Opinion:
¶ “Rural Drivers vs Disinformation: Three Facts About Electric Vehicles To Set The Record Straight” • EV demand is on a clear upward trajectory, but false claims about EV demand, reliability, and performance are made widely, making it more challenging for rural drivers to separate fact from fiction as they consider purchasing an EV. [CleanTechnica]
Rural charger (Image courtesy of FreeWire)
¶ “Nuclear Fission Is Anything But Clean” • Vermont’s PSD has proposed an additional standard for energy production allowable under the Renewable Energy Standard, which is not “renewable” but “clean.” It says it needs the change because “Vermont utilities have embedded contracts for … nuclear power.” But nuclear is not clean. [Brattleboro Reformer]
Science and Technology:
¶ “Why Cold Air Outbreaks Are Still Happening Amid Global Warming” • It may be counterintuitive, but extreme cold blasts like much of the US is now having will continue to occur even as global temperatures soar to record levels. Research shows that climate change may bring more frequent and intense heat waves, but freeze events will still happen. [ABC News]
Snow (Annie Nyle, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “In 2023, Electric Cars Outsold Diesel Cars In Europe” • According to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association data, a total of 1,538,621 battery electric cars were registered in the EU last year. Compared to the 1,123,444 battery electric cars sold in 2022, this represents an increase of 37%. Diesel deliveries came in at 13.6%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Gravity Energy Storage Has A Secret Weapon Up Its Sleeve” • The idea of deploying abandoned mines shafts to store energy is relatively recent. ABB a leader in the engineering field, sees a win-win potential for using abandoned mine shafts to deploy gravity storage systems, because mine owners are thirsty for storage solutions, too. [CleanTechnica]
Gravity storage in abandoned mine shaft (Courtesy of ABB)
¶ “Despite Russia, A Monster Offshore Wind Farm Is To Be Unleashed In Baltic Sea” • Neptunus, a 3.1-GW wind farm, is putting the high profile brand IKEA front and center in effort to cut Europe free from Russian fossil energy imports. Neptunus pairs the Swedish renewable energy developer OX2 with IKEA retail franchisee, Ingka Group. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EU Reaches Deal On Near Phaseout of Diesel Trucks” • In the EU, lawmakers agreed to CO₂ emissions targets for heavy-duty vehicles that will phase out almost all sales of new diesel trucks by 2040. Under the new guidelines, manufacturers will have to cut the average emissions of new trucks by 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035 and 90% in 2040. [CleanTechnica]
Super-sized electric truck (Courtesy of Scania)
¶ “In Davos, An Australian Mining Boss Presses Industries To Go Green” • Andrew Forrest, a blunt Australian billionaire who made his fortune in iron ore mining, stood out among the heads of industries at the meeting of global elites in Davos. He has been called a “climate evangelist” who presses fellow industrialists to also stop burning fossil fuels. [Bilyonaryo]
US:
¶ “Federal Transit Operations Funding Can Foster Healthy, Thriving, Sustainable Communities” • Rep Hank Johnson (D-GA) introduced transit funding legislation that could greatly improve transit across the country. The Union of Concerned Scientists has been watching and supported a similar bill sponsored by Rep Johnson in the last Congress. [CleanTechnica]
Electric buses in the Burlington Link-Transit fleet (BYD image)
¶ “FEMA Overhauls Disaster Assistance Program As Climate Crisis Fuels More Destructive Extreme Weather” • The Federal Emergency Management Agency is changing its responce to more extreme weather causing more destruction to people’s homes. For example, it is giving wider access to an immediate $750 per person hit by extreme weather. [CNN]
¶ “Appalachian Power Plans For Solar Energy” • Appalachian Power is seeking state approval to buy power from three solar plants being developed in Southwest and Southside Virginia. They are the 150-MW County Line plant in Charlotte County, the 80-MW 7 Bridges plant in Mecklenburg County and the 5-MW Elliot plant in Tazewell County. [Cardinal News]
A 15-MW solar plant in Campbell County (Appalachian Power)
¶ “The Legal Battle to Preserve the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule” • California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule combats toxic freight pollution in the state. The California Trucking Association sued in federal court to block implementation of ACF, threatening to deny Californians and fleet operators its important public health and economic benefits. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Largest Solar And Storage Project In US Activated” • Terra-Gen and its contractor, Mortenson, announced activation of the Edwards & Sanborn Solar + Energy Storage project, the largest solar and storage project in the US. It has a solar capacity of 875 MW (DC) and nearly 3.3 GWh of energy storage. It has a 1.3 GW interconnection capacity. [pv magazine USA]
Solar + storage system (Mortenson image)
¶ “State Board OKs Petition To Repeal Michigan Renewable Energy Siting Law” • The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved summary language for a proposed ballot initiative that aims to repeal a law allowing the state to override local rejections of large wind and solar projects. Farmers are among the people opposing the ballot initiative. [Bridge Michigan]
¶ “Solar United Neighbors Survey Shows Statewide Support For Solar Power And Net Metering” • As the West Virginia PSC looks at a Mon Power/Potomac Edison proposal to decrease the credits for home solar customers, Solar United Neighbors has released results of a survey that shows the widespead popularity of solar power, including home solar. [Dominion Post]
Have a gorgeously warm day.
geoharvey 