Fuel cell powers lights in Trafalgar Square
The laser lights that illuminate Nelson’s Column in London’s Trafalgar Square are now powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. “I strongly support the development of these technologies in London as a viable alternative to noisy, dirty petrol and diesel generators,” says Nicky Gavron, chair of the London Hydrogen partnership.
Source: Fuel cell used on laser lights for Trafalgar Square, fuelcellworks.com

Tennessee DOT begins testing biodiesel fuel in pilot program
The Tennessee Dept. of Transportation (TDOT) has begun using soybean biodiesel fuel in a pilot fleet program for its Knoxville and Johnson City maintenance vehicles. “We hope to take a giant leap forward in decreasing emissions and reducing our dependency on foreign oil, plus helping out American farmers,” says Ed Cole, TDOT Chief of Environment and Planning.
Source: TDOT begins testing biodiesel fuel in East Tennessee, WATE.co

Dow Chemical CEO says Congress should be encouraging more natural gas exploration
Andrew N. Liveris stated in a New York Times interview that Congress should take the lead in encouraging more natural gas exploration off the outer continental shelf and build more LNG terminals.
Source: Natural Gas, the stealth energy crisis, The New York Times

Toyota to make less expensive hybrids
Toyota Motor Corp. will launch a new hybrid vehicle with a more fuel efficient and less costly engine. The company plans to double its hybrid capacity to 600,000 units annually.
Source: Toyota to launch less costly hybrid vehicles in 2008 – report, Forbes

Linde AG says new LNG-producing factory orders will likely double
Linde AG, the world’s most profitable industrial plant builder, says orders of new LNG-producing factories will probably double this year due to the shrinking global oil supply. “The trend is clearly moving towards gas,” says Wolfgang Reitzle, Linde AG’s chief executive. “Oil extraction is becoming more expensive and troublesome. “
Source: Linde plant orders to double on liquefied-gas demand, Bloomberg

Landfill methane becoming cheap fuel alternative in Missouri
“Because methane is a by-product of a landfill, by capturing and using it, you get a double benefit,” says Lynn Brown of Waste Management. “It reduces greenhouse gases and creates a renewable energy source.”
Source: Methane gas cheaper choice, The Examiner

Australia expects LNG exports to rise 48% in 2005
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics forecasts a 48% increase in LNG exports, to $4.7 billion, this year. The increase is due to expanded LNG production across the North West Shelf.
Source: LNG exports set to rise to 48%, WA Business News

SMART Automobile launches first CNG taxi fleet in Singapore
SMART Automobile, the alternative fuel vehicle division of Daimler Chrysler, has launched the first CNG fleet of Mercedes Benz E200 class taxis in Singapore. These vehicles are expected to reduce annual fuel costs by an average of $10,000 per unit.
Source: SMART Auto launches Singapore’s first fleet of CNG-powered taxis, Central NewsAsia

Russia’s Gazprom wants 10% of U.S. LNG market by 2010
Russia’s state-owned utility, Gazprom, wants to obtain 10% of the U.S. market for LNG by 2010, increasing to 20% thereafter.
Source: Gazprom to obtain over 10 percent of LNG American market by 2010, Analytical Information Agency

Florida’s Manatee County converted entire school bus fleet to biofuel
Florida’s Manatee County School District has converted its fleet of 254 buses to biofuel. The county should save over $40,000 in fuel costs next year, according to Don Ross, vehicle maintenance supervisor for the school district.
Source: Fueling news: Manatee schools switching to biodiesel in buses, The Herald

U.S. Export-Import Bank approves $403.5 million loan guarantee to support building of Qatar LNG plant
The United States Export-Import Bank approved a $403.5 million loan guarantee to support U.S. equipment and services that will be exported to Qatar to build a natural gas liquefaction plant. The facility will process an estimated 7.8 million metric tons of LNG annually, for export to the U.S.
Source: U.S. Ex-Im Bank OKs Qatar LNG plant loan guarantee, Reuters

New York City has ordered 825 hybrid buses
New York City has ordered 825 Orion VII buses from DaimlerChrysler. According to Transit Authority president Laurence Reuter, one hybrid bus can be as environmentally safe as 18 to 20 Toyota Priuses.
Source: New York’s new hybrid buses, PC magazine

SF to add clean-air vehicles to city taxi fleet
San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom recently announced a financial incentive package, which would facilitate the purchase of new CNG and hybrid taxis. These incentives were provided by Clean Energy, North America’s leader in clean transportation.
Source: San Francisco to add clean-air vehicles to city’s taxi fleet, American Chronicle

Emir spells out Qatari LNG vision
At the International Petroleum Technology Conference in Qatar, the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said his country is committed to supplying one-third of the world’s LNG requirements by 2010.
Source: Emir spells out Qatari LNG vision, Gulf Times

U.S. energy industry entering an era of increased LNG imports
Long-term forecasts indicate that LNG demand is expected to increase globally by more than 300% by 2012. U.S. LNG imports, currently satisfying 3% of U.S. natural gas needs, are expected to jump to 20% by 2025.
Source: U.S. energy industry enters an era of increasing imports of LNG, bizjournals.com

Nigeria plans to expand LNG production
Nigeria LNG Ltd. plans to boost production of its nation’s LNG to meet growing U.S. demands.
Source: Nigeria LNG seeks to expand its production, Gulf Times

Clean Energy buys Texas LNG plant
Clean Energy, the leading U.S. provider of natural gas for transportation, purchased the Willis, Texas LNG plant, which can produce 100,000 gallons per day.
Source: Clean Energy buys Texas plant, Orange County Business Journal

New York Governor orders increase in biofuel usage for state vehicles and heating
NY Governor George Pataki has mandated a 50% increase in the usage of biofuels in state vehicles and buildings.
Source: Pataki gives order for biofuel use, Suffolk Life Newspapers

Washington State meets new federal clean-air standards
Washington becomes the first western state, excluding Hawaii, to fully comply with current federal clean-air requirements. Only 12 states nationwide have met the tougher EPA standards.
Source: State meets all federal clean-air standards, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

SunLine Transit introduces zero emission fuel cell hybrid bus
SunLine Transit introduced its new bus at the 2005 Fuel Cell Seminar in Palm Springs, CA. The new transit vehicle is one of only four of its kind in the U.S.
Source: SunLine Transit introduces zero emission fuel cell hybrid bus, EV World

New England looks to Canada for natural gas needs
Faced with increased demand for natural gas, several New England states are discussing ways of securing more supply sources from Canada. Currently, 80% of New England’s supply of natural gas comes from western Canada.
Source: New England looks to Canada for natural gas needs, Associated Press

Connecticut purchases 575 hybrid vehicles for state agencies
The Emissions Division of the Connecticut DMV have begun driving 17 hybrid vehicles, as part of Governor M. Jodi Rell’s goal to improve the state’s air quality. Connecticut purchased a total of 575 hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles, including the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius.
Source: DMV notes hybrid use, Town Times

New York to adopt California’s tough air standards
The New York State Environmental Board unanimously voted to adopt California’s tough new rules regarding carbon dioxide emission reductions. “The two biggest contributors to global warming are power plants and motor vehicles,” says David Doniger, a senior lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “If you deal with them, you deal with more than two-thirds of the problem.”
Source: Battle lines set as New York acts to cut emissions, The New York Times

Top three oil companies look to U.S. for new sources of natural gas
ExxonMobil, Shell and BP are making long-term commitments to natural gas exploration in the U.S. The current high price of natural gas makes investments in new exploration economically attractive for the top three oil companies.
Source: For oil majors, U.S. suddenly a gas, MarketWatch

Opposition is decreasing for Long Beach LNG terminal
The Long Beach City Council has decided to stay neutral on the construction of a LNG terminal at the city’s major port during public hearings this week. Local opposition to the proposed $700-million project has dwindled in recent months.
Source: Fewer object to Gas Project, Los Angeles Times

Four federal agencies agree to buy more alternative fuel vehicles
Under a settlement filed in San Francisco’s federal court, the Commerce, Labor and Transportation departments, and Veterans Administration must agree to purchase alternative fuel vehicles in the future.
Source: Four federal agencies agree to buy more alternative fuel vehicles, San Jose Mercury News