Opinion:
¶ “2018: The Year Fossil Fuels Began Their Inexorable Decline” • 2018 will likely go down as the year that fossil fuels in Australian electricity generation began an inexorable decline, with renewable energy making significant in-roads. These will continue into 2019 and 2020, and almost certainly they will go beyond that. [RenewEconomy]
Coal
World:
¶ “CDP Report: World’s Biggest Businesses Cut 633 Million Metric Tonnes Of CO₂ From Supply Chains” • With greenhouse gas emissions in supply chains on average 5.5 times those of company’s direct operations, a CDP report shows a step-change in corporate action on environmental impacts in supply chains in the last decade. [Energy Digital]
¶ “UN Warns World On Track To Breach 3°C Rise By 2100” • The UN report said the world was on track to have average global temperatures rise to 3°C by 2100, as record levels of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, is trapping more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The increase is considered clearly dangerous. [ABC News]
Sydney skyline (Mary Lloyd | ABC News)
¶ “Nike Makes New Wind Deal With Iberdrola” • Iberdrola and Nike have entered into their third renewable power purchase agreement in three years, setting their sights on Europe for the first time. In total, on both sides of the Atlantic, the global sporting brand now benefits from the supply of over 200 MW of wind power. [Windpower Engineering]
¶ “Taiwan Finally Announces 2019 Feed-in Tariff” • Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has finally announced the 2019 Feed-in Tariff for offshore wind projects revealing new numbers. While the FIT is not what the industry would have preferred and poses some production problems, it is nevertheless not as bad as was originally feared. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore wind turbines
¶ “Enel Turns Sod On 716-MW Brazilian Giant” • Renewables developer Enel has started construction of a 716-MW wind farm in Brazil, the biggest project of its kind in South America. Enel will invest over €700 million in the Lagoa dos Ventos project in the north-east state of Piaui. The wind farm is expected to enter operation in 2021. [reNEWS]
US:
¶ “Portland Riders Say No Thank You To Buying Cars When They Have Electric Scooters, Detroit Frowns!” • Carmakers did not expect it, but it turns out that, in the end, city dwellers prefer hopping on an e-scooter they can rent by the minute over spending tens of thousands of dollars on a car. Who would have ever thought? [CleanTechnica]
Lime escooters (Pixabay image)
¶ “On Capitol Hill, New Calls For Rapid Action On Climate Change” • President Donald Trump did not mention climate change or environmental work in his State of the Union address. But on the following day, the US House Natural Resources Committee had its first hearing in eight years that focused on climate change. [CNN]
¶ “Florida Public Service Commission Opens The Floodgates For Solar Leases” • Florida residents have a new option for green electricity as the Florida Public Service Commission approved Tesla’s SolarLease option. A sticking point had been whether the program was actually selling electricity to consumers, which is not allowed. [CleanTechnica]
Rooftop solar system in Florida
¶ “University Of Delaware Sets Up Courses To Train Offshore Wind Professionals” • The University of Delaware is now giving classes in a new curriculum to train people for wind energy industry jobs. It is the first offshore wind skills training program in the US to focus on professionals and managers seeking to enter the industry. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “LG&E In Kentucky Wants Renewable Energy Proposals” • Kentucky’s largest electric utility is seeking proposals for renewable energy. Louisville Gas and Electric cites growing interest and declining costs for renewable energy. The company is engaging in a formal review and issued a request for proposals from suppliers. [Electric Light & Power]
Wind farm (ELP image)
¶ “Maine Wind Farm Looks To Contribute 250 MW Of Renewable Energy To RI” • EDP Renewables proposed to provide Rhode Island with energy from its Number Nine Wind Farm in Maine. The company says the wind farm could produce up to 250 MW, enough to power about 109,000 average Rhode Island homes. [GoLocalProv]
¶ “100% Renewable Energy Plan For Illinois Tabled Including 6 GW Of Solar” • Illinois State Rep Will Davis announced the “Path to 100 Act,” introducing legislation that would bring the state to a 100% clean energy mix. It builds on the efforts of the Future Energy Jobs Act to spur renewable energy deployment across the state. [PV-Tech]
Chicago (Image: Roman Boed | Flickr)
¶ “Here’s How Corporate US Is Driving The Renewable Revolution” • A Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables report highlights a 22% share of US renewables power-purchase agreements being made by corporates. It affirms findings that accredit large corporations with driving both the solar and wind industries forward in 2018. [Smart Energy]
¶ “FirstEnergy Preparing To Close Ohio Nuclear Power Plant” • FirstEnergy’s nuclear power unit submitted paperwork to the NRC to proceed with closing its Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Ohio by May 31, 2020. Applications were filed to prepare for the permanent removal of nuclear fuel from the reactor and for reduced staffing. [Kallanish Energy]
Have a gloriously lovely day.
geoharvey 