Opinion:
¶ “Why Weren’t Maui Residents Warned Sooner?” • Local evacuations first took place on Tuesday, then an announcement came that the flames were “100% contained.” By the next day, however, fast-moving flames had engulfed Lahaina. Residents reported that strong winds knocked out the communications systems hours before the fires arrived. [BBC]
Lahaina fire damage (US Civil Air Patrol)
¶ “Pathways To Equity And Savings For Low-Income American Households” • Low-income Americans end up paying about four times more of their income on energy than non-low-income individuals. This year, federal housing departments are poised to alleviate more of these energy-related challenges and bring about greater energy equity. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Review: Christopher Nolan’s Masterpiece ‘Oppenheimer’ a Reminder of Nuclear Power’s Horror” • Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, is quite compelling to the Del Mar-based Samuel Lawrence Foundation, a nonprofit deeply concerned about nuclear waste storage at San Onofre and the harmful effects of radiation on communities. [Times of San Diego]
Ad for the movie in Poland (Marek Mróz, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
World:
¶ “Yemen: Oil Salvaged From Abandoned ‘Time Bomb’ Tanker In Red Sea” • A “floating time bomb” oil tanker left adrift in the Red Sea has been drained of its cargo, the UN says. The vessel was abandoned off Yemen in 2015 after war broke out. It had over a million barrels of oil on board, and it was feared that the FSO Safer could cause a major spill. [BBC]
¶ “Mushrooms Are Being Farmed In Abu Dhabi’s Desert” • A startup in Abu Dhabi found a way to grow mushrooms in the middle of the desert. Below Farm grows “specialty mushrooms” such as king oyster, shiitake, and lion’s mane. Its managing director says the indoor farm is the first in the region to grow and sell high-end mushrooms. [CNN]
Mushroom and kale pizza (Marmellata Bakery image)
¶ “Share Of Renewables In KE Generation Likely To Reach 30% In Seven Years” • K-Electric, an electric utility in Karachi, foresees 30% renewable energy in its overall power generation in seven years. In the current energy mix KE imports 94% of its electricity from thermal sources. It gets 3% from local thermal plants and 3% from renewables. [Business Recorder]
¶ “Goulburn Community Solar Farm Sees Local Investors Take Action Against Climate Change And Power Bills” • Dimity Taylor owns a sheep farm near Goulburn, a small city in New South Wales. She calls the spinning shadows of the wind turbine blades beautiful and says the turbines sound like the ocean. Now she is one of a group happily investing in solar PVs. [ABC]
Wind farm in New South Wales (CSIRO, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “Maui Wildfires Death Toll Rises As Some Residents Return To Lahaina” • The death toll from this week’s wildfires in Maui has now reached 80, officials confirmed on Friday night. In addition, a press release announced, “Firefighters continue working to extinguish flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry Maui.” [CNN]
¶ “How Laws Designed To Protect The Environment Were Weaponized Against It” • After over 50 years of efforts to implement a toll program that would reduce emissions and congestion in lower Manhattan, the plan cleared a milestone in May, when the federal government released of an environmental assessment. Then New Jersey sued. [CNN]
Holland Tunnel entrance (Cesar Centeno, Jr, public domain)
¶ “16.8 GW Of Utility-Scale Generating Capacity In US In First Half Of 2023” • In the first half of 2023, developers added 16.8 GW of utility-scale generating capacity to the US power grid, our latest inventory of electric generators shows. Developers plan to bring an additional 35.2 GW of capacity online in the second half of the year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “DOE Funds Two Direct Air Capture Carbon Removal Projects” • The DOE announced $1.1 billion in funding for two direct air capture projects, one in Texas and the other in Louisiana. The Washington Post reports they will be used to develop and test the machinery. In total, the Biden administration has earmarked $3.5 billion for US direct air capture projects. [CleanTechnica]
Carbon capture (Courtesy of Climeworks)
¶ “Vermont Renewable Energy Manufacturer Given Award For Excellence In Global Exporting” • When NRG Systems opened, it was just a tiny building in a field in Hinesburg. Now, it’s one of the world’s foremost exporters. The manufacturer of renewable energy tools received the President’s E Award in Washington, DC, for its excellence in global exporting. [WCAX]
¶ “Cordova And NREL Push The Envelope Of Microgrid Design” • Cordova, like so many other cities in Alaska, is not connected to a larger energy system. Its 2,700 residents live in a microgrid that copes with earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, and winter superstorms. Cordova is collaborating with NREL to create a model for microgrids. [CleanTechnica]
Cordova, Alaska (USDA Forest Service Alaska Region)
¶ “Maxeon To Build 3 GW TOPCon Cell And Module Plant In New Mexico” • Maxeon Solar Technologies has chosen the site for its first US factory. The new 3 GW facility will be built in Albuquerque. It will produce TOPCon PV-silicon cell technology and Maxeon’s proprietary shingled-cell Performance Line solar modules. [PV Magazine]
¶ “Pritzker Vetoes Bill That Lifted Moratorium On New Nuclear Power Stations” • Illinois’ moratorium on new nuclear powers will stay in place for now after Gov JB Pritzker vetoed a bill to lift the ban. The legislation would have invalidated a 1987 law that prohibited new nuclear power facilities until permanent waste storage was made available. [The Center Square]
Have a doubly ducky day.
geoharvey 