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News Roundup

New York State Bonds Include Warning on Climate Change – NYTimes.com

March 27th, 2013

‘ALBANY — In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has started to caution investors that climate change poses a long-term risk to the state’s finances.’

via New York State Bonds Include Warning on Climate Change – NYTimes.com.

BBC News – Oklahoma earthquake linked to oil extraction wastewater

March 27th, 2013

‘Scientists have linked the underground injection of oil-drilling wastewater to a magnitude-5.7 earthquake in 2011 that struck the US state of Oklahoma.’

via BBC News – Oklahoma earthquake linked to oil extraction wastewater.

Arctic ice loss drives extreme weather patterns – latimes.com

March 26th, 2013

‘At a Tuesday news conference, several researchers said that warming conditions in the Arctic may be weakening jet stream currents and causing extreme weather systems to linger in northern mid-latitudes.’

via Arctic ice loss drives extreme weather patterns – latimes.com.

China’s bailouts darken horizon for solar panel sector | Reuters

March 26th, 2013

‘(Reuters) – China’s rush to bail out Suntech Power Holdings and other solar panel makers is condemning its solar sector to a worsening glut, as demand remains stubbornly stagnant, both at home and abroad.’

via China’s bailouts darken horizon for solar panel sector | Reuters.

Massive Energy Skyscraper Proposed On U.S.-Mexico Border – Forbes

March 26th, 2013

‘A Maryland energy company is planning to deliver 500 megawatts of power to the electrical grid from a giant hollow tower on the Arizona-Mexico border that would be the second-tallest structure ever built.’

via Massive Energy Skyscraper Proposed On U.S.-Mexico Border – Forbes.

and the followup story fills in some of the details:

‘How much would it cost to build a downdraft tower? $1 billion, plus $100 million to pipe the water in from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Additional money would be needed to build a desalination plant, but the company has not yet arrived at a number…’

via Your Energy Skyscraper Questions, Answered – Forbes.

UPDATE 2-Water escapes Suncor oil sands pond into Athabasca River | Reuters

March 26th, 2013

‘CALGARY, Alberta, March 26 (Reuters) – Contaminated water may have spilled into the Athabasca River from a broken pipe at Suncor Energy Inc’s oil sands project in northern Alberta, sparking new fears about pollution of the river from the massive oil sands developments along its banks.’

via UPDATE 2-Water escapes Suncor oil sands pond into Athabasca River | Reuters.

UC Davis climate confab sets international agenda – Daily Democrat Online

March 26th, 2013

‘An action-oriented scientific agenda for tackling global climate change and its impacts on agriculture emerged from the international, three-day Climate-Smart Agriculture Conference, which drew more than 300 participants last week to UC Davis.’

via UC Davis climate confab sets international agenda – Daily Democrat Online.

Senate energy and climate change votes point to EPA as key decider – NBC Politics

March 26th, 2013

‘Hurricane Sandy last year pushed the issue of climate change higher on the nation’s agenda. President Barack Obama indicated in his inaugural address and his State of the Union address that climate policy would be a priority for his second term. Some members of Congress said Sandy might cause Congress to redesign infrastructure spending to limit damage from future catastrophic storms.’

via Senate energy and climate change votes point to EPA as key decider – NBC Politics.

New York State Cites Climate Change as Risk to Bond Investors – Bloomberg

March 26th, 2013

‘New York state is listing climate change as a risk for bondholders after Hurricane Sandy caused more than $40 billion in damage and Governor Andrew Cuomo said better preparations are needed.’

via New York State Cites Climate Change as Risk to Bond Investors – Bloomberg.

Governors Ask Obama to Weigh Climate Impact of Coal Ports – Bloomberg

March 26th, 2013

‘President Barack Obama’s administration should weigh the climate-change impact of burning coal in Asia when considering whether to approve Pacific coal- export terminals, two Western governors said.’

via Governors Ask Obama to Weigh Climate Impact of Coal Ports – Bloomberg.