U.S. Geothermal Inc. closed an $8.6 million private placement financing. Net proceeds will be used to further develop the company's Neal Hot Springs geothermal project.

Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Government's renewable energy initiative, has begun drilling two wells as it conducts the first geothermal energy project in the Middle East.

U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John Ensign (R-NV) are introducing legislation that would ensure all forms of renewable energy meet a new federal renewable electricity standard requirement.

Indonesia's state electricity firm PLN has signed a $156.7m contract with Japan's Sumitomo for a geothermal power plant in Sumatra.

Enel, the Italian electricity group, has outlined plans for a EUR13bn ($17.7bn) flotation of its renewable energy business, Enel Green Power (EGP).

The UK government will publish a document on 24 March outlining a move towards the introduction of a "Low Carbon Obligation" that would force power suppliers to buy a percentage of their power from nuclear and coal plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The Financial Times has reported leaks in the French press suggesting Paris is mulling a 'gentle reorganisation' of its nuclear industry to give it a better chance to compete in international markets.

A draft policy calling for power plants to recycle and reuse cooling water through closed cycle cooling technology could affect six New York State nuclear reactors and may require $2 billion in investment. Similar rules affect power generators in California and New Jersey.

FPL Group Inc. proposed changing its name to NextEra Energy Inc. Shareholders will vote on the name change at the company’s annual meeting on May 21.