MORE NEWS, 1-12 (COAL IS THE ISSUE; CITIES FUND NEW ENERGY CREATIVELY; WILL NEW ENERGY GET PAST CONGRESS?; TOYOTA TO GO ELECTRIC IN 2012)

COAL IS THE ISSUE
Climate outcome ‘hangs on coal’
Jonathan Amos, 18 December 2008 (BBC News)

“If growth in carbon dioxide emissions is to be constrained and even reversed then the world cannot afford a coal renaissance, scientists have said…It was even possible oil's demise could trigger an acceleration in emissions through more coal use…

“[A Carnegie Institution at Stanford University] assessment found that if coal-derived liquids are adopted, the Earth would achieve a 2C rise in temperature from pre-industrial times (a figure sometimes quoted as being a desirable ceiling to stay beneath in order to avoid "dangerous climate change") by 2042. This is three years faster than a business as usual future with oil."

click to enlarge

“If the renewables strategy is adopted, the 2C figure is not reached until 2056…

“…[R]ecent research from the US, UK and France looking at the feasibility of not only constraining the growth of CO2 emissions but actually reducing its concentration in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million by volume (it is currently up at about 385ppmv)…found it was possible, but only with a prompt moratorium on new coal use that does not capture CO2, and a phase out of existing coal emissions by 2030.

“Reforestation together with improved agricultural practices could help draw down CO2…”


CITIES FUND NEW ENERGY CREATIVELY
Cities Use Creative, Targeted Lending to Speed Energy Projects
Libby Tucker, January 6, 2009 (NY Times)

“One challenge to getting energy-saving initiatives off the ground is that the presumed social benefits arising from improved energy efficiency (fewer greenhouse gases, for instance) are often at odds with the rational economic calculus of homeowners on the ground. From solar panels to efficient window systems, the capital costs of such projects can be prohibitive — and take years, sometimes decades, to pay for themselves.

“…a number of municipalities across the country are getting creative and experimenting with incremental, neighborhood- or district-based lending programs that help homeowners pay the up-front capital costs.

“[In ]…“geographic targeting” or “renewable energy community” programs, a lender — be it a city, utility or bank — effectively goes door-to-door, offering homeowners or businesses within designated neighborhoods low-interest loans to complete efficiency or renewable energy projects.

“Through an addition to their utility or property tax bills, borrowers in turn repay the loans over 20 or 30 years — typically with the money earned through energy savings or sales back to the grid. The debt typically stays with the property, rather than the individual, so homeowners who reckon they’d be selling their homes inside of a 30-year repayment period aren’t dissuaded from participating.

“Concentrating efforts in discrete neighborhoods or districts also allows energy contractors to concentrate their resources and cut costs, working entirely through one area before moving on to the next…

“[Programs are developing in]…Berkeley, Calif…Babylon, N.Y… Austin, Tex…Boulder, Colo…Vermont…Connecticut…Portland, Ore…Portland, Seattle, Spokane and Boise…”


WILL NEW ENERGY GET PAST CONGRESS?
Environmentalists hope stimulus package will push ‘green' goals
Renee Schoof, January 11, 2009 (McClatchy Newspapers via Miami Herald)

"…Environmental groups cheered last week when President-elect Barack Obama said the U.S. should use the stimulus package to double its production of renewable energy in three years and cut its use of fossil fuels by modernizing more than 75 percent of federal buildings and improving the energy efficiency of 2 million homes.

"The questions now, however, are whether Obama's plan will sail through Congress or clash with other interests, and whether environmentalists will be able to use the recovery package to press other of their ideas, including installing solar panels on school roofs and spending money on mass transit instead of new highways."

click to enlarge

"…shifting money away from highway construction to other transportation uses will be one of the most difficult aspects of pressing home a green agenda as part of the stimulus package…Companies that benefit from federal dollars for highway construction are a powerful lobbying opponent…

"…Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said the stimulus plan should include $1 billion in grants to spur the production of batteries for electric vehicles in the United States…Most of the technology for lithium ion batteries was invented in the United States, but Pacific Rim countries now are producing nearly all these batteries…

"The wind and solar industry also are arguing for government support…Studies show that energy efficiency and renewable energy are the cheapest way to make the sharp greenhouse gas emissions reductions scientists warn will be necessary to avoid serious climate disruption…

"Seventeen environmental groups sent a detailed list of more than 80 stimulus proposals to Obama in early December. They argued their plans could create 3.6 million jobs…"


TOYOTA TO GO ELECTRIC IN 2012
Toyota to launch pure electric car in U.S. by 2012
Chang-Ran Kim (w/ Peter Bohan), January 11, 2009 (Reuters via UK Guardian)

“Toyota Motor Corp said it would launch an all-electric car for city commuting by 2012 in the United States as part of its plan to speed up the introduction of green cars as its global sales falter.

“The FT-EV concept made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sunday, where the world's top automaker is also unveiling two new gasoline-electric hybrid cars…

“Toyota said the concept car is targeted at the urban dweller driving up to 50 miles (80 km) between home and work…

“Toyota, which had previously said it would aim to get an electric car out by the "early part of the next decade", would join rivals General Motors Corp and Nissan Motor Co in the race to grab the lead in the zero-emission car segment…

“…Toyota said it still considered gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles its long-term core powertrain technology…

“General Motors…has said it will launch its Chevrolet Volt electric car in the United States in late 2010. GM says the Volt will have a 40-miles (64 km) range for driving on one battery charge.”