Opinion:
¶ “We Need More Honesty On Nuclear Power’s Long Legacy Of Hazardous Waste” • We need more honesty about the fact that nuclear power inescapably generates large quantities of human-made, hazardous, radioactive waste, the worst of which will probably remain hazardous beyond the time that Homo sapiens has on the planet. [The Guardian]
Nuclear power plant (Lukáš Lehotský, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Solid Power And QuantumScape Begin Shipping Solid-State Batteries For Trials” • Solid Power has been chasing the solid-state battery dream for more than 5 years. It has relationships with BMW and Ford and said earlier this year it would begin supplying prototypes to manufacturers soon. Now that time has come, and automakers can test them. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Scientists Say 65% Of Antarctica’s Plants And Animals Could Disappear. Its Iconic Penguins Are Most At Risk” • It was only a matter of time before human-caused climate change and pollution reached Antarctica. Its pristine landscape is already changing, and new research shows most of the region’s plant and animal species are in trouble. [CNN]
Chinstrap penguins (Derek Oyen, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Lucid Begins Deliveries In Europe Of Lucid Air With A Record 883-km Range” • The Lucid Air may be the most luxurious EV on the market. It is about to be released in a number of EU countries, so it got its official WLTP range this week, and that range is a record 883 kilometers (549 miles) on a full charge. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Five More EV Battery Stories Out Of China” • Growing EV adoption is built on the back of growing EV battery production, and there are lots of stories dealing with battery news. There are enough that plenty of EV battery stories get put on our writer story sheet and are left there, untouched. Here are five recent Chinese EV battery stories. [CleanTechnica]
CATL battery factory (CATL image)
¶ “Renewable Power Generation Increases In Scotland” • In Scotland, generation of renewable electricity rose by more than 50% in the last quarter of 2022, according to an Energy Statistics for Scotland report. And over the first nine months of the year, renewable generation was up 34.7% compared to the same period the year before. [insider.co.uk]
¶ “How Volkswagen Transformed From A Climate Cheater To An EV Leader” • In 2015, the US EPA charged Volkswagen Group with installing software in its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. Volkswagen eventually payed some $30 billion in fines and damages. Now, just a few years later, the company is considered a clean vehicle leader. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID.4 (Courtesy of Volkswagen)
¶ “Egypt’s Renewable Power Deals Put At $118 Billion” • Egypt signed renewable energy production agreements with a number of foreign firms in November with a total value of nearly $118 billion, the Arabic language daily Addustour said. The accords, covering solar, hydrogen, and other renewables, will turn Egypt into a major renewable energy power. [ZAWYA]
¶ “Japan Flips Nuclear Policy, Proposes Building New Plants” • The Fukushima disaster of 2011 soured Japan on nuclear energy, leading the country to rely more on imported fossil fuels and less on nuclear. But aiming to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the government announced a reversal on its nuclear strategy, the country’s national broadcaster said. [CNET]
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant (D a, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
US:
¶ “It’s Freezing. Cranking Up The Heat Is Going To Cost You” • Experts have warned home that heating costs would jump this winter to the highest level in more than a decade. Now, just as it gets increasingly expensive to keep a home warm, a “once-in-a-generation” winter storm sweeping across the nation will force Americans to crank up the heat. [CNN]
¶ “US Winter Storm Will Bring Frostbite Within Minutes” • In much of the US and Canada, plunging temperatures can lead to frostbite on bare skin in only five to 10 minutes, experts warn. The National Weather Service said temperatures of -50°F (-45°C) and -70°F were possible by the end of this week in some parts of the US (though not in the Northeast). [BBC]
Pug keeping warm with extra layers (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)
¶ “One Of The Largest Economic Development Stories In Georgia History” • South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group and SK On finalized a site in Georgia for another EV battery factory. That may seem boring, but it turns out that this investment is expected to be one of the largest economic development stories in the history of Georgia. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tesla Offering $7500 Rebate And Free Supercharging” • Some of us who might buy a Tesla woke up to a surprise this morning – an email telling them about new features and announcing some new incentives if you take delivery of a new Model 3 or Model Y by December 31. Buyers do not need to wait until January to benefit from a federal incentive. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y (Moritz Kindler, Unsplash)
¶ “Huge Renewable Energy Purchase By Ford Ok’d By Michigan Utility Regulators” • Michigan utility regulators okayed Ford’s plans to make US history’s largest purchase of renewable energy from a utility. The state’s Public Service Commission approved a 35-year contract between DTE Energy and Ford for 650 MW of dedicated solar electricity. [MLive.com]
¶ “New Study Shows Benefits Of Added Renewable Energy Capacity In New England” • Adding renewable capacity in New England will lower energy market prices and give comsumers significant cost savings, a study showed. It analyzed market and environmental benefits of 1,200 MW of land-based renewable capacity for the region. [Daily Energy Insider]
Have a simply resplendent day.
geoharvey 