Science and Technology:
¶ “Birds Are Laying Eggs Earlier, A Study Shows. Scientists Blame The Climate Crisis” • Using collections of egg samples from the modern and Victorian eras, researchers found that several bird species in the Chicago area nest and lay eggs almost a full month earlier now than they did a century ago. Their study appeared in the Journal of Animal Ecology. [CNN]
Robin’s eggs (Solen Feyissa, Unsplash)
¶ “How Waste Food Can Reduce Our Reliance On Natural Gas” • At a large industrial facility not far south-west of Ireland’s capital Dublin, one man says old food waste and pig manure can help Europe fight climate change – and reduce its reliance on Russia for energy. Billy Costello directs Green Generation, which makes biomethane from food waste and other sources. [BBC]
¶ “Battery Research Tackles New Challenges For Behind-The-Meter Stationary Storage Systems” • The transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will radically change the power grid. Stationary energy storage systems are critical to grid resiliency by ensuring that the power from renewable energy sources is available when it is needed. [CleanTechnica]
Stationary battery (Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL)
World:
¶ “Antarctic Ice Shelf Nearly The Size Of Los Angeles Collapsed As Temperatures Soared To 40°C (70°F) Above Normal” • The Conger Ice Shelf, spanning approximately 460 square miles, collapsed around March 15. It was around the time temperatures soared to -12°C (10°F), more than 40°C warmer than normal, at the Concordia research station. [CNN]
¶ “Europe Can’t Live Without Russian Gas. Can This Tiny Middle East Country Help?” • Qatar is one of the world’s top suppliers of liquefied natural gas. As European states rush to find alternatives to the Russian gas that has powered their economies for decades, because of Moscow’s brutal war in Ukraine, Qatar has been thrust into the limelight. [CNN]
Doha, Qatar (Rowen Smith, Unsplash)
¶ “20% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China! BYD Shining” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market. Even in the slowest month of the year, plugins have scored 291,000 registrations, up 176% year over year. March looks like it could be another strong month, and China might see a million plugin registrations by the end of Q1. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “NSW Maps Out New Renewable Energy Zone As Shift From Coal Accelerates” • The NSW government has published a draft declaration of the South-West Renewable Energy Zone, as it prepares for a massive shift from coal to renewables. The draft details the potential boundaries, the required infrastructure and appointing a planner. [Renew Economy]
Blayney Wind Farm (Bren Barnes, CC-BY-SA 2.5)
¶ “Energy Bill Discounts For People Who Live Near Wind Farms Could Be Used To Boost Renewable Power” • Families living near windfarms may get discounts on their energy bills under plans to encourage more renewable electricity. Boris Johnson plans to publish the UK’s energy security strategy soon, in a bid to reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas. [iNews]
¶ “Chernobyl: Where Is Nuclear Power Plant, When Did Disaster Happen, How To Watch TV Documentary The Lost Tapes” • In the UK, Channel 4 is set to air a new documentary about the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986. Formerly secret KGB files have revealed the “astonishing truth” behind the explosion of the nuclear reactor in Ukraine. [NationalWorld]
Chernobyl (Mads Eneqvist, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “Treasury Secretary Yellen: The US Should Have Moved Faster Toward Renewable Energy” • Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States should have moved faster toward renewable energy sources. She said that if we had done so, the country would be in a better position to address climate change and national security. [CNBC]
¶ “Manchin Engaging With Biden Administration On New Climate And Economic Bill But Timeline Unclear” • Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV), who torpedoed the Build Back Better bill in December, is in informal talks with White House officials about measures on energy, prescription drugs, tax changes, and deficit reduction he could potentially support. [CNN]
Sen Joe Manchin, 2021 (MDGovpics, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “America’s First 5G Connected Car Is Here – And It’s Electric!” • BMW is introducing America’s first 5G connected cars, the BMW i4 sports sedan and the all-electric BMW iX. The pair will be powered by T-Mobile’s “Magenta Drive for BMW” service plan as part of an agreement with T-Mobile to bring unlimited calling and 5G data to select BMWs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “100% Renewable Energy In Puerto Rico – How To Get There” • An analysis led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is underway to supply Puerto Rico with options for achieving a renewable, reliable, and equitable electric power system. A goal is to de-risk Puerto Rico’s investments in modern, intelligent, and affordable grid infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]
San Juan (Wei Zeng, Unsplash)
¶ “Wildfire Risk Remains High For Much Of Texas In The Days Ahead, Fire Officials Say” • Much of Texas is at an elevated risk of wildfires this weekend and early next week because of higher-than-usual temperatures and a worsening drought, according to Texas A&M Forest Service analysts and the state climatologist. Current conditions favor wildfires. [KERA News]
¶ “Americans Unsure About Increasing Nuclear Power Capacity, Poll Finds” • Advocates of nuclear power tout it as a cleaner energy source than coal or gas since nuclear fission can generate electricity without producing carbon. But Americans continue to have mixed feelings on whether to use nuclear power as a source of energy, a new poll found. [TheHill]
Have a noteworthily nifty day.
geoharvey 
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