Stanford Researchers Have an Exciting Plan to Tackle The Climate Emergency Worldwide
TESSA KOUMOUNDOUROS | 27 DEC 2019 | SCIENCE ALERT
Things are pretty dire right now. Giant swaths of my country are burning as I write this, at a scale unlike anything we've ever seen. Countless animals, including koalas, are perishing along with our life-supporting greenery. People are losing homes and loved ones.
These catastrophes are being replicated around the globe ever more frequently, and we know exactly what is exacerbating them. We know we need to rapidly make some drastic changes - and Stanford researchers have come up with a plan.
Using the latest data available, they have outlined how 143 countries around the world can switch to 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050.
This plan could not only contribute towards stabilizing our dangerously increasing global temperatures, but also reduce the 7 million deaths caused by pollution every year and create millions more jobs than keeping our current systems.
The plan would require a hefty investment of around US$73 trillion. But the researchers' calculations show the jobs and savings it would earn would pay this back in as little as seven years.
"Based on previous calculations we have performed, we believe this will avoid 1.5 degree global warming," environmental engineer and lead author Mark Jacobson told ScienceAlert.
"The timeline is more aggressive than any IPCC scenario - we concluded in 2009 that a 100 percent transition by 2030 was technically and economically possible - but for social and political reasons, a 2050 date is more practical."
Here's how it would work. The plan involves transitioning all our energy sectors, including electricity, transport, industry, agriculture, fishing, forestry and the military to work entirely with renewable energy.
Jacobson believes we have 95 percent of the technology we need already, with only solutions for long distance and ocean travel still to be commercialized.
"By electrifying everything with clean, renewable energy, we reduce power demand by about 57 percent," Jacobson explained.
He and colleagues show it is possible to meet demand and maintain stable electricity grids using only wind, water, solar and storage, across all 143 countries.
These technologies are already available, reliable and respond much faster than natural gas, so they are already cheaper. There's also no need for nuclear which takes 10-19 years between planning and operation, biofuels that cause more air pollution, or the invention of new technologies.
"'Clean coal' just doesn't exist and never will," Jacobson says, "because the technology does not work and only increases mining and emissions of air pollutants while reducing little carbon, and there is no guarantee at all the carbon that is captured will stay captured."
The team found that electrifying all energy sectors makes the demand for energy more flexible and the combination of renewable energy and storage is better suited to meet this flexibility than our current system.
Showing posts with label solar power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar power. Show all posts
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Panel Discussion: Solar-Powered Carousel Project - Learn about Progress and How to Get Involved
The Buffalo Heritage Carousel
A Solar Powered Carousel at Canalside!
At the Burchfield Penney Art Center
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222
Saturday, September 30th at 10:30 am until 12:30 pm
~Free and Open to the Public~
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222
Saturday, September 30th at 10:30 am until 12:30 pm
~Free and Open to the Public~
Please join us on Saturday, September 30th at 10:30 am until 12:30 pm for an exciting and informative discussion of the wonderful progress that has been accomplished in the restoration of WNY 's own Buffalo Heritage Carousel, which will be Solar Powered! Find Out What's happening with the historic preservation of a locally manufactured treasure, and see how you can get involved in this extraordinary project, soon to be showcased at Canalside in Buffalo,NY!
Featured Panelists will include:
Principal Architect at Eco_Logic Studios,Kevin Connors
UB Assistant Professor of Architecture, Martha Bohm
Megan Hahin, Education Director of the Herschell Carousel Factory Museum
Rose Hirsch, Carousel Horse Restoration Specialist
Principal Architect at Eco_Logic Studios,Kevin Connors
UB Assistant Professor of Architecture, Martha Bohm
Megan Hahin, Education Director of the Herschell Carousel Factory Museum
Rose Hirsch, Carousel Horse Restoration Specialist
For More Information Visit Us at:
https://www.facebook.com/The-BMonday, August 21, 2017
Report: Wind and Solar Power Reduce Pollution, Benefit Our Health and Climate, and Save Money
Wind and solar power are saving Americans an astounding amount of money
Not getting sick and dying from pollution is worth quite a bit, it turns out.By David Roberts | Vox.com | Aug 18, 2017
Wind and solar power are subsidized by just about every major country in the world, either directly or indirectly through tax breaks, mandates, and regulations.
The main rationale for these subsidies is that wind and solar produce benefits to society that are not captured in their market price (a.k.a. “positive externalities”). Specifically, wind and solar power reduce pollution, which reduces sickness, missed work days, and early deaths. Every wind farm or solar field displaces some other form of power generation (usually coal or natural gas) that would have polluted more.
Subsidies for renewable energy sources are meant to remedy this market failure, to make the market value of renewables more accurately reflect their total social value.
This raises an obvious question: Are renewable energy subsidies doing the job? That is to say, are they accurately reflecting the size and nature of their benefits to society?
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab published a comprehensive report on the health and environmental benefits of wind and solar in the US between 2007 (when the market was virtually nothing) and 2015 (after years of explosive market growth).
Below are the main conclusions:
- From 2007 to 2015, wind and solar in the US reduced SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 by 1.0, 0.6, and 0.05 million tons respectively;
- Reduction of those local air pollutants helped avoid 7,000 premature deaths (the central estimate in a range from 3,000 to 12,700);
- Those avoided deaths, along with other public health impacts, are worth a cumulative $56 billion (the central estimate in a range from $30 to $113 billion);
- Wind and solar also reduced CO2 emissions, to the tune of $32 billion in avoided climate costs (the central estimate in a range from $5 to $107 billion).
Costs and benefits
In this case, as in all such cases, it is somewhat misleading to simply compare total subsidies with total health and environmental benefits. The total amounts are not all that matters. It also matters how costs and benefits are distributed — i.e., equity matters as well.
To put it bluntly: A dollar in federal taxes is not equivalent to a dollar of avoided health and environmental costs. The latter dollar is worth more than the former dollar.
Why is that? Simple: Federal taxes come disproportionately from the wealthy, via our progressive federal income tax, but health and environmental benefits disproportionately help the poor. And as any good economist will tell you, the same dollar is worth more to a poor person than it is to a rich person.
This is something that often gets lost in discussions of environmental regulations. It’s not just that their total benefits almost always exceed their direct costs. It’s that those benefits are uniquely egalitarian and progressive.
In the case of climate change, any reduction in CO2 emissions benefits everyone on Earth (egalitarian), while disproportionately helping the poor, who suffer earliest and most from climate impacts (progressive).
In the case of local air-quality benefits, cleaner air benefits everyone in the region who breathes (egalitarian), while disproportionately helping the poor, who are more likely to live in close proximity to fossil fuel power plants (progressive).
In terms of equity, converting a dollar of wealthy people’s money into a dollar of health for low-income communities seems like a good deal to me. And if you can get multiple dollars of low-income health benefit for every dollar of high-income taxes, well, that’s a no brainer.
Everybody breathes. Any dollar of federal income taxes used to produce a dollar of air and climate benefits is a net gain for justice.
Excerpts of the article are shown above. To read the full article, visit Vox.com
Monday, April 3, 2017
ENERGY & CLIMATE NEWS ROUNDUP: Climate Progress - States to Exceed Targets - Clean Energy Future - Solar Surge - Wind Jobs - Grid Batteries
Climate Progress, With or Without Trump
By MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG | Op-Ed Contributor | MARCH 31, 2017
President Trump’s unfortunate and misguided rollback of environmental protections has led to a depressing and widespread belief that the United States can no longer meet its commitment under the Paris climate change agreement. But here’s the good news: It’s wrong.
No matter what roadblocks the White House and Congress throw up, the United States can — and I’m confident, will — meet the commitment it made in Paris in 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet. Let me explain why, and why correcting the false perception is so important.
Those who believe that the Trump administration will end American leadership on climate change are making the same mistake as those who believe that it will put coal miners back to work: overestimating Washington’s ability to influence energy markets, and underestimating the role that cities, states, businesses and consumers are playing in driving down emissions on their own.
Though few people realize it, more than 250 coal plants — almost half of the total number in this country — have announced in recent years that they will close or switch to cleaner fuels. Washington isn’t putting these plants out of business; the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan hasn’t even gone into effect yet.
They are closing because consumers are demanding energy from sources that don’t poison their air and water, and because energy companies are providing cleaner and cheaper alternatives. When two coal plant closings were announced last week, in southern Ohio, the company explained that they were no longer “economically viable.” That’s increasingly true for the whole industry.
Read more at NYTimes.com
Governor Cuomo and Governor Brown Reaffirm Commitment to Exceeding Targets of the Clean Power Plan
March 28, 2017 Albany, NY
With the announcement that the United States will begin to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement reaffirming their ongoing commitment to exceed the targets of the Clean Power Plan and curb carbon pollution:
For more information on climate leadership in New York and California, click here.
Propping up coal avoids hard facts while denying science and subverting Buffalo
EDITORIAL - The Buffalo News | March 31, 2017
President Trump’s order to undo his predecessor’s policies on clean energy is unnecessary, unwise and, regarding Buffalo’s economic hopes, unwanted.
Forget, for the moment, the fears about the effect of fossil fuels on climate change. Forget, too, that clean air and water prevent illness and support longer, healthier lives. Forget that smog once enveloped American cities, and that rivers were so polluted they caught fire.
According to Trump, the reason to try to reignite the coal industry is that American energy independence is more crucial to the nation than fighting climate change. It’s a dubious argument, since the nation is already approaching energy independence as a result of hydraulic fracturing, but even still, the road to true independence is not through coal but renewable energy. For Buffalo’s purposes, that specifically includes the kind of clean energy that will be made available by the SolarCity plant in South Buffalo.
Buffalo today is in the business of the future, and coal – no matter how cleanly some systems may burn it – remains a fundamentally dirty fossil fuel whose days are numbered. Times change and coal’s is coming to an end. Nothing President Trump or anyone else does can change that fact. The future lies elsewhere: in wind, perhaps; in some technologies yet to be discovered, likely; and, to be sure, in the sun.
That’s the energy that SolarCity will produce. Coming on line soon as the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar-panel manufacturing plant, the project puts Buffalo at the leading edge of America’s energy future. Federal policies cannot stop it. Whatever government may do, economic forces will ultimately push it forward.
What Washington can do, though, is put obstacles in the way of clean energy, thereby kicking energy independence further down the road – thus rewarding the regimes that incubate terrorists and, yes, hastening the effects of climate change. That includes melting polar icecaps that will raise sea levels and create grave risks for coastal areas, including New York City.
No one really believes that coal is coming back or – except for those unfortunate people whose livelihoods depend on it – even that it should. What Washington and coal industry states should be doing is helping those regions to transition to a new economy, much as New York State has done for Buffalo and, before that, for the Albany area.
Read more at BuffaloNews.com
U.S. Solar Surged 95% to Become Largest Source of New Energy
By Chris Martin | February 15, 2017
Can Solar Power Beat Out Coal in a Decade?
Solar developers installed a record 14.6 gigawatts in the U.S. last year, almost double the total from 2015 and enough to make photovoltaic panels the largest source of new electric capacity for the first time.
Solar panels on rooftops and fields accounted for 39 percent of new generation last year, according to a report Wednesday from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. That beat the 29 percent contribution from natural gas and 26 percent from wind.
The surge is further evidence that solar power has become an important part of the U.S. energy mix, even as President Donald Trump pushes for wider use of fossil fuels. The solar industry employs 260,000 people and accounted for 2 percent of all new U.S. jobs last year, and Republican and Democratic governors from 20 states sent the White House a letter Monday saying that clean energy is an important economic driver.
“What these numbers tell you is that the solar industry is a force to be reckoned with,” Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Solar’s economically winning hand is generating strong growth across all market segments.”
Total installations surged 95 percent from 2015, led by large fields of solar arrays, which generally cost less than putting panels on rooftops. Utility-scale development increased 145 percent last year, the most in the industry, as costs became increasingly competitive with power produced from gas, according to the report.
Read more at Bloomberg.com
Wind Energy: Jobs & Economic Benefits in all 50 States
U.S. wind power is the number one source of renewable energy generating capacity in the country, and has grown at an average annual pace of 12 percent over the last five years.
The American wind industry is a leading creator of jobs and economic development in areas that need it most, from America’s rural areas to Rust Belt manufacturing hubs. Texas, the national leader, has more than 22,000 wind jobs. Oklahoma, Iowa, Colorado, and Kansas each have more than 5,000 wind energy employees. In total, half of U.S. states have 1,000 or more wind jobs.
The U.S. wind industry is a major source of investment and economic development. The industry has invested more than $143 billion in U.S. wind projects over the last decade.
The U.S. wind industry continues to grow American jobs at a rapid pace. In 2016, the industry added nearly 15,000 new jobs and now employs a record 102,500 Americans in all 50 states. Since 2013, wind jobs have grown more than 25 percent a year, and wind turbine technician is America’s fastest growing job. The industry provides well-paying jobs in wind energy project planning, siting, development, construction, manufacturing and supply chain, and operations.
Read more at AWEA.org
Vattenfall & BMW Reach Agreement For Grid Storage Batteries
April 3rd, 2017 by Steve Hanley
Vattenfall and BMW have inked a new grid storage agreement. The contract calls for the purchase of new lithium ion batteries to store electricity generated by company’s wind turbine facilities. Vattenfall is one of the largest utility companies in Europe with operations in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom. It is wholly owned by the Swedish government.
The batteries will be the same 33 kWh batteries used by BMW to power its i3 electric sedans and will include a proprietary battery management system created by BMW. The contract calls for the delivery of 1,000 batteries a year. Vattenfall is pushing ahead with aggressive clean energy goals. It recently announced that it would replace all 3,500 vehicles in its company fleet with EVs.
The announcement underscores how quickly things change in technology today. In late 2015, BMW was hard at work on a plan to use recycled EV batteries for grid storage. Last year, Tesla chief technology officer JB Straubel gave a talk in which he said his company had carefully evaluated both new and used batteries and decided that new was the most effective strategy.
“Energy storage and grid stability are the major topics of the new energy world,” says Gunnar Groebler, senior vice president of Vattenfall and head of its wind energy division. “We want to use the sites where we generate electricity from renewable energies in order to drive the transformation to a new energy system and to facilitate the integration of renewable energies into the energy system with the storage facilities. The decoupling of production and consumption and the coupling of different consumption sectors are in the focus of our work.”
Read more at CleanTechnica
By MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG | Op-Ed Contributor | MARCH 31, 2017
President Trump’s unfortunate and misguided rollback of environmental protections has led to a depressing and widespread belief that the United States can no longer meet its commitment under the Paris climate change agreement. But here’s the good news: It’s wrong.
No matter what roadblocks the White House and Congress throw up, the United States can — and I’m confident, will — meet the commitment it made in Paris in 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet. Let me explain why, and why correcting the false perception is so important.
Those who believe that the Trump administration will end American leadership on climate change are making the same mistake as those who believe that it will put coal miners back to work: overestimating Washington’s ability to influence energy markets, and underestimating the role that cities, states, businesses and consumers are playing in driving down emissions on their own.
Though few people realize it, more than 250 coal plants — almost half of the total number in this country — have announced in recent years that they will close or switch to cleaner fuels. Washington isn’t putting these plants out of business; the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan hasn’t even gone into effect yet.
They are closing because consumers are demanding energy from sources that don’t poison their air and water, and because energy companies are providing cleaner and cheaper alternatives. When two coal plant closings were announced last week, in southern Ohio, the company explained that they were no longer “economically viable.” That’s increasingly true for the whole industry.
Read more at NYTimes.com
Governor Cuomo and Governor Brown Reaffirm Commitment to Exceeding Targets of the Clean Power Plan
March 28, 2017 Albany, NY
With the announcement that the United States will begin to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement reaffirming their ongoing commitment to exceed the targets of the Clean Power Plan and curb carbon pollution:
"Dismantling the Clean Power Plan and other critical climate programs is profoundly misguided and shockingly ignores basic science. With this move, the Administration will endanger public health, our environment and our economic prosperity.New York and California lead the nation in ground-breaking policies to combat climate change. Both states – which account for roughly 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States – have adopted advanced energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to meet and exceed the requirements of the Clean Power Plan and have set some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in North America – 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. New York and California will continue to work closely together – and with other states – to help fill the void left by the federal government.
"Climate change is real and will not be wished away by rhetoric or denial. We stand together with a majority of the American people in supporting bold actions to protect our communities from the dire consequences of climate change.
"Together, California and New York represent approximately 60 million people – nearly one-in-five Americans – and 20 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. With or without Washington, we will work with our partners throughout the world to aggressively fight climate change and protect our future."
For more information on climate leadership in New York and California, click here.
Propping up coal avoids hard facts while denying science and subverting Buffalo
EDITORIAL - The Buffalo News | March 31, 2017
President Trump’s order to undo his predecessor’s policies on clean energy is unnecessary, unwise and, regarding Buffalo’s economic hopes, unwanted.
Forget, for the moment, the fears about the effect of fossil fuels on climate change. Forget, too, that clean air and water prevent illness and support longer, healthier lives. Forget that smog once enveloped American cities, and that rivers were so polluted they caught fire.
According to Trump, the reason to try to reignite the coal industry is that American energy independence is more crucial to the nation than fighting climate change. It’s a dubious argument, since the nation is already approaching energy independence as a result of hydraulic fracturing, but even still, the road to true independence is not through coal but renewable energy. For Buffalo’s purposes, that specifically includes the kind of clean energy that will be made available by the SolarCity plant in South Buffalo.
Buffalo today is in the business of the future, and coal – no matter how cleanly some systems may burn it – remains a fundamentally dirty fossil fuel whose days are numbered. Times change and coal’s is coming to an end. Nothing President Trump or anyone else does can change that fact. The future lies elsewhere: in wind, perhaps; in some technologies yet to be discovered, likely; and, to be sure, in the sun.
That’s the energy that SolarCity will produce. Coming on line soon as the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar-panel manufacturing plant, the project puts Buffalo at the leading edge of America’s energy future. Federal policies cannot stop it. Whatever government may do, economic forces will ultimately push it forward.
What Washington can do, though, is put obstacles in the way of clean energy, thereby kicking energy independence further down the road – thus rewarding the regimes that incubate terrorists and, yes, hastening the effects of climate change. That includes melting polar icecaps that will raise sea levels and create grave risks for coastal areas, including New York City.
No one really believes that coal is coming back or – except for those unfortunate people whose livelihoods depend on it – even that it should. What Washington and coal industry states should be doing is helping those regions to transition to a new economy, much as New York State has done for Buffalo and, before that, for the Albany area.
Read more at BuffaloNews.com
U.S. Solar Surged 95% to Become Largest Source of New Energy
By Chris Martin | February 15, 2017
Can Solar Power Beat Out Coal in a Decade?
Solar developers installed a record 14.6 gigawatts in the U.S. last year, almost double the total from 2015 and enough to make photovoltaic panels the largest source of new electric capacity for the first time.
Solar panels on rooftops and fields accounted for 39 percent of new generation last year, according to a report Wednesday from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. That beat the 29 percent contribution from natural gas and 26 percent from wind.
The surge is further evidence that solar power has become an important part of the U.S. energy mix, even as President Donald Trump pushes for wider use of fossil fuels. The solar industry employs 260,000 people and accounted for 2 percent of all new U.S. jobs last year, and Republican and Democratic governors from 20 states sent the White House a letter Monday saying that clean energy is an important economic driver.
“What these numbers tell you is that the solar industry is a force to be reckoned with,” Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Solar’s economically winning hand is generating strong growth across all market segments.”
Total installations surged 95 percent from 2015, led by large fields of solar arrays, which generally cost less than putting panels on rooftops. Utility-scale development increased 145 percent last year, the most in the industry, as costs became increasingly competitive with power produced from gas, according to the report.
 |
| [Click image to enlarge] |
Wind Energy: Jobs & Economic Benefits in all 50 States
U.S. wind power is the number one source of renewable energy generating capacity in the country, and has grown at an average annual pace of 12 percent over the last five years.
The American wind industry is a leading creator of jobs and economic development in areas that need it most, from America’s rural areas to Rust Belt manufacturing hubs. Texas, the national leader, has more than 22,000 wind jobs. Oklahoma, Iowa, Colorado, and Kansas each have more than 5,000 wind energy employees. In total, half of U.S. states have 1,000 or more wind jobs.
The U.S. wind industry is a major source of investment and economic development. The industry has invested more than $143 billion in U.S. wind projects over the last decade.
The U.S. wind industry continues to grow American jobs at a rapid pace. In 2016, the industry added nearly 15,000 new jobs and now employs a record 102,500 Americans in all 50 states. Since 2013, wind jobs have grown more than 25 percent a year, and wind turbine technician is America’s fastest growing job. The industry provides well-paying jobs in wind energy project planning, siting, development, construction, manufacturing and supply chain, and operations.
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| [Click image to enlarge] |
Vattenfall & BMW Reach Agreement For Grid Storage Batteries
April 3rd, 2017 by Steve Hanley
Vattenfall and BMW have inked a new grid storage agreement. The contract calls for the purchase of new lithium ion batteries to store electricity generated by company’s wind turbine facilities. Vattenfall is one of the largest utility companies in Europe with operations in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom. It is wholly owned by the Swedish government.
The batteries will be the same 33 kWh batteries used by BMW to power its i3 electric sedans and will include a proprietary battery management system created by BMW. The contract calls for the delivery of 1,000 batteries a year. Vattenfall is pushing ahead with aggressive clean energy goals. It recently announced that it would replace all 3,500 vehicles in its company fleet with EVs.
The announcement underscores how quickly things change in technology today. In late 2015, BMW was hard at work on a plan to use recycled EV batteries for grid storage. Last year, Tesla chief technology officer JB Straubel gave a talk in which he said his company had carefully evaluated both new and used batteries and decided that new was the most effective strategy.
“Energy storage and grid stability are the major topics of the new energy world,” says Gunnar Groebler, senior vice president of Vattenfall and head of its wind energy division. “We want to use the sites where we generate electricity from renewable energies in order to drive the transformation to a new energy system and to facilitate the integration of renewable energies into the energy system with the storage facilities. The decoupling of production and consumption and the coupling of different consumption sectors are in the focus of our work.”
Read more at CleanTechnica
Sunday, November 20, 2016
SUSTAINABILITY: Business Will Move Ahead on Environmental and Social Issues, Independent of U.S. Political Leadership
Sustainable Business Will Move Ahead With or Without Trump’s Support
Harvard Business Review | November 18, 2016
Andrew Winston is the author, most recently, of The Big Pivot. He is also the co-author of the best-seller Green to Gold and the author of Green Recovery. He advises some of the world’s leading companies on how they can navigate and profit from environmental and social challenges.
If we take the incoming president of the United States at his word, things look dire for the cause of sustainability. Donald Trump and many of his advisers appear hostile to action on climate change and to progress on many social issues that companies have already embraced, such as diversity and LGBT rights. Even if Trump himself stays ambivalent on some of these issues, Republican leaders have much clearer aims, including extensive plans to slash environmental protections.
Will the seismic shift in U.S. political leadership have a chilling effect on corporate action around environmental and social issues? The short answer is no. Companies will continue to pursue sustainability in the United States because the macro forces driving the movement remain strong. The big trends didn’t disappear on election day and, more important, they do not depend on the U.S. government. Let’s unpack what’s really been propelling most companies forward, which comes down to five megatrends.
The Economics of Clean Tech
In short, Trump cannot stop all momentum on the clean economy. The economics are too good. The cost to build and produce solar and wind power, for example, has dropped 60%–80% since 2010, making it cheaper than grid electricity in most states. And, most critical, this economic reality holds even without subsidies. Of course, government aid is helping accelerate the transition, but given the economic boost that clean energy provides to many states, support for wind and solar looks relatively safe in Congress. GOP Senator Chuck Grassley said that if Trump tries to eliminate the wind tax credit, the president-elect will “do it over my dead body.”A Changing Climate
I’m not talking about the politics of and governmental action on climate change, such as the Paris Accord, carbon trading schemes, or efficiency standards. I mean actual extreme weather and climate change. These things are not theoretical and are costing business and society today. When Kellogg’s CEO, John Bryant, spoke at the Paris meeting, in December 2015, he told the assembled executives and diplomats that addressing climate change was “mission critical” for the company. (I was onstage with him and heard it very clearly.) One of his reasons why is what he described as a “fragile supply chain,” wherein weather shocks can damage grain production — a nice way of saying we don’t know if we can grow enough food. Across other sectors, unprecedented floods and storms around the world have done many billions of dollars of damage to factories, distribution centers, and local economies.More companies are recognizing climate’s systemic risks. A week before the election, the CEO of General Mills, Ken Powell, spoke about his commitment to acting on climate. He put it in simple, CEO-friendly terms: “I am accountable for enterprise risk,” he said, “and clearly there’s a strong scientific consensus that climate is a risk.” For these reasons and more, hundreds of U.S. CEOs signed a letter to the president-elect that urged him to stay the course on global climate action and building the clean economy.
The Demands of Millennials
They are, after all, the largest generation on the planet and will make up 50% of the global workforce by 2020. On average, they hold some starkly different views about business than their predecessors did. A global survey of these 20- and 30-somethings earlier this year showed that 87% believe “the success of a business should be measured in terms of more than just its financial performance.” A Morgan Stanley survey confirmed that Millennials, and particularly those who are active investors, are three times as likely to seek employment with a company that cares about social and environmental issues. The jury is still out on whether this group will shop differently as it gets richer and deeper into adulthood, but every company I work with is feeling pressure from younger workers. In their role as employees, Millennials clearly want sustainability.Radical Transparency and Social Media
We’re all growing accustomed to finding any information we want at any time. This includes wanting to know what’s in everything we buy, how it was made, who made it, and so on. The food and consumer products sectors are feeling this megatrend most acutely. The “clean label” movement is shaking up these industries, forcing companies to reduce ingredients and use fewer processed and artificial inputs. As General Mills’ Powell said, consumer expectations “have never been higher.”Turbocharging this trend is social media, with which people can gather, spread stories, and generally make a company miserable if it doesn’t have its act together. In essence, as one CEO of a consumer-facing Fortune 50 company told me, customers can destroy your brand on Twitter (I’m paraphrasing only slightly). As he put it, products can’t just taste or look good — they have to tell a story and prove that they’re “responsibly sourced, manufactured, and distributed.” This shift in expectations is driving companies to understand their supply chains better, which then translates into pressure on those companies to aggressively manage their environmental and social issues.
Global Commitment and Competitive Pressure
Multinationals operate in many countries where governments publicly support strong action on climate — and 193 countries in the world signed the Paris Accord. It’s hard to say what will happen to that agreement, but even uncertainty about the commitment of the United States likely will not sink it. All of the signatories are meeting right now at the UN climate change conference in Morocco, and they’re making it clear that they are powering on. China sent a message publicly that climate change is no hoax, and France’s President Sarkozy mused about imposing import tariffs on countries that don’t “respect the rules” on carbon reduction. In essence, companies that don’t continue the sustainability journey are going to fall behind and become uncompetitive in global markets.On top of all these megatrends is incredible innovation, making solutions to our challenges cheaper and more accessible. But even without those technological shifts, the five megatrends here create an overwhelming case to continue the sustainability journey. The bottom line is, as always, the bottom line. The business case for sustainability has been proved over and over again. The companies managing their environmental and social issues and helping their customers navigate these issues are creating business value in multiple ways: They’re saving money, driving innovation, attracting talent, and building the brand. None of that has changed, and there’s still tremendous value to unlock. Sustainability has never been solely about government pressure anyway — it’s just good for business.
All of this optimism aside, it would be naïve to think that the president of the United States can’t affect the course of progress toward a clean, sustainable world. And while we can’t know exactly what the next administration will do, that it will not be driving sustainability is a safe assumption. So business has a critical role now more than ever to make up for the headwinds that a hostile administration can generate.
Businesses will need to ensure the stability of the basic underpinnings of a thriving economy and society — that is, clean air and water, a stable climate, abundant and renewable natural resources, an educated and engaged pool of talent, robust global and local markets filled with people with enough wealth to buy your products, and much more.
If the new administration does not protect or enhance those pillars of a strong economy, or even actively undermines them, then business must take action, make up for the slack, and render federal action irrelevant. If government is derelict in its duties, business has to lead.
Follow Andrew Winston on Twitter @AndrewWinston
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Clean Energy Opportunity Should Trump Ideology
Trump victory won’t halt the U.S. clean energy boom
The prospects seem grim. And that won’t affect just U.S. companies. Canadian energy companies, from Enbridge to Alterra Power, have been growing through investments in renewable power south of the border. This investment creates jobs at headquarters here in Canada, not to mention value for their Canadian shareholders.
Not only is this good news for Hydro-Québec, but it’s also good news for New England states, as it will provide base-load power that can enable more development of in-state wind and solar.
Link to The Globe and Mail
Dan Woynillowicz is policy director
and Merran Smith is executive director of Clean Energy Canada, a
national climate and energy think tank based at Simon Fraser
University’s Centre for Dialogue.
If
you work in clean energy, chances are your inbox and Twitter feed have
been overwhelmed with stories about the implications of a Donald Trump
presidency for the renewable energy sector. If you were watching
markets, no doubt you took note of falling stock prices for clean-energy companies.
The prospects seem grim. And that won’t affect just U.S. companies. Canadian energy companies, from Enbridge to Alterra Power, have been growing through investments in renewable power south of the border. This investment creates jobs at headquarters here in Canada, not to mention value for their Canadian shareholders.
There’s
no doubt that Mr. Trump and opponent Hillary Clinton had differing
views on climate change and the opportunity clean energy offers. A lot
of people lump the two together: If you want to reduce carbon pollution,
build more clean energy. Since Mr. Trump thinks climate change is a
hoax, that pretty much eliminates the case for clean energy – right?
Not so fast.
The
reality is that clean energy has been booming in the United States for a
whole bunch of reasons that don’t have much to do with climate change.
Things such as health, security and innovation, which lead to high levels of support amongst Republicans – yes, Republicans – for harnessing the power of American water, wind and sun.
Those federal tax credits for wind and solar? They were passed
last December by a Republican Congress with bipartisan support.
Revoking them would require a legislative effort that may not be looked
upon kindly by the many Republican lawmakers who have renewable energy
manufacturing and development in their states. Lawmakers like Senator
Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, who said this summer: “If he wants
to do away with it, he’ll have to get a bill through Congress, and he’ll
do it over my dead body.” He won’t be the only one: looking across the
country – and the electoral map – the top-10 wind-energy producing congressional districts are represented by Republicans.
Besides,
much of the renewable energy boom has been driven by state policy. You
might recall that back when he was governor of Texas, George W. Bush
passed legislation requiring utilities to buy renewable energy.
It
led to a building boom that has made the state the largest producer of
wind power in the United States. Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma
and North Dakota lead the United States
in the proportion of electricity generated by wind, and all are led by
Republican governors. Ditto North Carolina, which trails only California
in the development of new solar projects.
Up in New Hampshire, which also went for Mr. Trump, the newly elected Republican governor won on a platform that included support for the Northern Pass transmission line, which would move clean hydroelectricity from Quebec into New Hampshire and the New England power grid.
Not only is this good news for Hydro-Québec, but it’s also good news for New England states, as it will provide base-load power that can enable more development of in-state wind and solar.
Down in Florida, as Floridians delivered their support to Trump, they also voted to maintain unlimited oppostate-level policies in red states and blue states that aren’t going to disappear, and they are driving significant investment in clean energy.
Just last year, the United States saw $56-billion (U.S.) in clean-energy investment, second only to China. That kind of investment creates a lot of jobs: Almost 210,000 Americans are now employed
in the solar industry, double the 2010 figures. This represents more
people than those employed in oil and gas extraction. The U.S. Bureau of
Labor notes
that wind turbine technician is the fastest-growing occupation in the
country. Would Mr. Trump put these good jobs in jeopardy? Doubtful.
Looking
at dollars and cents – and customers’ wallets – it’s also worth
highlighting that the unsubsidized cost of wind and solar just keeps
falling, down 61 per cent and 82 per cent respectively, between 2009 and 2015.
And
these trends will continue, making clean energy the competitive choice.
It’s one of the big reasons that so many major U.S. companies are
committing to renewable energy and signing big contracts for wind and solar.
If we learned anything from Mr. Trump’s campaign, it was that we should expect the unexpected.
Most
people, and the stock markets, seem to think Mr. Trump will be bad for
clean energy’s prospects in the United States. They may very well be
right.
Or, it might just turn out that clean energy will continue to rise. For clean energy, opportunity should trump ideology.
Link to The Globe and Mail
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Renewable Energy NEWS
Investments in Renewables Herald ‘Paradigm Shift’
Amid rising concern about the role of fossil fuels in climate change, there was an unprecedented boom in renewables across the globe in 2014, suggesting that countries are already shifting toward more low-carbon energy as the cost to build solar and wind farms falls quickly.
In 2011, a record $279 billion in global renewables investments built wind and solar farms that were able to generate 70 gigawatts of renewable energy. Three years later, $270 billion built 95 gigawatts of solar and wind power generation worldwide — more than ever had been built before as costs fell.
All told, all forms of renewable energy, excluding large hydroelectric plants, contributed to 9.1 percent of global electric power generating capacity in 2014, up from 8.5 percent the year before, according to a new report by the United Nations and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
“The numbers seem to be telling a story of an energy paradigm shift well underway,” said Eric Usher, head of the UN Environment Program finance initiative. “There is a climate story: Renewables definitely seem to be contributing to the stabilization of CO2 emissions.”
Read the full article at Climate Central and the UN-Bloomberg report here.
Sunny Side East: Solar Takes Off in Eastern U.S.
Though the Southeast is a tad bit less sunny than Southern California, the bullseye of solar power development in the U.S., utilities in the South are scrambling to capture their own rays of sunshine. In fact, North Carolina is leaping ahead of California for the amount of new utility-scale solar farms currently under development, a new SNL Energy report released Wednesday shows.
The trend is occurring as the solar industry in the U.S. is coming off one of its best years ever. The number of solar installations connected to the electric power grid jumped about 140 percent between 2013 and 2014 nationwide, SNL Energy data show. More than 3.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity were installed across the U.S. in 2014, which closed out with more than 10 GW of utility-scale solar farms in operation, enough to power more than 2 million homes.
“The adoption of solar is spreading quickly nationwide — and nowhere is that more evident than in states like Texas, as well as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia,” Ken Johnson, vice-president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said.
Read the full article at Climate Central and the SNL Energy report here.
Wind, Solar Energy Driving Electricity Storage Technology
One of the biggest challenges facing utilities as they find more climate-friendly ways to produce electricity and integrate greenhouse gas-free solar and wind energy into the electric power grid is finding a way to keep the stream of electricity flowing when the wind stops blowing and the sun stops shining.
Last year, California became the first state to require utilities to store energy as a way to facilitate renewable energy production, mandating enough storage capacity — 1,325 megawatts — to power about 1 million homes by the end of the decade.
In addition to helping provide stability to the power grid, energy storage has another advantage: There’s a huge interest in how batteries can help cities and regions with resiliency, he said.
Resiliency is a term many cities are using to describe their efforts to withstand weather extremes that could be brought about or made worse by climate change, including hurricanes as severe as Hurricane Sandy, which knocked out power to millions in the New York City area in 2012.
Read the full article at Climate Central.
Wind, Solar Boosting Investment in Power Lines
Many of the new transmission lines are serving wind farms and solar power plants built in the past decade, providing a route for renewable energy to get onto the power grid.
Wind and solar power, in addition to population shifts in cities in the West and South, are helping to drive major new investment in electric power transmission lines in the U.S., according to a new U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report.
After a three-decade decline, the U.S. saw a fivefold increase in investments in electric power transmission lines between 1997 and 2012, the report says. Investments increased to $14.1 billion by 2012 from $2.7 billion in 1997.
Renewables such as wind and solar are being developed partly as climate-friendly alternatives to coal-fired power plants, which are among the most significant emitters of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
All the new wind farms in the U.S. required new transmission lines mainly because most of the solar and wind farms exist far from where people use the electricity generated there, according to the EIA.
Read the full article at Climate Central and the EIA report here.
Time to get serious about renewable energy
Maple Ridge Wind Farm, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, can serve as model for Western New York
Bill Burke, a fifth-generation dairy farmer who has wind towers on his property, offered a tour last summer of Maple Ridge from its visitor center kiosk. Discussion of the wind farm proposal started in 1999, he said, and there was very little opposition. He compared it to his grandfather’s times, when electricity came to the county and a few holdouts weren’t sure they wanted to give up kerosene lanterns for posts and wires along the roads.
After community hearings and discussion, 92 landowners in the Lowville area (pronounced to rhyme, aptly, with “Cowville”) leased portions of their land to the project, and by 2006, 195 wind towers were up and running, making Maple Ridge the largest wind farm in New York State and the second-largest east of the Mississippi.
Each tower has a footprint of less than half an acre, and Burke pointed out that the landowners operate their farm equipment right up and around the towers, much as they do with trees. Cows graze calmly around them, and whatever sound comes from the blades is drowned out by the wind itself.
Read the excellent article by Ellen Banks at BuffaloNews.com
Amid rising concern about the role of fossil fuels in climate change, there was an unprecedented boom in renewables across the globe in 2014, suggesting that countries are already shifting toward more low-carbon energy as the cost to build solar and wind farms falls quickly.
In 2011, a record $279 billion in global renewables investments built wind and solar farms that were able to generate 70 gigawatts of renewable energy. Three years later, $270 billion built 95 gigawatts of solar and wind power generation worldwide — more than ever had been built before as costs fell.
All told, all forms of renewable energy, excluding large hydroelectric plants, contributed to 9.1 percent of global electric power generating capacity in 2014, up from 8.5 percent the year before, according to a new report by the United Nations and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
“The numbers seem to be telling a story of an energy paradigm shift well underway,” said Eric Usher, head of the UN Environment Program finance initiative. “There is a climate story: Renewables definitely seem to be contributing to the stabilization of CO2 emissions.”
Read the full article at Climate Central and the UN-Bloomberg report here.
Sunny Side East: Solar Takes Off in Eastern U.S.
Though the Southeast is a tad bit less sunny than Southern California, the bullseye of solar power development in the U.S., utilities in the South are scrambling to capture their own rays of sunshine. In fact, North Carolina is leaping ahead of California for the amount of new utility-scale solar farms currently under development, a new SNL Energy report released Wednesday shows.
[Click image to enlarge]
“The adoption of solar is spreading quickly nationwide — and nowhere is that more evident than in states like Texas, as well as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia,” Ken Johnson, vice-president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said.
Read the full article at Climate Central and the SNL Energy report here.
Wind, Solar Energy Driving Electricity Storage Technology
One of the biggest challenges facing utilities as they find more climate-friendly ways to produce electricity and integrate greenhouse gas-free solar and wind energy into the electric power grid is finding a way to keep the stream of electricity flowing when the wind stops blowing and the sun stops shining.
Last year, California became the first state to require utilities to store energy as a way to facilitate renewable energy production, mandating enough storage capacity — 1,325 megawatts — to power about 1 million homes by the end of the decade.
In addition to helping provide stability to the power grid, energy storage has another advantage: There’s a huge interest in how batteries can help cities and regions with resiliency, he said.
Resiliency is a term many cities are using to describe their efforts to withstand weather extremes that could be brought about or made worse by climate change, including hurricanes as severe as Hurricane Sandy, which knocked out power to millions in the New York City area in 2012.
Read the full article at Climate Central.
Wind, Solar Boosting Investment in Power Lines
Many of the new transmission lines are serving wind farms and solar power plants built in the past decade, providing a route for renewable energy to get onto the power grid.
Wind and solar power, in addition to population shifts in cities in the West and South, are helping to drive major new investment in electric power transmission lines in the U.S., according to a new U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report.
After a three-decade decline, the U.S. saw a fivefold increase in investments in electric power transmission lines between 1997 and 2012, the report says. Investments increased to $14.1 billion by 2012 from $2.7 billion in 1997.
Renewables such as wind and solar are being developed partly as climate-friendly alternatives to coal-fired power plants, which are among the most significant emitters of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
All the new wind farms in the U.S. required new transmission lines mainly because most of the solar and wind farms exist far from where people use the electricity generated there, according to the EIA.
Read the full article at Climate Central and the EIA report here.
Time to get serious about renewable energy
Maple Ridge Wind Farm, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, can serve as model for Western New York
Bill Burke, a fifth-generation dairy farmer who has wind towers on his property, offered a tour last summer of Maple Ridge from its visitor center kiosk. Discussion of the wind farm proposal started in 1999, he said, and there was very little opposition. He compared it to his grandfather’s times, when electricity came to the county and a few holdouts weren’t sure they wanted to give up kerosene lanterns for posts and wires along the roads.
After community hearings and discussion, 92 landowners in the Lowville area (pronounced to rhyme, aptly, with “Cowville”) leased portions of their land to the project, and by 2006, 195 wind towers were up and running, making Maple Ridge the largest wind farm in New York State and the second-largest east of the Mississippi.
Each tower has a footprint of less than half an acre, and Burke pointed out that the landowners operate their farm equipment right up and around the towers, much as they do with trees. Cows graze calmly around them, and whatever sound comes from the blades is drowned out by the wind itself.
Read the excellent article by Ellen Banks at BuffaloNews.com
[Click image to enlarge]
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Renewable New York -- Planning for a Clean Energy Future
By Jannette M. Barth, Ph.D.
RenewableNewYork.org
Renewable New York is a newly formed grassroots organization dedicated to helping New York State transition to a 100% renewable energy
infrastructure. It was founded by individuals who recognize that fossil
fuels must be phased out quickly and replaced with the superior
alternative: renewable energy combined with energy efficiency and
conservation.
Renewable New York will work to advance the goals of The Solutions Project, a national effort to move each state to an energy infrastructure that is 100% supplied by wind, water and sunlight. A team of scientists under the direction of Professor Mark Jacobson of Stanford University has described how New York can successfully, affordably and productively transition to renewable energy by relying solely on technology that exists today, creating new jobs in the process.
The Solutions Project plan for New York can be found here:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/NewYorkWWSEnPolicy.pdf
A brief summary of the plan is here:
http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth/documents/2030PlanHandout.pdf
A distinguished group, including five coauthors of the Solutions Project plan, has agreed to serve as Special Advisors to Renewable New York.
Renewable New York recognizes that there are many groups and individuals in New York State already successfully working to increase the production and use of renewable energy and to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable New York seeks to assist with these efforts, in part by assembling a database of programs already underway so others can benefit from past efforts. For this reason, Renewable New York is asking organizations throughout the state to send us information about your projects so that we can post them online on our forthcoming website. (Please email info@RenewableNewYork.org with the name of your organization, contact information, a link to your website, and a brief description of your organization’s efforts.)
We’d also like to hear from individuals with particular relevant expertise in energy conservation and sustainable energy. A timely response will insure that your efforts are included when our website first goes online.
Renewable New York understands that the 2030 Plan for New York State as described in the Jacobson et al. study is just one feasible way to make the transition. The 2030 plan is a plan, not necessarily the plan. All of our ideas need to be thrown into the mix. It is fully expected that this plan will be adjusted as progress is made. The most immediate need is for us all to pull together to ensure a speedy transition to a sustainable future.
Please forward this message to list serves and other contacts.
RenewableNewYork.org
Renewable New York is a newly formed grassroots organization dedicated to helping New York State transition to a 100% renewable energy
infrastructure. It was founded by individuals who recognize that fossil
fuels must be phased out quickly and replaced with the superior
alternative: renewable energy combined with energy efficiency and
conservation. Renewable New York will work to advance the goals of The Solutions Project, a national effort to move each state to an energy infrastructure that is 100% supplied by wind, water and sunlight. A team of scientists under the direction of Professor Mark Jacobson of Stanford University has described how New York can successfully, affordably and productively transition to renewable energy by relying solely on technology that exists today, creating new jobs in the process.
The Solutions Project plan for New York can be found here:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/NewYorkWWSEnPolicy.pdf
A brief summary of the plan is here:
http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth/documents/2030PlanHandout.pdf
A distinguished group, including five coauthors of the Solutions Project plan, has agreed to serve as Special Advisors to Renewable New York.
Renewable New York recognizes that there are many groups and individuals in New York State already successfully working to increase the production and use of renewable energy and to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable New York seeks to assist with these efforts, in part by assembling a database of programs already underway so others can benefit from past efforts. For this reason, Renewable New York is asking organizations throughout the state to send us information about your projects so that we can post them online on our forthcoming website. (Please email info@RenewableNewYork.org with the name of your organization, contact information, a link to your website, and a brief description of your organization’s efforts.)
We’d also like to hear from individuals with particular relevant expertise in energy conservation and sustainable energy. A timely response will insure that your efforts are included when our website first goes online.
Renewable New York understands that the 2030 Plan for New York State as described in the Jacobson et al. study is just one feasible way to make the transition. The 2030 plan is a plan, not necessarily the plan. All of our ideas need to be thrown into the mix. It is fully expected that this plan will be adjusted as progress is made. The most immediate need is for us all to pull together to ensure a speedy transition to a sustainable future.
Please forward this message to list serves and other contacts.
~ ~ ~
DEADLINE to Submit Public Comments on the draft New York State Energy Plan is April 30, 2014. Deadline has been EXTENDED to May 30, 2014.
Help N.Y. State achieve critical goals on climate, energy efficiency and renewable energy by submitting your comments here: http://energyplan.ny.gov/Process/comments.aspx
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Power Grid Can Handle More Renewable Energy -- Google Seeks 100%
Nation's Largest Grid Operator: Huge Renewables Expansion Won't Be a Problem
By John Moore
PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power transmission grid organization, announced last week that wind and solar power could generate about 30 percent of PJM’s total electricity for its territory covering the Mid-Atlantic region and part of the Midwest by 2026 without “any significant issues.” That’s engineer-speak for “no big deal.” Even better, we would see more clean power at less cost and with far less pollution than our current mix of coal and natural gas power plants.
PJM’s new renewables integration report, prepared for it by General Electric, is required reading for anyone who questions the ability of the electric grid to handle large amounts of wind, solar, and other renewable energy. GE estimates that about 113,000 megawatts (MW) of installed wind and solar power resources (including distributed/generation), could produce about 30 percent of the region’s total energy. That’s enough energy to power 23.5 million homes annually. Here’s the breakdown of the resource mix in one of the scenarios studied in the report:
Significant benefits from more clean energyThe report estimates that 30 percent wind and solar power in PJM would bring the following benefits:
- 40 percent less carbon pollution than “business as usual.”
- Lower average energy prices across PJM’s footprint – because wind and solar would avoid $15.6 billion in coal and natural gas fuel costs.
- Very little additional power (only 1500 MW) needed to support the minute-to-minute variability of the renewable power (like when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow).
- No additional operating (known as “spinning”) reserves needed for backup power. (Wow!)
- 44 percent less gas-fired generation and 21 percent less coal-fired generation—which also reduces the amount of carbon pollution emitted into the atmosphere.
Read more at NRDC SWITCHBOARD
Google Exec: 'Our Goal Is To Be 100 Percent Renewable Powered'
by Khier CasinoGoogle spent $2.25 billion in its last quarter on data centers and infrastructure, giving it a reason to use solar, wind and other alternative energies to cut everyday costs for the company.
"We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two gigawatts of power around the world, mostly in the US, but that's the equivalent of Hoover's Dam worth of power generation," Needham said.
Google recently opened the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station, located on federal land on the California-Nevada border southwest of Las Vegas. The field of mirrors rein in solar and energy and cuts energy costs.
"The fact is that all of these things, procuring power for ourselves, investing in power plants, renewable power plants, they all make business sense, they make sense for us as a company to do. We rely on power for our business," Needham adds.
Other companies in Silicon Valley are as devoted as Google in investing in sources of renewable energy.
"Silicon Valley is leading the charge to be more efficient, to work on solutions to some of these problems," said Ben Schachter, senior Internet analyst at Macquarie Securities. "Google is ahead of the pack and we'll have to wait and see how it works out. They are certainly trying many different initiatives to figure out how best to manage their footprint in the environment, as well as how to manage the cost of all their energy."
The original article is here.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Sierra Club Launches Statewide Renewable Energy Campaign
Event in Buffalo kicks off Renewable Energy Week Asking Governor Cuomo: “Let’s Turn, Not
Burn.”
Buffalo, NY: On Tuesday, April 16, the Sierra Club Niagara
Group will join with Western New York Council on Occupational Safety &
Health, WNY Drilling Defense, WNY Peace Center, Clean Air Coalition of Western
New York, PUSH Buffalo, Re-ENERGIZE Buffalo, Riverside-Salem United Church of
Christ, Wind Action Group, and Residents for Responsible Government to hold a
press conference on the Buffalo waterfront at Dug’s Dive to launch the “Let’s
Turn, Not Burn” campaign. It kicks off Sierra Club’s Renewable Energy Week,
which includes events across the state and a robust advertising campaign in
Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Auburn and Albany calling on Governor Cuomo to
take administrative action to create jobs and grow the economy with renewable
energy sources such as wind and solar power.
WHAT: Press
conference to launch Renewable Energy Week in New York State
WHO:
- Prof. Robert Howarth of Cornell University
- Mayor Paul Dyster of Niagara Falls
- Bob Ciesielski Energy Committee Chair, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and Niagara Group
- Erin Heaney, Director, Clean Air Coalition of Western New York
- Lynda Schneekloth, Chair of Sierra Club Niagara Group
WHEN: Tuesday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Buffalo
waterfront at Dug’s Dive, 1111 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, New York 14203
VISUALS: Fully operational wind turbines visible from the
location, banners, people with signs
Background:
At a time when the state’s remaining coal plants are
increasingly uneconomical, the “Let’s Turn, Not Burn” campaign is asking the
Governor use his administrative power to bring job-creating renewable energy
online to replace outdated coal, gas and nuclear plants, and meet and extend
the state’s renewable energy goals. Upstate New York is well positioned to
benefit from a renewable energy economy because of its potential for both wind
and solar power and ready work force. Developing these sources would cut
dangerous pollution and fulfill the Governor’s commitment to economic
development in upstate.Update 4.16.2013, 1pm: Click here to see photos of event and full page Buffalo News ad.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Public Forum: Alternative Energy in the Buffalo-Niagara Region
Business Gets Green Speaker Series
- WHEN: Tuesday, January 15th, 5:30-7:00pm
- WHERE: Daemen College, Schenck Hall, Room 202, 4380 Main St., Amherst [Campus Map & Parking]
- THIS MONTH’S TOPIC: “Alternative Energy in the Buffalo-Niagara Region”
This
event is free and open to the public
Representatives from three local
companies in the renewable energy fields of solar, wind and geothermal
power will present the obstacles and opportunities to advancing
alternative energy systems in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Featured Speakers:
Bill Nowak will speak on the Feed-In Tariff legislation and current developments in New York State to institute a better pricing system that promotes renewables. Bill will also touch upon the challenges for the company, Buffalo Geothermal in pushing through local geothermal projects. Check out more about Buffalo Geothermal here: http://
Bridget Reagan from Solar Liberty will come as a representative from our region’s largest solar panel installer. She will reveal what has helped made Solar Liberty successful and what needs to be improved upon to bring more solar energy potential to areas like Western New York. Check out more about Solar Liberty here: http://www.solarliberty.com/
Kean Stimm, President of Kean Wind Turbines, will present on a new wind power system that will revolutionize the viability of generating power by using wind. An emerging entrepreneur from the region, Kean will give attendees a glimpse into his current challenges and opportunities in getting his company off the ground. Check out more about Kean Wind Turbines here: http://keanwindturbines.com/
Featured Speakers:
Bill Nowak will speak on the Feed-In Tariff legislation and current developments in New York State to institute a better pricing system that promotes renewables. Bill will also touch upon the challenges for the company, Buffalo Geothermal in pushing through local geothermal projects. Check out more about Buffalo Geothermal here: http://
Bridget Reagan from Solar Liberty will come as a representative from our region’s largest solar panel installer. She will reveal what has helped made Solar Liberty successful and what needs to be improved upon to bring more solar energy potential to areas like Western New York. Check out more about Solar Liberty here: http://www.solarliberty.com/
Kean Stimm, President of Kean Wind Turbines, will present on a new wind power system that will revolutionize the viability of generating power by using wind. An emerging entrepreneur from the region, Kean will give attendees a glimpse into his current challenges and opportunities in getting his company off the ground. Check out more about Kean Wind Turbines here: http://keanwindturbines.com/
The Business Gets Green format features several speakers from pertinent areas within the local green business community, as well as the opportunity for all attendees to introduce themselves and report any brief announcements that may be of interest to the audience.
RSVP's are strongly encouraged as there is limited space at this venue. Join the event on Facebook, here: http://www.facebook.com/
“Like” Greenworks || Buffalo Niagara's Facebook group page to get updates on future events, here: Greenworks || Buffalo Niagara
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Grow NY Solar Industry to Create Jobs, Reduce Pollution, and Stimulate Economy
NY Solar Industry Development & Jobs ActSolar energy accounts for the production of less than 0.02% of New York's electricity, according to the NY League of Conservation Voters. Instead of attracting investment, New York has diverted capital and clean energy jobs to neighboring states with smarter energy policies. [Photo courtesy of Solar Liberty]
The New York Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act of 2011 will dramatically change that situation. This legislation also represents a vital step in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaign to help New York transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy while also promoting economic growth.
HOW DOES THE BILL WORK?
- Sets a goal of developing over 5,000 megawatts of solar power capacity in New York by 2025.
- Produce 22,198 direct and induced jobs, not including potential manufacturing jobs and other indirectly induced jobs.
- Generate enough to clean, renewable energy to power 1 million New York homes or 50,000 schools, improving the quality of New York's air and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Contact your elected officials and let them know that the New York Solar Jobs and Development Act must pass in 2011.
More Than 100 Corporations, Groups Sign On To Solar Effort
GE, Mitsubishi, Saatchi & Saatchi, Staples and many other corporations and groups support legislation that would transform New York's economy with a robust solar energy program. More than 100 memorandums in support of the Solar Industry Development & Jobs Act were submitted to key members of the Senate, Assembly and Governor's Office.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Growing Renewable Energy in the U.S. through CLEAN Contracts - a Perfect Fit
A Policy to Repower the Nation with Clean EnergyNo policy has helped other countries expand their renewable sources of electricity more than the CLEAN contract, also known as a feed-in tariff or FIT. Transparency, certainty and longevity of the contract forms the basis for its widespread acceptance, and its success in developing wind and solar power in other countries and a few states.
A CLEAN contract makes Clean Local Energy Accessible Now. The policy allows renewable energy project owners to sell their electricity to utilities at a predetermined, fixed price for a long period of time. Clean energy providers are paid a price for their electricity that covers the cost of the generation. It makes clean energy investment a smarter choice for homeowners, utilities, and developers of renewable energy projects.
The CLEAN contract helps overcome upfront cost barriers to investment by making renewable energy projects more easy to finance. The contract offers a standardized process for new projects, minimizing uncertainty for developers and confusion for homeowners. It reduces risk and lowers the costs of getting things built. The CLEAN contract makes it easier to run businesses, build projects, and give consumers what they want.
The Center for American Progress has written a detailed paper that examines the workings and ingredients of CLEAN contracts. The paper also looks at how lawmakers and advocates can successfully move CLEAN contracts forward given how the contracts are affected by federal regulation. Finally, it provides recommendations to ensure that policies benefit ratepayers, workers, investors, and the U.S. economy.
Learn more about CLEAN contracts at the Center for American Progress. A brief description of CLEAN contracts is provided in a video here and also below.
Isn't it time that we get on board and promote renewable energy development on a large scale through CLEAN contracts? Implementation of CLEAN contracts across the U.S. will accelerate clean energy deployment, recharge the economy and create new jobs. A shift from burning fossil fuels to utilizing clean energy sources will curb greenhouse gas emissions, reduce toxic pollution and protect human health.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Surprises on the 2009 Tour of Solar Homes & Green Buildings
Last year I took the Tour of Solar Homes & Green Buildings. The 2009 Tour was informative and full of surprises for me, plus I got to meet some interesting people. I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it, and I plan to go on the 2010 Tour of Solar Homes & Green Buildings on Saturday, October 2nd, 10am-4pm.
To whet your appetite for the 2010 Tour, descriptions of three of the places that I visited last year, along with some photos, are shown below.
First stop, Depew, NY:
I wasn't sure what I was going to find at the so-called "Straw Bale House", having read the story of The Three Little Pigs and learned that straw is not necessarily the preferred building material. I was pleasantly surprised to find the beautiful home pictured above and to find out that, in addition to straw bales, wall construction included wood framing and structural insulated 
panels. Features of the "earth friendly" home include passive solar and radiant floor heating, solar- and gas-heated water, solar photovoltaic electricity, recycled materials and natural finishes with earthen plasters.
At the home I met the builder, David Lanfear of Bale on Bale Construction, and the architect & designer, Kevin Connors of eco_logic STUDIO, pictured at right inside the home. In recognition of their achievements, these men along with homeowner, Carrie Zaenglein, received a commendation for outstanding leadership in sustainable design from the WNY Sustainable Energy Association Trust.
Second stop, Lancaster, NY:
The photo shows part of the Global Headquarters for Ecology and Environment, Inc.. It looks like a nice place to work, doesn't it? The building interior is not only very beautiful, it is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. In recognition of these and other features of the building, E&E Inc. has been awarded a Platinum designation from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Upon entering the building, visitors can meet ED, the "Earth Day" buffalo, and will see extensive, plant-filled atriums. My tour was led by Robert Gibson, who explained all of the eco-friendly features of the building. Windows open and close automatically depending upon the outside temperature. Solar panels on the roof are linked to a "GreenMeter" that monitors the building's usage of electricity and natural gas as well as the outside temperature. In the parking lot, there is an area reserved for car pool, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles.
To whet your appetite for the 2010 Tour, descriptions of three of the places that I visited last year, along with some photos, are shown below.
First stop, Depew, NY:
panels. Features of the "earth friendly" home include passive solar and radiant floor heating, solar- and gas-heated water, solar photovoltaic electricity, recycled materials and natural finishes with earthen plasters.At the home I met the builder, David Lanfear of Bale on Bale Construction, and the architect & designer, Kevin Connors of eco_logic STUDIO, pictured at right inside the home. In recognition of their achievements, these men along with homeowner, Carrie Zaenglein, received a commendation for outstanding leadership in sustainable design from the WNY Sustainable Energy Association Trust.
Second stop, Lancaster, NY:
The photo shows part of the Global Headquarters for Ecology and Environment, Inc.. It looks like a nice place to work, doesn't it? The building interior is not only very beautiful, it is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. In recognition of these and other features of the building, E&E Inc. has been awarded a Platinum designation from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).Upon entering the building, visitors can meet ED, the "Earth Day" buffalo, and will see extensive, plant-filled atriums. My tour was led by Robert Gibson, who explained all of the eco-friendly features of the building. Windows open and close automatically depending upon the outside temperature. Solar panels on the roof are linked to a "GreenMeter" that monitors the building's usage of electricity and natural gas as well as the outside temperature. In the parking lot, there is an area reserved for car pool, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vehicles.
Third stop, Buffalo, NY:
The smallest building I visited housed the biggest surprises. The building is an adobe and straw bale greenhouse warmed by the sun and located on Buffalo's West Side, as part of the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP). Inside I saw elevated shelves of various green plants, a myriad of pipes and heard the sounds of dripping water. Looking down at the floor level I saw a large water tank filled with fish...lots of fish. What's going on here?
I met the person in charge, Jesse Meeder, who explained that the system is called "aquaponics". The fish eat duckweed and other small plants grown inside the greenhouse, and they live in rain water collected on site. The waste water produced by the fish is pumped up to the green plants to fertilize them. The plants thrive on the waste and, at the same time, clean up the water which is then returned to the fish. Brilliant! A more-or-less self-sustaining eco-system, requiring only a small amount of electricity for the pumps.
Meeder built the system himself using available materials and a small budget. Thinking that Meeder was some sort of bio-engineering grad, I asked him what his major was in college. "English" was his reply. Hmmm, I thought, clearly a Renaissance man!
Last year when I saw the fish, called tilapia, they were tiny. When grown to full size, around 10 inches, there is a market for the fish, and Meeder already had advance orders from restaurants. There is a market for the greens, like parsely, lettuce, and watercress too. Meeder also mentioned plans to expand the operation. Sounded like the makings for not only a good neighbor but also an environmentally-friendly, local business growing on Buffalo's West Side.
Plan to Attend the 2010 Tour of Solar Homes & Green Buildings:
Saturday, October 2nd, 10am-4pm.
The tour is sponsored by the WNY Sustainable Energy Association.
For a List of Homes & Buildings for the 2010 Tour, click here.
The smallest building I visited housed the biggest surprises. The building is an adobe and straw bale greenhouse warmed by the sun and located on Buffalo's West Side, as part of the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP). Inside I saw elevated shelves of various green plants, a myriad of pipes and heard the sounds of dripping water. Looking down at the floor level I saw a large water tank filled with fish...lots of fish. What's going on here?
I met the person in charge, Jesse Meeder, who explained that the system is called "aquaponics". The fish eat duckweed and other small plants grown inside the greenhouse, and they live in rain water collected on site. The waste water produced by the fish is pumped up to the green plants to fertilize them. The plants thrive on the waste and, at the same time, clean up the water which is then returned to the fish. Brilliant! A more-or-less self-sustaining eco-system, requiring only a small amount of electricity for the pumps.Meeder built the system himself using available materials and a small budget. Thinking that Meeder was some sort of bio-engineering grad, I asked him what his major was in college. "English" was his reply. Hmmm, I thought, clearly a Renaissance man!
Last year when I saw the fish, called tilapia, they were tiny. When grown to full size, around 10 inches, there is a market for the fish, and Meeder already had advance orders from restaurants. There is a market for the greens, like parsely, lettuce, and watercress too. Meeder also mentioned plans to expand the operation. Sounded like the makings for not only a good neighbor but also an environmentally-friendly, local business growing on Buffalo's West Side.
Plan to Attend the 2010 Tour of Solar Homes & Green Buildings:
Saturday, October 2nd, 10am-4pm.
The tour is sponsored by the WNY Sustainable Energy Association.
For a List of Homes & Buildings for the 2010 Tour, click here.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Business Gets Green: June 24th
Thursday, June 24, 2010 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Branch Library
Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Branch Library
1324 Jefferson Ave, Corner of Jefferson and East Utica [ Map ]
This is a wonderful facility - intimate but spacious.
Lots of Free Parking - 25 spaces in the library lot - and ample on-street parking.
Agenda for the 15 minute featured presentations:
The Format for Business Gets Green includes 1/2 hour of 30 second Introductions by businesses, organizations and individuals.
UPDATE - July 11: VIDEO of Introductions - Click Here.
Introductions are followed by 4 - 15 minute feature presentations on businesses or issues that are of special interest, usually with Powerpoint slides.
If you would like to give one of the 15 minute presentations, please contact Bill Nowak with a 2-3 paragraph description of your presentation and dates (3rd Thursdays) you can be available to present.
As usual, this session will be filmed for LCTV and YouTube. Thanks Jon Allen!
Videos of all of the past Business Gets Green sessions are HERE.
Save the Date - August 19th - This session will feature the Greater Niagara Renewable Energy Manufacturers Committee, the CanAm effort to build wind manufacturing in Western New York, Helios Energy's National Science Foundation grant for an "Integrated Algal Platform for Bio-Diesel and Hydrogen", and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper on the new funding they've snagged and its implications for green jobs.
This is a wonderful facility - intimate but spacious.
Lots of Free Parking - 25 spaces in the library lot - and ample on-street parking.
Agenda for the 15 minute featured presentations:
- Daniel Montante - TM Montante Development Solar Project - see Video here
- Jon Allen - 5 Turbine Backyard Wind Tower - see Video here
- Gerald Bove - Buffalo Green Power - see Video here
- Lou Paonessa - NY Power Authority - see Video here
The Format for Business Gets Green includes 1/2 hour of 30 second Introductions by businesses, organizations and individuals.
UPDATE - July 11: VIDEO of Introductions - Click Here.
Introductions are followed by 4 - 15 minute feature presentations on businesses or issues that are of special interest, usually with Powerpoint slides.
If you would like to give one of the 15 minute presentations, please contact Bill Nowak with a 2-3 paragraph description of your presentation and dates (3rd Thursdays) you can be available to present.
As usual, this session will be filmed for LCTV and YouTube. Thanks Jon Allen!
Videos of all of the past Business Gets Green sessions are HERE.
Save the Date - August 19th - This session will feature the Greater Niagara Renewable Energy Manufacturers Committee, the CanAm effort to build wind manufacturing in Western New York, Helios Energy's National Science Foundation grant for an "Integrated Algal Platform for Bio-Diesel and Hydrogen", and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper on the new funding they've snagged and its implications for green jobs.
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