Tesla Being Sued by Walmart for Combusting Solar Panels

The last several years have been rough for #Tesla, Inc. Between the disappointing 2017 launch of the Tesla #solar-powered Model 3 vehicle and the financial losses the company suffered after purchasing SolarCity back in 2016, Elon Musk and his fellow Tesla employees have had to work extra hard this year to make up for Tesla’s repeated disappointments. In an effort to revive the company, Tesla began offering solar panel rentals earlier this summer and vowed to make 2019 the year they focus on rooftop solar panel production. However, solar panel rental options and increased mass production should probably be on the bottom of Tesla’s to-do list — especially in light of their most recent controversy. 

#Walmart Fires Erupt Nationwide as a Result of Faulty #Solar Panels 

According to New York Supreme Court records, on May 7th of 2018, a fire broke out at a Walmart department store in Beavercreek, Ohio. Just two weeks later on May 21st in Denton, Maryland, a second fire raised havoc on another Walmart store, causing significant damage to the store’s roof. Just eight days after this second incident on May 29th, a third fire erupted at yet another Walmart store in Indio, California. All of these Walmart locations suffered significant financial losses as a result of these fires. Miraculously, no one was injured, save for a firefighter in Indio that was treated for smoke inhalation.  

How is it possible that numerous fires broke out at different Walmart department stores all within the time frame? The answer lies in Tesla’s solar panels. All of the Walmart stores that burst into flames had Tesla solar panels installed on their roofs. It was determined that the fires originated from the solar panels themselves, resulting in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit brought on by Walmart against Tesla.  

Following the initial three fires that occurred in May of 2018, Tesla did attempt to de-energize the solar panels at other Walmart locations to help prevent fires from happening again. Unfortunately, these efforts were to no avail. Four more fires broke out, resulting in 7 total Walmart fires that could be directly connected to Tesla’s rooftop solar panels. 

According to the official court record, Walmart is making the argument that the solar panel combustions are, “a breach of contract action arising from years of gross negligence and failure to live up to industry standards by Tesla with respect to solar panels that Tesla designed.” 

Amazon Also Calling Out Tesla

Unfortunately, Walmart was not the only entity to experience solar panel combustions. in June 2018, Amazon’s Redlands, California location had a rooftop solar system put in place that Tesla designed and installed. Shortly after the new solar panels were affixed, Amazon’s Redlands location experienced a fire. It was determined that this fire also originated from the Tesla solar panels, just like those seen at the seven Walmart locations. Amazon released a statement saying that they have taken steps to protect their facilities and will no longer be working with Tesla to install rooftop solar panels. 

Tesla: The Jack of All Trades, King of None 

Tesla has had their hand in solar #energy production, vehicle manufacturing, and most recently, experimental rocket ships for space travel. Earlier this month, the highly anticipated launch of the Tesla SpaceX Starhopper was set to depart. However, less than one second before takeoff, the mission was aborted due to faulty wiring issues. The Starhopper was successful on its second attempt on August 28. 

Is it really necessary for Tesla to have its hand in solar panel production, solar-powered vehicles, and space travel? By spreading themselves so thin in an effort to be number one, Tesla is now suffering the consequences of taking on too much all at once. 

It would behoove Tesla to pick one or two main focuses, rather than continue to scramble in multiple arenas. Solar energy must be taken seriously. Solar energy production is not a simple, side project endeavor. If Tesla is going to take on solar energy production, they will need to reevaluate if their company has the means and manpower necessary to provide safe solar panels en masse.  

 The full court report of Walmart Inc. V. Tesla Energy Operations, Inc. is available online to view here: https://www.scribd.com/document/422555099/654765-2019-Walmart-Inc-v-Tesla-Energy-Operations-Inc-Summons-Complaint-1 

Resources: 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-23/amazon-joins-walmart-in-saying-tesla-solar-panels-caught-fire?srnd=markets-vp 

https://interestingengineering.com/tesla-solar-panels-have-caught-fire-at-an-amazon-warehouse-and-at-walmart-stores 

Climate Change and its Impact on the Italian Alps

There is no room to deny #climate change at this point in time. While thoughts of water becoming too warm, temperatures increasing, and glaciers melting are discussed on a regular basis, many tend to disregard how certain areas and ways of life are impacted. The fact of the matter is that climate change is having an impact on people’s lives. In the #Italian Alps, climate change is certainly affecting day to day life. Here’s how… 

#James Whitlow Delano is a photographer with a focus on environmental concerns. He grew up living in California beside a nuclear research lab. He has worked all across the globe and currently resides in Japan. One of the subjects he works on is climate change. Delano takes his work very seriously – in point of fact, he is the founder of the Everyday Climate Change Instagram feed. This feed showcases the efforts of photojournalists who document climate change across the globe.  

Where do the Italian Alps come in? Delano, in some of his more recent work, visited valleys of the Italian Alps as well as the Valle d’Aosta mountains to get a look firsthand at climate change and its impact in the area. What he found in relation to climate change was quite alarming – for the past 30 years, one particular area has been watching its glaciers essentially melt away at a shocking rate. While Delano’s photos are beautiful and showcase the exquisiteness of the Valle d’Aosta, the fact is that climate change is having a huge impact there.  

How Climate Change Impacts Valle D’Aosta 

Climate change in this area equates to a snow season which is shorter. To give an idea, between 1960 and 2017, the Alpine snow season decreased by an average of 38 days – it closed 26 days earlier and started just under two weeks later – or 12 days, to be more precise. From 2015 to 2016, the warmest winter season on record occurred – only 20 percent of the standard snowfall was received in the French Alps. And this year, practically no snow fell in February.  

As things continue to warm up, precipitation will show up in the form of rain. Winter snowpack and glacial ice store water and release it slowly, allowing rivers to be fed that have been relied on in warmer months by European nations practically since the beginning of time. As glaciers recede, less water is stored up to feed rivers, specifically when droughts occur in the summer. The impact of climate change is very real – rainwater drains faster, and it is not stored in the glaciers of the Alps. It impacts livestock pastoralists and farmers, too, because climate change leaves them with less of a chance to fatten up cows for milk and cheese production due to a decreased amount of grass to feed on in high meadows.  

Climate Change Influences Day to Day Life 

Globally, people need to be concerned with what is happening with climate change in Valle d’Aosta. Climate change impacts day to day life in the sense that the ski season is shorter (thanks to global warming) as previously mentioned, and this is a big deal. There is more of a dependence on man-made snow which can be very expensive in keeping up with the regional industry. Climate change causing a shorter snow season also has an effect on hotels, restaurants, bars, ski schools and so on. Plus, who wants to play in fake snow?  

It is not just the snow season that feels the effects of climate change. In hotter, drier summer months, there is less green pasture and with the millions dependent on the Rhone, Rhine and Po rivers, there is a great deal of fear regarding fewer glaciers. 

Clearly, climate change is changing the way people live, and the Italian Alps offers merely one example of how this is happening. It is important that we pay attention because small changes will eventually turn into huge ones. We have to do what we can to minimize the impact.

Sources: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/photography/2019/08/23/how-climate-change-is-affecting-quality-life-italian-alps/?noredirect=on 

https://time.com/italy-alps-climate-change/ 

Glacier Melting as a Result of Climate Change is Worse than We Think

#Climate change has undoubtedly impacted the #glacier #ice caps in #Antarctica. As global temperatures on our planet continue to rise, the ice caps melt and collapse into the sea. This melting ultimately results in rising global sea levels that are threatening coastal cities worldwide. Excessive water rise could make it so that cities resting at sea level may become submerged as a new coastal water surface level is established. 

Shifting Wind Patterns – The Missing Link 

Although increased temperatures have played a part, heat alone has not always explained the phenomenon of accelerated ice cap melting as it relates to climate change. There has been more that researchers have needed to discover in order to come up with a complete explanation. Climate change researchers realized early on that West Antarctica’s glaciers were surrounded by air temperatures that were far too cold to be the only culprit. They turned their attention to the ocean water itself to find the answers. 

How Changing Wind Patterns Effect Ice Cap Melting 

According to a new study published in Nature Geoscience, scientists have discovered that climate change has caused a shift in wind patterns that are contributing to the acceleration of the melting glaciers. Their research shows that this shift in wind patterns due to climate change is bringing warm ocean water in direct contact with Antarctica’s glacier ice, ultimately accelerating its demise. However, this warm ocean water is coming from older water deep within the ocean that has not been affected by #global warming. Shifting wind patterns are having such a great impact, it is the deeper layers of warm ocean water that are changing patterns. 

According to Paul Holland, a scientist at the British Antarctic Survey for ice-ocean research and co-author of the study, the older waters that are reaching the glaciers in Antarctica would not have been heated by global warming. To understand the connection between the warmer waters reaching Antarctic glaciers and wind patterns, Holland and his team looked at data reaching as far back as the 1920s – the decade when wind pattern and glacier ice pattern data was first tracked. 

By looking at nearly 100 years of data, Holland and his team determined that some major changes have taken place in terms of wind patterns and overall climate behavior in the Antarctic. Winds over the Amundsen Sea, a region located on the western side of the continent, would primarily blow westward just a century ago. This direction kept the warm water away from the glaciers. Data from 2019 shows that the winds are now blowing east which has caused deep, warmer ocean layers to move towards the Amundsen Sea and melt the ice. 

Holland likened the phenomenon to a hot water tap that turns on when the wind blows east and turns off when the wind blows west.  

Human-Caused Global Warming to Blame for Melting Ice Caps 

The warm ocean water reaching the glaciers in Antarctica is the result of global warming’s impact on land temperatures. Climate change is shifting how our earth responds to heat. With the surface of Earth warming unevenly, it has a direct effect on how Earth’s winds and oceans respond. Climate change is proving to have not just a direct effect on the observable environment around us, but a domino effect on a variety of interconnected environmental processes. 

Richard Alley, a geoscientist from Pennsylvania State University, was not involved in this particular study but has extensive experience researching Antarctica and global warming patterns. He mentioned that the results of the wind pattern study increase overall confidence in the climate change and scientific communities that the retreat of West Antarctic ice that is now contributing to sea-level rise was ultimately triggered by human-caused global warming. 

Holland explained that if greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled by 2100, we will have wind gusts that will reliably blow towards the east. There is hope that we can stabilize the current wind patterns by 2050, but it is unlikely that a reversal in this trend will be seen anytime soon. According to Holland, to stabilize wind patterns as they are now and put the brakes on the damage done to Antarctica’s ice caps, urgent and diligent effort on the part of mankind will be required. 

Resources: 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-reason-antarctica-is-melting-shifting-winds-driven-by-global-warming/ 

Tesla to Offer Solar Panel Rentals

#Tesla has decided to do things a bit differently lately – the company is attempting to basically recover its plunging #solar division. How does the prominent corporation intend to do this? The answer might seem all too obvious – #solar panel rentals! 

Tesla recently decided to cut the cost of their solar panels. Why? It is a clear move in the corporation’s attempt to recover its solar panel business which has unfortunately weakened since acquiring #SolarCity. Where does this leave Tesla? Behind other residential solar companies, including Sunrun and Vivint Solar Inc. 

Solar Panels Without a Long-Term Contract 

Imagine being able to switch to solar panels without having to sign into a contract long-term. Many do not like the idea of longstanding contracts, period. For some, they realize they might change their mind down the road. Or they fear a change in the future could prevent them from being able to afford their bills. Tesla’s innovative idea will allow consumers to take advantage of solar panel packages without a long-term agreement. This concept is part of a relaunch that was recently announced by Elon Musk, Chief Executive. Is there a catch? Well, sort of. A customer could be billed $1,500 in the event that they want to opt out of the solar panel system and have said solar system removed. But is it still worth it?  

You might recall, if the rental idea sounds familiar, that SolarCity offered a leasing product purchased by Tesla in 2016 for $2.6 billion. The strategy was a good move in the sense that for SolarCity, it propelled growth, but on the other hand, the company had to borrow a great deal of money in order to support the concept.  

Telsa ultimately made outright sales a priority to increase profitability. It stopped marketing door to door and canceled a partnership with Home Depot Inc.  

Tesla’s Solar Relaunch 

The solar relaunch for Tesla is coming less than 30 days after the company reported a decline for the third consecutive quarter when it comes to solar installations. The smallest quarter so far was the second quarter in which just 29 megawatts was deployed. For comparison purposes, when SolarCity was at its height, it installed more than 200 megawatts over the course of just a three month period.  

As per senior solar analyst at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, #Michelle Davis, Tesla is attempting to rebound growth volumes and there is an obvious need for the company to demonstrate better financial management.  

Is the solar panel rental option a good one? Perhaps. Earlier this week, Tesla shares increased by more than 3 percent.  

What is included with the monthly payment plan for solar panels? It will cover the cost of solar installation, maintenance, and support. Avoiding upfront installation costs is certainly a perk. Six states in America, including New Jersey and Massachusetts, are offering the rental option for as little as $50 per month for small solar systems. California is offering the solar rental option as well, for $65 per month. Arizona, New Mexico, and Connecticut are on board and offering the solar rental plans also.  

Yes, overall it is financially a better move to buy, however, the rental option might be worth it for some. At the very least, if you are interested in solar installation, this might be something to consider. The rentals are cheaper and faster in terms of the onset.  

Do you have solar panels on your home? Do you notice signage for solar panel systems going up in your neighborhood, or have you seen them on some of the local, new construction homes? Clean #energy is certainly something we all need to focus on for the future, especially as changes with our planet are becoming more and more apparent. We need to do more, and solar is one route to take – with the option of renting, it could be that more people end up going solar. Time will tell! Keep following solar news to stay up to date with the most recent changes and advancements taking place.  

Sources: 

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-19/tesla-no-contract-solar-panel-rentals-with-a-catch 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/19/20812060/tesla-solar-panel-rental-subscription-price-lease-elon-musk-cancellation-fee 

 

Solar Panels on Farmlands Help Increase Crop Yields

One of the most debated topics within the #solar #energy community revolves around where the best locations on earth are to place #solar panels. Researchers have constructed solar panels in parking lots, placed solar panels on roadways, and desert solar farms have even been tested and funded in certain parts of the world, including the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm in California.  

A recent study directly related to the best regions for solar panel function was released by the #Oregon State University College of #Agricultural Sciences earlier this month. Researchers in the study aimed to discover which climate, temperature, and weather conditions benefit solar panel production the most. 

 #Agrivoltaics: The Best of Both Worlds 

According to Elnaz Adeh and Chad Higgins, two of the primary researchers of the OSU solar panel study, the best places on Earth to place solar panels are on farmlands. Co-developing certain areas for both agricultural purposes and solar panel production is not a new concept. The term agrivoltaics has been around since the early 1980s and is a technique that uses one area of land for two purposes – one being agricultural and the other solar power.  

In addition to confirmation that farmlands are the best regions for solar panel efficiency, the study also found that if less 1% of agricultural land across the world were to share space with solar panels, this would be sufficient enough to meet global energy demands. 

Why Farmlands? 

Solar panel efficiency and overall energy output are greatly impacted by four environmental variables including wind speed, humidity, temperature, and overall sun exposure. These four factors were tested using the 35th Street Solar Array in Corvallis, Oregon, which has been located on the west side of the OSU campus since 2013.  

After analyzing data collected throughout the solar panel study, along with collaborative assistance from Tesla, OSU researchers stumbled upon the key to efficient solar panel production. According to Higgins, their research shows that solar panels have preferences that emulate those of humans – they function best in cool, breezy, and dry environments.  

Higgins stated in an interview with OSU that solar panel efficiency actually decreases when weather conditions are hot, humid, and lack airflow. Therefore, areas like western America, the Middle East, and southern Africa are slated to be the top regions for solar panel efficiency. The results of this study corroborate findings previously discovered in Agrivoltaic research. 

Agrivoltaics is a Win-Win 

Back in November of 2018, Adeh and Higgens tested crop yield output on fields that had solar panels placed on them. At the 35th Street Solar Array, microclimate research stations were utilized to record the air temperature, humidity, soil moisture, as well as wind speed and direction. 

After three months of testing, OSU researchers found that the areas shaded by solar panels grew double the amount of plant life compared to their uncovered counterparts. The nutritional value of the plant life also increased due to the optimal conditions of airflow, temperature, and overall climate.  

Higgins and his team theorize that certain plants thrive under the shady conditions provided by the solar panels because the plants are, in essence, less stressed. When plants are subjected to constant sun rays, their water intake will greatly increase. This can cause the plants to grow substantially until they die out. On the other hand, when certain plants are able to take advantage of the shade cover provided by the solar panels, they flourish. According to Higgins, the shaded plants need only sip water sparingly, rather than consume large amounts in desperation.  

Solar Power and Agriculture Working Together 

Researchers at OSU are now honing in on which plants will function best in an agrivoltaic set-up. So far, aloe vera, lettuce, tomatoes, biogas maize, and pasture grass have shown the most promise. Certain lettuce varieties, in particular, have been shown to produce greater yields in shade than in sunlight.  

With how promising these particular studies have been, we can hope to see more advocacy for agrivoltaics in the near future. Combining solar with agricultural production is the kind of forward-thinking focus our society needs to continue to create sustainable ways of living. Now that a mutual, symbiotic relationship between agricultural lands and solar panel placement has been established, we can expect to find solar panels popping up on farmlands soon. 

Read the original OSU study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-47803-3 

Resources: 

https://kval.com/news/local/osu-study-solar-panels-on-1-of-farmland-could-meet-global-energy-demands 

https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/installing-solar-panels-agricultural-lands-maximizes-their-efficiency-new-study-shows 

Climate Change: Will it Impact What We Eat?

Have you noticed #food becoming more expensive? How much thought have you put into the possibility of it becoming scarce? #Climate change could lead to grocery costs going up, food becoming limited, and crops taking a loss when it comes to their nutritious value. This is according to United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and a noteworthy article on land use they recently released. The information is certainly alarming and worth looking into. Read on for more details on how climate change is anticipated to impact what we eat.  

Climate Change and Crops 

The sad reality is that today, we are seeing signs of the #climate crisis all across the planet. And climate change is anticipated to modify the types of crops which farmers are able to grow. How? In some places, the climate will be too hot. In others, there will be more moisture, more snow and more flooding – of course, these factors will limit the types of crops able to be grown. Climate change is certainly concerning. 

Pamela McElwee, an author of the report from United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, discussed how there is a time limit when it comes to keeping warming to less than 2 degrees. McElwee is an associate professor at Rutgers University.  

In accordance with the same climate change report, nutrition in foods could weaken, too. For instance, wheat which is grown at high carbon dioxide levels would potentially provide up to 13 percent less protein and up to 8 percent less iron. Experiments were done to verify this. Another author of the report, senior research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Cynthia Rosenzweig, discussed studying different foods and outcomes. She mentioned that the strain is already visible on food systems.  

Climate Change Impacting Food Impacts Our Health 

Obviously, numerous problems would come up if climate change were to impact the food we eat. From chronic disease to the inability to function at the level one is able to when receiving proper nourishment, food scarcity, and a decrease in nutrition in what is available would be very alarming. Climate change impacting food impacts our health – we can’t deny this.  

There has been overall progress in terms of enough food being available, according to the US Department of Agriculture. However, climate change could set us back.  

Due to climate change, 1 percent of food calories are lost on a yearly basis. If this doesn’t sound like much to you, look at it this way – there has been a reduction of 35 trillion calories each year already. The numbers are substantial. This is according to a study published earlier this year which monitored production of global crops such as rice, soybean, barley, wheat and sugarcane. 

Imagine removing food calories for 50 million persons across the globe. Well, senior scientist with the University of Minnesota Institute – Environment’s Global Landscapes Initiative, #Deepak Ray, discussed that this is already happening. ”Drawing down” on carbon emissions is key. Climate change is a very real concern. 

Climate change effects different places in different ways, as per Ray. In terms of food production being negatively impacted, places like Southern Africa, Europe, Australia and South Asia are feeling it the most. The United States is feeling it, too, specifically in places such as Illinois, where there has been a reduction in corn yield.  

Lewis Ziska, plant physiologist, was a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. He found, in working with the US Department of Agriculture, that CO2 levels rising could negatively affect the nutritional value of crops. Other impacted areas include floral development, which in turn negatively impacts bees and butterflies. There are serious risks with climate change when it comes to food. 

We need to do our part to lessen the impact of climate change. We need to take climate change seriously because it is and will continue to impact the food we eat. Consider small things that can be done in day to day life to make a difference for our planet, even if each change feels small. Taking action is key – we can’t just sit back and watch our planet suffer due to climate change.   

Sources: 

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/09/health/ipcc-report-food-security-climate-scn/index.html 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/opinion/climate-change-food-report.html 

Climate Change and the 2019 Democratic Debate

Last month, the presidential primary debates for the #Democratic Party kicked off in a two-night event in Miami, Florida. Among many hot button issues that were discussed, #climate change was among them. While some criticize that the topic of climate change was not given enough attention, others are hopeful that more emphasis will be placed on climate change policy in the coming months. 

Potential candidates from any political affiliation no longer have the luxury to push aside or ignore that something must be done about climate change once and for all. However, finding the right solution may prove to be more difficult than getting politicians and the public to care about climate change in the first place. 

Tensions Over the #Green New Deal and #Fossil Fuels 

Disagreements among the candidates were noted particularly when it came to the topic of the Green New Deal. Representatives such as Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) support the Green New Deal. Others like former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and former Maryland Representative John Delaney, are against the Green New Deal. Delaney’s biggest criticism of the Green New Deal is that the plan ties its progress to other issues that are unrelated to climate change, such as universal health care. Sanders argued back at this, stating that he is, “tired of Democrats afraid of big ideas,” and that the #fossil fuel industry is committing a massive criminal offense by destroying the planet for profit. According to Sanders, something drastic must be done. 

In response to Sanders’ rhetoric, Montana Governor Steve Bullock stated that Sanders’ unwavering focus on abolishing fossil fuels could be a potential turn off to voters in the industry from supporting the Democratic Party.  

Additionally, Bullock remarked that those in the fossil fuel industry have spent their lives powering the country up until now. Reorganizing an entire industry without the proper plans in place could backfire on the Democratic Party if the Green New Deal is to move forward in its entirety. 

Sanders responded by saying that he is not anti-worker and that any employees pushed out of the fossil fuel industry will be supported and transitioned into new jobs. How Sanders plans to make this guarantee an actuality is still unclear. According to his campaign website, there is little information other than a consistent echo of “thousands of good paying jobs will be created” once the transition from fossil fuels to a widespread, renewable #energy system takes place. With no detailed outline for how thousands, if not millions, of workers will survive financially and economically during this transition, it is understandable why Governor Steve Bullock and others vying for the Democratic nomination are apprehensive about Senator Sanders’ bold claims.  

Socialism as a Solution – or a Set Back? 

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper stated during the debate that the policies being supported by his fellow Democrats in the Green New Deal border on socialism. Hickenlooper stated that we simply “can’t promise every American a government job,” and that demonizing fossil fuel and oil companies is not the way to solve climate change. According to Hickenlooper, socialist tendencies and similar ideologies will not bring about a sustainable solution.  

Climate Change Policy Proposals Released This Year 

Just this past May, former Vice President Joe Biden released a “middle ground” approach to fighting climate change, which faced heavy criticism almost immediately despite coinciding some of its plans with the Green New Deal. Senator Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and environmental activists across the nation spoke out against Biden’s climate change plan. The most prevalent criticisms expressed that we cannot afford to take a middle ground approach when it comes to climate change. According to most Democratic nominee hopefuls, more aggressive action is needed if we are to avoid catastrophic conditions on Earth as climate change continues to worsen. 

Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) also released a climate change proposal this year back on July 25. Her plan highlights what many of the other Democratic presidential candidates also support, including a 10 trillion-dollar investment into clean energy, a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, and a “just transition for workers that may lose their jobs in the process.” 

Moving Forward to Fight Climate Change 

To continue the climate change discussion that began during the Democratic presidential candidate debates, CNN plans to host a Democratic presidential town hall event on September 4. Only eight of the candidates that met the Democratic Nation Committee’s polling threshold will be invited. It is anticipated that more detailed plans of how the candidates plan to fight climate change will be revealed. 

Resources: 

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01082019/2020-presidential-debate-climate-change-question-democrats-green-new-deal-global-warming 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/democratic-hopefuls-clash-on-climate-action-during-debate/ 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/second-democratic-debate-highlights-divergence-on-green-new-deal/ 

https://www.vox.com/2019/6/25/18715447/green-new-deal-climate-change-first-democrat-debate 

Amazon Announces New Solar and Wind Projects

#Amazon recently announced that it will invest in a brand new #solar and wind project in both #Ireland and the United States. Production is expected to start in 2020. And the details are quite impressive!  

In Cork, Ireland, a wind farm is anticipated to generate a great deal of #energy each year – to the tune of 68,000–megawatt hours – this is equal to just over 23 MW of capacity. Out in Pittsylvania County, #Virginia will be a solar farm capable of producing 100,000 MWh of energy per year – this is equal to 45 MW of capacity. The numbers are certainly impressive. For the record, when discussing capacity, one is referring to the total amount that can be produced by installations rather than what is currently being generated.  

Amazon’s Solar Projects Are Changing the World 

Amazon’s solar projects are currently making some huge, much-needed changes for our planet. The additions of the aforementioned solar and wind projects are going to bring the total number of renewable energy projects for Amazon up to 66. Data centers for Amazon Web Services will benefit from the energy supplied. And you might be impressed to read that solar projects for Amazon in the U.S. alone have counterbalanced the equivalent of 200 million miles worth of deliveries by truck thanks to the amount of carbon dioxide being offset.  

#Kara Hurst, director of sustainability for Amazon, discussed in a statement how important it is to address our carbon footprint on a global level, and investments in clean energy such as wind and solar are a major step in doing this. Hurst mentioned that Amazon will keep investing in similar projects. She recognizes the importance of reducing climate change induced by humans when possible. Clearly, this is a forward-thinking company committed to the future of our planet.  

Again, Amazon now has a total of 66 renewable energy projects (including solar) globally – it just so happens that 51 of these projects encompass solar rooftops. The total capacity for Amazon’s renewable energy projects is admirable – they can deliver more than 3.9 million MWh of energy on an annual basis.   

In Ireland, a #Climate Action Plan wants to see 70 percent of electricity come from renewable sources (such as solar energy) over the course of the next decade, by 2030. Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, discussed the importance of industry leadership in reaching this goal. There is no doubt that Ireland is making strides toward becoming a clean energy leader.  

Other Major Companies Going Solar 

Amazon isn’t the only major company going solar and taking advantage of renewable energy. Other companies are doing the same thing. In accordance with the Solar Energy Industries Association, #Apple has the most installed solar capacity in the United States. In the 2018 Solar Means Business Report, on-site and off-site solar installations were looked at. The top spot went to Apple. Their Cupertino, CA headquarters happens to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, from sources such as biogas fuel cells and solar installations. Specifically, the company has more than 393 MW of installed capacity, including 17 MW of rooftop solar installations. 

Other companies on the list included #Walmart, Target, and Google. Target was one of the top three according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, with just over 242 MW of installed solar capacity. 

Corporate Solar Adoption is Clearly Growing 

As per the Solar Energy Industries Association, corporate solar adoption is increasing. The numbers over the last few years have been quite impressive. As a matter of fact, since 2016, more than half of the total capacity has been installed in the United States.  

It is always fascinating to learn about the latest solar and wind projects. Staying up to date regarding solar news offers hope that there are both individuals and organizations that care about making a positive difference for the health of our planet. Consider differences that could be made on a smaller-scale regarding clean energy solutions. If we all make an effort, we can make a huge impact on our planet.  

Sources: 

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/02/amazon-announces-new-renewable-energy-projects-in-the-us-and-ireland.html 

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/08/06/amazon-increases-global-renewable-energy-projects-to-66-including-51-solar-rooftops/ 

Solar Roads: Disappointing Outcomes from Around the World

Innovators in the #solar #energy field have long since been trying to integrate #solar panels in with the items we use every day. With everything from solar cars to solar blinds, it is becoming more and more common to see solar panels meshed right into the fabric of our daily lives. Since not every home or building structure can accommodate traditional solar panels, finding creative ways to get solar energy to consumers has been a necessary challenge.  

Among the triumphs to emerge from the solar energy community in the last decade or so, there have also been some major disappointments. In particular, the world’s first #solar road has proven to be a complete failure.  

France’s Solar Road 

When the solar road in Normandy Village in France first opened in December of 2016 with the help of Wattway, there were high hopes for the project. Initially, a one-kilometer stretch of road (around 0.6 miles) was used to set up this solar-powered highway. Overall, the project was anticipated to cover nearly 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) of road by the time of its completion. However, now that testing results from the solar road have been reviewed and released, further construction on this mammoth solar project may be on hold. 

Falling Short of Expectations 

The initial one-kilometer stretch of solar road was predicted to generate enough solar power to provide for at least 5,000 homes. If the solar road project is completed in its entirety, the 1,000-kilometer stretch could provide solar power for up to 5 million homes. Unfortunately, the solar road started experiencing issues almost immediately, much to the dismay of supporters and proponents of the solar road. 

According to an organization called Global Construction Review, it was determined that the solar panels placed on the road are not nearly as resilient as they should be. Shortly after the solar panels were installed, they began to degrade, peel away, and splinter. A portion of the road was even removed after being damaged beyond repair.  

Global Construction Review stated in their report that the engineers of the solar road did not account for the wear and tear on the road from things like heavy trucks and trailers, natural weather conditions, and mold. The solar road is also much less efficient than originally anticipated, only generating 149,459-kilowatt-hours per year. Initial estimates stated that the solar road would generate up to 790-kilowatt-hours per day. This equates to nearly 288,350-kilowatt-hours per year, making the solar road panels even less efficient than regular, freestanding solar panels.  

Solar Road Struggles Worldwide 

The solar roadway in France is just one of several attempts that have been made to create viable #solar roads. In the United States, a portion of a roadway near Route 66 was paved in solar panels by the Missouri Department of Transportation. Like the France solar roadway, this project also proved to be impractical and inefficient. China also made the same attempt with a one-kilometer stretch of road, but found that the solar road did not generate enough power to be deemed viable as a long-term solution. 

In the Netherlands in 2015, a solar pathway was constructed for bikes and pedestrians. The SolaRoad was anticipated to do well in terms of longevity, thanks to the absence of any vehicles. However, while the solar path has durability, it lacks sustainability. It is estimated that the costs to build the bike path could have purchased 520,000 kilowatts of electricity. For such a large investment, the solar path only brought a return of 3,000 kilowatts during its first year. 

Is There Any Hope for Solar Roads? 

Overall, things are not looking too good for solar roads. We have yet to see a company construct a solar road or pathway that is both cost-effective, practical for widespread use, and durable. Not to mention, the solar road needs to generate enough clean energy to surrounding cities and residences if they are to be worth constructing in the first place. So far, we have seen a lot of money thrown at solar roads with little return. Until we can find a way to match costs and efficiency with energy output and durability, it is unlikely that we will see solar roads in our towns and cities any time soon.  

Resources: 

https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/blog/whats-happening-solar-roads-01162018 

https://www.curbed.com/2019/7/25/8929870/france-solar-roadway-experiment-normandy