Opinion:
¶ “Gas Prices Could Soar If Russia Invades Ukraine” • If Russia invades Ukraine, inflation-weary Americans will likely pay the price at the pump. That’s because Russia is the No 2 oil producer on the planet, behind only the US. And Ukraine is a key energy transit hub, where a large amount of Russian natural gas exports to Europe flow through. [CNN]
Russian soldier (Министерство обороны РФ, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Is The ExxonMobil Net-Zero Report And Announcement Another Greenwashing Campaign?” • ExxonMobil announced this week that it wants to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for its operating assets by 2050 and shared details as to how it will achieve this goal. This sounds like a good thing on the surface, but is it really? [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Should Shipowners Be Responsible For Compliance With Shipping ETS?” • The European Commission proposed adding shipping to the EU Emissions Trading System. Companies would have to pay for their emissions, rather than report them as under the original regulations. The question is, can they be expected to deal with problems correctly. [CleanTechnica]
Ship (Valentin Schönpos, Pixabay)
¶ “Nuclear Energy Is Far Too Costly” • When it suggests that nuclear power be considered sustainable, the EU Commission is completely ignoring the costs of nuclear energy. Quite apart from the funds required to build new nuclear power plants, even smaller ones, there is the far more important question of who would foot the bill in the event of an accident. [DW]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Scientists Recommend System Of Checkpoints To Help Guide Climate Engineering Research” • A team of scientists outlined a framework for assessing the viability of a method for reflecting sunlight called marine cloud brightening. The method would use ocean sea-salt particles to increase the reflectivity of low-lying clouds over certain ocean regions. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “When Graphene Speaks, Scientists Can Now Listen” • Two brothers, John Li, a Rice alumnus now studying at Stanford University, and Victor Li, then a high school student in New York and now a freshman at the MIT, are co-lead authors of a paper that describes the real-time analysis of laser-induced graphene production through sound. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “False Banana: Is Ethiopia’s Enset ‘Wondercrop’ For Climate Change?” • Enset, a banana-like crop, has the potential to feed more than 100 million people in a warming world, according to a study. The plant is almost unknown outside of Ethiopia, where it is used to make porridge and bread. It might be grown over a much larger range in Africa. [BBC]
Ensete ventricosum (Daderot, released to the public domain)
¶ “26% Of New Vehicle Sales Plugin Vehicle Sales In Germany In 2021” • In Germany, plugin vehicles scored an amazing 36% share (21% battery EV) in December, with the full 2021 numbers ending at over 681,000 units and 26% share (14% battery EV). That makes Germany the largest PEV market outside of China, beating even the USA. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “100% Zero-Emissions Cherry Orchard” • New Zealand’s first zero-emissions food producer, Forest Lodge Orchard, in Central Otago, New Zealand, is 100% free of fossil fuels. The farmers have electrified everything at the orchard, irrigation, electric vehicles, frost-fighting fans, tools, and everything else, and powered it all with a solar system. [CleanTechnica]
Forest Lodge Orchard, with zero emissions (Courtesy of FLO)
US:
¶ “Tesla Insurance Expands To Arizona And Ohio” • Tesla Insurance has been expanded to Arizona and Ohio. There are now five states where it is available, the others being California, Illinois, and Texas. In 2020, Elon Musk pointed out that the insurance part of Tesla’s business could be 30% to 40% of the value of the car business. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Expected To Increase In 2022 And 2023” • In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration forecast that US energy-related CO₂ emissions will increase in 2022 and 2023 but remain below 2019 levels. These emissions had decreased 11% in 2020 due to Covid-19. [CleanTechnica]
Graphic from the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook
¶ “Wind Turbine Installed At Kansas Ethanol Plant” • Western Plains Energy, Faith Technologies Inc, Juhl Energy, and GE Renewable Energy partnered on a wind turbine to power the WPE ethanol plant in Oakley, Kansas, with on-site energy. WPE produces about 50 million gallons of denatured ethanol annually for use as fuel. [Ethanol Producer Magazine]
¶ “Verizon Signs Power Deals For 910 MW Of New Renewables” • US telecoms provider Verizon has entered into virtual power purchase agreements equating to a total of 910 MW of capacity. Verizon’s seven new renewable energy purchase agreements are expected to help finance the powering of seven new solar and wind facilities. [reNews]
Solar array (Duke Energy image)
¶ “EnTech Solutions Provides Wisconsin Cheese Factory With Solar Energy” • EnTech Solutions installed two renewable energy microgrids at the site of Agropur’s new 210,000 sq ft cheese plant being built in Little Chute, Wisconsin. Agropur is the largest North American dairy coop. The new facility will double its milk processing capacity. [Facility Executive Magazine]
¶ “West Virginia House Committee Advances Nuclear Power Ban Repeal Bill” • The West Virginia House of Delegates Committee on Energy and Manufacturing voted to advance a bill that would repeal the state’s ban on nuclear power plants. Committee members voted to report House Bill 2882 to the House floor with a recommendation that it pass. [WV News]
Have a copacetically rewarding day.
geoharvey 