Spencer Hayes

6Aug

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

What you can do to help get the U.S. to net-zero

By Spencer Hayes Clean energy, otherwise known as renewable energy, is energy that is taken from resources that are naturally replenished by the Earth. President Joe Biden’s goal for the United States is to use clean energy to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This would mean removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere by using carbon removal as well as reducing human caused emissions. But what does that mean for everyday American citizens? There are many things that people can do in their day-to-day life that can help the country achieve this goal. Here are six steps you can take to keep the country on track. President Joe Biden’s goal for the United States is to use clean energy to get to net zero green house gas emissions by 2050. Photo above of Biden ...

Policy versus science over Miami building collapse

30Jul

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Community, Kent State University, Policy

Policy versus science over Miami building collapse

By Spencer Hayes A building collapse that took the lives of almost 100 people has devastated the Miami Surfside community. It has also reignited the climate change discussion across the country. It will take some time for the building analysis to be completed, however, many theories are already circulating, attempting to answer questions behind the collapse of the Champlain Towers on June 24. One theory that has spurred attention is whether or not climate change played a role in the building collapse. Aftermath of the Champlain Tower collapse in Miami Florida. (Photo by Giorgio Viera / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm jumped right in stating that rising sea levels may have contributed to the disaster. In a CNN interview,...

Controversial policies result in Ohioans paying the price for dirty energy

8Jul

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Energy, Kent State University, Policy, Video

Controversial policies result in Ohioans paying the price for dirty energy

By Grace Springer, Willow Campbell, Spencer Hayes, Madison Ledyard-King, Connor Fallon Perry Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower transfers exhaust heat into the air. Photo: Willow Campbell, Climate 360 COLUMBUS, OH — What has been dubbed by Vox and other news as “the worst energy bill of the 21st century” has put Ohio behind in the transition to renewable energy. Ohio House Bill 6 is energy legislation that provided bailouts in the form of subsidies to two nuclear power plants and two coal power plants. The bill also reformed energy efficiency standards in the state. The legislation passed by a slim margin in 2019 after a multi-million-dollar bribery scandal. The scandal involved several Ohio politicians including f...

22Jun

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

AUTHOR

Executive Producer, KSU My name is Spencer and I am a junior at Kent State University studying Public Communication Studies, with a minor in Media Advocacy. For Climate 360, I am the Executive Producer for the Kent State team. Over the years, I have learned more and more about climate change, especially the lasting effects it is starting to have on the planet. I recently became an aunt and I think of my nephew, as well as all of the children that one day will have to be the ones forced to deal with irreversible problems of climate change. As a member of this team, I hope to spread awareness about the importance of reversing what we can of climate change.

Algal blooms brought on by climate change and nutrient runoff a danger to fishing, coastal communities

8Jun

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Community, Kent State University, Louisiana State University

Algal blooms brought on by climate change and nutrient runoff a danger to fishing, coastal communities

By Domenic Purdy, Spencer Hayes and Madison Ledyard-King An active algal bloom consumes Lake Erie where summer blooms have impacted fishing and recreational activities. “You have to adapt with time,” said longtime fisherman David Koch, founder of Sandusky’s Whites Landings Fisheries in Ohio.Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Summer is here. That means mouth-watering barbecues, sunscreen and fun on the water. But thanks in part to rising temperatures due to climate change, vacationers may run into unwanted guests as summers become warmer: algal blooms. Waterways separated by thousands of miles are experiencing a dangerous buildup of algae, not just ruining family fun, but threatening people’s livelihoods. For blue co...