QUICK NEWS, March 14: The Cost Of Climate Change; Solar Projects Can Power Coal Country; Maryland Moves Toward Offshore Wind

The Cost Of Climate Change Curbing climate change has a dollar value — here’s how and why we measure it

Joseph Aldy, Marcvh 12, 2017 (The Conversation)

“…[President Trump and his appointees argue that reversing Obama-era rules to cut carbon pollution and undoing obstacles to coal mining on] public lands…will bring coal miners’ jobs back…although coal industry job losses reflect competition from cheap natural gas, not regulations that have yet to take effect…But they ignore the fact that mitigating climate change will produce large economic gains…[Burning fossil fuels produces benefits but] also generates widespread costs to society…[According to the U.S. government, the social cost of carbon (SCC) is] about US$40 per ton…[T]he Trump administration and critics in Congress may reduce this figure or even stop using it…We can always improve our processes for estimating and using the SCC, but…[a] well-functioning democracy needs transparency about the economic benefits [and costs] of investments driven by public policy…[I]t makes sense that reducing carbon emissions benefits society by reducing risks of flooding, wildfires, storms and other impacts associated with severe climate change…[And] rising carbon pollution will increase the likelihood of lower agricultural yields, threaten public health through heat stress and damage infrastructure through floods and intense storms…” click here for more

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Solar Projects Can Power Coal Country Large-Scale Solar Facilities Offer Opportunity for Economic Growth

Darlene J. Swiger, March 12, 2017 (West Virginia State Journal)

“…[There are significant opportunities for large-scale solar facilities that promote economic development on degraded lands in West Virginia…[ A new study] identifies nearly 220 square miles of degraded land in West Virginia that could host such facilities, which could employ thousands of West Virginians…[A total of 1,479 of 6,430 sites assessed, including previously mined, brownfield, and other land, were] found to be viable for large-scale solar facility development, based on an analysis that included solar irradiation, site size, proximity to roads and transmission lines, land cover. and topography…The Department of Energy shows [the state] has a yearly average of sun hours of 4.5 hours a day vs. 4.75 hours in Florida…” click here for more

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Maryland Moves Toward Offshore Wind Maryland takes next step toward offshore wind

Sarah Gantz, Msrch 10, 2017 (Baltimore Sun)

“…[The Maryland Public Service Commission will begin hearings on proposals from two developers to build wind farms [off its Atlantic Coast]…Offshore wind energy, which is booming in Europe, offers significant potential to replace aging energy infrastructure along the East Coast, create jobs and bolster the economy…The federal government has leased thousands of acres off the East Coast to be developed into wind farms, but the industry has yet to take off in the United States…[It] has been hobbled largely by its cost as well as regulatory hurdles and opposition from politicians opposed to subsidizing energy, coastal residents worried about views and environmentalists worried about migratory birds…[One] small offshore wind farm has been installed in the United States [off Rhode Island]…But other projects are in the works off Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolinia…If Maryland successfully becomes one of the first states to establish an offshore wind farm, the project could position the state to be a leader in the industry and serve as a hub for the contractors who could service future offshore wind farms up and down the East Coast…” click here for more

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