The shift to renewable energy to help mitigate the risks of climate change is critically important. The biggest hurdles to overcome to moving faster toward a renewable energy future are not technological, they are legislative and regulatory hurdles. At present, America is not yet a leader in renewable energy, despite our enthusiasm for it. We are a laggard. Why is that? It is a result of the foot dragging of state and federal Republican legislators supported by the fossil fuel industry and their lobbyists.
What can be done to overcome this barrier to progress? The two best paths available are either the education and conversion of Republicans to be supportive instead of obstructionist and more Democratic legislators supportive of renewable energy. Interestigly these two paths work in partnership and are mutually reinforcing. As we elect more Democrats who support renewable energy projects, unsurprisingly Republicans become more supportive of it. That also helps to move the transition to a renewable energy future more quickly.
Curiously today’s fossil fuel industry and its lobbyist are generally a hindrance rather than an accelerant to the transition to renewable energy. Yes, they have a large investment in assets dedicated to fossil fuels. However, many of those assets can be relatively easily and affordably be transitioned to support renewable energy projects and use.
We should and are going to see all of these forces help but the easiest to move forward fastest to accelerate this transition to a renewable energy future is more Democratic state and federal legislators. Let's focus on that accelerate.
Hey Bruce, thank you so much for caring. I will say, I think I remember seeing data that showed a majority of Republican likely voters *also* see climate change and/or healthy earth as important. I'll have to research it to find the specific wording and numbers if you'd like.
I agree, and that’s why I’m working so hard to share more information that shows them 1. How good of a president Joe Biden has been 2. How clean energy policies have boosted the economy, and 3. How these policies and Biden and Democratic strategies overall have also benefited all Americans, not just the wealthy and well connected few. 😊 In that time, the GOP inaction or mismanagement has continued to breed chaos and destruction for the economy, for the planet, and for average Americans like us.
When they see the data, I have found they often agree with us. Hope that’s helpful, Bruce 🌱😊 Hope you have a good night.
I wholeheartedly agree, Bruce. And with good news like we are seeing, I think it’s so important to keep talking about what good governance looks like, and what it doesn’t look like. Thanks for hearing me out 😊
"Just snap your fingers, and 40 years later the transition is really starting to happen" is one of my sayings, having made it my life's mission, in 1980, to help accelerate our society's transition from fossil fuels through efficiency and renewables. At Stanford I named my individually designed major "Sustainable US Resource and Security Policies," A.B. 1988.
So, to make an understatement, I very much appreciate this New York Times's clean energy transition series! And I liked Part 1 so much that I posted the gift link in the Chat of yesterday's Hopium Hangout. Glad you gave it to everyone today, Simon!
It's really cool to hear how you have been working for our clean energy transition since 1980. Thank you for your hard work, Eric! I'm glad that today we are starting to hear about such historic progress as this and to think...You had a part to play in it is pretty cool. (:
Simon - thank you very much for highlighting the climate topics in your post. It has taken an abominable amount of time (I read Rachael Carson's Silent Spring in 1963 when I was 10) but finally a majority of humans are taking action to help our world. I hope it's not too late. The world environment is my number one concern; Democracy in America is my number 2 concern.
Yes, we did a big movement back in the 60’s , those of us who could went back-to-the-land. Started co-ops, communes, living With the land, recycling, solar wasn’t popular then but we rose with the sun and went to bed when the table shadowed, although some of us did ‘midnight farming ‘ by headlights, LOL!.
Some survived, there are pockets still, communes revamped, some went back to school to invest/learn/develop better techniques and provisions, our children have become leaders, COOs in solar, wind, and water, and some have returned to the farm to enjoy memories and good old fashion practices (they vowed they’d never do anymore😂) ...And some of us are still waaay back in the woods, in the homes we built, living very conservatively, recycling , reusing, redoing but ...much more slowly 🤣
It’s never too late ...the improved technology is now amazing , HALELUJAH !
This is SO cool to read about, Patricia! Thanks so much for sharing 😁
I had not thought about all the activism in the 60s where Americans did the genuinely hard work to put their money where their mouth was...and their hands, feet, and families where their mouth was, too! I'm excited to start hearing more people talk about their homes being powered by wind in solar. My community just this year turned the lights on with a solar farm in a rural town next door to my town. If you are interested, I wrote about it in my recent post.
Finally, a TOTALLY agree with your assessment, Patricia! 😁 We always have time to make progress. And progress is always worth making. 😁
Thanks Matthew. Getting the word out is a continuum. I drop a hint subtler at times when the audience is less receptive as I walk on red carpets often. But I wrote this morning to my son , Rob, who ‘works’ for SolarCycle that ‘ill well’ and ‘oh well’ both are deep subjects, and knowing your own intent is well…too😉
Thanks for you ,in fact all the Substack writers, such awesomeness is a worth group to be part of as I did with you today -saving pennies to be a ‘paid subscriber’ .
Oh you’re so very welcome, and I need a proof reader ( he was out hanging rafters on the new wood shed) LOL ‘ill will and oh well ‘ ..🤦♀️ .love laughing with you🫶
No worries at all 😊 Part of growing a community is being willing to laugh with each other. Thank you for modeling how we take care of each other here: we are kind even to ourselves. 😊
Hey Nancy, thank you so much for sharing. I agree it is so encouraging the progress we are seeing now that we've got enough people listening to what the planet needs and adjusting accordingly. I mentioned in my comment to Julie how I'm excited about the ripple effects of encouragement and enthusiasm I excpect to see coming out of this.
This is really incredible, historically crazy good news. The Biden Administration was able to structure HUGE investments into clean, affordable, reliable energy that benefits all Americans, spurring incredible amounts of private investments in renewable energies, and he was able to manage it in record time. My gut tells me we should be spending at least 2/3s of our time on the topic focused on these historic wins, the benefits they win us today, and how the protect clean water, clean air, and our children's access to our beautiful natural resources.
I am so excited about the plant in Mingo Co, WV. I live in the county bordering that. The people there are wonderful, resilient, and hard workers , the tradesmen, fathers, mothers, and well known for their ability to put out more than a decent 8 hours.
This is a state too long taken from , rural, wild and wonderful, with beautiful parks, recreational opportunities , and a potential in its people that will surprise the best.
We so hope Adams Fork and CNX get the show on the road! They’ll not be disappointed.
Patricia, thanks so much for sharing your local perspective! 😁 I know this is so encouraging for me as someone who believes in making sure our economy and policies work for all Americans and all communities.
If you ever wonder if your vote matters, here's the proof.
Have a really close look at the Nine Planetary Boundaries and the earth for all platform. Read the pros and cons of clean Ammonia. The same dark forces that questioned all the evidence linking fossil fuels and climate chaos, are now pushing green hydro. I am sure these folks are amazing. There may be better ways to help them flourish. Check out the Patagonia website for lots of great documentaries.
Very hopeful. And there are major scientific and engineering advances everywhere, including a new type of white paint that absorbs atmospheric carbon. What continues to scare me, however, is the potential melting of the permafrost in the Arctic, and the methane release. (8 times more powerful than CO2. ) If only we had started this 20 years ago. Julie Melton,,Trustee, Nature Conservancy, New Mexico
"The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. The second best time is today." (Anonymous as far as I can tell).
With the Biden Administration's smart and swift actions resulting in solar and wind energy surpassing coal by 2025, I expect this to be HUGELY motivating to those who care about protecting clean air and clean water. I also expect this will show many Americans who care about this topic but have always felt like "my voice doesn't matter" and "they won't listen to us anyways" that we CAN make a difference. We CAN make progress on healing our home planet.
Julie, I agree it would have been wonderful to plant the tree 30 years ago. Since we didn't, I'm excited we planted the tree a year ago and are seeing the saplings sprout up 🌱 in ways that benefit all Americans. I think this will let us get our neighbors excited about planting more trees in the coming years. 🌱🌱🌱 😁
The thing that I have been waiting on, seems to finally be happening… It is now better business and better economics to be in clean energy than it is to be in fossil fuels… I knew once that domino tipped that shit would get real in a hurry. It’s going to be really fun to watch America transform over the next decade (and the world at large). 😎🇺🇸
Yeah, PianoManSteve, it is such a cool chain of events to see starting. 😎🇺🇸 It kinda reminds me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Mountain Top" speech if you are familiar with that. He was clearly talking about the social and racial justice he and others were working hard for, however, I feel this hard fought win for our planet seems to rhyme with that moment. I would also suggest that transitioning to renewable energy and protecting our environment seems like a social and racial initiative in part since minority communities are often the ones most negatively affected by the effects of climate disruption.
Thanks for your positive and encouraging words, PianoManSteve 😁 Keep up the great work!
I love today's Hopium update (especially coming on the one-year anniversary of Biden's passage of the biggest climate legislation in our history)! Partly I love it because the carbon pollution the fossil fuels industry is spewing is THE single biggest issue facing us today. And partly because it's a topic near and dear to me based on my 'day' job, but one of the key reasons I volunteer as part of the grassroots community to help elect Democratic majorities in state legislatures.
Most folks may not know, but least a dozen states are now considering what's called a "clean fuel" or "clean transportation" standard, and there's also interest at the Federal level.
Clean Fuel Standards (CFS) are one of those rare policies that can appeal to lawmakers and stakeholders across the political spectrum, because they take a technology-neutral, performance-based and market-driven approach to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by counting ALL the carbon in transportation fuels (from well-to-wheel, not just at the tailpipe). A CFS not only cuts the heat-trapping pollution blanketing the earth, it delivers cleaner air for better public health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
And, by breaking the 100+ years monopoly petroleum dictators like Saudi Arabia and Russia have had on transportation fuels, a CFS also enhances our national security, creates high-paying, American-made jobs in a large number of innovative low carbon fuel industries (dairy, agriculture, engineering, manufacturing, etc.), AND also lowers costs for drivers by providing competitive and cleaner alternatives to gasoline & diesel!
Like our goal to get to 55 by thinking about a broader coalition of voters -- people of color, young voters and the Never Trumpers -- to effectively decarbonize, we have to consider not only our energy sources, but also our transportation fuels sector, which is separate and distinct.
Government, industry and each of us as individuals, who can pressure those entities, need to demand an "all of the above" approach without delay and at scale.
We literally HAVE the solutions -- we just need the political will, i.e., the Democratic majorities in states, Congress, and the White House to deliver them.
I read several days ago about a hemp battery that is blowing away records for longevity. I am excited for the clean technology and it’s about time. There will be tremendous advancements in the next 10 years.
The fossil fuels are deeply entrenched -they won’t go quietly , but they will go. Hooray!🙌
Indeed! And just as we must stop giving oxygen to GOP talking points, and focus on our values and successes, with the fight to end the heat-trapping pollution from fossil fuels that are causing more frequent and more extreme weather disasters that are threatening clean air, clean water and our very survival, we need to stop focusing on the doom and gloom (there's plenty to go around) -- we need to show we have the solutions so we can force the needed action...without further delay and obfuscation by the fossil fuel industry and its MAGA enablers.
Thanks Natalie. Citizens Action Group which I belong to also works on Environmental Issues alongside many others. Save Our Coonskin Park is a current issue and today my partner and I wore our shirts to the annual picnic . CAG is a small WV coalition since 1979 and going strong. Most states have their own groups and I encourage each resident wanting to help , be involved in local politics which leads US TOGETHER for our America and our world, to seek out their own local activists and support , volunteer, and broadcast far and wide voting rights, race issues, and health amongst the many other.
Several years ago I watched a beach eroding in Southern California in a big storm at high tide. Another observer, who had been watching this drama for a couple of days, pointed out that the erosion didn’t happen gradually. The waves would work steadily on the seaward side of the dune we were behind, but occasionally a big wave would crest over the top and soak into the sand on our side of the dune. Eventually the sand would become saturated and with the next big wave, large chunks of the dune would collapse and disappear into the water. Obviously, I was horrified at watching the dune collapse, but it serves as a model for how collapse occurs in certain circumstances. And it gives me hope to see the barriers to renewable energy collapsing in just this way. I’m certainly glad I’m on the side of the water this time.
That's a really cool insight, Jim. Thank you so much for sharing. 😁 I'm also excited that I feel this could be the first wave you talk about...and there is a next wave coming because of the hope and enthusiasm this news will inject into our hearts and minds. 😁
Our words, actions, and votes DO matter. So we can keep being loud and proud. 😁
Oh, wow! What an encouragement to hear we are moving to cheaper, more reliable energy sources, producing them here in the U.S., and making sure they benefit ALL Americans.
Thought I had posted on grasslands, and how they absorb carbon. Massive protected area on the way to being the size of Colorado is called the Southern High Plains Initiative. Sponsored by the Nature Conservancy chapters in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.
Thanks, I love your work with the one caveat that there is nothing remotely green about green, blue, white or pink ammonia. Please check out the nine planetary boundaries. We humans have now breached six. It is absolutely essential for the survival of our beloved living planet that we get the planetary science right.
The biggest overshoot is in novel agents. This means the amount of highly toxic chemicals , carcinogens and plastic that we are pouring into our rivers and oceans .
In addition nitrate based fertilizers are leading to massive dead zones in our oceans. Soberingly we must never ever forget that ZyklonB the poison gas that the Nazis used to murder six million babies, children, girls and women was a pesticide.
Regenerative agriculture, fishing and forestry are where we need to focus. Earth for All recommends addressing poverty, inequality and creating healthy food production for people and planet, removing pollutants and then tacking energy. Warmly, Frances Scully
Thanks Patricia, I am Canadian. I follow what is happening in your great country because we are all interconnected. We have some concerns in common and some different. I hope people in this group check the work on the nine planetary boundaries and comment on these.
The shift to renewable energy to help mitigate the risks of climate change is critically important. The biggest hurdles to overcome to moving faster toward a renewable energy future are not technological, they are legislative and regulatory hurdles. At present, America is not yet a leader in renewable energy, despite our enthusiasm for it. We are a laggard. Why is that? It is a result of the foot dragging of state and federal Republican legislators supported by the fossil fuel industry and their lobbyists.
What can be done to overcome this barrier to progress? The two best paths available are either the education and conversion of Republicans to be supportive instead of obstructionist and more Democratic legislators supportive of renewable energy. Interestigly these two paths work in partnership and are mutually reinforcing. As we elect more Democrats who support renewable energy projects, unsurprisingly Republicans become more supportive of it. That also helps to move the transition to a renewable energy future more quickly.
Curiously today’s fossil fuel industry and its lobbyist are generally a hindrance rather than an accelerant to the transition to renewable energy. Yes, they have a large investment in assets dedicated to fossil fuels. However, many of those assets can be relatively easily and affordably be transitioned to support renewable energy projects and use.
We should and are going to see all of these forces help but the easiest to move forward fastest to accelerate this transition to a renewable energy future is more Democratic state and federal legislators. Let's focus on that accelerate.
Hey Bruce, thank you so much for caring. I will say, I think I remember seeing data that showed a majority of Republican likely voters *also* see climate change and/or healthy earth as important. I'll have to research it to find the specific wording and numbers if you'd like.
Just let me know if you'd like me to go find it 😁
Well if they truly care it would certainly be great if they started voting like it mattered to them.
I agree, and that’s why I’m working so hard to share more information that shows them 1. How good of a president Joe Biden has been 2. How clean energy policies have boosted the economy, and 3. How these policies and Biden and Democratic strategies overall have also benefited all Americans, not just the wealthy and well connected few. 😊 In that time, the GOP inaction or mismanagement has continued to breed chaos and destruction for the economy, for the planet, and for average Americans like us.
When they see the data, I have found they often agree with us. Hope that’s helpful, Bruce 🌱😊 Hope you have a good night.
Keep up the good work. This is a campaign in which we all need to be engaged.
I wholeheartedly agree, Bruce. And with good news like we are seeing, I think it’s so important to keep talking about what good governance looks like, and what it doesn’t look like. Thanks for hearing me out 😊
"Just snap your fingers, and 40 years later the transition is really starting to happen" is one of my sayings, having made it my life's mission, in 1980, to help accelerate our society's transition from fossil fuels through efficiency and renewables. At Stanford I named my individually designed major "Sustainable US Resource and Security Policies," A.B. 1988.
So, to make an understatement, I very much appreciate this New York Times's clean energy transition series! And I liked Part 1 so much that I posted the gift link in the Chat of yesterday's Hopium Hangout. Glad you gave it to everyone today, Simon!
It's really cool to hear how you have been working for our clean energy transition since 1980. Thank you for your hard work, Eric! I'm glad that today we are starting to hear about such historic progress as this and to think...You had a part to play in it is pretty cool. (:
Simon - thank you very much for highlighting the climate topics in your post. It has taken an abominable amount of time (I read Rachael Carson's Silent Spring in 1963 when I was 10) but finally a majority of humans are taking action to help our world. I hope it's not too late. The world environment is my number one concern; Democracy in America is my number 2 concern.
Yes, we did a big movement back in the 60’s , those of us who could went back-to-the-land. Started co-ops, communes, living With the land, recycling, solar wasn’t popular then but we rose with the sun and went to bed when the table shadowed, although some of us did ‘midnight farming ‘ by headlights, LOL!.
Some survived, there are pockets still, communes revamped, some went back to school to invest/learn/develop better techniques and provisions, our children have become leaders, COOs in solar, wind, and water, and some have returned to the farm to enjoy memories and good old fashion practices (they vowed they’d never do anymore😂) ...And some of us are still waaay back in the woods, in the homes we built, living very conservatively, recycling , reusing, redoing but ...much more slowly 🤣
It’s never too late ...the improved technology is now amazing , HALELUJAH !
Bravo! Thanks for sharing Patricia
This is SO cool to read about, Patricia! Thanks so much for sharing 😁
I had not thought about all the activism in the 60s where Americans did the genuinely hard work to put their money where their mouth was...and their hands, feet, and families where their mouth was, too! I'm excited to start hearing more people talk about their homes being powered by wind in solar. My community just this year turned the lights on with a solar farm in a rural town next door to my town. If you are interested, I wrote about it in my recent post.
Finally, a TOTALLY agree with your assessment, Patricia! 😁 We always have time to make progress. And progress is always worth making. 😁
Thanks Matthew. Getting the word out is a continuum. I drop a hint subtler at times when the audience is less receptive as I walk on red carpets often. But I wrote this morning to my son , Rob, who ‘works’ for SolarCycle that ‘ill well’ and ‘oh well’ both are deep subjects, and knowing your own intent is well…too😉
Thanks for you ,in fact all the Substack writers, such awesomeness is a worth group to be part of as I did with you today -saving pennies to be a ‘paid subscriber’ .
Stay positive , it’s beautiful.
..and 💙💙VOTE💙💙
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Patricia. Your words have really built me up today. 😊
Oh you’re so very welcome, and I need a proof reader ( he was out hanging rafters on the new wood shed) LOL ‘ill will and oh well ‘ ..🤦♀️ .love laughing with you🫶
No worries at all 😊 Part of growing a community is being willing to laugh with each other. Thank you for modeling how we take care of each other here: we are kind even to ourselves. 😊
Hey Nancy, thank you so much for sharing. I agree it is so encouraging the progress we are seeing now that we've got enough people listening to what the planet needs and adjusting accordingly. I mentioned in my comment to Julie how I'm excited about the ripple effects of encouragement and enthusiasm I excpect to see coming out of this.
This is really incredible, historically crazy good news. The Biden Administration was able to structure HUGE investments into clean, affordable, reliable energy that benefits all Americans, spurring incredible amounts of private investments in renewable energies, and he was able to manage it in record time. My gut tells me we should be spending at least 2/3s of our time on the topic focused on these historic wins, the benefits they win us today, and how the protect clean water, clean air, and our children's access to our beautiful natural resources.
Thank you again, Nancy. 🌱😁
I am so excited about the plant in Mingo Co, WV. I live in the county bordering that. The people there are wonderful, resilient, and hard workers , the tradesmen, fathers, mothers, and well known for their ability to put out more than a decent 8 hours.
This is a state too long taken from , rural, wild and wonderful, with beautiful parks, recreational opportunities , and a potential in its people that will surprise the best.
We so hope Adams Fork and CNX get the show on the road! They’ll not be disappointed.
Thanks , Simon and the staff.
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Patricia, thanks so much for sharing your local perspective! 😁 I know this is so encouraging for me as someone who believes in making sure our economy and policies work for all Americans and all communities.
If you ever wonder if your vote matters, here's the proof.
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Hi Patricia,
Have a really close look at the Nine Planetary Boundaries and the earth for all platform. Read the pros and cons of clean Ammonia. The same dark forces that questioned all the evidence linking fossil fuels and climate chaos, are now pushing green hydro. I am sure these folks are amazing. There may be better ways to help them flourish. Check out the Patagonia website for lots of great documentaries.
Thanks I will.
Oh yea, and I forgot to throw in the banjo playin’ , and fine home brew 😉👍
Very hopeful. And there are major scientific and engineering advances everywhere, including a new type of white paint that absorbs atmospheric carbon. What continues to scare me, however, is the potential melting of the permafrost in the Arctic, and the methane release. (8 times more powerful than CO2. ) If only we had started this 20 years ago. Julie Melton,,Trustee, Nature Conservancy, New Mexico
"The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. The second best time is today." (Anonymous as far as I can tell).
With the Biden Administration's smart and swift actions resulting in solar and wind energy surpassing coal by 2025, I expect this to be HUGELY motivating to those who care about protecting clean air and clean water. I also expect this will show many Americans who care about this topic but have always felt like "my voice doesn't matter" and "they won't listen to us anyways" that we CAN make a difference. We CAN make progress on healing our home planet.
Julie, I agree it would have been wonderful to plant the tree 30 years ago. Since we didn't, I'm excited we planted the tree a year ago and are seeing the saplings sprout up 🌱 in ways that benefit all Americans. I think this will let us get our neighbors excited about planting more trees in the coming years. 🌱🌱🌱 😁
Thank you again for sharing, Julie. 😁
The thing that I have been waiting on, seems to finally be happening… It is now better business and better economics to be in clean energy than it is to be in fossil fuels… I knew once that domino tipped that shit would get real in a hurry. It’s going to be really fun to watch America transform over the next decade (and the world at large). 😎🇺🇸
Yeah, PianoManSteve, it is such a cool chain of events to see starting. 😎🇺🇸 It kinda reminds me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Mountain Top" speech if you are familiar with that. He was clearly talking about the social and racial justice he and others were working hard for, however, I feel this hard fought win for our planet seems to rhyme with that moment. I would also suggest that transitioning to renewable energy and protecting our environment seems like a social and racial initiative in part since minority communities are often the ones most negatively affected by the effects of climate disruption.
Thanks for your positive and encouraging words, PianoManSteve 😁 Keep up the great work!
I love today's Hopium update (especially coming on the one-year anniversary of Biden's passage of the biggest climate legislation in our history)! Partly I love it because the carbon pollution the fossil fuels industry is spewing is THE single biggest issue facing us today. And partly because it's a topic near and dear to me based on my 'day' job, but one of the key reasons I volunteer as part of the grassroots community to help elect Democratic majorities in state legislatures.
Most folks may not know, but least a dozen states are now considering what's called a "clean fuel" or "clean transportation" standard, and there's also interest at the Federal level.
Clean Fuel Standards (CFS) are one of those rare policies that can appeal to lawmakers and stakeholders across the political spectrum, because they take a technology-neutral, performance-based and market-driven approach to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by counting ALL the carbon in transportation fuels (from well-to-wheel, not just at the tailpipe). A CFS not only cuts the heat-trapping pollution blanketing the earth, it delivers cleaner air for better public health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
And, by breaking the 100+ years monopoly petroleum dictators like Saudi Arabia and Russia have had on transportation fuels, a CFS also enhances our national security, creates high-paying, American-made jobs in a large number of innovative low carbon fuel industries (dairy, agriculture, engineering, manufacturing, etc.), AND also lowers costs for drivers by providing competitive and cleaner alternatives to gasoline & diesel!
Like our goal to get to 55 by thinking about a broader coalition of voters -- people of color, young voters and the Never Trumpers -- to effectively decarbonize, we have to consider not only our energy sources, but also our transportation fuels sector, which is separate and distinct.
Government, industry and each of us as individuals, who can pressure those entities, need to demand an "all of the above" approach without delay and at scale.
We literally HAVE the solutions -- we just need the political will, i.e., the Democratic majorities in states, Congress, and the White House to deliver them.
Awesome comment Natalie. Thanks for connecting some dots! Appreciate this!
Yes, thanks so much! 😁
I read several days ago about a hemp battery that is blowing away records for longevity. I am excited for the clean technology and it’s about time. There will be tremendous advancements in the next 10 years.
The fossil fuels are deeply entrenched -they won’t go quietly , but they will go. Hooray!🙌
Indeed! And just as we must stop giving oxygen to GOP talking points, and focus on our values and successes, with the fight to end the heat-trapping pollution from fossil fuels that are causing more frequent and more extreme weather disasters that are threatening clean air, clean water and our very survival, we need to stop focusing on the doom and gloom (there's plenty to go around) -- we need to show we have the solutions so we can force the needed action...without further delay and obfuscation by the fossil fuel industry and its MAGA enablers.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/14/exxonmobil-documents-wall-street-journal-climate-science
Thanks Natalie. Citizens Action Group which I belong to also works on Environmental Issues alongside many others. Save Our Coonskin Park is a current issue and today my partner and I wore our shirts to the annual picnic . CAG is a small WV coalition since 1979 and going strong. Most states have their own groups and I encourage each resident wanting to help , be involved in local politics which leads US TOGETHER for our America and our world, to seek out their own local activists and support , volunteer, and broadcast far and wide voting rights, race issues, and health amongst the many other.
Pick your passion and work it!
EVERY. LITTLE . BIT.HELPS.
WE can, WE do make a difference.
Thanks for your input.
💙💙VOTE💙💙
Couldn't agree more Patricia. My favorite quote and inspiration:
"We are living through a revolt against the future. The future will prevail."
~Anand Giridharadas
Here's some more info, more graphs, more clean economy hopium: https://cleanprosperouswa.salsalabs.org/capwa-newsletter_8-16-23?wvpId=51d90446-16a9-4ae2-b345-3374123dcadf
Thank you for sharing, Bill 😊
Awesome post Simon and awesome comments! Thank you everyone
Several years ago I watched a beach eroding in Southern California in a big storm at high tide. Another observer, who had been watching this drama for a couple of days, pointed out that the erosion didn’t happen gradually. The waves would work steadily on the seaward side of the dune we were behind, but occasionally a big wave would crest over the top and soak into the sand on our side of the dune. Eventually the sand would become saturated and with the next big wave, large chunks of the dune would collapse and disappear into the water. Obviously, I was horrified at watching the dune collapse, but it serves as a model for how collapse occurs in certain circumstances. And it gives me hope to see the barriers to renewable energy collapsing in just this way. I’m certainly glad I’m on the side of the water this time.
That's a really cool insight, Jim. Thank you so much for sharing. 😁 I'm also excited that I feel this could be the first wave you talk about...and there is a next wave coming because of the hope and enthusiasm this news will inject into our hearts and minds. 😁
Our words, actions, and votes DO matter. So we can keep being loud and proud. 😁
Oh, wow! What an encouragement to hear we are moving to cheaper, more reliable energy sources, producing them here in the U.S., and making sure they benefit ALL Americans.
I definitely needed this today. 😁🌱
Thought I had posted on grasslands, and how they absorb carbon. Massive protected area on the way to being the size of Colorado is called the Southern High Plains Initiative. Sponsored by the Nature Conservancy chapters in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.
Thanks, I love your work with the one caveat that there is nothing remotely green about green, blue, white or pink ammonia. Please check out the nine planetary boundaries. We humans have now breached six. It is absolutely essential for the survival of our beloved living planet that we get the planetary science right.
The biggest overshoot is in novel agents. This means the amount of highly toxic chemicals , carcinogens and plastic that we are pouring into our rivers and oceans .
In addition nitrate based fertilizers are leading to massive dead zones in our oceans. Soberingly we must never ever forget that ZyklonB the poison gas that the Nazis used to murder six million babies, children, girls and women was a pesticide.
Regenerative agriculture, fishing and forestry are where we need to focus. Earth for All recommends addressing poverty, inequality and creating healthy food production for people and planet, removing pollutants and then tacking energy. Warmly, Frances Scully
Thanks Patricia, I am Canadian. I follow what is happening in your great country because we are all interconnected. We have some concerns in common and some different. I hope people in this group check the work on the nine planetary boundaries and comment on these.