Opinion:
¶ “Green Olympics: Test Case For China And Carbon Neutrality” • China can use the winter Olympics as a way to show the many millions of people who will watch the games that it is serious about achieving its ambitious climate goals. China has nearly half of total capacity of renewable energy that has been installed in the world. [CleanTechnica]
Guangling County wind farm (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Ice That Took Roughly 2,000 Years To Form On Mt Everest Has Melted In Around 25” • The highest glacier on the world’s tallest mountain is losing decades worth of ice every year because of human-induced climate change, a study shows. Ice that took around 2,000 years to form on the South Col Glacier has melted in around 25 years. [CNN]
¶ “Does Renewable Energy Threaten Efforts To Conserve Biodiversity On Land?” • In our study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we suggest that, while conflicts between renewables and protected areas do occur, overlap need not be as severe as previously suggested, with appropriate policy and regulatory controls. [Carbon Brief]
Wildebeest migration (Jorge Tung, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Satellites Map Huge Methane Plumes From Oil And Gas” • Huge plumes of the warming gas methane have been mapped globally for the first time from oil and gas fields using satellites. Plugging these leaks would be an important step in buying extra time to curb climate change. The leaks are thought to be mostly unintended. [BBC]
¶ “European Oil Facilities Hit By Cyber-Attacks” • Multiple oil transport and storage companies across Europe are dealing with cyber-attacks. IT systems have been disrupted at Oiltanking in Germany, SEA-Invest in Belgium, and Evos in the Netherlands. In total dozens of terminals with oil storage and transport across the world have been affected. [BBC]
Oil terminal (Oiltanking image)
¶ “EU Member States To Sue Brussels For Classifying Fossil Fuel Gas And Nuclear Power As ‘Green Energy’” • EU member states are to take legal action against the European Commission after it decided to count natural gas and nuclear power as green energy. The EU’s executive controversially included the two fuels in its “taxonomy” this week. [The Independent]
¶ “UK Drivers Cut Fuel Costs 69% Switching To EVs From Petrol Or Diesel Cars” • UK drivers are set to save 68.6% of their annual fuel costs when making the switch from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles, research shows. The study was done by analysts at Your Electrical Supplies, Service, and Solutions (YESSS Electrical). [CleanTechnica]
Cost per mile (Image courtesy of YESSS Electrical)
US:
¶ “Democrats Call For Biden Officials To Limit US Natural Gas Exports Because Of Rising Home Heating Costs” • Eleven US Senators called for the Biden administration to curb overseas shipments of natural gas as Americans struggle with home heating sticker shock this winter. Higher natural gas prices are driving heating costs up sharply. [CNN]
¶ “EPA, White House Warn Louis Dejoy To Halt Plan To Replace USPS Fleet With Gas-Powered Trucks” • The White House and EPA blasted the US Postal Service for its decision to replace 90% of its aging vehicle fleet with gas-powered trucks, rather than EVs. The current USPS plan would have only 10% of its next generation delivery vehicles be electric. [CNN]
Next generation USPS delivery truck (USPS image)
¶ “81 Tesla Megapacks Help Texas Keep The Grid Stabilized” • Tesla is helping Texas with 81 Megapacks to avoid a repeat of last year’s winter disaster. This year, as Tesla is settling into its nice new headquarters, it is having a positive impact on the state. Elon Musk said that Tesla is working hard to provide even more of the battery systems. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “New England Natural Gas And Electricity Prices Increase On Supply Constraints, High Demand” • The spot natural gas price at the Algonquin Citygate, a trading hub and benchmark for the natural gas price in New England, averaged $20.55 per million British thermal units during January 2022, the highest monthly average price since February 2014. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
¶ “Louisiana Sets 5-GW Offshore Wind Goal” • Louisiana has announced an offshore wind goal of 5 GW by 2035. The target has been set out within the state’s Climate Action Plan, which is intended to complement ongoing efforts to implement the state’s Coastal Master Plan. The goal of that plan is to adapt to the impacts of climate change. [reNews]
¶ “Caterpillar Hops On Electric Train Craze With A Massive Deal For Ten Locomotives” • Through its Progress Rail subsidiary, Caterpillar, the legendary maker of heavy equipment, locked in a 10-locomotive deal with the Union Pacific Railroad, the equally legendary rail company. It will be the biggest battery-electric locomotive fleet in the US. [CleanTechnica]
EMD® Joule locomotive (Photo courtesy of Progress Rail)
¶ “CAISO Plan Calls For $30.5 Billion For Transmission And More Renewable Energy” • California’s power grid will look much different by 2040, a 20-year draft transmission plan by the California Independent System Operator shows. It calls for much more renewable energy resources and a $30.5-billion build-out of the transmission grid. [POWER Magazine]
¶ “House Committee Supports Nuclear Waste Ban Bill” • A New Mexico House Committee has approved a bill that would ban spent nuclear material from being stored in or transported through the state. The legislation aims directly at a proposed privately owned and operated spent nuclear waste interim storage facility in southeast New Mexico. [KSFR]
Have an importantly recreational day.
geoharvey 
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