Opinion:
¶ “On Fake Protest – Is The Extinction Rebellion … A Front For The Fossil Industries?” • We’ve all seen the headlines, the antics, and the absurd protests by the Extinction Rebellion. Claiming to raise awareness of the climate crisis, they glue themselves to art and disrupt sports tournaments. Are they actually doing this to discredit climate activists? [CleanTechnica]
Protest by Extinction Rebellion (Bhuwan Bansal, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “‘Out Of Control’ Fires Ravage The Amazon Region” • In the Amazon River basin, wildfires are choking swaths of Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador with smoke, leading to evacuations, school closures, canceled flights, and a dire threat to plant and animal life in the region. Officials say the fires are thought to be the worst in twenty years. [ABC News]
¶ “A Volkswagen ‘Earthquake’ Hits Germany” • The Volkswagen Group recently announced that it might need to close two German factories. It also might need to end the decades-old “guaranteed employment” policy it used to ensure workers they would always have jobs in the Volkswagen family. Some media called the news an “earthquake.” [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen ID.7
¶ “Neoen Wins Backing For 170 MW Of Solar” • Neoen won 170 MW of solar capacity in Ireland’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme 4 auction. It won two projects, the 29-MW Johnstown North Solar project in County Wicklow, and the 141-MW Garr Solar project in County Offaly. They are scheduled to come online in 2027 and 2028 respectively. [reNews]
¶ “Crown Estate Launches New UK Seabed Vision” • The Crown Estate has published two blueprints to support nature recovery, enable growth in critical marine sectors, and lease 20 GW to 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Marine Delivery Routemap sets out a long-term and holistic view of how it can be used by identifying areas for various purposes. [reNews]
Sea (frank mckenna, Unsplash)
¶ “European Natural Gas Prices Drop as Wind Power Soars” • The European benchmark natural gas prices fell as the region’s first colder wave brought a lot of wind and powered a higher share of electricity in key markets. The Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the benchmark for Europe’s gas trading, were down by 2.4% in Amsterdam. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “UK Developer Unveils 500-MW Solar Scheme” • Renewables developer Island Green Power unveiled plans for a utility-scale solar and battery project in Norfolk. With a potential generating capacity of up to 500 MW, East Pye Solar is proposed to be built across various sites near Long Stratton and would connect to an existing 400-kV overhead line. [reNews]
Solar panels (Andres Siimon, Unsplash)
¶ “Ukraine Warns Russian Strikes On Power Grid Could Spark Nuclear Crisis” • Ukraine has thousands of power substations. But there are ten nodes linked to nuclear power plants, whose destruction could plunge the country into darkness and provoke a radiological emergency, Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said. [South China Morning Post]
US:
¶ “National Guard Deployed To Help Fight Raging California Fire Threatening Thousands Of Homes” • Three major wildfires are raging across Southern California, threatening thousands of homes as firefighters and the state National Guard were battling to bring the flames under control amid a triple-digit heatwave, officials said. [ABC News]
Smoke from the Line Fire (Cal Fire image)
¶ “NREL’s Economic Impact Hits $1.9 Billion” • The economic impact of the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory topped $1.9 billion nationwide in Fiscal Year 2023, according to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. Every US state felt an impact from direct or indirect spending connected to NREL. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Ford EV Owners Can Now Get Paid To Support Southern California Grid” • If you own or lease a Ford EV, you can now get paid to support the electricity grid in Southern California, and you don’t need vehicle-to-grid technology. This is just in the Southern California Edison utility district, and it is initially only an option for Ford EV owners. [CleanTechnica]
Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)
¶ “Greg Abbott Creates A Texas Court System To Protect Polluters” • Texas seems to have a new type of court. “Greg Abbott created a boutique court for corporations where he, not the voters, gets to pick the judges,” said Adrian Shelley, director of the Texas office at Public Citizen, a progressive advocacy organization. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Renewables Surge To Drive US Grid Modernization” • The need for grid modernization has grown more urgent as US utilities prepare to accommodate more renewable energy capacity, according to a report by Black & Veatch. The 2024 Electric Report outlines the “immense opportunity” in renewables and sustainable infrastructure. [reNews]
Solar panels (Biel Morro, Unsplash)
¶ “Iberdrola Secures 791-MW Offshore Wind Project In The US” • Iberdrola, through its US subsidiary Avangrid, was awarded a contract to develop the 791-MW New England Wind 1 offshore wind farm in the US. This project will supply energy to 400,000 homes in Massachusetts. Commercial operation is scheduled for 2029. [energynews.pro]
¶ “State Signs Off On 100-MW Solar Farm In Alfred” • A New York solar farm got final state approval and is all clear to be built, Governor Kathy Hochul announced. The Alfred Oaks solar farm, a 100-MW project in Alfred, New York, was issued a final siting permit by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission. [Hornell Evening Tribune]
Have a conscientiously considered day.
geoharvey 