Opinion:
¶ “A Dangerous Fuel Threatens To Undermine The World’s Renewable Energy Promises” • While commitments to reduce fossil fuel use are getting attention, some people at COP28 have an eye to human rights and forest destruction. They are warning about a powerful impostor in the renewable energy sphere: forest biomass. [National Observer]
Cut wood (Yusuf Onuk, Unsplash)
¶ “The Guardian View On Sellafield Scandals: Ministers Must Put Public Safety Before Secrecy” • There will be many reasons why Britain’s energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, went public with her unease about “serious and concerning” allegations raised by the Guardian this week over cybersecurity, site safety, and a “toxic” workplace culture in Sellafield. [The Guardian]
COP28
¶ “On COP28 Sidelines, Emirati ‘Green City’ Falls Short Of Ambitions, Still Has Lessons” • Now 17 years and billions of dollars in the making, Masdar City was first envisioned as a sustainable city of tomorrow with features like no cars, subway “pods,” and solar-powered buildings rising from the desert sands. Critics call it a “failed city.” [ABC News]
Podcar, but no people (Jan Seifert, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Andrew Forrest Goes On The Offensive At COP 28” • Andrew Forrest is the second wealthiest man in Australia. He made his fortune in mining but has become a passionate advocate for replacing fossil fuels with renewables. He says his mining firms will be fossil fuel free by 2030. At COP28, he is leading the effort to phase out fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Department of Energy Announces The Country’s Clean Energy Achievements at COP28” • The US DOE announced a range of initiatives on issues from zero-emissions transportation and building decarbonization to clean hydrogen and nuclear energy to spur the transition to clean energy systems and help keep the goal of 1.5°C within reach. [CleanTechnica]
Wind turbines (Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “ACWA Power Signs Deal To Develop Largest Green Hydrogen Project In Indonesia” • Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power is set to develop in the largest green hydrogen facility in Indonesia with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, Indonesia’s state-owned electricity provider and PT Pupuk Indonesia, a state-owned chemical producer. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Tesla Giga Shanghai Hits New Production Record” • Tesla Giga Shanghai hit a monthly production record and rolled out 90,802 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in November, mostly for delivery in December, according to reports. They also say the Model Y is sold out for 2023 in China, and Tesla indicated it is still targeting 1.8 million vehicle sales in 2023. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model 3 Highland
¶ “World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Power Plant Completed In Dubai” • A 950-MW solar energy complex has been inaugurated in Dubai. The hybrid facility consists of the most powerful concentrated solar power system on the planet and a PV unit. It is the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. [Balkan Green Energy News]
¶ “Nuclear who?” • Authors of the “World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2023” describe the future role of nuclear energy in the global energy mix as “irrelevant” and “marginal.” They add that there were 407 operational reactors producing 365 GW in the middle of the year, which is less than the installed solar capacity expected at the end of the year. [pv magazine Australia]
Pickering nuclear plant in Canada (John McArthur, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “Large Majority Of US Adults And Half Of Republicans Agree With Biden’s Goal To Slash Climate Pollution” • A broad majority of US adults – 73% – say the federal government should develop its climate policies with the goal of cutting the country’s planet-warming pollution in half by the end of the decade, according to a new CNN poll. [CNN]
¶ “Ford Mustang Mach-E To Lose Tax Credit in January” • Ford announced to dealers that the Mustang Mach-E would be losing access to the tax credits it currently qualifies for. The problem is that Ford needs to provide EVs with batteries that do not include materials sourced from certain foreign countries, notably China, and it does not have a way to do that. [CleanTechnica]
Ford Mustang Mach-E (Ford image)
¶ “Sixt Dumping Teslas Due To High Depreciation And Repair Costs” • We said for years that a top reason to buy a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y is a low total cost of ownership. But the key buyers who can analyze these numbers statistically are fleet buyers, and rental car companies have gone from big Tesla fans to avoiding and dumping Teslas. Yikes! [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ford EV Sales Up 43%” • Ford’s EV evolution continues. Ford has three EV models: the Mustang Mach-E, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit electric van. Sales of these EVs were up a lot in November. Overall, they increased 43% compared to November 2022. The biggest jump in sales wsa the F-150 Lightning, which was up 113% for the month, YOY. [CleanTechnica]
For F-150 Lightning
¶ “California Gov Gavin Newsom Advances Water Tunnel Project Amid Opposition From Environmentalists” • A long-sought and disputed project in drought-prone California aimed at capturing more water from “atmospheric rivers” reached a key milestone when the Newsom administration finished an environmental review for an underground tunnel. [ABC News]
¶ “New Jersey Receives More Than 300 MW In Applications For New Community Solar Program” • The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced it has over 300 applications for the Community Solar Energy Program, since opening the solar program on November 15, 2023. totaling more than 300 MW of new solar capacity. [Solar Power World]
Have a perfectly nice day.
geoharvey 
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