The Biden administration cannot reach its climate goals without strong executive action to supplement its legislative achievements. Among the most important are EPA's upcoming greenhouse gas standards for new and existing power plants. I discuss them with Lissa Lynch of NRDC, a fellow 15+ year veteran of this particular battle.
Earth Day is coming again. here is my answer to Homeowners who ask: "What can I do." It is also a response to the lame lists that circulate at this time of year. Yes, there are footnotes for each item, because they are complicated!
Earth Day / Everyday 2023
Seven Decisions You Can Make to Save the Earth
Key Point: Stop burning fossil fuels to limit global warming.
Important stuff. Good to hear there is some small recognition that peakers or load following plants shouldn't need to reduce to the lowest emissions per kW-hour, because they already operate fewer hours. IMHO, it should all be based on annual emissions per kW capacity to just encourage reduced need to even run, or run at capacity by building more and more and more renewables.
But I fear the combination of these and the other new emissions regs will result in encouraging expensive retrofits to powerplants and operation of those as heavily-subsidized baseload, making integration of VRE appear more expensive. We'll certainly keep some pipefitters and boiler operators employed though.
Earth Day is coming again. here is my answer to Homeowners who ask: "What can I do." It is also a response to the lame lists that circulate at this time of year. Yes, there are footnotes for each item, because they are complicated!
Earth Day / Everyday 2023
Seven Decisions You Can Make to Save the Earth
Key Point: Stop burning fossil fuels to limit global warming.
Orientation: Simplicity. Electrification. Environmental Justice.
1. Opt out of using a gas-burning car.1
2. Insulate and seal up your house.2
3. Opt out of using an oil or gas furnace.3
4. Opt out of using a gas hot water heater.4
5. Opt out of using a gas range.5
6. Reduce beef consumption and focus on grass-fed beef.6
7. Properly recycle your old clothing and plastics.7
Bonus:8
-Support Climate-Friendly Politicians.
-Support Family Planning.
-Support Educating Girls.
-Support Tropical Forests and Tree-Planting.
-Support non-profits like 350.org, Rainforest Action Network, etc.
Report your successes and suggestions to TenDirectionsDesign.com/SevenDecisions
Creative Commons Copyright: Ten Direction Design 2021. Copy freely and include this source.
1 Go for an all-electric vehicle next time you buy. And/or use public transportation, bicycle and walk.
2 Good place to start is an energy audit by a certified auditor (BPI or other certification). Also saves money and is more
comfortable. Then opt in for solar panels (PV).
3 Go for an electric Heat Pump system. Remember that Heat Pumps provide air-conditioning as well as heat.
4 Go for an electric Heat Pump Hot Water Heater.
5 Go for an all-electric range. Induction ranges are all-electric and prized by top chefs. Eliminates gas indoor air pollution.
6 Go for beef from smaller and more local farmers.
7 Go for a paid service to recycle properly, like Ridwell in the US Northwest
8 Mostly taken from “Drawdown” by Paul Hawken et al. Top 100 ways to reverse climate change.
Important stuff. Good to hear there is some small recognition that peakers or load following plants shouldn't need to reduce to the lowest emissions per kW-hour, because they already operate fewer hours. IMHO, it should all be based on annual emissions per kW capacity to just encourage reduced need to even run, or run at capacity by building more and more and more renewables.
But I fear the combination of these and the other new emissions regs will result in encouraging expensive retrofits to powerplants and operation of those as heavily-subsidized baseload, making integration of VRE appear more expensive. We'll certainly keep some pipefitters and boiler operators employed though.
"Nimrod" - too funny! I'm sure she didn't mind; she was certainly gracious enough not to comment.
Appreciate your guest and your insights - and your self effacing sense of humor.
I am currently listening to ‘American Amnesia’ by Jacob Hacker, a Yale professor and