Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions Have Now Been Flat for Two Years Running

technologyreview.com ^ | 3/16/2016 | Mike Orcutt

[rktman]

New data published by the International Energy Agency extends the surprising finding, discovered last year, that global carbon dioxide emissions have stopped growing despite continued economic growth. The latest data show the trend has continued for a second consecutive year, which the IEA says is a result of renewable energy accounting for 90 percent of new electricity generation in 2015. China’s slowing economic growth has played a key role in these figures as well, though, and with India and several other developing economies set to grow substantially over the next several years, it’s not clear how long we can expect this “decoupling” trend to continue.

[rktman]

"....the IEA says is a result of renewable energy accounting for 90 percent of new electricity generation in 2015." 90%!? Uh, okay. So when 'they' DO shut down the giant solar array in the middle of the Mojave because it ain't cost effective,(6x cost of natural gas) will the much needed CO2 levels once again rise? I think I'll help by letting the Hemi idle in the driveway for a couple of hours. Plants gotta eat too.

[Izzy Dunne]

Al Gore will be along any minute to take credit.

[norwaypinesavage]

As usual, Anthony Watts has the facts about this fake story in his Wattsupwiththat blog here:

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/17/greens-declare-victory-over-co2/

[rktman]

WHAT? You mean the IEA would lie? LOL! Kinda figured the “hole” story was BS when I saw the 90% renewables quoted.

[Smokin' Joe]

Hey, have a depression, shut down industry, massive unemployment, no one can afford beer, so the CO2 released when the top is popped is less...

Rotten greenies.

And that's not even including the Big Gulp Ban effect.

Should make a good paper for the Journal of Irreproducible Results.

[palmer]

So when 'they' DO shut down the giant solar array in the middle of the Mojave because it ain't cost effective,(6x cost of natural gas)

Ironic, but Ivanpah IS natural gas electric generation. Solar is just an assist.

[rktman]

LOL! Yeah, I had to chuckle at the post I made yesterday about Ivanapah and the use of natural gas to offset the lack of solar production. I read they’ve (whoever they are) decided to give Ivanapah a stay of execution until July. If enough palms are greased, it’ll stay in operation.

[palmer]

I think they were gently chastised by the California authorities for not being green enough to get extra indulgence money (taxpayer and ratepayer dollars). But then they got it anyway.

[rktman]

LOL! Of course they did. Wait until the high speed rail undertaking gets cranking. Talk about greased palms.

[palmer]

From the news six years ago: "Authorities in Spain have launched an investigation into solar energy installations that have been selling electricity apparently generated at night." At that time Spain's economy was tanking thanks to the doubling of electric rates on average (more than doubled for businesses). They said that would not happen here. But it did: http://docketpublic.energy.ca.gov/PublicDocuments/07-AFC-05C/TN203064_20140915T132932_ISEGS_Order_Approving_Petition_to_Amend.pdf They even struck out the language to verify that it is green. Obviously nobody gives a crap about greenery, that is just window dressing.

[rktman]

Oh, they care about the “Green” alright.

[Ben Ficklin]

"LOL! Of course they did."

That is a poor choice of words. You should have said: Of course they WILL.

Their costs were offset by funds from the federal renewable energy tax credit, which was extended for 5 years last December by the GOP. Soooo, this subsidy WILL be available for at least 5 more years

Ivanpah was obsolete before it was built. That is and will always be a problem when new technology is advancing rapidly. If the investors wait on technology to plateau, nothing ever gets built.

Ivanpah heats water and can't store heat
Crescent Dunes heats the salts to heat the water and for storage.
Solana heats the DowTherm oil which can heat the water or heat the salt for storage.
Antelope Valley is photovoltaic.

These are all centralized generation. The future is actually in distributed solar, roof top/consumer solar, which also qualifies for the tax credit.

The irony of this is that the GOP in congress is subsidizing roof top solar while the GOP in state leges penalize roof top solar with taxes to protect the utilities because the utilities give gigawatts of campaign money to the GOP.

In Texas, they let California be the 'avant garde', make all the mistakes, then avoid those mistakes.