Last week I wrote about a coming report on world coal reserves from the Energy Group in Germany, based on the IEA World Energy Outlook 2006. Here's the report. The nut: This analysis reveals that global coal production may still increase over the next 10 to 15 years by about 30 percent, mainly driven by Australia, China, the Former Soviet Union countries (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan) and South Africa. Production will then reach a plateau and will eventually decline thereafter. (my emphasis) Note that the projections take into account climate policy: The possible production growth until about 2020 according to this …

With the policy summary of the IPCC WGII report out, this is a good time to concentrate on policy. Any effort to lower emissions has to put a price on carbon and other greenhouse sources. As I think extensive discussion has shown, a carbon tax is the best way to price emissions, and to price the destruction of carbon sinks. One advantage of carbon taxes (and auctioned permits as well -- close enough to a carbon tax for practical purposes) not often noted is that it they produce revenue that can be directed back to consumers. This is an important …

An influential group of CEOs, senior officers and trustees of institutional investors, asset managers, and corporations called for action (PDF) on climate change back on March 19. It's a good thing the rich and powerful in the U.S. are starting to recognize that action must be taken. But as should be expected, what they call for is the minimum they think they can get away with rather than what is needed. 1. The government must establish a mandatory national policy that will stabilize and then reduce national greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide. The policy should include a target for sizeable, sensible, …

The estimable Bart A.'s Energy Bulletin unearths yet another gem amidst the rising tide of dreck pouring out of the Series of Tubes: A must read interview with George Monbiot.

Last night the Maryland legislature passed a world-class solar program -- 1,400 MW of solar on rooftops over the next 15 years, putting Maryland in the upper echelon of solar-supporting states. Kudos, congrats, and thanks to the Maryland advocates that made this happen. That this passed is a good thing. But how it passed is a lesson that bears wider dissemination. After the bill passed out of both the House and Senate by commanding majorities (Senate 30-17, and House 128-7) a small cabal of Senators took it upon themselves to do whatever it took to kill it -- including parliamentary …

Ottawa, Canada-based company Magenn has developed a "floating wind turbine" for personal and infrastructure power generation. The helium-filled device floats up to 1,000 feet into the air, using high altitude wind gusts to generate power up to a kilowatt. The power is transfered down via two "tethers" attached to the turbine. Magenn states that its compact design and flexibility eliminates the risk of birds getting chopped up near it, a problem associated with standard fan-based turbines. It looks a bit weird, but most out-the-box ideas usually do.

I changed my mind. I no longer want a plug-in hybrid car. Them's for punks. Now I want a solar/plug-in airplane. Video below the fold. Takeaway message: battery technology is the roadblock. That and rain.

After much back-and-forth over D.C. locations for Al Gore's Live Earth Concerts on 7/7/07, organizers today announced the U.S. concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Tickets for the show will go on sale Monday, April 16, at 10 a.m. EDT. Locations were also announced for five of the other seven concerts to be held on the seven continents: UK: Wembley Stadium, London Brazil: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro South Africa: The Cradle of Human Kind, Maropeng near Johannesburg Japan: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo Australia: Aussie Stadium, Moore Park, Sydney The China concert will be held in Shanghai, …

John Kerry and Newt Gingrich squared off on climate change this morning. The result? Gingrich committed to the statement that something needs to be done and distanced himself from partisan brethren like Inhofe. He also dropped a line about a need for some "green conservatism." The transcript: KERRY: I'm excited to hear you talk about the urgency -- I really am. And given that -- albeit you still sort of have a different approach -- what would you say to Sen. Inhofe and to others in the Senate who are resisting even the science? What's your message to them here …

The summary for policymakers (PDF) of the report by the IPCC Second Working Group is out! A summary of the summary: Where does the information come from? The IPCC, WGI's 4AR on the Scientific Basis of climate change. 29,000 observational data series crossed with expected changes to physical and biological systems based on those observations, with 89% consistency between the two. Models, some of which account for non-anthropogenic sources of warming (solar and volcanic activity) and others that do not. The results show that, "models with combined natural and anthropogenic forcings simulate observed responses significantly better than models with natural …