[GWSG] Nickel trick; EU wind; cheap solar; US ghg down; RGGI targets; making do; cc costs

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Using nickel as a catalyst—a trick of sea urchins—carbon can be removed from liquids or gasses readily, cheaply, and completely, and stored as (say) calcium carbonate.  The trick might be used with fossil fuel combustion gasses.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21320666

2.  Over the last 3 months wind delivered 25% of Spain’s power, more than any other source.  Germany is adding more wind than expected and is on track for 40% renewable power by 2020.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/04/windfarms-break-energy-record-spain

3.  First Solar will sell power from its 50 megawatt New Mexico thin film solar farm for just under $.06/kilowatt hour (perhaps as a loss leader).  That is about half the cost of power from a new coal plant.  Thanks to Brian Paradise for calling my attention to the First Solar project.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/new-mexico-solar-deal-details-suggest-parity?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February6-2013   Crystalline silicon modules sell for $.65-$.75 a watt.  A new crystalline silicon plant in New Hampshire is producing silicon wafers at a third the cost of older silicon technologies.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/1366-technologies-opens-new-factory-paves-road-to-cheaper-solar-pv?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February6-2013

4.  Greenhouse gas emissions from US power plants fell 4.6% in 2011, thanks in part to the coal plants taken off line.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-usa-climate-emissions-idUSBRE91412V20130205?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29

5.  The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative of 9 northeastern states has set a new target of 45% reduction on a 2005 base by 2014, with a further 2.5% annual reduction until 2020.  Revenues from the cap and trade program are used for green energy initiatives.  The new targets reflect the current success of the program.  The RGGI expects the average energy bill to increase less than 1% by 2020.  http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/States-announce-deal-to-cut-greenhouse-gasses-4258367.php

6.  Amory Lovins maintains that in spite of what the President has taken to saying we do not need technological breakthroughs to convert to renewable energy.  He makes the point that it is far easier to develop new power from renewables than from fossil fuels.   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amory-lovins/climate-change-no-breakth_b_2654248.html

7.  Climate change is already costing us sorely, and it will only get worse until we complete the transition to renwable power.  http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-scary-truth-about-how-much-climate-change-is-costing-you-20130207?page=1
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