Opinion:
¶ “Kauai Is A Clean Energy Leader. Its Secret? A Publicly Owned Grid” • Kauai’s grid infrastructure took a beating from Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and the business that owned the grid wanted to sell. Kauai residents raised financing and acquired the utility in 2002, turning it into a locally owned cooperative reduced rates that had once been Hawaii’s highest. [Canari Media]
Kauai (Spencer Watson, Unsplash)
¶ “Electricity Grid in Peril: A National Priority” • The number of weather-related power outages has grown significantly in recent years, with such weather disasters as extreme cold, hurricanes, and wildfires making many of the US power interruptions worse. The US has not adequately invested in or enacted policies to address these issues. [RealClearEnergy]
¶ “Nuclear Energy And Free Market Capitalism Are not Compatible” • Nuclear energy saw some success in the past, but seems incapable of it today. That is largely because the tenets of free market capitalism cause it to fail. This is also true for small modular reactors. Successful nuclear programs have always been subsidized by governments. [CleanTechnica]
Nuclear plant (Jametlene Reskp, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Investing In Nuclear Energy Is Bad For The Climate, NGOs Say” • At the European Nuclear Energy Forum, the nuclear industry and certain EU countries are calling for more support and subsidies for nuclear power, particularly for Small Modular Reactors. But environmental NGOs are joining voices to contest this call. [The European Environmental Bureau]
Science and Technology:
¶ “The Big Bubble Curtains Protecting Porpoises From Wind Farm Noise” • Over the past decade, a curious invention has spread across Europe’s northern seas. It’s called a big bubble curtain, it works a bit like a giant jacuzzi, and it helps protect porpoises from the massive underwater noise caused by wind farm construction. [BBC]
Big bubble curtain (Hydrotechnik Lübeck image)
¶ “Offshore Wind Developers Are Eyeing New Alliances With Aquaculture Industry” • The US offshore wind industry has had a slow start, but wind developers elsewhere are beginning to attract aquaculture stakeholders with opportunities for multi-use and co-located operations. If that works, it could help deflect some of the resistence. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Real-World Traffic Demo Reveals Energy Savings” • In a real-world demonstration, researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory determined that a connected and automated vehicle, or CAV, traveling on a multilane highway with integrated traffic light timing control can maximize energy efficiency and achieve up to 27% savings. [CleanTechnica]
Test of an automated vehicle (ORNL, US DOE)
World:
¶ “Local Production Of Plug-In Hybrids Up Times Five In South Africa” • The latest Automotive Industry Export Council data shows that South African auto makers made note of increased sales of EVs worldwide. As a result, production of EVs has jumped from 733 in the first three quarters of 2021 to 3,534 in the same period in 2023. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Tesla To Build €25,000 Car At German Gigafactory” • An anonymous source who claims to have knowledge of the matter says Tesla plans to produce a car with a starting price of €25,000 ($26,838) at its factory in Grünheide, Germany, according to a Reuters report. The source did not say when production of the new car would begin. [CleanTechnica]
Gigafactory (Tesla image)
¶ “K-Electric Plans Ambitious 640-MW Renewable Energy Initiative” • K-Electric, the primary electricity provider for Karachi, is advancing a strategic renewable energy plan that could reshape the city’s power landscape. The company has taken significant steps towards adding 640 MW of renewable capacity to Pakistan’s grid. [The Express Tribune]
¶ “SUSI Invests In Italian Storage Market” • SUSI Partners has expanded the scope of its Italian solar development platform to include battery storage projects. ReFeel New Energy has passed its initial targets and has over 750 MW of battery capacity under development, of which 200 MW is awaiting final authorisation to move into construction. [reNews]
Energy storage (SUSI Partners)
US:
¶ “The Private Sector Accounts For 89% Of Announced US Battery Investments” • Announcements of investments by the private sector in US battery technologies have been increasing over the last few years, with 208 as of September 2023. The locations of announcements relating to battery materials and manufacturing are all across the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “West Virginia’s Largest Solar Power Facility At Fort Martin To Go Online By End Of Year” • The Mon Power solar power facility in Fort Martin is nearly complete and is expected to generate electricity by the end of the year. With 50,000 solar panels that will produce 18.9 MW, it is the largest of five planned facilities by the utility First Energy. [WV News]
West Virginia Solar array (Courtesy of First Energy)
¶ “State Of New York Makes Massive Investment In Renewable-Energy Projects” • New York has made a massive investment in renewable energy. The state is committing $300 million to create the nation’s first offshore wind blade and nacelle manufacturing facilities. This investment will create 8,300 jobs for New York’s renewable energy workforce. [Public News Service]
¶ “USDA Awards REAP Grants To Biogas, Bioenergy Projects” • The USDA awarded $145 million in loans and grants to 700 projects under the agency’s Rural Energy for America Program. Several biogas and bioenergy projects are among those selected for REAP awards. Two California biogas companies were each awarded $1 million. [Biomass Magazine]
Have a preposterously pleasant day.
geoharvey 
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