Government
The Heated Politics of Renewable Energy
As cities vow to meet the Paris climate commitments, rival researchers debate the true costs of going 100-percent renewable.
From San Diego, California, to St. Petersburg, Florida, dozens of U.S. cities are working rapidly toward 100-percent renewable energy targets, doubling down on solar and wind installations, investing in electric bus fleets, and swapping out streetlights with LEDs.
But a new study is questioning the scientific foundations of such “100-percent” commitments—and sparking heated debate.