Written by Taylor Patterson, ERS Santa Claus is coming to town! The legend of Santa bringing toys to all the good little girls and boys on Christmas Eve is familiar to us all: Santa visits every home in the world, riding on his sleigh. But does this 24-hour delivery ride have a greater environmental impact, … Read more
Taylor Patterson, ERS Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles As with any technology, electric vehicles (EVs) have their own list of advantages and drawbacks. Pros: Cons: – Elimination of tailpipe emissions– Minimal operational costs– Lower maintenance costs– Convenient at-home charging– Unique driving experience – Range anxiety– Recharge time– Accessibility of charging station– Higher upfront cost … Read more
Taylor Patterson, ERS Welcome to the world of electric vehicles (EVs) – where cars use electricity and battery storage to get around, replacing gasoline and reducing air pollution in an effort to minimize the human population’s carbon footprint! EVs are a booming trend in the auto industry, particularly as consumers look to make more environmentally … Read more
Milana Pakes, ERS Currently, they only make up a small percentage of the volume of cars sold globally, but by 2040 they are expected to account for 57% of annual car sales. With EVs and charging stations rapidly popping up all over the nation, it’s getting easier to make the switch from fossil-fuel-reliant to electric, … Read more
This article was originally published on utilitydive.com on Nov. 18, 2019. In a recent Utility Dive opinion piece, Scott Aaronson, vice president of security and preparedness at the Edison Electric Institute, minimizes the role of microgrids in providing our communities energy resilience. He defends the actions of California’s utilities in shutting off power for millions of … Read more
This article was originally published on cnbc.com on Nov. 3, 2019. Should airports go off the grid? Pittsburgh International Airport — and others — think so. Remember that 11-hour power outage at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in December 2017 that canceled hundreds of flights, stranded thousands of passengers and cost Delta Airlines alone an estimated $50 million … Read more
This article was originally published on pnnl.gov on October 31, 2019. Today, nearly 173 gigawatts of energy storage are deployed across the world to balance the demands on the power grid. Pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) accounts for 98 percent of that capacity, making it the most leveraged form of energy storage available as well as the most cost-effective option, … Read more
This article was originally published on PNNL on Oct. 9, 2019. NANTUCKET, Mass. – With the simple cutting of a ribbon this week, residents of Nantucket Island, joined by state and local officials and representatives from National Grid, the U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (OE), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), ushered in … Read more
This article was written by Christy Lewis and Peter Bronksi and was published on watttime.org on September 17, 2019. It’s the 9th annual National Drive Electric Week (NDEW)! More than 300 events—mostly throughout the United States, but also in a growing number of locations around the world—will offer consumers a chance to learn about, test drive, and … Read more
This article was originally published on energynews.us on Sept. 16, 2019. The state law seeks to avoid blackouts and other grid problems when its marijuana law takes effect Jan. 1. When Illinois’ new law legalizing recreational marijuana takes effect Jan. 1, growers will face some of the strongest energy efficiency and reporting requirements in the … Read more