Author: Bred

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California’s Only Nuclear Power Plant Gets State Approval For 5-Year Extension

Reuters. (2023 December 15). California’s Only Nuclear Power Plant Gets State Approval For 5-Year Extension. Retrieved January 28th, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/californias-only-nuclear-plant-gets-state-approval-5-year-extension-2023-12-15/ 

The California Public Utilities Commission granted a 5-year extension for Electric’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant and Pacific Gas. This was done in order to reduce electricity shortages during extreme weather. So this means that the plant can continue working until 2029-2030. Some people are concerned about the plant being prone to earthquakes and the plant’s lack of disposal of radioactive waste. The Biden Administration also gave funding to prevent the closure of Diablo Canyon in climate change efforts.

 

I believe that relying on nuclear energy in an effort to fight climate change is definitely good, but it has its risks as I read in the article. I also believe that renewable energy sources and energy-efficient measures should be put first instead. This article relates to environmental science as it discusses power plants, climate change, and energy sources. 

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Southern California’s Natural Gas Plants To Stay Open Through 2026.

Cal Matters. (2023, August 15). Southern California’s Natural Gas Plants To Stay Open Through 2026. Retrieved January 28th, 2024, from https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/08/southern-california-natural-gas-plants-remain-open/ 

In an effort to reduce blackouts and stabilize California’s power grid, the state has voted to extend operations on 3 natural gas plants. This decision goes against California’s goal of achieving 100% renewable and zero-carbon electricity by 2045. The decision, made by the State Water Resources Control Board, has received a lot of outrage and controversy from local communities and environmentalists. The people are mad about the plant’s impact on the emissions, pollution, and harm to marine life.

The article is related to environmental science as it shows the continuous debate and tension between the need for stable power and the negative impacts on the environment. I think that putting short-term grid stability over long-term sustainability just goes against our efforts to stop climate change and switch to clean energy. I read that they may push for a faster transition to renewable energy and the use of energy storage devices to reduce the demand for fossil fuel facilities. But i still think its just fully against everything we have been pushing for.

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State Of California Becomes the Largest Economy To Endorse The Call For A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Fossil Fuel Treaty. (2023, September 1). State Of California Becomes the Largest Economy To Endorse The Call For A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Retrieved Jan 27th, 2024, from https://fossilfueltreaty.org/california-assembly#:~:text=01st%20September%2C%202023%20%E2%80%93%20In%20a,economy%20to%20support%20the%20proposal.

California passed a resolution endorsing the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, becoming the largest global economy to support the proposal. (Non-proliferation = efforts and policies aimed at preventing the spread or proliferation of certain types of weapons, particularly nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.) The resolution urges Biden to back Pacific nations seeking a negotiating mandate for the treaty. The resolution is to try and manage fossil fuel production, including phasing out coal, oil, and gas, protecting workers, and transitioning to renewable energy.

This article is very much so related to environmental science as it addresses the endorsement of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This shows the state’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gasses and addressing climate change. These are all goals shared with those of the environmental science world. I found this article pretty interesting as I thought that this was a pretty big resolution and a pretty important one. I believe this is a very necessary and positive step in addressing climate change. Maybe other governments will follow? Who knows.

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Data Show Clean Power Increasing, Fossil Fuel Decreasing In California

CA.Gov. (2023, August 18). Data Show Clean Power Increasing, Fossil Fuel Decreasing In California. Retrieved Jan 27th, 2024, from https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2023-08/data-show-clean-power-increasing-fossil-fuel-decreasing-california

California is making progress in the transition to reducing fossil fuels and switching to clean power. Wind energy has grown by 63%, and Solar generation has increased a lot, (46,341 (GWh)) to be exact. Natural Gas generation has decreased by 20%. California aims to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2045 and has established interim targets to ensure progress. Despite droughts and heat waves, California continues to make progress in its transition.

This article highlights California’s effort to transition to clean energy and reduce fossil fuels. It covers solar and wind energy as alternatives and covers the decline in coal and natural gas production. These topics are all what environmental science is about. I found this article very helpful in understanding more about my state’s progress in its transition. And I found the numbers of our transition very surprising. I think we are on the right path.

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Boiling Point: California’s fossil fuel crackdown continues–with some expectations

Los Angeles Times. (2023, October 17). Boiling Point: California’s fossil fuel crackdown continues–with some expectations. Retrieved Jan 27th, 2024, from https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-10-17/boiling-point-californias-fossil-fuel-crackdown-continues-with-some-exceptions-boiling-point

California’s Governor, Gavin Newsome, recently signed several bills. The notable bills include the Powering Up Californian’s Act, which is to try and get Californians to transition to electric vehicles and appliances. Assembly Bill 579 requires all new school buses to be zero-emission by 2035. Newsome has also allowed a spending of $1 million for clean transportation. In terms of education, Newsom signed a law requiring schools to include climate change in their science courses, but vetoed a bill for developing a master plan for sustainability and climate resilience in school districts. The other signed bills include penalties for oil spills, water conservation, and safety measures for lithium-ion batteries. And the other vetoes were about plastic pollution and sea level rising planning.

This article addresses several bills related to climate change, energy, and the environment. It also touches on electric cars, renewable energy, water conservation, and plastic pollution. All these topics are very important and related to Environmental Science. I found this article VERY good, it taught me A LOT of stuff I did not know about my state and my governor, and it shed a lot of light on steps being taken to better our world.

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Biden rule tells power plants to cut climate pollution by 90 percent or shut down.

 

Politico. (May 11th, 2023). Biden rule tells power plants to cut climate pollution by 90 percent or shut down. Retrieved August 20th, 2023, from https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/11/biden-rule-tells-power-plants-cut-climate-pollution-00095827 

 

 Biden’s Campaign to green the economy is facing counterattacks from Republicans and coal-state senators. Biden is promoting electric cars, green energy sources, and tightening regulations on products. It is critical for Biden to get as many power companies on board with the rule. These companies would help shore up the rule politically. If Biden is re-elected then he and these rules will still have to face the judicial gauntlet, who already do not really like these issues and rules.

 

I don’t know that much about politics, and I’m not in the scoop. But it’s crazy to see fights over trying to make the world better again and trying to save it. I believe that the promotion of green energy forms is very good and smart. I see so many electric cars on the road nowadays. I would hope that the power companies would want to help the earth and get their name out there as companies. So they could get jobs and businesses running.

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An EPA proposal to (almost) eliminate climate pollution from power plants.

NPR. (May 11th, 2023). An EPA proposal to (almost) eliminate climate pollution from power plants. Retrieved August 20th, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/2023/05/11/1169967646/an-epa-proposal-to-almost-eliminate-climate-pollution-from-power-plants 

 

For big coal and gas-powered plants, they would need to capture 90% of emissions or burn clean hydrogen. Plants scheduled to shut down soon will face less stringent limits. The EPA’s(Environmental Protection Agency) rules will withstand legal scrutiny, compared to Obama’s rules which did not. The EPA is going to set emission limits for individual plants, which will be stricter than Obamas. The industry is not happy with these rules made by the EPA. Behind transportation, power plants are the second biggest source of climate-warming emissions. Critics argue that the regulations will force plants to shut down and leave their grids vulnerable to blackouts.

 

It seems like there is so much to do and so many places spread out over the world to do these investments. With these new, stricter, rules in act maybe we will be able to get great progress towards a clean and happy environment. The article didn’t explain these emission limits for individual plants, so I wonder what they could be. The proposal made by the EPA does seem very good and very trusting. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

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Clean energy investment is starting to flow, but imbalances point to continued risks ahead.

IEA.(2023). Clean energy investment is starting to flow, but imbalances point to continued risks ahead. Retrieved August 20th, 2023, from https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2023/overview-and-key-findings 

 

Global energy investment is picking up, outpacing fossil fuel investments three to one. If this clean electrification continues to grow at the same rate since 2021 then electrification will exceed the required levels of the world’s climate pledges. However, investments in expanding grids are lagging behind. Producers need to watch the ways clean electrification demands for fuels in power generation, and also for heat and mobility. Scaling up investment instruments and mobilizing greater support from development finance will be critical to the continuation of clean energy transitions.

 

I loved reading this good news on our world’s journey to clean energy and no more climate change. It made me wonder how are ways that everyday citizens can help. And it made me think about how big this problem really is. I really only hear people talking about climate change being very bad and that there is no hope. After reading this article I now have hope that we will be able to fix this big problem.

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Will green energy kill coal mining? Why these industry leaders say it won’t.

Deseret News. (2023, Aug 17). Will green energy kill coal mining? Why these industry leaders say it won’t. Retrieved August 20th, 2023, from https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/8/17/23827237/will-green-energy-kill-coal-mining-workers-biden-administration 

 

As demand for coal for energy decreases, coal is falling out of the energy market. With coal plants having to close soon, workers are faced with dilemmas of what to do after. The Biden Administration views and speaks of coal, and fossil fuels in general, as a “climate change-causing hag in dire need of retirement”. The American Coal Council says that coal should be saved. They also say that the U.S. is on a trajectory to energy poverty. South Africa can face up to 10 hours a day with no power, partly due to the aging of their coal-fired power plants. 

 

I definitely agree with the Biden Administration here, and I believe that it is a fact that fossil fuels lead to climate change. When I read what the American Coal Council had responded, it made me look at the other side of the clean energy Act. But not the side about people needing money and jobs, the side about how it could hurt our economic growth. But I still believe that clean energy is a lot better than the fossil fuels being used today, leading to climate change.

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The Energy Transition Is Underway. Fossil Fuel Workers Could Be Left Behind.

The New York Times. (2023, July 12). The Energy Transition Is Underway. Fossil Fuel Workers Could Be Left Behind. Retrieved August 5th, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/12/us/politics/coal-gas-workers-transition.html 

 

The U.S. is shifting away from fossil fuels and leaning towards new battery factories, wind and turbine projects, and other clean energy investments. With this undergo fossil fuel workers are losing their jobs. Along with taking away jobs, these new clean energy jobs could be devastating to counties that have relied on fossil fuels for their economic stability. The Biden administration is trying to reduce the impact by providing tax advantages for renewable energy projects in areas impacted by the energy transition. To help the people losing jobs and money, federal officers have vowed to create jobs in these hard-hit communities.

 

This transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is very related to environmental sciences, as it addresses environmental challenges like climate change and sustainable development. I believe that these changes are very good and people, like we have our whole life, should adapt to these changes and find new jobs. I do understand the decrease in pay from new jobs, and even not finding a job. I also support the efforts to help these hard-hit communities by being able to live the same way they were before these clean energy investments.