Opinion:
¶ “Climate Change, Danger Seasons And The Need For Global Action” • Deadly heatwaves, extreme drought, food and water shortages, catastrophic flooding, rapidly intensifying tropical storms, raging wildfires – around the world, climate change is exacerbating extreme conditions and their harsh toll on people and ecosystems. [CleanTechnica]
Fire in New Mexico (Kari Greer, USFS Gila National Forest)
¶ “If Australia Taxed Windfall Gas Profits We Could Invest Billions In Renewables” • The former administration did nothing to control Australia’s energy prices. Now, it would be good policy to impose a windfall gains tax on the extra gas profits that the Ukraine war is delivering to the gas companies and use the money to promote renewables. [The Guardian]
World:
¶ “Climate Crisis Costs Up Over 800% As UN Donor Nations Fail To Keep Pace, Report Says” • The amount of money needed to aid communities in the face of extreme weather-related emergencies has increased by more than 800% in the past two decades as the climate crisis also rapidly accelerated, according to Oxfam research. [CNN]
Storm (Thomas Dewey, Unsplash)
¶ “Razon’s Renewables Unit To Build The World’s Largest Solar Power Plus Storage Project” • Prime Infrastructure Holdings, a unit of Enrique Razon, is set to build the world’s largest solar power facility with a capacity of up to 3,500 MW combined with up to 4,500 MWh battery storage system boosting the supply of renewable energy in the Philippines. [Power Philippines]
¶ “Polestar 3 Electric SUV With 600 Km Range Coming Soon” • Polestar, the electric vehicle division of Volvo Cars, which itself is owned by Geely, has released the first official undisguised photo of the Polestar 3, a dual motor battery-electric SUV that will go into production simultaneously in both the US and China in the autumn of this year. [CleanTechnica]
Polestar Precept (Image courtesy of Polestar)
¶ “China Furthers Efforts In Wind, Solar Power” • China has vowed to speed up the construction of the second batch of massive wind and solar power projects in the Gobi Desert and other arid regions, according to a package of policy measures that aims to stabilize the economy. The policy was announced by the State Council. [The Star]
¶ “The Wuling Air Is Going Global!” • One of the first real mass market sub-$5,000 cars, the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV, has been a huge success in China. It has been the top selling EV in China for a while now and in some months it has actually been the top selling car. Now, an upmarket version of the Wuling EV, the Wuling Air, is set to go global. [CleanTechnica]
Wuling Air (Wuling image)
¶ “Households, Industry Can Now Buy Green Energy” • In a major thrust to green power, the government of India gave notice of rules allowing everyone – from industry to households – to buy renewable energy from distribution companies. Power Minister RK Singh said the rules constituted a major reform to promote renewable energy. [Tribune India]
¶ “‘Chasing unicorns’: NSW Liberal minister rejects federal opposition push for nuclear power” • The New South Wales energy minister and treasurer, Matt Kean, has accused the federal Coalition of “chasing unicorns” over its push to overturn the moratorium on nuclear power in Australia. The push began when the Coalition lost power. [The Guardian]
No unicorns, but maybe a kangaroo (Fidel Fernando, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “California Seeks To Rein In Water Usage By Closing A Nearly Two-Month Gap In Getting Data From Suppliers” • Years of heat and drought have drained California’s reservoirs. To help keep track of the situation, Gov Gavin Newsom is calling on local water agencies to submit water usage data by the third business day of every month. [CNN]
¶ “Ford And Tesla Indicate EVs Might Be Selling Themselves” • A piece in Bloomberg told us that Ford is looking to do what Tesla does: not spend on advertising. Why? Because its EVs are already sold out for two years. With a second manufacturer considering ditching traditional advertising, it’s looking like EVs could be selling themselves. [CleanTechnica]
Ford EVs (Ford image)
¶ “Shell Energy Enters Texas Market With 100% Renewable Electricity Plans” • Shell announced the launch of the Shell Energy brand into the residential power market in the US. Through Shell Energy Solutions, the company is now offering 100% renewable electricity plans to eligible customers. The rollout is starting in Texas. [Irving Weekly]
¶ “State’s First 100% Renewable Multi-Customer Microgrid Is Now Up And Running In McKinleyville” • California’s first 100% renewable energy, front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid is now fully operational. Located in Humboldt County, the microgrid provides energy resilience for the regional airport and US Coast Guard Air Station. [Lost Coast Outpost]
Solar array at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCEA image)
¶ “Massive Water, Wind And Solar Idaho Energy Project Advances” • US officials have initiated a licensing process for a water, wind, and solar energy project in southwestern Idaho that could power nearly 300,000 homes. Cat Creek Energy would built the project mostly on private land in Elmore County and would create the Cat Creek Reservoir. [KTVB]
¶ “Oregon Utility Builds Nation’s First Large-Scale Wind, Solar And Battery Facility” • Portland General Electric built a first-of-its-kind facility that will use an innovative battery technology for Oregon’s renewable energy transition. The batteries allow the Lexington facility to capture and store electricity even when there’s no sun or wind available. [OPB]
Have an amusingly moving day.
geoharvey 