Creation Care Mom

Wild Weather

If you were following national weather reports last weekend, you know that the Midwest got hammered by severe storms including more than 80 tornadoes. We are ok. We got lucky enough to just receive rain, no hail, severe winds or tornadoes. Even so I was incredibly nervous about the potential possibility of having to shelter in our unfinished basement with my adventurous toddler. So very thankful that we did not have to. Another chance at severe weather this week so another chance at ending up in the basement.

Worldwide, there is more extreme weather. Kenya and Tanzania are flooding, many dead, drowning fields, erasing road infrastructure. Bangladeshi students returned to school today despite an ongoing severe heat wave. Dubai has approved an ambitious and expensive upgrade to their drainage infrastructure after receiving close to a foot of rain in 24 hours just over a week ago. Greece is on fire. Floods also in Saudi Arabia. The headline weather events are increasing everyday.

With all these events, climate change has loaded the dice. Think more more more. More rain, longer hotter heat waves. More frequent.

New USA Climate Rules

The EPA released new rules last week to cap the carbon dioxide emissions coming from coal and natural gas plants. To summarize, coal plants intending to operate beyond 2039 will have to install carbon capture technology and capture 90% of their emissions. This will likely be the end for coal power as it will be cost prohibitive, but coal has been declining as a fuel source for year.

New natural gas plants will need to capture their emissions based on the percentage of time they are in use. More usage requires a high level of carbon capture. This rule could halt current proposed plants as new cost calculations done could make them unprofitable. It could also shift energy generation to renewables with battery backup more cost effective. Existing gas plants are exempt from this rule, but will likely be the subject of a future ruling.

These rules are a win for climate advocates, environmental justice, and health experts. Coal has immense health and environmental consequences from mining, to transport, to burning, and has been heavily supported by favorable rules and tax incentives. We have better options now so it is time to DO better.

No doubt these rules will be challenged in the courts. And IF Trump wins reelection, they will likely be overturned. What matters is the effect they have in between. These rules will be the guide for energy development and planning in the interim, and may become standard anyway.

Additionally, the Department of Energy announced a final rule to move federal buildings towards net-zero emissions. It requires all new federal buildings OR federal buildings undergoing major renovation to cut fossil fuel use on site by 90% through 2029 and 100% for 2030 and later. Since it only focuses on on site emissions, the result will mostly be replacing gas heating with electric heating for both air and water. Still this is a huge step forward as private industry watches what is happening in federal buildings.

It is known that much of the transition to renewable energy depends on rapid expansion of the national electric grid, especially high-voltage lines. Permitting delays and local opposition have slowed the pace of development. Sometimes taking as much as 10 years to receive final approval. The Biden administration understands this hurdle. Last week, the Department of Energy announced that they would be taking over as lead agency in charge of the federal environmental review with a maximum permitting timeline of two years. This rule only applies to projects crossing federal lands which is ~25% of projects. The hope is that with more certainty on the timeline, more companies will be willing to invest in the much needed infrastructure. More reform is needed in this area, but this is a good place to start.

That’s all for today. There is a lot happening right now as Biden works to finalize more rules before the election. I’m sure I’ll be back with more updates soon.