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Posted on Feb 1, 2017

21 Reasons Our New Secretary Of State Can't Stop The Clean Energy Freight Train

Rex Tillerson, the 40-year ExxonMobil employee and ex-CEO, has been confirmed by the Senate as Donald Trump's Secretary of State. Sure, essentially his only job has been working for an oil company. He was appointed by one of the most rabidly anti-environment administrations in modern American history. And he is a close friend to Russia who is desperately hoping Tillerson will help prop up their tenuously fossil fuel-reliant government! But Rex is just one diplomat, from one country, as the world is turning towards cheaper, cleaner, safer renewable energy. Here are just a few reasons he's not turning this clean energy ship around.

by Renee Miller

Community Contributor

telegraph.co.uk

Leonardo DiCaprio @LeoDiCaprio

Great progress at COP 22: 48 countries commit to 100% renewable energy. #Go100RE #1o5c #COP22… https://t.co/Ne4MchnJiG
04:18 PM - 19 Nov 2016
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forbes.com

That's more than enough to make Dr. Evil's raise his pinky.

theguardian.com

carbonbrief.org

bloomberg.com

The three biggest battery storage projects in the world just came on-line in California.

electrek.co

Who lost a boat load.

fastcoexist.com

roadandtrack.com

washingtonpost.com

wbcsd.org

cleantechnica.com

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21 Reasons Our New Secretary Of State Can't Stop The Clean Energy Freight Train

1. Renewable energy has surpassed coal to become the largest source of global electric capacity.

2. That's right, the world is installing 500,000 solar panels - Every. Single. Day.

3. 194 countries have signed the Paris Climate Agreement, and it's been ratified by 123 countries, representing over 80% of global emissions.

4. And last year at the Marrakech climate conference, 48 countries committed to move to 100% renewable electricity.

5. In just the next 3 years, China is planning to invest $361 billion in renewable energy.

6. India is already blowing past it's own goals, on pace to get 60% of it's electricity from wind and solar within 10 years.

7. In 2016, the UK generated more power from wind energy than from burning coal.

8. UK Solar also beat coal for 6 months of the year.

9. Tesla and other companies are putting the battery storage revolution into action.

10. ...and powering an entire island in American Samoa.

View this video on YouTube

11. Tesla also made more money last quarter than the entire U.S. oil industry.

12. Around the world, solar microgrids are surging - already reaching 10% of those living off-grind in Africa.

13. And bringing power to towns in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.

14. The US electric industry now employs more people in clean energy than in oil, gas and coal combined.

15. Electric cars sales are growing... fast.

16. And Germany just passed a resolution calling for the end of fossil-fuel powered cars entirely.

17. Health gains from switching from dirty fuels are massive, and increasing the urgency for action.

18. Especially for the 1-7 children globally who live with toxic air.

19. Maybe that's one reason that 40% of fortune 500 companies have now committed to renewable energy goals

20. Global investment in renewable energy was more than twice that of fossil fuels in 2015

21. Even the world's largest oil company is looking to get in on the action - to the tune of $5 billion.

22. But don't take our word for it.

21 Reasons Our New Secretary Of State Can't Stop The Clean Energy Freight Train

1. Renewable energy has surpassed coal to become the largest source of global electric capacity.

2. That's right, the world is installing 500,000 solar panels - Every. Single. Day.

3. 194 countries have signed the Paris Climate Agreement, and it's been ratified by 123 countries, representing over 80% of global emissions.

4. And last year at the Marrakech climate conference, 48 countries committed to move to 100% renewable electricity.

5. In just the next 3 years, China is planning to invest $361 billion in renewable energy.

6. India is already blowing past it's own goals, on pace to get 60% of it's electricity from wind and solar within 10 years.

7. In 2016, the UK generated more power from wind energy than from burning coal.

8. UK Solar also beat coal for 6 months of the year.

9. Tesla and other companies are putting the battery storage revolution into action.

10. ...and powering an entire island in American Samoa.

View this video on YouTube

11. Tesla also made more money last quarter than the entire U.S. oil industry.

12. Around the world, solar microgrids are surging - already reaching 10% of those living off-grind in Africa.

13. And bringing power to towns in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.

14. The US electric industry now employs more people in clean energy than in oil, gas and coal combined.

15. Electric cars sales are growing... fast.

16. And Germany just passed a resolution calling for the end of fossil-fuel powered cars entirely.

17. Health gains from switching from dirty fuels are massive, and increasing the urgency for action.

18. Especially for the 1-7 children globally who live with toxic air.

19. Maybe that's one reason that 40% of fortune 500 companies have now committed to renewable energy goals

20. Global investment in renewable energy was more than twice that of fossil fuels in 2015

21. Even the world's largest oil company is looking to get in on the action - to the tune of $5 billion.

22. But don't take our word for it.

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