New FERC Ruling on Curtailing Wind in the NW

After having to curtail wind during storms where there was excessive wind and hydro the Bonneville Power Authority is testing a residential energy storage program:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/business/energy-environment/as-wind-energy-use-grows-utilities-seek-to-stabilize-power-grid.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sq=taming%20wind%20wald&st=cse&scp=1&adxnnlx=1323483013-iJOBU1EzInNL8Ls1%20ihJ2A

More recently, FERC ruled that BPA's current policy to curtail ONLY wind during times when generation is greater than consumption is not legal. BPA will have to rewrite its curtailment rules.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/business/energy-environment/bonneville-power-ordered-to-change-wind-rules.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fscience%2Fearth%2Findex.jsonp

Japan's Energy Crisis

Japan truly is facing an energy crisis. In the post-Fukushima nuclear world, Japan is facing some difficult times. Limits on air conditioning this summer will now be translating into heating restrictions this winter. Reactors, shut down for maintenance since the disaster this past spring, have remained down. Normally, reactors restart once maintenance is complete, but public safety concerns in Japan have blocked all suspended reactors from resuming operations since Marth 11th.

This means that only 8 out of the 54 Japanese reactors are still in service.

Regional utilities and the public are at odds, too. These monopoly power producers are being brought into question by both elected officials and the general public. With no resolution to the nuclear concerns in sight, Japan is surely launching itself into an energy crisis. I hope the country can find adequate solutions for the long term, but also maintain standards of living as they come up with new energy strategies and policies.

-alex khoshnevissan

Durban COP 17/CMP7: Climate Talks Suspended After Rebellion Over Drafts

AND speaking of the seemingly hopeless state of international climate change policies in the post-Kyoto regime (in my previous post about low-carbon investments in developing nations), the world is currently amidst the COP17/CMP7 in Durban, South Africa. This is particularly interesting as the European Union has almost unilaterally committed itself to strict emissions reductions going forward. Of course, the question begging to be asked is about the overall effectiveness of such a unilateral commitment.

The EU is hoping to take a big leap forward to convince the the largest emitters - China, the US, and India - to commit to similar policies. China and India show no desire to limit their own development, especially since the developed world is overwhelmingly the source of emissions up until very recently. And of course the US will not commit without its major trade parters. Not the most hopeful situation, and it will be interesting to see what EU decides in the medium to long run if there is continued resistance from the rest of the world.

-alex khoshnevissan

India's Growing Solar Market

http://news.yahoo.com/india-bathes-solar-spotlight-170628802.html

India’s solar electric production should reach 141 megawatts by the end of this year. Considering that the solar market in India was virtually nonexistent 2 years ago, this is significant progress that can be attributed to solar incentive programs at the state and national level. The national government has set the goal of 20 GW solar power by 2020.


- Jonathan Lo

Climate Change in the Developing World: How to Finance It?

This article is pretty relevant considering the recent lecture on the developing world. Obviously, clean development is/will be crucial - but how will this be financed and who will pay for it?

It comments on the agreement at 2009 Copenhagen climate summit that the rich world (who were the polluters of the past as they went through industrialization, etc.) would, by 2020, invest $100 billion a year to help mitigate and adapt to global climate change.

That is a pretty large sum of capital, and it seems pretty unlikely, especially given recent budget issues and slowed growth in the developed world. This Green Climate Fund still has many uncertainties, including how developed countries will deliver on this promise and even what role the fund would play.

The article argues that the money should cover the 'incremental costs' of low-carbon development; this means financing the extra cost of low-carbon investment (for example, the additional costs of solar plant compared to a coal plant). This is an interesting proposal, especially as it places more responsibility and involvement on the receiving country.

In addition, there is some good news despite the uncertainty of climate talks. Andrew Steer, the World Bank's special envoy for climate change, argues that the paralysis at the global policy level is not mirrored in global clean/green investments; "the world of action on climate change is a long, long way ahead of the world of negotiation." The article cites that some $200 billion was invested in renewable energy, low carbon trasport and energy efficiency in the developing world. That accounts for over a third of the global total - something to be optimistic about.

-alex khoshnevissan

E.P.A. Links Tainted Water in Wyoming to Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas

To respond to the Teaching Team's post below, fracking is getting tons and tons of relatively recent and relevant news.

For one, the New York Times has begun and incredible investigation of internal and confidential documents of the industry, and between regulators (such as the EPA). It's called Drilling Down, and can be found here. They have thousands of pages of documents, annotated by the staff, where the federal officials question the the validity of shale gas here. I must say that I was pretty in favor of fracking until I began looking through the amazing compilation and research done by the New York Times (and I am not generally a fan of the media either). From glancing through the documents, the worry seems to be that the human risk impacts of gas extraction on local communities may rival some of the atrocities associated with coal. The greatest and most pressing worry is the large-scale contamination of drinking water, which is already occurring here in the United States (according to the EPA).

In addition, the economic benefits of shale are even being questioned. The U.S. Geological Survey just reduced its estimate of undiscovered Marcellus Shale gas by as much as 80 percent in a recent updated assessment.

Obviously, this issue is complex. The Economist is a proponent of fracking, although they do say: "such issues [as in Europe] have been raised in America, too, but energy firms there have been able to ignore them because they are exempt from many environmental rules. An intervention in 2005 by Dick Cheney, then vice-president, wrested an armful of exemptions specifically for fracking. That has helped the industry grow spectacularly. In 2000 shale beds provided 1% of America’s natural-gas supply; they now produce around 25%. But it has also allowed reckless American frackers to do environmental damage. Some are alleged to have pumped toxic chemicals into the ground with impunity." That sounds like kind of a big deal to me.

I for one am more torn than ever on the subject, and will try and keep my tabs on relevant news...

-alex khoshnevissan

EPA Fracking Report Draft Released

The EPA recently released its preliminary results from a fracking study in Wyoming. Based on the results some are calling for federal action to increase regulations on the oil and gas industry to prevent contamination of drinking water.

Summary article:
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198277-overnight-energy
Draft Report:
http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/EPA_ReportOnPavillion_Dec-8-2011.pdf

OTEC Progress in Hawaii

OTEC is proceeding in Hawaii. This article explains the race between two engineering companies attempting to develop a scalable OTEC deep ocean platform in the Islands. Makai Ocean Engineering is working to increase OTEC heat exchange efficiencies, while partnered with the world’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin. Makai Ocean Engineeringʻs biggest competitor, OTEC International, was selected for lease negotiation on a 1-MW demonstrational ocean thermal plant on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. OTEC Internation has been largely underwritten for the last 11 years by the Baltimore-based nonprofit Abell Foundation. Which firm will make OTEC a viable option in Hawaiʻi in the near future? Only time will tell...

Kanoa OʻConnor

Passive houses

Passive or “zero energy” homes are being introduced to the United States from countries in Europe such as Austria and Germany. The house maintains a moderate temperate without active heating or cooling systems and uses less than 25% of the energy usually required to run a home. A ventilation system is used whereby the warm air from inside the house is used to heat membranes and cooler outside air is heated from the membranes and keeps the air ventilated and the house warm. The ventilation along with 23 inch thick walls and triple pane windows make for a well ventilated, warm, almost sound proof house with low carbon dioxide levels.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/realestate/zero-energy-construction-crosses-the-ocean.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=energy&st=cse&scp=3

Oil spill in Colorado

Two weeks ago, Suncor Energy discovered an oil spill in a creek in Denver, Colorado and that could potentially enter the South Platte River. The EPA is continuing investigations as they are concerned that the spill contains Canadian oil sands which are extremely thick and difficult to clean up (a great concern to the National Wildlife Federation).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/business/energy-environment/colorado-spill-near-suncor-energy-refinery-is-investigated.html?sq=energy&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=4&adxnnlx=1323254001-ttbXd3VPsFbstEXz5OYrjA

Ripple effects of Fukushima breakdown

The analysis for the causes and mitigation strategies of the Fukishima breakdown are causing delays within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. So much time is being applied to American reactors to prevent a reoccurence that other work within the NRC, such as renewing licenses and requests to produce more power, has slowed down.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/fukushimas-ripple-effects-continue/?ref=energy-environment

President Obama announced energy efficiency initiative

President Obama directed all federal agencies to make at least $2billion worth of energy upgrades within the next two years. 60 private sector companies and non-profit organizations have joined the initiative. The initiative will finance building renovations to make properties energy efficient and will create tens of thousands of jobs in the process.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/us/politics/obama-announces-backing-for-energy-efficiency-initiative.html?ref=energy-environment

Coal Company to Pay Record-Breaking Settlement for West Virginia Mine Accident

Alpha Natural Resources will pay $210 million in damages for the Upper Big Branch mine accident last year in West Virginia. The accident killed 29 miners and was a result of methane, coal dust, and defective equipment.

The money will go to safety upgrades, research, training, federal fines for safety violations, and the victims’ families. This is the largest settlement for a criminal investigation of a US mining accident. In addition, the federal investigation reported 369 safety violations. A jury convicted the mine’s security chief for lying to investigators and attempting to get rid of records at the mine.

More info in BBC’s article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16059159

-Khalial Withen