Opinion:
¶ “When Your Local Public Radio Station Advertises Fossil Fuels” • “My local public radio station, Oregon Public Broadcasting, which broadcasts throughout Oregon and southwest Washington, has been running advertisements for a fossil gas utility named Northwest Natural over the past year.” NPR also accepts fossil fuel ads. It is time to take action. [CleanTechnica]
Break free (Eelco Böhtlingk, Unsplash)
¶ “Wild Weather Ahead: How to Prep for 2024’s Climate Shifts” • Our climate is changing, growing warmer due to the emissions from burning fossil fuels, and our weather is changing with it. Instead of being a freak outlier, extreme heat is something we’ll need to be prepared to deal with on a much more regular basis, along with storms, floods and drought. [CNET]
Science and Technology:
¶ “An E-Bike Battery That Can’t Catch Fire, Even When Shot?” • Startup Nanotech Energy says its engineers have the answer to battery fires: 18650 cells that are not only fireproof, but won’t even catch fire if shot. These special cells are now available for purchase through the company’s US partner, Voltaplex. The cells are made in California. [CleanTechnica]
Nanotech 18650 cell (Nanotech)
World:
¶ “Former Oil Executive Mukhtar Babayev To Lead Cop29 Talks In Azerbaijan” • For the second year in a row, a minister with oil industry ties will preside over COP talks. Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev will lead the COP29 in Baku next November. He worked for decades at the national oil company before he become the environment minister in 2018. [BBC]
¶ “Green Investments Begin To Pay Off For Big Banks” • For the second year in a row, global banks made more from investments supporting environmentally friendly projects than they earned from financing oil, gas, and coal activities. While the difference is not large yet, it is an indicator that green energy is outpacing fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]
Green investment (Towfiqu barbhuiya, Unsplash)
¶ “Chile’s Renewables Sector Marches On As Spotlight Tightens On Congress” • Chile continues to decarbonize its electricity amid market headwinds and expectations for legislative progress in 2024. Last year, installed capacity climbed 2 GW to 35.4 GW, with renewable energy plants and storage systems accounting for almost all the growth. [BNamericas]
¶ “Integration Of NEVs, Power Grid Gets Fillip” • China unveiled a new guideline on strengthening the integration of new energy vehicles with the power grid. It is a strategic move giving robust support for constructing a new power system and promote high-quality development in the NEV sector. One important issue is battery charging. [China Daily]
Wind farm (Vista Wei, Unsplash)
¶ “Europe’s Natural Gas And Power Prices Jump As Cold Snap Begins” • Power prices in Finland jumped to record-high levels as a deep freeze in the Arctic parts of the Nordic countries is set to move south to northwest Europe in the weekend and next week, creating additional energy demand and leading to higher electricity and natural gas prices. [Oil Price]
¶ “Greece Turns To Wind, Sun Projects To Increase Renewable Energy Sources” • Forced by the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to go back to coal-fired plants to generate electricity, Greece is also moving more toward alternative and renewable sources, especially from the wind and sun. Projects coming to 240 MW have been awarded. [The National Herald]
Greece (Constantinos Kollias, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “US Energy Secretary Touts 75% Growth In Public EV Charging Stations Since Biden Took Office” • As a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EV charging infrastructure is growing. It will have more impact in years to come, but EV charging stations pop up every day already, and the Biden administration is eager to highlight them. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Don’t Worry If Your Favorite GM EV Doesn’t Qualify For A Federal Tax Credit” • General Motors announced it will provide incentives of $7,500 on its EVs to offset the loss of a US federal tax credit. GM told its dealers it would provide the equivalent EV tax credit amount “for any vehicles that became ineligible due to the new guidelines.” [CleanTechnica]
EV interior (GM image)
¶ “Inslee Praises Community Solar Project At Port Of Camas-Washougal As ‘A Personal Joy’” • Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited Clark County’s biggest solar array. He said it was integral to the state’s transition to clean energy. “This is a personal joy to me. It’s giving us optimism for our state,” Inslee said as he toured the Community Solar East project. [The Columbian]
¶ “Alliant Energy Deploys Six New Solar Projects In Wisconsin” • Alliant Energy has deployed six new solar projects in Wisconsin, collectively amounting to 514 MW and tripling the utility’s solar generation capacity. All six projects are online and operational, and are single-axis tracker systems, Tony Palese, a spokesperson for Alliant Energy, said. [pv magazine USA]
Solar project (Alliant Energy image)
¶ “Savings From Community Power Become Slimmer As NH Utilities Cut Electric Rates” • In New Hampshire, the Community Power Coalition announced a 26% drop in the base electric rate, to 8.1¢/kWh. But the financial benefit seen by those that are part of the Coalition will be reduced this year because all NH utilities cut their electric rates. [NHPR]
¶ “Constellation Energy’s Hydrogen Production Could Be Derailed By Shift In Federal Policy” • Plans by Baltimore-based Constellation Energy to mass produce carbon-free hydrogen could be jeopardized under proposed federal guidelines that exclude existing nuclear plants from tax subsidies designed to boost the clean hydrogen industry. [GMToday.com]
Have a beautifully easy day.
geoharvey 