Opinion:
¶ “The Politics Of Electric Cars In America” • Old companies that have failed make up a long list that will grow longer, though of course those dinosaurs companies will try anything to stay the march of progress. One tactic car dealers use to slow progress is to bribe lawmakers to pass laws that protect them from the new kids on the block. [CleanTechnica]
Pickup trucks (TopSphere Media, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Graphene Batteries: A Game Changer For EVs And Renewable Energy” • Graphene batteries promise to revolutionize the way we store and use energy. Graphene, with a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, shows immense potential in addressing this need, offering a number of benefits over more traditional battery technologies. [CityLife]
World:
¶ “Greta Thunberg Has Accused Russia Of ‘Ecocide’ In Ukraine. But What Does That Mean?” • It may take years to understand the full scope of the damage caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam fully, but some legal and environmental experts believe the unfolding ecological catastrophe will be a turning point for the recognition of ecocide. [CNN]
Flooding from the Kakovka dam (Armyinform, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Shell Still Trading Russian Gas Despite Pledge To Stop” • Shell is still trading Russian gas over a year after pledging to withdraw from the Russian energy market. The company was involved in 12% of Russia’s seaborne LNG trade in 2022, according to analysis from campaign group Global Witness. Shell has been accused of dealing in “blood money.” [BBC]
¶ “Mystery Sea Urchin Deaths Threaten Red Sea Coral Reefs” • The coral reefs of the Red Sea are a paradise of bright colors, home to dazzlingly beautiful fish and other marine life. These reefs have shown a remarkable resilience in a sea warmed by climate change. But now they are threatened by a mysterious decline of a key species of sea urchins. [BBC]
Red Sea reef (Francesco Ungaro, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Aston Martin Plans Four New Electric Models, Will Use Motors Supplied By Lucid” • Lawrence Stroll, the CEO of Aston Martin, announced that the company is working on a new electric car platform that will serve as the basis of four new electric cars, one of which may be a coupe style SUV. Their motors, transmissions, and batteries will be from Lucid. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Overhead Power Lines For Japan Trains Eyed To Transmit Renewable Energy” • Japan’s transport ministry is considering using the overhead lines that supply electricity to trains as networks to transmit renewable energy. Sources of renewable energy are scattered across regional areas and can support a more distributed power grid. [The Japan News]
Japanese train (Rikku Sama, Unsplash)
¶ “Sunak U-Turn On Wind Farms In England Draws Wrath Of Green Tories” • The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing mounting criticism for putting politics above the fight against climate change, amid clear signs that ministers are backtracking on plans to allow more onshore windfarms in England before a general election. [The Guardian]
¶ “Italy Aims To Turn Up Renewable Power To Two Thirds Of Total By 2030” • Italy aims to generate nearly two thirds of its electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of the decade, improving targets made public three years ago. The energy ministry said Italy aims to get 65% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, up from 55%. [Dunya News]
It may look like PVs, but it’s actually an Italian vineyard.
(Mario La Pergola, Unsplash)
¶ “Serious Threat Remains At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Says Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy” • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that there is a “serious threat” at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station and that Russia is “technically ready” to set off a localised explosion to cause a radiation release. [MSN]
US:
¶ “Smoke Will Keep Pouring Into The US As Long As Fires Are Burning In Canada. Here’s Why They Aren’t Being Put Out” • More than 100 million people are under air quality alerts from Wisconsin to Vermont and down to North Carolina as smoke from Canadian wildfires keeps coming. Many fires are in remote places, and resources are limited. [CNN]
Poor air quality in New York City (Ahmer Kalam, Unsplash)
¶ “US DOE Releases Plan To Ensure Free, Immediate, And Equitable Access To Federally Funded Research” • The DOE funds thousands of research papers per year from seventeen National Laboratories and scores of programs by universities and private researchers. Under a new plan, they will be immediately available at no cost. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$178 Million To Improve Health, Safety, And Lower Energy Costs At K-12 Public Schools” • The US DOE announced the first round of selectees for Renew America’s Schools grants. The competitive awards support energy improvements in K-12 schools. Local Education Agencies in 22 states will share about $178 million of funding. [CleanTechnica]
School (CDC, Unsplash)
¶ “Inflation Reduction Act Already Lowering US Greenhouse Gas Emissions!” • We already know this that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is have a huge impact on cleantech production and adoption in the US. It is finally making the United States a real competitor in the cleantech arena again. And we’ve got some science to back this up. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Fifth Wind Farm Bid Makes Louisiana A National Leader In Near-Shore Wind Energy Development” • With five wind farms now proposed for the waters off Louisiana, the state is quickly becoming a leader in offshore wind energy development. Vestas is negotiating with the state for potential offshore wind farms off the coasts of Cameron and St. Mary parishes. [NOLA.com]
Have an imaginatively relaxing day.
geoharvey 
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