Opinion:
¶ “Failure Is The Only Option” • There are three criteria that identify systems that will inevitably fail in some way: One, the system is complex; two, the system is tightly interconnected with one or more other complex systems; and three, the system has the potential for catastrophic failure. The failure of a nuclear power plant is a “normal accident.” [The Manila Times]
Chernobyl nuclear plant (UN photo)
¶ “The World Bank Is Blocking The Way To Renewable Energy Transition” • World Bank made a pledge in 2013 to stop funding coal. Despite that pledge, the World Bank’s private lending arm, the International Finance Corporation, continued to help make it possible for new coal projects to get the funding they need to begin operations. [Rappler]
World:
¶ “Tesla’s 35,000th Supercharger Is A Milestone For EV Charging” • Tesla keeps expanding its Supercharger network. Tesla China has announced Tesla’s 35,000th Supercharger, a milestone for EV charging. The Supercharger opened in Wuhan, China, and Tesla China noted that Tesla owns the largest fast-charging network in the world. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Supercharger (Neo Tan, Unsplash)
¶ “Netherlands: 32% Of New Cars Sold Now Plugin Cars” • In the context of a falling overall market, down 7% year over year in May, the Dutch plugin vehicle market has continued to grow, reaching 32% last month. That’s mostly thanks to pure electrics (21% of all new vehicle sales), which jumped 48% year over year last month. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Mercedes EQV Electric RV From Tonke” • Nearly three years after the debut of the Mercedes’ EQV electric van, Dutch RV specialist Tonke has turned the innovative EV into a capable B-class camper with swiveling front seats, a pop-up dinette/game table, and a swing-out camp kitchen just as good as anything this side Volkswagen BusBox. [CleanTechnica]
Tonke electric Camper conversion (Tonke image)
¶ “Rajasthan Allots Land To Adani Firm To Set Up 1,000 MW Solar Power Project” • The Rajasthan cabinet decided to allot nearly 2,400 hectares of government land in Jaisalmer district to Adani Renewable Energy Holding Four Limited for setting up a 1,000-MW Solar Power Project. Rajasthan has installed around 13,000 MW of solar capacity. [Business Standard]
¶ “Oman Plans Projects Worth Over $ 1 Billion In Renewable Energy And Water Sector” • Oman plans to attract investments of more than 480 million rials, or $1.250 billion, for several projects in renewable energy and water sector, according to the CEO of the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company. 1,000 MW of solar power is part of the plan. [ZAWYA]
Neighborhood of Muscat, Oman (Anfal Shamsudeen, Unsplash)
¶ “Ukraine Restores Internet Link Between Occupied Nuclear Plant And IAEA, Says Energoatom” • Ukraine’s state nuclear firm Energoatom said it had helped restore an internet connection between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the servers of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is occupied by Russian forces. [USNews.com]
¶ “Africa Turns To China For Renewable Energy Investments” • With Africa attracting only 2% of the global renewable energy investments, the continent is aspiring to increase its installed capacity but it needs capital. Chinese is among the countries Africia is turning to as its countries seek to reach sustainable development goals. [Morocco World News]
Kilimanjaro (Sergey Pesterev, Unsplash)
Australia:
¶ “Queensland Has Eight Coal-Fired Power Stations. What’s Their Future?” • As Australians across the eastern seaboard grapple with rising energy costs, unexpected outages at a handful of Queensland’s coal-fired power stations have been cited as part of the problem. Queensland has eight coal-fired power stations. Here is a look at them. [ABC]
¶ “Farmers, Renewable Energy Advocates Call For More Compensation For Hosting Transmission Lines” • To reach net-zero and bring down power bills, state and federal governments have promised to fast-track transmission lines to get more renewable energy into the grid. But farmers are calling for a rethink on compensation. [ABC]
Sheep on an Australian farm (Daniel Morton, Unsplash)
¶ “Massive Investment In Bushfire Management And Climate Change Adaptation” • The 2022-23 New South Wales Budget gives a big boost to fire management in national parks with $598 million of investment, creating 250 permanent jobs and critical infrastructure upgrades. And $93.7 million will go to the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. [NSW Government]
US:
¶ “California Bill Wields State’s Purchasing Power For Climate Action” • The California legislature has a big opportunity to cut greenhouse gas emissions from concrete, one of the world’s most carbon-intensive products, by passing Senate Bill 778 authored by Senator Josh Becker. The bill would add concrete to the Buy Clean California Act. [CleanTechnica]
Little bit of California (Viviana Rishe, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Grand Rapids Advances 100% Renewable Goal With New Solar Array” • Grand Rapids turned on a new solar array to generate about 10% of the power needs of its Lake Michigan Filtration Plant. The 0.90-MW installation, which is expected to save the city about $200,000 annually in electricity costs, is now generating electricity. [MLive.com]
¶ “Oklahoma City Partners With Solar Panel Company To Bring More Renewable Power To Homes” • Some Oklahoma City residents have already warmed to the idea of using the sun to power solar systems in their homes, helping to pay their utility bills, and now they are encouraging others to do the same with a city-partnered promotion. [The Oklahoman]
Have a sensationally happy day.
geoharvey 