Dear EarthTalk: What are some innovative ways companies are accessing renewable energy nowadays? ~ Peter V., Milwaukee, WI
With energy production accounting for upwards of 75 percent of global greenhouse emissions and more and more companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints, it makes sense that a whole new generation of start-ups would spring to life to help put business customers together with green energy producers.
One of these innovative green go-betweens is Copenhagen-based Reel Energy. Businesses looking to slash their carbon footprints can call upon Reel to provide them with green power at fixed, low prices for five to 10 years. Reel, in turn, uses this funding to contract with solar and wind developers to break ground on new renewable energy projects. Reel has expanded heavily throughout Europe in recent years but you can expect to see their deals pop up increasingly in the U.S. and elsewhere moving forward.
Another take on B2B green energy sourcing comes by way of Seattle-based Drift Energy, which helps companies buy 100 percent green power and thus offset their other carbon emissions. Customers sign on the dotted line to purchase all of the energy they will need for one to five years, and Drift gets to work supplying them with green power culled from local wind farms, solar arrays and hydroelectric dams. By helping take the guesswork out of sourcing green power, Drift is able to help other businesses do the right thing and derive emissions reduction and PR benefits in the process.
Meanwhile, Clearloop out of Nashville, Tennessee takes a similar approach by syncing up companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints with new sources of green energy. But Clearloop’s version emphasizes environmental justice, using customer funding to break ground on solar arrays in traditionally disenfranchised and overly polluted communities across the American South. To date, Clearloop has funded solar projects in Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.
Yet another green energy matchmaker model is LevelTen Energy, also from Seattle, which runs the world’s largest platform connecting green power buyers and sellers. LevelTen’s marketplace allows buyers to compare different options, receive custom offers and reduce risks through automated analytics for market price offers. By lowering the risk of investment and widening access to green energy, LevelTen streamlines the process of purchasing renewable energy. To date, LevelTen’s transaction infrastructure has helped broker some 4,500 renewables-based power purchase agreements (PPAs) funding more than 1,800 wind, solar and other renewable power projects in 28 different countries.
Still another way for companies to procure green power at fixed pricing and reduce their carbon footprints is by going in on group buys of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through Evergreen Renewables. RECs represent proof that one megawatt-hour of electricity was generated from a renewable energy source. A recent deal orchestrated by Evergreen and transacted on its marketplace saw eight brands go in together on the purchase of enough RECs to fund the repowering of a 55 megawatt wind farm in Texas that was otherwise slated for demolition. These types of deals enable even smaller companies to participate in large group buys of RECs, further expanding access to green energy.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.reel.energy; https://www.joindrift.com; https://clearloop.us; https://www.leveltenenergy.com; https://www.ever.green
Dear EarthTalk: How is the fight to prevent wildlife trafficking going? ~ L.K., Chicago, IL
Wildlife trafficking, defined as the illegal trapping and/or poaching of wildlife for consumer trade, is second only to habitat loss as one of the largest modern threats to wildlife. The criminal practice overwhelmingly targets elephants, large reptiles and coral, and has resulted in the extinction of rare species of plants, reptiles and fish. High extinction risk is common among species targeted by wildlife crime; of the 4,000 species worldwide that are currently poached for trafficking, 40 percent are already listed as threatened or near-threatened.
The trade also harms people, as many foreign animals can spread dangerous diseases to previously unexposed people and livestock. Impoverished peoples in the poached animals’ countries of origin are especially harmed by the industry, as the profiting criminal organizations often blackmail people with limited financial options into doing dangerous work for them.
Despite the harm wildlife trafficking has caused to wildlife and people, the industry has continued to expand over the last century, and now has an estimated annual value of roughly $23 billion. Thanks to practices such as trophy hunting, hoarding and exotic tourism gaining momentum over the years, the demand for poached wildlife goods has only increased.
Additional access to the industry has been provided by the convenience, safety and relative anonymity of online transactions, making it harder than ever to track the transportation and delivery of goods. Many nations that suffer from high rates of wildlife trafficking also lack sufficient law enforcement and security to adequately monitor their borders for illegal traders. However, many governments, nonprofits and environmental workers are making efforts to remedy these issues.
In 2022, the United States Agency for International Development committed $75 million per year towards reducing trafficking in more than 35 African, Asian and Latin American countries. The money will go towards behavior change campaigns, more careers in conservation, and increased law implementation and security capacity so that borders are more consistently monitored. Similar efforts from the likes of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and the non-profit Wildlife Conservation Society have already led to a 35 percent increase in convictions for wildlife crimes. These programs are key in our societal efforts to collaborate with governments, indigenous peoples, local communities and local tourism and transportation to discourage wildlife crime.
Trafficking often feels like a distant issue, but there are still ways for us to help combat wildlife crimes. For starters, any evidence of online trafficking should be reported to the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online or the National Wildlife Crime Unit. Tourists should also exercise caution when encountering especially exotic goods, experiences or foods. You can verify if some organic products — specifically fish, supermarket goods, and products made with palm oil — are sustainably sourced by visiting the websites for Good Fish Guide, the Giki app, and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil respectively.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.endwildlifetraffickingonline.org/; https://www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/; https://giki.earth/; https://rspo.org/
Dear EarthTalk: What percentage of U.S. currency today is actually in dollars and coins versus digital? Would it be good for the planet if we ditched bills and coins completely? ~ P.L., via email
As the digital transformation of our economy accelerates, it is vital to examine not just the economic ramifications but the environmental impacts associated with both physical and digital currencies.
The physical form of U.S. currency, specifically coins and banknotes, makes up a significant portion of the total currency in circulation today. As of the end of 2020, there was approximately $2.04 trillion worth of U.S. currency in circulation. This amount represented about 50.3 billion individual notes, spanning various denominations from $1 to $100 bills, and the balance coins. In contrast, a substantial portion of the central bank’s money supply is in digital form. As of late 2021, digital balances at the Federal Reserve amounted to $4.18 trillion, compared to $2.21 trillion in circulating cash.
The production of physical currency, including coins and bills, involves resource-intensive processes. Mining for metals like zinc and copper is necessary for coin production, while the creation of banknotes often requires paper, which is linked to deforestation and other environmental issues. For example, it now costs more to produce a penny than its face value, underscoring the inefficiency and environmental cost of producing physical currency. As highlighted by Kathiann Kowalski of Science News Explore, “the metals then go to a factory, where copper coats each side of a thicker zinc layer”, illustrating the complex and energy-intensive processes involved in minting coins.
Conversely, digital currencies eliminate the need for physical materials used in coins and banknotes. However, the operation of these technologies predominantly depends on electricity generated from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. The shift toward digital currency systems like Bitcoin has highlighted concerns regarding their sustainability due to the high energy consumption of blockchain technologies and mining processes.
When comparing the environmental impacts of physical and digital currencies, it’s apparent that both systems entail significant environmental costs. Physical currencies require extensive raw materials and energy for production and transportation, contributing to pollution and resource depletion. On the other hand, digital currencies, while reducing physical waste, increase the demand for energy, potentially exacerbating carbon emissions unless powered by renewable energy sources.
This all suggests a need for both policy intervention and technological innovation. Policies could encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices in currency production, such as using recycled materials for banknotes or improving the energy efficiency of minting processes. Similarly, innovations in digital currency technologies could help reduce their energy consumption, making them a more sustainable option in the long run.
MORE INFORMATION: https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/january-2022-cbdc.htm; https://www.snexplores.org/article/money-currency-plastic-paper-cash-credit-environmental-cost
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.
