Opinion:
¶ “Clean Cars Yield $178 Billion In Benefits For Illinois” • Illinois has a big opportunity to provide significant air quality, health, and economic benefits to its residents by adopting the Advanced Clean Cars II standard. The cumulative net societal benefits may reach $168.8 billion to $178 billion by 2050, depending on how the standard is adopted. [CleanTechnica]
Chicago (Joel Mott, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Ed Markey On Nuclear Energy And Climate Voters” • “The economics of nuclear power don’t seem to be working out very well right now. The Vogtle nuclear [will] produce 2,400 MW of power, but its now estimated to cost $34 billion … [Imagine] what would happen if Georgia Power would’ve invested $34 billion in solar and storage in sunny Georgia. [Axios]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Efficient And Environmentally Friendly EV Battery Recycling With A New Recipe” • Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found an efficient way to recycle EV batteries. It is possible to recover 100% aluminum and 98% lithium. At the same time, the loss of valuable raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese is minimized. [CleanTechnica]
Chemistry (Anna-Lena Lundqvist, © CUT)
¶ “Scientists Find The Potential Key To Longer-Lasting Sodium Batteries For Electric Vehicles” • Electron microscopy and X-ray scattering revealed a cause of rapid performance decline in sodium-ion batteries: defects introduced in making the cathode material. Knowing this, researchers can design better cathodes for longer-lasting batteries. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Why Clean Air Is A Luxury That Many Can’t Afford” • In the past, indoor air pollution killed many people. But modern forms of air pollution, caused by burning fossil fuels and industries, increasingly claim lives. It is estimated that 4.5 million people died prematurely as a result of outdoor air pollution in 2019, 1.6 million more than in 2000. [BBC]
Smog in Bangkok (Nick van den Berg, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Toyota Makes A Real EV Move With An LG Battery Deal” • After dismissing EVs and pushing hard on hydrogen and hybrids, Toyota did something we haven’t seen much lately: It put in an order for some normal, buy-them-today battery cells! LG Energy Solution will supply automotive battery modules for Toyota’s expanding line of EVs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Galileo Signs Its First CPPA” • Galileo, a European renewables development platform, has signed its first corporate PPA with an unnamed global corporation listed on the NYSE. The 10-year PPA relates to electricity generated by three of Galileo’s solar PV projects in Italy, aiming to decarbonise the client company’s production processes. [reNews]
Solar panels (Asia Chang, Unsplash)
¶ “Significant Portion Of Eolus’ 1-GW Offshore Wind Farm Will Go To Volvo Cars” • Renewable energy developer Eolus has signed a letter of intent to collaborate with Volvo Cars on the Västvind offshore wind power project, in waters off Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars is building a battery factory it is building with Northvolt. [North American Windpower]
¶ “Scotland To Invest £500 Million In Offshore Wind Supply Chain” • First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced that the Scottish Government will invest up to £500 million in the next five years in Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain. He said there is a potential for £25 billion to be invested in the Scottish supply chain over the lifetime of ScotWind. [reNews]
Humza Yousaf (Scottish Government via Flickr)
¶ “World May Have Crossed Solar Power ‘Tipping Point’” • The world may have crossed a “tipping point” to make solar power our main source of energy. A study, based on a data-based model of technology and economics, finds that solar PVs are likely to become the dominant power source before 2050, even without supporting climate policies. [ScienceDaily]
US:
¶ “21 Species Have Been Delisted From The Endangered Species Act, And Not For A Good Reason” • The US Fish and Wildlife Service has delisted 21 species from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction, the agency announced. The decision to delist the species was made after a rigorous review for each species, the US FWS explained. [ABC News]
Bridled White-Eye, extinct (Peter, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “GM Contributes Important Automotive Software Standards” • After producing software the author refers to simply as “bad,” GM has acted to improve things. In a recent press release, we learn that GM is working on expanding access to secure vehicle data for not only Ultium cars, but for other automakers aiming to do the same. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Green Hydrogen Slugfest Pits INPEX Against ExxonMobil In Texas” • The dust has settled over the final selection of winning projects in the new US Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, and now the real fight begins. All eyes are on Texas, where green hydrogen stakeholders are already jockeying for opportunities to eliminate fossil-sourced hydrogen. [CleanTechnica]
Planned green hydrogen facility (GHI via prnewswire.com)
¶ “EERC-Led Regional H₂ Project To Get Almost $1 Billion In Federal Funding” • The Heartland Hydrogen Hub was chosen by the DOE for a regional clean energy project. The award is in talks for up to $925 million. The collaborative HH₂H initiative will produce low-carbon hydrogen, decarbonize supply chains, and create clean energy jobs. [University of North Dakota]
¶ “Palisades Nuclear Papers Indicate Cost Of Repowering Higher Than Anticipated” • Documents suggest Holtec International bought the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant with no intention of decommissioning it, that they plan to install modular nuclear units there, and their projected cost for restarting Palisades is much larger than originally thought. [WSJM]
Have a fortunately grounded day.
geoharvey 