QUICK NEWS, July 10: Can High Tech Beat Climate Change? - Solar V. Solar

Can High Tech Beat Climate Change? Big Tech Should Take the Lead on Climate Change—Here’s Why

Owen Gaffney, July 9, 2018 (Singularity Hub)

“…The climate conversation with tech entrepreneurs and leaders needs to change for three reasons…First, the technology sector gets it…Apple has committed to adopting a 100 percent circular economy… Alphabet claims it is now the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy. And Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are investing a billion dollars in clean energy solutions…Second, the technology sector gets how to harness the power of exponentials better than any other economic sector…Third, and most significantly, the biggest influence the tech sector can have is not on its own emissions or even those of its suppliers—it is, after all, just 2-2.5 percent of global emissions…On a daily basis, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft influence the behavior of billions of people—the world’s middle classes and the world’s businesses…This conversation about consumer emissions has only just begun…

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As a simple rule of thumb, the world needs to halve emissions every decade globally until 2050…[This exponential decay curve can be called] the Carbon Law, after Moore’s Law. The first halving is relatively easy and [is being] done with existing technology…Now we need an exponential roadmap—combining technology, behavioral change and policy—to guide the world to reach a carbon positive global economy by 2050…What if the default settings for mobile phones promoted exercise, healthy eating, and sustainable transport? What if Facebook, Google, and others priced advertising for healthy and low-emitting products more favorably than other products? What if they displayed healthy and low-carbon products more prominently than others? What if apps that drive down emissions were favored over those that drive emissions up? The next decade is critical for the planet…” click here for more

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Solar V. Solar Report: Solar Farms Vital To Bolstering Renewable Energy

Amy Sisk, July 9, 2018 (WESA Pittsburgh/National Public Radio)

“…[New Energy] advocates and environmental officials say bringing solar farms to Pennsylvania needs to happen if the state wants to significantly boost how much energy it gets from the sun…[A draft plan from the Department of Environmental Protection] identifies ways the state could get 10 percent of its electricity from solar energy by 2030. Under current law, the state requires that 0.5 percent of its electricity come from solar energy by 2021…[and most of it is distributed generation for individual] homes and businesses…[New Energy advocates say large solar farms that send the power they generate into the grid for Pennsylvania to significantly and cost-effectively] boost its solar generation…The report looks at two scenarios — one with 65 percent of the state’s solar power coming from solar farms, and the other with 90 percent. While solar farms are a big focus, it also examines what it will take to boost rooftop solar projects…[and] acknowledges the need to find land to install the solar farms…” click here for more

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