Most People Now See The Climate Crisis, Want Action

Most Americans now see signs of climate change where they live; A majority of people surveyed said the U.S. government isn’t doing enough to counter the trend

Gloria Dickey, November 25, 2019 (Science News)

“…[M]ost Americans say the effects of climate change are already upon us — and that the U.S. government isn’t doing enough to stop it, according to a new public opinion survey…[A nationwide poll showed] 62 percent of U.S. adults said climate change is affecting their local community to some extent or a great deal, bringing more flooding and unusually warm weather, altering ecosystems, driving wildfires or exacerbating drought…

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…The results follow what many environmental activists consider a watershed year for climate change awareness, marked by student protests and a speech by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg chastising world leaders at the United Nations for ignoring climate science…The poll found people’s] views depend on where they live…Most people think the U.S. government should do more…Most believe U.S. energy policy priorities need to change…[and many] say they are taking action by making personal changes…” click here for more

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Survey Shows Over 90% Favor For Solar, 85% Favor For Wind

92% of Americans want more solar power, greater than any other action Pew Research says

John Weaver, November 26, 2019 (PV Magazine)

“…[A Pew Research survey] in October found 92% of Americans favor expanding solar panel farms – up 3% since earlier this year. No other energy or climate action polled as highly, with expanded wind being second at 85%, and reduced food waste at 80%...[T]he nation’s largest CO2 free electricity source, nuclear power, followed with a split at 49%.

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...Both [wind and nuclear] have increased their public opinion since a May poll earlier this year – with wind up 2% and nuclear up 6%...When asked separately, in a randomized manner, what one action ought we do to address American’s energy supply – developer alternatives or expand fossils – 77% of people said the former, 22% supported the latter…[suggesting that a subset of that 22% who are strongly for expanding wind and solar are not necessarily for handing the keys over…” click here for more

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Behind The Harvard-Yale Halftime Climate Protest

Why we risked arrest to protest Harvard and Yale funding fossil fuel giants; Climate change is not a distant reality for us – it is imminent and deeply personal

Ilana Cohen and Camilla Ledezma, 25 November 2019 (UK Guardian)

“…[W]e risked arrest at the 136th Harvard-Yale football game alongside hundreds of our peers and alumni…[to call] attention to our universities’ and all of our institutions’ complicity in degrading our planet and our futures through their continued investments in the fossil fuel industry. In a climate emergency, we cannot afford to kick back, watch the game and ignore reality…[It was a part of our] fight to radically transform an unsustainable and unethical status quo… Collectively, Harvard and Yale could be investing upwards of $1.2bn in the fossil fuel industry…

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…[O]ver $11.5tn has been divested from the fossil fuel industry worldwide…[and] the University of California decided to make its over $70bn endowment and $13.4bn pension fund fossil fuel-free…Harvard and Yale continue to perpetuate an unsustainable business…While they contribute to systems of oppression and exploitation, we engage in nonviolent direct action…Despite Harvard and Yale’s intransigence, our divestment movement and the global movement for climate justice is growing exponentially…We risked arrest on Saturday to challenge the system…[and we are asking students, faculty, alumni, and community members to help] us build collective power…” click here for more

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Three Good New Energy Bets

3 Top Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now; This trio of renewable energy companies offers investors low-risk growth in the sector.

Matthew DiLallo, November 23, 2019 (The Motley Fool)

“…[Three renewable energy companies that appear to have bright futures are] Atlantica Yield (NASDAQ:AY), Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP), and Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL)…[Atlantica Yield is a renewable yieldco] focused on generating stable cash flow from operating clean energy assets, the bulk of which they pay out to investors via a high-yielding dividend…[It’s current 6.4% yield] is more than three times that of the S&P 500…[Brookfield Renewable Partners is a renewable yieldco with a portfolio mostly of] hydroelectric power-generating facilities…[which] currently expects to grow [its] payout by 5% to 9% per year through 2024…

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...[Xcel Energy is a utility which aims] to get 46% of its power from alternatives by 2027…[and] grow its earnings per share by 5% to 7% per year through at least 2024. That should allow it to increase its 2.6%-yielding dividend at a similar yearly pace…[These companies] are focusing on the lower risk side of the renewable sector…[which] should enable them to generate market-beating returns…” click here for more

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Farms Can Lead Climate Crisis Solutions

Helping American agriculture go from climate crisis to ‘net zero’

November 18, 2019 (AgDaily)

“…[Progress has been made on increasing overall soil carbon (which has positive effects on soil quality and could result in increased productivity, agricultural resilience, and yield stability, especially on carbon-depleted soils)…[But] overall the U.S. agricultural production sector has increased its GHG emissions and climate impact over the past few decades…[This is largely due to on] increasing use of liquid manure storage lagoons found on concentrated animal feeding operations [CAFOs], which emit more methane than dry-stacked or composted manure [according to a new study from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition]…

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Key issues analyzed include: the impact of CAFOs on climate and environment; the relationship between the climate crisis and overproduction; how the structure of the federal crop insurance system contributes to overproduction and by extension climate change; and impactful sustainable production practices, including perennial cropping systems, resource-conserving crop rotations, and management intensive grazing…[T]he paper puts forward nearly 30 detailed public policy recommendations…” click here for more

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Electricity Customers Saving With New Energy

California utility reports savings for ratepayers by offering renewable energy

Billy Ludt, November 14, 2019 (Solar Power World)

“…[A] record number of local governments in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties, that have switched to [energy supplier MCE’s 100% renewable energy service and shown steady growth in customers taking advantage of MCE’s rooftop solar and electric vehicle incentive programs…22 of the 34 city, town and county governments in MCE’s service area have taken the lead on local climate action by choosing to enroll their municipal electric accounts in Deep Green, MCE’s 100% renewable energy service option…for their public buildings, streetlights and civic services — 100% of it from California solar and wind energy sources…

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MCE now has over 470,000 electricity accounts in the Bay Area, providing renewable energy to more than 1 million customers and businesses. Ratepayers have saved more than $50 million on their monthly bills after switching to MCE, compared to customers who have remained with PG&E…More than 33,000 MCE customers have invested in rooftop solar…There are now more electric vehicle charging stations than gas stations in Marin County…12 new renewable energy projects in MCE’s service area are now providing a collective capacity of approximately 25 MW of clean electricity, enough energy to power over 12,000 homes annually…” click here for more

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Every Child Will Feel It

The climate crisis will profoundly affect the health of every child alive today, report says

Jen Christensen, November 13, 2019 (CNN)

“…If the world continues to produce the same amount of carbon emissions, a child born today could be living in a world with an average temperature that's 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) warmer by their 71st birthday, according to the medical journal The Lancet…[It] would be devastating for our health…A warmer world means more disease, famine, early death from natural disasters such as fire and heat waves, and more major mental health problems. Everyone will be affected, but the most vulnerable will be disproportionately threatened: children, the elderly, people with underlying health conditions and the poor…

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…[I]f the world takes bold action to curb carbon emissions, this dire future could be avoided…To limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut by at least 45% of 2010 levels by 2030. They had to get to net zero by 2050…A child born in London today would no longer use electricity generated by coal by their 6th birthday…A child born in France today wouldn't be driving a gas- or diesel-fueled car by their 21st birthday…[The world has yet to see a response from governments that matches the scale of the challenge, but China] is continuing to reduce its reliance on coal…Europe saw improvements in air pollution levels from 2015 to 2016…Globally, more people are driving electric cars…” click here for more

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Tinder For New Energy

New study helps regions find their renewable energy soul mates

Zoya Teirstein, October 29, 2019 (Grist)

“…By looking at a number of variables in 10 regions across the U.S. and the costs and operational requirements of three types of renewables — utility-scale solar, rooftop solar, and wind power — [researchers have shown] which region stands to gain the most from which kind of renewable…[It is like a dating site] for geography and renewable energy compatibility…The Upper Midwest, Lower Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Northwest, and Great Lakes regions stand to experience the greatest reductions in CO2 by replacing coal with clean energy…In the Upper Midwest, the economic and health benefits of installing 3,000 megawatts of wind energy top $2.2 trillion, the highest out of any region…

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Solar is highly compatible with the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions, where it would produce $113 of economic and health benefit per megawatt-hour of electricity produced…California and the Southwest generally stand to gain the least from renewables, in part because those regions don’t have a lot of dirty fossil fuels to displace…[B]enefits of renewables outweigh the benefits of carbon capture and sequestration…Installing carbon capture technology on a coal plant, where it can stash away carbon before it’s released into the atmosphere, was about as cost-effective as installing renewables in many places in the U.S. — but that’s only when you’re comparing purely economic benefits…” click here for more

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Directing Smart Money For The Climate Fight

How should billionaires spend their money to fight climate change? I asked 9 experts. Is it better to invest in developing clean energy technologies, say, or in trying to get a Democrat elected president?

Sigal Samuel, November 12, 2019 (VOX)

“…Some megadonors are already trying to help us avert the climate crisis…[Nine top climate experts — scientists, activists, policy entrepreneurs —proposed] the most effective way to spend…[Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and co-founder of 350.org, said] spend the money helping build the climate movement…[Jessica Lovering, energy program director, the Breakthrough Institute, said] set up a competitive prize to demonstrate small, factory-produced nuclear reactors…[Ashok Gupta, senior energy economist, Natural Resources Defense Council, said] focus on making the state of Kansas, where I currently live, into a model state for clean energy] over the next five years…[Alan Robock, environmental science professor, Rutgers University, said] it’s more important to change your leaders than to change your lightbulbs…[The fossil fuel industry has captured the Republican Party so I would spend to get] Democrats elected…

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…[Kate Marvel, associate climate research scientist, Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said the key is] investing everything in girls’ schools and women’s leadership…[Kerry Emanuel, atmospheric science professor, MIT, said invest heavily in] new high-temperature, fuel-efficient [nuclear] reactors expected to be deployed in the 2030s…[Adrienne Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists, said focus on] community-building and resiliency opportunities…[Kelly Wanser, principal director, Marine Cloud Brightening Project, proposed spending to] catalyze geoengineering innovation…[Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, North America director, 350.org, proposed investment to back] the Green New Deal…” click here for more

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Power Plants All Over

No wind? No sun? This power plant solves renewable energy's biggest problem

Hannah Ziady, November 7, 2019 (CNN)

“…By supplying electricity from renewable sources even when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, virtual power plant technology could help tackle the climate crisis…[Unlike conventional power plants, New Energy is] weather dependent and therefore much more difficult to control…[Virtual power plants (VPP) resolve that] by connecting disparate sources of renewable production, generation and storage. By pooling those resources, engineers can make them behave like a conventional power plant…[A] virtual power plant might be connected to 10 geographically dispersed wind farms to smooth the variability in output of each one. It could also include an energy storage component, so that if production from the wind farms outstrips demand a fleet of batteries can be charged so they can supply more power later…

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…Norwegian company Statkraft's 12,000 MW VPP, running in Germany since 2011,] uses a cloud-based artificial intelligence platform to connect more than 1,500 wind, solar and hydropower plants across Europe with electricity generation and storage facilities, such as batteries…Power generation forecasts and actual electricity production data are continuously fed into the virtual power plant from the connected plants. This is supplemented with market prices for energy, enabling Statkraft to match demand with supply in real time…” click here for more

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New Energy Jobs Outreach For Vets

New Solar Veterans Initiatives to Advance Training and Career Pathways in the Solar Industry

November 11, 2019 (The Solar Foundation)

“…[Two new solar workforce development programs] connect transitioning military service members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces with career training, professional development, and employment opportunities in the solar industry…[They are intended to] expand and strengthen a nationwide pipeline of talented job candidates with military experience into a range of advanced roles at solar companies across the United States…[The Solar Ready Vets Fellowship Program and the Solar Opportunities and Readiness (SOAR) Initiative] are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy]…Through the Solar Ready Vets Fellowship Program, hundreds of service members will be placed into 12-week work-based learning programs with solar employers to facilitate their transition from active duty to civilian careers.

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These service members will come from select military bases in regions with high demand for solar workers…[It] will be focused mainly on management and professional roles, such as technical sales, system design, supply chain logistics, project development, and operations, in addition to installation. Through placement with industry employers, service members will receive valuable on-the-job training, professional development, and career guidance…[T]he SOAR Initiative will connect veterans with a range of solar training, credentialing, professional development, and employment opportunities…[and] establish a Department of Labor-recognized apprenticeship; expand the eligibility of solar training for GI Bill benefits; and define expedited pathways to solar certifications based on military experience and qualifications…” click through for more info

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Building Policy For Transportation Electrification

The 50 States of Electric Vehicles: States Consider a Variety of Utility-Led Transportation Electrification Initiatives in Q3 2019

November 6, 2019 (North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center [NCCETC])

“…40 states and the District of Columbia took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q3 2019, with the greatest number of actions relating to rebate programs, charging station deployment, and rate design for electric vehicle charging [according to the Q3 2019 update of The 50 States of Electric Vehicles from NCCETC]… 298 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q3 2019…[It was] a 41% increase over Q3 2018…[Three trends in electric vehicle actions were] (1) states and utilities focusing on rebate programs for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, (2) utilities proposing programs to address multiple charging types and locations, and (3) utilities proposing innovative electric vehicle charging pilot projects…

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…[The five top policy developments of the quarter were the] North Carolina Department of Transportation releasing its final zero-emission vehicle plan…Arizona regulators approving an electric vehicle implementation plan…The Maine Public Utilities Commission issuing a beneficial electrification request for proposals…Portland General Electric filing its transportation electrification plan with Oregon regulators; and….[the] Iowa Utilities Board exempting charging stations served by behind-the-meter generation from utility regulation…” click here for more

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The Climate Crisis Refugee Era Has Begun

California fires, rising seas: Millions of climate refugees will dwarf Dust Bowl by 2100; An environmental crisis in the early 1900s created 'Dust Bowl refugees.' Today's climate crisis is much bigger and will last for decades, not years.

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and NYU Professor Michael Shank, November 4, 2019 (USA Today)

“…[C]limate refugees are people who are now forced to seek refuge from the life-threatening impacts of the climate crisis…Californians are the tip of the spear this fall…[Soon] everyone in America will know what a climate refugee is…[Due to sea-level rise,] as many as 13 million Americans are projected to become climate refugees by the end of this century…This is our new reality: Americans having to move from their homes to avoid the climate crisis and its worst impacts, whether that be sea-level rise, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes or droughts…[Hundreds of thousands of “Dust Bowl refugees were created by an environmental disaster, and what is happening now is] in response to a much bigger environmental crisis and one that will last for decades, not years…

…[T]he Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided $48 million to move an entire community out of the Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana to avoid coming climate impacts. And in Alaska, the village of Newtok recently secured more than $15 million to relocate households to safer ground…[At risk communities are investing billions in adaptive measures but we need a federal long-term, strategic assessment of our national preparedness and an action plan because the] climate crisis is upon us, whether we choose to recognize it or not…” click here for more

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More And More New Energy

FERC’s Latest "Infrastructure" Report Reflects Major Changes In Its Three-Year Forecast: No New Coal Capacity; Net Reduction In Fossil Fuels; Significant Decline For Nuclear Power; Net New Wind And Solar Capacity More Than Doubles That Of Natural Gas

Ken Bossong, November 4, 2019 (Sun Day)

“…[In Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) U.S. electrical generating capacity revisions from earlier this year, sharp] declines are foreseen for fossil fuels and nuclear power while renewable energy (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) is forecast to experience even stronger growth than previously projected…[D]ata through August 31, 2019) indicates a net decline of [4,851 MW or] nearly five percent (4.56%) in nuclear capacity by August 2022…[New Energy] is foreseen to grow by more than 47 gigawatts (GW)…

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[N]et new natural gas generating capacity is projected to increase by 19,757 megawatts (MW)…[but]] that is more than offset by a drop of 18,957 MW in coal's net generating capacity and a decline of 3,016 MW in that of oil…[W]ind capacity is projected to grow by 27,659 MW and utility-scale solar by 17,857 MW. The other renewable sources would also increase: hydropower by 1,282 MW, biomass by 333 MW, and geothermal by 280 MW. Collectively, they would add 47,411 MW over the next three years. That is significantly more than double the projected growth in natural gas generating capacity…” click here for more

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Jane Fonda, Ted Danson Arrested In Climate March

Ted Danson and Jane Fonda were arrested at a climate crisis protest

Alisha Ebrahimji and Nahia Abdur-Rahman, October 26, 2019 (CNN)

“…[Jane Fonda, fellow actor Ted Danson, and 30 others were arrested by US Capitol Police during a "Fire Drill Fridays" protest of the lack federal action on the] climate crisis…During the protest, Fonda urged resistance against new fossil fuel extractions and encouraged fellow protesters to hold elected officials accountable for pushing reforms… click here for more

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New Energy Hits Inflection Point

These 2 Stunning Numbers Show That Renewable Energy Is Really Starting to Heat Up; NextEra Energy’s renewable energy development backlog shows how quickly adoption is accelerating.

Matthew DiLallo, October 26, 2019 (The Motley Fool)

“…[In its Q3 report, NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), the world’s leading independent power producer (IPP) of New Energy] detailed two noteworthy numbers that together represent an inflection point for New Energy and show just how far the industry has come in recent years…[First, the] cost of adding battery storage, however, has come down tremendously…[In Q3, NextEra] added 747 MW of solar and 341 MW of battery storage, all of which will be paired with new solar projects. Year to date, more than 50% of the solar megawatts that have been added to backlog include a battery storage component…

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[NextEra] now has 561 MW of storage capacity lined up to come online in the 2021-to-2022 timeframe…[and customer demand could increase to] as much as 1,250 MW of energy storage capacity…[Second, NextEra has added nearly 4,200 MW in New Energy in 2019 to bring its total New Energy portfolio to] more than 12,300 MW…The renewable-energy sector has hit an inflection point. That's evident in the speed at which NextEra is developing new projects, as well as the increased inclusion of a battery storage component. Investors can't afford to ignore this sector any longer.” click here for more

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