QUICK NEWS, October 23: Climate Change Makes Us All Hobbits; Finding A Sweet Spot For New Energy In The Markets; DOE Should Slow Its Move For Nuclear And Coal Supports

Climate Change Makes Us All Hobbits Forward Thinking: Lord of the Rings and climate change

Kay Cramer, October 22, 2017 (The Daily Item)

“…At the opening of the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) by J.R.R. Tolkien, the rising power of the Dark Lord is becoming evident…[but not in the Shire of] the quiet, gentle Hobbits…[and they] don’t want to believe the warnings or change their way of life…When the threat finally becomes explicit, [Frodo] reluctantly accepts the challenge and, working with other races (elves, dwarves, men and women, eagles), defeats the Dark Lord…[Similarly, scientists have recognized the threat of human-produced climate change for decades, [but changes in the U.S.] have come slowly and have been easy to overlook…

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Just as war finally came to Frodo and his friends, the dire effects of climate change are approaching and we need to take off the blinders and start dealing with them…It is inspiring to read stories of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania cities and towns embracing renewable energy resources…In the U.S. House of Representatives, the [bipartisan] Climate Solutions Caucus is working to effect change…The final outcome in LOTR was mixed: the earth was saved from the evil power of the Dark Lord, but much of beauty and wonder was lost in the struggle…Our own lives will change; we will be called on to sacrifice and live more mindfully…[and] the lives of future generations will be very different…[but] we can meet the challenge…” click here for more

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Finding A Sweet Spot For New Energy In The Markets Trump Isn't The Biggest Threat To The Energy Revolution

Jeff McMahon, October 21, 2017 (Forbes)

“…[The president] has threatened the energy revolution with a cost-recovery rule for coal and nuclear power…[and some say he] will stunt its growth through a pending trade case…[But many argue he cannot] stop the development of a clean, intelligent electric system…[because the U.S. is too far along the road] for the fundamental trajectory of the value proposition to change…But that doesn't mean the energy revolution is a lock-in either…[They say the biggest threat faced by the new energy revolution] is the need to reform regulations so they make room for new technologies while ensuring the survival of legacy players…In the face of that challenge, looming separately now in each of the 50 states, there's a worry that regulators might surrender to Newton's First Law: a body at rest tends to remain at rest…[It's proving challenging for regulators] to find ways for new parties to enter electricity markets…while simultaneously finding new revenue streams for old utilities…” click here for more

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DOE Should Slow Its Move For Nuclear And Coal Supports Costly market distortions won’t improve grid resiliency

Charles Hernick, October 19, 2017 (The Hill)

“Energy policy in the minds of American consumers is simple: People want the lights to come on when they hit the light switch, and no one wants to pay more than necessary. Overwhelmingly, most Americans want clean energy too — irrespective of party…That’s why [the Department of Energy (DOE) moving to fast in its push for a Federal Energy Regulatory proceeding] to address questions on the need for reform, eligibility, rates and implementation [of the grid’s wholesale power market. And] it is completely unwarranted since the Department’s own grid study concluded that there is not actually an imminent reliability emergency…Winter is coming — but a tight rulemaking timeline and a policy favoring just [coal and nuclear power] is not necessary…[Hasty implementation of the proposed Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule is] a solution in search of a problem…Moreover, the plan to save at-risk coal and nuclear plants is expensive, costing ratepayers between $1 billion and $4 billion annually through 2030…” click here for more

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