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Natural Gas and Global Warming: A Review of Evidence Finds that Methane Leaks Undercut the Climate Benefits of Natural Gas

Friday, August 5th, 2016

Figure 1. Avoiding Climate Tipping Points Requires Immediate Reductions in Methane Emissions

In recent years, a number of studies have challenged that assumption, finding that natural gas production, transportation and storage results in major leaks of methane to the atmosphere that erode or nullify the climate benefits of shifting to natural gas. These findings should lead policymakers to reject natural gas as a “bridge fuel” and instead lead them to redouble America’s efforts to repower with truly clean energy from the sun, the wind and other renewable sources of energy.

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Tags: Carbon, Emissions, Environment America, Frontier Group, Global Warming, Natural Gas, Renewables, Toxics Action Center
Posted in Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Infra Views, National, Policy

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What are the health and climate benefits of offshore wind farms?

Friday, August 5th, 2016

This Harvard researcher created a model in which an offshore wind farm that could power most of Washington D.C. could also save 50 lives per year and generate $690 million per year in climate and health benefits. Dr. Jonathan Buonocore, Program Leader of our Climate, Energy, and Health Program, talks about the science behind “Health and Climate Benefits of Offshore Wind Facilities in the Mid-Atlantic United States,” a paper he and colleagues from Synapse Energy Economics, University of Delaware, and Boston University published in Environmental Research Letters.

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Tags: CHGEHarvard, Harvard University, Jonathan Buonocore, Renewables, Video, Vimeo, Wind Energy
Posted in Energy, Environment, Pollution, Show Us Your Infra, Sustainability, Technology

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Guest on The Infra Blog: Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016

“Fossil fuels, which provide 85% of our current energy, suffer from two fatal drawbacks. One of which is the fact that they produce greenhouse gasses that are undermining the viability of our climate and therefore our future of industrial society…The other drawback of fossil fuels is that fact that these are depleting, non-renewable resources…So one way or another we will be moving away from fossil fuels as time goes on, it’s just a question of whether we do it in a planned and organized way, or just wait until we can no longer afford to extract the stuff that’s left.”

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Tags: Fossil Fuels, Post Carbon Institute, Renewable Energy, Renewables, Richard Heinberg, Solar, Wind
Posted in Energy, Environment, Guests on The Infra Blog, Pollution, Sustainability, Technology, The Infra Blog

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2016 Report Card for Florida’s Infrastructure

Monday, July 25th, 2016

Florida state classifications of sandy shorelines

Florida’s economy relies heavily on its beaches, the state’s “invisible” coastal infrastructure that protects Florida’s communities. Most of the public view beaches as places where they can participate in outdoor recreational activities. Florida beaches represent its leading tourist destination with about 810 million “day visits” to its beaches annually. This number more than double the number of “day visits” made annually to all U.S. National Parks combined.

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Tags: American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, FL, Florida, Infrastructure Report Card, Report Card
Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Aviation, Bridges, Drinking Water, Energy, Infra Views, Local

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End-of-Life Management: Solar Photovoltaic Panels

Wednesday, July 13th, 2016

Overview of global PV panel waste projections, 2016-2050

INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY (IRENA)
Growing PV panel waste presents a new environmental challenge, but also unprecedented opportunities to create value and pursue new economic avenues. These include recovery of raw material and the emergence of new solar PV end-of-life industries. Sectors like PV recycling will be essential in the world’s transition to a sustainable, economically viable and increasingly renewables-based energy future. To unlock the benefits of such industries, the institutional groundwork must be laid in time to meet the expected surge in panel waste.

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Tags: e-waste, International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, photovoltaic, PV, Solar Energy, Solar Panels, waste, Waste Disposal
Posted in Aging Infrastructure, Energy, Environment, Infra Views, Technology

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Blades of Glory: An Energy.gov Mini Doc

Monday, July 11th, 2016

In this short documentary, we follow three collegiate teams who are participating in this year’s U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition in New Orleans. Learn about their experiences and why the competition is important for America’s clean energy future.

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Tags: Collegiate Wind Competition, Competition, DOE, U.S. Department of Energy, Wind Energy
Posted in Energy, Environment, National, Show Us Your Infra

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Exposed: How America’s Electric Grids Are Becoming Greener, Smarter — and More Vulnerable

Wednesday, July 6th, 2016

U.S. GDP Associated with America’s Transportation and Information Sectors

MANHATTAN INSTITUTE
Electric grids have always been vulnerable to natural hazards and malicious physical attacks. Now the U.S. faces a new risk—cyberattacks—that could threaten public safety and greatly disrupt daily life.

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Tags: Cyber Threats, electric grid, Hackers, Manhattan Institute, Mark P. Mills
Posted in Energy, Infra Views, Smart Grid, Technology

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New Energy Outlook 2016

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016

Figure 1: Global installed capacity in 2012 and 2040 and projected capacity additions

BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE
Cheaper coal and cheaper gas will not derail the transformation and decarbonisation of the world’s power systems. By 2040, zero-emission energy sources will make up 60% of installed capacity. Wind and solar will account for 64% of the 8.6TW of new power generating capacity added worldwide over the next 25 years, and for almost 60% of the $11.4 trillion invested.

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Tags: Bloomberg, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, BNEF, Solar Energy, Wind Energy
Posted in Energy, Environment, Infra Views, National, Sustainability

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