‘Washington: With a UN-sponsored climate conference in Copenhagen just weeks away, the White House is acknowledging that getting binding agreement for cutting greenhouse gases at the Summit is very unlikely.’
News Roundup
US downplays climate change talks at Copenhagen
November 24th, 2009New Voices on Climate Change – NYTimes.com
November 24th, 2009‘In September, the World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations agency based in Geneva, anointed television weather presenters as climate emissaries, highlighting the role they could play in communicating evidence and information about global warming directly to viewers.’
via Green Inc. Column – New Voices on Climate Change – NYTimes.com.
Norway opens world’s first osmotic power plant | Reuters
November 24th, 2009‘TOFTE, Norway Reuters – Norway opened on Tuesday the world’s first osmotic power plant, which produces emissions-free electricity by mixing fresh water and sea water through a special membrane.’
via Norway opens world’s first osmotic power plant | Green Business | Reuters.
This year ‘in top five warmest’
November 24th, 2009‘This year will be one of the top five warmest years globally since records began 150 years ago, according to figures compiled by the Met Office.’
Via BBC news
Recovery Act Spurs $4 Billion in Wind Power Projects | Reuters
November 23rd, 2009‘Through its Texas subsidiary Horizon Wind Energy, the giant Portuguese company EDP Renewables; the second largest wind company in the world, intends to almost triple its US projects to $4 billion worth of new wind energy projects in the United States through 2012.’
via Recovery Act Spurs $4 Billion in Wind Power Projects | Green Business | Reuters.
Renewable Energy for $1 a Watt? Yes, Says Alphabet Energy | Greentech Media
November 23rd, 2009‘SAN FRANCISCO — Alphabet Energy, a Lawrence Berkeley National Labs spin-out with a semiconductor that converts heat directly into power, says it can make devices that will produce power at close to $1 a watt.’
via Greentech Media: Renewable Energy for $1 a Watt? Yes, Says Alphabet Energy | Green Light.
US-China climate statement raises hopes, questions : AP
November 23rd, 2009‘BEIJING — A joint statement by the U.S. and Chinese presidents on climate change is encouraging as pressure builds in the last few weeks before a 192-nation conference in Copenhagen, but the language leaves a lot unsaid, observers in both countries said Wednesday.’
via The Associated Press: US-China climate statement raises hopes, questions.
Lexington: Farmers v greens | The Economist
November 23rd, 2009‘AMERICA will not pass a cap-and-trade law in time for the global climate-change summit in Copenhagen next month. To understand why, it helps to ask a farmer.’
Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute – NYTimes.com
November 22nd, 2009‘Hundreds of private e-mail messages and documents hacked from a computer server at a British university are causing a stir among global warming skeptics, who say they show that climate scientists conspired to overstate the case for a human influence on climate change.’
via Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute – NYTimes.com.
What are the largest sources of global warming emissions in California? The list is out – SJM News
November 22nd, 2009‘The single largest California emitter last year was the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, which emitted 4.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. Second was the Shell refinery in Martinez, with 4.5 million metric tons, followed by the BP and Chevron refineries in Carson and El Segundo, near Los Angeles. Rounding out fifth place was the Dynegy Power Plant at Moss Landing, a massive 1950s era structure on the Monterey Bay that burns natural gas to create electricity for much of Northern California.’