World:
¶ “Study Shows Solar And Farming Can Co-Exist In UK” • At the University of Sheffield, researchers came to a rather stunning conclusion: Properly designed agrivoltaics could help the UK achieve its goal of having a net zero economy by 2050. PV targets could be met by Agrivoltaics on its own, while avoiding land use conflicts. [CleanTechnica]
Agrivoltaics (By Tom Hickey and Al Hicks, NREL)
¶ “Cement Decarbonization Policy Makers Need To Understand All Levers” • Responsible for 7%–8% of global carbon emissions, cement production is a leading process for carbon emissions. Yet, as climate policies tighten and innovations develop, the cement industry stands at a crossroads: either continue business as usual or shift toward sustainability. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nation Announces Controversial Changes To Major Industry: ‘Significantly Changed Business Environment'” • To ease the financial pressures of inflation and supply chain issues for offshore wind projects, the Japanese government decided to modify pricing rules to encourage developers to follow through on their builds, Reuters reported. [The Cool Down]
Wind farm in Japan (BehBeh, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “Solar For Apartments Scheme Launches In Second State, Offering Up To $150,000 In Grants” • A $25 million initiative to install shared rooftop solar systems for apartment buildings across New South Wales has opened for applications, backed by state and federal Labor. Grants of up to $150,000 per project are available for installations. [One Step Off The Grid]
¶ “Iran Can Manufacture Six Nuclear Weapons With Newly Enriched Uranium, UN Atomic Agency Report Says” • The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran has produced dramatically more uranium that can be used in six atomic bombs and stressed that Tehran has made no progress on resolving outstanding issues. [AOL.com]
Nuclear research reactor in Iran (Nanking2010, public domain)
US:
¶ “US Lobster Catch Drops As They Migrate To Colder Canadian Waters” • The US lobster catch is falling as waters warm and they move northward. Maine’s haul of lobsters declined every year from nearly 111 million pounds in 2021, to 2024, when it was only a little more than 86 million pounds, according to data released by state regulators. [ABC News]
¶ “Why Vermont Farmers Are Using Urine On Their Crops” • Urine was used as fertilizer in ancient Rome and China. Now Vermont farmers are using it again to boost harvests and grow crops more sustainably. The Rich Earth Institute, a non-profit based in Windham County, collects, pasteurizes, and distributes the urine to farmers. [BBC]
Sustainable farming (Courtesy of Rich Earth Institute)
¶ “US Electric Vehicle Sales Up 480% Vs Q4 2019, But Fossil Fuel Vehicle Sales Down 2%” • In the 4th quarter of 2024, pure battery EV sales were up 15% from the 4th quarter of 2023, up 61% from the 4th quarter of 2022, up 146% from the 4th quarter of 2021, up 284% from the 4th quarter of 2020, and up 480% compared to the 4th quarter of 2019. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Global Warming Threatening The Future Of Dog Sled Races” • Climate change could complicate dogsledding races around the country as rising temperatures make snowpack in traditionally cold climates less reliable. The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has been moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks due to a lack of snow. [ABC News]
Racing in the Iditarod (Fredrik Solli Wandem, Unsplash)
¶ “Energy Firm Announces Completion Of New Facility That Delivers Massive Power Gains” • A large solar project, Amazon Solar Farm Arkansas – Prairie Mist, is fully operational and delivering solar energy to the online retail giant’s facility there. It’s part of Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon pollution by 2040. [The Cool Down]
¶ “Energy Dominance Will Make Americans Sick” • The key to energy dominance is fracking, injecting water containing a stew of toxic chemicals deep underground to force more oil and methane to the surface. What is in that water? Nobody knows, because the fracking industry got state and local officials to pass laws that let them keep that private. [CleanTechnica]
Fracking (SFU – Communications & Marketing, CC BY 2.0)
¶ “PA Counties Unite To Lead Bold Transition To 100% Renewable Energy By 2035” • our counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania—Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery—are making significant strides in adopting renewable energy for county operations through their collective effort under the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast PA. [MyChesCo]
¶ “Experts Fear Blow To Climate Research After Sackings In US Agency” • The Trump administration has dismissed hundreds of researchers and meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Experts stressed that global cooperation on climate modelling and research is essential for forecasting severe weather events. [MSN]
Have a sufficiently warm day.
geoharvey 