World:
¶ “China Has Halted Rare Earth Exports, Can Australia Step Up?” • China imposed export restrictions on seven rare earth elements essential to the production of advanced technologies. Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to invest A$1.2 billion (£580 million, $770 million) in a strategic reserve for such minerals if he wins the election in May. [BBC]
Rare earth mine in China (Kevnmh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)
¶ “New Tesla Model Y Sales Bump Already Over In China?!” • Tesla’s big hope to get back to sales growth, or to at least stop the immense bleeding, was that the new Tesla Model Y would be a huge hit and make up for the drop in sales in the past year. What we can glean from the market doesn’t tell the whole story yet, but it doesn’t suggest high expectations. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Denza Z From BYD!” • BYD introduced the Denza Z at the Shanghai Auto show. It is clearly designed to be disruptive. The car is so svelte and athletic it will inspire lust in the hearts of all who see it. It has the performance of a supercar, the looks of a McLaren or Ferrari, and a price low enough that many ordinary mortals can aspire to own it. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Denza Z (DPC Cars via YouTube)
¶ “OX2 Submits Laine Environmental Impact Assessment” • OX2 has submitted the EIA for its Laine offshore wind project to the Finnish authorities. Located about 30 km off the coast, Laine could include up to 150 turbines, generating 11 TWh of clean electricity annually. The project is being developed by OX2 and Ingka Investments. [reNews]
¶ “EA3 Monopile Installation Gets Underway” • Construction for the largest renewables project ScottishPower has ever taken on is underway with the installation of the first foundation for the £4 billion, 1400-MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm. Standing at 83.89 meters tall, the 1,800 tonne monopile is the largest ever installed by a jack-up vessel in Europe. [reNews]
Offshore windpower (Hellenic Cables image)
¶ “At Energy Security Talks, The US Pushes Gas And Derides Renewables” • While the leaders of the UK, European Union and ministers from Barbados and Colombia argued that clean energy provides energy security, ministers and officials from oil and gas producers like the US, Iraq and Egypt said that fossil fuels should remain part of the energy mix. [Climate Home News]
¶ “China Says Wind And Solar Energy Capacity Exceeds Thermal For First Time” • China’s wind and solar energy capacity exceeds that of thermal, mostly coal-powered, its national energy body said. China, the world’s largest of greenhouse gases emitter, has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. [Yahoo News UK]
Wind farm in China (Hahaheditor12667, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “GEE Files Plans For 2-GW Scottish Pumped Storage” • Glen Earrach Energy submitted an application for a 2-GW pumped storage hydro project near Loch Ness. If approved, the project will deliver over £20 million annually during a 125-year life cycle to Highland communities through a community benefit fund. Polling shows strong support in the area. [reNews]
¶ “NSW Approves Grid Access To Some 3.56 GW Of Renewable Projects” • Four renewable energy projects with a total generating capacity of 3.56 GW have been granted grid access in the South West Renewable Energy Zone. These projects include more than 700 MW of battery storage, capable of powering up to 300,000 households during peak demand. [Asian Power]
Wind turbines in NSW (CSIRO, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
US:
¶ “Left Alone By Humans, Wildlife Returns To The Eaton Fire Burn Area” • Wildlife is returning to the Eaton Fire burn area four months after the Los Angeles area wildfires tore through the Angeles National Forest and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Altadena. It is a sign of hope to people who have lost so much that nature is returning. [ABC News]
¶ “Nearly Half Of All Americans Are Breathing Unhealthy Air” • The American Lung Association issued its annual State of the Air report. It says that, after decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution, 46% of Americans, 156.1 million people, are living in places that get failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or fine particle pollution. [CleanTechnica]
Comparisons (EPA image)
¶ “Toyota Invests More Into Old Tech In West Virginia” • Toyota went from hero to villain in the eyes of many people concerned about the climate. After leading the market for years with its popular Prius, it proved to be a battery EV laggard. Now Toyota North America says it is investing $88 million in its West Virginia factory to make more hybrids. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Zelestra Closes $113 Million Of US Solar Financing” • Zelestra closed a $113 million financing transaction for an 81-MW solar project in Indiana. Banco Santander provided the senior secured credit facility for the Jasper County solar project. The project has long-term environmental attributes purchase agreement with Meta and is due to be operating in Q4 2025. [reNews]
Solar panels (Zelestra image)
¶ “Despite Tariff Turmoil, Stellantis Aims Solid-State Battery Plan At US EV Market” • Last year, Stellantis announced plans to launch its Dodge Charger Daytona EV in 2026, with a solid-state battery developed by US startup Factorial Energy. Now Stellantis and Factorial say Factorial’s solid-state EV battery has sailed past a key validation stage. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Nuclear Power Reactors In Vermont? Not Again” • Recently, VTDigger published an article alerting its readers that Vermont governor Phil Scott and other New England government officials are considering the use of nuclear power to provide the region’s future electricity. The discussions are in the early stages, but we should be developing opposition. [CounterPunch.org]
Have an utterly gorgeous day.
geoharvey 