Opinion:
¶ “Let’s ‘Finally, Formally, Categorically, And Irreversibly’ End Our Oil Obsession!” • Thomas Friedman says the US needs to “finally, formally, categorically, and irreversibly” end its oil addiction. That addiction has distorted US “foreign policy, our commitments to human rights, our national security, and, most of all, our environment.” [CleanTechnica]
Offshore oil (NOAA image, public domain)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Can Wind, Water, And Air Combine In A New Energy Revolution?” • Startup Highly Innovative Fuels’ “Haru Oni” project is a $55 million effort to display a viable commercial process for turning wind, water and air into synthetic fuels that can be used to power internal combustion engines while reducing carbon emissions. [CNN]
World:
¶ “Russia Says It Won’t Cut Off Gas Supplies Yet In Ruble Payment Row” • Russia has said it will not cut off gas exports to Europe yet in a standoff over its demand to be paid in rubles. Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree stating buyers must pay in rubles through Russian bank accounts. The contracts call for payment in dollars or euros. [BBC]
Rubles (Anna Tis, Pexels)
¶ “Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Attacking Oil Depot” • An oil depot was set on fire in a Russian city near Ukraine in what Russia said as an attack by two Ukrainian helicopters. A video on Twitter showed a blaze near apartment blocks in Belgorod, 40 km (25 miles) from the border. Ukraine’s top security official denied his country’s forces were behind the attack. [BBC]
¶ “SAFIRUN Launches Daily Lifestyle App And Marketplace In Rwanda” • A Rwandese company SAFIRUN, mostly known for pioneering eco-friendly delivery and logistics services in Kigali, has been working on various green-transport solutions for goods and services using electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric vans over the past four years. [CleanTechnica]
Green delivery (SAFIRUN image)
¶ “Ministers Go Cool On Fracking Plan – With More Onshore Wind Likely To Be Included In Energy Security Strategy” • New proposals to look at fracking may be put on the back burner even though the UK’s only shale gas wells have been given a year-long reprieve. More onshore wind could be in the plan despite some opposition from Tory MPs. [Daily Mail]
¶ “Noxious weed prickly acacia to be turned into ‘green coal’ by renewable energy company in outback Queensland” • Prickly acacia, originally from Africa, has been a multi-million-dollar problem across outback Queensland for decades, infesting prime grazing land, killing native grasslands and degrading soil health. Now it could become an energy source. [ABC]
Prickly acacia (Queensland government image)
¶ “Vedanta To Source 580 MW Of Renewable Energy For Its Operations Across India” • Vedanta announced that it signed a Power Delivery Agreement with affiliates of Sterlite Power Technologies – a company to supply hybrid-based power with solar, wind, and storage solutions. Vedanta is seeking 2.5 GW of constant power by 2030. [Construction Week India]
¶ “Portugal To Speed Up Switch To Renewable Power In Wake Of Ukraine War” • Portugal aims to accelerate its energy transition to have renewable sources supply 80% of its electricity output by 2026, the government said. That is four years earlier than had been planned. The transition is being accelerated in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [Reuters]
Pelamis wave machine (P123, public domain)
¶ “Russian Soldier Was Killed By ‘Radiation From Damaged Chernobyl Nuclear Plant'” • A Russian soldier died of radiation from the damaged Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine after his unit camped in a toxic forest, reports say. His unit dug trenches into radioactive mud and their trucks kicked up radioactive dust as they drove along dirt roads. [The Mirror]
¶ “Johnson To ‘Bet Big’ On Nuclear Energy Despite Sunak’s Reservations” • Boris Johnson wants his promised energy security strategy to “bet big” on nuclear despite reservations of Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer. But he has cooled on more onshore wind turbines in England amid a Conservative backlash. [The Guardian]
To achieve security, bet big! (Michał Parzuchowski, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “California Snowpack Is Critically Low, Signaling Another Year Of Devastating Drought” • Snowpack in the California Sierra this winter is just 38% of normal, California water officials said, in the latest sign the state’s drought is growing more devastating by the month. Heavy snows in December were followed by months of basically no snow at all. [CNN]
¶ “New Yorkers And Wildlife Are Finding Solace In The City’s Parks” • New York City’s wildlife is thriving, and that’s thanks to devoted scientists and activists who have spent decades on work bolstering robust wildlife habitats in the city’s five boroughs. New York is densely populated, but much of it’s 30,000 acres of parkland is teeming with wildlife. [CNN]
Screech owl (Joshua J. Cotten, Unsplash)
¶ “Nevada Governor Signs Multi-State Medium And Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle MOU” • Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a memorandum of understanding to join 16 other states, the District of Columbia, and Quebec to work toward a goal to have 100% of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle sales have zero emissions by 2050. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Red Hook Terminals Look To Reduce Fuel Costs And Carbon Emissions” • Red Hook Terminals is one of the largest cargo facilities on the east coast of the US. It recently acquired 10 battery-electric terminal tractors made by BYD to replace some of its diesel trucks. The resulting benefits included an 81% decline in fuel costs. [CleanTechnica]
Have an emphatically tranquil day.
geoharvey 