Opinion:
¶ “Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Highlights Vulnerability Of Nuclear Power Plants” • A series of Russian attacks near nuclear plants over the last two weeks are elevating fears of potential accidents and what they could trigger. John Yang reports on the latest and speaks to science correspondent Miles O’Brien, who covered the aftermath of Chernobyl. [PBS]
Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (Victor Korniyenko, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “New, New Solid-State Battery News From MIT” • For all the advantages promised by solid state batteries, nobody seems to know how to manufacture them outside of the laboratory. But scientists at MIT found a way to overcome one of the big hurdles, instabilities in the boundary between the solid electrolyte layer and the two electrodes. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Kites Seeking The World’s Surest Winds” • Look up over the white sand beaches of Mauritius and you may see a gigantic sail. It’s much like the kind used by paragliders or kite surfers but the size of a three-bedroom apartment, and it loops in figures-of-eight overhead. The sail isn’t a tourist attraction – it’s a generator, creating electricity. [BBC]
Kite (Image credit: SkySails Group)
World:
¶ “Elon Musk Donates Starlink Kits To New South Wales” • Just as he did in past crises, Elon Musk has responded to pleas for help from flooded areas of New South Wales and donated Starlink resources to isolated communities. Some of the worst hit areas of the NSW Northern Rivers region have received more than ten Starlink Rapid Deployment Kits. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “War In Ukraine: Oil Prices Plunge As UAE Supports Supply Boost” • Oil prices have plunged after the UAE said it supported increasing production. The benchmark Brent crude fell more than 17% at one point after the statement. The fall follows weeks of escalating prices due to fears of supply disruptions sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [BBC]
Oil rig (Worksite, Ltd, Unsplash)
¶ “Europe’s Dependence On Russian Oil – $285 Million A Day In Putin’s Pocket” • Europe is giving Putin $285 million a day to meet its dependence on imported oil, new data¹ shows. Transport & Environment, which carried out the study, has called for Europe to join a global embargo of Russian oil to stop funding Putin’s war in Ukraine. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “In 2021 Renewable Energy Use Reached An All-Time High, But So Did CO₂ Emissions” • Increases in global CO₂ emissions more than offset the previous year’s pandemic-induced decline, according to IEA analysis. Adverse weather conditions and increases in the price of natural gas both led to more coal being burned. [pv magazine USA]
Coal-burning power plant (Tony Webster, Xcel Energy)
¶ “CEMEX Philippines Inaugurates Renewable Power Facility” • CEMEX Philippines takes a significant step in its CO₂ reduction commitment with the commissioning of a 4.5-MW heat recovery facility in its APO Cement plant in Naga City, Cebu. The excess heat created by the plant’s machines is captured and used to generate electricity. [Inquirer.net]
¶ “India Targets 85% Of Energy Needs From Green Sources” • A 25-year vision document has proposed replacing coal-based power generation capacity by stepping up the installed capacity for renewable energy generation to 85% of the total requirement, said officials. This will require 1,125 GW of renewable energy capacity. [The Economic Times]
Solar plant in Gujarat (Citizenmj, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Saudi Arabia Awards 1 GW Of Solar Packages” • Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry has signed the power-purchase agreements with the developer teams that won contracts to develop two solar PV power projects in the Kingdom. Al-Rass solar PV IPP has won a contract for 700 MW. And a Jinko Power consortium has won a 300 MW contract. [Power Technology]
¶ “Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station Loses Electricity, IAEA Sees No Risk” • Ukrainian authorities have informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that there is a danger of a radiation leak at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, after electricity was cut off to the plant, but the UN nuclear watchdog says there is “no critical impact on security.” [Press TV]
Chernobyl nuclear plant (Jason Minshull, Public domain)
US:
¶ “Chevron Phillips Will Pay Nearly $120 Million To Clean Up 3 Chemical Plants After Allegations It Violated Clean Air Act” • The Justice Department secured a settlement with the Chevron Phillips to make upgrades at three of its Texas petrochemical plants. Chevron Phillips is accused of failing to properly operate and monitor its industrial flares. [CNN]
¶ “EPA Officially Reinstates California’s Authority To Craft Its Own Vehicle Emissions Standards” • The EPA announced that it restored California’s authority to implement its own greenhouse gas emission standards and zero-emission sales mandates. The EPA is also allowing other states to adopt California’s stricter standards in lieu of the federal rules. [CNN]
Traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge (Saketh Garuda, Unsplash)
¶ “House Passes Ban On Russian Oil, Natural Gas And Coal” • The House of Representatives voted 414-17 to ban imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal into the US. The bill will also take steps to revisit Russia’s role in the World Trade Organization and reauthorize the Magnitsky Act to strengthen sanctions on Russia for human rights violations. [CNN]
¶ “Nearly $1.5 Billion In Grants To Modernize US Bus Fleets And Facilities” • At an event with Vice President Kamala Harris, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Transit Administration Administrator Nuria Fernandez announced the availability of $1.47 billion in competitive grant funds to help bus fleets and facilities modernize. [CleanTechnica]
Have an outstandingly advantageous day.
geoharvey 
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