Robert Pollin Don Fitz’s response to my two interviews that Z generously republished makes two major assertions: 1) Reducing overall consumption and working fewer hours provides a viable path on its own to stabilizing the global climate; and 2) Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are not really “clean” even though they supply energy without generating CO2 … [Read more...] about Response to Don Fitz
renewable energy
Be Careful What Energy You Wish For
Don Fitz's response to Robert Pollin Climate change is an existential problem confronting humanity and Robert Pollin offers well thought-out plans in his first and second articles. There is only space here to respond to these themes: (1) We can reach zero CO2 emissions by 2050; (2) An enormous expansion of alternative energy (AltE) can create far more jobs than would be lost … [Read more...] about Be Careful What Energy You Wish For
Let’s Talk Solar
by Emely Rodriguez Becoming a more sustainable community starts with small changes that can help to create a cleaner, brighter future. We can expand on what has already been done by installing solar panels on public buildings, such as municipal buildings, post offices, libraries, and public schools. Solar power would provide a cleaner, renewable source of energy that … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk Solar
Let’s Talk Solar
by Emely Rodriguez * The Lehigh Valley has already made changes to create a cleaner, more sustainable future for our community. For example, Allentown installed solar panels on their courthouses in 2010, public transportation buses became hybrid electric buses in 2014, yet there is so much more our community can do. Becoming a more sustainable community starts with … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk Solar
Clean energy, batteries, & mining
Clean, renewable energy is essential for sustainability. The main problems with getting to 100% renewable energy are that solar and wind energy spend on weather and time of day, and this makes some sort of storage important. Improved and less expensive batteries are often touted as the solution to the intermittency of truly renewable energy. Unfortunately, the demand for … [Read more...] about Clean energy, batteries, & mining
community solar
Sustainable Food for Thought
by Eirlys Chui As times are changing, so are the trends we see in today’s food system. People are growing interested in natural, organic, locally sourced, and sustainable food. They are exploring dietary selections such as vegetarian and vegan options that benefit personal health and that of the environment. Yet there are also arising obstacles—environmental degradation, … [Read more...] about Sustainable Food for Thought
Energy Efficiency: Solution to Climate Change
by Bruce Wilson Climate Change can lead to a feeling of helplessness, but we have all the tools we need to make a difference; we just need to use them! Last year four environmental leaders, Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Bill Mckibben of 350.org, Steve Nadal of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and Paul Hawken, editor of … [Read more...] about Energy Efficiency: Solution to Climate Change
Climate Action Planning for the Lehigh Valley 2.0
→ Executive Summary Introduction Across the nation, cities are responding to climate change by developing and implementing local policies and initiatives. In particular, municipalities have created climate action plans to demonstrate their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and protect their communities from the results of climate change. These plans … [Read more...] about Climate Action Planning for the Lehigh Valley 2.0
Wildlife & Wind Energy
On Dec. 2, 2006, the Geography department at Kutztown University hosted a conference on the risks and trade-offs of Utility Scale Wind Energy Development of the Central Appalachians, organized by ornithologist Donald S. Heintzelman. Presenters included experts from American Bird Conservancy, Audubon Society, Boston University, Hawk Mountain, Penn State University, PA Game … [Read more...] about Wildlife & Wind Energy