Climate Change/Mass Extinction Megathread

[mongers]

Anyone else seen about the uncovering of the hunger-stones in the Rhine?

[crazy canuck]

Anyone else seen about the uncovering of the hunger-stones in the Rhine?

Yeah "if you see this, weep" or something like that.

[garbon]

https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/08/18/hunger-stones-drought/

[Josquius]

Awesome 17th century trolling.
Encourages me to keep it up with leaving hidden messages wherever I can.

[Valmy]

https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/08/18/hunger-stones-drought/

This seems like a key factor from that link:

But, based on our research, it was unknown whether that particular stone was visible in August 2022 and, if so, why. Ars Technica noted, "It's actually possible to see this particular stone some 126 days out of the year, thanks to the construction of a dam that was built on a tributary of the Elbe in 1926."

So do these rivers have dams that might be a larger factor in them being exposed?

[Syt]

Austria has been without legislation to lower emissions for almost 2 years now.

The previous law, setting goals and targets, expired in 2020. Since then, Greens and ÖVP have not managed to reach a consensus on a new law.  Meanwhile, Austria's emissions have increased between 2015 and 2019, took a dip during the pandemic but have been rising again. It sits at ca. 85% of the value from 2005. The goal was that emissions should be halved by 2030 and Austria should be CO2-neutral by 2040.

The Greens would like to set binding targets, with penalties if they're not met. The previous law had such targets but had no means to enforce them, so it was ignored by everyone. A 2021 draft suggested automated increases for taxes on fuels if emission targets aren't met, but it was quickly shot down by everyone.

ÖVP finds targets and penalties too harsh and says a new law is not a top priority for them. They prefer working with the private sector and create incentives to invest in renewables, mostly by removing regulation for everyone.

[Syt]

https://www.clevescene.com/news/ten-ohio-counties-ban-wind-solar-projects-under-new-state-law-39591055

Ten Ohio Counties Ban Wind, Solar Projects Under New State Law

All of them in rural Ohio

At least 10 Ohio counties have passed resolutions blocking the development of new utility scale wind and solar projects within all or part of their jurisdictions in the last year.

The counties' moves come after the October 2021 enactment of a state law giving the locals the veto power over renewable energy generation sites — a veto power that doesn't exist for fossil fuel developments.

At least two more counties are actively considering such a prohibition. In Crawford County, meanwhile, citizens are pushing to reverse their commission's ban by placing the issue on the 2022 ballot.

The state law and subsequent county action add new roadblocks to renewable energy development as the international scientific community warns of a warming climate and a need to shift away from fossil fuels.

"As you can see, there are counties making use of the authority," said Jon Honeck, a policy analyst with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, which did not take a formal position for or against the state legislation.

"It's a changed regulatory landscape."

The counties, all rural, that have moved against renewables include:

- The Allen County Commission unanimously passed a resolution April 24 banning large wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas
- The Auglaize County Commission unanimously passed a resolution April 26 banning large wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas
- The Butler County Commission passed a resolution June 23 banning large wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas in 12 townships in the county
- The Crawford County Commission passed a resolution in May banning wind farms in part of the county. Cleveland.com reports that a potential wind farm developer has submitted enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot in November
- The Hancock County Commission passed a resolution April 19 banning large wind and solar projects in most the county
- The Knox County Commission passed a resolution Aug. 11 banning large wind projects (not solar) in unincorporated areas of the county
- The Logan County Commission passed a resolution Aug. 11 banning large wind and solar projects in 16 townships and unincorporated areas of the county
- The Medina County Commission passed a resolution Jan. 25 banning large wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas of the county
- The Seneca County Commission passed a resolution Nov. 23 banning large wind and solar projects in Seneca County, according to The Advertiser-Tribune
- The Union County Commission passed a resolution June 15 that bans large solar projects (not wind) within eight townships that requested the prohibition

Other counties have broached but not yet finalized the issue. Ottawa County is set for a public hearing next month on a potential ban. Delaware County met to consider one in October but has yet to advance it further.

The legislation doesn't apply to wind and solar projects that have received approval from the state before it took effect.

Sarah Spence, executive director of the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum, has been tracking the counties' action on wind and solar. She said she's disappointed but not surprised by the speed with which the counties moved. She said it's a loss for economic development and renewables in the areas.

Environmentalists opposed Senate Bill 52, which gave counties the new authority, arguing there was room to create more community input on power siting without choking off wind and solar entirely.

"By implementing these bans now, it's going to make it harder to make the transition to clean energy that the public, business community, and public health and climate science all demand," said Neil Waggoner, an operative with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign. "These bans close off communities from the investment dollars driving these projects, new sources of revenue for local services and education, and also limit local property owner rights."

The issue scrambles some typical political coalitions. The state legislation passed with only Republican support — somewhat unusual for legislation giving governments new control over landowners' private property rights. A handful of Republicans in both chambers voted with Democrats in opposition, though the bill was ultimately signed by GOP Gov. Mike DeWine. It passed over the objections of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, typically a conservative ally.

Republicans and outside supporters of the bill said the legislation restores local autonomy and prevents a situation where the Ohio Power Siting Board — a state level panel of gubernatorial appointees — grants an application for a project over objections from locals.

"Economic development and innovative energy technology is always welcome in the State of Ohio, but not at the expense of rural communities who do not want them," said GOP Senate President Matt Huffman in a statement. "This bill keeps local residents and officials informed and in-control of where they are located."

The bill's two sponsors did not respond to inquiries.

Some of the opposition to wind turbines gets a bit more far-fetched. In Crawford County, Apex Clean Energy applied to build a farm of 60 turbines that could power up to 300 MW of energy, which the company says could power 85,000 homes per year.

An organization called Crawford Anti Wind formed in opposition. Its website calls for readers to "vote out big wind" and hosts pictures of a turbine on fire. The site states it's paid for by the Crawford Neighbors United PAC, but no such group could be located in state or federal campaign finance databases.

Both Apex and Crawford Anti Wind did not respond to inquiries.

The Energy News Network previously reported on other dubious claims about renewables made during the legislative process, including one of solar panels "leaking" chemicals like lead or cadmium into the soil.

In April, 278 climate experts with the United Nations' International Panel on Climate Change warned that the world is on track to pass a key climate target within eight years at the current rate of emissions. While the international goal can still be met to stave off disastrous effects of global warming, it will require an economically viable but politically difficult shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy.

Ohio's new legislation has moved in the opposite direction, erecting a new hurdle to clear for development and new risks for investors. In contrast, the state passed legislation last year removing authority from local governments seeking to block new buildings within their borders from natural gas hookups, an effort seen in some progressive cities to decarbonize buildings.

I find the last sentence rather telling. On one hand, "The locals should really have a say in this, and be able to block this." vs. "The locals should really not be able to block this."

[Valmy]

Disturbing trend. Though I notice a lot of bizarre unwarranted hostility towards all non-fuel burning technologies popping up. We'll see if this spreads beyond those 10 counties.

[Josquius]

Yeah...This kneejerk "If THE OTHERS like it then it must be bad" stuff that is modern conservatism is really disturbing. Wonder how long it'll be before state governments start rolling coal?

[Admiral Yi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLR78nocKWI

California regulators ban sales of new ICE autos starting 2035.  Intermediate targets in intermediate years.

[HVC]

Hope they plan to beef up their power grid.

[Admiral Yi]

Aye

[Valmy]

They are doing a lot of stuff over there with storage so I think they plan a big expansion on intermittent renewables in a short period of time. Those do have the advantage of fast mobilization. We'll see. They are giving themselves a lot of time at least.

[Valmy]

Yeah...This kneejerk "If THE OTHERS like it then it must be bad" stuff that is modern conservatism is really disturbing. Wonder how long it'll be before state governments start rolling coal?

States like West Virginia might do that but Texas doesn't really have any coal to roll. We might just let the methane flow or something.

Of course we are leaders in wind and solar and the landowners in the West Texas desert are profiting immensely off of that so I don't think we are going to see a big move against that anytime soon. I don't think the countryfolk in Ohio stand to make the big bucks as much.

[HVC]

They are doing a lot of stuff over there with storage so I think they plan a big expansion on intermittent renewables in a short period of time. Those do have the advantage of fast mobilization. We'll see. They are giving themselves a lot of time at least.

Didn't they recently kneecap incentives for solar panels, or am I misremembering?

*edit*
Residential I mean