This week we saw some interesting science about climate change, the reality of it, and the conclusion that as much as we know, there is still so much more that science needs to understand. This is not the same as science being wrong, but rather an admission that the understanding of the scientific community moves toward truth, but takes a long time to get there. Unfortunately for us, we do not know how long we have to act, so waiting for science to have a perfect understanding may be too long.
Is global warming really slowing down?
"It’s true that they also acknowledge the slowdown: A new paper just out in the prestigious journal Nature, for instance, cites the 'hiatus in global warming' and seeks to explain it with reference to changes in the tropical Pacific. The recently leaked Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, too, cites an 'observed reduction in surface warming.' But scientists say the slowdown is only temporary — a result of naturally induced climate variability that will soon tip back in the other direction — and that more human-caused global warming is on the way."
Our capacity for computing increases exponentially, and our population increases geometrically, meaning our ability to model, observe, predict, and verify expands constantly. As we investigate more, we will learn more, and improve our imperfect understanding of the world. The growing understanding of how the oceans work to regulate the livability of our planet has a profound impact on the study of the consequences of the chemical imbalance we willfully create.
How one little molecule influences earth's climate
"Dimethylsulfide is the largest natural source of sulfur gas into the atmosphere—larger than either volcanoes or vegetation—and 95% of it originates in the ocean. It is made within the cells of some species of phytoplankton, and is freed when their cell walls are broken, most often when algae-eaters take a bite. All of this leaking DMS makes the ocean smell like, well, the ocean—a soft whiff of sulfur in the air."
With this humility about the workings of our world, it would seem obvious that when we educate our population, the focus should be on science, the process of science, and the interpretation of scientific results. Turns out that in my home state, the focus has been on a Prabda-like indoctrination into a blind acceptance of the need for an industry that causes as much harm as good. Knowing that we can (and have!) transition miners from the hazards of the mine into equally fulfilling jobs in the renewable energy workplace, there is no need for us to continue to use misinformation for the sake of economic gain. I would love to say this pro-coal curriculum was developed in the 70s, but it was fewer than 10 years ago!
Pro-coal curriculum on the rocks in Illinois
"On July 30 the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) released a 400-page evaluation of the coal education program. It calls for retiring the current curriculum and revamping it to 'provide high-quality scientific content, a balance of perspectives, and present coal as part of an energy portfolio in national and global contexts.'
Some environmental advocates see the coal education program evaluation as significant progress; others decry a lack of urgency in replacing the pro-coal curriculum with a robust curriculum reflecting current energy realities and real science."
Our approach to economic development through the creation of infrastructure ushered in the largest prosperity the world had ever seen, and created a middle class that provided the backbone of a strong nation. Over the past thirty years, instead of innovating and finding a new way to provide economic prosperity to all, we still rely on the development of new infrastructure or the demolition and replacement of old. We can, and need to, transition to an economy based on maintaining what we have, adapting to new needs, and expanding only where we cannot make better use of existing. We have the intelligence and creativity to find better solutions, and know better than to let our existing investments crumble.
Across U.S., bridges crumble as repair funds fall short
"Every day, U.S. commuters are taking more than 200 million trips across deficient bridges, according to a variety of analyses, and at least 8,000 bridges across the country are both "structurally deficient" and 'fracture critical' — engineering terms for bridges that could fail if even a single component breaks.
'These bridges will all eventually fall down,' said Barry LePatner, a construction attorney who has documented bridge deficiencies in all 50 states."
One of the smarter ways we have to develop the systems that support life comes from the idea of distributed/networked infrastructure. The concept of using information and communication instead of material to link community-based energy technology with customers provides hope that we can develop more resilient, more maintainable, and more flexible systems that require less capital. That way we can improve our quality of life without saddling future generations with debt that they cannot afford.
PG&E signs PPA with Mosaic offering solar investors a 5.5% annual return
"The return on investment is double the current return on investment rate for a 10-year U.S. Treasury Bill, according to Mosaic. The return is guaranteed by Panasonic, the module supplier, as well. It provided the Gerber project with a 12-year production guarantee. Under the guarantee, if the farm fails to generate an expected minimum, Panasonic will make up for the revenue shortfall, assuring the anticipated return on investment.
'Small utility-scale solar projects like this — complete with a low-risk purchase contract with PG&E and top quality components by Panasonic — are the future of utility-scale solar in America,' said Troy Helming, Pristine Sun CEO. 'As a Mosaic investor, I'm excited to be making our projects available through their innovative and successful platform.'"
Happy Friday!
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