Opinion:
¶ “We Can’t Wait For Washington’s Green New Deal. California Needs Just Transition Now” • As the deadliest wildfire in a century raged in Butte County last year, leaving 85 people dead and thousands without homes, hundreds of young people filled the halls of Congress to demand a Green New Deal. The sense of urgency is long overdue. [Sacramento Bee]
Pine Grove Mobile Home Park (Hector Amezcua)
¶ “Electric Cars Are About To Absolutely Demolish Gasmobiles” • As the technologies of EVs and batteries march on, as costs, energy density, and range improve, we are getting closer to a technological crossover point. It is a point where you have to be in a truly odd case to choose a gasoline or diesel car over an electric one. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “12-Year-Old American Boy Achieves Nuclear Fusion At Home” • A 12-year-old American boy claims to be the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion. Jackson Oswalt of Memphis, Tennessee, bought $10,000 worth of equipment with help from his parents, and he converted an old playroom into a physics lab, Fox News reported. [The Times of Israel]
Jackson Oswalt and his fusion reactor (Fox News screenshot)
World:
¶ “‘Everyone Loves Solar’ – Climate Action Heats Up As NSW Election Issue” • Voters in New South Wales, including many conservatives, want the state government to act faster on climate change, including boosting renewable energy, two separate polling sets show. An earlier election in one district also showed voter concerns. [The Sydney Morning Herald]
¶ “AMADER Announces Four Electrification Projects Powered By Renewable Energies” • The Malian authorities will invest in renewable energies, through the launch of 4 electrification projects. This program should enable Mali to achieve electrical autonomy and also increase Mali’s electrification rate, which is estimated at 19%. [AFRIK 21]
Dam (Shutterstock image)
¶ “South Africa Committed To More Renewable Power, Radebe Says” • South Africa plans to expand use of renewable power as the coal-dependent nation expects traditional, centralized generation plants to “disappear,” its Energy Minister said. Renewable power from independent producers now accounts for less than 5% of production. [Bloomberg]
¶ “Navantia Gets Nod For Kincardine Floaters” • Spanish company Navantia has won a deal fabricate five floating foundations for the 48-MW second phase of the Kincardine project off the east coast of Scotland. The company will manufacture the Principle Power-designed substructures at the Fene yard, north-western Spain. [reNEWS]
Floating wind turbine (Principle Power image)
¶ “Kuwait Launches Phase One Of Shagaya Renewable Energy Park” • The government of Kuwait announced Phase One of the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park project. The first phase is expected to generate 70 MW of power. The next two phases are expected to generate 1,500 MW each, with the final phase at 1,000 MW. [MEConstructionNews.com]
¶ “Southeast Asia’s Solar Energy ‘Cubed'” • Vietnam had no renewable projects at all in 2016. That year, it saw coal, once an export commodity, begin to be imported. It shifted significant future capacity from coal to solar, and it now has a pipeline of 40 solar projects, with a combined capacity of 2.5 GW at various stages of development. [pv magazine Australia]
Ninh Thuan province (Nguyen Thanh Quang | Wikipedia)
US:
¶ “With A Bernie Sanders Candidacy, Clean Energy Technology Is Central To Policy Discussions” • Just 24 hours after announcing his presidential bid, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders raised $6 million from more than 225,000 donors. Part of his allure is his vision of achieving clean energy while saving money for our families. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “AES Building 100-MW Battery In Arizona To Fight The Duck Curve With Solar” • Arizona Public Service signed a contract with battery supplier AES to install 100 MW of stationary storage. The battery system will allow more renewable generation to be added to the grid, with its excess power used to charge the battery for later use. [CleanTechnica]
AES battery system
¶ “US Approves Chinese Electric Cars Imported From Kandi – Price For One Supposed To Be Below $20,000” • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved two of the cars made by Kandi, a Chinese company, for US sales. One, the subcompact K22, is expected to have a starting price of less than $20,000. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “MPSC Approves Changes To DTE Energy’s MI Green Power Plan” • The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved changes to DTE Energy’s MI Green Power plan, which gives customers a way to promote renewable energy. With the MI Green Power, customers can pay extra to support renewable energy projects. [Michigan Radio]
DTE Energy solar array (DTE Energy image)
¶ “Committee OKs Bill To Make New Mexico Carbon-Free” • The Energy Transition Act, SB 489, a bill aiming to make New Mexico’s electricity generation 100% carbon-free by 2045, made it through the Senate Conservation Committee on a 5-3 “do-pass” recommendation vote after senators voted to adopt several amendments. [Albuquerque Journal]
¶ “Trump Taps Donor With Deep Coal Ties For Top UN Position” • President Trump’s pick for ambassador to the UN, Kelly Knight Craft, is a major supporter who has argued that “both sides” of the climate science debate are equally valid. She has deep ties to the coal industry. Her husband is the CEO of the third largest coal company in the US. [ThinkProgress]
Have a heartily exultant day.
geoharvey 