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News: Archive for September, 2010

Analysis: Soaring Chinese economy at odds with climate goals | Reuters

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

‘Reuters – Just last year experts at the International Energy Agency proposed a target for China’s carbon emissions to peak in 2020 before declining if the world were to be saved from devastating climate change. Too late now.’

via Analysis: Soaring Chinese economy at odds with climate goals | Reuters.

Video: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks out against Prop. 23

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Monday, September 27, 2010 Santa Clara, California
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke out strongly against Proposition 23 at the Commonwealth Club. He attacked as ‘cynical’ efforts by Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro to ‘kill’ California’s AB32 climate legislation, calling the efforts driven by ‘self-serving greed’, and comparing these efforts to a conspiracy in the twenties which destroyed light rail in America. While critiquing national efforts at climate legislation as ineffective, he praised President Obama’s intentions. Citing failures at the national and international levels, he stressed the importance of California’s AB32 to provide a strong financial zone for green development and green job creation, referring to the struggle over Proposition 23 as a battle.

“Does any one really believe that these companies out the goodness of their black oil hearts are spending of millions and millions of dollars to protect jobs?”

Partial excerpt: “Those who seek to overturn our carbon reduction law say that the green tech future is to costly… But here’s what the don’t want to tell you: The cost calculations doesn’t include the increased cost of doing business their way. The old way.”
“They don’t include the cost for instance of rising oil prices as the developing world demands more and more oil. They don’t include the cost of job losses that these rising oil prices would force. They don’t include the cost of hundred of billions of tax breaks that have gotten and continue to get. They don’t include the cost of pollution that they are already causing. The cost for instance of the hundred thousand Americans who die every year from smog related diseases.
They don’t include also the cost of 6.5 million hospital visits per year for smog related illnesses.
They don’t include the cost of the next war over oil – and believe me eventually it would come – as we become more and more dependent on oil. I mean I think that we have had enough wars in the Middle East because of oil – don’t you think so?”

The Governor’s statement was also covered at GreenTechMedia and on MSNBC:

story by James George

America’s First Oil Sands Project in Utah to Face Legal Challenges | Reuters

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

‘A plan to strip-mine oil sands crude on U.S. land for the first time in northeastern Utah is facing legal challenge.’

via America’s First Oil Sands Project in Utah to Face Legal Challenges | Reuters.

California’s largest solar photovoltaic plant to start construction | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

‘NRG Solar, partnering with Eurus Energy America Corp., is about to launch on a 45-megawatt project in Kings County. Split into three parts, the 20-megawatt Sun City portion and the 19-megawatt Sand Drag section will start going up by the end of September, while the final Avenal Park piece will follow in about a month.’

via California’s largest solar photovoltaic plant to start construction | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times.

Proposition 23 poll shows a dead heat among California voters | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

‘California voters believe global warming is a significant issue and are inclined to trust scientific views on the subject, but they remain closely divided on a November ballot measure that would suspend the state’s global warming statute, according to a new Los Angeles Times/University of Southern California poll.’

via Proposition 23 poll shows a dead heat among California voters | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times.

Global Warming May Have Slowed in the 1970s Due to Suddenly Cooler Oceans | SolveClimate.com

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

‘A rapid surface cooling of the northern oceans may have caused a temporary slowdown in global warming that occurred during the early 1970s, according to an article in the September 22 issue of the science journal Nature. Moreover, the article also suggests that the cooling coincided with an unexpected influx of freshwater, most likely from melting ice, that flowed from the Arctic Ocean into the North Atlantic.’

via Global Warming May Have Slowed in the 1970s Due to Suddenly Cooler Oceans | SolveClimate.com.

DuPont sees $1 bln solar market sales in 2010 | Reuters

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

‘Reuters – DuPont Co now expects $1 billion in photovoltaic market sales this year, up from a previous forecast to hit that mark in 2011, saying interest for solar materials continues to spike.’

via DuPont sees $1 bln solar market sales in 2010 | Reuters.

Bingaman: U.S. climate bill dead for years | Reuters

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

‘Reuters – Broad U.S. climate change legislation is likely dead for at least the next two years in the new Congress, especially if Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011, a leading Democrat said on Wednesday.’

via Bingaman: U.S. climate bill dead for years | Reuters.

MIT researchers develop a way to funnel solar energy

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

‘CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Using carbon nanotubes (hollow tubes of carbon atoms), MIT chemical engineers have found a way to concentrate solar energy 100 times more than a regular photovoltaic cell. Such nanotubes could form antennas that capture and focus light energy, potentially allowing much smaller and more powerful solar arrays.’

via MIT researchers develop a way to funnel solar energy.

Green column – A Threat to California’s Climate Change Progress – NYTimes.com

Monday, September 20th, 2010

‘SAN FRANCISCO — California’s ambitious climate change agenda could evaporate in a vote in November that pits renewable energy advocates and allies against oil companies and manufacturers.’

via Green column – A Threat to California’s Climate Change Progress – NYTimes.com.