Being realistic about renewables

At both the national and state levels we hear ardent, heartfelt calls to transition to “100% clean, renewable energy by 2050.” That surely seems like a laudable goal. But what does the science tell us?

The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report “Global Warming of 1.5 C,” summarizes our best scientific understanding of paths to a sustainable future. Exploring a wide range of scenarios, it finds that a transition to renewable energy is indeed necessary — but that transition alone is insufficient and won’t totally supplant fossil fuels.

We also need increased nuclear capacity and direct air capture of already emitted CO2. And crucially, we need to perfect carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies that produce negative greenhouse emissions when paired with bioenergy.

Fortunately, legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House (H.R. 1166) and Senate (S. 383) to fund both CCS and direct air capture. The Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act enjoys true bipartisan support with 27 Republican and 52 Democrat co-sponsors. It has attracted support from organizations as diverse as the United Mine Workers, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, US Chamber of Commerce, Nature Conservancy, United Steelworkers and Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Renewable energy is essential, but not a panacea. We should pursue all options that can help us achieve a livable world — including the USE IT Act. I encourage Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, as well as Sens. Bob Casey, DPa., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., to support this sensible, bipartisan legislation.

ROBERT MITCHELL

Murrysville The writer is a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.