Opinion:
¶ “MAGAlomaniacs Are Shocked, SHOCKED That Hurricanes Are Getting More Powerful” • We have been told for many years that global warming would lead to more destructive storms. Now with Hurricane Helene, politicians who staked their political lives on denying climate change are shocked, SHOCKED that such a powerful storm is happening. [CleanTechnica]
Helene (Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory)
World:
¶ “UK Court Hands Prison Terms To Climate Activists Who Threw Soup On Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’” • Two climate activists were sentenced to prison by a London court for throwing soup over Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting while protesting fossil fuels. Phoebe Plummer, 23, was given two years, and Anna Holland, 22, got 20 months. [CNN]
¶ “Most Car Sales (54%) in China Are Now Plugins!” • Plugin vehicles scored a little more than 1 million sales in a 1.9-million-unit overall market in August. That’s up 38% year over year, and the second best month ever, while the overall market is down 1% year over year. Battery EVs were up 19% in August, while plugin hybrids jumped 78%. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Song L (Nissangeniss, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Hyundai Cooks Up A Low-Cost EV Battery Scheme For The Affordable EV Of The Future” • The cost of an EV battery has dropped like a rock since the early 2000s. A recent calculation from the US DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office puts the drop at 90% for light-duty vehicles. Hyundaijust unveiled a LiFePO₄ EV battery project in partnership with Kia. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Hyundai Motor Groups First 100% EV Factory” • Kia has celebrated the opening of Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, the Hyundai Motor Group’s first facility dedicated to making EVs. The South Korean facility has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units. It started production of the Kia EV3 in the first half of this year. [CleanTechnica]
Kia Gwangmyeong EV Plant
¶ “India Seeks 6,000 MW Of Peak Renewable Power Supply With Storage” • India is seeking bids to supply 6,000 MW of capacity from renewable energy projects for assured peak-hour supply with storage, in a tender issued by state-run SJVN. India is looking to connect a record 35 GW of solar and wind capacity to its grid during the year. [Deccan Herald]
¶ “High Wind Speeds Boost UK Renewables Output” • UK renewables generation increased by 19% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024 to 32.8 TWh, largely due to favorable wind conditions. Renewable sources accounted for a record 51.6% share of the electricity mix during the period, according to government figures. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (ScottishPower Renewables)
¶ “Twelve Countries Warned Against Threats Of Nuclear Weapons” • Twelve countries, including China, Brazil, Turkey, and Kazakhstan, issued a joint statement warning against threats of nuclear weapon use. The statement emphasizes that civilian infrastructure, including peaceful nuclear facilities, should not be targets of military operations. [MSN]
¶ “Germany Approves Second Section Of SuedOstLink” • In Germany, the Federal Network Agency completed the planning approval for the second section of the SuedOstLink electric grid connection to supply Bavaria with wind power from other parts of Germany. It will use a DC line for an underground cable from Münchenreuth to Marktredwitz. [reNews]
DC line (Tennet image)
US:
¶ “Dozens Dead As Helene Unleashes Life-Threatening Flooding And Knocks Out Power To Millions Across Southeast” • Helene continues to unleash its fury in the Southeast after leaving 49 people dead in various states, leveling communities, and leaving many in floodwaters after the historic storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region. [CNN]
¶ “River Partners’ Restoration of Floodplains Averts Disasters in California” • Responding to human misdeeds, Nature is assailing California. So River Partners buys private land and restores large areas of the natural landscape. Its mission is “to bring life back to rivers by creating wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment.” [CleanTechnica]
San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (River Partners)
¶ “$44 Million for Clean Energy Planning And Deployment on Tribal Lands” • The US DOE announced nearly $44 million for Tribal communities to deploy clean energy solutions to provide energy security and reduce energy costs. Six American Indian and Alaska Native communities will receive $18.8 million to install solar and wind energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Octopus Backs US Solar Duo” • Octopus Energy made two investments in the US solar market, with the company backing developers Circal and Zestec to create projects. The company said it marks the next move in its $2 billion plan for America’s renewables revolution. It comes just three months after it made its first green energy investments stateside. [reNews]
Solar panels (Mark Stebnicki, Pexels)
¶ “Oregon Opponents Block Offshore Wind Auction” • A planned auction of Oregon offshore wind leases was postponed after Governor Tina Kotek effectively torpedoed the auction plan. The US Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management delayed the offshore wind energy auction due to low bidder interest. [WorkBoat]
¶ “Major US Power Companies Shut Units In Wake Of Storm” • Storm Helene forced major US electric utilities to shut or slow power plant operations. Southern Co took one of its Georgia nuclear reactors offline, and Duke Energy halted output from two coal-fired generating units. Helene also downed power lines and battered other parts of the grid. [Reuters]
Have an absolutely favorable day.
geoharvey 