Texas outpaces California in renewable energy growth

Texas has become the leading state in renewable energy generation, surpassing California due to its easier infrastructure development process.

Jerusalem Demsas reports for The Atlantic.

In short:

Texas installed more solar power capacity than California, with 18,000 megawatts compared to California's 17,000.
In 2022, Texas generated over 130,000 gigawatt-hours of wind and solar electricity, more than double California’s output.
Texas's culture and regulatory environment, which favor infrastructure projects, contribute to its success in renewable energy.

Key quote:

Texas "is the energy capital of America ... with a mentality and footing designed to build and extract energy and make money."

— Jesse Jenkins, professor at Princeton University

Why this matters:

Texas’s success suggests that easing infrastructure regulations could accelerate renewable energy projects nationwide. Without such changes, the clean-energy transition may stall, jeopardizing climate goals.

www.theatlantic.com

Aerial view of Rosendale Dairy, a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) in Rosendale, Wisconsin.

Credit: Amelia Bates/Unsplash

Colorado CAFOs linked to ammonia air pollution hotspots

Levels of airborne ammonia, which can harm people’s ability to breathe, are increasing three times faster each year in Colorado’s Front Range where there are clusters of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) compared to nearby urban areas without the massive livestock farms, according to a new study.

Read the Full Article on

www.thenewlede.org

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