Science and Technology:
¶ “Study Reveals Link Between Heatwaves And Dementia” • A pioneering study revealed health risks posed by long-term weather extremes in the UK, as the effects of climate change intensify. It shows that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can be linked to cognitive decline, kidney disease, skin cancer, and the spread of infectious diseases. [BBC]
Sitting in a wheelchair (Steven HWG, Unsplash)
¶ “Study Challenges Predictions On Climate Cataclysms” • A recent study published in Science Advances indicates that current uncertainties are too significant to predict precisely when critical components of the Earth system, such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, polar ice sheets, or tropical rainforests, might reach tipping points. [SciTechDaily]
World:
¶ “Brazil Experiencing Record-Breaking Wildfires As Persistent Drought Affects The Amazon Rainforest” • Over 50,000 wildfires are active throughout Brazil, ABC News was told by authorities and the Igarape Institute, a think tank that focuses on emerging security and development issues. The Amazon is one of the most heavily affected regions. [ABC News]
Wildfires in Brazil (Antonio Cruz, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Brazil)
¶ “Present And Future Of EV Manufacturing In Latin America” • Latin America’s EV sales are rising. They may not be growing as fast as we wish in some countries; in others, they’re growing faster than we ever could have expected; but the trend is clear. Latin America’s EV sales are 5 million per year, 70% of which are in Brazil and Mexico. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Too Many Heavy, Large EVs Undermine The Benefits Of Green Transportation, Says Researcher” • Why do so many people want heavy, large EVs? They risk the progress that can be made by the transition to personal transportation electrification. So argues a professor of transport, energy, and climate change at the University of Oxford. [CleanTechnica]
2023 Hummer EV (Provided by GM)
¶ “Adani Wins 6,600-MW Maharashtra Power Bid At A Tariff Of ₹4.08/Unit” • Adani Group has won a bid to supply 6,600 MW of bundled renewable and thermal power to Maharashtra for 25 years with its quote of ₹4.08 per unit (4.9¢/kWh). The bid covers 5 GW of solar power and 1,496 MW of thermal at nearly ₹1/unit (1.2¢/kWh) less than the state pays now. [Rediff Money]
¶ “Iran’s Renewable Power Plants’ Electricity Generation Grows By 23%” • In the Iranian calendar month of Mordad, which runs from July 22 to August 22, the renewable power plants in Iran generated a total of 264 GWh of electricity. The represents a noteworthy 23% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. [menafn]
Solar plant in Iran (Nima Najafzade, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Indonesia Breaks Ground On Its First EV Battery Factory Powered By Renewable Energy” • Indonesia broke ground for its first EV battery factory to operate entirely on renewable energy. The plant is in Central Sulawesi. With an abundance of mineral resources, especially nickel, Indonesia holds substantial potential for EV battery production. [Borneo Bulletin]
¶ “Coal-To-Green Transition Redefining China’s West-To-East Power Transmission” • In northwest China’s Gobi Desert, two neighboring power plants testify to the country’s ongoing clean energy transition. The first is one of China’s largest thermal power stations. It is supplied over 20,000 tonnes of coal each day. The other is fueled by sunlight. [Xinhua]
Coal, Inner Mongolia (Herry Lawford, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “Claims That Russia Might Strike Ukrainian Nuclear Plants” • US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed concerns about potential Russian strikes aimed at Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Speaking in Kiev, he stressed Russia’s attacks on “civilian energy infrastructure,” alleging that Moscow had also “targeted Ukraine’s nuclear plants.” [Al Mayadeen English]
US:
¶ “Rooftop Solar On Commercial Properties And Parking Lots Is The Next New Thing” • Part of the reason commercial rooftop solar is getting more popular is that it allows business to predict precisely what electricity will cost them for decades to come. In addition, while state and local incentives often sweeten the deals, the cost of solar keeps falling. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array over parking lot (Terrasmart image)
¶ “New $242 Million Funding Assistance Program Is Helping Low-Income Californians Get Zero-Emission Vehicles” • The California Air Resources Board announced a new $242 million effort, the Driving Clean Assistance Program, to prioritize the low-income Californians who need grants and loan assistance to get zero-emission vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$21 Million Now Available to Install EV Fast Chargers In New York” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $21 million is available to install EV fast chargers along major travel corridors across New York State. The Upstate NEVI Direct Current Fast Charger program is funded by a grant from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure initiative. [CleanTechnica]
Have an emphatically propitious day.
geoharvey 