Opinion:
¶ “Supreme Court Deals A Massive Blow To The Planet” • The Supreme Court’s limits on the EPA’s power to push for carbon neutrality is a massive blow. It sets the US back in its efforts to eliminate fossil fuel pollution. We already are decades behind on that task, and the world is likely to continue to become a more dangerous place because of this decision. [CNN]
Coal-burning power plant (Sam LaRussa, Unsplash)
¶ “Adventurer Chris Ramsey Talks EVs And His Pole-To-Pole Trip In Nissan Ariya – Part 3” • This continues the interview with Chris Ramsey, who will drive a Nissan Ariya E-4ORCE from the North Pole to the South Pole in March 2023. In this part, he talks about the adventures he has had and what he looks forward to in the upcoming pole-to-pole trip. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hey, Sneakerheads! Green Shipping Would Add Just Pennies To Prices!” • Running ships entirely on green hydrogen-based fuels would add less than €0.10 to the price of a pair of trainers and up to €8 for a refrigerator, a study on decarbonizing shows. The analysis debunks claims by the shipping industry that green fuels would be too costly. [CleanTechnica]
Please click on the image to enlarge it.
World:
¶ “Life inside the Dutch earthquake zone” • Gas extraction in the Dutch state of Groningen has caused over 1,000 earthquakes since Exxon Mobil and Shell began government-approved drilling there in 1963. In the village of Overschild, 80% of the buildings need to be completely demolished as they have been deemed too unsafe to occupy. [BBC]
¶ “Valladolid Orders 30 Electric Buses Disguised As Trams” • In Spain, residents of Valladolid will soon be able to enjoy a little more fresh air with that sunshine. The public transit operator, AUVASA (Autobuses Urbanos de Valladolid), has ordered thirty zero-emissions electric buses from Irizar e-mobility, a Spanish company. [CleanTechnica]
Irizar e-mobility bus (Courtesy of Irizar e-mobility)
¶ “EU Takes Historic Decision – Ending Sale Of Polluting Cars By 2035” • EU governments agreed to end sales of polluting cars and vans by 2035, making the switch to zero-emissions vehicles a foregone conclusion. They agreed that manufacturers should not receive credits towards their CO₂ targets for new cars powered by e-fuels, though that could change. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Jera And Corio To Bid In Taiwan Auction With Formosa 3” • The Japanese company Jera and global portfolio company Corio Generation are to jointly bid later this year for the third phase of offshore wind blocks in Taiwan with the Formosa 3 project of up to 2 GW. Formosa 3 will comprise three sites called Haiding 1, 2, and 3 off the coast of Changhua. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (Jera image)
¶ “Renewable Power Costs Rise, Just Not As Much As Fossil Fuels” • The costs of renewable plants are rising after years of declines, according to a BloombergNEF report. But costs for natural gas and coal-fired plants are rising even faster. New onshore wind and solar projects cost about 40% less than new coal or gas plants, and the gap is widening. [Engineering News]
¶ “Nuclear Energy Is Off The Table, Says Ramaphosa” • President Cyril Ramaphosa says as South Africa tries to diversify its energy capacity, the nuclear energy option is off the table. Earlier, the Mineral Resource and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said nuclear power is needed as part of the green transition and to combat the country’s energy crisis. [SABC News]
Cooling towers (Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, Unsplash)
¶ “Russian Occupiers Want To Turn Off Cooling Of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant During Search For Weapons” • According to the Ukrainian nuclear operator, Russian invaders are planning to drain the cooling pools at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant while they search for weapons belonging to workers. This would create a nuclear danger. [Yahoo]
US:
¶ “Supreme Court Limits Biden’s Power To Cut Emissions” • The Supreme Court ruled that the EPA does not have the authority to limit pollution across whole states. The court hasn’t completely prevented the EPA from making such regulations in the future, but it says that the Congress would have to say clearly that it authorizes the power. [BBC]
Polluting power plants (Ella Ivanescu, Unsplash)
¶ “Nextracker And BCI Steel Renovate Abandoned Pittsburgh Steel Factory To Serve Growing Solar Market” • Nextracker LLC, a leader in utility-scale solar trackers, and BCI Steel, a Pittsburgh-based steel fabricator, announced they are reopening the historic Bethlehem Steel factory in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, to produce solar tracker equipment. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Wind Developers Plan To Add 6 GW Of US Offshore Wind Capacity Through 2029” • Power plant developers and operators have reported plans to install more than 6 GW of offshore wind capacity at sites mostly along the eastern seaboard over the next seven years, according to the DOE’s latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore windpower (Capmat007, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “LyondellBasell Signs 116-MW Solar PPA With Buckeye Partners” • LyondellBasell has signed its first two power purchase agreements supporting the company’s climate goal to procure a minimum of 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The combined agreements represent 216 MW of renewable electricity. [Solar Industry]
¶ “Entergy Arkansas Issues RFP For 1000 MW Of Renewable Energy” • Entergy Arkansas officials announced it has issued a request for proposals for 1,000 MW of solar and wind generation resources, emissions-free renewables to provide cost-effective energy supply, capacity, fuel diversity, and other benefits to its customers. [Entergy Newsroom]
Have a comfortably cool day.
geoharvey 