World:
¶ “Globally, 48% Of Volvo Cars’ Sales Now Plugin Vehicles” • Yet another automaker highlighting its EV sales growth last quarter is Volvo Cars. Its data shows that 48% of all the cars it sold in June were plugins! Volvo’s overall sales grew 8%, but its plugin vehicle sales grew a whopping 41%. That tells us that Volvo’s non-plugin vehicle sales actually declined. [CleanTechnica]
Volvo EX30 cloud blue exterior
¶ “EVs Take 56.5% Share In Sweden, Going Nowhere, Backwards” • June’s EVs took 56.5% share in Sweden, down year on year from 59.2% in June 2023. The battery EV share fell YOY, while the plugin hybrid share was flat, and both lost volume. Overall auto volume was 25,401 units, down 10% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the best selling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EU Tariffs On Chinese EVs Commence, But Discussions Ongoing” • There are discussions ongoing between Chinese government officials and EU officials and administration in regard to tariffs on battery-electric cars produced in China. But in the meantime, the tariffs, ranging from 17.4% to 37.6%, are now in effect. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Yuan Plus (Mariordo, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “What Labour Means For Your Energy Bills” • The average British home currently pays yearly energy bills of £1,568 thanks to the Ofgem set price cap, with this figure set to rise later in the year. Labour’s energy policy is to launch a state-funded company called GB Energy, is intended to save every household £300 on their power bills. [This is Money]
¶ “Digital World Driving Growing Demand For Renewable Generation” • The world’s reliance on the internet, the shift to cloud computing, and the emergence of AI all fuel increasing demand for data centers. The IEA projects that by 2026, data centers will consume more than 800 TWh annually, more than double what they used in 2022. [pv magazine Australia]
Data center with rooftop solar (Iron Mountain image)
¶ “End Subsidies For Fossil Fuel: RE100” • An official of the RE100 renewable energy initiative called on the government of Taiwan to remove subsidies for fossil fuels to further boost the development of the renewable energy market. RE100 director of energy Sam Kimmins was welcoming the Hon Hai Technology Group to the RE100 family. [Taipei Times]
¶ “Europe’s Largest Solar Power Plant Connects To Transmission Grid” • Europe’s largest solar power plant was established south of Leipzig. The Witznitz Energy Park, with a capacity of 650 MW, is tied to the 50Hertz transmission grid. The facility injects electricity directly while also helping to maintain grid stability around the clock, even at night. [Energy Global]
Saxony (Michael Gäbler, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “‘Based On Facts’: Kean Sceptical On Nukes” • Incoming Climate Change Authority chair and former NSW Liberal treasurer Matt Kean has poured cold water on the Coalition’s nuclear plans, arguing that a turn to atomic energy would take “far too long” and be “far too expensive.” He said he would take a “pragmatic approach” to energy policy. [Yahoo]
¶ “Nations Pressed To Reach ‘Historic’ Climate Agreement” • The Emirati head of the UN’s climate conference pressed countries to strive for common ground and reach a “historic” deal by early next week. It is rare for UN climate talks to end as scheduled but COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber set the ambitious goal of having a deal in place by 11 am (0700 GMT) on Tuesday. [MSN]
Net Zero Nuclear Event (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BH-SA 2.0)
US:
¶ “West Coast Historic Heat Wave Could Break All-Time Records” • The western US is facing a historic heat wave with alerts issued not just for areas inland, but also normally cooler coastal places like Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The heat wave could break all-time records. The record heat will not stop this weekend, with more expected next week. [ABC News]
¶ “Pongamia Trees Grow Where Citrus Once Flourished, Offering Renewable Energy, Protein” • As parts of the Florida citrus industry have all but dried up over the past two decades due to two fatal diseases, some farmers are planting pongamia trees, a climate-resilient species that can produce plant-based proteins and a sustainable biofuel. [ABC News]
Pongamia trees (Jumanous, CC-BY-SA 3.0a)
¶ “Fossil Fuel Crazies Ask Supreme Court To Protect Them From CARB” • The lunatics in the fossil fuel industry, who destroy the environment as they seek obscene profits, have banded together to do a full frontal assault on the California Air Resources Board that for decades has been working to lower emissions from the cars and trucks on California roads. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US EPA And NMED Inspections Find Widespread Emissions at Oil & Gas Facilities in the Permian Basin Area” • The US EPA Region 6 and the New Mexico Environment Department posted reports for 124 facilities the two agencies inspected in the New Mexico Permian Basin area in April. A total of 75 of the facilities had non-compliant emissions. [CleanTechnica]
Pumpjacks (Zorin09, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “New Panel Charged With Helping Massachusetts Meet Its Renewable Energy Goals” • Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the formation of a new panel charged with guiding the state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Energy Transformation Advisory Board includes a broad array of representatives. [Caledonian Record]
¶ “New York May Miss 70% Renewable Electricity Goal Of 2030: Draft Report” • A draft report on the status of renewable energy in New York casts doubt on whether limiting fossil fuels to no more than 30% by 2030 is possible. The report is from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Department of Public Service. [NEWS10 ABC]
Have an intensely relaxing day.
geoharvey 
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