Dr. Stephen A. Smith, SACE’s Govt Director, sat down with Jim Brogan to speak about how a clear power future is going on now, from the quickly accelerating electrification of transportation to the billions of {dollars} in federal local weather funding at our fingertips.
Reed Winckler | August 25, 2023
| Clear Power Era, Clear Transportation, Local weather Change, Power Effectivity
On July 31, SACE’s Govt Director Dr. Stephen A. Smith appeared on the podcast “Extra Dwelling with Jim Brogan” to debate how a wholesome atmosphere permits all of us to stay more healthy, happier lives, and the way investing in insurance policies and instruments that bolster clear power and assist us transfer away from polluting fossil fuels may help us get there.
Every week, Brogan and his visitors talk about information and points like way of life, well being, monetary planning, and extra. The subject of fresh power is related to every of those points and has just lately come to dominate public dialog, and for good motive: the worldwide renewable power market valued just below $900 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to achieve $2 trillion by 2030.
Brogan and Dr. Smith mentioned the driving pressure behind local weather disruption, the professionals and cons of photo voltaic power, the trajectory of the electrical car market, and what incentives from utilities and the federal authorities are in place to assist speed up the clear power transition – plus, how SACE’s mission encompasses all of this.
Hear under for Dr. Smith’s fast recap on the driving pressure behind local weather disruption.
Professionals and Cons of Photo voltaic Power within the Southeast
Not solely can we depend on the solar arising within the east and setting within the west on a regular basis, however the value level of photo voltaic set up has decreased considerably lately. That’s why we see photo voltaic catapulting in deployment internationally right this moment.
Dr. Smith discusses utility corporations’ monetary incentives to offset the worth of putting in photo voltaic, in addition to applied sciences similar to battery storage that may additionally save clients cash.
Dr. Smith‘s private story includes his personal rooftop photo voltaic panels he put in on his household’s Knoxville, Tennessee dwelling since 2009, the evolution of the connection between his utility TVA and householders with photo voltaic panels, and the viability of photo voltaic as an funding for purchasers within the TVA area.
The Trajectory of the Electrical Automobile Market
“All the large cash is monitoring within the course of electrification,” says Dr. Smith.
Regardless of this, vary nervousness – concern of the shortcoming to discover a charging station – stays a major concern amongst potential EV patrons, however the deployment of charging stations is rising dramatically yearly, and the power to cost at your personal dwelling if you’re ready makes it that a lot simpler.
One other concern, particularly amid this summer season’s warmth waves, is the strain that dwelling EV charging has on the area’s already confused electrical energy grid. Nevertheless, Dr. Smith says, consider the grid as having peaks and valleys: residential energy utilization ‘peaks’ at a sure time of day – say, after we’re doing laundry and cooking dinner round 5 p.m. – after which experiences demand ‘valleys’ at different occasions, like after we are asleep at evening. By encouraging folks to cost their EVs at valley occasions, like plugging in your automotive to cost when you sleep, we are able to permit the grid to run extra effectively.
Federal Incentives In Place Now to Help a Clear Power Transition
The Inflation Discount Act (IRA), handed this time final 12 months, is essentially the most substantial federal funding in clear power that many people have been ready on for a very long time. One other federal initiative known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation (BIL) additionally has the facility to speed up our transition to wash power. Whereas these nationwide insurance policies alone is not going to be sufficient to fight our dependence on nonrenewables, they propel us considerably down the trail. Additionally they permit us to deliver applied sciences and manufacturing again to the US, similar to shifting battery manufacturing right here from nations like China, as a result of producers can not obtain the tax incentives from the IRA except their manufacturing occurs within the states.
All of this implies jobs returning to the states. As we transition to wash power, a wealth of jobs is materializing particularly in manufacturing. Right here within the Southeast, we’re capturing a bulk of these as battery producers, electrical car factories, and extra determine to name the Southeast dwelling.
What’s Subsequent?
The Southeast persistently lags behind different areas and the nation as a complete on utility power effectivity efficiency investments in renewable power, and utilities like TVA are largely accountable, for prioritizing low charges on electrical energy as an alternative of bolstering renewable power. Regardless of TVA’s low ‘charges’, our electrical energy payments are excessive due to inordinately excessive consumption patterns right here in Tennessee.
An essential subsequent step is educating customers and householders on methods to be environment friendly with their power consumption and what applications can be found to assist them try this. Dr. Smith says that’s the place SACE steps in, alongside different members of right this moment’s Clear Power Era working towards local weather disruption. Collectively, we’ve the facility to encourage others to make the most of the supply of the clear and renewable power that exists throughout us.
GET INVOLVED IN THE CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION
There are numerous methods all of us can begin taking motion right this moment as a part of the Clear Power Era, whether or not it’s studying extra about clear power efforts in your city, taking steps to make your property extra power environment friendly, or getting out and speaking to your group about what a clear power future appears to be like like for you. There’s no improper approach to become involved, and all of us have what it takes to make a distinction – particularly after we be a part of collectively as one Clear Power Era.
Be a part of the Clear Power Era
Take Motion With the Clear Power Era
Thanks to Jim Brogan for internet hosting SACE’s Govt Director Stephen A. Smith on his podcast “Extra Dwelling with Jim Brogan,” which you could find right here.
#CleanEnergyGeneration
