Opinion:
¶ “Sands Of Time Are Slipping Away For England’s Crumbling Coasts Amid Climate Crisis” • Norfolk is a real-time lesson in how weather and sea can drastically alter a landscape. One man said, “You hear about erosion, but you don’t know what it means, what it involves, until you witness it. And it’s a shock to see the physical transformation.” [The Guardian]
Happisburgh and eroding cliffs (Jim Whiteside, CC BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “How Much Cheaper Is It To Own An Electric Car?” • Buying an electric car isn’t just about the much-needed transition to clean energy. As New Year’s resolutions come into sharp focus, it might be high time to save some cash. Buying an electric car, instead of another gas-guzzler, might be a powerful (and easy) way to reach that noble goal. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Denmark To Make Domestic Flights Fossil Fuel Free By 2030” • Denmark’s government announced a goal to make domestic flights fossil fuel free by 2030. In her New Year’s address, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she wants to “make flying green.” However she acknowledged that the solutions to reach her target were not yet in place. [BBC]
Airplane at a small Danish airport (Peter Bakema, Gnu license)
¶ “EU Plans To Label Gas And Nuclear Energy ‘Green’ Prompt Row” • The European Commission proposes to label some gas and nuclear power as green, prompting criticism from Germany. The proposal argues that gas and nuclear are needed to help the transition to cleaner power. Germany’s environment minister called the plan “absolutely wrong.” [BBC]
¶ “China Cuts EV Incentives By 30% As Tesla Raises Prices” • On the last day of 2021, China’s Finance Ministry announced a 30% cut in its incentive for purchase of “new energy vehicles,” starting January 1, 2022. And Tesla, with surging sales in China, has raised its prices. Even so, the cost of a new Tesla Model 3 is 11% lower than it was two years ago. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 (Martin Katler, Unsplash)
¶ “China To Remain Renewable Energy Leader With Strong Capacity Growth In 2022” • China will continue to be the global leader in renewable energy capacity growth over the next five years, despite phasing out renewable subsidies and the country’s heavy reliance on coal, which will remain unchanged in 2022, according to analysts. [South China Morning Post]
¶ “Rwanda’s Transition To Electric Buses” • Vehicular emissions are the leading cause of the increasing air pollution in cities in Rwanda. The Government of Rwanda has introduced incentives for introducing electric vehicles across all vehicle types. Many types of EVs are appearing in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, but buses require extra effort. [CleanTechnica]
Residential area of Kigali (Zdegiulio, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Japan Pushes For Undersea Cables To Solve Wind Power Puzzle” • Hokkaido could supply Tokyo and other parts of Japan with offshore wind energy, but the lack of adequate transmission capacity has kept the northernmost prefecture from becoming a hub for the renewable resource. Submarine cables are being considered to solve that problem. [Nikkei Asia]
¶ “Wind And Solar: A Robust Forecast For Renewable Energy In Alberta” • The demise of coal-fired electricity plants in Alberta is happening a lot quicker than some people expected. The target to eliminate coal-powered electricity is expected to be met seven years ahead of its scheduled date of 2030. As that happens, wind and solar plants are being installed. [CBC]
Wind turbines (Karyatid, Unsplash)
¶ “Solar Energy In Blocks Of Flats Begins To Take Off In Spain” • More and more groups of people are organizing in Spain to share the electricity generated by rooftop PVs on their own roofs or on other buildings. There are already several autonomous communities that promote consumption of their own electricity, and more are coming. [CVBJ Biz]
¶ “Germany: One Year To Go For The Last Three Nuclear Power Plants” • While the European Commission is moving to declare nuclear power “green” energy, Germany is about to get rid of it entirely because of its dangers. On New Year’s Eve, the Federal Republic shut down three reactors. The last three will follow at the end of this year. [The Berlin Spectator]
Unfinished German nuclear reactor (Harald Rossa, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “Obscure NYC Agency Plucks 184 Ford Mustang Mach-E Electric Vehicles From EV Pot” • A New York City agency, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, put out a press release on December 29, saying that it is “placing an order” for 184 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles. The contract was registered on December 22. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “New York Adopts ACT Rule Bringing Clean Trucks To The State” • New York is closing out 2021 with a big climate and clean air win, becoming the fifth state in the country to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Adoption of the ACT rule ensures that over $19 billion in net societal benefits will come to New Yorkers through 2050. [CleanTechnica]
Mack Trucks electric garbage truck (Courtesy of Mack Trucks)
¶ “A Look Ahead At Advanced Nuclear In 2022” • As TerraPower sought a site for a nuclear plant in Wyoming, four communities said they wanted it. Kemmerer, home to 2,750 people and the 448-MW Naughton Coal Plant, was chosen.The DOE promised to fund half the project, up to $1.6 billion, as long as Natrium will be operational in 2028. [Casper Star-Tribune]
¶ “Yucca Mountain Remains In Debate Over Nuclear Waste Storage” • Mounting opposition to various proposed nuclear waste storage sites in Texas and New Mexico has kept Yucca Mountain in Nevada in the national debate over what to do with the growing stockpile of radioactive material scattered around the country. [Colorado Politics]
Have a clearly flawless day.
geoharvey 
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