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.
geoharvey 