Science and Technology:
¶ “New Supercomputer For Climate Science” • The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a new supercomputer dedicated to climate science research. The new system is the fifth supercomputer to be installed and run by the National Climate-Computing Research Center at ORNL. [CleanTechnica]
An older supercomputer (Pixy.org, CC0)
World:
¶ “Trade And Carbon Credits, Not Ukraine, Lead The Agenda At Lula – Xi Talks” • As Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visits China, the trip’s focus will not be on Ukraine, but almost entirely on trade, how investments by China can help Brazil’s economy get back on track, and the potentially lucrative universe of carbon credits. [CNN]
¶ “‘Beginning Of The End’ For Fossil Fuels: Global Wind And Solar Reached Record Levels In 2022, Study Finds” • The use of coal, oil, and gas to produce electricity is expected to fall in 2023, a report by energy think tank Ember says. This would mark the first year to see a decline in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity in a normal economy. [CNN]
Wind farm (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)
¶ “India To Speed Up Renewable Auctions, Tender 50 GW Every Year” • India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has laid out plans to issue tenders for 50 GW of new renewable energy capacity every year between the financial years 2024 and 2028. At least 10 GW of the tenders issued every year will be for wind power projects. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Bean That Could Change The Taste Of Coffee” • Findings from his latest study suggest that if global temperatures rise 2°C, countries supplying a quarter of the world’s arabica will suffer major declines in yield. A rise of 2.5°C will have this impact on 75% of supply. The industry is now pinning hopes on a different coffee species. [BBC]
Coffee beans (Tina Guina, Unsplash)
¶ “BYD Dolphin Coming To Europe – €30,000 Price Estimate” • BYD has just announced that a 60-kWh Dolphin is coming to Europe where it will have four trim levels. It will be available in LHD and RHD markets. (Hello, UK.) The BYD Dolphin will be available from around June or July. Some reports say the starting price will be around €30,000. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Boosted Clean Energy To Power More Than 90% Of New Demand Last Year, Report Says” • The share of global electricity generated by renewables is growing so fast there may be no going back, according to a new report released by research firm Ember, an independent environmental non-profit and think tank. [Fortune]
Solar array (Pixy.org, CC0)
¶ “Danish Company Opts For Sustainable Steel For Its Floating Renewable Energy Platforms” • Danish company Floating Power Plant (FPP) has signed a letter of intent with a specialist in sustainable recycling of maritime materials Renable for the supply of recycled steel for its floating renewable energy platforms. [Offshore Energy]
¶ “Wind And Solar Now Generate 12% Of Global Electricity” • An Ember report found that wind and solar energy hit a record high 12% of global electricity generation in 2022. Meanwhile the EU countries are lagging behind with wind power expansion. Put together, all renewable energy sources and nuclear power made up 39% of global electricity last year. [DW]
Cabin with solar panels (John Pupkin, Pixy.org, CC0, cropped)
US:
¶ “EPA Proposes New Tailpipe Rules That Could Push EVs To Make Up Two-Thirds Of New Car Sales In Us By 2032” • The EPA proposed ambitious new car pollution rules that could require electric vehicles to account for up to two-thirds of new cars sold in the US by 2032, for what would be one of the country’s most aggressive climate-change policies yet. [CNN]
¶ “DOE Seeks Public Feedback And Input On New Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants For Electrified Vehicles Program” • An office of the US DOE released a Request for Information to seek public input that will help shape the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for Electrified Vehicles program. [CleanTechnica]
First electric school bus in NYC (Courtesy of UES)
¶ “Tesla Wins Best Overall Luxury Brand From KBB!” • Tesla earned the title of Best Overall Luxury Brand from Kelley Blue Book in its most recent “Brand Image” analysis, landing the company the top spot in this category for the fourth year in a row. The EV maker also landed itself four other top spots in the Brand Image Awards. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Coal Supplying Less US Power Than Gas, Renewables, And Nuclear” • Coal use in the US power market is set to decline for a second year in succession as utilities increasingly shift to cheaper and cleaner natural gas and renewables. About 11 GW of coal plants, which is 5% of the fuel’s US capacity, closed in the past year, according to the DOE. [Mining Weekly]
Coal-burning power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)
¶ “India’s Rayzon Plans 500-MW Solar Module Fab In The US” • A solar module manufacturer based in India announced plans to set up a US module production line. Rayzon Solar announced plans to set up 500 MW of solar module manufacturing capacity in the US. The company did not specify any timeline or location for setting up the facility. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “PG&E Sued To Force Closure Of California’s Last Nuclear Plant” • Friends of the Earth filed a complaint in San Francisco Superior Court asking for an order that would stop PG&E from violating a 2016 agreement with the group in which the company promised to shut the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant once its licenses run out by 2025. [Yahoo Finance]
Have an inexpressably gorgeous day.
geoharvey 
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