Revamping America’s Energy Landscape: Balancing Sustainability and Land Use Impact with Dr. Grace Wu
Channel: MetcalfInstitute
Date: 2023-06-01

The latest energy roadmaps for “decarbonizing” (reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions) predict a three to fourfold increase in wind and solar power infrastructure. This scale of growth also needs to consider the impacts on plants, animals, and humans. While most plans for decarbonizing typically focus on technology and economics, Dr. Grace Wu’s research integrates environmental and social factors. This presentation explains how we can revamp energy planning processes to better address the land use dimensions of renewable energy infrastructure.

This video was part of the University of Rhode Island Metcalf Institute's 26th Annual Public Lecture Series. The series speakers explore the research, planning, policies, and communication needed to achieve an equitable clean energy transition.

Additional Resources:
- Power of Place California: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab87d1
- Power of Place West: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2204098120
- Power of Place National (exec summary): https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/power-of-place/