Patrick Mazza’s Posts

• A storm-resistant power grid?

  On the verge of revolutionizing the U.S. power grid 8

  Posted 9 months, 1 week ago

  Rachel Maddow, a kindred spirit whose heart beats a little faster at the word "infrastructure," has been campaigning recently for more infrastructure spending in the stimulus package. Pointing to the mass blackouts caused by Midwest storms, she asked the other day on her MSNBC show, "Can I put in a request for a grid that works, even in the snow?"

  Yes, Rachel, you can! What you want is a smart grid rich in distributed energy resources.

  First, it is important to be clear that we have two power grids: a transmission grid, which consists of the big lines carrying power… Read More

• GM 2.0

  Call it 'green mobility' 5

  Posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago

  With an auto industry bailout careening down the pike, Climate Solutions policy director KC Golden has some vitally needed insights regarding what we need to demand from industry leader GM in return.

  -----

  We should not rescue General Motors as we know it. But Congress could use the proposed bailout as an opportunity to begin building a new prosperity that can last. As part of any public assistance, GM should be required to help America reduce its oil dependence and tackle the climate challenge by producing the cars of the future.

  Saving GM under any circumstances is a hard… Read More

• Stronger, simpler, fairer

  Upward from the Climate Security Act 2

  Posted 1 year, 4 months ago

  Climate Solutions Policy Director K.C. Golden has some thoughts on where to go with national climate legislation after last week's down vote on the Climate Security Act.

  As thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through the nation's capital last week, the U.S. Senate tied itself in a procedural knot, preventing a vote on the substance of the Climate Security Act -- the first meaningful climate legislation to reach the Senate floor.

  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called it "the most important issue facing the world today." But the minority stalled -- insisting on a full reading of the nearly 500-page bill… Read More

• Green buildings wise up

  Linking green buildings and the smart grid will spawn a green energy ecosystem 0

  Posted 1 year, 6 months ago

  A new energy ecosystem is emerging that connects smart, green buildings with a smart, green grid to optimize energy flows. Since commercial and industrial buildings represent around 40 percent of U.S. energy use, and homes another 30 percent, this represents the most significant opportunity for energy efficiency and mass-scale renewable generation.

  But creating this new green energy ecosystem means linking what are today heavily "stovepiped" separate systems within buildings and between buildings and the grid. It also means expanding the definition of green buildings to include the digital smarts that connect diverse systems. The Green Intelligent Buildings Conference in Baltimore… Read More

• The dream reborn

  Ron Sims on MLKJr., climate change, and green jobs 2

  Posted 1 year, 7 months ago

  Ron Sims, the African-American executive of a county whose name now honors Martin Luther King Jr., has led efforts to make King County one of the climate leaders among American counties. In today's Climate Solutions Journal, he writes about Dr. King's dream and how it connects to climate change, green jobs, and social justice. (County residents a number of years ago decided to shift from honoring 19th century slaveowner and political figure Rufus King to MLKJr. Recently the county logo finally caught up -- see upper left-hand corner.)

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Patrick Mazza’s Recent Comments

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  Awesome choice

  Jane Lubencheco is a scientist with long experience in integrated assessments.  Those are processes that draw together multidisciplinary perspectives to gain a full picture of ecoystems.  One of the most amazing and significant was her work with Peter Vitousek et al, "Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems" -  
  http://www.well.com/~davidu/domination.html

  She summarizes the results in an article of her own:
  "Entering the Century of the Environment: A New Social Contract for Science"
  http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/279/5350/491

  "(i) between one-third and one-half of the land surface has been transformed by human action; (ii) the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 30% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution; (iii) more atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by humanity than by all natural terrestrial sources combined ; (iv) more than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity; (v) about one-quarter of the bird species on Earth have been driven to extinction; and (vi) approximately two-thirds of major marine fisheries are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted."

  That article also contains a statement that has become a touchstone of my life -

  "The conclusions from this overview are inescapable: during the last few decades, humans have emerged as a new force of nature. We are modifying physical, chemical, and biological systems in new ways, at faster rates, and over larger spatial scales than ever recorded on Earth. Humans have unwittingly embarked upon a grand experiment with our planet. The outcome of this experiment is unknown, but has profound implications for all of life on Earth."

  So Lubchenco in at NOAA is absolutely stunningly wonderful in terms of good science being done.  Obama has made some great picks for his climate and energy team, and Lubchenco to my mind is about the greatest.

  Patrick Mazza

  On Obama taps marine scientist to lead key climate agency posted 9 months ago 1 Response

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  Standards

  Have not been tracking the standards study ordered by the Energy Bill.  There was an uproar recently over a provision someone inserted in the stimulus to limit smart grid money to Internet-based systems, which would lock out other standards like Zigbee.  In general, we don't need standards to get moving, but should be getting at them as quickly as possible.  GridWise Architecture Council is the group tasked with this.

  On the D grid I would start with Advanced Metering Infrastructure to really get a data flow and communications system going.  With that I would start a demand response program, probably engaging larger customers first.  I would also companion the effort with a energy efficiency/retrofit initiative backed with municipal bond funding and/or some other kind of patient capital and have the work paid on utility bills or property taxes.  Combine Boulder Smart Grid City with mass retrofit initiatives starting up in places like Berkeley and Boulder, and you have the beginning of urban energy transformation.  

  Patrick Mazza

  On On the verge of revolutionizing the U.S. power grid posted 9 months ago 8 Responses

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  Boulder Clean Energy District - Go national!

  Boulder this past election funded a visionary clean energy district.  Voters passed a municipal bond to fund deep energy efficiency retrofits and related energy improvements.  Not just low hanging fruit, but the whole enchilada.  Hope Shaun carries these ideas into the White House.

  Patrick Mazza

  On A chat with Obama's green-leaning liaison to the states, Boulder Mayor Shaun McGrath posted 9 months, 1 week ago 7 Responses

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  Warming describes trigger for change

  Global warming is the trigger, but the total picture is better captured by climate change.  If the North Atlantic circulation shuts down, a lot of places will grow colder.  That is climate change.  

  I use both terms.  I also use climate disruption and climate crisis. Radical climate change or climate destabilization also describes it very accurately, but a bit long.  Consider the number of syllables - 3 or 4 at most work for general public discussion.

  There's also -
  End of the world as we know it
  Hell on Earth
  Global FUBAR (fucked up beyond all recognition)

  Patrick Mazza

  On 'Climate change,' 'global warming,' 'climate chaos' -- what terminology fits best? posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 34 Responses

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  BP = Basically Petroleum

  . . . and always has been

  Patrick Mazza

  On Did we say 'beyond petroleum'? posted 1 year, 8 months ago 4 Responses