50 nuclear plants, airport emissions, and Greenland resevoirs
Climate and energy news:
SSE to close two coal-fired power
stations
Energy company SSE unveiled plans to close two coal-fired
power stations, one of them the huge Ferrybridge complex in West
Yorkshire, on Friday.
Heathrow climate report scuppers Tory plans to
delay expansion debate
Government advisor the committee on climate change has
announced it will release a report into the impact on airport
expansion plans on the UK’s commitments to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Go-ahead for fracking after Brussels vows no
regulation
A spokesperson for the European Commission has said that the
Commission will present “firm guidance” on fracking next year, but
“as envisaged for a long time, the Commission will not propose
draft legislation.” The Mirrorreports that the EU has
“shelved” plans for fracking regulation.
Climate and energy comment:
Climate Scientists, Then and Now, Espousing
‘Responsible Advocacy’
A writeup of a lecture by climate scientist Gavin Schmidt,
titled “what should a climate scientist advocate for?”
Lights will be dimmed but not go out, says
electricity chief
Britons may see their lights dimmed and their hairdryers
lose some heat if Britain’s energy demand starts to outstrip
supply, a National Grid chief says, but he dismissed fears of
blackouts this winter.
Fracking protests head north as activists mass on
proposed Manchester shale gas exploration
sites
Activists under the banner Frack Free Greater Manchester are
opposing shale gas expansion around Manchester. Many of the
activists are professional campaigners from outside the area,
according to the Telegraph.
Tax meat to cut methane emissions, say
scientists
A new paper suggests methane emissions be cut by pushing up
the price of meat through a tax or emissions trading scheme. The
growing population of ruminants such as sheep and cattle is biggest
human-related source of methane, which is a greenhouse
gas.
Fracking community benefits row threatens to
derail shale gas exploration
The Local Government Association has warned that councils
could deny drillers planning permission unless communities are
guaranteed a 10 per cent share of revenues for “any gas which is
found in their backyards” Energy minister Michael Fallon and the
head of the shale gas industry told the Telegraph that the payments
demanded are so high they could make drilling
unprofitable.
New climate science:
‘Massive’ reservoir of melt water found under
Greenland ice
Researchers have discovered a large reservoir of melt water
that sits under the Greenland ice sheet all year round, according
to a new paper. The discovery could help explain disparities
between climate model projections of how much the ice sheet should
have melted and observations from satellites.