As a new Oxford paper shows, the incredibly rapid fall in the cost of renewables offers hope--but only if movements can push banks and politicians hard enough
After what has been such a rough summer, especially during the last month with the release of the IPCC report, I’ll take whatever good news I can get. This brightens my day immensely.
Agree with the hopeful message, but "catching a break" is a weird framing, especially coming from an activist. Were university divestments, or stopping a few pipelines, or stopping a lot of coal plants also "catching a break?" No, they were all the result of climate hawks working their butts off, as were the many advocates and activists who passed strong renewable energy policies state by state along with federal tax credit renewals.
Thanks for your tireless efforts - a good dialogue this Climate Work - this COP will be critical; do we have the will to really change our systems? We wouldn’t be facing such a crisis if we had acted when scientists issued their first warnings, three decades ago {or…listened to Amory Lovins and his “soft path” in FA way, way back in 1976!!, he was so far out of the mainstream – thought of as a wacko then - but so much of what he envisioned as been realized, even if decades too late}
Think what could have been had we not wasted 45 years, or had we put a hard price on carbon – 1 vote away under Clinton – or passed Waxman-Markey under BHO…..
Nice to have some good news for a change. I'm a big fan of a new type of baseline commercial Geothermal developed here in Canada. Totally self contained, no fracking, no polluting groundwater, makes use of abandoned gas and oil wells. See eavor.com for details if you're interested.
Bill you said: "...but only if movements can push banks and politicians hard enough" I have read the Oxford paper and agree that Clean Energy Renewables offer hope as do other tools such as a Carbon Fee & Dividend program.
However, as 'Experienced Americans' know, there's all flavors of Republican and Democratic politicians (Progressive - Moderate - Extremists). In addition to the 50 Republican Senators that do not favor Climate Justice legislation, there is also one Extremist Democratic Senator that has us in a violent chokehold.
This is Joe Manchin. See 9-20-21 NYT article shorturl.at/uyHKO "This Powerful Democrat Linked to Fossil Fuels Will Craft the U.S. Climate Plan"
That article pulls no punches about Manchin and that his intent is to water down the Clean Energy provisions and also slow roll things until 2022 when the Republicans might have control in Congress.
What do you think you and 'Experienced Americans' in the ThirdAct movement can effectively do to push back on this Extremist Democratic Senator?
As an example, would you and Jim Hansen, or another person with bona fides, consider writing an opinion piece in the NYT? WSJ? WAPO? I am looking for hopeful solutions.
Yes, and I'd also suggest this recent piece articulating why the case for renewables should now be framed in terms of *gain* not *pain* -- not just the exponentially falling prices or renewables, but also other factors providing increasing traction (energy security, geopolitical advantage, enablement of developing economies, etc.): https://carbontracker.org/gain-not-pain-why-cop-must-move-the-narrative-forward/
In places like California, the biggest need is for energy storage, since solar ends at sunset, and wind is always variable. But the state has failed to push the best storage method, pumped hydro.
Good one, Bill, but people overlook this problem: binding Power Purchase Agreements between utility companies and banks. They are typically for 30 year terms, and banks won't cancel them and take losses. Utilities are also at fault: they could cancel PPA's, but won't do it, because it's simpler for them to just continue business as usual. Nobody is calling either of these groups to account in meaningful ways. They will listen to you, though, Bill. Please investigate this problem. We win if we find a law firm that is willing to sue both banks and utilities for public negligence.
How does the cost and difficulty of storage for solar power figure into this? My sense was that while solar power generation was growing rapidly cheaper, we still need more innovation in batteries to provide reliable power at scale, particularly given seasonal variability in sunlight.
As a solar installer and climate activist this makes me more hopeful. See you on the streets….
After what has been such a rough summer, especially during the last month with the release of the IPCC report, I’ll take whatever good news I can get. This brightens my day immensely.
Thank you for linking the Oct 11-15 People vs Fossil Fuels demonstrations. A BIG turnout can make a BIG difference.
I love this - it’s so refreshing and hopeful! And thanks for the plug for the October DC action - I’ll be there!
Agree with the hopeful message, but "catching a break" is a weird framing, especially coming from an activist. Were university divestments, or stopping a few pipelines, or stopping a lot of coal plants also "catching a break?" No, they were all the result of climate hawks working their butts off, as were the many advocates and activists who passed strong renewable energy policies state by state along with federal tax credit renewals.
Bill
Thanks for your tireless efforts - a good dialogue this Climate Work - this COP will be critical; do we have the will to really change our systems? We wouldn’t be facing such a crisis if we had acted when scientists issued their first warnings, three decades ago {or…listened to Amory Lovins and his “soft path” in FA way, way back in 1976!!, he was so far out of the mainstream – thought of as a wacko then - but so much of what he envisioned as been realized, even if decades too late}
Think what could have been had we not wasted 45 years, or had we put a hard price on carbon – 1 vote away under Clinton – or passed Waxman-Markey under BHO…..
Nice to have some good news for a change. I'm a big fan of a new type of baseline commercial Geothermal developed here in Canada. Totally self contained, no fracking, no polluting groundwater, makes use of abandoned gas and oil wells. See eavor.com for details if you're interested.
Bill you said: "...but only if movements can push banks and politicians hard enough" I have read the Oxford paper and agree that Clean Energy Renewables offer hope as do other tools such as a Carbon Fee & Dividend program.
However, as 'Experienced Americans' know, there's all flavors of Republican and Democratic politicians (Progressive - Moderate - Extremists). In addition to the 50 Republican Senators that do not favor Climate Justice legislation, there is also one Extremist Democratic Senator that has us in a violent chokehold.
This is Joe Manchin. See 9-20-21 NYT article shorturl.at/uyHKO "This Powerful Democrat Linked to Fossil Fuels Will Craft the U.S. Climate Plan"
That article pulls no punches about Manchin and that his intent is to water down the Clean Energy provisions and also slow roll things until 2022 when the Republicans might have control in Congress.
What do you think you and 'Experienced Americans' in the ThirdAct movement can effectively do to push back on this Extremist Democratic Senator?
As an example, would you and Jim Hansen, or another person with bona fides, consider writing an opinion piece in the NYT? WSJ? WAPO? I am looking for hopeful solutions.
Yes, and I'd also suggest this recent piece articulating why the case for renewables should now be framed in terms of *gain* not *pain* -- not just the exponentially falling prices or renewables, but also other factors providing increasing traction (energy security, geopolitical advantage, enablement of developing economies, etc.): https://carbontracker.org/gain-not-pain-why-cop-must-move-the-narrative-forward/
A drop in PV costs is not needed, PV is cheap enough! However, PV is crazily expensive in the US.
https://www.irena.org/publications/2021/Jun/Renewable-Power-Costs-in-2020
$1,100/kWp for large scale versus $700 in Germany (p74)
$2,218kWp for residential versus $1,609 in Germany (which seems high for Germany), $1,219 in Australia
PV components have commodity like prices. These huge cost differences between countries make NO SENSE. Somebody is making a lot of money....
In places like California, the biggest need is for energy storage, since solar ends at sunset, and wind is always variable. But the state has failed to push the best storage method, pumped hydro.
Good one, Bill, but people overlook this problem: binding Power Purchase Agreements between utility companies and banks. They are typically for 30 year terms, and banks won't cancel them and take losses. Utilities are also at fault: they could cancel PPA's, but won't do it, because it's simpler for them to just continue business as usual. Nobody is calling either of these groups to account in meaningful ways. They will listen to you, though, Bill. Please investigate this problem. We win if we find a law firm that is willing to sue both banks and utilities for public negligence.
To add to this my feeling is that green Hydrogen is the fuel of the future especially now that a much cheaper catalyst has been developed. See https://interestingengineering.com/a-new-electrocatalyst-massively-improves-the-commercial-viability-of-green-hydrogen
How does the cost and difficulty of storage for solar power figure into this? My sense was that while solar power generation was growing rapidly cheaper, we still need more innovation in batteries to provide reliable power at scale, particularly given seasonal variability in sunlight.
This is really good news.
I
A great idea to get out in the streets but how many attendees will burn fossil fuel to get to DC??
Wouldn’t it be better to organize rallies in every city across the Country. Stay home, not burn ff and get out in the streets!