Stanford scientist to unveil 50-state plan to transform US to renewable energy

Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson and his colleagues recently developed detailed plans totransform the energy infrastructure of New York, California and Washington states from fossil fuelsto 100 percent renewable resources by 2050. On Feb. 15, Jacobson will present a new roadmap torenewable energy for all 50 states at the annual meeting of the American Association for theAdvancement of Science (AAAS) in Chicago.

The online interactive roadmap is tailored to maximize the resource potential of each state.Hovering a cursor over California, for example, reveals that the Golden State can meet virtually allof its power demands (transportation, electricity, heating, etc.) in 2050 by switching to a cleantechnology portfolio that is 55 percent solar, 35 percent wind (on- and offshore), 5 percentgeothermal and 4 percent hydroelectric.

"The new roadmap is designed to provide each state a first step toward a renewable future,"said Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. "It provides all ofthe basic information, such as how many wind turbines and solar panels would be needed to power eachstate, how much land area would be required, what would be the cost and cost savings, how many jobswould be created, how much pollution-related mortality and global-warming emissions would beavoided."

The 50-state roadmap will be launched this week on the website of The Solutions Project, anational outreach effort led by Jacobson, actor Mark Ruffalo (co-star of The Avengers), filmdirector Josh Fox and others to raise public awareness about switching to clean energy producedentirely by wind, water and sunlight. Also on Feb. 15, Solutions Project member Leilani Munter, aprofessional racecar driver, will publicize the 50-state plan at a Daytona National Speedway racingevent in Daytona, Fla., in which she will be participating.

"Global warming, air pollution and energy insecurity are three of the most significantproblems facing the world today, said Jacobson, a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute forthe Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy. "Unfortunately, scientific results are oftenglossed over. The Solutions Project was born with the vision of combining science with business,policy, and public outreach through social media and cultural leaders – often artists andentertainers who can get the information out – to study and simultaneously address these globalchallenges."

Source: Stanford University