Opinion:
¶ “Coal Under The Bus, State Of The Union Edition” • There was a total omission of the US coal industry from President Trump’s State of the Union address. Adding insult to injury, he took the opportunity to wax enthusiastic over productivity in the US oil and gas industries. It’s almost like he wanted all those miners to feel the burn. [CleanTechnica]
Open-pit coal mine in Wyoming
¶ “Bill Gates’ Quixotic Quest To Revive Nuclear Power” • Bill Gates has been lobbying Congress to secure federal financial support for nuclear power and for a nuclear company in which he is a large investor. This plea for federal largesse from a deca-billionaire illustrates why further nuclear subsidies make no sense. [GreenBiz]
World:
¶ “Acciona Wraps Up South African Solar Gig” • The 100-MW Kathu concentrated solar plant constructed by Acciona Industrial and Sener in South Africa has started commercial operations. Kathu uses Sener’s parabolic trough collectors and a molten salt storage system, so electricity can be generated during times of the night. [reNEWS]
Kathu solar plant (Acciona Industrial image)
¶ “Hanergy Is Launching The First $1 Billion Solar Industrial Park In The Middle East” • Hanergy Thin Film Power Group has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Ajlan & Bros to launch the first solar thin-film industrial park in the Middle East with a $1 billion investment. It is to help transform the region into a global leader. [Energy Digital]
¶ “China’s Largest Renewables Hybrid Project Adds 100-MWh Battery” • Chinese li-ion battery manufacturer CATL has delivered a 100-MWh battery storage system to the country’s largest mixed renewables plant. The plant features 400 MW of wind energy, 200 MW of PVs, and a 50-MW concentrating solar system. [pv magazine International]
Solar and wind power (Image: Naturstrom AG)
Australia:
¶ “Australia Will Fall Short Of 2030 Emissions Target, Says OECD” • A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that despite some progress, Australia remains one of its most carbon-intensive countries and one of the few where greenhouse gas emissions increased over the past decade. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Australia Can Meet Paris Targets If Government Doesn’t Hinder Progress, Report Claims” • An Australian National University report finds Australia is installing renewable energy faster than any other country, a trend that will have country meet its economy-wide Paris targets five years ahead of schedule, unless politics derail the trend. [The Guardian]
Rooftop solar (Dan Himbrechts | AAP)
¶ “South Australian Zinc Mine To Be Converted Into Australia’s First Compressed Air Facility For Renewable Energy Storage” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced $6 million in funding to Hydrostor Australia Pty Ltd for Australia’s first compressed air energy storage project. It is to have a 5-MW/10-MWh capacity. [Mirage News]
US:
¶ “Ocasio-Cortez And Markey Unveil Green New Deal Resolution” • Two Democrats, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen Ed Markey of Massachusetts, unveiled their “Green New Deal” resolution, which outlines the definition of the massive piece of legislation they hope will tackle issues related to the US’ role in climate change. [CNN]
Rep Ocasio-Cortez with Sen Markey (Photo: Alex
Wong | Getty Images North America | Getty Images)
¶ “Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal: What’s In It” • While calling for the elimination of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and construction, the resolution contains no mention of bans or regulation, as other plans have described. Instead, it focuses on a range of green investments. [CNN]
¶ “A Small New York Town Plans A Profitable, 100% Renewable Energy Future” • With advances in technology, the pathways to 100% renewable energy are becoming clear. For the Town of Marbletown, New York, that problem is solving itself. The town’s advantages are a community choice aggregation policy and a lack of natural gas. [Greentech Media]
Hudson River at Marbletown (Photo: Shutterstock.com)
¶ “Cli-Fi On The Big Screen Changes Minds About Real Climate Change” • Rather than lobby naysayers with more facts, perhaps climate scientists should send them to the movies about a new genre, climate change fiction, or cli-fi. Apple TV will run a series called “Losing Earth” this year, and TNT will turn the movie “Snowpiercer” into a TV series. [CNN]
¶ “Driverless, On-Demand Vehicles Will Bring The Grocery Store To You” • Stop & Shop, a supermarket company with more than 400 locations in several states, announced plans to launch autonomous grocery vehicles in the greater Boston area this spring. It is collaborating with Robomart, a startup that creates self-driving stores in vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
Autonomous grocery vehicle (Stop & Shop image)
¶ “Vineyard Wind Fails To Qualify For Bidding In New England Power Auction” • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission took no action on Vineyard Wind LLC’s requests for a waiver and emergency motion to put off New England’s annual power-capacity auction. The developer has failed to qualify in time for the competition. [Renewables Now]
¶ “Duke Energy Carolinas Launching Solar Enrollment Program” • Duke Energy Carolinas is providing another renewable energy option for its South Carolina customers that will let them see real savings in their monthly bills from the output of two new solar facilities in the state. Enrollment will be on a first-come, first served basis. [Solar Power World]
Have an exceptionally fine day.
geoharvey 