Environmental Issues

Renewable energy is saving lives in the US

August 18, 2017August 16, 2017 Tami Hood

Renewable energy saving lives - heart in tree

Report shows that renewable energy has helped prevent 12,700 deaths The proliferation of solar and wind energy has had a major impact on the health of people in the United States. According to a new study published in Nature Energy, some 12,700 premature deaths have been prevented due to the use of solar and wind power. The report also highlights the economic impact that renewable energy has had throughout the country. According to the report, billions of dollars have been saved as a result of reducing emissions by avoiding the…

Climate change could already be affecting the United States

August 10, 2017August 9, 2017 Bret Williams

Report suggests US is already feeling the impact of climate change Average temperatures throughout the United States have risen rapidly since 1980, according to a new report. The report comes from scientists representing 13 federal agencies. These scientists suggest that the country is already feeling a significant impact from climate change. The report itself clashes with claims coming from the Trump Administration, with some government officials arguing that climate change is little more than an urban myth. President Trump himself has likened climate change to a hoax coming from a…

Toyota seeks to establish a hydrogen society

August 4, 2017August 3, 2017 Stephen Vagus

Hydrogen Society - Toyota Manufacturing Plant

Automaker has plans to help build a hydrogen society Japanese automaker Toyota is poised to take hydrogen fuel more seriously in the coming years. The Toyota Mobility Foundation has announced plans to launch a project focused on developing a hydrogen society. Through this project, the organization aims to develop hydrogen-powered communities. Such communities would use fuel cells to generate the electricity they need. These communities would also be populated with vehicles equipped with fuel cells, which produce no harmful emissions. New project aims to reduce the cost of fuel cells…

Climate change could become a serious threat by end of century

August 3, 2017August 1, 2017 Alicia Moore

New study shows only a small chance to accomplish one of the goals of the Paris Agreement The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a scientific and intergovernmental organization formed by the United Nations, has released its latest assessment on climate change. The new study from the organization highlights a major challenge that faces the Paris Agreement. According to the study, the world has only a 5% chance to avoid temperature increases of 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. This could have serious implications for the future,…

Hawaii sets sights on renewable energy

July 25, 2017July 24, 2017 Alicia Moore

Image of Hawaii - Hawaii renewable energy

State aims to become completely reliant on renewable energy in the coming years Hawaii has ambitious plans for renewable energy. The state has long been a leading market for solar power within the United States. Indeed, this form of clean power is one of the most popular energy producers in Hawaii due to the abundant sunlight that the state received throughout the year. In the coming years, the state plans to derive 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, with solar energy playing a major role in accomplishing this goal.…

Renewable energy may grow despite political opposition

July 19, 2017July 18, 2017 Stephen Vagus

Analysts predict that renewable energy will help the US accomplish its environmental goals Renewable energy in the United States is growing so quickly that the country may be able to achieve the goals established through the Paris Agreement even if it no longer supports the agreement. Analysts from Morgan Stanley predict that both wind and solar power are rapidly reaching a point where politics may no longer be able to hinder their growth. These two forms of renewable energy have become quite popular throughout the United States and the country…

Shell to invest $1 billion a year in renewable energy by 2020

July 12, 2017July 11, 2017 Stephen Vagus

Renewable Energy Investment - American Money

Shell has ambitious plans concerning renewable energy and clean transportation Shell has ambitious plans to show more support for renewable energy in the coming years. The company’s New Energies division is being prepared to make the transition toward clean power and transportation. Through this division, Shell plans to invest $1 billion a year in renewable energy and clean transportation by 2020. Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden notes that the transition toward clean power and technology has begun to accelerate in many parts of the world. This has created a significant…

France to embrace clean vehicles more aggressively

July 11, 2017July 10, 2017 John Max

Country will ban gas and diesel vehicles by 2040 France is taking a major step forward in its efforts to become more environmentally friendly. The country has announced that it will ban all gas and diesel vehicles by 2040, encouraging residents to purchase clean vehicles instead. This is part of France’s overarching plan to become completely carbon neutral by 2050, replacing old forms of power with renewable energy solutions. The government intends to support the purchase of clean vehicles in order to ensure rapid adoption. Government to offer subsidies to…

Tesla to build world’s largest battery system

July 11, 2017July 10, 2017 Tami Hood

New battery system will be developed by Tesla Tesla Motors has been tapped to build the world’s largest battery system. The system will be developed in South Australia and is meant to be 60% larger than other large-scale battery systems. The project is being developed with the aid of the Australian government as well as Neoen, a French renewable energy company. A portion of the electricity stored by the battery system will come from the Hordnsdale Wind Farm. Tesla expects that the battery system will be able to provide as…

California is working to increase the adoption of clean vehicles

July 10, 2017July 10, 2017 Alicia Moore

State is looking to encourage the growth of clean transportation California has established itself as a popular market for clean vehicles, but the state is still looking to increase the adoption of clean vehicles among consumers. While many automakers are opting to launch their new, carbon-free vehicles in the state, consumers have been relatively slow in purchasing such cars. The California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative hopes to help change this by providing consumers with a way to test some clean vehicles. Organization aims to help people get experience with environmentally…

Germany is making significant progress in its renewable energy endeavors

July 7, 2017July 6, 2017 Erin Kilgore

Wind Energy - German Flag Blowing in Wind

German Renewable Energy Federation highlights the progress that the country has made Germany is making major strides in its ongoing transition toward renewable energy. The German Renewable Energy Federation has announced that it has reached a major milestone. According to the organization, Germany has generated 35% of its electricity from clean power sources between January and June of this year. By comparison, the United States generated approximately 19% of its electricity from renewable sources during the same period. Wind, solar, and hydropower have contributed heavily to Germany’s renewable energy endeavor.…

Solar energy set to become one of the world’s leading forms of power

July 5, 2017July 6, 2017 Alicia Moore

Report highlights the future prospects of solar energy Solar energy is poised to play a major role in the world’s power supply in the coming years. A recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that both wind and solar energy will supply more electrical power to the world than other forms of energy by 2040. Solar, in particular, may experience an economic boom in the near future, largely due to its growing popularity and the falling price of photovoltaic technology. Solar and wind are becoming less expensive than coal…

China’s new Forest City will be covered in plants and powered by renewable energy

June 29, 2017June 28, 2017 Tami Hood

Ground has been broken on an innovative new city China has broken ground on its first “forest city.” The city is being developed in the Guangxi Province. The new city will make use of renewable energy in order to be self-sufficient and it will also be covered in more than 1 million plants and host more than 40,000 trees. An estimated 10,000 tons of carbon emissions and 57 tons of other pollutants are expected to be offset by the new city due to its vast array of plant life and…

France is taking another step in its transition toward renewable energy

June 29, 2017June 28, 2017 Angie Bergenson

Renewable Energy in France - French Flag

Country to ban new oil and gas exploration projects France is set to take a major step forward in its transition away from fossil-fuels in favor of renewable energy. The country is planning to no longer grant licenses for new oil and gas exploration projects. This is part of France’s “ecological transition,” which will see the country move away from old forms of power that produce harmful emissions. By halting new oil and gas exploration projects, France may be able to significantly slow the development of new fossil-fuel systems as…

Chinese province 100% powered by renewable energy during 7-day trial

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017 Stephen Vagus

Renewable Energy - Solar, Wind and a green field

Qinghai Province shows what can be accomplished through renewable energy trial China’s Qinghai Province, located in the northwest reaches of the country, has accomplished a major feat. For seven days this month, the entire province derived 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. This accomplishment was part of a trial conducted by the State Grid Corporation of China. The trial ran through June 17 through June 23. During this period, the province did not generate electricity from fossil-fuels, relying instead on solar, wind, and hydropower. Fossil-fuel may be losing…

Corporations are showing strong support for renewable energy

June 26, 2017June 22, 2017 Erin Kilgore

Renewable Energy Corporations - Meeting Room

Corporations are now the largest buyers of renewable energy Major corporations are quickly becoming the largest buyers of renewable energy in the United States. These companies have become major supporters of clean power in recent years, with many entering into long-term power purchase agreements with energy developers throughout the country. As these corporations show more support for renewable energy, they are helping the sector thrive and grow, creating new opportunities for developers and highlighting the reliability of clean power systems. Power purchase agreements are becoming popular among corporations In 2016,…

Category: Environmental