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From Union of Concerned Scientsts
Summary
After a record-breaking summer, the world faces extreme weather events fueled by fossil fuels, with hurricanes Helene and Milton devastating parts of the U.S. The transition to renewable energy is critical, and advancements in energy storage and electric vehicles are paving the way for a cleaner future. California leads in battery storage and has enacted laws to facilitate the integration of electric vehicles into the power grid, promoting a sustainable energy ecosystem.
Highlights -🌍
- Extreme Weather: The hottest summer on record leads to destructive hurricanes. 🌪️
- Renewable Transition: A critical shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is underway. ⚡
- Energy Storage Growth: U.S. battery storage capacity has surged, particularly in California. 🔋
- Electric Vehicles: New laws in California enable EVs to power homes and support the grid. 🚗
- Long-Duration Storage: Innovations in energy storage technologies promise extended power supply. ⏳
- Clean Energy Milestones: California sets records in clean energy generation and storage. 📈
- Public Engagement: Consumers are increasingly choosing electric vehicles, driving sustainable practices. 🛒
After the hottest summer on record, the world continues to witness extreme weather fueled by the burning of fossil fuels. In the United States alone, we’re in the midst of a record-setting hurricane season, with back-to-back destructive hurricanes, Helene and Milton, causing immense destruction in Florida and neighboring states. Both hurricanes were exacerbated by warmer ocean surface temperatures, and are examples of “what hurricanes will look more like in the future,” according to Dr. Marc Alessi, an atmospheric scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
We need to stop burning fossil fuels immediately.
Thankfully, we are in the midst of a much-needed transition away from fossil fuels and towards a future powered by more renewables. This is especially critical now given the unprecedented devastation that natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreak on communities across the country, not to mention the well-documented effects of pollution from fossil fuel refineries on human health. Change is afoot, and being so, I recently caught up with Mark Specht, the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Western States Energy Manager to talk about the state of renewables. In his role, Specht leads research and advocacy efforts in California and other Western states to advance the transition to a less polluting and less carbon-intensive energy system. Below is an abridged version of our discussion.
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Read the full post at Union of Concerned Scientsts.
