Clean Energy 2018

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“IT’S OFFICIAL, RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKS”

On January 15th, 2018, two people reached the South Pole using only clean energy technologies. They traveled for 600 nautical miles on foot across Antarctica. They called their expedition the South Pole Energy Challenge. They showed they could survive on only renewable energy for more than 50 days in one of the harshest environments on the planet. They wanted to show the world that renewable energy is a viable option for everyone. They sent out a video challenging people to be more sustainable and to reduce their carbon footprint in what they call the “ClimateForce Challenge”. They aim to clean up 326 million tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide by 2025, simply through the actions that people who participate in the challenge take to conserve energy each day. What an incredible idea! I encourage everyone to look further into it, and to take action to reduce your carbon footprint (1).

Source: (1) Burt, C. IT'S OFFICIAL, RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKS http://news.janegoodall.org/2018/03/22/official-renewable-energy-works/ (accessed Mar 26, 2018).

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“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi

This quote from Mahatma Gandhi beautifully demonstrates the necessity for developing renewable energy alternatives to Earth’s resources. If we were to reduce our consumption to the bare minimum needed for survival, the Earth alone could sustain us. But due to industrialization, there is a need for more energy sources so that we do not completely exploit the planet. 

Source of quote: 151 Inspiring Environmental Quotes https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/inspiring-environmental-quotes.php (accessed Mar 22, 2018).

[cleanenergy2018-blog]

“2018 Renewable Outlook Stable: Renewables Can Now Self-Sustain”

In the next year, there are five trends in renewable energy that we should pay special attention to:

The first of these trends is that renewables are expected to become more self-sustaining. This means that, through the market, renewables will be competitive on their own. 

The second trend is the advancements that will be made technologically. Improvements in technology are the largest driver of cost decreases for renewables, and there is expected to be specific improvements in battery technologies, which could put it up there with solar generation in terms of viable alternatives to grid-based power. 

The third trend is a slow growth in demand for power. In developed markets, there has been a stagnation in demand for power, while developing countries are seeing an increase in demand. As energy efficiency advances, the growth in demand is likely to be offset producing a slow overall power demand growth. 

The fourth trend to keep an eye on is that electric vehicle charging infrastructure will require investment. Much of the infrastructure necessary to maintain an EV-dependent community has not yet been built, but this type of construction is expected to boom as prices for these cars drop. 

Lastly, power prices are expected to remain stagnant. Obviously, power prices are vulnerable to pricing jolts as is any sector of the economy. However, it is expected that these shocks will be only temporary and will bounce back due to the oversupply of electricity throughout many competitive power markets (1).

Source: (1) Remec, G. 2018 Renewable Outlook Stable: Renewables Can Now Self-Sustain http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/print/volume-21/issue-1/features/all-renewables/2018-renewable-outlook-stable-renewables-can-now-self-sustain.html (accessed Mar 22, 2018).

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“EPA Clean Power Plan Underestimates Power of Renewable Energy to Reduce Carbon Emissions”

In a blog written by Steve Clemmer, Director of Energy Research at the Union of Concerned Scientists, he states that there is evidence that increasing the amount of renewable energy could greatly increase the reductions from EPA’s Clean Power Plan. He talks about a 17% increase in renewable energy sources (twice as that proposed by the EPA) could increase reductions in carbon emissions from 30% to 40%. This also wouldn’t come with large hits to the pocket, because it would be very affordable. It would lower natural gas prices for consumers and utilities, without breaking the bank initially (1).

Source: (1) Clemmer, S. EPA Clean Power Plan Underestimates Power of Renewable Energy to Reduce Carbon Emissions. CleanEnergy.org, 2014. (accessed Mar 15, 2018).

[cleanenergy2018-blog]

“Sunrise”

This piece was done by an artist named Asbjorn Lonvig. He visited a windmill company and they gave him some information to read about wind power. From his experience, he was inspired to approach the idea of wind energy from an artistic angle. He really sees the importance of a transition to cleaner energy (1). 

Source: (1) Lonvig, A. The Windmill Selection http://www.lonvig.dk/windmill.htm (accessed Feb 28, 2018).

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"Even without the clean power plan, US can achieve Paris Agreement emissions reductions"

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have concluded that the U.S. has the ability to meet the carbon dioxide emission reductions that were laid out in the United Narions Paris Agreement, regardless of the fact that Trump's administration has pulled out of the Clean Power Plan (CPP).

They used the Annual Energy Outlook to determine whether the 2020, 2025, and 2030 goals can still be met. The current decreases in emissions puts us at the CPP's 2025 target this year.

The main driver for this decrease is the declination of natural gas prices, which allows for the installation of cleaner natural gas power plants instead of coal-fired plants.

Legislation needs to be put in place that maintains the trajectory that has been created by the market, and incentives should be created that encourage cleaner energy.

David Rhode, Ph.D. stated "Our work shows that the U.S. power sector could meet the Paris Agreement goals even without the Clean Power Plan, and that the path to compliance can be a collection of politically feasible, minimally invasive actions - if we plan ahead and start now." (1)

Source: (1) Carnegie Mellon University. Even without the clean power plan, US can achieve Paris Agreement emissions reductions. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180216110502.htm (accessed Feb 19, 2018).

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Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar

Xcel Energy is making moves toward converting its old coal plants into wind turbines and solar panels. The company is going to be able to build these new energy sources for less money than it would cost to keep the current coal plants up and running. Not only will it save the company money, but it will also greatly reduce harmful emissions. “Across its eight-state system, Xcel predicts that well over half its electricity will come from renewable sources by the mid-2020s. It will be one of the cleanest large utility companies in the country.” This same trend toward clean energy is happening all over the world, and is expected to spread (1). 

Source: (1) Gillis, J.; Harvey, H. Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/opinion/utility-embracing-wind-solar.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FSolar Energy&action=click&contentCollection=energy-environment®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection (accessed Feb 8, 2018).

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“2018 - The Year of the Digital Grid”

An article published on the Renewable Energy World website states that “Nothing will stand out in 2018 as more important for the long-term success of renewables than the advancement of a digital grid architecture.” This new grid technology will help to advance utilities to maximize global renewable energy. Policy makers are expected to push for more of this technology to be used in the renewable energy sector. Energy providers will have a stronger connection with data analytics providers, and there will be more intelligent energy controls found in cities throughout the United States (1). 

Source: (1) Delony, J. 2018 - The Year of the Digital Gird http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/12/the-year-of-the-digital-grid-plus-4-more-renewable-energy-trends-to-follow-in-2018.html (accessed Jan 30, 2018).

[cleanenergy2018-blog]

Renewable Energy in Minnesota

Source for photo:

Clean Energy Resource Teams. Renewable Energy for Greater Minnesota; Clean Energy Resource Teams. https://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greatrenewables

According to Clean Energy Economy MN, the clean energy jobs in the state of Minnesota increased 5.8% in the last year, 3.8% more than overall job growth in the state. There are a total of 57,351 clean energy jobs in Minnesota alone. Lt. Governor Tina Smith said “This... is further proof that renewable energy is good for our health, our environment, and our economy.” With continued implementation of effective clean energy policies, it will strengthen the MN position as a leader in the clean energy industry, ensure growth in the industry, and create more jobs for Minnesotans (1).

Source for text: 

(1) O'Grady, L. New Report: Minnesota's Clean Energy Industry Growing Rapidly with More than 57,000 Total Jobs http://www.cleanenergyeconomymn.org/news/new-report-minnesotas-clean-energy-industry-growing-rapidly-more-57000-total-jobs (accessed Jan 25, 2018).

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“There is an urgent need to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, dramatically reduce wasted energy, and significantly shift our power supplies from oil, coal, and natural gas to wind, solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy sources." -Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben is an American author, journalist, and environmentalist who won the Right Livelihood Prize in 2014 (1). He is also the founder of 350.org which holds the title for the first worldwide climate change movement. He is “probably America’s most important environmentalist”, according to the Boston Globe (1). He holds a lot of credibility, having done extensive research on climate change, and it is important to carefully consider the recommendations of people like Bill McKibben. His call for a transition to renewable energy should not be ignored.

(1) Bill McKibben https://350.org/bill/ (accessed Jan 22, 2018).