASME to Support Gen IV Nuclear Reactor Program   Nov 14, 2005
ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Standards Technology LLC inked a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to provide support for materials, design and construction codes related to future Generation IV high-temperature nuclear reactors.

IEEE Retools Nuclear Power Standards   Nov 14, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved revisions to IEEE 336 - Guide for Installation, Inspection and Testing for Class 1E Power, Instrumentation and Control Equipment at Nuclear Facilities.

NEMA Revises Standard For Measuring Distribution Transformer Loss   Nov 2, 2005
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published NEMA TP 2-2005 - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Distribution Transformers to provide a standardized method for measuring distribution transformer loss.

IEEE Approves Silicon-Immersed and Meter Transformer Standards   Oct 27, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved two new transformer standards: IEEE C57.146 - Guide for the Interpretation of Gases Generated in Silicone-Immersed Transformers and IEEE C57.13.6 - Standard for High Accuracy Instrument Transformers.

ASTM Int'l to Launch Proficiency Testing for Dissolved Gas Analyses of In-Service Insulating Fluid   Oct 27, 2005
ASTM International will launch a new proficiency testing program (PTP) on dissolved gas analyses (DGA) of in-service insulating fluid in February 2006.

ASTM Int’l, AOCS to Offer Biodiesel Interlab Crosscheck Program   Oct 27, 2005
A new interlaboratory crosscheck program (ILCP) on biodiesel is being offered by ASTM International Proficiency Testing in cooperation with the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS).

FERC Proposes Merger Review Provisions   Oct 26, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed rules and amendments to previous regulations that would allow it to launch merger review provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

IDEA Launches IDW2 Migration Service   Oct 24, 2005
The Industry Data Exchange Association (IDEA) announced the launch of a new service that will complement the recent introduction of the next-generation Industry Data Warehouse (IDW2).

NBB: American Trucking Assoc. Endorses ASTM-Based B5 Biodiesel   Oct 24, 2005
The American Trucking Association (ATA) endorsed an energy resolution that includes promoting low blends of biodiesel conforming to ASTM D 6751 - Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel.

Model Fuels Consortium Seeks to Accelerate Clean Fuels Development   Oct 24, 2005
Reaction Design announced the launch of the Model Fuels Consortium (MFC), which seeks to enable the design of cleaner-burning, more efficient engines and fuels by accelerating the development of software tools and databases.

Progress Cited in EU-Russia Energy Talks   Oct 21, 2005
The Sixth Progress Report on the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue reported steady progress in EU-Russia energy relations and underlined the importance for continuing work on bringing energy strategies closer.

IEEE Amends Generator Standards   Oct 21, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) revised two generator standards: IEEE C50.12 - Standard for Salient-Pole 50 and 60 Hz Synchronous Generators and Generator/Motors for Hydraulic Turbine Applications Rated 5 MVA and Above and IEEE C50.13 - Standard for Cylindrical-Rotor 50 and 60 Hz, Synchronous Generators Rated 10 MVA and Above.

FERC to Require Pre-Filing Process for LNG Import Facilities   Oct 17, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted a final rule mandating that potential developers of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals start pre-filing procedures at least six months prior to filing a formal application with FERC.

Affiliated Distributors Backs IDEA Data Synchronization   Oct 17, 2005
Affiliated Distributors (A-D) issued a position letter supporting the Industry Data Exchange Association (IDEA), noting that A-D "firmly believes that IDEA and the IDW (Industry Data Warehouse) represent the only long-term, viable industry solution that can successfully promote data synchronization between channel partners."

NERC, AWEA Recommend Revisions to Low-Voltage Ride-Through Provisions   Oct 3, 2005
Two energy associations formally recommended revisions to low voltage ride-through (LVRT) provisions of a U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Final Rule.

ASTM Int'l Develops Coal and Coke Standard   Oct 3, 2005
ASTM International Committee D05 on Coal and Coke is developing a standard to detect natural gas in coal.

IAEA Moves to Tighten Nuclear SQP Oversight   Sep 30, 2005
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors agreed to strengthen the nuclear safeguards system with modifications to a Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) designed for states with little or no nuclear material, and no nuclear material in facilities.

NRC Reactor Regulations Call for Early Security Plans   Sep 30, 2005
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will approach regulation of advanced nuclear power plants to explicitly encourage security earlier in reactor designs and license applications.

DOE Pledges $130M for Turbine, Hydrogen R&D   Sep 30, 2005
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy Turbine Technology expanded its R&D program with 10 new projects valued at $130 million, including $45.6 million to improve combustion technologies for hydrogen fuels and $45.5 million for an advanced coal-powered turbine system.

GE Energy Seeks NRC Approval for ESBWR   Sep 28, 2005
GE Energy's nuclear business unit formally submitted a design certification application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its new reactor design - the economic simplified boiling water reactor (ESBWR), according to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

AGA: Natural Gas Base Expands; Access Restricted   Sep 28, 2005
The U.S. natural gas resource base encompassed some 1,308 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in total natural gas resources by year-end 2004 - the equivalent of 68 years of production at current rates, according to a biennial report on long-range supplies of natural gas.

FERC Pursues Holding Company Act Reform   Sep 26, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed rules repealing the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and enacting the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 (PUHCA 2005).

FERC Proposes Electric Reliability Organization Criteria   Sep 26, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed criteria for an Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) that will enforce reliability standards required in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

EU REACH Chemicals Regulation Legislation Progresses   Sep 22, 2005
The huge legislative workload on the draft European Union (EU) chemicals regulation passed an important milestone in the European Parliament, with five committees adopting over 1,000 amendments.

API: August Petroleum Product, Gas Deliveries Drop   Sep 21, 2005
Petroleum product deliveries in August fell 1.1% from last year, and gasoline deliveries slipped 0.4% for the same period, according to a report from the American Petroleum Institute (API).

DOE Outlines Research Needed to Improve Solar Energy Tech   Sep 14, 2005
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science released a report describing the basic research needed to produce "revolutionary progress in bringing solar energy to its full potential in the energy marketplace."

NREL Wind Turbine Design Codes Certified   Sep 9, 2005
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced last month that its wind turbine design codes - FAST and ADAMS - may be used for worldwide turbine certification.

IEEE Begins Power Distribution Standards Work for Control Architecture, Insulator Assemblies   Aug 23, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) started four standards projects for electrical power distribution systems.

IEEE Develops Gas-Insulated Transmission Lines Guide   Aug 15, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) is developing the first complete guide for gas-insulated transmission lines, designed to help electric utilities satisfy increasing demand in developed areas.

NEMA's Industrial Controls Indices Surge in Q2   Aug 12, 2005
Sales of industrial control products and systems, as measured by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Primary Industrial Controls Index, expanded by 4.8% in the second quarter of 2005.

New API Standard to Improve In-Line Pipeline Inspections   Aug 9, 2005
The American Petroleum Institute (API) issued a new industry standard intended to improve in-line inspections of pipelines.

ANSI: Standards Play Role in U.S. Energy Bill   Aug 4, 2005
After several years of development and dispute, the complex and controversial Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6), aka the U.S. Energy Bill, was passed on July 28 in the U.S. House of Representatives and a day later in the U.S. Senate.

FERC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Agree on Gas Project Authorization Roles   Aug 1, 2005
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a memorandum of understanding to streamline regulatory processes through early coordination to identify project purposes, needs and alternatives that each agency can use in carrying out its respective regulatory responsibilities.

API Issues Statistical Report For June and Mid-Year 2005   Jul 26, 2005
U.S. refineries set several production records in the first half of 2005, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Japanese Oil Company Granted East China Sea Exploration Permit   Jul 21, 2005
Thirty-five years after it filed an application for test drilling, Teikoku Oil was granted permission for experimental exploration in a disputed region of the East China Sea.

Caspian Sea Region Countries Issue Energy Security Statement   Jul 21, 2005
High-level representatives of Caspian Sea Region countries issued a joint statement following their discussions on emerging energy security risks and risk mitigation of the Caspian Sea Region in a global context.

India, Pakistan Commit to Building Gas Pipeline   Jul 21, 2005
India and Pakistan said work on a gas pipeline linking Iran to India via Pakistan could begin next year.

EPA Offers Incentives For Early Clean Diesel Distribution   Jul 13, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Direct Final Rule to correct, amend and revise certain provisions of the Clean Highway and Nonroad Diesel Rules to assist regulated entities in the fuel distribution system with program implementation and compliance.

IEEE OKs Testing Standard For Distributed Resources Interconnect Equipment   Jul 13, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) approved a new standard that defines tests for equipment used to interconnect distributed resources, such as fuel cells, photovoltaics and wind turbines, with electric power systems.

Caspian Sea Region Poised to Become Major Oil Supplier   Jul 5, 2005
Energy experts attending a United Nations meeting in Geneva said that oil and natural gas from the Caspian Sea region could ease the world's dependence on oil from the volatile Middle East.

France to Host ITER International Nuclear Fusion Project   Jul 1, 2005
The six parties of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) consortium decided to locate the world's first energy-producing nuclear fusion reactor in Cadarache, France.

BP, Sinopec, SPC Complete SECCO Manufacturing Site   Jul 1, 2005
BP, Sinopec and Shanghai Petrochemical Co. (SPC), the three parties in the SECCO joint venture, formally announced the successful construction and commissioning of the SECCO manufacturing site in Shanghai, following a decade-long collaboration.

CERA: Oil & Liquids Capacity to Outstrip Demand Until At Least 2010   Jun 24, 2005
Despite fears that oil will soon "run out," global oil production capacity is actually set to increase dramatically over the rest of this decade, according to a new report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA).

API Issues Monthly Statistical Report For May 2005   Jun 21, 2005
Reversing an April decline, May's gasoline deliveries were almost 1% above those of May 2004, according to the monthly statistical report from the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Frost: Power Sector Dereg Uncertainty Stalls Utility Asset Mgmt.   Jun 20, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) 1996 directive to the power industry to open up its transmission lines was aimed at giving consumers the option of choosing their energy supplier, according to consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

Capgemini: Utilities Rapidly Adopting Voice Over IP   Jun 13, 2005
Utility companies are rapidly adopting voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) for voice and data networks, according to a study sponsored by Capgemini Group and Cisco Systems.

NEI: Expanding Nuclear Power Plant Capacity Key to Clean Air in NE U.S.   Jun 13, 2005
Nuclear energy must remain a long-term source of electricity in the northeastern U.S. if regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector are to prove successful, according to a study commissioned by the Nuclear Power Institute (NEI).

FERC Chairman Urges Improvements to U.S. Power Supply Transmission   Jun 10, 2005
Investment in the nation's power grid is lagging behind growing demand for electricity and Congressional action is needed to maintain a reliable power grid system, said Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Pat Wood III.

DOE: Gas Turbine Tech Monitors Blade Performance   Jun 10, 2005
A new system that continuously monitors operating blades in gas turbines has surpassed 5,000 hours of operation, confirming that the technology is ready for commercialization, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

DOE Hoisting, Rigging Tech Committee Meeting Minutes Posted   Jun 2, 2005
The Hoisting and Rigging Technical Advisory Committee (HRTAC) of the U.S. Department of Energy met last month and presentations were made regarding rigging proof-testing, hoist use, new crane technologies, manufacturer-provided lift points and other topics.

DOE Construction Safety Committee Meeting Minutes Posted   Jun 2, 2005
At last month's meeting of the U.S. Department of Energy's Construction Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC), presentations were made regarding worker safety, Yucca Mountain, the Nevada Test Site, electrical safety, rigging equipment use and other topics.

FERC Issues Standard Rule For Small Generator Interconnection   May 20, 2005
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued standard procedures for the interconnection of generators no larger than 20 megawatts.

API Issues Monthly Statistical Report for April 2005   May 20, 2005
Gasoline production for 2005 to-date, nearly 8.50 million barrels per day, remained at an all-time high for this time of year despite a decline in April, according to the American Petroleum Institute's Monthly Statistical Report for April.

DOE Touts Success of Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships   May 18, 2005
A report released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) details the success of Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships in laying the groundwork for field testing and verifying carbon sequestration technologies in the near term.

DOE: Heavy Oil Potential Key to Alaskan North Slope Oil Future   May 18, 2005
Alaska's North Slope contains a massive heavy-oil resource that someday could underpin the survival of one of the U.S.'s most critical oil-producing provinces, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

USGS Oil & Gas Assessment of Alaska Central North Slope Released   May 18, 2005
A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the central part of the Alaska North Slope and the adjacent state offshore area found a significant amount of oil and a large amount of gas that remains to be discovered.

DOE-backed Consortium Delivers 6 New 'Stripper Well' Technologies   May 18, 2005
Joint ventures in technology development by government and industry delivered six new deployment-ready applications in four years to extend the useful life of more than 650,000 stripper wells that deliver almost 15% of America's domestic oil production and almost 8% of natural gas production, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

AWEA: Wind Energy Industry Eyes Record Year of Growth   May 4, 2005
The U.S. wind energy industry appears set this year to shatter the previous record for installation of new projects, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

NERC Phase III-IV Planning Standards Posted for Comment   Apr 27, 2005
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) posted planning standards for comment that were part of the Phase III and IV NERC compliance program but were not included in the Version 0 reliability standards.

IEEE Crafts Standard For Linking Power Systems to Local Distributed Resources   Apr 26, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) started work on a new standard, IEEE P1547.6, to provide additional information for interconnecting utility distribution secondary network systems with local electric power systems that contain distributed resources (DR) such as fuel cells, photovoltaics and microturbines.

IEEE Begins Surge Protection in AC Rotating Machinery Standard Effort   Apr 18, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) started work on a new standard for surge voltage protection in AC rotating machinery.

Researchers Verify New Alloy For Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Energy Fuel   Apr 5, 2005
A new alloy developed and patented by researchers at Lehigh University, Sandia National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory could help the U.S. dispose more safely of 50,000 tons of spent nuclear energy fuel that are now stored at 125 sites in 39 states.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Developers Claim 50% Efficiency   Apr 5, 2005
Two Northwestern University researchers developed a new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that converts a liquid transportation fuel - iso-octane, a high-purity compound similar to gasoline - into hydrogen which is then used by the fuel cell to produce energy.

New Ceramic Matrix Composites TG to Address Nuclear Energy Systems   Mar 30, 2005
ASTM International Subcommittee C28.07 on Ceramic Matrix Composites formed a task group to address the evaluation of fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite structures for a future generation of nuclear energy systems.

ASTM Int'l Revises Test Methods for Calculation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Cyclohexane   Mar 30, 2005
ASTM International standard D 1555, Test Method for Calculation of Volume and Weight of Industrial Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Cyclohexane, and its metric equivalent, D 1555M, have been revised by Committee D16 on Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Chemicals.

EPA Announces Results of Annual Sulfur Dioxide Auction   Mar 30, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the results of the 13th annual acid rain allowance auction held March 28 at the Chicago Board of Trade.

Canada's Wind Power Capacity Jumps Almost 25%   Mar 24, 2005
Canada's wind-power capacity, the fastest-growing form of electricity generation in Canada, took another step forward with the announcement of funding for two new wind-power projects in Murdochville, Quebec.

ANS Issues Statement Supporting Nuclear Energy For Desalination   Mar 22, 2005
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) board of directors approved Position Statement No. 62,

EPA Announces Rule to Reduce Power Plant Mercury Emissions   Mar 21, 2005
Acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Steve Johnson signed the Clean Air Mercury Rule, a rule designed to significantly reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants across the country.

CERA: Modernize U.S. Oil & Gas Reserves Reporting Standards   Mar 17, 2005
The 27-year-old U.S. system for measuring and reporting oil and gas reserves has failed to keep pace with a changing, increasingly global industry and falls short of accurately describing industry and individual companies' values, performance and strategies, according to a Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) study.

CSA Resumes Publication, Development of Nuclear Energy Standards   Mar 14, 2005
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) officially resumed publication of standards for nuclear facilities.

USFCC to Develop SOFC Testing Procedures, Data Reporting Guidelines   Mar 14, 2005
In response to a need within the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) community, the U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) launched an effort to develop data reporting guidelines and standardized testing procedures for a range of common SOFC test configurations.

NERC Reliability Standards Process Manual Amended   Mar 7, 2005
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) adopted an amended Reliability Standards Process Manual, allowing the Standards Authorization Committee (SAC) to modify administrative and procedural elements, subject to board of trustees approval.

U.S., Allies Advance Next-Gen Nuclear Energy Systems   Mar 3, 2005
U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman joined representatives from Canada, France, Japan and the United Kingdom to sign the first multilateral agreement aimed at the development of next-generation nuclear energy systems.

NERC Adopts New Reliability Standards   Feb 9, 2005
The board of trustees of the North American Electric Reliability Council unanimously agreed to adopt a comprehensive set of reliability standards for the bulk electric system.

FERC Proposes Wind Power Interconnection Rule   Jan 19, 2005
Responding to the growing use of wind-generated power, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposed regulations that would remove barriers to wind-generated electricity while helping to ensure continued reliability of the national power grid.

DOSA Digital Power Mgmt. Architecture Effort Aligns With PMBus Initiative   Jan 14, 2005
Tyco Electronics Power Systems and SynQor Inc., founding members of the Distributed-power Open Standards Alliance, have aligned with the Power Management Bus initiative as part of a larger DOSA-led initiative to migrate to a digitally interfaced, on-board DC/DC power architecture.

NRC Extends Date to Use Standard For Addressing Fire Protection Issues   Jan 12, 2005
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended to Dec. 31, 2005 the date for nuclear power plant operators to request use of a new, optional fire protection standard to resolve existing issues with a plant's fire protection plans.

IEEE Issues Standard For Field Testing Large, Rotating Electrical Machinery   Jan 11, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. approved a new standard that provides guidance for testing and inspecting large, rotating electrical machinery.

IEEE Begins First Standard For Transporting Power Transformers   Jan 11, 2005
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. has initiated work on the first open standard for transporting power transformers and is also revising the standard for transformers used to supply non-sinusoidal currents.

IEEE Updates Two Nuclear Power Standards   Dec 14, 2004
IEEE revised two nuclear power standards - IEEE 344 and IEEE 1023 - which address the seismic qualification of equipment and recommended practices for using human factors engineering in nuclear facilities, respectively.