Opinion:
¶ “2020 US Power Report Card: Solar And Wind Getting High Scores” • Government data shows that renewable resources surpassed coal in 2020 to become the third-largest source of US electricity. Continuing promising trends from 2019, solar and wind energy made strong gains, and there was a steep reduction in power sector pollution. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array (Image courtesy of Array Technologies)
¶ “UK Government Cannot Rely On Ineffective UN Airline CO₂ Deal After Scathing Analysis” • A global agreement designed to tackle airline emissions could actually undermine climate efforts, according to an EU study obtained by Transport & Environment. Under the Corsia deal, airlines would be allowed to pay to offset growth of carbon pollution. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Report Finds That ‘Advanced’ Nuclear Reactor Designs Are No Better Than Current Reactors – And Some Are Worse” • A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the designs of a number of “advanced” nuclear reactors being developed. It says that they are no better, and in some respects significantly worse, than what we have. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
Vermont Yankee nuclear plant (NRC, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
World:
¶ “Tesla Giga Berlin Production To Start In Late July Or August” • According to our German friend on the ground there, it was said at a meeting of the Brandenburg Committee for Infrastructure and Regional Planning that the Tesla Giga Berlin will commence production in late July, or August at the latest. This is somewhat earlier than we expected. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Plugin Vehicle Market Share Grows In Italy, +123% Year Over Year In February” • The growth of EVs continues in Europe. As car markets find their way out of the pandemic, EVs increase market share month after month. Italy saw stronger sales in February following a soft start to the year and EVs continued to replace traditional powertrains. [CleanTechnica]
Fiat 500e
¶ “Coles Snubs Coal And Gas And Commits To 100% Renewables By 2025” • Coles has become the latest Australian supermarket giant to set ambitious climate targets. The chain is to be 100% powered by renewables after adopting a new goal to purchase all of its power from sources like wind and solar. Supermarkets use large amounts of energy. [RenewEconomy]
¶ “Bermuda Buys 30 Electric Buses” • The Government of Bermuda’s Department of Transportation announced the approval of the purchase of 30 electric buses to replace aged diesel buses and transition toward a zero-emissions fleet. The purchase represents replacement of over one-third of the total public bus fleet. [CleanTechnica]
BYD electric buses in Chile (Image courtesy of BYD)
¶ “New Report Identifies Digitalization As Renewable Energy Driver” • A report from Spanish software company RatedPower suggests digitalization has the potential to transform the entire energy supply chain with solar PV set to lead a renewable energy charge to record levels in 2021. This follows unexpected growth in renewables in 2020. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “Apple Says Its $4.7 Billion Green Bonds Will Create 1.2 GW Of Renewable Power” • Apple added 350 MW of renewable capacity in 2020, due to projects in its planned $4.7 billion Green Bond program, according to a report on its investor site. All told, the Bond program is due to generate 1.2 GW of wind and solar power around the world. [DatacenterDynamics]
Apple’s Turquiose Nevada solar farm (Apple image)
¶ “EnBW Turns Sod On 300-MW German Solar” • EnBW has begun construction of two subsidy-free photovoltaic projects totalling 300 MW in Brandenburg, Germany. The two projects, 150 MW each, are located just under 40 km away, in Alttrebbin and Gottesgabe, in the Markisch-Oderland district. EnBW expects construction to take one year. [reNEWS]
¶ “Vattenfall Inks HKZ Offtake With Air Liquide” • Vattenfall has signed its first power contract for the 1500 MW Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm with Air Liquide. Air Liquide will buy 100 GWh of electricity per year from the project located off the Dutch coast. Air Liquide will use the electricity to power its factories in the Netherlands. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind farm (Vattenfall image)
US:
¶ “EPA Relaunches Climate Change Website Previously Modified By Trump Administration” • The EPA announced that it has relaunched its climate change website as part of efforts by the Biden administration to tackle the climate crisis. The Trump administration had changed various EPA websites to remove language about climate change. [CNN]
¶ “Two Bills Introduced In Congress To Address Abandoned Mine Lands” • The RECLAIM Act and a bill to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine LandFund were reintroduced in the US House by Rep Matt Cartwright (D-PA). These bills, if passed, would provide an immediate economic boost by employing thousands of people across the country. [CleanTechnica]
Abandoned Mines
¶ “Facebook Announces 10th And 11th Data Centers At Prineville, Oregon Campus Amid Renewable Energy Fight” • Facebook has announced it is expanding its Prineville data center campus again, though recent regulation changes could affect its ability to offset its use of fossil fuels and prevent it from using energy certificates in the state. [DatacenterDynamics]
¶ “US Solar Duo Switch On 200-MW Georgia PV Portfolio” • A US solar partnership has delivered a 200-MW PV portfolio that spans three utility-scale projects in Georgia. The portfolio has been developed by Green Power EMC, the renewable energy provider for 38 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations, and Shell’s solar platform Silicon Ranch. [reNEWS]
Have a radically resplendent day.
geoharvey 