QUICK NEWS, November 28: Five Things To Remember While Explaining Climate Change; Ten Reasons To Back Solar; How The Tax Debate Misunderstands Wind

Five Things To Remember While Explaining Climate Change How to persuade people that climate change is real

Alexander Maki, November 28, 2017

“…[The Trump administration has asked for $12 billion to help communities fight climate-change-related flooding…[W]e don’t know whether Trump has actually come to agree with the scientific consensus that humans have caused a drastic change in Earth’s climate…But the news prompts the question: What exactly does change minds about climate science? Research suggests that a variety of messages can influence people’s agreement with the scientific consensus that the Earth is warming and humans are contributing to it. And different people may respond differently to different kinds of messages…[First, a] growing body of research on climate change communication…[shows that,] in general, matching messenger to audience leads to more effective messages…[Second,] tailoring messages to fit the audience’s values can make people more willing to believe climate science…[Third, educating] people about the science can make a difference…[but it is not clear that] metaphors or narratives can help…[Fourth, emphasizing] risk may spur people to action…[Much research] suggests that when people experience extreme weather or have noticed changes in the local weather, they are more likely to believe that climate change is occurring…[And] research suggests that when individuals and communities feel that they can help mitigate climate change, they’re more likely to act…” click here for more

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Ten Reasons To Back Solar 10 Facts About Solar Energy That Might Surprise You

Travis Hoium, November 26, 2017 (Motley Fool via Nasdaq)

“…1. Solar power is the most abundant energy source on Earth…Every ounce of oil, every lump of coal, and every cubic foot of natural gas could be left in the ground if only we could capture one hour's worth of solar energy each year…2. Solar panel costs have fallen 99% since 1977…3. Solar Energy is cheaper than fossil fuels…4. Solar power plants can last 40 years or more…5. China is the world leader in solar energy ... by a lot…6. California is the U.S. star in solar…7. 39% of new electricity production capacity installed in 2016 was solar…8. Solar is the fastest energy source to deploy…9. There's probably a solar panel near you…Target (NYSE: TGT) is the largest corporate solar energy buyer, with 147.5 MW of solar generation, and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is second with 145.0 MW…10. Utilities are giving people solar options…The bottom line is that solar is booming around the world, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down…” click here for more

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How The Tax Debate Misunderstands Wind Fact Check: What critics are getting wrong about wind power during the tax reform debate

Greg Alvarez, November 21, 2017 (Into The Wind)

“…[Skeptics of wind power are using the House tax reform proposal] to spread misleading information, especially about the Production Tax Credit (PTC) that has unleashed the private capital needed for wind to scale up…The reality is that tax credits for wind energy are already in the midst of an orderly phaseout and will be gone after 2019. In the meantime, this policy is achieving its goals: creating tens of thousands of new jobs, triggering massive investment in rural America, and generating affordable electricity…[But the House’s tax reform proposes] deep cuts in the value of the remaining tax credits…[and new retroactive rules] that companies cannot go back in time to comply with…[It threatens] projects already underway with cancellation…[and puts at risk] 60,000 U.S. jobs and $50 billion of private investment in new infrastructure…[Yet conservatives continue to spread] false and misleading information about wind…The Senate’s tax reforms do] by U.S. wind workers and all the rural Americans who are counting on this new cash crop to revitalize their communities…” click here for more

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