[GWSG] Utilities convert; $1.01/watt; global conversion plan; fossils vs. utilities; evil SF6; 3rd pole melting; ACT zero plan

[Tilley, Al]

1. The CEO of Michigan’s largest utility describes a 20-year clean power plan based on developing modular renewable energy along with gas (10%, down from 31% today—it needs to be zero, of course), energy storage, and energy efficiency. She has engaged a firm to help communities redevelop as they lose their existing coal and gas power plants. A 20-minute talk followed by 26 minutes of Q&A (inaudible questions, but you can infer them from the answers). Also a brief video clip of the chair of Minnesota’s second largest utility speaking on wind as the new baseload. https://climatecrocks.com/2019/09/14/the-weekend-wonk-decarbonizing-the-heartland/

2. Tesla is selling commercial solar for $1.01/watt (after the federal tax credit, $1.44/w without it). Order one of the three sizes on line and put the $100 deposit on your corporate card. Pick one of the three financing alternatives and you are down for 40, 120, or 240kw. https://cleantechnica.com/2019/09/14/tesla-announces-simple-pricing-on-commercial-solar-1-01-watt-will-blow-some-minds/?utm_source=CleanTechnica+News&utm_campaign=cd35cfe3bb-Daily+Email+CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-cd35cfe3bb-331994013

3. The German Energy Watch Group and the Finnish university LUT have published a plan for conversion to renewable energy globally which will cost less than the current system and produce considerably more energy. It uses neither nuclear power nor carbon capture and sequestration from fossil fuels. https://cleantechnica.com/2019/09/14/we-can-still-save-the-earth-from-climate-change-heres-how/?utm_source=CleanTechnica+News&utm_campaign=2e9272397d-Daily+Email+CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-2e9272397d-331994013

4. Fossil fuel corporations and their allies are fighting to stop utilities from installing charging stations for electric vehicles and in other ways to obstruct electrification. So far they are not succeeding very well—perhaps because in this they are fighting the utilities, so that their pet legislators may have previous obligations. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/16/oil-industry-electric-car-1729429

5. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is the most powerful greenhouse gas known, 23,500 times as destructive as CO2. It is widely used in the electrical industry as an insulator to prevent short circuits in high energy environments. Its leakage rate can be as high as 15%. The industry is reluctant to explore alternatives, and will probably need to be forced to abandon SF6 by determined regulation.https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49567197

6.  The Himalayan ice sheet has about 15% of the world’s snow and ice. A quarter of it has melted since 1970, and the melt rate has doubled in the last twenty years. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/15/tibetan-plateau-glacier-melt-ipcc-report-third-pole

 7. The Australian Capital Territory contains the capital Canberra and surrounding lands, much on the order of DC in the US. It has announced a plan to phase out methane as a fuel, and electrify buses and cars. It will cut emissions 50-60% by 2025 and achieve net zero emissions by 2045. https://reneweconomy.com.au/act-to-phase-out-gas-as-it-launches-next-stage-to-zero-carbon-strategy-92906/

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