wind energy

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In 2011, Scotland’s government, urged on by visionaries like Richard Dixon, set itself the ambitious goal to get 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2020. At that time, it only only got about a fourth from clean energy sources, and a lot of that was hydro. The report card […]

Climate Crisis

America is ‘Can-do’ again: Biden’s $3 trillion infrastructure Plan includes $500 bn for Green Energy and Transit and Massive Innovation

Juan Cole

Jeff Stein and Tyler Pager at WaPo report that $500 billion of the proposed $3 trillion Biden infrastructure plan, or 16 percent, will be devoted to dealing with climate change. They write, “The infrastructure component is expected to include $400 billion in spending to combat climate change, including $60 billion for infrastructure related to green […]

Australia

Against the odds, South Australia is a renewable energy powerhouse; and they’re showing the world how to do it

The Conversation

By Michael McGreevy and Fran Baum | – Less than two decades ago, South Australia generated all its electricity from fossil fuels. Last year, renewables provided a whopping 60% of the state’s electricity supply. The remarkable progress came as national climate policy was gripped by paralysis – so how did it happen? Our research set […]

Climate Crisis

Biden overturns Trump Policy, Pushes Massive 84-Turbine Offshore Wind Farm to power all southern Massachusetts

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is finished its environmental impact review of a wind farm in federal waters off Massachusetts. According to AP, the company that wants to install the turbines, Vineyard Wind, had withdrawn its application last summer for fear Trump would reject it. President Biden, however, […]

Featured

Morocco beats U.S. in Green Energy Future Index with Massive Saharan Solar Plant

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The MIT Technology Review has released its Green Future Index. Among Middle Eastern countries, Morocco ranks number one, and it also leads Africa. I have a big problem with the index, though. One of its criteria is technological innovation in the area of green energy. These are the bases for […]

Featured

We can do this: Americans put in massive 17 Gigawatts of Wind Power in 2020 despite Pandemic, Recession, and Neanderthal Conservatives

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – While conservatives like Texas governor Greg Abbott and Tucker Carlson have been busy putting down wind turbines as unreliable, America has been voting with its pocketbook. The verdict? We want more wind-powered electricity, precisely because it is inexpensive and reliable. So we may conclude from the Sustainable Energy in America […]

Climate Crisis

Dear Texas Gov. Abbott: Wind Turbines work fine in Antarctica and Alaska, you’re just too Cheap to Winterize them

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Texas governor Greg Abbott alleged that the massive power outages in his state demonstrated the unwisdom of moving to renewable energy, attempting to blame the crisis on the state’s wind turbines. Like most of the things Republican politicians say publicly, this allegation was a lie. Here’s a wind turbine working […]

Denmark

Denmark to build Artificial Island for Wind Farms to Power the Whole Country

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – AFP reports that Denmark’s parliament has just committed to building an artificial island off its shores that will be home to hundreds of huge wind turbines. It is the largest construction project in Denmark’s history, and will be as big as 80 football fields. It will be protected on three […]

Climate Crisis

All Hands on Deck: Biden plans to fight climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before

The Conversation

By Bill Ritter Jr. | – Joe Biden is preparing to deal with climate change in a way no U.S. president has done before – by mobilizing his entire administration to take on the challenge from every angle in a strategic, integrated way. The strategy is evident in the people Biden has chosen for his […]