This is a true breakthrough that makes solar energy able to do heavy lifting of the sort achieved only by major fossil fuel operations. This is big. Secretive energy startup backed by Bill Gates achieves solar breakthrough By Matt Egan, CNN Business Updated 11:04 AM ET, Tue November 19, 2019 New York (CNN Business)A secretive … Continue reading Solar breakthough could make solar energy effective for far more tasks
Tag: energy
Environmental protection laws make a huge difference
I've posted regularly about the wholesale destruction of decades of environmental protection legislation by this administration. I'm pleased to be able to post an article about a law that worked to make a big difference when disaster threatened. https://www.ecowatch.com/oil-leak-shell-puget-sound-2641378550.html? Oil Spill Prevention Law Helps Contain Leak at Shell Puget Sound Refinery Olivia Rosane Nov. 18, … Continue reading Environmental protection laws make a huge difference
Status of coal plants in U.S.
Coal plants in the U.S. are continuing to shut down but the easy closures may already have happened. Economic forces may not be enough to force closures of the some of the markets where coal still dominates. https://qz.com/1749023/two-of-americas-biggest-coal-plants-closed-this-month/ Two of America’s biggest coal plants closed this month By Michael J. Coren November 16, 2019 First … Continue reading Status of coal plants in U.S.
Creative use of Fukushima
With all of the damage, some of it global by air and water, caused by Fukushima's nuclear disaster, some creative soul has come up with the perfect use of the uninhabitable area -- use it to provide renewable energy. What a great idea! https://e360.yale.edu/digest/fukushima-to-be-transformed-into-renewable-energy-hub E360 Digest November 11, 2019 Fukushima to be Transformed into Renewable … Continue reading Creative use of Fukushima
Changing to a local model for utilities may help react quickly to climate crisis-caused disasters
One unexpected side effect of the massive California fires is the recognition that Pacific Gas & Electric, a traditional model utility, is totally unable to deal promptly with the causes of the fires or how to provide power while the fires rage. Desperate localities are beginning to think seriously about forming much smaller, locally owned … Continue reading Changing to a local model for utilities may help react quickly to climate crisis-caused disasters
Need to scale up this use for algae
I'd love to have seen more detail here. Algae doesn't need to be mined but how much energy is required for the processing? https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/10/researchers-turn-algae-into-a-material-as-hard-as-steel/ Researchers turn algae into a material as hard as steel The material has two major benefits for the climate. Tuesday, October 15, 2019 (Photo credit: A. Battenberg / Technical University of … Continue reading Need to scale up this use for algae
Another reason to support biological diversity
Between fires, floods, contamination from fossil fuel production, and insensitive development, humans have been working hard at reducing biological diversity. This article demonstrates how we simply can't tell what living animal or plant may be needed in the future. https://www.ecowatch.com/mushrooms-used-for-bioremediation-to-clean-pesticides-from-oregon-wate-1881853729.html? Mushrooms Used for Bioremediation to Clean Pesticides From Oregon Waterways Laura Beans Jan. 23, 2014 … Continue reading Another reason to support biological diversity
Wind power scaled up
This is simply extraordinary. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/01/worlds-largest-wind-turbines-to-be-built-off-yorkshire-coast? World's largest wind turbines to be built off Yorkshire coast Biggest offshore windfarm in North Sea will generate electricity for 4.5m homes Jillian Ambrose Tue 1 Oct 2019 12.51 EDT Last modified on Tue 1 Oct 2019 13.58 EDT An artist’s impression of the windfarm at Dogger Bank in the North Sea. … Continue reading Wind power scaled up
Oil spills along 1500 kilometers of Brazilian coast unidentified
Whether it's coastal oil spills, broken or exploding pipelines, or spills occurring during extreme weather events, I find it impossible not to immediately note that solar collection and wind farms have never produced such environmental disasters. Even if fossil fuels weren't the major contributor to our climate crisis, the other consequences of producing those fuels … Continue reading Oil spills along 1500 kilometers of Brazilian coast unidentified
How has the fossil fuel industry done so well at blocking effective action about the climate crisis
The fossil fuel industry, notably Exxon, has known for decades that there was an impending climate disaster due to the production and use of fossil fuels. They have actively presented information denying what they knew to be true. How did they get away with it? Read on. A somewhat long article but eye opening and … Continue reading How has the fossil fuel industry done so well at blocking effective action about the climate crisis
And here’s part 3 of the Los Angeles Times forcefully stated editorial on what must be done NOW for the future of the planet
The third part of this wonderfully concise but persuasive editorial from the LA Times points out that the entire planet will have to move off fossil fuels abruptly and more or less totally. Further, the editorial acknowledges that doing so will require changes in the way we live -- particularly in the developed countries that … Continue reading And here’s part 3 of the Los Angeles Times forcefully stated editorial on what must be done NOW for the future of the planet
Where does US pollution come from?
Elizabeth Warren announced, during CNN's climate town hall, that three industries were responsible for the emissions producing the climate crisis. This article gives the background facts. Please note that a different way of quantifying this is that 100 companies account for 71% of these emissions. https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-report-shows-just-100-companies-are-source-of-over-70-of-emissions https://www.thirdway.org/memo/eliminating-us-climate-pollution-consider-the-source Published June 26, 2019 16 minute read Eliminating US Climate … Continue reading Where does US pollution come from?
Abycats' Thoughts 