Re/Action on Climate Protection

Ballot measure would shut California nuclear plants, analyst finds - latimes.com

The nonpartisan report says the closure of San Onofre and Diablo Canyon would disrupt one of the state's most reliable power sources and have profound effects on the economy. Sponsor Ben Davis Jr. needs 504,760 signatures to qualify the Nuclear Waste Act of 2012 for the ballot.

via www.latimes.com

This is taking the bull by the horns.

Emissions cuts off course to halt global warming: UNEP | Reuters

The gap between countries' emissions cut pledges and what is needed to remain under what scientists say is the limit to avoid devastating effects of global warming has widened since its 2010 estimate of 5-9 billion tons as new data emerged, UNEP said.

via www.reuters.com

Global Gas Glut :: POWER Magazine :: #shalegas

Marcellus Shale gas has increased recoverable natural gas reserves in the U.S. by about a third over estimates prepared a few years ago. Europe is also exploring shale gas as an alternative to problematic Russian gas supplies and low proven natural gas reserves. POWER contributors in the U.S. and UK examine the comparative economic value, public acceptance, and political implications of these massive shale gas reserves.

via www.powermag.com

Natural gas mined through fracking is here to stay, and, at least for the time being, reinforcing the belief that fossil fuels are cheap. Once again, we are being encouraged to ignore the externalized costs of this resource, and continued impact on climate.

#SmartGrid debate turns heated - The Naperville Sun

Updated: November 17, 2011 12:41PM

via napervillesun.suntimes.com

OK, so I really don't get this. Is it just that "change is bad"?

#AmoryLovins: What You Need to Know About Blackouts #microgrid #renewable | TIME Ideas

With a smart portfolio of renewable generators, we can cost-effectively redesign a secure grid. Distributed generators are closer to customers and can make a grid more resilient, splitting it into myriad microgrids that normally interconnect but can stand alone at need and still serve key loads. My house high in the Colorado Rockies does this (I can’t even tell when the grid fails.) So do 20 microgrid experiments around the world. So does Denmark’s pilot “cellular” grid. So does Cuba’s grid, which cut serious blackout days from 224 in 2005 to zero in 2007, then in 2008 sustained vital services through two grid-shredding hurricanes in two weeks.

via ideas.time.com

Time running out to curb #globalwarming, watchdog warns | Business | Deutsche Welle | 10.11.2011

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned world leaders this week that they could lose the chance to limit global warning if bold action isn't taken to lower emissions in the next five years.

via www.dw-world.de

Interesting counterpoint to the "smoking dope" comment posted earlier by American IEA official.

#DistrictEnergy and #CHP: Valuable Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities

As cities, campuses and communities evolve to support denser populations with growing energy needs, traditional energy paradigms are giving way to cleaner, more efficient solutions like district energy systems. Although early investments in district energy and combined heat and power first took shape under Thomas Edison in Manhattan in the 1870’s, today’s district energy systems deliver very high reliability,  reduced emissions, enhanced energy security through fuel flexibility, and tremendous economic advantages due to fuel efficiencies reaching toward 90%.

via www2.gotomeeting.com

This should be interesting.

#Renewableenergy expansion believers ‘smoking dope’: #IEA official | Energy | News | Financial Post

Environmentalists who believe a massive global investment in renewable energy is the answer to future demands are “smoking dope,” says the deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency.

Richard Jones was responding to Greenpeace Canada accusations that the IEA was taking an “intellectually and morally inconsistent” stand by supporting pipelines and the oilsands sector while scolding world leaders about climate change inaction.

Pipeline megaprojects, and the oilsands bitumen that would be carried by proposed energy arteries from Alberta to B.C.’s west coast and to Texas, are important components of global energy security, Jones said.

He was commenting on his organization’s annual report that warns of stark consequences if the world doesn’t take far tougher action to reduce carbon emissions.

via business.financialpost.com

This is an American. Typical.

Poll finds widespread Tea Party #climate doubts - The Hill's E2-Wire

A new poll shows that 50 percent of self-identified Tea Party members don’t believe in global warming, and less than one-fifth believe that human activities are causing the planet to heat up.

via thehill.com

Can someone explain this to me?

Solar #Renewable #Energy Credits Versus Feed-in Tariffs | cwilliams

The Solar Renewable Energy Credits Versus Feed in Tariffs Debate

via www.renewableenergyworld.com

Good discussion of SRECs and FITs