[GWSG] Grid impact; preserving solar growth; renewable future; Chinese bonds; printing money; electric bicycles

[Tilley, Al]

1.  According to a NOAA study, improvements in transmission infrastructure would allow the US to cut emissions by 78% in fifteen years using commercially available technology, at close to current costs.  http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/69557



2.  At $.80 per watt, pv solar cells are enjoying robust growth.  We can maintain that growth rate by attending to grid structure, increasing the current capacity factor (the percent of time the cells are actually producing power, currently 15%) by connecting geographical areas to track the sun's movement and even out irregularities produced by overcast skies.  Cheap power storage would help, as would combining solar power with other renewables to complement power production.  http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jan/31/solar-power-what-is-holding-back-growth-clean-energy



3.  The International Energy Agency projects that by 2030 renewables will be the chief source of energy globally.  Joe Romm sees reason to believe that we will do even better than that.  (For Romm's promised argument that a well arranged grid will take care of the intermittency problem, see item one.)  http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/01/27/3712181/renewables-surpass-coal-2030/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cptop3



4.    Two Chinese banks chosen by the government to issue the first clean power bonds raised $4.5 billion in funding for clean power projects in their first auctions.  The yield is set at 2.95% per year; the goal is to raise $45b a year.  http://carbon-pulse.com/14867/



5.  Globally, it would take about $1 trillion a year in investments to achieve 2C of warming, and $1.5-2 tn to achieve 1.5C.  One way to fund part of that is to print more money.  (We do that to bail out banks.)  http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/30/print-money-climate-change-green-bond-quantitative-easing



6.  Electric bicycles cost from $3-10,000, can carry kids and packages, are easy to use even for older people, and cost about $.20 to charge for a range of 20 miles under maximum power.  http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jan/29/e-bikes-are-reliable-and-healthy-so-why-arent-more-people-riding-them  ?

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