Energy and the Environment-A Coastal Perspective

Original Post by Matthew Culley (2016): https://coastalenergyandenvironment.web.unc.edu/wp-admin/post.php?post=3912&action=edit Matthew Culley, in his 2016 post about the proposed Glacier Ridge Wind Farm in Barnes County N.D., brought up a lot of interesting points regarding conflicts with a shift towards a wind-dominant power supply. Matthew introduced the project, described the immense (1000 GWh) wind resource available to North Dakota, […]

An interesting point is brought up by Bobby in the original post regarding the plastic straw debate. Yes, they end up in our oceans and are harmful to marine organisms but they are also necessary for the aid of those living with disabilities. Alternatives to plastic can still be hazardous to those who need straws, […]

Scott Pruitt, EPA administrator under the first two years of the Trump administration, has had significant influence on energy and environmental policy in the United States. While many people applaud his legacy of roll-backs believing that these rules hinder free-market development, there are many consequences for the renewable energy industry, human health, and environmental systems. […]

Overview: Germany has always been a leader in renewable energy technology. Due to this dedication, they were able to institute what is now the 9th largest offshore wind farm by nameplate capacity, BARD Offshore I. BARD Offshore I is an offshore wind farm developed by Bard Engineering GmbH in the German North Sea which consists […]

Overview: Pictured: Proposed arrays for Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Arrays 2 (operational), 3 &4 (proposed). (Credit: EDF Energy) While the original, 2 turbine, 4 MW offshore wind installation off the coast of Blyth, UK has been scheduled for incomplete decommissioning as of January, 2017 (4C Offshore, 2018) due to mechanical and cable failures, the Blyth Offshore […]

Japan has long relied on fossil fuels and nuclear power as their primary energy sources but have recently been moving more towards renewables. Japan has a significant amount of marine renewable energy potential considering their location as an island in the Pacific Ocean. The Kamisu wind farm was the first Japanese offshore wind farm and […]

Last Christmas I was falling over the side of a small boat off the coast of San Pedro, Belize. San Pedro is an island so small, its inhabitants don’t even own cars. Instead, everyone putters around in supped up golf carts, conducting their business. For most of them, that business is eco-tourism. The eastern coast […]

Renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro, have been on the rise. In 2017, eighteen percent of energy generated in Texas was in the form of solar or wind and a few small towns there, such as Denton, are striving to rely solely on clean energy (1). This raises the question […]

Will’s blog post has become a really interesting point of comparison after almost 2 years have passed. Looking back at what Musk’s most recent plan was back in 2016, I’m pleased to see many of the points coming to fruition now. First of all, Musk has been heavily investing in solar roof technology and development […]

You probably have a friend that judged you for getting a plastic straw at a restaurant or blatantly told you not to get one. But why? If you’re not aware of the environmental effects from discarded plastic straws, the article: Why are plastic straws so bad for the environment?, would be a great precursor to understanding the […]