Opinion:
¶ “‘It’s Going To Be Rough’: What Trump’s Response To LA Fires Portends” • Donald Trump’s response to the catastrophic fires in Los Angeles provided a stark prologue to how his administration will likely handle the growing threat of such disasters: acrimony, brutal dealmaking, and dismissal of a climate crisis that is at the cause of disasters. [The Guardian]
Thunderstorm (NOAA, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “BP Cutting 4,700 Jobs Worldwide In Cost-Saving Drive” • Oil company BP, based in the UK, is cutting 4,700 jobs worldwide and 3,000 contractors as part of a cost-saving drive. In an email to staff that was seen by The Associated Press, BP CEO Murray Auchincloss said the job reductions “account for much of the anticipated reduction this year.” [ABC News]
¶ “More Electric Buses For Australia” • Despite stagnant electric car sales, the influx of electric buses is still strong in Australia. The EV market leader is BYD, which is on a roll, both in Australia and elsewhere around the world. Technology advancements, which lead to greater driver and rider comfort, are a feature of BYD’s new products. [CleanTechnica]
Electric school bus in NSW (Photo courtesy Go Zero)
¶ “Volkswagen’s Green Electricity For ID. Models” • It may not be taking the world by storm like BYD and Tesla have been doing, but Volkswagen is leading the way on EVs among legacy car makers from countries of the West. With an eye on being super green and clean, Volkswagen plans to power many of those EVs with renewable electricity. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Avery Dennison And Zelestra Sign Solar PPA” • Avery Dennison has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Zelestra for renewable energy from its 44-MW solar plant in Spain. Zelestra’s Las Rozas solar plant in Seville will generate 90 GWh of renewable electricity per year, equivalent to the annual demands of 25,000 Spanish households. [reNews]
Las Rozas solar plant in Seville (Zelestra image)
¶ “UAE’s Masdar Forays Into Philippines With $15 Billion Clean Energy Project” • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, has made its first major foray into the Philippines’ renewables market, with a $15 billion deal to develop solar, wind, and battery systems. The investment is expected to deliver up to 1 GW of clean energy by 2030. [Gulf Business]
¶ “Fred Olsen Unveils 158-MW Proposal For Scotland” • Fred Olsen Renewables set out proposals to develop a 158-MW wind farm with a battery in Scotland. The Invercassley project will consist of up to 22 turbines and 30 MW of battery storage. The proposed site would create a community benefit fund of more than £25 million. [reNews]
Wind farm (Courtesy of Fred Olsen Renewables)
¶ “Masdar’s Capacity Up By 150% To Over 50 GW In Two Years Taking Its Place as Global Clean Energy Leader” • Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy leader, has announced that it has significantly increased its overall renewable energy capacity by 150% to 51 GW by the end of 2024, up from 20 GW in 2022. This makes Masdar a global clean energy leader. [WindInsider]
US:
¶ “Floating Solar On Federal Reservoirs Could Power 100 Million Homes In The US” • Federal reservoirs could help meet much of the country’s solar energy needs, a study published in the journal Solar Energy shows. The study was done by geospatial scientists and a legal and regulatory analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [CleanTechnica]
Floating solar array (Earth.com via Instagram)
¶ “Hundreds Ordered To Evacuate As Fire Erupts At Huge California Battery Storage Plant” • Hundreds of people were ordered to evacuate and, part of Highway 1 in California was closed when a major fire erupted at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants. The Moss Landing Power Plant has tens of thousands of lithium batteries. [ABC News]
¶ “Contract Secured For 200-MW, 800-MWh Energy Storage Project In Idaho ” • Idaho Power has a goal of generating 100% clean energy by 2045. Big battery systems can be used to support the achievement of that goal. Prevalon Energy just announced the company has secured a contract for a huge energy storage project in Idaho. [CleanTechnica]
Rendering of big battery (Idaho Power image)
¶ “US Backs Plug Power’s $1.66 Billion Clean Hydrogen Fuel Project” • The US DOE took a major step to advance clean energy by approving a $1.66 billion loan guarantee for Plug Power. This investment will support construction of up to six cutting-edge facilities producing hydrogen fuel using Plug Power electrolyzers. [Innovation News Network]
¶ “BOEM Finalises Fisheries Mitigation Guidance” • The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management finalized guidance for mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy projects on commercial and for-hire recreational fisheries. The guidance, informed by public input, creates processes for the offshore wind industry to address potential disruptions to fisheries. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (ABB image)
¶ “Trump Nominee Says Approved Offshore Wind Farms Can Continue” • In confirmation hearings for President-to-be Donald Trump’s cabinet picks, nominee for Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said that US offshore wind projects can continue if already approved. He said Trump was concerned about tax incentives for the renewable sector. [reNews]
¶ “New Ohio Law Designates Nuclear Power As ‘Green Energy’” • Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law state legislation designating nuclear power as “green energy.” The green designation implies state recognition that nuclear energy causes no environmental harm. The law also expands fracking leases on state land. [Daily Energy Insider]
Have an altogether agreeable day.
geoharvey 
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