Opinion:
¶ “Insurance Companies That Support Fossil Fuel Companies? Shame On You” • Identifying insurance giants like Liberty Mutual, AIG, and Chubb, the Rainforest Network argues that “the insurance industry literally has the power to change the world by withholding insurance from any new fossil fuel projects.” Let’s take a look at an analysis. [CleanTechnica]
Miami (Jose Garcia, Unsplash)
¶ “Michigan Ratepayers Will Foot The Bill For Resuscitation Of Palisades Nuclear Reactor” • The 52-year old Palisades nuclear power plant on the shore of Lake Michigan near both Chicago and Grand Rapids, is one of the oldest and most degraded reactors in the country. Michigan has had too many nuclear white elephants already. [Counterpunch]
Science and Technology:
¶ “How Ancient ‘Skywells’ Are Keeping Chinese Homes Cool” • Skywells cooled buildings in an era before air-conditioning. When wind blows above a skywell house, it can enter the indoor space through the opening. Because outdoor air is often cooler than indoor air, the incoming breeze travels down the walls to the lower stories and create airflows. [BBC]
Skywell (Wuyuan Skywells Hotel image)
¶ “New Flow Battery Lasts All Year On Simple Sugar” • When researchers at the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory set out to make flow batteries better, they were serious. They came up with solution based on sugar that can last all year, and more. The discovery could lead to new low-cost, long duration energy storage systems. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Climate Change Threatens To Cause ‘Synchronized Harvest Failures’ Across The Globe” • New research shows scientists underestimated the climate risk to agriculture and global food production. “High-impact but deeply-uncertain hazards” were ignored. But now the threat of ‘synchronized harvest failures’ has been revealed. [Salon.com]
Harvest (Robert Wiedemann, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “China’s Heat Wave Leads To Record-Breaking Production Of Electricity” • China Energy Investment Corporation, one of the world’s largest generators of coal-fired power, says its electricity production reached a record high as the country grapples with a punishing heat wave. The volume of electricity it produced on Monday had hit a daily record. [CNN]
¶ “An Indian Culinary Must-Have Is Off The Menu As Prices Jump 400%” • The ubiquitous tomato is now off the menu at homes and restaurants across India after prices soared by more than 400% due to crop failures after scorching heat waves and heavy rains, farmers and agriculture experts say. Heatwaves are getting worse for India. [CNN]
Chutney (Pyx Photography, Unsplash)
¶ “Europe Agrees On Landmark Nature And Climate Deal After Tense Negotiations” • The European Parliament voted in favor of legally binding targets to protect and restore nature in the EU, despite strong opposition among policymakers. The EU nature law requires countries to introduce measures to restore nature on 20% of their land and sea by 2030. [CNN]
¶ “Deadly Heatwave Sweeps Across Southern Europe” • A heatwave is sweeping across parts of southern Europe and north-west Africa, with potential record-breaking temperatures in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40°C (104°F) in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. In Italy, they could reach as high as 48.8°C (119.8°F). [BBC]
Heat wave (Raimond Klavins, Unsplash)
¶ “Volkswagen Announces Its Electric Offensive For Brazil” • The EV revolution has primarily been focused on China, Europe, and the United States. We and others have long been calling for more electrification in South America. That is now part of Volkswagen’s public plans! So, Volkswagen is taken a clear leadership position in this major market. [CleanTechnica]
US:
¶ “Ocean Heat Around Florida Is ‘Unprecedented,’ And Scientists Are Warning Of Major Impacts” • A sudden marine heat wave off the coast of Florida has surprised scientists and sent water temperatures soaring to unprecedented highs, threatening one of the most severe coral bleaching events the state has ever seen. The ocean is close to 97°F in some areas. [CNN]
Bleaching coral (Derek Manzello, NOAA)
¶ “Wind Turbine Recycling Gets $5.1 Million Boost” • With over 142 GW of wind power installed in the US, manufacture of wind turbines is accelerating to help meet the nation’s clean energy goals. This raises a critical question: How can the US holistically consider the life cycle of a wind turbine to create a sustainable wind energy economy? [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Biden–Harris Administration Announces $90 Million To Support Resilient And Efficient Building Energy Codes And Save American Families Money” • The US DOE has announced $90 million in competitive awards to help states, cities, tribes, and partnering organizations implement updated energy codes for their buildings. [CleanTechnica]
New York (ben o’bro, Unsplash)
¶ “The Lone Star State Is Leading A Battery Storage Boom” • The leading role of Texas in the US renewable energy revolution, as well as its competitive energy market, put it in a prime position to be at the forefront of the rapidly growing battery storage sector. Of six major US battery projects completed in the first quarter, four were in Texas. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “DTE To Close Last Coal Plant Sooner Under Revised 20-Year Clean Energy Plan” • DTE Energy, state officials, and numerous environmental groups came to an agreement that will see the company phase out its coal plants sooner and increase spending on alternative energy sources faster. The Detroit-based company will its use of coal by 2032. [Detroit News]
Have a comfortably unobstructed day.
geoharvey 
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