Center for a New American Security

From Global INT @globalint2040: “Huge finds make East Africa the next big gas source uk.reuters.com/article/2012/0… via@Reuters.”

Global INT links to a Reuters report of a major gas find off the coasts of Mozambique and Tanzania that could make East Africa the next major exporter of liquefied natural gas to places like Asia. One of the blocs off the coast of Mozambique is estimated to hold up to 52 trillion cubic feet of gas, enough to meet the gas demands of France, Germany, Britain and Italy for five years, the report notes.

From The New York Times Science section @nytimesscience: “Hawaii’s Beaches Are in Retreat, and Way of Life May Follownyti.ms/JBmQoK.”

The New York Times reports on recent findings for the U.S. Geological Survey that found that erosion along Hawaii’s iconic beaches could accelerate as a result of sea level rise, imperiling coastal communities. According to one geologist at the University of Hawaii, scientists are encouraging coastal communities to retreat away from the beaches in order to adapt to this changing environment. One has to wonder how easy that is in practice, especially for major installations like the U.S. Navy’s bases in Honolulu and elsewhere.

From Circle of Blue @circleofblue: “Losses from natural disasters set to outpace economic growth in some countries: @AlertNet su.pr/2WcNEl#water #economy.”

Circle of Blue links to a story in Reuters that says a new study reports that economic losses from natural disasters will likely outpace economic growth in the world’s low- and middle-income countries. This could have devastating consequences for countries the United States is seeking to develop strategic partnerships with, including Vietnam and others. What is more, one has to wonder where Myanmar fits into this picture, a country that could potentially experience significant economic growth over the next decade through foreign investment and gradual relaxation of western sanctions, but that lies in a natural disaster prone region where more than 70 percent of the workforce relies on agricultural development for their income. (Cyclone Nargis upended agricultural communities in the Irrawaddy valley back in 2008, for example.)

From The Hill’s Energy and Environment blog @E2Wire: “Study: Public willing to pay for more green energy bit.ly/J5Xp1D.”

The Hill’s Energy and Environment blog reports the findings of a new survey that says that “The average American is willing to pay $162 per year in higher electricity costs if a ‘clean energy standard’ (CES) becomes law.” The survey’s findings are interesting. According to The Hill’s post, “[T]he public has less tolerance when natural gas and nuclear power are added into the mix. On average, the public would support a CES with renewable and natural gas as long as it didn’t raise electricity prices more than $142 per year. The threshold is $147 per year for a CES with renewables and nuclear power. For every $10 increase in electricity bills, an additional 1 percent of the population is likely to oppose a CES, the survey found.”

From Mae Stevens @maestevens: “Corps using #renewable #energy on battlefield (Jacksonville Daily News) bit.ly/KkJdjQ.”

Mae Stevens, an energy policy analyst and legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, links to a story in the Jacksonville Daily News that reports on the Marine Corps’ efforts to integrate renewable energy into their operational energy portfolio. The report discusses the shifting battlefield energy requirements and the efforts by the Marine Corps to adapt to these new requirements by adopting energy efficient gear and renewable energy technologies, such as large and portable solar panels, insulated tents and LED lights. “[N]ot all of the experimental equipment has worked out and some has fail spectacularly once introduced to a desert environment. But the plan is to find the best gear and get it to the troops,” according to the report.