ICE BUBBLES REVEAL BIGGEST RISE IN CO2 FOR 800,000 YEARS

The rapid rise in greenhouse gases over the past century is unprecedented in at least 800,000 years, according to a study of the oldest Antarctic ice core which highlights the reality of climate change. Air bubbles trapped in ice for hundreds of thousands of years have revealed that humans are changing the composition of the atmosphere in a manner that has no known natural parallel.

Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in Cambridge have found there have been eight cycles of atmospheric change in the past 800,000 years when carbon dioxide and methane have risen to peak levels. Each time, the world also experienced the relatively high temperatures associated with warm, inter-glacial periods, which were almost certainly linked with levels of carbon dioxide and possibly methane in the atmosphere. However, existing levels of carbon dioxide and methane are far higher than anything seen during these earlier warm periods, said Eric Wolff of the BAS.

"Ice cores reveal the Earth's natural climate rhythm over the last 800,000 years. When carbon dioxide changed there was always an accompanying climate change," Dr Wolff said. "Over the past 200 years, human activity has increased carbon dioxide to well outside the natural range and we have no analogue for what will happen next.

The ice core was drilled from a thick area of ice on Antarctica known as Dome C. The core is nearly 3.2km long and reaches to a depth where air bubbles became trapped in ice that formed 800,000 years ago. "It's from those air bubbles that we know for sure that carbon dioxide has increased by about 35% in the past 200 years. Before that 200 years, which is when man's been influencing the atmosphere, it was pretty steady to within 5%," Dr Wolff said.

The core shows that carbon dioxide was always between 180 parts per million (ppm) and 300 ppm during the 800,000 years. However, now it is 380 ppm. Methane was never higher than 750 parts per billion (ppb) in this timescale, but now it stands at 1,780 ppb. But the rate of change is even more dramatic, with increases in carbon dioxide never exceeding 30 ppm in 1,000 years -- and yet now carbon dioxide has risen by 30 ppm in the last 17 years.

"The rate of change is probably the most scary thing because it means that the Earth systems can't cope with it," Dr. Wolff told the British Association meeting at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. "On such a crowded planet, we have little capacity to adapt to changes that are much faster than anything in human experience."

Many of our most popular courses are on sale through Friday, September 8, including:

• How to Make the Financial Case for Solar
• How to Make and Use Biodiesel
• Women's Survey of Renewable Energy
• Organizing Sustainable Communities

Sign up now to receive 20% off. Hurry! This sale ends soon and classes are filling up!

As part of our rebuilding efforts from the flood, we are constructing a strawbale gabion wall here at the Solar Living Center. If you were at SolFest, you might have observed that the early construction of this wall served as a sound barrier between the highway and the south lawn where SolFest was held. This wall will also serve eventually as a sound and privacy barrier for a new intern village here at the Center.

To complete the project before the fall rains set in, we need your help. We will be holding volunteer days on Fri., Sept. 15 and Sat., Sept. 16 to help plaster the wall. We could use up to about 20 people per day.

If you are able and willing to volunteer, you will learn a lot about strawbale construction and plastering for FREE from one of our best natural building instructors, former-intern-turned-natural-builder-and- Institute-instructor Massey Burke.

If you are interested, please complete the volunteer sign-up form as soon as you can, and we will see you here on Sept. 15 and/or Sept. 16. Thanks for your help.

This editor is genuinely convinced that Richard Heinberg is truly one of the great communicators and visionaries of our times. Richard is able to speak to the masses in a simple and clear style about our energy plight and oil depletion in a way that inspires individuals and governments to action. It was his book The Party's Over that was the breakthrough work that transformed the discussion of oil depletion from one among petroleum geologists to the general public.

And now you absolutely won't want to miss his new book, The Oil Depletion Protocol! Timely and critically important, The Oil Depletion Protocol is a must-read for policy makers and for all who seek to avert a Peak Oil collapse.

Be sure to also visit the new Oil Depletion Protocol website. Here you can read and adopt the protocol, educate yourself, help publicize the protocol, and share your energy reduction experiences. There are also good news feeds to be found here.

Since oil is the primary fuel of global industrial civilization, its imminent depletion is a problem that will have profound impact on every aspect of modern life. Without international agreement on how to manage the decline of this vital resource, the world faces unprecedented risk of conflict and collapse.

The Oil Depletion Protocol describes a unique accord whereby nations would voluntarily reduce their oil production and oil imports according to a consistent, sensible formula. This would enable the task of energy transition to be planned and supported over the long term, providing a context of stable energy prices and peaceful cooperation. The Protocol will be presented at international gatherings, initiating the process of country-by-country negotiation and adoption, and mobilizing public support. To this end, this book:

• provides an overview of the data concerning Peak Oil and its timing
• briefly explains the protocol and its implications for the reader and for decision makers in government and industry around the world
• deals with frequently asked questions and objections, and
• looks forward to how the protocol can be adopted and how municipalities and ordinary citizens can facilitate the process.

We have added two -- see this article and the next - - new hands-on workshops to the fall calendar that will help you reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and avoid price-gauging at the gas station.

Biodiesel Intensive: Due to the popularity of our biodiesel workshops, we’ve added a few more exciting biodiesel classes to the fall lineup! Take our introductory How to Make and Use Biodiesel on October 12, and follow it up with a 3-day Biodiesel Intensive: From the Processor to the Pump on October 13-15. In this information packed, hands-on workshop, you will learn to build your own biodiesel processor, create a co-op, or start up your own biodiesel distribution or retail business!

Electric Vehicle: Hands-on Clinic (Oct. 21- 22, 2006)

If you know that an electric vehicle is the way to go, but would like to learn how to do the conversion yourself, or educate yourself on the most cutting edge technologies so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing, then this workshop is for you! The first day will be an information-packed lecture, and the second day will be held at a mechanic’s shop in nearby Lake County, where participants will take apart and rebuild an electric VW. Bring your overalls and plan on getting greasy!

If you’ve been thinking about finding your niche in the emerging green economy, you won’t want to miss our special Green Career Day on Nov. 18 in San Francisco. This event will feature leading green entrepreneurs and green career experts who will present the full range of career opportunities in green business. You'll come away with ideas, strategies, resources and contacts to help you find your dream green job. To sign up, call us at 707.744.2017 or sign up online.

Register by Sept. 30 for the early bird discount price of $150 -- a savings of $25!

We’re excited to offer three new workshops in Los Angeles this coming September! Whether you are thinking of getting into the lucrative and rapidly expanding solar market, or already have a solar business established, one of these courses will fit your needs. Follow any of the links below for more information.

• Sept. 22 -- PV 311: Breakthrough Solar Sales and Marketing (LA)
• Sept. 23 -- PV 112: How to Make the Financial Case for Solar (LA)
• Sept. 24 -- PV 111: Find Your Dream Job in Solar (LA)

All the major candidates for Vermont's U.S. House and Senate seats pledged yesterday to support the strongest climate-change legislation in Congress, introduced by Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). The impetus? A five-day march by hundreds of Vermonters calling for real action to address the climate crisis. Bill McKibben, who trekked all 50 miles, reports that the event changed Vermont politics -- and made him feel more hopeful than he has in nearly 20 years of climate activism.

The president and chief executive officer of one of the nation's largest energy companies warned that the United States is heading toward "an energy train wreck" unless it immediately begins work on projects that will take years to finance and complete. Thomas Farrell, president and chief executive officer of Dominion, issued the warning Thursday to business leaders attending the 2006 Business Summit at The Greenbrier.

Dominion has 1,500 employees and an annual payroll of more than $100 million in West Virginia. The company has invested more than $3 billion in the state and has operations in 41 of the state's 55 counties.

While we don't agree with all of Mr. Farrell's recommendations, his acknowledgement of the problem is significant.

Biodiesel America: How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America from Middle-East Oil Dependence and Make Money Growing Fuel by Josh Tickell
Regularly $29.95, Now Just $23.95 for a Limited Time

Before September 11, 2001, few Americans had heard the term “energy security.” Now, with soaring fuel prices, rising tension in the Middle East, and natural disasters threatening U.S. petroleum production, the need for an immediate solution to our oil-dependence has become a national priority. Yet a magic formula for freeing America has eluded technocrats, lawmakers, and the American public alike. In his powerful new book, Biodiesel America, energy expert Josh Tickell shatters the myths that surround America’s oil dependence and illuminates the solutions.

From Saudi Arabia’s most guarded secret to Henry Ford’s thwarted plans to fuel the nation with biofuel, from exposing the link between school buses and asthma to showing the potential for every school district in the nation to run on clean-burning biodiesel, from top secret cars that get over 300 miles per gallon to new fuel crops that could soon yield billions of gallons of clean fuel, Biodiesel America provides a fresh perspective on our oil-laden history, our present position of energy compromise, and the true potential for a fossil-fuel-free future.

In no-nonsense language, Tickell explains:

• why America is more dependent on oil than any other nation
• why Saudi Arabia’s oil empire will soon crumble, sending energy prices skyrocketing
• why normal, everyday vehicles that get 80 miles per gallon are already sold in Europe, but not in the U.S.
• how Rudolf Diesel invented an engine to run on vegetable oil over 100 years ago
• how you can take simple steps to make money and decrease your dependence on oil

Biodiesel America shows that an abundance of available, economically viable, and profitable energy solutions exists. At the forefront of these new energy technologies is biodiesel, a fuel that could bring over one million jobs back to rural America, invigorate our economy, and create a stable domestic fuel supply.

The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living by William H. Kemp
Regularly $29.95, Now Just $23.95 for a Limited Time

Natural Building Intensive Workshop -- Sept. 18-23

Natural builder and SLI alum Massey Burke will lead a Natural Building Intensive workshop this September. Participants in this workshop will use a variety of natural building techniques to add a beautiful adobe and tile bath house to the new intern village. By participating in this unique workshop, you'll not only develop valuable skills in natural building – you’ll also play an important role in building the future of the Solar Living Center.

To encourage as many students as possible to take advantage of this unique opportunity, we’ve lowered the price of this workshop by $200 Be sure to register right away – at this reduced price, this workshop will fill up quickly!

There's been a flurry of solar activity in the Golden State over the past few weeks. In late August, most attention in the solar community was on the signing into law of SB1, the Million Solar Roofs bill. Following that move, the California Solar Initiative (CSI), a closely related solar program, was formally adopted by state utility regulators.

The plan, a 10-year, $2.9 billion program designed to foster increased used of solar energy in the state, now will include performance-based incentives. The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted the plan in late August following the signing of SB1 into law.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, the PUC will offer performance-based incentives for solar energy systems greater than 100 kilowatts (kW) in size installed in businesses and other large facilities. For systems smaller than 100 kW, incentives for residential and small businesses will be based on each system's estimated future performance. Both mechanisms reward the selection and proper installation of high quality solar systems.

This decision implements the first phase of the CSI, which was adopted by the PUC in January 2006. The goal of the Solar Initiative is to increase the amount of installed solar capacity in California by 3,000 megawatts (MW) by 2017. Offering incentives for small and large solar energy projects will help create a sustainable solar industry and boost solar power's long-term position in California's energy portfolio while immediately providing clean energy for residents and business owners.

There are some really excellent books coming out this year, and you can get them right here at our web store. For a short period of time, we are offering a special pre-order discount of 20% on the following titles: Eating Fossil Fuels by Dale Allen Pfeiffer and The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook by Albert K. Bates. You won't want to miss them, and at 20% off the regular retail price, this is the best price you will get for these important books. Don't miss these great prices!

Additional new and recent titles added to our web store that you will want to be sure and read include the following:Planetwalker by John Francis, The Oil Depletion Protocol by Richard Heinberg, Biodiesel America by Josh Tickell, Towers of Deception by Barrie Zwicker (this promises to be an extraordinary expose on media coverage of 9/11 by the narrator of The End of Suburbia DVD many of you have seen), Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast (five autographed copies are still available), Energy Switch by Craig Morris, Solar Water Heating by Bob Ramlow with Benjamin Nusz, Your Green Home by Alex Wilson, Cutting Your Car Use by Randall Ghent with Anna Semlyen, Biodiesel Basics and Beyond by William H. Kemp, Ecocities by Richard Register, and the film Ecological Design now in DVD format.

Be sure to check out our other titles in the following categories:

• Ecological Design and Planning
• Energy and Appropriate Technology
• Environment and Economy
• Natural and Green Building
• Oil and Natural Gas Depletion
• Progressive Leadership
• Sustainable Living
• Food and Permaculture

We encourage you to shop with us. Our online bookstore is growing rapidly. We are adding titles weekly to bring you some of the best reads on sustainable living available. Shop with the Solar Living Institute, and help support our valuable work!

Kathleen Clarke, Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announced completion of an environmental review of the largest wind energy project on Federal land in the last 25 years. Approval of the Record of Decision (ROD) and right-of-way grant for the Cotterel Wind Power Project on 4,500 acres of BLM-managed public land clears the way for the installation of up to 98 turbines on a ridge in south-central Idaho five miles east of Albion in Cassia County.

The 200 megawatt (MW) project will generate enough electricity to supply approximately 50,000 homes. According to the BLM, promoting wind energy is a high priority in its efforts to enhance energy security by expanding opportunities for developing alternative, domestic sources.

The Cotterel project will help meet the goal Congress set in Section 211 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which calls on the Secretary of the Interior to seek (by 2015) to approve projects on Federal lands generating at least 10,000 MW of electricity from non-hydropower renewable sources.

BLM-managed lands in nine Western States have the potential to generate an estimated 3,200 MW of wind energy -- enough to provide electric power for nearly one million homes. Public lands administered by the Interior Department produce approximately 5% of the wind energy, one-half of the geothermal energy, and 17% of the hydropower generated in the U.S.

Because farmers operate in a commodity market where buyers and brokers dictate the price of the harvest, high oil costs have been particularly painful. Unlike other businesses, farms have no way to pass their rising costs on to consumers.

For farmers, today's challenges may be tomorrow's crises. The problems of coping with high oil prices reveal how utterly dependent our food production system is on nonrenewable fuels. As long as oil is plentiful, that dependence isn't a concern. But in some circles fears are growing that if global petroleum production begins a steady decline, our entire food system will be strained, testing our ability to feed ourselves.

Of course, you won't find any oil on your dinner plate, but petroleum and other fossil fuels are inside of every bite you eat. About one-fifth of all U.S. energy use goes into the food system. The synthetic nitrogen fertilizers that are essential for high crop yields are a byproduct of natural gas. Gasoline and diesel fuels power the combines that rumble through the grain fields. Countless kilowatts of electricity are burned up in the factories that process all of the packaged goods that line the supermarket shelves. And then there's the gasoline required simply to get food to market. We now have a globalized food system, one in which the typical American meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to fork. Organic products -- though they may have a more sustainable veneer -- are in many respects no different; 10% of organic products come from abroad. Without oil, we would all be on one harsh diet.

In response to alarms about the fragileness of the food system, some farmers are taking initiatives to wean themselves from petroleum and find more sustainable ways of growing food. One of the most popular approaches is biofuels. For farmers, it's a solution to high oil prices that makes intuitive sense, as it raises the possibility of growers cultivating their own fuel, just as most farmers did a century ago when they harvested oats to feed their horse teams.

"As good as it sounds, you're taking crops that initially were being used as a food source and now are being used as fuel sources," said a U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist who asked to remain anonymous. "So where will all the additional food crops come from to feed the demand from American consumers? I expect some problems coming."

Problems involving the trade-off between cultivating food and cultivating fuel are already appearing. According to Ferd Hoefner of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, last year farmers in North Dakota sold a large portion of their corn harvest to ethanol processors. But that left local cattle ranchers short of grain to feed their cows, and so they had to import corn from Canada to beef up their herds, corn that was more expensive that the locally grown stuff.

We're hiring here at the Solar Living Institute. We have three position openings: Workshop Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Site Manager.

Workshop Coordinator: Our fabulous interim workshop coordinator (and former Institute intern) is returning to UC-Davis to finish her master’s degree, and we are looking to replace her toward the end of September. This position reports to our Workshop Director and is a great opportunity to become part of the fastest growing area of the Institute’s programs. Review the job description for the Workshop Coordinator position and send your cover letter and resume to our Workshop Director, Lindsay Dailey, at lindsay.dailey@solarliving.org.

Administrative Assistant: Our excellent Administrative Assistant has also decided to go back to school, and we are looking to replace her also as soon as possible. This position reports to our Operations Manager. Review the job description for the Administrative Assistant position and send your cover letter and resume to our Executive Director, Bob Gragson, at bob.gragson@solarliving.org.

Site Manager: During the summer while we were continuing to recover from our New Year's Eve flood and prepare the site for SolFest, a former site manager here worked part-time throughout the summer in this position. We have now resumed our search for a full-time site manager. If you haven't already applied, review the job description for the Site Manager position and send your cover letter and resume to our Executive Director, Bob Gragson, at bob.gragson@solarliving.org.

For other energy and environmental positions throughout the world, you might also check out these websites:

• Green Dream Jobs
• Environmental Jobs & Careers