Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Finance, Sourcing Renewables  -  June 26, 2021

Weekend reads: Is Energy Efficiency Dead?; Exploring The Energy Switch

 It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.

'Reports of energy efficiency's death are greatly exaggerated.' The cost keeps falling as the resource grows (Utility Dive)  The cost of energy efficiency continues to decline, and the opportunities continue to increase. The implications are enormous for utility systems, say experts. "There will be places where another clean energy resource might be the cheapest option, but in general, energy efficiency outcompetes all the major fossil fuels," said Rachel Gold, head of the utilities program at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). And the increasing inclusion of efficiency in clean energy portfolios can help eliminate the need for new gas plants, said Gold. 

Miami’s mayor looks to woo Chinese bitcoin miners with low energy prices and clean nuclear power (CNBC)  Mayor Francis Suarez says Miami’s doors are open to bitcoin miners in China who are currently scrambling to find a new home after Beijing made it clear that their days are numbered. Mining is the energy-intensive process which both creates new coins and updates the digital ledger of all transactions of existing tokens. More than half of all miners are currently based in China, but a mass exodus is already underway. Where they’re going, however, isn’t yet clear.

Edison Energy supports Japanese companies’ growing demand for decarbonization solutions (Edison Energy) As the global demand grows for carbon-neutral energy solutions, Edison Energy’s expanded presence in Japan will help advise Japanese corporations and their North American operations on sustainability. The company announced today their expanded presence in Tokyo to support the growing demand from Japanese corporations for carbon reduction and sustainable energy choices. “Japanese corporations are at the forefront of the global demand for carbon reduction and energy management solutions,” said Oded J. Rhone, Edison Energy CEO. “We are currently supporting sustainability efforts in North America with our Japanese clients, and look forward to expanding our relationships and decarbonization solutions with other Japanese companies operating across the globe.”

Visualized: The Power of a Sustainable Investment Dollar (Visual Capitalist) Today, signatories with more than $100 trillion in assets have voluntarily committed to support the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment. Between January and November 2020 alone, investments in sustainable ETF and mutual funds grew 96%, But how do we know if sustainable investments have made a difference? Investing legend Benjamin Graham has compared the stock market to a “voting machine.” Just as consumers vote with their purchasing decisions, investors vote with their dollar investments.

“The Energy Switch” – Exploring the Power Grid’s Multi-Trillion-Dollar Transformation in Debut Book from Former Industry Executive and Energy Expert Peter Kelly-Detwiler (Globe Newswire)  Leading energy industry expert, strategy consultant, and keynote speaker, Peter Kelly-Detwiler, announces his new book, “The Energy Switch.” The first-of-its-kind work provides relatable, on-the-ground insight into how companies and customers are transforming the electrical grid and the future of power. Energy creation and distribution have driven society's progress for centuries. Today, people are increasingly aware that society must move towards a cleaner, digitized, and democratized energy economy. “The Energy Switch” is about that multi-trillion-dollar transformation, told from the perspective of those leading us to that bright future. Kelly-Detwiler is also featured in the latest edition of the Smart Energy Voices podcast.