New Head Of Trump’s New Energy Office Backs Coal?!?!?!

Trump’s Pick to Head the Renewable Energy Office Has a Soft Spot for Coal; Who is Daniel Simmons—and does he really believe the government should treat all energy sources equally? (His boss doesn’t.)

Jeff Turrentine, June 22, 2018 (Natural Resources Defense Council)

“…[Daniel Simmons, who heads the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, previously worked for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Institute for Energy Research (IER), which are pro-fossil-fuels organizations funded by Koch brothers money. He] has published opinion essays in major U.S. media extolling the virtues of coal…[He is on the record as opposing supports for] renewable energy through subsidies, tax incentives, or the state-level measures…He has argued that renewable energy mandates cost jobs, gouge consumers, and fleece taxpayers—even though there is a wealth of evidence to refute these arguments…[He also has argued no energy sources should get government support but has failed to speak out on White House proposals to support] coal and nuclear energy…[He goes before the Senate today] for his confirmation vote…” click here for more

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Solar Tax Credit Gets Full Life

IRS gives big solar two more years; The IRS, via Notice 2018-59, has modified the Investment Tax Credit to allow solar projects to begin construction by the end of the 2019, and still get the 30% – versus being in service by that date.

John Weaver, June 25, 2018 (PV Magazine)

“…[Medium- and large-scale solar power projects that expect to take a year to two (or more) for development and construction just got a two year extension on the Investment Tax Credit (ITC)…[A new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruling officially replaced the requirement to bring solar projects online by the tax credit’s deadline date with a requirement to begin construction by a deadline date. That means that instead of the solar project having to finish by December 31st, 2019, it must now begin construction, defined as 5% of the work or investment, on or by that date to qualify for 30% tax credit. The same time schedule] applies to the follow two years and their 26% and 22% tax credits…This two year window will give investors and utilities reasonable motivation to invest in more projects, even as end of year dates arrive. And this in turn can have repercussions for fossil generation, as Xcel noted that this would allow it to close two coal plants a decade early…[T]here could also be projects whose timelines are extended…under the expectation of continued declines in hardware pricing…” click here for more

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A Solution To Answer Climate Change Deniers’ Doubts

Climate change disputers are actually innovation pessimists

Bob Inglis, June 25, 2018 (The Hill)

“…Scratch a climate skeptic, and you’ll find an innovation pessimist. They don’t believe it can be done. Overwhelmed by the scale of the problem, they assume that we can’t change our trajectory. Secretly, they’re depressed about it. They need hope…Climate change crawls and creeps; it doesn’t goose step. Addressing it requires a coordinated global response, and innovation pessimists are right to doubt the ability of the United Nations and the ability of the regulatory state to solve the problem…But the innovation pessimists are missing the dynamism that comes from [adding the health and climate damages to the price of fossil fuels]…

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…This accountability would shatter the illusion that energy from fossil fuels is cheap. In a transparent, accountable energy market, consumers — not regulators, not mandates, not fickle tax incentives — would drive demand for clean energy…[T]his could be accomplished through a carbon tax applied at the mine and at the pipeline. The revenue raised from the carbon tax should then be returned to taxpayers in cuts to existing taxes or in the form of dividend checks to ensure no growth of government…The strength of the American market would become evident…[and drive out innovation opponents who are] vested politically or financially in fossil fuels…” click here for more

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50% New Energy Would Save AZ Billions

New Study: 50% Renewables Would Save AZ More than $4 Billion

Dylan Sullivan, June 14, 2018 (Natural Resources Defense Council)

“Arizona families and businesses would get lower bills if utilities got 50 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources like solar and wind, compared to if these same utilities go forward with their fossil fuel-heavy plans for the future…[A new report] found that average electricity bills in 2030 would be three dollars a month lower if Arizona pursues a high-renewables future, and five dollars a month lower in 2040…[The] total electricity system cost savings in the high-renewables future between 2020 and 2040 total more than $4 billion…

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Arizona is the nation’s sunniest state, yet gets just six percent of its electricity from solar power…[A diverse coalition of environmental and public health advocates is] working to place a measure on the November 2018 general election ballot that would require utilities like APS and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to [change plans to build natural gas generation and] source 50 percent of their electricity from renewables, like wind and solar power, by 2030…” click here for more

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Things To Do About Climate Change

9 ways to make a difference on climate change

June 18, 2018 (Omaha World-Herald)

“Carbon dioxide is the climate’s worst enemy…By using less of it, we can curb our own contribution to climate change while also saving money…[9 ways to do that are: 1.Power your home with renewable energy…2. Weatherize your house…3. Invest in energy-efficient appliances…[4. Reduce water waste] because it takes a lot of energy to pump, heat and treat your water…5. Eat the food you buy. About 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging and shipping food…[6.] LED light bulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescents. They’re also cheaper in the long run…[7. Don’t leave fully charged devices plugged into outlets…8. Consider driving a fuel-efficient vehicle…[9. If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, we could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas each year…A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 percent to 40 percent, and a new air filter can get you a 10 percent boost.” Another good set of solutions (click here for more)

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Why Customer Choice

Community choice to determine California’s energy future

Nick Chaset, June 13, 2018 (San Francisco Chronicle)

“…[T]he California Public Utilities Commission found the customer choice movement could lead to serious challenges] for California’s electricity system…[Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs)} are public agencies that contract for cleaner, low-cost electric supply delivered to you by utilities…The CPUC report asks important questions…[but] CCAs are a critical part of the solution for California’s challenges…[S ince their formation in 2007, CCAs have gained the ability to power 300,000 homes with 100 percent renewable energy…By the end of 2018, CCAs will be operating in 18 counties…

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…[CCAs] serve high-poverty communities at the same rate as the investor-owned utilities…Every operating CCA in California is governed by a board of local elected officials…Many have set stringent climate-action goals…The local governance model helps to ensure that our procurement, rates and programs are designed to meet the specific demands of each community, instead of relying on the one-size-fits-all approach of the investor-owned utility model…[All CCAs are overseen by state agencies and] must submit plans to the commission to ensure that they meet reliability and emissions reductions goals for all of California…Consumers deserve more choice through innovative community programs, renewable options and local control…” click here for more

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Buying A Home In A Time Of Climate Change

Climate Change May Already Be Hitting the Housing Market

Christopher Flavelle and Allison McCartney, June 18, 2018 (Bloomberg News)

“…Between 2007 and 2017, average home prices in areas facing the lowest risk of flooding, hurricanes and wildfires have far outpaced those with the greatest risk…[ According to numbers from Attom Data Solutions, homes in areas most exposed to floods, hurricanes, and wildfires] were worth less last year, on average, than a decade earlier…[Home prices and sales across 3,397 cities around the country showed] the threats of climate change are beginning to register…

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“…[On average, home prices across the cities analyzed] increased 7.3 percent between 2007 and 2017. That figure masks deep drops in vulnerable areas…[The relationship between climate risk and home prices isn’t always a straight line] because home buyers have to weigh the risk of disasters against the so-called amenity value of living near water or at the edge of the forest…For example, home values in Key Biscayne, Florida were 19 percent higher in 2017 than in 2007, despite the island’s flood risk. Homes in Aromas, California, which Attom Data classifies as a very high wildfire risk, increased 43 percent…Both areas offer natural beauty that buyers have apparently concluded is worth the danger…But the data suggest those areas are becoming the exception…” click here for more

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New Reasons To Buy New Energy

What's New About Renewable Energy?

Kevin O’Marah, June 14, 2018 (Forbes)

“…Solar, wind and other renewables have been around for a long time, but only recently have they posed a real challenge to fossil fuel-based electricity generation worldwide…[The image of government-subsidized development of renewables is being replaced by the reality that for most locations wind and solar are the cheapest way to generate new electricity…[Renewables are beating traditional fuel sources in the marketplace for new generation capacity by more than two to one. The reason is simple, it is a better deal…Sustainability, once seen mainly as a social responsibility issue, or more optimistically, something customers wanted and would pay for, is earning its keep…Green skeptics might want to dismiss all this as politically correct posturing, but projected additions to power generating capacity in the critical growth economies of China and India as well as the European Union clearly favor solar and wind…Governmental support remains a reality…[but renewables] are steadily gaining in price/performance terms…” click here for more

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Trump-Appointed NASA Head Affirms Climate Science

Trump's NASA Chief Changed His Mind on Climate Change. He Is a Scientific Hero.

Ross Pomeroy, June 11, 2018 (RealClearScience via Space.Com)

“In 2013, then congressman Jim Bridenstine, a Republican from Oklahoma, stepped onto the floor of the House of Representatives and repeated a list of climate denial arguments, including that the global temperature had stopped rising, that human activity was not involved, and that extreme weather was not involved…But now, just six weeks into his tenure as NASA administrator, Bridenstine stated that he has ‘evolved’ on climate change…[and, as a result of studying the science, does not deny the scientific consensus and agrees that human action is a major causal factor. He] has also backed up his rhetoric with vocal support for NASA's climate missions, which have been threatened under a Trump presidency…Bridenstine's apparently genuine coming around to the facts of climate change is commendable and makes him a scientific hero of sorts…[His] public acknowledgement of manmade climate change is a stirring example of how science transcends ideology. His actions should be celebrated and replicated.” click here for more

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Southeastern Cities Joining The Climate Fight

Few Southeast Cities Have Climate Targets, but That’s Slowly Changing; A new survey of Southeast cities also found about half expect to install or buy more renewable energy. West Palm Beach and Atlanta were among the leaders.

James Bruggers, June 11, 2018

“Fueled by coal-burning power plants and heavy industry, seven southeastern states produce enough carbon dioxide combined to rank as the world's sixth-largest climate polluter…[and] only about 20 percent of the cities have set emissions-reduction goals so far, but more are taking a closer look at their emissions and plan to increase their use of renewable energy…[According to a new report, about] 50 percent of the cities expect to install or procure renewable energy to meet municipal electricity demand by 2021…For those cities setting emission reduction goals, two-thirds call for a 70 percent cut by 2050, in the ballpark of what scientists say is required to prevent the most disastrous effects from climate change…

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But 47 cities received a score of zero, meaning they didn't meet any of the benchmarks the report used to gauge ambition…West Palm Beach, Florida, topped all cities with the highest score…Atlanta; Sarasota, Florida; Arlington County, Virginia; and Boynton Beach, Florida, rounded out the top five…At the other end of the spectrum, Jacksonville, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; Marietta, Georgia; and Greeneville, North Carolina, were among the cities receiving a score of zero…” click here for more

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New Energy Is The Only Fix

There Is No Quick Fix for Climate Change; A plan to turn carbon dioxide into liquid fuel sounds great in theory, but poses a number of problems.

Adam McGibbon, June 11. 2018 (New Republic)

“…[One reason for the growing obsession with the geoengineering techno-fixes for climate change is the understandable worry many have] about how long Earth will remain inhabitable… [But another reason] is that many of us don’t want to have to make the challenging sacrifices—personal, political, and economic—to address the problem…The hope that science will ride to the rescue is driven by a total faith in technological progress, and there are many such examples to comfort us…[But geoengineering] projects are fraught with unintended consequences. Scientists don’t know how spraying clouds with sea water would affect precipitation, potentially devastating the food systems. Dumping iron filings in the ocean would have unknown effects for marine life. Injecting aerosols into the atmosphere could cause droughts. Meddling with climatic systems we don’t understand, in the service of solving global warming, could just make the crisis worse…

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The political impact could prove fatal, too. If society believes that geoengineering solutions are right around the corner, it takes the pressure off of implementing proven solutions, like transitioning away from a fossil fuel economy…The solutions don’t need to be invented; they already exist. The world must sharply cut carbon emissions, keep fossil fuels in the ground, decarbonize the economy, and pursue aggressive reforestation and peatland restoration—nature’s geoengineering…There is no quick fix…” click here for more

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New Energy Is Where The Jobs Are

The energy sector is driving job growth, but not where you think; Energy efficiency and utility investments in grid modernization are growing sector employment.

Robert Walton, June 7, 2018 (Utility Dive)

“Wind, gas and storage jobs are all increasing in the energy sector, but the fastest employment growth…[is coming from energy efficiency, according to a new analysis] four energy-focused sectors of the U.S. economy…The traditional energy and energy efficiency sectors, which employ about 6.5 million Americans, saw a 2% increase in jobs in 2017, or about 133,000 new positions…with growth focused on the advanced energy sector…

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…[The solar sector lost 24,000 jobs — about 6% of the workforce — as the industry installed about 30% less in 2017 than it had the year before…Growth in the traditional energy and efficiency sectors made up 7% of all jobs created in the United States last year…More than half of those employed by the sector last year, about 1.1 million, worked in traditional coal, oil or gas positions, the report found. The other, almost 800,000 workers, were employed in jobs related to low-carbon emission generation technologies, including renewables, nuclear and advanced/low-emission natural gas…” click here for more

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Applying Game Theory To Climate Change

The moral calculus of climate change; In a “mathy” philosophy class, students explore the risks, outcomes, and ethical implications of living in a warming world.

Leda Zimmerman, June 4, 2018 (MIT News)

Game Theory is also known as ‘The Prisoner’s Dilemma.’ It is a strategy discussion that pits cooperation against self-interest. Many see it as an ideal way to think about climate change because it ways individual benefits gained from emitting carbon against a future point where everybody if harmed by emissions. An MIT philosophy course helps students learn to apply Game Theory to climate issues. It compares individual actions and consequences to the threat of climate change. The course’s intent is to take students from distress over climate change to an understanding of the risks and implications of different decisions. It raises the ethics of present choices versus future impacts, giving students a foundation for future actions. click here for more

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5 Good News Items About New Energy

5 Facts About Renewable Energy You Didn't Know; People have relied on wind power for 7,000 years. Learn how clean energy is affecting us today.

Scott Levine, June 1, 2018

“…[T]he alternative energy industry nowadays occupies a prominent position in the nation's energy landscape…[1.The nation's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord notwithstanding,] Minneapolis became the 65th city to announce its intent to transition to 100% clean energy, aspiring to complete the transition by 2030…[2. Global sales from EVs are expected to grow from 1.1 million in 2017 to 11 million in 2025, rising to 30 million in 2025. By] 2040, 55% of all new car sales and 33% of the global fleet will be electric...[3. The global appetite for ethanol is growing]...

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...[4. Blockchain may allow a decentralized platform technology for New Energy and] peer-to-peer trading of excess energy generated by homeowners' solar panels…[and utility] solutions…[Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway,] has the long-term goal of providing 100% renewable energy to its customers…[and] is currently constructing the 2,000 megawatt Wind XI project…Although the recognition among investors that clean energy investments are compelling choices is fairly recent, it's probable that these opportunities will continue to grow…” click here for more

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The President's Misguided Try To Save Old Energy

President Trump orders Energy Department to stop coal retirements; The memo apparently wants to freeze endangered coal, nuclear contracts for two years.

Megan Geuss, June 1, 2018 (Ars Technica)

“…[A White House memo to Energy Department Secretary Perry proposed using “immediate steps"] to prevent coal plants from early closure…[It reported argued Secretary Perry could use] a wartime rule called the Defense Production Act to bail out failing coal and nuclear plants…[by requiring] grid operators to buy power or electric generation capacity from a list of pre-determined power plants for two years…During that time, the DOE would conduct a study of vulnerabilities in the US power grid system. The justification for using the Defense Production Act would be that keeping unprofitable power plants running is a matter of national security until the two-year vulnerability study is complete…[The memo argues that “fuel-secure plants” have retired and are retiring and] are being replaced by natural gas and renewable power generation that is not secure or resilient…[Under White House orders, Secretary Perry had previously proposed that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission take action to protect coal and nuclear plants but the commission concluded earlier this year that there wasn't sufficient evidence to take such action]…” click here for more

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Study Highlights NatGas Fracking Threats

U.N. Report Calls U.S. Fracking History Cautionary Tale

June 4, 2018 (Public News Service)

“…[The experience of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, and elsewhere has been “a cautionary tale” that shows the technology] should be approached with caution by countries considering ways to meet growing energy demands…[A new UN review of the technology’s history and impacts noted] a growing body of research pointing to hazards associated with fracking…[that include] groundwater contamination, increased seismic activity and methane waste…

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...[The report warned] that investments in shale gas should not come at the expense of renewable energy and efficiency strategies, both considered critical to limit the impacts of climate change…[A recent Rocky Mountain Institute study warned] that nearly $1 trillion in natural gas infrastructure could end up as stranded assets in investment portfolios…” click here for more

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