Honolulu Star Advertiser -- With a surge of renewable energy projects in the pipeline, Hawaii's electric utilities are working overtime to modernize their generation systems that for decades have relied on traditional oil-fired power plants.

Recent installations of photovoltaic panels in Kaunakaki, Molokai, mean an estimated 15 percent of electrical generation comes from the sun, pushing the circuit to the maximum level.

The issue is top priority with the goal of generating 40 percent from renewable sources by 2030.

The intermittent nature of renewable electricity, mainly solar & wind. That creates instability that, if not offset with generation from firm sources, could cause customers to lose power.

Plans proceed to bring 400 megawatts of electricity to the island via an undersea cable from wind farms.
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Sacramento Bee -- It's certainly no secret that the oil industry remains deeply embedded in Louisiana culture. Not only does it employ tens of thousands of people, but it is also the economic engine state leaders depend on as they struggle to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Even so, it was something of a surprise earlier this summer when the first round of lawsuits over the BP oil spill reached a federal court in downtown New Orleans.

One of the judges on the court - the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana - recused herself because she owns stock in BP. Another bowed out because her husband holds stock in the firm. Several others stepped aside because they have family members who are involved in BP litigation.  (read more)

AFP -- The number of vehicles on China's roads will more than double to at least 200 million by 2020, a top official was quoted Monday as saying, further straining the nation's environment and energy supply.

China must make it a top priority to develop fuel-efficient and alternative energy cars, the China Securities Journal said, citing Wang Fuchang, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China's auto sales hit 13.64 million units last year, overtaking the United States as the world's top car market, while sales this year are forecast to hit 15 million units.

The surging car use has brought mounting concerns over pollution, soaring energy demand, and traffic gridlock.  (read more)

Bloomberg -- Hedge-fund bets against gasoline exceeded wagers that prices will rise for the first time in almost four years as the fuel fell in the final week of the U.S. driving season.

Net-short positions held by money managers in gasoline futures and options increased to 1,169 contracts the week ended Aug. 31, the first time speculators have been bearish since November 2006, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report. Hedge funds cut bullish bets for four straight weeks.

Investors have turned bearish on gasoline amid a slide in demand just as the motoring season ends and economic data sends mixed signals about U.S. recovery.  (read more)

MSNBC -- TOKYO — Toyota's Prius was the top selling car in Japan during August for the 16th straight month, as incentives for green vehicles continued to boost sales of the hybrid.

The Prius, Toyota Motor Corp.'s best-selling gasoline-gas hybrid, sold 22,263 of the cars during the month, enough to secure the top spot ahead of Honda's Fit compact at 17,258 vehicles, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.

But it was the lowest monthly total so far this year for the hybrid, sales of which may fade once government-backed tax breaks and incentives run out at the end of this month in Japan.

The Prius went on sale for the first time in 1997, beating rivals as the first mass-produced commercially available hybrid. Toyota's hybrids currently span minivans, sport utility vehicles and  (read more)

San Diego Union Tribune -- A Washington State man who built his own fuel-efficient car 25 years ago repeated his feat of driving border-to-border on a single tank of diesel this week.

"I smashed my old record," Craig Henderson said shortly after arriving at an Otay Mesa parking lot just across the Mexican border Wednesday.

He said the aerodynamic car, which he calls Avion, averaged 119 mpg on its journey from Canada to San Diego. His old record was 103.

The key was an aerodynamic, lightweight design and tires with low rolling resistance from Goodyear, which sponsored the trip.

The car weighs 1,500 pounds and has an 18-gallon fuel tank. To achieve the high mileage, Henderson drove 55 to 60 mph.

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PressTV -- “Global dependence on the OPEC for oil will rise in the next five to 10 years as output by non-OPEC nations falls,” IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said.

"We have seen an increase in non-OPEC supplies. But in the mid-term, non-OPEC production will decline, so dependency on OPEC oil will increase.”

Tanaka noted that the global oil market is currently well supplied. It is anticipated that there will be no change to OPEC production quotas.

Iran is OPEC’s second-largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia.

In 2009, Iran's crude production stood at approximately at 3.8 million barrels per day.

OPEC's 12 members — Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, Ecuador, and Venezuela — produce about 40 percent of the world's crude oil
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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- If you're considering buying a new car, you may want to consider buying it this weekend.

According to Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book, Labor Day is traditionally the best time to buy a car. That is because manufacturers offer generous incentives on current-year models to clear them out and make room on dealer lots for vehicles from the next model year, which traditionally start arriving this month.

"If you just isolated this calendar year, Labor Day is the best time to buy," he said.

So how do this year's Labor Day deals compare with past ones?
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Associated Press -- WASHINGTON - David Sandalow starts his five-mile commute each day by unplugging an orange extension cord connecting his Toyota Prius hybrid to an outlet in his brick carport.

His Prius, which was converted two years ago to allow him to recharge the battery from an electric outlet, gets more than 80 miles per gallon and lets him drive 30 miles on a single charge. He fills up his car with gasoline about once every month or two, an oddity in a transportation sector long dominated by the internal combustion engine.  (read more)

The Washington Post -- When the United States went to war in Iraq, the price of oil was less than $25 a barrel, and futures markets expected it to remain around that level. With the war, prices started to soar, reaching $140 a barrel by 2008. We believe that the war and its impact on the Middle East, the largest supplier of oil in the world, were major factors. Not only was Iraqi production interrupted, but the instability the war brought to the Middle East dampened investment in the region.

In calculating our $3 trillion estimate two years ago, we blamed the war for a $5-per-barrel oil price increase. We now believe that a more realistic (if still conservative) estimate of the war's impact on prices works out to at least $10 per barrel. That would add at least $250 billion in direct costs to our original asses  (read more)

New York TImes -- A new report from a University of Michigan researcher estimates that, even without going electric, U.S. cars and trucks could achieve an average efficiency of 74 miles per gallon by 2035. Compared to a federal 2005 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) baseline, that’s a tripling of fuel economy.

Under the researcher’s fuel economy projections, the average car in 2035 would save 5,254 gallons over its lifetime compared to a similar 2005 vehicle, and would emit 47 tons less carbon dioxide.

The report, commissioned by the Energy Foundation, is by John DeCicco, a senior lecturer at the University of Michigan and a former auto policy expert at the Environmental Defense Fund.  (read more)

The Sydney Morning Herald -- Crude oil fell after service industries grew in August at the weakest pace in seven months, bolstering concern that the US economic rebound will slow.

Futures slipped after the Institute for Supply Management's index of non-manufacturing business, which covers about 90 per cent of the economy, fell to 51.5 in August from 54.3 the prior month. It was the smallest gain since January. Prices rose earlier when a government report showed companies in the US added more jobs in August than forecast.

"Prices are still pretty lofty, given supply and the economic backdrop," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC, a New York-based hedge fund that focuses on energy. "The economic outlook is at best mixed."
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Crude oil for October delivery declined 42 US  (read more)

all cars electric . com -- Fear is a powerful motivator. It has been used in the past to start wars, persuade kids to study at school and of course, sell life insurance.

But now GM appears to be gearing up to use the fear of running out of electricity to give the extended-range 2011 Chevrolet Volt a competitive edge over purely electric cars.
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BTW - This is similar, not a repost.  (read more)

Pottstown Mercury -- In the past, diesel fuel was always considered dirtier than gasoline. But newer standards regulating sulfur content and improved technology in diesel engines have made diesel somewhat kinder to the environment.

Many eco-advocates now tout diesel as a viable and preferable alternative to regular unleaded gasoline.

Where diesel fuel really shines over gasoline is improved fuel economy thanks to its higher “energy density”: Diesel contains more power per liter than gasoline.

Today’s diesel engines have 20-40 percent better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts, which some say more than makes up for the fact that they also produce about 15 percent more greenhouse gases.  (read more)

CleanTechnica.com -- Put this one in the category of every cloud has a silver lining: E. coli, the bacteria notorious for contaminating food products from lettuce to ground beef, could also play a key role in developing the next generation of biofuels. A team of scientists from Rutgers University is working with computer modeling to tweak the pesky little bug into overproduce fatty acids, which can then be processed into biodiesel.

If the research is successful, chalk up another win for producing biofuels from sustainable, non-food sources that can be grown without competing for land with food crops. The growing list includes weedy plants, woody plants, algae and various microorganisms.
E. coli is short for Escherichia coli, which is a rod-shaped bacteria. Some strains are harmful but others are responsible  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- Just as some newspapers took to the press across the nation, gas prices shot up in areas of the Midwest yesterday. While some communities are seeing and enjoying falling prices, that certainly isn't true in parts of the country.

For those highway travelers- beware... many stations with a close proximity to major roads raise their prices slightly to make sure their margin is healthy. What that means for you- you'll have to be smart to avoid those stations, and what better way to outsmart them by using our GasBuddy apps and mobile site to beat the stations raising prices?

Beyond that, this Labor Day weekend will feature average prices that are slightly over a dime more expensive than last year. In 2009, prices over the long...  (read more)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/09/02/129608251/cash-for-clunkers -- The government's "cash for clunkers" program boosted auto sales by 360,000 during the two months it was in place, according to a new study.

But in the seven months that followed, sales were down by 360,000 compared to what they would have been without the program, the study found.

The implication: The program didn't bring new buyers into the market. But it encouraged people who would have bought a car anyway to make their purchase a few months sooner.


Under the program, the government paid people about $4,000 to trade in old cars for newer, more fuel efficient ones. The idea was to both stimulate the economy by driving up auto purchases, and improve the efficiency of all cars on the road.  (read more)

CBC News -- A fuel tanker carrying 9½ million litres of diesel fuel has run aground in the Northwest Passage, the Canadian Coast Guard confirmed Thursday.
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Trigatti said the situation is stable and the modern, double-hulled ship wasn't damaged on impact. "And there's been no report of danger to the crew or loss of any product or pollutant," he said.
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Woodward's is a major oil supplier to Canada's Arctic. The tanker has been carrying diesel to resupply Gjoa Haven and other remote communities in the region.
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Woodward's has worked out a plan with the Nunavut government to free the beached tanker. Fuel will be pumped from it to another tanker until the stranded tanker is light enough to float. That operation could take more than a week
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inhabitat.com -- By Timon Singh

"Hyundai has announced that they will sell hydrogen fuel cell cars starting in 2012 – three years before Toyota, Honda..."

"Seeing that renewable energy is becoming decidedly cheaper... Hyundai has said that will deliver the world’s first series production fuel cell vehicle in 2012, with 500 hydrogen vehicles rolling off the line that year and more afterwards."

"Hyundai plans to increase production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles up to 10,000 units by 2015, the year when most other automakers will be just getting started on their FCVs. (FUEL CELL VEHICLES)

"With hydrogen refueling stations becoming more commonplace and the cost of hydrogen fuel cells dropping, customer demand is very likely to increase,...Hyundai plans to beat Toyota’s price tag of $50,000."  (read more)

Detnews.com -- By Christina Rogers

Detroit -- About 4,600 electric vehicle charging stations will be installed throughout the country -- including 280 in Michigan -- under a federally funded program, ChargePoint America, designed to build a fueling network for electric cars, industry and state officials said Thursday.

Detroit's alternative energy incubator, NextEnergy, in the New Center got the state's first charger under the program but more are expected to go up in Dearborn, Flint, Ann Arbor and other parts of Detroit. Homeowners, businesses and communities are eligible to apply for a charging station. Those chosen get the station for FREE.

The $37 million program, partially funded by a $15 million federal stimulus grant, aims to help communities prepare for a possible influx of electric vehicles  (read more)

Gas 2.0 -- I know we have a lot of readers from Southern California. Sure the weather is great, and the people are generally friendly, but for me it is just too crowded and congested to ever call home. Plus, for such a progressive place, there is a surprising lack of good public transportation. Then again, California has been making big strides towards electric and hybrid vehicles, whether en masse or one municipality at a time. Give credit where credit is due, I always say.

Much credit is due the Foothill Transit authority, which serves Pomona and San Gabriel. They have, at great expense, purchased two all-electric buses and charging stations from Proterra, an electric vehicle startup.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; electric vehicles make the most sense for cities. Most of these vehicle  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- 2pm UPDATE: Louisiana Gov: A sheen has been reported, but Mariner energy reports all 7 wells are shut in permanently- something that hasn't been confirmed. They believe that storage of oil on board was burning. Mariner says the fire is nearly burned out and contained. STAY TUNED.

Breaking news this noon from the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana Coast. The best news- all workers are accounted for.

More from CNN:

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough tells CNN that 12 people from the rig are in the water immersion suits as they await rescue.

Colclough told CNN there are reports the rig is still on fire.

"We don't know what caused the rig to catch on fire," he told CNN, noting the...  (read more)

Bloomberg -- Crude oil is set for a drop to near $60 a barrel, extending a descent started in May, according to a technical analysis by independent analyst Jim Stellakis.

“Last month’s breakdown in crude oil is continuing the longer-term bearish pattern which was started by the May decline,” Stellakis said. The bear flag pattern is signaled after a break occurs below a rising trading range.

Crude oil for October delivery fell 27 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $73.64 a barrel at 10:07 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices for October dropped 9.4 percent in August, pushing futures below the support level. The contract lost $14.05, or 15 percent, in May.

The price target, expected over the next couple months, was derived by taking the length of the initial decline in May and projecting it lower f  (read more)

USA Today -- Ford Motor, unique among car companies, has been cautioning would-be plug-in car owners that such machines will be a major power drain when hooked up at home for recharging.

Ford remains a backer of plug-in hybrids and electrics, with plans to have five on the market in the U.S. and Europe by 2013, but doesn't want folks to forget that the electric vehicles will have a serious appetite for kilowatts when you hook up the charging cord.

Recharging a battery car or plug-in hybrid "is like running a small house," says Jim Buczkowski, Ford's global director of electrical and electronics. "It's fine if your neighbor isn't doing it, too. If you have a whole neighborhood (recharging), the transformer on the pole isn't going to take it," he says.  (read more)

Daily Finance -- Just when many families have opted for "staycations" instead of traveling for the Labor Day weekend because of the lousy economy, they're finally catching a break on gasoline prices. Fuel is at its second-lowest level in five years, and some economists predict that it could drop much further in the months ahead.

The U.S. Energy Department said Wednesday that the average price of gas in the country was $2.68 a gallon, the least of this summer driving season. Only last year's $2.59 a gallon was lower in the last five years, the department said.

 (read more)