Problems with the grid and costs to fix them are expected to grow in coming decades, said U.C. Berkeley’s von Meier.
Much of the grid was built decades ago, and the majority of power transmission facilities are now at least 25 years old. That’s forced utilities to quadruple spending on the U.S. transmission system since 2000 to about $40 billion annually, according to Department of Energy data.
Billions more will be spent, with costs passed on to consumers, but those efforts won’t keep up with problems from climate change, von Meier said. “Rates will go up, reliability will go down,” she said.
As always, super helpful Roger. A question in the context of work by many researchers focused on the non-monetary impacts on wellbeing, health, education of low-income or marginalized communities. Have you or others tried to normalize (pun semi-intended) some way of tracking these harms? e.g., the thousands dislocated in, say, Harvey, who had no renters' insurance, no capacity to seek government assistance, etc. See Diana Liverman's thinking in this post for instance: https://revkin.bulletin.com/558174395365552/ Eager for your insights.
Roger, simply beautiful work. “Fair, balanced and unafraid.”
This may be your 15 years of fame moment. You deserve it. As Bob Dylan said about Tom waits, he is my secret hero”; And, you are my secret hero, Roger.
Psst. https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-storms-science-business-health-7a0fb8c998c1d56759989dda62292379
Problems with the grid and costs to fix them are expected to grow in coming decades, said U.C. Berkeley’s von Meier.
Much of the grid was built decades ago, and the majority of power transmission facilities are now at least 25 years old. That’s forced utilities to quadruple spending on the U.S. transmission system since 2000 to about $40 billion annually, according to Department of Energy data.
Billions more will be spent, with costs passed on to consumers, but those efforts won’t keep up with problems from climate change, von Meier said. “Rates will go up, reliability will go down,” she said.
My Story
So, here is my story, I have
no earthy college degrees,
a couple of French courses short.
I have been a very good golfer,
basketball player, small town boy,
six time winner of greased pig contest,
big city man, businessman,
interstate highway drifter,
high and low plains America adventurer,
self-indulgent, distant father,
auto-didactic, Ivy Leaguer, scholar,
student, lost soul, historian, art historian,
musicologist, poet, poetry aficionado,
business writer, economist, “Blizzard of One” broadband “David” to
high speed Internet “Goliaths,” Internet Open Access champion,
practical environmentalist,
energy efficiency expert,
3-times matrimony loser, lobbyist, technology theorist, Bakken Basin podcaster, Energy realist, political advocate pain in the ass
and all around gadfly simply…
because I was self-appointed.
It's so much easier,
now that I confessed.
Steve Heins
As always, super helpful Roger. A question in the context of work by many researchers focused on the non-monetary impacts on wellbeing, health, education of low-income or marginalized communities. Have you or others tried to normalize (pun semi-intended) some way of tracking these harms? e.g., the thousands dislocated in, say, Harvey, who had no renters' insurance, no capacity to seek government assistance, etc. See Diana Liverman's thinking in this post for instance: https://revkin.bulletin.com/558174395365552/ Eager for your insights.
Hi Andy ... the short answer is yes, if there is data available it can be tracked (and often normalized) over time. Here are some other indicators, from under Sendai: https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/tracking-positive-progress-on-the
And see this paper of ours, which echoes themes Diana raises in your post: https://doi.org/10.1111/1539-6924.00357
Great resources. Here's an open early version of the paper with Dan Sarewitz (is there an open-access link for the final paper?): "Risk Management Strategies in an Uncertain World" https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/chrr/documents/meetings/roundtable/white_papers/pielke_sarewitz_wp.pdf
Thanks, yes, I should be better at linking to the open versions
Here is the final--> http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/2003.23.pdf
Roger, simply beautiful work. “Fair, balanced and unafraid.”
This may be your 15 years of fame moment. You deserve it. As Bob Dylan said about Tom waits, he is my secret hero”; And, you are my secret hero, Roger.
Very kind, thanks!