Opinion:
¶ “ExxonMobil vs Chevron: Fight For Second-To-Last Place Among Fossil Fuel Companies” • There are a lot of noteworthy issues to watch at this year’s virtual annual meetings. Three broad themes are EU versus US climate action, the need for climate lobbying disclosure, and an Chevron vs ExxonMobil fight over which is worst. [CleanTechnica]
Oil tankers off California (USCG photo, public domain)
Science and Technology:
¶ “World Powers Race To Develop ‘Green’ Hydrogen” • “Green” hydrogen produced without fossil fuel energy is seen as the missing link in the race for carbon-neutrality: The world’s richest countries have various strategies. Some would produce it using electricity from solar and wind. Others plan to use electricity from nuclear plants. [EURACTIV.com]
World:
¶ “Kia EV6: 510+ Km, 0-To-100 Km/H In 3.5 Seconds, 800-V Charging” • The specs for Kia’s EV6 were just revealed, and it offers several things to brag about. Kia’s overall electrification goals are weak, however. Volvo is aiming to be 100% fully electric by 2030, and GM by 2035, but Kia’s goal is for sales to sell 40% battery and hybrid vehicles by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
Kia EV6
¶ “India Restricts Module Models Allowed To Be Installed At New Projects” • To ensure that only quality equipment is used at solar power projects and, possibly, to provide protection to domestic manufacturers from a flood of Chinese solar modules, Indian governments have released a list of module models it will allow installed at new power plants. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “India Auctions 500 MW Of Solar At 3.03¢ Per KWh” • The Indian state of Gujarat has awarded 500 MW of solar power in the first auction after the announcement of new import duties on solar modules. The capacity was awarded to five companies. The projects were awarded at tariffs of ₹2.20 and ₹2.21/kWh (3.03¢ and 3.04¢/kWh). [CleanTechnica]
Rooftop solar system in India (Anureza, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Ørsted To Develop Dutch-Flemish Green Hydrogen Plant” • Ørsted is to develop a renewable hydrogen plant to be linked to industrial demand in the Netherlands and Belgium. It will be one of the world’s largest of its type, with GW-scale electrolysis to supply industrial demand in the Dutch-Flemish North Sea Ports with hydrogen created by the wind. [reNEWS]
¶ “Vestas Secures Contracts In Ireland And Japan” • Vestas has secured a 30-MW order on the Lenalea Wind Farm in Ireland being developed by SSE Renewables and Coillte Renewable Energy. The company has also extended its footprint in Japan with a 43-MW order for the Yokohama-machi Wind Power Plant in Aomori prefecture. [reNEWS]
Wind turbine (Vestas image)
¶ “TPG Telecom Dials Up To 100% Renewable Electricity” • TPG Telecom, one of Australia’s top energy users, has dialed up its clean energy ambition and committed to power its Australian operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025. Estimates are that TPG Telecom consumes well over 200,000 MWh of electricity each year. [Mirage News]
¶ “Vestas Signs Up Spanish Wind Farm” • Vestas has received a 50-MW turbine order for an undisclosed wind project in Spain. The contract includes the supply and installation of twelve V150-4.2MW wind turbines, two of which will be delivered in 4.0-MW power mode, as well as a 20-year Active Output Management 4000 service agreement. [reNEWS]
Two wind turbines (Vestas image)
US:
¶ “Scientists To Biden: Reduce Emissions 50% Below 2005 Levels By 2030” • Over 1,000 scientists, including Dr Michael Mann, signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to pursue a “robust target” of reducing the nation’s “emissions by at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and transitioning to a net-zero emissions economy no later than 2050.” [Common Dreams]
¶ “‘Immediate And Drastic.’ The Climate Crisis Is Seriously Spooking Economists” • According to a survey from the Institute for Policy Integrity at the NYU School of Law, 74% of economists agree “immediate and drastic” action is warranted to curb CO₂ emissions. That’s up sharply from 50% in 2015. The change is based on clearly increasing impacts. [CNN]
Economic direction (AbsolutVision, Unsplash)
¶ “Republican Lawmakers Take Aim At Arizona Renewable Energy Standards” • As states in the West beef up their renewable energy requirements, the push in Arizona has been met by fierce resistance from the GOP-dominated Legislature and Republican governor. Instead, they want to strip elected utility regulators of their power to set energy policy. [KTAR.com]
¶ “US Interior Department Puts ~$249 Million Into Gulf State Coastal Conservation, Restoration, And Hurricane Protection” • The Interior Department announced nearly $249 million energy revenues are going to four offshore oil and gas producing Gulf states – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas – for coastal programs. [CleanTechnica]
Gulf coast (James Lewis, Unsplash)
¶ “Cobb EMC Sets Renewable Energy Goals For 2030” • Cobb EMC, a non-profit electrical utility, is focusing on goals for the coming decade. To date, Cobb EMC has sold 3.8 Billion kWh electricity in many parts of the US. Their initiatives of setting up solar panels and battery storage are moving towards making it big, growing 200% by 2023. [TechStory]
¶ “State Bets On Renewable Energy With Shift In Investment Strategy” • Wind and solar projects will make up a bigger portion of Connecticut’s investments under a shift in strategy announced by the state’s treasurer, Shawn Wooden. The state has committed $100 million to a renewable power fund III that focuses on wind and solar energy. [Hartford Business Journal]
Have an unwaveringly perfect day.
geoharvey 