March 11 - Stanford University scientist Mark Jacobson has developed a programme for transforming the United States dependence on fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, using currently available technologies.
Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, presented the 50-state roadmap at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago: "Drastic problems require drastic and immediate solutions … our new roadmap is designed to provide each state a first step toward a renewable future."
The new plan includes an online interactive map tailored to maximize the renewable resource potential of each of the 50 states.
"The new map provides all of the basic information, such as how many wind turbines and solar panels would be needed to power each state, how much land area would be required, what would be the cost and cost savings, how many jobs would be created, and how much pollution-related mortality and global warming emissions would be avoided," Jacobson added.
The white paper can be seen at the Stanford University website.
