[GWSG] Solar @ $.06; Arctic methane; US vs. world; banking coal; jet stream out; walnuts to suffer; IPCC softer on hurricanes

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Open Neighborhoods in Los Angeles is using community supported solar power to lower costs to $2 per constructed watt, about $.06/kwh.  By 2015 that will beat the grid price.  Thanks to Brian Paradise for the story.  http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/solar-power-prices-falling-cheaper-than-grid-2015.html

2.  A study published in Nature indicates that models have been underestimating the contribution of melting permafrost to warming.  The actual warming may be greater by as much as a factor of 2.5.  The lead author is UF’s Edward Schuur. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130215740.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29  The additional emissions will mean that we will warm 20-30% faster.  The 2007 IPCC report did not factor in melting permafrost.  http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111130/ap_on_sc/us_sci_warming_permafrost

3.  Two large coalitions of US environmental groups (including the Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists) and elected officials (including Senator Barbara Boxer) have urged President Obama to avoid obstructing progress in the Durban climate talks.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/30/barack-obama-us-stance-climate-summit  The Huffington Post provides more detail on the two major issues at Durban and the obstructive American positions.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/climate-conference-2011-u_b_1121328.html?ref=green

4.  Major global banks are countering mitigation efforts by financing coal power.  Between 2005 and 2010 financing for coal doubled, growing especially in India and China.  American banks involved include Citibank, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase.  http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1130/Are-banks-to-blame-for-climate-change  More detail on the difficulty of determining the financial arrangements, including what seems to be the banks’ own ignorance:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/30/coal-banks

5.  Research at the Max Planck Institute finds that the jet stream cannot be a major source of power.  Significant extraction of energy would relocate the streams, causing major disruptions to climate, and the available power is much less than has been claimed.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130100013.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

6.  Walnut trees appear to be especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129103312.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

7.  The IPCC has softened considerably its stance on the effects of climate change on hurricanes.     http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/30/2525557/when-it-comes-to-hurricanes-climate.html
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