Author: hedgerow

10 Facts about Renewable Energy

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10 facts about renewable energy

How much do you know about renewable energy?  How much do we understand the sources of clean energy, their costs and benefits? Do you wonder why we aren’t taking more advantage of the renewable resources our planet offers? Is it a lack of awareness? To a certain extent, yes.  So let’s take the blinders off and open our eyes to 10 amazing facts about renewable energy that everyone should know. Continue reading “10 Facts about Renewable Energy” →

The Biden Plan to Build a Modern, Sustainable Infrastructure

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At this moment of profound crisis, we have the opportunity to build a more resilient, sustainable economy – one that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050. Joe Biden will seize that opportunity and, in the process, create millions of good-paying jobs that provide workers with the choice to join a union and bargain collectively with their employers.

President Trump has a devastating pattern of denying science and leaving our country unprepared and vulnerable. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he ignored public health experts, praised the Chinese government, and failed to take the actions needed to protect the American people. And as the crisis accelerated, Trump rolled back environmental standards that protect public health — adding to the 100 similar environmental and public health protections he has rolled back since taking office — even though early data suggests a link between exposure to pollution and serious negative health impacts from the virus. Continue reading “The Biden Plan to Build a Modern, Sustainable Infrastructure” →

NASA research into the development of clean energy

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Clean Energy

Researchers at NASA Ames are conducting cutting-edge research in the development of clean energy technologies for NASA mission needs in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and the Science Mission Directorate. Our renewable energy focus is on advancing biofuels, solar, and wind technologies that also help reduce our nation’s dependence on petroleum-based fuels. By advancing clean energy technologies, NASA Ames hopes to help our nation reduce its generation of greenhouse gases and create a sustainable future here on Earth.

View online video archives of the Council on Competitiveness Western Energy Summit, courtesy of Clean Skies TV. The event was held at NASA Ames Research Center on July 30, 2009. Here’s the press release. Continue reading “NASA research into the development of clean energy” →

Why sustainable investing matters

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Wealth and asset managers have seen a significant influx of client funds flow into sustainable investments. In fact, this investment strategy has grown 107.4% annually since 2012 and currently accounts for 18% of the assets under management (AUM) in the wealth and asset management industry.

Demand for sustainable investments is being driven, in part, by millennials who prefer to invest in alignment with personal values. Since millennials are poised to receive more than US$30t of inheritable wealth, sustainable investments will continue to grow in demand. As a result, fund managers are increasingly allocating resources to develop products and capture this emerging client segment.

According to an EY study,2 when assets change generations, firms typically lose 70% to 80% of those assets. Consequently, the wealth and asset managers who supply millennials3 with value-based investment options will be strongly positioned to attract new assets to the firm as well as retain beneficiary millennial clients. Continue reading “Why sustainable investing matters” →

America’s second offshore wind farm completes construction

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Construction work on the second offshore wind farm in the U.S. has been completed, with its two turbines installed and plans for a much larger project continuing to take shape.

In an announcement Monday, Dominion Energy said that the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project — a two-turbine, 12-megawatt (MW) facility  — had been “built safely and on schedule despite the worldwide impact from the coronavirus pandemic.”

The company added that the project, which is located in waters 27 miles off Virginia Beach, would “enter service later this summer.” At its “peak output” the facility will be able to power 3,000 homes in Virginia.

Thomas F. Farrell, II, the chairman, president and CEO of Dominion Energy, described the construction of the project’s turbines as “a major milestone not only for offshore wind in Virginia but also for offshore wind in the United States.” Continue reading “America’s second offshore wind farm completes construction” →

7 Renewable Energy Stocks for a Cleaner Future

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Renewable energy stocks are delivering for investors again in 2020. Following a stellar showing, the S&P Global Clean Energy Index is higher by almost 43% year-to-date.

The rise of renewables is coming at the expense of traditional fossil fuels. Price action confirms as much as the S&P Energy Select Sector Index is lower by about 40% this year. There are stark realities applying to traditional and renewable energy stocks. In the U.S., a slew of state governments are increasing adoption of green energy sources.

Likewise, as prices decline, more corporations and consumers are embracing solar and wind power. Adding to the pressure on fossil fuels producers and bolstering the case for alternative energy equities is that an array of institutional investors, including college endowments, are saying “no” to coal, gas, and oil exposure. Continue reading “7 Renewable Energy Stocks for a Cleaner Future” →

How Renewable Energy Can Save Us from Climate Change

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Renewable energy is power generated from sources that are adequately replenished. It includes solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric, tides, biomass, and geothermal heat. Some sources also consider hydrogen and fuel cells as a form of renewable energy.

Renewable energy should not be confused with alternative energy. The difference is that alternative energy specifically avoids fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal. It doesn’t harm the environment or add greenhouse gases that add to global warming. For example, wood burning is not alternative energy because it leads to deforestation and adds greenhouse gases. But it is a source of biomass renewable energy in that new trees can be grown.

Hydroelectric power is both renewable and alternative. But many in the environment movement frown on reliance on this source. It can disturb salmon runs, endangering not only the salmon but also the orcas and bears that feed on them. It also uses massive quantities of cement which emits greenhouse gases in its production. Continue reading “How Renewable Energy Can Save Us from Climate Change” →

5 Ways to Make Money With Investments In Agriculture

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There are many reasons to invest in agriculture: it is a low-risk investment that keeps pace with inflation and increases in value over the long-term, it is a tangible asset that provides benefit to the community, and it can diversify a portfolio. But how exactly does an investment like this make money?

Depending on the investment and the type of farm, investors can profit through several different ways.

We’ve covered five of the most common ways agriculture generates returns below. Continue reading “5 Ways to Make Money With Investments In Agriculture” →

The world’s largest offshore wind farm is nearly complete

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London (CNN Business)The world’s largest offshore wind farm is taking shape off the east coast of Britain, a landmark project that demonstrates one way to combat climate change at scale.

Located 120 kilometers (75 miles) off England’s Yorkshire coast, Hornsea One will produce enough energy to supply 1 million UK homes with clean electricity when it is completed in 2020.

The project spans an area that’s bigger than the Maldives or Malta, and is located farther out to sea than any other wind farm.It consists of 174 seven-megawatt wind turbines, with towers that are each nearly 100 meters tall. The blades cover an area bigger than the London Eye observation wheel as they turn. Continue reading “The world’s largest offshore wind farm is nearly complete” →

Sustainable investment funds surpass $1 trillion for the first time

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Assets under management in funds that abide by environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have surpassed $1 trillion for the first time on record, according to data compiled by Morningstar.

It comes after net inflows of $71.1 billion between April of June this year, driven by growing investor interest in sustainable investment funds in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Governments around the world have been stepping up their support for green projects in recent years, both through regulation and through fiscal spending,” analysts at UBS said in a research note published on Tuesday. Continue reading “Sustainable investment funds surpass $1 trillion for the first time” →