Opinion:
¶ “Louisiana Hasn’t Yet Recovered From Two Major Hurricanes In 2020. Now Another Is Taking Aim” • Five named storms struck Louisiana in 2020. Two of them were major hurricanes, doing a total of $18.75 billion in damages. As the state still reels from the destruction, another major hurricane is now barreling toward the coast. [CNN]
After Hurricane Laura (Josiah Pugh, Louisiana National Guard)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Looking Into The Future Of The Grid” • One of the challenges of aggregating energy data from different sources into studies is knowing whether the data uses consistent assumptions. The Annual Technology Baseline resolves this challenge by creating consistent assumptions across all electric generation technology cost and performance data. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Space Mission Tests NREL Perovskite Solar Cells” • NREL Researchers are testing ways to bring costs down for terrestrial applications and transforming how PV technologies could work in space. Now, a test will evaluate the potential use of perovskite solar cells in space and assess the durability of materials used in those cells. [CleanTechnica]
Solar Everywhere (NREL)
World:
¶ “XPeng P7 Gets Highest Active Safety Score Of All EVs Sold In China – 98.51%” • After passing the 50,000 vehicle milestone with the P7, setting sales records two months in a row, and leading the Chinese EV startup market, the Guangzhou-based company has announced that the XPeng P7 has the absolute highest safety rating of all EVs sold in China. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Volkswagen ID Buzz Assembly Line Update, Chip Shortage Shuts Down Production” • VW is expanding production of EVs, but MDR Sachsen reports that Volkswagen is pausing electric car production at its Zwickau factory because of the global shortage of computer chips. The shortage is also affecting the company’s main factory in Wolfsburg. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen factory (Volkswagen image)
¶ “Masdar Commissions 100-MW Nur Navoi Solar Project In Uzbekistan” • Masdar, a world leader in renewable energy, has inaugurated Uzbekistan’s first successfully-financed independent power producer solar project. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said 19 projects with 11,500 MW of new capacity are coming. [Trade Arabia]
¶ “‘Energy Patriots’ Bring Electricity To Indonesia’s Remote Villages” • For millions of villagers in Indonesia’s remote areas, a 12-hour-per-day erratic electricity supply is the norm. A recently launched UN-led initiative could change that, thanks to a group of Indonesians, “energy patriots,” who have been tasked to boost the use of clean energy resources. [UN News]
Fishing village in Indonesia (Agency for the
Assessment and Application of Technology)
¶ “Evidence Is Mounting About What Renewable Energy Could Mean For Southeast Alberta” • Evidence shows what renewable energy development could mean for southeast Alberta. New solar and wind farms are coming, and the Globe and Mail reported that Vulcan County might soon get half its tax revenues from green power plants. [Medicine Hat News]
¶ “Shell Plans To Boost Oman Renewable Energy Portfolio” • Global energy major Royal Dutch Shell plans to add new clean energy projects in Oman and boost its renewables portfolio as the sultanate aims to generate 30% of its electricity from green sources by 2030. Oman is building renewable energy plants across the country. [The National]
Qabas solar plant in Oman (Shell EP International)
¶ “Kuwait Reschedules Renewable Energy Projects To Meet Its Electricity Needs” • A bank source told CNBC Arabia that Kuwait has brought back to the table its ambitious plan for renewable energy projects, which were halted due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Kuwaiti economy. The plan had been canceled in July of 2020. [Dubai Week]
US:
¶ “Hurricane Ida: Thousands Flee As Storm Bears Down On Louisiana” • Thousands of people are fleeing as Hurricane Ida closes in on Louisiana. Ida is expected to make landfall with 130 mph (209 km/h) winds and a “life-threatening” storm surge. Forecasters say it may be stronger than Hurricane Katrina, which devastated much of New Orleans in 2005. [BBC]
Projected path of Hurricane Ida (NOAA image)
¶ “Gas Cars Are Declining Significantly And Full Electrics Rising In USA” • We may have experienced peak fossil car sales in the USA, and the peak year wasn’t even very recently. It appears that 2016 will go down in history as the peak year for fossil-powered light-duty vehicle sales. Ironically, that’s also the year the Tesla Model 3 was unveiled. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Waiting List To Own A Tesla Is Growing” • Tesla’s waiting lists are back. For most models, if you order today, you may be lucky to see your new Tesla this year. Tesla is predicting a wait of up to six weeks for the Performance Model 3 and Performance Model X. For some models, estimated delivery times can be as far out as April 2022. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y cars (Tesla image)
¶ “Intensifying Hurricane Ida A Significant Threat To Key Infrastructure” • Ida is forecast to hit the corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where the Waterford 3 nuclear plant sits. The plant is at an elevation of 10-15 feet on the south shore of the Mississippi River, and it is vulnerable to storm surge from a major hurricane. [Yale Climate Connections]
¶ “Nuclear Regulators Up Scrutiny Of Plant Vogtle, Citing Issues” • Nuclear regulators said that they will give greater scrutiny to construction of two new nuclear reactors being built at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle after a special inspection found electrical cables were not properly separated. Southern Nuclear could contest the findings. [WABE 90.1]
Have a noticeably flawless day.
geoharvey 
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