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.
geoharvey 