Enough Red Tape – We Need To Say Yes to Clean Energy | Rich Powell | TED

翻译人员: Ivy Loh 校对人员: Lening Xu

When I was a junior in college,

当我上大学三年级时，

from the back row of a darkened auditorium,

在一个漆黑的礼堂后排，

I listened to the CEO of a clean energy developer

我听了一家清洁能源开发商的首席执行官

describe an amazing new technology

描述了一项神奇的新技术，

that could produce a lot of clean electricity

它可以产生大量的清洁电力，

and reduce a lot of emissions.

并减少大量的排放。

It was a project called Cape Wind,

这个项目叫做 “科德角风能” ，

an audacious plan to drive 130 massive offshore turbines

这是一个大胆的计划， 在马萨诸塞州科德角沿岸

to the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts,

驱动 130 台大型海上涡轮机，

supplying enough clean electricity to supply more than 300,000 homes

提供足够的清洁电力， 为超过 30 万户家庭供电，

and eliminate the need for a mid-sized emitting power plant.

并且无需建造中型排放发电厂。

It was one of those moments that inspired me

这就是激发我从事清洁能源

to a career in clean energy and climate policy.

和气候政策职业生涯的时刻之一。

Now, in the 20 years since that night,

现在，自从那晚以来的 20 年里，

we could have built literally thousands of those turbines

我们本可以在美国东海岸上下

up and down the US East Coast.

建造数千台这样的涡轮机。

But instead, we have built literally six total turbines

但实际上，我们总共只在美国东海岸

in the US East Coast.

建造了六台涡轮机。

And that's because a combination of wealthy coastal landowners,

那是因为富有的沿海地主，

both liberals and conservatives,

包括自由派和保守派，

don't like those turbines spoiling the views

不喜欢那些涡轮机破坏

from their sunset cocktail parties.

他们日落鸡尾酒会的美景。

Who knew they could agree on anything?

谁知道他们竟然在这点上能达成共识？

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Now Cape Wind had broad public support.

现在，科德角风能项目 得到了广泛的公众支持。

More than 80 percent of Massachusetts residents were in favor,

超过 80％ 的马萨诸塞州 居民都表示赞成，

probably because they realized that siting the turbines 12 miles offshore

这可能是因为他们意识到 在离岸 12 英里的地方安装涡轮机

makes them barely even visible to the naked eye.

几乎肉眼看不见。

But the project was stymied,

但这个项目受到了阻碍，

using regulations designed by environmentalists

环保主义者设计用来保护环境的法规，

to protect the environment,

instead used by a wealthy few to protect their views.

却被少数富人用来保护他们的景观。

Tragically, Cape Wind is far from unique.

可悲的是，科德角风能并不是唯一的例子。

Regulations and lawsuits have been used to slow down or stop

法规和诉讼已被用来减缓或阻止

hundreds of clean energy projects in this country,

本国数百个清洁能源项目，

from renewables like geothermal to solar to hydro, to new nuclear plants,

从地热、太阳能、水电等 可再生能源，到新的核电站，

to pipelines carrying captured carbon dioxide,

再到运输捕获二氧化碳的管道，

to new transmission lines.

以及新的输电线路。

Many of those projects have been killed,

其中许多项目已被取消，

many others are still stuck in permitting purgatory.

还有许多项目仍然陷在许可困境中。

Now there is some good news.

现在有一些好消息。

Recently, alumni of Cape Wind have teamed up

最近，科德角风能项目的成员 与一家大型全球能源开发公司合作，

with a massive global energy developer

and are finally going to put steel in the water

终于将在今年晚些时候

off the coast of Massachusetts later this year.

在马萨诸塞州海岸外投入钢铁建造。

But only after overcoming, I quote,

但这只有在克服了

"countless regulatory hurdles."

“无数监管障碍” 之后才得以实现。

To take a step back,

退一步来说，

we have many of the technologies,

我们拥有许多技术，

the engineers,

工程师，

even the policies to drive down global emissions

甚至政策来降低全球排放

and solve the climate challenge.

并解决气候挑战。

But what keeps me up at night

但是让我彻夜难眠的是，

is that government red tape combined with NIMBY --

政府的繁文陋习，再加上NIMBY——

that's "not in my backyard" --

即 “别在我家后院” ——

opposition will get in the way.

的反对意见会阻碍进展。

Now like, literally right now, government needs to get out of the way

现在，就在此刻，政府需要让位，

and let the private sector build clean energy.

让私营部门建设清洁能源。

(Applause)

（掌声）

And as for the rest of us environmentalists,

至于我们其他的环保主义者，

we all need to say a lot more "yes" than "no" in the coming decades,

在未来几十年中，我们都需要 更多地说 “是” 而不是 “否”，

so free enterprise can get out there and do the hard part.

这样自由企业才能 走出去完成艰难的部分。

Now, you're probably getting the sense

现在，你可能已经感觉到

that I'm not your typical environmental warrior.

我不是你典型的环保战士。

I'm not a socialist or a member of a Green Party.

我不是社会主义者，也不是绿党成员。

I love being in nature, but I don't own any Birkenstocks.

我喜欢亲近大自然， 但我没有任何勃肯鞋。

I can see that free markets deploy clean capital

我能看到自由市场 比地球上任何其他力量

faster than any other force on the planet,

更快地部署清洁资本，

which makes calls for degrowth

这使得增长或终结资本主义的呼吁

or ending capitalism deeply irresponsible to both environmental progress

对环境进步和人类繁荣 都极不负责任。

and human flourishing.

I run an American clean energy non-profit organization called ClearPath.

我经营一个名为 ClearPath 的美国清洁能源非营利组织。

We advance policies that accelerate innovations

我们推动加速创新的政策，

to reduce and remove global energy emissions.

以减少和消除全球能源排放。

We spend a lot of time understanding clean, reliable,

我们花了大量时间来了解清洁、可靠

24/7 energy systems.

全天候的能源系统。

In order to build those, we've got a lot of work to do in very little time.

为了建设这些系统， 我们在很短的时间内有很多工作要做。

For starters, we have to transform the American power system.

首先，我们必须改造美国的电力系统。

Now, all roads to net-zero emissions in the United States

现在，美国实现净零排放的所有道路

start with making this system 100 percent clean.

都从让这个系统达到 100% 清洁开始。

But then, because we have to electrify so much more of our economy,

但随后，由于我们必须 电气化更多的经济领域，

this system will need to at least double in size,

这个系统至少需要扩大一倍，

maybe much more.

甚至更多。

Now it took 125 years to build the system we have today.

现在，我们花了 125 年 来建设今天拥有的系统。

And if you're like me, targeting 2050 for net zero,

如果你像我一样， 设定 2050 年实现净零排放目标，

means we have to accomplish that in the next 27 years.

意味着我们必须 在未来 27 年内实现这一目标。

That translates to 10,000 new clean energy projects

就在这十年内，仅在美国就需建设

just in the US just this decade.

10,000 个新的清洁能源项目。

And every single one of those projects

而每一个这样的项目

starts with a permit to build.

都需要一个建设许可。

Now, tragically, in the US, since the 1970s,

现在，不幸的是，在美国， 自 1970 年代以来，

well-intentioned policy makers and environmental leaders

善意的决策者和环境领袖

have designed a world-class apparatus for getting in the way.

已经设计了世界一流的障碍机构。

Let me give you an example.

让我举个例子。

NEPA, which I promise is the only boring legal acronym I will use today,

NEPA，我保证这是我今天 唯一会使用的无聊法律缩写，

stands for the National Environmental Policy Act.

是《国家环境政策法》的缩写。

NEPA was passed in the 1970s

NEPA 于 1970 年代通过

with the intention to get developers to understand

目的是让开发商了解

the environmental impact of their projects,

他们项目的环境影响，

and to show that they had considered lower impact alternatives.

并表明他们已经考虑过 影响较低的替代方案。

Makes a lot of sense.

这很有道理。

But NEPA was passed before the modern Clean Air,

但 NEPA 是在现代的 《清洁空气法》、

Clean Water or Endangered Species Acts.

《清洁水法》或《濒危物种法》 颁布之前通过的。

And, crucially, NEPA gives outside stakeholders the right

而且，至关重要的是， NEPA 赋予外部利益相关者

to sue over government regulatory decisions.

起诉政府监管决策的权利。

And now wealthy outside stakeholders use NEPA suits to slow down

现在，富有的外部利益相关者 利用 NEPA 诉讼来减缓

and kill clean energy.

并扼杀清洁能源。

Regionally, things are also in gridlock.

就地区而言，情况也陷入了僵局。

Did you all know that here in Detroit,

你们知道吗，在底特律，

this beautiful electricity system

这个美丽的电力系统

is managed by a massive supergrid

由一个大型超级电网管理，

that procures electricity from independent generators

该超级电网 从中西部的独立发电机获取电力，

all over the Midwest,

and moves that electricity to factories and cities and homes

并通过电力市场将电力输送到 工厂、城市和家庭。

through a power market?

Sounds great right?

听起来很棒，对吧？

The problem is the line to connect a new clean energy plan

问题在于，接入这个电力市场的

into that power market

新清洁能源计划的等待时间

now extends to almost four years nationwide,

现在在全国范围内几乎延长到了四年，

and at the state and local level,

而在州和地方层面，

elected officials are also putting up walls to specific kinds of clean energy.

民选官员也在对特定类型 的清洁能源设置障碍。

In the US, 12 states still have some kind of a moratoria on new nuclear energy,

例如，在美国，仍有 12 个州 在某种程度上暂停使用新核能。

for example.

Now, I will let somebody else do the talk

我会让其他人来讲解 核能的惊人好处。

on the amazing benefits of nuclear energy.

But suffice it to say that putting 24/7 clean, reliable energy off limits

但可以说，把全天候清洁、 可靠的能源列为禁区

doesn't make a lot of sense.

并没有多大意义。

(Applause)

（掌声）

And we now have low-income communities across the country

现在，全国各地的低收入社区

also voicing opposition to new clean energy projects,

也在对新的清洁能源项目表示反对，

which is understandable because they have borne the brunt

这是可以理解的， 因为他们在过去承受了环境污染的重担。

of environmental pollution in the past.

So now we have communities across the country, rich and poor,

因此，现在我们在全国各地的社区， 无论贫富，

all saying no instead of yes.

他们都说 “不” 而不是 “是”。

This movement goes well beyond NIMBYism.

这种运动远远超出了邻避主义。

Some folks have called it BANANA-ism.

有些人称其为香蕉主义。

That's "build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything."

即 “绝对不要在任何地方建造任何东西”。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Sad, sad.

悲哀，真是悲哀。

And this isn't just a problem in the United States.

而且这不仅仅是美国的问题。

In Germany, there's been opposition to new offshore wind,

在德国，人们反对新的海上风电项目，

even as they're shutting down their nuclear fleet for ideological reasons,

即使他们出于意识形态原因 关闭了核电站，

and you're getting a sense of how I feel about that.

你大概可以理解我对此的感受。

There's also been opposition to new wind in Norway,

挪威的新风电项目也遭到了反对，

while Australia has banned new nuclear,

而澳大利亚则禁止了新的核能项目，

even as they've said they wouldn't shut down new coal.

即使他们表示不会关闭新的煤电项目。

The list goes on around the world.

这份清单遍布世界各地。

Now I have just painted a pretty gloomy picture,

现在我描绘了一幅相当阴暗的画面，

and most folks who know me know that I am a sunny optimist.

但大多数认识我的人都知道 我是一个乐观主义者。

So here's the part where we get to begin anew

因此，这是我们在考虑结局的情况下

with the end in mind.

重新开始的部分。

It starts by realizing there is a very important role

首先要意识到平衡的环境法规

for balanced environmental regulation.

起着非常重要的作用。

Here in the US, we all benefit from the Clean Water Act,

在美国，我们都受益于《清洁水法》，

passed at a time when our heavily polluted Cuyahoga River literally caught on fire.

该法案是在我们严重污染 的凯霍加河着火时通过的。

But the solution to our permitting emergency

但解决我们许可紧急情况的方案

begins with all of us environmentalists.

始于我们所有的环保主义者。

We all need to support new build and retrofit

我们都需要支持新建和改造

clean energy projects of all kinds,

各种类型的清洁能源项目，

regardless of whether they're things we've been specifically for in the past.

无论它们是否是 我们过去特别支持的东西。

Carbon dioxide pipelines aren't so bad to look at,

二氧化碳管道看起来没那么糟，

especially compared to the impacts of climate change

尤其是与它们旨在减缓的 气候变化影响相比。

that they're meant to mitigate.

And this seems trivial,

这似乎微不足道，

but developers need to do their part

但开发人员需要尽自己的一份力

to make their projects more visually appealing.

使他们的项目更具视觉吸引力。

Just look at the way these advanced nuclear developers

看看这些先进的核能开发商

have reimagined their designs to incorporate nature

是如何重新构思他们的设计， 将自然元素融入其中，

and welcome in the local community.

并欢迎当地社区的参与。

We all need to elect local officials that support new build clean energy,

我们都需要选举支持 新建清洁能源的地方官员，

and reject regulations that get in the way.

并拒绝阻碍发展的法规。

At the regional level,

在区域层面，

we need to encourage those supergrid operators to modernize their processes.

我们需要鼓励这些超级电网 运营商实现流程现代化。

They could review applications systematically in clusters

他们可以分组系统性地审查申请，

rather than one at a time.

而不是逐个审查。

Doing that could save two years from the average project timeline,

这样做可以比平均项目时间表节省两年，

and making that change could rapidly bring

并且这一改变可以迅速

a terawatt of new energy generation into the US system,

为美国系统带来一太瓦的新能源，

the vast majority of it clean.

其中绝大多数是清洁能源。

That would go a long way towards that doubling of the grid.

这将有助于实现电网的翻倍目标。

All clean.

全都是清洁能源。

Lastly, we need to encourage our federal policymakers,

最后，我们需要鼓励我们的联邦决策者、

Congress and the administration, to reform the rules

国会和行政部门，

that govern our national environmental laws.

改革治理我们国家环境法的规则。

In 2005, during an energy crisis,

2005 年，在能源危机期间，

we actually made it really easy to permit new oil and gas production

我们实际上简化了在美国公共土地上

on public lands in the United States to improve energy affordability.

许可新的石油和天然气生产的程序， 以提高能源负担能力。

Why don't we give clean energy developers the same kind of leeway now

为什么我们不在这场重大的全国性挑战中

during this great national challenge?

给清洁能源开发商同样的宽松政策呢？

(Applause)

（掌声）

We should automatically permit some classes of clean energy

我们应该自动批准一些

that have very little local environmental impact.

对当地环境影响很小的清洁能源类别。

Think a new solar site or nuclear plant on a brownfield site,

想象一下在棕地上 的新太阳能站或核电站，

like a retired coal plant.

比如一个退休的煤电厂。

We can audit them later

我们可以在之后审计他们，

to make sure that they're compliant with environmental laws.

以确保他们符合环境法律。

And for those projects that do have significant environmental impact,

对于那些确实有重大环境影响的项目，

let's make sure that their reviews are done in a year or less,

我们要确保他们的审查在一年内完成，

that the lawsuits are brought in three months or less,

诉讼在三个月内提起，

and that we adjudicate those suits in six months or less.

并在六个月内裁决这些诉讼。

Doing that alone could shave five to 10 years

仅此一项措施就可以在全国范围内

off of project timelines nationwide.

将项目时间表缩短五到十年。

(Applause)

（掌声）

Other countries serious about building clean

其他认真对待建设清洁能源的国家

have already started to make some of these reforms.

已经开始进行这些改革。

Spain, for example, has eliminated those up-front environmental statements

例如，西班牙已经取消了 一些清洁能源类别的

for some classes of clean energy,

前期环境声明，

and they saw projected installations increase 20 percent in a matter of months.

并在几个月内看到了 预计安装量增加 20%。

To put it simply,

简而言之，

if we're serious about getting to net zero anytime soon

如果我们真的想在短期内实现净零排放

and solving the climate challenge,

并解决气候挑战，

let's get to yes.

那么让我们开始说 “是”。

Green light.

绿灯。

Approved.

已批准。

Yes in my backyard.

是的，在我家后院。

Tens of thousands of times all over the world.

在全世界成千上万次地说 “是”。

Let's get building.

让我们开始建设吧。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause and cheers)

（掌声和欢呼声）