-
Central Appalachia Prosperity Project
-
The Central Appalachia Prosperity Project is part of the Presidential Climate Action Project to develop policy recommendations on climate and energy security, with a focus on what the next President of the United States could accomplish using his or her executive authority. The Central Appalachian Project draws on the input of America's most innovative experts to produce policy and program recommendations that are sufficiently bold to expedite the region's transition to a clean energy economy. An important component of these recommendations has been better coordination of the efforts being made by all levels of government - federal, regional, state and local.
Located in
Cultural Resources
/
Socioeconomics
/
Socio-economic Projects
-
Collision Course? Researchers Tag Golden Eagles with Satellite Telemetry Devices, Track Migration To Assess Risks of Wind Energy Development in Pennsylvania
-
Twice yearly, above the Appalachian Mountains in central and western Pennsylvania, a rarely witnessed winged
migration takes place. Hundreds of eastern golden eagles – majestic raptors with wingspans that can exceed seven
feet -- traverse the state to their winter and summer territories, passing above the mountain ridges through what
preliminary research shows to be an unchanging 30-60 mile wide corridor of
air space. The eagles’ flight path overlaps with land areas that hold significant
potential for wind power development in Pennsylvania, setting these majestic
birds on a potential collision course with fast-moving turbine blades. In the
hope of avoiding such a scenario, a team of researchers at the National
Aviary and Powdermill Avian Research Center, the biological research
station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, has come together to
track and map the birds’ movements.
Located in
Resources
/
General Resources Holdings
-
EISPC Energy Zones Mapping Tool
-
The Eastern Interconnection States' Planning Council (EISPC) Energy Zones Mapping Tool is a free online tool that enables users to identify potential clean energy resource areas within the Eastern Transmission Interconnection. The tool includes nine types of energy resources to be considered for clean energy generation facilities in the U.S. portion of the Eastern Interconnection. These types are biomass, clean coal technologies with carbon capture and sequestration, geothermal, natural gas, nuclear, solar (photovoltaic and concentrated solar thermal, as well as rooftop photovoltaic solar), storage (pumped-hydro storage and compressed-air energy storage), water (hydroelectric power), and wind (both land-based and offshore). For each of these major categories, the resource data and information have been compiled, reviewed, and assembled into a GIS database. The Mapping Tool provides a way to put environmental data into the hands of energy planners and can be used by agencies or NGOs as a starting point for a dialog about their conservation objectives.
Located in
Resources
/
…
/
GIS & Planning
/
Other Conservation & Planning Tools
-
The State of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere Based on Global Observations through 2013
-
The WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) coordinates observations of the most important contributors to climate change: long-lived greenhouse gases(LLGHG). In the figure, their radiative forcing (RF) is plotted along with a simple illustration of the impacts on future RF of different emission reduction scenarios. Analysis of GAW observations shows that a reduction in RF from its current level (2.92 W·m–2 in
2013)[1] requires significant reductions in anthropogenic emissions of all major greenhouse gases (GHGs).
Located in
Resources
/
Climate Science Documents
-
Solar energy development impacts on land cover change and protected areas
-
Decisions determining the use of land for energy are of exigent concern as land scarcity, the need for ecosystem services, and demands for energy generation have concomitantly increased globally. Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) [i.e., ≥1 megawatt (MW)] development requires large quantities of space and land; however, studies quantifying the effect of USSE on land cover change and protected areas are limited. We assessed siting impacts of >160 USSE installations by technology type [photovoltaic (PV) vs. concentrating solar power (CSP)], area (in square kilometers), and capacity (in MW) within the global solar hot spot of the state of California (United States). Additionally, we used the Carnegie Energy and Environmental Compatibility model, a multiple criteria model, to quantify each installation according to environmental and technical compatibility. Last, we evaluated installations according to their proximity to protected areas, including inventoried roadless areas, endangered and threatened species habitat, and federally protected areas. We found the plurality of USSE (6,995 MW) in California is sited in shrublands and scrublands, comprising 375 km2 of land cover change. Twenty-eight percent of USSE installations are located in croplands and pastures, comprising 155 km2 of change. Less than 15% of USSE installations are sited in “Compatible” areas. The majority of “Incompatible” USSE power plants are sited far from existing transmission infrastructure, and all USSE installations average at most 7 and 5 km from protected areas, for PV and CSP, respectively. Where energy, food, and conservation goals intersect, environmental compatibility can be achieved when resource opportunities, constraints, and trade-offs are integrated into siting decisions.
Located in
Resources
/
Climate Science Documents
-
EISPC Energy Zones Mapping Tool
-
The Eastern Interconnection States' Planning Council (EISPC) Energy Zones Mapping Tool is a free online tool that enables users to identify potential clean energy resource areas within the Eastern Transmission Interconnection. The tool includes nine types of energy resources to be considered for clean energy generation facilities in the U.S. portion of the Eastern Interconnection. These types are biomass, clean coal technologies with carbon capture and sequestration, geothermal, natural gas, nuclear, solar (photovoltaic and concentrated solar thermal, as well as rooftop photovoltaic solar), storage (pumped-hydro storage and compressed-air energy storage), water (hydroelectric power), and wind (both land-based and offshore). For each of these major categories, the resource data and information have been compiled, reviewed, and assembled into a GIS database. The Mapping Tool provides a way to put environmental data into the hands of energy planners and can be used by agencies or NGOs as a starting point for a dialog about their conservation objectives.
Located in
Planning In Practice
/
Conservation Planning Projects
-
Making Energy Work Conference
-
NC Sustainable Energy Association's 2013 Making Energy Work Conference offers unprecedented access to the latest information, solutions and technologies driving the success of North Carolina's renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses. Join hundreds of state and national clean energy leaders and embrace the chance to inspire strategies for continued growth.
Located in
News & Events
/
Events
-
Bats and Wind Energy Workshop
-
Bat Conservation International (BCI), in partnership with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), is proud to announce our upcoming Bats and Wind Energy Workshop in Portland, Maine. This event will combine science, conservation and education to provide participants with the latest research and monitoring techniques.
Located in
News & Events
/
Events
-
Interior Releases First National Interactive Map of Onshore Wind Turbines
-
USGS Scientific Tool to Aid Landscape-Level Planning, Responsible Renewable Energy Development, Support Climate Action Plan
Located in
News & Events
-
On Earth Day, U.S. Forest Service Seeks Applications for Wood to Energy Projects
-
As part of the national observance of Earth Day, the U.S. Forest Service today announced that it is seeking proposals that expand wood energy use and support responsible forest management. Also today, the Forest Service released a Wood Energy Financial App for use by community and business leaders seeking to replace fossil fuel with wood energy.
Located in
News & Events
