Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time

Wind and solar power paired with storage could power grid 99.9 percent of the time.

Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds

GlobalTrends_2030.pdf (application/pdf Object).

Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds is the fifth installment in the National Intelligence
Council’s series aimed at providing a framework for thinking about the future. As with previous
editions, we hope that this report will stimulate strategic thinking by identifying critical trends and
potential discontinuities. We distinguish between megatrends, those factors that will likely occur
under any scenario, and game-changers, critical variables whose trajectories are far less certain.
Finally, as our appreciation of the diversity and complexity of various factors has grown, we have
increased our attention to scenarios or alternative worlds we might face.

Ed Markey letter on Natural Gas Exports study by DOE

2012-12-14_Chu_NERA.pdf (application/pdf Object).

Is Natural Gas Too Dangerous for America?

Is Natural Gas Too Dangerous for America?.  Motley Fool

Sending Natural Gas Abroad – NYTimes.com

Sending Natural Gas Abroad – NYTimes.com.

Doctors Urge U.S. to Block Gas Export Terminals – NYTimes.com

Doctors Urge U.S. to Block Gas Export Terminals – NYTimes.com.

Exporting natural gas risky business for U.S. | TribLIVE

Exporting natural gas risky business for U.S. | TribLIVE.

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ON HYDROFRACKING

NEW STATE-WIDE POLL

Cornell Survey Research Institute study on attitudes toward shale gas drilling in NY:

http://sri.cornell.edu/sri/files/esp/2012/Report%202%20-%202012%20-%20Natural%20Gas%20Drilling.pdf

Three comments:
(a) Good results. On issue after issue NYS residents are not favorable toward drilling: revenue  vs. risks, will it improve quality of life, home rule, only a few will benefit, ….
(b) I think this is the direct result of all the work the grassroots groups have been doing over the last several years.
(c) So with public opinion the way it is, why isn’t NYS passing a ban, or a moratorium, or a home rule bill (61% to 28% in favor of home rule)?? It’s almost as if the NYS legislature is not representing the residents of NYS.

________________________

Poll Sponsored by Gas Drilling Awareness for Cortland Co. (GDACC) and Moving in Congregations, Acting in Hope (MICAH) Concludes that Home Rule Legislation is needed to Protect towns right to self-determination.

Cover Letter – Cortland County, NY.doc

Summary Results- Cortland County – December 17-18, 2011

Comment on a similar poll by same polling firm

News Coverage:

Poll shows opposition to hydrofracking in Cortland County – YNN, Your News Now.

New poll shows majority of Cortland County opposes fracking : News : CNYcentral.com.

Oldies 101.5 – Local News.New Poll Says 58% of Cortland County Residents are Opposed to Fracking

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Lease Termination

 LEASE TERMINATION– LEASE INFORMATION FOR LANDOWNERS

Joe Heath, Esq., Ellen Harrison, Fleased

Video of Leasing Workshop Mar. 19, 2013 in Norwich

 

DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY AN EXPERIENCED ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WORKING WITH GDACC  

  • Letter to gas companies claiming Force Majeure as a reason to arbitrarily extend gas leases.  Word doc.

  • Why Force Majeure claims are invalid  Word doc

  • We’ve received requests for more information about the ramifications of the November 15th US District Court ruling that force majeure does not extend leases. We encourage you to work with experienced oil and gas lease attorneys to interpret your specific lease terms and determine whether this ruling affects you.  This is what we’ve learned so far from the experts:

  • Many leases have a 5-year primary term with a clause allowing the gas company to extend the lease for another 5 years by simply tendering (writing) a check before the first term expires.  The renewal language is usually quite limited and the gas company must “tender payment before the primary terms ends.” Some companies sent landholders (lessors) force majeure letters claiming that the lease was extended but did not send checks to extend the lease.  Even with an auto extension clause, if the company has not mailed the extension check within the primary term, that lease has now expired.  The companies might claim otherwise, but they would be wrong.  They can’t make up an invalid legal theory, like force majeure, and rely on that to extend their leases.   Such a claim will not hold up in court.

  • A land owner whose lease has expired should thus proceed to follow General Obligations law 15-304 to clear their title for their expired lease.  Information on how to make such a filing can be found at: http://fleased.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/lease-termination-packet-11-20-12.pdf

More Information:

Is your moratorium valid? Talk of the Towns article Dec. 2012

Is your moratorium valid?  Talk of the Towns article Dec. 2012

This is accurate and had been carefully reviewed before it was finalized.  It is also good that this is going to towns, as the land owner associations have been lying about it.  I hope it is not too technical    The important disctinctions about the Binghamton facts were that their law was not a zoning law and every other moritorium and ban I have seen is zoning.
So, this “dire necessity” test [which I feel was not the proper one and that is part of the appeal] does not apply to zoning bans.  Joe Heath, Esq.

Talk of the Towns-Moratorium-1