Science and Technology:
¶ “Local Motors Will Introduce Its Olli 2 Autonomous Shuttle This Fall” • Olli is designed to provide shuttle service at colleges, hospitals, military installations, and other campus environments. As long as it stays within the confines of the space it is configured for, it is capable of Level 4 autonomy and requires no human driver/attendant. [CleanTechnica]
Olli 2 (Local Motors image)
¶ “The Science Behind The Climate Crisis” • Not sure how we found ourselves in this climate crisis? Still on the fence about how much the planet is warming and how much of it is caused by humans? Here are the facts as CNN presented them before its Climate Town Hall with ten of the leading 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. [CNN]
World:
¶ “This Is The Bahamas. This Is What Hurricane Dorian Did To It” • The pictures coming out of the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian are truly frightening. Whole neighborhoods were under water. Apocalyptic destruction seemingly was everywhere. But it is not true that the entire country was flattened by the storm. [CNN]
Destruction (Adam Stanton | US Coast Guard)
¶ “Tesla Providing Clean Energy To Places Around The World That Desperately Need It” • While there is so much news about Tesla’s vehicles, and sometimes its US rooftop solar business, it is easy to forget that Tesla continues to bring stable electricity to many parts of the world that rely on diesel or have unstable access to electricity. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “ACT Funds New ANU Renewables Lab As Australia Powers Past Target” • A new Australian National University laboratory funded by the Australian Capital Territory government will focus on the technologies and software that will monitor, control and coordinate renewable energy generation, including solar panels, batteries, and wind generators. [TheRiotACT]
Solar farm (RiotACT file photo)
¶ “New Zealand Utilities Announce Country’s First Floating Solar Array” • Two Auckland utilities announced plans to build New Zealand’s first and largest floating solar array in the heart of the city’s North Shore. They are Vector Limited, an electricity and gas distribution company, and Watercare, which provides water and wastewater services. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “German Renewables Groups Target Onshore Boost” • Ahead of a wind energy summit in Germany, several renewable energy business associations and green groups in Germany unveiled a 10-point plan aimed at revitalising the onshore wind sector in the country. They propose to remove the main barriers to wind energy development. [reNEWS]
Wind turbines (reNEWS image)
¶ “Asia Gears Up For Energy Storage Boom” • Asia, thanks to China, is at the forefront of renewable energy. Now, according to a Navigant Research report, there will be substantial investments in storage as well. There is emphasis on energy storage software products, and Navigant expects $11 billion spent on them over the next ten years. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “Engie Expects Half Its New Renewable Energy Projects From PPA Deals” • French gas and power group Engie said it expects that in the three years from 2019 to 2021, it will contract for 4.5 GW of renewable capacity through power purchase agreements with companies or municipalities. That will be about half of its new renewable energy. [ETEnergyworld.com]
Wind turbines in France (Fr.Latreille, Wikimedia Commons)
US:
¶ “What Happened During CNN’s Climate Town Hall And What It Means For 2020” • Ten Democratic presidential candidates took to the stage for CNN’s climate town meeting as Hurricane Dorian menaced the East Coast and at a time when the impact of a warming Earth is no longer just a vision of a catastrophic future but is increasingly visible. [CNN]
¶ “Facebook Signs 200-MW Wind Power Purchase Agreement In Texas” • American online social media giant Facebook has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Apex Clean Energy for 200 MW of the 525 MW Aviator Wind project. The project will be built in Coke County, Texas, and it is expected to be operational in 2020. [CleanTechnica]
Wind project (Facebook image)
¶ “Report Shows Massachusetts Will Fall Short Of Its Renewable Energy Goals Unless It Makes Some Changes” • A report from Vote Solar shows that inconsistent policy environment slowed Massachusetts’ once booming solar market dramatically. It says the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target is undermining its renewable energy targets. [Solar Builder]
¶ “Ameren Missouri To Invest $68 Million In Solar+Storage” • Ameren Missouri filed plans with the Missouri Public Service Commission to build three Solar+Storage facilities. Each will connect a large solar energy generation facility to battery storage. The installations will be the first-of-their-kind facilities in the state. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Solar array (NREL image)
¶ “Kansas Becomes A Leader In Renewable Energy” • A report from the Environment America and the Frontier Group shows that the US now produces 40 times more solar power and 270% more wind power than it did in 2009. Kansas stands out as it gets 47% of its electricity from renewables, second only to North Dakota. [Kansas City Business Journal]
¶ “Democrats Split Over Nuclear Energy Amid Climate Fight” • The use of nuclear power is splitting Democratic presidential candidates, with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and businessman Andrew Yang among those calling for new nuclear plants and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) arguing vehemently against any expansions. [The Hill]
Have a fundamentally nifty day.
geoharvey 