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South Australia goes all out on renewables despite federal focus on coal

Bianca Nogrady

October 13, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia

There is a push towards clean energy that battles with Australia's federal love for coal, but South Australia has made great strides to renewable energy. Thermal energy and the lithium ion battery are just two recent developments in clean energy innovation.

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Alaska's Small Villages Turn Toward Renewables—And Don't Look Back

Stephen Miller

August 25, 2017 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Buckland, Alaska

Alaska is a state of remote and rural townships, where everything costs more to access - from food to fuel - and plunging global oil prices have pushed the state economy to the brink of financial crisis. But communities such as Buckland are taking steps to move away from dependence on fossil fuels through the building of renewable energy micro-grids. Wind, geothermal, hydro, and solar power not only help keep the lights on, but are contributing to the stabilization of local economies.

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Could underwater garages solve Boston's parking shortage?

Matt Rocheleau

August 22, 2017 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston needs more parking spaces, especially in a neighborhood surrounded by water. It is looking to build an underwater parking garage, like the ones being built in Amsterdam, in order to free up street level space and add more parking to decrease car pollution from driving around searching for a parking spot.

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Rising from the ashes, a Buffalo suburb ends its dependence on coal

Elizabeth McGowan

July 11, 2017 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tonawanda, New York

When the coal-powered Huntley Generating Station began to shut down, the livelihood of the local community in Tonawanda was greatly threatened; numerous jobs were at stake and looming impacts on the town's largest tax revenue stream meant shuttering schools and choking public services. Local community members organized and, through tenacity and frugal reallocation of resources, diverse groups - including labor unions, politicians, and environmental activists - joined forces in creating a way to sustain and revitalize their community beyond coal.

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IDB Aims to Catalyze Energy Efficiency in Latin America

Abhilasha Purwar

July 03, 2017 |

Clean Energy Finance Forum |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Barriers, such as lack of standardization and information dispersion, are preventing market development for global financing of energy-efficient projects. The Inter-American Development Bank's Energy Savings Insurance Team has developed a scheme that could increase investments resulting in greater energy efficiency; through implementations such as standardized contracts, market auditors, and an engagement framework.

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When You're in a Carbon Hole, Stop Digging

Robinson Meyer

July 01, 2017 |

Anthropocene Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The burning of coal for fuel is one of the world's largest contributors to CO2 emissions, and continues to worsen the detrimental effects of planetary warming. But while many feel hopeless in light of an administration that denies climate change and the billion-dollar companies that continue full steam ahead with mining and burning coal, a few clever individuals present a simple and straightforward solution: buy up the coal while it's still in the ground, and pay the government to keep it there.

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The 'moss wall' that helps cities breathe

Chris Giles

June 07, 2017 |

CNN |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Germany

Air pollution is a major health risk, and growing in severity as more of the population moves to urban (more polluted) areas. Several university friends from Germany developed a "CityTree," which filters toxic pollutants from the air with moss that can be installed around cities.

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How a Small Town Is Standing Up to Fracking

Justin Nobel

May 22, 2017 |

Rolling Stone |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Grant Township, Pennsylvania

While the US economy gluttonously enjoys the cheap fuel prices afforded by fracking, the consequences of the practice on the environment and communities like Grant Township in Pennsylvania reveal the ugly underbelly of the oil and gas industry and the broken regulatory infrastructure of state and federal government. But Grant wasn't willing to roll over and just let their woodlands and water sources be polluted, so they worked together and took a creative defense against the installation of a toxic injection well in their town: by granting the trees, animals, and streams rights to protection and battling it out in court. Their efforts may provide hope and a model for other communities at risk of being taken advantage of.

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Cracking Washington's Gridlock to Save the Planet

David Bornstein

May 19, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Climate change is a growing issue, but the Citizens' Climate Lobby (a group of volunteers who work to get Republicans and Democrats to work in unison) is aiming to curb carbon emissions. So far the group has had a large increase in number of volunteers and politicians joining and willing to work together.

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The Big Green Bang: How renewable energy became unstoppable

Pilita Clark

May 18, 2017 |

Financial Times |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, London, Greater London

An economic shift to renewable energy could take decades, but thanks to rapidly evolving disruptive technologies, dropping prices of solar and wind power sources, and increasing market demand for green business, the new age of renewable energy could encompass the world economy much more quickly.

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