QUICK NEWS, 9-6: DIRTY ENERGY PROP IS MORE DENIAL; WISC SETS WIND BUILD RULES; 1 GW SOLAR POWER ADVANCES; COAL OUTSOURCES

DIRTY ENERGY PROP IS MORE DENIAL
Prop. 23: strongest effort yet at climate change denial
Thomas Elias, September 1, 2010 (Long Beach Press-Telegram)

"The Texas oil companies behind Proposition 23 don't call it an attempt to deny the existence of worldwide climate change…[But putting] AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, in abeyance until unemployment levels drop to 5.5 percent or lower for a full year, amounts to getting rid of the world's strongest effort to do something about climate change.

"…[At] Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park…you will see not a single one of the many glaciers that gave the overlook its name…[In] the Scottish highlands…some botanical gardens now feature…tropical plants normally associated with places like Hawaii, Costa Rica and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico…[In the last 15 years, Greenland has become] much greener and far less icy…[and California hydrologists] forecast a future of steadily reduced flow in many California waterways…"

This graph compares the findings of 4 widely respected studies against business-as-usual. (click to enlarge)

"…[Deniers] say no one has proven all this has anything to do with modern civilization and its production of greenhouse gases...[E]ven if there were really no proof - and the vast majority of the world's leading climate scientists has repeatedly said [it is]… - doing what we can to avoid making things worse would still be the responsible thing to do…That's the aim of AB32, which mandates rolling back California's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels within the next 10 years…Proposition 23 would stop that…

"…[O]pponents of AB32…[say it] is a "job killer"…[but] present no evidence..[except a study] whose methodology and ethics have been roundly discredited…[A] report by the state legislative analyst warns of higher energy costs and resulting job losses...[but] did not even look at potential benefits of using renewable energy sources or the jobs created by the fight against global warming…"

This graph compares the findings of 3 widely respected studies against business-as-usual. (click to enlarge)

"…[Texas-based oil refiners] Valero and Tesoro (which sells its gasoline in California under the Shell and USA brands)…put Proposition 23 on the ballot and [fuel it]…[It is more] oil company resistance to clean air measures of all types. Refiners and automakers have fought every anti-smog law California ever passed.

"…[T]he California Business Alliance for a Green Economy…noted that in May of this year…its member companies had active online postings for 7,500 new job offerings…[and said] California leads the nation in hiring for ‘green’ jobs, a phenomenon that could end abruptly if Proposition 23 passes…[With the defeat of Proposition 23] California will once again assert itself as the world leader in the search for both clean air and renewable energy."


WISC SETS WIND BUILD RULES
PSC: Finalizes wind siting rules
Teresa Weidemann-Smith, August 30, 2010 (Wisconsin Business)

"The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin…[has completed its] administrative rules governing the siting of wind turbines in Wisconsin. The rules were drafted in response to 2009 Wisconsin Act 40, recently-enacted legislation directing the Commission to promulgate rules that specify the restrictions local units of government may impose on the installation or use of wind energy systems…

"The Commission’s rules will function as a uniform ceiling of standards to guide the local regulation of wind siting, operation, and decommissioning for projects less than 100 megawatts in generating capacity. The rules specify how a political subdivision can establish setback requirements, noise and shadow flicker standards, and mechanisms that give non-participating landowners a stake in wind energy projects sited in their area…"

The new rules will move Wisconsin toward realizing the revenue benefits of its New Energy goals. (click to enlarge)

"…[1] At least 90 days before filing an application, the wind energy system owner must give notice to landowners within one mile of proposed wind turbine locations…[2] A political subdivision can require wind energy systems to be sited and operated in a manner that does not exceed 45 dBA during nighttime hours and 50 dBA during daytime hours. Noise limits will be measured from the outside wall of non-participating residences and occupied community buildings…

"…[3] A political subdivision can require wind energy systems to be sited and operated in a manner that does not cause more than 30 hours per year of shadow flicker for non-participating residences or occupied community buildings…[If it causes] more than 20 hours per year of shadow flicker, a political subdivision can require the wind energy system owner to install mitigation measures…at the expense of the wind turbine owner… [4] A political subdivision can impose minimum safety setbacks of 1.1 times the maximum blade tip height of a wind turbine for participating residences, non-participating property lines, public road rights-of-way, and overhead communication and electric transmission or distribution lines…[and] up to 3.1 times the maximum blade tip height…for nonparticipating residences and occupied community buildings…"

The new rules will move Wisconsin toward realizing the job benefits of its New Energy goals. (click to enlarge)

"…[5] The rules allow…[requirements of] monetary compensation to non-participating landowners located within one-half mile of a wind turbine site…[that may not] exceed 25% of the payments being made to a landowner hosting a wind turbine…[and, 6] rules establish complaint resolution requirements…[and a review process] appealable to the Commission.

"The Commission’s action…[ends] six months of intense work in developing uniform wind siting rules for Wisconsin…The Commission’s rules now head to the Legislature, where the presiding officer of each house will have 10 days to refer the rules to a standing committee for review."


1 GW SOLAR POWER ADVANCES
1 GW Blythe Solar Project Receives Final EIS
27 August 2010 (Solar Today)

"The U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Blythe Solar Power Project, a 1 GW solar thermal power plant planned for southeast California.

"The project, which received proposed California Energy Commission approval earlier this month, is being developed by Oakland, Calif.-based developer Solar Millennium LLC."

click to enlarge

"In the EIS, the BLM identified an "Agency Preferred Alternative" plan for the project, which considers impacts related to biological resources, cultural resources, land use, visual resources, and hydrology, water quality and water use…[and concluded] adverse impacts can be avoided or substantially reduced…"

1,000 megawatts of trough technology. That's making hay while the sun shines. (click to enlarge)

"…[T]he project would [be four power units of 250 MW for a total nominal capacity of 1,000 MW as a solar parabolic-trough generating station]…The project is expected to be constructed in four phases and will be connected to Southern California Edison’s planned Colorado River Substation…

"A final EIS is considered the last federal regulatory hurdle before a record of decision authorizing construction…Final authorization may occur as early as October…"


COAL OUTSOURCES
U.S. government may finance massive coal projects in India, South Africa
August 26, 2010 (Mongabay)

"The United States Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) voted…to seek a final review of a $900m loan for a controversial 3,960 MW coal-fired power plant in India…

"The Sasan coal-fired Ultra Mega Power and Mine Project is one of nine ‘Ultra Mega Power Plants’ being pursued by the Indian government. Each plant is roughly equivalent of eight average U.S. coal fired power plants and will generate 26 to 27 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, or about 1.7 percent of India's total greenhouse gas emissions."

THIS is what the U.S. Export-Import Bank should be funding in India. (click to enlarge)

"The move was condemned by Doug Norlen, Policy Director for Pacific Environment…[who said] 95 percent of Ex-Im’s energy portfolio is based on fossil fuels.

"The investment trend looks to continue. The agency is now looking to fund the 4,800 MW Kusile coal project in South Africa. The plant would generate 36.8 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, increasing emissions from South Africa's energy sector by nearly 13 percent and the country's overall emissions by 9.7%…"

THIS is what the U.S. Export-Import Bank should be developing in South Africa. (click to enlarge)

"Pacific Environment and its coalition partners, including Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club, are calling upon the Export-Import Bank to halt funding of fossil fuels projects overseas and instead focus on clean energy…

"A recent study by the World Wildlife Fund found that for every million dollars invested in energy projects, 13.5 jobs are created in the clean tech export sector. For the same amount of spending in the oil and gas and coal industries, only 3.7 and 4.9 jobs are created respectively."