The focus of this blog

Hi!  This blog will focus on various matters relating to the topic - sustainability.  Mostly, I'll be focusing on issues of resource sustainability, like water, energy, and so forth.  There's a veritable plethora of information on sustainability, as you likely know.  As my blog takes shape, I'll probably re-visit this description.  Come back and watch it morph.

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Coal-Fired Electricity Will Continue to Serve Portland

Contrary to what the 2017 Update states, SB1547 does not require that coal plants be phased out by 2035.   It also does not require any phasing out of coal-fired electricity from helping to serve our demand for electricity.   While it does increase the Renewable Performance Standards (RPS) in the out years, reaching 50% by 2050, this applies only to two utilities: PGE and PacifiCorp.   Even then, the requirement may be met through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from across the United States.   As a result, the electricity entering homes and businesses in Portland will continue to include carbon-based generation, including coal.   There is a second reason why carbon-based fuels, including coal, will continue to be delivered to Portland’s homes and businesses since coal will remain a significant component of the West Coast power system of which PGE and PacifiCorp are a part. If you are interested in this issue, here are several sites. 2017 Upda
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Is California About to Require that by 2045 All Electricity Must Come from Renewables?

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Not exactly. Let me explain. Our lack of even the most basic understanding of how the elecricity system operates (explained below) allows us to mistakenly imagine we are taking actions that will shut down CO2 emitting generators. A number of headlines read something like "California Poised To Require All Its Electricity To Come From Renewables."  SB100  appears to be a bit more complicated, however.  Plus, electricity complies to the laws of physics, not the laws we mere mortals devise. Hoefully, this post will identify several important implications of these distinctions. Recognize that electrons (what electricity consists of) going over the wires thorughout California flow from all generators located everywhere within what’s called the Western Interconnect (WECC).  Electrons are already present throughout all the electric wires in every building in every community at every moment in time. When you flip a light switch on, more electricity gets generated that replaces
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Does A Carbon Offset Cut Current CO2 Emissions?

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Maybe yes, maybe no.  It depends on several factors that boild down to the qualityu of the offset.  The Natural Reosurces Defense Council, NRDC, has a concise summary of the issue with some suggestions. It's worth noting that at least there is the potential for a carbon offset to reduce current CO2 emissions whereas a Renewable Energy Certificate, in and of itself, will not reduce current CO2 emissions. As the NRDC summary indicates, the first course of action is to reduce our current activity that is causing the CO2 emissions.
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