$1 billion potential in advanced batteries according to GE - General Electric Co. as already invested $150 million so far in advanced batteries and plan to invest $100 million more soon and plan to seek funding from the $787 billion economic stimulus program from Obama's administration.revenue this year and hit $25 billion in 2010.

"The economy clearly gives us headwind, but we still see a fair amount of interest globally for these types of products," Immelt from GE told Reuters in an interview.

What we want to know is what Reuters did not say. There is always more to a story and a way we can benefit from incoming trends if we can identify it.

What aspect of the economy, kind of batteries and why? How much money can be made from these batteries?

GE expects battery revenue to hit $500 million by 2015 and $20 billion in Ecomagination revenue just for this year and hit $25 billion in 2010. He added that he expects battery revenue to hit $500 million by 2015. $500 million from 2011- 2015, now that is the real story in profits in less than 4 years for these battery sales to reach $500 million dollars a year.

Obviously the $20 billion in revenue from the Ecomagineation project of GE would not be sustainable without the battery systems that power the trains that are part of the project. You may have seen the advertisement on TV about these trains as a part of their Ecomagination project. The trains are electric powered by batteries that are charged by a diesel engine.

Without the good batteries, the trains are useless. We can foresee GE taking over our railway systems as a matter of evolution but that does not account for $ 1 BILLION with a capital "B" in projected battery revenue. Does GE have projection data about something the general public does not know?

If one these batteries can power a locomotive the technology is more than adequate to power your homes, farms and vehicles. For individuals who invest their money, lithium-ion batteries are better-suited for short bursts of intense power, such as are required to start a vehicle moving, with sodium-metal halide a better option when large amounts of power are needed over a long period of time. Batteries may well become a currency at this rate.

As of April 24, 2009 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved additional federal funding for several counties and two Indian reservations in North Dakota.

Altogether, 43 counties and 3 Indian reservations have now been approved for a wide range of Public Assistance programs, which fund 75 percent of eligible expenses incurred by state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

In addition, 33 counties and 2 Indian reservations have now been approved for Individual Assistance, making available federal funds for emergency housing repair, emergency rental assistance, disaster unemployment assistance and other programs for individuals and families.
Public Assistance

Among the 43 counties now approved for all Public Assistance programs, 31 had already been declared eligible for reimbursement for 75 percent of eligible expenses for emergency protective measures.


Those counties included in the original March 24 declaration for emergency measures and now eligible for a broader range of Public Assistance programs are Adams, Barnes, Benson, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Dunn, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Grant, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Sioux, Stutsman, and Walsh. Also in this category are two Indian reservations: the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, and the Spirit Lake Reservation.


The 12 newly declared counties eligible for all categories of Public Assistance are Bottineau, Bowman, Eddy, Griggs, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Steele, Towner, Traill, Ward and Wells. Also in this category is the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation.


Individual Assistance

Among the 33 counties now approved for Individual Assistance, 26 had already been declared eligible. They are Adams, Barnes, Billings, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Mercer, Morton, Nelson, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill and Williams.

The seven newly declared counties eligible for Individual Assistance are Grant, McHenry, Oliver, Pierce, Stark, Walsh and Ward. Also included in the new additions are the Spirit Lake Reservation and that part of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota.

The Individual Assistance declaration also makes available low-cost disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for qualified homeowners, renters and business of all sizes.

Hazard Mitigation

Federal 75 percent funding has also been made available to all counties in the state for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for public projects that make communities more disaster-resistant. FEMA also allows applicants for Public Assistance to obtain funding for mitigation as part of disaster repairs. For example, a sewer pipe might be increased in size as it is being replaced to handle more storm runoff.

To register for FEMA disaster assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585, or register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 22  -- Alaska's Redoubt volcano attracts shutterbugs to the volcano while oil companies become concerned. Photographers are waiting for the few days when clouds don't obscure the volcano, which began erupting last month.

Clouds gave way on Friday, allowing the entire volcano to be visible for an extended period of time. That attracted numerous people to flock to pullout points near the volcano Oil platforms in Alaska's Cook Inlet have been idled indefinitely because the nearby Redoubt volcano is still active and potentially explosive, officials said...
April 22 The Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported oil platforms had to be closed because the Drift River oil terminal has not been restarted.

The closures are costing the state about $45,000 a day in royalty payments. The Daily news noted that no production or pipeline employees have been furloughed yet, while contractors are on hold.

"It will take as long as Mother Nature decides," Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Sara Francis said of the shutdowns, adding that it is unlikely that Drift River can reopen before early fall,

The newspaper reported that Cook Inlet Pipeline Co., is investigating other ways of getting oil from the west side of Cook Inlet to market.

Ash from Alaska's volcanos is like a rock fragment with jagged edges and has been used as an industrial abrasive. It can injure skin, eyes and breathing passages. The young, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are especially susceptible to ash-related health problems. Ash can also cause damage engines in planes, cars and other vehicles.

Alaska Airlines on Monday canceled 19 flights in and out of the Anchorage international airport because of the ash.

Dispite all this it did not prevent the photographers from coming out. Some waited for days for the right opportunity for photos. The event usually happens about every 20 years.