Month: April 2022

U.S. Clean Energy Draws Record $105 Billion in Private Investment

U.S. clean energy drew a record $105 billion in private Investment in 2021. That’s a record 11% jump since 2020 and a whopping 70% surge over the past five years, according to Bloomberg’s BNEF, the firm’s energy data and analysis unit.

This represents 14% of the total $755 billion in global private investment made last year, $47 billion of which was for renewable energy and $35 billion for electrified transport, according to the report, 2022 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.

“Clearly there’s investor enthusiasm and we foresee further growth, but if you want to actually address climate change, you need to get to levels that at least double deployment,” said Ethan Zindler, an analyst at BNEF,“What is needed is more support.”

Read the full report, “2022 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook”. 

If you feel that your seasonal allergies are more severe and lasting longer in recent years, you might be right. A new research study says climate change is to blame. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) researchers found that pollen seasons in North America lengthened by 20 days and contained 21% more pollen, on average, since 1990. 

The NAS analysis’ key findings: 

·       Pollen seasons grew by 20 days and had 21% more pollen over the last 40 years.

·       Rising temperatures appear to be the most significant factor driving the change.

·       More severe pollen seasons are linked to worse outcomes for people with asthma and allergies.

Further, the latest study by University of Michigan researchers found that the U.S. will face up to a 200% increase in total pollen this century if the world continues producing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, power plants and other sources at a high rate. Pollen season in general will start up to 40 days earlier in the spring and last up to 19 days longer than today under that scenario. 

This study not only looked at pollen overall, but also considered the impact of warming winters on more than a dozen different types of grasses and trees such as alder, birch and oak. Seasonal allergies affect about 30% of the population, and they have economic impacts, from health costs to missed workdays.  READ MORE