World:
¶ “Mont Blanc: Glacier in danger of collapse, experts warn” • Italian authorities closed roads and evacuated mountain huts after experts warned that about 250,000 cubic meters of ice are in danger of breaking away from a glacier on the peak of Grandes Jorasses. The mayor of nearby Courmayeur said global warming was changing the mountain. [BBC]
Glacier on Grandes Jorasses peak (Getty Images)
¶ “UN Report Warns Climate Change Is Accelerating” • Days after millions of climate protesters called for international action and global leaders convened at the UN Climate Action Summit, the world’s top climate-science body warns that intergovernmental collaboration on a global scale is required to cope with changes that are already under way. [Bloomberg]
¶ “Hydro-Floating Solar Farms: New Opportunity For Việt Nam’s Renewable Energy Sector” • The Đồng Nai People’s Committee proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade develop eight floating solar farms on the man-made Trị An Lake. The floating solar projects would have total capacity of 5,400 MW and be added by 2025. [Viet Nam News]
Floating system on Đa Mi reservoir (Courtesy of DHD/ADB)
¶ “Amazon Rainforest Belongs To Brazil, Says Jair Bolsonaro” • Conservationists blame Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro and his government for turning a blind eye as Amazon land is cleared by farmers and loggers, hastening deforestation. But Bolsonaro has insisted that the Brazilian areas of the Amazon rainforest are sovereign territory. [BBC]
¶ “Costa Rica Will Run On More Than 98% Renewable Energy For Fifth Consecutive Year, Government Says” • Costa Rica’s government expects that the country will generate more than 99% of its energy from renewable resources in 2019. That means Costa Rica will have run on more than 98% clean energy over five consecutive years. [The Tico Times]
Costa Rica (Via ICE)
¶ “More Cost Overruns And Delay For UK’s Nuclear Project: EDF” • Britain’s controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project faces substantial fresh cost overruns and further delay, France’s EDF power supplier said. The increase puts the cost between £1.9 billion ($2.36 billion) and £2.9 billion ($3.6 billion) over previous estimates. [ETEnergyworld.com]
¶ “Apple-Launched China Clean Energy Fund Invests In Three Wind Farms” • Launched in 2018, the first-of-its-kind China Clean Energy Fund connects suppliers with renewable energy projects. Apple and ten of its suppliers in China will invest nearly $300 million by 2022 to develop projects totaling 1 GW of renewable energy. [Apple Newsroom]
Concord Jing Tang wind farm
US:
¶ “Trump Is Weaponizing The EPA Against California” • President Donald Trump continues to make political war on California over the environment. Last week the Trump administration went after the state for doing too much under the Clean Air Act. This week it’s alleging that California isn’t doing enough under the same law. [CNN]
¶ “In The Renewable Energy Credit Market, Some Are Greener Than Others” • Vermont’s energy may not be as green as it seems. Rep Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, D-Bradford, said the Vermont Climate Solutions Caucus, which she vice chairs, will push to update the state’s renewable energy standard to require more in-state generation. [vtdigger.org]
Green Mountain Power solar array (Glenn Russell | VTDigger)
¶ “America’s Top Energy Regulator Agonizes Over The Downfall Of Coal Country” • Neil Chatterjee, America’s top energy regulator, grew up in the heart of coal country. Now, he agonizes over the collapse of the coal industry, and there’s not much he can do to save it. “It is really, really difficult for me to watch,” Chatterjee said in an interview. [CNN]
¶ “Microsoft Signs 230-MW US Renewables PPA” • Microsoft entered into a long-term PPA with Engie to buy 230 MW of wind and solar capacity in Texas. The 200-MW Las Lomas wind farm will supply 145 MW, and the 200-MW Anson Solar Center park will provide 85 MW. The projects bring Microsoft’s renewables portfolio to over 1.9 GW. [reNEWS]
Installing a wind turbine (Engie image)
¶ “GE Renewable Energy Goes Carbon Neutral” • The wind, hydropower, energy storage, and grid operations business of GE has committed to going 100% carbon neutral by the end of 2020. GE Renewable Energy chief executive Jerome Pecresse said, “This is a decision that makes business sense.” Natural Capital Partners will advise GE on the move. [reNEWS]
¶ “US Developer Primed For 1.7-GW Solar Surge” • US solar developer Intersect Power has entered late-stage development on a large portfolio of solar power plants with a combined capacity of more than 1700 MW. The five shovel-ready projects, which are located in California and Texas, will begin construction in 2020. [reNEWS]
Solar array (First Solar image)
¶ “More Utilities Getting Serious About Becoming Carbon-Neutral” • Last year, Xcel Energy became the first utility to commit to reducing its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. The company’s bold goal now is spurring others in the sector to make similar pledges. The investments are to benefit both the environment and the investors. [Motley Fool]
¶ “Industry Leaders: Solar Can Cover 20% Of US Energy Needs In The Next Decade” • While it may seem like an ambitious and overly lofty plan, leaders in the solar energy industry say they believe a variety of strategies will help get them to their goal of producing 20% of the US energy demand in about a decade from now. [KSL.com]
Have a stunningly lovely day.
geoharvey 