Proposed water turbine plan flowing steady
(Addison County Independent) The developers of a proposed water turbine at the Otter Creek Falls will soon seek permission from the Vermont Public Service Board and the town of Middlebury to put their plans into motion. Anders Holm, whose family owns property adjacent to the falls where the turbine would be sited, explained on Thursday that high water levels in the Otter Creek this past spring and summer prevented consultants from completing a needed feasibility study for the project. But those waters have receded in recent weeks to a point where officials from the New Hampshire-based firm of Gomez and Sullivan were able to complete their review of the project site.

Opec casts a dark eye on greening of energy
(Kuwait Times) Despite forecasts that show no end to rising demand for crude over the coming decades, oil-producing nations are casting an uneasy eye on the growing number of measures being taken to tackle climate change. "The main long-term challenge is definitely the necessity to reconcile oil with environmental demands," Claude Mandil, executive director of the International Energy Agency, told a recent conference organised by Opec to examine the industry's future.

Indonesia's PT PGN to develop coalbed methane gas
(Antara) State-owned gas firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PT PGN) plans to develop coalbed methane gas as an alternative energy source to replace fuel oil, a spokesman said. "We will develop coalbed methane gas in Musi Rawas in particular because it has great potential," PT PGN president director WMP Simandjuntak said after signing a memorandum of understanding on exploitation and utilization of CBM with Ridwan Mukti, head of the Musi Rawas district administration.

Irish raise renewable energy target to 15 per cent
(Engineer Live) The Irish government has set a target to treble the amount of electricity it produces from renewable sources by 2010. At the same time, European wind power associations are calling on the European Commission to clarify its position with regard to renewable energy sources.Irish minister for communications, marine and natural resources Noel Dempsey has set a target to treble the contribution made by renewable energy from 5 per cent to 15 per cent of electricity produced by 2010.