Volume X - Issue I - January 2008
Fascinating Projects
Masdar - Project to develop the World's First Fully Sustainable "Green Community" underway in Abu Dhabi "Visionary" is a word that aptly describes the team of minds that conceived the Masdar Initiative, a global cooperative platform for open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development. Masdar is the Arabic word for "the source," and the Masdar Initiative will prove to be the source for global collaboration on developing alternative energies and sustainable technologies.  A creation of the Masdar Initiative is the Masdar City Development, the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste "green community." Nestled in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the six square kilometer alternative energy city will open in late 2009, and will establish a world-class standard for implementing integrated sustainable technologies. The city will house the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the graduate science and research Institute currently being established in cooperation with MIT; research facilities; world-class laboratories; commercial space for related-sector companies; light manufacturing facilities and a carefully selected pool of international tenants who will invest, develop, and commercialize advanced energy technologies. The development will also host Masdar's headquarters, residential space for employees, as well as a science museum and edutainment facilities. The Masdar "Green" City, being developed by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), appointed last June a consortium led by Foster + Partners to design the master plan of the development and to define the sustainability guidelines for construction within the Masdar City. Masdar has now announced the appointment of CH2M HILL as the program manager for the first phase of the development after a multi-stage competition involving 13 international program management firms.  CH2M HILL will be responsible for technology integration and for aligning the efforts of the designers, contractors, and third parties to program goals and standards. "Masdar is inspiring for its vision, boldness and leadership," says Ralph R. Peterson CH2M HILL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "It promises to showcase and accelerate the development and adoption of technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon management, waste management and water usage. As innovations and applications created by the Masdar initiative take hold, cities around the world will surely benefit, making a great idea a truly transformative idea."
 "Masdar is 'the source' of an initiative whose target audience is the world," says Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar Chief Executive Officer. "The aspiration of the strategic alliance between Masdar, Foster + Partners Architects and CH2M HILL is to inspire sustainable 21st century world cities - that is the fullest context of our endeavor." Headquartered in Denver, Colo., employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, construction and operations for public and private clients. With more than $5 billion in revenue, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2007). CH2M HILL has over 23,000 employees around the world. For more information about CH2M Hill, visit http://www.ch2m.com/corporate/default.asp. For additional information about the Masdar initiative, visit http://www.masdaruae.com/. Source: CH2M Hill press release. "Greenland Connect" project Tele Greenland awards Alcatel-Lucent announced on Friday, 7 December, the signature of a Euro 90 million turnkey contract with Tele Greenland to deploy a 4,600 kilometer submarine cable network linking Greenland to Iceland and Canada. The new cable network, called Greenland Connect, is expected to provide international and domestic connectivity to meet the growing bandwidth requirements for new applications – including video, data, and other multimedia services – to serve Tele Greenland’s users. The project should be completed before the winter season of 2008.  The Greenland Connect network will consist of two main sections (or trunk cables): the first one will span 2,500 kilometers from Nuuk in Greenland to Milton in Newfoundland and the second will link Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Landeyarsandur in Iceland over 2,100 kilometers. Each of the trunk cables will be equipped with branching units allowing for future connections north of Nuuk and also for a direct connection fromNewfoundland to Iceland. Greenland Connect will offer an ultimate capacity of up to 96 x 10Gbit/s. The network will enable businesses and consumers to benefit from services such as broadband Internet and video conferencing. Tele Greenland will also be able to further enhance its end-to-end offering for voice and data network hubs, call centers and advanced multimedia applications for maritime safety and emergency communications.
 “According to our vision “Greenland in the Centre of the World, we have to address increased connectivity requirements, while minimizing our operational costs and guaranteeing performance continuity at the highest level possible. The Greenland Connect cable will provide Greenland with a place on the worldwide Internet network, and direct access to American and European markets” said CEO Brian Buus Pedersen, Tele Greenland. “Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine solutions offer the flexibly and reliability our customers require to support the cost-effective delivery of innovative services.” “The severe weather conditions of Greenland and the North Atlantic Ocean make this project very challenging,“ stated Jean Godeluck, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine network activity. “Our selection for this project is based on our ability to manage from the most simple to the most complex turnkey projects and deliver it on time.” For more than 75 years, TELE Greenland Inc. has provided telecommunications and marketed telecom and IT-solutions in Greenland. The telecom division operates telecommunications activities in Greenland according to a concession granted by the Greenland Home Rule Government. With a total area of 2.2 million Sq. km, Greenland is the largest island in the world, 10 times the size of The United Kingdom and part of the North American continent. Greenland has a population of 57,000 people located along the west and east coast of the island in 17 towns and 55 settlements. For more information, visit Tele Greenland on the Internet at http://www.tele.gl.
 Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted pro-forma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: Pre-feasibility Study launched for USD 6 Billion South Africa Refinery Project in Port Elizabeth Reported by Jaycee Kruger in South Africa A contract award to KBR for a pre-feasibility study to build a USD 6 billion crude oil refinery for PetroSA in Coega, Port Elizabeth has been announced. The proposed crude oil refinery, called Project Mthombo, is expected to come on stream in 2014/2015. Project Mthombo, which could produce more than 200,000 barrels of fuel per day, will be one of the largest post-2010 investments in South Africa.  The pre-feasibility study focuses on determining the economic optimum configuration for the refinery including crude oil type and costs, required product slate, prices and specifications, and capital and operating costs. The study is expected to take about six months to complete and will be conducted out of KBR's Houston offices with support of KBR South Africa and Ilitha, a local engineering company. After the configuration has been approved, Project Mthombo will move on to the feasibility phase, which will define the engineering scope of the refinery. The project will generate approximately 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in one of the most impoverished provinces in South Africa, beginning with numerous South African personnel assigned to work on the study.  "PetroSA is using this opportunity to develop job skills capacity in South Africa and has selected several promising candidates from previously disadvantaged South Africans, who will be assigned to KBR for the duration of the study. The development of these engineers, who are essential for the successful construction and operation of the refinery, is part of a well-defined strategy by PetroSA in anticipation of future needs," said Jorn Falbe, vice-president, new ventures--midstream for PetroSA. Project Mthombo underpins South Africa's security of energy supply and reduces South Africa's dependency on imported automotive fuels. Project Mthombo, which is nominally sized for 200,000 barrels of fuel per day to satisfy the South African demand, could be expanded to allow for exports or other growth opportunities and could be integrated with downstream petrochemical opportunities. This project should also mean a lot of jobs for project management specialists, both in PetroSA and among contractors. United Launch Alliance successfully Launches 2nd COSMO Satellite - NASA announces Shuttle launch delay Reflecting another successful commercial satellite launch program, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket successfully launched the second Italian-built Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation or COSMO-SkyMed 2 satellite at 6:31 p.m. PST, on Saturday, December 8, 2007. Blasting off from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in the USA, it marked the third successful Delta II vehicle launch by Boeing Launch Services, a division of Boeing Network and Space Systems, of a commercial satellite.  "ULA is pleased to have successfully launched the second of four critical Earth observation systems in this series for our customer," said Mark Wilkins, ULA vice president of Delta programs. "Our launch team is comprised of the most experienced engineers and technicians in the industry and we look forward to continuing to provide reliable, innovative and cost effective launch services for many future commercial launches." ULA began processing the Delta II launch vehicle in Decatur, Ala., nearly two years ago. In late August, the 1st stage arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base from Decatur, followed by the 2nd stage later early October. The vehicle was erected on the stand at the pad Oct. 9, with solid rocket booster installation complete mid-October. Hundreds of ULA technicians, engineers and management worked to prepare the vehicle for the COSMO-2 mission.  Developed by Thales Alenia Space, Italia for the Italian Space Agency and the Ministry of Defense, COSMO-2 is the second of the four COSMO-SkyMed satellites. COSMO-SkyMed 3 will be launched about a Delta II vehicle from SLC-2 in the second half of 2008. Each satellite is a constellation of four radar satellites and is equipped with a high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar operating in X-band. The overall objective of the program is global Earth observation and relevant data responding to the needs of the military and scientific community, as well as to the public demand for environmental control. Formed in 2006, ULA combines the successful Atlas and Delta expendable launch vehicle programs offering cost-effective and reliable launch services to U.S. government customers, including the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and other commercial organizations. ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Alabama, Harlingen, Texas and San Diego, California in the USA. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. For more information on the ULA joint venture, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com.  Meanwhile on Sunday, NASA announced another delay for the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis for its STS-122 mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle program managers made the decision early Sunday morning, December 9, after a failure occurred in a fuel sensor system while Atlantis' external fuel tank was being filled. One of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of the tank gave a false reading. NASA's current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday, December 6, was delayed after two liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel. The Atlantis remained on the launch pad (pictured) in Florida, waiting for a new launch date. The main objective of Atlantis' 11-day mission is to install and activate the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, which will provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. For the latest information about the STS-122 mission and the ECO sensor system, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle. KIZUMA (WINDS) Satellite Launch Announced by JAXA Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have announced that the launch of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 14 (H-IIA F14) with the super high-speed Internet satellite "KIZUNA" (WINDS) onboard has been approved by the Space Activities Commission (SAC. The launch day of the super high-speed Internet satellite "KIZUNA" (WINDS) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 14 (H-IIA F14) is now set for February 15, 2008, between 4:27 and 4:39 p.m. (Japan Standard Time, JST).  The "KIZUNA" is a communications satellite that will enable super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps to develop a society without any information availability disparity, in which everybody can equally enjoy high-speed communications wherever they live. The KIZUNA (WINDS) does not require costly ground equipment. A small antenna (about 45 cm in diameter) installed at a house can receive data at up to 155Mbps and transmit data at up to 6Mbps. With a larger antenna of about 5 meters in diameter, super high-speed data communications of up to 1.2 Gbps will be available. In areas where major ground infrastructure for the Internet is difficult to establish, people should be able to enjoy the same level of Internet service as that in urban areas. Using an antenna for South East Asian countries, the aim is to achieve super high-speed communications with nations in the Asia/Pacific region with which Japan has close ties. Large-volume and high-speed communications provided by the KIZUNA (WINDS) are expected to be useful in various areas. For example, contributing to "remote medicine" that enables everybody to receive sophisticated medical treatment regardless of time and location by transmitting clear images of the conditions of a patient to a doctor in an urban area from a remote area or island where few doctors are available. In academic and educational fields, schools and researchers in remote areas can exchange information easily. To help cope with disasters, information can be swiftly provided through space. As a result of asking the public to nominate a nickname for it, 9,657 suggestions were received in total. Among them, "KIZUNA," meaning "ties" or "bonds," was chosen after 452 nominations for it were received, indicating the strong hope for the satellite to play the role of bonding people. The H-IIA F14 is a "H2 A2024" type of rocket with two solid rocket boosters (SRB-A) and four solid strap-on boosters (SSB.) The fairing is a 4S-model (4 meters in diameter.) The Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS) has been developed to achieve an information society with reliable high-speed Internet service to anyone at anytime, anywhere. The WINDS system is under joint development by JAXA and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), based on the e-Japan Priority Policy Program of the Japanese government's IT strategy headquarters. WINDS is currently in its final stage of preparations before launch, now scheduled for February 2008.  The WINDS project manager is Yasuo Nakamura (pictured). Mr. Nakamura joined NASDA, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now JAXA), in 1974, and was involved in environmental testing and development of thermal control systems for spacecraft. After working on the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite Midori (ADEOS), working as a director of NASDA's Paris Office, and further work on the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite Midori II (ADEOS II), he was appointed to his current position in 2003.  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was formed on October 1, 2003 through the merger of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). While space development and utilization, and aviation research and development, are the measures to achieve the nation's policy objectives, contribution to problem solving is also an important mission for JAXA. As a core organization for aerospace technology, JAXA will promote consistent activities, from basic research to technology development and utilization. JAXA pursues the enormous possibilities in space and aviation, and challenges various research and development fields in the aim of "Sustainable Development" in order to contribute to peace and happiness for all mankind. Beside four headquarters, the JAXA performs operations, research and development at local launch sites, test facilities and observatories across Japan. JAXA puts emphasis on international cooperation, and currently most projects are conducted through international cooperation. For additional information, visit http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html. Amandelbult East UG2 Platinum Mine Expansion, South Africa Reported by Jaycee Kruger in South Africa The implementation phase of the East Upper Group Two (UG2) project at Anglo Platinum's Amandelbult mine has started, after completion of the feasibility study by local consulting engineering and project management company, RSV (Read, Swatman & Voigt). The initial studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of improving the extraction of UG2 chromitite ore by making use of the previously mined-out Merensky infrastructure in the upper section of the No 2 shaft, the 44 East raisebore and sub incline, the 50 East footwall and the 62 East footwall shafts.  The East Upper UG2 project, which will have a life-of-mine until about 2053, involves extensive rehabilitation of the existing workings: Replacing all the tracks and the attendant water and air reticulation piping, replacing the tips and ore transfer chutes and upgrading the winders. Three existing declines will have to be rehabilitated, as well as the upper eastern portion of the mine closest to the surface and the access to the workings. The cross cuts will be extended and an additional 9 280-m development will be undertaken to build up an 18-month ore reserve, in addition to the conversion of the existing vertical ventilation system to a third-ore pass and a new return airway raisebored. The surface infrastructure will include new offices, change houses, lamp rooms, and a surface silo. Two Major Coal Projects Announced In South Africa Reported by Jaycee Kruger in South Africa Two new major coal projects in South Africa, with a combined cost of about $955-million were announced by two heavy weights in the mining industry, Anglo American and BHP Billiton. BHP Billiton approved its $450-million Klipspruit expansion project to grow the mine's capacity from the existing 4,8-million tons a year to eight-million tons a year, due in the second half of 2009, most for exporting through the about-to-be-increased Richard bay Coal Terminal (RBCT). The mine will have an expected life of around 20 years from commissioning date.  On the other hand, Anglo American announced that Anglo Inyosi Coal’s $505-million Zondagsfontein project near the town of Ogies in Mpumalanga province, will kick off early in 2008 to be completed in the second half of 2009 and eventually produce six-million tons of coal a year from around 2011. “It is envisaged that this project will create employment for more than 1 000 people when completed, in addition to contributing substantially to the economic development of the region through infrastructure development and providing procurement opportunities for local businesses,” the company said in a statement. As if this is not enough, the two companies also formed a 50:50 joint venture (JV) to develop a 16-million-tons-a-year coal-processing plant, called Phola Coal, which will be constructed by Anglo.
Project in Ecuador to help rural poor funded by World Bank Reported by Irwin Jose Franco in Guayaquil The World Bank’s Board of Directors have approved a $15.3 million loan to the Government of Ecuador to improve irrigation systems and the Chambo and Chanchan-Chimbo roads, in Chimborazo province, with the goals to increase production by rural families and to improve market access. The announcement was made on December 7, 2007 in Washington, DC.  The Project for Productive Investments in Chimborazo-Ecuador aims to expand the production and market value of local peasants’ foodstuffs. It is estimated that at the end of the project around 17,500 families will add to their products’ value by 10% and that 15,000 rural families will increase their sales by 5%. The project also aims to increase irrigation efficiency by 30%, both in systems and farms and reduce travel time by 30% through the use of improved roads. “I want to express my gratitude because a loan requested by responsible local authorities has been approved. The community will benefit and now they will have to make sure that the terms of the loan are executed adequately,” said Fausto Ortiz, Minister of Finance of Ecuador. The project’s goals and objectives are consistent with Chimborazo province’s “Minga for our lives” development plan, which intends to concentrate development efforts on four pillars: strengthen the environment’s sustainable use; accelerate the local economy and its productivity; improve business processes and to set up a local plan to combat poverty.  “Equitable rural development is vital for Ecuador’s growth. This loan will support the existing provincial government’s efforts to improve living standards and productive processes of Chimborazo peasants, and maximize their contributions to the local economy”, said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Country Director for, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Among other things, the funds will support two key infrastructure projects that play an important role in the local rural economy’s development, including improvement and rehabilitation of irrigation systems. Equally, the Riobamba-San Luis-Punín-Flores-Cebadas provincial road (approximately 20 miles long) will be rehabilitated and the Charicando-San Patricio-La Dolorosa road (15.7 miles long) will be improved. Investment in roads and irrigation systems will allow people from the local community better access to urban markets, to increase and diversify their production, particularly fodder, and in that way be able to satisfy the increasing demand in cities for products like milk and meat. The $15.3 million International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) Loan for Productive Investments in Chimborazo has a reimbursement period of 19 years with a 2-year grace period.
 Chimborazo Province is home to Mt. Chimborazo (pictured), the highest peak in Ecuador. With an elevation of 6,268 m, Chimborazo is the highest mountain in Ecuador and the northern Andes (north of Peru); it is higher than any more northerly summit in the Americas. Its summit is generally regarded as the spot on the surface farthest from the center of the Earth, farther even than Mt. Everest due to the width of the Earth so near the Equator.
A new airport at the lowest point on earth Reported by Ammar Mango in Amman  His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of Jordan, announced in a conference held on the 16th December, a new Airport Construction project in the northern Jordan Valley area, a few kilometers away from the Dead Sea, known as the lowest point on earth. This airport aims at facilitating the shipment of the Jordanian agricultural annual production to the global market. The execution of the project start is expected in the first quarter of 2008. It is considered as part of a program that includes a series of Jordanian initiatives aiming at improving the economy, fighting poverty, and providing jobs for the under privileged, which is part of Jordan's strategic plan. “Al Ghor,” as it is known for the locals, is considered the main source of Jordan's Agricultural production due to the very warm climate and minerals rich land, in addition to being one of the most important tourism attraction points. The area is on the Jordanian agenda as one of the targeted areas with several upcoming projects aiming at the development of both the agricultural and tourism sectors.
Russia, Turkmenistan & Kazakhstan agree on According to a news release from the World Bank on December 21, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan ahve finalized a landmark agreement to build a new pipeline to transport gas to Russia. Dubbed Pricaspiysky, the new pipeline will skirt the east coast of the Caspian Sea carrying 20 billion cubic meters a year of Turkmen and Kazakh gas north to Russia's Saratov region  Russian president Vladimir Putin said the Pricaspiysky pipeline would be 'a serious investment by our countries in strengthening energy security, not just in Eurasia but more widely, bearing in mind our main consumers in west Europe'. Viktor Khristenko, the Russian energy minister, said the Pricaspiysky pipeline would be built by late 2010. Each republic would take responsibility for financing construction of the pipeline on their territory, he said." IHT notes that "Desperate to meet growing domestic and European demand, Russia signed a major deal Thursday with the Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build a natural gas pipeline along the Caspian Sea, a move that could strengthen Russia's monopoly on energy exports from this region, analysts said. The deal was signed on Thursday, December 20 in the Kremlin by Putin and President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan during a conference call with President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan. Starting in January, Russia will pay $130 per 1,000 cubic meters, or 35,000 cubic feet, for gas from Turkmenistan, compared to $100 paid this year. During the second half of 2008, the price will rise to $150 per 1,000 cubic meters. [The International Herald Tribune] Source: World Bank Press Review, December 21, 2007.
Fraud or just bad project management? Reported by Marc Zocher in Seattle, WA, USA According to an article published by the Seattle Times on Thursday, December 20, and republished in the Bellingham Herald, a Washington state audit accuses the Port of Seattle, a public agency, of wasting $97.2 million in taxpayer money, violating state law with a contract related to construction of the third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and having a number of other "serious and pervasive issues."  The report found the port had circumvented public bidding requirements in violation of its own policies and sometimes in violation of state law. Apparently, in one instance, port management authorized a construction contract that was $32.7 million higher than an engineer's original estimate. That contract violated state law and details of it were concealed from the elected Port Commission, the audit said. One consulting contract awarded in 1998 was increased, without competitive bidding, from $10 million to more than $120 million. According to the state auditor, the contract has unnecessarily cost taxpayers $60.5 million. The audit criticized port staff for blocking or delaying access to information or altering documents before releasing them to auditors. Eleven port managers refused to provide signed written statements attesting to the accuracy of the information they provided to the auditors.
 The Port of Seattle is one of the largest and most complex public agencies in the state and has spent more than $500 million on construction and capital projects in each of the past three years. Washington voters gave the auditor's office authority to perform independent performance audits when they approved Initiative 900 two years ago. The performance audit covered all construction projects and related consulting agreements at the port from January 2004 through March 2007, though some of the contracts had started years earlier. The auditor also recommended restructuring the port's internal audit function and appointing a chief procurement officer. The state’s auditor did note that the port was embarking on a new era with some new commissioners and a recently hired chief executive, who has expressed a commitment to addressing the issues raised by the audit. For more on this story, visit http://www.seattletimes.com.
Project off Washington coast receives FERC first license Reported by Marc Zocher in Seattle, WA, USA Finavera Renewables Inc. has been granted an operating license for its Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project in Washington State by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The license is the first ever issued by the Commission for a wave, tidal or current energy project in the United States.  According to Finavera Renewables CEO Jason Bak, "This is a tremendous step forward for the development of wave energy in the United States. Our Makah Bay Offshore Pilot Project is designed to demonstrate the viability of wave energy technology and our project management abilities. This pilot project is an important part of the commercial development of wave energy in the United States. The Makah Indian Nation has been a strong partner in this project, and deserves credit for its vision and desire to tap into the incredible potential of ocean energy. We look forward to demonstrating the viability of this source of clean, renewable energy and to developing a strong business partnership with the Makah Nation and its Energy Enterprise." "The Makah Nation is pleased to join with Finavera in a new energy venture - capturing electricity from the infinite wave energy power that results from the gravitational pull of the moon," said Ben Johnson Jr., Chairman of the Makah Tribal Council .
 "We look forward to generating renewable, carbon free energy for the Tribe's members and to growing our business relationship with Finavera to demonstrate this visionary technology," said Robert J. Martin, the Chief Executive Officer of the Makah Energy Enterprise. The decision by FERC gives Finavera Renewables a conditional five-year license for the proposed project. The FERC license is conditional on the Company obtaining all additional federal and state permits before construction may begin. The Makah Bay Offshore Wave Energy Pilot Project will provide stakeholders, regulators and investors a tangible demonstration of the potential of wave energy. The license follows on the heels of Finavera Renewables and PG&E signing the industry's first purchase power agreement earlier this week. The Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project will provide stakeholders, regulators and investors a tangible demonstration of the potential of wave energy. The project will be located in the Pacific Ocean in Makah Bay, 3.7 nautical miles offshore of Waatch Point in Clallam County, Washington. Finavera Renewables filed an application to construct the offshore power plant with FERC in November 2006. The location was chosen for several reasons: participation of the Makah Indian Nation, depth proximity to shore, strong climate, shoreline transmission line, and electricity demand in coastal communities.  Finavera Renewables Inc. is dedicated to the development of renewable energy resources and technologies. The Company's objective is to become a major renewable and green energy producer by developing and operating its assets in the wind and wave energy sectors. Finavera Renewables Inc. is developing the licensed and patented 'AquaBuOY' wave energy technology, a device that is based on proven and sustainable buoy technology. The Company is developing wave energy projects for AquaBuOY use in the United States, Portugal, South Africa and Canada. The Company is also developing other wind energy projects in Canada and Ireland. In Canada, a two stage 150MW project is being developed in Alberta. Construction on this advance stage project is estimated to begin in 2008 and provides for near term revenue. In British Columbia, four projects totaling 366MW have been entered into the provincial Environmental Assessment process, and several other sites are being developed. In Ireland, two pre-construction wind projects are under development with a potential capacity of 175MW. Data collection and environmental studies have been continuing at a number of sites in both countries. For more information, visit www.finavera.com.
NASA'S announces Top Exploration and Discovery Stories of 2007 NASA has announced its ten top 2007 stories from among its various programs and projects. During 2007, the Agency moved forward to explore the solar system, expand knowledge of Earth and its place in the universe, and build the International Space Station. The space shuttle flew three highly successful missions to continue the station's assembly, and construction began on projects designed to send astronauts to the moon, where they will establish a permanent outpost and prepare for eventual voyages to Mars. Space science missions were launched to Mars and the asteroid belt. Closer to home, Earth science satellites made a number of key discoveries, such as how waterways beneath an Antarctic ice stream affect sea level and the world's largest ice sheet. Here are short summaries of NASA’s top stories for 2007, some of which have been previously featured in breaking news articles on www.pmforum.org. CONSTELLATION BUILDS SYSTEMS FOR RETURN TO MOON NASA began laying the foundation for the future of space exploration in 2007. Construction projects across the agency supported the Constellation Program, which is developing next-generation spacecraft and systems to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. All major contracts for the Ares I rocket were awarded in 2007. Hard hats, cranes and bulldozers were the equipment of choice at space facilities across the country. Construction got under way at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in Las Cruces, N.M., where NASA will hold the Constellation Program's first flight tests in 2008.  At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers are erecting a new lightning protection system at the Constellation launch pad, 39-B. A new test stand for rocket engines is being built at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. NASA's lunar architects unveiled more details of their plans for a lunar outpost, complete with small, pressurized rovers that would travel in pairs, and possible astronaut housing that could be moved from one location to another. NASA engineers also sought opportunities to test lunar equipment ideas at sites on Earth that are similar to the moon, such as the Arizona desert and the Antarctic tundra. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/constellation .
 HISTORIC HANDSHAKE BETWEEN WOMEN COMMANDERS Space Shuttle Commander Pam Melroy and the International Space Station's Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson made history Oct. 25 when shuttle Discovery and the station docked, and the hatches between the two ships were opened. As the two women shook hands 200 miles above Earth, they became the first female spacecraft commanders to lead shuttle and station missions simultaneously. Whitson, who also holds the distinction of being the first woman to command a station mission, has accumulated more total time in orbit than any other female space traveler. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/sts120_mission_overview.html RISE OF THE PHOENIX NASA's Phoenix mission launched Aug. 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a nine-month trek to Mars. The robotic lander is scheduled to arrive at the Red Planet May 25, 2008, and begin a close examination of Mars' northern polar region. Phoenix will be the first mission to touch the planet's water-ice. Its robotic arm will dig into an icy layer believed to lie just beneath the Martian surface. The robot explorer will study the history of the water in the ice, monitor weather in the polar region, and investigate whether the subsurface environment in the far-northern plains of Mars has ever been favorable for sustaining microbial life. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix  INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION KEEPS ON GROWING NASA launched three successful space shuttle missions in June, August and October to deliver pieces of the International Space Station, allowing it to grow in size, volume and power production in 2007. The electricity generated by the station and used aboard the outpost more than doubled this year. The station's six solar panels now extend to more than half an acre of surface area. NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts safely conducted 22 spacewalks devoted to building and maintaining the station in 2007. A 23rd spacewalk is planned for Dec. 18. That will match a record for the most spacewalks in a single year. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_assembly.html
 COLD AS ICE Scientists using NASA satellites discovered an extensive network of waterways beneath a fast-moving Antarctic ice stream. The waterways provide clues as to how "leaks" in the system affect sea level and the world's largest ice sheet. Data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite and data from the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System on NASA's Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite provided a multi-dimensional view of changes in the elevation of the icy surface above a large subglacial lake and surrounding areas during a three-year period. Those changes suggest the lake drained to the ocean. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/antarctic_plumbing.html CIRCUIT CHIP BREAKTHROUGH  NEW HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT RECORDS STAR POWER The brightest stellar explosion ever recorded was seen by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based optical telescopes. The discovery indicates that violent explosions of extremely massive stars were relatively common in the early universe, and a similar explosion in our own galaxy could be imminent. This new supernova may offer a rare glimpse of how the first stars died. It is unprecedented to find such a massive star and witness its death. The discovery of the supernova provided evidence that the deaths of such massive stars are fundamentally different from theoretical predictions. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/chandra_bright_supernova.html ADVANCED NEW AIRCRAFT DESIGN FLIES SUCCESSFULLY NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, with the Air Force Research Lab and Boeing Phantomworks, successfully completed flight experiments for the X-48B Blended Wing Body advanced aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center this year. The aircraft is a hybrid configuration combining the best attributes of a conventional tube-and-wing aircraft with a flying wing. It has the potential to meet expected future Next Generation Air Transportation System requirements for low noise, low emissions and high performance. With certain modifications to the design, the Blended Wing Body also has the potential to land and take off on shorter runways than current aircraft. The experiments demonstrated the basic flying qualities of the X-48B and the effectiveness of the on-board flight control system. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/bwb_main.html  GLOBAL EXPLORATION STRATEGY UNVEILED
 Created in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is America’s focal point for research, development and exploration of outer space. In 2005, the US President and Congress committed the United States to exploring the solar system and beyond: completing assembly of the International Space Station, flying the new Crew Exploration Vehicle no later than 2014, returning astronauts to the moon by the end of the next decade, and sending human missions to Mars and beyond. For nearly 50 years, NASA has been leading the world in the development and usage of advanced program and project management. Additional information about NASA can be found at www.nasa.gov. To learn more about NASA's space exploration plans, visit: www.nasa.gov/exploration
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