So much energy news, so little time...

Lots going on right now, but I'm a bit busy with moving to be on top of it...

Islander East Receives Favorable Ruling from U.S. District Court in CT: Pipeline Does Not Require State Structures, Dredge and Fill Permit (PR Newswire 3/26/07)
Translation: "Pucker up, states' rights!"

State Selects 11 'Clean Power' Projects For Program (Courant 3/27/07)
(thanks again, Tim)

Energy forum tries to make sense of high electric rates (New Times Live, 3/26/07)

Mott jumps into fuel cells

Mott Corporation in Farmington, CT is a familiar name to any manufacturer who utilizes porous metal products -- typically for high purity or high temperature filtration applications. They recently recieved an SBIR grant to develop fuel cell membranes. Fuel cell "stack" plates require high surface area within a small volume, which is a great application for sintered metal plates like the ones Mott produces. In simple terms, they take metal powder or grain and heat it up so they are just hot enough to bond together, but not quite hot enough to melt into a pool. Look for them in a fuel cell near you.

Tick...tick...tick..

Still waiting on some meaningful energy policy to materialize. The Boston Globe reports:

Earlier this year, House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, said he expected a package of reforms aimed at addressing Connecticut's energy woes within the first 30 days of this year's legislative session. But the two leaders of the energy committee are still trying to craft a compromise bill to present to the full legislature.

This session ends June 6.

Live wire!! State Rep joins energy forum tonight

Don't miss this "live-blog" discussion with State Rep Kim Fawcett -- tonight at 8PM on MyLeftNutmeg.

Green Energy Conference in Clinton

This sounds like an exciting conference in Clinton organized by the Shoreline League of Democratic Women. The focus is on environment, energy use and conservation.

Speakers include Mark Simon of Centerbrook Architects and Planners; Bob Chew of SolarWrights; Alice Liddell and Derek Murrow, policy analysts from Environment Northeast; Keri Enright from SmartPower; and Rep. Vicki Nardello of the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee.

I suppose un-democratic men would probably not be turned away. Show up to the Clinton Town Hall on April 19th to find out.

For more info information on the Shoreline League of Democratic Women, send an e-mail to sldworg@gmail.com or contact Belinda Jones at 860-399-1147 or Laurie Santos at 860-669-8395

New biofuel facility in Cheshire announced

Councilman Tim White is excited about a new biofuel facility to be built in Cheshire. And who wouldn't be? The bio-fuel industry grew about 300% last year and shows no signs of stopping. The New Haven Register article implies that they will be simply mixing vegetable oil with diesel fuel, but I doubt that is the case. Normally the oil is processed into biodiesel (by extracting gycerine) so that it becomes a more homogenous mixture.

DIY Green energy systems

Ever look at a big wind turbine and think to yourself "What's the big deal? Any idiot could build one of those"? Well now is your chance to prove it. YourGreenDream.com has ideas and step-by-step procedures for building your own wind turbine, PV solar system, energy efficient LED systems and other cool stuff.