Opinion:
¶ “Underwhelming G20 Skates Over The Big Issues Of Poverty, Inequality, And Climate” • The G20 has failed to meet the huge challenges our world faces, said Oxfam. The G20 continue to stumble away from taking the bold actions necessary to tackle poverty, inequality, and climate issues at an uninspiring Summit in India this weekend. [Oxfam America]
Earth (NASA image)
¶ “Oregon Hasn’t Said Never To Nuclear Power, But It Should” • Recently, editorials have appeared across Oregon in a number of newspapers. They are remarkably similar, and subtly deceptive in their content, as if a Nuclear Pied Piper is in town once again, playing music for a great revival if only you will follow it down its unforseen road once again. [Bend Bulletin]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Hurricane Lee Becomes Rare Storm Rapidly Intensifying From Cat 1 To Cat 5 In 24 Hours” • During the satellite era, very few hurricanes have intensified by 85 mph or more in 24 hours. Lee was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph on Thursday. Twenty-four hours later, it was Category 5 hurricane with 165 mph winds. [ABC News]
Hurricane Lee (NOAA image)
¶ “Hurricane Lee Is Rewriting Rules Of Meteorology, Experts Say” • Hurricane Lee is rewriting the old rules of meteorology, leaving experts astonished at how rapidly it grew into a goliath Category 5 hurricane. Because they can intensify more rapidly, hurricanes may be stronger in higher latitudes and threaten areas that are farther inland. [ABC News]
World:
¶ “World EV Sales 15% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 41% in July 2023 compared to July 2022, rising to 1,104,00 units. In the end, plugins represented 16% share of the overall auto market (11% for battery EVs). This means that the global automotive market is firmly within the Electric Disruption Zone. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Toyota Plunges Into Crowded Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Pool, With A Bang” • Signs that a fuel cell truck revolution is coming to the US have been few and far between. Nevertheless, activity is finally beginning to pick up. Toyota has just jumped into the pool with both feet first, but the company better not look back. There might be something gaining on it. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Half Of The World’s Glaciers Will Vanish With 1.5 Degrees Of Warming” • A January 2023 study in the journal Science that projects that the world’s glaciers could lose as much as 40% of their mass by 2100. The study predicts how they will be affected by global temperature increases of 1.5°C to 4°C (2.7°F to 5°F) from pre-industrial levels. [CleanTechnica]
Glacial lake in Nepal (James Chou, Unsplash)
¶ “Group Of 20 Countries Agree To Increase Clean Energy But Reach No Deal On Phasing Out Fossil Fuels” • The Group of 20 leaders agreed on Saturday to triple renewable energy and try to increase the funds for climate change-related disasters. They have maintained the status quo, however, with regards to phasing out carbon spewing coal. [ABC News]
¶ “NSW Govt Makes Contentious Decision Over Fears Blackouts Would Derail Renewable Transition” • The NSW government announced it would enter commercial negotiations with Origin Energy which would see the government pay to keep the Eraring coal-fired power station open past its scheduled closure date, which had been 2025. [The Mercury]
Sidney, NSW (Jamie Davies, Unsplash)
¶ “IAEA Warns Of Nuclear Safety Threat As Combat Spikes Near Ukraine Power Plant” • The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety from a spike in fighting near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, whose forces continued pressing their counteroffensive on Saturday. [PBS]
US:
¶ “How Frontline Communities Can Take Advantage Of The Inflation Reduction Act To Advance Local Priorities” • The IRA has a J40 provision that directs 40% of the overall benefits and investments to Disadvantaged Communities, defined based on indicators from the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool or by a common condition. [CleanTechnica]
Rural America (Jonathan Singer, Unsplash)
¶ “Elon Musk Biography Reveals Internal Tesla Battle Regarding $25,000 Car And Robotaxis” • An upcoming biography of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson says Musk was obsessed with robotaxis so much that he repeatedly vetoed his own plan for a $25,000 electric car in favor of them, until skeptical Tesla executives got him to hedge his bet. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “176 New EV Fast Charging Ports Will Be Installed In Illinois” • Texas-based Universal EV Chargers recently announced that the company was selected by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to receive grants to install 176 new DC fast charging ports throughout the state of Illinois. The state currently has about 1,000 fast chargers. [CleanTechnica]
Universal EV Charger (Courtesy of Universal EV Chargers)
¶ “Dallas Love Field Is Generating Electricity From Airplane Takeoffs” • The airport Dallas Love Field is using the wind from jets to generate electricity. It partnered with Jetwind to install the turbines on its grounds as part of a trial program to prove the viability of a system that generates power from man-made wind sources such as planes, trains, and cars. [Simple Flying]
¶ “Ørsted Threatens To Abandon US Offshore Wind Projects” • The largest offshore wind farm developer is preparing to walk away from US projects unless it can be guaranteed more support, Bloomberg reported. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Ørsted gets upwards of 30% tax credits, but a financial crisis is unfolding in the offshore wind power industry. [Oil Price]
Have a tolerably flawless day.
geoharvey 