Opinion:
¶ “With Mark Carney’s Win, Trump Is Now Sandwiched Between Two Climate Leaders” • Mark Carney was elected to be Canada’s prime minister based on a campaign agenda focused squarely on pushing back on attacks by US President Donald Trump. Carney is regarded an environmental champion. Mexico has another in President Claudia Sheinbaum. [Time Magazine]
Mark Carney in 2016 (Policy Exchange, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
World:
¶ “Nuclear Vs Renewables: The Coal Mining Town Caught In Australia’s Climate Wars” • The Hunter Valley has long been coal country. But the area of New South Wales is now begrudgingly on the frontline of the country’s transition to clean energy. It will transition away from coal, but will it go to nuclear or renewables? The election is on May 3. [BBC]
¶ “BYD Seagull To Start Production In Brazil Next June” • The BYD Seagull, a city-car, will start production in less than two months at a Brazilian factory. For now, 150,000 units are to be built at Camaçarí yearly, but that amount could double from 2027 onwards if the market sustains it, as Brazil will export it to all of Latin America. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Seagulls (BYD image)
¶ “Phase-Shifting Hot Bricks Pack More Energy Storage Punch Into Smaller Spaces” • Among the emerging solutions for energy storage is a block-type thermal energy storage system developed by the Australian startup MGA Thermal. MGA claims the system is so energy dense that it requires up to 24 times less land than conventional battery storage. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “IPF 2025: Canada To Roll Out 2.5-GW Offshore Auction” • Canada is ready to welcome offshore wind developers jilted by US federal policy and will launch a 2.5-GW lease auction later this year, attendees at IPF 2025 in Virginia have heard. Nova Scotia aims to launch a lease auction this fall. There will be a need to export power to the US. [reNews]
Offshore windpower (Jesse De Meulenaere, Unsplash)
¶ US And Ukraine Sign Mineral Resources Agreement”” • The US and Ukraine have signed the deal to create the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, the long-awaited deal that gives the US rights to Ukrainian rare earth minerals, both sides announced. The US had delayed signing the minerals agreement until the investment fund was finished. [ABC News]
UK and Jersey:
¶ “Nature Charities Call For Berwick Bank To Be Refused” • RSPB Scotland joined forces with several other organizations to urge Scottish Ministers to refuse a 4-GW offshore wind project. They argue that permitting SSE Renewables’ 4100-MW Berwick Bank project will threaten both the future of seabirds and other offshore wind projects in Scotland. [reNews]
Firth of Forth (Courtesy of RSPB Scotland)
¶ “‘Worrying’ Decline Of Crucial Insects In NI, Says Charity” • The decline of insects in Northern Ireland is “worrying,” warns a charity. Buglife carries out a “splat survey” every year, for which people count the number of insects on a car licence plate after a journey. The results show that since 2021, flying insects declined in Northern Ireland by 55%. [BBC]
¶ “Jersey’s First Solar Farm Switched On” • Jersey’s first solar farm was switched on and will provide enough energy to power over 600 homes. The 11 acre site has nearly 7,500 panels and is expected to power 14% of St Clement’s homes. Jersey Electricity’s chief executive Chris Ambler said the array was important for the island’s energy independence. [BBC]
Jersey (Nick Fewings, Unsplash)
Germany:
¶ “Millionth Electric Vehicle Rolls Off The Production Line At The Volkswagen Plant In Zwickau ” • After around five and a half years of all-electric vehicle production, the Zwickau vehicle plant has cracked a magic barrier: The one millionth electric car rolled off the production line at the multi-brand site. The anniversary vehicle is an ID.3 GTX Performance. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Germany Approves New SuedLink Section” • The German Federal Network Agency has completed the planning approval procedure for another section of the SuedLink. The section runs from the district border of Bad Kissingen and Schweinfurt in Bavaria about 70 km to the state border of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg near Altertheim. [reNews]
Laying underground cable (NKT image)
¶ “Germany May Get 99% Of Its Power From Solar And Wind On Thursday” • A slump in demand due to a public holiday will coincide with a surge in solar generation and the region’s first mini-heat wave. Early afternoon on Thursday, as much as 99% of consumption could be met by green energy sources, according to Bloomberg Models. [Luxembourg Times]
US:
¶ “Climate Change Is Making Coffee More Expensive. Tariffs Likely Will Too” • Losses from heat and drought have cut coffee production forecasts in Brazil and Vietnam, the world’s largest growers. The result is increased coffee prices. Now prices in the US will be even higher than in the rest of the world because of all coffee producers face US tariffs. [ABC News]
Coffee (dapiki moto, Unsplash)
¶ “Pure Lithium Announced Agreement With Kingston Process Metallurgy” • Pure Lithium Corporation, a vertically integrated lithium metal battery technology company based in Boston, announced an agreement with Kingston Process Metallurgy to develop and construct Pure Lithium’s pilot-scale lithium metal anode production reactor. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Montana Republicans Are Proud Their State Has The Most Toxic Superfund Sites” • When the annual legislative session for 2025 is over at the end of May, the state’s Republican governor is certain to sign a large number of bills intended to mount a direct assault on the Held vs Montana decision that upheld a right to a clean environment. [CleanTechnica]
Have an ethereally delightful day.
geoharvey 