[GWSG] EPA rules; problems, reactions, and plans; Barclays on dumb utilities; Wanless on dumb Floridians

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The EPA has begun a two year process leading toward a 30% reduction in carbon emissions from power plants by 2030 on a 2005 base. Among issues which need to be addressed in the EPA calculations is the emissions profile of natural gas, which by direct measurement is indicated to be far larger than the EPA estimates. Over 3% leakage renders natural gas no better than coal. The issue is crucial as states prepare to plan. The other major dangling issue is the relationship between this approach and the targets set by the European Union, China, India, and other emitters. I am still celebrating, though, and trust that these and other issues, addressed in the following items, will occupy us for awhile. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/06/obamas-new-carbon-plan-makes-history-for-clean-energy?cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-June4-2014

2.  Grist's Ben Adler addresses natural gas leakage and the likely impact of the new EPA rules in "Nine things you need to know about Obama's new climate rules." http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-nine-things-you-need-to-know-about-obamas-new-climate-rules/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%2520June%25203&utm_campaign=daily

3.  Peter Sinclair has assembled stories dealing with various misleading attacks on the new EPA rules: China will just increase emissions, the rules will be too expensive, and so forth. http://climatecrocks.com/2014/06/06/dispensing-with-nonsense-on-new-co2-rules/

4.  Joe Romm assembles the current argument that natural gas leakage renders it useless as a tool to mitigate climate disruptive emissions. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/04/3443211/energy-department-lng-no-climate-benefits/?elq=~~eloqua..type--emailfield..syntax--recipientid~~&elqCampaignId=~~eloqua..type--campaign..campaignid--0..fieldname--id~~

5.  Grist's Ben Adler surveys the gathering responses to the new EPA rules from green organizations. Some, such as the Sierra Club, intend to organize support for the rules. Others, like 350.0rg, plan to continue protest activity (not, to be sure, protest of the rules) in order to keep public opinion focussed and hedge against softening of the rules. http://grist.org/climate-energy/heres-how-enviros-plan-to-push-for-stronger-epa-climate-rules/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%2520June%25206&utm_campaign=daily

6.  Business Insider reports that Barclays has downgraded utilities because they have not reacted to the continuing drop in solar energy costs. Thanks to Mary Emerson Smith for the story. http://www.businessinsider.com/barclays-downgrades-utilities-on-solar-threat-2014-5

7.  Florida International U's Harold Wanless observes that in Florida many homes will most likely be disabled by sea level rise before the mortgage period is out. The building boom indicates how poorly Florida has perceived its situation. http://theconversation.com/rising-sea-levels-will-be-too-much-too-fast-for-florida-27198
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