This is Good News Friday, where we find some good economic, energy, and environmental news and share it with PP readers. Please send any positive news to dd@peakprosperity.com with subject header "Good News Friday." We will save and post weekly. Enjoy!
Economy
The Ultimate “Zero Waste” Guide for Beginners (ZWW)
It’s no secret that fast fashion is terrible for the environment, but it’s not just fast fashion that has some sort of environmental and human impact. I exclusively purchase second-hand clothing, or I purchase from companies with an extensive sustainability policy. I also rarely shop online unless I know for a fact that store won’t bombard me with plastic filling. It’s always best to try to physically make it into the store to avoid any unnecessary plastic and carbon emissions from delivery trucks.
Central Florida homeless numbers down, new census finds (Jen H.)
Leaders attributed the success to the region’s embrace of a “housing first” philosophy that moves the homeless into apartments as early as possible and then addresses their physical and mental health needs and, if possible, helps them with employment and managing their finances. Previously, homeless individuals would stay in emergency shelters or transitional housing indefinitely until they saved up enough for housing deposits — something many never did.
New Jersey Is Proving That Bail Reform Works (Jen H.)
The positive impacts are much more noteworthy. According to a statement by Superior Court Judge Glenn A. Grant, acting administrative director of the New Jersey courts, “New Jersey’s jail population looks very different today than it did when the idea of reforming the state’s criminal justice system first took hold.” The state’s overall pretrial population, which consists of detainees who have not been charged with a crime, has declined by 44 percent. That amounts to 6,000 fewer people incarcerated in 2018 compared to 2012.
For the First Time, Green Power Tops Coal Industry in Energy Production in April (sv)
The analysis, based on data collected by the Federal Energy Information Administration, doesn’t mean green energy is now dominant. Wamsted writes that the spring is usually the best time for renewable energy. Because the demand for energy from furnaces and air conditioners is low, many coal plants go temporarily offline for repairs and maintenance. Spring runoff also gives hydropower an annual boost. It will likely be years before renewables surpass coal on an annual basis.
Scotland’s bottle return scheme deposit to be set at 20p (ZWW)
The government says there will be a range of ways you can get your 20p back, for example cash at a till, a token or discount voucher or digitally. The returned containers are stored in the machine and are then collected for recycling.
As well as retailers and hospitality businesses, schools and other community hubs will be able to act as return locations.
Solar installations in US now exceed 2 million and could double by 2023, new figures show (RS)
California was responsible for 51 percent of the first million installations and 43 percent of the second million, the SEIA said. It explained that this reduction was “in large part” down to a residential sector that was both growing and “rapidly diversifying across state markets.”
UK goes a whole week without using coal-fired electricity (jdargis)
The UK is a leader in offshore wind, and it also has nuclear plants and natural gas-fired plants to feed power demand. Natural gas, of course, is still a fossil fuel, but it releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when it’s burned, compared to coal. Grids around the world tend to hit zero-carbon milestones in spring and autumn, when winds are high and daylight is still plentiful, and customers aren’t demanding a lot of electricity to light and heat (or cool) their homes.
Climate change: Scientists test radical ways to fix Earth’s climate (ZWW)
“This really is one of the most important challenges of our time, and we know we need to be responding to it with all our efforts,” Dr Shuckburgh told BBC News.
The U.K. Has Officially Declared a Climate ‘Emergency’ (sv)
The motion asks the U.K. government to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. It also calls for government officials to come up with proposals on how to fix the U.K.’s natural environment and deliver a “zero waste economy” within the next 6 months, according to the BBC.
Dem senators launch Environmental Justice Caucus (Jen H.)
Duckworth said in a statement that all Americans have “the right to breathe safe air, drink clean water and live on uncontaminated land regardless of their zip code, the size of their wallet and the color of their skin.”
Gold & Silver
Click to read the PM Daily Market Commentary: 5/9/19
Provided daily by the Peak Prosperity Gold & Silver Group
Article suggestions for the Daily Digest can be sent to dd@peakprosperity.com. All suggestions are filtered by the Daily Digest team and preference is given to those that are in alignment with the message of the Crash Course and the "3 Es."
The post Daily Digest 5/10 – Good News Friday: Zero Waste For Beginners, NJ Proving That Bail Reform Works appeared first on Peak Prosperity.
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