[GWSG] March for Science & critique; unnatural Arctic; Sec. Rex; fossils to sink; community solar financing

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Coastal geologist Robert Young thinks the March for Science is a bad idea, based on his experience in acquainting North Carolina with sea level rise in 2010.  He suggests that scientists instead organize to visit local meetings and legislators' offices to discuss issues.  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/opinion/a-scientists-march-on-washington-is-a-bad-idea.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170131&nlid=43628374&tntemail0=y&_r=0



2.  The scientists will march on Earth Day, April 22.  Robert Young's suggestions of public education are sound nevertheless.  http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/02/april-22-empiricists-around-country-will-march-science



3.  The Arctic is unnaturally warm this year, though it may be resetting what "naturally" means.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/02/01/beyond-the-extreme-scientists-marvel-at-increasingly-non-natural-arctic-warmth/?utm_campaign=ae25013f32-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Inside%20Climate%20News&utm_term=.769c5aa5fa5b



4.  As Rex Tillerson takes his place as Secretary of State, it is becoming more and more likely that for a generation the fossil fuel corporation he ran knew as much as anyone about the implications of burning fossil fuels-and worked to keep the public from doing what that knowledge required.  The video demonstrates the point through news clips.  https://climatecrocks.com/2017/02/01/does-tillerson-know-what-exxon-knew/  While Tillerson has divested himself, he is not likely to be of much use in the energy transition to renewables.  https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-02-02/tillerson-s-vow-to-keep-away-from-exxon-runs-into-a-world-of-oil



5.  A British report foresees that the adoption of electric cars and the development of solar power will halt the growth of fossil fuels by 2020.  It calls for renewed attention to energy uses in industry and home heating.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/02/electric-cars-cheap-solar-power-halt-fossil-fuel-growth-2020



6.  Community solar power is cheaper and more flexible than other distributed solar forms.  It could serve businesses, governmental bodies, multifamily housing areas, and homes with too much tree cover for conventional solar.  It should also provide a great goose to utilities dragging their feet on the energy transition. The Rocky Mountain Institute has published a guide to financing a community project.  http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2017_01_31_report_release_financing_community_solar  ?

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