September 3, 2012

Portage drilling on the rise; foes warn of impact of injection wells
Recordpub

Portage County could be on the front lines of the fracking war as the oil and gas industry looks for more ways to dispose of its waste products.

Portage already has 16 active wells, the highest concentration of Class II injection wells in Ohio, which has 172 active wells scattered over some 40 counties. The wells are used to dispose of “fracking fluid” and other wastes from oil and gas drilling.

Concerned Citizens of Ohio, a loose confederation of groups in Northeastern Ohio, is raising awareness about the potential dangers of the wells and the traffic associated with them.

“We don’t want any more injection wells. We know the trucks that are surrounding us are filled with hydrochloric acid, liquefied petroleum gas, potassium hydroxide solution,” said Mary Greer of Shalersville.

\The Lightning motorcycle will hit the street
Examiner

In the world of electric motorcycles, you might have heard of Brammo and Zero Motorcycles but the company cutting the lion’s share on the racetrack is Lightning. With its upcoming street legal electric motorcycle, Lightning will wow you.

Lightning has climbed with a lot of work, sweat and tears to dominate the world of electric motorcycle racing. Using almost identical components than its race electric motorcycle, the street version should become the ultimate electric motorcycles.

DoE bidding out hydro site contracts in Q4
Eco Business

The department of Energy (DoE) is bent on pushing through with its plan to bid out within the fourth quarter at least 40 prospective run-of-river hydropower sites for exploration and development.

Mario Marasigan, director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the DoE, said they were now in the thick of preparations for the upcoming bidding, which could be the largest single offering of mini-hydropower projects to the private sector to date.

Marasigan told reporters that the DoE was expecting to finalize the bidding terms of reference within the third quarter of 2012, which would allow them to conduct the auction before the end of the year.

What makes these mini-hydropower projects more attractive to prospective investors, according to Marasigan, is that they come with feasibility studies that were prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Links:

Growing Crops With No Water, The Old-Fashioned Way Scientific American

Inquiry on Tax Strategy Adds to Scrutiny of Finance Firms Times.

NY probes private equity tax strategy FT.

N.Y. attorney general opens probe into private equity firms, including Bain CBS.

Commodities Beating All Assets Again for First Time in 16 Months Bloomberg

The Euro Crisis Is Back From Vacation Times Magazine

Mortgage Registry Muddles Foreclosures Gretchen Morgenson, Times.

These Are the Samsung Products Apple Wants Banned in the U.S. Mashable