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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The National Wildlife Federation has released a study of the vulnerability of the US energy system to climate change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>It supplies yet another set of reasons for a transition to renewable power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/yet-another-reason-to-choose-renewable-energy?cmpid=WNL-Friday-April22-2011"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/yet-another-reason-to-choose-renewable-energy?cmpid=WNL-Friday-April22-2011</font></a></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A conference at Oxford U on the state of the oceans considered the interacting pressures on oceanic ecosystems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Generally, observations have shown that conditions are outstripping the worst projections of a few decades ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>As the head of the Pew Environment Group said, we are “driving towards the edge of a cliff while taking copious notes along the way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The challenge is not to gather further information but to move governments to act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/2011/04/exploring_ocean_crisis.html"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/2011/04/exploring_ocean_crisis.html</font></a></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A California study of resale prices for homes with pv systems shows a premium of around $5.50 per watt of solar power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/study-finds-solar-panels-increase-home-values/?ref=earth"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/study-finds-solar-panels-increase-home-values/?ref=earth</font></a></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">4. Costco is offering solar kits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Permitting and installation costs are not included (but the costs are still low).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Thanks to Peggy Tilley for turning this one up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?search=GRAPESOLAR0325&ViewAll=999&ec=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=GRAPESOLAR0325&Ntt=GRAPESOLAR0325&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&cm_mmc=BCEmail_631-_-FOCUS-_-10-_-MarketingItemName"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?search=GRAPESOLAR0325&ViewAll=999&ec=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=GRAPESOLAR0325&Ntt=GRAPESOLAR0325&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&cm_mmc=BCEmail_631-_-FOCUS-_-10-_-MarketingItemName</font></a></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The Department of Energy announced a two-year pilot PowerSaver home loan program with FHA backed low cost loans of up to $25,000 for a range of projects.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font><a href="http://www.energy.gov/news/10292.htm"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.energy.gov/news/10292.htm</font></a></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The Bureau of Reclamation has released a report of the impact of climate change on 8 US river basins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.usbr.gov/climate"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">www.usbr.gov/climate</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A summary of the report:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font><a href="http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/government-report-highlights-impacts-of-climate-change-on-water-resources??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-April27-2011"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/government-report-highlights-impacts-of-climate-change-on-water-resources??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-April27-2011</font></a><font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The Aurora, CO, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sentinel</i> editorializes on the implications of the report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.aurorasentinel.com/email_push/opinion/article_455ddb0c-6fba-11e0-9a27-001cc4c002e0.html"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.aurorasentinel.com/email_push/opinion/article_455ddb0c-6fba-11e0-9a27-001cc4c002e0.html</font></a></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><font size="3" face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>A NOAA administrator called the current drought in Texas and elsewhere in the South “extreme and exceptional,” said it is “an historical climate event,” and warned that it seems set to stretch out through midsummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></font></font><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/26/26climatewire-extreme-drought-sets-texas-ablaze-and-may-sp-28352.html?partner=rss&emc=rss"><font color="#0000ff" size="3" face="Calibri">http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/26/26climatewire-extreme-drought-sets-texas-ablaze-and-may-sp-28352.html?partner=rss&emc=rss</font></a></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Erratum: In item 3 of the April 20 list, the DOE is supplying $2.1 billion in loans to the 1000 megawatt CA project, not $2.10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
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