Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced the Energize Africa Act, legislation promoting electrification in sub-Saharan Africa. The House passed companion legislation, H.R. 2548, on May 6, 2014. The Energize Africa Act prioritizes and coordinates U.S. government resources to achieve three goals in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020: promote first-time access to electricity for at least 50 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2020; encourage the installation of at least an additional 20,000 megawatts of electrical power using a broad mix of energy options to help reduce poverty, promote sustainable development and drive economic growth; and encourage the necessary in-country reforms to make such expansion of power access possible.- Green Plains Inc. has announced the appointment of Mr. Gene Edwards to its board of directors effective June 19, 2014. Edwards served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Valero Energy Corporation until his retirement in April 2014.
- A wave of new methanol plants spurred by a surplus of natural gas may lead to a glut of methanol in the US by 2018, according to a new study released by global energy news and price reporting organization Argus. The Argus JJ&A Methanol Dynamics study is a comprehensive analysis of the global methanol market with a particular focus on China—the world’s largest methanol market—and the fast-moving US industry. The study also provides a series of 20-year price forecasts for key regions, as well as a global supply and demand outlook and a production cash cost comparison of all methanol producers around the world.
- Siva Power, a leader in advanced solar energy, today announced it has received an initial investment in a $15 million round to help scale the manufacturing of its industry-leading thin film solar technology, which can surpass the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s SunShot Initiative target of solar module cost of $0.50/watt. The company has also hired solar industry veteran Leroy Luo as president of Siva Power China to lead operations in that market.
