Download Talking Points for SHORT Renewables Are Ready

Renewables Are Ready
Contact: Pat Hynes, Traprock Center for Peace and Justice
(http://traprock.org)
Nuclear and Carbon-Free Future
2015-2016
This document contains the source citations and the key points to
be made as the presenter shows each slide.
Slides
1. Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General said recently: Climate change
is the defining issue of our time. Mitigating it is necessary to eradicate
extreme poverty, reduce inequality and secure equitable, sustainable
development.
It is an issue of social justice, human rights and fundamental ethics,
as Ban Ki Moon, Pope Francis, and Muslim and Jewish religious leaders
have stated: Moral duty to fight climate change.
The developing world and the poor are most vulnerable.
A renewable energy world by 2050 is called for by 97% of climate
scientists and activists for urgent reasons, among them:
 Global Warming: The current global warming trend is in line for
an 11 degree F rise by 2100 (uninhabitable earth). The Paris
Agreement pledges (12/2015) put world on road to 2.7-3.5
degrees C warming (about 5.5 F average)
 6th extinction has started: Between 1970 and 2010, the
population of birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians fell by 52%.
Average rate of vertebrate extinction in 20th century is 100 times
background. (May be as high as 1000 times)
 Sea level rise: At current rates of melting, sea level rise will reach
6 feet minimally by 2100, threatening 1400 US cities by 2100,
among most serious are New Orleans, Miami, San Diego, Boston
and NYC. New research by Hansen et al. estimate that 15 ft. rise by
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end of century with melting of glacial sheets in Antarctica and
Greenland.
Specter of drought, desertification, famine, intense storms, and
wildfire. 2015: worst wildfire season in US history.
Natural disasters: World is prone to 5 times as many natural
disasters as 40 years ago.
Ocean acidification: 26% over pre-industrial era and lethal to
shellfish and marine food chain as well as coral reefs, most
biodiverse ecosystem on earth.
Climate change deaths: Climate change kills more people than
terrorism. Over 400,000 per year and rising. Terrorism grew to
13,000 deaths in 2013. Yet presidential debates ignore climate
change. And terrorism concerns rank much higher on American’s
list of concerns than climate change
Scenarios show that 100% Renewable Energy is possible by 2050,
obstacles are political not technical or economic. See Slide 35.
Further, a new EPA Report estimates that hundreds of billions of dollars
will be saved in US in avoided health costs, reduced fires, floods,
damages to agriculture and fish, damages from sea level rise etc. by
keeping to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) temperature rise.
(http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/201506/documents/frontmatter.pdf)
Purpose of slide presentation:
1. Inform of achievements and potential of renewables and efficiency
2. Present the obstacles to goal of 100% renewables
3. Motivate with inspiring examples of activism.
4. Generate discussion for local and statewide action.
Goal to train students, activists and others to use this for brainstorming
local and statewide actions.
2. Inspiring news: Walk through each example
NB: Greensburg, Kansas has <1,000 population;
Burlington VT is also 100% renewable for electricity (population of
60,000 people); Aspen CO and Austin TX following. NB. Burlington
relies on biomass – problematic.
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3. Use information on slide
Notes under slide: NYC PV solar rooftops could generate 11 Gigawatts,
enough for 1.2 million homes
4. Efficiency measures, such as energy-efficient bulbs, insulation in
attics and cellars, insulated windows, sealed air leaks, replacing
inefficient appliances etc. cost half the price for energy saved compared
to the cost of the same amount of energy generated from a new nuclear
power plant. Efficiency measures create 100 times more jobs.
Explanation details for this slide’s calculations are in notes to slide.
NB. COP21 conference, nuclear power displays; anti-nuke groups not
permitted to
display their literature.
5. Use points in slide to make case that trend in PV solar prices makes
renewables the most cost-effective energy source.
6. Use points on slide to make case for excellent job growth with solar,
greater than oil and gas in same year.
7. Job Creation Chart from Political Economy Research Institute (PERI)
at UMass Amherst. The number of jobs created per $1 million is least
with gas and coal and increases with renewables, smart grid, building
retrofits and mass transit.
Bob Pollan of PERI: the IPCC has said that we need to cut CO2 emissions
by 80% by 2050. We must cut 39 billion tons/year of the current 41
billion tons/year of C02 emissions by 2050. Impossible without
stopping economic growth? No. If we take 1.5% of global GDP/year
and invest it in energy efficiency and renewables, we can meet the
goal without stopping economic growth. And we can do it while
eliminating nuclear power. It is a myth that you can’t protect
environment and create jobs at the same time.
8. Illustrates trends in efficiency of conversion from sunlight to
electricity over time for PV panels. Greater efficiency means more
electricity generated per PV panel. Historic trends show an increase
of 2-3% efficiency over 10 years.
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Factors that increase efficiency include: lower temperatures, less
reflection of sunlight on panel surface (through anti-reflective
coatings), less natural resistance to electron flow (electricity) in PV
cell materials, and less electrical resistance in the transmission of
electricity from the cells.
9. Use points on slide. “Stranded assets” implies that they (fossil fuel
stocks) will be worthless in near future because of price and volatility
on market and competition from renewables. Divest from them for
economic and environmental security.
Coal is in a “tailspin” with oversupply and less demand from India, China
and US. China recently closed its coal mines for next 3 years
10. Storage for PV (mainly battery currently) needed: Price is declining
for storage batteries at rate of decline of PV prices. Boom period in
research to use safer materials; to reduce weight, size and price; and to
increase longevity.
Promising developments: Solar cells that store the electricity they
produce. Smart grids: turn appliances on and off for short times when
energy is needed elsewhere (demand-side management).
Tesla: new lithium ion battery for home: $7000 for 7Kwh Powerwall
installed. Also developing for commercial and utility scale.
11-12. Example of utility-scale solar thermal plant that generates
electricity and feeds grid. (Leave to Slide 12 to explain how it works)
Point out, solar thermal plants have been developed (in Spain and now
approved in Chile) that generate electricity and can also store it, using
molten salts. Arrays of mirrors called heliostats focus the sunlight on a
boiler filled with salts that liquefy at a temperature of 565 degrees
Centigrade. Some of the heat stored during the day is released at night
by the molten salt and used to heat water into steam that drives an
electricity-generating turbine. PV and solar thermal 260 MW plant with
storage for 24/7 approved in Chile, 2015.
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(There is on-going research into salt mixtures with higher range of
melting points, greater heat absorption, and lower cost. Also research
into liquid glass for storing heat as high as 1,200 degrees Centigrade.)
(Source: Secret Ingredient to Making Solar Energy Work:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/04/05/secretingredient-to-making-solar-energy-work-salt/)
13-14. Sunflower solar collector is designed for rural and remote areas
in developing and developed countries. Provides solar electricity and
hot water. Talk from slide.
Slide 14 describes how it works. Walk through schematic: dual function,
with many uses for hot water.
15. Wind power is a centerpiece in some of the scenarios for future
clean, renewable energy. US DOE – windpower can supply 35%
electricity by 2050 (see notes under slide). Iowa: windpower generates
30% of electricity for state
Other scenarios give higher estimates of wind power potential by 2050.
Source: “100% Wind, Water, Sunlight (WWS) All-Sector Energy Plans
for the 50 United States” Slide 35)
http://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/USStatesW
WS.pdf
16. Trends in US windpower. Slowed in 2013 because of uncertainty
regarding Congress approving Windpower Tax Credit, which has to be
renewed annually. Uncertainty led to business slowdown.
17. Denmark leads world in % wind power for a country (39%).
Country goal: 50% by 2020 and 100% by 2050. Denmark has launched
Energy Strategy 2050 – detailed strategy to become 100% renewable by
2050. “The first of its kind in the world.” This from a country that in
1973 used imported oil for 95% of energy consumption.
Denmark has the highest share of national revenue from the clean tech
industry: 3.4% of its GDP, world leader in wind turbine production.
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18. Speak from facts on slides regarding potential of windpower. Note
also that wind energy price is not volatile like fossil fuels. Birdkills higher numbers from skyscrapers, cars, and cats than turbines. Taller
turbines = fewer birdkills.
UMass Amherst with Texas A&M: developing blade-mounted ultrasonic
bat whistles to deter bats from turbine.
19. Energy efficiency. Facts and examples on slides speak for
themselves.
20. Read from slide. Old windows were replaced with Energy Star, lowemissivity windows. Home in Montague
21. Example of Village Hill, Northampton: zero net energy energy home,
with enough power for electric vehicles. Costs range depending on size,
all in reasonably affordable range for Northampton: See
http://www.gazettenet.com/home/11860992-95/cohousingcommunity-in-the-works-for-village-hill-northampton
22-24. Obstacles to Renewable Energy: use facts from slides:
(Fracking slide: fracking in 22 states. Only NY bans fracking.
Moratorium in Maryland. Debates over http://www.truthout.org/news/item/32272-key-greenhouse-gas-study-may-havesystematically-understated-methane-leaks-new-research-shows
leaks in life cycles of gas exploration, transmission, storage and
combustion)
Recent public health study from Hopkins: women near wells and
near greater fracking sites are more at risk of pre-term births and
problem pregnancies. http://www.jhsph.edu/news/newsreleases/2015/study-fracking-industry-wells-associated-withpremature-birth.html
Big oil: did climate research in ‘70s and confirmed climate change;
sowed seeds of doubt in 80s, 90s and post-2000 to avoid government
regulation but secretly built their own oil exploration platforms and rigs
to withstand sea level rise and greater hurricanes.
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25. We end presentation with actions being taken and needed to
support the transition from fossil fuels and nuclear to renewables with
efficiency and conservation. Climate march in New York City on
September 21, 2014 – more than 400,000 activists participated. One
significant consequence: Rockefeller Brothers Fund, worth $860 million,
pledged to divest from fossil fuels.
26. Global Divestment Campaign: Walk through examples
(Note this is mid-2014 data. Can be updated in 2015).
Note Wallace Fund: divests from fossil fuels and invests in renewables
and efficiency
MSCI - global stock market index company reported that investors who
divested from ffs over past 5 years are outperforming those who haven’t
(“Why Are Americans Switching to Renewables Energy? Because It’s
Actually Cheaper” http://www.thenation.com/article/why-areamericans-switching-to-renewable-energy-because-its-actuallycheaper/).
27-31. Invest in Renewable Climate Future: Examples:
Mass Solar Loan Program: Loan Program started in December 2015.
Local financial institution: Five College Credit Union. "The Program aims
to stimulate Lenders to expand borrowing options to Massachusetts
residents and property owners installing solar on their homes, as well as to
residents purchasing a portion of community shared solar, and to
encourage loans to residents with lower income or lower credit scores. The
Program facilitates attractive low interest loans for borrowers by providing
sufficient risk mitigation to Lenders through an interest rate buy-down,
Income Based loan support, and a loan loss reserve."
http://www.masscec.com/solicitations/mass-solar-loan-requestinformation.
Massachusetts Green Bank: Seeking investors to create loan bank for
renewable projects. (just starting up)
32. Agriculture is responsible for a large percentage of CO2 and NO2
global warming gases (manufacture and use of pesticides, plowing
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releases stored carbon in soil into atmosphere). Regenerative organic
agriculture removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through
plants grown and minimizes the loss of that carbon through storing it in
the soil and use of cover crops. Source: Rodale Institute
Marginalized at COP21. Carbon capture technologies were showcased,
although still in conceptual and development stage.
33. Solarize Massachusetts: short explanation of program. In the spring
of 2011, as part of Governor Deval Patrick’s effort to reach 250
megawatts (MW) of solar power installed in the Commonwealth by
2017, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), in partnership
with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER),
designed an innovative program model called Solarize Massachusetts
(Solarize Mass) to aggressively reduce the costs of small-scale solar
photovoltaic (PV), while substantially increasing the adoption of the
technology in targeted communities.
Updated results through end of 2014 and 2015 not yet on website:
http://www.masscec.com/solarizemass.
Note: Mass Solar Is Working Website:
http://www.solarisworking.org/solar-policy-and-legislation
Excellent source of up to date legislation, policy and data on solar.
34. The St. Paul Public Housing Agency will be the main subscriber
for a proposed $40 million community solar garden project that will
be built by Geronimo Energy just outside the Twin Cities.
Under a pending agreement the housing agency would buy enough
solar energy from a proposed solar garden to offset 85 percent of the
electric consumption of 16 residential high rises housing more than
2,550 low income residents, many of them senior citizens. In
addition, the agency’s headquarters would be covered by the
agreement.
The agency will save $183,000 annually, or more than $4 million over
the life of the 25-year solar garden contract.
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35. The Solutions Project at Stanford University Atmosphere/Energy
Program has developed a roadmap for each of 50 states to reduce
energy demand and convert their energy infrastructure for electricity
(transportation, heating/cooling and industry) to ones entirely from
wind, water and sunlight (WWS), generating electricity and electrolytic
hydrogen while maintaining jobs and low energy prices.
Purpose of this slide is to illustrate that roadmaps to renewables and
efficiency are being developed, not to take slide literally.
36. Example of Maryland activists – Springboard to discuss state of
Massachusetts goals, etc.
Massachusetts: Overall goal of 15% renewables-supplied
electricity by 2020 and 22% by 2025 (minimum) vs. Delaware goal
of 25% renewables by 2025.
As of 2014, MA breakdown of renewables: 9.1%, 2/3rd from hydro
and biomass.
(MA goal is 1600 MW from solar energy by 2020.
http://wwlp.com/2015/03/09/baker-sticking-with-states-solarenergy-goal/)
and 2000 MW from wind by 2020
http://www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewableenergy/)
37. Open up policy and action discussion.
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