Opinion:
¶ “Bitcoin Will Be The Nail In Our Climate Coffin” • “I realize that this article is not going to be popular with everyone. Bitcoin is a kind of tech financial fantasy, whereby many tech fans have come to the conclusion that we can live in some kind of financial utopia divorced from inflation and economic woes if we follow this fake mining path.” [CleanTechnica]
Cryptocurrency (Coinhako, Unsplash)
¶ “If You Have An Electricity Outlet Where You Park, An Electric Car Is More Convenient Than A Gas Car!” • Many people are concerned about whether they could live with an electric car instead of a gas car. They don’t realize is it’s far more convenient to live the EV life than the gas car life. If you have an outlet, you can plug in an EV and forget about it. [CleanTechnica]
Science and Technology:
¶ “How Los Alamos Is Helping Ready Nuclear Fusion Power For The Grid By 2030” • As fusion technology nears maturity, the problems associated with heating particles to 150,000,000°C keep arising. Michael Lively, a fusion expert who specializes in modeling solutions to these problems, may have solved one key issue. [Los Alamos National Laboratory]
Fusion reactor (LANL image)
World:
¶ “Prosecutors Find Workers In ‘Slavery Like’ Conditions At Chinese Car Company Site In Brazil” • A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is building a factory. [ABC News]
¶ “Nissan And Honda Announce Plans To Merge, Creating The World’s Number 3 Automaker” • Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. [ABC News]
Nissan e-NV200 Evalia (Kārlis Dambrāns, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “What Are The Implications Of $66/kWh Battery Packs In China?” • The Power Construction Corporation of China drew 76 bidders for its tender for 16 GWh of lithium iron phosphate battery systems. According to reports, sixty of the bids came in at under $68.4/kWh, and the bids averaged $66.3/kWh. That is an astounding price! [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Only 1% Of EV Drivers Would Go Back To A Gas Car” • A survey of EV owners around the world finds that only 1% of them would buy a pure gas-powered (or diesel-powered) car for their next vehicle. While 4% of them said they would head on over to a plugin hybrid, 92% of EV owners said they’d buy another EV as their next vehicle. [CleanTechnica]
Charging an EV at home (Maxim Hopman, Unsplash)
¶ “BP Bags 450-MW Site In Japan Offshore Auction” • Rights to develop a 450-MW wind farm off the coast of Japan were won in an auction by a consortium that includes BP. The scheme marks the entry of BP into Japan’s offshore wind market and is part of the country’s third auction round where a total of 1.1 GW has been granted for development. [reNews]
¶ “Voltalia Starts 100-MW PV Build In Albania” • Voltalia has commenced construction of the 100-MW Spitalla solar farm in the Durres region of Albania. Some 70% of electricity generated is due to be sold under a public contract won in 2021 and the rest to private sector buyers after the array is commissioned in the second half of 2027. [reNews]
Albania (Vladan Raznatovic, Unsplash)
¶ “Green Energy Spending To Top $1 Trillion By 2030” • In 2024, investment in China’s energy sector is forecast to reach $850 billion, nearly 30% of the global total, and standing at up to twice the level of the US and the EU, according to the China Energy Outlook 2060 report. China’s transition investment is expected to be over $1 trillion by 2030. [China Daily]
¶ “Methane Levels In The Atmosphere Rising Faster Than Ever” • Methane is one of three core greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Dr Pep Canadell, Executive Director for the Global Carbon Project of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, says concentrations are rising at the fastest rate since reliable measurements began in 1986. [Cosmos]
Atmosphere (Zoltan Tasi, Unsplash)
¶ “Russia Increases Its Influence By Building Over Ten Nuclear Power Units Abroad” • Russia is constructing more than ten nuclear power units abroad to meet growing energy demand driven by artificial intelligence and emerging markets. The Russian Federation is also planning to build a small modular reactor plant in Uzbekistan. [MSN]
US:
¶ “Earthquake Activity Will Increase Due To Glacial Retreat” • A study by researchers at Colorado State University provides some compelling evidence that climate change can have influence on the frequency of earthquakes. The research adds to a growing body of work suggesting that shifts in climate can directly impact the seismic cycle. [Earth.com]
Sangre de Cristo Mountains (NPS, public domain)
¶ “Tesla Still Looking for Buyers” • With a week to go in 2024, it’s clear Tesla still has inventory ready to find a home. One thing suggesting this is that if you go to your nearest Tesla delivery center, you’re likely to see quite a few new Teslas lined up, based on reports we’ve gathered. But additionally, Tesla is still pushing temporary incentives. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Eversource Transitions From Gas Company To Geothermal Company In Framingham” • In June, local gas and electric utility company Eversource completed a geothermal pilot project for an entire neighborhood in Framingham, Massachusetts. Now governor Maura Healey has signed legislation to let gas utilities go beyond pilot projects. [CleanTechnica]
Have a thoroughly happy day.
geoharvey 