This shit drives me so nuts.
Friends, here is @MassSierraClub...
1. Says "Climate change is an existential threat facing humanity and many other species." sierraclub.org/massachusetts/…
(It is)
Friends, here is @MassSierraClub...
1. Says "Climate change is an existential threat facing humanity and many other species." sierraclub.org/massachusetts/…
(It is)
2. Calls for Pilgrim #nuclear plant near Plymouth MA to be "shut immediately" because planned 2019 closures isn't soon enough. sierraclub.org/massachusetts/…
Would immediately result in loss of 1 of New England's largest sources of CO2-free power & 4.2% of region's annual electricity.
Would immediately result in loss of 1 of New England's largest sources of CO2-free power & 4.2% of region's annual electricity.
3. Now opposes Northern Pass transmission project & procurement of 9.45 TWh of hydropower from Quebec sierraclub.org/press-releases…
That project would bring in enough hydro to replace all of Pilgrim's lost generation + supply another 3.6% of NE's electricity, helping drive down CO2.
That project would bring in enough hydro to replace all of Pilgrim's lost generation + supply another 3.6% of NE's electricity, helping drive down CO2.
4. Says we should instead meet all of our clean energy needs with "energy efficiency and conservation to solar panel installations, carpooling, transit use, and electric vehicles." sierraclub.org/massachusetts/…
Huh? How does carpooling reduce demand for clean electricity? Less EVs?
Huh? How does carpooling reduce demand for clean electricity? Less EVs?
5. Seems ignorant of fact that generating 9.45 TWh of clean electricity from local solar in Mass would require about 6,700 MW of new solar projects, >3.5 times greater than all installed solar in state to date. And that solar output isn't a replacement for 24-7 nuclear output.
6. At current utility-scale solar costs, that 6,700 MW of solar in Mass would cost about $12 billion, or 7.5x the $1.2b Northern Pass line. If we built it as rooftop solar as I'm sure Mass. Sierra Club prefers (hyperlocal!) it would cost ~$20-24 billion or 12-13x Northern Pass.
7. That's in round terms about $10-20 billion we ARENT spending on procuring MORE clean energy to drive down emissions in New England FASTER and confront the EXISTENTIAL THREAT that is posed by climate change.
9. And we'd STILL need to keep gas & oil-fired peaker plants running in New England to provide the firm capacity we get from Pilgrim now, would get from Northern Pass/Quebec Hydro, and would not be provided by 9.45 TWh of solar power.
10. In sum: When are local @SierraClub chapters (+ other like-minded enviros) going to treat #climate change like the urgent global crisis they claim to believe it is?! Actions speak louder than press releases! We need ALL the clean energy we can get. Yesterday. Clock's ticking.
tl dr? 👇
p.s. Sorry for swearing. I don't usually do that on Twitter. It's been a long day.
p.p.s. Context: Vermont Yankee closed in 2014. It halted 5 consecutive yrs of CO2 cuts in New England & increased CO2 from power 5%. Yankee is slightly smaller than Pilgrim, so that's what we're dealing with if Pilgrim closes without timely replacement. bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/05/…
p.p.p.s. Sierra Club's Mark Kresowik responded to the above thread via email, which (in the interest of equal airtime) I've posted for him via my Twitter account at this link. Please read:
