Brian McCowan, ERS, for Zondits President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change is a major disappointment. Reaching agreement in Paris required a massive international effort that resulted in nearly two hundred countries agreeing to work toward common goals. The United States was one of several countries that…
EVs: Cleaner Than Gasoline-Powered Cars and Zero Emissions
Electric Vehicles Good for the Environment & Save You Money Clean Technica, April 18, 2017 Electric cars themselves produce zero emissions when driven, but even if you factor in the emissions from electricity produced in your region that is utilized to power your electric car, it’s extremely likely your electric car is cleaner than a…
Finance
Energy Investments Get Results
Clean Energy Investments Pay Off Big Time, New Study Shows NRDC, November 15, 2016 Some have contended that driving down climate-altering carbon pollution inevitably means hefty cost penalties for utility customers, as renewable energy and energy efficiency replace fossil-fueled power plants (many on the verge of extreme old age), but my former NRDC colleague Sierra…
Markets & Trends
Can Distributed Energy Solve the Energy Poverty Problem?
Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits The discussion on distributed and clean energy often focuses on societies or groups of people who have access to electricity but are hoping for cleaner alternatives. But what about the 1.2 billion people in the world who do not have reliable or consistent access to electricity? How do we address…
Renewables
Is a 100 Percent Renewable Future Possible in the U.S.?
This chart shows the United States’ mind-blowing clean energy potential Grist, March 30, 2016. Image credit: Greyerbaby The United States uses about 3.7 million gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. That’s an unfathomably huge number. But the next time someone tries to make the argument that 100 percent renewable energy is out of reach for the U.S., show them this image:…
Regulatory Affairs
Firing Up the Clean Energy Race with the Energy Materials Network
U.S. Department of Energy Launches $40 Million Effort to Improve Materials for Clean Energy Solutions US DOE, February 24, 2016. Image credit: Comfreak The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the launch of its Energy Materials Network (EMN), a new National Laboratory-led initiative that will give American entrepreneurs and manufacturers a leg up in the global…
Markets & Trends
Cracking the Code for the Emerging Energy Sector
THE NEW DNA OF FUTURE ENERGY MARKETS World Future Council, January 16, 2016. Image credit: Axel Schwenke Delegates from more than 130 countries and world`s leading renewable energy experts meet for the next three days to discuss the global energy transition. The annual Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has become one of the…
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Issues Hamper Clean Energy in Nevada
Gita Subramony for Zondits, January 6, 2016. Image credit: tpsdave Last week Marketplace reported on how solar customers in Nevada might end up paying more on their utility bills even though they use less energy from the grid. What’s going on here? Abundant sunshine in the Silver State created high demand for solar arrays. However, the…