Written by rjs, MarketWatch 666
This is a collection of interesting news articles about the environment and related topics published last week. This is usually a Tuesday evening regular post at GEI (but can be posted at other times). This week it is posted in the early AM hours Wednesday.
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Note: Because of the high volume of news regarding the coronavirus outbreak, that news has been published separately:
- 06 Dec 2020 – Coronavirus Disease Weekly News 06December 2020
06 Dec 2020 – Coronavirus Economic Weekly News 06December 2020
Summary:
This past week saw record highs for new US Covid infections on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. There were cycle highs for Covid deaths on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with the later two all-time highs. We had new records for Covid hospitalizations every day pf the week. I don’t know when people will start dying because the hospitals can’t handle all of them but we sure must be getting close. (Of course, there are already anecdotes of such occurrences.)
Week over week comparisons of 7-day averages are pretty useless this week, since all the averages dropped over Thanksgiving, as some of those who prepare the data apparently took the weekend off. But if we compare the 7-day average of new cases as of Saturday’s data to the 7-day average as of November 25th (the day before Thanksgiving), that should eliminate most of the noise, and show we have an 8.6% increase in new cases from the previous week. Similarly, Saturday’s 7-day US covid death average is 29.7% higher than the 7-day average of US covid deaths the day before Thanksgiving.
Covid-19 is now the leading cause of US death. Heart disease, the leading cause of US deaths in 2019, was killing 1,795 Americans a day, according to the CDC. Over this past week, Covid was killing an average of 2,222 Americans a day. On this week’s worst days, more Americans were dying of Covid than died on 9-11. Cov. And before it’s over, it seems likely that more Americans will die of Covid than died during World War II.
Below is a copy of today’s graph of new US cases from WorldOMeters so you can get a visuallization of what the growth of this thing looks like. There appears to be a leveling off in the prior rapid rise of new cases over the past several days. So far it is within the variability seen in recent months.
New cases globally continued to increase. (See Johns Hopkins graph below.) The growth rate has visibly slowed since the rapid acceleration in October. However, the advance is relentless with new records set every week. The new record 690,523 new cases was hit on Thursday and the second highest total on record (678,401) followed on Friday.
This graphic shows the daily global new cases since the start of the pandemic up through 08 December.
Calculated Risk continues to track US testing. The decline in positive test results over July and August ended in September. The trend is now up. In September the increase in new cases was attributed to increased testing. In October that has changed – increases in new cases are now arising more from increased percentage of tests returning positive. The temporary dip in percent positive test results has been reversed at the same time the number of tests is declining. The December 08 graphic:
Here’s this week’s other environmental news (latest news on the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal is at the end):
Autumn illnesses including flu up to halved by coronavirus restrictions, says German study – Coronavirus measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing haven’t just helped stop the spread of Covid-19, they’ve also slashed cases of cold weather illnesses by up to 50 per cent, according to new data from Germany. Instances of flu, bronchitis and pneumonia have all significantly decreased in north-eastern Germany, which includes Berlin, according to a study by health insurer AOK Nordost. From September until mid-November, the number of people taking sick days off work due to the flu was halved compared to previous years. Absence due to acute bronchitis fell by more than half, the study found, while sick days as a result of pneumonia and gastrointestinal infections dropped by a third. The authors said this was likely due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions. “The corona protective measures including masks, washing hands and keeping your distance did not prevent the second Covid-19 wave,” said the report. “The rules, however, have at least severely contained the spread of flu and other infectious diseases in the autumn.” The authors also speculated that an increase in flu vaccinations may have also contributed to the decline in infections. The study, which was released on Sunday, took into account more than 63,000 sick leave requests throughout autumn in the north-eastern German states of Berlin, Brandenberg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The three states are home to just over 7.5 million people. That period includes two weeks of Germany’s ‘lockdown light’, which began in November.
Doctors warn about eye damage from UV lights to kill the coronavirus – People trying to kill the coronavirus with ultraviolet C germicidal lamps may risk painful eye injuries if they aren’t careful, a recent study finds. Florida researchers report at least seven cases of patients with UVC damage to the cornea, the eye’s outer layer, that left them with burning sensations and sensitivity to light after they used the lamps, according to a report published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. “The clear part of the surface of the eye happens to be very susceptible to the wavelength of the light from these lamps,” said Dr. Jesse Sengillo, an ophthalmologist at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Health System. The eye damage is “like a sunburn to the cornea,” Sengillo said. “It’s quite painful, and it takes a couple of days to heal. People often have trouble opening their eyes because they are sensitive to light and their eyes are red and itchy. One patient said, ‘My eyes are on fire.'” The burning sensation doesn’t occur immediately, so some of the patients didn’t realize they had damaged their eyes using UVC lamps hours earlier. People who want to use the lamps should turn them on and then leave the room until it’s time to turn them off, Sengillo said. Sengillo suggests that anyone who has eye pain after having used the germicidal lamps see a doctor for ointments to ease the burning sensation and to get antibiotics, because such injuries are susceptible to infection. It’s also possible that people might be somewhere that has a UVC lamp and not realize that it could hurt their eyes, Dhaliwal said. “If you enter a room and see a funny-looking light, don’t look directly at it, and use eye protection.”
Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizer can kill, warns analysis of coroners’ reports – Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitiser can kill, warns an analysis of two such deaths identified in coroners’ reports, and published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. But the public is largely unaware of the potential safety hazards of this form of hand hygiene, which has become commonplace in homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces and public venues in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, argues the researcher. More needs to be done to protect those at risk of unintentional and intentional swallowing of this chemical, such as children, people with dementia/confusion, and those with mental health issues, urges the researcher, in the first of a series of Coroners’ Concerns to Prevent Harms articles published in the journal. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are available in liquid, gel or foam formulations. They contain 60-95% ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or 70-95% isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol). In the UK alone, alcohol-based hand sanitiser poisonings reported to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) rose by 61% between 2019 and 2020, from 155 (January 1 to September 16) to 398 (January 1 to September 14).
Forest fires, cars, power plants join list of risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease A new study led by researchers at UC San Francisco has found that among older Americans with cognitive impairment, the greater the air pollution in their neighborhood, the higher the likelihood of amyloid plaques – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The study adds to a body of evidence indicating that pollution from cars, factories, power plants and forest fires joins established dementia risk factors like smoking and diabetes. In the study, which appears in JAMA Neurology on Nov.30, 2020, the researchers looked at the PET scans of more than 18,000 seniors whose average age was 75. The participants had dementia or mild cognitive impairment and lived in zip codes dotted throughout the nation. The researchers found that those in the most polluted areas had a 10 percent increased probability of a PET scan showing amyloid plaques, compared to those in the least polluted areas. When applied to the U.S. population, with an estimated 5.8 million people over 65 with Alzheimer’s disease, high exposure to microscopic airborne particles may be implicated in tens of thousands of cases. “This study provides additional evidence to a growing and convergent literature, ranging from animal models to epidemiological studies, that suggests air pollution is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,”
Airplane noise at night can trigger cardiovascular death– Most studies on transportation noise and cardiovascular mortality have focused on long-term exposure to noise. These studies demonstrated that chronic noise exposure is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Across Europe, 48,000 cases of ischemic heart disease per year can be attributed to noise exposure, in particular to road traffic noise. For the first time, a study led by researchers at Swiss TPH found that acute noise from airplanes during the night can trigger cardiovascular deaths within two hours of aircraft noise exposure. The study published today in the peer-reviewed European Heart Journal found that the risk of a cardiovascular death increases by 33% for night-time noise levels between 40 and 50 decibels and 44% for levels above 55 decibels. “We found that aircraft noise contributed to about 800 out of 25,000 cardiovascular deaths that occurred between 2000 and 2015 in the vicinity of Zurich airport. This represents three percent of all observed cardiovascular deaths,” said Martin Röösli, corresponding author of the study and Head of the Environmental Exposures and Health unit at Swiss TPH. According to Röösli, the results are similar to the effects that emotions such as anger or excitement have on cardiovascular mortality. “This is not so surprising, as we know night-time noise causes stress and affects sleep,” he added. The night-time noise effect was more pronounced in quiet areas with little railway and road traffic background noise and for people living in older houses, which often have less insulation and are thus more noise-prone.
Illegal Tampering by Diesel Pickup Owners Is Worsening Pollution, E.P.A. Says – NYTimes – The owners and operators of more than half a million diesel pickup trucks have been illegally disabling their vehicles’ emissions control technology over the past decade, allowing excess emissions equivalent to 9 million extra trucks on the road, a new federal report has concluded. The practice, described in a report by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Civil Enforcement, has echoes of the Volkswagen scandal of 2015, when the automaker was found to have illegally installed devices in millions of diesel passenger cars worldwide – including about half a million in the United States – designed to trick emissions control monitors. But in this case no single corporation is behind the subterfuge; it is the truck owners themselves who are installing illegal devices, which are typically manufactured by small companies. That makes it much more difficult to measure the full scale of the problem, which is believed to affect many more vehicles than the 500,000 or so estimated in the report. In terms of the pollution impact in the United States, “This is far more alarming and widespread than the Volkswagen scandal,” said Drew Kodjak, executive director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, the research group that first alerted the E.P.A. of the illegal Volkswagen technology. “Because these are trucks, the amount of pollution is far, far higher,” he said. The E.P.A. focused just on devices installed in heavy pickup trucks, such as the Chevrolet Silverado and the Dodge Ram 2500, about 15 percent of which appear to have defeat devices installed. But such devices – commercially available and marketed as a way to improve vehicle performance – almost certainly have been installed in millions of other vehicles. The report found “significant amounts of excess air pollution caused by tampering” with diesel pickup truck emissions controls. The technology is essentially an at-home version of the factory-installed “defeat devices” embedded into hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the United States by Volkswagen, which was forced to pay $14.7 billion in the U.S. to settle claims stemming from the scandal. The report said “diesel tuners” will allow the trucks to release more than 570,000 tons of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to heart and lung disease and premature death, over the lifetime of the vehicles. That is more than ten times the excess nitrogen oxide emissions attributed to the factory-altered Volkswagens sold domestically. The report also found that the altered pickup trucks will emit about 5,000 excess tons of industrial soot, also known as particulate matter, which is linked to respiratory diseases and higher death rates for Covid-19 patients. “That is an astronomically high level of smog-forming pollution,” “It’s happening at ground level where people are breathing the fumes. And if the problem extends to other vehicles it’s almost unimaginable what the health impact will be.”
Special Report: U.S. air monitors routinely miss pollution – even refinery explosions (Reuters) – When explosions ripped through a Philadelphia oil refinery last year, the shock waves knocked Felicia Menna’s front door frame out of place. Then came the black smoke. “My throat was closing shut,” recalled Menna, who lives about a mile away. “My nostrils felt like they were on fire.” She went to an emergency room, where doctors put her on a vaporizer device to ease her breathing and treated her with intravenous Benadryl for allergic reactions, according to medical records she provided to Reuters. She was among several dozen people who sought treatment after the blast, according to a neighborhood group that tracked affected residents. One of the explosions was so large that a National Weather Service satellite captured images of the fireball from space. Refinery owner Philadelphia Energy Solutions later told regulators that the blasts released nearly 700,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals, including butane, and about 3,200 pounds of hydrofluoric acid, which can cause fatal lung injury in high concentrations. The incident remains under investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Yet the federal air quality index (AQI) score for south Philadelphia showed that day as one of the year’s cleanest, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The score was based on readings from part of the federal network of air quality monitoring devices, which are operated by the city of Philadelphia with oversight from state regulators and the EPA. None recorded any significant pollution. The episode illustrates a much broader failure of the U.S. air-pollution monitoring system, according to a Reuters examination of data from the EPA and independent monitoring organizations, along with interviews with scientists and environmental researchers. The government network of 3,900 monitoring devices nationwide has routinely missed major toxic releases and day-to-day pollution dangers, the data show.
Proximity to Texas oil refineries increases cancer risk, study finds – A multi-year study completed by local researchers found that Texans who live nearest to oil refineries are at significantly higher risk of getting cancer.The study, recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was conducted by a team of physicians, scientists, and students at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. The researchers used Texas Cancer Registry and Census data from 2001 through 2014, to compare rates of cancer of people within 30 miles of 28 active Texas oil refineries.The study found a clear correlation between distance from an oil refinery and rate of all cancer types. Of the more than 800,000 cancer patients living in Texas during that period, 34 percent lived in close proximity to an oil refinery. Patients living within 10 miles of refineries were most likely to have an advanced cancer diagnosis, compared to those who lived 21 to 30 miles away.Previous studies across the globe have shown that toxins associated with oil-refinery processes pose a high risk of cancer to nearby residents. Cancer-causing pollutants most commonly associated with refineries include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene compounds. As oil production in the United States has soared – 18.8 million barrels per day – and with Texas as the country’s leading producer, public health concerns have been raised on behalf of those living and working near oil refineries. One of the co-authors of the study, Stephen Williams, chief of urology at the medical branch and a professor of urology and radiology at UTMB, hoped the findings would leverage a collaborative effort with some of the state’s oil refineries to determine causes of illnesses among their employees. The team of researchers plans to apply for a grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas to further investigate their findings. “There have been studies that have been done, particularly by the individual oil refineries themselves with their own employees, and there are data to suggest increased cancer among those particular individuals when they compare to the general population,” Williams said. “But these have either been done not recently, and then (it) also begs the question of whether or not they would allow investigators such as ourselves to look into this a little bit further.”
Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Were Dropped Over Millions of Acres via Aerial Pesticide, Tests Reveal – A national nonprofit revealed Tuesday that testing commissioned by the group as well as separate analysis conducted by Massachusetts officials show samples of an aerially sprayed pesticide used by the commonwealth and at least 25 other states to control mosquito-borne illnesses contain toxic substances that critics call “forever chemicals.” Officially known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), this group of man-made chemicals – including PFOA, PFOS, and GenX – earned the nickname because they do not break down in the environment and build up in the body. PFAS has been linked to suppressed immune function, cancers, and other health issues. Lawmakers and regulators at various levels of government have worked to clean up drinking water contaminated by PFAS. The newly released results of pesticide testing by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) generated alarm about the effectiveness of such efforts. “In Massachusetts, communities are struggling to remove PFAS from their drinking water supplies, while at the same time, we may be showering them with PFAS from the skies and roads,” PEER science policy director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and attorney formerly with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said in a statement Tuesday. “The frightening thing is that we do not know how many insecticides, herbicides, or even disinfectants contain PFAS,” added Bennett, who arranged for the testing. “PEER found patents showing chemical companies using PFAS in these products, and recent articles discuss the variety of pesticides that contain PFAS as either an active or an inert ingredient.”
Amphibian die-offs worsened malaria outbreaks in Central America –The global collapse of frogs and other amphibians due to the amphibian chytrid fungus exacerbated malaria outbreaks in Costa Rica and Panama during the 1990s and 2000s, according to new research. The findings provide the first evidence that amphibian population declines have directly affected human health and show how preserving biodiversity can benefit humans as well as local ecosystems. The global spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, an extremely virulent fungal pathogen known as amphibian chytrid fungus, has been responsible for massive worldwide die-offs of amphibians since the 1980s. A 2019 study found the fungal disease has played a role in the decline of over 500 amphibian species over the past five decades and presumably caused extinctions of 90 species. The authors of that study referred to the die-offs as “the greatest recorded loss of biodiversity attributable to a disease.” Chytrid fungal disease traveled across Costa Rica and Panama from the early 1980s through the 2000s. Both countries experienced large increases in malaria cases following this rolling collapse of amphibian populations. In the new study, researchers investigated whether these malaria outbreaks were connected to the amphibian declines because amphibians eat mosquitoes that transmit the disease. They compared the timing and spatial extent of amphibian die-offs with malaria cases in Costa Rica and Panama at the county level from 1976 to 2016. The researchers found a significant increase in malaria cases in these countries that started immediately after the amphibian die-offs began and peaked 5 to 6 years after. In 1980, there were fewer than 1,000 cases of malaria in the two countries, but cases began to rise in 1990 and peaked at about 7,000 in Costa Rica in the mid-1990s and 5,000 in Panama in the mid-2000s. Malaria cases went back down after this peak, and the researchers suspect this is due to local public health interventions like spraying of insecticides.
South Korean Duck Farm Suffers Outbreak Of “Highly Pathogenic” H5N8 Bird Flu -As COVID-19 cases slow after reaching a worldwide peak, eliciting a warning from WHO chief Dr. Tedros that people living in hard-hit areas shouldn’t get too complacent, a strain of “highly contagious” Avian bird flu has apparently traveled from Europe to South Korea. A few days after an outbreak of bird flu led to a culling of more than 10,000 birds in northern England – though authorities were quick to reassure the public that there was no risk to the food supply – South Korean authorities have discovered an outbreak of a “highly contagious” H5N8 bird flu on a duck farm in the southwestern part of the country.The outbreak, which occurred in the town of Girin-ri, roughly 300 kilometers from Seoul, killed 19,000 ducks.There are six other poultry farms within a radius of three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the farm where the infected ducks were found, and all are being inspected.Nearly 20k ducks died, and some 392k chickens and ducks at a total of six farms were killed, to prevent the spread of the disease, the ministry also said.Authorities have already issued an order to stop any activities at poultry and livestock facilities, while freezing the movement of poultry products across the country for 48 hours. The blockage will last seven days for poultry farms in Jeongeup, as well as for farms within a radius of 10 kilometers from the site of the outbreak 30 days. The national alert level over the spread of bird flu has been raised to a “serious hazard.”.The same strain of bird flu emerged in populations in Germany early this year. It hit several of Europe’s largest poultry producers located in Germany and elsewhere. While scientists believe the pathogen – while highly contagious – isn’t contagious to humans, at one point scientists in China said the same thing about COVID-19.
Decision Ends Chapter In Hog Farm Disputes – A pork-producing giant will not get another shot in court to defend itself against a group of Bladen County homeowners whose quality of life suffered at the hands of a former industrial-scale hog farm operation. Judges with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, recently affirmed a lower court ruling that holds Murphy-Brown, LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., liable for violating the rights of neighbors of the former hog farm to enjoy their property. Jurors in that 2018 district court case awarded each of the property owners $75,000 in compensatory damages and another $5 million collectively in punitive damages. The latter was subsequently reduced to $2.5 million because North Carolina caps punitive damages to no more than three times the amount of compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is greater. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker ruled in favor of only one of a handful of arguments Smithfield’s lawyers made in their appeal, agreeing that the company’s financial status revealed to jurors should have been limited to Murphy-Brown, not the broader company. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III concurred. Circuit Judge G. Steven Agee dissented with part of Thacker’s opinion. Shortly after the judges rendered the Nov. 19 decision, Smithfield Foods announced it had resolved more than a dozen similar nuisance cases filed by eastern North Carolina residents. Smithfield Foods is owned by Hong Kong-based WH Group Limited. The settlement, the amount of which remains undisclosed, wraps up the remaining 20 of 25 separate lawsuits – there were 500 complaints in all – filed by North Carolinians, mostly people of color, in 2014. Five lawsuits went to trial. The cases have brought to the forefront environmental justice matters in eastern North Carolina’s rural communities that have for years been fighting for the industrial hog farming industry to get away from the lagoon and sprayfield system. “We certainly hope that the pretty clear decision of the judges sends a message to the industry that they need to change their practices,” said Sherri White-Williamson, the North Carolina Conservation Network’s environmental justice policy director. “Environmental justice is very much about not just black and brown communities, but low-income communities that have something in common – politically they are not powerful.”
Climate Change Is Making Fall Leaves Change Color Sooner – Throughout the warmer months, trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in complex molecules, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. This, in a nutshell, is the process of photosynthesis. The more photosynthesis, the more carbon is locked away. We know that carbon dioxide is a major driver of climate change, so the more that can be taken out of the atmosphere by plants, the better. With the warmer climate leading to a longer growing season, some researchers have suggested that more carbon dioxide would be absorbed by trees and other plants than in previous times. But a new study has turned this theory on its head and could have profound effects on how we adapt to climate change. The researchers, led by Deborah Zani at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, studied the degree to which the timing of color changes in autumn tree leaves was determined by the growth of the plant in the preceding spring and summer. Temperature and day length were traditionally accepted as the main determinants of when leaves changed color and fell, leading some scientists to assume that warming temperatures would delay this process until later in the season. Studying deciduous European tree species, including horse chestnut, silver birch and English oak, the authors of the new study recorded how much carbon each tree absorbed per season and how that ultimately affected when the leaves fell. Using data from the Pan European Phenology Project, which has tracked some trees for as long as 65 years, the researchers found in their long-term observational study that as the rate of photosynthesis increased, leaves changed color and fell earlier in the year. For every 10% increase in photosynthetic activity over the spring and summer growing season, trees shed their leaves, on average, eight days earlier. Climate-controlled experiments on five-year-old European beech and Japanese meadowsweet trees suggest what could be behind this unexpected result. In these trials, the trees were exposed to full sun, half shade or full shade. The results show that there is a limit to the amount of photosynthesis that a tree can carry out over a growing season. This research shows that deciduous trees can only absorb a set amount of carbon each year and once that limit is reached, no more can be absorbed. At that point, leaves begin to change color. This limit is set by the availability of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, and the physical structure of the plant itself, particularly the inner vessels which move water and dissolved nutrients around. Nitrogen is a key nutrient which plants need in order to grow, and it’s often the amount of available nitrogen that limits total growth.
Photography campaign shows the grim aftermath of logging in Canada’s fragile forests — When TJ Watt first stood at the base of a towering western red cedar on Canada’s Pacific coast, the ancient giant was surrounded by thick moss and ferns, and the sounds of a vibrant forest ecosystem. When he returned a few months later, all that remained was a massive stump, set against a landscape that was unrecognizable. “To come back and see a place that was so magnificent and complex just completely and utterly destroyed is just gut-wrenching,” he said.Watt’s photographs of the forest – and the grim aftermath of logging – are now the centrepiece of a campaign by the Ancient Forest Alliance to capture the impact of clearcutting old growth trees in British Columbia. Despite recent efforts by the province to protect these fragile forests, conservationists say far more is needed to prevent the collapse of ecosystems. Watt has photographed clearcuts in the province for more than a decade with the AFA, but said the “graveyard of stumps” in the Caycuse watershed remains a jarring sight.“We’re in the midst of a global climate environmental crisis yet here in Canada, a first world country, we’re allowing the destruction of some of the most highly endangered old growth forests on the planet,” he said. “A lot of people are shocked that that’s still happening here. It’s not illegal. The government sanctions it.”The AFA estimates that most of the original old-growth forests along the province’s southern coast have been logged commercially. Less than 10% of Vancouver Island’s original old growth forests – where Watt shot his before-and-after series – are protected.Conservation groups have fought for decades to protect some of the oldest trees in the country. Both Watt and Wieting have called on the government to both protect the remaining old growth forests and to help forestry-dependent communities so they can transition away from old growth logging. They also say Indigenous peoples must have a role in protecting and managing the forest. “I’m going to keep taking these ‘before’ photos,” said Watt. “And it’s up to politicians if there’s going to be an ‘after’ shot.”
Deforestation in Amazon Skyrockets to 12-Year High Under Bolsonaro –According to Brazil’s space agency (Inpe), deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has surged to its highest level since 2008, the BBC reported.Despite Brazil previously setting a goal of slowing the pace of deforestation to 3,900 sq km annually by 2020, deforestation increased 9.5% from last year, and a total of 11,088 sq km (4,281 sq miles) of rainforest was destroyed from August 2019 to July 2020, according to the news report. That area is just smaller than the state of Connecticut, The New York Times noted.Scientists blame part of this acceleration on far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was elected on a pro-development promise and took office in Jan. 2019. Bolsonaro encourages agriculture and mining in the world’s largest rainforest and has actively introduced policies and bills that open up the forest to loggers, ranchers and mining operations. He has also cut critical funding for federal enforcement agencies that police farmers and loggers breaking environmental laws, the BBC reported.Bolsonaro has simultaneously shunned outside influence from other countries, especially concerning the development of the Amazon. He has been accused of using the coronavirus shutdowns as a smokescreen to promote more deforestation and exploitation of forest resources. He has argued that he wants to develop the forest’s resources to lift the area out of poverty, The New York Times reported.As a result, deforestation and forest fires have increased under Bolsonaro’s leadership. Fires are often used to clear vegetation from clear-cut areas of the forest to prepare them for illegal cattle-raising and agriculture, the report said. Civil society groups and public prosecutors in Brazil filed lawsuits against the Bolsonaro government to stop deforestation, taking issue with the president’s reduction of inspections of exported timber and freezing of climate funds that help preserve the forests when other countries use these to offset their carbon emissions. The rainforest is home to roughly three million species of plants and animals and one million indigenous people, the BBC reported. As habitat is lost, many species could be driven to extinction before they are even discovered. Protected tribal lands serve as a buffer against deforestation, and indigenous tribes survey the land to protect the trees. Their way of life and actual lives are at risk as the forest is cut down.
Drought-driven hunger threatens 1.5 million people in southern Madagascar – About half the population of southern Madagascar or 1.5 million people is suffering from drought-driven hunger, the UN World Food Program (WFP) reported on November 30, 2020. Three straight years of drought have eradicated harvests and hampered people’s access to food. “The hunger and malnutrition we’re seeing is the result of three years of ruined harvests,” said Moumini Ouedraogo, WFP’s Representative in Madagascar. “Families across these drought-afflicted areas are adopting desperate measures simply to survive– selling precious belongings such as cattle, farm tools, and kitchen utensils,” In October, WFP started providing food aid for 320 000 severely food-insecure people in the 10 worst-hit districts, with hot meals for malnourished children and elderly in Amboasary, the epicenter of the crisis. “The situation in the South demands an urgent response. People are left with nothing to eat and we must support them before it is too late, but for that to happen, urgent support from donors is needed now,” Ouedraogo added.The current resources can only accommodate 500 000 people through December, so the WFP appealed for 37.5 million dollars to rapidly expand its response, as well as to prevent child malnutrition rates from further worsening. The organization seeks to reach 891 000 people through June 2021. The funds will also be allocated for emergency school feeding so children can continue studying, which WFP noted as the “essential key to a better future.” “The latest hunger surge underscores the magnitude of food insecurity across Madagascar, where almost half of the children under five are chronically malnourished, or physically stunted, meaning their brains and bodies may be irreversibly compromised,” said WFP.
Plastic contaminants harm sea urchins – Plastics in the ocean can release chemicals that cause deformities in sea urchin larvae, new research shows. Scientists soaked various plastic samples in seawater then removed the plastic and raised sea urchin embryos in the water. The study, led by the University of Exeter, found that urchins developed a variety of abnormalities, including deformed skeletons and nervous systems. These abnormalities were caused by chemicals embedded in the plastics leaching out into the water, rather than the plastics themselves. The plastic-to-water ratio in the study would only be seen in severely polluted places, but the findings raise questions about the wider impact of plastic contaminants on marine life.
Plastic Fishing Waste Threatens Endangered Wildlife in Ganges River –The most polluted river in the world continues to be exploited through fishing practices that threatenendangered wildlife, new research shows.The Ganges River is a quagmire of raw sewage, toxic waste and overfishing from the crowded cities along its waterway. It is also home to the endangered Ganges river dolphin and the critically endangered three-striped roofed turtle, along with other threatened marine species.As part of the National Geographic Society’s “Sea to Source: Ganges” expedition, a study was conducted to understand how much plastic pollution or “ghost” fishing threatens the native wildlife. Fishing nets are common in the river, and entanglements frequently occur.According to interviews conducted with the local fishing community as part of the study, nets and equipment are commonly left in the river. Researchers at the University of Exeter, who gathered data for the study, found disposal systems in short supply.”The Ganges River supports some of the world’s largest inland fisheries, but no research has been done to assess plastic pollution from this industry, and its impacts on wildlife,” said Dr. Sarah Nelms, a postdoctoral associate at the Center for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter, and an author of the study.”Ingesting plastic can harm wildlife, but our threat assessment focused on entanglement, which is known to injure and kill a wide range of marine species.” “Collection and recycling of nylon 6 has strong potential as a solution because it would cut plastic pollution and provide an income,” she said.Plastic pollution in marine and freshwater ecosystems continues on an increasing scale to cause wildlife death. But Professor Koldewey believes behavior changes through this new research could have positive effects. “This is a complex problem that will require multiple solutions – all of which must work for both local communities and wildlife.”
Weather Authority: Powerful winds, downpours cause damage, flooding across Delaware Valley — Severe storms swept across the Delaware Valley prompting several tornado warnings as most of the region was under a tornado watch most of the day Monday. The system packed strong winds and heavy downpours, which led to damage and flooding across the area. Extensive damage was reported in Montgomeryville. A fire captain tells FOX 29 six commercial properties and 16 homes sustained damage. The National Weather Service will be sent to Montgomeryville Tuesday to access the damage to determine if a tornado touched down. A business strip off of Garden Golf Bouvlard near Susan Circle in Montgomeryville sustained extensive damage. Beaver Dam Road at Birdell Road in Honey Brook, Chester County is currently shut down due to flooding. The Honey Brook Fire Company reported their second water rescue of the day on Beaver Dam Road Monday night.
Tornadoes reported in Montco and near Dover; flood warning for Philly and neighboring towns. – Severe thunderstorms, temperatures in the 60s, even tornado watches aren’t all that unusual around here. It’s just that they usually don’t occur on the eve of winter on a day when the weakening sun sets at 4:36 p.m. But in these strange times on the earth and in the air, a tornado touched down Monday afternoon near Dover, Del., the National Weather Service confirmed, and possibly at least one twister in Montgomery County. The temperature soared to 67 on strong south winds, about where it should be on April 25, when the sun is gaining power, the days are lengthening, and severe thunderstorms would be part of the cost of allowing spring to do its business. Yet, on the day before the start of the meteorological winter, potent thunderstorms flashed and roared through the region with a ferocity more associated with the spring severe storm season. “The intensity of the thunderstorms was very impressive,” said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc. In addition to the Delaware twister, a “radar indicated” tornado might have touched down near Lansdale, and a “possible tornado” ripped up multiple trees in Trappe, about 14 miles away. The Delaware tornado was sighted 14 miles west of Dover, and hours before the strong thunderstorms developed, several wind gusts of 50 mph were reported near the Jersey Shore and in Montgomery County. Monday’s fitful downpours set off flood advisories and warnings on both sides of the river and in Delaware. Flooding reportedly closed a portion of Route 29, and in Pottstown, water swamped a car up to its roof at Myrtle and Buttonwood Streets, according to reports. A strong storm that was moving southwest to northeast across the Tennessee Valley and well to the west of the Philadelphia region “pulled up a lot of mild air really quickly,” Since Philadelphia was to the east of the storm’s center, the region experienced warming winds from the south as part of the storm’s counterclockwise circulation. Cold air aloft and the milder air below generated volatility to the atmosphere, Feerick said, and the Storm Prediction Center said that conditions were ripe for spinning up “damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes.” That prompted a tornado watch for the whole region from about 1 to 7 p.m.
2 Tornado warnings issued in New Jersey –Two Tornado warnings were briefly issued for New Jersey as a powerful storm impacts the state with heavy rain and gusty winds. The warnings were in addition to less severe tornado watches in several counties. Both warnings have since been cancelled. The tornado watch remained in effect until 7 p.m. One warning was for south central Hunterdon County until 4:30 p.m. for a storm located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, moving northeast at 50 mph. The second warning was for northwestern Cumberland County and south central Salem County until 4:15 p.m. for a a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado, located 11 miles north of Dover Delaware and moving northeast at 35 mph. The watch issued by the National Weather Service is in effect for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem and Somerset counties. Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said that while the steady rain and strong ambient winds are wrapping up, we still face some gusty thunderstorms this afternoon. “Dangerous weather, up to and including a tornado, are possible,” Zarrow said.
Major storm hits U.S. East Coast, leaving more than 230 000 customers without power –A powerful storm swept through the U.S. East Coast on Monday, November 30, 2020, leaving more than 230 000 customers without power in the region. The storm system brought damaging winds and heavy rains, downing multiple trees and power lines and producing several tornadoes.Most of the affected customers affected were in Maine, where more than 100 000 lost power, followed by Massachusetts with 47 000 affected customers, Rhode Island with 32 000, Connecticut with 28 000, and New York 23 000. The Storm Prediction Center received around 60 reports of wind damage to trees, power poles, and wires.In Maine, wind gusts close to 96 km/h (60 mph) downed multiple trees in Durham, Lisbon, Woolwich, and Bar Harbor, among other places. As of Tuesday, December 1, about 102 000 people remain without power in the state, according to poweroutage.us.The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a high-wind warning for southern Maine effective until Tuesday.”People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive,” the NWS said.In Massachusetts, multiple crashes occurred due to wet and slippery roads, with one which resulted in a punctured fuel tank and spill. No serious injuries were reported, according to the State Police. As powerful winds continued, authorities advised people to secure any loose outdoor items and prepare emergency lights in case of prolonged outages.
North-eastern US braced for snow in storm that could become ‘bomb cyclone’ – The north-eastern US was braced for disruption on Saturday as the first big wintry storm of the season began dropping what forecasters said could be more than a foot of wet, heavy snow, making travel treacherous and cutting off power to thousands. Gale warnings were in effect for the US coast north from the Carolinas. CNN reported that the storm could intensify fast enough to become a dramatically named “bomb cyclone”, a phenomenon characterised by a rapid pressure drop and increased precipitation and winds. In New England, morning rain gave way to snow in the afternoon. Accidents littered the Massachusetts Turnpike, where speed limits were reduced to 40mph. Massachusetts and New Hampshire utilities reported thousands of customers without power. Forecasters warned the windy nor’easter could result in near-blizzard conditions and could dump a foot of snow on suburban Boston. In Canada, southern Quebec and New Brunswick also expected a wallop. Police in Connecticut urged drivers to be careful. “Troopers are responding to accidents all over the state,” state police tweeted. “We ask motorists, if they can stay home please do. And if you have to go out please drive slow and ditch all distractions.” Unitil, an electric and gas utility in New England, reported that crews stood ready to respond to power outages. “The chief hazards with the current forecast include hazardous driving conditions in the early hours, the volume of wet snow forecasted to fall and possible gusty winds in coastal areas,” said spokesman Alec O’Meara. In some areas, snowfall of 3in per hour was possible, said National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Clair in Gray, Maine. “This is the first big one,” Clair said of the beginning of the winter season. “There has been some snow up in the mountains, but this is the first one across where most people live.”
Power Cuts Begin in California as High Winds Risk New Fires – Power shutoffs that could ultimately affect more than 1 million people in Southern California began Wednesday morning as high winds raised the risk of live wires sparking wildfires. Edison International’s Southern California Edison cut electricity to 9,313 homes and businesses as of 6:49 p.m. local time, mainly in Ventura County and also in Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside counties, according to its website. The utility has warned it could shut power to a total of more than 272,000 customer accounts in eight counties, or about 816,000 people based on the size of the average household. That would constitute the region’s largest public-safety blackout this year. Dry winds strong enough to knock down power lines are forecast to rattle Southern California through Thursday, exposing more than 6.4 million people to critical fire weather, according to the National Weather Service and the U.S. Storm Prediction Center. “If fires do start they will have a pretty dangerous spread,” said Marc Chenard, a senior branch forecaster at the center. The danger isn’t just the immediate conditions, but the prolonged dryness that has plagued the area and turned trees, grasses and shrubs into fuel. Red flag fire warnings are posted in and around Los Angeles County as the threat grows.
Widespread, damaging floods hit Sao Paulo after a month’s worth of rain in one hour, Brazil – Extensive flooding submerged the city of Sao Carlos in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Thursday, November 26, 2020, resulting in damage to properties and hundreds of rescues that prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency. Up to 138 mm (5.4 inches) of rain fell in less than an hour, which is nearly equivalent to the average November rainfall of 146 mm (5.7 inches). Intense rainfall triggered widespread floods in Sao Carlos, turning streets into rivers. Raging floodwaters dragged away vehicles and caused damage to properties. Initial surveys reported that at least 100 businesses were flooded and suffered damages and 26 vehicles were swept away by the current. At least 150 people had to be rescued by the Fire Department. Two boats and five emergency vehicles were deployed, as well as 15 personnel in affected areas, mainly in commercial establishments and vehicles trapped in flooded streets. A task force was deployed to address the aftermath of the storm, according to the director of civil defense of the state, Col. Rodrigo Quintino, who said the losses were very large. He also noted that up to 138 mm (5.4 inches) of rain fell in about 50 minutes– a volume that’s almost equivalent to the average rainfall for the month of November of 146 mm (5.6 inches). “As determined by Governor João Doria, the State Civil Defense provided immediate support to the municipality, initially assisting the people who needed to be rescued during the flood,” Quintino stated. State technicians were ordered to support the Civil Defense in necessary assessments until normality is restored. A state of emergency has been declared for the city on Saturday, November 28.
Massive floods claim 3 lives in Sardinia, rare tornado hits Catania, Italy – At least three people lost their lives while two others remain missing after severe storms hit the Italian island of Sardinia, triggering massive floods and landslides on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, 2020. Meanwhile, a rare November tornado caused damage to Catania Airport in Sicily on Saturday, November 28.Severe storms have battered Sardinia for two days in a row, causing flooding and landslides in several areas that left three people dead in Bitti and two others missing. The victims lost their lives in mudslides and raging floodwaters.In Cagliari, strong winds downed many trees while at Poetto, the coast was completely submerged by floodwaters reaching the height of kiosks. As of Sunday, November 29, a red alert has been issued by the Civil Protection as officials prepared necessary precautions, warning residents door-to-door, and closing establishments from Cagliari to Olbia. Several dams on the island had to discharge water to avoid overflowing. Residents in nearby settlements have been advised to avoid downstream areas. “The red alert was in effect for two days in eastern Sardinia. Also for Bitti, we have alerted all the first citizens in a widespread manner,” said Antonio Belloi of the Civil Protection. “The mayor of Bitti was very prompt in his response; he managed the flood of 2013,” Belloi noted. The current flooding was reminiscent of Cyclone Cleopatra that hit the region seven years ago, killing 18 people.
Widespread flooding hits Kuwait after 6 months’ worth of rain in several days – Heavy rains have fallen over the past few days in Kuwait, resulting in flooded roads, schools, homes, and hospitals. Al Sabriya received the highest amount of rain — around 134 mm (5.2 inches) or about six times the average rain for the month of November. Heavy rains have been affecting the country over the past few days, from Jahra to Salwa, clogging manholes and forcing authorities to activate an emergency plan. Homes, schools, and hospitals were damaged during the storm, while many motorists had to brave the flooded roads. In Jahra, many trees were downed across main streets, prompting several drivers to volunteer to remove them, despite intense rains still pouring. Firefighters alerted stations in case of emergency, while the Public Relations and Information Department advised citizens to take extra precautions and be vigilant. Al Sabriya, an area in northern Kuwait, recorded the highest amount of rainfall — 134 mm (5.2 inches) in several days. This is more than 6 months of its November rain (20.3 mm (0.8 inches)). The Assistant Undersecretary for the Electrical Distribution Networks Sector, Mutlaq Al Otaibi, reported that there were a total of 50 outages across the country in just a few hours. The Ministry of Education advised teachers and staff at schools to stay at home until the situation improves.
Severe floods hit Sumatra, damaging thousands of homes and affecting more than 26 000 people – Thousands of homes have been damaged and more than 26 000 people affected by severe floods in the Serdang Bedagai Regency of North Sumatra, Indonesia over the past couple of weeks. Floods in the region began mid-November and worsened on November 23. The worst affected city was Tebing Tinggi, with authorities describing the floods there as the worst in history. Among the affected sub-districts are Sei Bamban, Sei Rampah, Dolok Masihul, and Sipispis, according to Indonesia’s disaster management agency BNPB. Up to 26 680 people were left suffering from inundations. Tebing Tinggi has been hit the worst as torrential rainfall since Friday, November 27, caused the Padang River to overflow, submerging houses and streets. The water had not receded by Sunday, November 30. The city government reported that 6 663 houses have been damaged in the city. North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi added that heavy rainfall destroyed up to 50 m (164 feet) of the Padang River’s embankments, flooding the Tanjung Marulak area. “This is the largest flood that has occurred in Tebing Tinggi,” Edy remarked. No fatalities were reported.
Extreme rain causes deadly flooding in central Vietnam –Heavy rains during the past few days have flooded Vietnam’s central and central highland regions, leaving at least five people dead and more than 5 600 displaced. Between November 28 and December 1, up to 986 mm (39 inches) of rain has been recorded, according to Vietnam’s Disaster Management Agency (VNDMA)Heavy rains damaged at least eight houses and flooded 180 others, while landslides also hit several roads in many provinces, including Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Quang Nam, the worst-hit area, the country’s Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Controlreported Wednesday, December 2.In a period of four days, Ho Am Chua Lake in Khanh Hoa province recorded up to 820 mm (32 inches) of rain, while Tam Tra in Quang Nam recorded 986 mm (39 inches), the VNDMA said.Four fatalities were reported in Khan Hoa, while around 2 574 people were evacuated from their homes. Many of the affected people were in the coastal town of Nha Trang, where floodwaters reached up to 0.5 m (1.6 feet) as of Tuesday, December 1.In the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, one person died while another is still missing. Around 45 people were evacuated from their residences in Dak Lak.In Quang Nam Province, including the provincial capital Tam Ky, severe flooding forced a total of 1 993 people to evacuate, while a further 1 062 others were also displaced in Quang Ngai. From October to November, widespread flooding from successive storms ravaged the country’s central provinces. As of late November, the UN reported that at least 239 people were dead or missing and around 1.5 million were directly affected.
Worst flood in 50 years affects more than 500 000 people in southern Thailand — (videos) Widespread, severe flooding has killed at least nine people and affected 210 000 households or more than half a million people in southern Thailand, officials reported Friday, December 4, 2020, describing the situation as the worst they have seen in 50 years. A state of emergency has been declared for Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, where all the fatalities occurred. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said another person reportedly went missing. The youngest victim was a child aged five. DDPM added that the affected provinces are Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Trang, Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat, and the worst-hit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, where all nine deaths occurred and a state of emergency has been declared. The extent of the damage has yet to be confirmed, but reports said scores of houses have been damaged, affecting half a million people. Flooding also ravaged almost 150 000 ha (370 000 acres) of farmland. The main airport remains open to flight but was reportedly engulfed in floodwaters. Military vehicles were ferrying passengers to the terminal. Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand said train services, particularly those running through the waters, would have to be canceled until the flood recedes. “This year is the worst we’ve seen here in 50 years,” Nakhon Si Thammarat governor Kraisorn Visitwong told AFP.”We’ve had floods in certain parts of our province every year, but never this volume and the currents never this strong. We can’t even use our boats.”The Ministry of Finance assured that damages to residences, livestock, agriculture, careers, livelihoods, and infrastructure would be covered by the ministry.The flooding came as heavy rains poured last week. It worsened the current situation of the region that has already been suffering from critical flood conditions from a series of depressions that hit Thailand since early October. This has generated water runoff in 35 provinces. Severe weather is forecast to continue over the coming days as a powerful monsoon is prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand while a low-pressure system still covers the Strait of Malacca.
6 people missing after Alaska landslides, at least 4 homes destroyed – Six people are missing and at least four houses have been destroyed after a series of landslides hit Haines, Alaska, Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.Several slides occurred during the day. The largest, in Battery Hill, was about 600 feet wide and trapped about 30 people. The victims were soon evacuated, Haines Borough Mayor Douglas Olerud told The Associated Press. As of Wednesday night, there are approximately 9 feet of mud and trees covering the area where the houses were destroyed, according to theAlaska Department of Public Safety.Search and rescue operations were suspended for the evening due to rumbling unstable ground. Juneau’s Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Alaska State Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, SEADOGS, and Capital City Fire Department medics will be departing Thursday morning on an Army Guard helicopter to assist in the rescue efforts. Due to severe turbulence, they were not able to visit the area Wednesday.On Wednesday, the mayor issued a declaration of emergency due to the severe flooding in the area caused by a winter storm. The declaration states that due to heavy rain and snow, several roads are flooded and impassable and there was significant infrastructure loss due to the deterioration and collapse of roads. “Several Haines Borough residents have lost their homes both due to flooding and mud slides,” Olerud’s declaration states. Due to the declaration of emergency, the town closed its school and non-essential businesses.
Rising flood risk threatens scant supply of low-cost U.S. homes (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Rising seas linked to climate change are expected to triple the amount of affordable housing at risk from flooding in U.S. coastal areas within three decades, exacerbating a nationwide shortage of low-cost homes, research showed on Tuesday. About 25,000 homes could flood at least once a year by 2050, according to first-time national estimates from the nonprofits Climate Central and the National Housing Trust, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. The findings are especially concerning given that the country already faces a shortfall of 7 million affordable units, said co-author Todd Nedwick, a policy director at the National Housing Trust. “Even before we talk about making these buildings more resilient, we don’t have the resources to increase the supply, so I hope this helps spotlight the need for investments in these at-risk communities,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The researchers looked at risk from extreme weather events such as hurricanes but also at increasingly common “sunny-day” flooding caused by higher sea levels. Heightened risks will take a heavy toll on known hot spots such as Florida, which is expected to see a roughly seven-fold increase in the number of affordable units that are vulnerable to flooding. But the findings also highlight the danger in areas not yet identified as high-risk, such as New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Today about 1,600 affordable homes flood in an average year in New Jersey, but that number looks set to more than quadruple, said co-author Scott Kulp, a senior computational scientist with Climate Central. And the effects could be even greater in some cities, he said, mentioning Atlantic City, New Jersey, where flood risk will affect more than half of all affordable homes in the seaside resort town. Past climate forecasts have tended to “look at the number of people affected or the damage projected. There’s been much less attention put on these lower-income communities,” Kulp said. That focus is key in part because the effects on lower-income communities from climate disasters can be deeper. “Low-income renters typically have very few alternative housing options if a disaster damages their homes,” said Andrew Aurand, vice president of research at the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Federal short-term housing assistance is often not enough to help families get back into permanent housing, and disasters can have long-term effects on the housing stock too, Aurand said. “When affordable rental housing is significantly damaged, the private market provides little incentive to repair or rebuild that housing to keep it affordable,” he said.
Affordable Housing Flood Risk Is Expected to Triple by 2050 – The threat to affordable housing from flooding driven by climate change will likely triple in the next 30 years, new research shows. The study, from Climate Central and the National Housing Trust and published in Environmental Research Letters, examined risk posed not just by extreme events like hurricanes, but also at the increasingly common threat of “sunny-day” flooding caused by sea level rise. The threats driven by the climate crisis exacerbate the underlying affordable housing crisis – the study identified communities in which up to ninety percent of affordable housing is being put at risk. The U.S. already lacks sufficient affordable housing, and “low-income renters typically have very few alternative housing options if a disaster damages their homes,” Andrew Aurand, VP of research at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, told Thomson Reuters. “When affordable rental housing is significantly damaged, the private market provides little incentive to repair or rebuild that housing to keep it affordable,” he added.
Rapid Intensification and Number of Storms Make 2020 a Record Hurricane Season – (graphics, maps) As we reach the official end of hurricane season, 2020 will be one for the record books. Looking back at these long, surprising, sometimes downright crazy past six months (seven if you count when the first named storms actually started forming), there are many noteworthy statistics and patterns that drive home the significance of this hurricane season, and the ways climate change may have contributed to it. Hurricane activity this year broke some records. As of today, we have had a record 30 named storms, of which 13 turned into hurricanes. The first two, Arthur and Bertha, even formed before June 1, the official start of hurricane season. The third formed on June 1 itself.This is also only the second time in tropical storm naming history, the first time being in 2005, that the National Hurricane Center had to use the Greek alphabet letters to name storms after the regular list of names was exhausted. As the season progressed, storms generally got stronger – the image below gives a good idea of this progression. While a pattern like this is not unseen, it certainly is not usually this striking (for instance, see timelines of 2005, 2017, 2018, and 2019). Fortunately, the high level of activity did not translate into a higher number of major hurricanes this season. The August updated forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had called for 19-25 named storms, with 7-11 turning into hurricanes, 3-6 of which would be major (Category 3 or higher). The total number of named storms and hurricanes went up, but the latter prediction did not change from the original forecast released in May (see infographics below). So, even though 2020 surpassed the predicted number of named storms and hurricanes, as of today, six of the 13 hurricanes were major, still (barely) within the prediction. Of all the named storms, 12 made landfall in the U.S., six as hurricanes. As of today, the season was record-setting for named storms. It ranks second for hurricanes & major hurricanes. Both Gulf and East Coast states were affected by landfalling hurricanes, and, strikingly, very few coastal counties have not been affected by tropical storm winds this season. Many of the 2020 storms formed in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico, hence nine out of the 12 U.S. landfalling storms targeting the Gulf states. Louisiana, for example, suffered five landfalls starting in May with TS Bertha. This is the 6th year in a row that named storms formed before the official start of the season, and the 5th season in a row with at least one category 5 hurricane. It was also the first year to have two major hurricanes in the month of November (Eta and Iota, a Category 4 and 5 respectively), and September 2020 alone had 10 storms – almost equal to the number of total storms for the entirety of an average season, which is currently 12.
Cyclone Burevi slams into eastern Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Tropical cyclone Burevi slammed into Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on Wednesday night and was expected to damage coastal buildings and power lines, as well as unleash flash floods, officials at the meteorological department said. During the day Sri Lankan authorities evacuated over 75,000 people from homes on the east coast where cyclone Burevi, packing winds of up to 90 kph (56 mph) was set to hit. The island’s disaster management centre advised those living near its path to stay indoors. Earlier in the day Athula Karunanayake, the chief of the meteorology department said the wind speeds could reach 80 to 90 kph (50 to 56 mph). “Some areas will get more than 200 mm (8 inches) of rain.” Those evacuated, from the Trincomalee district expected to be hit the hardest, have been moved into 237 relief centres until the cyclone passes, disaster officials said. But Anuradha Yahampath, governor of the eastern province which includes Trincomalee, said some people were still resisting the evacuation effort. “I am appealing to people to go to these camps as soon as possible,” he told local media. “I met some of the fishermen earlier. They are aware of the situation but they are still not ready to leave their homes.” Authorities in the northern and eastern provinces, home to millions of people, will keep schools shut until at least Friday. By Thursday, the cyclone’s path will carry it northwest towards the Arabian Sea, Karunanayake said. Burevi is projected to move into southern India by early on Friday, Indian weather officials have said, but is expected to cause less damage there.
Tropical Cyclone “Burevi” makes landfall over Sri Lanka, heads toward Tamil Nadu –Tropical Cyclone “Burevi” made landfall over northern Sri Lanka late December 2, 2020 (LT) with maximum sustained winds up to 90 km/h (55 mph) and heavy rain. This the 5th named storm of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season and the second to form in the Bay of Bengal in a week. Burevi is now heading toward Tamil Nadu where red alerts are in effect. There are currently no reports of casualties. Burevi crossed the Sri Lanka coast just north of Trincomalee between 22:30 and 11:30 LT on December 2 with wind speed between 80 and 90 km/h (50 – 56 mph), according to the IMD. Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) issued a red alert ahead of the landfall and evacuated 75 000 people from the east coast. DMC asked fishermen not to venture out to sea and ordered the closure of schools along the path of the cyclone for three days. Chief of Sri Lanka’s meteorological department, Athula Karunanayake, said some areas can expect up to 200 mm (8 inches) of rain before the cyclone exits land and emerges in the Gulf of Mannar. IMD has issued a red alert for several areas of southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Thursday and suspended fishing activity until Friday, December 4. Burevi is expected to cross the coast of southern Tamil Nadu between Pamban and Kanyakumari between the night of December 3 and the morning of December 4 (LT) with maximum sustained wind speed of 70 – 80 km/h (43 – 50 mph) and gusts to 90 km/h (55 mph). Its impact is expected to continue over Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari districts of south Tamil Nadu and adjoining districts of south Kerala until early hours of December 4. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls are very likely over south Tamil Nadu and over south Kerala on December 3 and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala on December 4, 2020. Burevi is expected to exit into the Arabian Sea after 06:00 UTC on December 5 and re-strengthen as it moves toward Somalia.
Very bright fireball explodes over central Japan (videos) A very bright fireball streaked through the night sky over central Japan at around 16:35 UTC on November 28, 2020 (01:35 JST, November 29). The object was seen and recorded from many parts of western and central Japan and was accompanied by a rumbling noise. “It is rare for [shooting start] to be so bright,” Takeshi Inoue, director of the Akashi Municipal Planetarium in Hyogo Prefecture, told Kyodo. “We believe the last burst of light was as bright as the full moon,” he said.
Daylight fireball explodes over New York, creating a bright flash, U.S. –A bright daylight fireball exploded over northern New York, U.S. at 17:10 UTC on December 2, 2020, creating a bright flash in the middle of the day.Witnesses from parts of upstate New York said the visual event was followed by a sonic boom.The American Meteor Society (AMS) received more than 150 reports, mainly from New York and Ontario.Users from Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia also reported seeing the event.”When a very bright fireball penetrates to the stratosphere, below an altitude of about 50 km (31 miles), and explodes as a bolide, there is a chance that sonic booms may be heard on the ground below,” Vincent Perlerin of the AMS noted.NASA’s analysis of the event shows that the parent meteoroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over upper New York, between Rochester and Syracuse.”Traveling westward at 90 km/h (56 000 mph), it broke into pieces at an altitude of approximately 35 km (22 miles), producing a bright flash reported by the public and caught in videos.”
Major eruption at Lewotolo volcano, ash to 15.2 km (50 000 feet) a.s.l., Indonesia (videos) A high-level eruption took place at the Indonesian Lewotolo volcano at 01:50 UTC on November 29, 2020. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red. According to the Darwin VAAC, the volcanic ash cloud was discernible on satellite imagery acquired 03:20 UTC to 15.2 km (50 000 feet) a.s.l. moving southeast and to 5.5 km (18 000 feet) a.s.l. moving northwest. Volcanic ash height was based on Himawari-8, CVGHM VONA issued 02:00 UTC, and model guidance. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 35 mm and a duration of 600 seconds. Seismic activity is currently characterized by continuous volcanic tremor, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) said. Based on the currently available data, it is estimated that a total of 487 833 people (108 408 households) and $1.38 Billion USD of infrastructure are exposed to the hazard, according to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). 12 526 people (2 784 households) and $32.6 Million USD of the infrastructure within 10 km-radius (6.2 miles) are more likely to be adversely impacted. CVGHM recommends that people around the volcano and anyone who wants to climb do not stay or do activities within the danger zone, around mountain craters, and in all areas within a radius of 2 km (1.2 miles) from the summit of the volcano. According to CVGHM, Lewotolok has been in Alert Level II status since October 7, 2017. The increase in status was triggered by an increase in volcanic activity in the form of significant seismicity, especially local tectonic earthquakes, deep volcanic and shallow volcanic since mid-September 2017. The BNPB is still coordinating with relevant authorities to assess the impact of the eruption. The Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) team identified the urgent need at this time–masks (5000) and shelter for residents who are displaced.
Volcano Eruption in Indonesia Forces Thousands to Evacuate — A large volcano in Indonesia erupted Sunday, sending a plume of smoke and ash miles into the air and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate the region. Mount Ili Lewotolok’s eruption in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara caused the local airport to shut down and created panic among locals. East Nusa Tenggara province is located in a remote section about 1,615 miles east of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, Al Jazeera reported. Raditya Jati, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency, said no deaths or injuries have been reported, but about 2,780 residents from 26 villages have sought refuge, according to Al Jazeera. Local Muhammad Ilham, a 17 year old who captured video of the eruption, told Reuters people were “panicked and they’re still looking for refuge and in need of money right now.” Reuters reported that Indonesia has raised its threat level to the second-highest on a four-tier alert system.Three other volcanoes in Indonesia are currently at the second-highest level as well. Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) website warned that “hot clouds, lava stream, lava avalanche and poisonous gas” would impact the immediate area around the volcano, Al Jazeera reported. There are approximately 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, Reuters reported, the most in the world. According to the CVGHM, 79 have erupted in the last 400 years.
Explosive activity continues at Lewotolo after major eruption on November 29, thousands of people evacuated –Explosive activity continues at the Indonesian Lewotolo volcano on Monday, November 30, 2020, after a major eruption on Sunday sent ash up to 15.2 km (50 000 feet) a.s.l. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Red following the eruption and Alert Status raised to 3 of 4. Lewotolo is located on Lembata island of East Nusa Tenggara province.There were no reports of injuries or damage after a major eruption on Sunday but authorities confirmed nearly 2 800 people from 28 villages on the slopes of the volcano were evacuated and nearby Wunopitu airport temporarily closed after ashfall was reported in many areas on the island.The Disaster Mitigation Agency is urging villagers and tourists to stay 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) away from the crater and be aware of potential threats as the area near the volcano is likely to be inundated with pyroclastic flows, lava, and poisonous gases. Considering the potential danger of volcanic ash that can cause acute respiratory problems and other health issues, the people around the volcano should prepare nose and mouth masks and other protective equipment for eyes and skin. Explosions accompanied by a burst of incandescent material above the peak were recorded at 03:28, 04:39, 04:59, 06:40, 07:37, and 08:33 WITA today, with an ash column height of 1 400 – 4 000 m (4 600 – 13 100 feet) above the crater. Fires were also observed around the crater.
At least 50 explosions in 9 hours at Telica volcano, Nicaragua – (videos) An uptick in activity has been observed at the Nicaraguan Telica volcano on Monday, November 30, 2020, with low-level ash emission and dozens of explosions at regular rates. Ashfall was reported in nearby communities, including El Panal, Cristo Rey, Los Cocos, and Los Ángeles. At least 50 explosions were recorded within 9 hours on November 30, with a maximum height of ash between 100 and 400 m (330 – 1 300 feet) above the crater. This is about 1.5 km (5 000 feet) above sea level. “This activity is part of the normal behavior of an active volcano and it is very likely that similar explosions will occur in the next few days,” the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (INETER) said. Volcanic ash emissions ended by 06:34 UTC on Tuesday, December 1, and resumed at around 12:41 UTC on the same day. At 18:31 UTC, the Washington VAAC reported constant ash emissions, moving SW from the summit. This activity continued through the rest of the day and into December 2, although no ash was visible early Wednesday due to meteorological cloud cover. No incandescence was observed on the webcam. However, given the recent activity level, volcanic ash emission is certainly possible, Washington VAAC noted in their advisory issued 05:39 UTC today.
Etna’s Southeast Crater erupting from two vents simultanously, Italy –Take a look at the sublime display of Etna’s natural fireworks, with its Southeast Crater now erupting from two vents simultaneously.This video was recorded by INGV’s Boris Behncke from Tremestieri Etnao on the southern side of Etna at daybreak on December 2, 2020. Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city, has one of the world’s longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BCE. Historical lava flows of basaltic composition cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, whose edifice is the highest and most voluminous in Italy.The Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by several small calderas, was constructed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano. The most prominent morphological feature of Etna is the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km (5.1 x 6.2 miles) horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the east.Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna. Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or more of the three prominent summit craters, the Central Crater, NE Crater, and SE Crater (the latter formed in 1978). Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually accompanied by strombolian eruptions at the upper end).Cinder cones are commonly constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank. (GVP)
Eruptions at Semeru volcano generate spectacular pyroclastic flows, Indonesia A significant eruption occurred at the Indonesian Semeru volcano on December 1, 2020, generating a large pyroclastic flow and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes. According to the CVGHM, the volcano has now entered the stage of generating frequent pyroclastic flows. The eruption came just 2 days after a high-level eruption at Lewotolo volcano on Lembata island forced nearly 5 000 people to evacuate.MAGMA Indonesia reported that an average of 40 eruptive earthquakes per day has been recorded from October 1 to November 30. Rock avalanches from the peak have continuously occurred since October 19.The number of avalanches significantly increased on November 28, followed by pyroclastic flows with a maximum sliding distance of 1 000 m (3 280 feet) to the southeast portion of the slope.On December 1, a spectacular pyroclastic flow was observed from the summit dome with a sliding distance between 2 and 11 km (1 and 7 miles) towards the southeast.As a result, dozens of livestock perished in the Pronojiwo District. In addition, 10 heavy-duty mining equipment were damaged. The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) said the Lumajang Rapid Response Team has been deployed in disaster-prone areas to monitor the situation.Thousands of residents have been displaced and any activity has been prohibited within a 4 km (2.5 miles) radius of the active crater of the volcano, authorities said.
Strong explosion at Sakurajima volcano, Japan (video, graphics) After a few months of low-level activity, a strong explosion took place at Japan’s Sakurajima volcano at 02:55 UTC on December 2, 2020. Part of the eruptive column was obscured by a meteorological cloud, making height estimate difficult. Sakurajima’s Volcanic Alert Level remains at 3 (do not approach the volcano) since February 5, 2016. On July 1, 2020, a panel organized by the Japan Meteorological Agency warned Sakurajima may erupt on a larger scale sometime in the future. The frequency of eruptions at Minamidake summit crater has been on the decrease, while the volume of volcanic ashes remains constant– indicating that the upcoming eruption may be bigger than usual, JMA said. In addition, the panel noted that the bloating and lifting of the mountain, as well as crustal movement, have been observed on the volcano since September 2019.
Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) over the South Pole are missing this year – Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) over the South Pole are missing this year, but consider it only the tip of the iceberg, Dr. Tony Phillips of the SpaceWeather said.Missing NLCs is just one of the curious weather patterns currently underway at the southern end of our planet, Phillips noted. The first thing on his list is Earth’s southern ozone hole which is not only open, but also the biggest it’s ever been in December. On the second place of his list is the temperature of the air above Antarctica which is currently at record cold levels for this time of year–the result of an icy polar vortex that refuses to break up.The third thing is in the stratosphere where east-west winds at 60 degrees South are blowing at record speed.”From top to bottom, the Antarctic atmosphere is in a quirky state,” Phillips said.”Normally, we see the first NLCs of the southern season around November 21. But this year, it’s already December and we are still waiting,” said Cora Randall of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.Lynn Harvey, also at LASP, gathered these plots from the Goddard Space Flight Center showing some of the unusual meteorology: According to Harvey’s analysis of current trends, noctilucent clouds might not appear until mid-December, which is pretty unusual.What’s causing the delay? “I would guess it’s ocean/atmosphere coupling,” speculates Randall. “La Nina strengthened in October, and this is known to affect large-scale circulation in the atmosphere (e.g., Butler et al., 2011).””It’s blowing the scale away this year,” says Hampton University Professor James Russell, principal investigator for NASA’s AIM spacecraft, which monitors noctilucent clouds. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Sun Ejects Biggest Solar Flare In Years Ahead Of Active Cycle — On Sunday, SpaceWeather said the sun’s solar explosion was measured as an M4.4-category eruption, which produced a shortwave radio blackout over some parts of Earth and a bright coronal mass ejection (CME). “Remarkably, the flare was even bigger than it seemed. The blast site is located just behind the sun’s southeastern limb, so the explosion was partially eclipsed by the body of the sun. “X-rays and UV radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, producing a shortwave radio blackout over the South Atlantic… Ham radio operators and mariners may have noticed strange propagation effects at frequencies below 20 MHz, with some transmissions below 10 MHz completely extinguished,” SpaceWeather said on its website. A coronagraph video via the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) shows the massive burst of electromagnetic radiation ejecting from the sun. SpaceWeather said the flare and an associated CME were not Earth-facing but erupted behind the sun’s southeastern limb. This is good news because the explosion was partially eclipsed by the body of the sun. If the flare were Earth-facing, it would’ve likely been an X-class event, meaning it could’ve resulted in widespread radio blackouts, downed power grids, and disrupted communication networks. The last decade of solar activity has been on the decline, though the latest flare-up in activity could suggest a new busy cycle is about to start. In 2017, we noted that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) planned for a massive solar event that would be strong enough to take down the power grids. With the Earth entering what appears to be an active solar period that could last through 2025 – this would present many challenges for the new digital economy as remote working has been kicked into hyperdrive because of the virus pandemic. Solar flares can disrupt satellite-based communications networks, as show below:
Sydney records hottest November night on record Sydney has reported its hottest November night on record, with the official start of summer still days away. The city recorded a minimum overnight temperature of 25.4C and then hit 40C during the daytime on Sunday. Dozens of bush fires are already burning in New South Wales with hotter weather predicted on Tuesday. The states of Victoria and South Australia also reported soaring heat over the weekend. “November has been quite unusual in many ways. We have only seen about half our normal rainfall and it is quite possible it will be one of our hottest Novembers on record,” Andrew Watkins, of the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) noted on Friday.
Sydney swelters through hottest November night as severe heatwave grapples Australia = Parts of the south and southeast Australia are in the grip of severe to extreme heatwave, with temperatures soaring into the mid-40s °C (104s °F) and total fire bans in place in South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. The extreme weather conditions led to Sydney recording its hottest November night, with the mercury not dropping below 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). In South Australia, residents began to feel very hot weather conditions on Friday, November 27, which continued into Saturday, November 28, with temperatures hitting 46 °C (114. 8 °F) in Port Augusta and Coober Pedy. In NWS, temperatures surpassed 40 °C (104 °F) across the west and in coastal areas on Saturday. Much of Sydney sweltered through the mid-40s as powerful north-westerly winds held back the breeze, with the highest temperature of 41.7 °C (107 °F) recorded at the airport. According to BOM manager Jade Golding, November records for warmest overnight minimums likely fell on Friday night. The overnight temperature did not drop below 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in central Sydney Saturday into Sunday, November 28 into 29, making it the hottest November night since record-keeping began.Golding added that the weekend heat would likely raise bushfire concerns, with the Rural Fire Service forecasting severe danger across NSW’s southern regions, including the Riverina.A total fire ban was issued for much of eastern and north-eastern NSW for Sunday, including Greater Sydney, Illawarra, the Hunter, and the north coast. “This is the first time since the devastating season last year we’ve seen widespread elevated fire danger,” said RFS deputy commissioner Peter Mckechnie as he urged residents to have a fire plan ready. “Know what to do if a fire threatens you, know where you’ll go.”Temperatures across NSW are expected to rise again on Tuesday, December 1, as heatwave conditions sweep across inland areas. In Victoria, temperatures in Mildura reached 45 °C (11 °F). The previous record for November was 45.5 °C (113.9 °F) set in 2012.Fire bans were also declared for the Mallee, Wimmera, and northern county regions. .”Northern country and Wimmera will also experience elevated dangerous fire conditions, with a severe fire danger rating. As a result, we have declared a total fire ban across all three weather districts.”In southeast Queensland, records are set to be smashed as hot temperatures are expected to last into next week. Birdsville can expect 46 °C (114.8 °F) on Wednesday, December 2, while elsewhere in the south, a top of 45 °C (113 °F) is forecast for Cunnamulla.
Wildfires Burn Fragile Ecosystem on Australia’s Fraser Island – The world’s largest sand island has been on fire for the past six weeks due to a campfire, and Australia‘s firefighters have yet to prevent flames from destroying the fragile ecosystem. The wildfires on Fraser Island, also called by its Indigenous name K’gari, have burned almost 200,000 acres of its unique habitat, including large sand dunes, swamps and rainforests. Fraser Island is near Brisbane on the northeastern coast, where dingos, swamp wallabies, sugar gliders and more than 60 reptile species call the island home. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. Several tourists visiting the island had to be evacuated as conditions worsened, Reuters reported. “I think it’s frustrating for everybody, the fact that a campfire has started this fire. Having the impact that it has had, it started in a very, very remote part of the island… really difficult to access,” Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner Mike Wassing told CNN affiliate Nine News, according to Reuters. Since Saturday fire crews have dropped more than 200,000 gallons of water and flame retardant on the island, Reuters added. The Guardian reported that crews are mainly addressing the problem from above, focusing on key ecological areas and sites that are important to the Butchulla Aboriginal people, who have called the island home for thousands of years. However, fighting sand fires is difficult, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner Gary McCormack told The Guardian. He explained how water quickly drained from the sand floor, even when dropped from above. Ground conditions weren’t any better due to a lack of firebreaks. “Unfortunately the current conditions are not conducive to extinguishment,” McCormack said. The fires are approaching the Valley of Giants, a tourist attraction known for its 1,000-year-old trees. “This is a very large and very hot fire for this island. It’s a big fire and it’s the wrong kind of fire,” “It’s a catastrophe. Even ecosystems that are meant to burn don’t bounce back from widespread hot fires. It can be beyond their capacity to bounce back.” According to CNN, Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology warned that an extreme heat wave and strong winds, forecast for the next couple of days, would likely worsen the fires.
Bond Fire South of LA Forces 25,000 to Flee – Hot, dry and windy conditions fueled a wildfire southeast of Los Angeles Thursday that injured two firefighters and forced 25,000 to flee their homes. As of Thursday evening, the Bond Fire had spread to 6,400 acres and was only 10 percent contained, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) tweeted. It comes as California has already experienced its worst year for wildfires, The Associated Press reported. The Bond Fire is also burning close to where the Silverado Fire forced tens of thousands to evacuate in October. Among them was Kolbi Winters, who had to evacuate again Thursday. “I had one month literally to enjoy myself before another fire happened,” Winters told The Associated Press. “If this continues happening, and we don’t take care of this, one day, I’m not going to have a home.”California’s worsening fires have been linked to the climate crisis, as warmer temperatures make the state and its vegetation drier, fueling the flames.The Bond Fire began in a house before 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, CBSLA reported. However, three factors influenced its spread, according to CNN. A combination of Santa Ana winds up to 70 miles per hour, humidity as low as four percent and the hottest temperatures across the continental U.S. created a “particularly dangerous situation” for fires in the region, the National Weather Service Los Angeles said. These factors prompted utilities to shut off power to 123,000 customers as a preventative measure and sparked several fires, of which the Bond Fire was the largest, according to The Associated Press. High winds helped turn the house fire into a wildfire.”When crews arrived it was a fully engulfed house and the winds were extremely strong and they pushed flames into the vegetation,” OCFA spokeswoman Colleen Windsor told The Associated Press. The blaze then damaged other structures.”We know that a number of houses have been damaged, potentially destroyed,” OCFA chief Brian Fennessy said at a press conference, The New York Times reported. Fennessy also said that more than 500 firefighters from more than 30 agencies were helping to battle the flames. Two of those firefighters, who were with the U.S. Forest Service, were injured sometime Thursday afternoon, according to CBSLA. They were treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital, where their condition was not known. However, their injuries were not life-threatening, according to The New York Times. The fire forced 25,000 to evacuate, though some evacuation orders were lifted, CNN reported. Evacuations were complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the contagious disease, authorities could not set up an overnight shelter and advised people to stay with family or in a hotel.
Much of the U.S. Could Be Uninhabitable by 2050 – There have been many attempts to measure human survivability at various combinations of temperature and humidity, both with bodies at rest and bodies doing work – exercising, for example, or cleaning the gutters. The usual way to measure what core body temperature will result from a given combination of heat, humidity, wind, and other factors is by using a wet-bulb thermometer to measure the “wet-bulb temperature.” A more refined version of the web-bulb temperature is the “web bulb globe temperature” (WBGT). All you need to know is this: A “web bulb” is basically the bulb of a thermometer with wet muslin around it, simulating the core of a human body (the bulb) with wet skin around it (the muslin). If the water in the muslin is able to evaporate, the temperature of the bulb will be lower than the temperature of the outside air. If water in the muslin can’t evaporate (at 100% humidity and no wind, for example) the temperature of the bulb can’t be lowered. For humans, the web-bulb temperature of an environment shouldn’t be much greater than our normal core body temperature; if it is, the environment will endanger the people experiencing it. It’s a given among scientists that a web-bulb temperature of 95°F (35°C) is the upper limit of extended human endurability. Anything above that and after a short while, people need to stop working, go indoors or into the shade, or find some air-conditioned place to continue their activities. Consider the chart below from a 2004 study, “Extremes of human heat tolerance: Life at the precipice of thermoregulatory failure,” by William Kenney et al. Note the temperature point (X-axis) at which human core temperature stops being stable and begins rising out of control (Y-axis). In this graph, MDI on the X-axis is a proxy for WBGT. The Y-axis shows a rate of increase in core temperature per hour. Assuming no ability of the body to cool itself, outside temperatures above 35°C (95°F) will cause overheating, and as you can see, the hotter it is, the faster the body’s core temperature rises. At a wet-bulb temperature of 40°C (104°F), core body temperature rises two to three degrees every hour. At higher temperatures, it rises faster. The following chart shows weeks per year of ambient temperatures above 35°C (95°F) for counties in the U.S. if we continue to burn fossil fuels at a business-as-usual rate. The darker the red, the more weeks per year of these temperatures. (The source is a recent ProPublica piece entitled “New Climate Maps Show a Transformed United States.”)The eye notices the dark red – for example, Phoenix, Arizona, with half a year of above-95° heat. But look at Kansas, with 8-11 weeks above 95 degrees. In Kansas, that’s the heart of the growing season, or was.
Delhi shivers through coldest October and November in more than 50 years, India – With the mean temperature of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F), the month of November 2020 ended up as Delhi’s coldest November since 1949. The average mean minimum temperature for the month is around 12.9 °C (55.5 °F), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD data shows that Delhi also experienced its coldest October in 58 years, with the mean minimum temperature pummeling to 17.2 °C (63 °F). In 1962, the mean minimum temperature for October was 16.9 °C (62.4 °F)The temperatures are likely to worsen, with IMD’s seasonal forecast predicting a colder winter season with below-average minimum temperatures in New Delhi, as well as in parts of north and northwest India.On Monday, November 30, Delhi recorded its coldest November day with the minimum temperature dropping to 6.9 °C (44.4 °F).According to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional weather forecasting center, the cold temperatures in November are attributed to “a combination of factors including global conditions such as La Nina,” and local ones such as “an absence of cloud cover, whenever there are clear skies, the minimum temperature drops.”In addition, the capital experienced four cold waves last month– on November 3, 20, 23, and 24. The last time the city saw multiple cold waves in November was in 1964, when three cold snaps occurred.The last time Delhi experienced a significant cold wave in November was six years ago, in 2014.The previous all-time low minimum temperature for November was at 8.9 °C (48 °F) set in 1930. IMD director-general M. Mohaptra explained that while global factors like La Nina have contributed to record temperatures, this is magnified when local and regional factors also contribute, leading to extreme weather conditions, such as what Delhi has experienced in November.
Study Finds Climate Crisis Is Deterring Some Adults From Having Kids – Will concern over the climate crisis stop people from having children? A first-of-its-kind academic study suggests that it already has. The study, published in the journal Climate Change this month, found that 96.5 percent of respondents were “very” or “extremely concerned” about what the lives of their current or hypothetical children would look like in a future they see as overwhelmingly bleak.”[C]limate change is the sole factor for me in deciding not to have biological children,” a 31-year-old study participant from Washington said. “I don’t want to birth children into a dying world. I dearly want to be a mother, but climate change is accelerating so quickly, and creating such horror already, that bringing a child into this mess is something I can’t do.” The question of whether it is right or desirable to have children in the context of the climate crisis has beenraised in recent years. New York Representative and Green New Deal champion Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in 2019 that it was legitimate to ask whether it was “OK to still have children” given scientific predictions for what the world could look like if industrial societies do not rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2018 poll found that 11 percent of 20-to-45 year olds in the U.S. who either did not want children or were unsure about having them cited being “worried about climate change” as one reason. Another 2020 poll found that 14.3 percent of 18-to-44 year olds in the U.S. without children cited climate change as a “major reason” and a further 20.7 percent cited it as a “minor reason.”
‘Major Hurdle’ Cleared as Youth Activists Advance Historic Climate Case – An unprecedented climate lawsuit brought by six Portuguese youths is to be fast-tracked at Europe’s highest court, it was announced today. The European Court of Human Rights said the case, which accuses 33 European nations of violating the applicants’ right to life by disregarding the climate emergency, would be granted priority status due to the “importance and urgency of the issues raised.” This is the first climate lawsuit to be filed with the international court in Strasbourg, France, and campaigners say the decision represents a major step towards a potential landmark judgment.Clfludia Agostinho (21), Catarina Mota (20), Martim Agostinho (17), Sofia Oliveira (15), André Oliveira (12) and Mariana Agostinho (8) are bringing the case with nonprofit law firm Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), arguing that none of the countries have sufficiently ambitious targets to cut their emissions. Portugal recently sweltered through its hottest July in 90 years and has seen a rise in devastating heatwaves and wildfires over recent years due to rising temperatures. Four of the applicants live in Leiria, one of the regions worst-hit by the forest fires that killed more than 120 people in 2017.
UN calls on humanity to end ‘war on nature,’ go carbon-free – As an extreme year for hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves comes to an end, the head of the United Nations challenged world leaders to make 2021 the year that humanity ends its “war on nature” and commits to a future free of planet-warming carbon pollution. With new reports highlighting 2020’s record-breaking weather and growing fossil fuels extraction that triggers global warming, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered yet another urgent appeal to curb climate change. It was tinged with optimism but delivered dire warnings, as the UN gears up for a Dec. 12 virtual climate summit in France on the 5th anniversary of the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement. “The state of the planet is broken,” Guterres said in a speech at Columbia University. “Humanity is waging war on nature. This is suicidal.” “Apocalyptic fires and floods, cyclones and hurricanes are increasingly the new normal,” he said. In a report, the World Meteorological Organization said this year is set to end about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the last half of the 1800s, which scientists use as a baseline for warming caused by heat-trapping gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Most trapped heat goes into the world’s seas, and ocean temperatures now are at record levels. It also means 2020 will go down as one of the three hottest years on record. “There is at least a one-in-five chance of it temporarily exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2024,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said. The Paris climate accord set a goal of not exceeding 1.5-degree (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming since pre-industrial times. A new analysis by Climate Action Tracker scientists who monitor carbon pollution and pledges to cut them said public commitments to emission cuts, if kept, would limit warming to about 2.6 degrees Celsius (4.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and possibly as low as 2.1 degrees Celsius. Guterres saw hope in promises by more than 100 countries that by mid-century they will not be adding more heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere than trees and technology can remove, along with shorter term pollution cuts. China and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden have pledged net zero carbon emissions.
New Zealand Declares Climate Emergency – The government of New Zealand declared a climate emergency on Wednesday, a symbolic step recognizing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predictions of substantial global warming if emissions do not fall. Alongside the declaration, New Zealand announced it would require its public sector to become carbon neutral by 2025. Government agencies would need to measure, report and offset emissions. “The public sector needs to be and will be an exemplar that sets the standard we all need to achieve by 2050,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told parliament in Wellington. New Zealand Going Green “This is a declaration of science,” Ardern told said, adding the move is “an acknowledgement of the next generation… of the burden they will carry if we do not take action now.”New Zealand’s decarbonization program is supported by a NZ$200 million ($141 million) state fund and includes a phase-out of coal, a requirement for government agencies to use electric vehicles and a green standard for public buildings, according to Radio New Zealand. Declaring a climate emergency, however, comes without any new statutory powers or money, making the move purely symbolic. Thirty-two other countries, including Japan, Canada, France and the United Kingdom, have already declared a climate emergency. Doing so indicates that governments recognize climate change as an existential threat that requires urgent action in response.
Are “Net-Zero” Emissions a Smoke Screen? — naked capitalism – Yves here. This interview with Peter Carter on climate changes targets highlights the damage done by William Nordhaus, who advocates a 3 degrees Celsius increase as optimal. For a definitive shellacking, see Steve Keen. The talk also takes on another dangerous head-fake: net zero carbon emissions. It covers another development that gets very little discussion in the mainstream media (although NC was early to focus on it): ocean acidification. Carter mentions that higher temperatures will devastate agriculture. A common response from climate change deniers is “Oh, we can just farm further north” (or south for those in the Southern Hemisphere). Perhaps, but it won’t be anywhere near as productive. Land further from the equator gets less intense sunlight, which is what plants need to grow. (Paul Jay interview and transcript)
‘Historic Moment’ as Climate Movement Takes on Big Oil at The Hague –Representing more than 17,000 claimants who support climate action, the international organization Friends of the Earth on Tuesday opened its case against fossil fuel giant Shell at The Hague by demanding that a judge order the corporation to significantly reduce its carbon emissions in the next decade.Milieudefensie, the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth, says Shell has broken the law in The Netherlands by knowingly standing in the way of the country’s phase-out of fossil fuels. Shell says it has set a goal of cutting its emissions to net zero by 2050, but the group is demanding a more rapid reduction.”We are relying on the Dutch courts to protect communities around the globe,” tweeted Nils Mollema, a policy advisor at ActionAid, which is supporting Milieudefensie in the case.The case comes five years after the Dutch government was ordered to reduce its emissions by at least 25% from 1990 levels by the end of 2020. Under the Paris climate agreement, the European Union has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030.”The claimants therefore conclude that Royal Dutch Shell’s corporate policy is on collision course with global climate targets,” Roger Cox, a lawyer representing Milieudefensie in the civil case, told a panel of three judges at The Hague District Court on Tuesday.The organization has vehemently rejected Shell’s defense in the case, in which the multinational corporation is suggesting that it is no more responsible for solving the climate emergency than other businesses or individuals. “What will accelerate the energy transition is effective policy, investment in technology, and changing customer behavior,” Shell said Tuesday as the first of four days of hearings began. “None of which will be achieved with this court action.”
Green Growth vs Degrowth: Are We Missing the Point? – The row about ecological limits to growth is back with a vengeance. On one side are those who are deeply sceptical about the idea of ‘infinite growth on a finite planet’. They argue that to be sure of offering a good life for all within planetary boundaries, we need to kick our addiction to consumption growth (in wealthy countries at least). These ‘green growth sceptics’ include those advocating for ‘degrowth’, ‘prosperity without growth’, ‘steady state economics’, ‘doughnut economics’ and ‘wellbeing economics’. In the opposite corner are ‘green growth’ advocates who believe that the historical relationship between GDP and environmental impact can be not just weakened but effectively severed. For green growthers, the key to maintaining a habitable planet is decoupling – reducing the environmental impact associated with each pound or dollar of GDP. By deploying new technologies, and shifting the nature of our consumption, they argue we can do our bit for the environment while continuing to grow our economies, even in wealthy countries. Green growth sceptics do not dispute the need for decoupling, but observe that the faster we grow the faster we have to decouple. Even a modest goal like 2% growth per year implies doubling the scale of consumption every 35 years. Unfortunately, we have neverapproached the rates of decoupling that would be necessary for rich countries to get back within their fair share of ecological space while maintaining that kind of exponential growth. Green growth advocates tend to respond that the historical record shouldn’t be taken as a guide to what is possible in future. Pessimism about future technological breakthroughs will be self-fulfilling, they say. For some this is a compelling and entertaining debate. But it is not going to be settled in a timeframe that is useful for maintaining a habitable planet. In the meantime, these adversaries are in danger of delivering a major own goal. Because the more time we spend in nerdy (and sometimes venomous) exchanges about decoupling, the less time we have to build the broad-based movement we need to take on the vested interests who benefit from the status quo.
Study: Decarbonizing U.S. electricity by 2035 could cost less than expected – Most of the United States’ existing fossil fuel power plant capacity will reach the end of its typical lifespan by 2035, according to new research published this week in Science. Findings of the Dec. 4 study suggest that a deadline to decarbonize electricity by then will cost less than previously expected. The study follows on the heels of an October report from the Applied Economics Clinic and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis that found the risks of investing in natural gas plants in the PJM grid region likely outweigh the financial rewards. “What this work shows is that it’s probably not going to be a massive problem” to shut down remaining fossil fuel-fired electricity generation, said Emily Grubert, a civil engineer at Georgia Tech and author of the study in Science. Her work focuses on infrastructure engineering and sustainable communities. “Basically, the plants are already pretty old and this gives us a huge leg up in trying to retire carbon-based infrastructure.” By 2035, her calculations show that only about 15% of capacity-years would remain for power plants powered by fossil fuels. In other words, if you added up all the years of capacity left for all fossil fuel power plants running in 2018, less than one-sixth of the total years would remain. From a planning perspective, that means states and utilities can probably worry less about the economics of closing down plants early, Grubert said. Compensation for stranded assets can come into play when “somebody builds something in good faith and then policy or some other occurrence forces it to shut down much, much earlier than expected,” Grubert said. Some plant owners might argue that they would still have outstanding debts or lose income they had reasonably expected. “There’s a lot of arguments that maybe the newer fossil fuel assets should never be considered stranded assets, because it’s been fairly clear that there’s going to be climate action at some point,” Grubert said. Ohio stands out among Midwestern states with a significant number of fossil fuel plants with lifespans past 2035 and even 2040. A significant number of those plants may be due to fracking and horizontal drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Significant numbers of fossil fuel plants also have expected lifespans past 2035 along parts of the Mid-Atlantic seaboard and in Texas, Colorado and California. Many of the plants are in communities with struggling economies. In Grubert’s view, long-range policy planning should begin now to support people who will eventually lose their jobs, as well as communities that may have relied on revenues from fossil fuel power plants. At the same time, other people and other businesses are also affected by climate change impacts, she noted. They include communities affected by sea-level rise, shifts in extreme weather, disproportionate health impacts, and so on.In light of that, she personally favors universal programs to benefit large numbers of people. “I think you’d be likely to garner a lot more political support for something that helps everyone,” Grubert said.
Green bank advocates hope Biden win can help reinvigorate idea in Minnesota –As the incoming administration raises hopes for a new federally funded clean energy accelerator, a report released Thursday attempts to address Minnesota lawmakers’ questions and concerns about so-called green banks. The report, produced by the nonprofit Coalition for Green Capital and sponsored by the McKnight Foundation, calls on state lawmakers to create a bank that would exclusively be used to finance projects related to renewables, energy efficiency, and electric transportation. The coalition suggested that a bank with $100 million in capital could create as many as 15,000 jobs in Minnesota. A similar proposal stalled in the Minnesota Legislature in 2018 after lawmakers said they needed more details on the concept. The new report walks through examples from the dozen other states that already have green banks. A state green bank like the one described in the report could bolster existing clean energy finance programs and spur job creation by backing larger and riskier projects, though administrators of existing programs had reservations about both the need and prospects for a green bank in Minnesota. Sponsored by state and local governments, green banks provide financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects unlikely to secure traditional bank financing. They often work in conjunction with other green investment programs through a loan loss reserve fund to pay off delinquencies. Or they directly provide programs for low-income residents with heavy energy burdens.
Big business is divided on climate. Could that help Biden? —-Last year, as the Trump administration worked to finalize a rollback of Obama-era regulations on oil field methane emissions, a series of major oil companies wrote EPA to express their displeasure.Total SE, the French oil giant, called the rollbacks “a substantial risk to our companies’ efforts to reduce methane emissions and address climate change.”Royal Dutch Shell PLC said federal regulations were “critically important for ensuring natural gas plays a vital role in transitioning to a low-carbon energy future and economy.”BP PLC, meanwhile, noted several industry groups had established initiatives to reduce methane emissions but said those efforts were “not enough to solve the problem.””These efforts will not have the industry-wide impact that we need and will not satisfy investors, consumers, policymakers or other stakeholders,” BP wrote. “The best way to help further minimize methane emissions industry-wide and gain the confidence of a diverse group of stakeholders, is through direct federal regulation of new and existing sources.”The comments represent a sea change from just a few years earlier. In 2015, BP called the Obama administration’s proposed methane plan “cumbersome and expensive.”They reflect a wider shift across the energy sector in recent years. Oil companies, utilities and automakers have embraced plans to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. The shift could offer President-elect Joe Biden’s climate agenda a significant boost, as he prepares to encounter a closely divided Senate and a more conservative judiciary.
EPA misses deadline, leaving ethanol policy in limbo – The Trump administration failed to renew its biofuels policy by the Monday deadline, once again sidestepping a battle between the oil and the ethanol industries. The missed deadline means it remains unclear how much ethanol and other biofuels oil refiners must blend into their fuels next year, punting the decision to the incoming Biden administration. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that EPA is missing its statutory deadline for publishing the final rule … given that we still haven’t even seen a proposed rule,” Renewable Fuel Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cooper said at this point it makes more sense to let the new administration handle the entire process. “President-elect [Joe] Biden has correctly noted that the [Renewable Fuel Standard] (RFS) waivers granted by the current EPA have ‘severely cut ethanol production, costing farmers income and ethanol plant workers their jobs.’ Thus, we are confident that the new EPA administrator, whoever that may end up being, will stop doing secret favors for oil refiners and ensure the RFS is implemented in a way that is consistent with the law and Congressional intent,” he said. The ethanol industry remains perturbed that the EPA granted more than 80 waivers exempting small oil refiners from adding ethanol to their fuels – something they say cut demand for their product at a critical time. Many corn farmers were likewise being hit by tariffs as part of Trump’s trade war, limiting markets for their product. The action pitted one part of Trump’s base against another – refiners have sought to avoid the added expense of adding ethanol to their product, particularly as their own markets have tanked. The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, which represents the refining industry, said they hope EPA will ultimately settle on a rule that’s “in line with market realities.” “With unprecedented turbulence in the transportation fuels market, difficult market conditions, and a long and uncertain road to recovery from COVID-19, it is critical that EPA’s proposal reflect achievable targets to prevent further damage to America’s refining sector,” Geoff Moody, vice president of government relations for the group, said in a statement. The EPA did not respond to questions about whether they still might seek to advance a proposal this year, but the timeline would make it nearly impossible to finalize a rule before Inauguration Day. “Under this administration, EPA has worked to aggressively uphold the integrity of the RFS and will continue to do so,” agency spokesman James Hewitt said in an email.M
Senate approves two energy regulators, completing panel – Two nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) were confirmed to the panel by voice votes on Monday. Democrat Allison Clements and Republican Mark Christie will serve on the panel, which regulates natural gas and hydropower projects and the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil and electricity. Their confirmation brings FERC, which isn’t supposed to have more than three members belonging to any one party, up to its full capacity. Previously, the commission had been operating with fewer than the standard five commissioners. Christie is a longtime utility regulator, serving as chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. He’s also held leadership roles in organizations of utility regulators. Clements has served as the founder and president of Goodgrid, LLC, an energy policy and strategy consulting firm. She also worked for a decade at the Natural Resources Defense Council and worked for two years as the director of the energy markets program at Energy Foundation, which advocates for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Their nominations were advanced to the full Senate, though it had not been clear whether they would reach confirmation by the end of the session. Despite her background in clean energy, Clements said during a September confirmation hearing that it wouldn’t be her job to pick one source of energy over another. “The commission’s role is not to pick winners and losers when it comes to fuel choices,” she said, adding that in pipeline cases she would “commit to going into each of those proceedings with an open mind and reviewing the specific facts.” Now, FERC has three Republicans and two Democrats. However, the chair of the commission is selected by the president, so President-elect Joe Biden may decide to pick Clements or fellow Democrat Richard Glick to lead the regulatory body. Trump recently made headlines when he switched leadership from Republican Neil Chatterjee to current chairman James Danly, also a Republican. News outlets reported that Chatterjee, a former energy aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), may have been demoted due to his openness to putting a price on carbon emissions or not wanting to follow a White House directive limiting diversity training.
Some Republican states would fight forced utility emissions cuts under Biden climate agenda (Reuters) – The governors of five Republican states are ready to fight Democratic President-elect Joe Biden if he tries to require the power sector to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The litigious stance reflects just one of the many obstacles Biden will face as he seeks to deliver on a campaign promise to bring the U.S. economy to net zero emissions by 2050 to combat climate change. Biden’s pledge includes a goal of cutting net emissions from the power sector – a top source of nationwide greenhouse gases – to zero by 2035, though the president-elect has yet to detail how he intends to make it happen. Lawsuits from states could halt implementation of any Democratic plan, as they did in 2016. “We can all agree that lower emissions are better, but we should also all be able to agree that cost-prohibitive, counterproductive regulations for the sake of catering to an extreme wing of a political party is destructive,” said Bailey Martin, a spokeswoman for Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. Republican-governed Mississippi, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Arkansas said they would challenge any new federal policies requiring the power sector to cut carbon emissions. Utah and Missouri, also under Republican governors, said they would review proposals before deciding. The seven were among 27 states that sued in 2015 to block the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the Obama administration’s signature effort to address climate change by requiring deep cuts in power-sector emissions. Fifteen other states in the lawsuit, including four now under Democratic leadership, either declined to say how they would respond to a new emissions reduction order or did not respond to requests for comment. The states’ lawsuit reached the Supreme Court, which stayed implementation of the CPP in 2016. Outgoing President Donald Trump’s administration proposed rescinding the policy in 2017, a move that was finalized last year.
America’s largest solar-energy project coming to Northeast Texas — A leading private developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, Invenergy, announced Nov. 18 the construction of a 1,310-megawatt solar-energy facility in Northeast Texas. The Samson Solar Energy Center will be the largest solar-energy project in the United States and will support sustainability goals for three Texas municipalities and five major consumer brands. When completed, the center will provide power for AT&T, Honda, McDonald’s, Google, Home Depot, and the cities of Bryan, Denton and Garland. Invenergy has contracted more than 3,500 megawatts of wind and solar capacity to more than 20 corporate users across six U.S. markets and Mexico. This latest project, the company said, will provide Texans with cleaner, cost-effective power. The largest agreement is with AT&T who will be provided with 500 megawatts of solar power through the Samson Center. The Samson Solar Center will be located in Lamar, Red River and Franklin counties. The project involves a $1.6 billion capital investment and will support up to 600 jobs throughout the 36-month construction period.
As solar farms multiply across Virginia, officials reckon with land use challenges –Just above the North Carolina border, in the heart of Southside Virginia, Halifax county’s sunshine and abundant lands yielded some of the country’s largest crops of brightleaf tobacco. Mild and fragrant, the yellow-leaved variety sometimes known as “golden tobacco” sparked awe among visitors to the county’s auction warehouses and brought wealth pouring into the county. Today, the landscape is far different. The population has shrunk and is aging. South Boston, once an independent city that until the Great Depression was the second-biggest brightleaf market in the country, reverted to a town in 1995 after ongoing fiscal struggles. Tobacco is a shadow of its former glory. Halifax, though, still has the two resources that once put it on the map: sunshine and abundant land. Together, they have made the county one of the most attractive in Virginia for solar developers looking to convert vast swathes of agricultural and forest lands into fields of solar panels capable of providing the thousands of megawatts of power needed for the 100 percent renewable grid lawmakers have pledged to create by 2050. In Halifax, that looks like a sort of 21st-century gold rush. Over the past five years, the county has seen proposals for roughly a dozen large-scale solar farms. Eight projects covering some 5,500 acres have been approved, and County Administrator Scott Simpson said there’s room for more. For large-scale solar, though, demand means land. And as the pace of development accelerates, Virginians will have to grapple with major changes to the Old Dominion’s landscape. Compared to coal and natural gas plants that emit pollution that is dangerous to human health, contributes to climate change and disproportionately affects low-income and minority communities, solar installations are low impact. But even advocates concede they have a larger geographic footprint, and tensions exist between rural areas that see themselves as bearing the burdens of the solar buildout and the urban areas that drive demand for renewables.
Report illuminates the way for solar development in Virginia – Historic preservation need not knock heads with Virginia’s pursuit of solar energy. If, that is, developers of utility-scale solar plants do their homework, detect trouble spots in advance, collaborate with others, and proceed smartly. That’s the gist of the advice in a report released today by a trio of heavyweight preservation advocates. The American Battlefield Trust, Preservation Virginia and Cultural Heritage Partners have joined forces to suggest best practices to grow utility-scale solar energy and avoid encroaching on the commonwealth’s many historic landscapes and resources. Their 22-page report, “Siting Solar in Virginia: Protecting Virginia’s Historic Landscapes While Meeting State’s Clean Energy Goals,” recognizes that the state has deemed large-scale solar projects to be an important part of its 21st-century infrastructure. “Preservation Virginia believes that this report makes the case that preservation of historic resources and utility-scale solar development are not mutually exclusive,” Elizabeth Kostelny, the nonprofit group’s CEO, told the Star-Exponent late Wednesday. “By identifying resources and through thoughtful planning, you can have positive outcomes that are beneficial for all parties. The report presents case studies that inform how this planning can be undertaken and the resulting benefits.” Two of those case studies are in Culpeper and Orange counties. The others are in Annapolis, Md., and Washington, D.C. Citing those studies as examples of approaches that work well, or don’t, the report says utility-scale solar developers can address historic resources and distinguish themselves as leaders for the rest of the country. “A key takeaway from the report is that history and avoiding impacts to historic resources should not be an afterthought for developers in pursuing solar projects,” Mark Coombs, the American Battlefield Trust’s deputy director of government relations, said Wednesday in an interview. “They should be among the very first things considered when they undertake these projects. That will avoid headaches and heartburn for all involved, and spare developers from ‘sunk costs.’ Goodwill attempts to avoid such impacts will only increase developers’ chances of success, and cost them less time and money.”
‘No net loss!’ Don’t cut down forests to build solar sites – As residents of Hamden, we heartily support solar projects to meet the demand for electricity. However, we must oppose PETITION NO. 1425 made to the Connecticut Siting Council by Distributed Solar Development (DSD), a solar-energy offshoot of General Electric and Blackrock. We applaud CSCU’s desire to buy solar energy; however this particular project has a major flaw. It entails clear cutting 12 acres of trees in a forest! As we all know, forests sequester carbon and mitigate the growing effects of climate change. The September 2020 report from the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) Forests Subgroup presents as a top priority the adoption of a state policy of “no net loss” of forest. “KEEP FOREST AS FORESTS.” Regarding this proposed facility, the Hamden Tree Commission writes: “This proposal to clear cut and chip over 12 acres of mature, mesic hardwood forest that is on steep slopes and contains wetlands will have substantial adverse permanent environmental impacts.” The steep slope, with some areas exceeding 25% slope, invites erosion. According to theRegional Water Authority letter to the Siting Council, the soil types at this site are “highly erosive.” DSD’s environmental report suggests that the developers can easily control erosion and storm water on site. But the DSD has yet to provide, as of November 12, a full set of storm water runoff models required by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The value of forest ecosystem services must also be considered. A forest is not just a bunch of trees but a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. One of the most important ecosystem services provided by a forest is the protection of drinking water supplies. The forest and its wetlands filter runoff that helps clean the water we drink. This solar project is in a drinking water supply watershed: the watershed of Eaton Brook which flows to the Mill River, which flows downstream to the Lake Whitney reservoir. This reservoir is an active drinking water source for the South Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) customers. The best way to protect drinking water is to protect forests. The environmental report for this solar project does not even mention what watershed the project is located in or that it is in a source water protection area. This is a huge omission! As the RWA writes in its testimony “This Solar Project will result in an irretrievable loss of forestland that protects the affected RWA sources of supply in the Mill River watershed.” In addition, the Hamden Tree Commission testimony addresses countless other ecosystem services and makes the point that “this parcel is a critical component of a forested corridor that connects the Naugatuck State Forest and adjacent Regional Water Authority watershed with Sleeping Giant State Park and Mill River Watershed.”
An offshore wind farm with the ability to ‘power one million households’ is fully up and running — A major offshore wind farm in the Netherlands is now fully operational, with its owners, Danish energy firm Orsted, claiming it provides enough green electricity to power one million households. Situated 23 kilometers (around 14.3 miles) off the coast of Zeeland, in the southwest of the Netherlands, the 752 megawatt (MW) Borssele 1 & 2 offshore wind farm spans an area of 112 square kilometers. It uses 94 wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa. In an announcement Friday, Orsted described the facility as the second-largest operating offshore wind farm in the world. The largest, Hornsea One, has a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW) and was also developed by Orsted. News of Borssele 1 & 2’s commissioning is the latest example of European countries embracing offshore wind and comes after the European Union said it wanted to increase its offshore wind capacity from 12 to 300 GW by 2050. The “Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy” from the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, also aims for 40 GW of ocean energy such as tidal and wave power within the same time frame. A number of major offshore wind projects located in European waters are now in the pipeline. These include the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in Britain, which left the EU in January 2020. A 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor, the Dogger Bank facility will have a total capacity of 3.6 GW once completed, making it the largest in the world. At the end of last week, it was announced that a deal to fund the first two phases of the project had been completed. According to SSE, investment for Dogger Bank A and B will amount to approximately £6 billion (around $8 billion). While Europe is now home to a mature offshore wind sector, the one in the U.S. is still relatively new. The country’s first offshore wind farm – the 30 MW, five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm, which is also operated by Orsted – only started commercial operations at the end of 2016. The next few years could see the sector develop, however, with companies starting to invest large amounts of money in schemes located off the East Coast.
Feds Push Vineyard Wind Decision Into 2021 – The Vineyard Wind project has been delayed again. The project, which is poised to be the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the country, is already more than a year behind schedule and now will have to wait about a month longer. A federal decision on final permitting for the project had been expected by Dec. 18, 2020, but the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management updated its timeline in recent weeks and now expects a final decision by Jan. 15, 2021. “BOEM received more than 13,000 comments on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Vineyard Wind,” a spokesman for the agency told the News Service in an email. “BOEM continues to work with cooperating agencies in the review of these comments. An updated schedule is posted on BOEM’s website.” A final federal decision on the 800-megawatt offshore wind farm had initially been expected by Aug. 16, 2019 but BOEM sent shockwaves through the offshore wind industry in August 2019 when it announced a plan to withhold the final environmental impact statement for Vineyard Wind while it studies the wider impacts of an offshore wind sector that is hoping to ramp up in Northeast and mid-Atlantic waters also used by the fishing industry.
Innovative geothermal micro-district concept moves ahead in Massachusetts | Energy News Network Two pilot projects in Massachusetts will attempt to deploy geothermal heating across entire neighborhoods – an innovative model that aims to slash fossil fuel use while providing an economic transition for gas utilities and their workers. “The more we’ve learned, the more incredible it has seemed,” said Audrey Schulman, co-founder and co-executive director of the Home Energy Efficiency Team, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that developed and promoted the geothermal micro-district concept.The first pilot is slated for the Merrimack Valley, an area in northeastern Massachusetts hit by a series of gas explosions and fires in September 2018 thatfederal investigators blamed on inadequate management by Columbia Gas. The $56 million settlement the company agreed to this fall included $4 million to implement a geothermal test project. A second project is being developed by utility Eversource, which plans to spend $10.3 million constructing a district geothermal system in a densely populated, mixed-use area that has not yet been selected. “We’re really thinking about how we can be a catalyst for clean energy in the region,” Geothermal systems – also referred to as ground-source heat pumps – are not a new concept. They work by running pipes filled with antifreeze liquid as far as 500 feet into the ground, to a depth at which the temperature is relatively stable, usually lingering in the low 50s Fahrenheit in Massachusetts. Heat is extracted from the earth and carried through the liquid-filled pipes to warm buildings. The same principle allows for geothermal cooling as well: On hot days, a heat pump extracts heat from the air in the building and transfers it into the liquid in the pipes. The warmed liquid travels downward and its heat is released into the ground.Geothermal systems are among the cleanest and most efficient heating options. Because the heat comes from the ground itself, the only fossil fuels burned are those used to generate the electricity that runs the heat pump. This efficiency also makes them very cost-effective to operate. “What’s new is the district idea of connecting multiple customers in a shared loop system.”
Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease Into Diesel – The New York Times – Many businesses are betting that electric and hydrogen-powered cars and trucks will play a critical role in the fight against climate change. But some oil companies are hoping that so will smelly restaurant grease and slaughterhouse waste. Companies that refine crude oil into fuel are increasingly using such putrid scraps to make a renewable version of diesel that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trucks, buses and industrial equipment without requiring families and businesses to invest in expensive new vehicles and factory gear. Phillips 66, Marathon, HollyFrontier and several other refiners are spending roughly $2 billion to retool refineries to produce the fuel over the next four years. Renewable diesel has been around for years, and its production, while tiny compared with its fossil fuel counterpart, has grown steadily because the federal government and California offer incentives for companies to make and sell it. That support has made the fuel even more attractive to oil refiners during the pandemic because demand for regular diesel, gasoline and jet fuel has plunged as people drive and travel less. Production of renewable diesel is up roughly 7 percent this year. If current trends continue, refineries could produce as much as 3.8 billion gallons of renewable diesel by 2025, or more than 5 percent of the total diesel production last year, according to S&P Global Platts, an energy research firm. “At a time when a lot of companies are struggling, we have this huge opportunity with companies announcing ambitious plans to build renewable diesel capacity.” Some oil refining companies believe renewable diesel could help them stay profitable as governments move to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels to address climate change – a process that is already well underway in Europe and could accelerate in the United States during the Biden administration. Renewable diesel is appealing for several reasons. It can be used in existing diesel engines without having to be blended with regular diesel – its biggest advantage over biodiesel and ethanol, which are also made from organic material but generally cannot be used without being mixed with petroleum products. Renewable diesel, like biodiesel, is produced from waste agricultural products and animal fats, but it is processed differently to make it chemically identical to conventional petroleum diesel. People who buy diesel may not even know they are using renewable diesel because pumps can handle it, oil-based diesel or a combination of the two and typically carry no special labels. Burning renewable diesel produces between 50 and 80 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional diesel, depending on which raw materials are used to make the fuel. And oil refineries can make renewable diesel with a few upgrades.
Early test for Biden: Car emissions rules — Monday, November 30, 2020 — As one of his biggest steps to tackle climate change, President-elect Joe Biden is expected to undo President Trump’s rollback of clean car standards and set new auto emissions rules. But experts have one pressing question for the former vice president: How aggressive will the new tailpipe rules be? “The big-picture question for me is what the eventual standards will look like. They should obviously be based on what’s doable and achievable,” said Bethany Davis Noll, litigation director at the Institute for Policy Integrity at NYU School of Law. The climate stakes are high. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States, accounting for 28% of carbon emissions. When President Obama introduced the first clean car standards in 2009, they were the most significant climate rules ever established in the U.S. The Obama-era rules required the average fuel economy of new vehicles to increase by 5% each year, reaching 51 mpg by 2025. Under Trump, EPA and the Department of Transportation significantly relaxed the requirements. The agencies only mandated 1.5% annual increases in fuel economy, which would require 40.5 mpg by model year 2026, and they blocked California from setting its own tougher tailpipe emissions rules. Now, Biden is expected to direct EPA and DOT to craft new clean car rules that extend beyond 2025. But first he will need to decide how stringent the new requirements should be. The president-elect will have a few options. He could model the new rules after voluntary emissions agreements between the California Air Resources Board and five automakers: Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., BMW of North America, Volkswagen AG and Volvo AB.On one hand, that’s less aggressive than the Obama-era rules. On the other hand, that’s already been agreed to by five automakers representing a significant portion of U.S. vehicle sales. Another option would be to go further than the Obama-era rules in order to spur electric vehicle adoption and slash carbon emissions from transportation. Biden needs to go further if he wants to accomplish his goal of economywide net-zero emissions by midcentury, said Luke Tonachel, director of the clean vehicles and fuels team at the Natural Resources Defense Council.”The next set of standards needs to not only regain the emissions reductions that we lost under Trump, but also put the U.S. back on a path that is really lined up with zero emissions by 2050,” Tonachel said.
TRANSITION: Biden taps adviser who ties gasoline price to emissions — Tuesday, December 1, 2020 — President-elect Joe Biden’s financial policy will be shaped – at least in part – by an economic adviser who believes fossil fuels are “severely underpriced” because they don’t consider the harm caused by climate change. Biden announced yesterday that Jared Bernstein would be one of three members of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Bernstein previously served as Biden’s economic adviser during his vice presidency, from 2009 to 2011, and was a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank in Washington. If his past comments are any guide, Bernstein will be the leading climate voice in the group. Bernstein has argued that there hasn’t been a proper accounting of the economic harm caused by climate change and that bold ideas – such as the Green New Deal – are necessary to address the real cost of human-caused global warming. In a piece published last year by Vox, he wrote that a true accounting of climate change means making corporations responsible for “polluting the environment pay for the damage they’re doing to the rest of us.” “If the price system isn’t picking up the true cost of the damage and short-sighted people – which is most of us – are okay with that, then there’s a role for government to realign the higher social cost of fossil fuels with its lower actual cost,” he wrote. Bernstein will be part of the three-member Council of Economic Advisers, which will be chaired by Cecilia Rouse. Rouse, who must be Senate-confirmed, is the dean of the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs and would be the first Black woman and the fourth woman overall to lead the CEA. The third member will be Heather Boushey, president and co-founder of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. As the name suggests, the Council of Economic Advisers shapes the president’s financial policy.
TEKLAS to open Georgia electric vehicle parts manufacturing plant – Atlanta Business Chronicle -TEKLAS, a Turkish manufacturing company and supplier of electric vehicle parts, announced earlier this month it would invest $6.5 million to open its first North American facility and headquarters in Gordon County, according to a press release from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.TEKLAS’s 200,000-square-foot facility and headquarters will be located at 320 South Industrial Blvd. in Calhoun and is expected to create 120 jobs. Operations are scheduled to start in the spring of 2021.The company produces rubber hoses and plastic tubes for automotive fluid systems. It works for companies including General Motors, Volkswagen and Daimler Mercedes.The new Calhoun plant continues a growing trend of EV manufacturers locating plants in Georgia. In July, GEDIA Automotive Group announced plans to invest $85 million to build a new 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the 238-acre Carbondale Business Park in Whitfield County. The plant is expected to focus on producing parts for new electric vehicles for Mercedes-Benz, which has its North American headquarters in Sandy Springs.In June, SK Innovation said it would invest $940 million to expand its EV lithium-ion battery plant in Commerce, Ga., that would create 600 jobs. The expansion would bring the company’s total investment in the state for EV battery production to more than $2.6 billion.
GM rethinks planned stake in electric vehicle maker Nikola (AP) – General Motors will not be taking a stake in the electric vehicle company Nikola, and the company said Monday that it was scuttling one of its marquee vehicles, an electric and hydrogen-powered pickup, after GM pulled technological support from the project. Shares of Nikola plunged 24%. Nikola on Monday released updated terms between the companies for a supply agreement related to GM’s fuel-cell system, replacing an agreement signed in September. That deal would have given GM an 11% stake in Nikola. The early agreement would also have allowed Nikola to use GM’s new battery electric truck underpinnings for its electric and hydrogen-powered pickup called the Badger, and its fuel cell and battery technology as well. That is no longer part of the agreement, essentially gutting Nikola’s plans for the Badger. Nikola said Monday that it will begin refunding deposits made by customers who wanted first dibs on that pickup.
Tesla CEO says electric cars will double global electricity demand (Reuters) – Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Tuesday that electricity consumption will double if the world’s car fleets are electrified, increasing the need to expand nuclear, solar, geothermal and wind energy generating sources. Increasing the availability of sustainable energy is a major challenge as cars move from combustion engines to battery-driven electric motors, a shift which will take two decades, Musk said in a talk hosted by Berlin-based publisher Axel Springer. “It will take another 20 years for cars to be fully electric. It is like with phones, you cannot replace them all at once,” Musk said in a talk streamed on the Bild.de web site, adding that around 5% of vehicles are replaced every year.Once electric cars become the norm, electricity from intermittent generating energy sources such as wind and solar will need to be stored, probably through battery technology, he said. “Together with large battery packs, both things need to be combined, wind power with battery packs and solar energy,” Musk said. Tesla is embarking on plans to build its fourth gigafactory in Europe’s largest economy. “The best wind turbines are made in Germany,” he said. “I always have a good time when I am here. I like the engineering culture. People want to get things done.” Tesla has recently acquired a licence to trade electricity across western Europe, and the company has also been surveying customers in Germany about potentially using Tesla electricity in their cars.
Report: Illinois utility fails to deliver on smart meter benefits – ComEd customers have paid higher bills for energy delivery and seen few benefits from multibillion-dollar smart grid investments because of laws the utility pushed through the Illinois Legislature that gutted regulatory protections and guaranteed profits, a new report by a public advocacy group alleges. The report from Illinois PIRG says ComEd and its parent company Exelon saw profits skyrocket thanks to 2011 state legislation authorizing $2.6 billion in smart grid-related investments and changing how ComEd rates are set. ComEd declined an interview request but in a statement disputed the claim that customers have not benefited from its smart meters, which it says have improved reliability and reduced response times for outages, among other benefits. The law, passed despite then-Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto, is at the heart of a recent settlement with the federal government and wide-ranging allegations of bribery and misconduct involving the utility, lobbyists and elected officials. The settlement agreement states, and ComEd officials have argued, that customers were not harmed by the alleged misconduct. But Illinois PIRG’s 111-page report released Dec. 1 argues otherwise. It says customers were charged unnecessary amounts – that yielded massive profits for the companies – while ComEd and Exelon have done little to help customers access the savings and other benefits promised from the smart grid and smart meters, and have stalled on even allowing third parties to help customers benefit from smart meters. ComEd did so, Illinois PIRG argues, because the customer benefits of smart meters and smart grid improvements – lower energy use and lower bills – would hurt the bottom line of Exelon, which owns the state’s six nuclear plants. This represents a conflict of interest that has persisted despite deregulation in the late 1990s meant to sever generation from distribution, Illinois PIRG argues.
High-Voltage Power Lines Are Ugly, and the U.S. Needs More – Places where the sun shines bright and the wind blows hard aren’t always places where a lot of people live. High-voltage transmission lines are needed to bring electricity from renewable energy installations to the towns and cities where it’s consumed. The U.S. is way behind other countries in building these lines. Fact: Since 2014, China has built 260 gigawatts of interregional transmission capacity that’s come on line or will come on line in the next few years, according to a report this month by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. Europe is way behind at 44GW, followed by South America at 22GW and India at 12GW. Then comes North America at 7GW, with only 3GW in the U.S. (That’s the TransWest Express LLC project, which will carry power from wind turbines in Wyoming to customers in Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California.) In other words, China has built more than 80 times as much interregional transmission capacity as the U.S. in less than a decade. Most of it in China will carry power from sunny, windy, western provinces to populous eastern ones, helping the country reduce its carbon footprint without having to shut down electricity-intensive industry. In June, Bloomberg reported that State Grid Corp. of China had completed a 1,000-mile-long ultra-high-voltage line that will transmit only clean power from Qinghai and Gansu provinces to Henan in central China. Investors and utilities in the U.S. do want to build high-voltage transmission lines. There are dozens of projects at various stages of consideration, with colorful names such as Power From the Prairie, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line, and Zephyr Power Transmission. The problem is getting approval. Ownership of the U.S. power grid is balkanized, Nimby-ism is common, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been reluctant to override local authorities to get lines sited.
Hudson River towns worry about planned power line in the river – While the Champlain Hudson Power Express from Canada to New York City is proposed to run largely under the Hudson River, a group of communities along the river want it above ground near their towns and cities so as to avoid disturbing drinking water intakes for an estimated 106,000 people. “This project is in our drinking water sources,” said Paul Malmrose, a water engineer working with the Hudson Seven, a group of municipalities in the Mid-Hudson Valley that draw water from the river. They are the Towns of Esopus, Lloyd, Hyde Park, City and Town of Poughkeepsie, as well as the Village and Town of Rhinebeck. “Over the last 10 years our (water plant) operators have been largely excluded,” Malmrose said. Among the concerns that Malmrose brought up was the potential for PCBs and other pollutants that might be stirred up during the building of the line. The Champlain Hudson Power Express is proposed by Transmission Developers Inc., a subsidiary of the of the Blackstone Group investment firm. They want to build a power line from the Canadian border more than 300 miles to New York City with the bulk of it running under Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. The project has already been approved, gaining a state Department of Public Service permit in 2013.
A Power Company’s Quiet Land-Buying Spree Could Shield It From Coal Ash Cleanup Costs – ProPublica – Over the past several years, utility giant Georgia Power has embarked on an unusual buying spree, paying top dollar for people’s property in places where cheap land was easy to find. In 2016, it bought a veterinarian’s 5-acre lot in the rolling hills of northwest Georgia for roughly double the appraised value. The following year, it acquired 28 acres of flood-prone land in southwest Georgia’s pecan belt for nearly four times what the local tax assessor said it was worth. By the year after that, it had paid millions of dollars above the appraised value for hundreds of acres near a winding gravel road in a central Georgia town with no water lines and spotty cellphone service. Two things united the properties: They were all near coal-fired power plants that generated toxic waste stored in unlined ponds at those sites. And they were all purchased after the Environmental Protection Agency finalized new regulations in 2014 governing the disposal of such waste, known as coal ash. All told, the utility paid over $15 million for nearly 1,900 acres close to five of its 12 power plant sites, according to an investigation by Georgia Health News and ProPublica. The costly land purchases offer an enormous potential payoff to Georgia Power, one of the largest producers of coal ash waste in the country, the investigation found. They may allow the utility to forestall millions of dollars in cleanup costs outlined by the December 2014 regulations. The Atlanta-based company is trying to convince regulators to allow it to leave more than half of its coal ash – around 48 million tons – in unlined ponds at plant sites spread across the state. Environmentalists believe the safest way to dispose of coal ash is to move it from unlined ponds into landfills that have a protective, and more costly, liner to prevent contaminants from seeping into groundwater – the source of drinking water for people who depend upon wells. Unlined coal ash ponds frequently leak contaminants into groundwater, according to a pair of analyses of industry-reported data conducted by advocacy groups Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice. Recent Georgia Power tests of groundwater show that coal ash contaminants appear to be migrating out of the ponds at some plant sites, according to experts who reviewed company filings. The new regulations require utilities to clean up contaminants if they are found at high enough levels beyond the boundaries of their plant sites. By extending those boundaries through land purchases, Georgia Power could push back the day it has to deal with its legacy of pollution, according to a dozen environmental experts, regulators and activists.
Commission to discuss underground mine testing facility on county line – The Randolph County Commission will see a second presentation today regarding a proposed underground mine testing facility on the Randolph-Pocahontas County line.The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health wants to use the 460-acre tract near Mace as the future site of a research center and testing laboratory for underground mine safety. At the last Randolph County Commission meeting, a group of Pocahontas County residents spoke about their objections to the project and asked commissioners to write a letter to West Virginia’s federal government representatives seeking to stop the project. “This site is inappropriate for this project,” Jeanne Bell, a resident of Snowshoe, told commissioners at that meeting. “The entire surrounding community relies on drinking water from wells and springs located in the Greenbrier Limestone formation.“Our water will be vulnerable to contamination by diesel, hydraulic fluids, nitrate and ammonia from blasting, and the carcinogenic chemicals used in fire foam both above ground in the Experimental Fire Suppression Facility and underground in the mine.” “What would you do if this project were proposed in your neighborhood, across the street or upwind from your home?” Bell asked commissioners. Ellie Bell, another Pocahontas County resident who said she has a degree in soil science from West Virginia University, said, “We’re not against coal … this is just not the place for it, next to a world-renowned resort.”She said she participated in sending a letter to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., with 350 signatures opposing the project.“Our water is well and spring,” Fred Adkins, who lives on Mingo Flats Road, told commissioners.“There’s got to be areas that are more remote (for the project).”
Blackjewel’s Ex-CEO Pushes For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Conversion – Blackjewel LLC’s former CEO Jeffery Hoops, under investigation for mismanaging the defunct coal production company, asked to convert the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 liquidation. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia should put Blackjewel’s estate into the hands of a court-appointed liquidator because the company doesn’t have enough money to cover its legal bills and isn’t being rehabilitated, Hoops said in a Nov. 25 court filing. Hoops, who’s long been alleged of mismanaging the company for his own benefit, was removed as CEO last year as a condition for Blackjewel to obtain…
Coal giant to cancel health care benefit plan for Wyoming retirees – The leading coal company operating in Wyoming will eliminate a health care benefit program for retired miners, the Star-Tribune confirmed on Wednesday. To save on costs, Peabody Energy will no longer cover medical expenses for workers on Medicare and will stop providing life insurance to retirees. The change, which was first reported by St. Louis Public Radio, was prompted after the company undertook a financial review earlier this year. Continuing to cover the cost of existing retiree medical benefits was “not sustainable,” the company concluded. Discontinuing the retiree health care program will save Peabody Energy $174.5 million.Non-represented employees and retirees in Wyoming, as well as workers in other states the company operates in, will be affected by the change.Peabody declined to disclose how many Wyoming workers would be affected. The coal operator owns the North Antelope Rochelle, Rawhide and Caballo mines in the Powder River Basin.“We regret not being able to maintain our existing retiree healthcare program; however, we are continuing to offer some financial support for pre-65 retirees,” Julie Gates, Peabody’s vice president of communications, said in a written statement. “The change in financial support is designed to maintain Peabody’s retiree medical subsidy where it is needed most – for retirees and spouses who are not yet age 65 and Medicare-eligible. The decision to allocate funds where they are needed most follows several other initiatives the company has undertaken this year to further improve our operating performance and ensure we have a scalable structure that can respond to evolving market conditions.”Earlier this month, Peabody Energy published mixed results in its quarterly financial report, showing both losses and gains in its Powder River Basin coal operations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to destabilize energy markets. The company reported a 39% decline in revenue between July and September due in part to lower production volumes and weaker prices for exported coal.According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Peabody Energy announced the amendments to its health care benefit plan in September.The change will take effect on Jan. 1.
Coal Mine Safety Rule On Silica Dust Causing Black Lung May Change In Biden Era : NPR – The transition from a Trump administration that dismantled regulations across the federal government to a Biden administration that has signaled a greater emphasis on occupational safety and the environment may finally mean new action on a toxic form of dust in coal mines. After five decades of government inaction, spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations, a recent U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General report called the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s 50-year-old standard regulating the deadly airborne silica dust “out of date,” and difficult to enforce. That echoed the findings of a 2019 NPR and PBS Frontline joint investigation which analyzed decades of silica monitoring data and found that the federal government failed to respond to clear danger signs over the years, leading to an epidemic of an advanced form of black lung disease affecting thousands of coal miners. Silica gets into the air in coal mines when miners cut into sandstone as they try to extract coal. Silica particles are much more dangerous than regular coal dust particles. They are easily inhaled and can lodge in the lungs forever, leading to severe lung disease. The IG report, which calls on MSHA to enact new regulations on silica, “opens the door for the administration to take really strong action,” says Celeste Monforton, lecturer in public health at Texas State University and a former federal mine safety regulator during the Clinton administration. Monforton suggests a move away from a regulatory approach based purely on sampling the air in mines, towards mining practices that would suppress silica dust. “Ultimately, what you want is a regulation that really caps or limits the amount of silica dust that is allowed to be in the air where miners are,” she says.
Coleto Creek Power Plant shutting down by 2027 –The Coleto Creek Power Plant, which generates millions of dollars in tax revenues annually for Goliad County, will shut down by 2027. The Fannin coal plant, which was built in 1980, is closing due to a combination of federal environmental regulations and competition in the Texas energy market, said Brad Watson, director of community affairs for Vistra, the parent company of the plant’s owner-operator. In a memo sent to Goliad County officials this week, Watson said it would be prohibitively expensive for the plant to comply with two recently finalized rules enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One of these regulates the disposal of coal ash and the other limits the level of toxic metals in wastewater discharged from power plants. “Ultimately, compliance with these EPA rules would require investment in new equipment, costing tens of millions of dollars,” the memo said. “This investment cannot be justified based on the underlying economics of the plant and the uncertainty of more stringent regulations under a new presidential administration.” The plant, which employs 62 people, paid an estimated $3.2 million in local taxes in 2017, according to previous Advocate reporting. Goliad County Judge Mike Bennett said the plant’s impending closure reinforces the need for officials to seek additional sources of tax revenue.
Feds speed sale of Three Mile Island unit amid state concern about decommissioning –Federal regulators plan to approve the sale of Three Mile Island’s Unit 2, the nuclear reactor that partially melted down in 1979, despite concern by state officials over the new owner’s ability to pay for decommissioning.nThe proposal is expected to receive final approval Wednesday without a public hearing on the matter, according to a notice the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent the various parties.FirstEnergy, TMI-2u2032s current owner, estimated in March that it would cost $1.4 billion to dismantle the plant versus the $900 million it set aside for the decades-long process. In 2019, First Energy asked the NRC to transfer its license – along with ratepayer-funded money set aside from decommissioning – to the Utah-based EnergySolutions. The global nuclear downturn has increasingly led energy companies to shutter their reactors, including Exelon’s decision to mothball Three Mile Island Unit 1. That, in turn, resulted in an opening for companies like EnergySolutions to make money off the clean up of old nuclear sites.Earlier this year, state Environmental Secretary Patrick McDonnell raised a number of concerns about the transfer, including the question of whether EnergySolutions would have enough money for the cleanup. In August, however, the state Department of Environmental Protection reached a settlement with FirstEnergy that called for the creation of a decommissioning advisory panel but did not include any financial guarantees or other safeguards like the ones included in similar agreements in California and Massachusetts. The agency now appears to have second thoughts, at least according to the NRC notice dated Nov. 23.
Feds approve sale of Three Mile Island amid concern about new owner’s ability to pay for decommissioning – pennlive.com – Federal regulators approved the sale of Three Mile Island’s Unit 2 on Wednesday to a Utah-based company that will be charged with completing the decommissioning process that began after a partial meltdown in 1979. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval came with no public hearing on the matter and amid ongoing concern by state officials over the new owner’s ability to pay for decommissioning. In March, the previous owner FirstEnergy estimated that it would cost $1.4 billion to dismantle the plant versus the $900 million it set aside for the decades-long process. In 2019, First Energy asked the NRC to transfer its license – along with ratepayer-funded money set aside from decommissioning – to EnergySolutions. The global nuclear downturn has increasingly led energy companies to shutter their reactors, including Exelon’s decision to mothball Three Mile Island Unit 1. That, in turn, resulted in an opening for companies like EnergySolutions to make money off the clean up of old nuclear sites. Much of the damaged reactor core at Unit 2 was transported to Idaho in the years after the 1979 accident and, in 1993, the plant was placed into “defueling monitored storage” status. An uncertain amount contaminated material remains that will be the responsibility of EnergySolutions to safely dispose of. The absence of a national nuclear waste repository, radioactive material from both units will likely remain at the site in Londonderry Township for the foreseeable future – possibly for decades to come. Earlier this year, state Environmental Secretary Patrick McDonnell raised a number of concerns about the transfer, including the question of whether EnergySolutions would have enough money for the cleanup. In August, however, the state Department of Environmental Protection reached a settlement with FirstEnergy that called for the creation of a decommissioning advisory panel but did not include any financial guarantees or other safeguards like the ones included in similar agreements in California and Massachusetts. The agency appeared to have second thoughts, at least according to the NRC notice dated Nov. 23. DEP spokesman Neil Shader said Monday, when PennLive reported the NRC’s expected decision, that the agency’s ongoing concerns specifically center around conditions inside the reactor. In essence: If they’re worse than FirstEnergy described in its 2019 proposal, the cleanup could cost significantly more than $1.4 billion. In addition to approving the sale of Unit 2, the NRC also formally approved emergency planning exemptions requested by Exelon, which held that responsibility for both units. That means Exelon will no longer contribute funding to local governments and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. It also halted off-site radiation monitoring and maintenance of early warning systems. Pennsylvania, through PEMA and the DEP, itself plans to resume at least some of the activities at the cost of taxpayers.
House Republicans call on Madigan to resign from office – Four former Commonwealth Edison officials pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that they engaged in a years-long bribery scheme that federal prosecutors allege was aimed at influencing Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former executives Anne Pramaggiore and John Hooker, along with lobbyists Michael McClain and Jay Doherty, were arraigned on the charges in U.S. District Court in Chicago during a hearing that was held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 50-page indictment that was unsealed Nov. 18, federal prosecutors allege the four engaged in a conspiracy to award no-work jobs and lobbying contracts to close associates of Madigan as part of an effort to maintain his support for legislation that benefited the company. Those included the 2011 Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, which established a formula-based system of setting utility rates that effectively bypassed the Illinois Commerce Commission, and the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act, which, among other things, provided ratepayer-funded subsidies to two nuclear power plants owned by ComEd’s parent company Exelon. During the arraignment, U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber, also a former state lawmaker, set an initial schedule that gives prosecutors and defense attorneys three months to exchange all the evidence they intend to use at trial and file pretrial motions. A status hearing is tentatively set for Feb. 16 and the defendants remain free on bond. The charges against the four defendants comes on the heels of a deferred prosecution agreement that prosecutors unveiled in July in which current ComEd officials admitted to the scheme and agreed for the company to pay a $200 million fine in exchange for cooperating with the investigation and assurances that the company would reform its internal controls. Beyond the federal charges, though, the cases have resulted in intense scrutiny for Madigan and threatened his hold on power in the House. Although he has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing, his support within the House Democratic caucus has gradually eroded since his appearance as “Public Official A” in July’s agreement. Madigan appears to no longer have 60 pledged votes in the House to support him, the number required to be reelected for another term as speaker in January. Madigan also faces a Special Investigating Committee in the House that is charged with determining whether there is enough evidence to support disciplinary proceedings that could result in his ouster from the General Assembly. Republicans petitioned to form that committee shortly after the deferred prosecution agreement was released, and they have frequently accused Democrats of dragging their feet on the investigation in an effort to protect Madigan. Last week, however, just before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, released hundreds of pages of documents that the committee had requested from ComEd, including numerous emails between McClain, a former lawmaker and longtime Madigan confidant, and another former ComEd executive, Fidel Marquez, who pleaded guilty in the bribery scheme in September. Those emails strongly suggest that Madigan himself was deeply involved in urging ComEd to award jobs and contracts to his friends and associates.
Ohio AG still hopes to put nuclear bailout on hold -One way or another, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost hopes the plan to bail out northern Ohio’s Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants will be put on hold at least until the $61 million bribery scandal connected to them is settled.In an interview with The Blade at One Government Center in downtown Toledo, one of several northwest Ohio cities he visited Tuesday, Mr. Yost said he expects to get a hearing later this month for a lawsuit he filed Nov. 13 to keep $150 million in customer surcharges from being collected and passed on annually, starting in early 2021, to Energy Harbor, the two plants’ new owner-operator.“I think we’ve got a very strong case,” he said of the suit filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.Mr. Yost said he would have no problem, though, yielding to new legislation known as House Bill 798 if both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly pass it immediately and Gov. Mike DeWine signs it into law.That legislation, introduced by state Rep. Jim Hoops (R., Napoleon) who heads the House of Representatives committee that has been examining the repeal bills, would delay the nuclear subsidies’ collection from customers for a year.The intent is to buy lawmakers more time to decide what they want to do with House Bill 6, a law created from successful 2019 legislation that has been marred by what federal prosecutors have described as the largest political scandal in Ohio’s history.House Bill 6 has become highly controversial since the FBI indicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four other Republicans last summer, claiming they had concocted a $61 million bribery scheme to buy votes and, thus, ensure the legislation passed.Two of them – Householder consultant-adviser Jeff Longstreth and Columbus lobbyist Juan Cespedes – have entered guilty pleas, and now face up to 20 years in prison for their roles.Charges are still pending against Mr. Householder; Matt Borges, a lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party chairman, and Neil Clark, a high-profile Columbus lobbyist.
Ohio lawmakers could punt on House Bill 6 repeal; push back fees 1 year – Ohio lawmakers could delay fees set to hit Ohioans’ electric bills next month as they continue to debate whether to repeal a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants. Rep. Jim Hoops, R-Napoleon, has proposed delaying fees for one year as lawmakers struggle to find a way to repeal and replace House Bill 6, the law at the heart of an alleged $61 million bribery scheme. Without any change, residential customers can expect an 85-cent fee each month on their electric bills starting Jan. 1. Those fees, and larger ones assessed on businesses, would raise about $150 million a year for two nuclear plants outside Toledo and Cleveland owned by Energy Harbor, which was previously called FirstEnergy Solutions. That company argued that without that money, the plants would close. The delay would also allow time for an audit, required under the bill, to assess how much Energy Harbor actually needs and only dole out money that allows the company to break even. Subsidies wouldn’t pay for a company’s lobbying costs, political or charitable donations, share buybacks, management bonuses or incentive compensation.
Here’s what HB6′s controversial ‘decoupling’ policy is and why Ohio lawmakers are trying to repeal it – cleveland.com – When the scandal-ridden House Bill 6 was passed last year, most attention was given to the law’s $1 billion-plus ratepayer bailout of two Northern Ohio nuclear power plants. But now, as lawmakers work on overhauling HB6, they’re considering repealing another part of the law — a so-called “decoupling” provision — that ensures a guaranteed level of income for FirstEnergy and (theoretically) other utilities.Decoupling, critics say, allows FirstEnergy to charge ratepayers a total of $355 million more through 2024 to guarantee the company a yearly revenue of $978 million. That’s the amount FirstEnergy raised in 2018 — a year in which the utility made more money than in other recent years thanks to hot weather and other factors.House Bill 6 “essentially takes about one-third of our company and I think makes it somewhat recession-proof,” Chuck Jones, then FirstEnergy’s CEO, saidduring a call with investors last year.Eileen Mikkelsen, vice president of rates and regulatory affairs for FirstEnergy Service Company, told cleveland.com in October that the decoupling provision provides customer safeguards, as it gives rebates to customers who pay more for their electricity in a given year than they did in 2018.“This really does provide great stability and certainty, which is important to our customers,” Mikkelsen said.It also allows FirstEnergy to shoulder the cost of the reduced demand for electricity from its energy-efficiency programs, Mikkelsen continued. “We aren’t going to feel the financial strain of not collecting those dollars, which may inhibit our ability to provide safe and reliable electric service to our customers,” she said. Mikkelsen accurately noted that other Ohio utilities have decoupling programs as well. Those were set up prior to HB6′s passage as a way to encourage utilities to create energy-efficiency programs by ensuring they wouldn’t lose money if such programs resulted in the utilities selling less electricity (in other words, “decoupling” the amount of money a utility makes from how much electricity it sells).But the “decoupling” process set up under House Bill 6 is different, as it sets a guaranteed revenue based on a specific (and unusually lucrative) year.FirstEnergy’s HB6 decoupling plan has been in place since last February, after winning approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. To date, the only other Ohio utility to seek an HB6 decoupling plan is AEP, which tried unsuccessfully earlier this year to create such a plan only for commercial customers.State lawmakers are now taking initial steps toward repealing the HB6 decoupling plan and changing other parts of the law. Their action comes after then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four allies were arrested in July and accused of running a $60 million bribery scheme with FirstEnergy money to secure the passage of HB6. House Bill 798, introduced Tuesday, would “terminate” decoupling plans set up by HB6, allowing them to remain in force only as long as it takes for the PUCO to determine whether refunds are owed to customers. The bill was introduced by the chair of the Ohio House’s special HB6 study committee with the support of new House Speaker Bob Cupp.
Columbus utility gave $900K to groups linked to HB6 scandal – A nonprofit funded by Columbus-based American Electric Power gave $900,000 over three years to two groups that don’t have to disclose their donors and are involved in a federal public corruption investigation, records show. IRS documents filed in November and obtained by the Dayton Daily News show the nonprofit Empowering Ohio’s Economy Inc. donated $550,000 in 2019, $50,000 in 2018 and $100,000 in 2017 to Generation Now, which federal prosecutors allege was the primary vehicle for funneling bribes to former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. Empowering Ohio’s Economy also gave $200,000 to Coalition for Growth & Opportunity, another nonprofit group linked to the federal case. “Obviously, knowing what we know now, we wouldn’t have made the donations,” said J.B. Hadden, an Empowering Ohio’s Economy board member. Empowering Ohio’s Economy is run by a five member board that includes former Dayton area congressman Dave Hobson, former Ohio House speaker JoAnn Davidson, AEP’s top lobbyist Tom Froehle, and Hadden, an attorney specializing in public policy and energy issues. Empowering Ohio is designed to promote Ohio for business and tourism, according to its tax filing. It has given to charity organizations and political groups. Last year, it also gave $100,000 to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, $50,000 to Liberty Ohio and $2 million to Open Road Path. In 2018, its giving included $200,000 to the Capitol Square Foundation, $300,000 to Ohio Works, $525,000 to State Solutions Inc, $50,000 to Rule of Law Defense Fund and other entities. In 2017, its giving included $250,000 to Two Paths America, $50,000 to Ohioans for Justice and $50,000 to Ohio Works as well as other groups. AEP supported House Bill 6, which extended monthly surcharges earmarked to help coal-fired power plants owned by the Ohio Valley Electricity Corp. OVEC’s consortium of owners includes AEP, Duke and DP&L. HB6 is at the center of a public corruption case. Former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder and four other men are charged with racketeering. Prosecutors allege an unnamed company, identified through descriptions as Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. and its former subsidiary, funneled more than $60 million in bribe money to Generation Now and other dark money groups. The money was used to elect pro-Householder Republicans to the Ohio House so Householder could return as House speaker. In turn, Householder helped pass HB6 and defend it from a referendum attempt in the fall of 2019.
FirstEnergy credit rating hits ‘junk’ status amid HB 6 fallout – S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s downgraded FirstEnergy’s credit rating to ‘junk’ status on Tuesday after the company tapped into its existing revolving credit lines backed by a consortium of large banks. Fitch downgraded its FirstEnergy ratings a week ago following the company’s third quarter earnings report detailing why it had earlier fired its CEO and four other top executives in the wake of an ongoing federal political corruption probe. The downgrades came just hours before a federal judge handling the bankruptcy of former FirstEnergy subsidiary FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) refused to allow final payments to the law firm handling the case until four of its top lawyers explained their involvement, if any, in lobbying efforts to pass legislation providing up to $1.3 billion to subsidize operations of FirstEnergy’s former nuclear plants. In an 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Tuesday, the company said certain of its distribution and transmission companies tapped into the revolving credit facility “as a proactive measure to increase their respective cash positions and preserve financial flexibility. ” The distribution companies borrowed $950 million under the revolving loan fund, leaving $1.3 billion available for future borrowing, if necessary. The transmission companies borrowed $1 billion, the total amount available. FirstEnergy declined to comment. The decision to tap the credit lines does not reflect the healthy revenue stream and profitability the company reported for the third quarter. The company said it earned $454 million, or 84 cents per share, on revenues of $3 billion for the quarter. That compares to $391 million, or 72 cents per share on revenues of $3 billion in the third quarter of 2019. Instead, it appears directly related to the potential ratings impact of the ongoing Justice Department probe into how Ohio’s former Speaker of the House, backed by nearly $61 million in corporate funding, managed to allegedly persuade other legislators into supporting a $1.3 billion bailout of FirstEnergy’s former nuclear power plants. FirstEnergy had sought a bailout for five years before the passage of House Bill 6 in 2019. The federal probe into alleged political corruption – to which a political consultant and a lobbyist have already pled guilty – and FirstEnergy’s potential fine for its alleged role in that corruption – earlier this week prompted Samuel Randazzo, the chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, to abruptly resign. The probe also has led FirstEnergy’s board of directors to launch an internal examination of the corporate culture, whether its code of conduct is adequate and whether employees are following it. In its detailed third quarter 10-Q filed with the SEC on Nov. 19, weeks after the earnings were informally announced, the board of directors explained that it fired former CEO Charles Jones for violating certain provisions of the code of conduct. The board also fired four other top executives and announced that its internal investigation is still underway. And it revealed the top executives had approved payment of about $4 million in early 2019 to terminate a six-year consulting contract with a company believed to be owned by Randazzo, who was appointed chair of the PUCO in February 2019. S&P said the downgrade was necessary, given the situation in which the company finds itself.
Ohio utilities commission moves to replace regulator who resigned after FBI search – cleveland.com — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has begun the process of replacing its former chairman who resigned earlier this month after his home was searched by the FBI.The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Nominating Council announced Monday it is seeking applications for the empty commission spot, vacant since former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo resigned on Nov. 20.The term, one of five on the PUCO, will expire on April 10, 2024. The nominating council, a panel of 12 people who mostly are appointed by the governor and state legislative leaders, is responsible for screening possible PUCO commissioners and making a recommendation to the governor, who makes the final decision.Candidates must have at least three years’ experience in one or more of the following fields: economics, law, finance, accounting, engineering, physical or natural sciences, natural resources or environmental studies.The PUCO oversees the regulation of utilities in Ohio. Commissioners’ salary range is from $73,715 to $195,728.The process is the same that led the PUCO nominating council to submit Randazzo’s name and three others to Gov. Mike DeWine last January. DeWine picked Randazzo, a lawyer who previously had represented utilities and large industrial utility users before the PUCO.Randazzo resigned the same week the FBI searched his Columbus home, and a day after FirstEnergy Corp. revealed in a filing that it fired CEO Chuck Jonesand two other senior executives last month over a questionable $4 million payment the company made in early 2019 to an entity associated with an unnamed person who subsequently was hired by the state to regulate utilities.In a resignation letter, Randazzo said the impression left by the FBI raid and FirstEnergy’s filing, along with the accompanying publicity, “will, right or wrong, fuel suspicions about and controversy over decisions I may render in my current capacity.”
Top regulator’s exit raises questions about utility and fossil fuel influence – Critics question whether the former Ohio utility commission chair should have recused himself more often to avoid any appearance of bias. Concerns about the outsized influence of utility and fossil fuel interests have resurfaced as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio begins steps to name a new commissioner after the sudden exit of Chair Sam Randazzo. Randazzo resigned on Nov. 20 after an FBI team had searched his home and FirstEnergy released a mandatory quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report showed the company paid $4 million to an entity associated with Randazzo shortly before his appointment last year. Now the Public Utilities Commission, or PUCO, has put out a call for applicants to fill the vacancy. Under Ohio law, a nominating council will review the applications and then nominate four candidates to the governor. Advocates have criticized the council, which only has one seat for a consumer advocate, as being too heavily tilted toward utility interests. “It’s crazy that Gov. DeWine is represented on the PUCO Nominating Council by Mike Koren, who has lobbied for FirstEnergy,” said Dave Anderson, policy and communications manager for the Energy & Policy Institute. “Plus, [council member] Mark Totman works for a union that gave money to Generation Now, the group indicted alongside former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.” In a similar vein, Michael Watkins, who chairs the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Governing Board, asked Koren to hold a special meeting of the nominating council to consider “if events related to tainted House Bill 6 warrant any changes for the Council, including changes in its chairpersonship.” Koren did not agree to the request. Instead, his response said he had been unanimously selected as council chair “for the calendar year 2020″ and that the council would interview and select candidates to fill Randazzo’s vacancy by Dec. 21. Randazzo himself had served on the nominating council multiple times before becoming chair of the PUCO and Ohio Power Siting Board. In 2016 he had urged fellow committee members not to nominate a lawyer who had represented wind energy developers.
Empowering Ohio provided grants to nonprofit central in HB 6 scandal — A board member with a Columbus-based, American Electric Power-funded nonprofit said Thursday that a separate group central in theHouse Bill 6 nuclear plant bailout scandal appears to have used grants, including $550,000 newly disclosed in tax filings late last month, for political purposes in violation of its agreement. J.B. Hadden, an attorney who serves on the board of Empowering Ohio’s Economy Inc., told The Dispatch that the nonprofit’s grant agreement with Generation Now required the funding be used in compliance with IRS laws and for social welfare purposes only. Part of the agreement with Generation Now which he provided to The Dispatch stated the money was not to be used “in furtherance of any political or campaign intervention activities.”Another section of the agreement stated, though, that money could be spent “educating, equipping, and mobilizing our citizens to take action on critical economic and legislative issues … We are committed to advancing legislative policies that will strengthen our economy security, and one of our strategies is to partner with other tax-exempt, non-profit organizations to help promote such policies.”Hadden also said Empowering Ohio was not aware of what prosecutors have ranked among the largest corruption scandals in state history when it provided funding to Generation Now, learning of the criminal allegations after former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others were arrested in July.Empowering Ohio disclosed in tax filings in 2017, ’18 and ’19 that it gave $700,000 to Generation Now, a dark money group formed by a longtime associate of Householder. Another $200,000 was provided to the Coalition for Growth & Opportunity of Lexington, Kentucky, a group that backed the 2018 Ohio House campaigns of Householder-favored Republican candidates. The totals were disclosed in 990 forms, the tax filings submitted by nonprofits to the IRS. The most recent came Nov. 25 and listed grants and other assistance to five different groups, including $2 million to Open Road Path Inc.
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