MORE NEWS, 10-26: SENATE CLIMATE BILL ANALYZED; CLIMATE FIGHT SLIPPING FROM FOCUS; CLIMATE FIGHT MAKES JOBS – SUN STUDY; BATS SAFE WITH WIND – EXPERT

SENATE CLIMATE BILL ANALYZED
Senate Global Warming Bill Is Seeking to Cushion the Impact on Industry
John M. Broder, October 24, 2009 (NY Times)

"The Senate bill aimed at reducing global warming pollution will initially grant billions of dollars of free emissions permits to utilities and industry but will require the bulk of the money be returned to consumers and taxpayers, according to newly released details.

"The bill will also provide a cushion to energy-intensive manufacturing companies to ease the transition to a lower-carbon economy and to help them compete internationally, although the subsidies will disappear over time. The measure also sets a floor and ceiling on the price of permits to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases."

Excellent summary analysis (click to enlarge)

"…[T]he Environmental Protection Agency estimates that overall cost of the [Senate bill] at roughly $100 a year per household, similar to that of a House climate change and energy bill passed in June…The Senate measure, sponsored by Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, aims to [cut greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050] under a cap-and-trade system that sets a nationwide limit on emissions but allows polluters to buy and sell permits to meet it…

"Senators Kerry and Boxer introduced their bill in late September with a number of missing provisions…[A] more detailed 923-page draft [of S. 1733]…spells out the formula for distributing pollution allowances and other provisions…[and] includes new financing for research on capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, more money for low-carbon transportation projects, additional assistance for rural communities and more favorable treatment for agriculture and forestry…The bill is before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which Mrs. Boxer leads. The panel has scheduled three days of hearings [and then will begin markup]…"

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"The E.P.A. analysis of the Kerry-Boxer bill found that its costs and impact were roughly equivalent to those of the House bill…[Both] would reduce overall American emissions by nearly the same amount over the next 40 years. The costs to consumers are also similar, the agency found…Neither bill would add to the federal deficit and both measures could actually produce some revenue from the sale of emissions permits, the agency found…

"...The E.P.A. did not try to quantify the benefits to individuals or society of reducing greenhouse gas pollution…Other studies have found higher costs, although all such estimates are based on assumptions about how businesses and consumers would behave as energy costs rise and how quickly new technology would appear to replace increasingly costly fossil fuels…Senate Republicans dismissed the E.P.A. analysis as incomplete and have threatened to boycott committee action until a more thorough analysis is done…"

Bonus extended summary analysis worth clicking to enlarge


CLIMATE FIGHT SLIPPING FROM FOCUS
Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
October 22, 2009 (Pew Research Center for the People and the Press)

"There has been a sharp decline over the past year in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising. And fewer also see global warming as a very serious problem – 35% say that today, down from 44% in April 2008.

"The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 4 among 1,500 adults reached on cell phones and landlines, finds that 57% think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures."

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"Over the same period, there has been a comparable decline in the proportion of Americans who say global temperatures are rising as a result of human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Just 36% say that currently, down from 47% last year.

"The decline in the belief in solid evidence of global warming has come across the political spectrum, but has been particularly pronounced among independents. Just 53% of independents now see solid evidence of global warming, compared with 75% who did so in April 2008. Republicans, who already were highly skeptical of the evidence of global warming, have become even more so: just 35% of Republicans now see solid evidence of rising global temperatures, down from 49% in 2008 and 62% in 2007. Fewer Democrats also express this view – 75% today compared with 83% last year…"

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"Opinions about global warming changed little between 2006 and 2008. In August 2006 and January 2007, 77% said there was solid evidence that the earth’s temperatures were increasing; that figure fell modestly to 71% in April of last year…[M]ost said it was largely caused by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels…Far smaller percentages – including just 18% in 2008 – said it was mostly caused because of natural environmental patterns…Currently, 57% say there is solid evidence of rising global temperatures…Fewer than four-in-ten (36%) now say global warming is mostly caused by human activity…[and] 16% say it is occurring mostly because of natural environmental patterns…

"A majority (65%) of the public continues to view global warming as a very (35%) or somewhat (30%) serious problem…Young people are now far more likely than older Americans to view global warming as a very serious problem…As expected, views about the seriousness of global warming are also related to whether people think there is solid evidence the earth is warming and whether it is human caused…In January 2009, global warming ranked at the bottom of the public’s list of policy priorities for the president and Congress this year. Only 30% of the public said it should be a top priority, down from 35% a year ago…Global warming is the lowest-rated priority for both independents and Republicans and ranks sixteenth for Democrats among 20 issues…"


CLIMATE FIGHT MAKES JOBS – SUN STUDY
ASES/MISI analysis shows that renewable energy and energy efficiency can reduce U.S. carbon emissions 60-80%, generate millions of jobs and are revenue neutral or better
October 21, 2009 (American Solar Energy Society)

"A new report suggests that tackling climate change will be a major net job creator for the U.S. economy. According to the report, aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency can net up to 4.5 million new U.S. jobs by 2030 and provide the greenhouse gas emission reductions necessary to tackle climate change.

"...[Estimating the Impacts of Tackling Climate Change] was released…by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES)…and Management Information Services, Inc… According to the analysis, renewable energy and energy efficiency deployment costs would be revenue neutral (or better), as costs to implement the technologies are offset by savings from lower energy bills, making total net costs near zero…"

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[Findings:]"…Aggressive deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency can net 4.5 million new jobs [dispersed throughout the U.S. in virtually all industries and occupations] by 2030…Hot jobs spurred by this new economic growth span a diverse range of [blue collar and white collar] skills and experience…Renewable energy and energy efficient technologies could displace approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions annually by 2030 [and thereby prevent the worst impacts of climate change]..."

[Findings:]"…Approximately 57% of carbon emissions reductions would be from energy efficiency and 43% would be from renewable energy…Energy efficiency measures can allow U.S. carbon emissions to remain about level through 2030, while renewable technologies can provide large reductions…[C]onstruction, farming, professional services, public sector, retail, truck transportation, fabricated metals and electrical equipment [industries show the biggest job gains]…"

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[Findings:]"…The construction industry directly benefits from almost all the growing renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors…Farming directly benefits from biomass and biofuel technology growth…Many of these jobs can not be easily outsourced…The greatest numbers of renewable energy jobs are generated by solar photovoltaics, biofuels, biomass, and concentrating solar power sectors…"

"…[P]olicy can play a significant role in both generating jobs and mitigating carbon emissions….[through] improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry, and [driving growth in] six renewable energy technologies: concentrating solar power, photovoltaics, wind power, biomass, biofuels, and geothermal power…[Though] advancing new energy technologies can both create new jobs and displace jobs from less efficient industries….in total, more than 4.5 million more jobs can be created by tackling climate change than would be lost."


BATS SAFE WITH WIND – EXPERT
Witness: WVa wind farm no threat to endangered bat
October 23, 2009 (AP)

"An environmental consultant hired by developers of a proposed West Virginia wind farm told a federal judge he believes the project won't harm the endangered Indiana bat."

Recent infrared night studies have identified the habits that attract bats to wind turbines and pointed to operational fixes. (click to enlarge)

"Consultant Russ Romme performed risk assessments for the proposed windfarm. He testified…in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., in a bench trial in which opponents are seeking to force developers to obtain permits under the federal Endangered Species Act.

"Romme testified that his firm's netting surveys [found] the bat and acoustic surveys the plaintiffs say show evidence of [bat endangermnent] aren't reliable." [See WIND SOLVES ITS BAT PROBLEM]

There are harms to bats but they can be minimized and wind is working to do so. There are harms from doing anything to generate massive amounts of energy but doing nothing is not an option. (click to enlarge)

"…Animal Welfare Institute and…Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy filed suit against… Beech Ridge Energy and Invenergy Wind over the proposed Greenbrier County, W.Va., wind farm."