Ed Rubin on Coal Via the Post Gazette

In this op-ed for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Scott Institute Researcher and Engineering and Public Policy Professor Ed Rubin discusses the issue of coal, carbon capture, air pollution policy, and the role of innovation.  He concludes the op-ed with the following:

"So, will carbon cuts kill coal? Not likely.

Evidence suggests that technology innovations “pulled” by policy requirements and catalyzed by sustained investments in clean-energy technology can indeed allow domestic coal resources to be utilized economically while achieving long-term cuts in carbon emissions. U.S. leadership in this arena also would spur other nations to follow and open new markets for U.S. businesses.

Looking back decades from now, predictions of coal’s demise will again have been proven wrong."

CMU Student chose to discuss Data Center Energy Use

CMU Engineering & Public Policy Ph.D. student Nathaniel Horner was recently selected to present at the Young Researchers’ Conference on Energy Efficiency & Biomass to be held during the World Sustainable Energy Days events this February in Wels, Austria.  He will present his work on data center energy use and discuss why the current, industry standard performance metric might not necessarily lead to “green” facilities.  

Young Researchers’ Conference: http://www.wsed.at/en/programme/young-researchers-conference-energy-efficiency-biomass/

World Sustainable Energy Days: http://www.wsed.at/en/world-sustainable-energy-days/

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Costa Samaras blogs on US-China Climate Deal via WBUR

Costa Samaras of the Scott Institute writes in a blog for WBUR's OnPoint that the "U.S.-China Climate Deal is an Important Step In Long Road Ahead."  You can see the blog here.   The blog follows up on a interview he did with OnPoint about the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.