Opinion:
¶ “‘Invisible Energy Highways’ Could Usher In A New Era Of Shared Power” • Undersea electricity cables could become more common as governments drive their energy strategies towards renewables. As countries develop wind and solar power, there will be a greater incentive to build undersea cables that can promote power-sharing across regions. [Oil Price]
Cable laying ship (Nsandel, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “EPA Releases Formaldehyde Study The Chemical Industry Tried To Suppress” • In a victory for scientific integrity, the EPA issued a long-delayed draft toxicological assessment on formaldehyde. Its conclusions affirm that breathing just small amounts of formaldehyde over time is associated with an increased cancer risk. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Ocean Comes To Colorado – Fast-Tracking Novel Marine Energy Technologies” • By 2050, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish. Equipment is being designed to help clean up the mess, but these sea sweepers need a power source. The ocean could be a power source, and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working on that. [CleanTechnica]
NREL’s new wave tank (Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL)
World:
¶ “More Than Half Of American Commercial Vehicles Could Be Electrified Today” • Research by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and RMI shows that vans and step vans in the US and Canada are 100% electrifiable today. The report says that electrifying vans and step vans would avoid about 43.5 million tons of CO₂e emissions annually. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “We’re Making Wine In Norway” • The fjords don’t freeze any more, and it rains when it used to snow. Norwegian winemaker Bjørn Bergum’s plants grow at 61° north of the equator, far outside the 30° to 50° degrees latitude traditionally considered optimum for wine production. But climate change is pushing vineyards farther from the equator. [BBC]
Bjørn Bergum in the vineyard (Slinde Vineyard image)
¶ “In A First, India Plans Standalone Renewable Battery Power Bank” • India is setting up its first standalone renewable battery bank, hoping for investments of ₹2,000 crore ($260 million) to make green energy available during peak demand, but high prices of lithium and disruptions due to Russian warmaking may weigh on response. [Times of India]
¶ “Tesla Hires A Geologist – Perhaps A First Step Toward Mining Its Own Lithium?” • A tweet shows that Tesla has already hired at least one geologist and implies that Tesla sees Canada as an ideal resource center for its factories in Fremont and Austin. This implies that Tesla isn’t shy about making sure it dots all of its “i’s” and crosses its “t’s” on these subjects. [CleanTechnica]
Geologists at work (Oregon DOT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “The EU Is Considering Toughening Its Renewable Energy Targets” • In light of its hunt for replacements for Russian fossil fuels, the European Union may set its renewable energy capacity expansion ambitions even more compelling than they are now. The EU wants to “speed up the energy transition” and possibly reconsider its positions. [Cody News Company]
¶ “Le Pen Puts Fuel-Tax Cut, Wind Crackdown At Heart Of France Energy Plan” • French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is campaigning on promises to cut taxes on gasoline, heating oil, natural gas, and electricity. She would crack down on wind turbines, build twenty new nuclear reactors, and exit from Europe’s electricity market. [Autoblog]
Marine Le Pen (Olaf Kosinsky, Wikipedia, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “‘We’ve Been Trying To Warn You’ – Fed-Up Scientists Get Arrested Demanding Climate Action” • Scientists in multiple countries protested to demand real government action on climate change, with some engaging in such civil disobedience as chaining themselves to a bank door or gluing their hands to a government building. [HuffPost]
US:
¶ “Texas Slaps Down Tesla Fast Charger Plan” • Texas recently put up $21 million to encourage folks to install DC fast chargers along its roadways. The grants were funded by the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program, seemingly as part of its Dieselgate settlement. Tesla fast chargers, however, cannot be part of the program. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Super Charger (Z22, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Gravity Adds Tesla Model Y To Fleet Of NYC Yellow Taxi Cabs” • Gravity, which announced its all-electric vehicle fleet of New York City yellow cabs last year, is adding Tesla Model Y vehicles to its fleet, Inside EVs reports. The company’s existing fleet is comprised of Ford Mustang Mach-E crossovers, which have been deployed since December 2021. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “In Pennsylvania, Ukraine Invasion And Urgent Climate Report Drive New Interest In Renewables, Efficiency” • Analysts say that Pennsylvania’s renewables industry may sell more solar panels or wind turbines as prices of fossil fuel-powered energy spike in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and warnings of climate chaos intensify. [90.5 WESA]
Have an abundantly advantageous day.
geoharvey 
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