Opinion:
¶ “Now Is The Time To Get Transportation Right” • In the US, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use infrastructure investments to meet our nation’s climate and equity goals. A new NRDC publication ranks the states by how well they are set up to take advantage of those transportation funds. [CleanTechnica]
EVs (LA Department of Transportation image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Batteries Of The Future? How Cotton And Seawater Might Power Our Devices” • During a power outage in India, there’s a cash machine still happily dispensing banknotes, partly thanks to burnt cotton. This cash machine has a backup battery in it, a battery that contains carbon from carefully combusted cotton. Other batteries have other low-impact materials. [BBC]
¶ “Let’s Go Gigacasting!” • Tesla has pioneered the use of massive casting machines, which do what Elon Musk calls “gigacasting.” With that casting system available, Tesla will think of the entire underbody of its EVs as a single piece. Let’s do a deep dive into gigacasting and learn what’s pushed it to the pinnacle of EV manufacturing. [CleanTechnica]
EV manufacture (Courtesy of Tesla)
¶ “The Last Twelve Months Were The Hottest Ever Recorded, An Analysis Finds” • The last twelve months were the hottest Earth has ever recorded, says a peer-reviewed report by the nonprofit research group Climate Central. It says burning gasoline, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels caused the unnatural warming of the past year. [Metro US]
World:
¶ “Pacific Leaders To Meet To Discuss Climate Change And Other Regional Concerns” • South Pacific leaders are heading to the stunningly beautiful island of Aitutaki for discussions about climate change and other regional concerns. Among the other concerns is the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. [ABC News]
Coconut trees (Bill Fairs, Unsplash)
¶ “Nigeria Has Ended Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Giving Solar Power A Boost” • Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil. Yet since it has no refineries of its own, gasoline and diesel fuel must be imported. Even with subsidies, Nigerians pay exorbitant prices. The government has decided to end the subsidies and switch to supporting renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Electric Buses In Kenya Create Greater Environmental Impact” • While South American and Chinese cities have been generating a great deal of attention by electrifying their public transport, East Africa is determined to not fall behind. The large part of electric buses are still in China, but the biggest impact may come from those in Kenya. [CleanTechnica]
BasiGo E9 Kubwa (Image by BasiGo)
¶ “Maersk’s APM Runs 8% Of World’s Ports, Says Electrification Is The Answer” • APM Terminals, the AP Moller-Maersk division that runs about 8% of the ports in the world, has released a white paper, The Case For Electrified Container Handling, on what to do about container-handling equipment at the docks. It may be where the world is headed. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Small Modular Nuclear Reactor That Was Hailed By Coalition As Future Cancelled Due To Rising Costs” • The only company to have a small modular nuclear power plant approved in the US, which wsa cited by the Australian opposition as evidence of a “burgeoning” global nuclear industry, has cancelled its first project due to rising costs. [The Guardian]
NuScale VOYGR-6 small modular reactor (NuScale image)
¶ “‘The Market’s Decided’ Say Climate, Energy Leaders” • The climate and energy ministers agree that the market has charted its future for energy already. And it’s renewable, says Australia’s climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen, who spoke at the Future Energy conference at the Tonsley Innovation precinct in Adelaide. [Cosmos Magazine]
US:
¶ “Why Super Fog Is Continuing To Create Dangerous Driving Conditions In Louisiana” • Relentless drought conditions fueling the persistence of marsh fires burning in parts of southeastern Louisiana are causing ongoing super fog events on regional highways during peak commute times. Some highways were closed due to dangerous conditions. [ABC News]
Fog (Jakub Kriz, Unsplash)
¶ “EIA Expects U.S. Annual Solar Electricity Generation To Surpass Hydropower In 2024” • The Energy Information Administration forecast that the US will generate 14% more electricity from solar energy than from hydroelectric facilities in 2024, in its Short-Term Energy Outlook. The forecast is driven by continued growth in solar facilities. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “PG&E Files Application To Keep The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Operating Until 2045” • PG&E submitted to the NRC an application to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant running 20 years after its scheduled closure date, meaning the plant could operate until 2045. Originally PG&E planned to shut down its two reactors in 2024 and 2025. [KCBX]
Diablo Canyon nuclear plant (PG&E image)
¶ “Southern California Fire Risk Prompts Warnings For Power Shutoffs Wednesday As Santa Ana Winds Return” • Thousands of residents are at risk of power outages Wednesday and Thursday due to powerful winds blowing through Southern California and causing an increased threat of wildfires. National Weather Service offices issued Wind Advisories. [FOX Weather]
¶ “Pioneering Nuclear Project Gets Canceled After Costs Surge” • The first nuclear power project in the US with a small modular reactor has been canceled. NuScale Power Corp was building the reactor in partnership with the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, but the estimated cost of its electricity rose from $58/MWh to $89/MWh. [Oil Price]
Have a truly untroubled day.
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