Energy Efficiency, Regulation, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  December 21, 2019

Weekend reads: Hawaii's LED Christmas tree; the smartest path to 100% RE

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

Impact of ESG on US utility sector could be profound; promised CO2 reductions transformative (S&P Global) A drive by dozens of US electricity utility holding companies to provide environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports has brought to the forefront numerous new commitments to zero carbon emission goals, and an accompanying surge in plans to install thousands of megawatts of wind and solar generation over the next few decades.

How Many Wind Turbines Would It Take To Power The US? (Forbes) About 1.26 million covering about 0.01% of the land. So this is a hypothetical scenario. Obviously wind energy wouldn’t be the only form of primary energy in the USA. Solar, hydro, geothermal and biofuels will also play roles, with solar being at least equal to wind generation.

GM and Ford joining push for GOP-backed carbon tax (Washington Examiner) A Republican-backed group pushing for Congress to pass a carbon tax has raised more than $5 million this year after adding new corporate funders Thursday, including America’s two largest automakers: GM and Ford. The carmakers, along with technology company IBM, are giving $100,000 each to Americans for Carbon Dividends, the lobbying arm of the Climate Leadership Council, a group led by former Republican Secretaries of State James Baker III and George Shultz.

For a smart transition to 100% clean energy: Renewables, storage and, in some cases, new gas (Utility Dive) In clean energy circles, 2019 may be remembered as the "Year of 100 Percent." Five states plus Puerto Rico passed laws in 2019 targeting 100% clean energy, while dozens of corporations and utilities made voluntary pledges. Amid federal inaction despite increasingly visible climate impacts and overwhelming scientific consensus, clean energy's current hold on the public imagination is undeniably a bright spot.

Hawaiian Linemen Brighten the Holiday Season (T&D World) When the Kaimuki Christmas Parade ended on Dec. 5, it culminated with the lighting of the floating Christmas tree at Puu o Kaimuki Mini Park – a tradition brought back, in part, thanks to Hawaiian Electric volunteers from IBEW Local 1260. The illuminated tree, which sits about 40 ft above the mini park off Koko Head Avenue, had gone dark the past few years. But about a dozen Hawaiian Electric linemen, troublemen, inspectors and substation technicians worked Wednesday to string new multi-colored, energy-efficient LED light strands atop its galvanized steel base.

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