Category: Payne News

Europe vows ‘robust’ response to alleged sabotage of Russian gas pipelines 9/28/2022

Europe vows ‘robust’ response to alleged sabotage of Russian gas pipelines

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian contributes to this article about the large disturbance in the sea can be observed off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 following a series of unusual leaks on two natural gas pipelines running from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany have triggered concerns about possible sabotage. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says she “cannot rule out” sabotage after three leaks were detected on Nord Stream 1 and 2.  September 28, 2022. 

Here’s how climate change impacts our health 9/28/2022

Here’s how climate change impacts our health

Payne Institute Fellow Dr. Jay Lemery contributed to this article about how the CU School of Medicine’s Climate and Health Program focuses on how climate change and extreme weather events impact human health.  While first responders on the ground will focus on the immediate fallout from hurricane Ian, a group of doctors in Colorado is looking at the bigger picture.  September 28, 2022.  

How should Ireland go about protecting its energy supplies? 9/28/2022

How should Ireland go about protecting its energy supplies?

Payne Institute Fellow Paul Deane writes about how the energy crisis has exposed Ireland’s dependence on imported oil and gas, and action must be taken on other options.  The evolving energy crisis and this week’s attack on two undersea gas pipelines from Russia to Europe, has brought the topic of energy security, especially the security of Ireland’s natural gas supply, into the public debate on energy.  September 28, 2022.

Colorado must move quickly to keep pace on carbon capture 9/28/2022

Colorado must move quickly to keep pace on carbon capture

Payne Institute CCUS Program Manager Anna Littlefield, Sustainable Finance Lab Program Manager Brad Handler, and Director Morgan Bazilian write an opinion piece about promoting safe and secure injection of CO2 is in the public’s interest, and how Colorado is poised to be central in the effort. Amid growing interest in using carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS, as a tool in the fight against climate change, several states’ legislatures approved CCS-related rules governing commercial and liability issues during their recently ended sessions. Colorado was not among them.  September 28, 2022.  

The Latest in Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment, with Alex Gilbert 9/27/2022

The Latest in Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment, with Alex Gilbert

Payne Institute Fellow Alex Gilbert is featured on this podcast about the latest developments in nuclear energy innovation, policy, and deployment.  In the podcast, he discusses the types of nuclear technologies in the development pipeline, how they differ from older technologies, which technologies are being piloted, and how recent policies—especially the Inflation Reduction Act—are incentivizing the deployment of these technologies. September 27, 2022.

POWER OUTAGE IN PUERTO RICO CAUSED BY HURRICANE FIONA 9/26/22

POWER OUTAGE IN PUERTO RICO CAUSED BY HURRICANE FIONA

Payne Institute Earth Observation Group Research Associate Tilottama Ghosh writes about how the September 15th, power supply was ‘normal’ in Puerto Rico. Then increasing cloud cover was seen September 16th onwards, till Hurricane Fiona made landfall on September 18th. The cloud cover remained heavy till September 21st making it difficult to get a ‘clear’ view of the power outage. September 26, 2022.

How a clean energy future is colliding with mining’s dark past 9/22/2022

How a clean energy future is colliding with mining’s dark past

Payne Institute Program Manager Jordy Lee contributes to this article about how no one wants a mine in their backyard. Clean energy will require a lot of metal.  As global demand for these “critical minerals,” a group that includes lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, is projected to increase by 400-600 percent driven by a surge in manufacturing of renewable technologies.  September 22, 2022. 

WHAT THE WAR IN UKRAINE LOOKS LIKE FROM ABOVE 9/22/2022

WHAT THE WAR IN UKRAINE LOOKS LIKE FROM ABOVE

Payne Institute Communications Associate Brooke Bowser, Earth Observation Group Researcher Fen-Chi Hsu and Director Christopher Elvidge, and Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian write about how satellite imagery can help us understand kinetic activity in Ukraine.  To better understand how the war is progressing the Payne Institute’s Earth Observation Group has collected satellite images showing the light and fire patterns accompanying the military activity.  September 22, 2022.  

The Inflation Reduction Act Is the Start of Reclaiming Critical Mineral Chains 9/16/2022

The Inflation Reduction Act Is the Start of Reclaiming Critical Mineral Chains

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Gregory Brew write about how green technologies depend on the supply of a few key resources.  But one important component of the the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been largely overlooked. Built within the IRA is a commitment to increasing the domestic U.S. supply of critical minerals—lithium, nickel, manganese, and graphite, among others—to provide the materials necessary for a vast expansion in electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and renewable power production infrastructure. September 16, 2022.