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:
- The Climate Minute talks to author Wake Smith about Carbon Dioxide Removal
- Wake Smith's website
- Pandora's Toolbox at Barnes and Noble's
- Pandora's Toolbox at Amazon
- Definition of a 'wicked problem'
- What is the Stratosphere?
- Nils Gilman and the contingency of the nation state
- UN podcast on Net Zero
- Some rogue SRM happens in the novel "Ministry for the Future.' Read it for the hope it gives.
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:
- Wake Smith's website
- Pandora's Toolbox at Barnes and Noble's
- Pandora's Toolbox at Amazon
- WRI on carbon removal
- UN podcast on Net Zero
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:
- The Climate Minute podcast "Voices from the Fasting for a Future Hunger Strike"
- 350 Mass
- Rebecca Solnit: A paradise built in hell
- BU Divestment
- Boston Globe on the West Roxbury Lateral pipeline
- The Climate Minute podcast from 2014 on the NYC People's March
- Bill McKibben in Rolling Stone on Climate Change’s new math
- NYT on climate and CA fires
- A Climate scientist speaks to NPR on animal migration
- Books!
- A detailed description of our campaign, #Fastingforafuture, is here.
- Please join our Facebook group for the tour schedule, and to follow our strike! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323574801481904/ Our first stop is the multi-sponsored Fix the Grid Rally on March 16, at 4:30pm at the Boston Common across from the State House, which is targeting ISO-NE. Two strikers, Judith Black and Nathan Phillips, will be speaking. Please come! And if you can, attend one of our other events around the state.
- If you agree with our demands, and want to support us, we invite you to be a Solidarity Striker. This means fasting for a short time–6 or 12 hours, as possible–either from food, or from using fossil fuels (ie, unnecessary driving, etc.) We'd like to publicize how many people do this, so if you do, PLEASE LET US KNOW by emailing us at [email protected].
- If you use Twitter, please help us get #Fastingforafuture trending!!
- Video of MCAN presser announcing two reports on Peabody Peaker
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.
- 350 Mass
- A detailed description of our campaign, #Fastingforafuture, is here.
- Please join our Facebook group for the tour schedule, and to follow our strike! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1323574801481904/ Our first stop is the multi-sponsored Fix the Grid Rally on March 16, at 4:30pm at the Boston Common across from the State House, which is targeting ISO-NE. Two strikers, Judith Black and Nathan Phillips, will be speaking. Please come! And if you can, attend one of our other events around the state.
- If you agree with our demands, and want to support us, we invite you to be a Solidarity Striker. This means fasting for a short time–6 or 12 hours, as possible–either from food, or from using fossil fuels (ie, unnecessary driving, etc.) We'd like to publicize how many people do this, so if you do, PLEASE LET US KNOW by emailing us at [email protected].
- If you use Twitter, please help us get #Fastingforafuture trending!!
- Video of MCAN presser announcing two reports on Peabody Peaker
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:
- The Climate Minute asks "what happens in a home energy assessment?"
- You can email Joe at [email protected]
- Residential rebates and incentives under MassSave
- How to sign up for a MassSave assessment
- Boston Globe on the recent enhancements to MassSave
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:
- Residential rebates and incentives under MassSave
- How to sign up for a MassSave assessment
- Boston Globe on the recent enhancements to MassSave
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:
- org – interested Rhode Islanders can get on the list by signing on to the Climate Crisis Campaign statement
- Climate Action RI does grassroots climate advocacy work of all types.
- This blog is a good resource for RI policy work:
- Upcoming webinar (Tuesday March 8, 1PM) on how you can get involved
- Fact Sheet on RI bill H71111 for 100% clean energy by 2030
- YouTube of RI Advocacy Training February 2022
- The Environmental Council of RI homepage
- Green Energy Consumers Alliance
- 350RI
- State of RI climate page
- The Climate Minute on the MOPR rule
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:
- Read me first!! 1 page PDF defining Net Zero Building codes and associated goals
- Powerpoint slides from DOER explaining the 'straw proposal'
- A recording of DOER's Feb 8th webinar discussing the Powerpoint slides
- Sign up here to get future updates on building codes from DOER
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Sign up for DOER regional listening webinars, March 2 through 8
- To register, click on the links below:
- March 2 @ 6-8pm ET Western Region
- March 3 @ 9-11 am ET Metro Boston and Northeastern Region
- March 4 @6-8pm ET Environmental Justice Communities
- March 7 @ 3-5pm ET Central Regions
- March 8 @3-5pm ET Southeastern Region
- Here is a Net Zero Advocacy Toolkit- easy template of emails to send DOER
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:
- Ask FERC to direct ISO-New England to eliminate the discriminatory Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) as quickly as possible. You can email FERC at [email protected] now or submit an eComment after ISO-New England files its plan at FERC in early March. Until ISO-New England files its plan at FERC, there will not be a docket number, but here is a description of how to file comments in another past proceeding: here is how to description of how to file comments, taken from a different recent past proceeding. It will be the same process here with a new docket number.
The reading list:
- The Climate Minute Podcast talks to a legal expert on the MOPR rule
- FERC docket link. Enter ER22-391 subdocket 000
- Globe report on ISO-NE decision regarding MOPR
- Globe on reaction to the ISO-NE/MOPR ruling
- ISO NE's response
- the ISO-NE site, scroll down a little to see the organizational relationships of FERC, Internal and External monitors to ISO etc
- WaPo on FERC's new guidance to include climate in policy
- Slides from the MMWEC Public meeting in June 2021. See slide 31 for the rejection of storage.
- Some interesting 'services' that battery storage can make money on.
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