nuclear-news

According to our best understanding of the science, the Permian hothouse extinction event which wiped out more than 90 percent of life in the oceans and more than 70 percent of vertebrate life on land lasted between 48,000 and 60,000 years. Continued fossil-fuel burning through the end of this century could set off an event as bad or worse, proceeding with a speed far faster than the Permian and possibly having more harmful and longer-lasting impacts.

Keeping these sobering thoughts in mind, it has been rightly said that though we are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, we are likely the last generation with the opportunity to do anything about it. And in this election we will choose the path of our nation not only for the next four years, but over the course of at least the next 40,000. For when we vote…

Figure 1: Hinkley C and delays, like peas in a pod!

Well it would appear that Theresa May, for all her faults, is the sort of person who reads the small print of any document before signing it. The UK was on the verge of signing the deal with EDF to proceed with Hinkley C when at the last minute business secretary Clark announced a delay while they “evaluated” the contract (I have this vision of May reading the Hinkley C contract details over breakfast and spitting in her coffee when she realised what a crap sandwich the country was being expected to swallow).

And this decision to push ahead despite Brexit, by EDF (who brought forward the schedule) must have come from orders from the top. Likely Hollande himself, likely hours after he met Theresa May and with her letting slip she had reservations…

Opinion:

¶ “What World Climate Can Expect From US Presidential Choices” • “This year, every vote is a vote for or against climate change,” says Nick Stockton on Wired.com. Citizens of the United States have to make a real choice about climate this year. Our votes may determine how the country addresses the world climate for decades. [CleanTechnica]

NOAA image.

World:

¶ Argentina announced details of its first renewable energy tender, scheduled to take place next October. Rules for the renewable energy auction came with the government announcement. The auction will allocate 1 GW of capacity, including 300 MW of solar capacity. Project sizes will vary between 1 to 100 MW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ Renewable power provides 19% of England’s electricity, but the outlook for the year ahead is “poor”, according to a report by Regen SW. Slow progress in renewable heat means only 5% of…