World:
¶ Citigroup says the impact of the China-US climate deal signed earlier this month could total $3.9 trillion. That’s the loss in revenue for Big Oil and Big Coal over the next 15 years from the joint undertaking on greenhouse gas emissions by the world’s two biggest economies. Citigroup analysts suggest thermal coal is on a permanent decline. [CleanTechnica]
¶ All but one of Britain’s ageing fleet of nuclear reactors will have to be closed down within 15 years, according to a panel of experts. Only Sizewell B power station will still be operating beyond 2030, which would leave a shortfall of about 20% in the UK’s power demands unless replacement nuclear reactors come on-stream in the 2020s. [Belfast Telegraph] (Why does the replacement have to be nuclear?)
¶ One in five Australian households has installed domestic solar energy systems, data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows. Solar Citizens national director Claire O’Rourke said most of the households were on lower and middle incomes, and that they were using solar as a way to reduce power costs. [eco-business.com]
¶ Nearly 90% of Australians support the current Renewable Energy Target, according to a WWF-commissioned poll. The current federal government, headed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, is planning to backtrack on the target, but the poll found that 88% of swing voters think the Renewable Energy Target should be increased, not decreased. [The9Billion]
¶ The number of people working for Canadian green energy organizations outnumbers those work on tar sands, according to a status report on the country’s shift to renewable power. The energy-generating capacity of Canada’s wind, solar, run-of-river hydropower and biomass plants has expanded by 93% since 2009. [eNews Park Forest]
US:
¶ Salem, Massachusetts is hoping to cut electricity costs for residents and businesses by combining the purchasing power of the entire city. The City Council recently approved program for combining purchasing power. The expectation is a reduction in both costs and carbon footprint through use of renewable power. [The Salem News]
¶ Massachusetts Audubon and Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance have partnered to help people reduce their carbon footprints. People who sign up will be matched with local green providers, bringing renewable power from wind, solar, biomass, and “cow power” to them through their regular utility companies. [Wicked Local Sharon]
¶ SunCommon, a 2012 spinoff of the advocacy group VPIRG, has made its 1000th solar installation in Vermont. SunCommon regularly works with 100 other Vermont companies and says it has created 100 jobs in the state. It also says that the solar installations it has done have saved customers $14 million. [vtdigger.org]
¶ Republicans in the US House of Representatives are championing a short-term, $44.7 billion package that would extend tax breaks for wind power, biofuels and mine safety equipment that expired at the end of 2013 or earlier this year, through the end of this month. A vote is expected on 4 December. [Argus Media]
¶ Americans filed more than 8 million comments in favor of the EPA’s plans to limit carbon pollution from new and existing power plants, the most ever received by the agency. According to a recent survey, 7 in 10 Americans view climate change as a serious problem and support federal action to reduce greenhouse gases. [EcoWatch]
¶ Before the US EPA released its Clean Power Plan earlier this year, with goals for each state to slash carbon dioxide emissions, Texas was already preparing for a changing energy mix. The state’s grid operator has been evaluating its grid-balancing and energy storage needs as it takes on more wind power and retires more coal. [Greentech Media]
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