Opinion:
¶ “Ford Is Making Electric Vehicles That Deliver Stuff, So Why Can’t USPS?” • The new Ford E-Transit van is quiet, compact, connected, and only weighs one metric tonne. So, why doesn’t the US Postal Service insist that its fleet contractor build delivery vans along those lines instead of pushing more gasmobiles onto neighborhood streets? [CleanTechnica]
Ford electric van (Courtesy of Ford Motor Company)
Science and Technology:
¶ “NREL Scientists Advance Renewable Hydrogen Production Method” • An Analysis from scientists at the US Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows evidence that perovskite materials could hold the potential to play an important role in a process to produce hydrogen in a renewable manner. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
World:
¶ “Climate Change: ‘Fifty-Fifty Chance’ Of Breaching 1.5°C Warming Limit” • The likelihood of crossing a key global warming threshold has risen significantly, according to a new analysis. UK Met Office researchers say that there’s now around a fifty-fifty chance that the world will have warmed by more than 1.5°C within the next five years. [BBC]
Climate crime scene (Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona, Unsplash)
¶ “UK Climate Refugees Who Won’t Leave” • The Welsh village of Fairbourne is facing an existential crisis. The tiny village has been identified as being at high risk of future flooding because of climate change, with residents told it is beyond saving. The Gywnedd Council plans to “decommission” the entire village and turn it back into marshland. [BBC]
¶ “World’s Largest Solar Power Carport Launched” • A 35-MW solar power carport with 90,000 solar panels was activated in the Netherlands. It is located on the parking site used for the annual Lowlands music festival, which has tens of thousands of visitors each year. The parking area covers 35 hectares and has 15,000 parking spaces. [CleanTechnica]
Carport groundskeeper hard at work (Solarfields image)
¶ “Volkswagen ID.3 GTX – Dual Motor Hot Hatch Coming In 2023” • The Volkswagen ID.3 is the spiritual successor to the Golf – a battery-electric 5-passenger hatchback for the 21st century. It will have the same powertrain as its ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX siblings, giving it 299 horsepower and 339 pound-feet (460 Nm) of torque. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD K6 Minibuses Being Piloted In Kenya’s Matatu Industry” • A huge chunk of the pollution in large cities such as Nairobi is from emissions from the transport sector. Adoption of electric buses is bound to help reduce emission levels. The electric BYD K6 minibus, with a seating capacity of around 20 passengers could be a big help. [CleanTechnica]
BYD K6 Minibus (Wahsaw, CC BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “BP Stake Swoop To Lead $36 Billion Asian Renewable Energy Hub Green Hydrogen Mega-Project: Report” • BP will soon announce a deal for an about 30% equity stake in the $36 billion AREH, which plans to tap 16 GW of onshore wind and 10 GW of PV for production of renewable H2 and ammonia, according to The Australian. [Recharge News]
¶ “Avoid Using Gas As ‘Transition’ Fuel In Move To Clean Energy, Study Urges” • Countries should move from coal to renewable energy without shifting to gas as a “transition” fuel to save money, as high gas prices and market volatility have made the fossil fuel an expensive option, according to analysis from TransitionZero. [The Guardian]
Earth (NASA image, Unsplash)
¶ “Nuclear Power Company Westinghouse To Build 2 GWh Of Pumped Heat Storage In Bulgaria” • Pennsylvania-based Nuclear power firm Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a state-owned energy company to build 2 GWh of pumped thermal energy storage capacity in Bulgaria. [Energy Storage News]
¶ “Green Party Leaders Urge Saskatchewan Government To Halt Small Nuclear Reactor Plans” • The interim Leader of the Green Party of Canada made a stop in Regina Monday to urge Premier Scott Moe to abandon plans to develop small nuclear reactors. Amita Kuttner said developing nuclear power will take too long in the climate emergency. [CBC]
NuScale Power Module (NuScale Power)
US:
¶ “Goodyear Follows The Bouncing Soybeans For Sustainable Rubber Tires” • Rubber trees are threatened by blight. Goodyear announced that some of its tires are getting a soybean makeover, reducing use of synthetic rubber with no performance sacrifice. Goodyear noted that the soybean tires use surplus oil left over from food applications. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GM Reveals More Cadillac Lyriq Specs” • Cadillac has begun series production of the Lyriq, its first battery-electric offering. The Debut Edition lists for $59,990 and comes with a single rear motor making 340 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque. The first of those cars to be produced are expected to be delivered to their owners in June. [CleanTechnica]
Cadillac Lyriq (Image courtesy of Cadillac)
¶ “How This Big Project Will Turn The High Desert In Central Utah ‘Green’” • What is touted to be the world’s largest industrial green hydrogen production and storage facility received a conditional commitment of more than $504 million in federal funding, a big development for the Advanced Clean Energy Storage project. [Deseret News]
¶ “CenterPoint Energy Receives Approval For 335 MW Of Renewable Energy For Southwestern Indiana” • CenterPoint Energy, Inc announced that its Indiana-based electric utility, CenterPoint Indiana South, has received approval to add 335 MWs of solar energy into its long-term electric generation transition plan. [Daily Energy Insider]
Have an enjoyably thoughtful day.
geoharvey 
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