The following report from GreenPeace detailed below is the latest in a long line of research showing that the United States has the technical capability to transition to renewable energy. While such research indicates the vast of possibilities before us in the form of wind and solar power, such technologies remain largely under utilized due to a lack of political will on the part of our leaders. For this reason, System Change Not Climate Change sees the necessity of building movements from below that foster people power and force immediate action on the part of decision makers on top of the political ladder. Without an eventual (r)evolution in our social order towards a fundamentally democratic society, nature will continue to be pilfered in the interest of profit. In other words, this report is only half the story, its up to us to write the rest. — SNCCC
The United States can quickly transition to nearly 100% renewable energy and phase out coal and nuclear power, according to a major new report from Greenpeace and the Global Wind Energy Council. Energy [R]evolution – A Sustainable USA Energy Outlook provides a blueprint for transforming our electricity, transportation, and heating systems to dramatically reduce carbon pollution, and demonstrates to policymakers and investors that rapid changes in the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy are possible and cost effective.
“Growing concerns about climate change and air pollution, along with quickly falling costs of renewable energy, are already upending the utility industry’s business model and threatening to turn fossil fuel reserves into stranded assets,” said Sven Teske, a renewable energy expert with Greenpeace International. “The Energy [R]evolution report demonstrates that the rapid changes in the energy sector could expand dramatically, with major implications for many industries.”
The Energy [R]evolution details how by 2050, renewable energy sources could provide around 97% of electricity produced in the USA and 94% of our total heating and cooling demand, accounting for around 92% of our final energy demand. The blueprint would lead to about 1.5 million energy-related jobs in 2030 – 35% more than projected under the “business as usual” scenario outlined by the Energy Information Agency 2013 Annual Outlook.
By phasing out coal and oil, fuel cost savings in the scenario described would be $6.1 trillion, or $153 billion per year, and overall costs would be about 50% lower than the government outlook. The United States would reduce carbon pollution 39% by 2025 and 60% by 2030 (below 2005 levels).
“The most recent National Climate Assessment makes it very clear that we need national policies to expedite a clean energy economy. Fortunately, the energy market is phasing out coal and phasing in renewable energy at a rapid pace, but this must be quickened to avoid climate consequences much worse than the wildfires, droughts, and superstorms the country is already experiencing,” said Kyle Ash, Senior Legislative Representative for Greenpeace USA, “We need policymakers to stop enabling fossil fuel companies, and to make these climate polluters responsible for the damage they are doing.”
This report is the latest in a series of global, regional, and national Energy [R]evolution scenarios which are available at www.energyblueprint.info.
Energy [R]evolution – A Sustainable USA Energy Outlook is available here.
