"And I own big houses and fly in private planes -- in fact, I took one to Paris for the climate conference, so who am I to lecture anyone on the environment? I plead guilty to all three charges. I can't deny being a rich guy with an opinion. I do believe, though, that it is an informed opinion, and I am always trying to learn more."
Gates notes that while he admires the passion of the "Extinction Rebellion", discounts Greta Thunberg's impact and sees the Green New Deal as "a fairy tale", he is convinced there isn't the time, money or political will to reconfigure the world energy sector in 10 years.
According to Gates, a meaningful reduction in emissions demands an all-encompassing approach -- "zero-carbon ways to produce electricity, make things, grow food, keeping our buildings cool or warm, and move people and goods around the world. People need to radically change how they produce the worst climate offenders: steel, meat and cement. In his view, the single most useful thing individuals can do is to educate themselves and better judge the impact of various solutions. (Source: Bill Gates, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: the Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, Feb., 2021) Contact: Bill Gates, Gates Notes, www.gatesnotes.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Bill Gates, Climate Change,
In order for buildings constructed today to reach the 2030 or 2050 targets the updated code may include:
The code is intended to regulate the design and construction of buildings for the maximum energy efficiency and conservation as well carbon emissions reduction over the life of each building. Download code summary details HERE
(Source: 2030 Districts, City of Seattle, PR, Jan., 2021) Contact: City of Seattle, 2030 District, Matthew Combe, matthewcombe@2030districts.org, www.2030districts.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News City of Seattle, Energy Efficiency, Energy Consumptio,
In a related effort, the country will increase its efforts to scale down its dependence on fossil fuels and further develop green energy sources such as hydrogen and renewable energy.
In 2019, coal accounted for 40.4 pct of the country's power generation followed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) at 25.6 pct and nuclear power with 25.9 pct.
(Source: Yonhap, 7 Dec., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions, Korea Carbon Emissions, Low-Carbon Economy, Low-Carbon Energy,
In particular, Orsted noted its $7.2 billion, 100-140 turbine project 70 kilometers off the coast of Incheon will generate sufficient electric power for 1.3 million households annually and curb 4 million metric tpy of carbon -- equivalent to the amount of carbon emitted by 1.9 million cars, according to the company.
The Incheon offshore win project is expected to begin commercial operation in 2026.
(Source: Orsted, Korea Herald, 24 Nov., 2020) Contact: Orsted, +45 99 55 97 22, www.orsted.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Orsted, Offshore Wind, Korea Offshore Wind,
The Appalachian region plan's lead author, Leslie Marshall, associate director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sustainable Business, said the plan is aimed at trying to deal with a "confluence of crises" brought on by the region's reliance on fossil fuels and the treat of climate change.
The plan, which shares many of the goals of the Green New Deal, does not specify where the money will come from but suggests it could be funded through a mix of tax breaks, public-private partnerships, and alliances between labor, environmental, and academic institutions.
Research for the project received financial support from the Enel Foundation, which is run by Enel, an Italian energy company with significant renewable energy investments.
(Source: State Impact Pennsylvania, The Allegheny Front, 13 Nov., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency news, Renewable Energy news,
Shinhan BNP Paribas is a 65/35 joint venture of Shinhan Financial Group and BNP Paribas Asset Management. Paris-headquartered BNP Paribas S.A. is the world's 8th largest bank by total assets with operations in 72 countries. (Source: BNP Paribas, Korea Herald, 5 Nov., 2020) Contact: BNP Paribas, www.group.bnpparibas/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News BNP Paribas, Korea Renewable Energy, Wind, Solar, Biomass,
To that end, South Korea would replace its coal power generation with renewable energy, replace old buildings and public rental housing with eco-friendly facilities, and expand its fleet of electric and hydrogen power vehicles and rapid EV charging infrastructure.
Moon is aiming for renewable energy to generate 20 pct of the coal-reliant country's energy mix by 2030, while closing 40 existing coal-fired power plants by 2034. (Source: Yonhap, Korean Herald, 28 Oct., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News South Korea, Carbon Emission, Carbon Neutral,
Cities signing on to the new declaration -- Berlin, Bristol, Cape Town, Durban, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New Orleans, New York City, Oslo, Pittsburgh, and Vancouver -- commit to build momentum for fossil-free and sustainable investment by:
According to Energy Policy Tracker, more than $200 billion in COVID-19 recovery funds are being pledged to fossil fuels, though risky investments in coal, oil, and gas are key drivers of the climate emergency. Continued investment in fossil fuels drives emissions that endanger the Paris Climate Agreement goals, jeopardize efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C, and threaten to lock dangerous carbon emissions into economies.
The Divesting From Fossil Fuels, Investing in a Sustainable Future declaration is a critical next step towards realizing the vision for a Global Green New Deal, announced last October at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Endorsed by a broad coalition of business and labor leaders, youth activists, and civil society representatives, the Global Green New Deal reaffirms a commitment to protecting the environment, strengthening the economy, and building more equitable communities through inclusive climate action, according to the release.
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Inc. is a non-profit organization and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. (Source: C40 Cities, PR, 22 Sept., 2020) Contact: C40 Cities Group, www.c40.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News C40 Cities, Climate Change, Renewable Energy,
South Korea's Green New Deal calls for net-zero carbon emission by 2050 making it the first East Asian country to set a time-frame to end its contribution to climate change. First efforts were already made in 2017 with the the South Korean Renewable Energies 2030 Implementation Plan which identifies biogas as a key to emissions reduction success.
WELTEC planned and built two biogas plants in South Korea based on the digestion of organic waste in 2012 and 2016.
(Source: WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH, PR, 23 Sept., 2020) Contact:
WELTECH BIOPOWER GmbH, +49 (0) 4441-999 78-220, www.weltec-biopower.de
More Low-Carbon Energy News WELTEC BIOPOWER, Biogas, Anaerobic Digestion,
Doosan's plan is in line with the South Korean government's recently released Green New Deal seeking to drastically transform the country's fossil fuel-reliant economy into a low-carbon, environmentally friendly green economy. To that end, Seoul plans to spend 73.4 trillion won for the initiative, including 14 trillion won on new offshore wind farms with a combined generation capacity of 2.4 gigawatts.
Doosan Heavy has reportedly developed technologies and equipment specifically fit for South Korea's lighter winds and to date has invested 180 billion won in the wind farm business and plans to expand its investment in related R&D and production facilities. (Source: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction , Yonhap, 16 July, 2020)
Contact: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Ltd., www.doosanheavy.com/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Doosan Heavy Industries, Wind, Offshore Wind,
Approximately 77 pct of the EU residential buildings were constructed before 1990 and roughly 11 pct of Europe's population still experiences energy poverty due to poor building quality, and in particular, thermal inefficiency.
The European Commission estimates that a renovation rate of 3 pct per year is needed to accomplish the EU's energy efficiency and environmental ambitions in a cost-effective manner.
(Source: Institute of Digital Business at Dublin City University, Irish Tech News, 29 June, 2020) Contact: Institute of Digital Business at Dublin City University Prof. Theo Lynn, +353 1 700 6873, www.iidb.ie
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,
More home-working would mean reduced travel to work and a likely improvement in air quality as well as reduced carbon emissions. Greater use of online meeting capabilities (especially if they improve rapidly with rapid uptake) could reduce longer range transport including air traffic. Comprises a major part of the carbon emissions of organisations which work internationally.
The response of government will be critical in determining the longer term impact. They could use the opportunity to advance green policies such as the development of low carbon technologies, a kind of ‘COVID-19 Green New Deal’. Now could be the time, for example, to really push ahead and use the fiscal stimulus to develop a 21st century transport infrastructure to connect our regions (including, for example, short-range electric aircraft) and fully finance the measures already outlined in the Agriculture and Environment Bills.
This ‘Build Back Better’ approach is being discussed by influential groups including the We Mean Business coalition and McKinsey & Company.
More home-working would mean reduced travel to work and a likely improvement in air quality as well as reduced carbon emissions. Greater use of online meeting capabilities (especially if they improve rapidly with rapid uptake) could reduce longer range transport including air traffic. Comprises a major part of the carbon emissions of organisations which work internationally.
The response of government will be critical in determining the longer term impact. They could use the opportunity to advance green policies such as the development of low carbon technologies, a kind of ‘COVID-19 Green New Deal’. Now could be the time, for example, to really push ahead and use the fiscal stimulus to develop a 21st century transport infrastructure to connect our regions (including, for example, short-range electric aircraft) and fully finance the measures already outlined in the Agriculture and Environment Bills.
This ‘Build Back Better’ approach is being discussed by influential groups including the We Mean Business coalition and McKinsey & Company. Society is showing how quickly it can adapt – can the momentum be maintained and used to help solve the pressing issues of air quality and climate change? (Source: Cranfield University, Press Release, April, 2020) Contact:Cranfield University, Neil Harris, Professor of Atmospheric Informatics , Centre for Environment and Agricultural Informatics , +44 (0) 1234 750111, www.cranfield.ac.uk The COVID-19 crisis is having a direct impact on carbon emissions by reducing industrial activity and travel. Similarly, air quality has improved markedly in the UK and around the world, which will reduce the estimated 10 million people who die prematurely each year from poor air quality. In the absence of changes in behaviour, then a rebound would be expected which broadly depended on the strength of the economic recovery: a slow recovery would reduce emissions; a bounce-back would not. The tantalising question is whether employers and employees change their working practices and citizens change their personal ones.
More home-working would mean reduced travel to work and a likely improvement in air quality as well as reduced carbon emissions. Greater use of online meeting capabilities (especially if they improve rapidly with rapid uptake) could reduce longer range transport including air traffic. Comprises a major part of the carbon emissions of organisations which work internationally.
The response of government will be critical in determining the longer term impact. They could use the opportunity to advance green policies such as the development of low carbon technologies, a kind of ‘COVID-19 Green New Deal’. Now could be the time, for example, to really push ahead and use the fiscal stimulus to develop a 21st century transport infrastructure to connect our regions (including, for example, short-range electric aircraft) and fully finance the measures already outlined in the Agriculture and Environment Bills.
This ‘Build Back Better’ approach is being discussed by influential groups including the We Mean Business coalition and McKinsey & Company. Society is showing how quickly it can adapt – can the momentum be maintained and used to help solve the pressing issues of air quality and climate change?
(Source: Cranfield University, Press Release, April, 2020) Contact:Cranfield University, Neil Harris, Professor of Atmospheric Informatics , Centre for Environment and Agricultural Informatics , +44 (0) 1234 750111, www.cranfield.ac.uk
"More home-working would mean reduced travel to work and a likely improvement in air quality as well as reduced carbon emissions. Greater use of online meeting capabilities (especially if they improve rapidly with rapid uptake) could reduce longer range transport including air traffic which comprises a major part of the carbon emissions of organizations which work internationally.
"The response of government will be critical in determining the longer term impact. They could use the opportunity to advance green policies such as the development of low carbon technologies, a kind of 'COVID-19 Green New Deal'. Now could be the time, for example, to really push ahead and use the fiscal stimulus to develop a 21st century transport infrastructure to connect our regions and fully finance the measures already outlined in the Agriculture and Environment Bills.
"This 'Build Back Better' approach is being discussed by influential groups including the We Mean Business coalition and McKinsey & Company. Society is showing how quickly it can adapt -- can the momentum be maintained and used to help solve the pressing issues of air quality and climate change?
(Source: Cranfield University, Press Release, April, 2020) Contact:Cranfield University, Neil Harris, Professor of Atmospheric Informatics , Centre for Environment and Agricultural Informatics , +44 (0) 1234 750111, www.cranfield.ac.uk
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Carbon Emissions, COVID-19,
The 2020 Energy Conservation Code was modeled after the 2020 New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) NYStretch Energy Code, requires new and existing buildings meet the following, effective 12 May:
South Korea, the world's seventh-largest carbon emitter as well as the third-largest public coal financier, is home to energy-intensive industries such as automotive and steel
and likely to remain heavily dependent on climate-wrecking coal in the immediate future.
(Source: Various Media, EcoBusiness, Mar., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Carbon, Carbon Emissions,
The competition will focus on research areas centered around meeting digital utility challenges such as electric vehicle charging, distributed energy solutions, grid modernization, energy storage, microgrids, cybersecurity, blockchain and energy trading, buildings/campus energy management, data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and use of drones/autonomous robots in power systems.
Interested companies may apply and submit their proposals to the NYPA/Israel Smart Energy Challenge online. The deadline for submissions is April 20. A pre-bid conference for parties interested in applying to the Challenge is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at: Ha-Umanim Street 12, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Register on Eventbrite or meetup.
Governor Cuomo's Green New Deal climate and clean energy initiative puts the Empire State on a path to being entirely carbon-neutral across all sectors of the economy and establishing a goal to achieve a zero-carbon emissions electricity sector by 2040, faster than any other state. It builds on New York's ramp-up of clean energy including a $2.9 billion investment in 46 large-scale renewable projects across, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop nearly 1,700 MW of offshore wind by 2024, and 1,700 pct growth in the distributed solar sector since 2012.
The recently passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates the Green New Deal's clean energy targets: nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025, and three gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, while calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy. The CLCPA also directs New York State agencies and authorities to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 pct from 1990 levels by 2050 and aim to invest 40 pct of clean energy and energy efficiency program resources to benefit disadvantaged communities.
(Source: New York State Governor's Office, PR, Google News, 6 Mar., 2020)Contact: Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, www.governor.ny.gov;
Israel Smart Energy Association, www.isea.org.il; NYPA, Gil C. Quiniones, Pres., CEO, www.nypa.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York Power Authority, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy,
"The plan to reach 30 pct for biofuels in 2050 is especially troubling. The USDA's historic approach to 'market-driven blend rates' has been to aggressively pursue unachievable biofuel mandates that put manufacturing jobs at risk, result in more emissions and create a reliance on foreign fuels. Ethanol is cheaper than gasoline and does not need a mandate. If the USDA is truly interested in 'market driven' approaches, it should advocate eliminating the renewable fuel standard (RFS) so that renewable energy can economically compete on its own, rather than trying to promote mandates that drive quantities of ethanol-laced fuels that consumers may not want, while putting jobs at risk and raising costs at the pump. In fact, the blend rate is gradually increasing despite falling renewable identification numbers and small refinery exemptions. This shows that ethanol is economic on its own and that markets, not mandates, should determine our nation's fuel mix.
"Calling for a 30 pct biofuels goal for 2050 is not something that should be coming out of the Trump administration. It sounds like an objective of the $93 trillion Green New Deal which President Trump and every free market and taxpayers group including CAGW has said is both unachievable and devastating to the economy. The USDA should withdraw its proposal and the RFS should be eliminated."(Source: The Waste Watcher - Against Government Waste , 21 Feb. 2020) Contact: The Waste Watcher -Against Government Waste www.cagw.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News USDA, Biofuel Blend, RFS,
The budget proposal includes a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $4.75 billion climate resilience bond that would to encourage investments that reduce risks from water, fire, extreme heat and sea level rise, as well as partially fund the recently introduced California Green New Deal Act.
The climate budget also includes $66 million for reducing flood risks, $51 million to speed up the deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure and $103 million for water resiliency. The budget proposes a $4.75 billion climate resilience bond which would address risks especially in the state's most vulnerable communities. The bond would also allocate $500 million to harden infrastructure in high-fire-risk communities and $250 million for forest health projects -- that's in addition to fuel reduction activities paid for by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund as well as the amount that the Legislature and governor have required utilities to contribute.
Additionally, the budget proposes a $965 million plan to spend cap-and-trade dollars on Cal Fire's forest health and fuel reduction program and reducing emissions from transportation -- "the largest greenhouse gas emissions source in California."
The budget includes $1 billion in general fund dollars -- $250 million this year and more in future years -- for a Climate Catalyst Fund that will offer low-interest loans for climate-related projects that help the state meet its climate goals.
(Source: Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Capital Public Radio, 10 Jan., 2020) Contact: Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom , Kate Gordon, Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, Snr. Climate Advisor, (916) 445-2841,
(916) 558-3160 - fax., www.gov.ca.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,
The CLCPA also commits New York to net-zero carbon emissions, economy-wide, by 2050, with an interim target of slashing emissions 40 pct below the state's 1990 emission levels by 2030. The Act also requires the state and industry to reduce their emissions by 85 pct , with the remaining 15 percent of the net-zero goal coming from carbon offsets.
For oversight and administration, the act will create a 22 member commission a various advisory panels to deal with buildings and construction, industry, land use and zoning, local governments, transportation, and more. These advisory panels are required to consult with a climate justice working group composed of representatives from low-income communities and environmental justice groups.
(Source: Office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), Heartland Institute, 15 Aug., 2019) Contact: Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), www.governor.ny.gov, www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
More Low-Carbon Energy News Andrew Cuomo, Green New Deal, Climate Change, Renewable Energy,
Under the CCPA, electric utilities will be forced to purchase around 9,000-megawatts of clean energy by 2035. The capital development and construction work related to converting the existing capacity to wind, solar and other clean and renewable sources will fall under the regulatory purview of the act which will make it illegal for hydroelectric power to receive subsidies because wind and energy will not be able to compete if long-term savings and reliability are taken into account..
"The [bill] will virtually eliminate New York's greenhouse gasses, foster renewable energy production, create green jobs, invest in lower-income communities, and protect our planet," according to the bill's sponsor and chair of the NY Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D).
Both chambers of the state Legislature passed CCPA and it now awaits the expected signature of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
(Source: Various Media, Post Journal, 7 July, 2019)
Contact: Office of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, www.governor.ny.gov, https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Clean New Deal, Renewable Energy, Cuomo,
The Los Angeles Green New Deal is intended to: reduce by 50 pct the number of census tracks lacking equity and environmental parity; create a $100,000,000 Transformative Climate Communities program; include an "Equity and Environmental Justice Impact Statement" in official City reports; and analyze the LADWP budget for environmental equity metrics. The program calls for both mitigation and/or adaptation measures to climate change impacts and will be folded into all other area climate emergency plans covering: energy and climate; climate change preparedness; green buildings; transportation; air Quality; environmental justice; urban greening; green economy; and others.
Additionally, Los Angeles City Council is creating a new Office of Climate Emergency Mobilization that will in turn will create a Climate Emergency Commission, hire a director for the new Climate Emergency Mobilization Office, and draft a Climate Emergency Declaration.
Download the Sustainability pLAn 2019 HERE.
(Source: City of Los Angeles, City Watch, July, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change ,
The mayors also voted in support of a resolution endorsing the idea of a Green New Deal, called for Congress to adopt "a comprehensive national response" to climate change, The mayors also voted to oppose President Donald Trump's plan to freeze vehicle fuel economy standards, and to endorse individual cities' right to sue over climate change damages and protect taxpayers from related mitigation and adaptation costs. The mayors also oppose any action by Congress or in state legislatures "to limit or eliminate cities' access to the courts by overriding existing laws or in any way giving fossil fuel companies immunity from lawsuits over climate change-related costs and damages."
The U.S. Conference of Mayors includes the leaders of about 1,400 cities with populations greater than 30,000. about 1,400 cities.
(Source: U.S. Conference of Mayors, Inside Climate News, 2 July, 2019) Contact: U.S. Conference of Mayors, www.usmayors.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Conference of Mayors, Climate Change, Green New Deal,
"The Biden plan will be paid for by reversing the excesses of the Trump tax cuts for corporations, reducing incentives for tax havens, evasion, and outsourcing, ensuring corporations pay their fair share," according to a Biden campaign press release.
Download Biden's Climate plan outline HERE. (Source: Joe Biden Presidential Campaign, Various Media, Earther, 4 June, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Net-Zero Emissions, Green New Deal ,
A CNN poll found 82 pct of Democrats say it is "very important" that candidates take aggressive action to combat the climate crisis.
In 2016, no candidate had a specific climate platform, but reports indicate that this year, candidates will need to detail specific action plans if they hope to be taken seriously. Many progressive democrats are demanding candidates formally endorse the Green New Deal, while others expect candidates to refuse campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry. (Source: Inhabitat, CNN,Reuters, 20 May, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change news,
In 2016, no candidate had a specific climate platform, but reports indicate that this year, candidates will need to detail specific action plans if they hope to be taken seriously. Many progressive democrats are demanding candidates formally endorse the Green New Deal, while others expect candidates to refuse campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry.
(Source: inhabitat, Reuters, 20 May, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,
Reducing emissions from buildings -- which are responsible for nearly 70 pct of all greenhouse gas emissions -- is a key strategy of New York City's Green New Deal and commit the city to carbon neutrality by 2050.
As we previously reported, Trump Tower uses more energy than 93 pct of New York City's large residential buildings. Across the Big Apple, Trump owns at least eight buildings that do not meet 2030 emissions levels under the law. These include the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the Trump Building, the Trump World Tower, the Trump Tower, Trump Park Avenue, Trump Parc, Trump Parc East and Trump Palace. If Trump fails to clean up these buildings, he will owe approximately $2.1 million in fines every year beginning in 2030.
(Source: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, 6sqft,Various Media, 14 May, 2019) Contact: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor
More Low-Carbon Energy News Bill De Blasio, Carbon Neutral, Carbon Emissions,
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal tweeted "For the first time in history, we now have enough solar and wind installed in the US to generate more electricity from renewables than from coal."
(Source: Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis, IFL Science, April, 2019) Contact: Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis, Sandy Buchanan, Exec. Dir., 216-688-3457 www.ieefa.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy, Coal, Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis,
"There are at least two dozen scientists from universities across the United States who think so, but wait until you hear the solution they've dreamt up. Imagine a 2,000-mile-long alternative energy industrial park, 62 miles wide, from sea to shining sea along the U.S. southern border.
"The potential envisioned for everything from the economy to fresh water solutions to an abundance of clean energy and, yes, border security present an opportunity worth considering. 'Given that most of the southern border lies in arid or semi-arid regions having high solar irradiation and wind, an energy park along the border is both feasible and desirable,' reads a statement by the Future Energy, Water, Industry and Education Park (FEWIEP), the name of the proposed mega project.
"Solar installations at various points across Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and south of the border would accompany wind turbines stationed near both coasts. 'Areas of strong winds exist in the Gulf and Baja California regions, which are ideal for wind farms,' the report explains.
"Energy produced via wind turbines can be used to power water desalinization plants to provide valuable fresh water to drought-affected areas that have been living beyond their means in terms of ground water use.
"They estimate that 'wind power in the Gulf Coast and Baja California to operate reverse osmosis plants may provide 2.3 million acre-feet of water per year -- enough to satisfy the water needs for all of Texas' manufacturing, mining, livestock, and other power needs.' Which could literally cause the desert to bloom, potentially.
"Reduced tax zone incentives across the 62-mile strip could bring in massive amounts of business from solar energy innovators like Tesla and others. This subsidy cost could be recouped through selling energy or through taxes. An incentivized project of this size could greatly enhance and accelerate the local economy, and create a huge number of jobs on both sides of the border. More high-paying salaries are also likely to mean increased average quality of life for locals.
"In terms of security, the heavily protected area would serve a dual purpose. The proposed energy infrastructure can be incorporated into and be an integral part of a border security installation, such as a wall or a fence, states the report. 'This technological buffer can in turn also help to protect the energy infrastructure and prevent illegal immigration across the border.'
"At the same time, as parties on both sides of the aisle are starting to see eye to eye on border security, a project like this could tether the far extremes of the Green New Deal with staunch nationalists on the right. It could be just the kind of unifier to seal the deal for all parties, left and right, north and south." (Source: Epoch Times, April, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy, Wind, Solar, Clean Energy,
"We better hope it's (climate change) man-made, because if it's not we're in trouble." -- Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) www.romney.senate.gov
"The Green New Deal is kind of a ridiculous proposal, but denying the problem is equally as bad." -- Sen Lindsay Graham (R-SC) www.lgraham.senate.gov Graham was /commenting on freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) Green New Deal
"With the so-called Green New Deal, Washington Democrats want our government to spend more money than the entire gross domestic product of the entire world on the new spending programs to forcibly remodel Americans' homes, take away our cars, dramatically increase energy costs." -- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), (202) 224-2541, www.mcconnell.senate.gov (Source: Various Media, The Hill, 24 Mar., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green New Deal, Climate Change,
"With the so-called Green New Deal, Washington Democrats want our government to spend more money than the entire gross domestic product of the entire world on the new spending programs to forcibly remodel Americans' homes, take away our cars, dramatically increase energy costs." -- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), (202) 224-2541, www.mcconnell.senate.gov
"We better hope it's (climate change) man-made, because if it's not we're in trouble." -- Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), www.romney.senate.gov.
(Source: Various Media, The Hill, 24 Mar., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green New Deal,
In April 2018, the Los Angeles City Council advanced a proposal to develop a Climate Emergency Mobilization Department to oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions citywide, and also cleared up $500,000 in funding in seed money for the project. Now the Council is "fleshing out" the Climate Emergency Mobilization Department's responsibilities to include the development of metrics to measure and track the city's greenhouse gas emissions, and develop an annual climate budget of greenhouse gasses and criteria pollutants to determine the city's allowable annual emissions, similar to how the city's financial budget determines its monetary expenditures.
Los Angeles aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.
(Source: Los Angeles City Council, City News Service, 19 Mar., 2019)Contact: Los Angeles City Council, 213-473-3231, www.lacity.org/your-government/elected-officials/city-council
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Green New Deal,
So, that is just a little bit of why I think it's (Green New Deal) a ridiculous proposal." -- Patrick Moore, Greenpeace Co-founder Patrick Moore (Source: Sputnick, Mar., 2019)
Editor's Note: The non-binding, Green New Deal framework basically combines big climate-change-related ideas with a wish list of progressive economic proposals that, taken together, would touch nearly every American and overhaul the economy including agriculture, bioenergy and fuels.
Download the complete Green New Deal proposal HERE. (Source: Various Sources, NPR, 7 Feb., 2019) Contact: Sen. Ed Markey, 617-565-8519, www.markey.senate.gov; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 929-388-6141, Twitter https://twitter.com/AOC
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green New Deal, Renewable Energy, Clean Energy, Carbon Emissions,
"That's one thing that people don't realize: that all the CO2 that is being emitted from burning fossil fuels today was once in the atmosphere and has been taken out, and over the millennia CO2 levels in the atmosphere have constantly been declining. They just ignore this. Those numbers are available, all you have to do is be a good researcher on Google and on the Internet and you can see that over the millions of years CO2 has constantly declined.
"Carbon dioxide which they call carbon, which is completely wrong because carbon is soot, carbon is graphite, carbon is diamonds, carbon is not carbon dioxide. They should call it by its correct name, because all the carbon in all carbon-based life, which is all of life, came from carbon dioxide in the air or dissolved in the oceans, lakes and rivers. Carbon dioxide is essential for life to exist, if there were no carbon dioxide, or if there was not a high enough level of carbon dioxide, all the plants would die and would never have existed in the first place if there had not been carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." -- Greenpeace Co-founder Patrick Moore (Source: Sputnik, Mar. 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green New Deal, Carbon, CO2, Carbon Dioxide,
“The alternative (to the Green New Deal) is largely to continue as we are because the decisions that have been made to continue as we are have been based on what the best thing to do is. The real problem is [that] you've got this ridiculous notion that carbon dioxide is causing a global catastrophe and a global crisis, and as AOC says, the world is going to end in 12 years if we don't stop using fossil fuels. It's not about the fossil fuels themselves, it's about the carbon dioxide which is emitted when they are burned, the same carbon dioxide that was taken out of the air to make the plants that made the coal, oil and gas which was deposited in the earth in the first place.
“That's one thing that people don't realise: that all the CO2 that is being emitted from burning fossil fuels today was once in the atmosphere and has been taken out, and over the millennia CO2 levels in the atmosphere have constantly been declining. They just ignore this. Those numbers are available, all you have to do is be a good researcher on Google and on the Internet and you can see that over the millions of years CO2 has constantly declined.
“Carbon dioxide which they call carbon, which is completely wrong because carbon is soot, carbon is graphite, carbon is diamonds, carbon is not carbon dioxide. They should call it by its correct name, because all the carbon in all carbon-based life, which is all of life, came from carbon dioxide in the air or dissolved in the oceans, lakes and rivers. Carbon dioxide is essential for life to exist, if there were no carbon dioxide, or if there was not a high enough level of carbon dioxide, all the plants would die and would never have existed in the first place if there had not been carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” -- Greenpeace Co-founder Patrick Moore (Source: Sputnik, Mar., 2019)
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The resolution, which is seen as a response to freshman US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's ballyhooed Green New Deal, would set non-binding goals and declare a climate emergency, citing recent devastating wildfires and the impacts of air pollution on child asthma.
The $100 billion would be spent over 12 years and come from existing funds, including the state's carbon emissions auction program and a gas tax increase to fund transportation projects. The resolution would say all of that money should be spent toward projects that reduce, sequester or remove greenhouse gas emissions.
California presently aims to eliminate fossil fuels for electric power generation and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
To refresh your memory, download the complete Green New Deal proposal HERE.
(Source: The State, AP, 4 Mar., 2019) Contact: Calif. State Senator Sen. Henry Stern (D),
https://www.facebook.com/HenrySternCA, sd27.senate.ca.gov
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According to the Center for Biological Diversity's senior council Bill Snape, " Senator Feinstein's climate resolution is outmoded and cynical politics at its worst. It's more of the same half-measures and loopholes for polluting industries that have failed us for more than three decades. Feinstein can't hide behind this anemic proposal to avoid supporting the real Green New Deal. She needs to get with it or get out of the way," Snape added.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. (Source: Center for Biological Diversity, PR, 25 Feb., 2019) Contact: Center for Biological Diversity, Bill Snape, (202) 536-9351, bsnape@biologicaldiversity.org, www.biologicaldiversity.org; Sen, Dianne Feinstein, (415) 393-0707,www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (929) 388-6141, https://twitter.com/Ocasio2018
Editor's Note: The New Republic commented on Sen. Feinstein's encounter with school children as follows:
"The children pleaded with Feinstein to be 'brave' and to think about their future. "We're the ones who are going to be impacted," one girl pleaded. The 85-year-old (Sen. Feinstein) insisted she understood, citing her seven grandchildren, but then dashed the schoolchildren's hopes. "I've been in the Senate for over a quarter of a century." she said, "and I know what can pass and I know what can't pass." Later, Feinstein put out a statement calling climate change one of her top priorities and released a draft resolution of her alternative to the Green New Deal."
The Green New Deal basically sets goals for measures to cut carbon emissions from electric power generation to transportation to agriculture. The bill calls for a "10-year national mobilizations" toward accomplishing a series of goals, including "meeting 100 pct of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources." The ultimate goal is to stop using fossil fuels entirely, as well as to transition away from nuclear energy.
Download the complete Ocasio-Cortez,-- Markey Green New Deal proposal HERE.
More Low-Carbon Energy News Green New Deal, Climate Change, Carbon Emissions,
On 21 Feb, the Washington Post asked "Can the Green New Deal make it through Congress? -- "Passing a climate policy in the United States to combat climate change has long been politically challenging because it is opposed by powerful, well-financed groups such as fossil-fuel companies, electric utilities and automakers, research shows, and these groups have driven ideological polarization on climate policy. In a paper, my co-authors and I (Leah Stokes) show that congressional offices that meet with and receive funds from fossil-fuel organizations are more likely to believe the public does not want action on climate change.
"Congress has not passed a climate bill in a decade. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) last shepherded a cap-and-trade bill, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, through the House in 2009. That bill failed in the Senate after protracted negotiations with fossil-fuel industries.
"Despite successes in some states in the early 2000s, sub-national climate policy also has stalled. In Washington state, for example, the public voted down a ballot initiative in November that would have imposed a small tax on carbon pollution." -- The Washington Post
Download the complete Green New Deal proposal HERE.
(Source: Washington Post, Leah Stokes, 21 Feb, 2019)
Contact: Sen. Ed Markey, 617-565-8519, www.markey.senate.gov; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 929-388-6141, Twitter https://twitter.com/AOC
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In broad strokes, the Green New Deal sets goals for measures to cut carbon emissions from electric power generation to transportation to agriculture. The bill calls for a "10-year national mobilizations" toward accomplishing a series of goals, including "meeting 100 pct of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources." The ultimate goal is to stop using fossil fuels entirely, as well as to transition away from nuclear energy. Specifically, the Green Deal calls for:
The non-binding, Green New Deal framework basically combines big climate-change-related ideas with a wish list of progressive economic proposals that, taken together, would touch nearly every American and overhaul the economy.
Download the complete Green New Deal proposal HERE. (Source: Various Sources, NPR, 7 Feb., 2019) Contact:
Sen. Ed Markey, 617-565-8519, www.markey.senate.gov;
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 929-388-6141, Twitter
https://twitter.com/AOC
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Although the membership and scope of the new panel has yet to be announced, it is not expected to have legal authority to demand documents under subpoena. Progressive democrats
have been calling for a "Green New Deal" that promotes renewable energy and a new climate panel as part of a "green agenda." (Source: Nancy Pelosi, Various Media, AP, Guardian Various Media, 30 Dec., 2018) Contact: Nancy Pelosi, https://twitter.com/search/Nancy+Pelosi
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"This carbon tax bill amounts to climate denial, not climate action. Emissions pricing schemes like this one are actually supported by the world's largest oil and gas corporations because they do nothing more than entrench the status quo -- an economy dependent on polluting fossil fuels. This particular bill is potentially even more egregious, as it would reportedly roll back existing environmental regulations on carbon emissions, amounting to a shameful, self-defeating giveaway to the industry.
"As Democrats look to formulate a strategy on climate for a new Congress, it is imperative that they flatly reject carbon pricing schemes that increase costs for consumers while cementing a future of fossil fuel business-as-usual.
"A Green New Deal that includes carbon pricing isn't green at all. The only legitimate path to moving off fossil fuels is to move off fossil fuels -- now."
Food & Water Watch is a non-governmental organization group focused on corporate and government accountability relating to food, water, and corporate overreach. (Source: Food & Water Watch, PR, 26 Nov., 2018) Contact: Food & Water Watch, Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Seth Gladstone, (917) 363-6615, sgladstone@fwwatch.org, www.fwwatch.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Food & Water Watch, Climate Change,
"Not even the Trump Administration's own climate assessments can deny the severity of the climate crisis, as well as the risks for future generations. They can try to bury the findings of this report by releasing it quietly the day after Thanksgiving with hopes that people won't notice, but the realities of the climate crisis are stark and being felt by communities all over the country and the world right now.
"This report (National Climate Change Assessment) acknowledges much of what was outlined in the UN's IPCC report, noting that current efforts to mitigate climate change are not meeting the scale of the crisis. Yet, the report falls short of calling out the true culprit of the climate crisis: the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration continues to roll back climate policy and prop up Big Oil, offering the fossil fuel industry tax subsidies at the cost of creating further conditions for devastating climate impacts.
"All the reports released this year point to the need for bold climate action now. For any shot at averting further climate catastrophe, all elected officials must reject dirty fossil fuel money and fight for a Green New Deal that puts climate and communities first. It's not enough to acknowledge the reality of climate change -- we need our members of Congress to walk the talk and support equitable solutions to this global crisis that lead to 100 pct renewable economies with no new fossil fuel projects."
350.org is U.S.-based, not-for-profit international environmental organization addressing climate change with the goal of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350ppm from the current level of 400 ppm.
Download the National Climate Assessment report HERE (Source: 350.org, 23 Nov., 2018) Contact: 350.org, (413) 678-5160, www.350.org.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News National Climate Change Assessment, Climate Chane Assessment, Climate Change,
"In order to address runaway global climate change, Ocasio-Cortez strongly supports transitioning the United States to a carbon-free, 100 pct renewable energy system and a fully modernized electrical grid by 2035. She believes renewable fuels must be produced in a way that achieves our environmental and energy security goals, so we can move beyond oil responsibly in the fight against climate change. By encouraging the electrification of vehicles, sustainable home heating, distributed rooftop solar generation, and the conversion of the power grid to zero-emissions energy sources, Ocasio-Cortez believes we can be 100% free of fossil fuels by 2035.
"Ocasio-Cortez believes in recognizing the relationship between economic stability and environmental sustainability. It's time to shift course and implement a Green New Deal -- a transformation that implements structural changes to our political and financial systems in order to alter the trajectory of our environment. Right now, the economy is controlled by big corporations whose profits are dependent on the continuation of climate change. This arrangement benefits few, but comes at the detriment of our planet and all its inhabitants. Its effects are life-threatening, and are especially already felt by low-income communities, both in the U.S. and globally. Rather than continue a dependency on this system that posits climate change as inherent to economic life, the Green New Deal believes that radically addressing climate change is a potential path towards a more equitable economy with increased employment and widespread financial security for all.
"Climate change is the single biggest national security threat for the United States and the single biggest threat to worldwide industrialized civilization, and the effects of warming can be hard to predict and self-reinforcing. We need to avoid a worldwide refugee crisis by waging a war for climate justice through the mobilization of our population and our government. This starts with the United States being a leader on the actions we take both globally and locally", Ocasio-Cortez says.
(Source: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sept., 2018) Contact: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (929) 388-6141.
us@ocasio2018.com, https://twitter.com/Ocasio2018
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