QUICK NEWS, August 20: WHO’S SPEAKING OUT; FEDS OK OCEAN ENERGY INTERCONNECT; CALIFORNIA MOVES TOWARD COMMUNITY SOLAR

WHO’S SPEAKING OUT Study: TV Media Ignore Climate Change In Coverage Of Record July Heat

Jill Fitzsimmons and Max Greenberg, August 15, 2012 (Media Matters)

“Scientists say that human-induced climate change made this year's record heat more likely, and project that extreme heat will become more common in the United States. But a Media Matters analysis of media coverage of record-breaking heat in July finds that major television outlets rarely made the connection between heat waves and a changing climate…Only 14% Of Heat Wave Stories Mentioned Climate Change…”

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“CNN And ABC Stand Out In Their Incomplete Coverage…Fox Mentioned Climate Change Once, Only To Dismiss It…Quality Of Heat Wave Coverage Varied Among Major Papers…Only 6% of television segments and 12% of print articles noted that climate change is fueled by human activities including the burning of fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. The Associated Press, USA Today, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal never made that connection…”

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FEDS OK OCEAN ENERGY INTERCONNECT BOEM Moves R.I. Offshore Wind Transmission Project Forward

10 August 2012 (Renew Grid)

“The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued a decision of no competitive interest for the construction of a transmission system between the Rhode Island coastline and Block Island - an important step in evaluating the transmission project proposed by Deepwater Wind that would deliver power from its proposed five-turbine, 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm.

“BOEM received an application from Deepwater Wind requesting a right-of-way grant for an eight-nautical-mile-long, 200-foot-wide corridor in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to connect the proposed offshore wind farm - to be located in Rhode Island state waters approximately 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Block Island - to the Rhode Island mainland.”

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“The proposed offshore transmission connection would also transmit power from the existing onshore transmission grid to Block Island. Deepwater Wind estimates that the proposed wind farm will generate over 100 GWh annually, supplying the majority of Block Island’s electricity needs…

“Before reviewing the OCS right-of-way application, BOEM had to determine whether there were other developers interested in constructing transmission facilities in the same area…[It] also solicited public comment on site conditions and multiple uses within the right-of-way grant area…[BOEM will now lead a study of] potential environmental effects of the project under the National Environmental Policy Act…”

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CALIFORNIA MOVES TOWARD COMMUNITY SOLAR Community Solar Bill Advances In California

17 August 2012 (Solar Industry)

“The California State Assembly's key fiscal committee…[approved] S.B.843, which would create a program to provide customers of the state's major utilities the opportunity to buy clean energy produced by a shared community renewable energy system and receive credit on their utility bills for their portion of the power generated.

“The community solar bill, introduced by State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, now awaits a hearing by the full assembly.”

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[Wolk:] "This legislation provides access to clean, renewable energy to the three out of four energy customers in California who are currently unable to generate their own on-site power from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources…It gives Californians the opportunity to save on their energy bill, and encourages more investment and creates local jobs in an important sector of our state's economy, all without spending any state funds."

“…[According to Economic and Job Creation Benefits of California SB 843: Community Based Renewable Energy Self Generation Program from VoteSolar] S.B.843 would deploy 2 GW of new renewable energy capacity and approximately double the amount of rooftop solar currently installed in the state.”

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