Opinion:
¶ “Fossil Fuels Will Kill Us All, Every One” • Emissions from fossil fuels make us sick and increase global temperatures to the point where glaciers melt, sea levels rise, and we have more powerful storms. But we act like the person who falls from a 20-story building and tells someone on the 10th floor who asks how it’s going, “So far so good.” [CleanTechnica]
Oil (Maarten van Dijl, Greenpeace via Oil Change International)
¶ “Oil Companies Shook My House, Hundreds Of Miles From The Oil Fields” • While fracking sometimes causes earthquakes, wastewater disposal from all types of oil production is almost always to blame. Wastewater disposal wells pump large volumes of undrinkable saltwater into the ground in deeper layers. We owe ourselves better than this. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “How Africa’s First Heat Officer Is Protecting Women In Sierra Leone” • Eugenia Kargbo is the first person in Africa to hold the position of chief heat officer. Her job is to make Freetown, Sierra Leone, a more liveable, greener city and to help its residents cope with rising heat. In 2022, her team installed market shade covers to protect 2,300 street vendors. [BBC]
Freetown (Bunting Kargbo, Unsplash)
¶ “Powering Progress: Batteries For Discoms” • India’s power system is shifting to a new phase as universal electricity access is achieved. Now economic growth drives electricity demand. Building out sufficient energy storage will be essential for India’s grid to successfully integrate renewable resources and to meet future load demands. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “China Announces Plan To Reduce Methane Emissions” • In a piece of good news for our overburdened planet, China agreed to take a hard look at its methane emissions and find ways to reduce them. It said that it will boost monitoring, reporting, and data transparency to reduce releases of the super-potent greenhouse gas, according to Bloomberg. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines in China (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “European Wind Power Action Plan” • The recently agreed EU energy target is at least 42.5% of demand covered by renewable sources by 2030, with the ambition to reach even 45% from renewable sources. Reaching that target will require a massive increase in installed wind capacity, from 204 GW in 2022 to over 500 GW in 2030. [Energy Industry Review]
¶ “THDCIL Inks Pacts To Develop 3,270 MW Renewable Energy Projects In Karnataka” • THDC India Ltd plans to set up 3,270 MW of clean energy projects, including pumped storage and floating solar, in Karnataka, its chairman and managing director said. The company signed two memoranda of understanding related to the plans. [Business Standard]
Karnataka countryside (Tejj, Unsplash)
¶ “100-MW Solar Power Plant Gets Nod In Bangladesh” • The government of Bangladesh has approved a proposal to set up a 100-MW solar plant in Mymensingh District. A consortium of Chinese Xizi Clean Energy Equipment Manufacturing Co Ltd and local firms Cassiopea Fashion Ltd and Cassiopea Apparels Ltd will build the plant. [Asia News Network]
US:
¶ “White House Announces New Efforts To Prevent Wildfires, Limit Smoke Hazards” • The White House is announcing an interagency focus to protect communities from wildfire smoke and prevent large fires that put communities at risk. An MOU was signed by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, along with the EPA and CDC. [ABC News]
Wildfire smoke (Malachi Brooks, Unsplash)
¶ “Hawaii Unveils $150 Million Recovery Fund For Maui Wildfire Victims’ Families, Injured Survivors” • Governor Josh Green of Hawaii announced a recovery fund of over $150 million for the victims of the Maui wildfires. The families of those who were killed and those who “suffered severe personal injuries” could receive more than $1 million each. [ABC News]
¶ “Jeep’s Electrification Game Plan: Wrangler, Wagoneer, And More Going Electric!” • Exciting times are coming for Jeep enthusiasts, as Jeep is set to take a giant leap into electrification. Jeep outlined some plans for the next five years, promising to electrify some of its most beloved models, including Wrangler, Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer. [CleanTechnica]
Jeep EV (Jeep image)
¶ “Santa Maria to operate eight city facilities with solar power” • In California, the Santa Maria City Council approved agreements to operate eight city facilities with solar power that are expected to save over $12.6 million in the 20-year life of the project. The city will have no out-of-pocket costs and will begin saving money in the first year of operation. [Santa Maria Times]
¶ “San Antonio City Council Approves $31 Million For Largest Municipal Solar Project In Texas” • The City Council of San Antonio, Texas, approved the largest municipal solar project of its kind. The $31 million project will result in the installation of roof top, parking, and park canopy solar photovoltaic systems at 42 city facilities. [Texas Public Radio]
Municipal solar array (Big Sun Solar image)
¶ “Michigan Senate Votes To Override Local Decisions On Wind, Solar Energy” • Michigan lawmakers approved another major change to the state’s energy policy, passing a two-bill package that would let state regulators override local decisions about where to allow large-scale wind and solar arrays. The bills are headed to the governor. [Bridge Michigan]
¶ “Illinois House Passes Bill To Lift Moratorium On Nuclear Plants” • A bill ending Illinois’ ban on building nuclear power plants is headed to Governor Pritzker’s desk. The state House of Representatives passed the legislation on Thursday, and the state Senate passed it on Wednesday. Pritzker vetoed a similar bill earlier, but lawmakers think he’ll sign this one. [WGEM]
Have a significantly graceful day.
geoharvey 