Science and Technology:
¶ “The Potential Of Solar Cars In The World” • The integration of photovoltaic modules into EVs, solar cars, can contribute to the reduction of emissions in the transportation sector, reducing CO₂ emissions associated with electricity generation, along with charging costs and frequency, with benefits for users and the electrical grid itself. [CleanTechnica]
Aptera EV (Aptera image)
¶ “Trump Falsely Claims Wind Turbines Lead To Whale Deaths By Making Them ‘Batty’” • Donald Trump launched a largely baseless attack on wind turbines for causing large numbers of whales to die, claiming that “windmills” are making the cetaceans “crazy” and “a little batty.” Trump has a history of making false claims about renewable energy. [The Guardian]
World:
¶ “‘Not Nearly Enough’ IEA Says Fossil Fuel Demand Will Peak Soon But Urges Faster Action” • Global demand for oil, natural gas, and coal is likely to peak by 2030. It is an “encouraging” development but “not nearly enough” to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C, according to the International Energy Agency. [CNN]
Coal-burning power plant (Sam LaRussa, Unsplash)
¶ “‘Truly A David And Goliath Case’: Six Young People Take 32 Countries To Court In Unprecedented Case” • The European Court of Human Rights will hear an “unprecedented” lawsuit, brought by six young people against 32 European countries for failing to tackle the human-caused climate crisis. The case was fast-tracked due to urgency. [CNN]
¶ “The Autopax Air Yetu Shows Us That Small EVs Have The Potential Increase Capacity Of Vehicle Assembly Plants In Africa” • The Autopax Air EV Yetu is a fascinating car, and an interesting development for Kenya. That is because it is actually a rebadged Wuling Air by SAIC-GM-Wuling. The Air Yetu EV will soon be assembled in Thika, near Nairobi. [CleanTechnica]
Autopax Air EV Yetus (EMAK and the Green Africa Foundation)
¶ “Masdar And PLN NP Agree To Triple Size of ASEAN’s Largest Floating Solar Plan” • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and PLN Nusantara Power, agreed to develop Phase II of the Cirata floating photovoltaic power plant in Indonesia by up to 500 MW, in a major expansion to Southeast Asia’s largest FPV plant. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
US:
¶ “The Goats Fighting Fires In Los Angeles” • Factors such as hotter, drier conditions due to climate change are key drivers in increasing the risk and severity of the fires, research shows. But land management can play an important role, as the build-up of dead trees and dry shrubs creates dangerous fuel that can lead to big, severe fires. Goats can help with that. [BBC]
Goats at work (City of West Sacramento)
¶ “BOEM Completes Environmental Review Of Proposed Wind Project Offshore Virginia” • In support of the US government goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completed its environmental review of the proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Louisiana’s Saltwater Problem Shows Us How Climate Change Can Have Complex, Unanticipated Consequences” • Southern Louisiana is having some serious problems with water that are only going to get worse in the coming weeks. Salty water from the ocean is finding its way up the Mississippi River, and it is polluting drinking water. [CleanTechnica]
USACE briefing (Ryan Labadens, DOD, public domain)
¶ “Southern Power Acquires Its First Wyoming Solar Facility” • Southern Power, a wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, acquired its 30th solar project, the 150-MW South Cheyenne Solar Facility, from Qcells USA Corporation. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation in the first quarter of 2024. [Solar Industry]
¶ “$1.4 Billion For 70 Projects That Will Improve Rail Safety, Strengthen Supply Chains, And Add Passenger Rail Service” • The Federal Railroad Administration of the US DOT announced that it has invested more than $1.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into seventy rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, DC [CleanTechnica]
Union Pacific Railroad electric train (Courtesy of Progress Rail)
¶ “US Energy Storage Capacity Additions Rise 161% In Q2, Set New Record” • The US energy storage industry added 1,680 MW, 5,597 MWh in the second quarter of 2023, marking the strongest quarter on record and reversing two straight quarters of stalled growth, said a report by Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association. [Utility Dive]
¶ “MidAmerican Announces Renewable Energy Milestone” • According to a news release, MidAmerican Energy delivered 100% renewable energy to serve its Iowa customers’ electricity usage in 2022. MidAmerican’s Iowa wind fleet generated more than 27,000 GWh, which it delivered to its Iowa customers at very low rates. [Storm Lake Radio]
Wind farm in Iowa (Drew Hays, Unsplash)
¶ “Texas Power Grid Will Be Impacted By The October 14 Solar Eclipse, ERCOT Says” • The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is bracing itself for yet another challenge to the state’s power grid this year: The October 14 annular solar eclipse. Officials recently confirmed that the rare celestial event is expected to have major impacts on solar power production. [Chron]
¶ “JEA Is Proposing A Rate Hike And Multi-Billion Dollar Debt Ceiling” • In Jacksonville, Florida, utility JEA is proposing a rate increase in 2024 as part of its efforts to offset nearly $5 billion in costs associated with the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant in Southeast Georgia. The rate increase would be the third in the last three years. [Action News Jax]
Have a surpassingly gorgeous day.
geoharvey 
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