Hope, Kerin. Financial Times. (2021, February 12). The Greek island where renewable energy and hybrid cars rule. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.ft.com/content/2dff3e85-2fb7-4a95-83cc-a38e1558a111

Tilos, a small island in Greece, is now running entirely on a hybrid system of wind and solar and has continued to invest in more clean projects. The island has built free electric car charging stations for all citizens to use. Most permanent residents fish and raise goats as occupations but the population increases in the summer with the arrival of workers and tourists. Mayor Maria Kamma-Aliferi said that switching to renewable energy has made power outages less frequent and keeps the tourists happier. The project has also caused the permanent population to increase since its completion. She hopes that other islands follow her lead and that the island can switch to an electric ferry, the only connection between Tilos and Rhodes. Another island, Lemnos, is planning to create a similar project this year, hoping that it will bring expats back to the island. Greece has continued to invest in greening the country, planning to shut down all coal plants by 2028. However, some protestors do exist, fearful that new wind and solar technology will take away from the natural beauty of Greece and its islands. However, these projects continue to be developed, decreasing the price of energy on Greece’s remotest islands and the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.

I find this development to be encouraging. While I applaud the development of this island and its ability to be a symbol of what could be, this news is not as significant on a global scale and can be viewed as simply a case study of the potential widespread implementation of renewable energy. This shows that in some cases, switching to renewable energy may not only be immediately environmentally beneficial but economically as well. While the case of Tilos is very specific, it is a success story of wind and solar energy as the global shift towards renewable energy progresses. I am hopeful that the success of Tilos and other cases can help influence more communities to advance renewable energy such as with Lemnos. Finding innovative and community-specific ways of establishing clean energy is going to be important when considering how we as a society implement this technology.

Parnell, John. Green Tech Media. (2021, January 18). Total Buys Stake in Adani Green Energy, World’s Biggest Solar Developer. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/total-buys-stake-in-adani-green-energy-the-worlds-biggest-solar-developer

Adani Green Energy is an Indian solar company that Total, a multinational oil and gas company located in France, acquired a 50% stake of. AGEL has added 3 gigawatts of operating renewable capacity and is developing 11.6 gigawatts currently, hoping to reach 25 gigawatts by 2025. Total acquired this stake to support the creation of a vehicle using AGEL’s solar technology. AGEL’s chairman Gautam Adani stated that he looks forward to working with Total in their shared vision of reaching 450 GW of renewable energy in India by 2030. As a company, Total has supported and developed projects globally to support renewable energy including solar and wind, including in Qatar, Spain, in France itself, in the US, and in South Korea. All of these projects together add up to 16.8 GW of renewable energy. Other oil companies are also creating renewable targets to support these projects internationally. BP Global is aiming for 20 GW by 2025 and Shell hopes to decrease current oil and gas drilling projects by 40-50 percent by 2025 and supports 1 GW worth of renewable energy projects.

I find myself being cautiously optimistic about this news. While it is important that major oil companies are starting to work with and support renewable energy projects, it is hard to shake the feeling that there may be some ulterior motive behind Total investing in AGEL. Furthermore, AGEL is apparently owned by the Adani Group, a company that also owns an oil and gas company. If Total and the Avani Group wanted to truly be renewable, they likely have the money and resources to do so, and yet they mainly still extract and sell oil and gas. Nonetheless, this development will still bring about positive change for Indians and the planet in general. By combining the resources of both already established companies, the two countries can hopefully make a dent in lowering transportation pollution in India, a country that is a major carbon emitter. Even if both companies have questionable histories, their attempts are honorable and may soon be one of many examples of oil, coal, and gas companies using their resources to support renewable projects. As the project continues to be developed, I think that Indians should be wary about what this means and not immediately support it. Both companies have very strong ties with nonrenewable energy companies and may attempt to secretly use fossil fuels while manufacturing the cars.

Broom, Douglas. World Economic Forum. (2021, February 8). Viet Nam has installed 6 coal plants’ worth of solar in a year. Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/viet-nam-solar-power-surge/

In the past year, Vietnam has increased its solar energy by 25 times. The country provided large incentives to encourage citizens to buy into solar technology, increasing solar energy production by 9.3 gigawatts. The main incentive idea is comparable to that of many other countries- allowing citizens to sell excess solar back to the electricity grid. The main drivers towards renewable energy in the country are emerging competition in the energy market and a shift away from coal power investments. The country as a whole is the second-largest electricity consumer in Southeast Asia and has a steady increase in demand of 6% per year.

The feat that Vietnam has done is incredible in such a short amount of time. The pandemic may have been occurring during this year but the expansion of renewable energy has certainly not. While the article did not make it clear how many gigawatts of power Vietnam uses, the idea that solar technology was able to expand so readily is impressive. This example proves that the movement towards renewable energy is universal. Even in a country with a different economic and political system as our own, the government is seeing the need to pursue renewability and modify the power grid. This article makes me hopeful about the ability of countries and regions to modify their power grid. If the right actions are taken and enforced, the obtaining of net-zero carbon in only a few decades still seems achievable even in some of the poorest countries. In Vietnam’s case, a strong policy was needed to kickstart this movement.

Weetch, Bella. Energy Global. (2021, February 8). SirajPower’s solar portfolio continues to grow in the UAE. Retrieved February 12, 2020, from https://www.energyglobal.com/solar/08022021/sirajpowers-solar-portfolio-continues-to-grow-in-the-uae/

SirajPower, the largest solar energy company in UAE, has doubled its assets in 2020 alone. They currently have about 180 facilities and displace 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the country. This upcoming year, the company plans to provide new green technologies like battery storage. This company has also been backed by many green investment groups and continues to expand in the country with practical, cost-effective solutions for UAE citizens.

This is very positive news for solar energy and emphasizes the continued movement towards greener energy solutions worldwide. The UAE is an oil-rich country that makes a lot of money from selling oil to other countries. However, even in this country the growth of renewables has continued to grow rapidly and is ever-expanding. It is relieving to me to see other countries expanding their renewable technology at such a fast and affordable rate as well. You rarely see news about the expansion of this technology outside of the Western world and especially in the Middle East, so knowing that these countries have made strides towards a cleaner power grid is hopeful. It makes me hopeful not only about the expansion of renewable energy in the UAE but in all of the Middle East.

Daley, Beth. The Conversation. (2021, February 11). Solar panels in Sahara could boost renewable energy but damage the global climate – here’s why. Retrieved February 12, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/solar-panels-in-sahara-could-boost-renewable-energy-but-damage-the-global-climate-heres-why-153992

The Sahara Desert is a likely place that large solar farms could be used for large amounts of power. However, the solar panels are generally darker than the ground they cover, absorbing more heat and remitting it, spreading this heat on a global scale. A study in the Science magazine suggests that the albedo of the Sahara would lower and if only 20% of the land was covered with solar panels, a positive feedback loop would occur in which a temperature difference between the land and ocean becomes larger, producing more rain in the area and a greener Sahara. This greener Sahara would absorb more heat and cause more rain to fall. While this greener Sahara may be beneficial in some cases, unintended consequences would likely offset any positive effects of this change. By adding solar panel farms, more heat would be produced and spread, contributing to climate change even if no carbon dioxide is released.

While this is important information for the future of renewables, it is unfortunate. This article provides a significant downside of solar energy that should be considered as we move forward with renewable energy and technology. While the threat of this occurring is not close to being imminent, it is something that needs to be addressed when considering renewable options. This also emphasizes the importance of diversifying the power grid, as the domination of one form of technology could be devastating to the planet in similar ways to nonrenewable energy as shown in this example. Overexploiting the Sahara in this way is clearly not much better, if at all, than exploiting our nonrenewable energy sources. Solar technology holds a lot of potentials but may need to be further refined and developed in order to have even less negative impacts on the planet and our land. This article makes me hope that there are solutions proposed that would mitigate or eliminate this problem entirely. This problem may still be decades away and luckily has been foreseen relatively quickly but it seems like focusing on developing less-devastating forms of solar energy should be a priority.

The Guardian. (2020, October 22). Aggressive push to 100% renewable energy could save Americans billions – study. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/22/us-renewable-energy-costs-savings-study-report

A recent study by Rewiring America reported that an aggressive push towards renewable energy could save Americans $321 billion in the long run. Joe Biden has wanted to zero out carbon emissions by 2050, a plan that could actually help many Americans. In every American household, the study reports that $2500 in energy could be saved. The cost would be in the initial buying of solar panels which Rewiring America says could be supported through a strong assistance by the federal government. According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy is now the cheapest source of energy in history. An entirely solar-powered country could be difficult in some areas, especially in less sunny regions. In order to make this achievable, existing capacities need to be expanded and this scenario could only truly happen if our nation is inspired to do so. Biden has proposed a $2 trillion dollar plan that will create millions of jobs in renewable energy, the electric car market, and the retrofitting of buildings. A poll by the New York Times found that two-thirds of the population support Biden’s plan including an overwhelming majority of votes by younger voters.

This is important for environmental science, as it ensures that our country going green is actually beneficial for the economy, not harmful. The protection of the economy is a common response to why green policies should not be achieved, but the fact that there is now evidence in favor of this is a crucial argument towards environmental policies on a political level. A president advocating for a policy that could save money is often more effective than one who does not include a financial reason for doing so, even if it is a better policy going forward. While I agree that Biden’s policy saving money would be a good thing for many people, the idea that there would be an upfront price without government assistance is a little concerning. For many in the country, they would see an initial price increase as a bad thing since many people live in the present, not the future. Also, taking into account the political divisions in the country, the idea that the government would actually create a program to assist in this way seems impossible. As a result, I feel like we need a better solution that leads to immediate evidence of savings in Americans. This would encourage Americans to continue supporting the program from the beginning. However, I am not sure how such a program could work, as it seems almost given that there would be an upfront price.

Earthjustice. (2020, October 20). Profit-Hungry Utilities Fail to Stifle Solar Energy. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://earthjustice.org/blog/2020-october/profit-hungry-utilities-fail-to-stifle-solar-energy

Earlier this year, utility companies tried to make it harder for people to generate renewable energy. This would have taken away net metering through the FERC, which ensures those producing extra solar energy receive fair credit for energy produced but not used, something used in 49 states and territories for more than 40 years. It makes switching to solar more financially beneficial for millions of people in the country. The company writing this article, Earthjustice, and many other organizations petitioned the FERC in support of net metering to protect the industry. For some, net metering gives those of low income the ability to receive the money they need to pay for bills, with the loss of this program potentially being financially devastating. The FERC voted in favor of Earthjustice, protecting net metering and solar energy from monopoly companies that would have impacted millions of people with solar. This ruling ensures the establishment and growth of solar energy in the years to come.

This relates to environmental science as it is a huge victory for net metering and the solar panel industry. If the FERC had voted against Earthjustice, solar panels could have quickly disappeared or shrunk in numbers, delaying our progress towards clean energy. The triumph of net metering ensures the continuance of long-lasting policies in the industry that encourages the switch over to green energy and provides an income for many who need it. In my opinion, I am glad that net metering has been upheld but am concerned about what could happen in the future. I am very happy that the climate received a victory that will maintain the continuous growth in green energy and weaken the power of energy monopolies like PG&E. However, I am concerned with the ease that the FERC could have ruled against net metering. In several years, it is possible that these monopolies could try again or attempt to take down another policy favoring green energy and win if the people in the FERC have a different attitude. It surprised me how easily a long-time established policy could be struck down and am a little worried about how this will influence the development of renewable energy in the future.

Solar Power World. (2020, October 21). New research shows U.S. solar installations increased 3,000% in one decade. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/10/new-research-shows-u-s-solar-installations-increased-3000-in-one-decade/

The US produced 30 times more renewable energy in 2019 than 2010, including solar energy. Today, 50 million American homes rely on renewable energy for power, a substantial increase that continues to grow. The growth in clean energy mostly comes from states taking an active stand on the issue, including California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and North Carolina leading in solar energy. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois saw the most development in wind energy. These states have policies that significantly propel renewable energy forward in America, beating expectations for its effectiveness. In the next decade, these numbers will only continue to increase rapidly as nonrenewable energy falls.

This article is related to environmental science, as it reflects the general shift towards green energy. The rapid drive towards renewable energy is astonishing and demonstrates how rapidly our country can go towards renewable energy. Despite all roadblocks, the path towards green energy has continued to increase with a significant number of homes using renewable energy in the country. Even if climate science has been slowed recently, the application of this research has not, even in states that traditionally are more conservative. I found this article to be very interesting and positive, as at the rate described our country will quickly have a majority of homes using renewable energy, a significant achievement that I assumed would be improbable given the political aspect of this. I was truly surprised how many homes have actually switched to using renewable energy as I assumed a significant majority of them were still using gas or coal. My hope is that as our country moves forward, we will continue to see the growth of renewable energy in other sectors of life including transportation, fertilizer creation, and other technology commonly used today. With the boom of solar panels on homes, it does not seem surprising if a similar boom could occur in other sectors.

Electrek. (2020, November 11). Here’s what 5 US green energy CEOs said about Joe Biden’s win. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://electrek.co/2020/11/11/4-green-energy-ceos-joe-biden-win/

All green energy companies cheered with the victory of Joe Biden in the presidential election, who wants to create green jobs in the country. The companies said that his victory will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the industry and looked forward to tax policies that promote solar energy storage. The solar energy companies plan to lay out a plan to Congress to transition towards clean energy, infrastructure, and promoting clean energy in US markets. They also said that they will help with president-elect Biden’s proposal to have 100% renewable energy in the country by 2050. They also look forward to an era where climate denial is replaced with climate action, a return to science, and a clean energy future. Other companies said that the election is a victory to prevent further disruption to global climate patterns to ensure a healthier future for Americans. The companies hope that Biden can get the backing of a potentially Republican-controlled Senate.

This article is also important for environmental science. The fact that these solar energy leaders show optimism about Joe Biden’s election reflects a much-needed change in the direction of the country on green policy. With the backing of the president-elect, it is clear that green companies feel much more hopeful about the future and the success of renewable energy. Biden’s future proposal to create hundreds of thousands of green jobs is also significant for advancing environmental policy in the country, something that President Trump has only reversed in the past four years. I agree with the companies, I feel a general sense of optimism about the future under Biden due to his election. It gives me hope that our country will continue back on track towards dealing with climate change rather than denying it. While I am a little concerned that the policy could reverse again if another Republican is elected president, the fact that Biden won this election demonstrates that there is hope of a more environmentally-conscious United States that is thinking forward instead of towards the past.

CleanEnergyAuthority.com. (2020, October 30). Breakout Year For Solar and Wind Energy in The US. Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/breakout-year-solar-and-wind-energy-us-103020

The EIA has reported that renewable energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the US, even with the coronavirus. 60.1% of the new power capacity in the country came from solar installations. This development is occurring mainly due to the decrease in the price of the technology. Solar panels are now 12 times less expensive than 10 years ago with an average annual increase of 50% in this period. Recently, solar energy companies have intended to petition for further ITC benefits that are going to expire at the end of 2020 unless Congress approves of an extension. However, the US tariffs on Chinese imports, including solar panels, could lead to some problems in the industry. Going forward, it seems like the federal government is needed to ensure that clean energy continues to increase at its current level and significantly replace nonrenewable energy.

This article is related to environmental science because it reflects a positive change towards more renewable energy to fight against pollutants. The fact that most additions to the power grid are now nonrenewable is a positive development that is much more optimistic about our situation than environment-related news tends to be. This article also reflects the importance of environmental policy and its role in determining the healthy future of our planet. In the end, it is up to lawmakers voted by the people who determine how smoothly a transition towards renewable energy actually is. Personally, I find this article to be very interesting and gives me hope about our ability to change things before it is too late. However, it also makes me concerned about what the federal government could try to do to halt progress towards green energy. If another president or future Congress delays progress in the future, the health of the planet could be in great danger and cause even more damage. A change like this would likely not completely halt solar energy development, as it is still significantly increasing annually, but could prevent its proper establishment in the power grid.