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Opinion:

¶ “ESG Investments Are Suddenly Appealing To Some Red State Leaders” • The federal endorsement of sustainable investments is prompting some red state legislators to embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance positions. What was once a red state onslaught against ESG investments is now a lot more like a pink puff of occasional air. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in rural India (Yahoo! Blog, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “In Ultrathin Layers, NREL Researchers Find A Path To Better Materials” • For more than three decades, scientists have known that the addition of cadmium chloride creates better-performing CdTe solar cells. But they have not understood exactly why, until now. The answer has implications for materials science that go well beyond solar cells. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Tiny Diamond Sphere That Could Unlock Clean Power” • The National Ignition Facility, part of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has done such fusion energy experiments before, but this time the energy that came out of the reaction, was more than the laser power used to trigger it. It’s one more step in the research process. [BBC]

Developing a fuel capsule (LLNL image)

World:

¶ “Sun, Wind Aplenty, Spain Vies To Lead The EU In Green Hydrogen” • With lots of sun and wind, Spain is positioning itself as Europe’s future leader in green hydrogen production to clean up heavy industries. Spain had announced a Hydrogen Roadmap in 2020, but the sector has greater importance in the EU since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [MSN]

¶ “Eskom Gets Ready To Support The Growth Of The E-Mobility Sector In South Africa” • Eskom, the utility serving South Africa, is undertaking a pilot project to introduce EVs for both its utility and passenger vehicle fleets. Eskom has submitted the residential time-of-use charging tariff to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa for approval. [CleanTechnica]

Eskom EV event (Eskom image)

¶ “Falck Launches Its First Electric Ambulance” • Falck is an international leader in healthcare, ambulance services, and fire preparedness. Based in Denmark, Falck has activities in 26 countries and employs 25,000 people. Now, it will include EVs in the fleet, starting with an electric ambulance on the last winter day in Copenhagen. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Installation Growth Expected To Reach 700 GW By 2025” • Solar polysilicon prices dropped immensely in recent years, then bounced up as supply couldn’t keep up with demand. Now, they seem to be dropping again as production capacity is increased. Rethink Energy expects that China will produce 432 to 540 GW of solar panels in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Melany Klapper, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Electric Vehicle Logging Truck Launches For Green Triangle Trial In South Australia” • A truck running entirely on electric power has been launched to transport logs across the Green Triangle forestry region in south-east South Australia. The truck was converted from an existing diesel vehicle and is powered by a 720-horsepower electric motor. [ABC]

¶ “Campaigners Fear Government Will Drop Onshore Windfarm Promise In England” • Fears that the government is quietly planning to renege on promises to lift the ban on onshore windfarms in England have prompted a large group of green campaigners, business leaders and prominent figures to protest to ministers. [The Guardian]

Wind turbine (ClwydianRanger, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “France Seeks ‘Nuclear Alliance’ At EU Energy Meeting” • EU energy ministers are meeting on February 27 and 28 to discuss issues ranging from security of supply to electricity market reform. But on the sidelines, French energy minister Agnes Pannier-Runache has invited twelve other countries to discuss a “nuclear alliance.” [EUobserver]

US:

¶ “Fervo Energy Plans Direct Air Capture Facility Powered By Geothermal Heat And Electricity” • Fervo Energy announced on February 23 that it will design and engineer a fully integrated geothermal and direct air capture facility. The system will be based on use of both geothermal heat and power to capture carbon dioxide. [CleanTechnica]

Fervo Energy installation (Fervo Energy image)

¶ “Hurricanes Could Push Deeper Into US In Coming Decades” • Stronger storms fueled by climate change will penetrate deeper into the US and threaten parts of the country unaccustomed to high-speed winds, according to a new analysis of the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones. The report was released by the nonprofit First Street Foundation.  [NBC News]

¶ “Army Of Spiral-Welding Wind Turbine Tower Trucks Sets Forth From…Texas?” • Elected officials in Texas may rant against renewable energy, but the state is a clean power pace-setter. The latest example is a forthcoming fleet of trucks bearing new spiral-welding technology that can lower the cost of wind turbine towers and raise the height. [CleanTechnica]

Spiral-welding system (Courtesy of Keystone Tower Systems)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Lithium-Free Battery Aims To Serve As Backup For Grid-Scale Renewable Energy” • A research team, led by the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, demonstrated a design for a grid energy-storage battery that uses sodium and aluminum as its primary components. The cell is well-suited for long discharge cycles, in excess of 24 hours. [Electronic Design]

¶ “The Dream Of Mini Nuclear Plants Hangs In The Balance” • This month, utilities across the West were facing a weighty decision: whether to pull the plug on their nuclear dream. NuScale had informed members of a group of them that the estimated costs of building the six 77-MW reactors had risen by more than 50% to $9.3 billion. [WIRED]

Have a phenomenally fine day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Sand To Green In Africa” • French-Moroccan startup Sand to Green aims to turn the desert from threat to food producer. The startup is using drip irrigation with desalinated sea or brackish water. Sand to Green has been field testing its techniques for the past three years in Morocco. The farming systems have proven themselves resilient. [CleanTechnica]

Sand to Green plantation (Sand to Green image)

¶ “Climate Change Could Leave Yukon Plants With Nowhere To Go” • As climate change pushes some plants northward, a study suggests several unique species in Yukon and Alaska could have nowhere to go. The paper, published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, found that some species may lose nearly all suitable habitat within the next two decades. [CTV News]

World:

¶ “Green Hydrogen Project Is New ‘World’s Biggest’” • A Hydrogen Insight report says China has begun construction on the world’s biggest green hydrogen project. The Kuqa plant is projected to produce 20,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Hydrogen from Kuqa is expected to replace grey H₂ made from fossil gas at Sinopec’s Tahe refinery. [CleanTechnica]

Workers at the ready (Courtesy of Sinopec)

¶ “Utility-Scale Wind, Solar PV, And CSP Increased From 467 MW In 2013 To 6,230 MW In 2022 In South Africa” • South Africa’s grid is dominated by coal. The Statistics of Utility-Scale Power Generation In South Africa In 2022 Report of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research says the contribution from coal dropped below 80% for the first time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Approved Most Coal Power Plants Since 2015 Last Year, Making Environmental Goals Harder” • China embarked on a massive expansion of its coal-fired power capacity in response to last summer’s historic power crisis, approving the equivalent of two large coal power plants per week, according to the findings of new research. [South China Morning Post]

Coal power plant in China (Hanno Böck, CC0)

¶ “Consultation Begins To Revive Stalled Renewable Energy Projects” • Pakistan’s government has initiated consultation for a way forward on dozens of stalled wind and solar PV projects, after being highlighted by Sindh and Balochistan governments and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, which is interested in six stalled projects. [Business Recorder]

¶ “Greencoat Sees Portfolio Power Production Rise In 2022” • Greencoat Renewables saw increased electricity production last year as it expanded its number of renewable energy assets. According to the company’s results for 2022, its portfolio generated 2,487 GWh of electricity in 2022, an increase from 2021’s 1,522 GWh. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Karsten Würth, Unsplash)

¶ “Jordan Brings 200-MW Solar Farm Online” • The Baynouna Solar Energy Company has inaugurated its 200-MW Baynouna Solar Park in Jordan. The project will produce over 560 GWh of energy annually – enough to power 160,000 homes. The plant also displaces 360,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to taking nearly 80,000 cars off the road. [reNews]

¶ “’Transparency’ Eases Concerns Over Nuclear Wastewater Release Into The Pacific Ocean” • Japan’s “transparency” over its plan to release treated nuclear wastewater from the crippled Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean this year has helped ease the region’s concerns over the discharge, the Pacific Islands Forum says. [Stuff.co.nz]

Island in Micronesia (Marek Okon, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “US Auto Industry Down Over 3 Million Sales (19%) Since 2019” • The US auto industry has declined over the past few years. Compared to 2019, American auto industry’s annual sales were down by more than 3 million (19%). The big exception is Tesla. This shows the internal combustion vehicle market declined more than the overall market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Red States Leading The US In Solar And Wind Production, New Report Shows” • A report by Climate Central shows how the US capacity to generate renewable energy shot up last year, and surprisingly, red states lead the nation in solar and wind power production. National wind and solar capacity grew 16% compared to 2021. [The Guardian]

Wind farm (Freida Mcmurtrie, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Will Utah’s Great Salt Lake disappear?” • Utah’s Great Salt Lake doesn’t look so “great” these days. This place where tourists once bobbed up and down like corks in water far saltier than the ocean is now quite literally turning to dust. Climate change and the megadrought haven’t done the lake any favors, but also, water is being diverted away from the lake. [CBS News]

¶ “New Hampshire Climate Activists Applaud ‘Community Power ‘ Movement” • More Granite Staters are expected to get their electricity from renewable energy sources this spring, as so-called “community power” programs continue to expand. So far, 26 municipalities have joined the New Hampshire Community Power Coalition. [Public News Service]

Have a wonderfully useful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Dear Maryland: It’s Time To Drive Clean Trucks And Buses” • Every soul walking this earth deserves to breathe clean air. But there are counties across Maryland have air that hasn’t met the EPA’s standards for decades, causing public health problems ranging from asthma to premature death. Much of that pollution comes from diesel engines. [CleanTechnica]

Bus charging station in Maryland (Courtesy of Schneider Electric)

¶ “Why India Inc Needs Energy Storage Solutions And How It Can Do It” • Increasingly, buildings, transport, and industry are betting on electrification to reduce carbon emissions. India is expected to add more than 350 GW of renewable power capacity in this decade. This makes it necessary to add balancing sources like energy storage systems. [The Economic Times]

¶ “Pakistan’s Textile Industry: Barriers To Renewable Energy Transition” • With the growing unsustainable management of energy demand, Pakistan’s continuous reliance on imported fossil fuels has affected the country’s energy security. Pakistan’s textile industry is one major sector that can benefit massively from the renewable energy. [Business Recorder]

Textile machinery (s2 art, Unsplash)

¶ “Russian Nuclear Fuel: The Habit Europe Just Can’t Break” • Europe is on track to kick its addiction to Russian fossil fuels, but can’t seem to replicate that success with nuclear energy a year into the Ukraine war. Coal imports from Russia have dropped to zero. Russia’s share of the gas market has dropped to 10%. But the nuclear fuel addiction is tougher. [POLITICO]

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Feed Additives Could Cut Methane Emissions From Livestock By 90%” • Scientists appear to have solved one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the meat industry: how to reduce methane emissions from cow burps. Dutch company Royal DSM says it has a product that can reduce cows’ methane emissions by up to 92%. [ABC]

Royal DSM executive Mark van Nieuwland (Royal DSM image)

World:

¶ “Volvo OTA Updates Pass 1 Million Mark, XC90 Recharge Earns Highest IIHS Safety Rating” • Volvo has announced that it completed more than a million over-the-air software updates globally. This eleventh OTA update from Volvo covered 350,000 vehicles and was its largest update ever. Now owners can give the cars commands over a phone. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “KE To Add 1,182 MW Of Renewable Energy By 2030” • In Pakistan, K-Electric plans to add 1,182 MW of renewable energy under its Rs484 billion ($1.88 billion) investment plan by 2030. In the plan, the power utility said it would add 2,172 MW by 2030 and the major share would be contributed through the renewable energy sources. [The News International]

Solar panels in Pakistan (Ab PrinceGabol, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine’s Energy Minister Says Russia Has Damaged Half Of Country’s Energy Infrastructure” • Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko says about half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been damaged by shelling and rocket attacks since Russia started targeting it in October. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is one of the plants shelled. [CBC]

US:

¶ “US Electric Car Sales Increased 65% In 2022” • Tesla continues to dominate the US electric car sales market, which can make it seem like not much is changing. However, the biggest story is probably that the US electric car market as a whole continues to grow strongly. In 2022, our analysis shows that battery EV sales are up 65% compared to 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Teslas charging (Tesla image)

¶ “It’s Official: California Will Be Tesla’s Engineering And AI Headquarters” • They’ve bickered and disagreed in the past, but all that seemed to be forgotten as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the former Hewlett-Packard headquarters in Palo Alto would become Tesla’s engineering and AI base of operations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “West Virginia Gov Justice Greenlights Funding For Renewable Energy Battery Plant” • West Virginia’s governor signed a bill that gives $105 million in state funding for a Form Energy battery plant in Weirton, a former steel town. The 55-acre plant will produce iron-air batteries and is anticipated to create at least 750 jobs in a $760 million investment. [Voonze]

Old Wierton steel mill in  (Carol M Highsmith, Library of Congress)

¶ “Tesla’s Global Engineering HQ In Palo Alto – Opening Party Highlights” • Tesla has acquired and restored the HP Garage in Palo Alto, California, for the company’s new Global Engineering HQ space. This is actually the birthplace of Silicon Valley, with a historical significance in the rise of Palo Alto as the world-leading center for technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Christian Case For Fighting Climate Change Is Being Tested In Eastern Oregon” • Peter Fargo felt he had been called by God to an uncommon type of missionary work. He left his job to dedicate himself to fighting climate change. And from his home in Baker City, Fargo plans to spread his message across Eastern Oregon. [Oregon Public Broadcasting]

Have an invigoratingly relaxed day.

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Interview:

¶ “Linda Pentz Gunter on the Nuclear Corruption Cases” • Linda Pentz Gunter of Beyond Nuclear tracks nuclear power industry corruption. “Nuclear power is almost completely dependent on the government for not only its continued existence, but also for new reactor construction,” she said. No wonder it corrupts our politics. [Corporate Crime Reporter]

Nuclear power plant (Clora Torrence, Pixy.org, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Pathbreaking Groundwater Research” • Michael Kiparsky, founding director of the Wheeler Water Institute at Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environments, has spent years working on water policy, along with a team from several branches of the University of California system. Now there is funding to take the work nationwide. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Dry Canals, Low Rivers And Shrunken Lakes: Europe Braces For Severe Drought Amid Winter Heatwave” • A winter heatwave, record low levels of rain and a startling lack of snow in Europe are pushing rivers, canals, and lakes across the continent to alarmingly low levels, with experts warning there could be repeat of last year’s severe droughts. [CNN]

Drought (Markus Spiske, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “South Africa Introduces Solar Panel Tax Incentives For Adopting Renewables” • In his National Budget Speech on 22 February, South Africa’s Minister of Finance announced new short-term tax incentives for South Africans to go solar. This is in a bid to increase distributed solar power and help protect citizens from load-shedding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “13% Of New Cars Were BEVs In France In January” • The car market in France is still 17% below January 2020, the last normal month, but it is now recovering (+9% YOY). The French plugin passenger car market has hit the accelerator, however, largely thanks to pure battery EVs jumping 43%, to 14,649 registrations, for a 13% market share. [CleanTechnica]

Dacia Spring (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy Poised To Drive Growth In The Power Sector” • We forecast global non-hydro renewables electricity capacity could increase threefold from 2023 to 2032. By 2032, non-hydro renewables could account for nearly one-third of the world’s power generation. Our report explores the factors we see supporting robust growth. [Benzinga]

¶ “Australia Steps Up Its Renewable Energy Game With Proposed Offshore Wind Zone” • The federal government of Australia has opened a consultation on a offshore wind zone off New South Wales. The government said the proposed zone could support the future of onshore manufacturing with “cheaper, cleaner energy.” [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

Proposed offshore site (Australian government)

¶ “Steady Rise In Belgium’s Renewable Energy Consumption In 2021” • Renewable energy as a share of Belgians’ total energy consumption rose in 2021, accounting for 13.01% of energy use according to FPS Economy. This increase just allowed Belgium to meet the EU’s target for Member States’ renewable energy consumption. [The Brussels Times]

¶ “Big Oil’s Net-Zero Pledges Not Aligned With Climate Science” • The net-zero emissions pledges touted by Canada’s oil and gas sector ring false as it continues its push to expand fossil fuels and oppose climate policy, reports InfluenceMap, an independent think tank that maintains a database of climate policy lobbying by corporate and industry associations. [Penticton Herald]

Pump jack (Delfino Barboza, Unsplash)

¶ “Iran Building 2,000 MW Nuclear Power Plant In Defiance Of Sanctions: Nuclear Chief” • Iran’s nuclear chief says a nuclear power plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan aims to generate 2,000 MW of electricity, defying decades of sanctions that have targeted the country’s nuclear program. He said it will produce 300 MW in a preliminary phase. [Press TV]

US:

¶ “Arcimoto Gets More Funding, Goes Back Into Production. Is This Part Of A Bigger Trend?” • Arcimoto, a company making the 3-wheeled tandem-seating EVs, had financial problems and was on the brink of bankruptcy. Now, financial news outlets report that Arcimoto has got itself back on track with about $6 million of additional funding. [CleanTechnica]

Arcimoto (Courtesy of Arcimoto)

¶ “How Much Land Would It Require To Get Most Of Our Electricity From Wind And Solar?” • Critics of wind and solar often raise concerns about how much land would be required to decarbonize the US power sector. An NREL study shows that it would take  an area comparable to or even smaller than the fossil fuel industry’s current footprint. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Sunrun Installed Almost A Gigawatt Of Solar In 2022!” • Sunrun, the leading provider of residential solar, storage and energy services in America, announced financial results for 2022. Sunrun says it added new installed solar energy capacity in 2022 by 25.2% YOY to 991 MW, modestly exceeding guidance. That’s almost 1 GW in one year! [CleanTechnica]

Solar PV system (Sunrun image)

¶ “Three New-Tech Geothermal Plans To Be Considered For Boosting Power At The Geysers” • Three cutting-edge pilot projects that could give California constant emission-free electricity are being considered to go ahead in and around massive geothermal field in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties. [North Bay Business Journal]

¶ “City’s Decarbonization Plan Reduces Gas Usage, Increases Renewable Energy” • San Diego’s updated Climate Action Plan calls for eliminating nearly all natural gas use from buildings in the city by 2035. That entails eliminating natural gas hookups in all new construction, as well as reducing 90% of natural gas use in existing buildings. [SDNews.com]

Have a fabulously lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How New York’s Utilities Are Spreading Disinformation About Renewable Energy” • Worried about the climate crisis? Live in Brooklyn, Long Island, or Upstate? If so, your gas bill is paying for anti-climate disinformation. Nearly all of New York’s gas utilities are working to defeat our state’s nation-leading climate law, the 2019 Climate Act. [City Limits]

Brooklyn (Nelson Ndongala, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “One Of Europe’s Top Banks Is Being Sued For Financing Fossil Fuels” • Climate activist groups took legal action against BNP Paribas, one of Europe’s biggest banks, alleging the French lender’s loans to big oil and gas companies violate a legally binding duty to ensure its activities do not do harm to the environment. [CNN]

¶ “The Battle For Germany Begins – Tesla Leads On Models And Brand, Volkswagen Group First Among OEMs” • After subsidies caused a December sales rush with historic performance, the Germany plugin vehicle market was bound to have a hangover month in January. The market started the year with a 33% drop over the same month last year. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Michal Lauko, Unsplash)

¶ “Adani Group’s Two Renewable Energy Projects Approved By Sri Lanka” • Sri Lanka’s investment promotion body approved two renewable energy projects of India’s Adani group to be set up in the north and eastern regions of the island nation at a total investment of $442 million. They are wind farms with capacities of 250 MW and 100 MW. [Telegraph India]

¶ “US Energy Secretary Discusses Plan To ‘Warproof’ Ukraine’s Electrical Grid” • Russian attacks have targeted Ukraine’s power grid since mid-October. The US is sending a third round of help to restore damaged infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to help Ukraine build a new “warproof” distributed power grid, the US Secretary of Energy said. [Voice of America]

Energy Secretary Granholm (US Dept of Labor, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “India To Increase Renewable Energy In Ports To 60%” • India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways revealed its plans to increase the share of renewable energy to 60%. Under the Green Shipping initiative, major ports implemented various activities that would help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the ports and shipping sector. [Ships & Ports]

¶ “TotalEnergies Signs Renewable Power Purchase Agreements With Sasol And Air Liquide” • TotalEnergies announced that it has signed Corporate Power Purchase Agreements with Sasol South Africa and Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa for the supply of 260 MW capacity of renewable electricity over a term of 20 years. [Eurasia Review]

Wind farm in South Africa (Kalle Pihlajasaari, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Poland Signs Agreement with US For Its First Nuclear Power Plant” • The Polish government and Westinghouse have signed a contract to have Poland’s first nuclear power plant designed and built. The agreement was signed by the president of the Polish state-owned Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe and representatives of the US firm Westinghouse. [El American]

US:

¶ “It’s Never Been This Warm In February. Here’s Why That’s Not Good” • More than 130 cities from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes could set new records for daily and monthly high temperatures this week. Highs will climb up to 80 degrees as far north as Ohio and West Virginia – certainly unusual, but getting less so in the warming climate. [CNN]

Cherry blossoms (Kristina Paukshtite, Pexels)

¶ “Los Angeles Blizzard Warning Is First Since 1989” • A massive storm has brought major blizzards and temperatures below freezing to much of the northern US. Forecasters are predicting record snowfall of up to eight feet (2.4 meters) in mountains to the east of Los Angeles by Saturday. The city of Santa Barbara could have up to five feet. [BBC]

¶ “New Design For Lithium-Air Battery Could Offer Much Longer Driving Range” • Scientists at the US DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and Illinois Institute of Technology have a lithium-air battery that could make a thousand mile EV range real. Such batteries could even power domestic airplanes and long-haul trucks one day. [CleanTechnica]

Heart Aerospace’s ES-19 (Courtesy of United Airlines)

¶ “Interior Department Proposes First-Ever Offshore Wind Sale In Gulf Of Mexico” • The Biden-Harris administration took a step to grow America’s clean energy economy, as the Interior Department proposed the first offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. This is part of the Administration’s actions to expand offshore wind opportunities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PG&E Will Test Technologies Of Tesla And Sonnen Virtual Power Plants” • This summer, Pacific Gas & Electric will run tests on two different virtual power plants – one that uses residential batteries supplied by Sunrun, and one that uses Tesla Powerwall batteries. One operates like extra baseload power, and the other is more like a peaker plant. [CleanTechnica]

Installation (Sunrun image)

¶ “New Legislation Would Reform Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard” • H.320, An act relating to the Renewable Energy Standard, is a proposal to reform Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard to prioritize the development of new renewable resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Vermont and the rest of New England. [Solar Power World]

¶ “Entergy Texas To Purchase 150 MW Of Solar Power” • Entergy Texas customers will soon benefit from a cleaner energy resource in Polk County. Longroad Energy announced commencement of construction of Umbriel Solar, a 150-MW PV project. Entergy Texas has entered into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement for Umbriel’s total output. [Entergy Newsroom]

Have an entirely auspicious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Red States Lap Up IRA Dollars From The Government They Despise” • A lot of conservatives hated the IRA and pushed hard against it. But now the IRA is in force and, wonder of wonders, Republicans love it! So-called red states, where hatred of “the other” is rampant, will be the biggest beneficiaries of the credits and incentives baked into the IRA. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Holly Ireland, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Want People To Support Climate Legislation? Explain It In Everyday Language” • What can be done to help more people translate their climate concerns into approval of more legislative mitigation policies? Well, it might help to start using everyday language rather than complicated legalese or scientific discourse to expose the climate crisis. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why A US National Electric Grid Would Be Great For The Climate – And Is Nearly Impossible” • Building large-scale transmission lines to carry electricity across the US could be an extremely cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also improving reliability of the country’s energy grid. But it would not be easy. [CNBC]

Transmission lines (Jay Heike, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Holcim’s 14Trees Delivers The Largest 3D-Printed Affordable Housing Project, And It Is In Kenya!” • 14Trees, a joint venture with British International Investment, the UK’s Development Finance Institution, impact investor and Holcim, has completed the successful construction of the largest 3D-printed affordable housing project to date. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Magna Expands In Ontario To Support F-150 Lightning And Other Future EV Production” • Magna, an automotive supplier, disclosed its plan to invest over $470 million in expanding its operations in Ontario. This expansion includes a new battery enclosures facility that will cater to the Ford F-150 Lightning and other OEM programs. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Image courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Roam Teams Up With Hitachi To Electrify Transport Across Africa” • With nearly 150 employees, Roam is one of the leading providers of EVs in Africa. Founded in 2017, it was one of the first companies to deliver locally produced electric motorcycles and buses. Roam was recently listed on TIME magazine’s top 100 most innovative companies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “CP Foods Installing Solar Panels At 180 Facilities In Renewable Energy Push” • Agro-industrial and food conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company has announced that it plans to increase its usage of green energy through the installation of solar panels at 180 animal farms, feed mills, and processing plants across Thailand. [SeafoodSource]

Solar panels (Courtesy of CP Foods)

¶ “Europe ‘Must Strengthen Manufacturing Capacities’” • Federal Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck has said both Germany and Europe must strengthen production capacities for renewable energies. The Minister was speaking at the the third virtual production summit to strengthen energy transition technologies. [reNews]

¶ “Newcastle Airport Signs Up To Go 100% Renewable, Seven Years Early” • In New South Wales, Newcastle Airport will look to hit its 100% renewable energy target this year – seven years ahead of schedule – under an energy purchase agreement with major renewable energy retailer Flow Power. The plan took effect in January and lasts eight years. [Renew Economy]

Wind turbines (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Costs Continue To Rise For The Hinkley Point Nuclear Megaproject” • For close to a decade, Great Britain’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power project has served as the go-to punching bag for anti-nuclear activists. Sure enough, the gift that keeps giving has furnished still another reason to be chary of big nuclear projects. [Yahoo Finance]

US:

¶ “North America Hit By Blizzards And Heat Wave” • Record snow falls are expected in Minnesota. Los Angeles is under a blizzard warning. Low temperatures of -9°F are forcast for Montana. At the same time, high temperatures may be above 90°F in Florida, and record highs could be set in other parts of the South. Extreme weather is hitting the US. [BBC]

Snow (Les Anderson, Unsplash)

¶ “Los Angeles Meteorologists Marvel At Blizzard Warnings” • Meteorologist Evelyn Taft of station KCAL has been covering California weather for nearly 14 years. This is the first time she has seen a blizzard warning in the SoCal area. Meteorologists say such extreme weather events are likely to grow more severe as the climate changes. [BBC]

¶ “New Oil & Gas Terminals In The Gulf Of Mexico Will Unlock 24 Billion Tons Of Greenhouse Gases” • A story in The Guardian says the federal government quietly approved the Sea Port oil terminal project, a proposed offshore oil platform 35 miles off the Texas coast. And it will decide soon whether to allow three other oil terminals nearby. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore oil & gas platform (Global Energy Monitor image)

¶ “More Than Half Of New US Electricity Generating Capacity In 2023 Will Be Solar” • Developers plan to add 54.5 GW of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity to the US power grid in 2023, according the EIA’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. More than half of the new capacity will be solar (54%), followed by battery storage (17%). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “University of Michigan Seeking 25 MW Of On-Campus Solar Power” • The University of Michigan plans to build on-campus solar installations with a capacity of 25 MW on the Dearborn, Flint, and Ann Arbor campuses, including Michigan Medicine and Athletics. The university recently called for proposals from vendors to build projects. [The University Record]

Have an inconceivably refreshing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “What Europe Showed The World About Renewable Energy” • One year ago, on the cusp of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it seemed unimaginable that renewable energy in Europe could overtake electricity from oil and gas. But not even a year later, it did. By the end of 2022, wind and solar combined overtook natural gas in electricity generation. [Vox]

Wind turbines (Pixy.org, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Volkswagen Develops More Efficient Drivetrain Components For Electric Cars” • To push an EV down the road using only battery power requires that electricity be used as efficiently as possible. Volkswagen says that its engineers have designed new powertrain components for its EVs that are more efficient than what has been in use. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Antarctic Sea Ice Hit Record Lows Again. Scientists Wonder If It’s ‘The Beginning Of The End’” • Antarctic sea ice has reached record low levels for the second time in two years, with some scientists alarmed that dramatic drops are a signal the climate crisis may now be more clearly influencing this vast, complex and isolated region. [CNN]

Penguins, but no snow (Derek Oyen, Unsplash)

¶ “Venice Canals Run Dry Amid Fears Italy May Face Another Drought” • Weeks of dry winter weather have raised concerns that Italy could face another drought after the emergency of last summer. The Alps have had less than half of the normal snowfall, scientists and environmental groups say. The drought has even had effects on canals in Venice. [CNN]

¶ “How The Climate Crisis Is Threatening Tequila” • Warming temperatures have become a growing concern for the Mexican long-nosed bat. “You wouldn’t have tequila if you had no bats, because that’s the only thing that pollinates the agave plant that makes tequila,” said Ron Magill, the communications director and a wildlife expert at Zoo Miami. [CNN]

Inspecting agave (David García Sandoval, Unsplash)

¶ “Netherlands Starts The Year With A 15% BEV Share” • In a recovering overall market in the Netherlands (+7% year on year), battery EVs surged +62% YOY in January, to 5,010 registrations. They started the year with 15% market share – their best January ever. Plugin hybrid EVs were down by 4%, to 3,890 registrations for a 12% market share. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Heat Pump Mania Is Sweeping The World” • The heat pump has gone from curiosity to the hottest thing on everyone’s wish list. Why is that? Because people in places like Maine and Alaska are tired of draining their bank accounts each month to pay for heating oil and propane. And in Europe, people are very aware of a need to stop using natural gas. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (State of Rhode Island)

¶ “The UK’s £450 Million Boiler Upgrade Scheme Is Failing To Deliver” • A scheme to encourage UK households to upgrade their gas boilers to heat pumps and other low-carbon alternatives is failing to deliver after suffering a “disappointingly low” take-up, a parliamentary report has said. The programs will need a boost to meet its goals. [The Guardian]

¶ “NSW Announces $1.5 Billion Clean Energy Superpower Fund To Fast Track Renewable Energy” • Many households in New South Wales are unable to get the most out of their solar systems due to network constraints. The government has set up a $1.5 billion Clean Energy Superpower Fund to address this and other similar issues. [Energy Matters]

Solar plant in NSW (Jeremy Buckingham, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Warning To Keep Nuclear Energy Plants Out Of Scotland” • The SNP’s Westminster energy spokesman said, “If the Tories think they will bring down energy bills by building nuclear power stations that won’t be ready for years to come then they are more delusional than we thought.” The warning went to the new energy minister, an Aberdeeshire MP. [Aberdeen Live]

US:

¶ “Electric RVing Could Be A Lot Cleaner At This Solar-Equipped RV Park” • Thousand Trails, the operator of RV campgrounds and resorts, with more than 80 locations in 23 states and British Columbia, has installed a new premium RV storage section at the Wilderness Lakes Campground in Menifee, California. It has a capacity of 1,469 kW. [CleanTechnica]

Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV area (Thousand Trails image)

¶ “Tracking The Post-IRA Boom In The US EV Supply Chain” • The Inflation Reduction Act is a grand experiment in how the US government can accelerate the clean energy transition and spur the industrial sectors needed to support it. A project measuring how consequential the IRA has been for the US EV industry has a lot to report after six months. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Republican Operatives Are Astroturfing Opposition To Solar Power” • Some grassroots groups opposed to local solar projects have something in common: a group in Virginia with powerful GOP connections. Citizens for Responsible Solar gives advice on strategy, according to an expose by National Public Radio and news collective Floodlight. [Yahoo News]

Solar system (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Eleven States Have Committed To 100% Clean Electricity” • On February 7, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law a clean energy bill that requires the state’s utilities to get 100% of their electricity from carbon-free energy sources by 2040. The state has joined ten others with commitments to 100% clean or renewable energy. [Environment America]

¶ “Constellation Is Spending $800 Million To Upgrade Two Nuclear Power Plants” • Upgrades will be made at the Byron and Braidwood nuclear power plants. Constellation Energy says it will increase generating capacity by 135 MW in the next six years with an $800 million investment in new turbines. Support is coming from state and local governments. [WCMY]

Have an unpretentiously sublime day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla’s Big Gross Margin Advantage” • It has been common for naysayers to write that Tesla “lost money on every car it sold.” But Tesla earns more money for every vehicle it sells than any of its rivals. A lot more. Reuters shows that Big T earns an average of $9,574 per vehicle sold. For second-place GM, it’s $2,150, and it’s $1,550 for plug-in powerhouse BYD. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Taun Stewart, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Is Air Pollution Causing Us To Lose Our Sense Of Smell?” • Exposure to PM2.5 – small airborne pollution particles – has been linked with “olfactory dysfunction,” but typically only in occupational or industrial settings. New research is starting to show the true scale of the pollution we breathe in every day. The findings have relevance for us all. [BBC]

¶ “NASA Is Mapping Duststorms From Space With This New High-Tech Device” • Sand and dust storms happen in much of the world. According to the UN, dust storms are increasing due to climate change, land degradation, and drought. Now, climate scientists tracking the storms can work with NASA on a new instrument called EMIT. [CNN]

Dust storm in Texas (Jakeorin, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “World Risks ‘Doom Loop,’ IPPR Warns” • A report by the Institute For Public Policy Research, a progressive UK think tank, warns that the world risks creating a “doom loop” in which we spend so much time and energy responding to the ever-rising effects of climate change that we lose sight of the need to address their causes. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Chinese Provinces And Florida Among The Most Climate-Vulnerable Regions In The World, Analysis Finds” • China is home to 16 of the 20 regions of the world most vulnerable to climate change, a study shows, with some of the world’s most important manufacturing hubs at risk. Florida is most at risk of places outside China. [CNN]

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Z Ruikoto, Unsplash)

¶ “Tata Motors And Uber Sign MOU For 25,000 XPRES-T EVs” • Tata Motors has been revolutionizing the Indian automotive market with its pioneering efforts, and it leads the e-mobility wave in India. Now, Tata Motors says that it has signed an MOU with Uber in India. Some 25,000 XPRES-T EVs will go into Uber India’s Premium Category service. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo CE Invests In Battery Pack Production” • Volvo CE has announced plans to invest millions into its excavator plant in Changwon, South Korea, to build battery packs like the one in the upcoming EC230 electric excavator. The factory is around 1.1 million square meters, (an almost unimaginable 11.84 million square feet). [CleanTechnica]

Volvo CE EC230 (Volvo CE image)

¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is Running Into Roadblocks” • The renewable energy industry in China faces hurdles, and it still needs policy support to overcome some issues, China’s National Energy Administration said. Large-scale solar and wind projects increasingly are competing with agriculture for land. [Oil Price]

¶ “Australia Must Ramp Up On Renewables To Avert Blackouts: Market Operator” • Australia’s eastern states could face blackout risks from the middle of this decade if renewable energy projects are not ramped up as the country moves rapidly away from its dependency on coal-fired power stations, the energy market operator warned. [Reuters]

Windy Hill wind farm (Lepidlizard, public domain)

¶ “EU Climate Diplomacy Deal On Hold As Nuclear Dispute Deepens” • The EU failed to adopt climate policies, owing to a deepening spat over the role of nuclear energy in the green transition. France and some other countries want policies to promote nuclear energy for cutting CO₂ emissions. Germany and its allies oppose nuclear power. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “Woke In The Streets: In-Road Wireless EV Charging Comes To Indiana” • The dream of an in-road, wireless EV charging system is not so dreamy any more. Indiana is among the states developing systems that will enable EVs to recharge while in motion. That sort of idea delights of some of the Indiana office holders, but not all. [CleanTechnica]

Interstate 80 in Indiana (Cassini83, public domain)

¶ “NYC Fire Boss Wants More E-Bike Battery Regulations” • New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh has called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to take action and help prevent what it calls “sub-standard” lithium-ion batteries from entering the US. Kavanagh made the appeal after hundreds of fires in NYC. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Idaho National Laboratory Is Developing Software To Help Farmers Manage Water Usage” • Idaho National Laboratory scientists explore water supply and extreme weather events through INL’s research efforts. Now, a team from the lab is working with Mickelsen Farms to develop software that can support farms in droughts. [CleanTechnica]

Supplying water (Courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory)

¶ “Renewable Energy Deployment Down 16% In 2022” • Last year, renewable energy deployment fell short of expectations, adding 16% less capacity in 2022 than in 2021. With increased costs of shipping and grid interconnection and emerging trade wars, supply chains struggled to keep up. A 30% growth rate had been expected. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “New York Transmission Upgrades Are To Make Room For Renewables” • The New York State Public Service Commission authorized utilities to develop 62 local transmission upgrades to reduce congestion in three upstate regions as called for New York’s Climate Act. New York aims to reach clean energy targets of 70% renewable electricity by 2030. [pv magazine USA]

Have an unpretentiously exemplary day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Much EV Range Is Enough? How To Maximize EV Range” • The answer to the question of how much EV range is enough depends on the individual and their needs and habits. The author answers based on some of his own background owning various EVs. As he does that, he also tackles the question of how big of a battery one needs. [CleanTechnica]

GMC Electric Hummer (Image courtesy of GMC)

World:

¶ “Dozens Killed As Deadly Storms Hit Brazilian Coast” • In the Brazilian state of São Paulo, authorities say at least 36 people were killed in heavy flooding and landslides. Over 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rain fell in some areas in one day, twice the expected amount for the month. Extreme weather events are expected to be more common with climate change. [BBC]

¶ “BasiGo Partners With OMA Services To Bring Electric Buses To More Routes In Nairobi” • BasiGo, a Kenyan electric mobility startup working to revolutionize the public transportation sector by providing public transport bus owners with a cost-effective electric alternative to diesel buses, has delivered BYD K6 electric buses to another operator in Nairobi. [CleanTechnica]

Bus on a lift (Courtesy of BasiGo)

¶ “Australia’s Light Electric Vehicle Fleet Grows To 83,000 In 2022, And 79% Are BEVs” • Australia’s EV market has been a bit slow compared to similar markets around the world. The good news is that the market is finally starting to show some significant traction, according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s recently published report for 2022. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Green Energy Innovator MGA Thermal Backed By Shell To Bring 24-7 Renewable Power To The Grid” • Global energy giant Shell has backed Australian clean energy startup MGA Thermal. MGA is to develop a long-duration renewable energy storage system that can potentially transform coal-fired power plants into green energy hubs. [Business News Australia]

Artist’s impression of a green energy facility by MGA Thermal

¶ “India Plans To Export Solar Power” • By 2026, Indian industry will be able to manufacture 100 MW of solar modules annually, and help the country be a net solar PV exporter. This would aid India’s target of installing 500 GW of electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, the Secretary of the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy, told The Hindu. [The Hindu]

¶ “French Energy Giant EDF Posts Record Losses Due To Nuclear Reactor Outages” • French energy giant EDF posted a record loss for 2022 after necessary repairs to its nuclear power reactors saw a serious decline in electricity output. A company spokesperson said stress corrosion on sixteen of its reactors as a key reason for its output decline. [Utilities Middle East]

Cooling towers (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Russia Blocks Access Of IAEA To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry” • Russian forces are not allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency to rotate their monitoring group at the Zaporizhzha nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry claims. By occupying the plant, Russia violates norms of international law. [UAZMI – Ukraine News]

¶ “Uranium Enriched To 6% Less Than Required To Make Nuclear Weapons Found At Nuclear Plant In Iran” • Citing two anonymous high-ranking diplomats, Bloomberg reported on February 19 that nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency found uranium had been enriched to 84% in Iran. [Euro Weekly News]

Iranian nuclear reactor (Nanking2012, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Wasted Wind Energy And Tenable Transmission During Winter Storm Elliott” • It has been nearly two months since Winter Storm Elliott caused energy emergencies across the US and rolling blackouts throughout the Southeast. Among the lessons are that windpower and interregional transmission can reduce blackouts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Buses, Beer, And CARB Kept BYD Busy Through The Winter” • At the Harbor Trucking Association’s Zero-Emission Ride and Drive event in Long Beach, California, BYD showcased the 8TT and 8Y all-electric trucks, tractors like those now operated in the port of Long Beach. Heavy EVs are a crucial part of reducing carbon emissions. [CleanTechnica]

BYD K8M electric bus (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “In Skeptical Wyoming, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Pushes For Renewable Energy” • Talking about climate change in Wyoming, where roughly half the state government revenue is from fossil fuels, can make for “tough conversation.” But for the second time in four years, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby toured the state to talk about “climate solutions.” [JHNewsAndGuide.com]

¶ “Public Lands In The US Have Long Been Disposed To Fossil Fuel Companies. Now, The Lands Are Being Offered To Solar Companies” • The Bureau of Land Management has outlined a plan that could reshape the development of solar energy projects in the Western United States as the nation transitions to more renewable energy sources. [Inside Climate News]

Have a superbly superior day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “DOE Just Can’t Quit Concentrating Solar Power (And That’s A Good Thing)” • Fans of concentrating solar power have a dream of a 100-MW facility that can deliver electricity 24/7, just like a nuclear power plant but without the risk and the fancy price tag. Now the US DOE has a new ceramic-based technology that could deliver the goods. [CleanTechnica]

Concentrating solar power plant (Courtesy of US DOE)

¶ “Antarctica Is Melting. It Has Happened Before” • Most of us don’t think much about Antarctica. It’s a lot of ice surrounding the South Pole. It’s been there forever and it will continue to be there for millions of years to come, right? Well, maybe. The most recent research indicates there are a lot of changes taking place in this frozen part of our world. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Norfolk Butterflies Battle Habitat Loss And Climate Change” • Norfolk’s butterflies are battling to survive amid habitat loss and climate change, warns a report. Most species have declined in either abundance, distribution, or both in the past five decades, according to the State of the UK’s Butterflies report by Butterfly Conservation. [Eastern Daily Press]

Butterfly (Calvin Mano, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “No More Fossil-Powered Taxis In Hamburg Soon” • Zero-emissions vehicle zones are already making a big difference in some cities, but that isn’t the only way to electrify. As the German city of Hamburg is showing, one way to take a step forward is to electrify your taxi fleets. Hamburg will ban fossil-powered taxi operations, starting in 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Formula E Comes To Cape Town, City Revving Up For Its First E-Prix Event” • Now in its 9th Season, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is making its debut in South Africa. Next weekend, on the 25th of February, the City of Cape Town will host its first E-Prix. The city is also one of the sponsors of the this first E-Prix in South Africa. [CleanTechnica]

Race (Courtesy of The City of Cape Town)

¶ “China Powers Ahead With Renewables, Carbon Reduction” • China’s renewable energy power generation reached 2.7 trillion kWh in 2022, accounting for 31.6% of the country’s total electricity consumption, an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared with 2021, the latest data from the National Energy Administration shows. [Xinhua]

¶ “Doubling Power Capacity Is The Next Challenge” • Doubling overall power capacity in the next seven years is the next big challenge for India, said R. K. Singh, Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy. India is set to become the third largest economy in the world in the next few decades, and it needs more electricity. [Deccan Chronicle]

Solar power in Gujarat (Epagemakerwiki, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “NSW Labor Pledges $1 Billion For New State-Owned Energy Body If Elected In March” • The New South Wales opposition has promised to allocate $1 billion to a new state-run energy body if it is elected on March 25. Labor said the new Energy Security Corporation would drive investment into renewables to ensure services using energy storage. [ABC]

¶ “Future Engineers Learn About Opportunities Being Unlocked By Port Investment” • Young people interested in renewable energy visited Pembroke Port to see how modernizing it will enable South West Wales to take advantage of floating offshore windpower in the Celtic Sea and other renewable energy and decarbonization initiatives. [The Pembrokeshire Herald]

Celtic Sea (STHLM, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Russian Missiles Narrowly Miss Ukrainian Nuclear Plant” • A nuclear plant narrowly avoided a potential “disaster” after two Russian cruise missiles came close to hitting it on Saturday. The missiles flew above the Pivdennoukrainska Nuclear Power Plant at 8:25am and 8:27am, said Energoatom, Ukraine’s national power regulator. [The Telegraph]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model Y Expected To Save Police Department $83,810” • Police departments have been investing in EVs, though some critics point to their higher purchas prices and question the move. But police forces stand to save a lot of money in fuel costs and maintenance by using EVs. This was recently pointed out by a department in Wisconsin. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla police cruiser (Courtesy of Somerset Police Department)

¶ “US Department Of Energy Announces $50 Million For Tribal Clean Energy Projects” • The US DOE announced $50 million in funding to support clean energy deployment on Tribal lands. The investment will bolster ongoing efforts to lower energy costs, increase energy resilience, and provide electric power to as yet unelectrified buildings. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “HB95 To Institutionalize Renewable Energy Development At New Mexico State Land Office Passes House” • Legislation to institutionalize renewable energy at New Mexico’s State Land Office passed the House with a bipartisan floor vote of 48-19. The Office of Renewable Energy was established within the State Land Office in 2019. [Los Alamos Daily Post]

Have a gloriously dreamy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Narrowing The Solar Equity Gap Through Solarize” • Recent census-level data shows that such inequalities as racial diversity and education levels are hindering equitable adoption of solar power at a local level. With support from the Inflation Reduction Act, local governments can address the solar equity gap through inclusive “Solarize” campaigns. [CleanTechnica]

Students installing a solar system (Solarize Philly image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Nearly 30 Dangerous Feedback Loops Could Permanently Shift The Earth’s Climate, Scientists Say” • A group of world scientists researched climate literature to find climate feedback loops. They found that 27 are driving up global temperatures and just seven that help slow the pace of climate crisis. The study appeared in the journal One Earth, [CNN]

World:

¶ “Europe’s Natural Gas Prices Fall To 18-Month Low” • Europe’s natural gas prices fell to their lowest level in nearly 18 months in another sign the region has avoided a much-feared energy crisis. Benchmark wholesale gas prices fell to €49/MWh ($52/MWh), their lowest level since September 2021 and a fraction of the all-time high of €320 hit in August last year. [CNN]

Valves and pipes (Long Pyles, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “The Munro MK_1 Is An All-Electric All-Terrain Workhorse For Farms, Forests, Jobsites, And More” • Scotland’s Munro Vehicles was founded with the goal of “creating a practical, go anywhere do anything EV for the world’s heaviest industries.” The Munro MK_1, an electric all-terrain vehicle with plenty of moxie, shows the company is well on its way. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Amazon Boosts Its Sustainability Credentials With Record Renewable Energy Purchases (Plus Offshore Wind Seaweed Farming!)” • Amazon announced adding 8.3 GW of renewable energy to its portfolio in 2022, with 133 projects in 11 countries. It now has access to more than 20 GW of green power. What next for Amazon? Seaweed farming! [CleanTechnica]

North Sea seaweed farming (Amazon image)

¶ “Ontario Jumping Into Critical Minerals Supply Chain For EVs” • The government of Ontario invested $5.8 million to help junior mining companies explore for critical minerals used to make batteries for EVs, smartphones, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing technologies. The funding is part of the Ontario Junior Exploration Program. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Launches Climate Prediction Model For Wind And Solar Power” • China has launched a national wind and solar resources climate prediction model to enable provincial authorities to forecast energy demand and supply, the central government said. The model provides data and graphics that will be released monthly. [MSN]

Wind farm in Xinjiang (taylorandayumi, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Saudi Arabia Launches World’s Largest Solar Power Plant” • A solar power facility in Mecca province is expected to be running by end‑2025, with a generation capacity of 2,060 MW. Cean energy project investment is expected to rise with high oil prices in 2023‑24, and Saudi Arabia seeks to add 15 GW of renewable energy capacity soon. [Economist Intelligence Unit]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Restores Obama-Era Mercury Rules For Power Plants, Eyes More Regulations In Coming Months” • The Biden administration finalized a decision to reestablish Obama-era rules that require coal and oil-fired power plants to reduce toxic pollutants, including mercury and acid gas, that come out of their smokestacks. [CNN]

Coal-burning power plant (Loïc Manegarium, Pexels)

¶ “Ford First To Build NMC Batteries And LFP Batteries In The USA” • Ford has become the #2 EV seller in the USA, but it’s also now the first automaker to state that it will produce both nickel manganese cobalt and lithium iron phosphate batteries for EVs in the US. It is investing a full $3.5 billion into a new LFP battery factory in Marshall, Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Li-Bridge, US To Double Lithium Battery Revenues To $33 Billion And Provide 100,000 Jobs By 2030” • Li-Bridge, a public-private alliance for US battery making convened by the US DOE and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, released a plan to accelerate the creation of a robust domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne National Laboratory)

¶ “FERC Rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast Complaint Alleging ISO-NE Bias Towards Gas Plants” • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed a complaint from renewable energy trade groups who argued that ISO New England gives natural gas-fired power plants an unfair advantage in its markets. [Utility Dive]

¶ “NY PSC Authorizes $4.4 Billion In Transmission Upgrades Planned By National Grid And Other Utilities” • The New York Public Service Commission announced that it authorized the state’s four major upstate electric utilities to develop 62 local transmission upgrades at an estimated cost of $4.4 billion to reduce grid congestion. [Utility Dive]

Power lines (CP Thornton, flickr, CC BY 2.0)

¶ “Six Workers Decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Exposed To Airborne Radiation” • Six workers decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station were exposed to airborne radiation in August of 2020, a federal inspection report says. The contract workers were wearing air-fed protective suits, and plant employees failed to test the air for radiation. [WCAI]

¶ “Dumping A Million Gallons Of Radioactive Water In Hudson Is ‘Best Option,’ Per Indian Point Nuclear Plant Owner” • The owner of the defunct Indian Point plant says it plans to dump about a million gallons of radioactive water into the Hudson River. The company says the move is the “best option” for the waste. It could happen as early as August. [Gothamist]

Have a fundamentally fantastic day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Sakuu Announces 3D-Printed Solid-State Battery Success” • Sakuu announced it has successfully and consistently fabricated 3D-printed, fully functional batteries in custom shapes and sizes at its Silicon Valley battery pilot facility since December of last year. The battery cells contain patterned openings for thermal management. [CleanTechnica]

Sakuu prototype production line (Courtesy of Sakuu)

¶ “Vestas Has A Solution For Recycling Old Wind Turbine Blades Into New Ones” • The world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas, has just announced a novel process for turning old wind turbine blades into new ones, and considering the ink spilled claiming that old blades are “piling up” in landfills, this could be a game-changer. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Race Across Europe To Build Green Steel Plants” • A small town in Sweden’s frozen north is on course to produce Europe’s first commercial green steel. Steel production is responsible for around 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions. But the new plant will use hydrogen technology, designed to cut emissions by as much as 95%. And others are coming. [BBC]

Green steel plant (H2 Green Steel image)

¶ “Antarctica Sea-Ice Hits New Record Low” • There is now less sea-ice surrounding the Antarctic continent than at any time since we began using satellites to measure it in the late 1970s. It is the southern hemisphere summer, when you’d expect less sea-ice, but this year is exceptional, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. [BBC]

¶ “Sonnen And TenneT Power German Grid With Electric Cars” • TenneT and sonnen announced that they powered the German grid with electric cars. TenneT is a top electricity grid operator in Europe, and sonnen produces and manages stationary battery systems. These electric cars are joining sonnen’s core virtual power plant network. [CleanTechnica]

EV for sonnen virtual power plant (sonnen image)

¶ “Sri Lanka To Sell Renewable Power To India” • Sri Lanka and India will sign a pact to link power grids and start negotiations on an upgraded trade agreement within two months, according to Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India Milinda Moragoda. A key part of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery plan is development of its renewable energy. [Sri Lanka Mirror]

¶ “Sweden Grants Kriegers Flak Subsea Cable Consent” • The Swedish government has given Vattenfall permission to lay out underwater cables for offshore wind power at Krieger’s Flak in the southern Baltic Sea, a step in the expansion of offshore wind power. The work must be completed within a 10-year period, according to the permit. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Vattenfall image)

¶ “EDF Renewables Picks Up 10-GW Australian Floater” • EDF Renewables acquired the 10-GW Newcastle floating offshore wind farm in Australia. Currently under development near the Port of Newcastle, the project is proposed for the Hunter‐Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone as part of the NSW Government Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. [reNews]

US:

¶ “NREL Scientists Find More Eureka Moments, Patent Activity Climbs In FY ’22” • Researchers at NREL received another 57 patents during Fiscal Year 2022, up from 47 awarded the prior year. Anne Miller, Technology Transfer Office director, said on average, NREL files 170 patent applications annually and releases 48 open-source software titles. [CleanTechnica]

NREL researchers (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “New High: 16% EV Adoption In California In 2022” • EV sales made up 16% of new vehicle sales in California in 2022, with a total of 292,496 battery-EVs hitting the state’s roads, according to data from the California Energy Commission. Additionally, there were 50,748 plug-in hybrids and 2,574 fuel-cell vehicles sold in the state last year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford F-150 Lightning Production Halted Due To Battery Fire Incident” • An F-150 Lightning sitting in a holding lot on Ford company property caught fire earlier this month, leading to the company halting production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center and issuing a stop shipment order until the cause of the battery fire has been identified. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “DC Circuit Court Rules In Favor Of Solar Energy In PURPA Eligibility Case” • In a victory for nationwide renewable energy, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit upheld the decision of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant the status “qualifying facility” to Broadview Solar’s solar-plus-storage plant in Montana. [Southern Environmental Law Center]

¶ “Texans Support Expanding Renewable Energy Over Fossil Fuels” • Two years after Winter Storm Uri left millions in Texas without power for days, a poll found that a majority of Texans support expanding US reliance on solar power (64%), geothermal (59%), and wind (57%). Only 41% favored expanding US reliance on onshore conventional oil and gas. [Power Engineering]

Wind turbines on the high plains (Leaflet, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “EPA Outlines $27 Billion ‘Green Bank’ For Clean Energy Projects” • The Biden administration has outlined how states and nonprofit groups can apply for $27 billion in funding from a “green bank,” the so-called Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, that will provide low-cost financing for projects intended to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. [WFMZ]

¶ “Southern Co Boosts Cost Estimate, Delays Timing For Nuclear Reactors” • US energy company Southern Co delayed the timing and boosted cost estimates for its Georgia Power utility’s share of two nuclear reactors being built in Georgia. Southern forecast Georgia Power costs would rise to $10.593 billion, up from a prior forecast of $10.383 billion. [Nasdaq]

Have an admirably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Celebrating 15 Years Of Tesla Production And The EV” • Tesla has officially been on the road for 15 years since the first Roadster rolled off the production line on February 1, 2008, and what a decade and a half it has been. Tesla used to be a niche startup auto maker. Now, it is an innovating force behind the automobile industry’s shift to electrification. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Roadster in space (SpaceX, CC0 1.0, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Pesticides Impair Our Senses” • Agriculture, as it is conventionally practiced in much of the world, depends heavily on pesticides. But our dependence on pesticides also comes at a significant cost to the environment. Recent research shows that pesticides may be responsible for the loss of smell in honeybees and salmon. [BBC]

¶ “Wireless Charging For Autonomous Electric Buses – World First” • WiTricity partnered with YuTong Bus, the largest bus producer in China, to charge up YuTong’s autonomous electric buses. The buses are in commercial use in Zhengzhou. They are autonomous minibuses, seat up to 10 people, and have a driving range of about 150 km (93 miles). [CleanTechnica]

Xiaoyu 2.0 bus (Courtesy of WiTricity)

¶ “Climate Change Portends Wider Malaria Risk As Mosquitos Spread South And To Higher Elevations In Africa” • Based on 120 years of data, scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center found that the mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria in Africa are spreading deeper into southern Africa and to higher elevations. [Georgetown University Medical Center]

World:

¶ “So-Called Doomsday Glacier Is ‘In Trouble,’ Scientists Say After Finding Surprising Formations Under Ice Shelf” • The “Doomsday Glacier” – nicknamed because its collapse could drive catastrophic sea level rise – is melting rapidly and in unexpected ways, new research shows. Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier is roughly the size of Florida. [CNN]

Cracks in Thwaites Glacier in 2020 (Dr Britney Schmidt, ITGC)

¶ “World Bank President David Malpass To Step Down Early” • World Bank President David Malpass plans to step down a year before the end of his term. Malpass faced criticism from climate activists after he refused to confirm at a climate panel whether he accepted the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels were dangerously warming the planet. [CNN]

¶ “The World’s Largest Outdoor Ice Rink Is Closed Due To Lack Of Ice” • First ski resorts were not able to operate due to climate change. Now, the world’s largest outdoor ice rink might witness a season fully closed, due to a lack of ice. The 4.8-mile skateway in Ottwawa is part of the Rideau Canal, which runs between Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River. [CNN]

Rideau Canal Skateway (Nairg, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BMW Ramping Up Electric Car Production, Including In Mexico” • Just about every automaker on the planet is increasing its EV production in 2023, and BMW Group is no exception. In fact, BMW seems to be on a serious push to try to take more of the EV market, as it invests €800 million in production facilities at a factory in Mexico. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kuwait Invites Bids To Power Oil And Gas Facilities With Renewable Energy” • Two state-owned Kuwaiti oil companies, the Kuwait National Petroleum Co and the Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co, have invited consultancy bids from five Western firms to study the use of renewable energy to run their facilities, Zawya Projects reported. [Oil & Gas Middle East]

Oil & gas facility (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)

¶ “Australia Warned It Could Lose Out To ‘Huge And Aggressive’ Green Hydrogen Support In US And Middle East” • Australia’s natural advantage in the race to create a green hydrogen industry is at risk of being overwhelmed by “huge and aggressive” policy support in the US and the Middle East, according to Guy Debelle of Fortescue Future Industries. [The Guardian]

¶ “EU Says ‘Renewable Hydrogen’ Valid Only For Electrolysers Linked To New Wind And Solar” • The European Commission proposed two detailed rules defining what constitutes renewable hydrogen in the EU. At the heart of the proposed rules is the requirement that all renewable fuels of non-biological origin are produced from renewable electricity. [Renew Economy]

Turbines and tank (Meridian Energy image)

¶ “Chernobyl Fears Return As Russia Makes Ominous Warning” • Russia has said Ukraine is planning a “provocation” linked to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Moscow said Kyiv was looking to accuse Russia of violating the Convention on Nuclear Safety during what Moscow calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine. [MSN]

US:

¶ “New York City May Soon Set The Pace For Municipal Vehicle Electrification” • The New York City Council is considering a bill that would codify a path toward a 100% zero-emission municipal fleet. This proposal would require the city’s entire on-road fleet, including heavy-duty trucks and specialty vehicles, to transition to zero-emission vehicles by mid-2035. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck (Mack Trucks image)

¶ “Tesla Supercharger Network Will Be (Partially) Open To US Drivers By Next Year” • The Biden administration announced completion of rules and regulations for its nationwide charging program. And it looks like Tesla will get to keep its owners happy while tapping into federal funds to help it expand its network of Superchargers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Scott Renews Hope In Billion-Dollar Underwater Powerline” • Governor Phil Scott updated a renewed effort to bring a power line under Lake Champlain from Quebec to hook into the New England electric grid. The proposal was first raised over eight years ago, and now governors in New England show interest in the project again. [Vermont Business Magazine]

Have a copiously rewarding day.

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World:

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle: Hundreds Rescued From Rooftops As New Zealand Grapples With Damage” • New Zealand officials say at least four people died in the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, which has caused significant flooding and landslides across the North Island. New Zealand’s climate minister has attributed to the scale of the disaster to climate change. [BBC]

Cyclone Gabrielle (Lauren Dauphin, NASA Earth Observatory)

¶ “EU Dodges Deadline For Polluting Trucks In Setback For Climate Goal” • Polluting trucks could still be sold in Europe after 2040, under a new EU plan. Transport & Environment said the proposed reduction target ensures that diesel freight trucks would still be on the road in 2050, making the EU’s net-zero climate goal impossible. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Fit For 55: Zero CO2 Emissions For New Cars And Vans In 2035” • The European Parliament approved legislation setting the path towards zero CO₂ emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035. New intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 are set at 55% for passenger cars and 50% for vans. [CleanTechnica]

GreenWay charging VW ID.4 (Courtesy of WysokieNapiecie.pl)

¶ “Itochu To Supply Renewable Energy To Meta In US, Amazon In Japan” • Japanese trading house Itochu Corp has agreed to supply 160 MW of wind-generated power from the Texas-based Prairie Switch Wind project to Meta Platforms in the US when it is finished later this year. It said it will also supply solar energy to Amazon from 700 (sic) sites in Japan. [Reuters]

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Secures Turbine Supply Contract From wpd” • GE Renewable Energy secured a contract from German renewable energy firm wpd to supply onshore wind turbines for three wind farms in Germany. The company will deliver 16 turbines for the wind power facilities, with each turbine having 5.5 MW of capacity. [Power Technology]

GE wind turbin (Borja Fasi Fernandez, GE Renewable Energy)

¶ “Fukushima: Japan Insists Release Of 1.3 Million Tonnes Of ‘Treated’ Water Is Safe” • As Japan prepares to mark the 11 March anniversary of the Fukushima Disaster, one of its most troubling legacies is about to come into full view with the release of more than 1 million tonnes of “treated” water from the destroyed nuclear power plant. [The Guardian]

¶ “‘Obvious Place To Start’: Isle Of Man Targets 75% Renewable Power By 2026” • The Isle of Man has unveiled plans to generate 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2026, after Ministers gave the green light for state-owned electricity supplier Manx Utilities to start work on delivering 30 MW of clean power capacity over the next three years. [Building Green]

Port Erin, Isle of Man (James Qualtrough, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Russian Nuclear Exports Are Surging – And A Door Has Opened In SA” • Russia’s nuclear exports have surged since the invasion of Ukraine, boosting the Kremlin’s revenue and gaining influence over a new generation of global buyers, as the US and its allies shy away from sanctioning the industry. Now, Russia aims to strike a deal with South Africa. [News24]

US:

¶ “EV Revolution Activated: GM Puts $650 Million Into Securing Its US Lithium Supply” • The latest news from GM is that it has signed a deal with Lithium Americas to get lithium sourced from the US – a $650 million deal. They are investing together in the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, with GM investing $650 million in the lithium firm. [CleanTechnica]

Ultium Cells battery factory (Ultium Cells image)

¶ “Exxon Shuts Down Algae Fuel Research Program” • In 2009, Exxon began a research program designed to extract fuels for internal combustion engines from algae. In the years since, it has spent almost as much money bragging about the research as it has on the research itself. Now, Bloomberg says, it has quietly shut down the program. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “10.5% Of New Vehicle Sales Now Electric Vehicle Sales In Colorado” • Last year, 10.5% of new vehicles sold in Colorado were EVs. That’s a great result in the USA, which as a whole is closer to 6% or 7% of new vehicle sales being electric. Colorado got to this place with an extra helping of incentives for people who go electric. [CleanTechnica]

Road in Colorado (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Building More Virginia Data Centers Requires Increased Pollution Controls” • Three years after Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality gave the go-ahead for data centers to install 139 diesel generators at data centers with no pollution controls, DEQ is proposing that over 100 more should be given variances on air pollution. [Virginia Mercury]

¶ “2024 Budget Calls on NYPA to Help Develop Renewables” • New York’s 2024 executive budget seeks to advance renewable energy through the New York Power Authority. The agency could use funds from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to help the state meet its energy-efficiency goals. Some observers feel it is a step in the wrong direction. [Public News Service]

Solar charging at NYIT (Samantha Padreddii, US DOE)

¶ “Nuclear Exec Would Have Made $100 Million From Sale Of Plants At Heart Of Bribery Trial, Lobbyist Says” • FirstEnergy Solutions executive John Kiani stood to personally gain $100 million from the sale of two nuclear plants at the center of the bribery case against the former Ohio House speaker, according to testimony of a company lobbyist. [Cleveland.com]

¶ “Bid To Keep California Reactors Running Faces Time Squeeze” • An attempt to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant has run into a predicament. It will take federal regulators until late 2026 to act on an application to extend its operating life, but the plant is scheduled to shut down permanently by mid-2025. [KRCR]

Have an exceptionally enjoyable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Microgrid In A Box Is Opening New Possibilities In Utilities, Disaster Relief, Defense” • A fully functional microgrid can fit in set of trailers and containers. The “Microgrid in a Box” stores 320 kWh of energy. It can tie seamlessly into a modern electrical grid and coordinate the distribution of electricity for a small village, military base, or critical building. [CleanTechnica]

Shipping Containers (Kristin Hillery, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle Lashes Auckland, As Authorities Order Nationwide State Of Emergency” • Cyclone Gabrielle has lashed New Zealand’s North Island with relentless wind, rain, and waves since Sunday evening. But conditions overnight Monday into Tuesday morning warranted that the entire country be included within the State of Emergency. [CNN]

¶ “Voltari Electric Performance Boat Travels 91 Miles On A Single Charge” • Canada-based Voltari announced that its Voltari 260 traveled 91 miles from Florida to the Bahamas on a single charge. The trip was the longest overseas journey completed by an all-electric performance boat. If you are interested, here are the boat’s technical specifications. [CleanTechnica]

Voltari electric boat (Voltari image)

¶ “E-Moto Morocco Ready To Supercharge The Growth Of The Country’s Electric Scooter Market” • Brahim Lazrak is General Manager of Multitrade, a Moroccan firm. He became interested in electric scooters in 2017 because of his niece, who became very fond of her electric scooter while studying in China. Now E-Moto Morocco has opened a market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The BYD Seagull Could Be A Game-Changer For Africa’s Automotive Sector” • Over 25 million electric cars have been sold over the last 14 years, worldwide. Over 13 million EVs were sold last year, but few cars were sold in Africa. One vehicle that might open up the African market if produced at scale is the upcoming BYD Seagull. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seagull (Image from China’s Ministry of Industry)

¶ “Lithium-Ion Battery Market To Grow At CAGR Of 20.33%” • The Brainy Insights estimates that the $45.67 billion in 2022 lithium-ion battery market will reach $200.73 billion by 2030. Government policies have changed to become more sustainable and environment-friendly in response to growing concerns about climate change. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Support For Wind Farms Soars In Ireland” • Four in five Irish people support wind farms, while opposition to windpower has fallen to 5%, new research has found. The polls found that 58% of Irish people would support the development of a wind farm in their local area and support generally for wind energy among people in rural Ireland is at 85%. [reNews]

Wind farm (Mylene2401, Pixabay, cropped)

¶ “Portugal: Almost 85% Of Electricity In January Generated By Renewables” • Of the 5,338 GWh of electricity generated in mainland Portugal in January, 84.4% was renewably generated, data from the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association shows. With renewable production, Portugal avoided spending €263 million to import natural gas. [Macau Business]

¶ “German States Show ‘Unknown Unity’ In Preparing Faster Wind Power Roll-Out” • The German states signalled readiness to expand onshore wind power “in almost unknown unity,” said economy and climate minister Robert Habeck. His comments came after he met with representatives of the 16 Länder to talk about buildout of renewables. [Clean Energy Wire]

German windpower (Franzfoto, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “EU Opens Door To ‘Green’ Nuclear-Derived Hydrogen” • The European Commission published rules on Monday that could allow some hydrogen produced in nuclear-based energy systems to count towards EU renewable energy goals, signalling a win for pro-nuclear France. Hydrogen is central to Europe’s plans to decarbonise heavy industry. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “EV Battery News From CATL, Toyocolor, And Toyo” • If there is EV battery news, there is a good chance it is about CATL. In today’s case, the CATL news is actually from a CATL supplier using the name to brag a bit. The news is that CATL will be using Toyocolor’s conductive carbon nanotube dispersions in its next-generation batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Lithium battery with carbon nano-tubes (Toyocolor, Toyo Ink)

¶ “Texas And Florida Paying Hundreds Of Millions More In Bond Interest Because Of ESG Bans” • Some states now prohibit the biggest Wall Street banks from handling their bond offerings because they are “woke.” The result is public financing projects often get assigned to smaller firms that may not be able to ensure borrowers get the lowest rates. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BOEM Publishes 2400-MW SouthCoast Wind Draft EIS” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed 2400-MW SouthCoast Wind energy project in Massachusetts waters. The project is a JV of Shell and Ocean Winds. It could provide power for more than 800,000 homes. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Reegan Fraser, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Energy Secretary Tells Summit Renewable Energy Is Now A National Security Issue” • Russia’s use of energy as a weapon for tormenting Ukraine gives the US an opportunity to develop renewable power, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Policy Summit. [Daily Energy Insider]

¶ “Natural Disasters, Boosted By Climate Change, Displaced Millions Of People In US In 2022” • Natural disasters forced an estimated 3.4 million people in the US to leave their homes in 2022, according to Census Bureau data collected earlier this year. This underscores how climate-related weather events are already changing American communities. [NBC News]

Have a sufficiently magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Solar, Solar Everywhere! Clever And Creative Uses Are Dotting The Landscape” • As the cost of solar panels continues to drop, it is becoming increasingly competitive as a popular energy source for households, businesses of all sizes, and municipalities. As a result, some solar applications are quite clever, creative, and imaginative. [CleanTechnica]

Lincoln Financial Field (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Supporters Of A Controversial Climate Solution Say It Could Be Key. Critics Believe It Is The Path To Catastrophe” • One way to slow climate change, called geoengineering, releases chemicals into the atmosphere. Those who oppose the technology say it could open the door to an almost infinite number of potential negative consequences. [CNN]

¶ “Cyclone Gabrielle: The Science Behind Its Power” • It has been a soggy few weeks for the upper North Island. Not many cyclones make it this far south intact, but the combined effects of climate change and La Niña are making Cyclone Gabrielle dump more water on New Zealand. And unfortunately, more such cyclones are likely to come. [RNZ]

Cyclone Gabrielle (Zoom Earth, JMA, NOAA, CIRA)

¶ “Integration Of EV Charging Stations And Renewable Energy Resources” • A new research paper proposes an optimal planning technique to identify the sites and sizes of EV charging stations with controlled charging and hybrid wind and PV systems in a multi-microgrid. The paper was recently published in Energy Science and Engineering. [PV Magazine]

World:

¶ “Electric Trucks And Buses Have Lowest Emissions – ICCT Report” • The European Commission is about to release new proposed emissions regulations for heavy duty trucks and buses. A leaked draft of the rules indicates that they will heavily favor battery-electric vehicles over those powered by hydrogen fuel cells and so-called e-fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Semi (Tesla image)

¶ “Kenya Power’s E-Mobility Conference Develops Roadmap For Electric Motorization” • Kenya Power is looking to new business frontiers as part of its five-year Strategic Plan for 2023-2028. Key pillars of the plan include electric mobility, encouraging a shift to electric cooking, energy storage, and electrification of several sectors to support decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Citicore To Diversify Renewable Energy Projects By 2030” • Oliver Tan, the President and CEO of Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, told reporters the company is to add solar power projects, run-of-river hydro plants, offshore wind power, and energy storage over the next seven years, launching 1 GW of projects every year to 2027. [Philippine News Agency]

Philippine wind turbines (Obra19, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Australia:

¶ “Green Biscuits For Australia” • Whether you like coffee or tea, the morning cuppa with a biscuit of choice is part of Australia’s culture. Arnott’s, Australia’s main maker, has made a major move towards green energy. Arnott’s will be making green biscuits – 40 million kilograms a year of them. It’s like adding 15,000 Teslas to Queensland roads. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Renewables Giant Targets Australian Solar With $145 Million Spending Spree” • Glennmont Partners, a UK fund manager, is eyeing the Australian renewable energy market. It plans to acquire, build, and operate a portfolio of Australian solar farms and energy storage assets as part of a A$145 million ($100 million) strategy. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar array (Green Gold Energy image)

¶ “Neoen Gets Transmission Go-Ahead For First Stage Of Country’s Biggest Renewable Zone” • Neoen has convinced South Australian energy bureaucrats that the 33 kilometer transmission line it needs to build to get power from what will be the country’s biggest renewable energy zone to the people should not be regulated. [Renew Economy]

¶ “$65 Million For ‘First-Of-A-Kind’ Concentrated Solar Power Plant” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency confirmed it approved A$65 million ($44.95 million) to help Vast Solar build VS1, a “first-of-a-kind” concentrated solar power  plant north of Port Augusta. The plant will have a capacity of 500 MW and store energy for four to sixteen hours. [pv magazine Australia]

Concentrated solar plant (Vast Solar image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Debate Looms” • The Federal Government of Australia said it would examine the potential of nuclear power, and discussions have been reinstated. There are some who favor nuclear power. Limestone Coast Protection Alliance chairman Angus Ralton said instead of nuclear power, wind farms and solar would be more efficient. [The Border Watch]

US:

¶ “US Clean Energy Goals Hinge On Faster Permitting” • The speed and scale the climate crisis requires reforms to the way projects sited and permitted to achieve our national goals. One analysis found that the project build time, including permitting, siting, and construction, for utility-scale solar and wind facility projects averages four years. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic system (BlueWave via CS Energy)

¶ “US DOE Ramps Up Efficiency Standards For Appliances, Funds More Efficient Wind Turbine Manufacturing” • The DOE made several major moves this week. After a conditional $2 billion loan to Redwood Materials for a battery recycling facility, DOE made announcements about the energy efficiency of home appliances and wind turbines. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Oregon Churns Out Renewable Energy, But Needs Batteries To Store It” • In Oregon, some utilities have begun ramping up renewable energy to meet the state’s clean energy goals. There is one problem: These sources only generate energy intermittently. There is also a solution to the problem: Batteries operate the rest of the time. [Jefferson Public Radio]

Have an honestly awesome day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Michigan Scores The $3.5 Billion Ford Battery Factory Virginia Didn’t Want” • Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin didn’t want CATL, a godless communist Chinese company, to run a plant in his state. The 3,500 jobs that Virginia would have got as the result of Ford building a battery factory in Old Dominion will now go to Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Ford image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Long-Term Exposure To Air Pollution May Raise Risk Of Depression Later In Life, Study Says” • Exposure to air pollution may be tied to the risk of developing depression later in life, a large study finds. The study is one of the first to examine the associations between long-term exposure and the risk of depression diagnosed after age 64. [CNN]

World:

¶ “Electric Buses Are Driving A Silent Revolution In Nairobi” • During the early days of COVID-19, authorities in Nairobi called on the city’s thousands of private bus operators to stop running. The result was that people could suddenly see Mount Kenya. The clear lesson was to stop using diesel power and adopt electric buses to move people. [CNN]

BasiGo electric buses (BasiGo image)

¶ “South Africa’s Energy Crisis Poses ‘Existential Threat’ To Its Economy” • Over twice as many blackouts hit South Africa in 2022 as any other year, as aging coal-fired power plants broke down and state-owned power utility Eskom struggled to pay for oil. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the crisis “an existential threat” to Africa’s most developed economy. [CNN]

¶ “Transgrid Starts Trialing The LDV ET60 Double-Cab Electric Pickup” • Transgrid operates over 13,000 km of high-voltage transmission wires and 121 substations in New South Wales and the Australia Capital Territory, with connections to Victoria and Queensland. In a turn to EVs, the company has received its first 2023 LDV eT60 electric pickup. [CleanTechnica]

Transgrid double-cab electric pickup (Transgrid image)

¶ “Where’s The Snow? Climate Change Affects Ski Racing Season” • Besides some minor dustings, it hasn’t snowed significantly in the French resorts hosting the skiing world championships since mid-January. And there is no snow in the long-term forecast. The weather has been cold, but it has not brought snow to French ski resorts. [AP News]

¶ “CEA Notice To Not Retire Thermal Units Hinders Renewable Energy Goal: Experts” • Despite India’s thrust on renewable energies, a notice from the Central Electricity Authority of India to power utilities to not retire any thermal units until 2030 has alarmed experts who say that the move will have a negative effect on India’s energy transition endeavours. [MSN]

Indian thermal power plant (sheikh sohel, Unsplash)

¶ “Leak: France Wins Recognition For Nuclear In EU’s Green Hydrogen Rules” • The European Commission has tabled rules giving the circumstances under which hydrogen can be labelled as coming from “renewable” energy sources. In the last minute, Paris won recognition for low-carbon hydrogen produced from nuclear power. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “New Solar Farm Is A Carbon Sink And Prairie Preserver” • A movement is afoot to quash solar development on farmland in the US, but the case for rural solar keeps expanding. In the latest example, Lightsource bp built a pair of solar farms in Colorado that double as carbon sinks and help to preserve 3,000 acres of shortgrass prairie. [CleanTechnica]

Solar farm in Colorado (Courtesy of Lightsource bp)

¶ “EV Tax Credits To Boost Domestic Battery Manufacturing” • Recently passed legislation created updated requirements on EV tax credits, but one greatly underlooked factor of the act is its incentives for battery production. Huge federal investments into domestic battery making are expected to drive production costs down and make EVs cheaper. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SunPower Now Offers Solar For Multi-Family Properties, And The Tenants Benefit” • Many tenants can’t get solar energy because they don’t own the house. SunPower wasn’t happy with this and decided to do something about it. It recently showed how three new customers took advantage of its multifamily solar business, passing savings to tenants. [CleanTechnica]

UC Davis West Village in Davis, California (SunPower image)

¶ “Minnesota’s New Clean Power Mandate Poses Thorny And Expensive Challenges” • After Minnesota had mandated 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, utilities and energy analysts put the cost at tens of billions of dollars. But a director of Fresh Energy in St. Paul said, “But there is a will to make this happen, and the benefits are massive.” [Star Tribune]

¶ “Whale Deaths Are Exploited In A ‘Cynical Disinformation’ Campaign Against Offshore Wind Power, Advocates Say” • A dozen New Jersey beach town mayors and several groups want wind projects stopped while scientists investigate recent whale deaths. Whale advocates accuse them of using whales as pawns in a campaign against windpower. [USA Today]

Have an altogether admirable day.

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World:

¶ “A Subsidy Arms Race Is Kicking Off Between Europe And America” • By directing roughly $370 billion in federal funding toward the rapid buildout of clean energy infrastructure, the US started a global subsidies race. World leaders say the package unfairly favors American companies and they have no choice but to respond with their own hefty incentives. [CNN]

Solar panels on a German bridge (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “‘Exceptional’ Warming: January Temperatures 2.2°C Higher Than Average In Europe” • Europe had an exceptionally warm January, with average temperatures 2.2°C higher than the 1990 to 2020 average, according to Copernicus Climate Change Service data. Europe is warming faster than any other region, the World Meteorological Organization says. [CNN]

¶ “South Africa’s Largest Supermarket Chains Spend Millions On Diesel To Mitigate The Impact Of Load-Shedding” • It seems there is no end in sight for load-shedding of South African electricity. Pick n Pay Group has over 1,900 locations in South Africa, and it is spending $3.35 million per month to run diesel generators. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system, a better way (The Shoprite Group)

¶ “Germany To Auction ‘Huge Number’ Of Hydrogen Power Plants” • Transforming Germany’s energy system away from fossil fuels must be reinforced by “molecule-based” power plant capacity that can back up the country’s energy system during times of low renewable generation, said economy and climate minister Robert Habeck. [Clean Energy Wire]

¶ “Solutions Africa Introduces Electric Tuk-Tuks In Kenya” • In Kenya’s transport sector, 3-wheelers, or tuk-tuks, are important for moving people and goods. They are especially important in the coastal region of Kenya. Mombasa-based Solutions Africa is working to catalyze the transition of the tuk-tuk market in Kenya to electric. [CleanTechnica]

Electric tuk-tuk (Courtesy of Solutions Africa)

¶ “Merseyside’s Mega-Battery Is Switched On – And Here’s How It Will Save Billions Of Pounds Off Bills And Huge Amounts Of CO₂” • It looks like self-storage with rows of shipping containers. But appearances can be deceptive as this is the first step in saving billions of pounds off bills and millions of tonnes of carbon. It’s a mega-battery. [Sky News]

¶ “Russia Is Draining A Massive Ukrainian Reservoir, And That Is Endangering A Nuclear Plant” • Russia appears to be draining an enormous reservoir in Ukraine, imperiling drinking water, agricultural production and safety at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, according to satellite data obtained by NPR. [NPR]

Dnieper Hydroelectric Station (A1, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Scientists Fear A Great Toxic Dustbowl Could Soon Emerge From The Great Salt Lake” • Like the rest of the West, Utah has a water problem. But megadrought and overconsumption aren’t just threats to wildlife, agriculture, and industry here. The Great Salt Lake is disappearing, and that could poison the lungs of more than 2.5 million people. [CNN]

¶ “The Economic Tides Just Turned For States” • States across the country have a massive opportunity to boost their economies through the Inflation Reduction Act, and now, for the first time, that opportunity is quantified. RMI’s first-of-its-kind analysis shows the potential benefits for states, in savings, investments, and employment. [CleanTechnica]

Renewable energy (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “DOE Announces Conditional $2 Billion Loan For Redwood Materials Nevada Expansion” • Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, received a conditional commitment for a $2 billion loan from the DOE’s Loan Program Office to support phased construction of a battery recycling plant in Nevada. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Solar Wave’ Sets The Stage For New Flow Battery In Wisconsin” • A fresh wave of solar development is coming to Wisconsin, and so is the German energy storage innovator CMBlu. The company is pilot testing a long-duration flow battery at a power plant in Milwaukee that could make a perfect match with big new solar arrays. [CleanTechnica]

Flow battery (CMBlu image)

¶ “New York Governor Hochul Announces Vermont’s Entry Into Effort To Create A Regional Hydrogen Hub” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Vermont signed a multi-state agreement to develop a proposal to become one of up to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs included in the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “The Home Depot Furthers Investment In Renewable Energy At Stores, Installing 13 MW Of Solar Power Across California” • The Home Depot is partnering with DSD Renewables to install 13 MW of solar power on the rooftops at 25 store locations in California. The Home Depot’s renewable energy goal is to use 100% renewable energy by 2030. [CSRwire]

Home Depot roftop solar (Courtesy of DSD Renewables)

¶ “Berkshire Hathaway Has Invested $30 Billion In Renewable Energy” • Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified company with energy, rail, insurance, manufacturing, and retail businesses. As of year-end 2021, it had invested $30 billion in wind, solar, and geothermal energy, with each of its many holdings making its own decisions. [Environment + Energy Leader]

¶ “Denver Solar Developers Say Small-Scale Projects Key For Energy Transition” • Emboldened by the Inflation Reduction Act, local renewable energy companies say small-scale solar projects and grid improvements to connect them will have a vital role in transitioning Colorado’s power infrastructure from fossil fuels to renewable generation. [NewsBreak Original]

Have a tremendously unworried day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Fossil Fuel Industry Is ‘Immorally Undermining Climate Action’” • “We must end the merciless, relentless, senseless war on nature,” UN Secretary General António Gutterres said, as that war “is putting our world at immediate risk of hurtling past the 1.5-degree temperature increase limit and now still moving towards a deadly 2.8 degrees.” [CleanTechnica]

Sunset (Pixy.com, CC0, public domain)

World:

¶ “Monster Profits For Fossil Fuel Companies Spur New Legal Challenges From Activists” • After the five largest fossil fuel companies reported their largest annual profits ever, ClientEarth sued the eleven directors of Shell in the high court of England. It is the first case seeking to hold corporate directors personally liable for climate inaction. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Law: 50% Or More Solar Power Over Parking Lots In France” • France stormed into a new era of solar with a law just passed requiring a massive increase in solar canopies. The new law requires that that large parking lots have at least 50% of their lot covered in solar canopies. It applies to parking lots with 80 spaces or more. [CleanTechnica]

Solar covered parking (Econet image)

¶ “Ukraine Schools And Hospitals Getting Solar + Storage From ‘Energy Act For Ukraine Foundation’ And Menlo Electric” • As the people of Ukraine fight for their survival, they need all the help they can get, including electricity. Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation and Menlo Electric teamed up for solar + storage for schools and hospitals. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Qualitas Inks PPA For 494 MW Of Spanish Solar” • Qualitas Energy has signed a long-term power purchase agreement for output from its 494-MW solar plant in the region of Murcia, in southern Spain. Through the PPA, the electricity generated by the plant will be sold to an IG global energy company for the next ten years. [reNews]

Solar project (Antonio Garcia, Unsplash)

¶ “European Institutions Combine Know-How On Energy Storage To Unlock The Full Potential Of Renewable Energy” • Fourteen leading European energy groups, universities, and research organizations launched a four-year project to help rapid deployment of renewables through the integration of innovative energy storage technologies. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Philippines’ Citicore Prepares For IPO, To Invest $4 Billion In Renewable Energy” • Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, one of the Philippines’ biggest solar power producers, is planning to go public to fund a $4 billion investment in solar projects over the next five years, its CEO said. Citicore hopes to increase its solar portfolio to 5 GW. [Market Screener]

Manila (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Delhi To Raise Power Generation Capacity By 6 GW Through Renewable Sources” • Currently, 33% of the total energy demand in Delhi is met by renewable sources. In the next three years, 6 GW of renewable energy will be produced in Delhi through various initiatives of the government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. [Millennium Post]

¶ “Datacom Partners With Mercury To Bring Renewable Energy To Data Centers” • New Zealand’s largest homegrown technology company, Datacom, has completed a new energy provider tender to ensure its data centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch are powered by renewable energy for minimal impact on the environment. [New Zealand]

Wellington (Lucas W, Pexels)

¶ “Russia, IAEA Hope To Make Progress On Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Safety Zone” • Russia and the UN’s nuclear watchdog said they hoped to make progress on creating a safety zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has come under repeated shelling over the months since it was seized by the Russian military. [Reuters]

US:

¶ “California Aims To Boot Dirty Investment With California Fossil Fuel Divestment Act” • One of California’s big recent announcements on climate laws is that state policymakers have introduced the California Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. It would require all large corporations to report carbon emissions, including their scope 3 emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Demonstration (Courtesy of Youth vs Apocalypse)

¶ “Interactive Map Shows Communities Impacted By Ethylene Oxide” • The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report assessing 104 facilities that emit ethylene oxide, a toxic, colorless gas that causes cancer. An interactive map shows whether one of these facilities is in a community, with information about who may be most impacted. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Heat Pump Wars In Maine” • New England and much of the northeast US suffered through a brutal cold snap lately. Much to the surprise of many, a heat pump designed for operation in low temperatures (not all of them are) is quite capable of functioning just fine even when the temperature outside falls below zero. And the message is getting around. [CleanTechnica]

Winter cold (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Comcast Sources Solar Power For Regional Operations” • Comcast is making a major investment in renewable electricity in Connecticut. Under a 15-year agreement with Constellation, the telecommunications company is getting enough electricity from the Gravel Pit Solar project in East Windsor to 43% of its needs in Connecticut and Massachusetts. [CBIA]

¶ “Several Universities, Including Purdue, To Experiment With Micro Nuclear Power” • Some universities take interest in micro nuclear technology to power their buildings and to see how well it can replace the coal and gas-fired energy that causes climate change. Purdue University is working with Duke Energy on the feasibility of using nuclear technology. [CBS 4]

Have an incomparably delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How China Achieved Its Clean Tech Dominance” • China holds a commanding lead in manufacturing most low-carbon technologies and looks likely to remain highly competitive. But the landscape is nuanced and varies by technology. There is still potential for other countries to catch up, and thus diversify global supply chains. [Energy Intelligence]

Great Wall of China (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Fossil Fuel Companies Won’t Save Us From Climate Change. We Need Governments To Step Up” • The early contender for the least surprising newsflash of the year: Fossil fuel companies will not, of their own volition, save us from climate breakdown. So will government step up to drive an efficient shift away from fossil fuels? Or will it prop them up? [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Common Kinds Of Air Pollution Led To Changes In Teens’ Blood Pressure” • Exposure to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide was associated with lower blood pressure in teens, said a study published in the journal PLOS One. Exposure to particulate matter 2.5, also known as particle pollution, was associated with higher blood pressure. [CNN]

New York City (Pétrin Express, Unsplash)

¶ “Dust From The Moon Could Help Slow Climate Change, Study Finds” • The study, published in the journal PLoS Climate, explains how a cloud of lunar dust could be put between the Earth and the sun to block some solar radiation and reduce global warming. Some scientists say this is a bad idea. Also, its cost is estimated to be $1 trillion. [The Hill]

World:

¶ “Big Oil Faces Scrutiny After Huge Jump In Profits” • BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Total Energies raked in record billion in profits in 2022, benefiting from the surge in oil and gas prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The companies are not doing more work or investing in anything. They are just taking huge profits at the expense of customers. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig (Pixy.org, CC0, public domain)

¶ “Australia Rejects A Coal Mine Near Great Barrier Reef Due To Risk Of ‘Irreversible Damage’” • A proposed open-cut coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef was turned down by the Australian government, which cited environmental laws and the risk of “irreversible damage.” The mining project would have been less than 10 km (6.2 miles) from the reef. [CNN]

¶ “Droughts Leave Cargo Riverboats High And Dry” • Increased droughts are forcing shipping companies to abandon some of the world’s main river cargo routes, warns Ann Christina Sloek-Andersen, a senior director at global shipping giant Maersk. On the Rhine, record low water levels meant some vessels were able to carry just 25% of their usual load. [BBC]

Shipping on the Rhine near Koblenz (Holger Schué, Pexels)

¶ “Arnott’s Group Links With Stanwell In Shift To Renewables” • Queensland government-owned utility Stanwell will supply Arnott’s Group with more than 68 GWh of renewable energy as part of an eight-year power purchase agreement. It will enable all operations at a company’s biscuit factory in Brisbane to run on clean energy. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Cauchari Solar Initiative Giving Argentina A Boost Into Clean Energy Future” • The largest solar project in South America sits at over 13,000 feet above sea level in the far north of Argentina. In 2019, it had over 1,000,000 solar panels generating power for 160,000 homes. With a new expansion, it will be able to provide electricity to 260,000 homes. [CleanTechnica]

Cauchari III (Manuel arequipa, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “GE Grid Solutions Wins Order To Modernize 39 Substations In Nepal” • GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business has announced that it was awarded a multi-million dollar contract from Nepal Electricity Authority to automate 39 substations of various ratings across Nepal, including building six Master Control Centers. [General Electric]

¶ “France In New Row With Germany And Spain Over Nuclear-Derived Hydrogen” • A new row has erupted between France, Germany and Spain over nuclear energy, with Paris furious about a lack of support from Berlin and Madrid for its efforts to have nuclear-derived hydrogen, which is labelled as ‘green’ in EU legislation, sources said. [EURACTIV.com]

French nuclear plant (Romainbehar, CC0 1.0, public domain)

US:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Battery Investments Ballooned In 2022” • EVs only represent about 6% of new vehicle sales in the US, but a big shift toward battery projects suggests rapid growth in the coming years. Research from think tank Atlas Public Policy shows over $128 billion in announced US investments in EVs, battery plants, and battery recycling in recent years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hurry, Chevy Bolts Down An Astonishing 47% To $19,995 Until March! (Net After Tax Credit)” • In 2021, the price of a Chevy Bolt was $37,495. Now, with a couple of price cuts the 2023 price is $27,495 (if you can find a dealer in your area that will sell it at MSRP). With Federal incentives, which are available until March, a Bolt can be had for $19,995. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt (Greg Gjerdingen, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “SK Battery America Factory Is Hiring More People Than Expected” • SK Battery America went through a long struggle to get its battery factory in the state of Georgia approved and under construction. Now the news is that it is employing people to work in the plant. And instead of the 2,600 envisioned, it is going to hire 3,000. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ameren Missouri Is Expanding Solar Generation With The Largest Project In The Company History” • Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, announced a big step toward bringing more renewable energy to customers. It has got a key approval in the planned acquisition of the its largest solar facility, a 200-MW solar plant. [PR Newswire]

Have a universally admired day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Europe, China, And India Can Electrify All Rail, Why Can’t The US?” • India is at 83% rail electrification, and is ahead of schedule to achieve almost 100%. China is at 72%, on its way to 100%. It’s built 40,000 km (30,000 miles) of grid-tied electrified high-speed rail since 2007. Europe is at 60% so far. And then there’s the US, with 1%. [CleanTechnica]

Electric train (Pixy.org, public domain, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change Is Contributing To The Rise Of Superbugs, UN Report Says” • Climate change and antimicrobial resistance are two of the greatest threats to global health, a report from the UN Environment Programme says. The report highlights the role of climate change and other environmental factors behind the rise of antimicrobial resistance. [CNN]

¶ “New Sodium And Aluminum Battery Aims To Integrate Renewables For Grid Resiliency” • A research team, led by the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, demonstrated that a storage battery built with the low-cost metals sodium and aluminum provides a pathway towards a safer and more scalable stationary energy storage system. [CleanTechnica]

System with batteries (Sara Levine, PNNL)

¶ “Carnivores’ Attacks On Humans Are Becoming More Common, And Climate Change Isn’t Helping” • Attacks on humans by carnivorous animals have increased steadily since 1950, as growing human populations in new areas make such incidents more common, a study says. Some experts say climate change may contribute to the problem. [NBC News]

World:

¶ “An ‘Inland Tsunami’: Fifteen Million People Are At Risk From Catastrophic Glacial Lake Outbursts, Researchers Find” • Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, and are leaving massive pools of water in their wake. The meltwater forms glacial lake behind natural dams of ice or land. The dams sometimes give way destructively. [CNN]

Glacial lake (Takisha Rappold, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Tesla Is First In World BEV Sales By Big Margin, 2022 World EV Sales Report” • Looking only at battery EVs, Tesla again got the title, with 18.2% share of the global BEV market. BYD took second place at 12.6%. Looking at plugin vehicle sales overall, Tesla, with a 13% share of the market, lost the 2022 title to BYD, which had an 18.4% share. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPeng Enters 4 European Countries” • XPeng is one of the most exciting car companies. Early on, it decided to go beyond its safe, huge home market of China and become a notable global force in the EV revolution. Now those plans are starting to come to fruition.The latest news from XPeng is that it is now selling two of its models in Europe! [CleanTechnica]

Xpeng P7 sedan (Windmemories, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy Surge Signals A Tipping Point For Power Sector Emissions” • An expected surge in renewables electricity generation through 2025 signals coming to the tipping point of emissions in the power sector, the International Energy Agency said. It expects renewables’ share of global power generation mix to rise from 29% in 2022 to 35% in 2025. [Oil Price]

¶ “RWE Boss: German Nuclear Power Plants Are Dispensable” • The head of energy group RWE, Markus Krebber, believes the last three German nuclear power plants still in operation are dispensable. “In the overall European energy supply, the good four gigawatts of output of the last three German nuclear power plants make no difference.” [Market Screener]

German nuclear plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

US:

¶ “Senators Form Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus As Tensions Rise In West Over Water Crisis” • As the Colorado River sinks further into crisis and tensions rise between Western states over how to divvy up painful water cuts, a bipartisan group of senators is formalizing a new caucus to examine how the US government could help in the situation. [CNN]

¶ “Plan Now For Home Efficiency Federal Rebate Programs” • The US DOE isn’t expected to issue guidance on how states should implement the rebate program until later this year. Then state energy offices will need to develop their own systems for administering benefits to eligible residents. But planning for them should start now. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (State of Rhode Island)

¶ “New Survey Reveals That Two-Thirds Of Renters Want Green, Energy Efficient Homes” • A survey of 2000 US renters shows that one key criterion for two-thirds of them when choosing a place to rent was “green practices” at the building, with 40% of them saying that they wouldn’t rent a property that doesn’t have green practices. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Energy Storage Facility Could Be Coming To Pueblo Under Pilot Plan” • Pueblo could soon become home to an iron-air battery storage system to back up energy from solar and wind plants. The system will be on the site of Xcel Energy’s Comanche 3 power plant, which is slated to close December 31, 2030 as the last coal-burning plant in Colorado. [Pueblo Chieftain]

Proposed Form Air battery system (Xcel Energy image)

¶ “DOE Releases Report, Aims To Meet Puerto Rico Target Of 100% Renewable Energy By 2050” • The US DOE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency released a progress report from a study on Puerto Rico’s transition to 100% renewable energy. The study is used to help inform investment decisions for Puerto Rico’s energy grid. [Pasquines]

¶ “Minnesota Just Passed A 100% Clean Energy Bill” • Minnesota governor Tim Walz signed a 100% clean energy bill. SF 4 requires all Minnesota utilities to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The road map to carbon-free electricity before 2040 has stages: 80% for public utilities and 60% for other utilities by 2030, and 90% for all utilities by 2035. [Electrek]

Have an easily outstanding day.

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World:

¶ “Atmospheric Rivers Aren’t Just A Problem For California. They’re Changing The Arctic, Too” • The Arctic is seeing a rapid decline in sea ice even during the cold winter months when it should be recovering from the summer melt. Scientists say that one often-overlooked factor plays a bigger role than they had thought: Atmospheric rivers. [CNN]

Aurora Borealis (Sami Takarautio, Unsplash)

¶ “South Africa’s Power Cuts Hit Vineyards” • South Africans are struggling with crippling power cuts daily, and they impose huge costs on business. As the country’s grape harvest gets under way, there are fears about the impact on the wine industry. This is a crucial time of year, and it coincides with the worst rolling power blackouts the country has ever had. [BCC]

¶ “2022 Indian EV Market Share – Start Of Evolution Of The S Curve” • 2022 was an exciting year for the Indian EV market, so it makes sense to take stock of where we are and what the road ahead looks like. Tremendous growth in EV sales resulted from causes ranging from generous subsidies to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [CleanTechnica]

Tata Motors EV (Tata Motors image)

¶ “Renewables In China Trend Upward While Nuclear Trends Flat” • In China, the combination of wind and solar, and usually both individually, outstrips new nuclear generation, both in raw nameplate capacity and in additional TWh of annual generation. Hydropower adds even more. China’s nuclear power is barely growing, compared to renewables. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BMW Advancing Fuel Cell Vehicle Trials” • The big drawback to using hydrogen as a power source for automobiles is that the refueling network is virtually non-existent in the US and sparse at best in Europe. This week, Bloomberg reports that BMW chief executive, Oliver Zipse, is a firm believer in fuel cell powered passenger cars. [CleanTechnica]

Fueling a car with hydrogen (Courtesy of BMW Group)

¶ “Indian Steel Companies Begin Transitioning To Green Steel” • With Kalyani Steels Ltd becoming the first Green Steel producer of India, all major Indian steel manufacturers are now beginning to transition towards Green Steel. They are in need of cheap supplies of Green Power and Green Hydrogen so the transition can be financially viable. [Solar Quarter]

¶ “Pacific Forum And Japan Going Head-To-Head Over Planned Nuclear Wastewater Dump” • There are hopes that a meeting will address issues about the looming release of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The Government of Japan, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are to meet in Japan. [RNZ]

TEPCO installing discharge outlet caisson (TEPCO image)

¶ “Russia Says Protection Structures At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Near Completion” • Construction of protective structures for key facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine is nearing completion, Russia’s state TASS news agency reported, citing an adviser to the head of Russia’s nuclear plants operator. [Business Recorder]

US:

¶ “Leader Of Neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Group Charged With Baltimore Power Grid Plot” • Two people, one of whom founded a neo-Nazi group, were arrested after allegedly plotting to shut down power to the Baltimore area. Authorities say the couple planned to shoot five electricity substations in Maryland. They face up to 20 years in prison. [BBC]

Substation (Daryana Vasson, Pexels)

¶ “Freight Train Derailment In Ohio Puts US Infrastructure Back In A Bruising Spotlight” • On the eve of the President’s State of the Union address, American infrastructure is back in a grim spotlight. The fiery derailment of train cars carrying hazardous chemicals on the eastern edge of Ohio has led to an evacuation zone in Ohio and Pennsylvania. [CNN]

¶ “New Study Links EVs With Real-World Reductions In Air Pollution And Respiratory Problems” • A study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, has found a link between the increased use of zero-emission vehicles and improved air quality and public health in California. [CleanTechnica]

Cleaner air for San Francisco (Joonyeop Baek, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Stock Rebounded Big In January, Surging 41%” • After hitting a low on January 6, there was an impressive rebound for Tesla’s stock. Many investors are seeing profits as a nice change of pace after a tough year of 2022. Tesla’s shares jumped by 41% in January, according to Dow Jones Market Data, as detailed by a report in Barron’s. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NREL Removes Initial Barrier To Distributed Wind Turbine Certification” • By funding the International Code Council’s Small Wind Certification Council to cover costs of preliminary reviews for certification applicants, NREL is helping ensure that turbine designs are ready to successfully complete the process of certification. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbine (Anton B, Unsplash)

¶ “Maine PUC Moves Forward With Transmission Line To Deliver Renewable Energy From Northern Maine” • The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued an order to move forward with LS Power Grid Maine’s transmission line. It will deliver renewable energy from Aroostook County, Maine into the New England grid. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “US Solar Developer Secures Funds For 5-GW Rollout” • US solar developer Pristine Sun Corporation has secured financing to develop up to 5 GW of PV projects. The $250 million capital commitment from comes from strategic private equity and family office investors. It will allow Pristine Sun to develop, finance, and build solar projects. [reNews]

Have a marvelously productive day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Individual Actions Matter” • We can blame greedy companies or politicians for climate change. But ultimately, pointing fingers misses a larger point that decarbonizing makes everyone’s life more comfortable, affordable, healthier, and resilient. So we all should take action at every level, not out of obligation but out of self interest. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Martin Katler, Unsplash, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “How NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Mission Will Track Disasters And Climate Change” • By tracking subtle changes in Earth’s surface, NISAR will “spot warning signs of imminent volcanic eruptions, help to monitor groundwater supplies, track the melt rate of ice sheets tied to sea level rise, and observe shifts in the distribution of vegetation around the world.” [NewsBytes]

¶ “How Beavers Are Reviving Wetlands” • Wetlands store water, act as a carbon sink, and are a source of food. They do more for humanity than all other terrestrial ecosystems. But we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands says. For restoring wetlands, there is one hero with remarkable powers – the beaver. [BBC]

Beaver (Andrew Patrick, Pexels)

¶ “International Group Of Scientists Warns Nuclear Radiation Has Devastating Impacts On Ecosystems” • Use of nuclear weapons of any kind would cause widespread devastation, according to a position paper by a group of renowned scientists. They want to make clear the lasting consequences of nuclear radiation. [Warner College of Natural Resources]

¶ “How Safe Will NASA’s Nuclear-Powered Mars Rocket Be?” • It’s the stuff of science fiction movies and novels: Human beings harnessing the power of the atom to travel to other planets and explore space. But soon, it will become a reality. So, just how safe is a nuclear-powered rocket? Officials say it will be safe, but there are questions that remain. [Spectrum News 13]

Nuclear thermal propulsion (DARPA image)

World:

¶ “Chile’s Wildfires Leave At Least 22 People Dead, Officials Say” • Hundreds of fires have recently been buring in south-central Chile. In days, twenty-eight of them burned an area of woodland the country typically loses over the course of a year, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said. She pointed out that temperatures hit levels never previously recorded. [CNN]

¶ “The World Is Creating More Single-Use Plastic Waste Than Ever, Report Finds” • The world is producing a record amount of single-use plastic waste, mostly made from polymers created from fossil fuels, despite global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and carbon emissions, according to a report compiled by the Minderoo Foundation. [CNN]

Beach (Dustan Woodhouse, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Honda Doubles Down On Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car Commitment” • While the debate between batteries and fuel cells rages on, some automakers have decided to settle the issue by producing an electric car with both a battery pack and a fuel cell stack. Honda is one, and it plans on adding green hydrogen punch to the picture, too. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Top Five Countries with 100% Renewable Energy in Electricity Generation” • Some countries have been particularly successful with renewable electricity and have made significant progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in their overall energy mix. Here is a look at the top five countries for using renewably generated electricity. [The CSR Journal]

Bridge at a village in Norway (Tobias Tullius, Unsplash)

¶ “Marcos Welcomes Isabela Solar Power Project And Lauds Renewable Energy Projects” • Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. welcomed the ₱‎18 billion ($331 million) 440-MW Isabela Solar Power Project, which is seen to boost the administration’s renewable energy thrust and to create jobs in its local area of Luzon. [Manila Bulletin]

¶ “South Australia Plans World’s Largest Electrolyzer And H₂ Power Plant” • South Australia, the state that built the world’s first grid-level “big battery” is striking out on an even more ambitious green energy project: the world’s biggest hydrogen power station, fed by an electrolysis facility that is 10 times larger than anything running today. [New Atlas]

South Australia (Jay Wennington, Unsplash)

¶ “Timmermans: Africa Likely To Be EU’s Most Important Renewable Energy Partner” • Africa is likely to be Europe’s most important partner as it looks to increase its renewable energy supply and switch to green hydrogen, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans told EURACTIV. For example, a submarine cable could run from Egypt to Greece. [EURACTIV.com]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Lease Price Reduced To Match The Toyota Corolla!” • Tesla has dropped its lease pricing so much that it costs the same to lease a Tesla Model 3 as a Toyota Corolla! The Model 3 is clearly a much larger car for passenger and luggage volume than the Toyota Corolla and slightly larger than the BMW 3 Series sedan. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Charlie Deets, Unsplash)

¶ “Colorado River Crisis Is So Bad, Lakes Mead And Powell Are Unlikely To Refill In Our Lifetimes” • Even with above-average snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, scientists say everyone in the Colorado River Basin will need to plan for low reservoir levels for years to come. Some think the river’s major reservoirs probably won’t refill in our lifetimes. [Yahoo]

¶ “Buh-Bye Gas: Enphase Launching Seamless Vehicle-To-Grid System” • The case for full home electrification just keeps getting better, and the news for natural gas stakeholders keeps getting worse. Now, Enphase Energy plans to launch a car charger that provides EV owners with all the benefits of new vehicle-to-grid technology, at their fingertips. [CleanTechnica]

Have a uniquely encouraging day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Democrats Sell Their Souls To The Methane Mob” • A group of methane suppliers have banded together to form Natural Allies For A Clean Energy Future. According to the Washington Post, its purpose is to convince Democratic voters that gas is a “clean” energy source. And how best to do that? Hire Democrats to tout the wonders of methane. [CleanTechnica]

Power plant (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Researchers Create Hydrogen From Seawater Without Pre-Treatment” • Before seawater can be used in an electrolyzer, it needs to be desalinated, purified, and ionized, and the catalysts used are costly. Researchers at the University of Adelaide say they have a solution that makes hydrogen directly from seawater by using cheap catalysts. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Half A Century Of Climate Change Has Altered The Face Of The Earth” • Fifty years later its “Blue Marble” photo of Earth, NASA took a new image of Earth from its Deep Space Climate Observatory about 1.5 million km away. The photo reveals clear changes to the face of the Earth, some of which are indicative of 50 years of climate change. [PetaPixel]

Earth (NASA, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “China’s Investment In Energy In Ecuador” • In November of 2016, an earlier “strategic association” between Ecuador and China was upgraded to an “integral strategic partnership,” which is the highest level relationship China has with any country. Now Chinese policy banks loaned Ecuador $19 billion, much of it for hydroelectric plants. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ecuador Needs to Expand Beyond Hydroelectric Power” • The commitment Ecuador has to hydroelectric power created an energy market wherein wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects provide only 1% of the electricity generated. The country has other renewables, but it is perilously reliant on hydroelectric facilities. [CleanTechnica]

Dam (Ministerio de Turismo Ecuador, via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “France Plugin EV Share Up YOY – Dacia Spring Takes Top Spot” • France’s auto market saw plugin EVs take 22.3% share of new sales in January, up from 17.6% year on year. Full electrics saw stronger growth than plugin hybrids. Overall auto volumes were 111,939 units, some 9% higher YOY, but still well below pre-2020 seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Improving Energy Storage Key To Adopt Renewable Sources, Says Union Power Minister Singh” • Improving energy storage and ensuring energy security are key in ensuring economies shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, India’s Union Minister of Power, and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh told the G-20 meeting. [The Indian Express]

Power Minister Singh (OfficeOfRajKSingh, Facebook)

¶ “Serbia Opens Door For Batteries As Solution For Intermittent Renewables” • To support intermittent renewable energy sources, batteries are conquering the region around Greece and Turkey, where tens of gigawatts of projects are in the pipeline. A draft law is opening the possibility for their widespread development in Serbia. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “Road To India@100: Renewables Will Power The New India” • The size of India’s grid is expected to expand to almost 2,300 GW by 2050 as per capita consumption of electricity catches up with the world’s average. Maintaining this growth trajectory, while addressing energy security will depend on affordable and reliable clean energy. [Business Today]

Key Monastery, Himachal Pradesh (Vivek Kumar, Unsplash)

¶ “Iran Lashes Out At IAEA Report On Fordow Nuclear Plant” • Iran’s nuclear agency chief hit out at the International Atomic Energy Agency, terming its latest report on activities at the Fordow nuclear facility as “unprofessional.” He accused the IAEA of “disclosing wrong claims” in the report, saying the West “does not want a nuclear Iran.” [TRT World]

US:

¶ “In Deep-Red Corner Of Arizona, Threat Of Losing Water Starts To Outweigh Fear Of Regulation” • Unfettered agricultural growth means faucets of residents of Kingman, Arizona, will run dry soon. They blame corporate megafarms that pumped 60% to 72% of the groundwater used there as of 2021. The lesson is get active or lose water. [CNN]

Route 66 in 2006 (Marriedtofilm, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Tesla’s $3.6 Billion Expansion Plans At Giga Nevada” • Tesla’s operations at Sparks, Nevada, are set to grow a lot in coming years. The company recently shared plans to add two factories. The Tesla factory has been a key producer of Tesla’s automotive batteries throughout the last several years, and soon it will be producing the Tesla Semi. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US DOD Inches Closer To Tactical Electric Vehicles” • While everyone has been freaking out over the switch to electric stoves, the US Department of Defense has been quietly pulling off its own electric switcheroo. The DOD has been slowly introducing EVs into its non-tactical fleet, and it is getting ready to jump into tactical vehicles, too. [CleanTechnica]

Canoo light tactical vehicle (Canoo image)

¶ “New GMU Survey: More Agreement On Renewable Energy” • Last week, a survey was released to gauge voters’ attitudes about climate change policies in the US. The poll showed that at least 75% of registered voters support federal funding for renewable energy sources and tax incentives for people and businesses who do not burn fossil fuels. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

¶ “USDA Invests $15.2 Million In Renewable Energy And Infrastructure In Maine And New Hampshire” • The USDA Directors for Rural Development in Maine and New Hampshire have announced $15,217,000 in funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loan program. The loans will support annual energy for 1,800 average homes. [Daily Bulldog]

Have an especially faultless day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Co-Founder JB Straubel On Racing To Scale Up Battery Recycling” • The EV industry is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of recycling battery materials. In an interview for MIT Technology Review, JB Straubel offers some new insights into the massive challenge of building a circular economy, and why we can’t wait. [CleanTechnica]

JB Straubel (Courtesy of International Transport Forum)

¶ “New England policymakers have the tech and funds for energy security. They just need to act” • The combination of the climate crisis and high energy prices means we are in an urgent moment. The development of offshore wind and hydropower is essential to address these issues in the Northeast especially, but they will take years to develop. [Utility Dive]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why Temperatures Still Plummet To Dangerous Levels Even As The Planet Warms” • With all the high temperature records we see, there are still bomb cyclones and records for cold. Some scientists say that climate change – and more specifically rapid warming in the Arctic – may actually be increasing the likelihood that frigid, polar air can dive south. [CNN]

Yaks in snow (Lieve Ransijn, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “US Climate Subsidies Unsettle Europe’s Green Industry Plans” • The massive green subsidies on offer in the US come to $370 billion (€339 billion euros). That has unsettled the EU’s plans and sent European policymakers scrambling to respond. Some European companies are giving priority to renewable energy developments in the US. [Digital Journal]

¶ “Proposed Wind Farm Could Become First Renewable Energy Competitor For Nova Scotia Power” • A proposed wind farm in Queens County could become Nova Scotia’s first project to sell electricity from renewable sources directly to customers. Mersey River Wind wants to erect 33 wind turbines south of Milton, N.S., to generate 148.5 MW of power. [CBC]

Proposed wind farm region (Mersey River Wind)

¶ “India’s Budget To Give A Further Boost To Renewable Energy Growth” • India already has a robust green energy program with one of the fastest growing capacities, and the Union Budget 2023 will give a further boost to the country’s renewable energy growth, Union Power Minister RK Singh said in an exclusive interview with ET Now. [Times Now]

¶ “China’s Renewable Power Installations To Maintain Robust Growth In 2023” • China will continue increasing its renewable power capacity in 2023 after the installation of wind and solar power capacity rose 22% in 2022 on strong demand, lower raw-material costs, and a low-base effect for wind power, according to Fitch Ratings. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

Tracking mounts in China (Vinaykumar8687, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners And Amberside Partner To Develop UK Solar And Battery Projects” • Amberside Energy and CIP, on behalf of its Flagship Funds, have partnered to develop 2 GW of solar and battery storage projects in the UK. CIP’s Flagship Funds will provide the investment capital for project development. [reNews]

¶ “Mexico Plans To Accelerate Its Push Toward Renewable Energy As Global Energy Costs Rise” • Mexico was pushed to accelerate its turn toward renewable energy after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year drove a sharp increase in global energy costs, according to Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. [WGMD]

Wind farm (Presidencia de la República Mexicana, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “European Parliament Calls For Russia Sanctions To Include Nuclear” • A European Parliament resolution calls for sanctions to be expanded to include the Russian companies that are still present on European markets, and it reiterates a call for an “immediate and full embargo on imports of fossil fuels and uranium from Russia.” [World Nuclear News]

US:

¶ “In Boost For Ford And Tesla, Treasury Changes EV Tax Rules Making It Easier To Qualify As An SUV” • New rules now in effect for EV tax credits favor SUVs. If a Ford Mustang Mach-E is an SUV, then it can get the credit if it costs almost $80,000. If not, the cut-off is $55,000. The Treasure Department has reviewed its new rules so they fit with common sense. [CNN]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Adrian N, Unsplash)

¶ “How Can The US Eliminate Carbon Pollution From The US Power Sector By 2035?” • A report outlines decisive action that the US can take to cut pollution over the next two years. It is a first step toward the broader goal of zeroing out greenhouse gas is to cut all carbon pollution from the power plants by 2035. It is a tall order, but it can be done. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coldest Wind Chill Ever Recorded In Continental US, Say Forecasters” • Forecasters say the coldest wind chill ever has been recorded in the continental US as an Arctic cold snap freezes a swathe of North America. The National Weather Service said icy gusts on Mount Washington in New Hampshire produced a wind chill of -108°F (-77°C). [BBC]

Frost (Martin Longin, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewables Vs Fuels? Puerto Rico Faces A Critical Time To Determine Its Energy Future” • About 3,000 Puerto Ricans died in Maria’s aftermath because of lack of electricity that caused interruptions in medical and other services. Increasingly, the island’s people want to transition to renewable energy in the hope of finally having reliable power. [NBC News]

¶ “Plenitude Starts Production From Texas Solar Farm” • Energy firm Plenitude has begun production at its 263-MW Golden Buckle solar project in Brazoria County, Texas. The plant was built in just over a year, in an area of over 600 hectares 50 miles south of Houston. It will produce a yearly average of 400 GWh to 500 GWh of solar energy. [reNews]

Have a pleasantly thrilling day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How To Get Your City Or County To 100% Renewables” • With funding quickly becoming available from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, cities and counties need a more nimble, iterative planning process that can help them determine which energy actions to take. Here are two questions they need to answer. [CleanTechnica]

Henderson, Nebraska (Taylor Siebert, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Should The Infrastructure Investment Act Bail Out A Retired Nuclear Reactor?” • Some 115 organizations and 179 people sent a letter to US Energy Secretary Granholm asking for a rejection of Holtec Decommissioning International’s request for a federal bailout to restart the retired Palisades atomic reactor on the shore of Lake Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “How undersea cables may affect marine life” • Thousands of miles of cables crisscross our deep seas, carrying data or electric power. These artificial structures can serve as shelter to a vast array of bottom-dwelling sea life that have been found to take up residence on or near them. But we don’t know much about the effects of their electromagnetic fields. [BBC]

Work on a submarine cable (US Navy, public domain)

World:

¶ “Open The Gates! 25% BEV Share In Europe!” • Even while the overall automotive market continued falling, Europe’s passenger plugin electric car market had a historic month in December, with 413,500 registrations. That is a massive 46% improvement over November, which had already beaten the December 2020 record of 282,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ABB Delivers Its Millionth EV Fast Charger” • ABB E-mobility celebrated a major milestone recently with the delivery of its one millionth (!) EV charger, and marking major strides in the company’s stated mission to enable an emission-free future. ABB E-mobility has a presence in 85 global markets, and continues to grow and expand worldwide. [CleanTechnica]

Chargers (ABB E-mobility image)

¶ “MOL Signs Collaboration Deal With Nagasaki Prefecture For Shipbuilding-Related Industries And Renewable Energy Projects” • Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd signed an agreement with the Nagasaki Prefecture Department of Industrial and Labor Affairs to develop and promote renewable energy projects and shipbuilding-related industries. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Will Reach $1,998.30 Billion By 2030” • Precedence Research estimates the size of the renewable energy market at $1,030.95 billion in 2022 and expects it to grow to over $1,998.30 billion by 2030, for an annual growth rate of 8.6%. International leaders have been pushed to quick action by the upheavels in the gas market. [AltEnergyMag]

Rooftop solar system (Jeroen van de Water, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar And Wind With Batteries Are Set To Produce Cheaper Electricity Than Natural Gas In Alberta And Ontario” • In Alberta and Ontario, wind can now produce electricity at lower costs than natural-gas-fired power, and more reductions are on the horizon, according to a report from Clean Energy Canada based on newly commissioned  research. [GlobeNewswire]

¶ “Renewable Energy Attracts South Africa’s Coal Miners” • More coal companies are moving to cleaner resources to power their operations in South Africa. The country continues to battle with energy shortages, and the coal companies are seeking their own energy sources. The coal companies are also looking to reduce their carbon emissions. [ITWeb]

Transmission lines (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)

¶ “France Seeks Strategy As Nuclear Waste Site Risks Saturation Point” • The fuel-cooling pools in La Hague, in the northwest of France, could be full by the end of the decade and state-owned Orano, which runs them, says the government needs to outline a long-term strategy to modernise its ageing facilities no later than 2025. [International Business Times]

US:

¶ “EPA Blocks Mining Project Proposal That Threatened Alaskan Salmon” • The EPA has blocked the controversial Pebble Mine project, which was set for development in Alaska, over concerns about adverse effects on salmon fisheries, an agency release said. It could have become the largest copper, gold and molybdenum extraction site on the continent. [CNN]

Wetlands near Bristol Bay (US EPA, public domain)

¶ “Large Glacier Near Seattle Has ‘Completely Disappeared,’ Says Researcher Who Has Tracked It For Years” • Nestled between the snowy ranges of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak, a significant glacier in Washington state has disappeared after existing full of ice and snowpack for millennia, according to a researcher who has tracked the glacier for years. [CNN]

¶ “PG&E To Stand Trial Over Deadly California Wildfire” • The California utility giant PG&E must face trial for manslaughter for its role in a 2020 wildfire that killed four people, a state judge has ruled. It is the latest legal trouble for Pacific Gas & Electric, which has been blamed for a series of deadly wildfires in the state in recent years. [BBC]

Wildfire in California (US Forest Service, public domain)

¶ “Clean Energy To Communities Program Launched By US DOE” • The US DOE announced that it launched the Clean Energy to Communities program to provide up to $50 million to support a range of clean energy needs of communities. The program is especially to help small communities that might ‘’fall through cracks.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EDF Renewables Signs PPA For Texas Solar Farm” • EDF Renewables North America has executed a 20-year virtual power purchase agreement from its Millers Branch solar project. Under the deal, with Thermo Fisher Scientific will take the full output of the 200-MW (AC) project, which is in Texas. It is expectedto be commissioned in December, 2025. [reNews]

Have an actually ideal day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Greener School Playgrounds Are An Overlooked Climate Solution” • The new schoolyard at PS 184M Shuang Wen, a grade school in Manhattan’s Chinatown, features new play equipment, a yoga circle, a stage and basketball and tennis courts. It also has a porous turf field that can capture an estimated 1.3 million gallons of stormwater runoff. [CleanTechnica]

Manhattan’s PS 184 (Courtesy of Trust for Public Land)

¶ “‘Advanced’ Nuclear Reactors: No Climate Cure” • Contrary to claims by their promoters, “advanced” nuclear technologies are not new, and we cannot be sure they are safer, more secure, or economically competitive. Legislatures should focus on proven renewable technologies instead of doling out billions of taxpayer dollars for dubious projects. [Energy Intelligence]

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Enormous Heat Pumps Warming Cities” • Ground-source heat pumps can be used in cities. Rather than each home having its own borehole, Heat the Streets uses more than 200 boreholes drilled 100 meters (330 ft) beneath the street linked to a huge communal network of horizontal, underground pipes just below street level, known as a heatmain. [BBC]

Stockholm, heated by heatpumps (Adam Gavlák, Unsplash)

¶ “The Straight Skinny On Gas Stoves And Indoor Pollution” • Right-wing media are outraged when cities curb the use of gas stoves. Rather than join in the screaming match, researchers in the Bronx decided to do some actual scientific testing to see what exactly happens when people cook indoors on gas stoves. The results may surprise you. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Black & White Building In London Showcases Wood Construction Techniques” • The Black & White building shows that commercial buildings can be truly green. Many so-called “green” buildings cover a steel and concrete core with a pretty wooden façade, but the frame of the Black & White building is structurally engineered wood. [CleanTechnica]

The Black & White building (Ed Reeve, courtesy of AHEC)

World:

¶ “Chinese Electric Cars Are Filling European Streets” • Chinese EVs are making their way into European markets at large. XPeng announced its first deliveries to Norway in October 2020. Now, Chinese EVs from XPeng, BYD, and MG are common sights in Oslo, to say nothing of models from Volvo and Polestar, both owned by Chinese firm Geely. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Australian Mining News: Not Just Lithium, But Rare Earths!” • Australian firm Wyloo Metals has invested in Neo Performance Materials, a producer of rare earths and advanced permanent magnets, and in Hastings, developer of the Yangibana rare earth project in Western Australia, which may produce 15,000 tonnes of mixed rare earths carbonate per year. [CleanTechnica]

Corvette project (Courtesy of Patriot Battery Metals)

¶ “Audi South Africa And Rubicon Add 43 EV Charging Stations To The Growing Network” • Sales of battery-electric vehicles breached the 500 units per year mark in South Africa for the first time ever in 2022. Lately, Audi South Africa, in partnership with Rubicon, brought 43 additional EV charging stations online in the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Account For 92% Of Brazil’s Power Produciton In 2022” • The Brazilian Power Trading Chamber announced that 92% of the country’s 2022 electricity production came from renewable energy sources. There was a 64.3% increase in output of solar power plants in 2022, compared to 2021. Windpower output increased by 12.6%. [Renewables Now]

Brazilian wind farm (AES Tiete image)

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Strengthens Position In Spain Through Agreement With Repsol” • GE Renewable Energy was selected by Repsol to supply 22 units of its 6.1-MW wind turbines – the most powerful GE wind turbines installed in Spain – to six of the wind farms in its Delta II project (Santa Cruz I, Amp, II, III, and San Isidro I and II) in Aragon. [Energy Global]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Takes Another Step Toward Advancing A Controversial Oil Drilling Project In Alaska” • The Bureau of Land Management advanced the massive ConocoPhillips Willow oil drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope, releasing the final environmental impact statement before the controversial project can be approved. [CNN]

Nuiqsut, Alaska (Paxson Woelber, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “NYC Wants Uber And Lyft To Be 100% Electric By 2030” • In his State of the City address on January 26, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced that Uber and Lyft will be required to operate only zero-emissions EVs by 2030. The mayor’s new policy initiative has the potential to affect an estimated 100,000 for-hire vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vermont Lawmakers Revisit Renewable Energy Standard As Greenhouse Gas Emissions Deadlines Loom” • With Vermont’s 2025, 2030, and 2050 greenhouse emission deadlines slowly but surely approaching, state lawmakers are working quickly to make sure the legally binding deadlines are met. Some want to revisit the Renewable Energy Standard. [WPTZ]

Vermont (Kevin Davison, Unsplash)

¶ “Two Groups Challenge Grid Operator Rules That Restrict Renewable Energy” • An environmental law organization, filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on behalf of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Earthjustice challenged a rule that prohibits renewables from providing ancillary services. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Climate Activists Accuse Shell Of Inflating Renewables Spend” • In a letter of complaint to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, campaigning group Global Witness has accused fossil-fuels giant Shell of adding gas-related investments to its spending on renewables to inflate its overall investment in clean sources of energy. [reNews]

Have a plainly perfect day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Decline And Fall Of Fossil Fuels” • The latest projections from FERC say natural gas capacity will not grow in the US in the near term. Fossil fuels were in decline overall, but now no part of the fossil fuels or nuclear industry is projected to grow. So about 100% of net generating capacity growth to 2026 is expected to made up of renewables. [Green Energy Times]

Wind farm in Iowa (Voice of America, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Stackable Offshore Floating Wind Turbine Platform Cuts Costs” • The American Bureau of Shipping gave approval in principle to a stackable, offshore floating wind turbine platform. The stacking feature is part of a soup-to-nuts campaign to cut the maritime-related costs of floating wind, from the Swedish firm Bassoe Technology. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Nigeria Election 2023: The Oil Land With No Electricity” • In oil-rich Nigeria, businesses cannot rely on electricity from the national grid, as blackouts are common. The country has 210 million people, but its 5,000 MW of generating capacity is only enough to power about five million households. Candidates for election are promising to provide more. [BBC]

Street in Lagos (Muhammad-taha Ibrahim, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Volkswagen Had A Great 2022: 26% More EVs, More Than 15,000 Rapid Charging Stations” • The Volkswagen Group says it has made significant progress toward EV transformation in 2022. Despite supply challenges and temporary manufacturing halts, customers received 572,100 all-electric vehicles, a notable 26% increase globally from 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plugin Electric Vehicles Get 30% Share Of Auto Market In Another Record Month In China” • Plugin vehicles in China once again ended the year with a record month, growing by 83% year over year in the last month of the year to a record 671,000 units. Interestingly, full electric vehicles had a slow month, growing just 13%, to 471,000 units. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (Anonymousfox36, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Big Return To Coal In Europe Killed Off By Record Renewable Energy” • As Russia cut off gas supplies to Europe last year, countries put more coal power on standby to fill the gaps. But the bloc fended off a feared dramatic increase in burning coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, by installing large amounts of solar and wind generating capacity. [Sky News]

¶ “Jera Finishes Formosa 2 Turbine Installation” • Jera completed installation of all 47 wind turbines at the 376-MW Formosa 2 offshore wind project off the coast of Miaoli County, Taiwan. Jera continues to actively promote large-scale offshore wind projects both in Japan and abroad to achieve sustainable growth in its corporate value, it said. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Jera image)

¶ “Royal Navy Orders Investigation Into Nuclear Submarine ‘Repaired With Glue’” • The Royal Navy has ordered an urgent investigation amid claims that workers on a Trident nuclear armed submarine fixed broken bolts in the vessel’s reactor chamber using glue. Reportedly, the bad repairs were found when a bolt fell off during an inspection. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “California Floated Cutting Major Cities Off Colorado River Water Before Touching Its Agriculture Supply, Sources Say” • In a closed-door negotiation about Colorado River, representatives from California’s water districts proposed modeling what the basin’s future would look like if some of the West’s biggest cities were cut off from the water supply. [CNN]

All-American Canal (Charles O’Rear, US EPA, public domain)

¶ “Monthly Plug-In EV Sales In The US Exceeded 7% Of All New Light-Duty Vehicle Sales For The First Time In September 2022” • From the introduction of mass-market plug-in EVs in 2010, it took about a decade for monthly sales to routinely exceed a 2% share of all light-duty vehicle sales. That share more than tripled in just two years to over 7%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Cuts Mustang Mach-E Prices, Plans Production Increase, May Sell German Factory” • Ford says it will continue to position the Mustang Mach-E as a compelling option for those looking for an electric SUV. The company said that it has secured enough batteries and raw material to scale production of all of its EV models in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Eduardo Arcos, Unsplash)

¶ “Exxon Announces Record Profits For 2022” • ExxonMobil announced record profits for the year 2022, reporting it made $55.7 billion over the past year and drawing ire from the left. Other major energy companies also posted record earnings for the year. Democrats have been critical of corporate profits at a time when consumers faced high prices. [The Hill]

¶ “Amazon Buys Record 8.3 GW Of Renewable Energy In 2022” • Tech giant Amazon announced it had secured more renewable energy in 2022 than any other company had bought in a year, as part of its drive to power its stores, data centres, and fulfilment centres entirely using clean energy by 2025. It bought 8.3 GW of wind and solar power in 2022. [Computing]

Wind turbine (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Corridor To Northern Maine Clears Hurdle With OK From State Commission” • A major renewable energy project in Aroostook County, Maine got a boost, as the state’s Public Utilities Commission concluded that it is in the public interest. The wind farm and transmission line are driven by Maine’s climate goals. [Maine Public]

¶ “Duke Energy Proposes Two Programs To Help Customers Use Renewable Energy” • Duke Energy has asked North Carolina regulators to approve the expansion of a program that lets large customers contract for renewable energy. Duke also wants to offer renewable energy credits to customers who want to support the shift to clean energy. [WFDD]

Have an unreservedly elated day.

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