World:
¶ “China Just Turned Off US Supplies Of Minerals Critical For Defense And Cleantech” • China just stopped selling the US its dysprosium, terbium, tungsten, indium, and yttrium. They don’t make headlines, but without them an electric car doesn’t run, a fighter jet doesn’t fly, and solar PVs go from clean energy marvels to overpriced roofing tiles. [CleanTechnica]
F/A-18 Hornet (Cédric Dhaenens, Unsplash)
¶ “EVs Take 93.2% Share In Norway” • March saw plugin EVs take 93.2% share in Norway, up from 91.5% year-on-year. Plugin hybrids saw a large pull forward ahead of a tax tightening on April 1, and thus temporarily took share from full battery EVs. Overall auto volume was 13,304 units, up some 36% YOY, though from a low base. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD e-MPV To Launch At The Manila International Auto Show” • On April 10, BYD Philippines will launch the eMAX 7, an all-electric multi-purpose vehicle. The launch is scheduled for the Manila International Auto Show, but even before the formal unveiling, reservations for the eMAX 7 are being accepted at BYD dealerships nationwide. [CleanTechnica]
BYD eMAX 7 (BYD image)
¶ “Satellite Images Reveal Mass Destruction In Key Area” • A new report showed that critically endangered orangutans are losing their Indonesian habitat to palm oil plantations. The US-based Rainforest Action Network used high-resolution satellite imagery to show that it had detected a quadrupling of the deforestation rate between 2021 and 2023. [The Cool Down]
¶ “How To Build Even Better Wind Turbines” • In recent years, solar has been outpacing wind as the renewable energy leader. Recent innovations, like taller towers and longer rotor blades, which lead to increased efficiency, could unlock significantly more wind energy potential. There are some challenges in scaling turbines up, however. [DW]
Offshore wind farm (Siemens Gamesa image)
¶ “Prime Minister Seeks To Counter Dutton’s Price Of Energy Attacks With Cheaper Home Batteries” • The prime minister of Australia is countering Peter Dutton’s attacks on the price of energy with a scheme to make renewable energy cheaper. The plan would reduce the power bill for those with rooftop solar by up to $1,100 extra every year. [7NEWS]
¶ “World Must React To Russian Nuclear Threats” • Oleksandr Hryhorash, senior control inspector at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, stressed that the world is not responding adequately to Russian nuclear threats. The occupation of Ukrainian power plants by Russian forces and attacks on other nuclear facilities increase the risk of catastrophes. [MSN]
Chernobyl reactor 3, encased (Mick De Paola, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “Trump Is In Violation Of An Injunction That Allows Approved Grant Funds To Flow, Says RI Judge” • Rhode Island US District Chief Judge John McConnell found the Trump administration in violation of a preliminary injunction to stop withholding grants. He ordered FEMA to notify administrators of its grants about his decision within 48 hours. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Without Insurance, Capitalism As We Know It Will Not Be Possible” • Insurance is the lubricant that keeps the gears of commerce turning. Without it, the capitalist system we all know and love grinds to a halt. Without insurance, many financial services are no longer commercially viable, but climate change might make insurance impossible. [CleanTechnica]
Pretty, but possibly hard to sell (Ian MacDonald, Unsplash)
¶ “Agrivoltaics To Rescue US Farmers” • Advocates of adrivoltaics list soil health, biodiversity opportunities, and conservation of water among the benefits of such systems, in which solar panels combine with farming activities on the same land. The extra income it brings is needed now more than ever, as farmers brace for the impact of Trump’s tariffs. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Solar Farms Nationwide Owe Some Success To An Unlikely Force” • In Texas, SB Energy operates the fifth-largest US solar power plant. It uses sheep herds to keep the weeds down beneath its 900-MW, 4,000-acre array. The livestock are more nimble than lawnmowers and they’re autonomous. Combining sheep and solar has also had success in Iowa. [The Cool Down]
Have an excitingly pleasant day.
geoharvey 