[GWSG] Dead coal plants; Hot; ag impacts; adapting profits; solar cheaper than gas; insurance buffeted by gw

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The Sierra Club reports that plans to construct 150 coal plants have now been abandoned in the US since 2001, many under legal pressure from the Sierra Club and others.  41 plants remain in active development or construction, while 50 are scheduled to be decommissioned in the next few years.  The story links to a list of the cancelled plants. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-utilities-sierraclub-purdue-coal-idUSTRE7135GO20110204?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29

2.   Mark Hertsgaard’s new book Hot emphasizes the need for climate change adaptation as well as mitigation by the end of this decade, and provides examples of success.  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/books/review/Stephenson-t.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

3.  Drought and increased weather variability year to year will hamper crop yields in Europe by midcentury. http://www.nature.com/nclimate/2011/110208/full/nclimate1042.html  India is undertaking a National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture.  http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/surinder-sud-climate-resilient-farming/424308/  A drought in China threatens the wheat crop.  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/business/global/09food.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1   World food prices are already at record highs, and that influenced the protests in Egypt.   http://www.pri.org/business/global-development/egyptian-protests-climate-change-and-global-food-prices2609.html

4.   Adapting such infrastructure as highways and drainage to climate change can provide stability and thus economic security, according to a British report.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12384389

5.    The California utility SCE has asked for approval of 20 solar projects totaling 250 megawatts.  All winning bids came in at under the price of natural gas.  Solar has become a hedge against rising utility costs. (The cost comparisons include subsidies for both solar and natural gas; were the subsidies, including externalized environmental costs, to disappear, I imagine that solar would look much better.)  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/02/solar-pv-becoming-cheaper-than-gas-in-california?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February9-2011

6.  The insurance industry is having a hard time anticipating destructive weather patterns, and the damage they cause, as the climate warms.  They have built a wind tunnel in South Carolina capable of holding nine homes to test their durability in severe storms.  Rain and fire stressors are included.  The companies hope to recommend changes to building codes.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/09/us-insurance-climate-idUSTRE7182XG20110209?pageNumber=1
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