Biden is pushing for massive green power integration, but our own authors say markets and technology have a lot of catching up to do. Yet famous physicist and energy expert Amory Lovins says the green power revolution is further along than you might think. Plus: New Zealand had its warmest winter ever, and our editor Jared discusses how the healthcare industry is one of America’s dirtiest. (News report at minute 0:50, interview at 1:50, commentary at 26:20.)
In this episode …
- Jared’s news update: New Zealand saw its warmest winter ever recorded. Overall, New Zealand winters have been heating up.
- Next, energy guru Amory Lovins gives some polite pushback to a more cautious assessment of sustainable power by Climate & Capital Media’s Bill Spindle and Milo McBride. Lovins addresses common criticisms of sustainable power, including that the market can’t sustain growth and that battery storage technology is in its infancy. He says the technology is more robust than people think, it can be used (and outside the U.S., is being used) in novel and efficient ways, and that there are more methods to store and distribute green power than simply giant batteries. He also says the market has flourished even despite the Trump administration and that Biden’s ambitious power plans are very possible — though we do need to get to work.
- Finally, Jared discusses the healthcare industry, which accounts for 8.5% of American emissions. Healthcare emissions are disproportionate to the quality of care, and the industry doesn’t incentivize efficiency.
