Category Archives: Energy

The Standing Rock ‘Water Protectors’ Vow to Stay No Matter What the Government Does | VICE | United States

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GR:  The Corr of Engineers did not send an eviction notice. The letter was merely trying to avoid liability.  There isn’t much new here, but we have to be pleased with news media that report on the issue.

A protester near Standing Rock on November 25, 2016. Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

“Despite a government order to vacate, tribal leaders as well as demonstrators camped out in Standing Rock, North Dakota, say they are staying put.

“In a letter sent Friday to Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, the Army Corps of Engineers said they will be closing a portion of the land north of the Cannonball River on December 5, and that anyone on that land will be “considered trespassing and may be subject to prosecution under federal, state and local laws.”

“It’s unclear if the Corps will take steps to arrest or remove people who stay. The Army Corps of Engineers did not respond to my request for comment. One thing’s for sure: It would take a major effort to remove the estimated 5,000 encamped to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Update: The Corps released a statement late Sunday clarifying that they have “no plans for forcible removal.” Instead, they say, they are “seeking a peaceful and orderly transition to a safer location.” How exactly that would happen is unclear.)

“Our Tribe is deeply disappointed in this decision by the United States, but our resolve to protect our water is stronger than ever,” said Archambault in a statement. “We ask that all everyone who can appeal to President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the future of our people and rescind all permits and deny the easement to cross the Missouri River just north of our Reservation and straight through our treaty lands.” –Cole Kazdin and Duy Linh Tu (continue reading:  The Standing Rock ‘Water Protectors’ Vow to Stay No Matter What the Government Does | VICE | United States)

Green Conservatives call for earlier UK coal power phase-out | Environment | The Guardian

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Damian Carrington:  The UK should close all its coal-fired power stations two years earlier than the government’s pledge of 2025, according to green Conservatives including former energy minister Lord Greg Barker.

The move would not cause the lights to go out, would cut both carbon emissions and air pollution and would boost cleaner energy projects, according to a report from Bright Blue, a thinktank of Tory modernisers.

The report also concludes that if the troubled Hinkley C nuclear plant is cancelled it could be replaced by renewable energy.  Source: Green Conservatives call for earlier UK coal power phase-out | Environment | The Guardian

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Alaskan Community Efficiency Champions Compete for Funds to Implement Energy Reduction Plans | Department of Energy

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Increasing Energy Efficiency

GR:  It is good to see renewable energy mentioned.  Let’s hope it receives more emphasis in practice.

Alaska possesses great natural beauty, but also has some of the most expensive energy costs in the United States. The Energy Department is helping many Alaskan communities adopt more sustainable energy strategies to alleviate high energy costs.

Last September, President Obama traveled to Alaska to see the frontlines of our fight against climate change firsthand. While he was there, he visited remote Alaskan communities, including Kotzebue and Kivalina. The lives of Kivalina’s residents have been so dramatically impacted by rising sea levels and coastal erosion they have had to make the difficult decision to relocate their village. So, as the President noted, while the rest of the country is becoming more aware of climate change, these communities are already living it.

I was fortunate to visit Alaska myself with Senator Lisa Murkowski a little over a year ago in part to learn about the complex energy needs of remote areas like these in a state with abundant natural resources. I saw just how essential Alaska is to our all of the above approach as we build or future energy mix, and one aspect of that work is finding ways to integrate energy efficiency and renewable energy into our system.  More:  Alaskan Community Efficiency Champions Compete for Funds to Implement Energy Reduction Plans | Department of Energy

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Labor politicians and candidates: question them on nuclear policy! « Antinuclear

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It is best to send emails or letters in your own words. However, here’s an example anyway.My website will follow with interest – the politicians who bothered to answer, and whether or not they will stick to Labor’s policy.Your own address, and date Sender’s addressThe Hon Mr or Ms……..Member forDear ……. As the Federal Election approaches, I need to know what is you position on the nuclear issue.The 2015 National Policy Platform states:  More: Labor politicians and candidates: question them on nuclear policy! « Antinuclear

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Arizona Public Service attempts to weaken net metering – again: pv-magazine

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GR:  The Arizona Corporation Commissions accepts public comments on pending cases.  The comment must refer to the docket number.  I do not know the number.   If you find it, put it in a comment and I will be happy to help publicize the opportunity to give opinions.

Here’s another interesting bit about APS in PV Magazine by Christian Roselund:  “Arizona Public Service (APS) was the first major U.S. utility to successfully impose discriminatory charges on its customers who install solar under net metering in 2013. Since that time dozens of utilities around the United States have attempted to do the same, under allegations that PV system owners are shifting the costs to other customers.

“The utility temporarily held off on efforts last fall to introduce further charges for PV system owners, but has not given up. Today APS filed to impose charges and reduce compensation for PV system owners under net metering, as part of a larger rate filing. This filing begins a process under which state regulators will consider the proposal, which is expected to take around a year.”  Source:  Arizona Public Service attempts to weaken net metering – again: pv-magazine

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Electric aircraft Sun Flyer – Business Insider

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A small Denver, Colorado, manufacturer has rolled out the first prototype of a new all-electric aircraft, suggesting that the same revolution currently sweeping through the auto industry may soon become airborne.  Source: Electric aircraft Sun Flyer – Business Insider

New Tesla for the Masses: Orders off the Hook

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This automobile and Tesla’s network of power stations, adds another practical reason for our next car to be pollution-free.

Climate Denial Crock of the Week

Teslarati:

Less than a day after Elon Musk officially unveiled the jaw-dropping Model 3 at the Tesla Design Center, he took to Twitter to announce that 232,000 reservations have been placed. The figure isn’t surprising considering earlier in the day Musk tweeted that 180,000 Model 3 deposits were accepted in just 24 hours since the reservation window opened. This crushes our earlier predictions that Tesla would sell 100,000 units within the first day.
And climbing.
musktweet
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Meanwhile, Elon Musk plays Al Gore.

muskgore2

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What Exxon Knew, Texaco and Other Oil Companies Knew Too

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All the Oil Companies Knew

GR:  Hard evidence shows that our major oil companies knew the damage they were doing and it shows that they spent money to hide the evidence. Now if we can prove  damages, we can prosecute the oil companies for reparations. Winning will force energy producers to cut CO2 emissions and to compensate their victims.

The big question is whether the oil businesses have enough money to subvert national legal systems and prevent prosecution of the corporations and their directors. Will this be like the bank bailouts where we gave the criminals financial rewards?

Peter Sinclair of Climate Denial Crocks submitted the following story. The video and the full story linked to Sinclair’s item are well worth watching.

What Exxon Knew, Texaco Knew, Too

“And so did Chevron, Amoco, Phillips, Shell, Sunoco and Sohio.  Newest installment in the incredible and tragic saga of what the oil industry knew about climate change, and when they knew it – the most under-reported story of 2015.

“A snip here, but go to the link for the whole piece. And if you haven’t yet, check the video above, and go to Inside Climate News to follow up on the whole story.”

Inside Climate News:

An InsideClimate News investigative series has shown that Exxon launched its own cutting-edge CO2 sampling program in 1978 in order to understand a phenomenon it suspected could harm its business. About a decade later, Exxon spearheaded campaigns to cast doubt on climate science and stall regulation of greenhouse gases. The previously unpublished papers about the climate task force indicate that API, (American Petroleum Institute) the industry’s most powerful lobbying group, followed a similar arc to Exxon’s in confronting the threat of climate change.

Just as Exxon began tracking climate science in the late 1970s, when only small groups of scientists in academia and the government were engaged in the research, other oil companies did the same, the documents show.”

Nuclear power as panacea for climate change? Experts divided

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“As delegates at a Paris summit haggle over how to curb global warming, the role of nuclear energy in limiting climate-changing emissions is the subject of fierce debate between champions and critics of atomic power.”  phys.org

GR:  Nuclear energy is not the answer.  It’s support is merely an attempt by large investors to retain control over our energy sources.

Are mini-nuclear reactors the answer to the climate change crisis?

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“Mini nuclear power plants could be trucked into a town near you to provide your hot water, or shipped to any country that wants to plug them into their electricity grid from the dock. That is the aim of those developing “small modular reactors” and, from the US to China to Poland, they want the UK to be at the centre of the nascent industry. The UK government says it is “fully enthused” about the technology.”

“With UN climate change summit in Paris imminent, the question of how to keep the lights on affordably, while cutting emissions, is pressing.”  www.theguardian.com

GR:  Nuclear energy is dangerous and it produces wastes that remain deadly for tens of thousands of years.  This article is propaganda coming from investors interests who want to centralize energy production and keep distributed systems such as “rooftop solar” out of the hands of consumers.  You can’t get wealthy with a resource that is free and unlimited.