[GWSG] EnergySage; no till; PAGE; 0 sum oil; Chinese C tax; fly cement; Siberian melt?; NOLA submerging

[Tilley, Al]

1.  EnergySage allows people interested in rooftop solar pv to get online quotes from vetted installers.  The service is presently limited to states in the Northeast but hopes to expand.  It has support from the DOE Sunshot initiative to drive down the cost of solar power.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/energysage-offering-one-stop-shopping-for-solar-pv?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February20-2013  If you need to cut some trees or even replace your roof as a part of a solar power installation, the 30% federal subsidy applies to those costs as well as the direct system costs.  Thanks to Will Richards for the info.

2.  No till agriculture handles both heavy rain and drought more readily than standard farming methods, and could enable the Caribbean to feed itself.  http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/02/no-till-farming-holds-the-key-to-food-security/

3.  Through the Partnership on Action for Green Economy the UN Environmental Program will support sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, especially in developing countries.  The International Labor Organization estimates that half the world’s labor force will be involved in the transition.  http://ecowatch.org/2013/energy-policies-ignite-green-economy/

4.  When all aspects are considered tar sands oil can take almost as much energy to produce as it produces.   http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20130219/oil-sands-mining-tar-sands-alberta-canada-energy-return-on-investment-eroi-natural-gas-in-situ-dilbit-bitumen?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+solveclimate%2Fblog+%28InsideClimate+News%29

5.  China is implementing a carbon tax.  Details are sketchy.  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-02/19/c_132178898.htm  The Washington Post provides some rumination, rumors and speculation.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/21/china-may-soon-get-a-carbon-tax-but-will-it-make-any-difference/

6.  Ceratech in Alexandria, VA, produces cement using fly ash, the waste from burning coal.  It is stronger than conventional portland cement and it is carbon neutral.  (5% of atmospheric carbon comes from cement production.)  Market acceptance is its biggest hurdle.  http://www.nature.com/news/green-cement-concrete-solutions-1.12460

7.  Historical study indicates that a large part of the Siberian permafrost is likely to melt when the temperature increases about half a degree.  The results will not necessarily be catastrophic.   http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23205-major-methane-release-is-almost-inevitable.html  More info from the research team:  http://www.climatecentral.org/news/nearing-a-tipping-point-on-melting-permafrost-15636?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climatecentral%2FdjOO+Climate+Central+-+Full+Feed

8.  Subsidence coupled with sea level rise expectations give southern Louisiana the gravest sea level rise risk in the world.    Some current adaptation projects will be swamped before they are completed.  http://theadvocate.com/news/5247778-123/la-coast-facing-grim-reality
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