Alternative Energy News - January 22, 2006

• An MIT study said that mining heat stored in rocks in the Earth's crust could meet a growing portion of U.S. electricity demand, replacing aging nuclear and coal plants with an environmentally friendly alternative.


• The UK-based retail chain Tesco announced plans to build a $13 million solar installation on five-building, 820,400-square-foot distribution center in Riverside. It is believed that this will be the largest roof-mounted solar installation in California, and possibly the world.


• More school systems in Kentucky and nationally are using biodiesel, partly because it reduces costly engine wear in diesel engines caused by ultralow sulfur diesel, which is now required by federal law.
  


• Homeowners increasingly cashing in on sun's energy.
  


• President Bush this week is prepared to unveil what his aides have billed as a bold new national strategy to confront global climate change and work toward energy independence. Pardon us if we're a bit, shall we say, skeptical.