The solar job market is growing, EPA approved ‘forever chemicals’ years ago, starving Florida manatees, heat and fires blaze out West...

[View in your browser]( [ecowatch]( Top Posts [ ​In Today's Eco Update - The growing solar job market. - EPA approved forever chemicals in 2011. - Starving manatees in Florida. - Third heatwave blazes out West. – summaries below written by [Angely Mercado]( [post_image]( [Solar Energy Job Market Is Heating Up]( In 2019, there were more than 11 million people working in the renewable energy sector around the world. It's estimated that the pandemic has prioritized the transition towards more renewable energy infrastructure. Investing in renewable energy may also help revive struggling economies and job markets as more countries try to emerge from the crisis caused by COVID-19. Solar power is currently one of the cheapest ways to generate electricity, which could lead to more breakthroughs in the technology in the future. Some studies estimate that the world will need about 60,000 GW of solar produced energy to reach a neutral energy supply — it'll take more than 60 million workers in the next 10 years to assemble and maintain that carbon neutral system. There's so much potential for workers who will physically put these systems and plants together, and to continue developing renewable energy technology. [Read More Button]( [9630b8e6-45a3-4648-9335-a47935d7d092.png](  [twitter](  [linkedin](  [email](mailto:?subject=Solar Energy Job Market Is Heating Up&body= [post_image]( [EPA Approved Exxon's 'Forever Chemicals' in 2011]( Back in 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ([EPA]( approved chemicals that break down into [PFAS]( aka 'forever chemicals,' for ExxonMobil fracking. This occurred despite the fact that scientists associated with the environmental agency found that the PFAS have been proven to increase cases of cancer, birth defects, and other health issues that can affect people, wild mammals, and even birds. Though there is no record where those chemicals have been used by ExxonMobil, a database that tracks fracking chemicals indicated that more than 100 companies used the chemicals in more than 1,000 wells over the last 10 years. Despite that data ExxonMobil has claimed that it does not manufacture PFAS, a recent report caught a company lobbyist [admitting]( that it manufactures 'forever chemicals,' but they also covertly lobbied to keep PFAS legal. [Read More Button]( [9630b8e6-45a3-4648-9335-a47935d7d092.png](  [twitter](  [linkedin](  [email](mailto:?subject=EPA Approved Exxon's 'Forever Chemicals' in 2011&body= [post_image]( [Florida Manatees Are Starving]( Manatees in Florida are starving to death. The record number of deaths are due to food scarcity in the Indian River Lagoon. The area has lost a significant amount of seagrass which has lead to the deaths of more than 800 manatees. Biologists predict that water pollution has made it harder for seagrass beds to grow in the area. The deaths have been declared an [Unusual Mortality Event]( which helps government officials work with nonprofits to adequately investigate the cause of the high death rate. Florida's previous record in manatee deaths occurred in 2013 when more than 800 sea cows died after being exposed to red dye toxins. The increase in deaths is concerning since their numbers have greatly increased to more than 6,000m up from 1,300 in the 1990s. Researchers worry that a dwindling food supply will bring numbers down again. [Read More Button]( [9630b8e6-45a3-4648-9335-a47935d7d092.png](  [twitter](  [linkedin](  [email](mailto:?subject=Florida Manatees Are Starving&body= [post_image]( [More Fires as U.S. West Sees Third Heat Wave This Summer]( Temperatures are still rising and fires are still blazing across the U.S. West as the region faces its third [heat wave]( this summer. The heat dome effect that baked much of Pacific Northwest in late June has settled over California and parts of the Southwest this past weekend. More than 30 million residents in the area now live under heat warning and advisories. The record breaking high temperatures are currently fueling 55 wildfires in the region. There are fires blazing in Oregon, Arizona and California — which is battling Beckwourth Complex Fire, the largest fire the state has seen this year. It doubled in size over the weekend. Temperatures will eventually go back down this week, but the West is expected to be five to 10 degrees warmer than average. [Read More Button]( [9630b8e6-45a3-4648-9335-a47935d7d092.png](  [twitter](  [linkedin](  [email](mailto:?subject=More Fires as U.S. West Sees Third Heat Wave This Summer&body= All rights reserved. [facebook](  [twitter](  [instagram]( [Unsubscribe]( {EMAIL} [Update Profile]( [about our service provider]( Sent by contact@ecowatch.com