BP Oil Spill Trashed More Shoreline Than Scientists Thought

New evidence extends the size of the disaster that occurred six years ago this week.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160420-bp-oil-spill-shoreline-affected-deepwater-horizon-anniversary/

Reflecting on the Paris Climate Agreement, one year later

One year ago, world leaders from 195 countries adopted the Paris Climate Agreement, a plan to reduce CO2 emissions and slow the impact of global climate change. Ford Foundation program officers reflect on the progress made this year, the roles of business and indigenous land rights in combating climate change, and how countries are moving from planning to implementation.

http://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/reflecting-on-the-paris-climate-agreement-one-year-later/

21 Times That Clean Energy Was Through the Roof in 2016

Whether your trusted source is Google, Jessica Biel, the U.S. Department of Energy, ski towns, TIME, or Florida -- there’s no denying it, 2016 was a great year for clean and renewable energy!

Check out our quick list of 21 times that clean energy was through the roof in 2016!

http://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2016/12/21-times-clean-energy-was-through-roof-2016

The answer to the enemies of net metering: Battery Powered Homes

The answer to the enemies of net metering. But then they would declare it constitutional to charge self sufficient residents a fee for not using an utility...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxABosWfuus

Tesla's Power Wall might even offer a better deal: https://youtu.be/FHswxauDGVg

Michigan Passes Legislation to Boost Renewables Mandate, Retain Net Metering - for now

First I read https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/michigan-passes-bills-to-boost-renewables-mandate-retain-net-metering and got really excited, then I read a more detailed article by David Eggert, Associated Press, online at: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Energy-legislation-appears-to-be-in-reach-on-10797759.php which was also mirrored by the Daily Telegram the past Friday (12/16/2016), In this article, the details of a proposed change in net-metering of residential and business renewable energy producers were provided as such:
"— not apply — for now — a "grid" charge to new customers participating in a net metering program, instead requiring a study to determine an appropriate fee. These are residents and businesses with their own wind turbines, solar panels or other types of renewable sources that reduce their electric bills."
This is good news for now - but an appropriate fee may come at any time and with much less public notice. I fear they (DTE, Consumers and their lobbyists) will try to slip this in as sneaky as the registration penalty for environmentally conscious drivers of electric and hybrid cars that just came in the mail. I will have to pay $60 more a year because my Prius uses less fuel and therefore I would not be paying my fair share on the improvements of Michigan streets and roads. A crooked logic that got the environmental movements divided and was introduced in a very sneaky - and delayed way to reduce resistance to almost nonexistent levels.

Justin Trudeau Approves Oil Pipeline Expansion in Canada

And after the carbon tax decision I expected that Canada would show more leadership...

OTTAWA — In a decision that will almost surely prompt showdowns with environmentalists, indigenous groups and some political allies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada approved on Tuesday the expansion of a pipeline linking the oil sands in Alberta to a tanker port in British Columbia.

Full Story: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/29/world/canada/canada-trudeau-kinder-morgan-pipeline.html?post_id=10209155423986639_10212109270870965#_=_

Trump promised to bring back coal. Now some worry he will take away miners’ black lung benefits

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DAVID GOLDMAN/APA coal miner in a West Virginia mine.

By ERIC BOODMAN @ericboodman

NOVEMBER 28, 2016

A

gain and again, President-elect Donald Trump presented himself as the coal miners’ candidate. During the campaign, he promised to bring coal back into the economy, and jobs back into struggling Appalachian towns.

But now some in coal country are worried that instead of helping, Trump’s first actions will deprive miners — and their widows and children — of the compensation they can receive if they are disabled by respiratory problems linked to breathing coal mine dust.

That’s because buried in the Affordable Care Act are three sentences that made it much easier to access these benefits. If Trump repeals Obamacare — as he vowed to do before the election — and does not keep that section on the books, the miners will be back to where they were in 2009, when it was exceedingly difficult to be awarded compensation for “black lung” disease.

Full Story: https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/28/trump-black-lung/