Science and Technology:
¶ “Can Space-Based Solar Power Really Work?” • Solar power plants in space, exposed to constant sunshine with no clouds or air limiting the efficiency of their PV arrays, could have a place in future emissions-free infrastructure. But structures that beam energy to Earth in the form of microwaves would be difficult to build and maintain. [Space.com]
Concept of solar plant in space (International Electric Company)
¶ “NASA: Yes, It’s Freezing Cold. No, That Doesn’t Mean Climate Change Is A Hoax” • Temperatures in the US plummeted this week as a polar vortex descended across the country, but the National Aeronautics and Space Administration made sure to remind Americans that the Arctic outburst does not mean that climate change isn’t happening. [MSN]
World:
¶ “Giant LFP Battery Installed In Ningxia, China” • Enabling much more renewable energy to be added to the grid in high-wind and high-solar Ningxia, a giant energy storage system has been installed and connected to the grid. The 200-MW, 400-MWh is the “largest of its kind in China up to this moment,” Hithium Energy Storage says. [CleanTechnica]
Giant LFP battery (Courtesy of Hithium Energy Storage)
¶ “Canada Joins California, Oregon, Washington, And Vermont In Clean Transportation Push” • California started the push to phase out internal combustion vehicles in North America. Now, Canada has largely adopted the California regulatory model, as have the states of Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. Canada is launching a 75-day consultancy period. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EV Charging Pole Dance Heats Up In Newcastle, Australia” • In Australia, EVX has a mission to enable more people with EVs on the roads by increasing the number of accessible and reliable EV charging solutions powered 100% by renewable energy. They offer practical day-to-day charging based on typical consumer parking behaviour. [CleanTechnica]
Pole-mounted EV charger (Courtesy of EVX)
¶ “Christmas in the UK Could Be ‘Greenest Yet’ From Renewable Energy Boost” • The 3 GW of capacity installed in the first nine months of of this year is enough to cook 1 billion pigs in blankets in air fryers or 3 million turkeys, providing a bird for every home in Scotland, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said in an email. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “Ireland’s First Maritime Area Consents For Offshore Wind Energy projects” • The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD, issued Maritime Area Consents to the first phase of seven offshore renewable energy projects, in what represents a significant milestone in the delivery of offshore wind in Ireland. [Government of Ireland]
Offshore wind farm (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)
¶ “The Only Nuclear Power Plant In Bulgaria Refused To Work On Russian Fuel” • In the tenth month of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bulgaria’s only nuclear power plant refused to operate on the fuel of the aggressor country. Westinghouse said it signed a 10-year contract for the supply of nuclear fuel for the power plant Kozloduy. [Odessa Journal]
US:
¶ “US Winter Storm Hits 200 Million Americans” • Some 200 million Americans are feeling the icy grip of a massive winter storm that has been linked to at least 12 deaths. On Friday, more than 1.5 million people lost power and thousands of flights were cancelled. The vast storm extends more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from Texas to Quebec. [BBC]
Stranded by snow (Todd Diemer, Unsplash)
¶ “Stranded Native Americans Burn Clothes For Warmth” • In South Dakota, Native American tribal leaders are appealing for urgent help as snowed-in communities run out of vital supplies in a winter storm. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has been buried in more than 30 inches (76 cm) of snow, but winds have stacked snow drifts 12 feet (3.6 meters) high. [BBC]
¶ “Mining Giant Albemarle Announces Advanced Lithium Tech Park In North Carolina” • The #1 provider in the world of lithium for EV batteries is Albemarle Corporation, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2021, 41% of Albemarle’s revenue came from lithium. Now, Albemarle is doing more in the Tar Heel State to advance lithium production. [CleanTechnica]
Albemarle Technology Park (Albemarle Corp via PRNewsfoto)
¶ “Are Electric Cars Lowering Energy Bills In California?” • EVs have contributed $1.7 billion of revenue for just three utilities in California – Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and Sempra-owned San Diego Gas & Electric. And the $1.7 billion EVs provided over the past ten years have driven rates down for all customers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California Utility Electrifies 20% Of Its Fleet” • The Southern California utility company SDG&E has a goal of electrifying 100% of its fleet of vehicles by 2030. It has provided an update that it has now reached 20% and is on track for that 2030 target. SDG&E also has a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2045, in line with California’s own goal. [CleanTechnica]
Charging station (Courtesy of San Diego Gas & Electric)
¶ “Community Solar Landfill Project In New Jersey Is A Win Times Four” • Landfill solar projects are very popular because they use land with little other value. The latest such project to get under construction is a 10-MW community solar landfill project in Southampton, New Jersey. It has been called “the largest solar landfill project in North America.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nebraska Farms, Businesses Receive Federal Funding For Renewable Energy Systems” • The US Department of Agriculture will provide $2 million to Nebraska to build renewable energy systems at businesses and farms across the state. A total of 36 projects in Nebraska received funding through the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP. [KPVI]
Have a sensationally serene day.
geoharvey 
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