Opinion:
¶ “The World Is Stuck Between Gas Prices And Climate Change” • The West needs more oil now. The world needs to get off oil and gas ASAP. It is an epic quandary of the oil addiction that runs the world economy. President Joe Biden announced a plan he said would address all of the above, with a large release from the strategic oil reserve. But will it work? [CNN]
Gas storage in Massachusetts (Fletcher6, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “These Are The 10 Most Efficient EVs You Can Buy In 2022” • Most EV buyers seem to understand that poor efficiency means a number of other problems, too, like limited towing range, more stops on road trips, and a higher cost of ownership. This list of the Top 10 Most Efficient EVs shows that interest in efficiency is hitting the mainstream. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “American Lung Association Says EVs Save Lives” • A report from the American Lung Association says that transitioning away from fossil fuels to battery-EVs would lead to important health and financial benefits. The US would see more than $1.2 trillion in health benefits if it goes electric for personal vehicles by 2040 and for trucks by 2035. [CleanTechnica]
Electric cement truck (Courtesy of Volvo Trucks)
World:
¶ “Russia Raises Stakes In Energy Standoff, Insisting On Rubles For Gas” • Russia has doubled down on its threat to cut off natural gas supplies to Western countries that refuse to pay in rubles, raising new concerns about rationing. Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer in Europe, has described the plan as “blackmail” and a breach of contract. [CNN]
¶ “Mediterranean Sea Could Become A ‘Supergrid'” • Electric power could flow across the sea to Europe through the EuroAsia Interconnector. Instead of building gas pipelines so Europe can generate electricity and heat homes, the idea is to move solar energy from Israel, where it’s abundant, to places in Europe, where power is not so cheap. [CleanTechnica]
Mediterranean Sea (NASA image, public domain)
¶ “Mainstream PPA signals entry into Colombia” • Mainstream Renewable Power has commercialized its first development in Colombia by signing a deal to supply 180 GWh of electricity a year from the 100-MW Andromeda solar farm in a private power purchase agreement. The PPA has a tenure of 15 years, and will come into effect from 2024. [reNews]
¶ “Australia’s Renewables Boom Is Fading As Investors Lose Confidence, Energy Council Says” • After 6.3 GW of renewable energy were installed in 2021, Australia’s boom in rooftop solar and large-scale renewables is fading as investors lose confidence, with the lack of coordination by the Morrison government partly to blame, the Clean Energy Council says. [The Guardian]
Windy Hill Wind Farm (Lepidlizard, public domain)
¶ “Solar Cells Import Jumps To $3,447 Million In April Through January” • Indian solar cell imports rose to $3,447 million (about ₹26,000 crore) during April through January 2021-22, Parliament was informed. India has a goal of installing 100 GW of solar by December of this year. Projects of 108.91 GW have been put online or are in the pipeline. [Business Standard]
¶ “IAEA Investigates Claim Russians Fled Chernobyl With Radiation Sickness” • Russian troops have largely withdrawn from the Chernobyl nuclear power. The Ukrainian state power company Energoatom said the pullout came after soldiers received “significant doses” of radiation, a claim the UN’s nuclear watchdog has said it is investigating. [The Guardian]
Sarcophagus for destroyed reactor (Mick De Paola, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “America’s Home Builders Are Getting Squeezed By The War In Ukraine – Here’s How” • Supply chain disruptions from the pandemic have meant garage doors are on back order, floor tiles keep getting discontinued mid-construction, and appliances are marooned aboard waylaid shipping vessels. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made things worse. [CNN]
¶ “Biden To Invoke Defense Production Act To Boost EV Mineral Production” • President Joe Biden is set invoke the use of Title III of the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to ramp up US production of minerals for electric vehicles and large energy storage batteries as the latest salvo in the ongoing economic battle with Russia. [CleanTechnica]
President Joe Biden (White House image)
¶ “Biden Orders ‘Unprecedented’ Release Of Oil Reserves” • US President Joe Biden ordered a major release from America’s oil reserves in an effort to bring down high fuel costs. The release of up to 180 million barrels of oil over six months is the largest in the reserve’s 48 year history. But it is unlikely to fully resolve the energy crisis, analysts say. [BBC]
¶ “Engie Finances 665-MW US Clean Power Trio” • Engie North America has successfully completed tax-equity financing and equity financing for renewables projects totaling 665 MW. The finance covers the Iron Star wind farm in Ford County, Kansas, the Priddy wind farm in Mills County, Texas, and the Hawtree solar park in Warren County, North Carolina. [reNews]
Live Oak wind farm (Engie image)
¶ “NHTSA Agrees With Tesla And Increases Fines For Auto Makers That Don’t Meet Fuel Economy Rules” • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has agreed with Tesla in a move that will increase the fines for automakers whose vehicles don’t meet fuel efficiency requirements for model years 2019 and up, Reuters reports. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Report Claims Northern California Wildfire Smoke Will Reach ‘Unbearable’ Levels Due To Climate Change” • A report from Princeton University and NOAA says wildfire smoke in Northern California will be worse than thought. “We are going to see a future full of more smoke,” said Dr Scott Stephens, Professor of Wildland Fire Science at UC Berkeley. [MSN]
Have a magnificently easy day.
geoharvey 
Leave a Reply