Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons^™

New Natural Gas Pipeline Benefits Europe And Africa, Victor Moreno Lozano

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

European countries have agreed to start filling up their natural gas gap, with the new natural gas pipeline from Africa. Nigeria and Morocco agreed to develop this pipeline in 2016, but after the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia war, things have speeded up.

After the economical punishments Europe imposed on Russia, Russia decided to increase the price of the natural gas exported to Europe and decrease the amount of gas. Most European countries have a big dependency on Russia's natural gas, countries like Germany import 50% of their natural gas from Russia.

Since winter is coming up, European countries are dealing …

Are Electric Cars A Solution In Rwanda?, Elysee Ndayishimiye

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Numerous studies have been conducted that demonstrate how environmentally friendly electric vehicles are. They produce fewer greenhouse gases, which makes them an effective way to reduce both air pollution and greenhouse emissions. In order to combat rising air pollution and support a green city initiative, Rwanda considered introducing more electric vehicles. The Global Electric Mobility Program, run by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), aims to assist low- and middle-income nations in switching from conventional (gas) to electric vehicles. Rwanda has joined this program. Due to the high cost of switching to electric vehicles in poor nations like Rwanda and …

Multi-Criteria Evaluation Model For Classifying Marginal Cropland In Nebraska Using Historical Crop Yield And Biophysical Characteristics, Andrew Laws

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Marginal cropland is suboptimal due to historically low and variable productivity and limiting biophysical characteristics. To support future agricultural management and policy decisions in Nebraska, U.S.A, it is important to understand where cropland is marginal for its two most economically important crops: corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max). As corn and soybean are frequently planted in a crop rotation, it is important to consider if there is a relationship with cropland marginality. Based on the current literature, there exists a need for a flexible yet robust methodology for identifying marginal land at different scales, which …

Comparison Effect On Biogas Production From Vegetable And Fruit Waste With Rumen Digesta Through Co-Digestion Process, Anika Tasnim, Muhammad Rashed Al Mamun, Md Anwar Hossen, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Md Janibul Alam Soeb

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Biogas is the best renewable energy as it can be produced from any biomass for example any plant or living organism. The purpose of this research was to produce biomethane from co-digestion of vegetable and fruit waste with rumen digesta through anaerobic digestion process. In this research, two trials of experiment were conducted. Each trial has three different sample with different mixing ratios. Raw materials used in the experiment was rumen digesta of goat and cow, potato, capsicum, cucumbers, onions, radish, cauliflower, carrot, leafy vegetables, apple, banana, and papaya. In each sample, 1200 gram of raw materials were used. Hydraulic …

Sources Of Variability And Uncertainty In Food-Energy-Water Nexus Systems, Heydi Calderon-Ambelis, Deepak R. Keshwani

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A nexus approach contributes to the strategic allocation of resources to secure food, energy, and water for the world population. Integrated models considering the complex interactions across food, energy, and water (FEW) enhance decision-making and strategic planning towards resilience. However, a significant number of the existing integrated models leave unaddressed the inherent variability and uncertainty present in the FEW sectors. Here, we review the importance of characterizing variability over spatial and temporal scales and the importance of decreasing the uncertainty present within a FEW nexus systems. The review also discusses existing modeling tools that address variability and uncertainty on single …

Risk-Based Machine Learning Approaches For Probabilistic Transient Stability, Umair Shahzad

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Power systems are getting more complex than ever and are consequently operating close to their limit of stability. Moreover, with the increasing demand of renewable wind generation, and the requirement to maintain a secure power system, the importance of transient stability cannot be overestimated. Considering its significance in power system security, it is important to propose a different approach for enhancing the transient stability, considering uncertainties. Current deterministic industry practices of transient stability assessment ignore the probabilistic nature of variables (fault type, fault location, fault clearing time, etc.). These approaches typically provide a conservative criterion and can result in expensive …

Rwanda To Phase Out Polluting Vehicles By 2040, An Efficient Strategy To Mitigate Global Warming Effects?, Josue Kwizera

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Passenger vehicles are major pollutants because on average a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. I highly support the idea that Rwanda joined on November 11, 2021, a group of countries at the COP26 United Nations climate talks that have made an agreement to end polluting vehicles by 2040. Rwanda is a landlocked country with a 12.95 million population as of 2020 (World Bank). Rwanda currently has over 221,000 registered vehicles; 83,980 are passenger vehicles, 114,900 vehicles (52 percent of those vehicles) are motorcycles and the rest include public transports (buses and minibuses) …

The Eicda: What Is It, And Why Is It Right For Nebraska?, Samantha Markus

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

For decades, humans have been pumping greenhouses gases into the atmosphere, and we are finally starting to see some of the damages. Global temperature has risen 1.76°F when compared to the twentieth century. Within Nebraska, we are seeing an increase in heavy rain events and extreme hot days, both of which negatively impact agriculture. These changes are becoming more devastating as each year passes with no action.

“Developing Nations Should Not Rush To Renewable Energies”, Alisson Ntwali

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The Conference of Parties 26 (COP26)’s purpose was to bring countries together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Biden’S “Blue” Hydrogen Plan Is Not The Answer, Ryan Martz

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The excitement about hydrogen as a fuel and energy source is similar to buying an electric vehicle (EV) thinking it will reduce your personal CO₂ emissions. On the surface, it seems great! No greenhouse gas emissions while driving is certainly better than the greenhouse gasses released from a normal combustion engine car, but when you consider other effects, it’s no longer as great. What if the grid that you plug your EV into is powered primarily by coal? What about the environmental and human rights impacts of mining the materials to make the batteries? What about the lack of …

Loss And Damage: The $100 Billion Promise ‘The Leaders’ Failed To Keep, Abbie Williams

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

100 billion dollars, the amount develOp-ed nations were supposed to pay less develOp-ed nations by 2020, the promise they failed to keep. The promise that was revisited at COP26 in Glasgow. The climate finance fund is funds from more develOp-ed nations to less develOp-ed nations to help with transitioning to a green economy so there is no need for reliance on fossil fuels. This fund consists of both loans and grants.

Solar Panels: Are Aesthetics More Important Than The Environment?, Madison Kinkaid

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Imagine you decide to install solar panels on your house. You want to do your part in combating the climate crisis as well as save your family money. You’ve done your research about which panels to get and exactly how to position them on your home. Then you find out that your neighborhood doesn’t allow solar panels because someone decades ago decided they weren’t aesthetically pleasing.

It's About Time Nebraska Ditches Coal, Riley Johnson

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

For too long now, Nebraska has relied on coal from our western neighbor, Wyoming. While this proximity to Wyoming’s coal mines has led to cheap coal and cheap energy prices, it has made us reliant on out-of-state coal companies. It's great that energy is kept cheap using coal, but all of our money is getting sent out of state. Why send all of our money out-of-state when we can keep Nebraskan’s hard-earned money in Nebraska. Our beautiful state has an extremely large potential for renewable energy that we fail to utilize.

30 By 30, Laron Core

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Biden’s 30 by 30 plan, a regulatory approach to conservation, an imminent response to environmental action, a promise of inclusivity to all stakeholders. Or a broken promise in the making, an environmental policy inadequate to deliver sufficient results to its stakeholders? I am set to believe Biden’s 30 by 30 plan could very well be DOA.

Heigh-Ho, They Blow, Husker Balloons Have Got To Go, Zowie Vincent

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

One petition, one billboard, one lawsuit, and a 52% majority vote. Multiple attempts have been made to challenge the balloon releases at Memorial Stadium. Though there are mild surges of advocacy against this action during the football season and the annual spring semester vote, this issue, despite numerous attempts, continues to fall on deaf ears.

Lincoln’S Brightest Policy On Solar Energy, Jerin Tekolste

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The push towards renewable energy is ubiquitous, with reasons varying from greater independence from foreign energy markets to environmental considerations or sustainable futures. Many countries, states, and cities all around the world are pursuing different ways to better their energy generation and Lincoln is no different. The current policy provides some incentive towards residential solar power but can be improved upon. There are typically three mechanisms used for residential photovoltaic (PV) solar generation: Feed-In Tariffs (FITs), Net Metering, and Net Purchase and Sale. This paper will compare the options Lincoln could use and will conclude with what would be the …

Save The Tax Break, Megan Bilstein

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Saving 26% on inputting a clean form of energy sounds pretty good to me. According to the U.S. Department of Energy by inputting a solar panel into your house, property, or shop you could have 30% of the cost to install a solar panel system deducted from your federal income taxes, that was in 2019. Come 2020 it decreased to 26% and 22% in 2021 then completely gone in 2022. Unless something is done to save the tax credit this form of renewable energy may be completely forgotten about or put to the side in Nebraska while other forms will …

Public Power’S Addiction To Coal, Drew Havens

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

A benefit of living in Nebraska is the accessibility and reliability of our electricity. It powers our homes and businesses and allows us to be productive, hard-working people. But public power and its addiction to coal is not the path forward. Our state’s insistence on burning coal for electricity leaves us physically dependent, economically vulnerable, and financially burdened.

The U.S. Should Rejoin The Paris Agreement. Moral, Economic, And Political Reasons Why Rejoining Paris Agreement Is Right, Libert Niyonkuru

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Climate change and global warming are not only environmental issues rather ethical and policy-driven issues that need global attention from all governments. This is the only way Climate equity and justice can be achieved.

Nebraska’S Need For A Renewable Standard Portfolio, Trevor Cutsor

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Nebraska has the 3^rd highest potential for wind energy in the country but ranks 12^th in installed wind capacity. Our reliance on fossil fuels and lagging investment in generation technologies of the future mean that our beloved low cost of electricity will increase in the near future. We need a renewable portfolio standard.

Climate Change In Rwanda, Mig Shyaka

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Climate change has become the world’s upmost threat. Different ideas of mitigation and adaptation have been develOp-ed to target climate change. These solutions stretch from development and innovation of different technologies like clean energy (solar and wind), to simpler local procedures (planting trees and simple green agroecological practices like farming). However, the need for the rapid action on climate change has created a narrow understanding of the issue and the necessary participation for the process to be smoother in developing and under-develOp-ed countries. It can be argued to be the case in some develOp-ed countries too.

Answering Global Warming’S Hottest Debate: A Better Way To Tax Carbon, Saleh Husseini

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Some of you are sick of hearing about it, some of you don’t really care, and the rest of you are probably the reason the first group is sick of hearing about it, but regardless of which category you fall into, one thing is certain: climate change is real and it’s already happening. With that said, I’m moving forward under the assumption that all of us here believe in science and understand this phenomenon to be largely a result of post-industrial anthropogenic activity. In which case, reducing our emissions is the only way to prevent climate change from becoming a …

Neglecting A Wind Energy Portfolio Leaves Nebraska Behind Its Neighbors, Conner Vokoun

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Nebraska is a state that prides itself on the productivity of our land. We dutifully don our foam corn hats at Memorial Stadium and boast that Nebraska beef is what’s for dinner. But Nebraska’s land holds an untapped resource that our neighboring states are taking advantage of: wind. Nebraska must adopt a renewable portfolio to double production of wind energy in our state over the next five years. A renewable portfolio is a regulation that sets a minimum amount of power that can be produced by renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. Currently, Nebraska does not have any …

Subsidize Or Suffer, Dallas Smith

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The standard for energy production and consumption in the US has historically been the use of coal or oil. In the earliest days of the industrial revolution, coal was king. For a society to achieve such a goal as the expansion and fortification of infrastructure, well, society as a whole, the means absolutely justify the ends. But what if the means of producing energy didn’t have to look like what they did over a hundred years ago? Well they don’t. The use of new renewable, sustainable energy could prove to be beneficial in many aspects, environmental health especially. By subsidizing …

Is More Investment Needed In Solar And Biogas Energy Sources In Rwanda?, Herve Christian Kabanda

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The Rwanda Third National Communication Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change mentions that Green House Gas (GHG) emissions per capita increased from 532.39kg (2006) to 676.23kg (2015) with an annual increase of 2.46%. As of 2015, the dominant emissions are from agriculture (70.4%) followed by energy (20.11%). Urea application in agriculture have increased from 1,246,400 to 2,559,000 tons of CO2 eq. Charcoal or wood being the primary source for cooking; emissions from domestic energy use has increased from 626,800 to 741,400 tons of CO2 eq. If such trends continue severe health issues, deforestation, soil erosion and droughts …

People And Planet First—Time Permitting, Jennifer Gilbert

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Is it just me or is there something about election time that makes politicians overly ambitious? The candidates for the 2020 presidential election are fighting to convince American voters they are the best choice. One of the most common tactics for accomplishing this is providing voters with an unattainable amount of promises for making our problems magically disappear. While these ambitions are “attention-grabbing” and somewhat successful in acquiring votes, so many of them go unaccomplished or un-addressed once the candidate enters the white house. No candidate, from any party, is immune to this infectious tendency that accompanies running a campaign. …

The Wind Energy Adaptation Of Nebraska, Samuel Bogert

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The Wind Energy Adaptation of Nebraska

Today there are many things in the world that we rely on, heaters for warmth, cars for travel, and many other commodities that our way of living is dependent on. One of the most overlooked aspects of society is the need for power. Each and every American is dependent on power somehow, yet the vast majority of us do not think twice when flipping a switch. We all know that flipping a switch means the lights come on, when turning the ignition in our car we don’t think of the process behind the engine …

Making Renewables Profitable For Lincoln Electrical System, Jack Mensinger

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The potential for Nebraska to integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, in a financially sustainable and profitable method, has been proposed and shot down. Too many Nebraskans continue to doubt and reject renewables due to the perception that they are too expensive and the continued cost over traditional energy sources are too high. Most of Nebraska’s energy comes from coal, (63%) as of 2018, with the remainder lying primarily in nuclear (15%), and wind (14%). With the innovations and adoption of renewables by other states, what is keeping Nebraskans from joining the renewable party? The primary reason …

Positive Points Of Bernie's Green New Deal, Bailey Mullins

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

The Green New Deal will help will create jobs in the energy market. Many people fear that the workers in the coal mines or oil plants will be out of job but this is actually false. The Green New Deal will create jobs in the energy market, all while switching our infrastructure to 100% renewable energy. The Green New Deal is the best way for our country to become more sustainable, modernize our energy infrastructure, and do it without costing americans jobs. First off the Green New Deal will create 20 million new job openings according to Bernie Sanders campaign …

Adaptation To Climate Change, Pascal Ntaganda

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

Climate is changing rapidly. Some scientists say that the effects are now irreversible. The foundation on which government organizations, some of them being the congress in the United States, is not strong enough to stop climate change. The fact that the approaches being taken target market-based situations, makes it inefficient. Governments create solutions to reduce the impacts, as they make sure that these activities do not affect their economies. The level at which effects of climate change threaten life and resources of a country, is what stimulates the economy to adapt to the strategies set to mitigate climate change. In …