Opinion:
¶ “Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Is About To Put His Bipartisan Appeal To The Test” • With some wind in his sails from the massively popular Covid relief package, President Joe Biden’s next big legislative push is set to bring a far more challenging bipartisan test in the coming weeks. That next push is for a sweeping infrastructure plan. [CleanTechnica]
Golden Gate Bridge (Yang LiuYang Liu, Unsplash)
¶ “Ford Rises To The Occasion: My Review Of The Mustang Mach-E” • As the world is currently witnessing a key battery tipping point and acceleration into the age of electromobility, some have wondered: will the Big Three be left behind, or can they rise to the occasion? Fortunately, Ford has risen to the occasion with the Mustang Mach-E. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Electric Chill: My Review Of The Volkswagen ID.4” • The universal question about EVs is: will the rest of the automotive industry step up and provide some alternatives to the great products that the boys and girls in Fremont have been producing for a while? One that does is one of the most legendary forces in the field: Volkswagen. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID.4 (Volkswagen image)
World:
¶ “Massive Fire Rages At Indonesian Oil Refinery” • Firefighters in Indonesia are working to put out a massive fire that has broken out at one of the country’s largest oil refineries. The fire broke out at the Balongan refinery, run by state oil firm Pertamina. At least five people are injured and around 950 residents have been evacuated to safety. [BBC]
¶ “Supreme Court Of Canada Upholds National Carbon Tax” • In 2018, the Canadian government adopted a national carbon tax to start at $40 per ton and increase annually. Three of the country’s provinces – Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario – opposed the national carbon tax and took steps to block it in court. Last week, they lost their fight. [CleanTechnica]
Hall of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC image, cropped)
¶ “Actis To Set Up 2 Green Firms With $850 Million” • Private equity firm Actis LLP plans to invest $850 million in India to build two green energy platforms, according to two people who are aware of the development. The plan highlights the ongoing interest among global investors in the domestic renewable energy market of India. [Livemint]
¶ “Aker Offshore Wind And Hexicon Probe Swedish Floater Potential” • Aker Offshore Wind and Hexicon entered into a joint development agreement to explore opportunities to develop floating wind projects off Sweden to generate several gigawatts of power. The two companies have agreed to jointly work to mature early phase prospects in Sweden. [reNEWS]
Offshore wind farm (Herztier Kang, Unsplash)
¶ “Batteries And Renewables To Provide Secure Energy Future: New Report” • The Energy Security Board commissioned new research by the Australia Institute to help it redesign the National Electricity Market. The study shows that batteries and clean energy are set to replace the system security that historically has been provided by coal. [Mirage News]
¶ “Sembcorp Marine, GE Firm Up $826 Million Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Contract” • Singapore’s Sembcorp Marine and GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions have secured a firm contract from RWE Renewables for the supply to supply the high voltage direct current transmission system for the Sofia offshore wind farm, in the UK. [OE Digital]
Map showing Sofia Offshore Wind Farm (RWE image)
¶ “China Generated Over Half World’s Coal-Fired Power In 2020 – Study” • China generated 53% of the world’s total coal-fired power in 2020, nine percentage points more than five years earlier, despite climate pledges and the building of hundreds of renewable energy plants, according to a study by the energy and climate research group Ember. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Greens Leader Proposes 700% Renewables For A Clean, Green Export Economy” • Australian Greens party leader Adam Bandt launched his next Federal Election policies centered on arresting climate change. “Imagine what we could achieve if we had a government that wasn’t backed by the fossil fuel industry,” he suggested. [pv magazine Australia]
Solar as far as the eye can see? (Mars Australia image)
US:
¶ “Electrify America And Jeep Partner To Create Trailhead Charging Network” • Jeep announced that it’s going to build the 4xe Charging Network (4xe is pronounced “four by E”). The overall plan is to put a Level 2 charging station at the trailheads for every Jeep Badge of Honor trail. Jeep wants to complete this within the next 12 months. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Proterra Partners With Lighting EMotors For Commercial Electric Van” • Lightning eMotors announced that Proterra, the builder of electric transit vehicles, will provide it with battery packs for its electric vans. The Lightning Electric Transit is a commercial vehicle that can serve as a delivery van, school bus, ambulance, RV, or otherwise. [CleanTechnica]
Lightning Electric Transit van (Image by Lightning eMotors)
¶ “Utilities Chart Renewable Energy Future As State Mandates Level Off” • Michigan’s mandates for renewable power and energy efficiency programs – first set in 2008 and increased slightly in 2016 – are scheduled to level off this year. It may make little difference, however, as the clean energy transition rolls on under market forces. [MiBiz]
¶ “Physicians Group Challenges License Extension For Point Beach Nuclear Plant” • An anti-nuclear group is seeking to block efforts to keep Wisconsin’s only operational nuclear power plant running through 2050. Physicians for Social Responsibility filed a petition asking federal regulators for a hearing on the licenses for the Point Beach Nuclear Plant. [Journal Times]
Have an enchantingly worthwhile day.
geoharvey 