Science and Technology:
¶ “This Center In Dubai Is Growing ‘Future-Proof’ Food In The Desert” • In the Dubai desert, farmers must contend with intense heat, limited freshwater and sandy soil. Here, the International Center of Biosaline Agriculture is transplanting and growing salt-loving superfoods in an effort to expand food diversity in the region. [CNN]
Quinoa growing in the Dubai desert (ICBA image)
World:
¶ “‘Southern Blob’ Of Hot Ocean Is Causing A Megadrought Thousands Of Miles Away In Chile” • “The Southern Blob” is a huge, decades-old region of warm water in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Chile has been experiencing a megadrought for over a decade. A study, published in the Journal of Climate says the one is causing the other. [CNN]
¶ “Bourbon Installs Norwegian Floater” • Bourbon Subsea Services has successfully installed the innovative TetraSpar Demonstrator Floating Wind Turbine in Norway. After mooring lines installation in June, towing and hook up in July, Bourbon Subsea Services completed the offshore installation of the 3.6-MW turbine at the Metcentre Test site. [reNEWS]
Floating offshore turbine (Bourbon Subsea Services image)
¶ “Supermarket Giants Race To Net Zero, Beating The Do-Nothing Australian Government” • The federal government will not commit to a net-zero-by-2050 target, but Australia’s three biggest supermarket chains are making massive strides. Aldi, Coles, and Woolworths have all set and then quickly achieved net-zero goals. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Australia’s Largest Planned Renewables Zone ‘Swamped’ With 34 GW Of Capacity” • Australia’s newest planned renewable energy zone has been “swamped” by investors, according to the New South Wales government. It revealed that 34 GW of new solar, wind, and energy storage projects have been proposed for the 8-GW site. [PV Magazine]
Solar array (Neoen image)
¶ “Hydro Developer Unveils 600-MW Corrievarkie” • ILI Group launched the initial planning phase for the Corrievarkie pumped storage project in the Scottish Highlands. The 600-MW project at Loch Ericht, Dalwhinnie, will be able to supply power for up to 24 hours, enough to power 1.4 million homes, making it one of the largest such schemes in Scotland. [reNEWS]
¶ “Vensys On Track To Power Austrian Trains” • The world’s first wind turbine to produce traction current is to be built in Lower Austria. A Vensys112 with a hub height of 140 meters in a 16.7 hz version will enable direct feed-in to the ÖBB overhead contact line, which means that the trains are supplied with wind energy directly and with little loss. [reNEWS]
Wind turbine (Vensys image)
¶ “Anti-Nuclear Campaigners Slam Plans To Install New Nuclear Reactors In Wales” • Anti-nuclear campaigners in Wales have criticized the Welsh Government for supporting “flawed and outdated” technology as it plans to install new nuclear reactors in Wales. They said the site should be used for renewable and sustainable technologies. [Nation.Cymru]
US:
¶ “Northern California Wildfires Traveled Up To 8 Miles In A Single Day, Cal Fire Says” • Hundreds of California residents are under evacuation orders after new fires were sparked, with a new heat wave expected to make fighting fires even more challenging. Meanwhile, the Dixie Fire, California’s second-largest fire, is threatening over 11,800 structures. [CNN]
Firefighters battling the Bennett Fire (Cal Fire image)
¶ “Kerry Will Travel To China And Japan To Negotiate On Climate Action” • US Climate Envoy John Kerry will travel to China and Japan to meet with top climate officials in the lead-up to the UN climate conference in Glasgow in November. Kerry will be in Japan on August 31, then China from September 1-3, a person familiar with the plans said. [CNN]
¶ “Tesla Is Slowly Cutting Into Pharmaceutical And Health Insurance Costs” • Tesla doesn’t make medicines or cure diseases, but it is having a growing effect on the pharmaceutical industry and the health insurance industry here in America. Asthma, Covid-19, and dementia have all been shown to be made worse by air pollution. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)
¶ “Big Agnes Commits To Renewable Energy At New HQ” • The outdoor equipment brand Big Agnes, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has committed to using 100% renewable energy to power each of its three US facilities. Its sister company BAP, Inc also uses solar panels to power its retail outlet in downtown Steamboat Springs. [Steamboat Pilot]
¶ “Ford Doubles Production Target For F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup” • Ford has doubled its production target for the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck due to strong early demand, several people and suppliers have told Reuters. It will invest an additional $850 million to meet the new production goal of 80,000 sales in 2024. [CleanTechnica]
Ford F-150 Lightning pickups (Ford image)
¶ “California Farmers To Power Its Electric, Self-Driving Fleet” • Cruise, a self-driving car company under General Motors, has launched an initiative, Farm to Fleet, that will allow the company to source solar power from farms in California’s Central Valley. Cruise is purchasing renewable energy credits to help power vehicles in San Francisco. [TechCrunch]
¶ “Renewable Energy Bills Signed Into Law In Derry” • Calling it a “603 win for clean energy” New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed two bills into law that advance renewable energy initiatives. Both bills enjoyed bipartisan support and are among the last measures expected to be signed into law from this past session. [InDepthNH.org]
Have an enchantingly beautiful day.
geoharvey 