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Here we have a guest post from BruceMcF who blogs at Burning the Midnight Oil.  BruceMcF has done tremendous work re rail issues and how to move the United States toward a better transportation system.  Here, he lays out what might be called a smear campaign against sensible rail policy.

I speculated on what was behind the recent surge in op-ed articles using slipshod reasoning to attack the policy of the Obama administration to support investment in High Speed Rail travel options for the American Public. And, I stress, it was speculative:

… Simply paint a specific Sustainable Energy Independence project as receiving “uncritical support”, declare yourself a skeptic, and you are free to spout the a Libertarian anti-HSR talking point without dwelling on such messy things as facts and figures.

In searching for “Libertarian talking point” examples, I came across this collection at the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, in their High Speed Rail: Fact versus Fiction, where they collect a series of talking points from the three main anti-public-transport think tanks – Cato, Heritage, and the Reason Foundation (just google if you need the links).

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A guest post from mwmwm … Want to talk about “clean coal“?

Virtually with each passing day, the scientific understanding of the depths of our climate change challenge deepens. Just this week, the head of the IPCC, stated (in a private capacity) that the IPCC almost certainly understated the case and has joined an increasing number of scientists calling for a target of 350 ppm of CO2 or ten percent below where the atmosphere is at this time. We must determine our path forward not to simply reducing our emissions, but a climate-friendly future prosperity requires a path that will actually lower atmospheric (and ocean) CO2 levels.

With this in mind, over 300 religious, environmental, human rights, and social organizations have joined in a call to Senator Barbara  Boxer to redouble her efforts to not just pass a climate bill, but to seek a meaningful bill that will actually meet core criteria for meaningful legislation.

What are the core tenets being put forward by this coalition:

• Reduces atmospheric CO2 concentrations to a safe level of below 350 parts per
  million;
• Maintains existing Clean Air Act protections against global warming pollution;
• Minimizes the use of offsets and other loopholes;
• Protects vulnerable populations and communities;
• Promotes abundant clean energy;
• Eliminates polluter giveaways; and
• Adheres to preexisting U.S. commitments to the rest of the world.

“We haven’t yet seen the bold leadership from Congress that’s required to solve the
climate crisis,” said Church World Service Director of Education and Advocacy
Rajyashri Waghray. “We’re sending this letter to demonstrate broad grassroots
support for such leadership.”

“The everyday people of America have been left out of the climate debate. We are
building a grassroots movement that reflects the diversity of America, to mobilize
everyday people who are experiencing the affects of climate change. We aim to
defeat entrenched fossil fuel polluting special interests in Washington and pass a
truly strong climate bill,” said Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental
Network.
“There’s an impressive breadth of groups on this letter, and it demonstrates that the
status quo isn’t acceptable. Congress must pass a bill that actually gives us a fighting
chance of avoiding runaway global warming. There’s no other

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A Fish Out of Water struggles to survive, finding a path toward a safer environment. FishOutofWater is a thoughtful, engaged scientist, passionately struggling to help us find our way toward a prosperous, climate-friendly future. Here is a guest post focusing on the local, regional, national tragedy that is mountain-top removal.

This is a guest post from Prof. Don Mikulecky highlighting Richard Heinberg’s alerting us to the seriousness of our situation.

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The French rail system (SNCF) has added a calculator for travel carbon emissions, offering up the ability to compare prices and carbon loads for travel by rail, air, or personal vehicle. L’Ecocomparateur enables one to know how long the trip will take and the consequences: for the pocket and the climate for that trip.  Will you be willing to take a few hours longer in travel to save $50?  How about if that will also cut your travel emissions load by 200 lobs or more?

The trip Toulouse-Paris (26/27 August), for example comes up with these figures:

• Train: 92.8 to 123.7 Euros; 5 hours, 13 minutes; 9 kg CO2
• Plane: 222.20 Euros; 1 hour, 30 minutes; 180 kg CO2
• Car: 205.24 Euros; 6 hours, 55 minutes; 272 kg CO2

Time priority, this says take the plane. Money and carbon load: enjoy your train ride.

Now, the behind the scenes rule sets for the analysis are worth exploring.  (See here for the methodology for calculating emissions.)  The system actually has a bias against trains (and cars) because there is no calculating for the difficulties and hassles for traveling by plane. By experience, one can arrive at the Gare (train station) in Toulouse 2 minutes before the train and get on board (almost missed that one). The days of running through the airport like OJ Simpson, without a huge security line, are long gone. Add another hour to the flight simply for the security issues. In addition, the train leaves/arrives in center city and the car at the doorstep, the plane far out of town, requiring additional transport, additional time and money to get where you’re going.  Thus, oddly, the SNCF has given some advantage to the planes.

And, when it comes to auto transport, it seems unlikely that they are fully valuing the full cost of the car for transport. Is this just gasoline and tolls, or is there also some calculation of insurance, maintenance, and capital cost (purchase price) costs?

On the other hand, perhaps there is some favoritism to the rail (and car) calculation as there is a serious analytical challenge of seeking to do the full life-cycle and full system implications of trains, aircraft, buses, cars, etc for transport. Here is a recent look at this question: Environmental assessment of passenger transportation should include infrastructure and supply chains. To give an idea of the issue: How much concrete is going into the rail line compared to, in essence, the aircraft leaping over much of that huge infrastructure? Seems unlike that SNCF has taken this into account.

In any event, an interesting calculator that puts a price, carbon, and time of travel calculation in very easy to read form in front of (potential) travelers.

Here is a guest post from the passionate citisven advocating that we tie our laces and walk the walk.

Yup, you read that right. Time to strap on your preferred footwear, turn off the intertubes, and give those rusty bones a fair shake. ‘Cause you know what they say on gravity-rich planet Earth: These boots are made for walking, but your sneakers, loafers, or bare feet will do.

To whet the pedestrian appetite and spur the mood for the boot, I’ve put together this multimedia stream* of 100% organic, greenroots walking gospel that should get even the most avid couch, desk, office and car potatoes out of their preferred mode of inertia:

(rate this video)

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This is a guest post from the very thoughtful ApSmith who merits paying attention not just on this … but FIT is something that should be on the agenda to help move us forward toward more rapid deployment of clean energy options.

The NY Times’ Green Inc blog highlighted several plans to introduce feed-in tariffs in various locations around the US. One of the comments led to an interesting article with a slightly lengthier argument for this policy approach, from the Renewable Energy Policy Project.

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As part of a 20-day “how to” workshop on solar power, Kenyan students installed solar panels the Senator Barack Obama School in Kogel, Kenay, and on Mama Sarah’s home. Mama Sarah as in the President’s grandmother. As she put it,

“I am very pleased that my home has been improved thanks to solar energy and I’ll make sure my grandson hears about it. Solar power is clean, reliable and affordable, unlike paraffin that is widely used in the area. Also, we now have qualified youth in the village who can help with the upkeep of the systems.”

This Solar Generation workshop is targeting how solar can help address energy poverty, poverty, and climate change in a win-win-win strategy, strengthening the economy (both at individual and macro levels), protecting the environment, and providing a reliable and clean energy supply. The 25 students are learning about how solar photovoltaiic panels produce electricity, how to install and maintan them, and some business opportunities via solar lamps.

“The workshop and practical installation of solar power are a critical opportunity for us to develop our own skills in renewable energy installation. Not only do we get to act against the devastating effects of climate change in Kenya, but also develop a source of revenue.” Robert Kheyi, project coordinator for the Kibera Community Youth Programme