Opinion:
¶ “Five Ways The Inflation Reduction Act Will Help American Families” • We were excited when senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin announced the Inflation Reduction Act. It will lead to lower energy costs for families, create more job opportunities and make health care more affordable. Here are five ways that will come about. [CNN]
Neighborhood (Tom Rumble, Unsplash)
¶ “This Summer Made Americans Get It: Yes, Climate Change Is A Thing” • The headlines this summer have summed it up: It’s hot as hell and we really don’t want to take it anymore. Even if many Americans still don’t want to acknowledge that climate change is real, many are noticing that something is up in the air, and it isn’t pretty. [TriplePundit]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Geothermal Heating And Cooling: Renewable Energy’s Hidden Gem” • Often described as a pile of Jenga blocks, Boston University’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences shows no outward signs of leading in sustainable energy design. But water circulating through 31 geothermal boreholes will supply 90% of its heating and cooling. [Yale Climate Connections]
CCDS building (Image from Boston University)
¶ “Lithium Carbon Battery From Allotrope Energy Can Recharge In 90 Seconds” • Allotrope Energy, in the UK, has developed a lithium carbon battery for mopeds and scooters that recharges in as little as 90 seconds. The new battery is being supplied by Mahle Powertrain, a global Tier One supplier to the automotive and mobility market. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Great Barrier Reef Sees Record Coral Cover, But It Is Highly Vulnerable” • Coral has recovered from storms and bleaching events to record levels across much of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a survey has found. But the new coral is of a particularly vulnerable type, so the progress could be quickly undone by climate change and other threats. [BBC]
Helicopter view of the reef (Sarah_Ackerman, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “France’s Auto Sales Crash 37%, BEVs Still Growing” • France, Europe’s second largest auto market, saw plugin electric vehicle share of 18.6% in July, up from 15.9% year on year. Battery EVs almost doubled in share, whilst plugin hybrids lost share. Overall auto volumes were 107, 548 units, down a big 37% from pre-2020 seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “VinFast’s Electric Scooters Are Enabling A Transportation Revolution In Southeast Asia” • VinFast produces four different models of electric scooters to meet the needs of Vietnam’s population, ranging from smaller Feliz S scooter up to the larger, more powerful Theon S. Scooters are the backbone of Vietnam’s transportation. [CleanTechnica]
Street in Hanoi (Elliot Andrews, Unsplash)
¶ “BMW Expands Battery Production, Tells Us About The Process” • BMW announced the start of production at Plant Leipzig’s second battery module facility. The new plant makes modules for the electric BMW i4, which is produced in Munich. The BMW Group’s goal for 2030 is to have fully electric vehicles account for at least half of sales. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Federal Government Declares Australia’s First Six Offshore Wind Energy Zones” • Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced waters off the Gippsland coast, in Victoria’s south-east, would be the first offshore wind zone. Other areas will follow, with sites off the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia. [ABC]
Offshore wind farm (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)
¶ “Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant Explosion Could Trigger ‘End For Europe’” • Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned a missile explosion at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could spell the end for Europe. Western sources accuse Russian invaders of using the plant as a nuclear shield, after they began using the site for artillery. [Scottish Daily Express]
US:
¶ “Half The Country Is In Drought, And No Region Has Been Spared” • More than 50% of the country was in some level of drought for the fourth week in a row, the US Drought Monitor reported, as the combination of extreme heat and low rainfall is drawing the moisture out of plants and soil. And no region of the country has been spared. [CNN]
August 4 drought map (US Drought Monitor)
¶ “Sinema Says She Will ‘Move Forward’ On Economic Bill” • Senator Kyrsten Sinema offered critical support for President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda after party leaders agreed to change tax proposals at her request. She said she would “move forward” on the economic package that has been the product of intensive negotiations for over a year. [CNN]
¶ “As Lobstering Weakens With Climate Change, But Seaweed Farming Is Reviving An Industry” • The Maine marine economy has been almost entirely dependent on the nearshore landings of the American lobster. Now climate change has warmed Maine’s coastal waters dramatically, but lobster fishers have found a new source of income: Seaweed. [CleanTechnica]
Farming seaweed (NOAA image, public domain)
¶ “The US Power Grid Added 15 GW Of Capacity In 1st Half Of 2022” • According to the latest DOE inventory of generators, 15 GW of utility-scale electric generating capacity came online in the US during the first half of 2022. Based on the most recently reported plans, developers could add another 29 GW of capacity in the second half of the year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Revolve Gets Nod To Advance 250-MW US Solar Project” • Revolve Renewable Power has been given the green light to proceed with its application for the 250-MW Parker solar and storage project in Arizona. The 1,530-acre site is situated in a ‘solar variance area’ designated by the US Bureau of Land Management. [reNews]
Have a thoroughly advantageous day.
geoharvey 
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