Welcome to the links n' stuff version of The Climate Minute, MCAN's weekly climate news and views podcast. This week Rob and Ted talk about the IPCC report, the new EPA regs released moments, MOMENTS!, after Rob and Ted speculated about what might be in them last week, and a pot purri of climate happenings.
So, last week the EPA released its long-awaited new source review regulations addressing carbon pollution from new power plants.
As reported, new coal power plants will...
So, last week the EPA released its long-awaited new source review regulations addressing carbon pollution from new power plants.
As reported, new coal power plants will be held to a CO2 emissions limit well below what they currently emit, and will need to incorporate new technology, specifically carbon capture and storage technology, to remove the CO2 from their smokestack emissions. Many on both sides of the issue warn that carbon capture technology is new and relatively untested. (Here's the industry's argument, and here's the Sierra Club's askance view of CCS.)
For a story about a coal plant being built with CCS technology, check out this story about the Kemper Plant in Mississippi.
Interestingly enough, one of the most advanced carbon capture setups in the world is at a natural gas powerplant in Bellingham, Massachusetts some six miles as the crow flies from where we record this podcast. The technology in use there for over ten years, carries the promise of being able to remove up to 90% of CO2 from coal plant emissions.
You might recall that last week EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee (well, actually the Energy and Power subcommittee) to talk about the Administration's climate plans. We dicsussed the hearing last week, but one thing caught our eyes that we figured out after last week's podcast so we thought we'd mention it.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="333"] (credit Greenpeace)[/caption]
If you saw pictures of the hearing you likely saw several people in the audience wearing tinfoil hats. The picture on the right is from a Thinkprogress story about the hearing, which mentioned the tinfoil hat wearing audience members, but didn't who they were and what point they were trying to make.
Well, turns out these were Greenpeace protesters drawing attention to the rather antediluvian climate positions of some members of the committee. For more about the protest and a nice roundup of some of the more.... erroneous?... statements made at the hearing, check out this story.
Gina McCarthy went on the Rachel Maddow show and talked about the proposed carbon plans (don't let the discussion of fat-head minnows throw you off).
Finally, the discussion of new EPA carbon rules has reignited some discussion of alternatives such as Cap and Trade, like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Inititiave in New England. Check out Vermont Public Radio's story here.
In other huge news, the latest IPCC report was released today in Stockholm. Mother Jones is liveblogging the event here. You can download the official IPCC press release, and for a pdf of the headline statements (which Ted read from during the podcast), go here. And here's the full 36 page version of the "summary for Policymakers." Finally, here's the IPCC home page with links to a number of resources.
Briefly, a tip of the cap to Fox25 meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz for his informative report about the 1938 hurricane that devastated New England, and his mention of how the changing climate will influence extreme events like hurricanes.
Things to Do:
If you’re thinking about changing careers toward something more sustainable, the Fifth annual Green Careers Conference is coming up Thursday, October 3rd, at the Marlboro Holiday Inn.
On Wednesday, October 9th, the group Forecast the Facts will bring over 50,000 signatures to WGBH's Board of Trustees meeting calling for the removal of climate denier David Koch from the 'GBH board. You can sign up to attend the public demonstration here.
Remember, for more climate activities near you check out our MCAN climate action calendar. You can enter events as well as browse for interesting things to do.
As always, it’s been a pleasure sharing climate news and views with you. You know, you can subscribe to our iTunes feed and get our podcasts automatically here. Feel free to give us your thoughts on our Facebook page, or through old-fashioned email. You can even follow us on twitter @MassClimate , so there are lots of ways for you to listen and participate in the dialog.
When you are on the website, please contribute to MCAN. Every dollar you give will be doubled by a generous backer, so long as we reach our fundraising goal.
So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is a patriotic duty as citizens, we insist that the US put a price on carbon. Good bye and see you next week… Comments (3)
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