BOSTON — A panel of experts on Thursday discussed renewable energy in America and the trends, opportunities and challenges as the nation transitions away from fossil fuels. The webinar, organized by Environment America Research & Policy Center, featured experts who explained how, despite obstacles, renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, electrical vehicles and battery storage are growing across the United States.
The webinar was organized to further detail the trends uncovered in Environment America Research & Policy Center’s “Renewables on the Rise” report.
“America is making big strides toward a future powered by 100% renewable energy,” said Johanna Neumann, senior director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Renewable technologies are creating new opportunities to power our lives with energy that doesn’t pollute our air, land and water. The rapid rise of renewable energy should give Americans confidence that we can and should wean our nation off dirty, inefficient fossil fuels.”
Solar, battery storage and electrical vehicles have seen some of the most significant growth in recent years, whereas wind energy has stagnated in some regions while still growing overall.
“Solar has become mainstream and is outcompeting fossil fuels, but we need to pick up the pace,” said Brad Heavner, policy director of the California Solar & Storage Association. “We need states to show leadership in getting utilities to help rather than hinder the clean energy transition.”
The panel discussed why many Americans are worried about the availability and reliability of electric vehicle charging stations. Data has shown that in states with the most EVs, the number of charging stations per EV tends to be lower – suggesting infrastructure development is struggling to match the pace of EV adoption.
“You can plug your EV in at night and wake up in the morning ready to go. And if you can’t charge at home, there’s more charging stations out there than you might think, with more on the way thanks to new investment,” said Ben Prochazka, executive director of the Electrification Coalition. “Using your smart phone, you can find charging locations and track how much your vehicle has been powered while you do other things. Charging is rapidly improving and EVs are only going to get cheaper and cleaner.”
The panel highlighted the crucial importance of energy efficiency to ensure future energy demand does not slow down or reverse the transition away from fossil fuels.
“As we enter an era of significantly increased energy demand, efficiency is going to be vital. We can’t waste energy and we need it to be used at the right times,” said Doug Lewin, author of the Texas Energy & Power Newsletter and host of the Energy Capital Podcast.
The panel identified priorities for the future, such as the need to defend and expand clean energy tax credits, deploy more battery storage and integrate solar into existing infrastructure.
“There are so many opportunities to tap the vast potential of solar power without endangering nature. For example the large, flat, unshaded roofs of warehouses and superstores are ideal for solar panels,” said Tony Dutzik, Associate Director and Senior Policy Analyst, Frontier Group. “If we can continue to tap into this solar potential, support other renewables and enhance energy efficiency, we can transition to a cleaner, greener, healthier America.”
