[GWSG] Kelp sinks C; renewables flourish, repelling hackers and terrorists; E cars safer; offshore wind in the NE

[Tilley, Al]

1. Running Tide Technologies, a startup in Maine, grows kelp and sinks it in deep water where it will keep its carbon out of circulation for, perhaps, millions of years. Kelp permaculture has usually been imagined as a system with the fast-growing kelp on frames in deep water. Running Tide starts it in a hatchery and uses ocean currents to move it to deep water attached to biodegradable buoys. When they dissolve, the kelp sinks, taking its carbon with it to the ocean floor. The company runs on the sale of carbon credits. Kelp permaculture is a good candidate for the fastest, surest, cheapest, most scalable and most benign carbon sequestration method. https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/03/business/running-tide-kelp-carbon/index.html

2. Running tide’s web site links to several other news stories. The Fast Company, NPR, and Scientific American stories in particular provide information which bring the project into better focus. The company is also involved in oyster farming and coastal restoration.   https://www.runningtide.com/

3. The International Energy Agency reported that renewable power sources grew by 45% last year, the highest figure since 1999. The IEA is raising its estimate of future growth by 25%. The IEA now expects renewables to match global gas power capacity by next year.   https://www.carbonbrief.org/exceptional-new-normal-iea-raises-growth-forecast-for-wind-and-solar-by-another-25?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_content=20210511&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20Daily

4. A collateral benefit of renewable energy is that it is more resilient and more secure against hackers and terrorists. The energy production is inherently more distributed and less explosive. https://climatecrocks.com/2021/05/11/energy-security-a-giant-reason-for-renewable-grid/

5. Some models of cars are sold in both electric and non-electric versions. A study of 9 such models 2011-19 showed that the electric versions had 40% lower injury claims, presumably because of the inherent safety features of electrics. https://cleantechnica.com/2021/05/10/injury-claims-from-electric-vehicle-owners-40-lower-than-identical-non-electric-models/

6. Construction will begin this summer on the first major US off-shore wind power installation. The Vineyard Wind Project will produce enough power to satisfy the needs of 400,000 homes. A dozen other projects for the Northeast are under review. The administration intends that 30,000 megawatts of wind power will be added by 2030. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/climate/climate-wind-farm.html?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_content=20210512&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20Daily

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