Opinion:
¶ “Reconciling energy and Indigenous rights” • In 2007, Canada was one of four countries to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It signed in 2010, but has made little progress on the issue. Because it prioritizes oil sands, mining, fracking, and pipelines over indigenous rights, all its people suffer consequences. [Pique Newsmagazine]
Canadian pipeline (Shutterstock image)
¶ “More Signs That Renewable Energy Is Winning” • As the US administration rolls back environmental regulations, many observers have predicted that the trend to clean power would nevertheless continue. They were right. States are supporting clean power, corporate buyers are moving to wind and solar, and political bias is beginning to wilt. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “More than 5,500 British churches to convert to renewable energy” • Over 5,500 British churches have decided to convert to renewable energy to fight climate change, as the greatest challenge of the time. They are not only Church of England congregations, but also many of the UK’s Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, and Salvation Army. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Salisbury Cathedral (Courtesy of Andrew Dunn)
¶ “Brett Martin sources power from 6.42-MWp Lightsource BP solar farm” • Specialist plastic products provider Brett Martin, based in Northern Ireland, said it is sourcing its power from a 6.42-MW solar system funded and developed by Lightsource BP. The installation is hard-wired directly into Brett Martin’s facility located nearby. [Renewables Now]
¶ “Westinghouse purchase pulls it out of bankruptcy” • Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management finalised its acquisition of nuclear contractor Westinghouse Electric Company from Toshiba. The move marks a financial revival from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for Westinghouse, as a restructured company. [Power Technology]
Westinghouse sign in New York (Credit: Richard Huppertz)
¶ “Canada Envisions Small Nuclear Reactors Producing Power And Hydrogen In Remote Towns” • The federally owned Canadian Nuclear Laboratories hopes to prove the viability of small modular reactors by 2026 and use them not only to produce power, but to produce hydrogen that can decarbonize Canada’s transportation sector. [Forbes]
US:
¶ “Trump Administration Unveils Its Plan to Relax Car Pollution Rules” • The Trump administration put forth its long-awaited proposal to freeze antipollution and fuel-efficiency standards for cars, significantly weakening one of President Barack Obama’s signature policies to combat global warming. The change is a challenge to states’ rights. [New York Times]
Sacramento (Rich Pedroncelli | AP)
¶ “These States Are Going to War Over Trump Eliminating Car Emissions Rules” • After the proposal to cut Obama-era fuel economy standards, twenty state attorneys general vowed to act. A joint statement says, “The Administration’s proposal to weaken these rules will cause the American people to breathe dirtier air and pay higher prices at the pump.” [Mother Jones]
¶ “Invenergy dishes out Texas dose” • Novartis is to supply 100 MW of electricity from its Santa Rita East wind farm in Texas to pharmaceutical company Novartis under a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement. The agreement will see the power delivered to Electric Reliability Council of Texas and help reduce Novartis’s greenhouse gas emissions. [reNews]
Wind farm (Invenergy image)
¶ “CleanChoice Offers New Wind Program In New York, Illinois” • CleanChoice Energy, a renewable energy company that offers clean electricity to customers across the country, has launched a new plan that allows residents and businesses of New York and Illinois to purchase 100% of their energy from in-state wind projects. [North American Windpower]
¶ “PUC Signs Off On Molokai Renewable Energy Project” • The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission cleared the way for a large-scare renewable energy project on Molokai. It approved a power purchase agreement for the island’s first grid-scale solar and battery energy storage project, a move that should reduce customer power rates. [Honolulu Civil Beat]
Molokai (Cory Lum | Civil Beat)
¶ “Tesla Energy – Rapid Growth In Solar Roof & Energy Storage Demand Outstripping Supply” • Tesla’s shareholder letter and conference call spoke to the status of Tesla energy products. As utilities, energy companies, commercial entities, and homeowners quickly realize the benefits of battery storage, the picture will look increasingly brighter. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Alternative Energy Program Could Help State’s Utilities Meet Renewable Goals 10 Years Early” • A report from researchers at UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation studied how community choice aggregation impacts California’s power grid. It found that at the current rate of adoption, community choice could serve a majority of consumers within a decade. [KPBS]
Ivanpah solar station (Credit: Associated Press)
¶ “New wind farm in Randolph County will help power Facebook data center in Ohio” • A wind farm in eastern Indiana is expected to be used by Facebook for power at its Midwest data center. More than 50 turbines are to be built and installed in Randolph County by alternative energy company EDP Renewables North America. [Palladium-Item]
¶ “Judge keeps rate cuts for failed South Carolina nuclear project in limbo” • A federal judge refused to end a lawsuit by South Carolina Electric Gas that seeks to stop a temporary rate cut for customers who continue to pay for the utility’s abandoned nuclear reactor project. The 15% rate cut was set to begin appearing on SCE&G bills. [Charleston Post Courier]
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