Cutting Carbon: Where does your energy come from and why does it matter?
Where does your energy come from and why does it matter?
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report continues to raise the alarm, that " the adverse impacts of human-caused climate change will continue to intensify. " Floods, droughts and heat among other threats will become more extreme and increase risk to life and infrastructure.
“This Synthesis Report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action & shows that, if we act now, we can still secure a liveable sustainable future for all.” - #IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee on the release of #IPCC’s Synthesis Report.
— IPCC (@IPCC_CH) March 20, 2023
Read here ? https://t.co/zAMzd12lR7pic.twitter.com/YcCqIHxuLJ
This report more than others emphasizes the need to cut carbon on a large and timely scale to avoid catastrophic warming. If the planet stays or course, a worst-case scenario is likely.
So, where does your electricity come from? If the nation and the world is going to change on a grand and timely scale, electricity production is the big piece of the pie.
The Environmental Protection Agency has an Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) website, where you can compare the energy portfolio of national and regional grids.
Coal is makes up over 35% of the Midwest Grid, that includes Michiana -- the largest fuel source -- and over 20% of the national grid. It's the biggest polluter. Natural gas is also a carbon emitter, but is more efficient in it's delivery and operation. But the message is clear, green energy, while growing is still a small slice of the energy portfolio and need to scale-up quickly, to meet IPCC goals.
The Midwest grid produces more carbon dioxide than the national average, as there are more coal power plants online. The future is more promising, as many coal plants are expected to be retired, but the ramp-up of zero-carbon emitting sources of energy is equally important.