Site wind right: Identifying low-impact wind development areas in the Central United States

Hise, Chris M.; Obermeyer, Brian; Ahlering, Marissa A.; Wilkinson, Jessica; Fargione, Joseph

doi:10.1101/2020.02.11.943613

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Three other scenarios also reach zero net emissions in 2050, while meeting additional constraints. The (iv) low land case tests the effect of limitations on land use in response to concerns about the sustainability of biomass use (Fletcher et al, 2011;IPCC, 2019;Searchinger et al, 2008;Smith et al, 2013) and the land requirements for siting renewable energy and transmission facilities (Hise et al, 2020;Kahn, 2000;McDonald et al, 2009;Wu et al, 2016Wu et al, , 2020. In this scenario, the land area of onshore wind and utility-scale solar was limited to 50% of the central case value, and the biomass supply was limited to 50% of its technical potential (Langholtz et al, 2016).…”

Section: Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described earlier, the land requirements for wind and solar electricity based on rules of thumb in the literature ranged from 17 to 48 MHa (Table 2). For comparison, a recent study by The Nature Conservancy found an area of 36 MHa to be suitable for wind development with low environmental impacts in the 17-state wind belt in the central United States (Hise et al, 2020).…”

Section: Fuel Supplymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbon‐Neutral Pathways for the United States

et al. 2021

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C points to the need for carbon neutrality by mid-century. Achieving this in the United States in only 30 years will be challenging, and practical pathways detailing the technologies, infrastructure, costs, and tradeoffs involved are needed. Modeling the entire U.S. energy and industrial system with new analysis tools that capture synergies not represented in sector-specific or integrated assessment models, we created multiple pathways to net zero and net negative CO 2 emissions by 2050. They met all forecast U.S. energy needs at a net cost of 0.2-1.2% of GDP in 2050, using only commercial or near-commercial technologies, and requiring no early retirement of existing infrastructure. Pathways with constraints on consumer behavior, land use, biomass use, and technology choices (e.g., no nuclear) met the target but at higher cost. All pathways employed four basic strategies: energy efficiency, decarbonized electricity, electrification, and carbon capture. Least-cost pathways were based on >80% wind and solar electricity plus thermal generation for reliability. A 100% renewable primary energy system was feasible but had higher cost and land use. We found multiple feasible options for supplying low-carbon fuels for non-electrifiable end uses in industry, freight, and aviation, which were not required in bulk until after 2035. In the next decade, the actions required in all pathways were similar: expand renewable capacity 3.5 fold, retire coal, maintain existing gas generating capacity, and increase electric vehicle and heat pump sales to >50% of market share. This study provides a playbook for carbon neutrality policy with concrete near-term priorities. Plain Language Summary We created multiple blueprints for the United States to reach zero or negative CO 2 emissions from the energy system by 2050 to avoid the most damaging impacts of climate change. By methodically increasing energy efficiency, switching to electric technologies, utilizing clean electricity (especially wind and solar power), and deploying a small amount of carbon capture technology, the United States can reach zero emissions without requiring changes to behavior. Cost is about $1 per person per day, not counting climate benefits; this is significantly less than estimates from a few years ago because of recent technology progress. Models with more detail than used in the past revealed unexpected synergies, counterintuitive results, and tradeoffs. The lowest-cost electricity systems get >80% of energy from wind and solar power but need other resources to provide reliable service. Eliminating fossil fuel use altogether is possible but higher cost. Restricting biomass use and land for renewables is possible but could require nuclear power to compensate. All blueprints for the United States agree on the key tasks for the 2020s: increasing the capacity of wind and solar power by 3.5 times, retiring coal plants, and increasing electric vehicle and electric heat pum...

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Section: Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fuel Supplymentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon‐Neutral Pathways for the United States

et al. 2021

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“…Agriculture, tourism, and fishing industries may be impacted if land is cleared or coastal areas become inaccessible due to solar or wind developments (Nesamalar et al 2017;Seetharaman et al 2019). Wind developments (both on-and offshore) have also sparked opposition from military stakeholders, who cite potential interference with surveillance activities, air traffic and radar systems, and low-level flights (Durkay and Schultz 2016).…”

Section: Potential Land-use Conflicts Can Occur Between New Clean Energy Developments Existing Local Industries and Conservation Needs Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment

Hutchinson¹,

Dennis²,

Grann³

et al. 2021

WRIPUB

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A renewable energy future is within our grasp: the technology is now widely available and cost-effective in most places around the world. But the current rates of deployment remain well below what is required to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The private sector is poised to invest billions of dollars to massively speed up, scale and support the energy transition. However, many investors, particularly in the private sector, are deterred by some of the risks related to renewable energy investments. As the energy transition is likely to be financed largely by the private sector, governments must work with the private sector to remove barriers and incentivize investment in renewable energy. This working paper, produced in partnership with Ørsted, focuses on the challenges and solutions to scaling investment in renewable energy generation and provides actionable policy solutions to unlock the private sector investment needed to support the energy transition.

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Waterfowl and Wetland Birds

Vest,

Haukos,

Niemuth

et al. 2023

Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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The future of wetland bird habitat and populations is intrinsically connected with the conservation of rangelands in North America. Many rangeland watersheds are source drainage for some of the highest functioning extant wetlands. The Central and Pacific Flyways have significant overlap with available rangelands in western North America. Within these flyways, the importance of rangeland management has become increasingly recognized by those involved in wetland bird conservation. Within the array of wetland bird species, seasonal habitat needs are highly variable. During the breeding period, nest survival is one of the most important drivers of population growth for many wetland bird species and rangelands often provide quality nesting cover. Throughout spring and fall, rangeland wetlands provide key forage resources that support energetic demands needed for migration. In some areas, stock ponds developed for livestock water provide migration stopover and wintering habitat, especially in times of water scarcity. In the Intermountain West, drought combined with water demands from agriculture and human population growth are likely headed to an ecological tipping point for wetland birds and their habitat in the region. In the Prairie Pothole Region, conversion of rangeland and draining of wetlands for increased crop production remains a significant conservation issue for wetland birds and other wildlife. In landscapes dominated by agricultural production, rangelands provide some of the highest value ecosystem services, including water quality and wetland function. Recent research has shown livestock grazing, if managed properly, is compatible and at times beneficial to wetland bird habitat needs. Either directly, or indirectly, wetland bird populations and their habitat needs are supported by healthy rangelands. In the future, rangeland and wetland bird managers will benefit from increased collaboration to aid in meeting ultimate conservation objectives.

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Site wind right: Identifying low-impact wind development areas in the Central United States

Cited by 3 publications

References 64 publications

Carbon‐Neutral Pathways for the United States

Carbon‐Neutral Pathways for the United States

Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment

Waterfowl and Wetland Birds

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