"As huge numbers of solar panels are deployed now, the future waste challenge also keeps growing. By the end of the decade, one estimate found that the number of solar panels due to be retired would cover 3,000 football fields. By 2050, the U.S. could produce two million metric tons of solar panel waste each year."
America’s forest sector is ready for climate action and rural America can benefit
“So why do America’s forests deserve such a strong role in climate action? America’s forests and forest products already sequester over 750 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. That is nearly 15 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and represents by far our largest land-based carbon sink. With the right actions, our forests can do even more.”
How African companies are solving the continent’s solar finance problem
"For African countries, the biggest obstacle to building out the solar industry is that the financing tricks used in China, Europe, and the U.S. to clear the way for widespread solar adoption — government subsidies and utility payments to solar-equipped customers — can’t work in places where states, utilities, and households are all chronically strapped for cash. At the same time, supply chain problems and the widespread perception by financial institutions that investments in Africa are high-risk mean that the cost of solar is far higher than in other places — the same solar system costs twice as much in Ghana as in the U.S. Bringing down the cost of capital requires a stronger track record of profitable investments than what the industry has been able to show so far. That means new business models are needed to make solar affordable for a broader base of customers."
The secret to conserving our crown jewels? Maintenance
“The National Park Service could economize by following the lead of other agencies and contracting out more services and activities. More than 1,000 Forest Service campgrounds and recreation areas are operated by private concessionaires who perform routine maintenance, collect fees, and return a portion of their receipts to the agency."
Deep Geothermal Can Solve the Need for Baseload Power
Deep geothermal is safe and secure, making it the solution for clean baseload power. Legislative support, exemplified by recent rare bipartisan legislation for geothermal energy and investment, is a strong barometer for the future of this limitless green energy that has the operations and technological prowess to deliver. Watch for 2024 to be the year geothermal moves past promise and into a leading role for global power.
Big carbon? Oil majors turn to nature to help plug revenue gap
“Shell plans to spend $100 million on average over the next year or two on nature-based carbon offsets and van Bergen expects emissions cuts from nature-based solutions or carbon sinks will be ‘material’ by 2030 or 2035.”
Mercedes-Benz’s EV Expansion Will Include Two Models To Be Built In Alabama
George Gardner on Forbes reports that Mercedes-Benz is launching an electric vehicle expansion.
Wind Power Overtakes Coal In Texas For The First Time Ever
“In 2020, for the first time ever, wind power overtook coal in the state’s overall energy mix, 'the latest sign of renewable energy’s rising prominence in America’s fossil fuel heartland' according to reporting by the Financial Times this week.”
Climate Negotiations with Beijing Won’t Come without Significant Concessions
"Kerry can’t simply wave away the concerns that climate negotiations with Beijing will require U.S. concessions in other, unrelated areas if the Chinese government publicly demands such concessions with regard to 'interference in China’s internal affairs' (which is to say human rights)."
Flood-prone homeowners could see major rate hikes in FEMA flood insurance changes, new study finds
"[I]naccurate pricing has left the NFIP in the red. Its coffers were wiped out by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The program suffered additional hits from hurricanes Sandy, Harvey and Irma. Congress bailed out the program in 2017 with $16 billion in debt relief, leaving the ultimate cost of those storms on the backs of the American taxpayer."
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