Opinion:
¶ “Five Ways To Cut Oil And Gas Use With Clean Transportation” • Oil and gas prices are burgeoning due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with gas prices rising above $4 a gallon in the US and above $10 a gallon elsewhere. The world is already experiencing the deadly effects of climate change. It is time to reduce oil and gas use in vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
Traffic in Montreal (Jp Valery, Unsplash)
¶ “Macron Won On The Back Of The ‘Green’ Vote. Here’s How He Can Repay Their Trust” • In his first term as President of France, Emmanuel Macron managed to convince just enough young, green minded voters to put their trust in him. He must not betray their confidence. What he does on transport will be a good test case. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The West Can Cut Its Energy Dependency On Russia And Be Greener” • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amplified the importance of national-security considerations in western countries’ energy policies. But governments must maintain their environmental focus, especially on GHG emissions. Both goals are urgent. They should be evaluated together. [The Guardian]
Solar farm (Gunnar Ridderström, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “The End Of The European ICE Age” • A recent report from Boldt and Avere examined the state of progress of European automakers’ attitudes to the uptake of electric vehicles. Although there was some reluctance to go first, it appears now that there is a greater aversion to be the last to abandon internal combustion engines and promote EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tesla Thrives In Italy As Broader Plug-In Market Falls In March” • As expected, Italy’s auto market is in a rout. Europe’s fourth largest market posts in March its first battery EV decline in many years of growth, though hybrid sales grew slightly. The overall market has been down badly. The Tesla Model Y did its best performance to date. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y (Esteban Chinchilla, Unsplash)
¶ “ÖBB Earmarks €1 Billion For Investment In Renewable Energy For Traction Power” • ÖBB, the Austrian national railway, aims to invest around €1 billion through 2030 in renewable energy such wind, solar and water. The company is moving to generate an additional 280 GWh, it announced at its annual results presentation. [RailTech.com]
¶ “There’s Value In Old Power Generation Components” • The market for recycled power equipment components is getting a boost due to ongoing global supply chain issues, particularly for those in the renewable energy sector. The so-called “circular” supply chain provides a solution for companies finding it difficult to source raw materials. [Power Magazine]
Bike shelter made from a part of a recycled wind
turbine blade (Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy)
¶ “Large-Scale Hydrogen Projects Take Shape As Technology Continues To Evolve” • Some people think green hydrogen could be decades away, but they may be wrong. A great deal of money is being spent on hydrogen technology, and serious projects are getting done. The effects of the investments could be felt sooner rather than later. [Power Magazine]
¶ “Finnish Group Cancels Rosatom Nuclear Plant Contract Over Risks Exacerbated By Ukraine War” • Finnish group Fennovoima says it has canceled a contract on cooperating with Russian state-owned nuclear power giant Rosatom to supply a nuclear power plant, saying Moscow’s war in Ukraine has “worsened” risks for the project. [Radio Free Europe]
Nuclear plant in Finland (Fennovoima, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “‘Operating Normally’: Russia Shows Seized Ukraine Nuclear Plant” • There has been deep international concern over the situation at the plant, which has six of Ukraine’s 15 reactors and can create enough energy for four million homes. Russia invited journalists to the site to tell them all necessary precautions are being taken at the plant. [France 24]
US:
¶ “Lake Powell Officials Face An Impossible Choice In The West’s Megadrought: Water Or Electricity” • Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir, is drying up. The situation is critical: if the water level at the lake drops 32 feet more, power generation will be halted at the Glen Canyon Dam. Levels have dropped 100 feet in the last three years. [CNN]
Glen Canyon Dam, July 2021 (Jeremy Bezanger, Unsplash)
¶ “California 100% Powered By Renewables For The First Time” • Renewables met 100% of California’s electricity demand for the first time on April 30, most of it from solar power produced along Interstate 10, an hour east of the Coachella Valley. The milestone lasted almost 15 minutes before edging back down to about 97% renewables. [Yahoo]
¶ “River-Powered Villages To Hydropower Water Power Successes: WPTO Accomplishments Report” • This year, several of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s recent water power successes earned spots in the 2020–2021 Accomplishments Report, which was published by the US Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. [CleanTechnica]
Small hydropower (US DOE photo)
¶ “Tesla’s Unconventional Sales Model Could Mark The End Of Traditional Car Dealerships” • Tesla’s direct-to-consumer model changes the game for buyers, a MarketWatch opinion piece says. It eliminates days of haggling prices at dealerships, when buyers prefer to buy online. And it removes the need for dealerships to stock hundreds of cars. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Big Week For Clean Energy In Michigan” • A lot has happened in Michigan this week: release of a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, submission of a proposed settlement agreement by the utility Consumers Energy, and news of Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. [CleanTechnica]
Have a superbly copacetic day.
geoharvey 
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