Opinion:
¶ “Lies About Cleantech, Lies About Climate, Lies About Regulation And Taxes, Lies About Economics, Lies About Votes” • The author takes the position that a clear stream of lies has grown year after year. It is an ecosystem of Big Lies from one cause that led to the sad, heartbreaking, almost unbelievable events of last week. [CleanTechnica]
Storming the Capitol (Tyler Merbler, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “‘Carbon-Neutrality Is A Fairy Tale’: How The Race For Renewables Is Burning Europe’s Forests” • A flaw in EU rules means that woody biomass is considered as renewable, even if it comes not just from wood residues or waste, but from whole trees. That led to a demand for wood pellets that grew so great that forests are being cut down. [The Guardian]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Panasonic Plans Low-Cost, Cobalt-Free Battery In Two To Three Years” • Panasonic is working on a low-cost and cobalt-free battery. The cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries is part of what contributes to the high upfront costs of EVs, with batteries accounting for 30% to 40% of the cars’ cost. The new battery will also have other benefits. [CleanTechnica]
Panasonic booth at the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show
¶ “Michael Mann Has A New Book About Climate Denial And How To Fight It” • Michael Mann, the scientist who first created the “hockey stick” graph, has a new book, “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet.” He says that the scientific consensus on anthropgenic climate change is now on a par with the consensus on gravity. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Top Scientists Warn Of ‘Ghastly Future’ For Planet As Leaders Underestimate Ecological Threats” • A team of seventeen leading scientists cautioned that the future of the planet is “more dire and dangerous than is generally understood.” They warned that unless world leaders face up to the challenge and act urgently our survival is threatened. [CNN]
San Francisco during the wildfires (Patrick Perkins, Unsplash)
¶ “Wake Up! Time To Recognize Our Enormous Environmental Problems!” • According to experts from Stanford University, UCLA, Flinders University, and others, loss of biodiversity and accelerating climate change in the coming decades, coupled with ignorance and inactions, is threatening the survival of all species, including our very own. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Engie Adds 3 GW In Renewables Surge” • French energy provider Engie said it commissioned 3 GW of renewable capacity in 2020. This included some 1.8 GW in North America, about 0.9 GW in Europe and about 0.3 GW in the rest of the world. Engie says it is on target to commission 9 GW of renewable capacity between 2019 and 2021. [reNEWS]
Texas wind farm (Engie image)
¶ “New Policies Aid 25-fold Jump in Rooftop Solar Installations in Vietnam: IEEFA” • A new research note from IEEFA shows a total of 9.3 GW (peak) of rooftop solar capacity had been connected to the national power system of Vietnam, and there are now over 101,000 rooftop solar systems deployed across the country. [Saurenergy]
US:
¶ “New York Governor Outlines Major Renewable Energy Plans” • New York Gov Andrew M Cuomo unveiled a host of initiatives to add renewable energy, build transmission, and boost the clean energy economy. He said the green energy program create more than 50,000 jobs, and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state. [pv magazine USA]
Gov Cuomo speaking (Darren McGee, Gov Cuomo’s Office)
¶ “Solar And Wind Producers Back Tesla’s Direct Sales Push In New York” • In New York, traditional auto dealers have been fighting against both Tesla and other automakers from allowing their customers to buy directly from them. The dealers make a lot of money as middle men, and they want to maintain that river of cash. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Duke Energy, Firestone Walker Brewing Complete One Of The Largest On-Site Solar Arrays In Craft Beer Industry” • Duke Energy and Firestone Walker Brewing Company have completed one of the largest on-site solar arrays in the craft beer industry, a 2.1-MW solar array and 281-kW solar carport on 9.7 acres in Paso Robles, California [Duke Energy News Center]
Firestone Walker solar array
¶ “Report: Raimondo’s 2030 Renewables Goal Achievable” • Rhode Island Gov Gina Raimondo’s goal is to get all of the state’s power supply from wind, solar and other clean energy sources by the end of the decade. It may be the most aggressive goal in the nation, but it is achievable, a report by the state Office of Energy Resources concludes. [The Providence Journal]
¶ “Invenergy Completes Financing For Texan Solar Site” • Invenergy has completed construction financing for the first phase of the 1,310-MW Samson Solar Energy Center in northeast Texas. Located in Lamar, Red River, and Franklin Counties, the $1.6 billion project is under construction and will commence operation in five phases. [reNEWS]
Solar array (Invenergy image)
¶ “Equinor And BP To Deliver 2.5-G W Offshore Wind Power To New York State” • Equinor and partner BP have been selected to provide close to 2.5 GW of offshore wind power to the state of New York, in the latest renewables solicitation. Equinor and BP will develop 1,260-MW Empire Wind 2 project and the 1,230-MW Beacon Wind 1 project. [Power Technology]
¶ “Trump Orders DOD To Explore Use Of Nuclear Power For Space” • In the waning days of his administration, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at pushing the Department of Defense toward quickly developing and producing small nuclear reactors for military use, including in military space vehicles. [DefenseNews.com]
Have an expansively congenial day.
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