Opinion:
¶ “The Retreat From Renewables Has A Dark And Dangerous Underside” • The existential climate crisis that confronts us requires political and policy solutions that disempower the fossil fuel industry and their state allies. The Oil & Gas industry wants return to a time when it was powerful and controlled the US political system. [CleanTechnica]
Nebraska (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)
¶ “The Unseen Effects Of Climate Change And A Hotter World” • Focusing on the Gulf Stream slowing or the glaciers melting in Greenland may make it harder for us to see the small, everyday consequences of our warming planet. Instead, we focus on racist rants of politicians who lack the mental acuity to understand the things that are going on. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “How Big Oil Has Infiltrated Universities And Shaped Climate Research” • It’s hard to remember today, but a few decades ago many conservatives were keen environmentalists. US president George HW Bush championed renewable fuels and strengthened the Clean Air Act. “Every city in America should have clean air,” the elder Bush declared. [Corporate Knights]
San Francisco (Ragnar Vorel, Unsplash)
¶ “Why Does Nuclear Power Exist? Follow the Money. You’ll Find the Answer” • Let’s get one thing clear: nuclear power is neither safe nor economically sensible. It can’t hold a candle to truly renewable, sustainable energy sources when it comes to cost or viability. So why are nuclear plants built? Because it makes money for a select few people. [LA Progressive]
World:
¶ “Death Toll Rises As Torrential Rain And Flooding Force Evacuations In Central Europe” • The death toll was rising in Central European countries after days of heavy rains caused widespread flooding and forced evacuations. Driven by human-caused climate change, a hotter atmosphere can lead to more intense rainfall. [ABC News]
Torrential rain (Max, Unsplash)
¶ “From Potential To Progress: Latvia’s Renewable Energy Landscape” • Latvia’s renewable energy sector has evolved over the past several years. In the early stages, wind energy projects were scarce, and solar energy was not yet considered a viable large-scale option. Today, Sunly is considering an investment in a 500-MW solar park. [LSM]
¶ “China’s Longi Sets World Record For Highest Tandem Solar Cell Efficiency At 34.6%” • Longi, a Chinese solar module maker, announced that it has achieved a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 34.6% in two-terminal tandem perovskite solar cells. The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory verified the results. [Interesting Engineering]
Declining cost of solar power (Rfassbind, public domain)
¶ “Bezos-Backed Group To Prepare South African Grids For Investment” • A global organization backed by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos’ climate and biodiversity fund said it’s setting up a program to attract investment into South African municipal power grids, which need 319 billion rand ($18 billion) to prepare for more renewable energy. [BNN Bloomberg]
¶ “Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Use In Power Generation Despite Higher Demand” • Saudi Arabia has made some headway in reducing the volumes of oil it burns to generate electricity, a practice that it hopes to end by 2030. The Saudi decarbonization strategy aims for 50% renewable energy for power generation by the end of the decade. [Economy Middle East]
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(AT Service, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Sumitomo Enters India’s Renewable Energy Market With A $711.54 Million Investment ” • Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has entered the India’s renewable energy sector through its joint venture with AMPIN Energy Transition Private Limited that will invest $711.54 million to develop clean power sources in the South Asian country. [Asian Power]
¶ “Australia’s Most Fossil Dependent Economy Opens Up To Renewable Energy Highways” • The Pilbara region of north-west Western Australia is opening up to create up to four renewable energy super-highways. The land is the world’s biggest iron ore mining province and Australia’s most fossil fuel dependent economic region. [RenewEconomy]
Hauling ore (Rhys Moult, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Russians Are Stockpiling Ammunition And Explosives At The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • The Ukrainian National Resistance Center recently reported that Russian forces are continuing to use the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to station military personnel and store ammunition and explosives. [Ukrainska Pravda]
US:
¶ “US Solar Panel Manufacturing Capacity Grows Nearly Four-Fold Under Federal Incentives ” • Solar module manufacturing capacity in the US exceeds 31 GW, a nearly four-fold increase since the Inflation Reduction Act became law in 2022. In two years under the IRA, the solar industry has added 75 GW of new capacity to the grid. [CleanTechnica]
Testing a solar cell (Radiotrefoil, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “Uber And Waymo Expand Partnership to Bring Autonomous Ride-Hailing to Austin And Atlanta” • Uber and Waymo are expanding their relationship to bring the Waymo Driver to more clients. The two companies will deliver driverless ride-hailing in Austin and Atlanta only through the Uber app beginning in early 2025. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Sixteen Rural Electric Cooperatives Will Leverage $7.3 Billion In Federal Funding To Deliver Affordable, Reliable Electricity” • The first wave of sixteen rural electric co-ops chosen for funding under the USDA’s Empowering Rural America plan can leverage the awards to deploy carbon-free energy to help power 5 million homes in rural areas of 23 states. [CleanTechnica]
Have a congenially comfortable day.
geoharvey 
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