World:
¶ “Natural Gas Prices Haven’t Been This Low Since Russia Went To War” • Natural gas prices in Europe and the US have tumbled to levels last seen before Russia sparked a global energy crisis by invading Ukraine. Europe can thank a record-breaking spell of warm weather, as well as its own barnstorming effort last summer to fill gas storage. [CNN]
Gas storage tanks (Patrick Federi, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Geely’s Panda Mini EV Joins A Growing List Of Cool EVs In China” • Geely wants you to “unleash your cuteness” with its new Panda Mini EV that comes with a 64-inch panoramic sun roof (canopy). It starts from about ¥55,800 in China, which is about $8,000. Hopefully, more of these mini EVs will start to find their way to other parts of the world. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plans To Install 3,000 MW of Additional Renewable Generation Capacity” • Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC has an installed capacity of 1,904 MW, of which over 86% is from green sources. KenGen now seeks to add 3,000 MW by 2030 and get 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. [CleanTechnica]
Geothermal plant (Courtesy of KenGen)
¶ “Nel Bags 120-MW German Electrolyser Order” • Nel has secured a 120-MW electrolyser order from HH2E, a German green hydrogen developer, for a project in the German Baltic coastal town of Lubmin. The expected order is worth more than €30 million. It will become binding with the signing of the final purchase contract. [reNews]
¶ “‘French Renewables Bill Must Not Be Watered Down’” • Ahead of the vote on the country’s Renewable Energy Acceleration Act, WindEurope has called on French policymakers to boost energy security. WindEurope warned that unhelpful amendments to the text could cause the bill to slow down the uptake of renewables instead of speeding it up. [reNews]
Wind farm (WindEurope image)
¶ “Nel And Statkraft Sign Norwegian Hydrogen Deal” • Hydrogen technology company Nel signed a contract with Statkraft for 40 MW of electrolysers and to develop a Norwegian green hydrogen value chain. Statkraft aims to bring its annual development rate to 4 GW of new power production and to add 2 GW of renewable hydrogen production by 2030. [reNews]
¶ “Climate Change Is Leaving African Elephants Desperate For Water” • African elephant numbers have dropped from about 26 million in the 1800s to 415,000 today. While this is largely due to European colonisation, poaching and habitat loss, these majestic animals now face another grave challenge. Drought is leaving them without sufficient water. [Devdiscourse]
Elephant mother and child (Casey Allen, Unsplash)
¶ “International Nuclear Fusion Energy Project Faces Delays, Say Scientists” • A little less than a month after scientists working on a nuclear fusion project in the US made a major breakthrough, some not-so-good news has come for other scientists working on a similar international project. The dates in a projected timeline for production were not realistic. [WION]
US:
¶ “Great Salt Lake Will Disappear In Five Years Without Massive ‘Emergency Rescue,’ Scientists Say” • Utah’s Great Salt Lake is facing “unprecedented danger,” experts say, It has fallen to an alarmingly low levels in a megadrought fueled by climate change. A dire report calls for “emergency measures” to save the Great Salt Lake from going dry. [CNN]
Great Salt Lake (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)
¶ “EPA Is Proposing A New Rule To Crack Down On Deadly Air Pollution” • For the first time since 2012, the US EPAis proposing an update to the federal air quality standard for fine soot. It is a step that has long been awaited to reduce deadly air pollution. It would reduce the amount of particulate matter, called PM2.5, allowed to be in outdoor air. [CNN]
¶ “Widespread Damage To The California Coast In The Wake Of Major Storms” • A deadly storm has inflicted widespread damage in northern California, dumping record-breaking rain along the coastline. Waves washed away walls of homes, while mudslides, sinkholes, and flooding were reported throughout the region. Two deaths have also been reported. [BBC]
Window smashed by a wave (Cambria fire department)
¶ “Joe Biden Making Great Climate Progress, But US Misses Self-Imposed Deadlines For Several Environmental Goals” • As soon as he took office, Joe Biden recognized the “maximum threat” of climate change and created a White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. Here is a look at what has been accomplished, and what has not been. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Mercury Marine Unveils Its First Electric Outboard Boat Motor” • Mercury Motors presented its all-new Avator™ 7.5e electric outboard at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is a revolutionary accomplishment, as it is both the first of its kind from Mercury and one of many slated to be released this year! [CleanTechnica]
Boat with an electric outboard motor (Mercury Marine image)
¶ “What To Know About Home Depot’s New Energy Deal” • The Home Depot recently announced plans for all its facilities to be powered by solar energy by 2030. The company purchased 100 MW of solar energy from National Grid Renewables in Denton County, Texas. This purchase is the equivalent of 8% of Home Depot’s total electricity use. [House Digest]
¶ “UCS Commends Vox Media Ban On Fossil-Fuel Advertising” • Vox Media confirmed this week that the company will no longer accept advertising revenue from fossil-fuel companies or groups that do lobbying in support of fossil-fuel companies. Vox Media owns New York Magazine and Vox, among other widely read publications. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
Have a conveniently grand day.
geoharvey 