Opinion:
¶ “Dogger Bank’s Giant Turbines Herald A Wind Of Change In UK Industry” • Beyond the horizon off the coast of North Yorkshire, a quiet revolution is emerging from the waves of the North Sea. More than 80 miles from land, hundreds of the world’s most powerful wind turbines are being built in the biggest windfarm ever. [The Guardian]
Haliade-X wind turbine (SSE photograph)
¶ “Interview: ‘Energy needed a digital revolution – and we are it'” • Greg Jackson, chief executive of Octopus Energy, wears the unassuming combination of jeans and trainers one might expect from the founder of a wildly successful startup. He has the enthusiasm and world-changing idealism too. Octopus is a new breed of energy supplier. [The Guardian]
¶ “Pakistan’s Brighter Future Depends Upon Renewable Energy Generation Projects” • Pakistan needs to focus on projects that provide us with the cheapest electricity. Pakistan cannot afford expensive thermal power. All our industries need cheaper electricity so that they can flourish, and with falling costs, that means renewable energy. [Daily Times]
Wind farm in Pakistan (Muzaffar Bukhari, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Why We Can’t Just ‘Move On’: We Need Accountability For Donald Trump’s Misdeeds” • Donald Trump and his henchmen have made a concerted attack on American democracy, and they have done so much corrupting damage that giving them a pass would be dereliction. One thing that needs to be investigated is denial of climate science. [Salon]
World:
¶ “France Hits Record 19.2% EV Share In December – Up Almost Six Times Year On Year” • France’s plugin electric vehicle market share hit a new record of 19.2% in December 2020, up by a factor of 5.6 from December 2019. The full year result was 11.2% plugin share, with local favorite Renault ZOE once more the year’s top selling plugin. [CleanTechnica]
2019 – Essais presse Nouvelle Renault ZOE en Sardaigne
¶ “31 Countries, States, And Cities Have Gas/Diesel Car Bans In Place” • Much to the consternation of the free market crowd, at the start of 2021 there are 31 national and local governments that have announced bans on the sale of forms of transportation powered by internal combustion engines. Survival may finally be trumping theory. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GCC Chemical Producers Give Push To Renewable Energy In 2020: GPCA” • Gulf Cooperation Council chemical companies have begun to invest in renewable technologies and projects, such as wind and solar, as they look to move towards cleaner energy sources, according to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association. [MENAFN.com]
Refineries (Chris Liverani, Unsplash)
¶ “EU’s ‘Climate Leader’ Explains Why 2020 Has Left Him Optimistic” • The author of one of the most ambitious climate plans in the European Union says 2020 was a turning point that’s left him optimistic about the future of the planet. There are many reasons for hope, and he believes that Denmark can be a model for others to follow. [The Japan Times]
¶ “One Billion Tonnes In Mining Emissions Approved Despite Landmark Case” • Coal and gas projects which could release more than 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases have been given the green light by the New South Wales government in the two years since a court ruling overturned a coal mine approval partly over climate impacts. [Brisbane Times]
Bushfire in New South Wales (Meganesia, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Ten Years On, Japan’s Fukushima Victims Worry They’ve Been Forgotten” • Nearly 10 years on, Fukushima evacuees remain scattered across Japan. Only 5% of the residents of the town of Namie have ventured to return to their homes near the plant amid persistent fears of radiation contamination. Many others fear their plight has been forgotten. [Korea Times]
US:
¶ “Tesla: 499,550 Vehicles Delivered in 2020, 509,737 Vehicles Produced (Charts)” • Tesla has published its official numbers for the 4th quarter 2020 and full-year 2020 vehicle production and delivery. Troy Teslike, whose projections CleanTechnica just published, was off by only 3,142 for the year. We might say Tesla confirmed his sales projections, [CleanTechnica]
Tesla in Florida (CleanTechnica)
¶ “Tesla Roaring Into 2021 As Short Sellers Lose Record $38 Billion” • Last year was disastrous for people who bet against Tesla on the stock market. On the last day of the year, Tesla’s stock set a new high of over $700. Yahoo! Finance said the Tesla short sellers lost over $38 billion in mark-to-market losses in 2020. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Warmer Winters May Attract More Pests” • The North Carolina Climate Science report shows that the state has warmed by about 1°F over the past 20 years which means warmer seasons, including winter. Experts in pest control say warmer weather could increase both the number and appetites of pests, posing greater threats. [Spectrum News]
Emerald ash borer, much enlarged image (USDA image)
¶ “A Look Ahead: It Was A Bruising Year For Wyoming Coal. What Could The New Year Bring?” • After a bruising year battling the one-two punch of the COVID-19 pandemic and collapse in energy markets, coal operators in Wyoming could receive a small boost in demand in 2021. But the long-term outlook is gloomy for coal mining. [Casper Star-Tribune Online]
¶ “Winona LaDuke Discusses Biodiversity And Renewable Energy At AUSG Women’s Initiative Event” • In November, at a virtual event that was hosted by the American University Student Government Women’s Initiative, activist Winona LaDuke spoke about renewable energy, the future of the economy, biodiversity, and sustainable food systems. [The Eagle]
Have a soothingly groovy day.
geoharvey 