Opinion:
¶ “What Does It Matter To Floridians If Florida Goes Underwater Anyway?” • “My daughters learned this past week from me that Florida is likely to go under water at some point. They said that I should write about that on CleanTechnica! I told them we had, many times, and that this is quite well known. ‘What? And people aren’t doing anything about it?’” [CleanTechnica]
Florida (Florida-Guidebook.com, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Erratic Weather Fueled By Climate Change Will Worsen Locust Outbreaks, Study Finds” • Extreme wind and rain may lead to bigger and worse desert locust outbreaks, with human-caused climate change likely to intensify the weather patterns and cause higher outbreak risks, a study has found. This may lead to greater crop failures. [ABC News]
¶ “New ‘Time Travel’ Study Reveals Future Impact Of Climate Change On Coastal Marshes” • After a network of nearly 400 monitoring sites was established along the Louisiana coast, the rate of sea-level rise in the region was found to be over 10 mm (0.5 in) per year, at least three times the global average. It was a unique opportunity for study. [Eurasia Review]
Coastal Louisiana (Joshua J Cotten, Unsplash)
¶ “Once Melting Glaciers Shut Down The Gulf Stream, We Will See Extreme Climate Change Within Decades, Study Shows” • Studies suggest that Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation hit a dangerous tipping point in the past that sent it into sudden, unstoppable decline, and that it could hit such a tipping point again as glaciers and ice sheets melt. [Phys.org]
World:
¶ “Ford F-150 Lightning Makes It To #1 EV Market In The World – How Will It Do?” • The F-150 Lightning had just a little more than 24,000 sales in the US in 2023. That’s a far cry from the 150,000 or so annual sales the company’s targeting. But now, Ford has started exporting the F-150 Lightning, and one early market is Norway. [CleanTechnica]
Ford F-150 Lightning in Norway
¶ “Next Stop, Net Zero: Britain Boasts Europe’s Biggest New Zero Emission Bus Market” • Britain’s new bus, coach, and minibus market is growing back after three challenging years, with 4,932 new units registered in 2023, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. That’s a 44.6% increase on 2022 levels. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Austria, Resolutely Opposed To Nuclear Power, Is Banking On Renewable Energies” • Nuclear power is on the rise in Europe. Brussels launched an industrial alliance to accelerate deployment of small modular reactors. Austria is fiercely opposed to that. Its last nuclear plant, at Zwentendorf, was never commissioned and is now a museum. [Actual News Magazine]
Zwentendorf control room (Miha Meglic, Unsplash)
¶ “Epson Goes 100% Renewable Energy And Plans Power Plant” • Manufacturing is notoriously difficult to decarbonise because of the amount of energy required to make things. Technology leader Epson Group is now sourcing all of of its energy from renewables at the Japanese giant’s global sites. It is also building a biomass plant. [Sustainability Magazine]
¶ “The Mekong Delta Works To Advance Its Renewable Energy Development” • With a coastline stretching about 700 km (435 miles), a vast exclusive economic zone of up to 360,000 km² (139,000 mi²) and strong coastal winds, the potential for offshore wind development across the Mekong Delta can reach between 1,200 MW and 1,500 MW. [VietnamPlus]
Offshore wind farm (Capmat007, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Morocco Will Power Homes In The UK” • UK-based Xlinks has announced the appointment of Vegar Serthwaite Larsen as CTO to lead the £1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) submarine cable project to carry renewably generated energy from Morocco to the UK. Four huge undersea cables are to supply 3.6 GW by 2030, meeting 8% of Britain’s electricity needs. [Atalayar]
¶ “Climate Change Is Forcing Some Australians To Weigh Up Relocating” • Big environmental changes mean ever more Australians will confront the tough choice of whether to move home or risk staying put. Hotter and more humid weather, increased flood risks, droughts, and bushfires are already causing falling populations in some places. [Phys.org]
Australia (Elsa Guyader, Unsplash)
¶ “USAID Invests $5 Million In Armenia’s Energy Independence” • In a notable move bolstering Armenia’s energy independence, the US Agency for International Development announced an infusion of an additional $5 million into the Armenia Energy Program, steering Armenia away from reliance natural gas and towards renewables. [BNN Breaking]
US:
¶ “One Firefighter Killed, Ten More Injured In ‘Catastrophic’ House Explosion In Virginia: Officials” • A firefighter was killed and ten others injured when a house in Sterling, Virginia exploded, the fire chief said. A resident had reported smelling gas. A 500-gallon underground propane tank on the side of the house was leaking gas. [ABC News]
Scene of the home explosion (Loudoun County Fire Department)
¶ “EV Sales Gloom Pierced By Jaunty Retro SUV From Scout Motors” • In the early years of the US auto industry, anyone with a dream and a monkey wrench could start making cars. Now, the new Volkswagen offshoot Scout Motors is forging ahead with plans to manufacture new electric trucks and SUVs inspired by a 20th century retro fan favorite. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California’s Giant Solar And Storage Initiative” • The Edwards Sanborn facility in the Mojave Desert shows innovation and commitment to sustainable practices. It can produce 875 MW from solar PVs and store 3,287 MWh in its batteries. It can power about 238,000 homes and reduce CO₂ emissions by 320,000 tons each year. [Microgrid Media]
Have an unqualifiedly flawless day.
geoharvey 