QUICK NEWS, February 20: Cities’ Climate Fight Sets Goals; Solar On Every Roof; Wave Power For Ocean Water Desalination
Cities’ Climate Fight Sets Goals As the Trump administration retreats on climate change, US cities are moving forward
Katherine Levine Einstein, David Glick, Maxwell Palmer, February 20, 2018 (The Conversation)
“…[The White House infrastructure plan] contradicts the priorities of many local leaders who view climate change as a growing concern…Mayors overwhelmingly believe that climate change is a result of human activities… Perhaps even more strikingly, [a summer 2017 poll showed] two-thirds of mayors agreed that cities should play a role in reducing the effects of climate change – even if it means making fiscal sacrifices. Cleaner, smarter cities. [Almost two-thirds of the U.S. population lives in cities or incorporated places. While mayors and local governments cannot comprehensively tackle climate change alone, their sizeable political and economic clout may make them an important force.]
…[The] mayors highlighted a number of environmental initiatives that they were interested in pursuing…Over one-third prioritized reducing the number of vehicles on the road and making city assets, such as buildings and vehicles, more energy-efficient…Other popular programs included shifting toward green and alternative energy sources; promoting energy efficiency in private buildings; reducing risks of damage from flooding; and installing smart traffic lights that can change their own timing in response to traffic conditions. Many mayors are already implementing these initiatives in their communities…[M]ayors largely did not think that such initiatives would require imposing costly new regulations on the private sector…” click here for more
Solar On Every Roof A solar panel on every roof in the US? Here are the numbers; Estimate shows rooftop solar could produce almost 40 percent of our electricity.
Scott K. Johnson, February 16, 2018 (Ars Technica)
“…[Detailed new research estimates] that there are a little over 8 billion square meters of suitable roofs in the US. Cover that in solar panels, and you would produce about 1,400 terawatt hours of electricity each year—about two-thirds of which would come from small residential buildings. The total production is equal to nearly 40 percent of the total electricity currently sold by utilities in the US…[That is almost twice the less detailed 2008 estimate] of 22 percent of electricity…[The new estimate is higher] partly because solar panel efficiency has improved but also because new sources of data made a more accurate estimate possible…States with strong sunlight and plenty of roofs obviously have the most potential…But that’s partly because of different electricity use. New England doesn’t have the sunniest skies, but the limited need for air conditioning in the summer helps keep electricity use down. As a result, that region could produce about half its total electricity from rooftop solar…[The output of the all-in scenario would not be enough to replace all power plants, but it is significant]…” click here for more
Wave Power For Ocean Water Desalination Fresh drinking water from the ocean: Delmarva company harnesses waves to make it happen
Maddy Lauria, February 9, 2018 (Delaware Online/New Journal via USA Today)
“…[In places like the hurricane-devastated Caribbean islands, a way to remove the salt from ocean water and provide clean drinking water without using electricity could be a vital lifeline and a prototype device is being tested] off the coast of Delaware. It would use wave energy to desalinate ocean water. Initially, it would be for use in emergencies but could eventually be scaled] to augment or replace traditional municipal water services in coastal communities…[A barge is designed to absorb the energy of ocean waves and use it] to operate a filtration system capable of removing the salt from seawater to produce up more than 100,000 gallons per day of fresh water…[The Murtech, Inc., device]is the first of its kind to be individually permitted in the United States…” click here for more
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