SolarReviews Weekly Review: World Adds Record Renewables, US Pushes Against Trump
Last week it came to light that the world installed a record 161 gigawatts of renewable—for 23 percent less than it did in the previous year. that comes as more in the US are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s decision to exit from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The world added 161 gigawatts of new renewable energy in 2016, according to the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21th Century’s (REN21’s) Renewables 2017 Global Status Report (GSR). That raised the amount of renewable energy installed across the world to 2,017 gigawatts by the end of the year. Despite the increase in installed renewables the costs of installing renewable energy fell 23 percent. Solar was the biggest source of new energy with 75 gigawatts of solar coming online last year compared to the 51 gigawatts that came online in 2015.
While Trump announced the US would pull out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, more in the US are opposing him. A new poll from The Washington Post and ABC showed that 59 percent of people in the US are against Trump’s decision and only 28 percent support it. An S&P analysis also noted that the action could have long-term ramifications for the US.
At the same time, the "We Are Still In" campaign launched last week. The campaign includes states, cities, companies and individuals that have agreed to commit to reducing their emissions in accordance with the agreement. The campaign has more than 1,200 signatories already, including Apple, Google and Levi Strauss, among many others.
Last week Hawaii actually enacted parts of the Paris Agreement into law in the state. The state already committed to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, but the new laws will help ensure it reduces emissions.
Meanwhile California signed an agreement with its sister state, Jiangsu Province, in China to broaden bilateral collaboration on climate action. The agreement requires California to reduce its emissions, much like the Paris Agreement and also establishes the California-Jiangsu Clean Tech Innovation Center in Jiangsu.
The solar industry continued to roll forward in the US, too, as it installed 2 gigawatts across all its sectors. The cost of solar power dropped below $1 a watt for the first time. That’s according to the latest Solar Market Insight Report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
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