QUICK NEWS, December 5: Trial Of The Century Coming On Climate; The Wind-Solar Synergy; The Still Rising Sales Of Cars With Plugs

Trial Of The Century Coming On Climate Trump could face the ‘biggest trial of the century’ — over climate change

Chelsea Harvey, December 1, 2016 (Washington Post)

“…[A] federal judge in Oregon made headlines when she ruled that a groundbreaking climate lawsuit will proceed to trial. And some experts say its outcome could rewrite the future of climate policy in the United States…The case, brought by 21 youths aged 9 to 20, claims that the federal government isn’t doing enough to address the problem of climate change to protect their planet’s future — and that, they charge, is a violation of their constitutional rights on the most basic level…[Climate scientist James Hansen has] joined as a plaintiff on behalf of his granddaughter and as a guardian for ‘future generations.’…The U.S. government under President Obama, along with several others representing members of the fossil fuel industry, filed to have the lawsuit dismissed. But on Nov. 10, federal judge Ann Aiken denied the motion, clearing the case to proceed to trial.

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According to Our Children’s Trust, the nonprofit representing the youth plaintiffs…[the case will] likely go to trial by summer or early fall of 2017…[T]he trial’s outcome could have major implications for the incoming Trump administration, which aims to dismantle many of the climate and energy priorities established under President Obama…Should the plaintiffs prevail, the federal government could be forced to develop and adhere to stringent carbon-cutting measures aimed at preserving the planet’s climate future for generations to come. The only other place such action has ever been ordered by a court is in the Netherlands, where a similar case resulted in a landmark ruling last year requiring the Dutch government to slash its emissions by a quarter within five years…” click here for more

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The Wind-Solar Synergy Wind and Solar Are Better Together; Building turbines and photovoltaics at the same location can reduce grid and battery costs and level out power supply

Ben Jervey, December 5, 2016 (Ensia via Scientific American)

“…[Wind resources tend to complement solar resources…A handful of enterprising renewable energy developers are now exploring how solar and wind might better work together, developing hybrid solar–wind projects…[with the strengths of the] two technologies in tandem serving as a better replacement for climate-warming fossil fuels than either could be alone…Co-locating wind and solar plants can save money on grid connections, site development and approvals. But that’s not the only benefit…[The developer of an Australian 10 MW solar project adjacent to a wind project] estimates savings as high as A$6 million — reducing the cost of the project by a full 20 percent…When applied to microgrid systems — local energy grids that can disconnect from the traditional grid and operate autonomously — combined solar and wind can help cut battery costs…since the wind can (and often does) blow when the sun doesn’t shine…Combining solar photovoltaics and wind turbines at the same location can actually yield up to twice the amount of electricity as having either system working alone…” click here for more

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The Still Rising Sales Of Cars With Plugs Plug-in electric car sales surge in Nov: Volt soars, Prius Prime arrives (final update)

John Voelcker, December 4, 2016 (Green Car Reports)

“…[T]he North American winter months have seen a slowdown in sales of plug-in electric cars—but…vehicle sales for November led analysts to suggest this could be another record year for U.S. sales…And several plug-in cars set new monthly records…[S]ales of the Nissan Leaf electric car actually increased over last year's comparable number, while those of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid soared…Toyota delivered almost 800 of its new Prius Prime plug-in hybrid…Chevrolet delivered 2,531 Volts in November, its best sales month in more than three years, bringing its 11-month sales total to 21,048…Nissan, meanwhile, sold 1,457 Leafs last month (against 1,054 a year ago), indicating that the six-year-old electric car may have some life left in it—and perhaps discounts too…Tesla Motors refuses to break down its quarterly delivery data by country, so we have no comparable data on Model S sedan and Model X crossover utility sales in the U.S…” click here for more

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