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Opinion:

¶ “Charging Remains Biggest US Hurdle To EV Adoption” • Although EVs have taken huge steps toward adoption over the past few years, at least one major barrier remains. As Tesla and others work to expand their charging networks, consumers may still struggle to go electric until public charging becomes more extensive and reliable. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla charging station in Williston, VT (Stephen Mease, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Is There Continued Obsession With Adding More ‘Water Guzzling’ Coal And Nuclear Power Plants?” • To continue to establish more power plants based on coal and nuclear power technology might be irresponsible. These thermal power plants require huge amounts of water to operate, making it unavailable for other things. [Counterview]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Scientists: Safe Global Warming Limit For Humans Has Already Passed” • Scientists have long backed a goal to cap global warming at 1.5°C, to avoid its most dangerous effects. But a new analysis says the limit to prevent significant harm to people is just 1°C. That warning, published in the journal Nature, says the Earth has already heated up by about 1.2°C. [Europe]

No jobs on a dead planet (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Oil Prices Rise As Saudi Arabia Pledges Output Cuts” • Opec+ oil-producing countries agreed to continued cuts in production in a bid to shore up prices. Saudi Arabia said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day in July, and Opec+ said targets would drop by a further 1.4 million bpd from 2024. Opec+ accounts for around 40% of the world’s crude oil. [BBC]

¶ “Australia To Triple Size Of Protected Marine Park To Area Larger Than Germany” • Australia plans to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park and close off an area larger than Germany to fishing and mining, the government announced, protecting millions of vulnerable seabirds and animals. The park is between Tasmania and Antarctica. [CNN]

Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island (M Murphy, public domain)

¶ “France’s Plugins Over 24% Share” • May saw France’s plugins take over 24% market share, up from 20.9% year on year. Full electrics grew from 12.0% to 15.6% share, while plugin hybrids lost slightly. Overall auto volume was 145,536 units, up some 15% year on year, though still down on pre-2020 norms. The bestselling BEV in May was the Tesla Model Y. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Can Pakistan Capitalize On Solar As It Becomes Popular” • In a remarkable turning point, the International Energy Agency has reported that solar energy is to attract more capital investment than traditional oil for the first time ever. This significant shift has profound implications for Pakistan’s power production and its energy dependencies. [The Express Tribune]

Solar installer (USAID Pakistan, public domain)

¶ “Oracle Energy Strikes Hydrogen Deal With PetroChina” • Oracle Energy will work with PetroChina International Middle East to develop commercial avenues for its Green Hydrogen Project in Sindh, Pakistan. The two companies agreed that Oracle Energy, a subsidiary of Oracle Power, will supply and deliver green hydrogen to PCME. [reNews]

¶ “Progressture Solar Taps Sarawak For Renewable Energy” • Progressture Power remains committed to the renewable energy landscape in Malaysia. It has its eyes set on Sarawak’s renewable energy potential, and it is launching an East Malaysian venture, Hornbill Solar. It plans to invest RM200 million ($43.7 million) in renewable energy within two years. [Borneo Post Online]

Sarawak (Ir-One M, Unsplash, cropped)

India:

¶ “Tata Power Renewable Energy Commissions 110-MW Solar Power Project For Kerala State Electricity Board” • Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited has commissioned a 110-MW solar project in Rajasthan, the company announced. The project will supply the green power it generates to the Kerala State Electricity Board. [Free Press Journal]

¶ “Eco-Friendly Push Can Raise Farmers’ Incomes” • With effective implementation, solar energy can be rewarding for farmers. Renewable energy and the farm sector can be a winning combination, because together, they can help improve the crop yield, cutting overhead costs and improving efficiency of farm processes. [Tribune India]

Floating PVs (Harvinder Chandigarh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “NTPC Is Likely To Add 5,000 MW Of Renewable Energy Capacity Annually” • India’s largest power utility, NTPC Limited, is likely to add 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of renewable capacity annually to achieve its ambitious clean energy target. The utility has targeted adding up to 60 GW of installed renewable power capacity by 2032. [Saur Energy International]

US:

¶ “Evacuation Orders Lifted, I-75 Reopens In Northern Michigan As Wildfire Continues To Burn” • Michigan is seeing hot and dry conditions that are “unprecedented” for this time of year. With gusty winds, they create a high the risk of fires. A fire in Northern Michigan burned 3,600 acres, leadign to evacuation orders on Saturday, but the orders have been lifted. [CNN]

Wildfire (Michigan State Police Seventh District via Twitter)

¶ “Tesla To Reap $1.8 Billion From IRA Incentives, All Model 3 Cars Eligible For Full Tax Credit” • Tesla and Panasonic are expected to receive about $1.8 billion in IRA production tax credits this year, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports. That puts the two companies far ahead of what GM and LG Energy Solution are expected to get. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Save $1,000, Get 3 Months FSD On Tesla Model S, Model X With Referral Code In June” • With Tesla’s newly relaunched referral program, Tesla owners can once again get bonuses by referring others to buy a Tesla car or solar power system. This month, Tesla offers an additional incentive to both referring owners and buyers of two EV models. [CleanTechnica]

Have an unusually amusing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Build NY’S Clean Energy Future: Utilities Need The State To Help With The Move From Fossil Fuels To Renewables” • With federal and state policies enacted in this year’s budget, New York is taking tremendous strides toward a clean energy future, but we will need more support from leaders in Albany and Washington to achieve our clean energy goals. [New York Daily News]

Solar array in Manhattan (US DOE, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Solar Panels: An Eco-Disaster Waiting To Happen?” • Solar panels have a limited life and must eventually be recycled. The world’s first factory dedicated to fully recycling solar panels will open this month in France. ROSI, the specialist solar recycling company that owns the facility, hopes eventually to be able to extract and re-use 99% of a unit’s components. [BBC]

World:

¶ “BYD Dolphin Launched In New Zealand” • The BYD Atto 3 was the top selling BEV in New Zealand in May, getting 223 sales. The BYD Atto 3 is also the top selling BEV in New Zealand over the past three months, with 1,024 sales. It was followed closely by the Tesla Model Y in second place with 965 sales and the MG ZS EV in third with 623 sales. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (BYD image)

¶ “Sweden Hits 62% Plugin EV Market Share In May, Tesla Model Y High” • Plugin electric vehicles saw strong year on year growth in market share in Sweden, taking 61.9% of the market, up from 47.5% in May 2022. Full electrics carried all of the growth, alone accounting for 40.9% share, with plugin hybrids slightly losing share year over year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland To Legislate Renewable Targets In $62 Billion Wind, Solar And Storage Plan” • Queensland is the most coal-dependent state in Australia. But it says it will lock in its multiple renewable energy targets through legislation as part of a $62 billion investment plan over the next decade. The targets will rise to 80% by 2035. [Renew Economy]

Renewable energy workers (Courtesy of the Queensland Jobs Plan)

¶ “The Rise Of China’s Clean Energy Sector And Its Global Dominance” • China is racing toward decarbonization at a rate that few could have predicted. Bloomberg recently said frenzied enthusiasm for solar power and EVs “suggests China is nearing an inflection point in its energy transition more than a half-decade before a 2030 target to peak emissions.” [Oil Price]

¶ “IEA: Renewables Installations In 2023 Soar To Levels We’ve Never Seen” • The energy crisis in Europe, the US Inflation Reduction Act, and the continued strong expansion of green energy installations in China are all expected to contribute to the biggest-ever increase in renewable energy capacity additions this year, an IEA report says. [Oil Price]

Windpower (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Climate Change Is Fuelling A Spike In Lyme Disease Cases Across Canada” • Lyme disease is increasing in Canada. Nick Ogden, a senior research scientist with PHAC and director of the Public Health Risk Sciences Division, which tracks Lyme disease, said the most important factor for the increase of Canada’s tick population is warmer temperatures. [CBC]

¶ “Climate Change: Kashmir’s Agriculture And Horticulture Sectors At Risk” • In Jammu and Kashmir, unusual weather events, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning, have become more frequent. This is affecting crop productivity and fruit quality. Experts attribute the changes in the weather to climate change. [Ground Report]

Kashmir (Durray Sameen Rajouri, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “China Backs IAEA’s Efforts To ‘Prevent Nuclear Disaster’ At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • China lauded efforts by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in providing all possible forms of assistance to prevent a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is said to be “extremely vulnerable.” [Republic World]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Lifecycle Cost Nearly Matches The Cheapest Car In America!” • After price and incentive changes: “I decided to go against the cheapest car available in the US today, the 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage, selling for $16,245. With the Tesla Model 3 costing over twice as much up front, I didn’t really think it would be competitive, but I was wrong!” [CleanTechnica]

Mitsubishi Mirage (Mr.choppers, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Nebraska Renewable Energy Training Programs Struggle To Recruit Students Amid National Worker Shortage” • In Nebraska, Central Community College is teaching future workers in the renewable energy industry, offering wind, solar energy, and battery storage accreditation. There are not enough students. It is a common problem in the US. [Lincoln Journal Star]

¶ “$2.2 Billion And Counting: Dominion Readies Its Grid For Renewable Energy” • Dominion Energy has a $2.2 billion-plus “grid transportation plan” to upgrade its 66,400 mile grid network connecting over 2 million customers to power plants. With EVs and data centers coming, it expects a five-fold increase in demand. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

Have an acceptably excellent day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “How Fiber-Optic Sensing And New Materials Could Reduce Cost Of Floating Offshore Wind” • Two key concerns for floating offshore windpower are the potential to disrupt the clean energy space and how the offshore technologies would impact marine life. Researchers developed fiber-optic sensing that can monitor acoustic signals such as whale calls. [CleanTechnica]

Fiber-optic sensing (Jenny Nuss, Berkeley Lab)

World:

¶ “Black Sea Urchins Have Disappeared From The Gulf Of Aqaba. Their Loss Could Kill Off An Entire Coral Reef” • Under the blue water of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, expansive coral reefs teem with life: colorful fish and invertebrates. But Black Sea urchins gone missing from this beautiful scene, and that could threaten the entire ecosystem. [CNN]

¶ “Daimler, Toyota, And Mitsubishi To Partner On Hydrogen Tech” • Daimler and Toyota Hino are two of the biggest names in commercial trucking, and they’ve just signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Fuso that will see the acceleration of that company merging with Hino and the development of new, advanced trucking tech (hydrogen). [CleanTechnica]

Daimler trucks (Daimler image)

¶ “Scientists Find Earth Is In ‘Danger Zone’” • A study by the Earth Commission, a group of 51 scientists among the world’s leading research institutions, which was published recently in Nature, found that the planet is failing on seven out of eight “planetary boundaries,” or safety limits for environmental and human well-being. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Unprecented Achievement: IRENA Report Praises India’s Renewable Energy Growth ” • A recent report titled ‘Low-cost finance for energy transition,’ which was produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency, has praised India’s achievement in rolling out renewable energy capacity, calling it “unprecedented.” [The Hindu BusinessLine]

Astonfield solar plant in Gujarat (Citizenmj, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BlueFloat Energy Propels Offshore Wind Projects Forward In Taiwan” • BlueFloat Energy, a prominent player in the field of floating offshore wind, made an exciting announcement in May 2022 about its entry into the Taiwanese market. Now, its Winds of September project is set to build an offshore floating wind power capacity of up to 1 GW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland To Legislate 80% Renewable Power By 2035” • Queensland will enshrine a target of 70% renewable energy by 2032 into law, rising to 80% in 2035, if the draft legislation it just released passes state parliament. Its release came as the state government announced a $500 million budget investment into large-scale solar and wind projects. [WAtoday]

Windy Hill Wind Farm (Leonard Low, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Ukraine’s Ticking Nuclear Time Bomb” • Of all the horrors of Putin’s war on Ukraine, the most disastrous might be his constant threat to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia plant is a ticking nuclear time bomb. Through accident, attack, or sabotage it could become the worst nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Finland’s Newest Nuclear Plant Is Warming The Sea, Harming Wildlife” • The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor near Eurajoki in southwest Finland began regular electricity production in April and now produces power at a rate of around 1,600 MW without emitting greenhouse gasses. But climate groups are pointing to a number of adverse effects of the reactor. [Yle.fi]

Olkiluoto unit 3 under construction (schoella, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Redflow Will Supply 20-MWh Flow Battery Storage System In California” • Redflow designed and built zinc-bromine flow batteries for almost a decade. With the success of a 2-MWh flow battery system it installed in California over a year ago, the company has just landed one of its biggest orders ever, a 20-MWh system in California. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Official Volkswagen ID. Buzz For North America Reveal!” • The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been anticipated for a long time. Rumors, speculation, and guesses about the ID. Buzz have been coming thick and fast, in advance of the official North American reveal on June 2. Now June 2 is finally here and the official press release is out. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID. Buzz (Courtesy of Volkswagen)

¶ “$230 Million Solar Energy Project Coming To Martin County” • The state of Kentucky ranks last in the nation in terms of renewable energy production. With multiple other solar projects in the state in the works, Edelen Renewables hopes to change that. It is building a $230 million solar energy array in Martin County, at the old Martiki Coal Mine. [WYMT]

¶ “NRG Exits Nuclear With Sale Of South Texas Project Stake” • NRG has agreed to sell its 44% equity interest in the South Texas Project to Constellation Energy, “subject to customary purchase price adjustments.” Constellation noted that the transaction is valued at $1.75 billion, but the effective purchase price is $1.4 billion, given tax benefits. [World Nuclear News]

South Texas Project (NRG image)

¶ “BLM Advances Battery Storage For Renewable Energy In California Desert” • The Bureau of Land Management issued a Notice to Proceed with construction for the Sunlight Storage II Battery Energy Storage System project in California. When it is completed, it will have renewable energy storage capacity of up to 300 MW. [Bureau of Land Management]

¶ “SoCal Startup Repurposes EV Batteries For Solar Power Storage” • Startup B2U Storage Solutions is repurposing EV battery packs so they can store solar energy. The company notes its approach makes renewable energy more accessible and efficient. It reduces fossil fuel dependence and can significantly reduce battery waste. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a significantly pleasant day.

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Opinion and Review:

¶ “Europe Faces A Flood Of Chinese Electric Cars. How Should It Respond?” • The Chinese car industry is like a bees’ nest that is ready to swarm. It wants to branch out and establish new markets elsewhere, and it is moving to do just that. So the real question is what will the impact of globalization be when China becomes a dominant market player? [CleanTechnica]

NIO House in Oslo (Premeditated, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “CleanTechnica Tested: The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 Solar Generator” • UGREEN is a new player in the solar generator market and is rushing the scene with its PowerRoam 1200 Power Station to lead the charge. They sent us a PowerRoam 1200 and a few of their 200-W folding solar panels for us to run through the paces and we gladly obliged. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Nova Scotia Battles Its Largest Wildfire On Record” • In Nova Scotia, firefighters are battling the largest wildfire in the history of the Atlantic province. And another fire forced the evacuation of thousands near Halifax. The wildfire smoke travelled south, with air quality warnings in the US. Heat that comes with climate change has driven the wildfires. [BBC]

Smoke from Nova Scotial Wildfires (NASA image)

¶ “Funding Solar PVs For Schools And Community Housing In Australia” • Community housing tenants in Adelaide will enjoy reduced power bills with new solar panels on their roofs. The Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia partnered with Believe Housing on solar systems for thirteen community housing properties in the city. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Honda Fit And Wuling Bingo April Sales In China Give Us An Indication Of What’s To Come” • The Wuling Bingo is another small hatchback launched in China. The Bingo looks like another smash hit from the SAIC, GM, and Wuling joint venture. It starts from around $8,600, out two-thirds the cost of the Honda Fit powered by fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Wuling Bingo (Wuling image)

¶ “Australian Retailer Woolworths To Make All Its Home Delivery Trucks 100% Electric By 2030” • Australia’s Woolworths Group announced that it aims to make all its home delivery trucks 100% electric-powered by 2030, which means more than 1,000 EVs will be added to the nation’s roads. It will be the first Australian supermarket chain to convert to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Network Of Geothermal Power Stations ‘Could Help Level Up UK’” • A network of geothermal plants is being touted as a way to help level up the UK after a study discovered that many areas with the greatest geothermal potential lie beneath the towns and cities most in need of investment. Geothermal energy is accessed by drilling down to hot rocks. [The Guardian]

Letting off steam naturally (Emily Campbell, Unsplash)

¶ “Capgemini Achieves 100% Renewable Energy In India” • Capgemini, a multinational information technology services and consulting firm, made a significant announcement regarding its operations in India. Its facilities in the country are now running entirely on renewable energy, marking a significant step towards its sustainability goals. [Construction World]

¶ “Solar Leads Way With Renewables On Course To Shatter Deployment Records” • The International Energy Agency expects global additions of renewable capacity to surge by 107  GW in 2023 to 440 GW, the largest annual addition yet. This is about one third more renewable energy than the world added in 2022. [pv magazine Australia]

Rooftop solar power (Solar Victoria image)

¶ “PepsiCo Canada Will Achieve 100% Renewable Electricity Target In 2023 From Canadian Sources” • All electricity used to make PepsiCo products will be matched with renewable energy from Canadian sources. The company’s owned operations will leverage Canadian renewable energy, as it is commited to 100% renewable energy. [Canadian Manufacturing]

¶ “Presidential Climate Commission Says No To New Coal-Fired Power Stations And Nuclear Energy” • The Presidential Climate Commission has concluded that there is no room for new coal and nuclear power in South Africa’s energy. It recommended a least-cost option that includes 50 to 60 GW of renewable energy and no new coal or nuclear power. [The Mail & Guardian]

Koeberg nuclear plant (Paul Scott, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Arizona Announces Limits On Construction In Phoenix Area As Groundwater Disappears” • Arizona officials announced on Thursday that the state will no longer grant certifications for new developments within the Phoenix area, as groundwater rapidly disappears amid years of water overuse and drought driven by climate change. [CNN]

¶ “Heliostat Consortium Announces Funding Awards Supporting Heliostat Deployment” • The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, co-leads of the Heliostat Consortium, announced seven awardees from a request for proposals aimed to achieve DOE’s goals for heliostat cost and performance. [CleanTechnica]

Heliostats (NREL image)

¶ “Empowering New Wave Of Incoming Solar Customers” • To meet the increase in demand for solar power created by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Solar Energy Industries Association is releasing an updated suite of consumer resources. SEIA’s new resources are designed to make decisions on solar power as easy and straightforward as possible. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “FERC Aims To Fix The Grid’s Renewable Energy Backlog” • FERC is preparing to issue a final rule changing how new energy projects connect to the grid. The commission proposed a rule on the topic last year, with a goal of more efficiently linking up solar, wind, and battery storage projects while reducing energy costs and making the grid more reliable. [E&E News]

Have an unquestionably grand day.

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World:

¶ “If Climate Goals Are Meant To Protect Us From ‘Significant Harm,’ Then They Aren’t Good Enough, Scientists Say” • The world has been focusing on limiting global warming to 1.5°C. But even at that amount, millions of people will still face “significant harm,” including death, displacement, and scarcity of food and water, a report says. [CNN]

After a fire (Landon Parenteau, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “35% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China!” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, where about half of all plugin sales are made.  Plugins scored over half a million sales last month, up 93% year over year. That pulled the year-to-date tally to over 1.9 million units. Full battery EVs alone accounted for 24% of the country’s auto sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Inventing The €100 Per Month Electric Car” • Electric cars may be the future, but it is undeniable that EVs are unaffordable for many people today. We need a revolution in the way we think about clean energy support, and EVs are a great place to start. The French and their social leasing plan may well have found the solution to that problem. [CleanTechnica]

Twingo Electric (Courtesy of Renault Group)

¶ “The Philippines Needs Offshore LiDAR To Measure Wind Power Accurately In Upcoming OSW Projects” • An executive order signed by Philippine President Bongbong Marcos includes some things that need to be clarified. One is the use of floating LiDAR systems for offshore wind projects. Bluefloat Taiwan has the equipment for that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “OX2 Forges 1.2-GW Finnish Wind Partnership” • OX2 has signed an agreement with Finnish partner Tuulialfa for the development and construction of a 1200-MW onshore wind portfolio in Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland. The agreement covers six wind farms with a total of approximately 150 wind turbines to be built. [reNews]

Wind turbine (OX2 image)

¶ “Asia Climate Woes Mount As Heat Shatters May Records” • A number of countries across Asia have been hit by another round of extreme heat that has toppled seasonal temperature records throughout the region, raising concerns about their ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Experts warned that there is more to come. [Devdiscourse]

¶ “Global Renewables Set To Break Records In 2023” • Global additions of renewable power capacity are expected to jump by a third this year, according to the International Energy Agency. A number of global issues are driving strong deployment of solar PV and wind power to achieve a more that 440 GW of additional capacity in 2023. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Lisa Baker, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “China Halts Floating Nuclear Power Plan Over Security Fears” • China’s plan to build a fleet of nuclear power reactors to provide electrical power to islands on the South China Sea was suspended over security concerns, the South China Morning Post reports. Regulators said they were withholding approval, partly due to safety concerns. [Global Construction Review]

US:

¶ “Canadian Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality In The US Northeast For A Second Day” • Smoke and haze from wildfires raging in Nova Scotia will linger in portions of the US Northeast, prompting air quality alerts. Sensitive groups, including the elderly and young children, should minimize time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. [CNN]

Smog (Dom J, Pexels)

¶ “US Energy-Insecure Households Were Billed More For Energy Than Other Households” • On average, US households were billed $1.04 per square foot for energy usage across all energy sources in 2020. Energy-insecure households were billed $0.20 more per square foot than the national average and $0.26 more than households with energy security. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Colorado Boosts EV Incentive To $5000 And Adds A $2500 Sweetener” • Colorado is on a mission to get almost a million EVs on its roads by 2030. This year, over 10% of new vehicles sold in Colorado are EVs. The state already has a $2,000 tax credit for residents who purchase an electric car, but as of July 1, that will increase to $5,000. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “Pacific Power Submits To PUC Inaugural Plan To Achieve Net-Zero Emissions In Oregon By 2040” • Pacific Power released plans to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions for all electricity sold to Oregon consumers by 2040, while significantly enhancing customer and community participation in the decarbonization efforts. [KTVZ]

¶ “Duke Plans New, Renewable Life For A Retired Coal Plant In Western North Carolina” • In 2020, Duke Energy retired the coal-fired power plant on Lake Julian, just south of Asheville, North Carolina. Now, the company is planning to put a solar farm on the site, covering a coal ash basin, landfill and part of the old plant. [Spectrum News]

Old coal-fired plant near Asheville, NC (Duke Energy image)

¶ “Last-Minute Power Grid Bill Is Bad For Illinois Transition To Renewable Energy” • In a last-minute maneuver, the Legislature found a way to hobble Illinois’ conversion to renewable energy. A Senate amendment gives utility Ameren monopolistic control over new regional power lines in its territory. The governor said he will veto the idea. [Chicago Sun-Times]

¶ “The Laws That Took Down Mobsters Are Now Being Turned Against Big Oil” • Hoboken, New Jersey, has sued oil companies, including Exxon and Chevron, hoping to put them on trial for deceiving the public. In a new twist, Hoboken’s lawyers have amended the complaint, alleging that Big Oil had violated the state’s RICO Act. [NJ Spotlight News]

Have a refreshingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Norwegian Researchers Show Us How To Avoid A Battery Crisis” • While there’s a lot of lithium around the world, some Norwegian researchers have figured out that there just won’t be enough to go around, even if we all chose LEAFs instead of Cybertrucks. “It seems very likely we’ll have a shortage. The key lies in the demand.” [CleanTechnica]

Batteries (Image courtesy of Aptera)

¶ “The Benefits Of Renewable Electricity Are Biggest Part Of The Story” • The benefits of adding wind and solar to power our electricity go deeper than fighting climate change; they include more affordable energy bills, healthier homes and cities and more good quality jobs. Renewable energy is also local, secure, stable energy. [David Suzuki Foundation]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Japan Is On A Mission To Beam Solar Power From Space By 2025” • Japan’s decades-long mission to transmit solar power collected in space back to Earth could move a step closer to reality in just a few years. A public-private partnership wants to start a trial sometime around 2025 using small satellites launched into orbit. [TechSpot]

SpaceX launch, SpaceX, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Tesla Model Y Rules Supreme In Europe!” • Some 197,000 plugin vehicles were registered in April in Europe – which is up 25% year over year. Unfortunately, the overall market grew 16%, getting close to 1 million sales as it is finally recovering from a couple of bad years. Full battery EVs grew at a faster rate than plugins in general, up 50% YOY. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ARC Ride Launches The Corbett Electric Motorbike And Automated Battery Swap Stations In Nairobi” • ARC Ride designs and builds EVs, and it runs a battery-as-a-service business in Nairobi, Kenya. Last week, ARC Ride launched the Corbett, a practical and durable electric motorbike designed for deliveries or personal commuting. [CleanTechnica]

ARC Ride Corbett (ARC Ride image)

¶ “Green Light For 49.9-MW Of English Solar” • The appeal for Aura Power’s Hawthorn Pit Solar Farm in Durham, England, has been allowed, thereby granting planning permission for the project. The 49.9-MW Hawthorn Pit site will provide enough clean electricity to power over 17,000 homes each year, saving about 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. [reNews]

¶ “EDF And Simply Blue Ink Irish JV” • EDF Renewables Ireland has entered a partnership with Simply Blue Group to develop the Western Star and Emerald floating wind projects. One project will be off the west coast of Clare and have a total capacity of up to 1.35 GW. The other, off the south coast of Cork, will have a total capacity of up to 1.3 GW. [reNews]

Floating wind turbines (DCNS Energies – GE)

¶ “Oil Companies In Southeastern Europe Accelerate Renewable Energy Investments” • In Southeastern Europe, INA, Motor Oil, MOL, and OMV Petrom all reported progress in green energy investments and projects just a couple of days apart from one another. They are all pursuing growth in the share of renewables in their operations. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “European Power Prices Go Negative As Renewables Soar” • Balmy springtime weather across Europe and growing renewable energy capacity has led to multiple days of negative wholesale power prices, highlighting the need for increased energy storage capacity. A number of factors have led to consistent negative wholesale power prices. [Renew Economy]

Wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “Russia And Ukraine Fail To Embrace IAEA Plan To Protect Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Neither Russia nor Ukraine committed to respect five principles laid out by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday to try to safeguard Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. [The Straits Times]

US:

¶ “What Is Permitting Reform? The Critical Energy Provision Buried In Debt-Ceiling Negotiations” • Tucked into a bipartisan debt ceiling deal is a critical energy provision that Democrats and Republicans in Washington both want, at least in theory. Energy permitting reform, which aims to cut down the time it takes for new projects to get approved. [CNN]

Transporting a wind turbine blade (Acroterion, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “State Farm Will No Longer Sell Insurance Coverage For New Homes In California” • State Farm is the largest home insurance company in California in terms of total premiums paid. State Farm recently announced it will no longer insure new homes in California due to the increased risk of catastrophes like wildfires and high construction costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Launches New ‘Envolve’ Brand To Serve Business And Fleet EV Customers” • General Motors says it is entering a new phase of expansion, focusing on providing an array of solutions to corporate clients to minimize their ecological footprint, optimize fleet management, and enhance driver safety. GM is introducing “GM Envolve.” [CleanTechnica]

GM EV interior (GM image)

¶ “Georgia To Lead EV Revolution, ESG Or Not” • Georgia is among the US states where public officials rant against investing that follows environmental, social, and governance principles. But the latest clean tech investment for Georgia is a $4.3 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and battery maker LG Energy Solution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas Sunset Bill Softens The Blow From Anti-Renewables Changes” • Under HB 1500, the ‘PUC Sunset’ bill, renewable energy projects will have to pay higher transmission fees and, starting in 2027, all renewable energy projects will be forced to subsidize fossil fuels through “firming” requirements. But that is an improvement. [pv magazine USA]

Have an incontestably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “South Africa’s Power Crisis Is A Warning For The World” • For over a decade, South Africa has struggled to keep the lights on. Its aging coal power plants have fallen into disrepair. Resources set aside for fixing the infrastructure have been squandered. The result is rolling blackouts, known locally as load shedding. They have crippled the economy. [Asia Times]

Kusile Power Station (JMK, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The ‘Exploding’ Demand For Giant Heat Pumps” • Heat pumps made by MAN Energy Solutions are among the largest in the world. With a heating capacity of up to 48 MW, one of them could heat thousands of homes. We are in a time of urgent need to end the use of fossil fuels, especially in Europe. “The demand for district heating is exploding.” [BBC]

¶ “An EV Drive Unit Built Without Rare Earth Minerals” • Vitesco Technologies came up with a really cool EV drive unit design. What really sets it apart from other designs is that it doesn’t depend on rare earth minerals and permanent magnets. The unit also has certain advantages for efficiency because it does not have permanent magnets. [CleanTechnica]

Vitesco engine (Vitesco Technologies)

¶ “Innovation Continues In The Solar Industry” • The solar PV industry has come a long way since its inception, evolving from early experiments to being an integral part of our daily lives. But the innovation continues, despite the long history and seemingly established nature of the technology. Here is a look at how that is happening. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Shanghai Records Its Highest May Temperature In More Than 100 Years” • The Chinese city of Shanghai recorded its highest May temperature in more than 100 years on Monday, hitting a record 36.1°C (nearly 97°F). The previous record of 35.7°C (96.3°F) was first recorded in May 1876. More record high temperatures are being set with climate change. [CNN]

Shanghai (David Veksler, Unsplash)

¶ “Applications For Installation Of Solar PV Systems In Cape Town Hit Record Levels” • Cape Town is the first city in South Africa to offer households and businesses cash for their excess rooftop solar power. The City is set to start paying businesses cash for power, and residents will be able to start selling power for cash later this year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EVs Play Big Roles As Official Cars At 2023 ASEAN Summit” • To push the agenda for EVs at the recently concluded ASEAN Summit 2023 in Indonesia, organizers made sure there were no ICE vehicles used by the delegates, their staff, and visitors. The Indonesian news outlet Antara reported that 395 electric cars were used for the summit. [CleanTechnica]

BMW iX Image (Courtesy of BMW)

¶ “We Expect A Lot From Our Buildings – How Do International Codes Assure Sustainability?” • May is Building Safety Month. Up-to-date international codes can make communities more equipped to endure increasingly frequent and severe weather events, improve sustainability, and address the affordable housing crisis. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Irish Wind Farm To Support Meta ” • Ørsted recently announced the opening of a new Irish wind farm. It is located in County Kilkenny and County Laois adjacent to two of Ørsted’s existing wind farms. Togehter, the three phases of Lisheen have a capacity of 89 MW, combining to be Ørsted’s largest wind farm in Ireland. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind farm (Courtesy of Ørsted)

¶ “United Nations Security Council To Discuss Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • A UN Security Council Meeting on the situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will take place on Tuesday to discuss ways to protect the station. Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi will deliver a report on the current situation. [UrduPoint]

US:

¶ “Plant-Based Food Association Execs Talk Resilience And Innovation” • You may not be a vegetarian or a vegan, but by now you’ve heard about the health benefits of eating plants, which have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. Here, four execs of the Plant Based Food Association give brief interviews on the subject. [CleanTechnica]

Vegetables (Randy Fath, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Becomes A Flash Point In Our Culture Wars” • We all know, at least at some level, that renewable energy will eventually displace the thermal generation of electricity. But some would prefer the changeover be delayed by a century or two to give us time to extract every molecule of coal, oil, and methane gas we can find. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Debt Limit Deal Commits To Speeding Up Energy Projects” • US financial markets breathed a sigh of relief after negotiators from Democratic and Republican parties reached an agreement to raise the debt limit. Among its key provisions, the new deal will make it easier for both fossil fuel and renewable energy projects to get licenses. [Yahoo Finance]

Wind turbines (Peter Beukema, Unsplash)

¶ “US Renewables Body Hails Debt Ceiling Deal” • US renewable energy industry group the American Clean Power Association has hailed the compromise deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling. President Joe Biden has been negotiating with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to allow the US Federal Government to borrow more than the current $31.4 trillion cap. [reNews]

¶ “Nuclear News: Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 Has Reached Maximum Energy Output” • Georgia Power announced Monday that Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 reached 100% energy output. This marks the first time the unit has reached its expected output of approximately 1,100 MW of electricity, which can power about 500,000 homes and businesses. [The Augusta Chronicle]

Have a fundamentally superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Fake Social Media Accounts Are Attacking Electrify America” • The author says it seems clear that somebody has it out for Electrify America and they are engaged in an astroturfing campaign to discredit the EV charging brand. It is clear that there’s an effort underway to make the company’s problems look bigger than they really are. [CleanTechnica]

Trusted new friend, a bot (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “India Has Big Clean Energy Goals – So Why Is It Banking On Coal?” • Countries like India need fast deployment of renewables to meet green power goals. The IEA said they could be held back by low levels of investment due to such factors as higher interest rates, unclear policy frameworks, financially stressed utilities, and weak power grids. [Eco-Business.com]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Continuous Clean Energy: Scientists Are Pulling Power Out Of Thin Air” • In a groundbreaking study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, engineers demonstrated the potential to produce continuous clean energy from humidity in the air. The secret is a porous structure at the nanoscale that can be put into virtually any material. [Earth.com]

Overcast day in New Zealand (Antoine Barrès, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Lukashenko Offers Nuclear Weapons To Nations Willing ‘To Join The Union State Of Russia And Belarus’” • Belarus President Lukashenko claimed that nations willing “to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus” will be given nuclear weapons, days after confirming the transfer of some tactical nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk had begun. [CNN]

¶ “Volta Trucks Enters Partnership To Help Build Testing Fleet” • Volta Trucks is trying a different approach to cargo vehicles in cities. While it promises impressive safety features, the Volta Zero has no emissions, making it an ideal choice for sustainable cities. It promises to revolutionize urban delivery trucks and make roads safer. [CleanTechnica]

Volta Zero (Courtesy of Volta Trucks)

¶ “Ukraine Built More Onshore Wind Turbines In Past Year Than England” • Ukraine has completed more onshore wind turbines than England since it was occupied by Russian soldiers, despite the UK government’s promise to relax restrictions on onshore windfarms. Ukraine’s 114-MW Tyligulska wind power plant was the first built in a conflict zone. [The Guardian]

¶ “New 3-Row VW ID.Buzz Reveal Incoming!” • The Volkswagen Microbus, also known as Kombi, is a cultural icon. Introduced in the 1950s, the Microbus quickly gained popularity due to its unique design, versatility, and association with various social movements. We can guess what the the ID.Buzz will be like, when it is revealed on June 2. [CleanTechnica]

Interior of the original ID.Buzz prototype (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Projected to Reach $2.4 Trillion, at a 10.10% CAGR, by 2030” • According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future, between 2022 and 2030, the renewable energy market can expect to expand from $1.2 Trillion in 2022 to $2.4 Trillion. This represents annual growth at a rate of 10.10%. [ForexTV]

¶ “Sterlite Copper And Serentica Renewables Partner To Set Up A 16-MW Captive Hybrid Renewable Energy Project” • Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of Vedanta, entered into a 25-year power delivery agreement with Serentica Renewables India Pvt to get 16 MW of hybrid renewable power for its copper operations in Silvassa, India. [Energy And Mines]

Copper workers (Sterlite Copper image)

¶ “Solar Power Installed Capacity Tops 10,000 MW” • Turkey’s installed solar power capacity has exceeded 10,000 MW, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said. In terms of installed capacity in solar power, Turkey, was rather a latecomer, but now the country ranks fifth in Europe and twelfth in the world, he explained. [Hürriyet Daily News]

¶ “Labour Energy Plan To Focus On Green Energy” • The UK Labour Party’s upcoming energy strategy will focus on renewable energy as part of a move away from fossil fuels. A party source, quoted in the Sunday Times, said that Labour will block new oil and gas developments and will only borrow investment for green energy schemes. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Bastian Pudill, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “UCS Releases Online “Danger Season” Map” • This summer is projected by the NOAA to be hotter than normal, and the Union of Concerned Scientists launched an online “Danger Season” map, showing areas of the US that are at risk of extreme heat, wildfires, storms, or flooding. The map will be updated daily through October. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Moab’s Getting Its CCS Charging Mojo Back” • With the rising popularity of EVs, Moab, Utah is quickly becoming an important destination for EV owners looking to take a vacation. With its stunning red rock landscape and its wide variety of outdoor activities, Moab offers something for everyone. And now it is easier for EV owners. [CleanTechnica]

Chargers in Utah (Rocky Mountain Power and Electrify America)

¶ “New York To Build 13 Fast Charging Hubs” • The New York City Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority have disclosed a partnership aimed at establishing as many as 13 EV fast-charging hubs throughout municipal parking facilities in the city. In total, these hubs are expected to house around 50 fast-charging plugs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kern Plays Biggest Role As California Taps Renewable Energy To Avoid Blackouts” • State officials say California probably won’t suffer any power outages this year, for two reasons: Snowmelt will produce record hydroelectric power, and new solar and wind capacity and battery storage are coming online. Kern County is a leader in that. [The Bakersfield Californian]

Have a purely worthwhile day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Neuralink And Elon Musk Want To Control Your Brain” • Neuralink, a company cofounded in 2016 by Elon Musk and scientists, received permission from the US Food And Drug Administration to begin human trials of brain implants. Elon Musk takes many of his ideas from science fiction. Do you really want him poking around in your head? [CleanTechnica]

Neuralink advertisement (Neuralink image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “NOAA: How Greenhouse Gas Pollution Amplified Global Warming In 2022” • Greenhouse gas pollution from human activity trapped 49% more heat in the atmosphere in 2022 than those same gases did in 1990, an annual NOAA report says. The biggest culprit in global warm is the carbon dioxide emitted when fuels are burned. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California’s Redwood Forest: Scientists Are Using Lasers To Age The World’s Tallest Trees” • Until recently, the only way of working out just how big these trees were was to climb up them, approximate using the diameter of their trunks, or cut them down. But these methods are not particularly reliable. Scientists found a way to use lasers for the job. [Euronews]

Redwoods (Bruno Wolff, Unsplash)

¶ “Bring Back The Seabirds, Save The Climate” • Some estimates say the overall world seabird population has dropped by as much as 90% in the last two hundred years, with a decline of 70% since 1950. Seabirds are the most threatened birds and among most endangered groups of species, the International Union for the Conservation of Natures says. [Wired]

World:

¶ “Europe Is Trying To Ditch Planes For Trains. Here’s How That’s Going” • There’s definitely been progress in Europe for the move from planes to trains. Airlines including Dutch carrier KLM are entering into rail partnerships on certain routes, while countries like Austria and France are seeking to restrict internal routes where trains are available. [CNN]

German bullet train (Markus Winkler, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Murderers,’ ‘Criminals’: Meteorologists Face Unprecedented Harassment From Conspiracy Theorists” • “We are watching you.” “Murderers.” “Criminals.” These are just a handful of the threats and abuse sent to meteorologists across the world in recent months. Abuse and harassment “have always happened,” but they have been increasing recently. [CNN]

¶ “Wind Energy Has A Waste Problem. New Technologies May Be A Step Closer To Solving It” • Wind turbine blades have been difficult to recycle, but Danish wind company Vestas announced a “breakthrough solution.” New Vestas technology would allow wind turbine blades to be recycled without needing to change their design or materials. [CNN]

Wind turbines at Copenhagen (Mads Eneqvist, Unsplash)

¶ “Volvo Proves Anti-EV Trolls Wrong” • Volvo found a way to truly stick it to the trolls that attack EVs. Addressing emissions throughout the entire production process and lifespan of the Volvo EX30, the automaker has successfully reduced the vehicle’s total carbon footprint to under 30 tonnes over a driving distance of 200,000 kilometers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Extinction Rebellion Protest In Netherlands Ends With 1,500 Arrested” • Over 1,500 climate protesters have been arrested by police in the Netherlands after blocking a major motorway in The Hague. In the protest, organised by Extinction Rebellion, activists walked onto the A12 highway demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies. [BBC]

A12 Motorway (No author given, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “France Cuts Red Tape For Nuclear Power Despite Cracks In Reactors” • The construction time for new nuclear reactors could be reduced by at least two years thanks to a bill that simplifies administrative procedures and planning documents. What the bill cannot address is the large cracks found in pipes at nuclear plants, leading to shutdowns. [The Connexion]

US:

¶ “Mammoths, Sloths, And Camels Are Hurting The Renewable Revolution” • The US needs new transmission lines but faces opposition. The most recent transmission line fiasco comes in the form of the Greenlink West project, which is to pass through an area famous for the fossils of wooly mammoths, giant sloths, and ancient American camels. [Oil Price]

Mammoth in a museum (Thomas Quine, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Nebraska Renewable Energy Training Programs Struggle To Recruit Students Amid National Worker Shortage” • A teacher training students about wind turbines at Central Community College has a problem: there aren’t enough students. That struggle is shared by Nebraska’s other community-college based renewable energy training program. [Star-Herald]

¶ “Proposed Texas Permitting Regime Could Shrink Wind And Solar Development” • The ammendment approved by the Texas Senate last week would require wind farms within ten miles, and solar farms within five miles, of a river, park, historic site, or wildlife management area to get a special permit from the Texas Public Utility Commission. [Environment America]

Have a gracefully developing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “No, There Won’t Be Nuclear-Powered Commercial Shipping This Time Either” • A while ago, the author published a sexy-practical quadrant chart for maritime shipping decarbonization. He did not even include nuclear power for commercial ships in the chart because the idea is so obviously flawed from a business perspective. [CleanTechnica]

Ship at sea (Borderpolar Photographer, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “World’s Biggest Investment Fund Takes On Exxon And Chevron Over The Climate Crisis” • The world’s biggest stock market investor wants ExxonMobil and Chevron to do more for the climate. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund holds $1.4 trillion in assets, and it will back calls for the US oil companies to set more aggressive emission reduction targets. [CNN]

¶ “Brazil To Host COP30 Climate Summit In The Amazon In 2025” • The UN has chosen Brazil to host the international climate meeting, COP30, in the Amazonian city of Belém do Pará in 2025, the country’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced. Lula had made Brazil’s bid to host COP30 during last year’s COP27 meeting in Egypt. [CNN]

Belém do Pará (Building race, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Global Transition To Electric Vehicles Needs Urgent Support, Report Warns” • Without targeted support for needy and middle-income countries to transition toward zero-emission mobility, global progress toward zero-emission goals will be critically slowed. This shortage of assistance risks serious and inequitable outcomes, a report warns. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Off-Grid Solar Brings Hope To Remote Villages” • Hundreds of millions of people live in communities without electricity. The International Energy Agency says almost 775 million people did not have access to electricity in 2022. Some of the largest of the populations are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.  Solar power can bring some hope. [CleanTechnica]

Round hut in Ethiopia (A Davey, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “100% EVs Now 13% Of New Car Sales In France” • Plugin vehicles continue to rise in France, with last month’s plugin vehicle registrations ending at 27,995 units. That was divided between 17,113 battery EVs (13% overall market share) and 10,882 plugin hybrids (8% share). The former jumped 35% year over year, while the latter were up by 6%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SSE Unveils Plans To Invest £40 Billion In Clean Energy” • Scottish energy giant SSE promised to invest up to £40 billion ($49.3 billion) in green energy in the next decade after seeing its annual profits almost double. Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said the pledge was a “further vote of confidence in the British economy.” [Energy Digital Magazine]

Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm (SSE image)

¶ “Russians Prepare Large-Scale Provocation At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has reported that in the coming hours, Russia is preparing a large provocation to simulate an accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Russia will announce an emergency leak of radioactive material and blame Ukraine for the incident. [Yahoo News]

US:

¶ “Blue Bird Opens New Production Facility For Electric School Bus Production” • Blue Bird unveiled its EV Build-up Center in Georgia. The company repurposed an almost 40,000 ft² facility to address the growing need for electric school buses. Blue Bird aims to increase its electric school bus production capacity from four vehicles to twenty per day. [CleanTechnica]

Blue Bird bus facility (Blue Bird image)

¶ “New Report: Carbon Capture And Storage Serves California Communities, Environment, And Economy” • A new report by George Peridas of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Benjamin Grove of the Clean Air Task Force examines the economic viability of carbon capture and storage projects in California. It finds some are viable. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Officials Visit Li-Cycle’s Arizona Battery Recycling Plant” • It’s pretty clear that lithium battery recycling is crucial for the future of clean technology. We shouldn’t be surprised that US government officials support such efforts. Most recently, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Senator Mark Kelly visited the Li-Cycle plant in Arizona. [CleanTechnica]

Visit to the Li-Cycle plant (Li-Cycle image)

¶ “WSP USA Completes Drilling Two Wells At Hydrogen Hub Designed For Curtailed Renewable Energy Use” • WSP USA has successfully completed drilling operation and mechanical integrity tests for two new cavern wells for the Advanced Clean Energy Storage I project in Utah. It is part of the first phase for the ACES Delta hydrogen hub. [WSP]

¶ “California Hits Record for Renewable Energy Generation” • In 2021, 37% of California’s electricity was generated by renewable sources such as solar and wind. But more broadly, when nuclear power and hydroelectricity from large dams are included, 59% of the electricity used in California in 2021 came from carbon-free sources. [Government Technology]

Solar array (Tom Brewster Photography, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “California’s Senate Approves Wave And Tidal Renewable Energy Bill” • The California State Senate has unanimously approved a bill that aims to put the state on the path to developing wave and tidal energy as a new source of renewable energy. This helps meet its carbon-free targets while bolstering the power grid. [Offshore Energy]

¶ “As Texas Legislative Session Nears End, Republican Legislators Try One Last Push Against Renewables” • “Backward-looking,” “Self-defeating,” and “discouraging” are just some of the terms renewable energy advocates use to describe the 2023 Texas legislative session. With only a few days left before the session ends, it could become even worse. [KUT.org]

Have a seriously magical day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Groups Warn Biden Ukraine War Shows Attacks On Nuclear Plants ‘Could Happen Here’” • In the wake of another nerve-wracking outage at a Russian-held Ukrainian nuclear energy facility, ninety groups and dozens of individuals wrote to US President Joe Biden with “grave concerns regarding security at US nuclear power plants.” [Common Dreams]

Nuclear plant cooling towers (Kelly, Pexels)

World:

¶ “The ‘Untapped Potential’ Of Commercial Buildings Could Revolutionise UK Solar Power” • Schools, warehouses, and car parks could be at the forefront of a revolution in affordable solar power, plans discussed at the first meeting of the Government’s new Solar Taskforce show. The UK’s target is for solar capacity to grow nearly fivefold to 70 GW by 2035. [GOV.UK]

¶ “Gogoro Increases Partnership With Dotstation To Serve Eight Cities In Korea” • The Gogoro Network is operating a clever swappable battery system in Taiwan’s urban areas. This advanced network supports 540,000 riders and has over 1.1 million smart batteries at 2,500 locations. The Gogoro Network is expanding now to other countries. [CleanTechnica]

Battery swapping (Bikebank and Gogoro)

¶ “Philippines’ Renewable Energy Sector To Accelerate As The Country Aims For 35% Renewable Energy Mix By 2030” • The Philippines is ramping up its adoption of renewable energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and meet increasing energy demand, even as the nation sees a surge in consumption and production of oil and gas. [OGV Energy]

¶ “Mike Cannon-Brookes Wins Control Of Mega Solar Project” • Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes claimed control of the Sun Cable solar export project, winning a bidding war after falling out with his former project partner, Andrew Forrest. The project will still pursue its original goal of exporting solar power from the Australian outback to Singapore. [ABC]

Proposed solar farm (Sun Cable image)

¶ “Designs For Battery Tankers To Transport Renewable Energy By 2026” • Japanese startup PowerX Manufacturing announced details of a concept to develop battery tankers that would make up the backbone for a power transmission network distributing renewable energy from areas with high potential generation to areas with high demand. [The Maritime Executive]

¶ “Electricity Prices In Finland Flipped Negative On A Huge Oversupply Of Hydroelectric Power” • Finland had an unusual problem on Wednesday: clean electricity that was so abundant it sent energy prices into the negative. The price drop was driven by an unexpected glut of renewable energy, with an added new nuclear power plant. [Business Insider]

Wind turbines in Finland (Teemu Vehkaoja, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Russia Accuses Ukraine Of ‘Nuclear Terrorism’ After Failed Attack On Two Nuclear Power Plants” • The Russian Federal Security Service claimed that it thwarted a terrorist attack on two nuclear power stations and accused Kyiv of “nuclear terrorism.” It said a sabotage group mined over 30 electric power lines to break the normal operating mode. [Anadolu Agency]

US:

¶ “Atlantic Hurricane Season Expected To Be Near Average This Year, NOAA Says” • The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be near average this year, NOAA officials said. Storm activity will largely depend on two competing factors: El Niño, which inhibits storm development, and near record-high ocean temperatures, which help fuel hurricanes. [CNN]

Hurricane Ian approaching Florida last year (NOAA and NASA)

¶ “Supreme Court Rolls Back Federal Safeguards For Wetlands Under Clean Water Act” • The Supreme Court cut back on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act, with a 5-4 majority continuing a trend in which the conservative-leaning court has narrowed the reach of environmental regulations. [CNN]

¶ “Ford Electric Cars To Have Best Fast Charging In USA With Tesla Supercharging” • Ford and Tesla announced that Ford’s EV coming to market that will include Tesla’s Supercharging port, starting in 2025. Before then, starting in early 2024, Ford will offer adapters for its EV owners so they will be able to use Tesla Superchargers. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E at a Tesla Supercharging station (Ford)

¶ “House Upholds President Biden’s Solar Tariff Veto” • The US House of Representatives failed to override the veto of legislation that would have overturned President Biden’s two-year solar tariff moratorium. Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, commented on the jobs and security saved by the veto. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Breaks Its Record For Renewable Electricity” • California has hit a new milestone in clean energy. In 2021, 37% of the state’s electricity was generated by renewable sources like solar and wind, according to numbers recently released by the California Energy Commission. This is more than double the 16% total of 2012. [The Brunswick News]

Power lines (Rob Martin, Unsplash)

¶ “BLM Advances Clean Energy Transmission Projects In Nevada” • The Bureau of Land Management is initiating the environmental review for the Greenlink North project and releasing a draft environmental impact statement for Greenlink West transmission projects, to help connect 8 GW of renewable energy to the grid. [US Department of the Interior]

¶ “Renewable Energy Groups Urge Congress To Pass Permitting Reforms” • Renewable energy organizations are urging leaders of Congress to enact transmission permitting legislation. One thing they ask is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s siting authority over critical interstate transmission lines be enhanced. [Daily Energy Insider]

Have an outstandingly quintessential day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Ask A Scientist: Calling Out The Companies Responsible For Western Wildfires” • The US wildfire season used to last about four months. These days, it stretches six to eight months, the US Forest Service says, and in some places it’s now a year-round affair. Just seven companies accounted for a whopping 18.7% of total emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Hand crew from Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Navajo Region
returning to fire camp (Photo by Bureau of Indian Affairs)

¶ “May As National Wildfire Awareness Month: 10 Tips To Prevent Wildfires” • May is National Wildfire Awareness Month for the US. Almost nine out of ten wildfires are human-caused. These preventable wildfires threaten lives, property and our precious natural resources. Here are tips for preventing wildfires and protecting natural resources. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why You Should Care About Warmer-Than-Average Ocean Temperatures” • Humanity’s carbon pollution has the potential to turn oceans into a global warming “time bomb.” Ocean temperatures have spiked: NOAA data collection indicates ocean temperatures are probably the highest they’ve been in more than 100,000 years. [CleanTechnica]

Coral and fish (Pixy.org, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change And Marine Animals: A Challenge For Conservation” • Marine animals, from whales to sea turtles, depend on a functioning ocean ecosystem for survival. They are also important indicators of overall ocean health. Scientists at NOAA Fisheries are finding that climate change is leading to rapid changes in our oceans. [NOAA Fisheries]

World:

¶ “France Bans Short-Haul Flights To Cut Carbon Emissions” • France has banned domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The law came into force two years after lawmakers had voted to end routes where the same journey could be made by train in under two-and-a-half hours. [BBC]

Airplane (Pascal Meier, Unsplash)

¶ “Invasion Of Ukraine ‘Has Fuelled Funding Boom For Clean Energy’” • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has helped ignite a boom in clean energy investment which will significantly outpace spending on fossil fuels, an International Energy Agency report shows. It found that clean energy investment is on track to reach $1.7 trillion (£1.4 trillion) this year. [The Guardian]

¶ “Daimler Truck Subsidiary Fuso Announces Production Start Of Next Generation ECanter” • With increased power, enhanced efficiency, and an extended range, the Next Generation eCanter from Fuso operates with zero CO₂ emissions as it is driven. Fuso, a Daimler Truck subsidiary, is now producing this all-electric light truck in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

ECanter trucks (Daimler image)

¶ “Punjab Government To Introduce Green Hydrogen Policy, Aiming For Renewable Energy Leadership” • To establish Punjab as a leading state in the production of non-conventional energy, the state government is to introduce a Green Hydrogen Policy. This was announced by the Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources for Punjab. [SolarQuarter]

US:

¶ “Powerful Typhoon Mawar Slams Guam With Heavy Rain And Damaging Winds” • The governor of Guam urged residents to continue staying home for their protection and safety a day after Typhoon Mawar, the strongest storm to impact the US territory in decades, slammed into the island. Mawar’s eyewall pelted the island with winds and heavy rain. [CNN]

Typhoon Mawar (NASA Earth Observatory image)

¶ “Enel Chooses Oklahoma For $1 Billion Solar Panel Factory” • Enel North America subsidiary 3Sun USA announced that it has chosen Inola, Oklahoma, to build a $1 billion manufacturing facility for innovative, sustainable, and American-made PV cells and modules. The factory will have a capacity of 3 GW of solar panels per year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Signs Battery Materials Deal, Hints At Fixed Pricing Strategy” • There’s a torrent of news about Ford Motor Company this week, so let’s get you caught up on recent developments. For a start, Ford announced a long-term contract with EnergySource Minerals to purchase the lithium it needs to manufacture EV batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford Motor Co image)

¶ “Duke Energy Florida Celebrates A Renewable Energy Landmark” • Duke Energy Florida celebrated their milestone of surpassing 1 GW of renewable energy at an event for Duke Energy’s solar program. The Clean Energy Connection allows customers to subscribe to solar power without having to install their own equipment. [WCJB]

¶ “How MSD Plans To Turn Sewage Into Renewable Energy” • A planned anaerobic digestion plant in Cincinnati will turn sewage into renewable energy. The Metropolitan Sewer District plans to build the facility next to the existing Little Miami Wastewater Treatment Plant. In the anaerobic digestion process, bacteria makes methane from organic matter. [WVXU]

Anaerobic digestion plant (Metropolitan Sewer District)

¶ “With Responsible Mining, Idaho Shifting Toward Renewable Energy” • Idaho is emerging as a player in the move to renewable energy by ensuring responsible mining practices and acting to reduce the consumption of environmentally harmful resources. Idaho Power, the state’s largest utility, has plans to leave coal behind by 2028. [Idaho Business Review]

¶ “Timeline: How Georgia And South Carolina Nuclear Reactors Ran So Far Off Course” • The first of two nuclear reactors in Georgia is generating electricity and could be days away from achieving full-power operation. But the new units at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle are $17 billion over budget and running seven years late. [Financial Post]

Have an easily admirable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Safety Is Another Casualty Of The Ukraine War” • Despite the international treaties, with nuclear power plants the possible consequences of a careless miscalculation can be too enormous to contemplate. This is why the fighting in Ukraine is perilous not only to its long-suffering population but also for the international community. [The National]

Nuclear plant (Pixy.org, CCo)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Synergy Project Demonstrates Renewable Energy’s Black Start Potential” • In what may be a global first, SP Energy Networks completed the first phase of a £4.4 million black start trial, demonstrating how the electricity network can be restored at a faster pace using only renewable energy in the event of a major power outage. [Smart Energy International]

¶ “Prieto Introduces Battery That Charges In Three Minutes” • Prieto, a startup based in Fort Collins, Colorado, has unveiled a prototype of a battery it says works in a range from -30°F to above 100°F. What is even more exciting about Prieto is that its 3D batteries can be fully charged from 0 to 100% in just three minutes and are nonflammable. [CleanTechnica]

Prieto battery (Prieto image)

World:

¶ “‘Go To Hell, Shell.’ Climate Protests Disrupt Oil Company’s Shareholder Meeting” • Chaotic scenes unfolded at Shell’s annual shareholder meeting as climate activists stormed the venue, calling for the oil company to be “shut down” and accusing it of “killing” the planet. They sang, “Go to hell, Shell, and don’t you come back no more.” [CNN]

¶ “Global Temperature Rise Could See Billions Live In Places Where Human Life Doesn’t Flourish, Study Says” • If the current pace of global warming goes unchecked, it will push billions of people outside the “climate niche,” the temperatures where humans can flourish, according to a study published in the journal Nature Sustainability. [CNN]

Tamil Nadu in the morning (Remi Clinton, Unsplash)

¶ “LevelTen Energy Launches PPA Auctions, Delivering More Speed And Deal Certainty To Renewable Energy Sellers And Buyers” • LevelTen Energy, operator of the world’s largest PPA marketplace, launched PPA Auctions, a faster way to contract power purchase agreements. LevelTen’s PPA Auctions respond to the industry’s need for new solutions. [AltEnergyMag]

¶ “South Africa Load-Shedding: The Roots Of Eskom’s Power Problem” • South Africa is heading into winter with the prospect of power cuts lasting up to sixteen hours a day. The roots of the problem lie in poor management, corruption, sabotage, and gangs willing to kill anyone who threatened to clean up the coal industry or move towards renewable energy. [BBC]

Power outage (Claudio Schwarz, Unsplash)

¶ “ROK Experts Begin Fukushima Nuclear Plant Tour on Treated Water” • A delegation of South Korean experts began a two-day observation of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to look into issues related to treated water. TEPCO’s plan to release the treated water into the ocean caused strong concerns in South Korea. [The Japan News]

¶ “The Shoprite Group’s Solar Rooftop Installation Program Continues Throughout South Africa” • The Shoprite Group is accelerating the rollout of rooftop solar installations at its sites in South Africa. It is South Africa’s largest retailer by sales, profit, number of employees and customers, and market capitalization. It operates in eleven African countries. [CleanTechnica]

Solar rooftop installation at a Shoprite in South Africa

US:

¶ “House Votes To Revoke Tougher EPA Emissions Regulation For Trucks” • The House voted Tuesday to rescind a Biden administration emissions regulation for heavy-duty trucks. The Senate voted to overturn the rule in April, so it will now be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk. The White House has said the president will veto it. [CNN]

¶ “New York’s Skyscrapers Are Causing It To Sink – What Can Be Done About It?” • The ground under New York City is sinking partly due to the sheer mass of all its buildings. But New York is not the only coastal city to be suffering this fate. And at the same time, sea levels are rising at the same time to meet these concrete jungles. Can they be saved? [BBC]

New York City (Siegfried Poepperl, Unsplash)

¶ “A Monster Typhoon Is Barreling Toward A US Territory With Deadly Winds And Dangerous Storm Surge” • Typhoon Mawar is barreling toward Guam, threatening to slam into the US territory as the strongest storm there in decades. The typhoon poses a “triple threat” of deadly winds, exceptional storm surge and torrential rainfall. [CNN]

¶ “How Clearloop Is Using Carbon Offsets To Develop Solar Power Farms In Mississippi” • Most of Mississippi’s electricity comes from natural gas, nuclear, and coal, Energy Information Administration data shows, and only about 1% is from solar. Clearloop, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is developing three solar power farms in the state. [CleanTechnica]

Solar Farm (Clearloop image)

¶ “As Debt Ceiling Negotiations Continue, Renewable Energy Groups Push Congress For Bipartisan Transmission Permitting Legislation” • Leading renewable energy organizations sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging enactment of bipartisan transmission permitting legislation to build on the clean energy policies in the Inflation Reduction Act. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Governor Hochul Announces Ge Vernova To Invest $50 Million To Locate An Onshore Wind Nacelle Manufacturing Operation To Schenectady County” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that GE Vernova will invest $50 million to locate an onshore wind nacelle facility to Schenectady, creating at least 160 full-time jobs. [Governor Kathy Hochul]

Have a quintessentially convenient day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Great Electricity Transmission Debate – How Much Is Enough?” • Jigar Shah’s estimate is that the US needs 950 GW of clean energy and 225 GW of storage to clean up its electricity sector. Over 1,200 GW of clean energy and 650 GW of storage have already been proposed. The problem is how to connect the generating capacity to the grid. [CleanTechnica]

Transmission lines (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)

¶ “How Is Cleantech Faring In The Current Economic Climate?” • Global economic conditions seem to be a little tumultuous at the moment, don’t they? In this post, we look at the US situation only, but as we know, the US is a pretty good proxy for global economic conditions. We also going to go briefly into how that seems to be affecting cleantech. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Global Loss Of Wildlife Is ‘Significantly More Alarming’ Than Previously Thought, A Study Shows” • The global loss of wildlife is “significantly more alarming” than previously thought, a study shows. Researchers at School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast found 48% the 70,000 species studied are seeing rapid population declines. [CNN]

Striped Tiger Butterfly (Sonika Agarwal, Unsplash)

¶ “New Perovskite Solar Cells: How Low (And How Fast) Can Solar Go?” • The cost of solar power has been dropping like a rock, but more is coming. Now low-cost perovskite solar cells are finally beginning to bump their way into the solar market. One promising pathway involves a piggyback with silicon technology, and thin film is also in play. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Global Biodiversity Crisis: How NASA Satellites Help Track Changes To Life On Earth” • Climate change plays an increasing role in the global decline of biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth. Scientists use NASA data to track ecosystem changes and to develop tools for conserving life on land, in our ocean, and in freshwater ecosystems. [NASA Climate Change]

Earth (NASA image)

World:

¶ “Why Car Parks Are The Hottest Space In Solar Power” • Solar car parks have been around for years, and there are signs that they are beginning to boom. They are mandatory for car parks with over eighty spaces in France. Prof Mark Barrett of the UCL Energy Institute said he believed that of 117 GW of potential in urban UK environments, 11 GW is car parks. [BBC]

¶ “Number World’s Farms To Halve By 2100” • University of Colorado-Boulder research shows that the number of farms globally will shrink in half as the size of the average existing farms doubles by the end of the 21st century, posing significant risks to the world’s food systems. The study was published in the journal Nature Sustainability. [CleanTechnica]

Small farm (Zoe Schaeffer, Unsplash)

¶ “France Unveils Plan To Radically Reduce Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions” • The French government has unveiled an ambitious plan to accelerate cuts to its greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a reduction of 50 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. The roadmap includes detailed figures for reductions for sectors of the economy. [RFI]

¶ “Economic Damage From Next El Niño To Total $3 Trillion” • Two researchers at Dartmouth College have published a report in the journal Science which predicts that the economic impact of the next El Niño weather event (expected to occur this year) will be $3 trillion through 2029, compared to what the same period would be without such an event. [CleanTechnica]

Data collection buoy (Image courtesy of NOAA)

¶ “EU Parliament Delays Renewable Energy Vote After Late Backlash” • The European Parliament delayed a planned vote to approve new EU renewable energy targets, after France and other countries lodged last-minute opposition to the law last week, an internal email seen by Reuters says. France is pushing for recognition for nuclear energy. [Energy Central]

¶ “Chinese Solar Exports Soar” • China’s solar exports grew 64% to $52bn in 2022 despite global trade tensions, according to latest analysis from Wood Mackenzie. China’s exports were mainly dominated by modules in 2022 – Europe remained the country’s top solar module export market with 56% share, according to Wood Mackenzie findings. [reNews]

Solar array (RWE image)

¶ “World’s Biggest Nuclear Plant May Stay Closed Due To Papers Left On Car Roof” • A week after Japanese regulators postponed the restart of the world’s biggest nuclear power plant due to safety lapses, a careless employee working from home added to the company’s woes. He placed a stack of documents on top of a car and drove off, losing them. [Financial Post]

US:

¶ “US Electricity From Renewable Energy Beat Electricity From Coal Or Nuclear In 2022” • In 2022, net generation of electricity from renewables reached 0.91 billion MWh, topping both coal and nuclear (0.83 and 0.77 billion MWh, respectively). In 2022, renewables accounted for about 21% of all net generation of electricity. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (From energy.gov)

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Amends Three Renewable Energy Contracts On Hawaii Island” • Hawaiian Electric announced it renegotiated three renewable energy contracts – Puna Geothermal Venture, Hawi Renewable Development, and Wailuku River Hydroelectric – to fixed rates. This will result in “long-term savings” for Hawaii Island customers. [The Business Journals]

¶ “Growth Slows, But US Renewable Energy Installs At Third-Highest Level In 2022” • The American Clean Power Association said in a report that installations of energy storage, along with wind and solar power capacity, were at the third-highest level on record in 2022, with more than 25 GW of new clean power installed cross the US. [POWER Magazine]

Have a satisfactorily superb day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Induction, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways …” • The ability of induction ranges to eliminate the need for gas piped to your home, and help transition the economy towards all-electric clean renewable energy, makes them a game changer. They are a “big move” in the CleanTechnica series “Decarbonize Your Life.” [CleanTechnica]

Induction stove (Image courtesy of Samsung)

World:

¶ “Zero-Emission Zones Can Cut Air Pollution Tremendously” • New modelling commissioned by the Clean Cities Campaign and Transport & Environment shows that air pollution levels can be brought close to the science-based guidelines of the World Health Organization if stronger action is taken on polluting vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “More Renewable Energy Projects In The Philippines Pop Up As Conglomerates Jump In” • PetroGreen Energy Corp, part of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the Philippines’ largest business conglomerates, announced its acquisition of two solar projects in Luzon. They will add 60 MW to the company’s renewable energy portfolio. [CleanTechnica]

PetroSolar’s Tarlac solar plant (Image courtesy of PetroSolar)

¶ “ACWA Power Secures $3.25 Billion Deals For Massive Saudi Solar Projects” • ACWA Power has secured three power purchase agreements valued at $3.25 billion for three large-scale PV solar plants. The combined capacity of the three projects will be 4.55 GW, providing sufficient renewable energy for around 750,000 households. [Oil & Gas Middle East]

¶ “Four Nairobi Bus Operators Now Using Electric Buses!” • One of Nairobi’s top public transportation providers, Embassava Sacco, has announced the introduction of four electric buses to its fleet in collaboration with BasiGo, an African startup for electric transportation. They are BYD K6 electric buses, which have a range of about 250 km. [CleanTechnica]

BYD K6 electric bus (BasiGo image)

¶ “Green Energy Plays Bigger Roles In European Countries” • According to the Brussels-based Solar Power Europe, the 27 EU member states saw 41.4 GW of new solar PV capacity connected to their grids in 2022. This is a 47% increase compared to 2021. In April, Portugal reached a milestone, with 51% of its electricity coming from wind and solar power. [Xinhua]

¶ “Spain’s Renewable Energy Powered The Entire Country For A 9-Hour Work Day” • Spain is among a handful of countries that lead the world in the push toward renewable energy. Last week it reached a new milestone. Energy generated from wind, sun, and water met the needs of mainland Spain from 10 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, El Pais reported. [Yahoo Sport UK]

Valle Solar Power Station (Arvydas Cetyrkovskis, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Ukraine Says There Is A Power Outage At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned power company, said there was a power outage at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after a Russia-installed official said the plant was switched to standby and emergency power supply. This is the seventh such power outage since Russia invaded. [RTE]

¶ “TotalEnergies’ Spanish PV Projects Pass EIA Test” • The Spanish Ministry of Energy Transition and Autonomous Communities gave TotalEnergies a favourable Environmental Impact Assessment for an estimated 3 GW of installed solar PV capacity. The first projects are expected to be coming on stream in early 2024. [reNews]

Solar array (TotalEnergies image)

Australia:

¶ “Green Power Target Will Require ‘Huge’ Investment Surge” • The Australian government’s ambitious renewable energy target is achievable but requires a “huge” investment surge, senior officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water told senators. Investment in solar is on track, but wind is lagging. [Shepparton News]

¶ “Australia’s Renewable Superpower Ambitions Could Be Turbo-Charged By Biden Compact” • The new US-Australia Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact agreed on by US President Biden and Australian Prime Minister Albanese provides a landmark policy statement of strategic intent. [Renew Economy]

Mining operation (Pilbara Minerals image)

¶ “‘Savagely imperfect:’ Forrest lets fly at coal, nuclear, and ex-Snowy boss Paul Broad” • Australian iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest says the newly announced critical minerals and clean energy compact between Australia and the US could get Australia over the line in its shift to 82% renewables by 2030 – and if it doesn’t, “we’re toast.” [Renew Economy]

US:

¶ “Solar-Panel “Clustering” Coming To Scores Of Army Homes On Hawaii” • Lendlease Communities operates nearly 8,000 homes on Oahu, providing housing for military families through a partnership with the US Army. They are addressing local electric rates of 44¢/kWh with solar arrays that serve clusters of four to six homes. [CleanTechnica]

Island of Palms, Hawaii (Courtesy of Lendlease Communities)

¶ “Ample Wants To Bring Battery Swapping To Everyone” • With its new swap station design, Ample says it can cut swap times in half, to 5 minutes, while being user-friendly and safe. It can serve the needs of both small passenger cars and large delivery trucks. A whole platform raises with the car to allow passengers to enter and exit the car during a swap. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Homeowner Basics Of Financing Solar PV Power For Residential Real Estate” • The Inflation Reduction Act, as well as other incentives have made residential solar energy systems more attractive for homeowners. Last year, the growth of residential solar in the US boomed, as residential solar projects grew by a “staggering” 40%. [CNBC]

Have an abundantly edifying day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Can ‘Enhanced Rock Weathering’ Help Combat Climate Change?” • UN scientists are now clear that reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone won’t be enough to stop dangerous levels of warming. They say there will need to be some CO₂ removal, actively drawing it down from the atmosphere. ‘Enhanced rock weathering’ could help cool the planet. [BBC]

Basaltic outcrop (Daniel Mayer, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Gotion Introduces LMFP Battery With Energy Density Of 240 Wh/Kg” • Volkswagen battery supplier Gotion has revealed a new lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate battery it says can go 1000 km. A press release says the Astroinno L600 LMFP cell’s weight energy density is 240 Wh/kg. Gotion is planning to build a $2.3 billion battery factory in Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “As The West Surges Toward Electric Cars, Here’s Where The Unwanted Gas Guzzlers Go” • As wealthy countries set aggressive goals to move consumers towards EVs to cut carbon emissions, gas-powered cars won’t necessarily go away. A stream of used cars is heading to West African ports, and it is only expected to increase with the West’s shift to EVs. [CNN]

Port of Cotonou in Benin (Fawaz.tairou, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “New Zealand And BlueScope Spend $188 Million To Cut Steel Emissions” • New Zealand’s government and the local unit of BlueScope Steel Ltd will spend NZ$300 million ($188 million) to upgrade a mill. They called it the largest emissions-reduction project in the nation. The oxygen furnaces will be replaced with an electric arc furnace. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Alberta Wildfires Show No Sign Of Slowing, Experts Say” • Since the first state of emergency was declared in Alberta on May 4, over 782,000 hectares of land, 3,000 square miles, have burned, officials said. With 93 active wildfires in Alberta, as of 12:00 EST on Friday, early data suggests this wildfire season could be one of the worst on record. [BBC]

Fire in Alberta (Government of Alberta)

¶ “Time To Pay The Piper – The Cost Of Cleaning Up After Fossil Fuel Companies” • Marco Grasso and Richard Heede authored a report published by One Earth that quantifies how much each of the 21 top fossil fuel companies in the world should pay to clean up the environmental mess they have made. The total comes to $209 billion a year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Green Gravity Lab In Port Kembla Aims To Use Weights And Old Mine Shafts To Produce Renewable Energy ” • A plan that seems simple could help Australia towards net zero emissions. Housed in an old mine shaft and suspended by a strong cable, a weight is lowered 500 metres down a long drop and in doing so, turns a turbine that creates electricity. [ABC]

Rendering of the Green Gravity lab (Green Gravity image)

¶ “Creecy Says Her Department Has A Project Of 9,789 MW For Renewable Energy Applications” • In South Africa, Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said in her department’s Environmental Impact Assessment section, there is a project pipeline of 9,789 MW for renewable energy applications in the country. [IOL]

US:

¶ “Chevy’s Not Taking Any Chances With Bolt Battery Packs” • After a fire recall, GM’s battery software errs far on the side of caution for Bolts and Bolt EUVs. If the software senses danger, it puts up a “battery danger” message, accompanied by an alarm that can’t be turned off and sounds absolutely frightening. GM even has automatic tows responding. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt (Greg Gjerdingen, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Three US Funding Pools Every Industrial Project Developer Should Know About” • Heavy industry represents 30% of US CO₂ emissions. While decarbonizing industry is difficult, two exciting developments are taking place in the US that will help speed progress. One is industries grouping in “clean industrial hubs.” The other is tax incentives. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Illinois Lawmakers Head Back To Springfield Next Week As Budget Talks Continue” • Illinois lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week after failing to pass a state budget before their scheduled adjournment date, as top Democrats haggle over final details. One detail is the question of ending a moritorium on building new nuclear plants. [The Pantagraph]

Have an exceedingly effortless day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Our Psychological Problem With Global Warming (See: Mt St Helens) And What To Do” • No matter how small the threat, there comes a moment when a person realizes it’s not just imaginary, hypothetical, or theoretical. That’s the point when at least some action starts happening to change course and avoid becoming a victim. [CleanTechnica]

Mt St Helens eruption from 35 miles away
(Rocky Kolberg, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

World:

¶ “Smoke From Canadian Fires Is Pouring Into The US And Could Linger For Days” • Canada has had an especially active start to the fire season. In one week, wildfires in Alberta burned over 150 times the area that had burned by the same point in the year in the last five years combined, CNN reported. The smoke is polluting the air in the US Midwest. [CNN]

¶ “Sunak To Urge G7 Support For Collective Action Against ‘Economic Coercion’” • The UK and other G7 countries are planning collective action against Russia and China if they threaten trade boycotts for political reasons. A new body will deal with “economic coercion,” to be an early warning system and formulate where G7 action is needed. [The Guardian]

Wind turbines (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)

¶ “G7 Members Should Not Compete Against Each Other On Renewables – Von Der Leyen” • The Group of Seven rich nations should work together to access technology and secure sources of critical minerals for a green transition, creating additional manufacturing capacity rather than competition, a top European diplomat said. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

¶ “International Solar Alliance And UN Launch Solar Agriculture Irrigation Program” • The International Solar Alliance and the UN Development Programme have launched a program focused on solar agriculture irrigation. They have  raised €1.8 million for pilot projects with solar pumps and technical training in ten countries in Africa and Oceania. [CleanTechnica]

Solar powered pumping (Image via CouLee)

¶ “ACWA Power Signs Uzbek Wind Farm Financing Deal” • ACWA Power has signed financing documents for the 100-MW Karatau wind farm in Uzbekistan with a total investment value of $120 million. The agreement was one of two signed by the company during the EBRD 2023 Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Samarkand. [reNews]

¶ “Mercedes Plans One Electric Van Platform To Rule Them All” • Mercedes announced that all its newly developed vans will be based on a single innovative, modular, and scalable architecture. Van Electric Architecture, to be called VAN.EA, will be an all-new purpose-built platform developed from scratch for its future electric vans starting 2026. [CleanTechnica]

VAN.EA (Mercedes image)

¶ “New UK Sanctions On Russian Energy To Include Rosatom And Nuclear Energy” • The UK has announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia, as the G7 Summit begins in Japan this weekend. The sanctions will also affect companies connected to Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom, which supplies 20% of Russia’s energy. [Power Technology]

US:

¶ “The Future Of Wind Energy In The US Is Floating Turbines As Tall As 30 Rockefeller Plaza” • The first, full-sized floating offshore wind turbine in the US will tower 850 feet above the waves in the Gulf of Maine. The 15-MW turbine will be 20 miles south of Maine’s tiny Monhegan Island by the end of the decade, the first of ten turbines in an array. [CNN]

Monhegan Island (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Capping Oil & Gas Wells In Texas Could Create Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs” • A study from the University of Texas finds that regulating methane pollution from oil and gas sites in Texas could create up to 35,000 jobs. Texas is the top state for methane pollution, and its Permian Basin is one of the largest oil and gas producing regions in the world. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Clean Cars Could Yield $95 Billion In Benefits In Colorado” • A report finds that the total benefits for Colorado would be as much as $95 billion in 2050 from public health and climate improvements, savings to drivers of zero emissions vehicles, and utility customer savings, under a Colorado Clean Cars program, if adopted through 2035. [CleanTechnica]

F-150 Lightning (Courtesy of Ford, Colorado)

¶ “Oil To Renewables: HECO Aims To Transform 85-Year-Old Power Plant In Pearl City” • Hawaiʻi’s largest electric utility, Hawaiian Electric, plans to replace six oil-fueled generators at its Waiau Power Plant in Pearl City with smaller generation units powered by fuels like biodiesel and possibly hydrogen, the company announced. [Hawaii Public Radio]

¶ “Village Waits For Green Light On Green Energy” • The village of Saranac Lake, New York, is preparing to enter the last step in a process that would give local electric customers the chance to support renewable energies through their monthly bill. Saranac Lake is waiting on the electric rate to dip low enough to lock in a better rate. [Adirondack Daily Enterprise]

Village of Saranac Lake (Mwanner, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BLM Advances Clean Energy In California” • The Bureau of Land Management has approved the Sunlight Storage II Battery Energy Storage System to add up to 300 MW for a total 530 MW of energy storage capacity provided to the California power grid from the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm. It is another step toward a carbon-free electric grid by 2035. [BLM.gov]

¶ “Montana GOP Lawmakers Sign Aggressive Anti-Climate Science Law” • A new law in Montana, passed by GOP lawmakers and signed by the governor, blocks climate change from being considered in the environmental review process for projects like coal mines and power plants. Of over 1,000 comments submitted by local residents, 95% were in opposition. [Causes.com]

Have an absolutely perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Georgia’s Plant Vogtle Is A $35 Billion Boondoggle. We Need New And Better Solutions For A Carbon-Free Grid” • Georgia’s Plant Vogtle began construction in 2009 as part of an effort to revive the nuclear industry, but things have not gone well. As enthusiasm builds once again for nuclear in the US, this is the wrong direction for the US to take. [Utility Dive]

Vogtle units 3 and 4 (Georgia Power, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Argonne National Lab Creates Lithium-Ion Batteries That Work In The Cold” • People who live in cold climates and drive EVs know the lithium-ion batteries in their car don’t work as well in freezing temperatures. They don’t charge as fast and they don’t go as far. Argonne National Laboratory says it may have the answer to that problem. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The World’s Largest Lakes Are Shrinking Dramatically, And Scientists Say They Have Figured Out Why” • More than half of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs have lost significant amounts of water over the last three decades, according to a new study, which pins the blame largely on climate change and excessive water use. [CNN]

Great Salt Lake (Brent Pace, Unsplash)

¶ “Costs Of New Nuclear Need Addressing, Wood Mackenzie Says” • In a new report, Wood Mackenzie says that high costs are “arguably the biggest impediment to a nuclear renaissance.” According to its estimates, conventional nuclear power currently has a levelised cost of electricity “at least four times that of wind and solar.” [World Nuclear News]

World:

¶ “The MG4 Is Now The Most Affordable Electric Vehicle In Australia” • With its low price, MG4 has had some outstanding sales figures so far in the UK. Now Australia is getting the MG4 too, as MG Australia unveiled three versions of the MG4 to be offered down under. These are the Excite, the Essence, and the Long Range model. [CleanTechnica]

MG4 (MG image)

¶ “At Least Nine Killed By Heavy Flooding In Italy, As River Levels Continue To Rise” • After months of drought that dried out the land in Emilia Romagna, reducing its capacity to absorb water, torrential rains came, killing at least nine people by heavy flooding and mudslides. Scientists have linked both drought and flooding to climate change. [CNN]

¶ “Raja Bhoj Airport Achieves Carbon Neutrality With Renewable Energy” • Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal has set an example by becoming one of the few airports in India to operate solely on renewable energy. This achievement has propelled the airport to Level 2+ Carbon Accreditation, as recognised by the Airports Council International. [Construction World]

Raja Bhoj Airport (Doctorchickencolslw, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Masdar Is On Track To Become One Of The World’s Largest Renewable Energy Companies” • Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) announced that it has nearly doubled its clean energy capacity and CO₂ displacement in just two years and is on track to fulfil its ambition of becoming one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies by 2030. [menafn]

US:

¶ “Maryland Cooks Up Green Hydrogen Scheme To Kill Diesel Buses” • The largest self-sustaining bus depot in the US is coming to Maryland, featuring solar arrays and on-site green hydrogen production. That may not sound too exciting if you can afford to buy the latest shiny new EV, but it is exciting for underserved communities in the area. [CleanTechnica]

New bus depot in Maryland (Courtesy of AlphaStruxure)

¶ “Vermont Legislature Pushes For End To Polluting Heating Equipment” • Vermont’s boilers, furnaces, kerosene heaters, and wood stoves produce 36% of the state’s total emissions, according to recent findings by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The Vermont legislature has passed the Affordable Heat Act (S.5) bill to reduce those emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric Work Vans Are ‘Almost Free’” • Electric work trucks may not be sexy like a Mercedes EQS or an Audi Q6 e-tron, but with super-low operating costs they can pay for themselves, or nearly so, which is what anyone in business wants to hear. And they have other advantages, such as having electric power for operating power tools. [CleanTechnica]

Ford electric van (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Advances SunZia Southwest Transmission Project” • The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management announced a Record of Decision for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, which is to transport up to 4,500 MW of primarily renewable energy from New Mexico to Arizona and California. [US Department of the Interior]

¶ “Meta To Power Idaho Data Center With 200-MW rPlus Solar Project” • In its quest to power all of its data centers by renewable energy, social media company Meta has moved into Idaho. Meta turned to a Salt Lake City-based project developer to construct a 200-MW solar project that could become the largest utility solar project in Idaho. [pv magazine USA]

Solar panels (rPlus Energies image)

¶ “Colorado Is Poised To Set The Nation’s First Standards For Green Hydrogen. Will The Federal Government Follow Suit?” • Some Environmental groups see a hidden risk with “green” hydrogen, because we must be sure it is not powered by fossil fuels. Colorado is about to address that issue, and there is hope the US will do the same. [Colorado Public Radio]

¶ “Oklo Plans Two Plants In Southern Ohio” • Oklo and the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative signed an agreement for land to host two of its advanced reactor plants in Southern Ohio. Oklo says the power plants will provide up to 30 MW of electric power and 50 MW of heating. Its first reactor is in Idaho and is to be finished by 2026. [World Nuclear News]

Have a significantly copacetic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Model Y To Be Best Selling Car In World In 2023?” • 2023 is not half over, but the Model Y is likely to win the annual sales title. According to Tesla, it was the best-selling passenger vehicle on Earth in the first quarter of the year. With production and sales expected to grow throughout the year, it’ll be tough for any other car to catch the Y. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Charlie Deets, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “How Solar Power Is Keeping Lebanon’s Lights On” • In a time of crisis, rooftop solar panels have become a stand-in for both grid power and diesel generators for many families. While it is an imperfect solution, Lebanon’s situation has shown the power of solar and how it can be a source of clean and reliable electricity when other systems fail. [BBC]

¶ “‘Sounding The Alarm’: World On Track To Breach A Critical Warming Threshold In The Next Five Years” • The world is now likely to breach a key climate threshold for the first time in the next five years due to a combination of greenhouse gas pollution and a looming El Niño, according to the annual climate update of the World Meteorological Organization. [CNN]

El Niño in January 2016 (NOAA image)

¶ “China’s Electric Car Emissions Reductions Increasing Rapidly Over Time” • Shaojun Zhang et al conducted comprehensive “cradle-to-grave” assessments of China’s EVs in 2015 and 2020, covering fuel-cycle and material-cycle phases, and compiled life-cycle projections for 2030. Better efficiency and cleaner electric power are having effects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “WEF Sees Huge Drop In Oil Demand As Electric Vehicle Sales Rise” • To highlight the impact of EVs on oil use, the World Economic Forum has created an infographic using data from BloombergNEF that shows how much oil will be saved in 2025 by various types of EVs, assuming existing trends continue. It’s a lot of oil not being burned. [CleanTechnica]

Oil pump jack (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Northland Reaches FID On 250-MW Canadian Battery” • Northland Power reached financial close on a 250-MW battery project in Ontario. The Oneida energy storage project has all necessary financing. Northland owns 72% of the project, with Aecon Group, NRStor, and Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation as partners. [reNews]

¶ “National Grid Profits Jump To £4.6 Billion Amid Green Energy Delays” • National Grid reported a jump in annual profits to almost £4.6 billion at the same time concerns grow that it is not connecting renewable energy projects fast enough to meet the UK’s climate targets. Profits from its electricity distribution business climbed by 39%, year over year. [The Guardian]

Transmission lines (Brett Sayles, Pexels)

¶ “EU Delays Key Renewable Energy Vote Over A Disagreement About Nuclear Power” • Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, dropped a key vote on the bloc’s renewable energy targets from Wednesday’s agenda as member states continue to argue about the role of nuclear power in the clean energy targets, Bloomberg reports. [Oil Price]

¶ “‘Lightning Pace’: Portugal Produces Over 50% Of Electricity From Wind And Solar For First Time” • Solar and wind produced more than half of Portugal’s electricity for the first time last month, according to data from clean energy think tank Ember. Renewables reach 51% of electricity production in April, beating record of 49% set in December 2021. [Euronews]

Solar farm in Portugal (Bextrel, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Japanese Lawmakers Denounce Nuclear Wastewater Plan” • Japanese lawmakers rallied outside the country’s House of Representatives to condemn the government’s plan to discharge contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, calling it a serious breach of contract with the public. [CGTN]

US:

¶ “Loophole: How Ineligible Electric Cars Can Still Qualify For $7,500 Tax Credit” • Recent changes to federal regulations deemed certain electric vehicles no longer eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit. However, a loophole has been spotted that restores eligibility to nearly any EV, whether from Tesla or other automakers. [CleanTechnica]

Rivian (Wes Hicks, Unsplash)

¶ “10 Megawatts Of Solar Being Put Into New Jersey Landfill” • In New Jersey, Berkeley Township had a problem familiar to many municipalities: what to do with their idle landfills. In 2020, they entered into a public-private partnership with CS Energy to close the landfill and to install 10 MW of community solar on the site. Now it is being built. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “First US Congestion Pricing Plan Gets Closer To Reality In New York City” • New York City traffic is bad. At peak hours of the day, traffic is at a virtual standstill in many areas, and air quality and traffic noise can be terrible. New York City could soon be the first city in the US to implement its own traffic tolling system to address the problem. [CleanTechnica]

Traffic in New York City (Raidarmax, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BMW And PG&E Pilot V2X Technology” • BMW of North America and Pacific Gas and Electric Company are teaming up to investigate how vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology might provide a solution for the growing power grid demand. V2X technology testing is taking place at PG&E’s Applied Technology Services Lab in San Ramon. [The EV Report]

¶ “Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant To Map Potential Path Of Proposed Wastewater Release From Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station” • A team of researchers from WHOI will undertake a study of the pathways of circulation in Cape Cod Bay to see where 1.1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater from the Pilgrim nuclear plant will end up. [Newswise]

Have a rewardingly active day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Rising Ocean Temperatures Are A Threat To Human Survival” • The ocean is like the cooling system in a conventional car. It is amazing at absorbing waste heat, but once it reaches its limit, watch out. There is a full-fledged disaster ahead that most are unaware of it because accurate information about what is going on in the ocean is so hard to get. [CleanTechnica]

Ocean Waves (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Coalition Clown Show On Nuclear On Full Display In Senate Inquiry” • When an Australian Senate nuclear power inquiry held its only public hearing, Coalition Senators took the opportunity to express their furious agreement with misinformation fed to them by pro-nuclear witnesses. Then Murdoch media parroted the pro-nuclear nonsense. [Renew Economy]

Science and Technology:

¶ “The World Can Cut Plastic Pollution By 80% By 2040, The UN Says. Here’s How” • Plastic pollution could be reduced by 80% in less than two decades, a UN Environment Programme says. The report aims to offer a roadmap to minimize the levels of plastic pollution. It focuses on three main strategies: reuse, recycling, and alternative materials. [CNN]

Plastic pollution (Dustan Woodhouse, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “New Water Treatment Technology Could Help Recycle Even Super Salty Waters” • In a new study published in Desalination, members of the National Alliance for Water Innovation research consortium analyzed a form of reverse osmosis, called low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis. Theoretically, these systems could treat even highly salty water. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How About These Tiltable, Portable Solar PV Panels?” • A German solar company that mostly focuses on floating solar power plant solutions has come up with something novel. Sinn Power introduced tiltable, portable solar panels. The solar panels are ideal for things like camping or mobile work sites where you move location frequently. [CleanTechnica]

Portable solar panel mounts (Courtesy of Sinn Power)

World:

¶ “First Solar Bike Path In Germany Is Now Live” • Here is a great idea: bike paths covered by simple solar PV roofs. Bikers, using the cleanest mode of transportation on Earth, get a little relief from the sun or protection from the rain while also being separated from the roadway and protected from drivers. Now Germany has its first one. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Now Available For Just $2,838 Plus $28 Per Month For The Battery Plan” • The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture launched a monthly battery payment plan for the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. The plan allows customers to buy the EV starting at just $2,838, and then pay $28 per month for the battery for 5 years. [CleanTechnica]

Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (Courtesy of Wuling Hongguang)

¶ “Vietnam Approves Its Energy Plan For The Next Decade, Promoting Renewables” • Vietnam’s government has green-lit a national plan for its power industry. The plan will see the country move away from coal while opening wind and gas avenues. Vietnam aims to get at least 30.9% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. [Power Technology]

¶ “Renewable Energy Projects Worth Billions Stuck On Hold” • The BBC reported that their research found billions of pounds’ worth of green energy projects are on hold because they cannot plug into the UK’s electricity system. Some new solar and wind sites are waiting up to 10 to 15 years to be connected because of a lack of grid capacity. [Rural Services Network]

Wind turbine (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “TotalEnergies Launches In Belgium Its Largest Battery Energy Storage Project In Europe” • TotalEnergies has launched at its Antwerp refinery, a battery farm project for energy storage with a power rating of 25 MW and capacity of 75 MWh. Its capacity is the equivalent of the daily electricity consumption of close to 10,000 households. [PV Magazine]

US:

¶ “Biden Officially Vetoes Resolution Blocking Temporary Suspension Of Tariffs On Solar Panel Imports” • President Joe Biden vetoed a resolution to halt a Commerce Department rule temporarily suspending tariffs on solar panels imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. He wrote that the resolution “bets against American innovation.” [CNN]

President Joe Biden (Maryland GovPics, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “‘SuperLab’ Will Test US Power Grid Against Climate Disasters” • The DOE is creating a “SuperLab” to test the electric grid by using simulated climate disasters. The initiative, to be launched next year, will include seven DOE laboratories. It will mimic such catastrophes as a cyberattacks, blackouts caused by a hurricane, and large Western wildfires. [Scientific American]

¶ “Tesla Leads Auto World In Operating Margin, Model Y Is The Best Selling Car In World – Tesla Meeting Highlights” • Tesla had its 2023 annual shareholder meeting. Some things were already in the company’s Master Plan Part 3, Investor Day presentation, and previous quarterly shareholder conference calls. Here’s a look at some highlights. [CleanTechnica]

Image from Tesla shareholders meeting video (Tesla, screenshot)

¶ “Biden Administration Announces Nearly $11 Billion For Renewable Energy In Rural Communities” • The Department of Agriculture announced a nearly $11 billion investment to help bring affordable clean energy to rural communities. Electric cooperatives, renewable energy companies, and utilities can apply for funding. [San Mateo Daily Journal]

¶ “Maine Far From Its Goal For Renewable Energy Battery Storage” • Maine is in the early stages of developing battery storage, but it will need more storage capacity as the state transitions to clean energy to meet statutory climate goals, energy policy experts said. So far it has reached only 21% of its goal for 2025. [Bangor Daily News]

Have an amusingly auspicious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “EVs Vs Hybrids: No Contest” • The EVs vs hybrids contest has been largely staged by politicians, legacy automakers, and media pundits. However, once EV chargers are as ubiquitous as gas pumps are now, the EVs vs hybrids contest will end – hybrids, with dual engines and two sets of likely problems, will fade into a Gen Z’s memory. [CleanTechnica]

Electric vehicle (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “What Drives This Madness On Hydrogen?” • Some people who know the science, run the numbers on decarbonization, and deal with otherwise informed people, are deeply perplexed about why they were getting hydrogen-for-energy questions and proposals twice each day. Here is an opinion about what is behind the hype. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “More Than A Third Of The Area Charred By Wildfires In Western North America Can Be Traced Back To Fossil Fuels, Scientists Find” • Millions of acres scorched by wildfires in the Western US and Canada can be traced back to carbon pollution from the world’s largest fossil fuel and cement companies, scientists reported. [CNN]

Wildfire (Annemarie Sutterfield, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “UCLA Says We Can Hack The Ocean To Store Carbon Dioxide” • A proposed pathway that could help extract billions of metric tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere each year was suggested by UCLA researchers. Instead of directly capturing atmospheric CO₂, the technology would extract it from seawater, enabling the seawater to absorb more. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Electric Bus Company Solaris Makes Two Announcements” • In Austria, Solaris struck a deal that will help the city of Lustenau meet its goals. Local transit operator Rheintal Busverkehr GmbH is buying sixteen Solaris Urbino 9 LE electric buses. Solaris also announced that it will be at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit 2023 in Barcelona. [CleanTechnica]

Solaris bus (Lukasz Bera, provided by Solaris)

¶ “India’s Largest Gas Distribution Company Plans Solar Module Manufacturing” • GAIL India, a government-owned natural gas company, announced plans to enter the solar module sector. GAIL, formerly Gas Authority of India Limited, plans to set up a vertically integrated manufacturing facility in collaboration with other companies . [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Octopus Expands French Wind Portfolio” • Octopus Energy’s generation arm has invested in three new wind farms in France. The three onshore wind farms, which are Croix Erable, Bertaut, and Le Langrois, have a combined capacity of 49 MW and will be added to the ten wind farms the company already manages in the country. [reNews]

Wind farm (Octopus Energy image)

¶ “Verano Energy Adds Projects To Portfolio In Latin America” • Renewable energy developer Verano Energy closed the purchase of three PV parks in Colombia, with a total of 296 MW, under the new resolution of the Colombian interconnections regulator. Verano now has a presence in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “National Grid Outlines Steps To Decarbonise UK Power” • In a report, “Delivering for 2035: Upgrading the grid for a secure, clean and affordable energy future,” National Grid said that decarbonising the power system by then “requires a fundamental step-change” in the scale and pace of delivering new electricity network infrastructure. [reNews]

Storage system (EDF Renewables image)

¶ “Nuclear Power At Least 15 Years Away, Says Regulator” • CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Dr Gillian Hirth told a senate inquiry considering lifting the nuclear energy ban,  “The time frames for implementation, if it were established today, you would be lucky to have it up and running in 15 years … ” [The Mercury]

US:

¶ “US Charging And Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program Deadline Extended” • The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity closing date has been extended to June 13, 2023 (14-day extension). The weblink to the CFI remains the same and notes the current closing date. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla chargers (J Dean, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Mississippi Takes Green Hydrogen To Next Level” • The DOE launched an $8 billion hydrogen program last year, and state officials around the nation are scrambling to get a slice of the pie. In some cases they are even putting partisan politics aside. The latest example is the deep red state of Mississippi, where Hy Stor Energy is hard at work. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Supplied 65% Of New US Utility-Scale Generating Capacity In Q1 2023” • Renewables provided almost two-thirds (64.64%) of new US utility-scale generating capacity added in the first quarter of 2023, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission data shows. Renewable energy now accounts for 27.67% of total installed utility-scale generating capacity. [Electrek]

Solar farm (Tom Fisk, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “Merck Commits To 90% Renewable Energy With New Off-Site Solar Project In Texas” • Merck, a German multinational science and technology company, announced a 16-year virtual power purchase agreement with Recurrent Energy for construction of the Liberty County Solar project in Texas. Merck will get 90% of its electricity from renewables. [Korea IT Times]

¶ “500-MW Hydrogen Power Plant Planned In Arkansas” • An Arkansas city known for its use of renewable energy announced plans to break ground this year on a power plant that would be part of the state’s first so-called “hydrogen hub.” Over $250 million would be invested in the first 50-MW project phase, expanding to 500 MW. [POWER Magazine]

Have an unqualifiedly restful day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Oceans Have Been Absorbing The World’s Extra Heat. But There’s A Huge Payback” • In March, the surface temperature of the world’s oceans was above anything seen in the forty years that satellites have been measuring it. But two kilometers below the surface, heat has been rising relentlessly for decades, thanks to burning fossil fuels. [The Guardian]

Ocean ice (John Salvino, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Deadly Storm Hits Bangladesh And Myanmar Coast” • A powerful cyclone hit the coastlines of Bangladesh and Myanmar after intensifying into the equivalent of a category-five storm. Cyclone Mocha did not make landfall at the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, as earlier feared, but still destroyed hundreds of makeshift shelters there. [BBC]

¶ “‘World’s Largest Ocean Restoration Project’ Designed For Dubai” • In a city known for superlatives, it’s no surprise that someone in Dubai plans to build another of the “world’s largest.” But unlike the tallest skyscraper or the deepest pool, the latest proposed project is not simply an architectural feat, it’s a win for ocean conservation too. [CNN]

Indoor cycling superhighway (URB image)

¶ “India To Open Lithium Reserves For Auction Later This Year” • According to media reports, the Indian government will offer mining rights for lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir later in 2023. The focus of the auction will be the recently confirmed 5.9 million tonne reserves in the Resai district of Jammu and Kashmir. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Life For London’s Lost Rivers” • Old maps show rivers and brooks that provided “blue corridors” through London, providing both sources of food and recreation. But as London boomed, these waterways faded from consciousness – encased by walls, turned into polluted backwaters, or simply covered over. Now volunteers are restoring them. [BBC]

Firs Farm Wetlands (Image from Enfield Council)

¶ “New Zealand Electric Vehicle Price War?” • Newer generation EVs are arriving in New Zealand at lower price points. Among them are the Great Wall Motors ORA Good Cat and the MG 4 – both yet to be released in Australia. And older EV models are being discounted – NZ$9,000 ($5,600) off the Nissan LEAF and NZ$20,000 off some Audi e-trons. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘We Are Abaco Strong’ – The Bahamas Inspiring Resilience At Scale” • Solar and storage are changing lives in the Bahamas. Through solar and storage projects, national energy buildings audits, and solar training programs, the Bahamas shows how clean energy can make the country more resilient and energy independent at lower cost. [CleanTechnica]

The RMI and Compass Solar Team (Photo from RMI)

¶ “UK Could Unlock £70 Billion A Year In Renewable Energy, Report Claims” • The UK could unlock £70 billion every year by generating enough clean electricity to become a major exporter of energy to mainland Europe, a former government economist said. Meeting the UK’s climate targets could create an additional 279,000 British jobs, also. [The Guardian]

¶ “Budget 2023: ARENA To Shape Green Hydrogen Future” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will help develop a $2 billion revenue support program to scale up green hydrogen production in Australia. Hydrogen Headstart aims to position  the country as an early mover and global leader for green hydrogen. [Australian Renewable Energy Agency]

Ammonia plant on Brisbane’s Gibson Island (ARENA image)

¶ “UK State Pension Scheme Won’t Back Nuclear Power In Blow To Sizewell C” • The UK’s flagship state pension scheme says it has “no current plans” to invest in nuclear infrastructure such as Sizewell C. It is a major setback for the government’s mission to grow the country’s nuclear capacity. The National Employment Savings Trust manages over £27 billion in assets. [MSN]

US:

¶ “This US Offshore Wind Farm Is Piloting A Bubble Curtain – What It Is And Why It’s Cool” • Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts will pilot a secondary bubble curtain, on a project with the local firm ThayerMahan, which specializes in seabed surveys, acoustic mitigation, and monitoring. Here’s what that is and why it’s great for the undersea environment. [Electrek]

Bubble Curtain (Vineyard Wind image)

¶ “The Catharsis Of US Climate Action Legislation” • As the US introduces legislation to regulate emissions from existing power plants, EPA officials say the proposed regulations are designed to offer flexibility to industry. For example, coal plants scheduled to retire before 2032 may not have to install new pollution controls like carbon capture technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “From Poop To Power, TECO Peoples Gas Leads The Way In Renewable Natural Gas Production” • Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and Bobby Payne, Chair of the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee, joined TECO Peoples Gas to celebrate completion of a renewable natural gas facility at Alliance Dairies in Trenton. [Florida Politics]

Have an extraordinarily splendid day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Can Tesla’s Price War Accelerate Electrification?” • Tesla’s price reductions in the first quarter of the year have sent some waves through the auto industry. As legacy automakers and startups both try to catch up to Tesla’s EV dominance, some wonder whether the automaker’s price cuts could actually spur on a quicker transition to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Badly parked Tesla Model 3 (Stefan Lehner, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Bangladesh And Myanmar Brace For The Worst As Cyclone Mocha Intensifies” • Aid agencies in Bangladesh and Myanmar say they are bracing for disaster and have launched a massive emergency plan as a powerful cyclone barrels toward millions of vulnerable people. Tropical Cyclone Mocha is the equivalent of a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane. [CNN]

¶ “New Cheapest Electric Car In South Africa: Ora Good Cat (Funky Cat) Starting At R716,900 ($37,000)” • Battery EVs such as the Ora Good Cat (also known as the Funky Cat) are now being offered in several markets around the world, including in the UK and Thailand. Along with other hatchbacks, it is in one of the most popular vehicle segments. [CleanTechnica]

Ora Funky Cat (Ora image)

¶ “Italy’s EV Market Kept Afloat By High Tesla Sales” • Italy’s shift to electric mobility is experiencing an uncertain path, following what was a very promising exponential growth rate that lasted until 2021. As 2022 proved to be a lost opportunity, much in contrast with other major European countries, 2023 is moving along with rather mixed signals. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VW Brings Back Its Iconic Race Support Vans, This Time As EVs” • The iconic dark red VW buses that supported Porsche’s racing team in the 1950s to 1970s are making a comeback. Porsche Deutschland and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have revived the tradition with the fully electric ID. Buzz to serve as the base for race support vans. [CleanTechnica]

Porsche race car, VW support van (Porsche image)

¶ “Poland’s Renewables Capacity Is Growing But Coal Still Dominates” • Poland’s renewable energy capacity is increasing but the country’s power and heat production is still dominated by coal and forms the biggest contribution to its emissions, says a report by Polish think tank Forum Energii, based on data from 2021 and 2022. [EURACTIV.com]

¶ “Winds Of Change: Which European Countries Are Generating The Most Energy From Wind?” • Since the 1980s, wind energy is increasingly important in Europe’s power production. From the first wind farms being built in the late 20th century, wind power provided 17% of Europe’s total electricity consumption in 2022. Here is a look at leading countries. [Euronews]

Wind turbines, Montenegro (Appolinary Kalashnikova, Unsplash)

¶ “Climate Crisis Deniers Target Scientists For Vicious Abuse On Musk’s Twitter” • Some of the UK’s top scientists are struggling to deal with what they describe as a huge rise in abuse from climate crisis deniers on Twitter since the social media platform was taken over by Elon Musk last year. Twitter’s sustainability arm has vanished since then. [The Guardian]

¶ “OQ Alternative Energy Plans 2 GW Of Renewable Projects In Oman” • OQ Alternative Energy says it has plans to develop a portfolio of renewable energy projects with a total capacity of around 2 GW to support the clean energy needs of Oil & Gas companies, as well as industrial zones, operating in the Sultanate of Oman. [ZAWYA]

Muscat, Oman (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “UK Neglecting Climate Crisis Effects On New Nuclear Power Stations” • UK explain that nuclear power stations will generate of low-carbon forms of electricity to fight the climate crisis, but they forget to consider the effects of the climate crisis on the nuclear power stations. The nuclear plants will be built along the sea, but the sea level is rising. [Al Mayadeen English]

US:

¶ “US Treasury Announces New Solar Tax Credit Guidance – Who’s Happy?” • The federal government wants to speed up the installation of solar power plants, but it also wants to encourage domestic production and protect American manufacturers. New rules have come out from the US Treasury Department. They are not intended to make everyone happy. [CleanTechnica]

First Solar plant (First Solar image)

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Service And Maintenance Costs After 3.75 Years And 37,000 Miles” • My Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus is three months shy of four years old, approaching 37,000 miles. I had the air filter changed today, so it’s time for another update on costs of operation and maintenance. It’s up to $1,989.10, with most of that being a set of tires. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Federal Delays Cost Wyoming More Than 6,000 Oil And Gas Wells” • Wyoming oil and gas production could be much higher were it not for projects involving more than 6,000 wells being canceled after lengthy waits for permits. One Wyoming project had 5,161 planned wells canceled after waiting eight years for approval. [Cowboy State Daily]

Have a charmingly unprofessional day.

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Opinion:

¶ “E-Fuels, Renewable Natural Gas, And Carbon Capture Are Deep Fakes” • The problem is, all of them hold some kernel of potential, but they are just another way for fossil fuel firms to keep on doing what they have always done – make high profits from extracting, transporting, refining, distributing, and burning coal, oil, and methane gas. [CleanTechnica]

Porsche e-fuels facility in Chile (Courtesy of Porsche)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Storing Renewables With Compressed CO₂ And A Combined Heating And Power Unit” • In China, researchers at the Southeast University investigated coupling compressed CO₂ with combined heating and power for storage of solar and renewable energy. They proposed a closed-cycle system with a 600-MW CHP unit and a CO₂ energy storage facility. [PV Magazine]

World:

¶ “NIO: 10 Billion Kilometers, 20 Million Battery Swaps” • NIO has been rolling out big news quicker and quicker, hitting new giant milestones and innovating on its unique technology. In the past few weeks, it has reached 10 billion kilometers driven across its customer vehicle fleet, and it has surpassed 20 million battery swaps. Here is more about NIO. [CleanTechnica]

NIO EVs in Norway (NIO image)

¶ “Swiss Village Of Brienz Evacuated Over Risk Of Imminent Rockslide” • Residents of a tiny Swiss village have all been evacuated, as two million cubic metres of rock is coming loose from the mountain above. The development has raised questions about the safety of some mountain communities, as global warming changes the alpine environment. [BBC]

¶ “Jamaica Begins Renewable Energy Procurement, Keeps Nuclear Option Open” • Jamaica’s Generation Procurement Entity issued a call for expressions of interest for 100 MW from renewable energy on a build, own, and operate basis. Energy minister Daryl Vaz highlighted the increase in the renewable energy target from 30% to 50% by 2030. [BNamericas]

Buildings in Montego Bay (Trevor Cameron, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “East African Groups Urge Policymakers To Ditch Fossil Fuels For Renewables” • More than three dozen progressive advocacy groups implored East African leaders in a letter this week to stop funding fossil fuel projects and instead put efforts into ramping up investment in renewable energy production and other green economic initiatives. [Common Dreams]

¶ “Administrator Samantha Power and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti Launch Kosovo’s First Ever Solar Auction” • USAID Administrator Samantha Power joined Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti and Minister of Economy Artane Rizvanolli to announce Kosovo’s first-ever solar auction, which is for 100 MW of capacity. [USAID]

Construction in Kosovo (Georg Arthur Pflueger, Unsplash)

¶ “IAEA Chief Aims To Present Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Deal To UN This Month, Diplomats Say” • UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi plans to present an agreement with Russia and Ukraine on protecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to the UN Security Council this month, indicating a deal is close, four diplomats told Reuters. [The Globe and Mail]

US:

¶ “Why John Kerry Is Confident Biden’s Climate Policies Can Survive A Republican President” • Former Secretary of State John Kerry is confident that if a Republican is elected president, Biden administration’s wins on climate change and clean energy will still not be reversed. He believes the markets would reject a challenge to the US path to clean energy. [CNN]

Climate Envoy John Kerry (US Embassy Dhaka, public domain)

¶ “CDC Sets First Target For Indoor Air Ventilation To Prevent Spread Of Covid-19” • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its ventilation guidance on helping prevent indoor transmission of viruses. This is the first time a federal agency has set a target for how much rooms and buildings should be ventilated. [CNN]

¶ “Thirteen EV Fast-Charging Hubs For NYC” • New York City is putting in thirteen EV fast-charging hubs in city parking garages, as the city aims to have 100% of new cars, trucks, and SUVs be fully electric by 2035. The charging hubs being rolled out by the city’s Department of Transportation and Power Authority will include about 50 fast-charging plugs. [CleanTechnica]

Charging in a parking garage (Michael Fousert, Unsplash)

¶ “Rooftop Solar Panels Could Power One-Third Of The US Manufacturing Sector” • A recent study published in the journal Environmental Research: Sustainability and Infrastructure examined the possibility of using solar panels installed on the rooftops of industrial buildings to meet the electricity needs of up to 35% of US manufacturers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “As Natural Gas Shortage Looms, Alaska Utilities And Advocates Feud Over Renewable Power Bill” • Alaska GOP Governor Mike Dunleavy unveiled a bill to require the state’s utilities to generate more power from renewable sources. The utilities are fighting the legislation. They say the goal, 80% renewable power by 2040, is too ambitious. [Alaska Beacon]

Eva Creek wind project (Alaska Energy Authority photo)

¶ “Renewables Revolution: The US Green Energy Is Poised For ‘Staggering’ Growth, According To BloombergNEF Report” • The US clean energy sector is set to deliver a record-breaking 600 GW of solar, wind, and energy storage capacity by the end of the decade, according to BloombergNEF’s latest Clean Energy Market Outlook. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “TVA Ignores Clean Energy Solutions, Doubles Down On Dirty Fossil Fuels With Proposal To Replace Kingston Fossil Plant With New Gas Plant” • In a disappointing move, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced its preferred plan is to replace its Kingston Fossil Plant with a new gas power plant. We need batter than a fossil fuels switch. [Southern Environmental Law Center]

Have a magically happy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Helion And Microsoft Lead World Down Nuclear Fusion Rabbit Hole” • The announcement of a 50-MW agreement between Helion and Microsoft is historic, but it raises a lot of thorny questions about fusion, the role of tech in promoting new energy sources, and whether all this talk about fusion is even doing any good for the planet. [Gizmodo]

Captionless image relating to nuclear fusion (Helion image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Australia’s Colossal Bushfires Likely Made La Niña Worse, Study Finds” • Smoke from Australia’s worst wildfires in decades may have contributed to the rare triple La Niña weather event that impacted continents thousands of miles away, research shows. The study, published in Science Advances, said the smoke may have shifted weather patterns. [CNN]

¶ “What Is Carbon Capture? Some Say It Will Help Save The World, For Others It’s A Dangerous Distraction” • The climate crisis is so urgent that scientists and governments are scrambling to find ways to remove some of the carbon pollution from the air, and to capture what’s still being produced by power plants and industrial facilities. [CNN]

Climeworks’ direct air capture plant (Climeworks image)

World:

¶ “Which European Nations Are Winning The Heat Pump Race?” • About half of Germany’s 41 million homes use gas heating, and another quarter run on oil. In a bid to encourage homeowners to decarbonise their heating, Germany introduced a rebate scheme in January 2023 that offers up to 40% back on the cost of buying and installing a heat pump. [BBC]

¶ “Wildfire Smoke From Alberta And British Columbia Reaches US” • Much of Canada and parts of the US are blanketed by smoke as wildfires in Alberta rage. As of Thursday, there are 75 active wildfires in Alberta, 23 of which are considered out of control. Early May is typically the start of wildfire season in the region, but this level activity is unusual. [BBC]

Smoke from Canada (NOAA image)

¶ “Masdar, IRENA Agree On Renewables Roadmap Pact” • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and the International Renewable Energy Agency signed an agreement to create a roadmap that aims to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. They will focus on solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and such other technologies as battery storage. [reNews]

¶ “Hong Kong’s KMB Gets Next-Generation Enviro 500 EV Zero-Emission Double-Decker Buses” • Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc, a leading independent global bus maker, delivered the first Enviro 500 EV zero-emission double-decker buses to the Kowloon Motor Bus Company in time for the operator’s 90th birthday. [CleanTechnica]

Double-decker bus (KMB image)

¶ “The Investment Differences Between Renewable And Coal-Fired Power” • In Vietnam, investment in renewable energy was 480% higher than planned, but for thermal power it was just 60% of the plan. Also, a total of 6.6 GW of thermal power was behind schedule for installations, but 14 GW of solar power was ahead of schedule. [Vietnamnet]

¶ “Territory Targets ‘Renewable Energy Hub’ With Budget Spend” • As part of a $26.4 million budget spend on renewable energy initiatives, the Northern Territory government will invest $12 million to undertake planning and headworks to develop the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct proposed for Darwin Harbor. [pv magazine Australia]

Battery energy storage system (Territory Generation image)

¶ “Statkraft And CIP Win 500 MW in Dublin Auction” • Statkraft and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have welcomed the provisional results from Ireland’s first offshore wind auction in which they secured 500 MW. Together, they will develop the landmark North Irish Sea Array offshore wind project off the east coast of Ireland. [reNews]

US:

¶ “EPA Proposes New Rules That Would Dramatically Slash Planet-Warming Pollution From Power Plants” • The EPA has proposed one of its most highly anticipated climate rules to date, compelling nearly all US power plants that generate the nation’s electricity to capture or otherwise greatly reducue their planet-warming fossil fuel emissions. [CNN]

Power plants (Untitled Photo, Unsplash)

¶ “Sierra Club Survey Says 30% Of US Dealers REFUSE To Sell Electric Cars” • Every year, the Sierra Club conducts its Electric Vehicle Shopping Experience survey to find out more about the electric car shopping experience. Some of the results from the survey this year might surprise you. Some 30% of US dealers are unwilling to sell EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NextEra Blows Green Hydrogen Raspberry At Renewable Energy Foes” • The Florida energy firm NextEra Energy Partners has decided to ditch its natural gas pipelines and transform itself into a pure-play renewable energy investment opportunity. If all goes according to plan, green hydrogen will come to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, too. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Renewable Hydrogen Power Plant To Be Built In Clarksville, 100-Plus Jobs To Come” • The Syntex Hydrogen Power Plant will be the first “hydrogen hub” in Arkansas. It will create over 100 full-time positions. It is expected to break ground this year, with limited power production ramping up in 2025. It is expected  to be completed in 2026. [Talk Business & Politics]

¶ “Dow’s Seadrift, Texas Location Selected For X-Energy Advanced SMR Nuclear Project” • Dow, the materials science company, and X-Energy Reactor Company announced that Dow has selected its UCC1 Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas for its proposed advanced small modular reactor nuclear project. [Dow Corporate]

Have a delightfully instructive day.

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Opinion and Review:

¶ “The Emoose Solar-Compatible Portable Power Station” • For backup or small off-grid power, emoose power stations supply power to almost all electronic devices, from gadgets like mobile phones, cameras, and laptops to more power-hungry appliances such as portable heaters and refrigerators, electric grills, power tools, and coffeemakers. [CleanTechnica]

emoose power system (emoose image)

World:

¶ “Imports Of Solar Panels And Inverters Surge In South Africa As Power Crisis Grows” • Imports of solar panels, inverters, and lithium-ion batteries are set to surge in South Africa as more businesses add solar and storage to their energy mix. In the first three months of this year, over 2,400 MW of projects have been registered by private firms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Quebec And Montreal Order 1229 Electric Buses” • The province of Quebec will soon have 1,229 electric buses providing passenger service to its residents. The provincial government is providing $1.1 billion to fund the acquisition of the electric buses while the federal government will contribute $780 million toward the purchase. [CleanTechnica]

Nova Bus in operation (Nova Bus image)

¶ “In Africa, Mini And Microgrids Will Win, Floating Solar Power Arrives” • With distributed, ubiquitous, lowest-cost minigrids and microgrids, African countries can reduce pollution, create jobs, desalinate sea water, and hopefully get rid of fossil fueled vehicles. Here is this month’s roundup of solar news from the green and gold continent. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Malaysia Opens Its Renewable Energy Market To PPAs And Cross-Border Trade” • Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Economy are working together to establish plans and determine renewable energy initiatives and programs to drive development of the country’s renewable energy industry. [PV Magazine]

Solar project in Malaysia (Photo from Entrutech SDH BHD)

¶ “Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Facing A ‘Catastrophic’ Staff Shortage Amid Russian Evacuation” • Russia plans to relocate about 2,700 Ukrainian staff from Europe’s largest nuclear plant, Ukraine’s atomic energy company has claimed, warning of a potential “catastrophic lack of qualified personnel” at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “How Do We Decarbonize The US Housing Stock?” • The US Department of Energy’s Building America Program, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has opened a request for proposals for multidisciplinary expert teams to address hard-to-solve technical challenges of decarbonizing the existing US housing stock. [CleanTechnica]

Solar window installation (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Automated Solar Permitting Speeds Solar Adoption Across US” • The Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus software, – developed by NREL, in collaboration with industry and the building safety community, and with funding from the US DOE – eases the permitting process and cuts red tape, making it easier for authorities to issue permits. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Pulling Power From The Ocean Is The Final Frontier For Renewable Energy” • With 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, wave power could be one of our largest untapped energy resources. The Biden administration’s Ocean Climate Action Plan reveals how the ocean holds important potential for renewable energy. [CNET]

Wave energy converter (OceanEnergy and PNNL)

¶ “New Hampshire Utility Proposes Transmission Line From Canada To Carry Renewable Power To New England” • The proposed 211-mile, $2 billion Twin State Clean Energy Link would enter the US in Canaan, Vermont. It would be buried along highways until it links to an existing transmission corridor in New Hampshire. [Yahoo]

¶ “Tesla Produces 5000 Model Y In One Week In Texas And Launches Lithium Refining Site” • Tesla is on a roll this week. To keep up with its almost constantly growing sales, Tesla has been ramping up Model Y production at sites around the world. It has also just broken ground on a lithium refinery project. The news on both fronts comes from Texas. [CleanTechnica]

Future Tesla lithium refinery (Courtesy of Tesla)

¶ “Santa Barbara County On Its Way To 100% Renewable Energy By 2030” • Whatever else the rest of the world is doing, Santa Barbara County is on the way to 60% renewable energy by 2025 and 100% by 2030, ahead of California targets. Central Coast Community Energy already saved 18% in billing costs on average for PG&E customers. [The Santa Barbara Independent]

¶ “Texas Proposes Tightened Renewable Energy Permits” • The utility-scale solar and wind market was dealt a blow to the head when a Texas senate group voted 21-9 in favor of SB 624, a state bill which would enforce permitting restrictions and fines on solar and wind projects in the state. A companion bill now heads to the state’s House for approval. [pv magazine USA]

The 500-MW Roseland Solar project (Hecate Energy image)

¶ “Biden And Congressional Democrats Urged To Accelerate Renewable Energy And Deprioritize Fossil Fuels” • Over 290 groups urged President Biden and Congressional Democratic leaders to take action, accelerate renewable energy, address electric transmission challenges, and advance environmental justice. [Center for Biological Diversity]

¶ “Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel Hears Reports On Plant Deconstruction And Waste Storage” • At its first regular meeting of the year, the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel heard updates from state agencies and the company decommissioning the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. [WAMC]

Have an enchantingly sensible day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Abandoning Cheap Cars Could Be A Serious Blunder For Automakers” • Chevrolet will no longer build the Bolt and Bolt EUV. They aren’t the greatest EVs, but they are basically the cheapest EVs that check all of the boxes for usability. This is an important industry-wide issue, as auto makers want to produce more expensive cars. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt (Kevauto, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Six Innovations That Can Help Feed The World” • The global population has increased from 7 billion to 8 billion in the past 12 years, and the UN projects it will reach around 10.4 billion people in the 2080s. That’s a lot of extra mouths to feed. At the same time, the climate crisis means food will become more scarce, more expensive, and less nutritious. [CNN]

World:

¶ “Swiss Village Of Brienz Told To Flee Imminent Monster Rockslide” • Residents of the tiny Swiss village of Brienz have to pack their bags and leave immediately. Two million cubic metres of rock from the mountain above them is set to come loose and crash down to the valley in the next few days. This is becauase of permafrost melting due to global warming. [BCC]

Brienz (ETH Library, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Climate Driven Heat Waves Break Records In Asia And Europe” • A historic heat wave is sweeping across two continents, threatening vulnerable populations and setting off severe storms and flooding. Temps hit a record 111°F in Vietnam. Records were broken in Spain, which recorded the hottest and driest April since record-keeping began. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Water Scarcity Keeps Legislators And Private Companies Finding New Solutions” • As the planet warms and populations grow, the UN expects a 40% shortfall in the world’s water supply just seven years from now. Partnerships and cooperation are essential to realize the human right to water, and sometimes they form in unusual places. [CleanTechnica]

Not enough water (Chester Ho, Unsplash)

¶ “BYD Silently Reduces BEV Prices In Colombia” • Colombia’s vehicle market in general was subjected to the effect of a very high devaluation in 2021 and 2022. As a result, automakers have had to constantly increase prices for the last two years. But the trend is starting to be reversed. BYD hasn’t announced anything, but its prices are declining. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables And Hydro Now Account For Over 40% Of India’s Installed Power Capacity” • The total installed power generation capacity in India reached 416 GW, with renewables accounting for 125 GW (30%) and hydro 47 GW (11%), according to a report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water’s Centre for Energy Finance. [pv magazine India]

Wind energy (Athena, Pexels)

¶ “World BEV Sales Now 12% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 28% in March 2023 from March 2022. There were 1,097,000 registrations, making it the second best month ever for plugin electric vehicles, only behind December 2022. Plugless hybrids also passed the 1 million mark in March, rising to 1,004,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Sarawak Energy Will No Longer Construct Coal-Fired Plants To Generate Electricity And Moves Toward Renewable Energy” • Sarawak Energy Berhad chairman Datuk Amar Hamed Sepawi said that the Malaysian state will no longer construct coal-fired plants to generate power in the future as it moves to take up renewable energy. [Malay Mail]

Dam in Sarawak (Gem Lyn, Unsplash)

¶ “South Africa Grapples With Load Shedding Crisis As Calls For Renewable Energy Solutions Grow Louder” • Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility company, has announced an increase in load shedding from stage five to stage six. The decision comes after more of the company’s aging coal-fired power plants broke down. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “British Wind Outperforms Gas In Q1 2023” • Britain’s wind turbines generated more electricity than gas-fired power stations for the first time in Q1 2023, new data released by Drax Electric Insights has found. Almost a third (32.4%) of Britain’s electricity was supplied from wind power during the first quarter of 2023, outpacing gas which delivered 31.7%. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Master Wen, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Five Community Solar Projects Are Coming To Disadvantaged Communities In California” • Nearly ten years ago in California, an assembly bill was enacted to direct the California PUC to develop alternatives designed to increase adoption of renewable generation in disadvantaged communities. Here are five projects coming online. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The EV Battery Supply Chain Explained” • S&P Global Mobility forecasts EV sales in the US could reach 40% of total passenger car sales by 2030, and more optimistic projections foresee EV sales surpassing 50% by 2030. To meet this increasing demand for EVs, we will need to strengthen the global EV battery supply chain. [CleanTechnica]

Proterra factory (Proterra image)

¶ “AT&T Enters Into A Contract With DSD Renewables For 15.5 MW Of Community Solar Power In New York” • AT&T has signed an agreement with DSD Renewables to serve as an anchor tenant subscriber for a five-project community solar portfolio in Upstate New York, offtaking 15.5 MW of the larger 24.1 MW portfolio. [Sustainable Brands]

¶ “NRC Issues A License For Holtec To Store Nuclear Waste In New Mexico, State Officials Respond” • The US NRC issued Holtec International a license allowing the company to construct and operate a facility in New Mexico to store nuclear waste from power plants across the country. A state bill has been introduced to block the project. [NM Political Report]

Have an admirably effervescent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Be Wary Of Lifting Moratorium On New Illinois Nuclear Plants” • A House Committee will be discussing an amended version of a bill passed by the state Senate to lift the moratorium and allow “advanced” nuclear reactors. Illinois should move carefully before repealing its three-decade-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Illinois State Capitol (Shalileh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Deploying Electric Buses At Airports Is Easy With This Tool” • Researchers at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently developed a simulation-based optimization modeling framework to help Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) transportation operators design effective electric bus deployment strategies. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “A Major Greenland Glacier Is Melting Away With The Tide, Which Could Signal Faster Sea Level Rise, Study Finds” • A major glacier in northwest Greenland is interacting with the ocean tides, scientists reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. This resulted in previously unaccounted-for melting and potentially faster sea level rise. [CNN]

Petermann Glacier (Jesse Allen & Robert Simmon, NASA)

¶ “Tesla Model Y Steals The Show In Europe! Best Selling Car On The Continent!” • Some 322,000 plugin vehicles were registered in March in Europe, making it the second best month ever for plugin EV registrations, up 29% year over year. The market for full battery EVs increased 44% YOY, and the Tesla Model Y led the overall market – by a lot. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrogenic Expands Its Range Of Drop-In, Plug-And-Play EV Conversion Kits” • UK-based Electrogenic wants to make the process of converting fueled vehicles to EVs fast and seamless, to speed up the conversion to EVs, by offering drop-in, plug-and-play kits for popular vehicles such as the Land Rover Defenders, Porsche 911s, and Jaguar E-Types. [CleanTechnica]

Conversion kit installed (Courtesy of Electrogenic)

¶ “Rimac Energy To Add Grid-Scale Storage To Its Portfolio This Year” • Rimac Technology, a highly innovative company based in Croatia, is launching Rimac Energy to accelerate the transition towards a sustainably powered planet. It will leverage expertise in making market-defining EV technology to create new stationary Energy Storage Systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Brookfield Signs UK Wind PPA” • Brookfield has signed a power purchase agreement with Canary Wharf Group covering output from a planned 60-MW wind farm in the UK. The proposed wind farm that will supply the Canary Wharf PPA is part of Brookfield’s pipeline of UK wind projects and is expected to be commissioned by 2026. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Brookfield image)

¶ “The World’s Tallest Wind Measurement Mast Has Gone Into Operation” • The world’s highest wind measurement mast was put into operation in Germany. Standing three hundred meters high, with 99 installed mast elements, it weighs almost 70 tons. It is carries 46 measuring devices, and it is the world’s highest wind measuring mast. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Actis Launches $500 Million Japanese Renewables Platform” • Actis has launched Nozomi Energy, a $500 million renewables platform focused on Japan. Nozomi will target 1.1 GW of onshore wind and solar power by 2027. The investment is made from Actis’ fifth and latest energy infrastructure fund, which has $6 billion of investable capital. [reNews]

Nunobiki wind farm (BehBeh, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Operations Suspended At Ukraine Nuclear Plant In Case Of ‘Provocations’ – TASS” • Operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant are being suspended in case of “provocations” by Ukrainian forces, the TASS state news agency said on Monday, citing the Moscow-installed governor of the Russia-controlled part of the surrounding region. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “Returning Solar Panel Production To US Can Speed Emissions Cuts” • Domestic production of solar panels, mostly now made in Asia, can speed up decarbonization in the US, a research paper from Cornell University published in Nature Communications shows. US production would reduce GHT emissions from panel making by 30% by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (US BLM image)

¶ “California Ponders V2G Mandate” • The state of California has been making lots of waves lately as it continues pushing ways to reduce carbon emissions from transportation within its borders. Now a bill filed in the state legislature would mandate that every EV sold in California have V2G (vehicle-to-grid) capability built in. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Can It Be True? Florida’s Climate Resilience Plan Is Real?” • The Environmental Defense Fund has come out in favor of Florida’s new legislation that advances the prioritization of climate resilience. Moving through the Senate with unanimous House approval, this bill exemplifies a bipartisan effort to build climate and flood resilience in Florida. [CleanTechnica]

Miami (Jose Garcia, Unsplash)

¶ “NextEra Partners To Sell Gas Pipeline Assets In Renewables Shift” • NextEra Energy Partners LP announced it will divest its natural gas pipeline stakes as it gives up its non-renewables business to capitalize on the transition to clean energy. Proceeds will be spent on buying out shares to transform NextEra Energy Partners’ capital base into 100% renewables. [Rigzone]

¶ “AES Unveils Long-Term Strategy To Ditch Coal And Triple Renewables” • American power utility AES has announced a long-term strategy to exit completely from coal by the end of 2025 and triple its renewables portfolio by 2027. AES will add 25 to 30 GW in solar, wind, and energy storage across its power generation portfolio. [Power Technology]

Have a superbly serene day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Not Enough Wind In Australia’s Grid” • As of October 2022, there were 94 operational wind farms in Australia, totaling 9,234 MW in capacity. But the country needs more wind to balance the grid and add power at night to reduce use of gas. Why encourage wind in this sunny continent? Because wind plus trasmission is cheaper than solar plus storage. [CleanTechnica]

Waubra Wind Farm (Ed Dunens, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Does Elon Musk Truly Not Know About Formula E?” • “I have definitely come to see that Elon Musk doesn’t know much about a lot of things and yet is keen to put his opinions out there to hundreds of millions of followers as if they were sound and solid.” He suggested that there should be an EV equivalent of Formula 1. There already is. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Reduce Emissions? Fine, But We Need To Do Much, Much More Than That” • The Climate Change Authority, an Australian federal government body, began a recent report by saying: “Time has run out to avoid dangerous climate change by reducing emissions alone.” Limiting warming to 1.5°C is possible only if we find a way to draw down atmospheric CO₂. [The New Daily]

Forest (John Towner, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Four Things For Solar Installers To Communicate To Hotels About Energy Storage Systems” • Following the 2003 Northeast Blackout, it became mandatory for hotels to have backup power. The hotel industry can be lucrative for energy storage systems installers. Here are some ways to let the industry’s buyers know about the benefits. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Canadian Province Of Alberta Declares Wildfire Emergency” • Alberta has declared a state of emergency after wildfires spread across the western Canadian province, driving nearly 25,000 people from their homes. Faced with more than 100 wildfires, Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith called the situation in the province “unprecedented.” [BBC]

Wildfire in Alberta (Government of Alberta)

¶ “’Mad Panic’ As Russia Evacuates Town Near Zaporizhzhia Plant” • Russia has sparked a “mad panic” as it evacuates a town near the contested Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, an official in Ukraine said. After Russia told people to leave eighteen settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, there were five-hour waits as thousands of cars clogged roads. [BBC]

¶ “Evoy And Hurtigruten Expeditions Collaborate To Electrify Tender Boats In Norway” • Evoy is delivering powerful 100% electric motor systems for fast and powerful boats between 20 and 50 ft. Evoy showed once again that the electrification of the marine industry is ripe for expansion, as it announced a joint effort with Norway’s Hurtigruten. [CleanTechnica]

Electric boat (Courtesy of Evoy and Hurtigruten)

¶ “BYD And Geely Continue To Lead The Way In Israel BEV Sales” • BYD and Geely continue to lead the way in Israel’s battery EV market. In April, BYD sold 1,377 units, most of which were the BYD Atto 3. The BYD Tang and the Han are now also available in Israel and they each registered some decent numbers there for the month. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Commits To Fund Kenya’s Transition To Renewable Energy” • Germany committed to offer financial and technical support to enable Kenya to meet its target of achieving 100% transition to renewable energy by 2030. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lauded Kenya for its strong leadership and investments in geothermal energy. [Kenya News Agency]

Kilimanjaro (Sergey Pesterev, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia’s Record Summer Of Rooftop Solar” • Australia may be cooling down as winter approaches, but the nation is still basking from the glow of the recent record summer of solar, in which small-scale rooftop PV supplied more electricity than brown coal. In the summer of 2022-2023, rooftop solar provided a record 14% of Australia’s energy needs. [EcoGeneration]

¶ “As Torres Strait Islands Face A ‘Climate Crisis’, There Are Calls For The Government To ‘See For Themselves’” • Aunty McRose has been a climate campaigner for more than three decades, a cause that she has pushed towards governments, the private sector, and even at the UN. She said seven of the Torres Strait Islands are inundated, including her own. [SBS]

Thursday Island (Feral Arts, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Installing EV Chargers Is A Booming Business For Electricians” • Electricians are still in high demand for traditional needs, but growth in residential EV charger installations is exponential as more and more EVs are produced and taken to the road. A report from Minnesota indicates it’s becoming a steady stream of work for some electricians. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Climate Change Is Bad For Everyone. But This Is Where It’s Expected To Be Worst In The US” • “There are no winners in a world where climate change gets worse,” said Alex Kamins, director of regional economics at Moody’s Analytics and author of a recent study on climate risks in the US. But different places face different risks from climate change. [USA Today]

Cameron Parish, Louisiana (Steve Hillebrand, USFW)

¶ “In The Southeast, Where Big Utilities Rule, Calls For A Real Power Market Persist” • After ratepayers in South Carolina were saddled with billions in costs for nuclear reactors that were never built, the state legislature commissioned a report. It showed that a range of electric market and transmission reforms would bring benefits for customers. [Georgia Recorder]

¶ “This Startup Aims To Decarbonize Ocean Shipping By ‘Converting Ammonia To Power’” • Amogy, a New York-based startup, is looking to solve some of the technological hurdles behind deploying ammonia as a climate solution. In its latest Series B-1 funding round, Amogy raised $139 million from backers. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a grandly cordial day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Analysis Points To Massive Photovoltaic Deployment To Meet Decarbonization Target” • An “unprecedented ramp-up of production capacity” over the next two decades is needed to provide enough solar power to completely decarbonize the global electrical system, but that goal can be achieved, an analysis led by NREL researchers says. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “West Mediterranean Heat Wave Due To Climate Change” • The extreme heat that engulfed Spain, Portugal and parts of North Africa last week would have been “almost impossible without climate change,” an international scientific study found. Temperatures went to record highs for April, with the mercury hitting 38.8°C (101.8°F) in southern Spain. [The Manila Times]

World:

¶ “Zayed Sustainability Prize Set To Drive Global Climate Action” • To harness the innovative potential of small to medium business and nonprofit organizations, impact people positively, and accelerate global climate action, the UAE’s pioneering global award for sustainability, the Zayed Sustainability Prize, launched its Climate Action category. [CleanTechnica]

Drone operation (Zayed Sustainability Prize image)

¶ “Germany’s Scholz Says More Renewables Key To Lower Industry Costs” • Ramping up renewable power production rather than subsidies is the key to lower electricity prices for Germany’s energy-hungry industry, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday, in an apparent dig at proposals by his government’s economy minister. [WHBL]

¶ “Ukraine War: Evacuation Prompts Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Safety Warning” • Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, voiced concern about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as Russian forces evacuate civilians from a nearby town. He said the situation was “becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous.” [BBC]

Energodar Hotel (Самарская Г И, CC-by-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Situation Around Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Becomes Increasingly Dangerous – IAEA” • Near the  Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is getting increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous; IAEA experts present at the plant regularly hear shelling. The nearby town of Enerhodar, where most of the plant staff live, is being evacuated. [Yahoo News]

US:

¶ “21 Critically Endangered California Condors Have Died From Avian Flu” • A species that conservationists once saved from the brink of extinction is now facing a new powerful threat: avian flu. In a little more than a month, 21 critically endangered California condors have died of avian flu, according to a Friday news release from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. [CNN]

Condor (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)

¶ “Fisker Delivers First Ocean SUV” • Fisker announced that the first customer has taken delivery of the Fisker Ocean all-electric SUV. Fisker claims the Ocean One and extreme-specification models offer the highest driving range of any battery-electric SUV currently available on the European market, delivering 707 km (440 mi) WLTP range. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Colorado’s Win For Clean Trucks” • In April, Colorado voted to adopt two historic standards to promote clean trucks in the state: the Advanced Clean Trucks rule and the Low-NOx ruler. Together, these protective standards will reduce emissions, provide millions of dollars in economic benefits in the state, and safeguard vulnerable communities. [CleanTechnica]

Frito Lay’s electric truck (Frito Lay image)

¶ “After A Four-Year Campaign, New York Says Yes To Publicly Owned Renewables” • The new Build Public Renewables Act, passed as part of New York’s annual budget, directs the New York Power Authority to plan, construct, and operate renewable energy projects in service of the state’s renewable energy goals. [Salon.com]

¶ “Amazon Is The Giant When It Comes To Corporate Buying Of Wind And Solar Power” • Big Tech companies are dominating the purchase of clean power. But Amazon is lapping all of the Big Tech companies many times over. In 2022, Amazon bought 10.9 GW of clean power, more than four times the amount number two buyer Facebook bought. [CNBC]

Have an unambiguously comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Clean Fleets Rule To Deliver Healthier Air For Californians” • Californians will see a massive switch away from polluting fossil-fueled trucks to electric trucks. The California Air Resources Board unanimously adopted recently what may be the most transformative clean trucks regulation ever considered: the Advanced Clean Fleets rule. [CleanTechnica]

Truck (Robson Hatsukami Morgan, Unsplash)

¶ “A Thinking Error That Makes People Susceptible To Climate Change Denial” • Cold spells often bring climate change deniers out in force on social media. Former President Donald Trump often claimed that a cold snap disproves the existence of global warming. But fluctuations in the weather don’t refute clear long-term trends in the climate. [IFLScience]

World:

¶ “More Than 13,000 People In Western Canada Evacuated As Wildfires Rage Across Region Amid Hot Weather And High Winds” • More than 13,000 people who live in the Canadian province of Alberta have been evacuated as wildfires rage across the region, which is seeing abnormally hot weather and high winds, emergency officials said.[CNN]

Alberta Wildfire (Government of Alberta)

¶ “EVs In Australia – Approaching 10% Penetration” • Great news: 9.5% of new cars sold in Australia in April 2023 were fitted with a plug. The growth appears to mainly be in plugin hybrids. So all those Australians with solar on the roof can operate their cars for zero dollars, saving money, having fun, and being kind to the planet at the same time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Improving Grid Transmission In Andean Countries ” • No continent has a perfect power grid, and federal grid investments show how far the US still needs to go to incorporate clean energy projects into the grid. As Andean countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador begin to see rapid solar and wind growth, it is important that their grid is prepared. [CleanTechnica]

Power lines (Jan Huber, Unsplash)

¶ “Loblaw Inks Deal To Power Alberta Facilities With Renewable Energy” • Loblaw Companies Ltd is entering into a deal with TC Energy to power its supermarkets, drugstores, offices and distribution centers in Alberta with renewable energy sources. The program promises to reduce Loblaw’s nationwide enterprise operating emissions by 17%. [Progressive Grocer]

¶ “Colombia’s Ambitious Renewable Energy Revolution” • Since Gustavo Petro became president of Colombia last year, hopes for the future of the country’s renewable energy sector have risen. Petro repeatedly stated that he wants to move away from oil and gas to focus on Colombia’s green resources, boosting investment in renewable energy. [Oil Price]

Solar array (Antonio Garcia, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “NJ Clean Cars Program Could Save Drivers $60 Billion, Avoid 362 Hospital Visits – New Report” • In addition to emissions reductions, New Jersey can avoid up to 362 hospital visits and save drivers nearly $60 billion by transitioning to zero-emission electric cars and light-duty trucks, according to the New Jersey Advanced Clean Cars II Program report. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Boulder, Colorado, Buys First Electric Fire Engine” • Buses are far from the only vehicles that could benefit a city by switching to electrid. If you think about it, they could all benefit from going electric. The Boulder Fire-Rescue team acquired a Rosenbauer RTX fire engine, which is the first electric vehicle of its kind in the state of Colorado. [CleanTechnica]

Rosenbauer RTX fire engine (Rosenbauer image)

¶ “Tesla Model Y Now Cheaper Than Average US Vehicle” • Tesla has been setting the bar for vehicle pricing in the auto industry, as many automakers work to scale their first few EVs. After Tesla’s sweeping price reductions since the beginning of the year, the price of the company’s Model Y SUV dipped below that of the average car in the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “100% Of The Energy Cox Receives From APS Is Renewable Solar Power” • Cox Communications is the first Arizona Public Service Co telecommunications business customer in APS’s Green Power Partners Program. By purchasing solar renewable energy from the GPPP, Cox will eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, achieving 100% renewable supply. [AZ Big Media]

APS Red Rock Solar Facility (Via Tempe.gov)

¶ “FERC Commissioners Tell Senators Of Major Grid Reliability Challenges, With Some Blaming Markets” • The US grid faces major reliability challenges, according to members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC Commissioner Mark Christie said the main problem is power plants are being retired faster than they’re being replaced. [Utility Dive]

¶ “TEP And City Of Tucson Plan To Power City Operations With Renewable Energy” • The City of Tucson signed a letter of intent with Tucson Electric Power to work towards powering 100% of city operations with renewable energy. TEP provides service to the city at over 2,000 locations the agreement would address, ranging from office buildings to water wells. [KGUN 9]

Tucson (Andrew Schultz, Unsplash)

¶ “Roads Are Drying Out After NH’s Wet Week. But With Climate Change, Flooding Could Be An Increasing Problem” • New Hampshire’s roads are starting to dry out after a wet week. But as climate change brings more precipitation and the chance of stronger storms, communities are starting to face increasing flooding risks and new planning needs. [NHPR]

¶ “Governor Mills Elected Co-Chair Of US Climate Alliance, Bipartisan Coalition Of Governors Leading On Climate Action” • Maine Governor Janet Mills and Washington Governor Jay Inslee were elected Co-Chairs by the US Climate Alliance’s members, who convened this week in Washington, D.C. for the coalition’s semiannual spring meeting. [Maine.gov]

Have a perfectly glorious day.

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