Top Stories
"Oil industry set for surge in insurance
premiums after Deepwater disaster"—reliability high.
The
Guardian reports "Oil companies face a sharp rise in the cost of
insuring deepwater oil rigs at the start of next year in the wake of
the Deepwater Horizon explosion ... . ... global energy premium rates
have gone up by between 10% and 30%, according to one of the largest
insurers of energy risks, Lancashire. However, the full impact will not
be felt until 1 January onwards when the bulk of reinsurance is bought,
insurers warn. The disaster has also fuelled demand for insurance, as
regulators are moving to a tougher stance on how much cover is needed
by oil and gas companies." [While BP was self
insured it and other big drillers will probably want to buy insurance
in the future. Transocean was insured and its payout will be built into
future rates. Any legislation to change spill liability caps will also
affect insurance costs. Probably not enough to affect the economics
of deep offshore drilling, but an additional cost to be passed on
to
oil consumers.]
"EU exec sued over biofuels as suspicions
mount"—reliability high.
Campaigners sued European Commission for withholding data on the
negative consequences of biofuels. "Europe's biofuels policy could
cause unwanted side-effects equal to as much as 1.5 billion tonnes of
greenhouse gases -- roughly the annual emissions of Russia or India,
official reports warn. That means biofuels could produce more carbon
emissions than gasoline over a 20 year time frame." More on European
biofuels issues. See Reuters
story.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
"Sainsbury's packaging case could be taste of
things to come"—reliability high.
A case against Sainsbury's for use of excessive packaging in violation
of EU regulations could put retailers on alert. "Friends of the Earth's
waste campaigner Julian Kirby said that to avoid the risk of future
legal action, supermarkets must act now to minimise the amount of
packaging on their products." See Business
Green. [See
next related item.]
"Waitrose drops meat tray packaging"—reliability
high.
Waitrose will stop selling meat in plastic trays and switch all of its
meat to plastic pouches. "Waitrose claims it will save 9,000 tonnes of
packaging each year." The trays have been used mainly to make meat look
more appealing to consumers. Story in The
Telegraph.
"Pattern Energy plans Texas wind-power export
path"—reliability high.
Pattern Energy Group wants to build a $1 billion 400 mile
high-voltage, direct-current power transmission line from east Texas to
northeastern Mississippi. Construction of the line would enable Texas
wind power generators to serve energy markets in the Southeastern U.S.
"'We will have a delivered price that is right around the avoided cost
of power within the Southeast,' Parquet said. 'If there were an RPS,
this would probably go quicker, but on a fundamental, economic basis,
we think we can make this work.'" Reuters
article.
"Financiers prepared to back 'competitive'
CCS "—reliability high.
A report based on a survey of private funding providers found that the
"finance sector is willing to fund carbon capture and storage (CCS)
projects – but only if the technology can demonstrate its viability
without public funding". More highlights of the report. See BusinessGreen.
Access report here.
"Walmart Centroamerica’s Supply Chain Success"—reliability
medium.
"Walmart Centroamerica, in partnership with The World Environment
Center (WEC), released the results of an 18-month supply chain project
aimed at implementing sustainability at 19 of the organizations key
suppliers through the Cleaner Production Private Sector Partnership."
See Sustainable
Life Media.
Government and
Regulation
"Australian regions prepare to roll out
emission trading for electricity generators"—reliability
high.
"Although responsibility for pricing carbon should fall under federal
jurisdictions, state governments are frustrated with the lack of
progress and could effectively introduce a nationwide scheme if they
all agree to price carbon in the same way." More about state and
territorial efforts to price carbon. From BusinessGreen.
[This explains why
major Australian energy companies have been urging the new Federal
government to set carbon pricing policy.]
"Chinese Vice President urges more efforts to
save energy"—reliability high.
"'The global climate change is deeply affecting human beings' living
and development. Our country, now in a stage of fast industrial and
urban development, is facing obvious environmental pressure,' Xi said
here Saturday while attending activities to mark this year's National
Science Popularization Day. ... Xi urged the whole society to continue
energy-saving and emission-reducing campaigns and support the country's
policies on climate change." Story in Xinhua.
Technology
"Pod Cars Start to Gain Traction in Some
Cities"—reliability medium.
"Is the pod car finally ready for prime time? After almost 50 years of
trial and error, these futuristic personal rapid transit systems, or
P.R.T.’s, may be coming to airports and city centers because of
technological advances and a growing interest in sustainable
transportation. ... Several projects have been announced, built or put
through a trial in 2010." From New
York Times Wheels blog.
