• Energy

Read This: Spreading the Zero Carbon Energy Wealth and Power

• #ThirdWay
• clean energy
• fossil fuels
• oil and gas
• renewable energy
• Third Way

“trigger a massive spending boom in wind and solar power — at least doubling the pace of investment now underway.

• Energy

Fossil Fuel Companies Pocketed $8.2 Billion in COVID Relief, Fired 60,000 Workers

• fossil fuels
• loopholes
• oil and gas
• renewable energy
• subsidies
• tax breaks

A recent analysis (funded by Rockefeller Philanthropy) exposed that fossil fuel companies cut almost 60,000 jobs despite receiving billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief.

Why This Matters: These findings reveal two important points. First, that lucrative tax loopholes for the fossil fuel sector continue to be heavily exploited. Second, the narrative that oil companies are a “necessary engine of employment and succeed on an equal playing field in the free market” is hypocritical at best. As fossil fuel operations close, many states and former coal and oil communities are setting their sights on clean energy projects to provide new jobs and stability.

• Energy

“Solar Canals” Could Provide California with Power, Conserve Water Resources

• California
• solar panels
• solar power

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer A new study from UC Merced and UC Santa Cruz has found that establishing “solar canals” using California’s 4,000-mile freshwater canal system could provide half of the power capacity needed to meet the state’s decarbonization goals. By laying solar panels over the canal system, the state could produce 13 gigawatts of power, prevent evaporation of […]

• Energy

China Burned 53% of the World’s Coal in 2020

• China
• climate change
• coal
• emissions
• renewable energy

Despite President Xi Jinping’s pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, a new report released by energy and climate research group Ember, found that China burned more than half of the world’s coal in 2020. Experts say that China’s current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) isn’t keeping up with the nation’s rocketing energy demands.

Why This Matters: China is the world’s largest producer of carbon emissions, but despite announcing net-zero emissions goals in 2020, its latest five-year plan included no updates to its climate goals.

• Energy

In Scotland’s Stormiest Waters, Offshore Wind Is Thriving

• offshore wind
• renewables
• Scotland
• wind energy

by Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer The world’s first floating wind farm off the coast of Scotland is breaking records for energy output. Three years after installing the offshore turbines in the rough North Sea waters 15 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, it’s the UK’s best-performing wind farm with the highest average “capacity factor” […]

• Energy

Biden’s Cabinet Talks Big Plans for Offshore Wind Power

• Department of Energy
• Department of Transportation
• NOAA
• offshore wind
• President Biden

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer Yesterday, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with state officials, industry executives, and labor leaders to announce a set of actions to significantly expand offshore wind. The new leasing, funding, and goals will […]