QUICK NEWS, November 4: HOW CLIMATE SCIENTISTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW; WHY SOLAR SCARES UTILITIES; WIND HAILS IOWA’S BRUCE BRALEY FOR STANDING UP

HOW CLIMATE SCIENTISTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW Why Is UN Report So Certain Humans Caused Climate Change?

John Roach, November 3, 2014 (NBC News)

“The science laid out in [ the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's newest climate assessment ] is clear and stark: Our fossil-fueled economy has irreversibly changed the global climate…Climate change science hasn't changed dramatically in recent years, but rather firmed up as researchers investigate various questions…The new synthesis report takes into consideration thousands of newly published papers that have explored various aspects of global climate change…

“Despite advances in observations, models and framing…[the] basic conclusions remain the same — climate change is already happening, is in large part caused by human activities, and will cause significant impacts if emissions are not reigned in…[though]the new report does provide more information than ever…Governments from around the world now will use the report to support negotiating positions when they meet next month in Lima, Peru, to lay the groundwork for a new international agreement on limiting greenhouse gas emissions…[though] they seem quite distracted by other things right now…” click here for more

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WHY SOLAR SCARES UTILITIES Utilities feel burned by solar-energy users

Dan Gearino, November 2, 2014 (Columbus Dispatch)

“…[Utilities] say their current rate structure doesn’t allow them to cover costs related to renewable-energy owners. The result, the companies say, is that the costs get passed on to other consumers… Jim Lazar, an electricity consultant in Washington state who advises regulators across the country…thinks the answer will vary depending on the political climate of each state…Utilities in most states are not yet feeling a pinch because of electricity generated by home-based systems. Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. households have renewable energy installed…

“But as solar-panel prices continue to drop and the systems become more popular, utility companies fear that electricity sales will take a sudden dive, depriving them of the money needed to maintain the grid for everyone else…Within the industry, this scenario is often called the ‘death spiral,’ a kind of doomsday for the regulated-utility business model…[U]tility companies and industry groups are proposing additional surcharges for solar owners…[and] arguing that wealthy solar owners receive subsidies that are unavailable to the many people who struggle to pay their electricity bills…Meanwhile, ‘green’ power advocates say utilities are standing in the way of progress toward an economy that relies less on large power plants…” click here for more

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WIND HAILS IOWA’S BRUCE BRALEY FOR STANDING UP

Props to a wind hero fighting for his political life. Get out the vote, Iowa! From AmericanWindEnergy via YouTube

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