Science and Technology:
¶ “This Supercharged Tree Might Help Fight Climate Change” • Trees draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but most trees grow much too slowly to be of much help with climate change. To reverse climate change, someone has to come up with a tree that grows much faster. A San Francisco company, Living Carbon, says it’s done exactly that. [CNN]
Seedling (Austin D, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Thousands Escape Wildfires In France, Spain, And Greece” • Over 11,000 people have been forced to leave a region in south-western France in the past few days. Dozens of fires are burning in Portugal and Spain where temperatures have surged above 40°C. At least 281 deaths in both countries were linked to the heat and several towns in Spain were evacuated. [BBC]
¶ “Australia Is Grappling With Its Worst Ever Energy Crisis. Does Victoria Hold The Key To A Fix?” • At issue is whether Victoria will get on board with a proposed fix for a grid in crisis. A board serving as the top adviser to state and federal energy ministers proposes a policy to help keep the lights on during the transition, but it may mean burning some coal. [ABC]
NSW’s Snowy 2.0 (Supplied by Snowy Hydro)
¶ “Volkswagen Group Reaches 217,100 EV Sales In First Half Of 2022” • Sitting between Chinese EV startups XPeng and NIO and American EV powerhouse Tesla, Volkswagen Group made 217,100 full EV sales in the first half of 2022. NIO delivered 50,827 vehicles in that time period, XPeng delivered 68,983, and Tesla delivered 564,743. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “French Nuclear Cuts Extend To Next Week As Temperatures Soar” • EDF’s nuclear plant output cuts are expected to stretch into next week as a heat wave sweeping across Europe pushes up river temperatures, reducing its ability to cool its plants. EDF said that two power stations on the Rhone River will produce less electricity in the coming days. [Regina Leader Post]
Tricastin nuclear plant (Marianne Casamance, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Russian Forces Accused Of Storing Weapons In Nuclear Plant” • Russia is using Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as a base to store weapons, including missile systems, and to shell nearby areas in Ukraine, an official with Kyiv’s nuclear agency said. The nuclear plant has been under Russian control since the early weeks of Moscow’s invasion. [The Guardian]
UK:
¶ “Hypothetical Weather Forecast For 2050 Is Coming True Next Week” • Two years ago, UK Met Office scientists tried a thought experiment to project what our forecasts will look like in 2050. “Not actual weather forecast,” they said. “Examples of plausible weather based on climate projections.” Well, on Monday and Tuesday, it’s here, 28 years early. [CNN]
Hot weather (Scott Goodwill, Unsplash)
¶ “National Emergency Declared After UK’s First Red Extreme Heat Warning” • A national emergency was declared after the first ever red extreme heat warning was issued. Temperatures could hit 40°C (104°F). The Met Office’s highest warning covers an area including London, Manchester, and York. This means a risk to life, and daily routines need to change. [BBC]
¶ “UK Power Market Needs Rapid Expansion Of Capacity” • The UK’s future power market must rapidly expand its generating capacity, including a maintaining an ongoing role for Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market mechanisms but with changes to ensure they remain fit for purpose, according to a report from Energy UK. [reNews]
Grid control room (National Grid image)
US:
¶ “Biden Vows To Use Executive Action After Manchin Torpedoes Climate Agenda” • After Senator Joe Manchin dealt a devastating blow to Democrats’ hopes for sweeping legislative action this year, President Joe Biden vowed to take “strong executive action” in response. The president aims toward writing broad climate action and tax legislation. [CNN]
¶ “Solectrac Partners With Nolan Manufacturing To Produce More Electric Tractors” • Solectrac, based in Northern California, makes battery-electric tractors for farming and utility operations. Solectrac announced it has entered into a partnership with Nolan Manufacturing to begin producing its battery-electric tractors in a facility in North Carolina. [CleanTechnica]
Solectrac tractor (Solectrac image)
¶ “June Was Tesla’s Best Production Month Yet, Despite Low Q2 Deliveries” • Tesla’s deliveries in Q2 were plagued by COVID-19 lockdowns that caused a 22-day production pause at its Shanghai Gigafactory. Nevertheless, Tesla’s new Gigafactories in Berlin and Texas are already showing their value, beginning with impressive production in June. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GM And Pilot Company To Roll Out US EV Fast Charging Network” • GM and Pilot Company are collaborating on a US ‘coast to coast’ DC fast charging network that will be installed, operated and maintained by EVgo through its eXtend offering. The network of 2,000 charging stalls will be powered by EVgo eXtend and open to all EV brands. [Energy Digital]
EVgo charging station
¶ “Extreme Heat Is Getting Worse” • Duke Energy announced a summertime record for electric use in North Carolina and South Carolina on June 15, 2022. That was six days before summer started. With climate change, the number of annual heat waves in the US increasing from two per year in the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s. [NC State News]
¶ “As Massachusetts Lawmakers Consider Energy Bills, Power Suppliers Press To Continue Residential Retail Choice” • The end of the two-year legislative session is coming, and Massachusetts legislators are in conference over energy bills. A petition led by retail electricity suppliers in the state was circulated to support residential retail choice. [Utility Dive]
Have a uniformly unblemished day.
geoharvey 