Science and Technology:
¶ “Yes, The Grid Can Handle EVs” • We’ve all seen it. Insufferable fanatics of fossil fuels, seeking to win an argument against EVs, pull out what they think is the ultimate argument against them: “Where does that power come from?” They have all of their facts from decades ago in order. Here is a video that looks at the data and does the math. [CleanTechnica]
Charging an EV (dcbel, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Germany Plugin Auto Sales Reach 26% Of Auto Market” • The German auto market saw plugin cars take 25.6% share in March, up modestly from 22.5% year on year. Against a declining auto market, full electrics grew in volume whilst plugin hybrids fell. Overall auto volumes were 241,330 units, down 31% from the 2017 to 2019 seasonal average. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Europe’s Dirtiest Airlines Received Millions In Free Pollution Permits In 2021” • Analysis by Transport & Environment shows that the ten most polluting airlines in Europe received €683 million worth of free CO₂ permits under the EU’s carbon market for aviation in 2021. Lufthansa, easyJet, Air France, and SAS were among the top ten polluters. [CleanTechnica]
Airport (Ashim D’Silva, Unsplash)
¶ “India Faces A Hard Choice: Eat Or Drive?” • India is rapidly approaching an existential choice: eat or drive. India decided years ago to use ethanol to reduce oil imports and to use its domestic resources more appropriately. But with the invasion of Ukraine, the global grain supply is reduced, meaning less food or less ethanol for India. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Germany Boosts Renewables With ‘Biggest Energy Policy Reform In Decades'” • In the “biggest energy policy reform in decades,” the coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats proposes to lift the rollout of wind and solar power “to a completely new level” in a draft law aiming at getting near to 100% renewable power by 2035. [Renew Economy]
Wind turbine in Germany (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)
¶ “Cancelling Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project A Right Policy: NA Chairman” • Stopping implementation of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project (in 2016) was a right policy of historical significance by the Party Central Committee and Politburo led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, said National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. [Vietnam Plus]
¶ “UN: Africa A Possible Center For Renewable Energy” • The UN IPCC climate report brought attention to Africa’s potential for renewable kinds of energy production. It said renewable energy projects could reduce the effects of global warming and support African economic development. Africa’s renewable energy is already increasing. [VOA Learning English]
Wind turbines in South Africa (Charl Folscher, Unsplash)
UK:
¶ “UK Supercharges Renewables In New Energy Strategy” • The UK government pledged to accelerate deployment of renewables with a series of new sector targets and reduced permit approval timelines. The government increased the 2030 offshore wind goal from 40 GW to 50 GW in the long-awaited British Energy Security Strategy. [reNews]
¶ “Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng Orders Scientific Review Of Fracking Impact” • The UK government ordered a new report on the impact of fracking, days ahead of publishing an energy plan. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has given the British Geological Survey three months to assess changes to the science around the controversial practice. [BBC]
Fracking protest in London (David Holt, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “UK Focuses On Nuclear Power Under Energy Security Strategy” • The UK Government published an energy security strategy that aims to boost the country’s energy independence. This follows rising power prices and market volatility due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Up to eight nuclear reactors could be built on existing locations. [Power Technology]
US:
¶ “US Wind Energy Just Hit A Major Milestone” • On April 5, wind power was the second-highest source of electricity for the first time since the Energy Information Administration began gathering the data. Wind turbines generated over 2,000 GWh of electricity, edging out electricity generated by nuclear and coal, only trailing behind natural gas. [CNN]
Wind farm in Washington State (Jeffrey G Katz, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Americans Are Far More Likely To Say Climate Crisis Is A Threat After Facing Recent Extreme Weather” • A Gallup poll found 1 in 3 Americans said they have been affected by some kind of extreme weather in the past two years, and those who had been affected by extreme weather were far more likely to say the climate crisis is a threat. [CNN]
¶ “From Florida To Alaska, Tribes Seek To Harness Energy From Sun, Wind And Water” • From Florida to Alaska, dozens of tribes are working to harness energy from wind, sun, and water to generate revenues, create jobs and reduce utility costs for citizens, while also helping combat climate change and boost energy independence. [InvestigateWest]
Installing solar PVs (Navajo Tribal Utility Authority/Navajo Nation)
¶ “Pinterest Bans Climate Change Misinformation” • Pinterest announced a policy prohibiting using its platform to share climate misinformation, making it the rare social platform to ban such content. Pinterest said it will remove content that denies the existence or impacts of climate change as well as the role of humans in causing climate change. [CNN]
¶ “Solectrac Launches Dealer Network For Electric Tractors, Adds New Facility” • Electric tractor manufacturer Solectrac recently announced two new developments: the launch of its certified dealer network and moving into a new 36,000-square-foot production facility in Windsor, California, which will be at full capacity in June 2022. [CleanTechnica]
Have an impressively jolly day.
geoharvey 
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