Imagine a future where our energy comes from the sun, wind, and flowing water, rather than from burning fossil fuels. Fortunately, that vision isn’t too far off; research continues to show the environmental, economic, societal, and health benefits that will come from shifting our energy systems to renewable sources like solar, wind, hydropower, nuclear, and biofuels.
However, the path to widespread adoption of alternative energy isn’t without its challenges. We need vast mineral resources, answers to tough land-use questions, and solutions to creating better energy facilities and storage systems.
The Nelson Institute Issue Brief is a quarterly publication that shares new research from across the UW–Madison campus on key issues of environmental concern. This edition focuses on renewable and alternative energy in Wisconsin and beyond. Learn how we can use satellite data to support energy applications, engage with the community to address local energy needs, and better understand the economic, health and societal benefits of grid decarbonization.
Featured in This Issue
- Satellite Data for Renewable Energy: UW–Madison’s Tracey Holloway, Michael Kamp, Brad Pierce, and Morgan Edwards (and Paul Stackhouse, NASA Langley Research Center)
- What are Wisconsinites’ Perspectives on Community Energy Management and the Clean Energy Transition? Mikhaila Calice
- A Holistic Framework of the Benefits of Utility-Scale Solar: Katie Mummah, Sofia Taylor, Manman Ding, and Lew Blank (and Cristina Crespo Montañés, UC–Berkeley; Eric O’Shaughnessy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Health Benefits for Electricity Decarbonization Pathways in Wisconsin: Nova Tebbe, Jonathan Patz, Michael Ferris