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The Climate Crisis Getting Worse ~ Faster & Faster, Dangerously So!
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 23 Feb '23

23 Feb '23

# [The Climate Crisis Getting Worse ~ Faster & Faster, Dangerously So!](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/23/the-climate-crisis-getting-wor… faster-faster-dangerously-so/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/9CA30C01-3C92-4DCF-997D-071821B39B93.jpeg)](https:/… content/uploads/2023/02/9CA30C01-3C92-4DCF-997D-071821B39B93.jpeg) Plastics accumulation in the oceans, in rivers & streams, and in landfills is getting worse! **Some 27 feedback loops could accelerate climate crisis, warn scientists** From an [Article by George Hughes, Environment Journal (UK)](https://environmentjournal.online/articles/27-feedback-loops-could- accelerate-climate-crisis-warn-scientists/), February 21, 2023 Scientists are advising governments to take urgent action, as they have identified 27 global feedback loops which could lock the world into irreversible climate change. An international collaboration of Oregon State University researchers shared their findings in the One Earth journal and implored policymakers to avert the worst of the climate crisis. Feedback loops are climate-caused alterations which can trigger a process which causes even warming. For example, a melting Arctic could result in further warming, as sea water absorbs rather than reflects solar radiation. OSU College of Forestry postdoctoral scholar Christopher Wolf explained: ‘Many of the feedback loops we examined significantly increase warming because of their connection to greenhouse gas emissions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most extensive list available of climate feedback loops, and not all of them are fully considered in climate models. What’s urgently needed is more research and modeling and an accelerated cutback of emissions.’ The scientists recommends ‘immediate and massive’ emission reductions to minimise short-term warming which is already causing disasters, such as wildfires and coastal flooding. This could then help to avoid climate tipping points which could result in unavoidable and self-perpetuating climate change. Both biological feedbacks, such as forest dieback and soil carbon loss, and physical feedbacks, like reduced snow cover and increased Antarctic rainfall, were considered. Professor William Ripple who also led the study said: ‘Transformative, socially just changes in global energy and transportation, short-lived air pollution, food production, nature preservation and the international economy, together with population policies based on education and equality, are needed to meet these challenges in both the short and long term. It’s too late to fully prevent the pain of climate change, but if we take meaningful steps soon while prioritizing human basic needs and social justice, it could still be possible to limit the harm.’ Ripple and Wolf worked with co-authors from the University of Exeter, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates on the research. They say that even modest warming will heighten the likelihood that the Earth will cross over tipping points which could fundamentally alter the climate system. ‘In the worst case, if amplifying feedbacks are strong enough, the result is likely tragic climate change that’s moved beyond anything humans can control,’ Ripple added. ‘We need a rapid transition toward integrated Earth system science because the climate can only be fully understood by considering the functioning and state of all Earth systems together. This will require large- scale collaboration, and the result would provide better information for policymakers.’ The scientists also identified seven dampening climate feedbacks which act to stabilize the climate system, such as carbon dioxide fertilization where rising CO2 leads to increasing carbon uptake by vegetation. However, the full effects of these seven feedbacks are still unknown. URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/23/the-climate-crisis-getting- worse-faster-faster-dangerously-so/>

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13th National Monitoring Conference @ Virginia Beach on April 24 – 28
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 22 Feb '23

22 Feb '23

# [13th National Monitoring Conference @ Virginia Beach on April 24 – 28](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/22/13th-national-monitoring- conference-virginia-beach-on-april-24-28/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/AA8EB8AC-F13E-45B1-8316-FF30B17BAAC1-300x33.png)](h… content/uploads/2023/02/AA8EB8AC-F13E-45B1-8316-FF30B17BAAC1.png) Conference cosponsors are NOAA, US EPA, USGS, & NALMS **The National Water Quality Monitoring Council will host its 13th National Monitoring Conference during the week of April 24–28, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.** Monitoring for water quality/quantity and public and ecological health in all water resources will be represented, including lakes and wetlands, rivers and streams, coastal waters and estuaries, and groundwater. All federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, nonprofits, academia, water consultants and industry, and volunteer scientists are welcome at this important national forum. The conference will be offered in a hybrid format primarily in person, including a limited virtual format. Networking and opportunities to create new relationships will abound for attendees. Whether you seek to develop new skills, learn about the latest technologies, or simply exchange information on a wide variety of topics relevant to water resources, the National Monitoring Conference is for you. The conference attracts the highest quality professional papers and posters and is a destination conference for many in the field. Please look for the Call for Session Proposals and Call for Abstracts in Spring and Summer of 2022. **§§§ ~~~ 2023 Conference Themes Include:** **50 Years After the Clean Water Act and Similar Efforts** — a retrospective & prospective; lessons learned in water quality condition, assessment, justice & equity and long-term trend monitoring **Effectiveness Monitoring** — Are management actions working? Restoration results, best management practices, monitoring and education/outreach successes, inform priorities and track progress in protecting and restoring the condition of our nation’s waters **Protecting High Quality Waters** — monitoring to identify and evaluate waters; inform/implement protection strategies **Monitoring Collaboration** — national, tribal, regional, state and local initiatives, partnerships, and councils; inclusive stakeholder identification and engagement; Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion **Volunteer and Community-Based Monitoring** — volunteer monitoring, school & community groups and watershed associations, data to action, stewardship, increasing diversity & inclusion **Aggregating, Analyzing,Visualizing & Disseminating Data and Information** — Open data science tools and tool development; data portals; data equity; R-Shiny applications, story maps, and dashboards; communicating assessment, condition, and trends to decision makers and public **Hot Topics in Monitoring and Analysis** ~ Climate Change (impacts on quantity, quality, and biota), Harmful Algal Blooms (freshwater & marine), Persistent Toxic Contaminants (emerging and bioaccumulative contaminants, including PFAS), Nutrients (dynamics, impacts, monitoring, modeling, and analysis), Source Identification (nonpoint source, point source, stormwater, atmospheric deposition), New and Emerging Technologies (in situ and continuous monitoring, remote sensing, analytical methods, eDNA), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning **[FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION SELECT HERE](https://nalms.wildapricot.org/event-5071822?utm_source=Master+List&ut… URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/22/13th-national-monitoring- conference-virginia-beach-on-april-24-28/>

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HYDROGEN HAS TAKEN A ‘BOLD ROLE’ FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 21 Feb '23

21 Feb '23

# [HYDROGEN HAS TAKEN A ‘BOLD ROLE’ FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/21/hydrogen-has- taken-a-%e2%80%98bold-role%e2%80%99-for-future-development/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/6122058A-3639-4FD0-9857-CF2E974BC3E4-300x190.png)](… content/uploads/2023/02/6122058A-3639-4FD0-9857-CF2E974BC3E4.png) Blue hydrogen involves the capture of carbon dioxide and its usage or storage **Hydrogen: The time has come for the simplest chemical substance, H2** From an [Article by Ropa Mugadza, Independent Community Intelligence Service](https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/hydrogen-the-time-has-come/) (ICIS) News Hydrogen has recently gained traction in government strategies, business plans and the media as a potential silver bullet for reaching net zero. But in reality, hydrogen has been considered as a potential aid to mitigating climate change for over 50 years. **So, why now?** What makes the attention given to hydrogen in the 2020s different from the 1970s? Firstly, political, environmental and economic landscapes have shifted. In the 1970s, there was a lack of policy and regulation to drive the hydrogen market forward. As well as this, the technology to bring low-carbon and renewable hydrogen would have required additional investment and research. All of this meant that there was no concrete economic benefit for decarbonised energy. However, the market has moved forward. Governments have set targets, regulators are establishing conditions for market participants and businesses are under pressure from investors, consumers and stakeholders to commit to net zero emissions. This shift can be seen across many developments that solidify the prospect of the hydrogen transition across the value chain. On July 15, the European Commission revealed funding for 41 hydrogen projects totalling €5.4 billion. The Indian government is currently holding consultations with stakeholders and is anticipated to launch a comprehensive renewable hydrogen mission that may announce purchase obligations for different industries. On the back of anticipated increased demand, the chemical company Johnson Matthey (JM) has announced a plan to build a manufacturing facility to produce hydrogen fuel cell components. The hydrogen movement is gaining momentum on a global scale, but where is this heading? **Navigating the hydrogen transition** As a means of reaching net zero by 2050, policymakers have set multiple targets for hydrogen market participants over the course of this decade. All over the world, countries have created roadmaps and policies to ensure that steps are continuously taken towards a decarbonised society. Many countries have issued official hydrogen strategies and roadmaps in order to increase their hydrogen consumption and develop the necessary infrastructure. The targets in these strategies indicate that they are on track to increase hydrogen production capacity to 400 times that of 2020 by the end of this decade. As of the end of May 2022, the industry had announced 680 large-scale hydrogen project proposals worldwide. Most recently, the UK government published a policy paper highlighting investment opportunity across the entire hydrogen value chain and providing information on the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which was established to support hydrogen deployment as well as hydrogen business models that provide revenue support to pioneer hydrogen projects. All of this indicates that hydrogen is becoming a more appealing investment. For the first time since hydrogen was coined as the energy of the future, market participants are facing concrete implementation plans at a scale hitherto unseen. **The roadblocks to hydrogen are substantial** Hydrogen is rarely found on its own, it needs to be manufactured. The production process usually requires purchasing electricity or natural gas, and the final cost of producing hydrogen can vary substantially depending on the type and environmental impact. In other words, producing hydrogen comes with a price tag. Alongside this, although hydrogen appears to offer numerous opportunities for future investment, demand for the commodity is not set in stone. It can be used in transport, industry, power and for heating – but governments are yet to finalise the targets for using certain volumes within these different areas. This means that market sizing is difficult for new entrants to understand. **Conclusion** ~ A strong government commitment to deep decarbonisation, supported by financial investment, regulation and clear hydrogen strategies and targets, has sparked unprecedented momentum in the hydrogen industry. If the initial goals set out by policymakers and legislators are to be fulfilled, momentum must now be maintained, and a long-term regulatory framework must be established. URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/21/hydrogen-has- taken-a-%e2%80%98bold-role%e2%80%99-for-future-development/>

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‘Real Clean Energy’ Needed, Not Climate Crisis Causing Coal
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 20 Feb '23

20 Feb '23

# [‘Real Clean Energy’ Needed, Not Climate Crisis Causing Coal](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/20/%e2%80%98real-clean- energy%e2%80%99-needed-not-climate-crisis-causing-coal/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/A6515E27-416B-473C-B156-2A5BCD3DE205-300x150.jpg)](… content/uploads/2023/02/A6515E27-416B-473C-B156-2A5BCD3DE205.jpeg) Carbon dioxide and methane are accumulating in the Earth’s atmosphere exponentially! **End taxpayer rip-offs; invest in real clean energy** From the [Letter to the Editor by Jim Kotcon, Morgantown Dominion Post](https://wvecouncil.org/), February 19, 2023 [West Virginia legislators are adopting one taxpayer rip-off after another.](https://wvecouncil.org/) For example, bills to subsidize uncompetitive coal companies or power plants are moving quickly (e.g., HB 3133). Nuclear power, the most expensive way to generate electricity, seems to be targeted for West Virginia. (HB 2896 allows radioactive waste dumps in West Virginia.) Bills to encourage a hydrogen hub are also being adopted. Building carbon capture and sequestration may make sense for biofuels, but it only throws good money after bad when trying to prolong fossil fuels (SB 162). If any of these had a legitimate role in combating climate change, I might be more supportive, but there is simply no way they will make a meaningful impact. There are better options. A report last month from Energy Innovation and University of California, Berkeley shows that building renewable energy such as wind or solar will generate electricity more cheaply than operating any existing power plant in West Virginia. Instead of gouging ratepayers or ripping off taxpayers, our political leaders should invest in the cheapest, cleanest, safest and fastest alternatives first. Why should we continue to subsidize the dirtiest and most expensive alternatives? If the free market has spoken, why are our political leaders so intent on subsidizing dinosaurs and ripping off the taxpayers? #######+++++++#######+++++++####### **NOTE** : _You are invited to E-Day at the West Virginia State Capitol Building on February 28th from 9 am to 2 pm._ [WV Environmental Council](https://wvecouncil.org/). URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/20/%e2%80%98real-clean- energy%e2%80%99-needed-not-climate-crisis-causing-coal/>

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Weekly Report for “Living on Earth” on Important News
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 19 Feb '23

19 Feb '23

# [Weekly Report for “Living on Earth” on Important News](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/19/weekly-report- for-%e2%80%9cliving-on-earth%e2%80%9d-on-important-news/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/AB6403B0-C4B4-4D47-8CBD-32DB983C9B95-300x200.jpg)](… content/uploads/2023/02/AB6403B0-C4B4-4D47-8CBD-32DB983C9B95.jpeg) In February 1969, polar explorer and flier Bernt Balchen predicted that the Arctic pack ice is thinning and that the summertime ocean at the North Pole would become open water within a decade or two, something that actually happened by about the year 2000. (Photo: Kevin Lockwood, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0) **LIVING ON EARTH** ~ [Beyond the Headlines: Air Date: Week of February 17, 2023](https://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=23-P13-00007&segmen… Journalist Peter Dykstra joins Host Steve Curwood this week to discuss the recent Ohio train derailment, which sent 50 cars carrying toxic chemicals including vinyl chloride careening off their tracks. They also discuss the proposed more efficient energy standards for washing machines, refrigerators, and freezers. For a history lesson, they dive into a prescient 1969 paper warning that the Arctic pack ice is thinning and the summertime ocean at the North Pole would soon become open water. **CURWOOD** : It’s Living on Earth, I’m Steve Curwood. It's time now to take a look beyond the headlines with living on Earth commentator, Peter Dykstra. You there Peter, you got something for us today. DYKSTRA: Major story that got in my opinion minor treatment in the national news, I'm talking about the train derailment in Ohio on the Ohio Pennsylvania border. On February 7, 2023, members of the Ohio National Guard’s 52nd Civil Support Team started to assess hazards from the Feb. 3 derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals near East Palestine, Ohio. Tanker car after tanker car contained toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Local residents were evacuated, there were no immediate injuries among the train crew or local residents, but possible health impacts are something that are still a mystery. Some local residents have taken it to court, including asking for the responsible parties to pay for testing of all local residents in this incident that forced people to leave town that started a huge fire that got very little notice. **CURWOOD** : Yeah, I mean, it was a really big deal. The governor of Ohio Mike DeWine asked the police to arrest people who refuse to evacuate they were so concerned how dangerous these chemicals are. And more and more of the petrochemical industry is interested in shipping chemicals around to make more and more plastic. DYKSTRA: Right, they view plastic, the petrochemical industry as their safety valve no pun intended for the days when oil and natural gas are in decline over climate change concerns if they begin to disappear as a vehicle fuel, all of those petrochemical products can help keep the oil and gas industry alive. And in the case of this train another concern is that the right to know laws that used to be so common on the state and local and federal level have been eroded. That's happened ever since 911, when it was viewed, that giving the public and local fire departments and local safety people all the information about what toxic chemicals were involved in factories or trains or ships would be an open door for terrorists to take that information and make some pretty bad things with it. So right to know, is something that isn't widespread anymore. So it took a long time for those people in East Palestine, Ohio and towns across the state line in Pennsylvania to know what they were exposed to. **CURWOOD** : Hey, what else do you have for us Peter? DYKSTRA: There's been a proposal by the Department of Energy to make washing machines and refrigerators much cheaper to power and much more efficient by the year 2027. Right now, it's estimated that the greenhouse gas emissions in the US from washers and refrigerators are equal to the entire greenhouse output of the nation of Argentina. This would help a lot toward meeting climate change goals in just a few years. **CURWOOD** : Talk to me about the numbers here, Peter. I'm sure the appliance manufacturers are saying wait, wait, wait, this is going to cost us a lot of money. DYKSTRA: It may cost a lot of money at first. It's estimated it could cost $2 billion for appliance makers to retrofit that's opposed to consumer savings of over $3 billion. Not one time, but every year. And those reduced energy bills also mean reduced climate risk. **CURWOOD** : And Peter at one point we unplugged an old freezer that we had and the thing was costing us maybe a buck or two a day to run, it was crazy. DYKSTRA: We had the same thing in our house. There was an old refrigerator that we used as a backup when the kids grew up and moved out. We didn't need two refrigerators. We got rid of the old one, and our electric bills suddenly declined by about 25%. **CURWOOD** : Hey, let's take a look back in history now, Peter. DYKSTRA: Last week you and I talked about how Lyndon Baines Johnson back in 1965 was the first American President to mention the potential risks of co2 and climate change. But just four years later, on February 20 1969, there's a Norwegian born Arctic explorer named Bert Balkan, who warned that the Arctic ice pack is thinning. And he said the North Pole could be open ocean, quote within a decade or two **CURWOOD** : Well, he was right and he was wrong. That took about 30 years before people like Jim McCarthy were in boats at the North Pole and open water. But he was right about the trend. Certainly, huh. DYKSTRA: He was right about it at the time. Someone else that was paying very close attention to the thickness of ice in the Arctic were the naval fleets of the United States of America and the Soviet Union. They kept very diligent measures of how thick the ice As was in case they ever needed to break through that ice with their submarines to fight a nuclear war, those numbers weren't revealed until after the fall of the Soviet Union. But they revealed something very alarming from all those tree huggers in the US Navy and the Russian Navy. **CURWOOD** : And just these last 40 years, apparently, we've lost three quarters of the volume of the Arctic sea ice. We are changing things on this planet rapidly. Well, thanks, Peter. Peter Dykstra is a commentator with Living on Earth. We'll talk to you again real soon. DYKSTRA: All right, Steve, thanks a lot. Talk to you soon. **CURWOOD** : And there's more on the stories on the Living on Earth webpage. That's LOE dot ORG. **Links to Further Reading ~** 1\. Grist | “The Ohio train derailment underscores the dangers of the plastics boom” 2\. Washington Post | “Washing machines and fridges could be much cheaper to power by 2027.” 3\. New York Times archives | “Expert Says Arctic Ocean Will Soon Be an Open Sea; Catastrophic Shifts in Climate Feared if Change Occurs Other Specialists See No Thinning of Polar Ice Cap” URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/19/weekly-report- for-%e2%80%9cliving-on-earth%e2%80%9d-on-important-news/>

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A Sustainable Plan for the Budget ‘Surplus’ in West Virginia
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 18 Feb '23

18 Feb '23

# [A Sustainable Plan for the Budget ‘Surplus’ in West Virginia](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/18/a-sustainable-plan-for-th… budget-%e2%80%98surplus%e2%80%99-in-west-virginia/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/73F61A08-4C39-4AE8-957F-485CA6829C53-300x168.png)](… content/uploads/2023/02/73F61A08-4C39-4AE8-957F-485CA6829C53.png) FrackCheck says that any surplus should go to the counties where the excess originates. **What’s a Sustainable Plan for West Virginia’s Budget “Surplus”?** From the [Weekly Post of the WV Center on Budget & Policy](https://wvpolicy.org/whats-a-sustainable-plan-for-west-virginias- surplus/), February 17, 2023 The 2023 state legislative session has seen both chambers heavily focused on turning the state’s revenue “surplus” into personal income tax cuts, despite the clear need for new spending after four years of austerity forced by flat budgets. We’ve covered at length the temporary factors driving the surplus, as well as the fallacy of calling it a surplus at all when much of that money is obligated to future budget spending based on decisions lawmakers have already made. This piece will take a look at West Virginia’s expected FY 2023 surplus and outline how we could spend it in equitable and sustainable ways while still meeting our budget obligations. Seven months into the fiscal year, West Virginia has a budget surplus of $995.3 million. Half of that, $497.8 million, is severance tax collections above estimates, which have resulted from temporarily high energy prices due to factors outside of West Virginia’s control. To put the historic severance tax collections into context, just seven months into FY 2023, we’ve collected 252 percent of the severance tax we estimated to bring in this year. If current revenue trends continue, we would expect the total FY 2023 surplus to be just over $1.7 billion, which is the amount state officials are projecting as well. Earlier this month, Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr identified in an interview that they used the budget hearing process as a workaround to understand each state agency’s upcoming spending needs. What the Senate Finance committee learned is that the state is already on the hook for “at least $917 million” in ongoing, base budget spending obligations based on legislation previously passed, which means that much of the surplus is simply not available to fund tax cuts without changing existing laws or drastically cutting the budget. Chairman Tarr noted that over $900 million is already obligated before lawmakers pass any additional legislation this year that has a price tag. That leaves about $800-850 million remaining of the FY 2023 surplus. If current trends continue, we can expect the severance tax portion of the surplus to be around $800-850 million. We’ve long cautioned that severance tax revenues are incredibly temporary as they are tied to volatile energy prices. A fiscally responsible practice would be to not use any temporary severance tax revenue toward permanent spending — either for the budget or for permanent tax cuts. That said, it’s important for the state to meet its legal spending obligations. With the $800-850 million of severance tax surplus remaining, these funds could be incredibly transformative in the coal and natural gas communities where these tax benefits derive from and which, in many cases, have seen underinvestment in recent years in both infrastructure and economic development. Last year, we called on lawmakers to create an infrastructure and development fund for counties that have coal and natural gas production and to place the FY 2023 severance tax surplus into that fund. With an $800-850 million pot of money, many meaningful projects could be pursued to improve economic opportunities in these communities for this and the next generation. That more than exhausts the FY 2023 surplus. However, some of the costs Chairman Tarr identified as upcoming base-building costs do not become part of the budget until FY 2025 or later. Additionally, the state still has about $500 million in unappropriated surplus funds from FY 2022 that could go to one-time needs, but again, it would be deeply irresponsible to base any ongoing spending or tax cuts on temporary surplus dollars—either those from the severance tax or from the remaining FY 2022 surplus. West Virginia could make some long-needed one-time investments with these dollars — for example, investing in child care subsidies for thousands of families who lost theirs at the end of last year, launching a paid family and medical leave program, and investing in education and workforce training programs. There are also equitable one-time ways to get money back into the pockets of West Virginians. The best option would be a child tax credit applied to all children in the state under the age of 18. For about $350 million, every child in the state could get a one-time $1,000 child rebate. If revenues continue to grow in future years, the legislature could come back and consider making the program permanent. West Virginia’s FY 2023 surplus does present significant opportunities to invest in our people—but most of that investment will need to be in the form of meeting our obligations for public services that serve all of our people. The plan laid out above to meet our spending obligations, invest temporary severance tax revenues back into our coal and natural gas communities, and get more money into the pockets of families with children is both a sustainable and an equitable approach. [Read Kelly Allen’s full blog post here](https://wvpolicy.org/whats-a- sustainable-plan-for-west-virginias-surplus/). <https://wvpolicy.org/whats-a-sustainable-plan-for-west-virginias-surplus/> URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/18/a-sustainable-plan-for-the- budget-%e2%80%98surplus%e2%80%99-in-west-virginia/>

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Warning ~ The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is Melting (and Retreating)
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 17 Feb '23

17 Feb '23

# [Warning ~ The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is Melting (and Retreating)](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/17/warning-the-thwaites- glacier-in-antarctica-is-melting-and-retreating/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/ACEBEC31-D6D6-402C-A093-79309624F0BC-300x300.jpg)](… content/uploads/2023/02/ACEBEC31-D6D6-402C-A093-79309624F0BC.jpeg) The Thwaites glacier is seen here as part of Antarctica, for now! **Underwater robot helps explain Antarctic glacier’s retreat** From the [Article by James Dean, Cornell Chronicle](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/02/underwater-robot-helps- explain-antarctic-glaciers-retreat), February 15, 2023 **First-of-their-kind observations beneath the floating shelf of a vulnerable Antarctic glacier reveal widespread cracks and crevasses where melting occurs more rapidly, contributing to the Florida-sized glacier’s retreat and potentially to sea-level rise, according to a Cornell research team and international collaborators.** **Deploying the remotely operated Icefin underwater robot through a nearly 2,000-foot-deep borehole drilled in the ice, the team captured the first close-up views of the critical point near the grounding line where Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica – one of the continent’s fastest changing and most unstable glaciers – meets the Amundsen Sea.** **Icefin is a small robotic oceanographer that allows researchers to study ice and water around and beneath ice shelves – and develop the technology to explore other oceans in our solar system.** From that area, the researchers concluded that Thwaites has retreated smoothly and steadily up the ocean floor since at least 2011. They found that flat sections covering much of the ice shelf’s base were thinning, though not as quickly as computer models had suggested. Meanwhile, the walls of steeply sloped crevasses and staircase-like features were melting outward at much faster rates. The findings, reported Feb. 15 in the journal Nature, provide new insight into melting processes at glaciers exposed to relatively warm ocean water, and promise to improve models predicting Thwaites’ potentially significant contribution to sea-level rise. “These new ways of observing the glacier allow us to understand that it’s not just how much melting is happening, but how and where it is happening that matters in these very warm parts of Antarctica,” said Britney Schmidt, associate professor of astronomy and earth and atmospheric sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Cornell Engineering. “We see crevasses, and probably terraces, across warming glaciers like Thwaites. Warm water is getting into the cracks, helping wear down the glacier at its weakest points.” Schmidt, whose team developed Icefin, is the lead author of “Heterogeneous Melting Near the Thwaites Glacier Grounding Line,” and a co-author of “Suppressed Basal Melting in the Eastern Thwaites Glacier Grounding Zone,” whose first author is Peter Davis, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Additional co-authors from the Department of Astronomy (A&S) and Schmidt’s Planetary Habitability and Technology Lab include: Research Scientist Peter Washam; Senior Research Engineers Andrew Mullen and Matthew Meister; Research Engineers Frances Bryson ’17 and Daniel Dichek; Program Manager Enrica Quartini; and Justin Lawrence, a former doctoral student and visiting scholar. “Icefin is collecting data as close to the ice as possible in locations no other tool can currently reach,” said Washam, who led analysis of Icefin data used to calculate melt rates. “It’s showing us that this system is very complex and requires a rethinking of how the ocean is melting the ice, especially in a location like Thwaites.” Researchers collected the first close-up observations of the grounding line where the remote Thwaites Glacier, one of Antarctica’s fastest changing and most unstable glaciers, meets the Amundsen Sea. The robotic under-ice observations were collected in early 2020 as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC), the largest international field campaign ever undertaken in Antarctica, funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.K.’s Natural Environment Research Council. Complementing Icefin’s observations, partners on ITGC’s MELT project also collected data using radar, ocean moorings and other sensors at multiple sites. **Since the 1990s, the Thwaites grounding line has retreated nearly 9 miles and the amount of ice flowing out of the 75-mile-wide region has nearly doubled, according to ITGC. Because much of the glacier sits below sea level, it is considered susceptible to rapid ice loss that could raise sea levels by more than 1.5 feet. Collapse of the ice sheet behind Thwaites could add substantially more, “with profound consequences for humanity,” according to BAS.** The BAS team, which used hot water to drill the borehole Icefin accessed about 1 mile from the Thwaites grounding line, reported that over a nine-month period, the ocean in that area became warmer and saltier. Surprisingly, the vertical melt rate over much of the ice was less than previously modeled, averaging 6 feet to 18 feet per year. “Our results are unexpected, but the glacier is still in trouble,” Davis said. “If an ice shelf and a glacier is in balance, the ice coming off the continent will match the amount of ice being lost through melting and iceberg calving. What we have found is that despite small amounts of melting there is still rapid glacier retreat, so it seems that it doesn’t take a lot to push the glacier out of balance.” Covering an area larger than Florida or Britain, collapse of the Thwaites Glacier in western Antarctica could contribute significantly to sea-level rise, according to the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. The researchers attributed the varying melt rates in different topography to water stratification and mixing. Along flat sections of ice, a thin layer of melted freshwater acts as a barrier to warmer ocean currents, suppressing upward melting. In contrast, water funneling through sloped crevasses and scalloped terraces transfers heat that promotes faster sideways melting, at estimated rates of up to 140 feet per year. Schmidt and her team of students and staff, including Meister, Dichek and Lawrence, began developing Icefin nearly a decade ago while at the Georgia Institute of Technology, to explore previously uncharted terrain including grounding lines. Designed to descend through narrow boreholes, the pencil- shaped vehicle – measuring less than 10 inches in diameter and more than 12 feet long – is equipped with thrusters, cameras, mapping instruments and sensors for measuring ocean current speeds, temperature, salinity and oxygen levels – information needed to estimate melt rates. **Icefin’s ongoing development – a fourth-generation vehicle is now under construction – has been supported by NASA. In addition to improving climate models, the space agency believes lessons learned in the Antarctic could inform eventual missions searching for life on the icy moons Europa and Enceladus.** The newly published research also includes co-authors from New York University; New York University Abu Dhabi; Georgia Institute of Technology; Oregon State University; University of Portland; Lewis & Clark College; Pennsylvania State University; University of Kansas; University of California, Irvine; California Institute of Technology; University of Gothenburg in Sweden; and the University of St. Andrews and University of East Anglia in the U.K. #######+++++++#######+++++++####### **NOTE:** GLACIERS SOMETIMES ADVANCE BUT MAINLY ARE RETREATING ~ During years when more snow and ice are gained in the accumulation zone than what are lost in the ablation zone the glacier will move forward (advance). During years when more snow and ice are lost in the ablation zone than what are gained in the accumulation zone, the glacier will instead move backwards (retreat). URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/17/warning-the-thwaites-glacier-in- antarctica-is-melting-and-retreating/>

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The Sun Shines on Toyota in Putnam County! What About the Rest of West Virginia?
by Frack Check WV: Duane Nichols 16 Feb '23

16 Feb '23

# [The Sun Shines on Toyota in Putnam County! What About the Rest of West Virginia?](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/16/the-sun-shines-on-toyota- in-putnam-county-what-about-the-rest-of-west-virginia/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/B77C6ACE-5109-43E2-8CBC-8A65FD1305D0-300x180.jpg)](… content/uploads/2023/02/B77C6ACE-5109-43E2-8CBC-8A65FD1305D0.jpeg) Is this for real or a scene from “Star Wars?” **Flower power: Solar arrays resembling flowers provide energy at Toyota Putnam plant** From an [Article by the Staff of WCHS- TV](https://wchstv.com/news/local/flower-power-solar-arrays-resembling- flowers-provide-energy-source-at-toyota-putnam-plant), February 6, 2023 PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS-TV) — New power sources that resemble flowers have sprouted up around the Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia plant in Buffalo in Putnam County. Five SmartFlower solar arrays were recently installed to help power the facility’s services buildings that house the uniform and footwear stores, credit union, clinic and pharmacy, according to a news release from Toyota. Three EV charging stations also are being powered by the solar arrays, the company said. Company officials said the solar arrays “bloom” at sunrise and follow the sun’s path throughout the day. With the arrays keeping a 90-degree angle to the sun, the power captured is optimized over traditional solar panels, the company said. The flowers fold back up at sunset. “This is just one more way Toyota West Virginia is embracing alternative energy and reducing our ecological footprint here in the Mountain State,” David Rosier, Toyota West Virginia’s president, said in the news release. Toyota said it also has the largest solar array in the state. Located behind the plant, the array can generate 2.6 megawatts – enough to power more than 400 homes. The company said the solar generation reduces the Buffalo plant’s CO2 emissions by an estimated 4 million pounds per year. #######+++++++#######+++++++####### **See Also:** [Smartflower Solar Review: Beautiful Solar That's Not Worth It,](https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/smartflower-solar-revie… beautiful-solar-sculpture/) Andrew Blok, CNET, May 5, 2022 Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. In the solar panel industry, one company has charted a different path. It's producing solar electricity, not with rooftop panels or a traditional ground mounted rack, but with solar powered sunflowers. **Smartflower Solar** offers what it calls "sculptural" solar: an array of panels that unfurls in the morning, tracks the sun across the sky and folds up at night. It looks like a large, mechanical flower. Smartflower turns solar into a statement as well as a conversation piece and does both with a pretty simple installation process. But while some customers may prefer Smartflower's look, it comes at a premium. Beautiful design with a high price tag are why most of the company's customers are organizations, not homeowners. [….. more ……](https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/smartflower- solar-review-beautiful-solar-sculpture/). URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/16/the-sun-shines-on-toyota-in- putnam-county-what-about-the-rest-of-west-virginia/>

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OMG! Some Short-Term & Chronic Health Effects of the Climate Crisis
by Frack Check WV: Diana Gooding 15 Feb '23

15 Feb '23

# [OMG! Some Short-Term & Chronic Health Effects of the Climate Crisis](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/15/omg-some-short-term-chronic- health-effects-of-the-climate-crisis/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/83804959-2969-4186-81C5-5C062B5FC7F5.jpeg)](https:/… content/uploads/2023/02/83804959-2969-4186-81C5-5C062B5FC7F5.jpeg) Coal miners ‘black lung’ and frackers ‘white lung’ are examples of such ailments **How Does Climate Change Affect Our Health?** From an [Article by Eglė Krištopaitytė, Health News](https://healthnews.com/news/how-does-climate-change-affect-our-health…, January 20, 2023 **Climate change impacts all aspects of our lives, including our health. From inflammation caused by wildfire smoke to diseases-carrying vectors migrating to new areas, the threats associated with changing climate are here to stay**. [[It can get worse! See Paul Brown’s challenge.](https://www.amazon.com/NOTES- DEAD-PLANET-Please-Prove-ebook/dp/B09QCZCX9V)] This past year 2022 was the world's 6th-warmest year on record since 1880, according to the latest report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Millions of Americans have experienced the consequences of climate change firsthand, as the country endured 18 separate disasters, including hurricanes and droughts, damages of which exceeded $1 billion. Moreover, these disasters resulted in the deaths of 474 people. In 2021, an international group of medical professionals suggested that rising temperatures due to climate change was the greatest threat to global public health. Scientists expect temperatures to continue increasing this year. In 2024, they could set a new global record. In an interview with Healthnews, Juan Aguilera, MD, PhD, MPH, a director of Translational Environmental and Climate Health at Stanford University, explains how climate change damages our mental and physical health. **Wildfire smoke causes inflammation; wildfires also cause public displacement and property damages.** Aguilera says that climate change impacts different aspects of our lives. For example, rising temperatures prolong drought periods, leading to the drying of the forests' soils. When weeds and bushes are not hydrated enough, the fires tend to expand and cover wider areas. "Smoke contains many different particles that are harmful to human health, with some being small enough to go into the respiratory system and even to penetrate deeply into the circulation," he told Healthnews. Once in blood circulation, particles cause inflammation which, in the long term, could lead to heart diseases, stroke, hardening of the arteries, and even cancer. According to Aguilera, scientists are now learning that wildfire smoke may also affect the immune system, making people weaker against any other types of diseases. The effects of climate change are also linked to mental health problems. For example, living in an area where wildfires may occur can be a source of anxiety. "You never know when a wildfire will occur, how big and wide it is going to be. You may be in danger and need to evacuate your home. Following the news also might be a source making anybody feel anxious," Aguilera, MD, added. Moreover, harmful particles from wildfire smoke may affect neurons and, therefore, mental health. "As we learn more about how these smaller particles affect our entire bodies, we can also explain issues related to mental health," he says. **Extreme climate events are more frequent now.** Climate change also exacerbates extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and thunderstorms, eventually leading to flooding. This causes more humidity within the homes, which can result in mold, Aguilera explains. For some, mold may cause mild symptoms, such as sore throat, coughing, or wheezing. However, those with asthma or people allergic to mold may have severe reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2022, flooding caused by Hurricane Ian led to a spike in potentially deadly infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, also known as "flesh-eating" bacteria. Over 60 cases of infections and 11 deaths were reported in Florida. "Mosquitos and other vectors are getting adjusted to conditions where the climate is changing. They reach areas where there usually aren't mosquitos, ticks, or any other vectors," Aguilera added. Researcher says that as climate changes, the pollen season is expanding to up to ten months; therefore, pollen allergies will become more frequent. **How to protect yourself from pollution?** Air pollution is one of the drivers of climate change. In 2021, about 67 million tons of pollution were emitted into the atmosphere in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, research reveals more or more harm of pollution to human health. For example, a study from last year found that unborn babies have black carbon particles in vital organs, such as the liver, lungs, and brain, as early as the first trimester. Another study demonstrated that women in their late 40s and early 50s who were exposed long-term to air pollution with nitrogen dioxide and ozone saw increases in their body size and composition measures. So how to protect ourselves from toxic pollutants? Aguilera says that while not everybody will be able to move out of regions that are exposed to air pollution, we can take some lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the steps is to follow the air quality index, which allows tracking of real-time air pollution conditions on a certain day. "Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant, elderly people, children, and people with asthma, may want to consider some personal barriers, such as wearing a mask. Depending on your situation, it might be an N95 mask," he says. In addition, air purifiers may help to trap these particles and reduce the amount of pollution inside the houses. Aguilera explains that in the United States, some low-income communities live closer to freeways and roads, meaning that there are higher levels of air pollution coming from the traffic. "Some homes don't have proper insulation, and because of impending climate change, people who live there may suffer from heat stress or heat stroke. Measures to protect themselves, such as better cooling devices or air purifiers, cost money and are not necessarily accessible to everybody," he adds. Researcher says that the first step in achieving health equity is an awareness that our actions do affect not only ourselves but also people in other countries. "In Africa, they deal with severe droughts and shortages of food because of how climate changes make soils less fertile in some areas," he says. **References & Sources ~ ** 1\. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2022 was world’s 6th- warmest year on record. 2\. The New England Journal of Medicine. Call for Emergency Action to Limit Global Temperature Increases, Restore Biodiversity, and Protect Health. 3\. The University of Aberdeen. Babies have air pollution in their lungs and brains before they take their first breath. 4\. The University of Michigan. Air pollution tips the scale for obesity in women. 5\. Kaiser Family Foundation. Climate Change and Health Equity: Key Questions and Answers. URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/15/omg-some-short-term-chronic- health-effects-of-the-climate-crisis/>

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Take a Look at HYDROGEN ~ It’s Elusive from There to Here
by Frack Check WV: S. Tom Bond 14 Feb '23

14 Feb '23

# [Take a Look at HYDROGEN ~ It’s Elusive from There to Here](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/14/take-a-look-at-hydrogen- it%e2%80%99s-elusive-from-there-to-here/) [![](https://www.frackcheckwv.net/wp- content/uploads/2023/02/FC65A114-D602-40F6-AAB7-E4C1BAD2D0E5.jpeg)](https:/… content/uploads/2023/02/FC65A114-D602-40F6-AAB7-E4C1BAD2D0E5.jpeg) Hydrogen is expensive and a safety risk regardless of the ‘color’ **A Huge, Uncharted Experiment on the U.S. Economy Is About to Begin** Letter to Editor by [Robinson Meyer, New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/opinion/economy-ira-infrastructur… clean-energy.html), February 12, 2023 **If you want to understand the immense windfall the Biden administration is about to bestow on green industries, take a look at HYDROGEN.** Engineers still aren’t exactly sure what role the gas will play in a climate-friendly economy, but they’re pretty sure that it will be useful for something. We might burn it to generate heat in factories, for instance, or use it to make high-tech chemicals. **And thanks to three laws Congress passed over the past two years — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the climate- focused Inflation Reduction Act — the industry will be very well taken care of.** Over the next decade, the government is going to invest **$8 billion on hydrogen “hubs” across the country,** special zones where companies, universities and local governments can build the machinery and expertise that the new industry needs. **Other hydrogen projects will qualify for a $10 billion pot of money in the I.R.A. or $1.5 billion in the infrastructure bill. Still others could draw from a new $6.3 billion program that will help industrial firms develop financially risky demonstration projects.** So that’s up to $25.8 billion before you get to the bazooka: an uncapped tax **credit for hydrogen that could pay out perhaps $100 billion or more over the next decades.** **Few Americans realize it yet, but the trifecta of the Biden-era laws amounts to one of the biggest experiments in how the American government oversees the economy in a generation.** If this experiment is successful, it will change how politicians think about managing the market for years to come. If it fails or misfires, then it will greatly limit the number of tools to fight climate change or a recession. The story of the 21st-century American economy is being shaped now. **I say “experiment,” but, really, there are two. The first concerns the economy.** Mr. Biden’s team believes that it can move the United States toward a more robust, high-capacity and even re-industrialized economy. Can it? And can it use policy moreover to make sure that innovative ideas don’t get lost in the research lab or patent office, but instead make their way to the factory floor and corporate showroom, generating jobs and economic value along the way? **The second experiment:** Can that same economy — which has, virtually since the abolition of slavery, derived a good deal of its industrial energy from extracting carbon from the ground and setting it on fire — find a new primary energy source? Even today, America generates 79 percent of its energy from fossil fuels. The administration is, in a sense, trying to conduct a high- stakes transplant on the heart of the economy while the patient remains alive and voluble on the table. **Don’t get me wrong: Some kind of climate boom is now all but assured**. The investment bank Credit Suisse predicted last year that the I.R.A. would put more than $800 billion into the economy by the end of the decade, galvanizing more than $1.7 trillion in climate-friendly public and private spending overall. The law will transform the United States into the “world’s leading energy provider,” the bank said. The American renewable industry alone could attract 78 percent more investment per year by 2031, according to the energy- research firm Wood Mackenzie. **But I worry that the federal government has started its experiments too haphazardly.** The I.R.A. did not emerge from careful study and bipartisan consensus building, but from intraparty haggling and a harried legislative process. Even the bipartisan CHIPS Act was more of a crisis measure than a strategic intervention. >>> **These shortcomings are forgivable; in the I.R.A.’s case, it’s not like Republicans were ever going to help pass a climate bill. But these constraints have deprived the government of the strong institutions, internal expertise and administrative capacity that have made similar experiments successful in other countries……..** **1\. For practical purposes, that means, first, that the government won’t be able to spend all this money in the right place.** The U.S. financial system persistently struggles to fund projects that take a long time to turn a profit and that can expect to have only modest returns. Unfortunately, the biggest and most important physical infrastructure — factories, transmission lines — often fall under that category. In other countries, industrial policy has entailed creating an agile, entrepreneurial agency that can get money to the right companies in the right ways — as a loan, as equity, as a purchase guarantee. Congress took some steps in that direction last year. The I.R.A. beefed up the Loan Programs Office, the Department of Energy’s in-house bank, and it established a new green lending office within the Environmental Protection Agency. But Congress has put these institutions on a short leash with a limited mandate. This means that the government can’t support as many risky investments as it should. **2\. Second, the government may lack the ability to coordinate its own actions.** Late last year, the Biden administration declined to help reopen a “green” aluminum factory in Ferndale, Wash., that was exactly the kind of low- carbon industry it wants to champion. The local union, electric vehicle makers and the state’s Democratic leadership all wanted to revive the factory. The project even has national-security relevance, since the United States currently imports aluminum from Russia. But Mr. Biden chose not to intercede with the local electricity provider, the Bonneville Power Administration, to supply the plant with enough cheap power to operate even though it is a federal agency ostensibly under the president’s control. Never mind the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing: The right hand couldn’t get the left hand to plug the cord in. **3\. Finally, the government may not understand enough about the companies it’s trying to help.** In Taiwan and South Korea, industrial-policy agencies don’t only hand out money; they constantly gather information from the private sector and use it to adjust goals and policies over time. The I.R.A. contains very few mechanisms for this kind of in-flight course adjustment. Its main incentives are tax credits, which are hard to repeal once they’re in place and hard to fix if they’re not working. They are an unusually mindless way to incentivize companies to change their behavior. **And this points to a related concern: that we have underestimated just how hard decarbonization will be. One of the most cherished and widely held ideas in climate activism is that we could have solved climate change by now if only we’d had the “political will.”** This idea, once true enough, may soon outlive its utility. Mr. Biden and his successors will discover that decarbonization is an inherently difficult and complex societal challenge that cannot be solved with money alone. Some important activities will be legitimately hard to do without emitting carbon pollution; there will be some trade-offs that flummox even the most committed progressives. **Which is to say: Even if the U.S. had an agency that could finance or approve any industrial project in the exact right way at the precise right time, it would still be legitimately unclear which projects it should support.** Will a new lithium mine create jobs and build political support for decarbonization, or will its local pollution effects provoke backlash? If a new hydrogen hub opens in your hometown, will you love the growth or hate the higher housing costs? The Biden experiments bear the mark of a particular set of lawmakers and White House staff members who needed to meet a particular set of goals. They sought to stimulate the pandemic-depleted economy, reduce carbon pollution in a durable way, respond to what they saw as the Chinese manufacturing juggernaut and — perhaps above all — revitalize the American working class to prevent the next Trumpian crisis. They stumbled on a germ of an idea, a climate-friendly “industrial strategy,” and after 18 months of excruciating legislative wrangling, they have somehow made it the law of the land. **But the lawmakers who wrote that policy are not charged with carrying it out, and many of the officials who championed it most — like Brian Deese, the director of the National Economic Council — are now leaving the White House. Will the next crew understand what they’ve inherited?** In order for Mr. Biden’s two experiments to have a chance of success, the officials must not go on autopilot or disarm the parts of the I.R.A. meant to build domestic political support. And they cannot assume that everything about the coming climate boom will work out in the end. More than just the country’s fate depends on it. >>> **Robinson Meyer is a climate change reporter** in Washington, D.C., and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. URL: <https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2023/02/14/take-a-look-at-hydrogen- it%e2%80%99s-elusive-from-there-to-here/>

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