Opinion:
¶ “What The Global Gas And Coal Crisis Means For Clean Energy” • Energy shortages and price spikes are roiling markets around the globe. This continued risk of supply disruptions and high prices for fossil fuels – which drive up electricity costs – are a signal to countries that it’s time to invest in clean and domestic energy resources. [CNN]
Wind turbines in Greece (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)
¶ “How Exxon Uses Courts To Silence Opponents” • Imperial Beach, a small, working class community near San Diego, is suing oil companies over climate change. Exxon responded with an infestation of Gucci-shod lawyers claiming Imperial Beach and other communities are engaging in a conspiracy to extort money from fossil fuel companies. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nuclear Power Is Too Costly, Too Slow, So It’s Zero Use To Australia’s Emissions Plan” • We must cut emissions fast to deal with climate change – at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030, and probably by about 75% if we want to limit temperature rises to less than 1.5°C. Nuclear power is of zero use on that score. It takes too long and costs too much. [The Guardian]
Cooling towers (Markus Distelrath, Pexels)
World:
¶ “Now More Plug-In Car Sales Than Diesel Car Sales In Europe” • Many milestones will be passed along the journey to the world of electric-powered transportation. We just passed a big one, as sales of plug-in cars surpassed those of diesels in the European market. In August, plug-in vehicles took a 21% market share, compared to 20% for diesels. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Lightsource BP Makes 757-MW Polish Solar Debut” • Through a 757-MW co-development deal with an “experienced, local renewable energy firm,” Lightsource BP secured its first projects in Poland. Nine projects are to be built in several regions of the country. Around half the projects could be ready for construction in 2022, Lightsource BP said. [reNews]
Solar array (Lightsource BP image)
¶ “Billionaires Beating The Government In Race To Net Zero ” • The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero is now “collectively holding assets under management of a staggering $90 trillion to invest in alignment with a 1.5°C trajectory,” said the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Billionaires are not waiting for political leadership. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Iberdrola Earmarks £6 Billion For UK Offshore Wind Hub” • Spanish utility Iberdrola will commit £6 billion to subsidiary ScottishPower’s 3-GW East Anglia Hub off the UK’s east coast. The funding is in addition to the £10 billion UK investment being made by Iberdrola between 2020-2025 to double its renewable generation capacity. [reNews]
Work in an offshore wind farm (Iberdrola image)
¶ “Drax Dropped From Index Of Green Energy Firms Amid Biomass Doubts” • Drax was booted from an investment index of clean energy companies as doubts over the sustainability of its wood-burning power plant begin to mount within the financial sector. It was axed from the index after S&P Global Dow Jones changed its methodology. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ “Harris Makes The Case For Biden’s Climate Priorities In Visit To Rapidly Draining Lake Mead” • Vice President Kamala Harris made a forceful plea for Congress to pass both parts of President Joe Biden’s two-pronged economic agenda because of the climate components as she spoke in front of Nevada’s rapidly draining Lake Mead. [CNN]
Grand Canyon (Alan Carrillo, Unsplash)
¶ “Some Democrats Warn They Could Vote Against Giant Spending Bill If Key Climate Provisions Nixed” • Several Senate Democrats expressed concerns about Sen Joe Manchin’s refusal to support key climate provisions in the Biden spending and tax package. Some warn they may withdraw their support if climate proposals are significantly weakened. [CNN]
¶ “Democrats Are Developing A Replacement For Cornerstone Climate Measure In Sweeping Economic ” • Sen Tina Smith of Minnesota affirmed that Democrats are creating a replacement for the clean electricity program in the economic package. The program will likely be dropped from the bill due to opposition from Sen Joe Manchin of West Virginia. [CNN]
Wind turbines (Daniel Morris, Unsplash)
¶ “US Energy Outfit Issues 1-GW Wind Call” • US energy supplier Evergy issued a request for proposals for wind capacity of up to 1 GW, to serve customers in Kansas and Missouri with clean power. The RFP is soliciting wind project bids that are required to be in service by 2026, though projects that can be operational earlier will be given preference, Evergy said. [reNews]
¶ “New Software Puts Rail Freight On Express Track To Net-Zero Emissions” • Advanced software from the DOE and its industry partners will soon offer a fully integrated package to optimize deployment of locomotive technologies, railway energy supply infrastructure, and train operating practices for cost-effective deep decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]
Freight train (Photo courtesy of BNSF Railway)
¶ “Portland General Electric Lays Out Plan To Eliminate Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 2040” • With about 900,000 power customers in the greater Portland area, Portland General Electric believes a grid that allows customers to sell back their electricity will become a reality in the near future. PGE plans to eliminate fossil fuel use by 2040. [KGW]
¶ “Equinor, BP Select Vestas 15-MW For Empire Wind 1&2” • BP and Equinor chose Vestas as the preferred turbine supplier of 15-MW units for the 2100-MW Empire Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind complex off the coast of the state of New York. Vestas will provide 138 V236-15.0MW turbines for the projects. Empire Wind 1 and 2 will be 24 km to 48 km off Long Island. [reNews]
Have a patently perfect day.
geoharvey 