Read on Twitter
Tweeted my quote in this Politico piece earlier, but some really important points in the article that warrant more unpacking.
What has changed in the electricity system in the last 4 years, where we are today, and where might we be going?
(1/11) https://twitter.com/erikolsonn/status/1344334241719603203?s=20
What has changed in the electricity system in the last 4 years, where we are today, and where might we be going?
(1/11) https://twitter.com/erikolsonn/status/1344334241719603203?s=20
WHAT'S CHANGED?
US Electricity generation stayed about the same at ~4TWh each year, but some strong trends from 2016 to 2020:
1. Non-hydro renewables grew (8% ->12%)
2. Coal declined (31% -> 20%)
3. Gas increased (33% -> 39%)
4. Hydro + nuke mostly stayed the same (~7% and 20%)
US Electricity generation stayed about the same at ~4TWh each year, but some strong trends from 2016 to 2020:
1. Non-hydro renewables grew (8% ->12%)
2. Coal declined (31% -> 20%)
3. Gas increased (33% -> 39%)
4. Hydro + nuke mostly stayed the same (~7% and 20%)
WHERE WE ARE:
Biden is taking the reins after 4 years of continuity of trends (more or less) -- cheap natural gas, much cheaper renewables, and energy innovation happening all over the place.
But we're still a fossil fuel powered economy. 60% from coal + gas, 6x more than RE
Biden is taking the reins after 4 years of continuity of trends (more or less) -- cheap natural gas, much cheaper renewables, and energy innovation happening all over the place.
But we're still a fossil fuel powered economy. 60% from coal + gas, 6x more than RE
WHERE WE ARE (PT 2)
Though true federal climate action didn't happen, we saw quite a bit of Quiet Climate Policy that slipped by the
admin's actions to make it easier for polluters and dirty energy. Many states, cities, and companies also stepped up. https://twitter.com/MattHourihan/status/1344003598632497152?s=20
Though true federal climate action didn't happen, we saw quite a bit of Quiet Climate Policy that slipped by the
admin's actions to make it easier for polluters and dirty energy. Many states, cities, and companies also stepped up. https://twitter.com/MattHourihan/status/1344003598632497152?s=20
WHERE WE'RE GOING
The energy system is going to continue to change rapidly. As so well stated in the article, clean energy is the future. The key question (also mentioned) is how much Biden's election will accelerate these trends.
The energy system is going to continue to change rapidly. As so well stated in the article, clean energy is the future. The key question (also mentioned) is how much Biden's election will accelerate these trends.
WHERE WE'RE GOING (PT 2)
No matter senate control, we're not likely to get a 100% Clean Electricity Standard or GND or any other giant climate package sufficient to meet [insert climate target here].
But Biden's election is still a big deal.... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/us/politics/joe-manchin-interview.html
No matter senate control, we're not likely to get a 100% Clean Electricity Standard or GND or any other giant climate package sufficient to meet [insert climate target here].
But Biden's election is still a big deal.... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/us/politics/joe-manchin-interview.html
WHERE WE'RE GOING (PT 3)
Right now, search "What Biden can do on climate" and pick any of the 464382 articles written on the topic in 2020.
TLDR is that it's a lot. Procurement, permitting, public land, innovation (storage, advanced nuke, geothermal), infrastructure....
Right now, search "What Biden can do on climate" and pick any of the 464382 articles written on the topic in 2020.
TLDR is that it's a lot. Procurement, permitting, public land, innovation (storage, advanced nuke, geothermal), infrastructure....
(PT 4)
Biden should (of course) do all of this & more, but whatever he can do to make clean energy cheap will pay off no matter who's in the White House as demonstrated during the Trump years.
You can undo a regulation. You can't un-innovate a technology. https://thebreakthrough.org/articles/fast-clean-and-cheap
Biden should (of course) do all of this & more, but whatever he can do to make clean energy cheap will pay off no matter who's in the White House as demonstrated during the Trump years.
You can undo a regulation. You can't un-innovate a technology. https://thebreakthrough.org/articles/fast-clean-and-cheap
Because of long term trends/investment, including during the Trump era, there's a host of new options for a Biden admin to deploy clean tech and act on climate.
Policy enabled tech, which drove down costs, which enables further policy. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/29/trump-biden-clean-energy-451546
Policy enabled tech, which drove down costs, which enables further policy. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/29/trump-biden-clean-energy-451546
That's why Biden is inheriting a different electricity landscape than even 4 years ago. Renewables are *starting* to reshape the power sector.
How quickly they do, and what changes we'll see in 10 years depend on what Biden does today.
How quickly they do, and what changes we'll see in 10 years depend on what Biden does today.
No matter the direction Biden takes, what's obvious is that this ain't 2016 anymore.
Great @politico read from @kelseytam @bjlefebvre.
@TheBTI https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/29/trump-biden-clean-energy-451546
Great @politico read from @kelseytam @bjlefebvre.
@TheBTI https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/29/trump-biden-clean-energy-451546
