PLUS: Quebec Dips into India's Solar Boom Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser

This week: renewables keep global carbon pollution on the plateau, a British millionaire sets his sights on ocean energy, and the Obama administration moves toward making the Big Apple the new windy city.

Clean Energy Policies Slow Growth of Carbon Pollution (Again)

For the second year in a row, the global growth of carbon pollution remained flat even as the economy continued to expand. The International Energy Agency credited the encouraging finding to the success of climate policies—notably the spectacular growth of renewable energy, and the decline of coal consumption in China and the United States. The agency singled out wind power as a major contributing factor and noted that renewable energy last year accounted for 90 per cent of all new electricity-generation projects.


2. IRENA: Doubling Down on Renewables by 2030 Will Save $4.2 Trillion

The International Renewable Energy Agency said that policies designed to double clean energy’s share of the global electricity market by 2030 will not only help humanity hit a two-degree target, but will also save USD$4.2 Trillion in annual GDP.

3. Queen's Park Tightens Building Code While Other Provinces Lag

Ontario is strengthening its already nation-leading building code. Meantime—and despite a lot of rhetoric—other Canadian policymakers have largely not yet beefed up the codes that will be critical to meeting a two-degree carbon target.

4. U.S. Takes Steps to Power New York City with Offshore Wind

The Obama administration designated a 127-square-mile section of the Atlantic Ocean as the New York Wind Energy Development Area. Utilities have been keen to develop a 350 to 700 MW wind farm that would partially supply New York City.

5. United Airlines to Fuel LAX to SFO Shuttle With Animal Fats

In a bid to get a jump start on emissions regulations and reduce price volatility, United Airlines said it will power thousands of commercial flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco with biofuel created from ag-waste such as animal fats.

6. Investor Hopes to Ride Wave Power to its (Still Far-Off) Crest

It’s unpredictable and out-to-sea—but wave power will be “rocking by 2050”, says British investor Adam Norris. While harnessing ocean energy has vexed engineers, Norris is throwing his time, money and expert team into bringing wave power home.

7. Quebec Investment Firm Samples India’s Solar Opportunity

In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s massive solar commitment, one of Canada’s top institutional fund managers will invest US$150 million in renewable energy in India. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is setting up shop in New Delhi.

8. Toyota Prototypes Hydrogen Supply Chain

In support of Japan’s ambition to be a “hydrogen-based society”, Toyota launched a project to produce the gas at a wind farm near Tokyo, then transport it via truck to a factory, a market, and a warehouse—where it will initially power a pair of forklifts.

9. Guide Helps Elected Leaders Empower Disadvantaged Communities

A trio of solar advocacy and social justice organizations have released a Low-Income Solar Policy Guide. It aims to help lawmakers provide millions of Americans with financial relief, stable employment and better environmental health.

10. Researchers Float Idea of Gargantuan Wind Turbine

Picture a wind turbine tower taller than the Empire State Building. That’s the scale of a proposed new 50 MW turbine design concept that would sport blades longer than two football fields. Researchers hope to build a small-scale prototype by 2019.

Global energy-related CO2 emissions graph, IEA. | Offshore wind image: Department of Energy and Climate Change, Flickr. | India solar installation image, Asian Development Bank, Flickr.

Did you miss last week’s Clean Energy Review? Catch up here.

Clean Energy Review is sponsored in part by Genus Capital Management, a leading provider of fossil-fuel-free investments. 
Coming Attractions

FRONT BURNER: On March 23, Carbon Talks hosts Levelling the playing field as Vancouver implements its Renewable City Strategy in Vancouver, B.C.

March 23: Marine Renewable Energy Industry Open House, hosted by Marine Renewables Canada in Ottawa, ON.

March 31: Deadline for Startups and Solutions Showcase applications to be an exhibitor during the 7th Clean Energy Ministerial, held in San Francisco June 1-2, 2016. Presented by the Clean Energy Ministerial.

April 7: Energy Schools Canada webinar, presented by Wind Hunters.

April 12-14: Adaptation Canada Symposium, hosted by Adaptation Canada in Ottawa, ON.

April 12-13: Ontario Power, hosted by the Canadian Institute, in Toronto, ON.

Clean Energy Review is a weekly digest of climate and clean energy news and insight from across Canada and around the world—plus a peek over the horizon. It is curated by Dan Woynillowicz and written by James Glave, principal of Glave Communications. If you received this from a friend, you can subscribe yourself here.

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