Cities sue oil companies for climate change
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Last week, the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, filed separate lawsuits against some of the largest oil companies for their role in contributing to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which in turn has caused warmer temperatures.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the lawsuits claim oil, gas and coal producers have contributed to climate change and its effects, such as sea-level rise, and also state they have taken part in these actions knowing of the adverse effects.
Studies estimate that sea levels could rise up to 55 inches in the Bay area by the turn of the century, putting approximately $62 billion of property along the bay at risk.
Both cities are asking companies of the fossil-fuel industry to pay billions of dollars in compensation for past and future flooding, coastal erosion and property damage resulting from climate change. Some of the companies named in the lawsuit include: Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP.
Other cities in California who have taken similar steps before, including Imperial Beach and the counties of Marin and San Mateo.
Solar panels
Last week, the International Trade Commission voted 4-0 to find that the large amount of solar panels that have been imported from China and elsewhere have caused U.S. solar manufacturers such as Suniva and SolarWorld, two foreign-owned but U.S. based companies, to file a petition with the ITC earlier this year in which they stated that allowing other companies to import cheaper solar panels puts them at a competitive disadvantage.
The months-long investigation will now proceed to a hearing in which potential remedies are expected to be discussed. After the hearing on Oct. 3, the ITC will make a formal recommendation to the president.
The solar industry fears that the ITC will suggest implementing steep tariffs on imported panels which could hinder the growth of the industry. The possibility falls directly on one of the main focal points of Donald Trump during his campaign, which was to increase tariffs on Chinese imports.
Although it is unclear what the ITC recommendation will be, the decision will ultimately be made by Trump.
“It is disappointing that two uniquely mismanaged and uncompetitive foreign-owned companies have been able to benefit from a process meant to protect U.S. businesses that have truly been harmed by subsidized foreign competition,” said Sunnova’s Chief Executive Officer John Berger.
“We look forward to working with the Trump Administration to ensure the remedies considered do not harm our robust, rapidly expanding solar industry, which employs over 260,000 Americans. Tariffs, subsidies, and other market-distorting remedies and policies harm both taxpayers and consumers who would benefit from open markets and robust competition.”
According to estimates by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. is expected to have a growth of solar installations by 72.5 gigawatts of capacity and estimates that with a 40 cents per watt tariff, the number will decline to 25 gigawatts. SEIA also forecasts up to 88,000 jobs could be lost in the industry if the administration moves forward with a tariff.
Jaguar
The British car-maker Jaguar Land Rover has become the latest company to announce its plans to phase out conventional gas-powered engines. Starting in 2020, all Jaguar and Land Rover models will be fully electric or hybrid.
The announcement comes two months after the Swedish carmaker Volvo announced that its 2018 models would be the last models that will be powered solely by conventional gas-engine.
Also, at the time newly elected French president Emmanuel Macron, publicly announced his plans for France to phase out conventional gasoline and diesel engines by the year 2040.