SALT LAKE CITY – A new report notes that Utah is between the 41 states and the District of Columbia for 12-year relief on greenhouse fuel emissions, even as economies grew at an immediate rate.
The World Resources Institute’s paintings emphasize that white power and a thriving economy can pass hand in hand and hand in hand.
“America’s New Climate Economy” He said that overall, from 2005 to 2018, the U. S. gross domestic product grew by 25%, even amid a 12% relief in greenhouse gas or CO2 emissions.
Utah saw its GDP grow by more than 40% between 2005 and 2017, while its greenhouse fuel emissions fell by 12. 9% over the same period.
“Today, the immediate deployment of solar, wind, battery, electric (EV) and electric power technologies provides imaginable information on what is imaginable in the transition to a low-carbon economy,” the report says. “Almost all segments of the decline – carbon markets are experiencing immediate value drops due to technological advances and stock market deployment. “
The report highlights several points at stake in reducing carbon emissions, adding the shift from coal to herbal gas, greater adoption of renewable energy and progress in vehicle emission standards.
Specifically, it sees increased solar energy use by 50% consistent with the year over the following decade, and US wind power in the middle of the year. But it’s not the first time It’s more than tripled in the last 10 years. As of September 2019, there were 1. 3 million electric cars in the country. roads, for a few hundred than 10 years.
A cleaner force transition is also coming in the future, with PacifiCorp proposing to close 4 coal-fired power plants in Wyoming that will be replaced by wind, sun and storage. It is estimated that this resolution will save your consumers $248 million over the next 20 years.
The report notes that the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic emphasizes that the United States will have to create a forged base that allows the U. S. economy to triumph over threats and challenges.
“Double low-carbon investment can only act as a short-term stimulus to revive the U. S. economy, but in the long run, they can also position the United States to address the risk posed by climate change,” the report says.
However, there are persistent vulnerabilities, he points out.
After federal investments in studies and progression in the 1990s made generation more feasible, U. S. corporations moved battery production to East Asian countries, countries that, and in particular China, have a production advantage that can also allow them to take the leadership position in generation. .
“In early 2019, of 316 gigawatt hours of global mobile lithium production capacity, China accounted for 73% and the United States accounted for 12%,” the report says.
And despite a record $78. 3 billion investment in blank energy in 2019 across the United States, it is still laying behind China in spending on renewable energy or electric transportation.
The United States, however, is making progress in manufacturing small and complex modular nuclear reactors that, according to the report, may be a domain of opportunity for the country if they compete with other low-carbon technologies.
“Given their length and operational flexibility, (reactors) can also have significant application in industries by replacing fossil fuels used for commercial heat processes, in addition to their use for power generation,” the report says. “Of course, critical problems similar to safety, non-proliferation, waste disposal and possible effects on local communities will need to be fully addressed. “
There are about two dozen modular reactor designs to enter the market, however, the report indicates that NuScale Power’s design has made the most progress towards the approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the company has signed memos with Canada, Jordan and Romania to implement its technology.
The Idaho National Laboratory is about to be part of one of the NuScale modular nuclear reactors, which is supported by a consortium of Utah municipal power suppliers.
Sarah Wright, executive director of Utah Clean Energy, said the new report highlights the need for a festival between a blank environment and a thriving economy.
“It’s a false selection, ” he said. There is no choice between fighting climate replacement and our economy. It probably provides one of the most productive opportunities we have to rebuild and in the long run. “
The United States has demonstrated its ability to recover from devastating global wars and other economic challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic will provide a platform for innovation and change,” Wright added.
“I think we can use this time not only in Utah but across the country to double carbon-free investment,” he said. “The WRI report illustrates the super opportunities before us. Array. No there is no explanation as to why we cannot be a leader in reducing greenhouse fuel emissions and continue to grow our economy. “