Manufacturing and other industrial processes are hefty consumers of energy. Factories use massive quantities of fossil fuels – and produce massive quantities of greenhouse gasses – in order to run machinery and produce process heat. 

Electrification is one promising option for reducing the climate impact of industry. If we make electricity from the sun, wind, geothermal energy, nuclear fission, or other non-fossil-fuel sources, it eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels. 

Shifting the source of energy used in industry from fossil fuels to electricity requires upgrading equipment and in some cases developing new technologies. But benefits abound: Not only does such a switch help a manufacturer reach its climate goals, it also can reduce front-end costs and maintenance needs – in many cases with a relatively minor infrastructure upgrade.

Change is never easy, particularly if it entails extra expenses in the short run. Rapidly decreasing costs of renewable energy, however, are helping to make it more palatable. And society can further encourage industry to enhance the climate-friendliness of their operations by reducing the desirability of greenhouse gas production through regulations and financial incentives or disincentives, such as those leveraged by putting a price on producing carbon emissions. Consumers, for their part, can motivate change by preferentially supporting and showcasing companies that choose to lead the way to decarbonizing this impactful but important sector.

When you take this action, increase your Energy Demand by 1 and remove 1 Industry Emissions token from your player board.
You may take this action once per Incentive tag in this card's stack each round.

• Industry (Project Drawdown)

• Electrification (Wikipedia)

• Buy products made using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels as a production energy source

• Encourage your employer to reduce use of fossil fuels.

• Participate in community conversations about how to justly and equitably site electrification infrastructure such as powerlines, solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems.