Science and Technology:
¶ “Reducing The Strain On The Power Grid” • Technology is transforming the batteries in EVs into versatile assets for storing excess renewable electricity and making it available for demand spikes. Millions of EVs can be used as a huge energy system that can help support the grid. After years of talk, we can see tangible results. [The Santa Barbara Independent]
EV plugged in (Michael Fousert, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “A Tale Of Two Countries And Why One Is Holding The Agricultural Sector Responsible For Its Emissions” • In New Zealand, agriculture will be excluded from its national carbon pricing system. Denmark is set for one of the world’s first carbon taxes on agriculture. What’s the difference between the two? We can examine that here. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Lithium Mining In Argentina: Jobs Vs Environment” • Lithium extraction in Salinas Grandes is relatively cheap and effective, but it begs the question of sustainability and long-term impact. The Harvard International Review asked whether lithium mining will benefit the globe and its inhabitants or lead to societal and environmental harm. [CleanTechnica]
Salinas Grandes (Florian Delée, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Volvo’s Electric Trucks Reach 80 Million Kilometers In Five Years” • Volvo’s electric trucks have driven more than 80 million kilometers or 2,000 laps around the world since Volvo launched its first electric truck models in 2019. These trucks have reduced CO₂ emissions while improving the working environment for drivers significantly. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “China Is To Leapfrog From Coal To Renewables Without Relying On LNG As Bridge Fuel: Study” • Liquefied natural gas is unlikely to be the transition fuel that will help China ditch coal, but the onus will fall on renewable energy because of the sector’s faster-than-expected progress and its ability to compete on costs, according to a study. [South China Morning Post]
Shanghai (Li Yang, Unsplash)
Australia:
¶ “Queensland To Pilot Second Local Renewable Energy Zone” • The Queensland government announced a second A$40 million ($26 million) investment in a local renewable energy zone pilot project in Townsville, 1,300 km north of Brisbane. The project will include an 8.4-MW, 18.8-MWh battery system and up to 2.8 MW of solar capacity. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “’Resilient’ Renewable Micro-Grid To Power Town Threatened By Bushfires For Up To Five Days” • Work has started on a solar and battery based microgrid that will help ensure the supply of more reliable, resilient and renewable power to one of the Victorian towns hardest hit by the 2019-2020 Black Summer of bushfires. [One Step Off The Grid]
Victorian countryside (Courtesy of Upper Murray, Inc)
¶ “Transmission Lines To Power Up Renewable Energy Zone” • Transmission lines spanning hundreds of kilometers have been approved to connect a key renewable energy precinct in New South Wales to the grid, paving the way for work on the project to begin. The area should attract around $20 billion in private investment for at least 4.5 GW of capacity. [MSN]
¶ “Community Battery Switches On To Help Power Apartments With Excess Rooftop Solar” • The City of Melbourne switched on the first of three community batteries for central business district apartments. They are designed to accelerate the city’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030, speeding its way to net-zero emissions by 2040. [RenewEconomy]
Melbourne CBD (Nazareth College, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Nuclear Push Would Drag Out Energy Transition, PM Warns” • The federal opposition outlined plans to build seven nuclear reactors across five states if it wins the next election. But the proposal risks further delay to Australia’s energy transition, said the prime minister, who warns it would undermine certainty for business and industry. [MSN]
US:
¶ “Few Have Flood Insurance To Help Recover From Devastating Midwest Storms” • Climate change produces wetter rainstorms, like those that hit the upper Midwest. But federal data shows that across the flooded states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, the government has only issued about 26,500 flood insurance policies combined. [ABC News]
Flood in Nebraska (Army Corps of Engineers, public domain)
¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Has Announced $1.8 Billion in Infrastructure Grants Across the Country” • US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced $1.8 billion in awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant program for 148 projects across the country. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Waymo Goes Big In San Francisco” • Waymo’s progress may go under the radar a bit compared to Tesla’s Full Self Driving progress, but Waymo actually is offering robotaxi service in some areas. Now, in San Francisco, the company is making a big step forward by opening up its service to anyone in the public who wants to use it. [CleanTechnica]
Waymo car (Waymo image)
¶ “More Winning For Electric Vehicles: New $5 Billion Love Letter To Rivian From VW” • The EV industry’s leading car maker may have a sales problem, but others in the industry have not been suffering. Volkswagen announced a $5 billion joint venture with the US EV maker Rivian. And that is not the only recent big boost for Rivian. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “National Grid Renewables Launches South Dakota’s Largest Solar Project” • National Grid Renewables announced the start of operations at a 128-MW solar project in Pennington County, SD. As the largest solar project in the state, the Wild Springs Solar Project stands as a significant milestone in renewable energy development. [Environment+Energy Leader]
Have a fascinatingly fruitful day.
geoharvey 
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