As reported in the last edition of The Climate Report, a number of youth-oriented nonprofit advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit in the name of minor children against the federal government alleging breach of the government's fiduciary duty under the "public trust doctrine" to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Alec L. v. Jackson, No. 1:11-cv-02235-RLW (D.D.C). The plaintiffs seek a court order requiring the defendants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, such that global carbon dioxide emissions will peak by the end of 2012 and decline by at least 6 percent per year beginning in 2013.

The following information was released by Colorado Senator Michael Bennet:

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced today that six Colorado small businesses were selected to receive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants of $150,000 by the Department of Energy for projects on power generation from geothermal heat, emissions reduction and increasing fuel efficiency.

The grants are part of $11 million in innovation grants announced today for nearly 70 small businesses across the country. The small businesses selected will be eligible to compete for a second phase of the program for awards up to $1 million over two years.

GlassPoint Solar , the global leader in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), today announced CEO and President Rod MacGregor will speak at EOR & Heavy Oil World MENA on Monday, May 28th in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Addressing a crowd of senior executives from the oil and gas industry, MacGregor will discuss the advantages of using solar steam generators to expand production in gas-constrained locations.

Two global companies, eSolar and Sanmina-SCI (Nasdaq: SANM), today announced that they have partnered to leverage their respective expertise in solar thermal energy solutions, local content-optimized component design, and manufacturing to offer industry-leading cost and value for utility-scale power plants.

eSolar, the leading provider of modular, scalable concentrating solar power (CSP) plant technology, and Sanmina-SCI, a leading integrated manufacturing services company that produces some of the world's most complex products, will work to optimize eSolar's solar collector system product offering - a system already deployed in operating CSP facilities.

The South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) awarded an additional 88 megawatt (MWDC) photovoltaic (PV) project with preferred bidder status to the consortium of SolarReserve, a U.S. developer of utility-scale solar power projects, The Kensani Group, an experienced empowerment infrastructure player in the Southern African market, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects. This award brings the successful consortium's award to three projects totaling 238 MW and accounting for a 20 percent share of South Africa's solar energy market. The Jasper Solar Energy Project, located in the Northern Cape of South Africa, was developed in response to the DOE's second bidding window for the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) announced today that it has been informed by Ormat Industries, Ltd., its parent entity ("Ormat Industries"), that the transaction by and among Bronicki Investments Ltd. ("BIL"), the controlling shareholder of Ormat Industries, and FIMI ENRG Limited Partnership, a newly formed Israeli partnership and FIMI ENRG, a newly formed Delaware partnership, both controlled by FIMI Opportunity IV (collectively, "FIMI"), to sell part of BIL's interest in Ormat Industries, previously announced on March 16, 2012, was successfully consummated on May 22, 2012. Ormat Industries provided the following additional information:

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RMT, Inc. (RMT), a renewable energy engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor specializing in the design and construction of wind and solar energy generating facilities, joined First Wind on May 1, 2012, to commemorate the start of major construction at the Palouse Wind project in northern Whitman County, Washington.

BEFORE he moved onward and upward, David Cameron had one on his London home and you can too, but domestic wind turbines aren't a practical way of generating electricity for many of us.

Xcel Energy issued the following news release:

Xcel Energy Chief Nuclear Officer Dennis Koehl today announced a rotation among three top Nuclear Department executives, which results in new site vice presidents at Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear generating plants.

Hawaiian Electric Company has received approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission for an additional three-year biodiesel contract with Renewable Energy Group (REG), the nation's largest biodiesel producer.

This is REG's third awarded contract for sustainable biodiesel for Hawaiian Electric's 110-megawatt combustion turbine generator at Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station. The new contract will take effect when the present contract ends in July 2012.

Under the new contract, REG will continue to annually supply three to seven million gallons of high quality biodiesel processed from used cooking oil and waste animal fats for the Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station. The plant is the nation's first utility-scale combustion turbine run entirely on 100% biodiesel.

RNS Number : 9963D
Origin Energy Finance Limited
23 May 2012
ASX/Media Release
24 May 2012
Australia Pacific LNG secures US$8.5 billion in project finance
Origin Energy Limited (Origin) has announced that Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited (Australia Pacific LNG) has signed agreements with a syndicate of domestic and international commercial banks and export credit agencies for an US$8.5 billion project finance facility.

Peter Atherton, Citigroup's head of European utility sector research, said he was "surprised" the Government had published Tuesday's draft Bill when it still appeared to be very uncertain as to how key proposals would work.

Hard-up consumers could be hit by higher electricity bills if major government energy reforms are adopted, experts have warned.

The draft energy bill, announced yesterday, aims to reduce carbon emissions and boost the supply of clean energy by drive billions of pounds of investment into new nuclear plants and renewables.

New Zealand generators say that wind rather than hydro power projects are an immediate focus in the aftermath of their decisions to halt hydro plans on the West Coast of the South Island.

Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Ill., issued the following news release:

With just eight days left in the spring legislative session, Governor Pat Quinn today announced a surge of support from businesses and economic development groups across Illinois for his plans to rescue the state pension and Medicaid systems. Recognizing the positive impact the Governor's plans will have on small and large employers, businesses throughout the state urged lawmakers to pass major pension and Medicaid stabilization reforms this spring session. More than 50 businesses and economic development groups have backed the Governor's proposals.

"The Chicagoland Chamber strongly supports Governor Quinn's plans to stabilize and strengthen our Medicaid and pension systems. One of the most important things to the business community is a strong, stable business climate, which provides employers with the certainty they need to invest more, grow more and create more jobs. By addressing these two major issues, our elected leaders can pave the way for more economic growth in Illinois," Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jerry Roper said. "The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce stands with Governor Quinn in urging the General Assembly to make the tough decisions - and take the tough votes- to address these challenges this spring session."

EXETER-based SunGift Solar has started work on a major renewable energy installation at the Met Office.

The company was awarded the contract to design and install a 250 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array after a competitive tender process involving a host of respected national installers.

BOSSES behind a giant wind farm that could be built off the Suffolk coast have cautiously welcomed the Government's proposed reforms to the electricity market.

Whitehall revealed its draft Energy Bill this week, outlining measures to attract billions of pounds of investment to overhaul the UK's energy system.

Motech Americas LLC, a solar company with a 20-year heritage of manufacturing the highest quality solar panels, announced today that Ray Angelini, Inc. (RAI) () has won their East Coast Installation of the Year award for its solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations for the Long Branch School District, Long Branch, NJ. For a project to qualify as a Motech Installation of the Year it must embody innovative design, quality workmanship, efficient installation and best-in-class safety practices.

RAI utilized Motech IM60 235W solar modules manufactured in Delaware to successfully complete the design and installation of 10 solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations for the district-eight roof arrays and two canopy arrays. The largest array-559 kW consisting of 2,379 panels-was installed on the roof of the high school. There were seven other locations throughout the district where RAI installed solar panels, including a 100kW installation at Anastasia Elementary School, a 62kW installation at Gregory Elementary School, 156kW at Lenna Conrow Elementary School, 101kW at Audrey Clark Elementary School, 773kW at Long Branch Middle School, 189kW at Morris Avenue School, and 14kW at the Long Branch Board of Education.

(SeeNews Renewables) - May 24, 2012 - Eletrosul, a subsidiary of Brazil's state-owned power holding company Eletrobras (SAO:ELET6), has been cleared by the country's energy sector watchdog Aneel to research technologies for electricity generation from solar radiation.

Eletrosul proposed to install a 1.026 MWp photovoltaic solar complex at the rooftop and parking of its headquarters in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina state, and to use it to study the viability of the nationwide use of the employed technology, ways of connection and forms of commercialisation of the solar power.

The tender for builders of the complex is still ongoing.