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HWN Suggests

Does ‘green energy’ have hidden health and environmental costs?

There are a number of available low-carbon technologies to generate electricity. But are they really better than fossil fuels and nuclear power?

To answer that question, one needs to compare not just the emissions of different power sources but also the health benefits and the threats to ecosystems of green energy.

Production of electricity is responsible for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, and demand is poised to rise as underserved populations connect to the grid, and electronics and electric vehicles proliferate. So stopping global warming will require a transformation of electricity production. But it is important to avoid various environmental pitfalls…

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Featured

  Green energy: our best bet to curb the climate crisis

From saving the oceans to preserving biodiversity, now is the time for global action.

 As Demand for Green Energy Grows, Solar Farms Face Local Resistance

Developers say industrial-scale farms are needed to meet the nation’s climate goals, but locals are fighting back against what they see as an encroachment on their pastoral settings.

 California’s Green-Energy Subsidies Spur a Gold Rush in Cow Manure

A lucrative state incentive to make natural gas from dairy waste is attracting companies from Amazon to Chevron.

 Gravity Could Solve Clean Energy’s One Major Drawback

Finding green energy when the winds are calm and the skies are cloudy has been a challenge. Storing it in giant concrete blocks could be the answer.

 Green energy: What it is and how it works

Green energy comes from sources that cause little-to-no impact on the world’s carbon footprint.

 Green energy: Which sources are the most sustainable?

Energy use accounts for almost 75% of global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Global energy demand is projected to more than double by 2050 as the population grows and economies shift. Transitioning to clean energy is essential to meeting global climate goals. How do we move away from so-called "dirty" energy towards a green energy revolution? The Economist answers your key questions.

 How might the world meet its clean energy needs

With the world attempting to reach net zero by the middle of this century, what sources of energy could feasibly replace fossil fuels?

 The global transition to clean energy, explained in 12 charts

Despite all the progress, we’re still struggling to hit the climate emergency brake.

 Why the US isn’t ready for clean energy

Making clean energy isn’t enough. We also have to move it.

 With Much of the World’s Economy Slowed Down, Green Energy Powers On

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has many businesses reeling, and the oil and gas industry in particular has been rocked by plummeting prices that have forced it to drastically cut production and lay off workers. But producers of clean energy are pushing hard to get their projects up and running.

Articles of Interest

America’s green energy industry takes on the fossil-fuel lobby

Renewable energy is growing fastest in conservative states. So why don’t Republicans love it?

Green Energy Needs to be Cheaper

So let’s invest in R&D instead of subsidies.

Green Smoke Screen

Supporters of “green energy” like to say it will create more jobs. They’re wrong.

How nuclear power figures into a green energy future

NPR's David Folkenflik speaks with former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz about the role of nuclear power in a green energy future.

Maybe Green Energy Needs ‘Information Batteries' Too

This is a new idea, so it hasn’t been deployed in the real world, but it has plenty of potential use cases.

This Dam Simple Trick Is a Big Green Energy Win

Only a small fraction of dams actually produce electricity. Transforming them into hydropower plants might stop new ones from being built.

What is green energy?

And what’s the difference between green energy, renewable energy and clean energy? Often these terms are used interchangeably, but there are some differences. Here’s our simple guide.

What Would It Take to Run a City on 100 Percent Clean Energy?

Most claims of running on “clean” electricity come with caveats, and many technologies required for round-the-clock renewable energy aren’t quite ready yet.

Why the Energy Transition Will Be So Complicated

The degree to which the world depends on oil and gas is not well understood.

Resources

Green Energy Futures

Green Energy Futures is a multi-media storytelling project that is documenting the clean energy revolution that’s already underway. It tells the stories of green energy pioneers who are moving forward in their homes, businesses and communities.

Just Energy

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green energy provides the highest environmental benefit and includes power produced by solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, low-impact hydroelectric, and certain eligible biomass sources.