World News

• 10/17/2012 -   Denmark Hits 200 Megawatt Solar Capacity Goal 8 Years Ahead of Schedule
  
  Always known for green energy and progressive politics, near-polar Denmark now produces more than 20% of its energy from renewables. The biggest surprise here might be that selling energy into the grid with net metering wasn't available until 2010.
• 11/22/2012 -   Scotland Schools the States on Offshore Wind Initiatives
  
  While the US is considering cutting wind subsidies, Scotland is building French manufacturing facilities to supply their offshore turbines. While the rest of the world is still in discussion, Scotland has increased their renewable energy production from 3% in 2006 to 35% in 2011.
• 6/26/2012 -   China’s First Wind-Farm Lull Limits Outlook for Sinovel: Energy
  
  China is currently developing 2.3gW of offshore wind with another 13.6gW with gov approval waiting in the wings make it the proud owner of NEARLY HALF the world's currently proposed 40gW[1]. However, gov delays have incited criticism, and shaky investor support could endanger the future of these projects, siting them as financially "unrealistic".
• 11/12/2012 -   Solar power, too, was gone with the wind
  
  Little known to many, solar panels automatically shut down during outages to avoid electrocuting workers. The obvious solution, buying a battery, is too expensive for most at $8,000.
• 4/18/2012 -   Global wind capacity to reach 500 GW in 2016
  
  Good news for wind and clean energy, but looking at it holistically, according to the US IEA this is 0.000002477578% of world power production. Even accounting for other clean energy sources, there's a long way to go!
• 9/18/2012 -   Shift by Cuomo on Gas Drilling Prompts Both Anger and Praise
  
  NY governor Andrew Cuomo delayed fracking in NYS to commission another study into its health effects. Industry cries foul while Cuomo cries "...decision will be made based on the science...". I second that.
• 9/18/2012 -   Chinese Solar Companies Slash Costs
  
  The price dumping is finally catching up to the Chinese solar industry as they cut costs because of new US anti-dumping tariffs and anticipated similar moves from the EU after their recording breakingly-large investigation.
• 9/12/2012 -   APEC Closes Historic Trade Deal on Environmental Goods
  
  APEC cuts tariffs on environmental goods from somewhere between 20% and 35% to an across the board 5%. This seemingly positive move brings to mind similar globalization moves that result in the US and other developed nations shedding jobs while worker exploitation in China and other developing nations increases.
• 9/7/2012 -   Europe Investigates Chinese Solar Panels
  
  The EU is bringing the largest price-dumping suit in history against the Chinese claiming 60-90% price dumping in the face of threats of retaliatory Chinese tariffs.
• 8/28/2012 -   German coal power revival poses new emissions threat
  
  Germany's precocious move away from nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster is creating an energy vacuum soon to be filled with coal.
• 9/12/2012 -   Harvesting a Climate Disaster
  
  A quick op-ed about the lacks in the new farm bills moving through congress. Both increase farmer's insurance, but don't face climate change or make crops more resilient.
• 6/18/2012 -   Report: Fossil Fuel Subsidies Hurting Global Economic Growth
  
  The National Resource Defense Council released a fact sheet saying fossil fuel subsidies hurt the poor and the economy overall.
• 8/2/2012 -   Mitt Romney confirms he would end US wind power subsidies
  
  Romney will apparently eliminate federal wind support while maintaining $40bn of fossil fuel subsidies that Obama would let expire.
• 6/5/2012 -   Windfarm ruling gives fresh hope to campaigners
  
  Another windfarm plan was shut down due to local residents' campaigning in the UK.
• 6/12/2012 -  W.H.O. Declares Diesel Fumes Cause Lung Cancer
  
  Sure to start a frenzy and create problems for diesel and biodiesel, but seems like it only applies to old vehicles and extreme mining conditions.
• 6/3/2012 -   Oil Output Soars as Iraq Retools, Easing Shaky Markets
  
  The idea that the Iraq war was for oil gains some ground as increased output gives the US leverage over Iran.
• 5/26/2012 -  Germany sets new solar power record, institute says
  
  A small landmark, but shows Germany's focus on promoting renewable energy and newfound distance from nuclear.
• 5/22/2012 -  Keystone XL Would Raise Gas Prices, Report Finds
  
  The Keystone XL was originally proposed to increase revenues for Canadian oil producers, then spun into a gas price slashing measure.
• 5/17/2012 -  US imposes 31% anti-dumping tariff on Chinese PV imports
  
  All the outrage has finally come to this, for better or worse.
• 5/10/2012 - Geothermal Energy in Japan Has the Potential to Power 16 Million Homes
  
  After Fukushima, Japan has been looking for new sources of energy. 23.47 gigawatts is a number Doc Brown would be proud of.
• 5/9/2012 - Hawaii Geothermal Energy Bills Aim To Reduce Oil Use, Energy Costs
  
  Hawaii has had a long fight ending in large investments in solar and wind. Geothermal seems like a good supplement.
• 4/26/2012 - UK's Cameron sees North Sea as green energy hub
  
  The UK's bold plan to put up an additional 16 gigawatts of solar in the North Sea by 2020 is impressive, even if the idea for submerged carbon storage facilities seem a bit more short-sighted.
• 4/27/2012 - Legislators need deeper understanding of renewable energy credits
  
  A convincing argument out of Vermont of the current problems with renewables, namely intermittent energy supply and the market forcing higher cost clean solutions like solar and wind out of contention.
• 4/24/2012 - Trump’s Spat With Salmond Over Scots Wind Turbines Escalates
  
  If ever green energy needed a strong candidate to become the whipping boy representing all the stupidity and selfishness that sometimes goes into fighting renewable energy adoption, consider Trump a shoe-in. Out of all the legitimate reasons to avoid wind power, Trump mentions none and twice as loudly.
• 4/22/2012 - Syd S. Peng: We need to back fossil fuels
  
  A pretty ignorant take on the uselessness of alternative energy and the necessity of eliminating any financial incentives for green energy. Still, it's worth remembering that we are going to be working with fossil fuels for a long time and they should be made more efficient.