[GWSG] Ant. melt; US 10% wind & solar; new solar; tithing for Paris; Swedish goal; after oil; solar at $1/watt

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The past year the West Antarctic had record surface melting.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/06/15/scientists-just-documented-a-massive-melt-event-on-the-surface-of-antarctica/?utm_term=.125820d1b46b



2.  The US Energy Information Agency reports that wind and solar have begun supplying 10% of the country's power.  http://grist.org/article/for-the-first-time-wind-and-solar-electricity-generation-hit-double-digits/



3.  With a new alloy, concentrator photovoltaics are twice as efficient as current silicon cells (because they capture the energy of infrared light as well) and cost-effective.  They probably represent the next generation of solar cells.  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170615120620.htm



4.  Of the states and cities which have declared their participation in the Paris agreement, only Seattle has included financial support of the Green Climate Fund, necessary to develop renewable power in the developing world.  http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/06/15/us-cities-states-back-paris-deal-ignore-climate-finance/  We need some tight way for people and organizations to pay dues to the Fund as part of a commitment to the Paris agreement.



5.  Sweden, by a 254 to 41 vote in Parliament, intends to be carbon neutral by 2045.  They already get 57% of their energy from renewables.  http://www.climateactionprogramme.org/news/swedens-goal-to-be-carbon-neutral-by-2045-written-into-law



6.  The editor of Clean Technica speculates on what happens to national economies in the transition to renewable energy.  https://cleantechnica.com/2017/06/17/happens-oil-economy-collapses/  I trust there are other, and perhaps more informed, perspectives on the topic.  List members may have suggestions.  Consciousness of the issues raised in the article should play a part in plans for dealing with the climate, which necessarily entail building a sustainable community.



7.  US utility-scale prices for solar energy are now dropping beneath $1/watt for the first time.   http://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-utility-scale-solar-prices-drop-below-1watt-for-first-time/444738/  An article linked in this article reports that the Georgia Public Service Commission is not sure it is worth the money to complete the Vogtle nuclear power plants even though Toshiba has reached a settlement which would allow the completion, conditional on no further cost overruns.?

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