Climate Change ‘Laboratory’ for Governors Island

#Governors Island (in NYC) has a history that is uncommon. You might know it as the patch of land with an ice cream cone-like shape to it, or you might be familiar with some of the history of the 170 plus acre area of land. At one point, it was a Civil War prison. Close to the end of the Cold War, it served as a gathering place for President Ronald Reagan when he met with Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader. Where does #climate change come in to the picture? Keep reading!

Climate Change Laboratory: How Will It Work?  

Control of the island was turned over by the federal government to the state of New York in 2003, and since this point, the search has been on for how to pay for the island’s maintenance – this is where climate change comes in. The island has needed a revenue source and a purpose. A new concept has come to light regarding its use and climate change – the island could serve as the host of a climate change “laboratory”. More than 4 million square feet on the island’s southern section could become a climate change laboratory. The climate change test center could be utilized for educational and commercial use – to put it simply, it could ultimately serve as a learning center for managing climate change.  

As per a request for suggestions sent by the city to contractors, the climate change-focused plan discusses transforming Governors Island into a center for climate change adaption exploration. Points examined regarding climate change would include policy making and commercialization.  

Addressing Climate Change Concerns

This climate change proposal is a reflection of the challenges that global warming brings to NY and other coastal cities – for instance, demand for building along the water is rising even though storms are worsening and seas are rising as a result of climate change.  

The New York Harbor location of Governors Island means it is exposed to storms and flooding, as per Michael #Samuelian, who was once in charge of the trust that runs Governors Island. His belief is that this is an ideal place to focus on climate change education and adaption.  

What Will the Climate Change Adaptation Lab Look Like? 

Consultants have been asked to consider ideas for a climate change lab. A “pitch deck” for this climate change lab is one option, in which ideas could be sold to universities and foundations. 

#Alicia Glen served as deputy mayor until just recently. Now, Glen heads Governor Island’s Board of the Trust. She discussed how the goal is to turn this location into a “living laboratory” that focuses on how to deal with certain problems regarding climate change in an urban setting. Moreover, the climate change laboratory project would assist in paying for maintenance for the island. Generating money with development opportunities will help the island to be sustainable.  

As per #Clare Newman, Samuelian’s successor, transforming Governors Island into a place for climate change-adaptation research could not only keep the public engaged but it could tap into a certain concentration of workers in NY, like engineers and architects.  

In accordance with those familiar with this plan, the climate change–focused vision for Governors Island reverberates its tech-themed improvement of Roosevelt Island. (You might recall that almost a decade ago, universities were invited to New York to compete for an opportunity to build a graduate center on Roosevelt Island for applied sciences. Cornell University, the winner, opened a campus there in 2017).  

In regard to Governors Island, while a judicious approach might have been to just avoid developing there altogether, Samuelian discussed how he could see “more value in making the island an example of how development can coexist with rising water.” He mentioned how that could involve buildings raised up on stilts, or structures that could be pulled apart and relocated.  

Climate Change Action

Keep following climate change news to stay on top of happenings across the country. We must pay attention to climate change, which is occurring right before our eyes, and take action!  

Sources: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/06/climate/governors-island-climate-change-new-york.html 

https://ny.curbed.com/2019/10/7/20902581/nyc-governors-island-climate-change-laborator 

Russia Officially Joins the Paris Agreement

After months of speculation and tensions regarding #Russia’s commitment to fighting #climate change, the Russian Federation has officially joined the #Paris Agreement. Seeing as Russia is the world’s fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it is fair to say that it is about time their participation became official. 

Ruslan Edelgeriev, Vladimir #Putin’s climate advisor, spoke at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September. He discussed Russia’s impacts on climate change, as well as the country’s newfound commitment to join the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and other factors contributing to climate change.  

Alexey Kokorin, World Wildlife Fund climate program director of Russia, mentioned to Climate Home News that “Russia recognizes the importance of the climate problem,” and is not in opposition to its impacts.  

However, there is still work to be done in terms of Russia’s current climate change commitments. According to the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), an independent scientific analysis organization that has been globally tracking climate change efforts since 2009, their current pledges have been labeled as “critically insufficient” — the lowest score one can achieve according to their scale. 

Climate officer for Greenpeace, Vasily Yablokov is optimistic that Russia’s adoption of the Paris Agreement will, “increase the chances of preventing a global climate catastrophe.” That is, if action is taken immediately. Yablokov is adamant that, “there is no time left for compromises and attempts to maintain the status quo of fossil power.”  

Putin’s Resistance to Climate Change 

While Putin has never outright stated that he is a climate change denier, he has at times turned a blind eye to the impacts Russia has had on climate change. He has even joked that Russia could use warmer weather so that the country’s citizens might spend less on winter coats and enjoy the benefits of increased crop yields. However, Putin isn’t laughing now – especially after the release of the most recent climate change report. According to the National Weather Service, the average temperature in Russia alone is increasing by 0.47 degrees Celsius every 10 years, according to data collected between 1976 and 2018. This increase is 150% faster than global averages.  

In light of this statistic, Putin stated back in July that continuing to use traditional methods of #energy output and consumption “inevitably means new risks and further climate change.” In the same breath, however, Putin has mentioned that any decrease in fuel exports may harm economic growth in Russia. Russian economist Igor Makarov, with the assistance of collaborators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, estimated that Russia’s economic growth will slow by 0.2%-0.3% per year if all countries achieve the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement. 

The Russian government is currently in the process of reviewing laws that will regulate greenhouse gas emissions, as well as plans for low-carbon development and adaptation. 

The Paris Agreement – What’s Next? 

The Paris Agreement was first formed in December of 2015 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris. It is a landmark agreement that brings together various nations for a common cause, namely, a global effort to combat climate change. Each country that agrees to the Paris Agreement must outline their plans for post-2020 climate change initiatives through what are known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDC’s. Since its genesis, 196 countries have joined the Paris Agreement.  

The Paris Agreement addresses all facets contributing to climate change, including the pursuit of efforts that will keep global temperatures from rising, taking all possible measures to minimize the impacts of climate change, as well as education, transparency, and global cooperation. 

There are eleven countries that have yet to join the Paris Agreement, including Iran, Iraq, Angola, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, Yemen, Oman, Eritrea, and Suriname. 

Combating climate change is ultimately a global effort. To see any kind of changes in the coming decades that will ensure the sustainability of our planet, all world leaders will need to work together to financially and economically follow through with the tasks laid out in the Paris Agreement and each NDC. Russia’s official commitment to fighting climate change comes not a moment too soon and we can hope that other countries may begin to do the same. 

Resources 

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2019/09/23/russia-formally-joins-paris-climate-agreement/ 

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/09/24/even-putin-is-now-worried-about-climate-change-a67404 

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement 

Solar Microgrids in the Bahamas: What They Mean for the Future

The #Caribbean islands were recently battered by a hurricane, and they might end up becoming a place to test out #solar, shedding some light on what the future might hold when it comes to renewable power.

There is no doubt that climate change is changing our planet – stronger storms have hit us, seas are rising, ice is melting – even weather patterns are starting to shift. The islands are proving this – just look at Hurricane #Maria and Hurricane #Dorian and the damage they brought to Puerto Rico and the #Bahamas. But could these islands be part of the climate change movement? Where does solar power come into the picture? Keep reading about efforts being made to create and use solar microgrids.

Solar-Powered Microgrids

Solar-powered microgrids function as a renewable, clean way to provide power. Solar microgrids could transform the Caribbean so that it turns into a testing ground for clean #energy. There is a great deal of opportunity for islands to go solar.

The clean, solar effort is called the Islands Energy Program, and senior director at the place leading the effort (#Rocky Mountain Institute), #Justin Locke, discussed how islands have become climate change victims. The goal is to install new, innovative solar systems which will prove positive change can happen. Rocky Mountain Institute has been working for years on solar and other clean solutions in the Caribbean.

How Solar Could Benefit the Caribbean

In the Caribbean islands, electricity comes at a high cost. There is reliance on diesel fuel, which is imported, and energy costs up to four times more than it does elsewhere in the United States. Infrastructure has high costs. Solar power makes complete sense on a financial and practical level.

Locke discussed how the renewable, clean energy economy in this region – solar plus batteries – is equivalent if not less expensive than fossil fuels. So the Caribbean makes sense as a starting point in the universal, solar energy evolution.

Caribbean governments are taking action. At this point, approximately 225 megawatts of solar capacity has been installed on parking canopies, rooftops, and on land. And the quickest growing power source for numerous Caribbean islands is solar.

Solar Developments

Rocky Mountain Institute worked with the Bahamian government prior to Dorian happening to install a solar #microgrid to the tune of $2 million on #Ragged Island. This is a smaller island that experienced major power problems after #Hurricane Irma back in 2017.

Solar offers the opportunity to store energy while the sun is shining and it can work to distribute energy when skies are dark. As a matter of fact, a solar microgrid that consisted of both batteries and solar panels had the ability to produce 97 percent of the island’s power. The solar microgrid was made to be resistant to a hurricane – to be more precise, a Category 5 Hurricane, which is no easy feat as this is the strongest kind of hurricane. Not relying on fossil fuels is financially-savvy, and over the next five years, the expectation is that the solar, green upgrades will pay for themselves.

Remember the delay when it came to getting the power grid back online in Puerto Rico after Maria? This proves the benefits of dispersed green power. Distributed solar power would mean power comes back on with less of a delay – think, prior to the arrival of relief teams.

After Hurricane Dorian’s damaging path through the Bahamas this past summer, RMI has been asked by the nation’s government to assist in updating the power system. A 1-megawatt solar car park was installed prior to the storm in Nassau. RMI hopes that by adding stations to the solar infrastructure they can drive more investment in clean energy.

Dr. Hubert Minnis, Bahamas Prime Minister, discussed a vision to deliver first-rate clean energy technology. The goal is to generate 30 percent of power from clean energy sources, such as solar, by 2030, according to the Bahamian government.

RMI has plans to install a solar microgrid on Abaco, which is one of five islands that will benefit from a $2 million campaign to get rid of an outdated diesel fuel system and replace it with a solar friendly options. There is another campaign encouraging clean energy ono a smaller scale – the goal is to install solar for residences on Family Islands.

According to Locke, this is only the beginning. Keep following solar news to stay in the know about solar microgrids in the Bahamas!

Sources:

https://www.curbed.com/2019/9/26/20885164/hurricane-dorian-bahamas-solar-power-microgrid

https://microgridknowledge.com/microgrids-bahamas-dorian/

 

Hot Springs, Arkansas Now the Seventh City in the U.S. to Commit to 100% Solar Energy

Hot Springs, #Arkansas is set to join six other cities across the U.S. in a commitment run solely on 100% #solar and #renewable energies. The switch to solar-powered utility and other #renewable energy sources will save the city nearly $30 million over the next several decades. City manager Bill Burrough, who is responsible for all city departments, funding, and supervision, stated that he “is always looking for initiatives to become greener, to take care of our environment, and look at opportunities to lower costs.” 

Hot Springs is already the largest city in Arkansas to rely on #solar energy, making this transition most feasible in this particular area. Bill Halter, CEO of Scenic Hill Solar, is in full support of the commitment and will be helping oversee the construction of solar power plants across 80 acres of land in the city. 

Other Cities Aiming for Complete Solar and Clean #Energy Reliance 

The six other cities working towards becoming 100% reliant on renewable and solar utility in the next several decades include Burlington, Vermont; Georgetown, Texas; Aspen, Colorado; Greenburg, Kansas; Rockport, Missouri; and Kodiak Island, Alaska. Several other cities including Kansas City, San Diego, and Cincinnati have also made similar commitments, hoping to convert to 100% clean energy within 40 years. 

State and Worldwide Solar and Renewable Energy Statistics 

In the global effort to implement renewable and solar energy resources, the United States is not the only country making significant strides. In Europe in 2017, for example, 17.5 percent of energy consumption in that region was derived from sources other than fossil fuels.  

There is still plenty of more work that will need to be done across the U.S. when it comes to solar and renewable energy implementation, especially when certain statistics are taken into account. The University of Michigan’s Center for Sustainable Systems released a factsheet stating that 80 percent of energy consumed in the U.S. is still generated from fossils fuels. 37 percent comes from petroleum, 29 percent from natural gas, 8.6 percent from nuclear power, and 11 percent from solar and renewable energy resources. Additionally, while wind energy is quickly becoming the fastest–growing source of renewable energy generation, it still only accounts for around 2.4 percent of the energy used in the U.S. 

Can the World Give Up Fossil Fuels Entirely? 

As solar energy is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, we must ask ourselves – is 100% solar and renewable energy dependence possible? That is, can we hope to completely abolish greenhouse gas emissions in favor of these solar and other alternatives? And if so, how will this shift impact jobs, economic movement, and other factors? 

One particular study aimed to find out the answers to these questions. The study titled 100% Clean and Renewable Wind, Water, and Sunlight All-Sector Energy Roadmaps for 139 Countries of the World was published back in 2017. Mark Z. Jacobson, one of the lead researchers of the study, found that he was surprised by the study results, stating that multiple countries have the sufficient resources available to be 100% powered by solar, wind, and other renewable utilities. The roadmaps laid out in the study provide guidelines for how various countries across the world can power all energy sectors, such as transportation, agriculture, and heating/cooling, with 100% wind, water, and solar power. If these particular roadmaps ever come to full fruition by 2050, it is estimated that the world can avoid the 1.5°C global warming, increase worldwide access to solar and renewable utilities, and ultimately see 24.3 million full-time jobs created.  

Solar is the Way of the Future 

The buzz around solar power isn’t going away any time soon. Solar energy implementation is just starting to take off. We will likely see more studies published about the effects of solar energy implementation on our planet in the coming years. We can look to solar utility as a positive step forward for all countries across the world. The more we can keep talking about solar energy, the more likely solar energy will become the norm. 

You can read the solar and renewable energy study published by Joule here: https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(17)30012-0 

Resources:  

https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/100-percent-renewable-energy?rebelltitem=1

https://www.newsweek.com/hot-springs-arkansas-switching-over-100-percent-solar-energy-joining-only-6-other-cities-us-1460304 

Millions Strike in Largest Climate Change Rally Ever

Last week’s strike on #climate change inaction saw millions of people from across the globe participating – as a matter of fact, the number might have been as high as 4 million. 

Protestors came out to bring attention to the climate change crisis from Antarctica to Berlin, and from New Delhi to London. This happened ahead of the United Nations (UN) #Climate Action Summit, which is about to kick off.  

Fighting Climate Change in NYC 

Students were excused from classes in New York City. This allowed more than 1 million students to be dismissed to participate and voice their concerns over climate change. The preliminary crowd estimate, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio, was 60,000, but the number might have been more like a quarter of a million, which makes this particular strike surrounding climate change inaction potentially the biggest protest in the United States that day.  

Fighting Climate Change Worldwide  

Crowd size estimates vary. As per organizers, the climate change demonstrations that were the largest in size were in Australia (100,000 people protested in Melbourne alone); London saw roughly 100,000; and Berlin saw 270,000 climate change activists step forward. The United States had a solid turnout, too, as roughly 2,000 climate change activists came out in Portland and Washington, D.C.; 3,000 came out in Chicago; 7,000 came out in Boston; 7,500 came out in Denver; and 40,000 climate change activists came out to make their voices heard in San Francisco.  

How did this massive global movement start? Look to a teenager named #Greta Thunberg. At 16-years-old, she is said to have sparked this global climate change movement. She participated in the strike in New York City. Together with other organizers, she estimates that the worldwide crowd was around 4 million. This is substantial and absolutely worth talking about – it demonstrates that people across the globe believe climate change is real, or better yet – know it is real, and want to do something about it.  

Thunberg discussed how approximately 4 million people were striking around the world. She mentioned how it was the biggest strike regarding climate change in history and that “we should be so proud of ourselves.”  

Her estimates on the climate change strike appear to be accurate.  

Standing Up to Climate Change Inaction 

This past March saw more than 1.4 million across the globe (according to organizers) take part in the first worldwide strike regarding climate change. In the United States, roughly 100,000 young people participated. Participation increased at the second global climate change strike which took place in May.  

The numbers are absolutely worth looking into, even though it can be difficult to be precise. The Crowd Funding Consortium has researchers attempting to document crowd size estimates worldwide. This effort is being led by Erica Chenoweth, Harvard Professor, and Jeremy Pressman, Professor at University of Connecticut.  

Pressman told USA TODAY that data is collected on as many protests as possible, by consulting traditional media and social media, as well as listings and maps provided by organizers.  

Here is how the recent climate change strikes look in comparison to other strikes – the Women’s March was estimated to have 4 million show up in the United States alone, making it one of the biggest protests in world history. In France, close to 4 million people marched after the Charlie Hebdo attack in 2015, in unity against terrorism. Up to 15 million protested during the 2003 protests against the war in Iraq.  

According to Pressman, data is still being put together on the crowd size in last week’s climate change strike. The number of locations that participated are making it difficult to come up with a precise number, but it is a work in progress. Either way, many people are concerned about climate change, as they should be.  

What is Next? 

People care about climate change and want to do what they can to save our planet. The strikes are not over yet. #Earth Strike is coming up next. It is going to be a worldwide walkout taking place in just a few days on September 27th.  

The time to take climate change seriously is now. And it looks as though many people realize this truth. Do you plan on using your voice to fight inaction on the climate change crisis? Was your city involved in the recent climate change strike? Stay in the know and don’t ever underestimate the power one person has to make a difference!  

Sources: 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/21/global-climate-strike-estimates-crowd-size-millions-worldwide/2401672001/ 

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/greta-thunberg-tells-leaders-we-are-united-and-unstoppable-1.4026363 

 

Greta Thunberg, 16-years old, is One of the World’s Leading Climate Change Activists

This past month on September 13th, the White House was visited by a swarm of teenage girls demanding that the grownups inside ‘stop acting like children’ and start taking #climate change seriously. The protest is part of an ongoing series of demonstrations known as #Fridays for Future, in which school-aged children leave school and spend the afternoon raising awareness for climate change. Fridays for Future originated in Europe and was started by #Greta Thunberg, a 16-year old climate change activist that has been making headlines since this summer. Her climate change initiatives have inspired children and teens in nearly 100 cities to lead similar demonstrations. 

Greta #Thunberg first drew international attention when she sailed solo on a #solar-powered yacht to reach New York City in August to attend the United Nations Climate Summit on September 23rd. Thunberg will be speaking at the Summit in Lower Manhattan to directly address the UN, all thanks to her willingness to be outspoken on climate change issues. 

Thunberg’s Message and Movement 

In an interview with PBS, Thunberg stated that her climate change activism began the moment she learned about climate change in school. Her immediate thought was, “if it [climate change] is really as serious as they are saying it is, then why isn’t it being discussed more?” From that day forward, Thunberg has made it her mission to stand up to global leaders and be the voice of an entire generation working to fight climate change.  

Thunberg has repeatedly stated in interviews that her generation is “the future” and will be the ones who will ultimately have to adapt and live with the worsening effects of climate change crisis. This is why it has been so important for her to spread her message – and rightfully so. Her sense of urgency surrounding climate change issues, as well as her growing presence in movements around the world, should be admired, and ultimately, emulated. 

Criticism for Thunberg’s Climate Change Activism 

As with anyone trying to change the world, however, Thunberg has not been without her fair share of critics. A great deal of criticism arose not only prior to her #solar-powered sailboat ride to New York City, but in the weeks following her expedition. The construction of the sailboat alone cost £4,000,000 – roughly $4,990,960 in U.S. dollars. The carbon-neutral boat was outfitted with solar panels and underwater turbines, providing clean electricity to power the craft. Ultimately, her solar-powered boat was to raise awareness regarding the high emissions put off by airplanes.  

Her boycott of flight in exchange for the solar-powered boat may have had good intentions, but there is a major problem. To get her boat back to Europe, two experienced sailors needed to reach New York City – via airplanes. This fact alone has raised questions as to whether or not Thunberg’s solar-powered boat was worth its costs and if it has done anything to help climate change at all, besides raise some publicity. 

#Flight Shame in Europe and Around the World 

Thunberg’s incentive to use solar-powered boats is a reaction to a climate change movement that has been taking place in Europe. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. A single round trip flight from San Francisco to New York emits one-fifth of these gases. These statistics have prompted a new phenomenon known as ‘flight shame’ or ‘Flygskam’ as it is known in Thunberg’s native Sweden. Flight shame is what ultimately sparked Thunberg’s boat ride and the growing anti-air travel movement. Sweden air travel has already dropped by 3.8% in the first half of 2019 alone. Additionally, the German Green Party has proposed that all domestic flights are made obsolete as much as possible by 2035. 

Thunberg’s Impending UN Speech 

Thunberg’s speech at the upcoming climate change summit in New York City will not be the first time she has addressed international leaders. Back in 2018, she delivered a speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. In her standard bold fashion, Thunberg’s 2018 UN speech included the sentiment that “you say you love your children above all else, and yet you’re stealing their future in front of their very eyes.” Her ultimate message? “We cannot solve the crisis without treating it as a crisis.” We can expect to hear similar statements during her upcoming speech when she addresses the UN again later this month. 

Resources: 

https://www.businessinsider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-greta-thunberg-flight-shame-movement-germany-sweden-2019-8 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/nyregion/greta-thunberg-new-york.html 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/climate-warrior 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/greta-thunbergs-sailing-wont-help-the-climate-at-all 

Solar Hyperloop – Is This the Future?

You might have heard of a new form of transport that is in development, called a #Hyperloop. This system could send passengers traveling in floating pods through tubes, below or above ground, at more than 700 miles per hour. If this sounds like something straight out of a stellar sci-fi flick, or just the future, that’s because it basically is – it is an incredible, innovative concept that is coming to life as this article is being written. But even better, #solar is involved. What does it all have to do with solar?   

The Future of Transportation…And Solar 

The future of transportation was recently on display in Kansas City – people were able to take a look at the first Hyperloop pod, better known as XP-1.  

This particular mode of transportation would be able to connect travelers from St. Louis to Kansas City in less than half an hour. This is a fascinating way to move people and goods fast. Thanks to an electric engine and magnets, a person would be able to travel at hundreds of miles an hour, realistically while holding a beverage in their hand. Keep reading to see where solar power comes in…

The several billion–dollar project in Kansas City could become a reality within the next decade – the Missouri Hyperloop is a groundbreaking conception. This would obviously change how we travel. Goods could be delivered within an hour. We could connect with family members at the other end of the state at super speed. The possibilities are endless, just like there are so many possibilities with solar power.   

But what does this Hyperloop system have to do with solar? Keep reading, because the solar design is in the works!  

A Solar Hyperloop 

Now envision a (solar) Hyperloop network that is eco-friendly in design – think forests with wind turbines, modules that are powered by solar, and urban farming spaces and parks. Imagine a solar-powered dream! The good news is, someone already has imagined this solar creation.  

#Elon Musk and Solar Goals

Hyperloop was first thought up by Elon Musk as a speedy transport technology. Transporting people through low-pressure steel tubes is both enthralling and ultramodern. The goal is to create connectivity between people and cities. The new design has been made by #MAD, Chinese architects, in partnership with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. MAD discussed how solar panel skin modules, which are able to bend, would make up the solar-friendly transportation tunnels. Along the Hyperloop system, you would find forests filled with wind turbines in addition to the inclusion of solar panels – the transportation network would use these forms of wind and solar power, and they would allow for a decrease in #energy costs. 

Solar-Friendly All Around! 

One would not have to worry about traffic, because the solar–powered Hyperloop system would be placed above ground (roughly 7 meters high). This solar-friendly system would also allow land to be utilized in other ways because the space would be available. Now imagine green walkways and parks. How could you possibly dream up anything more innovative? This is a solar masterpiece!  

If you are not already impressed enough with this wind and solar-friendly transport system, consider this – urban farming opportunities have been incorporated into the design, with crop growing facilities included. Talk about taking things to solar heights! 

Where would one find a solar Hyperloop? It could go practically anywhere – a city, a farm, or even the desert. Speaking of the desert, pilot tubes have gone up in deserts in Dubai, and in warehouses in Europe, revolutionary pods are being revealed. Many large corporations are investing in this concept. Realistically, a solar Hyperloop could be coming to a city near you.  

It was reported to CNN by a Virgin Hyperloop One spokesman that there was hope a service could be running within the next decade, by 2029. This is certainly solar news worth staying on top of – so keep in the solar loop (no pun intended) and stay on top of the latest news to come out of the world of solar! Forward-thinking individuals and companies alike committed to solar and clean energy are working hard to bring major changes to the way we do things to improve our planet, save energy and of course to save costs, as an added bonus.  

Sources: 

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/solar-powered-hyperloop-intl-scli-scn/index.html 

https://fox4kc.com/2019/09/13/the-chance-to-see-the-future-hyperloop-test-pod-on-display-in-kansas-city-this-saturday/