World:
¶ “Countries Agree Historic Oceans Treaty To Protect The High Seas” • Nearly 200 countries have agreed to a legally-binding treaty to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet’s surface, but have long been essentially lawless. The treaty provides legal tools to establish and manage marine protected areas. [CNN]
Whale (Thomas Kelley, Unsplash)
¶ “Tesla Mexican Factory Could Be Largest Yet, Model Y ‘Juniper’ Upgrade Coming” • Following a highly touted Investor Day event this week that turned out to be rather blah, there is some real news about Tesla that should get people excited. The president of Mexico says that Tesla agreed to build its next gigafactory in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “A new generation of airships is taking to the skies” • Other than its enormous size, though, this “whale” has very little to do with its animal namesake. It’s an airship, and French aeronautics company Flying Whales hopes its hybrid-electric, helium-lift vessel will change the shape of sustainable transport. Other companies are pushing similar products. [CNN]
Airlander 10 hybrid aircraft (Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd)
¶ “WA’s Slow Renewable Energy Transition Raises Doubts About Whether Coal Power Stations Can Close By 2029” • The Western Australian government committed to closing the state’s last coal-fired power plant by 2029 to help accelerate the road to net zero. But data from the Clean Energy Regulator showed the state is not moving fast enough to do that. [ABC]
¶ “France’s Plugin EVs Hit 24% In February, Dacia Spring Still Boss” • France’s plugin electric vehicle share reached 23.8% in February, up from 20.1% year on year. Full electrics grew share, whilst plugin hybrids remained static. Overall auto volume was 126,237 units, up over 9% YOY. The Dacia Spring was once again the best selling full electric. [CleanTechnica]
Dacia Spring Electric (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “No Land, No Problem For Netherlands In Solar Drive” • The Netherlands has to innovate to find places to put new renewable energy capacity. It already has an average of two solar panels per person, but to meet a 2030 goal to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, developers are building over lakes, landfills, and farms. [Taipei Times]
¶ “21-MW Nkhotakota Solar PV Plant In Malawi Energized” • Malawi, a southern African country with a population of about 19 million, has one of Africa’s lowest electrification rates. Access to electricity is still below 20%. Serengeti Energy, an Independent Power Producer, announced that it energized the 21-MW (AC) Nkhotakhota 1 PV plant. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array (Courtesy of Serengeti Energy)
¶ “Iran Pledges To Restore Monitoring Equipment At Nuclear Sites, Says IAEA” • Iran has pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites and to allow more inspections at a facility where particles of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade were detected, according to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ “As The West’s Drought Eases, This Area Remains In The Worst On Record – And It’s Hitting Farmers Hard” • As much-needed winter storms alleviate drought conditions in California and southern parts of Oregon, the deluge of snow and rain in the West largely missed Central Oregon, leaving Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties dry. [CNN]
Central Oregon (Tequask, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “US Navy Prowls For E-Fuels From The Seven Seas” • The field of e-fuels has been stirring into life in recent years, thanks in part to the surging market for green hydrogen. The missing link is a ready supply of carbon dioxide. Various land-based systems under way to capture it from the air, but a team at MIT is onto a seagoing solution. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Oil Heartland Texas Embraces Renewable Energy” • Modern Texas was built on oil, and its production has long been a source of pride. But now, areas that moved to the steady rhythm of oil derricks for more than a century are making the state a national leader in wind and solar energy. A convergence of factors has led to this unexpected result. [Geo.tv]
Have a magnificently straightforward day.
geoharvey 