Science and Technology:
¶ “This Corn Was Down To Its Last Two Cobs. Now It Could Help Farmers Grow Food In The Climate Crisis” • Heirloom grains, vegetables, and fruits have traits that make them less at risk of climate change, because they have been grown over hundreds of years in wildly different conditions. Here is the story of a corn that was barely saved from extinction. [CNN]
Jimmy Red (Peter Frank Edwards for High Wire Distilling Co)
World:
¶ “UK Government Plans Radical Shake-Up Of Foreign Aid For Climate Change Disasters” • The UK government is to spend millions of pounds helping countries prepare for future disasters in a radical shake-up of policy. A £150 million fund will help poor countries get faster access to money in emergencies and reduce the impacts of climate crises. [BBC]
¶ “US And China Agreement Sets The Tone For COP28” • The US and China will back a new global renewables target and work together on methane and plastic pollution, they said in a joint statement after a meeting to find common ground ahead of COP28 talks. The two countries account for 38% of the world’s greenhouse gases. [CleanTechnica]
Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in 2022 (White House, public domain)
¶ “Solar Smashes More Records, As Coal Power Sent To Another New Low” • Solar power expanded its influence over Australia’s main grid on the weekend, setting new records for output and generation share, and helping to send the output of black coal to a new low. Of 8 GW of coal capacity in New South Wales, only 1.53 GW were operating. [Renew Economy]
¶ “Housing Developments In Zimbabwe Are Starting to Get Solar Panels From The Get-go!” • Falling prices for solar installations, rising energy costs, and regular power outages in places like Zimbabwe and South Africa make the business case for solar PVs even better. Housing developments with solar offer residents some energy security. [CleanTechnica]
Housing (Courtesy of Turnbury Property Developers and TDW)
¶ “Japan Railway Operators Eye Net-Zero CO₂ Emissions Via Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trains” • Railway operators are hastening to put hydrogen fuel cell trains into commercial use. The trains will help cut CO₂ emissions for transportation, and the government intends to review related regulations and push for the spread of such trains. [The Japan News]
¶ “Wind Turbines Begin 700 km Journey Inland From Geraldton To Billion-Dollar Kathleen Valley Lithium Mine” • The first of 15 gigantic blades, which will make up five wind turbines, has left Geraldton Port on a 700 km journey inland to a $951 million lithium mine that is being opened up in Western Australia’s northern Goldfields. [ABC]
Moving a blade (Supplied, Danny Tuddenham via Facebook)
US:
¶ “Tesla Embraces Advertising with a Focus on Vehicle Safety” • Tesla has shunned traditional advertising methods, preferring to let its innovative products speak for themselves. But in a notable departure from this strategy, Tesla recently embarked on an advertising journey, beginning with a commercial on YouTube that showcases safety. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Prime Time Shuttle To Buy 550 Canoo Electric Vehicles” • Prime Time Shuttle, a major US shuttle service based out of Los Angeles, has agreed to purchase 550 EVs from the startup Canoo. Prime Time Shuttle is based in LA, but provides luxury vehicles for shuttle services in 34 states. Canoo expects to create about 1,300 jobs in Oklahoma. [CleanTechnica]
Canoo for Prime Time Shuttle
¶ “Solar Power To The People: California Program Brings Clean Energy To Oakland” • Over 100 projects in California have solar panels installed through the Multi-Family Affordable Housing program. The state allots $100 million per year, starting July 2019. By 2030, the program’s goal is 300 MW of solar projects on low-income rental buildings. [The Guardian]
¶ “New Plant Hardiness Map, Used By Gardeners Nationwide And Based On OSU Climate Data, Unveiled” • The Department of Agriculture released its new Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the national standard by which gardeners can determine which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures at a given location. [CleanTechnica]
Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA)
¶ “Biden Administration Announces $6 Billion For Climate Resilience, Grid Enhancements” • President Biden announced over $6 billion in investments to make US communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change by improving electric grids, reducing flood risk, supporting conservation, and pushing for environmental justice. [Smart Energy International]
¶ “$1.6 Million In Tax Revenue On The Line For Wiscasset In Dispute Over Nuclear Waste Facility” • The town of Wiscasset looks like it is set to go to court over a Maine Department of Environmental Protection decision to give tax breaks to a facility that stores spent nuclear fuel from the decommissioned Maine Yankee power plant. [The Maine Monitor]
Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, 2015 (NRC image)
¶ “National Grid Renewables Breaks Ground On Two Ohio Solar Projects” • National Grid Renewables announced the start of onsite construction at neighboring projects in southern Ohio. Once operational, the Ross County Solar Project and the Fayette Solar Project will deliver a combined 167.5 MW of clean solar power. [The Highland County Press]
¶ “US Military Quietly Revokes Planned Contract For Small Nuclear Plant At Alaska Air Force Base” • The U.S. military has rescinded the preliminary award of what could be a nine-figure contract with the company it had tentatively selected to build a small-scale nuclear power plant at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks. [Alaska Beacon]
Have an emotionally rewarding day.
geoharvey 
Leave a comment