Could you host a solar farm?

Greener nickel production, atmospheric CO2 levels reach a new high, and leasing land for renewable energy

Photo of Ubaid Manzoor from Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials GmbH

Nickel is needed to create all kinds of clean energy technology, from stainless steel alloys for wind turbines to the cathodes in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. Driven in part by the clean energy transition, global demand for nickel is expected to double by 2040.

But nickel production has a massive carbon footprint, releasing up to 40 tons of CO2 for every ton of nickel refined. Without new, cleaner ways to meet this demand, we risk undermining the very goals we’re trying to achieve.

I’ve written before about potential solutions such as the “phytomining” project in Albania that grows and harvests nickel-accumulating flowers. But now, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Germany have discovered another new, low-carbon way to source this valuable metal, using hydrogen plasma—instead of coal-derived coke—to extract nickel from ore.

This new process reduces carbon pollution by 84 percent and uses 18 percent less energy. Even better, the leftover materials from the process can be repurposed to make bricks, reducing waste.

This method isn’t ready for full-scale industrial use yet, and scaling it up will bring its own challenges. But the fact that it can be done represents a huge step forward. “What we did here is to prove that the science works,” said one of the study’s authors, Ubaid Manzoor.

This breakthrough is a good reminder that climate solutions aren’t only about using less—they’re also about doing things differently. Thanks to science, new discoveries are being made all the time that can cut emissions, reduce energy use, turn industrial waste into building materials, and help us build a better world.

For the first time in human history (and a lot further back than that), atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawai'i have topped 430 parts per million. In addition, some of the biggest annual jumps it's ever measured have occurred in just the last few years.

This dataset, known as the Keeling Curve, has become the gold standard for understanding how human activity is altering the chemistry of our atmosphere -- and the numbers it records have been breaking records more years than not. “Another year, another record,” said my colleague Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO2 Program and son of Charles Keeling, who began tracking these numbers back in 1958.

Why does this continuously record-breaking dataset matter? Because CO2 is the biggest cause of climate change! Since 1990, it’s responsible for about 80 percent of the observed warming that’s driving the climate disruptions we’re already seeing, like longer and deadlier heat waves, extended droughts, stronger hurricanes, and rising sea levels. Higher CO2 levels are also changing the chemistry of our oceans, making it more acidic and harder for coral reefs and shellfish to survive.

While Mauna Loa is just one monitoring site, it serves as a global benchmark, and this latest milestone underscores how far we still have to go to reduce emissions. Which is why it was even more shocking when, almost immediately after this announcement was made, the Trump Administration's new budget promptly defunded the Mauna Loa Observatory. And not just this one location: the entire US greenhouse gas monitoring network was cut!

As climate scientist Alex Sen Gupta and colleagues warn here, "we can’t solve the existential problem of climate change if we can’t track the changes." This is especially important as we know that every fraction of a degree we avoid through emissions cuts translates to less risk, less suffering, and more hope for a livable future.

About six months ago, I shared a story about a man who convinced his (very politically conservative) family to lease their land out to a renewable energy company—a decision I hear is going very well! So this week, I wanted to ask if you, or someone in your family, or an organization you know or work with owns a property that could be leased for solar: undeveloped land (but don't cut down a forest!), a field, a parking lot, or a roof area?

Leasing land, including fields, rooftops, and parking areas, for solar or wind energy can be a win-win: it accelerates the transition to renewables while providing landowners with a stable new income source. Community solar projects, such as those supported by the Montgomery County Green Bank, install panels on larger buildings like churches or community centers. Local residents can then subscribe to receive power without having to purchase or install the panels themselves. But many people don’t realize they might qualify—or they’ve heard rumors and false information that simply aren’t true.

Here are some steps to help get started:

1. Find out if your land, lot or roof qualifies. You don’t need hundreds of acres or perfect sun exposure to make leasing a viable option. Solar developers often look for flat, open land between 5 and more than 100 acres that’s not heavily shaded and is within a few miles of power infrastructure like substations or power lines. For rooftops and parking lots, your local programs will usually have their own criteria for the size of project they work with.

Even if you live in a cloudy or cold region, your land might still be a viable site for renewable placement. Solar panels work efficiently in cooler climates, and developers can help assess your land’s potential based on local conditions.

2. Don’t fall for the myths. Some people worry that leasing land for solar or wind will ruin their soil, harm wildlife, or lower property values. But that’s not the case. Most leases are long-term agreements that protect landowner rights, offer steady income, and allow for land restoration at the end of the lease.

Solar grazing and pollinator-friendly plants can even improve biodiversity on these parcels of land, which I’ve written about before. In parts of the EU, “nature-inclusive solar parks” are taking off—designed to boost both clean energy and local ecosystems. And of course, solar in parking lots can provide shade as well as powering charging stations for vehicles underneath.

3. Talk to a reputable developer. If you think your property might qualify and you’re interested in learning more, the next step is to reach out to a trusted renewable energy developer. They’ll evaluate your site and walk you through contract terms—and please remember, it’s always a good idea to get independent legal advice before signing anything. This newsletter does not provide that!

Leasing land for renewable energy is a business decision and a climate solution. It helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels, stabilizes the grid, and brings clean energy projects closer to the communities that need them most. That's at least five wins!