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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Practical renewables. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
Ask someone about making the world run on 100% renewable wind, water and solar energy, and they might say “can’t happen; just doesn’t add up.” But in the journal Joule, Stanford climate scientist Mark Jacobson and his colleagues report that most countries could convert to 100% renewable energy by the year 2050 and actually save money.
MARK JACOBSON (Stanford University):
The direct cost of energy is almost the same, but there’s no health or climate costs associated with it, so we’re basically almost one fourth in social cost of energy with the wind, water, solar.
HIRSHON:
The team created roadmaps for 139 countries, including the US, China and India, to phase out fossil fuels. And while it’s easier for some countries than others, all avoid increases in cost per kilowatt, while showing reductions in health costs and boosts to employment. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.
Story by Bob Hirshon and Kyle Frischkorn