QUICK NEWS, May 2: How Climate Change Is Growing The New Slavery; Wind Is Increasingly Inevitable; Name The Five Leading Solar States
How Climate Change Is Growing The New Slavery Climate change has created a new generation of sex-trafficking victims
Justine Calma, May 2, 2017 (Quartz)
Editor’s note: This is a profound piece that adds a chilling dimension to the global warming debate. Click thru and read it and see the images.
“…[When Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, it] displaced more than 4 million people…After the skies cleared, a second humanitarian disaster unfolded…An underground economy took root as women and girls were sold for food and scarce aid supplies, or trafficked into forced labor and sex work…[One girl, Kristine, told Quartz she] was sold to men every night…The men raped her, and took graphic pictures and videos. Kristine was 13…The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, which scientists have linked to an increased frequency and severity of extreme-weather events…When families lose their livelihoods and can’t recover between severe weather events, pressure increases on women and children to provide for the family—sometimes at any cost…The Global Slavery Index, an internationally recognized estimate of the prevalence of modern slavery, calculates there to have been about 400,000 trafficked persons in the Philippines in 2016. But the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare & Development, which provides assistance to trafficking victims in the country, identified only 1,465 victims…” click here for more
Wind Is Increasingly Inevitable Opinion: Wind power will keep growing rapidly — and bring economic opportunity to rural America; Wind power is now the fourth-largest capacity source behind natural gas, coal, and nuclear
Michael Goggin, April 29, 2017 (American Wind Energy Association)
“…[Even with] uncertainty on carbon policy, other factors will continue to drive wind energy’s astronomical growth — benefiting in particular the rural and Rust Belt areas that are starved of economic opportunity…[Economists from all political perspectives agree carbon policy] results in more efficient market outcomes but even without it, cost declines and technology advances led to wind becoming] the county’s largest source of renewable generating capacity, and the fourth-largest capacity source behind natural gas, coal, and nuclear…The cost of wind energy has fallen 66% in seven years as wind turbines became 50% more productive…In many parts of the country, wind is already the lowest-cost source of new electricity…Since the [November] election, the nation’s largest electric utilities have continued to invest in renewable energy, with many noting that policies to limit carbon pollution are inevitable…[M]ore than 100,000 Americans work in the wind industry, with employees in all 50 states. Over 25,000 of these workers manufacture wind power components at more than 500 U.S. factories…[T]hese numbers will continue to grow…[T]otal wind-driven employment could near a quarter of a million by 2020, with $85 billion in economic activity over the next four years…” click here for more
Name The Five Leading Solar States 5 States With the Highest Solar Capacity per Capita
Travis Hoium, May 2, 2017 (Motley Fool via Madsion.Com)
“Solar energy was the single biggest source of new electricity capacity in the United States in 2016 and now makes up over 1% of all electricity generated in the country…[W]ith solar energy now cost-competitive with coal, natural gas, and nuclear in most of the country, the industry is primed for growth…[and] when you look at the top five solar states per capita, there are some surprisingly solar-friendly states…Nevada takes the top solar spot…[California is by far the biggest solar state but] it's not the top solar state per capita…Second on the list is Utah…[Hawaii is third, with rooftop solar now commonplace and] islands such as Kauai are pushing toward 100% renewables…California is fourth in the country, with 466 watts of solar per capita…[and even though Arizona has been home of some of the biggest fights in residential solar, it] is the fifth-highest solar state per capita…[T]here are some surprising states to keep an eye on…[including North Carolina, Georgia, and] Texas…[W]ith solar energy now competitive with fossil fuels for utilities, commercial users, and homeowners across the country, the amount of solar energy per capita will only grow…” click here for more
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