World's Largest Solar Farm in Australia Will Also Supply 20% of Singapore's Electricity
21 October 2020
Renewable Energy
Sun Cable hopes to start construction of the world's largest solar farm in 2023. Sun Cable
A large expanse of Australia's deserted Outback will house the world's largest solar farm and generate enough energy to export power to Singapore, as The Guardian reported.
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<p>The massive solar farm, which will be visible from space after it's constructed, will lie halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin, two cities in Australia's Northern Territory. The solar farm will occupy more than 46 square miles and cost $20 billion to build, according to <a href="https://www.unilad.co.uk/technology/worlds-largest-solar-farm-to-power-singapore/" target="_blank">Unilad</a>.</p><p>The remote area of the Outback where the solar panels will work is currently a massive cattle ranch, but the owner of the project, Sun Cable, hopes to start construction in 2023 with the aim of exporting energy by 2027. According to Unilad, the solar farm is expected to generate so much energy that not only will it power all of the Northern Territory, but two-thirds of the electricity will be exported via underwater cables that run 2,800 miles to Singapore, a city-state on the tip of the Malay peninsula.</p>
<p>Sun Cable has initiated the project by evaluating its environmental impact and making sure its project complies with regulation from the Northern Territory's Environment Protection Authority, as the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-10-20/newcastle-waters-station-nt-set-for-worlds-biggest-solar-farm/12785256" target="_blank">Australian Broadcasting Corporation</a> (ABC) reported.</p><p>"We'll be using thousands of hectares of land, and we need to closely examine the impact on the ground at the solar farm end," Sun Cable CEO David Griffin said, as ABC reported. "There's a lot of black soil in that country, but that's a bit problematic for us, so we're [planning to build] on a substantial area of soil that's a bit different and a bit friendlier for us to construct on."</p><p>Despite those challenges, Griffin believes the massive cattle farm called Newcastle Waters is an ideal location for the solar farm because it meets several critical requirements.</p><p>"It's on the Adelaide to Darwin rail corridor, which is brilliant for our logistics given the enormous amount of material we'll have to transport to the site," he said to The Guardian. The location is also just 18 miles off the main highway that runs the length of the sparsely populated Northern Territory.</p>
<p>The weather also provides ideal conditions for producing energy.<br></p><p>"It's a bit of a balancing act too, because it's far south enough to get away from the main patch affected by the wet season, so it's a steady solar resource throughout the year," Griffin told The Guardian. "There's plenty of sun and not many clouds."</p><p>The massive project is expected to supply 10 gigawatts of electricity. The sustainable energy will help the remote areas of the Northern Territory, which usually have to use energy from diesel-powered generators. The exported energy will supply 20 percent of Singapore's energy needs, according to Unilad.</p><p>The solar farm, which is three times larger than the world's current largest solar farm in northern China, is also expected to provide thousands of jobs related to construction and hundreds of jobs once construction is done. Griffin told The Guardian that many of the jobs will go to local <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous-peoples">Indigenous</a> communities.</p>
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talks to reporters during her weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on Sept. 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The House of Representatives passed a sweeping bill to boost clean energy while phasing out the use of coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators that are known pollutants and contribute to the climate crisis, as the AP reported.
<p>The 900-page Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act passed the House in a 220-185 vote. The bill, if it were approved by the Senate and signed by the president, would increase the energy efficiency standards for building and boost research and investment in the development of solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/518102-house-passes-sweeping-clean-energy-bill" target="_blank">The Hill</a>.</p><p>The Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act was crafted after negotiations with the Senate. It is full of agreed upon, "practical and achievable clean energy policies that are possible for us to achieve this year," said Frank Pallone, Democrat from New Jersey and chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as <a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/trump-veto-of-house-clean-energy-bill-likely-as-ginsburg-replacement-fight/585625/" target="_blank">Utility Drive</a> reported.</p>
<p>Pallone added that the bill would "modernize our energy system, create jobs and take positive steps towards addressing the climate crisis," as the AP reported. He called it "one of the most impactful steps we can take now to create manufacturing jobs and boost our competitiveness, all while protecting our environment."</p><p>The effort to pass the bill, however, may have been in vain. Earlier in the week, The White House said the president's advisors would suggest he veto the bill. "With the news of Justice Ginsburg's passing, I cannot even venture a guess of how the next few weeks and months may play out," said Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York in speaking to a National Clean Energy Week symposium, according to Utility Drive.</p><p>And yet, some in Congress were somewhat hopeful that the bill had a chance of becoming law. The Hill reported that a House Democratic aide believed that if the Senate passes their similar bill, then the respective committees can work together to settle the small discrepancies between the two bills.</p>
<p>The bills that are in the House and the Senate are modest in their ambition, which House Democrats acknowledged.</p><p>"I want to give a clear-eyed assessment: This bill is not going to stop climate change," said Tonko, as the AP reported. "But it is a good opportunity to make good and sometimes necessary changes to programs, which might make it easier to do a bigger, more ambitious bill in the near future."</p><p>The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), an advocacy group, examined the bill and praised it in a <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/marc-boom/house-bill-would-deliver-needed-steps-toward-clean-economy" target="_blank">blog post</a> as "a needed step forward to ensure future climate action will be built from a solid foundation." It added that this bill is unique from past legislation because it "has opened the door for better ideas on how to spur progress in clean energy innovation."</p>
<p>And yet, the NRDC noted that the funding for clean energy fell behind the money spent for fossil fuels and nuclear energy. "This bill is very promising but it's obvious that it won't provide the transformative change we need to win the fight against climate change and protect our environment," the NRDC wrote.</p><p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the bill for taking a step to thwart the climate crisis and putting the wheels in motion to start legislation aimed at climate action.</p><p>"It takes actions that scientists, researchers and experts tell us is needed by launching the research and development needed to unleash a clean energy revolution and reduce pollution in our communities, making a bold down payment for future climate action by modernizing America's energy innovation infrastructure," she said, as The Hill reported.</p>
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If you're looking to cut down on your single-use plastic consumption, refusing to-go cutlery is an easy switch to make. In this article, we'll show you three of the best bamboo utensils and cutlery sets for eating on the go.
<h2>Why use bamboo utensils?</h2><p>There are a few reasons we recommend tossing bamboo utensils in your pocket or purse. As takeout and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/air-pollution-food-delivery-plastic-waste-2648454324.html" target="_self">food delivery</a> is becoming increasingly popular, the use (and disposal) of plastic <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/biodegradable-straws-cutlery-2647876041.html" target="_self">to-go cutlery</a> is on the rise. According to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauratenenbaum/2019/07/16/plastic-cutlery-is-terrible-for-the-environment-and-we-dont-need-to-have-it-delivered/?sh=6e3312f74019" target="_blank">Forbes</a>, in the U.S. alone, it's estimated that 40 billion individual plastic utensils are wasted every year.</p><p>Many times, it's not just a single fork or spoon but a whole set wrapped in a disposable plastic bag, complete with a napkin and even single-serve salt and pepper packets. More often than not, people only use the one utensil they need and toss the rest without a second thought.</p><p>By carrying reusable utensils with you, you can refuse the single-use cutlery. But with so many options — metal, bamboo, or sturdy plastic — it can be difficult to narrow down the best set for you.</p><p>Here are a few reasons we recommend going with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/bamboo-building-2641420012.html" target="_self">reusable bamboo</a> utensils over metal or plastic alternatives:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>Lightweight:</strong> Bamboo is lighter than both plastic and metal, making it more convenient to carry for everyday use.</li><li><strong>Odorless: </strong>Some materials, especially plastic, can take on the smell of the foods you've eaten. Bamboo doesn't trap odors, so you don't have to worry about them getting funky.</li><li><strong>Compostable and biodegradable: </strong>If your bamboo utensils get worn out, they can be composted at the end of their life, so they'll never end up in a landfill or waterway.</li></ul><h2>Best bamboo utensil sets</h2><p>Based on our market research and firsthand use, these are the three best bamboo utensils and eco-friendly bamboo cutlery sets available:</p><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p>
<p class="">Whether it be bringing your own utensils, a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-straws-2571689759.html" target="_self">reusable straw</a>, or a takeout container from home, finding ways to reduce your plastic consumption when out to eat is key to leading a more sustainable life. With any of these three bamboo utensil sets, you can feel good about being able to refuse single-use plastic on the go.</p><p><em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/about-ecowatch-2641507575.html?rebelltitem=47#rebelltitem47" target="_self">Melissa Smith</a> is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that's featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.</em></p>
Most Sustainable: To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set With Carrying Case
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTE1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODcxNzc0NX0.Hhrok0N7KqE2MvxtupO40adJitu3eS3-hTEqPO5fTqU/img.jpg?width=980" id="da412" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="da83d259d32c6fae8c884f82fcd6f5b3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /><p>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Go-Ware-Bamboo-Travel-Utensils/dp/B002BFIH2U/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=bamboo+utensils&qid=1608141073&sr=8-25" target="_blank">To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set</a> includes a fork, spoon, non-serrated knife, and chopsticks. It comes in a handy carrying case that's made from 100% post-consumer <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-recycling-europe-2646085302.html" target="_self">recycled plastic bottles</a>, so not only are you preventing plastic from entering the waste stream, but you're also helping to reduce the amount of existing plastic clogging our landfills and oceans.</p> <p>The company itself, a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/exclusive-b-corps-matter-2507063576.html" target="_self">certified B Corp</a>, has a steadfast commitment to the planet. Aside from using sustainable materials, it collaborates with eco-friendly brands like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/patagonia-vote-climate-deniers-2647697498.html" target="_self">Patagonia</a> and 4ocean and has employee programs such as a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/zero-waste-cities-2646926686.html" target="_self">zero-waste pledge</a> and community clean-ups to reduce its environmental footprint.</p> <p><strong>Customer Rating:</strong> 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 1,500 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why Buy: </strong>Sleeve made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles; Certified B Corp; Climate Neutral Certified; Supports 1% For the Planet; Fair Labor Association member
$14
Most Convenient: Bambu Reusable Bamboo Sporks
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTE2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDM3MDU1OX0.IOZYR4FjNBzsPDtpK_byFwJ7JbzzPnD8Bpg3RFlqA7c/img.jpg?width=980" id="d6700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="56eb8186f68d96f0c6c11df3c6c0943b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /><p>If a full bamboo cutlery set is too bulky to carry, consider the compact <a href="https://www.amazon.com/bambu-Organic-Bamboo-Sporks-Set/dp/B00WO85PCO/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=bambu+spork&qid=1613143126&s=home-garden&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Bambu Reusable Bamboo Spork</a>. This merges two bamboo utensils into one convenient tool that's small enough to fit in your pocket yet still large enough to hold in your hand and comfortably eat with.</p> <p>Bambu products are sourced from the "bamboo belt" of Eastern China and sustainably handcrafted in family-operated workshops near the raw material source for minimal environmental impact. It's certified organic by a number of international organizations, including the USDA, LETIS, and CERES.</p> <p><strong>Customer Rating: </strong>4.7 out of 5 stars with over 50 Amazon reviews</p><p><strong>Why Buy:</strong> Certified USDA Organic and Biobased Product; Certified B Corp; Carbon<em>free</em>® Product Certified; Supports 1% For the Planet</p>
$13
Best For Travel: Waves of Change Reusable Bamboo Utensil Set
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY2MTE3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjE0MTk2Mn0.yD-3WyiWU1uA7ebVN_FZXK-oIdfw6UV5ieGVAxTu7Gw/img.jpg?width=980" id="94190" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="517e913db9c23e8e9ac544d704c03caa" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="400" /><p>The Waves of Change line from Full Circle Home features ocean-inspired products to make meals away from home more sustainable, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Change-WC19304V-Reusable-Recycled/dp/B0813GY18R/ref=sr_1_72?dchild=1&keywords=bamboo%2Butensils&qid=1608142155&sr=8-72&th=1" target="_blank">insulated lunch bags</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Change-WC19304V-Reusable-Recycled/dp/B0813GDSSC/ref=sr_1_72?dchild=1&keywords=bamboo%2Butensils&qid=1608142155&sr=8-72&th=1" target="_blank">sandwich</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Change-WC19304V-Reusable-Recycled/dp/B0813GY176/ref=sr_1_72?dchild=1&keywords=bamboo%2Butensils&qid=1608142155&sr=8-72&th=1" target="_blank">snack pouches</a>, and a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Change-WC19304V-Reusable-Recycled/dp/B0813GY176/ref=sr_1_72?dchild=1&keywords=bamboo%2Butensils&qid=1608142155&sr=8-72&th=1" target="_blank">reusable bamboo utensil set</a>.</p> <p>These eco-friendly bamboo utensils come in a zippered pouch for extra cleanliness while traveling or commuting. Whether you choose the wave or whale design, each pouch is made with a recycled fabric that's produced from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/world-plastic-waste-leader-us-2648607158.html" target="_self">plastic waste</a> and certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).</p> <p><strong>Customer Rating:</strong> 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 200 Amazon reviews</p><strong>Why Buy: </strong>Sleeve made from GRS-certified recycled fabric; Certified B Corp; Plastic Neutral company; Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified; USDA Certified Biobased Product
$15
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More and more homes are making energy efficiency a priority. Not only is it a responsible way to reduce your environmental impact, but it can equate to serious savings on energy bills every month. But what can be done to make your home more efficient? Alongside a home energy audit, a smart home energy monitor is an energy-saving tool that can make a big difference.
<h2>What is a smart home energy monitor?</h2><p>A smart <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-measure-home-power-usage" target="_blank">home energy monitor</a> is a gadget that fits onto your home's electrical panel. The unit then monitors energy consumption throughout your home, showing you energy use patterns and even real-time data.</p><p>It gives you an accurate picture of the amount of energy that your home uses to help you break down your electric bill. A smart home energy monitor can even give you a baseline of electricity consumption when appliances are not in use, as well as data on how much energy individual appliances use. That can give you the type of specific data on your electricity usage needed to make the proper changes and upgrades within your home.</p><h2>How does a smart home energy monitor work?</h2><p>A smart home energy monitoring system is relatively simple. Start by attaching it to your home's breaker box. The device then works by not only monitoring the energy usage throughout the home, but by also identifying the unique energy signature of individual devices and appliances.</p><p>Depending on the type of monitor you choose, you can monitor energy levels when those appliances are on, how often they get used, what they cost per month to operate, and more. This gives you a comprehensive look into your electrical usage to help identify ways you can be more energy-efficient. Pairing a smart home energy monitor with other products like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/best-smart-thermostat-265026024" target="_blank">smart thermostats</a> and smart plugs can help you take control of your home's day-to-day energy use.</p><h2>Popular home energy monitor brands</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTYyOTEyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzYwODY5NH0.419CgGNhr1BtJcIdmXphnL5SROeYV4chGs616YTVOc0/img.jpg?width=980" id="d7d7e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="765fdd10abb05e4b64912d62f5a8db63" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="721">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Kitchen monitor</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">MartinPrescott / Getty Images</small></p><p>Some of the most popular brands of home energy monitors include Sense, Eeydro, Efergy, Neurio, Smappee, and Emporia Energy. There are other brands out there too, but these are the biggest names. Below are more details on each one and the systems they offer.<br></p><h3>Sense</h3><p>The <a href="https://sense.com/" target="_blank">Sense Energy Monitor</a> offers a simple way to keep track of your power usage. The brand offers both solar and standard variations that plug into just about any existing breaker panel with ease. The cool thing about this system is that it connects to a Sense app that provides real-time energy data whenever you want it.</p><p>The Sense will break down energy usage in ways that the average electric bill will not. This allows for a greater, more in-depth look at energy usage like never before. At <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Energy-Monitor-Electricity-Usage/dp/B075K6PHJ9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$299.99</a>, it is a bit on the pricey side, but it is one of the best options out there for detailed, real-time breakdowns of your home's power consumption and even includes goal-setting features and alerts.</p><h3>Eyedro</h3><p><a href="https://eyedro.com/home-solutions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eyedro</a> offers four different home energy monitoring options, including two that can monitor your home's solar production. They range in price from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eyedro-EYEFI-2-Electricity-Supports-Metering/dp/B07KBBD8C5?th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$99 to $299</a>, depending on which one you choose.</p><p>The non-solar Eyedro sensors are a bit more cost effective, but there are limitations when compared to Sense. For one, connecting to your Wi-Fi is a lot more challenging as it will require ethernet connectivity or a wireless mesh setup. Additionally, it will not connect to any smart home devices or systems.</p><p>Still, Eyedro provides the same simple interface that shows a breakdown in energy output by device for real-time data and energy insights. You can set up daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly monitoring reports for a more controlled monitoring experience.</p><h3>Efergy</h3><p><a href="https://efergy.us/products/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Efergy</a> offers a wide selection of smart home energy monitors. These include online energy monitoring options that allow you track your energy use online and through an app, or systems that include a wireless home display. Efergy systems provide a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Efergy-4-0-Wireless-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B001Q1G4WK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cost-effective</a> means of monitoring your home's electrical output.</p><p>Efergy sensors connect easily to any home electrical box for fast and easy installation that does not require an electrician. The sensor then transmits your energy data to a wireless display or Wi-Fi enabled hub.</p><p>The Efergy wireless displays offer a portable, compact interface to help you track your energy use. It can be placed anywhere in the home and uses its large memory to store data that can be observed monthly, weekly, or daily. It even has an audible alert that notifies in the event of excessive electrical usage.</p><h3>Neurio</h3><p>The Neurio smart home energy monitor is another smart device that can monitor energy usage in real time. At <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Neurio-Technology-W1-Hem-Energy-Monitor/dp/B07KMF9SZL" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$199.99</a>, it is priced similarly to other top-of-the-line devices out there.</p><p>The Neurio W1 HEM home energy monitor provides 24/7 access and updates so that you can see the live impact of energy consumption in your home. It also features a simple installation process that takes only 15-20 minutes. The Neurio system could help you identify ways to save up to 20% of your energy use each month.</p><h3>Smappee</h3><p>Smappee offers a top-of-the-line energy monitoring system on par with the Sense home energy monitor. The <a href="https://www.smappee.com/infinity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Smappee Infinity</a> home energy monitor has some very impressive features that make it a great option. In addition to just monitoring your home's power meter, this system can also monitor your gas and water usage. It features smart control with dynamic load balancing.</p><p>The system features a modular design so you can add individual components to customize your system to your home. Plus, with the Smappee Switch and Smappee Output Module, you can control your appliances remotely and set up schedules to help lower energy use.</p><h3>Emporia Energy</h3><p>One of the most cost-efficient options, Emporia Energy monitoring systems can provide much of the same functionality and insights at a fraction of the price. The <a href="https://emporiaenergy.com/how-the-vue-energy-monitor-works/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gen 2 Emporia Vue Smart Home Energy Monitor</a> delivers real-time data, alerts, goals, and more through a smart phone app available on iOS and Android devices. Available for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emporia-Energy-Monitor-Electricity-Conserve/dp/B07R11H2Q2?th=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$70</a> on Amazon, this is one of the most affordable whole-home systems out there.</p><p>The Emporia Vue app will even provide energy-saving recommendations to help homeowners reduce their energy usage and their carbon emissions each month. The company also offers a wireless Vue Utility Connect monitor, though this system is only available in certain states.</p><h2>What to look for in a smart home energy monitor</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTYyOTE0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NzM2MDkzOX0.d_1CMH3q9ZC1EsCnP03ZMWV5mzd8tLka-M55-zr3qeE/img.jpg?width=980" id="ea214" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="742c50d88453b6d8bd4c94f77a358a85" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1200" data-height="721">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Energy monitor</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">MartinPrescott / Getty Images</small></p><p>There are a few crucial aspects when it comes to choosing the right smart home energy monitor. After all, you are trying to track the energy usage effectively and efficiently in your home. The better the tool, the more effectively that can happen, and the lower your electricity bill and energy consumption.<br></p><p>The most important factors to consider are appliance recognition, real-time cost tracking, mobile apps, solar energy capabilities, and the installation process.</p><h3>Appliance recognition</h3><p>Energy monitoring is great but if you don't know where the issues are it can be difficult to know where to make changes. With appliance recognition, you can track the energy usage in real-time of each individual appliance. This provides a better indication as to which appliances are lagging behind and may need replacing in the near or immediate future.</p><h3>Real-time cost tracking</h3><p>Each monitoring system will offer comprehensive tracking reports ranging from daily all the way up to yearly. But the best way to see the energy use impacts of your appliances and devices is through real-time cost tracking.</p><p>Understand in clear terms what each device costs to run and which ones may not be doing the most effective job. The great thing about this feature is you can start to see major spikes during the day, which can help you set better energy schedules. This is a highly-effective tool for reducing your energy usage through these monitors.</p><h3>Mobile apps</h3><p>Access to our appliances and devices through our smart phones is crucial, and easier than ever. When using smart phone applications, users can monitor their home's energy usage live, make adjustments to settings, set alarms, and so much more. Those without apps work can still help you save energy, but don't provide the level of convenience and detail that you can get from those with mobile apps.</p><h3>Solar energy capable</h3><p>If you have upgraded your home with <a data-linked-post="2638992179" href="https://www.ecowatch.com/clean-energy-arcadia-power-2638992179.html" target="_blank">solar energy</a>, be sure that you select smart home energy monitors that are capable of tracking how much energy your panels generate. This allows you to better understand the breakdown of your home's energy sources, specifically the ratio of solar vs. electric energy you are consuming.</p><p>Using a solar monitoring system can help you use less electricity to reduce your emissions and save you money.</p><h3>Installation (professional or DIY)</h3><p>Ease of installation matters as well. The more difficult the installation, the more likely it will require an electrician to do the job. While it is always better to have an electrician handle installation if you are not comfortable working with your electric panel, that is an additional cost. Keep that in mind when making your choice. Ease-of-installation is also important in case you ever want to add additional monitors, or features like smart plugs, to your system.</p><h2>Benefits of Home Energy Monitoring</h2><p>There are a few primary benefits to home energy monitoring. The chief among them is identifying areas or appliances that may be trouble spots so you can improve your home's energy efficiency.</p><p>This can help you save money on your bills and reduce your home's overall energy consumption. The right changes can equate to a few hundred dollars saved annually, and a smaller carbon footprint.</p><p><em><strong>Ryan Womeldorf</strong> is a freelance writer who covers technology and consumer goods, including smart home tech. He is a husband and father of two (five if you count his pups).</em></p>
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Solar photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into energy and help combat the climate crisis. BlackRockSolar / Flickr / CC by 2.0
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into energy and continue to play an essential role in the fight to stop the climate crisis. As the pioneering panels of the early 2000s near the end of their 30-year electronic lives, however, they are at risk of becoming the world's next big wave of e-waste.
<p><a href="https://www.irena.org/documentdownloads/publications/irena_ieapvps_end-of-life_solar_pv_panels_2016.pdf" target="_blank">International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)</a>, a leading energy agency, projected that up to 78 million metric tons of solar panels will have reached the end of their life by 2050, resulting in about 6 million metric tons of new solar e-waste annually, reported <a href="https://grist.org/energy/solar-panels-are-starting-to-die-what-will-we-do-with-the-megatons-of-toxic-trash/" target="_blank">Grist</a>.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.irena.org/documentdownloads/publications/irena_ieapvps_end-of-life_solar_pv_panels_2016.pdf" target="_blank">IRENA report</a> noted that since their debut, solar PV deployment has grown at "unprecedented rates," with global installed PV capacity reaching 222 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2015, with projections rising to 4,500 GW by 2050. <a href="https://earth911.com/eco-tech/recycle-solar-panels/" target="_blank">Earth911</a> reported that solar is the fastest-growing energy source in the world.</p><p>According to recent research, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy-cheaper-than-coal-2645469706.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1" target="_self">wind and solar renewable energy technologies will soon be cheaper than coal globally</a>. This will drive even further deployment of solar panels. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy-growth-us-2641236776.html" target="_self">The United States</a>, China, India, Japan and Germany have planned for "particularly high" deployment, the <a href="https://www.irena.org/documentdownloads/publications/irena_ieapvps_end-of-life_solar_pv_panels_2016.pdf" target="_blank">IRENA report</a> said. As the global PV market continues to expand, so too will the e-waste we can expect when the panels are decommissioned.</p>
<p>IRENA also analyzed the potential upside and value creation of proper end-of-life management of PV panels. It noted that proper management could help shift the world to sustainable long-term development.</p><p>By 2030 and 2050, respectively, the report projected:</p><ul><li>Cumulative PV capacity to be 1,600 GW and 4,500 GW,</li><li>Cumulative PV waste to reach up to 8 million tonnes and 78 million tonnes,</li><li>Value creation to be $450 million and $15 billion in raw materials recovery,</li><li>New industries and employment opportunities to arise from repair, reuse, recycling and treatment of PV panels,</li><li>Enough raw materials recovered to produce 60 million new panels (equivalent to 18 GW) and 2 billion new panels (equivalent to 630 GW).</li></ul><p>Current global panel recycling trends are not yet poised to capitalize on this environmental and economic opportunity. According to <a href="https://grist.org/energy/solar-panels-are-starting-to-die-what-will-we-do-with-the-megatons-of-toxic-trash/" target="_blank">Grist</a>, while the E.U. requires manufacturers to ensure panels are properly recycled, in the U.S., there are no regulatory frameworks requiring the recycling of old panels, except for Washington state. In Japan, India and Australia, recycling requirements are being discussed. Without robust recycling mandates, most of this toxic trash will be sent to landfills.</p>
<p>There, the valuable silver and silicone in solar panels will go to waste and toxic chemicals like lead can leach out.</p><p>Another current challenge is the cost of recycling, which currently far outweighs revenue from recycling and dumping costs.</p><p>"We believe the big blind spot in the U.S. for recycling is that the cost far exceeds the revenue," Arizona State University solar researcher Meng Tao told <a href="https://grist.org/energy/solar-panels-are-starting-to-die-what-will-we-do-with-the-megatons-of-toxic-trash/" target="_blank">Grist</a>. "It's on the order of a 10-to-1 ratio."</p>
<p>Tao estimated that PV recyclers today can get about $3 a panel from recovering the aluminum, copper and glass out of a 60-cell silicon panel, the news report said. Sam Vanderhoof, CEO of Solar CowboyZ, one of the only U.S. companies dedicated to PV recycling, compared it to the cost of recycling that panel in the U.S. — between $12 and $25 — due to transportation costs. Grist also estimated that states that allow dumping charge less than $1 to toss the same panel into a solid waste landfill.</p><p>As a result, only about 10 percent of panels are currently recycled in the U.S.; the rest go to the landfill or are shipped overseas to countries with more lax environmental rules, the news report said.</p><p>"If we don't mandate recycling, many of the modules will go to landfill," Tao told Grist.</p>
<p>Better design of panels to align with recycling capabilities could help increase recycling rates, reported <a href="https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2017/10/the-opportunities-of-solar-panel-recycling" target="_blank">GreenMatch</a>. New recycling methods may more efficiently extract and purify valuable silver and silicone, helping to improve the cost/dump to revenue ratios, <a href="https://grist.org/energy/solar-panels-are-starting-to-die-what-will-we-do-with-the-megatons-of-toxic-trash/" target="_blank">Grist</a> reported. Industry researchers are also brainstorming ways to repair and resell panels still in good condition and to repurpose old panels for things like e-bike charging stations and housing complexes, the news report found.</p><p>For the solar industry to substantially grow to meet global demands and to support a clean energy revolution, it will need supportive policies and regulations and a means to deal with the e-waste glut that will soon result.</p><p>"We need to face the fact that solar panels do fail over time, and there's a lot of them out there," Vanderhoof told Grist. "And what do we do when they start to fail? It's not right throwing that responsibility on the consumer, and that's where we're at right now."</p>
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A new study finds only 10% of global energy utility companies are expanding their renewable energy capacity at a faster rate than their gas or coal-fired capacity. jwvein / Needpix
By Jo Harper
Only 10% of global energy utility companies are expanding their renewable energy capacity at a faster rate than their gas or coal-fired capacity. That is the main finding of a study by Galina Alova from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford.
<p>The study, published in research journal <em>Nature Energy</em>, found that of the 3,000 utilities studied most remain predominantly invested in fossil fuels. And of those prioritizing renewable energy growth, 60% had not halted expansion of their fossil fuel portfolios.</p><p>The companies with the slowest transition tended to be larger and from outside Europe, Alova told DW. "The renewables-prioritizing cohort of utilities that I identified comprises companies that are overall larger and own a larger market share in the countries where they operate, compared to the other companies," she said. "The key issue is that the majority of these companies continue in parallel to expand their fossil fuel-based capacity, although they do so at a slower rate."</p><p>Her research highlights a gap between what is needed to tackle the climate crisis and "the actions being taken by the utility sector," she added. These companies face the risk of carbon lock-in, given that a third of their fossil fuel capacity has been added in the last 10 years, so is here to stay for decades. "Unless it is retired early, it will render significant shares of their portfolios stranded," Alova said.</p><p>"Although there have been a few high-profile examples of individual electric utilities investing in renewables, this study shows that overall, the sector is making the transition to clean energy slowly or not at all," she said.</p><p>Alova believes inertia in the electricity industry is one key reason for the slow transition.</p>
The Matter of Gas
<p>The report found that 10% of utilities favored growth in gas-fired power plants, dominated by the US utilities exploiting the country's shale gas reserves, followed by Russia and Germany.</p><p>"Renewables and natural gas often go hand in hand," Alova said, adding that companies often choose both in parallel. "So, it might be just in media reports we are getting this image of investing in renewables, but less coverage on continued investment in gas." </p><p>It might also be the case that gas is viewed as a transition fuel, relatively less carbon emitting and providing load-balancing services to intermittent renewables generation, Alova said.</p><p>Dave Jones, senior electricity analyst for independent climate think tank Ember, agrees with Alova that utilities have hindered the transition by "misunderstanding the future of gas." Utilities have a mindset to build big centralized power plants, replacing a coal power plant with a gas power plant, he said. "Fortunately, most of the gas hype across the world is now dying down, as wind and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/cheap-solar-energy-prices-explained/a-53590607" target="_blank">solar now provide cheaper options</a> for generating electricity," Jones said.</p>Green Movement Taking Place
<p>Over a fifth of Europe's energy was generated by solar panels and wind turbines in the first half of 2020, according to a report by Ember. Denmark came out on top, generating 64% of its energy from these renewable sources, followed by Ireland (49%) and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/renewables-make-up-over-half-of-germanys-power-mix/a-52986924" target="_blank">Germany</a> (42%).</p><p>In Ember's half-year review released in July, renewables exceeded fossil fuel generation for the first time ever, producing 40% of the EU's power, with fossil fuels contributing 34%. However, globally only a tenth of all energy was generated by these sources during the first half of 2020. </p><p>Last year saw the use of coal to generate electricity around the world fall by a record 3%. In part due to COVID-19, coal generation in the first half of 2020 again broke records with a drop of 8.3%. In the EU, the drop was higher, as coal energy generation fell by nearly a third.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzgzODcwOS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MjQ2NzQ2Mn0.SeCcSGZ-_BCs2THBWfxYQBLEv3LEMZX3OPWJMzjv5sI/img.png?width=980" id="10c8b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7430067a3d895332e32bf4f45ff8ddc6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="1936" /><p>With many projects delayed by the pandemic, the global capacity to produce electricity from renewable sources is predicted to drop by up to 13% overall this year according to the International Energy Agency.</p>
Slowly Getting There?
<p>Utilities have been slow to understand how quickly wind and solar would drop in price, and also how quickly governments would want to move away from coal. "Many utilities have been caught off guard by the speed of the transition, and have suffered financially ever since," said Jones.</p><p>The world this year has generated one-tenth of its electricity from wind and solar, double from the 5% in 2015, and that increase has led to a fall in market share of coal generation, Jones added. </p><p>Valentina Kretzschmar from consultancy Wood Mackenzie says BP's recently announced strategy has created a new industry benchmark. BP plans to increase investment in its low-emission businesses, including renewable energy, by tenfold in the next decade to $5 billion (€4.5 billion) a year, while cutting back oil and gas production by 40%.</p><p>In July, Royal Dutch Shell won a deal to build a wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands, while France's Total has agreed to make several large investments in solar power in Spain and a wind farm off Scotland. Total also bought an electric and natural gas utility in Spain. Shell has said it will <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-sells-rights-to-19-offshore-oil-fields-for-over-500-million/a-42393559" target="_blank">delay offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico</a> and in the North Sea.</p><p>US giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron, however, have been slower than their European counterparts to commit to climate goals.</p><p>"I have seen a substantial shift between companies in the fossil fuel clusters toward renewables," Alova said. "This signals that the companies that have been growing fossil fuel portfolios in the earlier time periods might be switching to renewables more recently."</p>
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Melting ice forms a lake on free-floating ice jammed into the Ilulissat Icefjord during unseasonably warm weather on July 30, 2019 near Ilulissat, Greenland. Sean Gallup / Getty Images
A first-of-its-kind study has examined the satellite record to see how the climate crisis is impacting all of the planet's ice.
<p>The answer? Quite a lot. The rate of worldwide ice loss has increased by more than 60 percent in the past three decades, a study published in <a href="https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/233/2021/" target="_blank">The Cryosphere</a> on Monday found.</p><p>"The ice sheets are now following the worst-case climate warming scenarios set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change," Dr. Thomas Slater, study lead author and research fellow at Leeds' <a href="https://cpom.org.uk/" target="_blank">Center for Polar Observation and Modeling</a>, said in a <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/4756/global_ice_loss_increases_at_record_rate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Leeds press release</a>. "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" target="_self">Sea-level rise</a> on this scale will have very serious impacts on coastal communities this century."</p><p>Previous studies have used satellite data to assess ice loss from individual sources, such as polar ice caps, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/25/global-ice-loss-accelerating-at-record-rate-study-finds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian explained</a>. However, this is the first one to consider all sources of ice loss. The study found that the world lost around 31 trillion U.S. tons between 1994 and 2017. During that time, the rate of ice loss also increased 65 percent, from 0.9 trillion U.S. tons a year to 1.4 trillion U.S. tons a year. Ice loss from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ice-sheets" target="_self">ice sheets</a> in <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/antarctica" target="_self">Antarctica</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/greenland" target="_self">Greenland</a> largely contributed to that number, the press release stated.</p>
<p>The paper also broke down which sources had lost the most ice in total terms between 1994 and 2017. Amounts are approximate and in U.S. tons:</p><ol><li><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/arctic" target="_self">Arctic</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-ice" target="_self">sea ice</a>: 8.4 trillion</li><li>Antarctic ice shelves: 7.2 trillion</li><li>Mountain <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/glaciers" target="_self">glaciers</a>: 6.7 trillion</li><li>Greenland ice sheet: 4.2 trillion</li><li>Antarctic ice sheet: 2.8 trillion</li><li>Southern Ocean sea ice: one trillion</li></ol><p>The study also examined the leading cause of ice melt for each source, according to the press release. For Arctic sea ice and mountain glaciers, rising atmospheric temperatures have driven melting. For the Antarctic ice sheet, rising <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_self">ocean</a> temperatures have been the main cause. And for the Greenland ice sheet and Antarctic ice shelves, melting has been increased by a combination of the two.</p><p>All told, melting from Antarctica, Greenland and mountain glaciers have increased sea levels by around 34.6 millimeters, the study found. While this might not sound like a lot, every centimeter of sea level rise puts around a million people in low-lying areas at risk of being flooded out of their homes, the press release said. Moreover, sea level rise isn't the only threat from melting ice.</p><p>"As well as contributing to global mean sea level rise, mountain glaciers are also critical as a freshwater resource for local communities," Inès Otosaka, report co-author and Leeds PhD researcher, said in the press release. "The retreat of glaciers around the world is therefore of crucial importance at both local and global scales."</p>
<p>Melting Arctic sea ice is also a problem because it reduces the ice cover that reflects solar energy back into space.</p><p>"As the sea ice shrinks, more solar energy is being absorbed by the oceans and atmosphere, causing the Arctic to warm faster than anywhere else on the planet," Dr. Isobel Lawrence, coauthor and Leeds research fellow, explained in the press release. "Not only is this speeding up sea ice melt, it's also exacerbating the melting of glaciers and ice sheets which causes sea levels to rise."</p><p>Climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who was not involved in the study, <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateOfGavin/status/1353682889045667840" target="_blank">called it</a> a "thorough accounting of how ice is disappearing from the Arctic, Antarctic and mountain ranges."</p><p>However, he disagreed with the paper's claim that the melting of floating sea ice does not contribute directly to sea level rise. He pointed to a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/gji/article/170/1/145/2019346" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2007 paper</a> that found that if all currently floating sea ice were to melt, sea levels would rise around four centimeters. Slater <a href="https://twitter.com/_tslater/status/1353716525170098176" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">agreed</a> that the language should be changed to make it clear that melting floating sea ice does slightly contribute to sea level rise.</p>
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The BP oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana across the street from Marktown Park on Jan. 8, 2019. Scott Olson / Getty Images
We may have already passed peak demand for oil.
<p>This suggestion comes from an unlikely source: <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil-fuel</a> giant <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bp" target="_self">BP</a>. The company released its annual <a href="https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/energy-outlook.html" target="_blank">Energy Outlook</a> report Monday, and found that oil demand may have already peaked in 2019, as the rise in <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a> intersects with the impact of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_self">coronavirus</a> pandemic, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/14/global-oil-demand-may-have-passed-peak-says-bp-energy-report" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>.</p><p>"(The energy transition) would be an unprecedented event," BP chief economist Spencer Dale told journalists, as <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bp-energy-idUSKBN26410O?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0vHKXsFVgZ2wnnv66zvdWrWePzm375mU_kVBe6l_kUWkYQE365kESr-IE" target="_blank">Reuters reported</a>. "Never in modern history has the demand for any traded fuel declined in absolute terms."</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/energy-outlook/introduction/overview.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">report outlines</a> three possible energy scenarios for the next 30 years.</p><ol><li>The Rapid Transition Scenario (Rapid): This envisions a scenario in which energy-based greenhouse-gas emissions decline 70 percent by 2050, in line with limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.</li><li>The Net-Zero Scenario (Net Zero): This scenario imagines the policies adapted in the Rapid scenario are augmented by widespread lifestyle changes, and energy emissions decline by more than 95 percent by 2050, limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.</li><li>The Business-as-Usual Scenario (BAU): This imagines that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate</a> policies continue at a pace consistent with the past several years, and emissions only decline to less than 10 percent of 2018 levels by 2050.</li></ol>
<p>In the first two scenarios, BP concluded oil demand would already have peaked in 2019, according to The Guardian. In the third, it would plateau after 2019 and peak sometime in the mid-2020s, according to BP.</p><p>However, all three scenarios show <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil-and-gas" target="_self">oil and gas</a> on the wane and renewable energy on the rise, Reuters reported. They show fossil fuels falling from 85 percent of energy demand in 2018 to 20 to 65 percent by 2050. Meanwhile, they show renewable technologies like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wind" target="_self">wind</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar" target="_self">solar</a> expanding from five percent of energy demand in 2018 to 20 to 60 percent by 2050, according to Reuters and The Guardian.</p><p>"In all three of these scenarios the share of renewable energy grows more quickly than any energy fuel ever seen in history," Dale told The Guardian.</p>
<p>The coronavirus is expected to speed the decline in oil demand in part because it is slowing economic growth in developing countries, which tend to drive energy demand. At the same time, many developed countries are upping their climate ambitions and carbon taxes.</p><p>Other factors that may limit the demand for oil include the transition towards <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/electric-vehicle" target="_self">electric vehicles</a> and the growing movement to phase out single-use <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastics</a>.</p><p>The report comes the same year that BP <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/oil-and-gas-emissions-bp-2050-2645140229.html" target="_self">announced plans</a> to be an entirely carbon-neutral energy company by 2050. Monday's report seemingly supports Chief Executive Bernard Looney's plan to "reinvent" the company, Reuters pointed out. It was released as the company begins a three-day event outlining its plans to transition its energy sources.</p>
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President-elect Joe Biden announces members of his climate and energy appointments on December 19, 2020 in Wilmington, DE. Joshua Roberts / Getty Images
By Bill Ritter Jr.
Joe Biden is preparing to deal with climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before – by mobilizing his entire administration to take on the challenge from every angle in a strategic, integrated way.
<p>The strategy is evident in the people Biden has chosen for his <a href="https://buildbackbetter.gov/nominees-and-appointees/" target="_blank">Cabinet and senior leadership roles</a>: Most have track records for incorporating climate change concerns into a wide range of policies, and they have experience partnering across agencies and levels of government.</p><p>Those skills are crucial, because slowing climate change will require a comprehensive and coordinated "all hands on deck" approach.</p><p>We did that with energy when I was governor of Colorado, and I can tell you it isn't simple. Energy policy isn't just about electricity. It's about how homes are built, how they generate power and feed it into the grid and how the transportation, industrial and agriculture sectors evolve. It's about regulations, trade rules, government purchases and funding for research for innovation. Coordination and collaboration among agencies and different levels of government is crucial.</p><p>A coordinated approach also helps ensure that vulnerable populations aren't overlooked. Biden has committed to <a href="https://joebiden.com/environmental-justice-plan/" target="_blank">help disadvantaged communities</a> that have too often borne the brunt of fossil fuel industry pollution, as well as those that have been losing fossil fuel jobs.</p><p>The <a href="https://buildbackbetter.gov/nominees-and-appointees/" target="_blank">Biden-Harris team's</a> depth of experience will be vital as they take over from a Trump administration that has been <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/science-under-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stripping government agencies of their expertise</a> and eliminating environmental protections. With Democrats gaining <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/11/democrats-biden-executive-orders-456676" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">control of both the House and Senate</a>, the Biden administration may also have a better chance of overhauling laws, funding and tax incentives in ways that could fundamentally transform the U.S. approach to climate change.</p><p>Here are some of the biggest challenges ahead and what "all hands on deck" might mean.</p>
Dealing With All Those Climate Policy Rollbacks
<p>From its first days, the Trump administration began trying to nullify or weaken U.S. environmental regulations. It had <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html" target="_blank">rolled back 84 environmental rules</a> by November 2020, including <a href="https://rhg.com/research/the-rollback-of-us-climate-policy/" target="_blank">major climate policies</a>, and more rollbacks were being pursued, according to a New York Times analysis of research from Harvard and Columbia law schools.</p><p>Many of these rules had been designed to reduce climate-warming pollution from power plants, cars and trucks. Several <a href="https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2017/09/bam-methane-waste-prevention-rule/" target="_blank">reduced emissions of methane</a>, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas production. The Trump administration <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mining-resolution-trump/trump-moves-to-loosen-mining-regulations-approve-projects-as-he-exits-idUSKBN29D1AD?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">also moved</a> to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2020/oct/26/revealed-trump-public-lands-oil-drilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open more land</a> to more drilling, mining and <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/04/11/712121425/trump-signs-executive-orders-in-push-to-make-it-easier-to-build-oil-and-gas-pipe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pipelines</a>.</p><p>Some rollbacks have been challenged in court and the rules then reinstated. Others are still being litigated. Many will require going through government rule-making processes that take years to reverse.</p>Pressuring Other Countries to Take Action
<p>Biden can quickly bring the U.S. back into the international Paris climate agreement, through which countries worldwide agreed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming. But <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-biden-and-kerry-could-rebuild-americas-global-climate-leadership-150120" target="_blank">reestablishing the nation's leadership</a> role with the international climate community is a much longer haul.</p><p>Former Secretary of State John Kerry will lead this effort as special envoy for climate change, a new Cabinet-level position with a seat on the National Security Council. Other parts of the government can also pressure countries to take action. International development funding can encourage climate-friendly actions, and trade agreements and tariffs can establish rules of conduct.</p><h3>Cleaning Up the Power Sector</h3><p>The Biden-Harris <a href="https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/" target="_blank">climate plan</a> aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector to net zero by 2035.</p><p>While <a href="https://sepapower.org/utility-transformation-challenge/utility-carbon-reduction-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">62 major utilities</a> in the U.S. have set their own emission reduction goals, most leaders in that sector would argue that requiring net zero emissions by 2035 is too much too fast.</p><p>One problem is that states are often more involved in regulating the power sector than the federal government. And, when federal regulations are passed, they are <a href="https://policyintegrity.org/trump-court-roundup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">often challenged in court</a>, meaning they can take years to implement.</p><p>Reducing greenhouse gases also requires modernizing the electricity transmission grid. The federal government can streamline the permitting process to allow more clean energy, like wind and solar power, onto the grid. Without that intervention, it could take a decade or more to permit a single transmission line.</p><h3>The Falling Costs of Renewable Energy</h3><p>A comparison of the average levelized cost of utility-scale power generation, without subsidies, shows how new solar and onshore wind became less expensive than coal generation. Costs are in U.S. dollars per megawatt-hour.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ0MzgyMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjAwMjk3MH0.O_CRalTEYNsH_RTav9V7uEzh0GQGhdHCx7hQow8UyDs/img.png?width=980" id="b6d7c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5cc72a966fccbd64c2dcc688dafba2ac" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1222" data-height="640" />
What to Do About Vehicles, Buildings and Ag
<p>The power sector may be the easiest sector to "decarbonize." The transportation sector is another story.</p><p>Transportation is now the nation's <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/10/everything-you-need-know-about-fastest-growing-source-global-emissions-transport" target="_blank">leading emitter of carbon dioxide</a>. Decarbonizing it will require a transition away from the internal combustion engine in a relatively short amount of time.</p><p>Again, this is a challenge that requires many parts and levels of government working toward the same goal. It will require expanding carbon-free transportation, including more electric vehicles, charging stations, better battery technology and clean energy. That involves regulations and funding for research and development from multiple departments, as well as trade agreements, tax incentives for electric vehicles and a shift in how government agencies buy vehicles. The EPA can facilitate these efforts or hamstring them, as happened when the Trump EPA <a href="https://www.resourcesmag.org/resources-radio/waive-goodbye-history-and-future-california-waiver-emily-wimberger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">revoked California's ability to set higher emissions standards</a> – something the Biden administration is likely to quickly restore.</p><p>The other "hard to decarbonize" sectors – buildings, industry and agriculture – will require sophistication and collaboration among all federal departments and agencies unlike any previous efforts across government.</p>A New Comprehensive Climate Bill
<p>The best way to tackle these sectors would be a comprehensive climate bill that uses some mechanism, like a <a href="https://www.rff.org/publications/issue-briefs/clean-energy-standards" target="_blank">clean energy standard</a>, that sets a cap, or limit, on emissions and tightens it over time. Here, the problem lies more in the politics of the moment than anything else. Biden and his team will have to convince lawmakers from fossil fuel-producing states to work on these efforts.</p><p>Democratic control of the Senate raises the chances that Congress could pass comprehensive climate legislation, but that isn't a given. Until that happens, Biden will have to rely on agencies issuing new rules, which are vulnerable to being revoked by future administrations. It's a little like playing chess without a queen or rooks.</p><p>Years of delays have allowed global warming to progress so far that many of its impacts may soon become irreversible. To meet its ambitious goals, the administration will need everyone, progressives and conservatives, state and local leaders, and the private sector, to work with them.</p><h3>Biden's Core Climate Team</h3><p>President-elect Joe Biden's senior leadership picks have years of experience with climate policy. He and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced these seven as their core climate team. Gina McCarthy, John Kerry and Ali Zaidi will not require Senate confirmation. The others will.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ0Mzg0MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjgwODY0N30.SJeuFgWBMILHhH72i6yn-2vUnYa3ycmgme7E-Xd0wls/img.png?width=980" id="9a98d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6a52b4176bccb6202dfb2b3790d76d88" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1248" data-height="1220" />
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<em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bill-ritter-jr-352083" target="_blank">Bill Ritter Jr.</a> is </em><em>Director, Center for the New Energy Economy, Colorado State University.</em>
</p><p>
<em>Disclosure statement: </em><em>Bill Ritter, Jr. is a former Governor of Colorado and is the Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. The Center is funded by various foundations. </em><span></span>
</p><p>
<em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/biden-plans-to-fight-climate-change-in-a-way-no-u-s-president-has-done-before-152419" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em>
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The Crystal building in London, England is the first building in the world to be awarded an outstanding BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) rating and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum rating. Alphotographic / Getty Images
By Stuart Braun
We spend 90% of our time in the buildings where we live and work, shop and conduct business, in the structures that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer.
But immense energy is required to source and manufacture building materials, to power construction sites, to maintain and renew the built environment. In 2019, building operations and construction activities together accounted for 38% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, the highest level ever recorded.
<p>To ensure that the Paris climate targets are met, the building and construction industry needs to become a climate leader by moving towards net-zero construction. Its CO2 emissions need to be cut in half by 2030 for building stock to be carbon-free by 2050, according to a recent <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/building-sector-emissions-hit-record-high-low-carbon-pandemic" target="_blank">report</a> by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).</p><p>In response, a raft of new net-zero building initiatives are focused on curbing emissions across the whole building lifecycle.</p><p>DW looks at five key points in understanding the push to carbon-free construction.</p>
<h3>1. Urbanization Is Skyrocketing, and That's a Problem</h3><p>A rapidly urbanizing world is compounding the massive impact of buildings and infrastructure on the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a>. According to urban climate-action initiative <a href="https://www.c40.org/networks/clean-construction-forum" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">C40 Cities,</a> 2.5 billion more people will flood cities (mostly in Asia and Africa) in the next three decades, while 60% of buildings required by 2050 still have to be built.</p><p>With the equivalent of a city of around 1.5 million people being constructed each week, carbon-heavy construction is skyrocketing, meaning the sector must rapidly decarbonize if global heating is to remain within the IPCC's limit of 1.5- to well below 2 degrees Celsius <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/will-it-soon-be-too-late-to-save-the-climate/a-49889771" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">above 1990 levels.</a></p><p>This will not be easy.</p><p>A <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/energy-performance-buildings-directive_en?redir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">European Union directive</a> to achieve nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) in all new structures by the end of 2020 was on track to achieve an 80% CO2 reduction, according to Lukas Kranzl, a senior scientist at the Vienna-based Energy Economics Group that is <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/en/projects/zebra2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">monitoring</a> the nZEBs. Kranzl says this won't be enough to meet the Paris targets.</p><p>"We will need [almost] complete decarbonization in the building sector before 2050," he told DW, meaning that 95-100% emission cuts will be required.</p>
<h3>2. Independent Initiatives Might Have the Solution</h3><p>While Kranzl fears that some EU member states are not on the path to building and construction decarbonization, new independent initiatives are bringing together cities, companies and organizations to achieve net-zero building across the whole lifecycle.</p><p>The World Green Building Council's (WorldGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment is one such global initiative in which diverse stakeholders pledge to reach net-zero emissions for all new buildings by 2030, and all buildings by 2050.</p><p>Created in partnership with C40, the target was upgraded in September 2019 to include <a href="https://www.worldgbc.org/sites/default/files/WorldGBC_Bringing_Embodied_Carbon_Upfront.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">embodied carbon</a>, which is to say emissions generated, not only during operational life but "during the manufacturing, transportation, construction and end of life phases of all built assets." Embodied carbon itself contributes around 11% of all global carbon emissions.</p><p>According to Victoria Burrows, director of Advancing Net Zero at the World Green Building Council, this shift reflects a "wholesized approach to carbon emissions in the building and construction sector."</p><p>While net-zero buildings were previously focused on operational performance, especially in terms of energy efficiency via solar power or passive design, embodied emissions include the significant "upfront" emissions created during the extraction and manufacture of building materials. The whole lifecycle measure includes "use stage" and "end of life" carbon generated through building maintenance and final deconstruction.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4NDU4OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDk5Mjk5NX0.qOhZ3X163RwVw2B-obIoQfgtOUDGpAQ5pU2oGZhS-Dc/img.png?width=980" id="845d5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9d642ce031c41c20718cf1186b88bbfb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1920" data-height="2424" />
<h3>3. Cement Causes More Pollution Than You Would Think</h3><p>When addressing embodied emissions, the construction phase that generates around 25% of greenhouse emissions is fundamental to the net-zero building revolution.</p><p>Reducing reliance on <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/carbon-intensive-cement-industry-feeling-the-heat/a-50546807" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">carbon-intensive cement</a>, the most widely used building material on earth that alone accounts for around <a href="https://reader.chathamhouse.org/making-concrete-change-innovation-low-carbon-cement-and-concrete#" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">8% of global CO2 emissions,</a> will be key.</p><p>Designers of carbon-neutral building are replacing cement framing in larger buildings with new sustainable cross-laminated <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/wood-renewable-construction-material-of-the-future/a-42012053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">timber,</a> for example. Achieving a 20% reduction in building weight is matched by a similar reduction in "embodied energy." The end result is a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710219302542" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">26.5% reduction in the "global warming potential"</a> of the building.</p><p>A new five-story apartment building in Boston's Roxbury district is leading the way. Its designers <a href="http://news.mit.edu/2020/mass-timber-sustainable-building-boston-0305" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">are using the revolutionary timber framing</a> to significantly reduce emissions from steel and concrete and achieve a net-zero standard.</p>
<h3>4. Scandinavia Is Becoming a Net-Zero Pioneer</h3><p>A report released by C40 in October 2019 showed that the construction industry alone could cut emissions from buildings and infrastructure by 44% by 2050. Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm have since <a href="https://www.c40.org/press_releases/mayors-of-copenhagen-oslo-and-stockholm-commit-to-clean-construction" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">committed to take a leadership role</a> in creating a global market for low-emission construction materials and zero-emission machinery.</p><p>Oslo, for instance, aims to make all city-owned construction machinery and construction sites operate with zero emissions by 2025. Meanwhile, Copenhagen's bold plan to be climate-neutral by 2025 will draw heavily on its commitment to zero-carbon construction. This will be achieved in part through "fossils- or emission-free construction machinery in construction projects," said Frank Jensen, mayor of Copenhagen.</p><p>With Stockholm also part of a cross-border tender for sustainable procurement of mobile construction machinery, such unified demand is designed to send a signal to the market, according to Victoria Burrows. The end result will be to "create a ripple effect" that will help kickstart the net-zero building transition.</p>
<h3>5. Diverse Sectors Embracing Carbon-Free Construction</h3><p>The success of the net-zero carbon buildings commitment hinges on involving stakeholders across the whole building supply chain, says Burrows. With building and construction able to "cut across many other sectors" in the fight against climate change, she notes that cement and engineering firms, cultural institutions like the Sydney Opera House, universities and city governments are committing to net-zero building.</p><p>So, too, are real-estate companies that might once have prioritized profits over reducing emissions. British global property giant Grosvenor Group and Canada's Avison Young, another international real-estate powerhouse, are among many others implementing a net-zero building roadmap — with or without government targets.</p><p>In December, Grosvenor Europe committed to reducing its carbon impact by 50% by 2030. It will partly achieve this by cutting energy use in its buildings by one-third, and the embodied carbon intensity of its developments by one half.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/5-things-to-know-about-carbon-free-construction/a-52747374" target="_blank">DW</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Malcolm Peacey / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0
By Ken Kimmell
2020 is coming to a close, and it can't end fast enough. But as the year winds down, I am buoyed by two big climate victories on the same day, perched atop a clear change in direction mandated by the election.
<p>First, Congress just enacted a <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/about/news/congress-set-pass-important-covid-19-relief-and-clean-energy-measures-omnibus-bill" target="_blank">massive COVID relief and government spending package</a>. While the COVID relief provisions are not adequate and need to be bolstered, the package includes important provisions on climate. Most significantly, Congress authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's), a greenhouse gas that is approximately a thousand times more potent than carbon dioxide and is widely used in refrigerants and air conditioners.</p>
<p>A worldwide phase out of HFC's has the potential to reduce the overall warming from climate change by .5 degree centigrade. With this legislative authorization, the United States can not only do its part, but US businesses can play a leading role in supplying the world with alternatives to HFC's.</p><p>The congressional package also includes a much-needed extension of tax credits for clean energy. One of the biggest wins is for offshore wind energy, for which tax credits are extended for five years. In conjunction with timely and decisive permitting decisions from the federal government, this will propel a giant, job-creating investment in offshore wind along the Atlantic coast. Also included in the tax credit package are more modest extensions for solar and onshore wind, energy efficiency investments, and carbon capture and storage. On top of that, the bill steps up funding for the Department of Energy. Especially important is a $2.9 billion authorization for ARPA-E, a DOE program that funds cutting edge research and development for clean energy.</p><p>On the same day that Congress passed this bill, three northeastern states (MA, CT, and RI) and the District of Columbia launched a "cap and invest" program to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, about forty percent of these states' emissions. <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/cecilia-moura/northeast-reaches-major-milestone-to-reduce-emissions-and-raise-revenue-for-transportation-but-much-more-work-remains?_ga=2.31723774.1155285391.1608674178-1328994799.1603211760&_gac=1.217359204.1607994394.CjwKCAiAt9z-BRBCEiwA_bWv-D-t6Zi7QosXo5s5n_IgqCmy_sOoN_ODWUDFbNRPMaxov80YddQlixoCmY8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">The program</a> would place an overall cap on the emissions from transportation fuels sold in the region, require the distributors of the fuels to purchase "allowances" to sell the fuels, and use the proceeds to invest in equitable and clean transportation alternatives, such as public transport, electric buses, and electric cars and trucks. In a statement accompanying this MOU, these three states and DC joined eight other states in pledging to continue to work together on this initiative. There is every reason to expect that many if not all these eight additional states will eventually join the TCI program, making it one of the largest carbon-cutting measures implemented by a group of states.</p><p>These breakthroughs are heartening in and of themselves, but even more encouraging is that they are likely an early indicator of much more change to come in 2021. For the first election in history, climate change and respect for science were major issues on the ballot this year, and president-elect Biden won with a large majority by pledging to act swiftly on climate and pay close heed to the overwhelming scientific evidence on the issue. President-elect Biden has shown that he understands this obligation by nominating people of rich depth and experience to his climate team, including Gina McCarthy, John Kerry, Michael Regan, Jennifer Granholm, Deborah Haaland, Pete Buttigieg, and Brenda Mallory.</p><p>The climate provisions in this bill are a strong step forward—but just a step. The Biden administration, through executive orders, rulemaking, and leading by example, can and must go much farther than these steps, and Congress needs to enact many other measures, such as a national clean energy standard and support for electric cars, trucks and buses, to codify and make durable the nation's commitment to addressing climate change.</p><p>But in a year in which virtually every trendline was in the wrong direction, this change in direction was a welcomed gift.</p><p><em><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/author/ken-kimmell#.X-X48elKj9E" target="_blank">Ken Kimmell</a> is president of the Union of Concerned Scientists and has more than 30 years of experience in government, environmental policy, and advocacy.</em></p>
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A neighborhood that flooded during Hurricane Harvey near the Motiva refinery flaring in Port Arthur, Texas on Aug. 26, 2020. Michael Stravato / for The Washington Post via Getty Images
By Brett Wilkins
Texas oil refineries released hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutants including benzene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide into the air as they scrambled to shut down during last week's deadly winter storm, Reuters reported Sunday.
<p>Winter storm Uri, which <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/19/texas-power-outage-winter-storm-deaths/" target="_blank">killed</a> dozens of people and cut off power to over four million Texans at its peak, also disrupted supplies needed to keep the state's refineries and petrochemical plants operating. As they shut down, refineries flared — or burned off — gases in order to prevent damage to their processing units.</p><p>According to the Texas Commission on Environment Quality, the five largest refiners emitted nearly 337,000 pounds of pollutants in this manner.</p>
<p>ExxonMobil's Baytown Olefins plant in Baytown released 68,000 tons of carbon monoxide and nearly a ton of benzene in what it called a "safe utilization of the flare system."</p><p>Critics noted, however, that benzene is harmful to bone marrow, red blood cells, and the immune system.</p><p>"There is no safe amount of benzene for human exposure," Sharon Wilson, a researcher at the advocacy group Earthworks, told Reuters.</p>
<div id="c9b47" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8e087bc318806cfd5b8a2494c188f447"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363487660971597828" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The five largest U.S. oil refiners emitted tons of pollutants into the skies over Texas this week, including benzen… https://t.co/yZtlbByZ6U</div> — Reuters (@Reuters)<a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/statuses/1363487660971597828">1613915765.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Motiva's Port Arthur refinery released 118,100 pounds of pollutants into the air between Feb. 15 and Feb. 18. This was triple the amount of excess emissions the plant reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the entire year of 2019.</p><p>Valero's refinery in Port Arthur flared 78,000 pounds of pollutants over 24 hours beginning Feb. 15, while Marathon Petroleum's Galveston Bay refinery released 14,255 pounds in less than five hours that same day.</p><p>Hilton Kelly, who lives in Port Arthur, told Reuters that there were "six or seven flares going at one time."</p><p>Wilson said that the flaring "could have been prevented" by winterizing the refineries.</p><p>"We need someone in the Texas legislature to file a bill requiring the oil and gas industry to thoroughly winterize all their equipment," Wilson <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/texas-oil-and-gas-plants-quadruple-air-pollution-as-sys-1846299152" target="_blank">told</a> Earther. "The bill probably won't pass in Texas, but that will create some more scrutiny about it."</p>
<div id="86ff1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8fd2fac7710d8b3f605704c950e6e4b0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1363528659458400256" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">“If [the industry] had winterized their equipment, this wouldn’t be happening."
ICYMI: oil & gas "pollution event"… https://t.co/5jHzhVhW2d</div> — Earthworks (@Earthworks)<a href="https://twitter.com/Earthworks/statuses/1363528659458400256">1613925540.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Earther reports that between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18, there were 174 so-called "emissions events" from fossil fuel facilities in Texas, compared to between 37 and 46 such events in weeks before the storm.</p><p>In addition to the previously mentioned pollutants, chemicals released from Texas facilities include over 6,500 pounds of the <a href="https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/isoprene.pdf" target="_blank">carcinogen</a> isoprene from a Shell plant in Deer Park near Houston, as well as an indeterminate amount of methane, which is <a href="https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-other-important-greenhouse-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">84 times more harmful</a> to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over the short term.</p><p>Wilson told Earther that "in Texas we don't count methane" in pollution reports.</p><p>The release of large amounts of dangerous pollutants during Uri stands in stark contrast with <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/he-lying-people-are-dying-calls-texas-governor-resign-he-blames-power-outages-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">claims</a> by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that alternative energy sources such as solar and wind are responsible for Uri's deadly power outages and that the Green New Deal would be a "deadly deal" for the United States.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/21/no-safe-amount-environmentalists-sound-alarm-over-texas-refineries-release-hundreds" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><br/></p>
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A newly developed catalyst would transform carbon dioxide from power plants and other sources into ethanol. DWalker44 / E+ / Getty Images
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a cheap, efficient way to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuel, potentially reducing the amount of new carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere.
<p>The method, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-0666-x" target="_blank">Nature Energy in late July</a>, uses a copper-based catalyst to transform carbon dioxide into ethanol, which is used in almost all U.S. gasoline.</p><p>"The process resulting from our catalyst would contribute to the circular carbon economy, which entails the reuse of carbon dioxide," study coauthor and Argonne senior chemist Di-Jia Liu explained in a <a href="https://www.anl.gov/article/turning-carbon-dioxide-into-liquid-fuel" target="_blank">press release</a>.</p>
<p>Catalysts are an important tool in industrial processes used to speed up chemical reactions, Argonne National Laboratory explained. In conventional energy, they are used to convert heavy <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil" target="_self">oil</a> into jet fuel and gasoline. The new catalyst would be put to less carbon-intensive purposes by converting the carbon dioxide emitted by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuel" target="_self">fossil-fuel</a> plants or alcohol fermentation into ethanol that could be either recycled as fuel or used to make chemicals, drugs or cosmetics. Liquid fuel can also be used to store the output from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a> for future use, the paper explained.</p>
<p>In a 2019 <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/11/13/20839531/climate-change-industry-co2-carbon-capture-utilization-storage-ccu" target="_blank">deep-dive for Vox</a> on different potential uses of carbon dioxide, David Roberts pointed out that it is always better from a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a> standpoint to electrify energy use directly rather than using that power to convert carbon dioxide into fuel. However, carbon-based fuels could be an important tool for reducing the emissions of sectors that are hard to decarbonize otherwise, like industry. They do not remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they do reduce the amount of planet-warming emissions relative to what they would have been if conventional fuels were burned.</p><p>"Carbon-neutral liquid fuels for sectors that are difficult to decarbonize are both a large market and a key piece of the decarbonization puzzle," Roberts wrote.</p>
<p>But turning carbon dioxide into a different molecule is typically both energy intensive and expensive because carbon dioxide is so stable, according to the Argonne National Laboratory: The new catalyst, however, is highly efficient.</p><p>The lab explained how it works:</p><blockquote>The team's catalyst consists of atomically dispersed copper on a carbon-powder support. By an electrochemical reaction, this catalyst breaks down CO2 and water molecules and selectively reassembles the broken molecules into ethanol under an external electric field. The electrocatalytic selectivity, or "Faradaic efficiency," of the process is over 90 percent, much higher than any other reported process. What is more, the catalyst operates stably over extended operation at low voltage.</blockquote><p>Because the process can work at low pressures and temperatures, it can be paired with renewable energy technologies. This is because it will be able to stop and restart easily in response to a changing power supply.</p><p>"We could couple the electrochemical process of CO2-to-ethanol conversion using our catalyst to the electric grid and take advantage of the low-cost electricity available from renewable sources like <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar-energy" target="_self">solar</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wind" target="_self">wind</a> during off-peak hours," Liu said.</p>
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