[GWSG] FL refugees; x-coal; forests; heat etc.; Yale poll; 500 mw of CSP for CA; E-Cube home; Pendleton solar plan

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A new study using the (low) IPCC estimate of sea level rise combined with population trends predicts that the impact of sea level rise has been greatly underestimated.  For example, 10 million people are expected to be displaced in South Florida through storm surges, inundation, and flooding by 2030.  The article is “Understanding the Demographic Implications of Climate Change” by Katherine Curtis and Annemarie Schneider of the U of WI-Madison, to be published in Population and Environment.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43294961  Further info on the article:  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/uow-hio052711.php

2.  American Electric Power and other US utilities are announcing plans to retire or modify much of their coal operation to comply with new EPA regulations.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/09/us-utilities-operations-aep-idUSTRE75877620110609?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29  Industry pressure had led the EPA to delay implementation for two months, until September.  http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/e-p-a-delays-rule-on-power-plant-emissions/?partner=rss&emc=rss

3.  The amount of tropical forest under sustainable management has increased 50% in the past five years to an area about the size of Thailand.  About 90% remains under poor or no management.  Still, the area under some type of management has increased by a third in the same period.  http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=5911&magazine=338  Agriculture is a major reason for cutting down forests, and is unaddressed by REDD+.  http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/06/agriculture_omitted_from_defor_1.html  Deforestation is increasingly the result of export-driven industries and not of the activities of small farmers.  http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0613-ucs_drivers_deforestation.html

4.    By mid-century the coolest summer temperatures will be hotter than the historically highest temperatures for the season in large parts of the world, according to a forthcoming Stanford study. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/10/152733.html  Currently, extreme weather events are increasing worldwide in patterns consistent with the projections of climate scientists.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/13/extreme-weather-flooding-droughts-fires

5.    A new Yale public opinion survey shows that 71% of Americans believe that dealing with climate change should be at least a medium priority of our government, and that 91% believe developing renewable energy sources should be a similarly significant priority.  56% believe that dealing with the environment improves the economy and creates jobs.  Large majorities want to see their communities take action to deal with climate change.  67% want to see national efforts to reduce global warming, even if the costs are large or moderate.    http://environment.yale.edu/climate/publications/PolicySupportMay2011/?utm_source=Yale+Project+on+Climate+Change+Communication&utm_campaign=1532310204-June_2011_Six_Americas_survey_report_26_14_2011&utm_medium=email

6.  The Department of Energy has offered $2 billion in loan guarantees for two CA plants which at 500 megawatts will double the US capacity for concentrating solar power.  http://www.energy.gov/news/10372.htm

7.  Belgium’s Ghent U has entered the E-Cube passive home in the DOE’s Solar Decathalon, where universities compete in home design.  The E-Cube is a modular design for a family of four, intended to be erected economically by a community without specialized labor or financial help.   http://blog.energy.gov/blog/2011/06/09/belgium%E2%80%99s-ghent-university-prepares-their-e-cube-solar-decathlon-2011

8.  Pendleton, OR, borrowed from the city’s sewer account to offer low interest $9,000 loans for the installation of solar panels.  It secured $1 million dollars in new solar power for a cost to the city of $10 thousand.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/06/oregon-town-gets-a-lot-of-solar-for-a-little-money??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-June15-2011
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