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Biogas saves money at wastewater treatment plant

Olivia Fecteau

April 26, 2019 |

WEWS-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Medina, Ohio

Turning sewage sludge into usable biogas helps make wastewater treatment more efficient. A water treatment plant in the city of Medina, Ohio, produces net energy from sludge. The plant uses anaerobic bacteria and a thermal hydrolysis process to convert wastewater and sludge into usable byproducts, like biogas.

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A climate change solution slowly gains ground

Steven Mufson

April 19, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Huntsville, Alabama

Three major US companies are leading the way in developing the technology to extract carbon dioxide from the air: Global Thermostat, Carbon Engineering, and Climeworks. With federal tax credits per ton of carbon dioxide captured and a prosperous system of injecting the CO2 back into the ground to stimulate crop yield, the companies' three different approaches all offer a way to cut into the massive amount of global emissions, an opportunity to make a lot of money with new technology, and a helping hand for states working on achieving new federal guidelines and restrictions for a green future.

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Citizen engagement is helping Costa Rica fight climate change

Amelia Axelsen

April 11, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica

With its pledge to become the first zero-emission country in the world by 2050, Costa Rica's ambitious climate goals cannot be achieved by the government alone. That's why Costa Rica Limpia (Clean Costa Rica) is sparking citizen engagement to help in the fight. Grassroots efforts by the organization has already helped to create new charging infrastructure for electric cars, and citizen review bodies are local communities access important climate data.

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Energy Equity: Bringing Solar Power to Low-Income Communities

Maria Gallucci

April 04, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Dozens of states across the US are adopting programs that offer solar power for low-income communities in order to cut down on their utility costs and provide renewable energy that they previously would not have had access to. Some of these programs also incorporate other social goals into their programs, such as offering job training or developing sites of backup energy should there an outage. Solar development is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the US, and analysts predict that the nation will be able to hold over 2,000 megawatts of solar capacity this year alone.

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Why Germans Are Buying Batteries With Their Solar Panels

Paul Hockenos

March 26, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany, Berlin

Advances in lithium batteries as well as the plunging price of solar energy have spurred an increase in home solar energy batteries across Germany. While it used to be difficult to store solar energy, home solar systems can now save energy for rainy days, reduce the electricity bill, and even earn money for extra energy they feed to the city. Over 120,00 German homes and small businesses have invested in solar batteries in the last 5 years.

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Virginia schools have seen the light, and it's solar

Debbie Truong

March 24, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Vienna, Virginia

A move towards solar energy in schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, has been spurred by environmentally-aware students. It’s working because of power purchase agreements, which make solar panels affordable. In these agreements, developers front most of the cost of solar installation, and schools pay it back through energy bills, still leading to cost savings over time. The move to solar is expected to save school districts across the state millions over the next several years.

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‘Coal just isn't the future': Meet the Kentucky miners picking up a new trade

Elizabeth McGowan

March 21, 2019 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Harlan, Kentucky

As jobs in America's coal mines dwindle, local Appalachian communities put resources and opportunity into the sustainable energy business. A nonprofit in Kentucky called the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development bridges the gap between the two industries by providing sustainable energy training and internships for former employees of the coal mining industry.

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Pittsburgh's ‘living building' focuses on eco-friendly construction

Karen Hao

March 20, 2019 |

Quartz |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Creating sustainable buildings requires rethinking many of the norms in construction and city planning. The Center for Sustainable Landscapes, part of the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received the first Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification. To achieve this, CSL advocated for changes to Pittsburgh’s laws on the use of public water utilities. CSL also had to seek out construction materials that avoided the use of harmful chemicals-a task easier said than done.

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Ikea's innovation lab unveils a plan to help people cash in on solar energy

Katharine Schwab

March 07, 2019 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Ikea's innovation lab, Space10, piloted a block-chain powered solar energy grid as a way to creatively save money on electricity and create a sustainable energy alternative. Other microgrids around the world have seen success in allowing people who are part of the system to sell their excess energy and only use what they need.

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Swedish technology could make geothermal as mainstream as wind and solar

Akshat Rathi

March 06, 2019 |

Quartz |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

Geothermal power is typically hard to scale due to its dependence on hot water. Climeon is a Swedish energy company changing the game. It uses low-temperature heat and sells its energy in modular units, which makes it affordable. Due to an infusion in capital, the company is scaling its energy distribution across the globe.

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