QUICK NEWS, July 25: Climate Change In The Not-So-Funny Funnies; The Truth About Wind, Birds, And Bats; How Goes For 100% New Energy

Climate Change In The Not-So-Funny Funnies A Comic Strip Mirrors the Ravages of Climate Change

George Gene Gustines, July 23, 2017 (NY Times)

"The newspaper comic strip 'Arctic Circle,' by the environmentally minded cartoonist Alex Hallatt, is about talking penguins and their fellow creatures living in the north…[Now], under a caption that says ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ the menagerie will find their world shrinking and their conversations will be about global warming. Readers will see the drawings diminish to nothing by Friday as a snow bunny muses, ‘Climate change will lead to habitat loss and the extinction of many species.’ Miss Hallatt created the strips to observe the arrival of the documentary ‘An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,’ in theaters on Friday. The film is a follow-up to the 2006 Oscar-winning documentary featuring Al Gore. Miss Hallatt has no official connection to the film…” click here for more

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The Truth About Wind, Birds, And Bats Bat, bird deaths focus of wind farm study

Karl Puckett, July 21, 2017 (Great Falls Tribune)

“Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is leading a study of how a NorthWestern Energy-owned wind farm called Spion Kop is affecting bats and birds…One of the initial findings is that the project has been harder on bats than a pre-construction study predicted, with bats possibly mistaking the turbines for trees…But no raptor carcasses have been discovered, with NorthWestern crediting upfront investigation into the location of raptor nests prior to the siting of giant turbines with blades that can spin up to 190 miles per hour…It’s the first time a state agency, as opposed to a private developer, has conducted a so-called post-construction study, and the data on the number of birds and bats killed, usually closely guarded, will be made public when it’s completed…Utility and FWP officials say the study will lead to better understanding of how wind farms affect wildlife that could lead to improve siting and layout of future wind projects…” click here for more

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Hawaii Goes For 100% New Energy Hawaii's Push to 100% Renewable Energy Presents Opportunity for Solar Energy Hawaii continues to push the envelope in renewable energy, providing a path for the rest of the country.

Travis Hoium, July 22, 2017 (Motley Fool)

“Hawaii has long been the U.S. leader in solar energy deployment, despite the fact that the state's renewable energy efforts rarely get national attention. Solar energy, in particular, makes sense in Hawaii because of the state's abundant sunshine and high electricity prices (otherwise utilities burn imported fossil fuels). Even energy storage is an area where Hawaii is charging ahead of most other states…Hawaii will be the first state to take a real crack at being powered 100% renewable energy…The Hawaiian Public Utilities Commission wanted Hawaiian Electric to reach 100% renewable energy by 2045 and had twice rejected plans it didn't feel went far enough. This month, it approved the company's plan, which is actually to reach 100% renewables by 2040…The next five years will be a key transition…As more renewable energy is built in high penetration states like California and Iowa, utilities and regulators will be looking for solutions to build a stable grid with a lot of renewables. And if Hawaii can push past 50% in five years on its way to 100% renewables in 2040 it'll be a big proving point…” click here for more

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