Opinion:
¶ “’Relevant For India’: N-Power Too Expensive, Too Slow To Reach Net Zero In Australia” • An article in The Guardian said nuclear power is too expensive and slow to be part of Australia’s plans to reach net zero. This situation cannot be any better in the case of India, due to the huge population, constrained natural resources, and the high demand. [Counterview]
Nuclear plant (Indian Department of Atomic Energy, GODL)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Climate Records Tumble, Leaving The Earth In Uncharted Territory” • A series of climate records on temperature, ocean heat, and Antarctic sea ice alarmed some scientists who say their speed and timing is unprecedented. Heatwaves in Europe could break more records, the UN says. Scientists already fear some worst-case scenarios are unfolding. [BBC]
¶ “Why High Temperatures Can Make Planes Too Heavy To Take Off” • Our planet’s rising temperatures are making it harder for planes to take off at certain airports, posing yet another challenge for civil aviation. And as heatwaves become more frequent, the problem could extend to more flights, forcing airlines to leave passengers on the ground. [CNN]
Airplane (Stefan Fluck, Unsplash)
¶ “How Will Extreme Temperatures And Heatwaves Change How We Work?” • The World Meteorological Organization recorded the hottest week on record. The scorching temperatures have not abated as heatwaves continue in Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa and more. Many types of jobs will have to change to keep people safe. [BBC]
World:
¶ “Rhodes Fires Could Worsen As Thousands Flee Homes And Hotels” • Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes after wildfires engulfed large parts of the island. The island has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday, as Europe deals with a challenging heatwave. [BBC]
Houses on Rhodes (Jacqueline O’Gara, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Four missing after extreme rainfall hits Canada” • Four people in Canada, including two children, have been reported missing in flooding caused by torrential rains in Nova Scotia, police have said. Officials say the heaviest rains to hit the Atlantic region in 50 years have triggered floods. Three months worth of rain fell in just 24 hours in some areas. [BBC]
¶ “Tesla Aims To Double Or Triple The Giga Berlin Production Capacity To 1 Million Cars Per Year” • If anyone is concerned about demand for Tesla vehicles leveling off or dropping, it certainly isn’t Tesla. Tesla is now requesting that the authorities in Germany approve a significant expansion of the already huge Giga Berlin factory. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Giga Berlin (Tesla image)
¶ “Batteries The Next Step For Billionaire St Baker’s Energy Ecosystem” • Trevor St Baker knows how to make money. He recently sold his coal-fired power generator in New South Wales, for 200 times what he paid for it. Now, he is investing in green energy, not because he wants to save the world, but because he wants to make money. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Italy’s Renewable Energy Sector Soars With 2.5 GW Of Additions In Six Months” • Reports indicate that in the first half of 2023, Italy added an impressive 2.5 GW of new renewable capacity. The Monthly Electricity System Report says domestic clean energy sources covered 44.3% of the nation’s electricity demand in June. [Microgrid Media]
Solar array in Italy (Balfabio, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Tensions Emerge Between State And Federal Governments Over Australia’s Energy Grid Roadmap” • Cracks in the unity of the nation’s energy ministers have emerged amid disquiet over a review of power grid plans and an effort by Australia’s federal government to force carbon offsets from big new gas fields on to the states. [The Guardian]
¶ “Queensland’s $62 Billion Green Energy SuperGrid Gambit” • Though Australia is a major coal producer, the government has approved several wind and solar power operations and expects the country to become a major green hydrogen hub in the next decade. And now the state of Queensland will become home to a SuperGrid, powered by renewables. [Yahoo Finance]
Solar array in Australia (Grahamec, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “State Subsidies For Buying A Tesla? Tesla Now Makes It Easier To Find What They Are” • Many articles about EV costs point out that aside from the US federal tax credit for EVs, various state incentives are also available. But which states? How much? What models or types of EVs qualify? Tesla has a tool at its website to answer for the cars it makes. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tehachapi Pass Makes Ideal Wind Energy Location” • The wind from the Mojave Desert rises to power one of the largest and most productive wind-energy investments on the planet. The series of wind farms known as the Tehachapi-Mojave Wind Resource Area consists of more than 5,000 turbines in a wide variety of sizes. [Tehachapi News]
Tehachapi windfarm (Alexandre Buisse, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “As Solar Harvesting Booms In Nevada, Conservationists Call For A State-Specific Development Plan” • With nearly 100 solar plant applications pending in Nevada, conservationists worry there isn’t an updated management plan specifically guiding utility-scale solar development. US and state governments have conflicting goals. [The Nevada Independent]
¶ “El Paso Electric Power Usage Hits Level Not Expected Until 2029 Because Of Heat Wave” • El Paso Electric has shattered power-consumption records four days in the last three weeks because of the heat wave gripping the region for over a month. El Paso Electric officials didn’t expect to hit the power peak levels of this summer until 2029. [El Paso Times]
Have a stunningly beautiful day.
geoharvey 
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