Stanford professor Mark Jacobson wasn’t just dreaming of a world powered by 100% renewable energy back in 2009—he was doing the math and architecting the plan. In an article for Scientific American, Jacobson presented it: wind, water, and solar could do more than keep the lights on—they could power the planet.

A momentous chain reaction ensued. Jacobson teamed up with actor-turned-eco-hero Mark Ruffalo to co-found The Solutions Project with a mission to transition the world to 100% renewables by 2035. He went on the David Letterman Show and spoke at the UN alongside Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

As Jacobson's vision took root, states and cities began making 100% renewable pledges. By 2019, his idea had reached Capitol Hill when AOC and Senator Markey introduced the Green New Deal resolution, calling for a transition to 100% renewable energy. Jacobson’s message? We can pull it off, it’ll save us trillions, and spare millions of lives.

Plus, if you’re lucky enough to live in just about any state that’s ahead of the curve, you’re already paying some of the lowest energy bills in the country.

Show Links:

Guest: Mark Jacobson (Stanford University, LinkedIn, Wikipedia)

Book: No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air

Organization: The Solutions Project

Article: Scientific American - A Plan to Power 100% of the Planet with Renewables
Background data: U.S. Covid-relief spending

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