Opinion:
¶ “Plugging The Hole: How Can Solar Fill UK Nuclear’s Void?” • The UK has had something of a rocky relationship with new nuclear in the past few years, but developments in January 2019 pushed it firmly into ‘it’s complicated’ territory. The country is now scrambling for alternatives, meaning some sort of renewable energy. [Solar Power Portal]
Nuclear power plant
Science and Technology:
¶ “IEC Report States Science Doesn’t Support Wind Turbine Sound Health Claims” • As the number of wind turbines continues to grow across Iowa, researchers find little scientific evidence to support claims of health problems caused by wind turbines, according to a report from the Iowa Environmental Council. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Supply Of Food Under Threat Due To Biodiversity Loss Across The Globe: UN Report” • According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, biodiversity in food and agriculture “is indispensable to food security and sustainable development.” But biodiversity is in decline due to shocks and stresses such as climate change. [CNN]
Arctic seed storage vault
World:
¶ “EU Installs Eight Gigawatts Of Solar In 2018, Up 36%” • SolarPower Europe has published its official estimates of 2018 new solar capacity figures. They show that the EU installed 8 GW of new solar capacity in 2018, an increase of 36% over the 5.9 GW of solar capacity installed and connected to the European grid in 2017. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Secures Power Deals For 900 MW In Taiwan” • CIP has signed 20-year power purchase agreements with state utility Taipower for projects totaling almost 900 MW in Taiwan. The Danish developer made deals for the 300-MW Chongneng, 542-MW Changfang, and 48-MW Xidao wind farms. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind turbine (MHI Vestas image)
¶ “Wind & Solar In China Generating 2× Nuclear Today, Will Be 4× By 2030” • The example of China provides clear proof that wind and solar are a better choice than nuclear generation for mitigating global warming. The rollout of nuclear power is slowing in China, largely because nuclear power is comparatively expensive. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “1.5-GW Solar, 500-MWh Battery Project Breaks Ground In Queensland” • A project with 1.5 GW of solar PV and 500 MWh of energy storage broke ground 100 km north of Brisbane, becoming Australia’s largest solar development to enter the construction phase. The project is the first for its developer, Sunshine Energy Australia. [pv magazine Australia]
Sod-turning ceremony (Smart Energy Council via Twitter)
¶ “Oz Union Urges Action On 2-GW Offshore Giant” • Project development of Australia’s first offshore wind farm has stalled because the Energy Minister failed to sign off on an exploration license needed to assess the wind resource, the Maritime Union of Australia said. The union called on the government to award the license. [reNEWS]
US:
¶ “APS Plans To Add Nearly 1 GW Of New Battery Storage And Solar Resources By 2025” • Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest investor-owned utility, announced that it will add 850 MW of battery storage and at least 100 MW of solar generation by 2025. That amounts to nearly 1 GW of new clean energy capacity. [Greentech Media]
APS battery storage (APS image)
¶ “Amazon Announces “Shipment Zero” Plan To Drive Net Zero Carbon Shipments” • Online retailer and internet megalith Amazon has announced plans to make all its shipments net zero carbon under the banner “Shipment Zero.” The Seattle-based company has an interim target of making 50% of all shipments net zero by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ford To Procure Michigan Wind Power” • Ford Motor Co. has announced the procurement of 500,000 MWh of locally sourced Michigan wind energy through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program. The electricity will be used to power Ford’s Dearborn truck plant, along with several new buildings on Ford campuses in Michigan. [North American Windpower]
Wind turbine in Michigan
¶ “Trump Ends Vehicle Emissions Negotiations Before They Begin” • According to a report by Reuters, EPA head Andrew Wheeler meet with Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, two weeks ago, but there were no substantive discussions at that time. And it is clear that there have been no actions on the EPA’s part since. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Maine Governor Mills, Two Environmental Groups Back Controversial $1 Billion Transmission Project” • Maine Gov Janet Mills and two environmental groups are signing on to Central Maine Power’s bid to build the New England Clean Energy Connect, a controversial new transmission line through the state’s western forests. [WBUR]
Power lines (Jesse Costa | WBUR)
¶ “Virginia Co-op Signs Up For 300 MW Of Solar” • Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative announced that it has signed a contract for the output of 300 MW of solar that DE Shaw Renewable Investments plans to build in Virginia. DESRI said that the sites have not yet been chosen but will be in the eastern part of the state. [pv magazine USA]
¶ “Feds Warn: Georgia Nuclear Project Threatened By Florida Company’s Case” • JEA, a utility based Jacksonville, Florida, no longer wants to be on the hook for costs or the energy the Vogtle nuclear plant will generate when it is completed. Plant Vogtle expansion is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget. [Atlanta Journal Constitution]
Have an enthrallingly splendid day.
geoharvey 