Top Stories
"China trumps US in race for renewable
energy investors"—reliability high.
According to BusinessGreen, a report from Ernst & Young says
"China has surged ahead of the United States in the race to become the
most attractive place for renewable energy investment," and "Ben
Warren, Ernst & Young's environment and energy infrastructure
advisory leader, said China's steady rise to the top of the index
reflected the government's consistent support for renewables." See BusinessGreen.
Another story on the E&Y report at Bloomberg.
"China targets seven strategic industries
for growth"—reliability high.
A story in Reuters says China has reaffirmed its commitment to several
strategic industrial sectors including alternative energy,
alternative-fuel cars, energy efficiency, environmental protection and
four other sectors. The article says, "The State Council, China's
cabinet, said it would encourage banks to lend to the cutting-edge
sectors. It also urged venture capital firms and private equity funds
to finance their growth, according to a statement posted on the main
government portal, www.gov.cn." More at Reuters.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
"eBay delivers reusable boxes in waste
clampdown"—reliability high.
BusinessGreen reports that eBay will distribute 100,000 specially
designed reusable boxes to its users to cut down on waste, saying, "The
box is made of 100 per cent FSC-certified and recycled material,
printed with water-based inks, and is designed to require minimal
tape." Users can report the boxes' locations on TheBox.eBay.com. See BusinessGreen
story.
"Data Centers Target Higher Energy
Efficiency, Lower Carbon Footprint"—reliability high.
Environmental Leader says "data centers across the nation are
implementing a host of initiatives aimed at energy efficiency and
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions" and gives examples including
approaches taken at Georgia Data Center, MetLife, System Source and
Digital Realty Trust. More at Environmental
Leader.
"Suzlon Energy to develop 30MW of wind
projects in Rajasthan"—reliability high.
NewNet reports: "Suzlon Energy has secured a 30MW order from Altrade
Group to install 30MW of wind capacity in the Jaisalmer and Jodhpur
districts of Rajasthan. ... Under the contract, Suzlon will set up,
operate and maintain the projects, which will comprise 20 Suzlon S82
wind turbine generators, each with a capacity of 1.5MW, and are due to
be commissioned by January 2011." See NewNet.
"Top Ten Solar Venture Capital Investors"—reliability
medium.
Eric Wesoff at Greentech Solar looks at the VCs that have participated
in solar energy deals. He says, "The fact is that very little, if any,
of the billions of VC dollars put into solar in the last few years have
yielded the type of results that VCs look for." So he lists "ten VC
firms that invest in solar and select them for testicular fortitude,
style points and sheer hype and vision." See Greentech
Media.
"MSCI debuts new environmental index series"—reliability
high.
BusinessGreen reports "MSCI yesterday became the latest investment
advisory firm to launch a series of environmental indices designed to
help investors assess the performance of green firms," and "The 23
different new indices are divided by geography, technology, industrial
sector and ethical values." It quotes Head of MSCI Index and ESG
Research Remy Briand: "MSCI's clients worldwide, especially those who
are signatories to the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible
Investing (UNPRI), are increasingly focused on ESG issues. ESG factors
help assess externalities that can impact an entire portfolio. A
growing number of asset managers are now subject to ESG-related
mandates that will shape their strategies going forward." More at BusinessGreen.
Government and
Regulation
"Military Study Warns of a Potentially
Drastic Oil Crisis"—reliability high.
Der Spiegel reports that a study prepared by the Future Analysis
department of the Bundeswehr Transformation Center, "a think tank
tasked with fixing a direction for the German military", a draft of
which has been leaked on the internet, "warns of shifts in the global
balance of power, of the formation of new relationships based on
interdependency, of a decline in importance of the western industrial
nations, of the 'total collapse of the markets' and of serious
political and economic crises" driven by peaking of oil production. The
report says there is "some probability that peak oil will occur around
the year 2010 and that the impact on security is expected to be felt 15
to 30 years later." More highlights of leaked draft. See Der
Spiegel. [We
don't usually include "peak oil" items, since they are not really news
at this point. This one is just a reminder that the issue is being
taken seriously by governments and especially militaries around the
world. Militaries have to plan for the worst, and from their point of
view peak oil qualifies.]
Opinion and
Editorial
"Weird Weather in a Warming World"—reliability
medium.
Andrew Revkin writes an op-ed piece about extreme weather events and
their relationship, if any, to climate change. He says, "Though today’s
extremes can’t be reliably attributed to the greenhouse effect, they do
give us the feel, sweat and all, of what’s to come if emissions are not
reined in. Martin Hoerling told me that by the end of the century, this
summer’s heat may be the status quo in parts of Russia, not a
devastating fluke. Similar projections exist for Washington, the
American Southwest, much of India and many other spots." In The New
York Times.
