News — global warming

Ken Regelson says there is hope, as wind (1.7 cents per KWH) and solar cost much less than coal, and there are great advances in storage: new batteries, pumping water uphill, running weighted trains uphill, heating up molten salt and storing it to produce steam, compressing air. .... People, cities, and companies can save lots of money while supporting sustainable energy, helping to decrease global warming. Big companies are purchasing longterm (20 year) contracts for electricity at 1.7 cents per KW hour, cheaper than coal. They contract for twice what they will need, and sell the excess when they don't need it. A talk on 1-10-17 by Ken Regelson (ken@EnergyShouldBE.org, 303449-4890) here in Boulder to the Boulder chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society explained how a coalition of large companies, including Google and Apple, are combining with cities, states,and counties to open up electric markets. We need open electricity markets, otherwise utility companies prevent any competition from solar, wind, efficiency, storage, and local generator projects. Link to video of talk  

In Jeff Goodell's Rolling Stone article, James Hansen says we need a new political party that takes no money from lobbyists, and we need a carbon tax on fossil fuels that is distributed back to the people. Further, he says we need to improve our forestry and agricultural practices in order to take carbon out of the air. Further we need to triple research into carbon free energy. Also, we need to reduce our emissions several per cent per year. He nonviolently protested several times against the Keystone XL pipeline and fossil fuel projects. Ken Regelson says there is hope, as wind (1.7 cents per KWH) and solar cost much less than coal, and there are great advances in storage: new batteries, pumping water uphill, running weighted trains uphill, heating up molten salt and storing it to produce steam, compressing air. ....

Another fracking pipeline constructed by Spectra blew up in April in Pennsylvania. If this new Spectra pipeline blew up where it passes near the Indian Point nuclear power plant, it could cause a catastrophe. Plus, pipelines and drilling for fracked gas pollute the air and water in addition to accelerating global warming. Link

Please gather signatures for petitions to keep oil fracking away from schools, homes, and hospitals. Link to circulate petitions or donate. Link to a good article in the Boulder Weekly.

The area of forests burned due to climate change has doubled and soon will double again. Article

Mike Roselle says that we need confrontation, controversy, sacrifice, noncooperation, going to jail, and civil disobedience. He has stopped timeber sales and nuclear tests. He cofounded Earth First, The Rainforest Action Network, and the Ruckus Society. He moved to appalachia to fight mountain top removal. Resist! No Compromise! "When you say nonviolent direct action, you’re really talking about the Nuremberg Principles, you’re talking about resisting, you’re talking about noncooperation, and you’re talking about sacrifice." "We need a crash program to decarbonize the economy, a big ask, but nothing less will save us." - "If we are compromising, we are doing a disservice to the movement." - I have to do something. I can’t sit here and complain about all these injustices in the world if I am not actively involved in trying to make things better. The work is inspiring. I like it when we build a good team and campaign and achieve something. That is a good feeling. I have a lot of memories of moments when we defied the odds, when we stopped a timber sale or a nuclear bomb test, and that is to me the reward. "" If we are compromising, we are doing a disservice to the movement. "- Se more in the Progressive