Opinion:
¶ “How To Ensure All North Carolinians Benefit From The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” • North Carolina is home to the second largest highway system in the country. Building them has been distructive to poor neighborhoods. Now the state has an opportunity to re-prioritize funds towards healthier and more sustainable alternatives. [CleanTechnica]
Light rail in Charlotte (Justin Ruckman, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
World:
¶ “Natural Gas Prices Are Spiking Again. Here’s Why” • Natural gas prices spiked again this week, just as Europe prepares for the heating season. The Offshore Alliance, which represents two Australian labor unions, has taken steps toward strike action at two of Chevron’s LNG sites. The strikes could shut down as much as 10% of global LNG production. [CNN]
¶ “Volkswagen Outsells Tesla In Germany, ID.3 Sales Surge In China” • Through the first seven months of 2023, Volkswagen sold slightly more electric cars in Germany than Tesla. According to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, Tesla outsold all rivals in the first six months of 2023, but strong sales in July put Volkswagen into the lead. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID.3 (Courtesy of Volkswagen)
¶ “European Nations Join Azerbaijan In An Ambitious Green Project” • Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania have reached an agreement to push ahead with a project to generate green energy from renewable sources in Azerbaijan and to export the power to Europe through a subsea cable running under the Black Sea. [Oil Price]
¶ “India, The World’s Most Populated Country, Is On Track To Achieve Its Climate Goals: Report” • India has reduced its carbon emissions by 33% in 14 years. In a report filed to the UN, India says it is well on its way to achieving the goal it established for itself in the Paris climate accord: To reduce its carbon emissions by 45% from its 2005 levels by 2030. [Salon]
Solar plant in Uttar Pradesh (Citizenmj, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Putin Profits Off US, European Reliance on Russian Nuclear Fuel” • The US and its European allies are importing vast amounts of nuclear fuel from Russia, providing Moscow with hundreds of millions of dollars it can use for its war on Ukraine. The dependence on Russian nuclear products leaves the US and its allies vulnerable. [VOA]
US:
¶ “Ocean Heat Is Off The Charts, So Where Are The Hurricanes? Forecasters Warn A Change Is Coming” • Record ocean heat has set the stage for an active Atlantic hurricane season, but so far we have had no storms. There have been no tropical storms in the Atlantic basin in nearly a month, and none have come close to the US. That could soon change. [CNN]
Storm (Luka Vovk, Unsplash)
¶ “US Intelligence Community Boosts Focus On Climate Crisis, Supply Chains, Pandemics” • The US intelligence community is ramping up its focus on the dizzying and complex array of odd challenges that respect no global borders: Disruptions of supply chains, pandemics, extreme weather fueled by climate change, narcotics trafficking, and others. [CNN]
¶ “Maui Fires Death Toll Rises To At Least 55; Hundreds Have Been Evacuated; Biden Approves Disaster Declaration” • The death toll from fast-moving wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui island rose to at least 55 people, officials said. One blaze, which nearly destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, was said to be 80% contained earlier in the day. [CBS News]
Lahaina burning (USCG Hawaii Pacific District 14, public domain)
¶ “Robotaxi Companies Win: Can Operate 24/7 In San Francisco” • A hot topic in recent months has been the debate and political fight in San Francisco about whether to let robotaxis from Cruise and Waymo operate 24/7. After a six-hour hearing, members of the California Public Utilities Commission voted 3-1 in favor of the robotaxi companies. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “In A Surprise Move, Proterra Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection” • In a statement, Proterra said has voluntarily filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware in an effort to strengthen its financial position through a recapitalization or going-concern sale. The firm said it will continue to operate. [CleanTechnica]
Proterra bus (Courtesy of Proterra)
¶ “Cadillac Reveals The Escalade IQ 7-Passenger Electric SUV With 450-Mile Range” • Cadillac says it intends to sell only EVs by 2030. The Lyriq is getting close to deliveries. The Celestiq will be here in a couple of years. This week, Cadillac took the wraps off the first existing model to get a battery electric makeover, the Escalade IQ. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Videos Denying Climate Science Approved By Florida As State Curriculum” • Videos that compare climate activists to Nazis, portray solar and wind energy as environmentally ruinous, and claim that global heating is part of natural long-term cycles will be made available to young schoolchildren in Florida, after they were approved for use in public schools. [The Guardian]
“You mean they’re lying?” (Ben White, Unsplash)
¶ “Surge In US Thunderstorms Has Caused ‘Unprecedented’ $34 Billion In Insured Losses This Year” • In the first half of this year, waves of severe storms led to $34 billion in insured losses in the US, an unprecedented level of financial damage in such a short time, Swiss Re Group said. Climate change contributes to the frequency and severity of violent weather events. [CBC]
¶ “Cook County Announces First Off-Site PPA For Renewable Energy” • Cook County officials announced on August 1 its first power purchase agreement for renewable energy. Starting in March 2025, Cook County’s asset portfolio will source close to 24% of its electricity, about 49,000 MWh, from a new, off-site solar project in Illinois. [HF Chronicle]
Have a really magical day.
geoharvey 