Science and Technology:
¶ “Which Is Worse For Wildlife, Wind Farms Or Oil Drilling?” • While wind farms can have some adverse effects on wildlife in the habitats where they are sited, including by noise, scientists who specialize in the environmental impact of wind farms challenge the claim that wind power is more damaging to wildlife than fossil fuel extraction. [BBC]
Gulls (Samantha Kennedy, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “India Achieves Historic Milestone Of 100 GW Of Installed Solar Power Capacity” • India has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity, again showing its position as a global leader in renewable energy, according to the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi. [The Statesman]
¶ “€20,000 Volkswagen Electric Car – The Next VW Beetle? ” • Not many cars are able to compare with the Volkswagen Beetle. It was special. Volkswagen may now be working on a 2020s Beetle, an electric one. The company is looking into a €20,000 super affordable EV, and it wrote about that in a news release on the matter. [CleanTechnica]
Volkswagen EV (Volkswagen image)
¶ “Volvo Plugin Vehicle Sales Increased 17% In January” • Volvo Cars sold 50,820 cars in January,almost half of which coming with a plug. Plugin model sales were also up significantly from a year prior, growing 17% compared to January 2024. In total, 44% of the company’s January 2025 vehicle sales – 22,398 out of 50,820 – were plugins. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “ARENA Community Based Battery Rollout” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is funding about 370 “community based batteries” to the tune of A$143 million ($90 million) to be built in Australia, benefitting communities. Expected outcomes include reducing local network constraints, reducing emissions, and reducing electricity costs. [CleanTechnica]
Community-based battery (Courtesy of Ergon Energy)
¶ “Taaleri SolarWind 3 Fund Invests In Finnish PV Site” • The Taaleri SolarWind 3 Fund has invested in the 129-MW Finnish solar park Hallanvahti. The project, located in Joroinen, about 300 km northeast of Helsinki, has reached ready-to-build status, with construction ongoing and full operations expected by the middle of 2026. [reNews]
¶ “CIP Starts Construction On 960-MWh Oz Battery Site” • CIP, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is starting construction of its first large-scale battery energy storage site in Australia, the 240-MW, 960-MWh Summerfield project in the state of South Australia. It comes after a financial investment decision was taken in September 2024. [reNews]
Battery storage site (CIP image)
¶ “Amazon Announces Three New Renewable Energy Projects In India” • Amazon announced investments in three wind projects in India, emphasizing the company’s broader commitment to matching the electricity consumed by our operations with renewable energy and advancing progress toward its Climate Pledge goals. [The Covai Mail]
¶ “‘Build Baby Build’, Says Pm As He Sets Out Nuclear Plan” • Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “build baby build”, as he announced plans to make it easier to construct mini nuclear power stations in England and Wales. The prime minister told the BBC that the government will “take on the blockers” and change rules so new reactors could be built in more places. [BBC]
Keir Starmer (Kirsty O’Connor, No 10 Downing Street)
US:
¶ “How Nonprofit Change Reaction Gets Money To Households Impacted By Wildfires So Fast” • As Angelenos reel from the wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed at least 29 people, an LA-based nonprofit is handing out cash payments of as much as $5,000 to provide fast, unrestricted help to some of those impacted. [ABC News]
¶ “Tesla Cybertruck Reservations Go Poof – Now Free Wraps For Q1 Orders” • Tesla is rolling out discounts to get people to buy a new Model 3 or Cybertruck. It seems a bit early in the quarter for Tesla to be doing this. It seems to indicate consumer demand challenges after the first year of decreasing sales since the Model S was launched in 2012. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Cybertruck (Mr.choppers, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “EV Maker Scout Motors Wants To Sell Directly To Buyers But Can’t Do It In Its Home State” • Scout Motors is making a big bet in the electric SUV market with a crafted experience that will allow some customers to buy the company’s vehicle in minutes online. But they can’t in South Carolina, where the company is pouring billions into a new auto plant. [ABC News]
¶ “Wireless Charging Is Coming To Port Of Long Beach” • It was recently announced that wireless charging pads will soon be installed at the Port of Long Beach to be used by electric cargo vehicles. John F. Rizzo, President and CEO of InductEV, has answered some questions about the port’s wireless charging technology for CleanTechnica. [CleanTechnica]
Port Of Long Beach (Courtesy of ITS Terminal POLB)
¶ “Democratic Governors Prepared To Keep The EV Revolution Moving Forward” • Colorado is an example of a movement by states. Residents of Colorado are eligible for up to $6,000 in state incentives, regardless of where a vehicle is made. Trade in a gas guzzler, and the state will add another $6,000. The incentives can add up quickly. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$485M Grant Benefits Rural Residents” • The US Department of Agriculture has announced a $485 million award to Arizona Electric Power Cooperative through its New Empowering Rural America Program. The funds will be used for large-scale solar and battery systems projects benefitting rural cooperatives and public power utilities. [Inside Tucson Business]
Have a awesomely relaxing day.
geoharvey 