Opinion:
¶ “How Switching To Renewables Impacts Policy In The West” • The rapidly declining cost and increased accessibility of energy storage create a huge opportunity. Whether solar, wind, hydro, geothermal or any other abundant method are the means for energy generation, the concern of maintaining baseload power becomes less important. [The Rising]
Renewable energy
¶ “How Green Is The Next Frontier Of Wind Power?” • Scotland has had an advantage in the bid to build a thriving offshore wind sector. It is 50 years of expertise in undersea engineering for oil and gas. Now Scotland has experience in onshore wind, which has been growing steadily and has matured over the past couple of decades. [The Scotsman]
¶ “South Africa Still Lagging Far Behind On Climate Change Battle” • South Africans are increasingly inundated with the “very real bad news” about the impacts of climate change and water and biodiversity losses yet the country’s political responses are nowhere near comprehensive enough. We need to be more proactive. [Independent Online]
South African wind farm (Nic Bothma | EPA)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Urban Air Mobility Already Has 200 eVTOL Designs” • In the short space of 3 years we’ve seen urban air mobility develop from a concept to eHang promising the first electric vertical takeoff & landing air taxi service at the end of 2019. The Vertical Flight Society just reported that it now has 200 eVTOL aircraft in its database. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Gujarat Says ‘No’ To New Thermal Plants” • In a major development, the government of Gujarat has decided not to allow any new thermal power plants to be built in the state from now on. The decision comes following the state government’s commitment to encourage clean environment and green energy in the state. [The Hindu BusinessLine]
Wind turbines in Gujarat (Raman Patel, Wikimedia Commons)
¶ “Bacolod Solar Power Firm Inks MOA With Korean Partner” • Philippine firm Amatera Renewable Energy Corp entered into a memorandum of agreement with TPC Construction Corp, a Korean company, for the development of a 50-MW solar power plant in Barangay Vista Alegre. The project has an estimated cost of ₱2 billion ($38.5 million). [pna.gov.ph]
¶ “Marine Heatwave Hits Pacific, Raising Fears Of A New Hot ‘ Blob'” • The ocean off the western coast of North America is 5°F hotter than usual after warming at an unusually rapid rate. If the abnormal patch does not dissipate soon, it could become as destructive as the so-called “blob” of warm water in the same area in 2014-2016. [The Guardian]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Dark Days Ahead As Huge Arctic Wildfires Spew Soot” • Fire is a natural part of the ecology of the vast boreal forests that girdle Earth in northern latitudes. But the amount of vegetation that has been on fire across Alaska, Canada, and Russia since June is highly unusual. Even Greenland, mostly covered in ice, has seen fires. [South China Morning Post]
US:
¶ “Why US Renewable Energy Production Declined 1.1% In The First Half Of 2019” • Renewable electricity generation declined 1.1% from the year-ago period, according to data compiled by the US Energy Information Administration. The observation is far from ideal, but it should be only a short-term hiccup. There are promising numbers as well. [Motley Fool]
Wind turbines (Getty Images)
¶ “Independent Power Producers Object To Utilities Building Renewable Energy Plants” • An Albany-based group representing independent power companies says it opposes a proposed state bill that would give utilities the right to produce renewable energy complexes. Under current law, utilities cannot build renewable energy facilities. [The Daily Freeman]
¶ “Wisconsin Religious Order Doubles Down On Commitment To Renewable Energy” • True to their religious community’s founder, the Sisters of St Francis of the Holy Cross continue to care for God’s creation. Their deep commitment expanded when the sisters held a dedication and blessing of 280 solar panels behind their motherhouse near Green Bay. [Crux]
Solar array (Sam Lucero | The Compass | CNS)
¶ “Xcel Energy Names Company To Build Huge Cheyenne Ridge Wind Project On Eastern Plains” • Xcel Energy-Colorado selected the development company Mortenson to build the 500-MW Cheyenne Ridge Wind Project on Colorado’s Eastern Plains. The $743 million project will include construction of a power substation and transmission lines. [The Denver Post]
¶ “Santee Cooper Plans To Add Solar, Pay Down Debt In Hopes Of Halting Sale” • South Carolina utility Santee Cooper is planning to pay down chunks of its roughly $4 billion debt from the failed VC Summer nuclear project. To stave off a possible sale, Santee Cooper plans to add a large amount of solar energy and to consider other options. [Charleston Post Courier]
Have a thoroughly gorgeous day.
geoharvey 