Opinion:
¶ “Now Is The Time For Clean Vehicles In New Mexico” • New Mexico could see public health and economic benefits if the state adopts three clean vehicle rules this year: the Advanced Clean Truck rule, the Heavy-Duty NOx Omnibus rules, and the Advanced Clean Cars II rule. The rules will also stimulate New Mexico’s economy. [CleanTechnica]
Las Cruces, New Mexico (Neomexicanus lc, public domain)
World:
¶ “Lithuanian Gas Pipeline Hit By Large Explosion” • A large blast hit a gas pipeline in northern Lithuania, near the Latvian border. Images broadcast by local media showed massive flames illuminating the night sky, but officials say there have been no injuries caused by the explosion. The pipeline’s operator said it did not believe the blast was suspicious. [BBC]
¶ “Germany Plans To Destroy This Town For A Coal Mine. Thousands Are Gathering To Stop It” • Police have removed hundreds of activists. Some of them have been in Lützerath for more than two years, occupying the homes abandoned by former residents after they were evicted, most by 2017, to make way for expansion of a lignite mine. [CNN]
Excavating machine (Pixabay, Pexels)
¶ “Low Renewable Energy Costs To Aid India’s Green Hydrogen Push” • India has the cheapest renewable energy in the world. As part of a green hydrogen plan, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India aims to make 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, with the potential to reach 10 million tonnes as export markets grow. [The National]
¶ “NASA: 2022 Was Fifth Warmest Year On Record” • The last nine consecutive years have been the warmest nine on record. The year 2022 effectively tied for Earth’s fifth warmest year since 1880, as Earth is about 2°F (1.11°C) warmer than the average for the late 19th century. Forest fires, hurricanes, and droughts are getting stronger as a result. [CleanTechnica]
Ocean heat (NASA image)
¶ “German Solar Power Firm Sees Soaring Demand” • Soaring demand for home solar power systems in Germany could boost revenues at Solarwatt to €500 million this year, up more than 50%. Homeowners are installing solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps, as they seek to cut their energy bills after huge price hikes last year. [Euronews]
¶ “UAE’s Masdar To Develop Number Of Renewable Energy Projects In Kyrgyzstan” • Masdar, the UAE’s leading renewable energy company, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan to develop renewable energy projects with a capacity to generate 1 GW, Trend reports citing Masdar’s press service. [Trend News Agency]
Nomad homes, one with PV panel (Joel Heard, Unsplash)
¶ “Hitachi Energy To Develop Solar Projects With Sun Africa” • Hitachi Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Sun Africa and UGT Renewables to collaborate on utility-scale solar PV power generation projects. The partners are completing their first project together, a 370-MW solar PV power plant across seven sites in Angola. [reNews]
¶ “REA Hails Scottish Net Zero Target” • The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology has welcomed the Scottish government’s intentions to meet its existing net zero target by 2045, five years ahead of the UK Government target. The plan includes an ambition to double renewable generation capacity by 2030 to 20 GW. [reNews]
Whitelee wind farm (Rosser1954, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “UN Nuclear Watchdog To Establish “Continuous Presence” In Ukraine” • The head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, will go to Ukraine next week to establish a “continuous presence” at all of the country’s nuclear power plants, according to a news release. This extends presence already established at the Zaporizhzhia plant. [Axios]
US:
¶ “Giant Parts Of 9,000-Ton Tesla Cybertruck Giga Press Arrive At Giga Texas” • CleanTechnica reported in October of 2022 that IDRA had started shipping the huge 9000-ton Cybertruck Giga Casting machine from its plant in Italy to the US. Now two semi trucks loaded with huge containers on their trailers were spotted at Giga Texas. [CleanTechnica]
Gigafactory Texas (Tesla image)
¶ “Tesla Reduces New Car Prices In Effort To Boost Sales” • Tesla has greatly reduced its prices for Model S, Model X, and Model Y cars in the US. In some cases, the price reductions make the Tesla cars eligible for tax reductions, magnifying the benefits. There were similar reductions in Europe, and after price cuts in China, Tesla sold 30,000 cars in three days. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Rural Communities Have Won Billions Of Dollars To Fund Renewable Energy” • Last year, rural advocates won big in the Inflation Reduction Act by securing billions of dollars for rural communities to implement clean energy. Now, the USDA Rural Utilities Service is asking for input on how to set up and roll out these funding programs. [Appalachian Voices]
Appalachian view (Abigail Ducote, Unsplash)
¶ “Powerful Clean-Energy Line To Crisscross New Mexico” • A 400-mile, $2 billion clean-energy transmission line planned for New Mexico became an official “public-private” project this week, boosting its development prospects. Operations are planned to start in 2028, potentially carrying 4 GW of renewable energy from Clayton to Farmington. [Albuquerque Journal]
¶ “California PUC Launches Rulemaking To Consider Extension Of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant” • The California Public Utilities Commission voted to open a rulemaking to consider extending the operations of the 2.2-GW Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Unit 1 could be kept running through October 31, 2029, and Unit 2 until October 31, 2030. [Utility Dive]
Have a really restful day.
geoharvey 
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