Radical Change

It's still dry out here. Sure, we've occasionally had storms drop some rain on us. However, we're still operating on a serious precipitation deficit.

And it's not over yet. Far from it, Nevada will likely endure another year of drought. This drought has caused a world of trouble for Nevada and the entire West. And it now looks like we must prepare for another year of Lake Mead & Lake Tahoe shrinking while wildfires burn across the state.

It's become increasingly undeniable that climate change is taking its toll on Nevada along with the rest of the world. So why aren't more people making noise?

But wait, there actually were about 400,000 people making noise in New York City on Sunday. And that was just one of the People's Climate March events happening in over 150 nations this week. And yet, you may not have even heard about it until now.



So why did the Sunday talk shows only barely mention this? After all, it was happening in their own back yard.

Even though many media pundits continue to ignore the perils of climate change, a number of captains of industry are now speaking up and making change happen. This isn't some "fringe movement". This is a very real statement on a very real threat to all of us.



As they always do, the usual G-O-TEA suspects were trashing last weekend's march while decrying "the radical left" for demanding "radical change". But you know what? If we want to survive, we must embrace radical change and do so soon. Hell, most American voters are now realizing this. So why shouldn't we start implementing the radical changes we need to save ourselves and our children's future on this planet?



This week, the United Nations is holding another climate summit. This time, it's in New York. And this is why we're seeing so much direct action in New York this week.



It's amazing that roughly 400,000 people took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday demanding climate action. And it's amazing to think a number of those people are staying for further actions. However, this is not enough. They can't be the only ones to act.

Ultimately, we must all act. And yes, we must all begin making radical changes soon. We can't afford to delay any longer. If we need any further reason to act, all we must do is open the door.

Done Deal: The #Teslamania Postscript

It's official. It's happening. And it's unanimous.

Late last night, the Nevada Legislature unanimously passed the Tesla deal. Governor Brian Sandoval (R) quickly signed it into law as US Senator Harry Reid (D) signaled his approval from DC.



Ultimately, Tesla got the $1.25 billion in tax credits it wanted. However, the final bill was slightly modified to ensure Tesla factory workers receive decent wages and health insurance benefits. The final bill also included more oversight should Tesla request a waiver for the 50% Nevada workers hiring requirement.

So it's a done deal. A bunch of legislators and media pundits are smiling as they await their return flights to Las Vegas. And of course, Tesla executives must be grinning from ear to ear this morning.



But what about all the rest of us? After the State Senate wrapped up their voting, they had just enough time for a few speeches. And yes, a handful of Senators actually addressed the 900 pound gorilla in the room.

Senator Tick Segerblom (D-Las Vegas) went even further in addressing the problem... And the solution. He pretty much channeled "The Original Gleaner" Hugh Jackson in pointing out the obvious. Why is it so damned easy for our state government to hand out corporate welfare like candy while failing repeatedly to properly fund public education?



It's a done deal. Tesla just got its sweetheart deal... But what about the rest of us? Where's our sweetheart deal?

Here's what isn't yet a done deal: this year's election. In particular, we have our solution: The Education Initiative (TEI). As Senator Segerblom and Hugh Jackson yesterday, we need to secure a good deal for our communities by making it happen ourselves.

Prelude to Tesla

Consider this a quick cheat sheet on "The Tesla Session" that will begin at high noon today in Carson City. Here's what you need to know about the 28th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature:

- The Tesla deal is now clocking in at about $1.3 billion cost to Nevada taxpayers.

- It still looks likely to be approved, but signs of discontent at the Legislature Building are starting to appear.

- Among those grumbling about Tesla are the "TEA" powered NPRI & AFP (fossil fuels forever!), progressive PLAN (worried about corporate welfare), car dealers (upset over the bill to authorize direct-to-consumer Tesla car sales), and the entertainment industry (Sorry, Nicholas Cage, but no more film tax credits for you!).

- Yet as Tesla keeps blazing trails in clean technology, Nevada now has the opportunity to lead the way in the clean energy (r)evolution.

- It's no secret that US Senator Harry Reid (D) pushed hard for this Tesla deal, as he's a big believer in the potential Tesla's gigafactory has to turbo-charge Nevada's economy.

- And he's not alone. From Northern Nevada business leaders to UNR & UNLV economists and state economic development officials, they're liking the $1.9 billion Tesla's gigafactory is expected to generate in tax revenue for the state, along with the roughly 21,000 jobs (directly and indirectly) that may result from Tesla's big move.

- But wait, there's more?! Perhaps Tesla won't have this special session all to itself. Last night, Jon Ralston reported that Enterprise (Southwest Las Vegas Valley) based Switch now wants to strike while the iron is hot. The data center company is now asking for its own tax credits for its proposed $750 million Southern Nevada facility and $250 million Northern Nevada project.

This is about to get even more interesting. Stay tuned here for more as the 28th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature commences.

Welcome, Tesla (?)

So it's official. It's finally happening. And of course, it's the talk of the town all over Reno.

Just moments ago, CNBC broke the news that Tesla has chosen Northern Nevada to house its new gigafactory. And already, a special session of the Nevada Legislature is being set for next week. And of course, we're already starting to hear all sorts of political spin and economic happy talk.

So what's the deal? We know Tesla is planning to spend $5 billion to build its 10,000 square foot gigafactory. What we don't yet know is how much Tesla is expecting the State of Nevada to kick in for construction.

We strongly suspect this deal will involve some Nevada taxpayer money, as a special session looks to be necessary. It's also been no secret that Tesla has demanded public subsidies for this gigafactory.

So how much will this cost us? Most likely, a cool $400 million.

And what are we getting out of this? Potentially 6,500 new jobs for the Reno/Sparks region, along with a breakthrough that may open the door to electric cars becoming more affordable for more consumers.

Here's the good news: This has the potential to actually make a dent in the long promised drive to diversify Nevada's economy. This also has the potential to kick-start the green tech sector and take it to new levels here in Nevada and nationally. Oh, and this can help quite a bit in our efforts to take on the challenges posed by climate change.

Here's the disturbing news: We're once again relying upon corporate welfare for any sort of economic development. And that's just not a sustainable business plan going forward. After all, take a look at how far Reno and Nevada have gone with Apple. Apple continues to laugh all the way to its offshore bank accounts while we're left holding the bag (full of holes, thanks to the many budget cuts we've endured over the past half-decade).

This is why we're experiencing mixed reactions now. On one hand, it's exciting to think that Nevada may be home to the next generation of transportation & energy innovation. But on the other, this achievement seems awfully tainted due to the $400 million we're having to bribe spend to convince Tesla to build the gigafactory in Northern Nevada. Is that money truly well spent? Or is it just more money being diverted from our already "grossly underfunded" schools and other critical parts of public infrastructure?

Right now, let's just say the 63 Nevadans who may soon have to head back to Carson City are about to step into a rather sticky situation.

They're Not Scientists

On Monday, The White House made a huge annoucement. President Obama ultimately settled on 30% by 2030, and the EPA will implement it after public comment.

Already, this is reestablishing the US as a true world leader. Already, we're seeing how the President's new climate action plan will accommodate fossil fuel heavy states. Yet already, the usual suspects are attacking both the new rules... And the notion that climate change is actually happening.

Really? They still want to argue over this?



Don't they realize 97% of scientists have already said climate change is real and we're the ones causing it? And don't they realize that they're not scientists?



As is typically the case for politicians of the G-O-TEA variety, they're claiming the new EPA rule is everything from "LAW BREAKING!" to "JOB KILLING!" and "COMMUNIST!" Of course, as is typically the case for them, they're wrong. But hey, why let some pesky facts and figures get in the way of a good political attack?

But wait, is this even all that good of a political attack? Most Americans actually support the President's climate action plan. Most Americans want action #4jobs. And the President's climate action plan opens the door to more jobs and more economic opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We've already started to see the benefits here in Nevada. Why shouldn't the rest of the nation?

Clearly, they're not scientists. They're not economists, either. And even though some of them are lawyers, they don't even understand the law. So why are we even paying attention to them?

30%

We've been waiting for this. We've been waiting for something to happen. But finally, finally, it's about to happen.

So what's about to happen? 30% by 2030, that's what. Today, the EPA announced a new rule requiring power plants reduce their carbon emissions by 30% (below 2005 levels) by 2030.



This is a big deal. 32% of overall carbon emissions come from power plants, so this new rule will target a key source of the greenhouse gases that are fueling climate change.

But is it big enough? 2005 was a peak year for carbon emissions, so we're already close to halfway to this goal before this new rule is even implemented. At least some environmentalists were expecting more. And despite the howls of anger from certain "TEA" tinged circles, the new rules are remarkably frugal and business friendly.

We've pointed this out numerous times before. We're already experiencing the effects of climate change now. The evidence is already mounting. And action is sorely needed.

While today's new EPA rule is not a panacea, it's a major first step that must be taken in order to form a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change. This is the fulfillment of a promise President Obama made nearly a year ago to take serious climate action. And contrary to the alarms of the "TEA" powered naysayers, the new EPA rule can actually give our economy a boost.

But of course, more must be done. Our climate and economy can benefit from more investment in renewable energy. And better energy efficiency standards can negate the need more fossil fuels.

More must be done... By Congress, the states, municipalities, and ultimately by all of us. This truly is an "all hands on deck" situation. But at least now, President Obama is steering this ship in a cleaner & greener direction. 30% by 2030 may not be a panacea, but it's a good start to journey to 100% effective climate action.

Green Powered Future

We tried. We really tried. We sent out the warning. So no one should have been surprised by this latest FUBAR...

From "60 Minutes". Oh, yes. That's right. The once venerated "TV news magazine" managed to screw up another story.

This time, it involved electric car maker Tesla. "60 Minutes" ran a story on Tesla's Model S. The story included footage of the Model S engine roaring as the car accelerated... And immediately, fact checkers everywhere realized CBS "News" fell flat on its face yet again. The Tesla Model S' engine doesn't roar at all, since it's an all electric engine.

OK, so "60 Minutes" screwed up its Tesla story. Why should we even care about this? Perhaps because Nevada is a finalist in the race to secure a new Tesla battery factory? No really, Tesla is already eyeing Reno for its gigafactory.

And once again, we're reminded of the fact that there's no such thing as a "Cleantech Crash". There is such a thing, however, as protocol for fact checking. Maybe CBS "News" should try adopting one?

And perhaps so should G-O-TEA politicians? Texas is enjoying a "wind boom". Australia is benefitting from record renewable energy production. Mexico is building Latin America's largest "solar farm" to replace an old oil power plant. India nearly doubled its solar power capacity last year. And throughout this nation, 2013 broke records in solar powered job creation.

Yet even as Republican lawmakers here and elsewhere are chasing after the Tesla gigafactory, their "TEA" powered allies are trying to thwart the kind of progress that made Tesla possible. Apparently, they don't buy their own "free market" rhetoric. And they don't care about "JOBS!" like they claim to when they're out to kill any kind of positive climate action.

Once again, we're being reminded of the potential of charging ahead to a green powered future. Believe it or not, that future looks awfully bright... If we actually pursue it. Think about this: Do we really want to sit here 20 years from now, thinking of how we refused to listen to the warnings? Or do we want to sit back and enjoy that brighter future?

Real. Serious. Dangerous.

This is serious. This is dangerous. This is happening. And this is very real.

So why are we still debating its existence?

Think about it. And think about what Nobel Prize winning chemist Dr. Mario Molina has to say. Years ago, he was a young scientist who uncovered the dangers of CFC's (chloroflourocarbons). And now, he wants us to realize the dangers of the great environmental crisis we're experiencing today.

The new report walks through a series of potential consequences of planetary warming, without asserting that any is sure to happen. They are possibilities, not certainties, and the distinction is crucial for an intelligent public debate about what to do. The worst-case forecasts include severe food shortages as warming makes itharder to grow crops; an accelerating rise of the sea that would inundate coastlines too rapidly for humanity to adjust; extreme heat waves, droughts and floods; and a large-scale extinction of plants and animals.

“What’s extremely clear is that there’s a risk, a very significant risk,” Dr. Molina said by telephone from Mexico, where he spends part of his time. “You don’t need 100 percent certainty for society to act.”

Some of the scientists on Dr. Molina’s committee like to point out that people can be pretty intelligent about managing risk in their personal lives. It is unlikely that your house will burn down, yet you spend hundreds of dollars a year on insurance. When you drive to work in the morning, the odds are low that some careless driver will slam into you, but it is possible, so we have spent tens of billions of dollars putting seatbelts and air bags in our cars.

The issue of how much to spend on lowering greenhouse gases is, in essence, a question about how much insurance we want to buy against worst-case outcomes. Scientists cannot decide that for us — and the report recognizes that by avoiding any specific recommendations about what to do. But it makes clear that lowering emissions, by some means, is the only way to lower the risks. Because so many people are confused about the science, the nation has never really had a frank political discussion about the options.

G-O-TEA politicians like to deny its existence. And certain media outlets (cough- "60 Minutes"- cough- Fox- cough) don't bother to get their facts straight. Yet while some political fixtures & media personalities continue to exhibit a lackadaisical attitude towards climate change, they can't change the reality that we're already feeling the effects of climate change.

That's why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) joined several other US Senators earlier this month to stay #Up4Climate. We're already feeling the dry now (while other parts of the world experience epic flooding). And we don't have any more time to waste to embark on a cleaner & greener future.

Astrophysicist & "super cool science dude" Neil DeGrasse Tyson knows quite a lot about science. Perhaps that's why he has no patience for those who try to blithely dismiss the science of climate change.



This sh*t is real. It's serious. And yes, it will be dangerous if we don't step up & take the action that's necessary for our own survival.

So why aren't we acting like our future depends on our actions today? News flash: It does.

Why #Up4Climate?

It's not everyday when we see a bunch of US Senators staying up all night. In the US Capitol. Giving speeches. However, that's what we saw last night on Capitol Hill.

Why? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) explained quite well last night. Something's happening. It's called climate change, and we ignore it at our own peril.



On the other hand, there are plenty of opportunities ahead if we simply invest in our cleaner & greener renewable energy future. Even as fossil fuels become costlier to extract and use, renewables are more affordable and within reach than ever before. So why wait any longer to transition to a cleaner future?

We've seen firsthand the dangers of waiting. That's why Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-California) urged her colleagues on Capitol Hill to stop waiting and start acting.



Contrary to the claims of some G-O-TEA politicians, climate change presents a clear & present danger... If we don't act soon. But that's just it: We can act soon. We can start now, and we can start with some very simple steps, like investing in cleaner energy & better utilizing the energy we already have.

This is why Senator Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) spoke up last night. He urged his colleagues to stop debating known science and start working on real solutions.



While President Obama has already taken some executive action, it's not enough. Congress must become a partner in action if we're serious about taking climate change head on. That's why these Senators stayed #Up4Climate last night. And that's why this shouldn't be the end of it.

Step Into the Future

We've said this before. And we'll say this again today. In order to solve the great crises that climate change, we must start with some simple steps.

Perhaps President Obama has been thinking about this. Last night, he surprised many media pundits with his climate proposals during his State of the Union address.



The President aggressively defended his administration's new rules on power plant emissions, then vowed to step up his administration's fuel efficiency standards for trucks. And he flat out rejected the climate denialism that continues to pollute the halls of Congress. The President made it clear that America can't afford to waste any more time trying to dismiss proven science, and that our time will be much better spent pursuing a smarter energy future.

So what about that smarter energy future? Will the President's plan live up to last night's hype? Well, it's complicated. While he indeed made a cogent case for climate action last night, he also somewhat negated his own message by reiterating his support for an "all of the above" strategy.

Can we truly afford "all of the above"? The US is currently ranked 43rd in the world in climate policy effectiveness. Last year was one of the hottest on record. And the UN Climate Chief has recently declared global renewable energy investment must triple in order to meet global greenhouse has emissions targets. Can we truly afford an "all of the above" strategy that includes dirty fossil fuels?

Contrary to inaccurate media reports, the renewable energy sector is humming along quite well. If anything, the fossil fuel industry keeps running into more trouble. So why continue propping it up with an "all of the above" strategy and with rules that favor fossil fuel conglomerates over renewables?

Instead of "all of the above", we need the best of the above. And that means we must invest more in the energy of the future. That also means we must be more efficient with the energy we already have.

Overall, this administration has made progress on climate change. It's even managed to do so despite a recalcitrant Congress. It would be horrifically tragic if that progress is offset by additional efforts to "Drill Baby Drill" into the dark money pit of fossil fuels. We need to finally break from that dirty past and step into the future.

The Necessity of Simple Steps

Feeling the heat yet? We all are, really. According to NASA, 2013 was the 7th hottest year on record. And according to NOAA, last year was the 4th hottest on record. Whoever is closer to the truth here, it's undeniable that 2013 was one brutally hot year.

And already, the meteorological drama continues in 2014. Just next door, California has declared an emergency due to extreme drought. Meanwhile on the other end of the nation, Winter Storm Janus is dropping even more heavy snow in a region that's still trying to dig out of the last couple of massive snowstorms. And throughout the world, Dust-Bowl-ification may already be worsening food insecurity and political instability.

There's no denying the real danger of climate change. It's here, and it's already begun to wreak havoc around the world and here at home. And this is why calls to action are being made everywhere from Davos to DC.

When we look at climate change and examine ways to solve this growing crisis, we often discuss broad, global solutions. But today, we're thinking globally... And acting locally. And climate solutions can truly start with simple moves like changing light bulbs and improving home insulation.





This is what local Sierra Club organizers and volunteers were talking about last night as they were looking at the next steps to take to finally move Beyond Coal and into a cleaner & greener energy future. While solving climate change as a whole may seem like a daunting task ahead, taking simple steps to improve energy efficiency really isn't difficult. And if we're to ever start saving our own behinds, we must start with those simple steps.

Fortunately, Nevada made some major steps in that cleaner & greener direction last year when the Legislature and NV Energy agreed to SB 123. Finally, the infamous Reid-Gardner Coal Plant on Moapa Paiute tribal land would be retired while NV Energy invests in more locally produced renewable energy.

However, the twisted saga of Reid-Gardner isn't over quite yet. Last night, Moapa Paiute Tribal Council Member Vickie Simmons talked of the new challenge being posed by natural gas (power plant) developers.



As we've discussed before, natural gas is far from ideal. It isn't completely "clean". And it won't magically make all pollution and climate change go away.

This is why local Sierra Club organizer Elspeth DiMarzio moved on to explain the mechanics and the necessity of energy efficiency.



Again, these seem to be simple steps we can all make. However, they're more than just that. They're absolutely necessary for us to begin saving our communities and our planet.

Remember that the less energy we use, the less we need fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. And that means we will have an easier time turning to renewables to fulfill more of our needs.

And no, efficiency doesn't mean we all have to live in the dark. It means we can be smarter about how much energy we use to enjoy 21st century living.







After the speakers wrapped up, the volunteers broke into groups to strategize. Somehow, the media group managed to attract a paleontologist who really wanted to dig deep into the specifics of energy policy. There were also a couple of architectural design students on hand to offer their know-how as well. Meanwhile just a few feet away, the community outreach group was brainstorming partnerships... And found someone who's interested in making a short film on Reid-Gardner, SB 123, and the future of energy in Nevada.

This will probably all be necessary in the days ahead. The Nevada Legislature now has a Interim Energy Committee, and they'll soon be looking for citizen input on SB 123 implementation and more. And when it comes to more, the state can use more of a clear path forward on efficiency. This state's energy usage has skyrocketed in recent years, so we need to set guidelines on track to meet our goal of building cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable communities.

Last year, we saw a breakthrough in Carson City in moving beyond coal and in a greener direction. However, last year was nonetheless one of the hottest on record. There's still more to do to step up to the challenge of climate change. And believe it or not, it all starts with a few simple steps.

Crash Course (on #GreenMeansGreen)

So how's that "crash" coming along? Earlier this month, CBS' flagship "news magazine" "60 Minutes" unveiled a shocking report on the "60 Minutes". Unfortunately for the "60 Minutes" crew, their shocking report turned out to be shocking because it was so shockingly wrong.

Contrary to G-O-TEA wishes, the green economy is humming along just fine. Rather, it's the fossil fuel industry that's increasingly running into trouble. With both natural gas prices and fracking woes on the rise, the "natural gas boom" of the last few years may finally be starting to turn into a bust. And considering both the continued health risks (cough- West Virginia- cough) and declining private sector investment in coal, don't expect "King Coal" to reclaim its throne any time soon (or really, ever).

It's become painfully obvious that we must rethink energy going forward. We've given the fossil fuel industry so many institutional advantages over the years. Why not level the playing field... And do something meaningful about climate change... And create more jobs in the process?

This is what UN Climate Chief Christiana Figueres is talking about when she calls for global investment in renewable energy to triple. It must in order for us to come closer to the carbon emissions reduction we need in order to survive. In addition, it would be a response to already budding market forces pointing toward a greener future.



And think of all the jobs that all that investment can create. Or is that just too much actual jobs creation for the allegedly #4jobs G-O-TEA Congresscritters?

Do we really need to be convinced any further? Do we really need any more delays? And do we need any more counterproductive hyperventilating over nonexistent "crashes"?

Consider this today's green tinted food for thought.

Convergence: Green Edition

We can't help but think of how we've already started the new year. We've been talking about space exploration & scientific research (& how austerity screws up both), "The Cleantech Crash" that only exists on "60 Minutes", and Southern Nevada Water policy. OK, so what? How do all these topics converge?

Here's the answer: climate change. Yes, climate change is happening. Yes, it's settled science. And yes, we really need to do something about it ASAP.

Never mind the latest fad of Polar Vortex TEA trolling. Wintry weather does not mean the end of climate change. In fact, 2013 may turn out to be the 7th hottest year on record. And the trend going forward is at least as disturbing.

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the G-O-TEA run House has gone out of its way to try to undermine efforts to curb climate change. Never mind that this anti-environment crusade does nothing #4jobs and has no chance of getting past the Senate (let alone President Obama). The TEA drinking party animals there would rather celebrate their "ideological purity" than do anything productive.

And speaking of productive, let's talk about Goldman Sachs' decision to abandon a 49% stake in a plan to build the West Coast's largest coal terminal. Finally, Goldman Sachs is starting to take its own advice. And it's not alone. More and more major banks are pledging not to finance new coal power projects. This may be due to coal becoming less cost effective and the trend of municipalities ditching coal and other fossil fuels for cleaner energy. We just wonder when "60 Minutes" will do a segment on "The Coal tech Crash".

With climate change becoming an unavoidable reality and renewable energy becoming an irresistible business opportunity, now is the perfect time to act. So why can't we? Why shouldn't we?

We've discussed this before, but we might as well bring it up again now. Here in Nevada, we've seen both the promise of action and the perils of inaction. Anyone who still wants to deny reality should come here and get a real taste of it. And in the mean time, we can only hope the progress we see here will eventually encourage a big, green solution for the entire nation.

Crash (Goes CBS "News")

Did you know "Cleantech" has crashed? We didn't. But apparently, it did... Because CBS "News'" "60 Minutes" told us so.

As of late, it seems like the once revered flagship "TV news magazine" has been receiving a "fair & balanced" makeover. CBS News is still under fire for the now infamous "60 Minutes" Benghazi report that turned out to be nothing but an error filled attempt to sell a book. And now, CBS is also in the hot seat over a recent "60 Minutes" report on Amazon's new drone program that turned out to be nothing but an Amazon infomercial. Yet despite these major league embarrassments, "60 Minutes" producers don't seem to be all that worried about the free-falling reputation of their show.

Case in point: This past Sunday's "Cleantech Crash" report. The San Jose Mercury News' clean energy reporter has already debunked the "60 Minutes" piece. So has Cleantechnica. And Think Progress has posted an interview with the clean energy expert featured on "60 Minutes" (whose words were twisted when featured on that show).

Here's what "60 Minutes" oh so quickly glossed over when bashing federal clean energy investment: The very Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program that "60 Minutes" attacked for rewarding failure actually has a 97% success rate! Do you know how many Wall Street investors would sacrifice their parents and/or children on the altar of Mammon to obtain that kind of success rate? Actually, you probably don't want to know. However, we should all remember the rule of thumb for private sector venture capitalists, which is that 3 out of 4 startups fail on average. So it was oh so easy for "60 Minutes" to find examples of "Cleantech Crash", even though it would have also been easy for "60 Minutes" to find many examples of "Cleantech Success".

There's a reason why such "wild eyed lib'rulzzz" as Governor Brian Sandoval (R) and the entire State Senate Republican Caucus have been rushing to encourage more clean energy investment in Nevada. There's a reason why California has been seeing a lot of green lately. And there's a reason why much of the rest of the world is cashing in on the green evolution. Here's a hint: #GreenMeansGreen.

Oh, and let's not forget the reason why much of the world is looking to clean energy for a brighter future. Here's a hint: climate change. Not once did "60 Minutes" mention climate change in its "Cleantech Crash" hit piece story. Regardless of the near term profitability of renewable energy, we must wean ourselves off fossil fuels for the sake of our longer term survival. Yet on Sunday, nary a word was peeped on climate during the once revered flagship "TV news magazine". Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Frankly, the only "crash" revealed this past Sunday was the reputation of CBS "News". And since it's bringing back the very reporter who botched the Benghazi story, we probably shouldn't expect any better any time soon. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Green Shoots

This week, Nevada is making history HERstory. And this time, it's in a good way. We now have a Rhodes Scholar!

Clarke Knight graduated from Green Valley High School in 2010. She's now a Senior at the prestigious Smith College. And soon, she plans to go to Oxford.

What's even more impressive is what Ms. Knight plans to do with her Rhodes Scholarship and Oxford education.

The 21-year-old chemistry major said she wants to deal with climate change as a scientist after attending Oxford University beginning next October. She would like to see "evidence-based" policy on climate change and the U.S. take the lead on addressing the issue, she said.

"I really hope I can continue as a hard scientist who's committed to policy, and I really hope we can rectify climate change and the problems we've caused with the environment," Knight told The Associated Press.

"I really want to be a bridge between the two cultures of science and policymakers. They need a translator and I want to be that person," she added.

In recent weeks, we've become accustomed to cutting through the manufactured crises and haute faux scandals to get to the real story. And frankly, the real story hasn't always looked encouraging.

That's why our eyebrows were raised (in a good way!) when we spotted this in the morning paper. There are many doors that have opened to Clarke Knight now that she's a Rhodes Scholar. And she wants to take the door involving climate change policy? Wow. She's brave.

And that's not all. New evidence suggests recent global climate compacts are having an impact on greenhouse gas emissions. And President Obama's executive actions promise further progress here in the US. Believe it or not, there's actually some good news to be thankful for this week.

Of course, we're still quite far from out of the woods. As we noted last week, America is one of several nations that has yet to implement robust climate action that's needed for future survival. And it doesn't help that far too many in Congress refuse to even acknowledge the reality of climate change (let alone take action).

Still, we figured these recent green shoots should be noticed. After all, it's Thanksgiving Week. And it's always nice to uncover reasons to be thankful.

We're #43!

We like to think of ourselves as world leaders. We like to think of America as #1 at everything a nation should aspire to. We like to think of this land of ours as "The Land of the Free & Home of the Brave".

So why should we be content with #43? Yes, believe it or not, the US is #43 on a list we ought to be ranked higher on.

Recently, there's been some good news when it comes to US greenhouse gas emissions: They're actually going down. The bad news, though, is that despite this progress, we still only rank 43rd in the world for the overall effectiveness of our climate policies.

That's the upshot of a new report by the Climate Action Network Europe and Germanwatch, a public policy think tank with offices in Bonn and Berlin. The two groups release an annual Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) to assess how much individual countries are contributing to the global carbon problem, and how much they're trying to do about it. The rankings include the globe's 58 leading countries for greenhouse gas emissions—countries that, together, account for 90 percent of the globe's carbon emissions from fossil energy use. Each country is assessed based its emissions trends, its energy efficiency, its progress on renewable energy, and its overall climate policies.

The US ranked 43rd last year and ranks 43rd this year as well, right between New Zealand and Croatia. We get particularly good marks for our 8-percent decrease in carbon emissions from energy sources in the last half decade, but we still fall well short of a stance that could be considered truly progressive or proactive on climate and energy. Still, if we want to gloat then it's easy to compare ourselves to our northern neighbor, Canada, which was "the worst performer of all industrialised countries" and only fared better than Iran, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia.

Hooray, we beat Canada! And we beat Iran & Saudi Arabia! Isn't that awesome?!

Not really. Now yes, we've actually made some progress on tackling climate change. And now that President Obama's executive actions are kicking in, that should help some more.

But why are we still ranked so low? Here's a hint: Congress. Because the G-O-TEA run House and chronically logjammed Senate won't consider any climate legislation (except for stuff that would worsen the crisis), we have a major impediment to serious action on Capitol Hill.

Here in Nevada, we know all too well the promise of action... And the perils of inaction. And while we've seen some progress on the state level, we badly need more federal action to finally rise above #43... And rise to the occasion.

Are we willing to rise to this occasion? Are we ready to take on this challenge. We will need to be ready, willing, and able very soon. After all, it's not just about bragging rights (though come on, being #43 on this sucks). It's about our future survival.

The Real Scandal

As of late, we've seen plenty of media pundits fall over each other to obsess over the latest haute faux scandals. Perhaps they're just gearing up for the next G-O-TEA induced manufactured crisis? Yet while the usual politicians and pundits are catching the vapors over manufactured crises and haute faux scandals, a very real scandal continues to threaten our very existence.

So what is this scandal? Step outside and feel it.

This year is on track to be one of the hottest since record keeping began, according to a report released Wednesday by the World Meteorological Association (WMO). The report also found that global sea levels reached a record high in March 2013 and extreme weather events continued to devastate communities around the world. [...]

“Although individual tropical cyclones cannot be directly attributed to climate change, higher sea levels are already making coastal populations more vulnerable to storm surges. We saw this with tragic consequences in the Philippines,” Michel Jarraud, head of the WMO, told Agence France-Presse." [...]

The agency said it anticipates greenhouse gases will reach an unprecedented level in 2013 yet again and as humans continue to pump increasing amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the risk of severe climate-driven impacts will only become more acute. “The risk is getting much, much higher, and vulnerability is getting higher,” said Jarraud.

Along with a greater frequency of destructive weather events, experts predict a host of other impacts that will accompany climate change, including water shortages, decreased food supplies, and disease — impacts that will hit the most vulnerable populations hardest.

Here it is. Here's the real scandal.

And at least someone on Capitol Hill is noticing. Yesterday, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) delivered his 50th speech on climate change. This is his 50th climate themed Senate floor speech in the past 50 weeks.

">

To be fair, he's not alone. Nevada's own Harry Reid (D) has spoken up on climate change, along with a few others on Capitol Hill. It's just too bad that too many of their colleagues are so distracted by faux scandals that they fail to notice the real one(s) staring us down.

The real scandal is the struggle that's underway to make America take bold action on the climate crisis. Why is it so hard for us to act? We're seeing the evidence all around us, even here in Nevada.

While far too many in The Beltway are obsessing over fake scandals, they're missing the real scandal that threatens all of us. And that should have all of us worried.

Oh, & About That Other Real Crisis...

Late last month, the world encountered some very troubling news. And of course, many on Capitol Hill simply ignored it. After all, they had a manufactured crisis to masturbate tend to.

Yet while the rest of the world has been incredibly disturbed by our manufactured crisis, people have also been worried about the very real crisis threatening us all. The verdict is in (yet again). And yes, we've been found guilty of responding too slowly to the growing threat of climate change.

The world's leading climate scientists, who have been meeting in all-night sessions this week in the Swedish capital, said there was no longer room for doubt that climate change was occurring, and the dominant cause has been human actions in pouring greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

In their starkest warning yet, following nearly seven years of new research on the climate, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said it was "unequivocal" and that even if the world begins to moderate greenhouse gas emissions, warming is likely to cross the critical threshold of 2C by the end of this century. That would have serious consequences, including sea level rises, heatwaves and changes to rainfall meaning dry regions get less and already wet areas receive more.

In response to the report, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, said in a statement: "This is yet another wakeup call: those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire."

"Once again, the science grows clearer, the case grows more compelling, and the costs of inaction grow beyond anything that anyone with conscience or commonsense should be willing to even contemplate," he said.

He said that livelihoods around the world would be impacted. "With those stakes, the response must be all hands on deck. It's not about one country making a demand of another. It's the science itself, demanding action from all of us. The United States is deeply committed to leading on climate change."

Fortunately for everyone, President Obama has committed to executive action to reduce carbon emissions. Unfortunately for everyone, neither he nor anyone else can count on Congress to cooperate and pledge further action on the greatest global security threat of our time. Rather, the 21st Century Know Nothings in Congress are committed to denying reality and guaranteeing climate catastrophe.

What the 21st Century Know Nothings fail to realize is that a climate catastrophe is also an economic catastrophe. And it's not just the usual "dirty f*cking hippies" saying this. Even the former World Bank Chief Economist and (Republican) Former US Treasury Secretary are sounding the alarms.



The science is increasingly undeniable. So is the danger that lies ahead if we fail to act. But what about the opportunities of taking action?

Here in Nevada, we're already seeing the benefits of investment in renewable energy. And next door in California, they're reaping the rewards of vigorous investment in renewable energy. So why can't the entire nation turn this dangerous crisis into a momentous carpe diem moment?

Instead of being counterproductive and forcing manufactured crises upon the world, we should focus on solving the real crisis heading our way. We can't afford to allow stupidi-TEA get in the way of building a brighter economic future while also solving the climate crisis.

Manufactured Crisis v. Real Peril

The end is near! Finally, the end is near. The latest and greatest G-O-TEA manufactured crisis is finally coming to an end, and we can soon go on with life.

Yet as the current manufactured crisis approaches its inevitable conclusion, the nation and world must continue to wrestle with very real crises. In fact, there's one in particular making news again (for all the wrong reasons).

Food insecurity is set to rise 10-20% by 2050. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are about to become more common. And millions of people around the world are at risk of being trapped in epic poverty.



Sounds downright frightening, doesn't it? It should. Forget the stupid manufactured crises on Capitol Hill, climate change is the real crisis threatening global security.

We're risking our own future and our children's future by failing to solve this real crisis. But if we take the necessary steps to solve it, we can actually save lives. No really, we can save 3 million lives per year by 2100 by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This is actually a rare case where cuts (in carbon emissions, that is) can save lives.

However, this is not just about cuts. It's also about growth. If Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Paraguay, and other nations can capitalize on the renewable energy revolution, why can't America? Well, we are to a certain extent... But we're still nowhere near our full potential.

So why aren't we taking advantage of this real opportunity? Why can't we actually solve this real crisis? Why must we keep wasting time on manufactured distractions? And why are we still debating real science?

Instead of obsessing over ridiculous manufactured crises, those "leaders" on Capitol Hill need to start focusing on solving the real ones.

The Coming Storm

These past couple of days have been wet ones for the Northwest Vegas Valley. The heavy downpours from Sunday and yesterday may have caused as much as $500,000 worth of damage while closing many roads in the area. And it isn't even over yet.



More rain is expected this week. And while there's concern about more damage, there's also a sense of relief. After all, Nevada and the entire Southwest region have faced epic drought and wildfires.

Already, we've been feeling the effects of climate change. The warning signs are everywhere. As carbon emissions continue to cause overall global warming, climate patterns change. This leads to more extreme floods in certain locations along with extreme drought in other locations.

This week, we're finally getting a little break from our drought with some much needed rain... But how long will it last? How long before we're bone dry yet again? And even when we get storms like the ones hitting this week, are we prepared to handle the storms of the future?

This week, we're getting some long awaited rain. But even as this is happening, we can't forget about the coming (climate change) storm. And we can't forget about what we must do to prepare for it.