December 28, 2009
This Weekend’s News: Good News, Bad News
Is it just me, or since Copenhagen are we seeing more and more reports on non-success stories (for lack of a better term) on clean energy and climate change? The past year provided countl
ess stories of quick fixes, perfect policy concepts, start-ups and new clean-tech gadgets, with far fewer on overcoming policy hurdles, implementation or sustained innovation.
That seems to be shifting, at least within my RSS and Twitter feeds. For example, The Tennessean reported that a pilot project to test refining of second generation biofuels has been scaled down dramatically. New Mexico is having trouble reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by AP. And The Washington Post reported on the “daunting” post-Copenhagen battle for legislation to reduce U.S. emissions.
I don’t write this as an end-of-year bummer, and certainly doesn't indicate that transitioning to cleaner and more reliable energy sources isn't possible. I actually find it hopeful that we’re infusing more realism into these discussions. It’s not helpful to create a sense that change happens overnight, or to be ill-prepared if change does not unfold as planned.
Here in Sandusky, Ohio, my old high school put up three small wind turbines next to the football field last year. (As a rural township and with a small corn field behind the stands, it appears to be a good place to catch some wind to power the school.) Unfortunately, after they were first erected a blade from one of the turbines fell off and into the student parking lot (oops!), thus the photos above and to the side of the turbine bases resting on the ground over the summer. All three turbines are now standing again, as you can see below. Change can be hard, to be sure. Understanding that there will be bumps in the road and retaining a willingness to troubleshoot will be critical. I, for one, vote for the media to continue to increase the 
balance between success stories and not-quite-successes on energy and climate.
As this is a wrap-up after a longish break, I’d like to also point you to a few important stories from the past week or so:
- Secretary Gates, in an unclassified memo, proposed new funds for nation-building to be managed jointly by State and DOD – in part, The Washington Post reported, to address displeasure with the armed services conducting more development and relief work. (I sure hope they’ll have a natural security person involved in the fund for “conflict prevention and stabilization!”)
- Resources and security: PRTs provide farming equipment to Iraqis.
- A Canadian company has applied to begin mining uranium in Colorado; if it goes forward, it would be the first time in a quarter century we’ve mined it domestically, according to Green, Inc.
- The New York Times reported that the nation’s oil refineries are suffering as a result of decreased gasoline demand, and five closed in the past year.
- The UNDP established a trust for Ecuador to let oil under one of its most biodiverse national parks remain untouched, as reported at Mongabay.com.