Quick Take: Utilities are already saddled with myriad mandates ranging from renewables to energy efficiency to cybersecurity to coal plant standards and many more. But they should have a few years respite from the prospects of a carbon tax or other climate change legislation. This despite an about-to-be-released report with additional evidence that fossil fuels are the number one cause of global warming.
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is preparing to release its latest report, which will declare that scientists are more confident than ever that human activities, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels, are the main cause of global temperature rises. The Wall Street Journal reports that 95% of all scientists share that opinion according to the report, due officially in October. In 1995, just over 50% were convinced.
Despite the new evidence, Congressman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said there is little chance that the federal government will pass new climate legislation, according to a story in the Marin Independent Journal.
“What at one time was a consensus issue has become a partisan issue,” he said, saying the House votes along party lines on climate change law. “That makes our jobs much more difficult … the majority of the House are climate change deniers.” Any meaningful climate change legislation “has no chance of passing.”
Meanwhile, a survey from the New England Energy Alliance found that at least 70% of the region’s residents are concerned about global warming. But the number of people willing to pay more for electricity to combat the changes has fallen dramatically. Only 40% said they would pay more, compared to 80% last year.
“Not surprisingly, near-term concerns about the economy trump longer-term, more abstract worries about global warming,” said executive director Paul Afonso, in a statement. The high cost of energy was identified by 39% as being New England’s most important energy issue.
Jesse Berst is the founder and Chief Analyst of SGN and Chairman of the Smart Cities Council, an industry coalition.
Jess Berst: August 21, 2013 via Smart Grid News
