Month: August 2015

• New Orleans is getting a lot of press right now because of the upcoming tenth anniversary of Katrina. While most of that coverage has focused on the people and how their lives have changed, Chris Mooney and colleagues at the Washington Post have pulled together an interesting piece on building new wetlands to help protect New Orleans when the next hurricane strikes. Turns out that not everyone is happy about the new wetlands. In addition, Kerry Emanuel, Prof. of Atmospheric Sciences at MIT, examines what scientists have learned about the impact of climate change on hurricanes.
• So far this year, the U.S. has been very fortunate in not being hit by a hurricane. Unfortunately, other parts of the world have not been so lucky. Typhoon Goni hit Okinawa with record winds of 159 mph after hitting the Philippines, where 15 were killed.
• Altered precipitation patterns are one consequence of a warming world. Around one-fifth of the countries in the world will face acute water shortages by 2040 as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns according to a new study by the World Resources Institute. Water stress will be particularly important in Central America and the Middle East in coming years. This will likely have a negative impact on their efforts to relieve poverty. Chelsea Harvey of The Washington Post summarizes the findings of one study.
• Based on data from NASA satellites, it looks like 2015 is on track to being a low surface ice year in the Arctic. In addition, glaciers on Greenland have been found to be much more vulnerable to melting from below by seawater than previously thought. The latter does not bode well for sea level rise. In fact, NASA held a press conference on Wednesday to announce that they will be undertaking an “intensive research effort” on sea level rise. Chris Mooney summarized the major news from the announcement. It struck me as ironic that the ad preceding a new NASA animation showing ice loss from Greenland in The Washington Post article was for Porsche and focused on exhaust pipes! The Carbon Brief also has a good summary.
• California’s salmon, steelhead, and smelt are in danger of being wiped out because the long-term drought is reducing river flows and making them hotter. These problems for the fish are being exacerbated by dams and other water projects built over the years to provide water for agriculture in the state.
• The wildfires in Washington state continue to burn. The Okanogan fire is now the largest in state history, covering more than 400 square miles.
• Jim Pierobon has an interesting essay about the innovations of Tony Smith and Secure Futures in bringing solar power to nonprofits such as Eastern Mennonite University.

These news items have been compiled by Les Grady, member and former chair of the CAAV steering committee. He is a licensed professional engineer (retired) who taught environmental engineering at Purdue and Clemson Universities and engaged in private practice with CH2M Hill, the world’s largest environmental engineering consulting firm. Since his retirement in 2003 he has devoted much of his time to the study of climate science and the question of global warming and makes himself available to speak to groups about this subject. More here.

• Ivy Main had a post about the EPA’s Clean Power Plan for Virginia. She calls it a “powderpuff.”
• A study from DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found that the price of installed photo-voltaic panels fell for the fifth consecutive year.
• You are aware of the seriousness of climate change or you wouldn’t be reading this email. Have you ever wondered why society seems unable to do anything about the problem? Perhaps the findings of psychologists can supply the answer.
• Eric Holthaus has a very interesting essay in Rolling Stone summarizing the extreme responses of the climate system that have been observed just this year. While it may be a bit scary to read, it contains things that we should all be aware of.
• July 2015 was the Earth’s hottest month on record. The current El Niño is expected to intensify in the latter half of the year. This, in combination with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation moving into a positive phase, is expected to make 2015 significantly hotter than 2014. Joe Romm summarizes the evidence for these events and discusses their implications for the climate.
• Most studies on climate change focus on the physical and biological consequences, but research by Geoffrey Heal and Jisung Park focused on the economic impacts, which can be significant. Unfortunately, not enough attention is being paid to how rising temperatures will impact worker productivity.
• This week the U.S. EPA released new proposed regulations for methane leaks from the natural gas supply system. There has been much attention given to this in the media, but in case you missed it you can learn more here. What you may not have heard is that a new study has found that leaks from natural gas gathering facilities are much worse than had been thought, being about eight times greater than EPA estimates. In addition, Joe Romm takes everyone to task, including the EPA, for low-balling the global warming potential of methane in the press releases and news articles.
• The wildfire situation in the western U.S. is dire, with five states battling 10 or more fires each. As a consequence the U.S. is at a Wildfire Preparedness Level 5, the highest, and has been since Aug. 13.
• International organizations have been overestimating the CO2 emissions from China’s coal-fired power plants by around 14%.
• Greenland’s Jakobshavn glacier just calved a huge area of ice, around 5 sq. miles, from its face, causing its calving line to retreat markedly. This has several implications for the future, which are discussed in the article.
• Global investment bank Citigroup joins the chorus of studies showing that acting on climate change by investing in renewable energy results in significant savings; in this case, $1.8 trillion by 2040. In addition, the study finds that electricity from solar PV panels will be competitive with electricity from conventional fossil fuels by 2030 so there is a strong economic incentive for their installation.
• Writing in The Atlantic, John Light asks “What will it take to get climate change on the Republican agenda?”
• You are probably aware of Bill McKibben’s article on the “Terrifying New Math” in the July 19, 2012 issue of Rolling Stone that launched the fossil fuel divestment movement. What you may be less aware of is the work of Carbon Tracker Initiative (CTI), which provided the data for McKibben’s article. Ed King has an interesting essay at RTCC that provides the story of CTI and the response of the financial industry to their report on the need to keep fossil fuels in the ground.
• As we contemplate the consequences of a warming world, one concern with severe economic consequences is the rate and magnitude of sea level rise. Melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is an important contributor to sea level rise. Unfortunately, our knowledge about ice sheet collapse is still too limited for accurate projections, although new research is increasing our understanding. Chris Mooney at the Washington Post summarizes recent research on this important topic.
• In an effort to help us get to know the people who are working for global change on the climate issue, Elizabeth Kolbert has profiled Christiana Figueres, who heads the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the organization convening the Paris Conference in December.

Final roundup from me.  Les will resume next week.  It’s been fun.  Hard too because there’s so much information.  Wish more of it was hopeful.

But let’s at least start off with articles that are.
• http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-11/u-s-public-republicans-included-seen-warmer-on-climate-action
• http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0809/Climate-change-crusade-goes-local

Maybe this is more positive than negative.  What’s your opinion?  Check out the slides and the interactive map on people’s opinions about climate change.  VA’s is 64%.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/folks-in-these-us-states-dont-believe-in-global-warming-2015-08-13

These two items give some food for thought on Virginia’s renewable energy policies and laws.  Certainly not all-encompassing but….
• http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_8e545711-1356-52f2-9600-6c16035bfeca.html
• http://www.baconsrebellion.com/2015/08/more-questions-about-virginias-solar-energy-policy.html

More on the EPA’s CPP.
• http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250858-epa-confident-in-climate-rules-future
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-gop-wants-say-over-clean-power-plans-implementation/2015/08/10/f775e636-3f9a-11e5-b2c4-af4c6183b8b4_story.html
• http://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/08/12/kentucky-power-coops-talk-energy-policy-clean-power-plan/31563465/

What’s up with energy efficiency?  A bit nerdy.
• http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060022688
• http://www.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2015/08/buildings-air-conditioning-behavioral-energy

What about green bonds?  Also somewhat wonky.
http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/08/the-rise-of-green-bonds-explained/400940/

Jon Stewart, thanks for the memories…and the climate information.
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060023265

Religious leaders on climate change.  The Pope’s still beating the drums for the environment.  And so are some Muslim imams.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/10/us-climatechange-pope-day-idUSKCN0QF19Z20150810
http://www.rtcc.org/2015/08/13/islamic-leaders-to-release-climate-change-declaration/

Help for Native Americans.
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/08/10/obama-gives-tribes-118-million-climate-change-assist-161322

Bad news for butterflies and trees and food and New Orleans.
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/10/uk-butterfly-species-at-risk-of-extinction-due-to-climate-change-says-study
• http://kjzz.org/content/177791/new-forest-study-reveals-missing-piece-climate-change-models
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/14/food-production-shocks-will-happen-more-often-extreme-weather
• http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gulf-eats-coast-levee-protected-orleans-33077353

From Canada, update on Keystone.​
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcanada-quietly-plots-response-as-keystone-xl-rejection-seems-imminent-1.3185105
• http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_KEYSTONE?SITE=MOJOP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2015/aug/11/canadian-government-spent-millions-on-secret-tar-sands-advocacy

If you want to follow the Paris Climate Conference, here’s one source.
http://www.theroadthroughparis.org/

Climate Change and the Arts.​
http://grist.org/climate-energy/move-over-moma-new-yorks-new-climate-change-museum-is-about-to-be-the-hottest-place-in-town/

Alaska in the spotlight.
https://www.adn.com/article/20150813/white-house-video-previews-president-obamas-trip-Alaska

These news items have been compiled by Joy Loving, member of the CAAV steering committee and leader of Solarize efforts in the valley.

There was so much news this week that I decided to release 2 roundups.  This is the 1st and I’ll send out the 2nd over the weekend.  These offerings are a mix of topics, and most of the news won’t make you cheerful.

Enjoy eating west coast and Alaskan salmon?  Well maybe not for long.
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060023067

Last week we read about Alaska’s wildfires.  Here’s an opinion piece from someone who lives there.
http://www.newsminer.com/opinion/community_perspectives/time-for-climate-action-is-now/article_882952de-3d7b-11e5-bf2a-fff69e9fd2a5.html

Who knew wetlands did a lot more than harbor mosquitoes?
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/08/06/the-global-threat-to-river-deltas-and-the-people-who-live-on-them/
• http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6248/638

Does Katrina’s aftermath offer lessons for VA, given our sinking coast?

Here’s another NY times piece, this time an op-ed by Tom Friedman.  I received it from Former SC Congressman Bob Inglis’ Energy and Enterprise group.  The spokesman called it a “gem” and added “At the heart of his column, Friedman address accountability as a conservative concept as it relates to the gas tax and transportation bill. He took it a step further in addressing climate change by referencing out friends at the libertarian Niskanen Center.”

No doubt you’ve heard about subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.  Turns out they’re more than tax breaks.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3049407/the-huge-hidden-costs-of-our-fossil-fueled-economy

Remember VA’s uranium mining moratorium?
http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_7e509d5f-876a-5745-9dcf-6e5274e5d420.html

And then there’s coal.
http://www.wboy.com/story/29454104/murray-energy-corporation-sues-obama-epa-for-unconstitutional-rule

More on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-02/wind-and-solar-cheer-as-coal-vows-legal-battle-on-energy-plan

On a 2014 trip to the southwest, I saw one of the Navaho power plants discussed in this article.
http://www.abqjournal.com/625021/biz/biz-most-recent/navajo-nation-faces-new-challenges-from-us-clean-power-plan.html

Last week we had an article about the Great Barrier Reef.  Here’s one that might be a bit encouraging.
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/as_ocean_waters_heat_up_a_quest_to_create_super_corals/2900/

​On the other hand, here’s a scary one about carbon and the oceans.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/11/algae-dominates-coral-reef-carbon-dioxide-ocean-acidification

​​Some of you know that CAAV members have more than a passing interest in solar energy.  We sponsored Solarize Harrisonburg in 2014; 68 area residents went solar.  Some who didn’t do it then have said they want another chance, so CAAV is sponsoring Massanutten Regional Solar Coop, which launches at the end of this month and will serve Harrisonburg and Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Page Counties.  What you may not know is CAAV is also working on Weatherize, an effort to bring energy efficiency and eventually, hopefully, solar to low and lower middle income people who want it.  We’re not alone in thinking this is important.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3049425/these-ex-white-house-staffers-are-developing-solar-systems-for-the-rest-of-us

One more item on solar–utility solar, that is.
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/utility-solar-may-cost-less-but-its-also-worth-less

An overview of the effects of climate change, from Rolling Stone of all sources.  Warning:  This piece paints word pictures you will find disturbing.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-point-of-no-return-climate-change-nightmares-are-already-here-20150805

These news items have been compiled by Joy Loving, member of the CAAV steering committee and leader of Solarize efforts in the valley.

This week just about everything is about the EPA’s issuance of its final rules called the Clean Power Plan (CPP); thus many of the links below are related to that.  But not all of them.  Warning:  There’s a lot here and even more that I couldn’t include.

Here are several CPP-related items, from different perspectives and varying sources, including some of the business response.
The Guardian’s take:  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/obamas-clean-power-plan-hailed-as-strongest-ever-climate-action-by-a-us-president?CMP=ema_565
Advanced Energy Economy’s press release:  https://www.aee.net/articles/statements-from-advanced-energy-economy-on-epa-s-final-rule-under-section-111-d-of-the-clean-air-act-clean-power-plan
The President’s Executive Order:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/08/03/fact-sheet-president-obama-announce-historic-carbon-pollution-standards
How can the states implement the new rules?
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/05/3688236/carbon-rule-state-flexibility/
What New Jobs? ​The CPP and jobs….​
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250482-obama-admin-launches-jobs-program-for-climate-rule
What about coal-powered power plants?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-02/safety-net-for-dying-power-plants-surfaces-in-u-s-carbon-rule
And how about nuclear power?
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/07/31/usa-climatechange-cleanpowerplan-idUKL1N10B1K820150731
What do some of “we the people” think?
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/05/3687684/gop-primary-voters-vs-candidates/
National Journal’s take on winners and losers:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/obama-climate-change-epa-rule-20150802

On the other hand….
How about suing if you don’t like the new rules?
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/internal-debate-over-clean-energy-plan-pitted-ambition-against-legal-worries/2015/08/02/9e0c1c94-3966-11e5-9c2d-ed991d848c48_story.html
• http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/06/3688652/first-shot-at-finalized-clean-power-plan-arrives/
The new rules certainly aren’t popular in the House of Representatives, apparently.
http://about.bnef.com/bnef-news/democrats-walkout-fails-to-stop-measure-blocking-climate-rules/
VA House Republicans issued a press release for which I could not locate a link. Here it is as a pdf: Matthew Moran Press Release for VA House Republicans on CPP
Former Republican Bob Inglis’ RepublicEn.org (The Energy and Enterprise Initiative) has a video of an interview with Mr. Inglis, who supports an alternative approach to addressing climate change.  Mr. Inglis tweeted this when the CPP was released:  “”We can do better. Whole economy, not sector-by-sector. A price signal, not regulations. A smaller government, not a bigger one. Free enterprise, not command-and-control. The country and the world have been waiting for conservatives to step forward with the better solution. Now’s the time.”
http://blog.republicen.org/video-bob-inglis-talks-clean-power-plan-problems-real-solutions-on-msnbc
How about “cap and trade”?
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2015/08/don-t-like-obama-s-clean-power-plan-fine-here-s-cap-and-trade.html

Should you happen to be a bit of a policy wonk and haven’t read enough yet, NextGen Climate America has assembled a resource library that puts a lot of info at your disposal:  http://nextgenamerica.org/blog/clean-power-plan-resource-roundup/
For further wonky details, Synapse Energy Economics Inc. gives us “Eight Things You Need to Know about the Clean Power Plan”.
http://synapse-energy.com/about-us/news/eight-things-you-need-know-about-clean-power-plan
More data…  The states and their carbon emissions–VA isn’t the worst or the best.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/08/03/clean-power-plan-your-state-by-state-greenhouse-gas-emissions

Enough about the CPP already!  Let’s move on…

Not sure about Congress, but DoD takes climate change seriously, it seems:
http://mashable.com/2015/07/29/pentagon-global-warming-present-threat/

Nature’s wreaking havoc in the US West; last week we had an article about Alaska wildfires.  This week it’s our Pacific Northwest and a chilling (opposite of a pun) map of current US active wildfires.  Plus, there’s a map showing the effect on air quality of fossil fuel emissions.  The fires, of course, aren’t helping.
• http://grist.org/climate-energy/what-happens-when-a-rainforest-burns/
• http://grist.org/climate-energy/terrifying-map-shows-depths-of-hell-that-is-western-u-s/
• http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/03/california-wildfires-destroy-forests-threaten-homes
• http://grist.org/climate-energy/how-dirty-is-your-air-this-map-shows-you/

Let’s hope there is some hyperbole here.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/03/stop-burning-fossil-fuels-now-no-co2-technofix-climate-change-oceans

Just how clean is natural gas?

From down under, Solar Choice tells us that “Utility-scale solar will soon be competitive in USA–with fossil fuels, even without tax credit”.
http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/news/utility-scale-solar-competitive-in-years-310715

Also from below the equator (by a lot) comes a story about some good news for Glapagos penguins, at least for a while.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/04/climate-change-endangered-galapagos-penguins

100% Renewable Energy??  A bit wonky but…
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2015/07/world-moves-toward-100-percent-renewable-energy-first-electricity-then-heating-cooling-and-finally-transportation.html

Here’s another more upbeat article about some islands’ actions.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/07/how-and-why-islands-are-becoming-renewable-energy-trendsetters

If you’re getting this email, then you’re part of the 60%.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/07/27/these-are-the-factors-that-affect-how-people-feel-about-climate-change-and-whether-they-even-know-it-exists/

I could go on and on and clearly already have.  Congratulations if you’ve made it this far.

These news items have been compiled by Joy Loving, member of the CAAV steering committee and leader of Solarize efforts in the valley.