Opinion:
¶ “Big Auto Had The Ultimate Barriers To Entry – Then Tesla Broke Through” • Conventional wisdom once held that it would be practically impossible for a startup company to challenge the Big Auto behemoths. When economics professors explained the concept of barriers to entry, the auto industry was usually example #1. Then Tesla came along. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model S (Tesla Fans Schweiz, Unsplash)
¶ “Russia’s Attack On Ukraine Is A Clear Warning To Us To Become Energy Independent With Renewables” • America and its allies have been thrust into yet another conflict linked to the world’s addiction to fossil fuels. If we heed the warning and decisively act now, it could be the last such global conflict. It would also address climate change. [The Hill]
World:
¶ “Ukraine conflict: Shares fall after nuclear plant attack” • Share prices fell after a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, after Russia troops shelled it. London’s FTSE 100 share index opened down 0.6%. Japan’s Nikkei index closed down 2.2%. Some investor concerns were eased after officials said the plant’s safety was “secured.” [BBC]
Zaporizhzhia reactors 1 and 2 (DENAMAX, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Ukraine Nuclear Plant: Russia In Control After Shelling” • Russia has taken control of a nuclear power station in Ukraine after it was hit by shelling. A fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – the largest in Europe – and Ukraine said it was shelled by Russian troops. Authorities say the facility is now safe and radiation levels are normal. [BBC]
¶ “End Imports Of Russian Oil To Stop Financing Putin’s War” • The EU should embargo all oil and gas imports from Russia in order to stop financing Putin’s war on Ukraine, 25 European NGOs say in a public appeal to leaders. The coalition is also demanding that the country of origin for oil products be made clear at petrol stations. [CleanTechnica]
Russian gas facility (Government of Russia, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Ukraine War Prompts European Reappraisal Of Its Energy Supplies” • Vladimir Putin is using Russia’s hold over fossil fuel supplies to Europe as “a political and economic weapon,” the executive director of the International Energy Agency said. EU governments have to deal with a threat to democracy while they head off climate disaster. [The Guardian]
¶ “Duterte OKs Use Of Nuclear Energy” • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order adopting a nuclear energy program. It recommends reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, among other measures. Released by Malacañang, EO 64 sets the government’s course to harnessing nuclear power as a source of electricity. [The Manila Times]
Rodrigo Duterte (Simeon Celi Jr, Philippine Government)
¶ “South Korea’s Moon Orders Protection Of Nuclear Power Plant Amid Wildfire” • South Korea President Moon Jae-in has ordered an all-out effort to be made to protect the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant from a wildfire that broke out in the eastern coastal county of Uljin, according to a statement from the presidential office. [CNA]
Australia:
¶ “Castles & Cars – Cash Savings In The Suburbs” • Rewiring Australia just issued a report, with support from Mike Cannon-Brookes, that makes the case for electrifying everything in the Aussie home. Castles & Cars extends that even to transport. There are savings to be made in the suburbs if we electrify our castles and our cars. [CleanTechnica]
Electric truck (Spielvogel, Wikipedia, CC0 1.0)
¶ “Mike Cannon-Brookes Tries To Buy And Shut Down Worst Coal Plant In Australia” • Mike Cannon-Brookes, founder of Atlassian, teamed up with Canadian asset manager Brookfield to put in a bid for Australia’s most polluting power company. Green capital is trying to push out the old legacy coal barons, in a case of “if you can’t beat them, buy them.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Victoria Sets 9-GW Offshore Wind Goal In Australia” • The Australian state of Victoria plans to have 9 GW of offshore wind capacity installed of its coast by 2040. The Labor Government of the state has published the “Victorian Offshore Wind Policy Directions Paper”, which also set interim targets of 2 GW by 2032 and 4 GW by 2035. [reNews]
Offshore windpower (Stig Nygaard, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
US:
¶ “President Biden Ignored Tesla’s $10 Billion Investment In EVs During SOTU” • President Biden, when he highlighted the EV transition and auto manufacturing in the US during his 2022 State of the Union address, once again ignored the contributions made by Tesla, which include a $10 billion investment in Texas toward EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Climate Math Of Home Heating Electrification” • UC Davis researchers published a study in Energy Policy showing that a typical US home can cut its heating-related climate pollution by 45% to 72% by swapping out a gas-fired furnace for an efficient, all-electric heat pump. And it’s true right now, today, in every region in the country. [CleanTechnica]
Electric heat (Nate the House Whisperer, via Electrify Now)
¶ “TotalEnergies Seeks Foot In California Offshore Wind Door” • The windy waters of the California coast have tantalized offshore wind developers for years, and now the door is opening. Among those vying for a slot is the French firm TotalEnergies. The global energy producer’s continuing interest in Russian fossil fuels could be a stumbling block. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “South Brooklyn Marine Terminal To Turn Into Renewable Energy Hub Off Sunset Park” • Mayor Eric Adams announced that the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will be transformed into a port facility for offshore wind energy. The project will turn the space into an operations and maintenance hub for offshore wind farms. [Brooklyn Paper]
Have a comprehensively hopeful day.
geoharvey 
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