Pandora’s panic button or why we should be thinking about solar radiation management

“Solar Radiation Management’ is a fancy way to say we should reflect some sunlight back into space. The new book Pandora’s Toolbox, the hopes and hazards of climate intervention takes us through not just the method, but the governance and ethics of this idea. Should we be making tools for future generation to use to clean up our mess? Listen in.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 

 


Opening Pandora’s Toolbox, or why we should be thinking about CO2 removal

Even when we achieve a ‘net-zero’ world, humankind may need additional methods to avoid the worst of climate change. Those methods have risks as well as rewards. Hence the title of Wake Smith’s new book Pandora’s Toolbox: The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention. It is a compendium of possible climate ‘interventions’ (AKA geo-engineering technologies) that future generations may want to use to respond to a warming world. Listen in to hear the author discuss why it is important to think about the technology, governance and ethics of tools like “Carbon Dioxide Removal” now rather than leaving the problem to our children.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Origin stories (of climate superheroes)

Six activists are on a hunger strike, protesting the Peabody Peaker Plant construction. They are #FastingForAFuture. Listen in as they talk about the individual experiences that have brought each to this profound and brave action.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Voices from the ‘Fasting for a Future’ hunger strike

On March 15, six activists began a hunger strike to protest the construction of the Peabody peaker plant. The six have protested, rallied, marched, lobbied, or even gotten arrested, without halting the juggernaut of business as usual.  So they are taking this more extreme step. Listen in as we hear the stories of the motivation, intention and hopes of these courageous people. See the links below to learn how to get involved yourself.

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Got a cell phone? Then get a virtual home energy assessment

In this modern age of on-line meetings, you can even get a MassSave home energy assessment using your phone. The assessment will begin the journey to energy and cost savings. Listen in as we talk to an expert on just how virtual home energy assessments work. Welcome to the future!

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


What happens in a home energy assessment?

What happens in a home energy assessment? What is the energy specialist looking for and how does she find it? As the website says: “Whether you’re a homeowner, renter or landlord, the Sponsors of Mass Save® offer no cost virtual or in-person Home Energy Assessments to help you learn about your top energy-saving opportunities in an easy, convenient way. An Energy Specialist will assess your current energy use, help you develop a plan to make your home more energy efficient, and educate you on rebates and incentives you may qualify for.”

We talk with an energy specialist about the details of what happens when you have a home energy assessments.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Acting on climate in New Hampshire

The Granite State is on its own path to addressing the climate crisis. We talk to an expert about what is going on.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Acting on Climate in the Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island is on track to make climate progress through new legislation. We talk with an expert on what is going on in the Ocean State. Note the upcoming opportunity to get involved on March 8.

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre


Building for Net Zero: The Climate Minute

Buildings like your home emit significant greenhouse gases. Better building codes could make new homes green, with ‘net zero’ carbon emissions. The new state roadmap for 2030 and 2050 calls for aggressive building codes, but MA DOER recently proposed revisions that fall short of mark. Listen in, then send your comments to [email protected], with the heading “Stretch Code Straw Proposal Comments”

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 


Down the MOPR rabbit hole: The Climate Minute

ISO NE (whoever they are) extended the life of the obsolete MOPR rule (whatever that stands for.) The decision makes it harder for renewable energy systems to get on the grid for several more years- thru 2025 and 2026. Why and how was this decision made? Follow our guest down the rabbit hole of the FERC Docket E22-391. Instead of the Mad Hatter, we encounter the Internal Market Monitor and the External Market Monitor who collectively monitor…stuff.

In the 21, 2022 “Acceptance Order” available on the FERC docket, a comment from FERC Chair Glick seems pertinent “But an overly broad MOPR does more harm than good. Where a capacity offer is low for legitimate rather than anti-competitive reasons… artificially raising that offer hurts competition, potentially pushing the resource out of the market and forcing capacity prices above the competitive level.[i] Moreover, by producing high capacity prices notwithstanding an abundance of low-cost supply, an overly broad MOPR can lead to uneconomic price signals that falsely suggest that new capacity is needed or that existing capacity should be retained.[ii] That result distorts the market-clearing price, and forces customers to pay more than necessary to meet their capacity needs. In addition, an over-broad MOPR may impose complex administrative burdens on resources even when anti-competitive behavior is not a threat.

Action you can take:

The reading list:

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 



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