ORVI Reading List | June 30, 2021
After Generations of Hauling Water, a Corner of Appalachia Still Waits for a Better Future (Washington Post)
Upwards of 2 million Americans live without running water and indoor plumbing, a reality felt acutely in certain regions across the country, according to a 2019 report co-authored by DigDeep and U.S. Water Alliance. The problem hits hard in Appalachia, and particularly in impoverished, rural communities of color.
Will COVID Drive an Early Peak in Transportation Activity and Oil Demand? (Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs: Center on Global Energy Policy)
Has the COVID-induced oil demand crash kicked off an inexorable decline in fossil fuel consumption that could significantly speed up government efforts to meet net zero carbon targets?
The Columbia University study finds that while great uncertainty remains about the speed and strength of the world’s recovery from COVID, the current state of government climate policies and technology innovation are unlikely to reduce global oil demand fast enough to help the world keep within a 1.5°C temperature rise along the net zero carbon trajectory. Both government climate policies and technology innovation would need to move well beyond what was contemplated in this study’s scenarios.
As U.S. Decarbonizes, Here’s How to Meet Energy Needs in Seven Challenging Sectors (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)
Electricity can provide energy for most U.S. applications by the 2040s, but it will likely not be able to meet all needs in certain sectors, particularly for high-temperature industrial processes and long-distance airplanes, according to an ACEEE analysis that estimates the need for alternate fuel sources for seven applications.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Is a Gift to Wall Street, at the Planet’s Expense (New Republic)
The latest proposal includes climate financing schemes that would line the pockets of wealthy investors without taking serious measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Fall, but a Rebound Awaits (Axios)
An International Energy Agency analysis finds that subsidies for consumers’ fuel use fell precipitously in 2020, but could be headed for a rebound.
It’s an important trend, not least because IEA and many legislators say that phasing out subsidies is a tool for combating climate change. But it’s tricky. While subsidies often flow to people who don’t need them, they can help poor consumers obtain needed energy.
Poverty, Air Pollution Cause Cancer Spike in Louisiana Industrial Areas, Tulane Study Says (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
A new Tulane University study finds that low-income Louisianan communities in the state’s petrochemical corridor and other areas with high levels of toxic air pollution suffer from higher cancer rates.
