Science and Technology:
¶ “A Stanford-Designed Tool That Could Guide Floodwater Management And Combat Ongoing Drought” • Floodwaters are not what most people consider a blessing. But they could help remedy California’s increasingly parched groundwater systems, according to a new Stanford-led study. The study was published in Science Advances. [Stanford News]
Flooded vineyard (Image courtesy of Terranova Ranch Inc)
World:
¶ “Companies Are Crucial To Solving The Climate Crisis. 75% Are Falling Short” • An analysis by sustainable finance firm Arabesque assigned scores to companies in 14 of the world’s largest stock indexes based on publicly reported emissions data between 2015 and 2019. It found that less than 25% are doing their part to address the climate crisis. [CNN]
¶ “Cutting Air Pollution Can Prevent Future Deaths Like Death Of Schoolgirl Ella” • Deaths like that of UK schoolgirl Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah can be prevented, says the coroner’s report. It recommends that legally binding targets match WHO guidelines for air pollution. The government has repeatedly opposed these, Transport & Environment says. [CleanTechnica]
London (Lucas Davies, Unsplash)
¶ “Biden Summit To Push For Immediate Action” • The US will attempt to regain leadership on climate change as President Joe Biden hosts world 40 leaders at a virtual summit in the White House. The US is expected to unveil an updated carbon pledge to have its emissions reduced nearly 50% by 2030. Many countries are being urged to show greater ambition. [BBC]
¶ “Volvo Snags Big Electric Truck Order” • QCD, a company that delivers food to various food service customers, put in an order last week for 14 of Volvo’s VNR electric trucks. The vehicles will be used on last-mile routes in southern California. The first of the Volvo’s VNR electric trucks has already been delivered. The rest will be delivered in the fall. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo electric truck (Image courtesy of Volvo Trucks)
¶ “Northern Territory Government To Transition Remote Indigenous Communities To Renewable Power By 2030” • About 70% of all indigenous people living in remote communities in Australia’s Northern Territory are set to gain access to renewable energy, following an infrastructure plan announced by the NT Government. [Energy Matters]
¶ “Gresham House Acquires 30-MW Scottish Battery” • Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has completed its acquisition of a 30-MW battery project in Scotland, its first operational facility in the country. The Byers Brae energy storage installation in West Lothian is a battery-only site with 30-MW capacities for both export and import. [reNEWS]
Energy storage battery (Gresham House image)
¶ “Ikea To Invest £3.4 Billion In Renewable Energy By 2030” • Ikea plans to invest more in renewable energy by spending an extra €4 billion (£3.4 billion, $4.8 billion) by the end of this decade to build wind and solar farms, while fitting its stores with electric vehicle charge points. Ikea has already spent €2.5 billion installing solar panels at its stores. [The Guardian]
¶ “Taiwan Seeks To Join UN Mission Monitoring Japan Wastewater Plan” • Taiwan will seek to join an international mission to be deployed by the UN’s nuclear watchdog to monitor Japan’s plans to dump treated radioactive water into the ocean, according to the Minister of the Atomic Energy Council, Hsieh Shou-shing. [Focus Taiwan]
Fukushima water storage (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
US:
¶ “Woodlands Fire Chief: A Lot Of Misinformation Out There About Tesla Crash And Fire” • There was a very unfortunate Tesla crash this week in which two men died. While there are still mysteries about what happened, the internet has been flooded by misinformation. The Fire Chief in Woodlands, Texas, exposed some of that as false. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Climate Change Clearly Visible As NOAA Prepares To Release New ‘Normals'” • As weather experts and climatologists discussed the new climate normals being released next month, they came to a conclusion. “Climate change is clearly seen in these new normals,” said Mike Palecki, a project manager for the NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals. [CNN]
Maps of showing climate change (NOAA image)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Secretary Granholm Announces Winners Of Solar Decathlon Design And Build Challenges” • Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm joined college students from around the world to announce the winners of the Solar Decathlon, a DOE collegiate competition for design and construction of low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ten States Leading The Charge On Renewable Energy” • The EPA says that renewable energy can increase grid reliability, improve air quality, and create more jobs. In Addition, renewable energy can lower fuel and electricity costs, reducing the total cost of homeownership. Here are the ten states that are in the lead on renewable energy. [Money Talks News]
North Carolina (Darrell Moore, Unsplash)
¶ “First Fully Electric Tugboat With Autonomous Technology Is Here” • Crowley Engineering Services has completed the design of the first ever electric US tugboat, and it even has autonomous technology. The new design is powered by the expertise of new subsidiary Jensen Maritime. It has a large electric battery system to operate in a fully electric mode. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Baltimore County Executive Makes Pledge To Use 100% Renewable Energy By 2026” • Baltimore County is making a pledge to move toward a more green Earth. Executive Johnny Olszewski signed an executive order setting a goal to generate 100% of the county’s electric demand with renewable energy sources. [CBS Baltimore]
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