Opinion:
¶ “Renewable Energy Is Leading The Way In The ‘New Utilities’” • The utilities sector has been undergoing transitions as energy demands and resources change. For those in the sector who thought that 2021 was rocky, there are signs that 2022 will be even more disruptive. Ty Roberts, VP of Networked Solutions, explained to Digital Journal. [Digital Journal]
Wind turbines (Laura Ockel, Unsplash)
¶ “China’s Offshore Wind Leap Shows Renewable Energy Failures” • Coal-dependent China’s recent overtake of the UK for the world’s largest offshore wind capacity, with nearly half global supply, is an impressive feat drawing deserved praise, but it also demonstrates how underutilized that renewable energy source really is. [Sustainability Magazine]
¶ “Natural Landmarks Already Damaged Or Destroyed By Climate Change” • Most people who never travel to exotic places will nonetheless recognize images of Mount Kilimanjaro with its legendary snows, or the Great Barrier Reef and its rich marine life. But these and many other iconic natural wonders are losing their struggle with climate change. [24/7 Wall St]
Kilimanjaro with nearly no snow (Stephan Bechert, Unsplash)
¶ “West Virginia Legislature Could Make A Big Mistake On Nuclear Energy Monday” • With the West Virginia legislature voting on bills to deregulate and fast-track new nuclear energy power plants in the State this week, ratepayers and taxpayers would be well advised to consider the recent case of “Plant Vogtle.” [Huntington News]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Plant-Based Epoxy Enables Recyclable Carbon Fiber And Improves Economics For Mass Market Electric Vehicles” • NREL researchers showed that making carbon fiber composites with bio-based epoxies and an anhydride hardener makes them fully recyclable by introducing linkages that are more easily degraded. Composites can approach being “green.” [CleanTechnica]
NREL researcher (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)
World:
¶ “Bentley To Produce Its First EV In The UK” • Bentley has committed £2.5 billion to sustainability investments over the next 10 years and secured a UK production site for its first battery EV, which is slated to roll off of the production line sometime in 2025. The company will be exclusively electric and end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “What An Astronaut Could See From Space That Changed Him For Good” • European Space Agency said the effects of climate change on Earth were increasingly visible from space and showed a marked difference since his last visit to the space station in 2016: retreating glaciers, pollution, and extreme weather events. [CNN]
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet (ESA/NASA image)
¶ “Western Australia – Out With The Poles, In With The Solar Panels” • Western Australia is a vast state. Power companies are seeing a high cost difference between maintaining poles and wires and installing hybrid power systems at the ends of the long power lines. When bushfires burn all the poles, it is very easy to decide which way to go. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Northern Territory EV Transition” • Australia’s Northern Territory has long been associated with the biennial World Solar Car Challenge. A recent survey showed 78% of Territorians would consider purchasing an EV if they were on price parity with petrol or diesel cars. The government of the territory is working on making that happen. [CleanTechnica]
Solar racer (Image courtesy of Northern Territory Government)
¶ “European Companies Willing To Provide Iran With Solar Panel Production Lines” • The head of the Energy Committee of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture has said European companies, especially those in Germany, are currently willing to provide Iran with solar panel production lines, IRNA reported. [Tehran Times]
US:
¶ “Millions Remain Under Blizzard Warnings As Nor’easter Pummels The Northeast” • Much of the East Coast was covered with a thick blanket of snow Saturday night, with several areas reporting record snowfall totals, and officials across the region urged residents to stay put as the fierce nor’easter made its way through the country’s northeastern tip. [CNN]
Snow in Lexington, MA (HurricaneCovid, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “LA City Council Votes Unanimously To End Urban Oil Drilling” • After several years of intense organizing by residents and community groups, the Los Angeles City Council voted to pass a motion that will begin phasing out oil drilling throughout the City of Los Angeles. The unanimous vote is a tremendous win for health and safety. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California’s Rooftop Solar Net Metering Program” • Long a pioneer in the adoption of solar power, California is in the midst of seeking input from stakeholders, through a California Public Utilities Commission process, to adjust its net metering rooftop solar program in a manner that accounts for emerging needs and market trends. [CleanTechnica]
Have a really fantastic day.
geoharvey 
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