The Ten Essential Renewable Energy News Stories This Week

By Nathanael Baker on February 18, 2011

Here are the Top 10 Renewable Energy News Stories You May Have Missed this Week:

1. Air Force Scientists Collect 99 Percent of Wave Energy - A growing industry, wave power technology is increasingly becoming more efficient. Scientists at the U.S. Air Force Academy base in Colorado Springs have demonstrated that submerged wave energy converters can harness up to 99 percent of the kinetic energy inherent in an ocean wave.

2. Shell Report Warns of Peak Oil - Shell Oil just released a comprehensive and alarming assessment of the global energy outlook out to 2050. This is the latest in a series of industry admissions and leaks indicating that peak oil has rapidly moved from fringe theory to imminent reality.

3. The Netherlands Cuts Renewable Energy Subsidies, Looks to Nuclear Power - In an incredible change of face, The Netherlands is planning to slash its renewable energy targets as well as reduce its solar and wind subsidies.

4. Obama's 2012 Budget Bolsters Support For Clean Energy - U.S. President Barack Obama has asked congress to approve a 2012 budget that provides the Department of Energy with US$29.5 billion.

5. E•BOOM CAPITAL: 3 Companies ‘Winning the Future’ with Cleantech Innovation - Here are three U.S. companies that are already winners by the President’s definition -- and are also enriching their shareholders.

6. Harvard Study Estimates Coal Power Has $300 to $500 Billion in Hidden Costs - A new study from Harvard University has found that when the entire life-cycle of coal is considered -- extraction, transport, processing, and combustion -- it poses significant public health and environment hazards. Cumulatively, the study estimates these hazards cost the American people roughly US$300 to US$500 billion dollars annually.

7. Ecuadorian Court Orders Chevron to Pay $8 Billion for Oil Damages, Company Vows to Fight Ruling - In the epic environmental damages lawsuit involving the Ecuadorian people versus Chevron, an Ecuadorian court has ruled in favour of the plaintiffs and ordered Chevron to pay a US$8 billion fine for contaminating the country's rainforest.

8. Ontario Kills Offshore Wind Projects - The Ontario government, frequently touted as one of the greenest provinces in Canada for its investment in renewable energy, has done an about face on its support of offshore wind power. This move has left many fearing that the government is risking its reputation as a renewable energy leader.

9. Hawaii Orders More Geothermal Power - Since the early 1990's Puna Geothermal Venture has been delivering 30 MW of geothermal electricity a year to the Hawaii Electric Light Company Inc. Now, the company is set to add more geothermal capacity.

10. Wind Power: Racing to Get Bigger - In a world market that is consumed with "smaller and faster" it seems when it comes to wind power companies are still racing towards the "bigger is better" business model.

That's it, consider yourself up to date. Remember the best way to stay up to date on the latest breaking stories in the renewable and cleantech sectors is to follow EnergyBoom on Twitter and Facebook.

Nathanael Baker is the Managing Editor of EnergyBoom. He has researched and reported on the issues of renewable energy, sustainability, and climate change for over two years. He has provided research to the New York Times and The Economist, as well as being published on different media outlets including, The Energy Collective.