World:
¶ “The Plans For Giant Seaweed Farms In European Waters” • At a testing site 12 km (7.5 miles) off the Dutch coast there was a breakthrough this summer. A converted fishing boat harvested a batch of farmed seaweed mechanically. North Sea Farmers, the consortium behind the test, says it was the first mechanical harvest seaweed farm far from shore. [BBC]
Kelp salad (Loyna, CC-BY-SA 2.5)
¶ “Extreme Drought: Dried-Up Italian River Reveals Unexploded WW II Bomb” • An unexploded WW II bomb submerged in an Italian river has been revealed due to Italy’s worst drought for 70 years. The 450 kg (1,000 lb) bomb was found by fishermen on the banks of the depleted River Po, in the village of Borgo Virgilio, in Lombardy. [BBC]
¶ “MG4 EV Costs Just £25,995” • The MG4 EV is a hot looking new electric SUV/crossover available in Europe. Pricing was just released in the UK, and it’s quite affordable for its class and considering its technology. The MG4 EV SE Standard Range starts at £25,995, the SE Long Range £28,495, and the Trophy Long Range £31,495. [CleanTechnica]
MG4 EV (MG image)
¶ “Germany’s EV Share Cold Comfort Against 34% Shortfall In Overall Auto Market” • Germany, Europe’s largest auto market, saw plugin electric vehicles take 25.5% share in July. This up from 22.6% year on year. Overall auto market volumes were down some 34% from seasonal norms, the worst July performance in many years. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “China’s Latest Renewables Plan Could Bridge Global 1.5°C Energy Gap, Expert Says” • China’s fourteenth five-year plan shows the country could build enough wind and solar capacity to reach its emissions peak ahead of schedule, but continuing coal investments raise doubts. The plan requires that renewables produce 50% of the electricity. [The Energy Mix]
Tiananmen Square on a rare, clear day (zibik, Unsplash)
¶ “ReNew Commits $8 Billion For Egypt Renewable Hydrogen Facility” • ReNew Power announced signing a preliminary agreement to work with the Egyptian government on a new renewable hydrogen plant in that country. It will involve an investment of up to $8 billion for the production of the carbon-free fuel. [Hydrogen Fuel News]
¶ “‘Suicidal Act’: UN Warns Over Latest Shelling On Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant” • Another shelling at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine raised concerns over nuclear threats, with the UN warning that any attack on a nuclear plant is “suicidal.” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of nuclear confrontation. [Press TV]
Russian missile system (Nickel nitride, public domain)
¶ “Rockets Fired At Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant; Ukraine And Russia Blame Each Other” • Ukraine claimed that Russia fired rockets at a spent fuel storage area at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, risking what the country’s nuclear power company called a “nuclear disaster.” A Russian official claimed the attack had come from Ukraine. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]
US:
¶ “Climate Hawks Breathe Sigh Of Relief After More Than A Decade Of Fighting For Climate Legislation” • Senator Ed Markey still remembers the raw anger he felt after the 2009 climate bill failed to advance in a Democrat-controlled Senate. Now, in a 50-50 Senate vote, more than a decade later, the Inflation Reduction Act passed. [CNN]
Senator Markey in 2019 (Senate Democrats, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “What’s In The Manchin-Schumer Deal On Climate, Health Care And Taxes” • The Democrats’ budget reconciliation package, which gained more heft after West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin agreed to add back several climate and tax provisions, was passed by the Senate on a party-line vote. Here are the provisions that made it in. [CNN]
¶ “Sunrun Now Offering Electric Vehicle Chargers” • Sunrun, the #1 home solar installation company in the US, is encouraging its customers to drive on sunshine. It has launched its own EV charger. The Level 2 charger can be installed and used at homes, workplaces, or anywhere else someone may want to park and charge for a while. [CleanTechnica]
Sunrun charger (Sunrun image)
¶ “Thousand-Year Floods And The Ford Lightning Come To Kentucky” • Kentucky has had two thousand year floods in two weeks, leaving over 37 dead, hundreds injured, and tens of thousands without power. Ford CEO Jim Farley decided to try to help, and he’s sent a pair of Ford F-150 Lightning pickups to help aid in the recovery efforts. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Death Valley Flooding, A 1,000-Year Event” • A three-hour rainstorm has dumped nearly 1.5 inches of rain on Death Valley National Park, causing widespread flooding that tore up roads, blew out water systems, and shut down the park. The flooding has been classified as a 1,000-year event by the National Weather Service. [National Parks Traveler]
Death Valley (Pietro De Grandi, Unsplash)
¶ “Silicon Valley Startup Plans 3D-Printed Solid-State Battery Gigafactories” • While plans in the tech world are as good as a contract written with disappearing ink, a pilot battery production facility opened in Silicon Valley by startup Sakuú a year ago is already producing 3D-printed solid-state batteries for real customers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Inflation Reduction Act’s $300 Billion Climate Spending Would Benefit Mostly Red Districts” • The Inflation Reduction Act cleared the Senate despite solid Republican opposition. It’s expected to pass in the House with little to no GOP support. But a study shows it delivers big benefits to mostly Republican rural congressional districts. [Texas Public Radio]
Have a refreshingly contemplative day.
geoharvey 
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