Opinion:
¶ “Good Riddance Nord Stream 2. Now Europe Has A Golden Opportunity” • At long last, the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 has been suspended. It was a terrible idea from its conception and now, with Russia on the brink of a second invasion of Ukraine, it’s finally halted. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made good on a threat to close it if there is an invasion. [CNN]
Pipes for Nord Stream 2 (Gerd Fahrenhorst, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Shattering The Energy Independence Myth” • We’re often told that energy independence is a national security issue. The New York Times published an opinion piece in which two authors suggest energy independence for the US is not about pumping more oil and gas. It is about pushing the renewable energy and EV revolutions forward. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Net-Zero Energy Blok-By-Blok: Lower Emissions And Costs With Net-Zero Energy Modules” • A report from Blokable, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory details actionable pathways to building net zero energy housing while reducing greenhouse gas emissions without increasing costs. [CleanTechnica]
Net zero prefabricated housing unit (Werner Slocum, NREL)
¶ “Global Warming And Land Use Change To Drive More Extreme Wildfires” • Extreme wildfires are set to become more frequent in the future, increasing by around 50% by the end of this century, according to a report from the UN. Researchers say that rising temperatures and changes to the way we use land will drive the increase. [BBC]
World:
¶ “Oil Hits $100, US Stock Futures Slide After Putin Announces Military Operation In Donbas” • Brent crude oil hit $100 a barrel and stock futures fell sharply Wednesday after blasts were heard in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Donbas. Dow futures lost nearly 700 points, or about 2%. Nasdaq futures dropped 2.7%. [CNN]
Oil traders (Own Oil Industry News, public domain)
¶ “A Used Tesla Costs More Than A New One In China” • A used Tesla costs more than a new one in China, CarNewsChina reports. Demand for Teslas is high while supply of new ones just can’t keep up. The used car market in China has developed pretty quickly thanks to the chip shortage, supply line challenges, and Covid-related issues. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “European Renewable Energy Firm Plans To Invest $10 Billion In Singapore By 2030” • EDP Renewables, the world’s fourth largest renewable energy producer, will invest $10 billion by 2030 to establish its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore, while continuing to develop new clean energy projects across the region, the company said. [The Straits Times]
Sunseap floating solar farm (Sunseap Group image)
¶ “City Of Cape Town To Procure 300 MW Of Renewable Energy From IPPs” • To reduce its reliance on the utility Eskom and to enable access to more affordable and reliable electricity, the mayor of Cape Town announced that the city intends to procure up to 300 MW of renewable energy from IPPs over the next few months. [White & Case LLP]
¶ “Energy Storage Firms In Edinburgh And East Lothian Advance” • Gravitricity, a Scottish firm that plans to turn disused mines into renewable energy generation plants, has won UK Government backing. And Scottish specialist Sunamp, based in East Lothian, also won support under the Longer Duration Energy Storage program. [The Herald]
Gravitricity managing director Charlie Blair (Gravitricity image)
¶ “Experts: Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Reactors On The Front Lines Threaten Another Disaster ‘On Par’ With Chernobyl” • An organization of US and Russian physicians warned that a military conflict involving the two powers in Ukraine risks a nuclear “catastrophe” that could have horrific effects on all of Europe, and potentially the entire planet. [Raw Story]
US:
¶ “USPS Finalizing Plan To Replace Fleet With 90% Gas-Powered Vehicles” • The US Postal Service is moving ahead with a plan to replace its current fleet with 90% gas-powered trucks and 10% battery EVs, after the EPA and White House objected and asked for further study of the emissions impact. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said more EVs are not funded. [CNN]
USPS delivery truck (Joel Moysuh, Unsplash)
¶ “‘We Are A Gas Superpower.’ Ex-Trump Regulator Says Us Natural Gas Can Help Europe” • The decision by Germany to halt the certification of Nord Stream 2 underscores the critical role US natural gas can play on the world stage, former top energy regulator Neil Chatterjee told CNN on Tuesday. The US is the world’s largest producer of natural gas. [CNN]
¶ “250 Million Tax Dollars Spent To Clean Up Yet Another Fuel Leak In US Navy Storage Tank” • The Sierra Club of Hawaii has been pressing the issue of leaky Navy fuel tanks for more than 20 years, citing ongoing leaks of jet fuel into the aquifer used for Oahu’s drinking water. Now the Navy is finally doing something about it, at high cost. [CleanTechnica]
Aerial view of Pearl Harbor, 1986 (PH1 Javner, US Navy)
¶ “The Biggest Offshore Wind Lease Auction In US History ‘Showcases Booming Demand’ For Clean Power” • The Interior Department opened a record-breaking auction of offshore wind leases for six areas in the New York Bight that will provide clean electricity to New York and New Jersey. The lease sales so far raised more than $1 billion. [Environment America]
¶ “Indiana Lawmakers Pass ‘Baby Nukes’ Bill And Send It To The Governor” • In a vote of 70 to 22, the Indiana General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow electric utilities to build small modular reactors. It is a move that could pave the way for commercial nuclear power in the state for the first time. [Indianapolis Business Journal]
Have a spectacularly sensible day.
geoharvey 
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