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Science and Technology:

¶ “New Supercomputer For Climate Science” • The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a new supercomputer dedicated to climate science research. The new system is the fifth supercomputer to be installed and run by the National Climate-Computing Research Center at ORNL. [CleanTechnica]

An older supercomputer (Pixy.org, CC0)

World:

¶ “Trade And Carbon Credits, Not Ukraine, Lead The Agenda At Lula – Xi Talks” • As Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visits China, the trip’s focus will not be on Ukraine, but almost entirely on trade, how investments by China can help Brazil’s economy get back on track, and the potentially lucrative universe of carbon credits. [CNN]

¶ “‘Beginning Of The End’ For Fossil Fuels: Global Wind And Solar Reached Record Levels In 2022, Study Finds” • The use of coal, oil, and gas to produce electricity is expected to fall in 2023, a report by energy think tank Ember says. This would mark the first year to see a decline in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity in a normal economy. [CNN]

Wind farm (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “India To Speed Up Renewable Auctions, Tender 50 GW Every Year” • India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has laid out plans to issue tenders for 50 GW of new renewable energy capacity every year between the financial years 2024 and 2028. At least 10 GW of the tenders issued every year will be for wind power projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Bean That Could Change The Taste Of Coffee” • Findings from his latest study suggest that if global temperatures rise 2°C, countries supplying a quarter of the world’s arabica will suffer major declines in yield. A rise of 2.5°C will have this impact on 75% of supply. The industry is now pinning hopes on a different coffee species. [BBC]

Coffee beans (Tina Guina, Unsplash)

¶ “BYD Dolphin Coming To Europe – €30,000 Price Estimate” • BYD has just announced that a 60-kWh Dolphin is coming to Europe where it will have four trim levels. It will be available in LHD and RHD markets. (Hello, UK.) The BYD Dolphin will be available from around June or July. Some reports say the starting price will be around €30,000. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Boosted Clean Energy To Power More Than 90% Of New Demand Last Year, Report Says” • The share of global electricity generated by renewables is growing so fast there may be no going back, according to a new report released by research firm Ember, an independent environmental non-profit and think tank. [Fortune]

Solar array (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Danish Company Opts For Sustainable Steel For Its Floating Renewable Energy Platforms” • Danish company Floating Power Plant (FPP) has signed a letter of intent with a specialist in sustainable recycling of maritime materials Renable for the supply of recycled steel for its floating renewable energy platforms. [Offshore Energy]

¶ “Wind And Solar Now Generate 12% Of Global Electricity” • An Ember report found that wind and solar energy hit a record high 12% of global electricity generation in 2022. Meanwhile the EU countries are lagging behind with wind power expansion. Put together, all renewable energy sources and nuclear power made up 39% of global electricity last year. [DW]

Cabin with solar panels (John Pupkin, Pixy.org, CC0, cropped)

US:

¶ “EPA Proposes New Tailpipe Rules That Could Push EVs To Make Up Two-Thirds Of New Car Sales In Us By 2032” • The EPA proposed ambitious new car pollution rules that could require electric vehicles to account for up to two-thirds of new cars sold in the US by 2032, for what would be one of the country’s most aggressive climate-change policies yet. [CNN]

¶ “DOE Seeks Public Feedback And Input On New Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants For Electrified Vehicles Program” • An office of the US DOE released a Request for Information to seek public input that will help shape the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for Electrified Vehicles program. [CleanTechnica]

First electric school bus in NYC (Courtesy of UES)

¶ “Tesla Wins Best Overall Luxury Brand From KBB!” • Tesla earned the title of Best Overall Luxury Brand from Kelley Blue Book in its most recent “Brand Image” analysis, landing the company the top spot in this category for the fourth year in a row. The EV maker also landed itself four other top spots in the Brand Image Awards. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coal Supplying Less US Power Than Gas, Renewables, And Nuclear” • Coal use in the US power market is set to decline for a second year in succession as utilities increasingly shift to cheaper and cleaner natural gas and renewables. About 11 GW of coal plants, which is 5% of the fuel’s US capacity, closed in the past year, according to the DOE. [Mining Weekly]

Coal-burning power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “India’s Rayzon Plans 500-MW Solar Module Fab In The US” • A solar module manufacturer based in India announced plans to set up a US module production line. Rayzon Solar announced plans to set up 500 MW of solar module manufacturing capacity in the US. The company did not specify any timeline or location for setting up the facility. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PG&E Sued To Force Closure Of California’s Last Nuclear Plant” • Friends of the Earth filed a complaint in San Francisco Superior Court asking for an order that would stop PG&E from violating a 2016 agreement with the group in which the company promised to shut the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant once its licenses run out by 2025. [Yahoo Finance]

Have an inexpressably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Dispelling Myths Around Renewable Energy Technologies” • Despite the falling costs of renewable energy, and their growing share in the global energy mix, fossil fuel companies and their allied politicians keep pushing myths that question renewables’ viability to replace fossil fuels and attempt to justify fossil fuel-based solutions. [Energy Monitor]

Wind turbines (Filipe Resmini, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Sandstorm Hits Beijing And Northern China For The Fourth Time In A Month” • A severe sandstorm has cloaked Beijing and China’s northeastern regions for the fourth time in one month forcing some residents to stay indoors to protect themselves from dense air pollution. On Monday, the air quality index soared to “severely polluted” levels. [CNN]

¶ “Proposed 1,200 MW Floating Solar PV Plant In Zimbabwe Could Increase Generation By 44%” • China Energy Engineering Group has proposed to construct a 1,200 MW DC floating solar PV plant on Lake Kariba to help with Zimbabwe’s unprecedented power crisis. The floating solar plant would cover 25 km² (about 1.34%) of the reservoir’s area. [CleanTechnica]

Kariba Dam (Image from ZRA)

¶ “Nextracker Lands Order For 1.56 GW India Solar Project” • Media reports say Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy will procure trackers for a 1.56-GW solar power project in the state of Gujarat. The company is building the project for India’s largest power generation company, NTPC Limited. It is expected to be commissioned by June 2024. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coal Power Station Closes As State Transitions To Renewable Energy” • The Liddell Power Station in New South Wales, a coal-fired power station which first came online in 1971, has been shut down. The facility proved unreliable, having to be restarted 335 times in 2022, and it consistently failed to produce its maximum amount of power. [Utility Magazine]

Liddell plant in 2006 (Webaware, public domain)

¶ “Nuclear Power Plants: China And Russia Are Dominating The World’s Nuclear Trade” • At the beginning of this year, of the 59 reactors under construction in the world, 22 were in China, and 43 are of either Russian or Chinese technology, according to data from the World Nuclear Industry Status Report. Other countries are left far behind. [Globe Echo]

US:

¶ “Los Angeles, Las Vegas And Other Major Cities Could Face Huge Water Cuts In Feds’ Proposed Plan To Save The Colorado River” • The Biden administration released a highly anticipated analysis of the Colorado River crisis. It paints a dire picture of what that river system’s collapse would portend for the West’s major cities, farmers, and Native tribes. [CNN]

Las Vegas (Ryan Hafey, Unsplash)

¶ “See The Chipotle Of The Future” • The casual Mexican fast food chain Chipotle unveiled an all-electric restaurant design that is completely powered by renewable energy. The gas grills that are a focal point for walk-in customers are being replaced by electric systems. The chain’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030. [CNN]

¶ “Porsche Behind World’s Biggest Factory For Silicon Battery Materials” • Porsche has been running behind the EV pack, but it appears to be set to catch up. The company has put money into the US startup Group14 Technologies, which is building a silicon battery materials factory in Washington state billed as the largest facility of its kind in the world. [CleanTechnica]

Group14 factory in Washington State (Courtesy of Group14)

¶ “Tesla Market Cap Up To $585 Billion” • The last week has not been great, but Tesla’s stock is on a tear this year, up almost 73% for the year to date. With analysts looking ahead to the next nine months of the year, investors in Tesla stock have pushed its market capitalization up significantly in recent months, to $585 billion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric School Buses Upgrades Linked To Increased Student Attendance” • Replacing all of the oldest school buses in the nation could lead to 1.3 million fewer daily absences annually, according to a University of Michigan study. The suspected cause of these preventable absences is exposure to high levels of diesel exhaust fumes in bus cabins. [CleanTechnica]

School bus (Courtesy of GreenPower Motor Company)

¶ “Biden Administration Approves Construction Of 700-Mile Transmission Line Across US West” • The US Bureau of Land Management announced that it has approved the construction of a 732-mile high-voltage transmission line across the Western US that will help transport renewable energy from Wyoming to southern Nevada. [The Hill]

¶ “Sea Level Rise: Scientists Find ‘Unprecedented’ Rates Along Some US Coasts” • A study published in Nature Communications found that since 2010, sea level rise along the nation’s Southeast and Gulf coasts has increased dramatically. Scientists at Tulane University found that sea levels in those regions have increased by about half an inch every year. [Vigour Times]

Ft Lauderdale (Daniel Halseth, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “FEMA Sued Over Lack Of Renewables In Rebuilding Puerto Rico’s Power Grid” • Advocacy groups are suing the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, saying it is incorrectly ignoring renewable energy while using billions of dollars in congressional funding to rebuild Puerto Rico’s power grid, making the island less resilient. [1450 AM 99.7 FM WHTC]

¶ “Green Oceans’ Persuasion Methods Echo Those Of National Climate Change Deniers” • A 22-page report by the Climate and Development Lab at Brown University concludes that Green Oceans, a citizens group based in Rhode Island that lobbies against offshore wind projects, bases its arguments on techniques of disinformation funded by fossil fuels. [ecoRI News]

Have an agreeably sustainable day.

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World:

¶ “How Electric Tuk-Tuks Could Become A ‘Virtual Power Plant’ For Bangladesh” • Among the chaos of three-wheeled taxis called tuk-tuks, one startup in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has spotted an opportunity. SOLshare plans to tap into the country’s estimated 2.5 million electric tuk-tuks, and turn them into a “virtual power plant.” [CNN]

Tuk tuks (Martin Péchy, Pexels)

¶ “Northern Thailand’s Air Pollution Becoming A Tourism Issue” • Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai is known for its scenic mountainous views, temples, and chic cafés. But high pollution levels in Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces are keeping tourists away and alarming locals. The government is urging residents to avoid outdoor activities. [CNN]

¶ “Toyota Planning To Add Plug-In Hybrids With Over 200 Km Of Battery Range” • Toyota recently announced that it will expand its current lineup by releasing ten new battery-electric models by 2026. For plugin hybrids, Toyota announced that it is developing next generation plug-in hybrids with an all-electric driving range beyond 200 km (124 miles). [CleanTechnica]

Next generation Prius (Toyota image)

¶ “India Selects Bids For Manufacturing Capacity For 39.6 GW Of Solar Modules” • The Solar Energy Corporation of India called for bids few months back, offering subsidies to companies looking to set up module manufacturing facilities. After the bids came in, the government allocated 39.6 GW of manufacturing capacity to 11 companies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “75 Terawatts Of World Solar PV Are Needed By 2050 – Action Is Needed Now!” • The increasing acceptance of PV technology has prompted the experts to suggest that about 75 TW (75,000 GW) or more of globally deployed PV will be needed by 2050 to meet decarbonization goals. “Time is of the essence.” A great effort is needed now. [CleanTechnica]

PVs on trackers (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Brazil May Add 76.9 GW Of Solar PV And 17.8 GW Of Wind Capacity” • Brazil is expected to launch the first offshore wind auction in 2023 and the winning projects are slated to be operational in 2027. Brazil is expected to add 76.9GW of solar PV capacity and onshore wind capacity of around 17.8GW between 2023-2035. [GreentechLead]

¶ “Liddell Power Station Is Closing. What Does That Mean For Energy Supply?” • One of Australia’s old coal clunkers, Liddell Power Station, is set to close at the end of April after more than 50 years in operation. It had 2.2 GW of capacity at one time, but with age, its reliable generating capacity had dropped to between 800 MW and 1,250 MW. [Climate Council]

Liddell plant in 2006 (Webaware, public domain)

¶ “Radioactive Sludge At Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Nears Storage Limit” • The amount of sewage sludge tainted with radioactive substances from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is pushing the storage facility to its limit, local media reported. The sludge is muddy waste with radioactive material captured while treating water treatment. [CGTN]

US:

¶ “Did This Winter Solve The Colorado River Crisis? No – But It Took Some Pressure Off, For Now” • After three years of record-breaking drought and plummeting water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, water officials and experts across the West are now looking at more snow and water than they can handle. But one winter isn’t enough to end the drought. [CNN]

Colorado River (Gabriel Tovar, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Launches Its Vision Park Assist Feature” • Since Tesla’s removal of ultrasonic sensors from its vehicles around late last year, some drivers have complained about the loss of park assistance. Now, Tesla has shared its vision-based park assist feature in a new update, which works without any need for ultrasonic sensor hardware. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Power In Florida” • Florida’s solar policies have lagged behind other states, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Florida has no renewable portfolio standard, and it does not allow power purchase agreements. But despite politics, Florida is third in the nation in solar power generating capacity, after California and Texas. [CleanTechnica]

Pres Obama at a solar plant (The White House, public domain)

¶ “Virginia Groups Struck A Deal On Biomass Plants. Youngkin’s Amendments Cause Controversy” • As the General Assembly gets ready to reconvene to vote on bill amendments recommended by Republican Gov Glenn Youngkin, legislation that would allow the continued use of biomass to generate electricity is firing up some last-minute debate. [Virginia Mercury]

¶ “An Alaskan Village’s Journey Back to the Future” • The largest oil field in the US was discovered northern Alaska in the 1960’s. That brought fuel, gasoline-powered vehicles, and oil heating to Igiugig. But fuel costs have risen so much that residents struggle to afford heat for their homes and schools shuttered. Remote villages are turning to renewable energy. [NREL]

Igiugig village (Photo from Igiugig Village Council)

¶ “Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub Submits Application For US DOE Funding Grant” • The Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub LLC submitted an application for a $1.25 billion grant from the US DOE to advance the hydrogen economy in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The proposal identifies eight projects in the four states. [Colorado.gov]

¶ “Texas Senate Passes $10 Billion Plan To Develop 10,000 MW Of Gas-Fired ‘Insurance’ Capacity” • The Texas Senate approved a package of energy reforms including a $10 billion “energy insurance program” that aims to shore up grid reliability through development of a fleet of new gas-fired power plants with 10,000 MW of capacity. [Utility Dive] (Nonsense! – ghh)

Have a really fantastic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “It’s Time For Virginia To Plan Its Next Offshore Wind Farm” • Virginia’s first commercial offshore wind farm is on track to start construction next year and to be fully operational in 2026. It will be the largest offshore wind farm in the US. It took ten years to come to this point. We need to move faster, and that means planning new facilities now. [Virginia Mercury]

Offshore wind turbines (Bob Brewer, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Cork That Doesn’t Go Into Wine Bottles” • Cork has uses ranging from place mats to flooring and has been harvested sustainably since ancient Roman times. Because cork bark can be harvested every 20 years from long-lived cork oak trees, Europe has cork forests that support wildlife species found nowhere else. Cork is a great insulator. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Is Your Petrol Car Killing Your Pets?” • Many studies have been done to demonstrate the health consequences of breathing in the fumes from internal combustion engines, and yet some people still resist the call to move across to a battery electric vehicle. But what if your car was killing your fur baby? Or, at least, damaging its health? [CleanTechnica]

Fur baby (Tran Mau Tri Tam, Unsplash)

¶ “Green Steel In The News Again” • The UK-based think tank Rethink Energy produced its Green Steel Revisit: Myth or Reality report declaring that a time will come when the steel sector will be able to produce sustainable green steel at a cheaper price than by using traditional coal-based methods. The steel sector will no longer be hard to abate. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The 2023 BYD Qin Plus EV Shows How Far BEVs Have Come Over The Last Decade” • In some cases, battery EVs are priced lower than comparable ICE cars. Let’s look at the world’s largest auto market, focusing on one of the traditional leaders in the sedan market, the Toyota Corolla, and compare it with a similar BEV sedan, the BYD Qin Plus EV. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Qin Plus EV

¶ “High Oil Prices Fueling Middle East’s Renewable Energy Boom” • Oil prices have soared to multi-year highs, largely aided by strong post-Covid-19 demand, surprise OPEC+ cuts and the disruption caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. The windfall allows some Gulf Arab states to diversify their oil-reliant economies in very big ways. [The Tide News Online]

¶ “Tesla To Build New Megapack Battery Factory In China” • Tesla is planning to expand its business in China with a new battery factory to be built in Shanghai. The new facility is to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually, with a total capacity equivalent to 40 GWh. The batteries produced in Shanghai will be sold globally. [Oil Price]

Shanghai (Edward He, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Dominican Republic Is Installing 17 Renewable Energy Plants” • The Dominican Republic has 17 large renewable energy plants under construction. Six will enter operation before the beginning of next semester, and eight by the end of this year. The country will meet the goal of covering 25% of the national demand with renewables by 2025. [Dominican Today]

¶ “Globally, 40% Installed Power Comes From Renewable Sources: Report” • The International Renewable Energy Agency, in its World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023, said that in the global space, 40% of power is generated from renewable resources. Last year, of the new power capacity across the world, 83% was based on renewable resources. [BW Businessworld]

Hydropower (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Habeck Before The End Of The Nuclear Power Plant: ‘We Will Have 80% Renewable Energies By 2030.’” • Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) said the forthcoming nuclear phase-out in Germany cannot be reversed. He said that new construction of nuclear power plants has always presented itself as an economic fiasco. [California18]

US:

¶ “EPA Preparing To Release Strict Vehicle Emissions Rules” • The US EPA is preparing to release strict new proposed federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles that would move the US car market decisively toward EVs over the next decade. The rules would ensure that 64% to 67% of all new-car sales in the US would be EVs by 2032. [CNN]

Charging Tesla (alex, Unsplash)

¶ “US Forest Service Grant Gives City Of Prineville’s Planned Biomass Power Project $1 Million Boost” • The city of Prineville, Oregon, got a $1 million boost from the US Forest Service for its plans with Crook County to build a 25-MW renewable energy biomass plant. Officials say will speed forest restoration projects while reducing wildfire risk. [KTVZ]

¶ “Seneca Solar Seeks Equitable Solutions For The Climate Crisis” • Seneca Solar, a climate consultancy and solar developer wholly owned by the Seneca Nation, is expanding its strategic partnership with Alternative Energy Development Group to advance renewable energy developed and controlled by Native communities. [Triple Pundit]

Have a gracefully blissful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Will Washington Halt The Global Renaissance Of Nuclear Power?” • New rules mandated by US Congress were supposed to provide a streamlined licensing process for small reactors, which are in advanced stages of development. Instead, the NRC staff simply cut and pasted the existing rules for conventional reactors into a 1,200-page regulation. [Foreign Policy]

Nuclear power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “’You Could Feel The Stress And Terror’: Inside Fukushima’s Abandoned Hospitals” • Urban explorer Bob Thissen and crew explored two abandoned hospitals near the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant that had meltdowns in 2011. His documentation is a stunning time capsule inside one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. [Business Insider]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why MLB Players Could Be Hitting Hundreds Of More Home Runs Each Season By The End Of The Century” • Whether it’s a change in the baseballs, better analytics, or more robust training, many have wondered about what could be behind the increase in Major League Baseball home runs in recent years. But research raised another possibility: climate change. [CNN]

Home run (Hudson Graves, Unsplash)

¶ “The Rise Of Human Composting” • Human composting is the process of turning human remains into nutrient-rich soil. It’s an option that avoids the environmental pitfalls of mainstream practices: cremation releases CO₂ and air pollutants, and casket burial typically involves hazardous embalming chemicals and nonbiodegradable materials. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Ways To Protect Food Crops From Climate Change And Other Disruptions” • As climate and security crises destabilise our food sources, researchers are taking a critical look not just at how we produce food, but at the entire systems behind our food supplies. In this case, the systems behind the seeds that produce our food crops. [Partner Science Norway]

Rye (Kai Pilger, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Renewable Energy To Power Delta Public Hospitals” • In Nigeria, the Delta State Government said it has approved the installation of renewable energy (solar) in government hospitals across the state. The Delta Information Commissioner said the approval addressed an energy deficit in medical facilities such as general hospitals. [The Nation Newspaper]

¶ “GRIDSERVE Opens Two New Electric Super Hubs In UK’s North East” • GRIDSERVE and Moto opened two Electric Super Hubs on the A1(M), allowing for quick charging on one of the busiest roads in the UK. Since 2021, the partnership has installed over 320 EV charging stations, including 142 high-power stations in eighteen locations. [CleanTechnica]

Braintree Electric Forecourts® (Courtesy of Gridserve)

¶ “SMEs Turn To Solar Power” • Many companies, especially small and medium enterprises, are adopting solar energy, saving up to thousands of ringgit (1 ringgit = 23¢) each month on power bills. This comes in the wake of the hike in electricity tariffs to 20 sen per kWh (4.5¢/kWh) for medium-voltage and high-voltage users from Jan 1 to June 30. [The Star]

¶ “Masdar To Construct Three Solar Projects In Uzbekistan” • Masdar announced that it has closed on three solar PV projects in Uzbekistan. The plants will have a combined capacity of about 900 MW and represent the largest solar development program in Central Asia. Construction is to begin on all three projects in first half of this year. [Energy Digital Magazine]

Uzbek landscape (WantTo Create, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Tesla Broke Two Important Quarterly Records In Q1” • The first three months of the year were eventful for Tesla, to say the least, with sweeping price drops and the announcement of a new gigafactory in Mexico. Through all of it, Tesla has continued to increase its sales and production, clinching significant quarterly records for both in Q1. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gas Generators Get Caught With Their Plants Down” • Gas power plant owners are facing performance penalties levied by the grid operator PJM, which they are attacking for enforcing the rules. An added irony is that the penalties, over $1 billion, are meant to pay incentives to the plants that over-performed their obligations, including wind farms. [CleanTechnica]

Winter Storm Elliot (NOAA image)

¶ “Walmart To Build Dedicated Fast Charging Network” • 90% of Americans have a Walmart store within ten miles, the company says. If the country needs conveniently located fast chargers for its growing fleet of EVs, driving to the nearest Walmart or Sam’s Club would be super convenient, especially for people who need something in the store. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A Two-Year Degree Lands A Green Energy Job That Pays ‘A Pretty Penny’” • Leah Benne has no worries about finding a job. She’s in her first year of a two-year program at Cloud County Community College, and when she graduates with a degree in wind technology she expects several job offers, most of which pay at least $40,000 a year to start. [USA Today]

Have a resplendently magical day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Beyond Going Green, Here’s Why You Should Buy An EV” • Business Insider’s Tim Levin shared his thoughts on going electric after driving 24 different EVs. The story compiles his’s thoughts on why buyers should go electric, including experiences driving EVs from brands such as Tesla, Volkswagen, Rivian, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, and more. [CleanTechnica]

SKODA EV (SKODA image)

¶ “EV Home Charging Safety: What’s The NEC 80% Rule For EV Charging And Why Does It Matter?” • The National Electric Code defines safety standards for homes. It had to modify its safety load standards since EV charging can run continuously, defined as greater than 3 hours. The code limits the time at which circuits run at over 80% of rating. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Beavers Could Help The Colorado River Survive Future Droughts” • Beavers are natural engineers, instinctively building dams and canals. A growing movement of nonprofits, experts, and government agencies see a potential to take learn beavers’ natural engineering prowess to capture more water for the places that desperately need it. [ABC News]

Beaver pond (Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “A Study Says Climate Change May Push More Hurricanes Toward US Coasts” • Changes in air patterns as the world warms will likely push more and nastier hurricanes up against the east and Gulf coasts of the US, especially in Florida, according to a study. Published in the journal Science Advances, it focuses on the crucial aspect of where hurricanes go. [WUSF News]

World:

¶ “Polluting Planes And Ships Get Green Investment Label From EU” • Planes and ships that run on fossil fuels could be given ‘green’ investment status as the EU Commission published its updated list of sustainable investments. Investments in more ‘efficient’ planes and ships would qualify as green, regardless of their use of fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Airplane (Emanuel, Unsplash)

¶ “Largest Battery Energy Storage Facility Up In Northern Philippines” • The Philippines is now set to become one of the world’s leaders in the Battery Energy Storage System with a facility that has 1000 MW of capacity, according to officials of SMGP. The BESS is in the historic province of Bataan, 127 km (78 miles) from the capital city Manila. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “World BEV Sales Now 10% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 49% in February 2023 compared to February 2022. There were 812,000 registrations, representing 14% share (9.7% battery EV share) of the overall auto market. This means that the global automotive market is in the Electric Disruption Zone. [CleanTechnica]

EV Charging (Michael Fousert, Unsplash)

¶ “Cambodia Approves Five Renewable Energy Projects” • The Royal Government of Cambodia has approved five renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 520 MW. The projects will increase the power supply to the national grid and contribute to reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and protecting the environment. [Khmer Times]

¶ “China’s Top Oil Companies Are To Invest $14.5 Billion In Renewable Energy” • Three companies, China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec), China National Offshore Oil Corp, and PetroChina, joined to achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2060. The companies have set aside a joint investment of $14.5 billion to diversify their energy portfolios. [Oil Price]

Chuanshan wind farm (Siyuwj, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Vibrant Energy Secures $268 Million To Build Wind-Solar Projects In India” • Vibrant Energy, an Indian renewable energy developer, has obtained ₹22 billion ($268.8 million) in funding from Power Finance Corporation. The financing will support construction of two wind-solar hybrid projects with a total capacity of 300 MW. [Power Technology]

US:

¶ “Tesla Cuts US Prices For Fifth Time Since January” • Tesla cut prices in the US between 2% and nearly 6%, its website showed on Thursday, as the company extends a discount drive on its EVs that analysts caution could hurt profitability. The company has cut the price of its base Model 3 by a cumulative 11% since the start of the year. [CNN]

Tesla Model 3 (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)

¶ “North Carolina Solar Installers Settlement With Duke Energy Approved By NC Utilities Commission” • A rate modification for solar customers in North Carolina was recently approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. This impacts people living in North Carolina who want to use the grid that Duke Energy manages for net metering. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford To Radically Reduce Complexity, Announces EV Tax Credit Eligibiliy” • The head of product development for Ford said the company plans “dramatic reductions” in the complexity of its product lineup starting in the 2024 model year. Also, Ford said all three of its currently available popular EVs are eligible for IRA tax credits in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Image courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Invoke Eminent Domain, Marshall Plan For Renewable Energy, Said JP Morgan Ceo” • In a letter to shareholders, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon recognized that the window for action to avert the costliest effects of global climate change is closing. He voiced support for nonpartisan permit reform for renewables development. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Leaks From Minnesota Nuclear Power Plant Raise Safety Fears Across US” • After finding that 400,000 gallons of radioactive water had leaked, Xcel did not announce it publicly for months. While some experts are not worried about health effects, even people who back nuclear power say that Xcel could have been more forthright in its actions. [The Guardian]

Have an emphatically nice day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Truck CO₂: Europe’s Chance To Lead” • The European Commission proposes to increase sales of zero-emissions heavy vehicles through CO₂ reduction targets of a -45% in 2030, a -65% in 2035 and a -90% in 2040. At first glance, a CO₂ target of -90% might seem close enough to full decarbonization, but it falls far short in four key aspects. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)

¶ “Nuclear Power Isn’t As Clean As The Industry Makes It Seem” • Does nuclear energy cause pollution? Yes. The nuclear industry wants us only to see the low carbon emissions that result from splitting atoms, but fuel production causes carbon emissions, and there is local thermal pollution, potential pollution from waste and by-products, and more. [Green Matters]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Underground Water Could Be A Great Source Of Renewable Energy” • A study published in the journal Applied Energy shows that use of underground water to store thermal energy could reduce natural gas and electricity consumption by 40% in the US heating and cooling sector. Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage is being studied around the world. [Earth.com]

Studying underground water (Maxime Bouffard, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “‘Shocked’ By The Loss: Scientists Sound The Alarm On New Zealand’s Melting Glaciers” • Every year New Zealand scientists fly over some of the country’s most iconic glaciers – ancient “rivers” of ice that descend from the Southern Alps, a spine of mountains that extend along the South Island. And almost every year, they find them shrinking. [CNN]

¶ “MINI’s Top Seller Goes Electric: Production Of The MINI Countryman Starts In Leipzig In November” • BMW released the specs of the upcoming all-electric MINI Countryman. BMW says the new MINI Countryman combines “electrified go-kart feeling with a reduced ecological footprint and continues the success story of the largest MINI model.” [CleanTechnica]

BMW Mini Cooper SE (BMW image)

¶ “Tesla Model Y Wins UK Bestseller Spot In March, Record BEV Volumes” • The UK saw plugin EVs take 22.4% of the auto market in March, down from 22.7% year on year. Battery EVs saw a small growth in market share YOY, and a new volume record, whilst plugin hybrids saw a slight decline. The Tesla Model Y was the UK’s best selling auto in March. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Battery-Electric Van Sales Continue To Grow In The UK, Up 32.7% For March Compared With Last Year” • The overall UK new light commercial vehicle market grew for the third consecutive month in March, rising by 17.3% to 47,634 units, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes eSprinter (Courtesy of Mercedes)

¶ “Apple Expands Renewable Energy With Global Suppliers” • Apple announced that its manufacturing partners now support over 13 GW of renewable electricity around the world, a nearly 30% increase in the last year. Over 250 suppliers operating in 28 countries and regions are committed to using renewable energy for all Apple production by 2030. [AzerNews]

¶ “Africa Accounted For Only 1% Of Additional Renewable Energy Investments In 2022” • In its March 2023 World Energy Transitions Outlook preview, IRENA pointed out that Africa accounted for only 1% of new renewable energy investments in 2022. It said more investments are needed to make the energy transition more inclusive. [Nairametrics]

Wind farm in South Africa (NJR ZA, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Authorities Sound Alarm After UFO Spotted Near Russian Nuclear Plant” • According to local and state media cited by Newsweek, officials sounded an alarm after spotting a UFO near the Leningrad nuclear power plant. A statement released later suggested that there is “nothing unusual here,” as “this is a regular situation.” [Euro Weekly News]

US:

¶ “Visit A Solar Decathlon Zero Energy Home Near You, April 4–18” • Eleven collegiate teams across the globe have spent nearly two years designing and building full-size, high-performance, low-carbon houses for the Solar Decathlon competition. They demonstrate creative solutions to real-world climate issues, and they are on display this month. [CleanTechnica]

Construction (Courtesy of the University of British Columbia)

¶ “DOE SolSmart Program Expands To Include Community Solar” • SolSmart is a national program for recognition and technical assistance for local governments. Its mission is to expand solar deployment. The program was expanded in March of 2022 to include storage, and it was expanded again in March of 2023 for community solar. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ram 1500 REV Electric Pickup Truck Will Feature A 229 KWh Battery And 500 Mile Range” • Dodge Ram REV electric pickup truck is to come in 2025. Its specs are truly astounding. It will be available with two batteries. One is rated at 168 kWh with a range estimated to be 350 miles. The other is rated at 229 kWh with an estimated range of 500 miles. [CleanTechnica]

Dodge Ram 1500 REV (Image by Ram)

¶ “Vice President Harris Promotes Renewable Energy Deal In Georgia Visit” • Continuing its efforts on renewable energy, the Biden administration announced what it says will be the largest community solar effort in US history, enough to power 140,000 homes and businesses in three states. The 1.2 GW of capacity will be built in Illinois, Maine, and Maryland. [PBS]

¶ “Colorado Utilities Consider Regional Market To Buy And Sell Wholesale Power” • The Southwest Power Pool, a regional power transmission organization, said 31 utilities and organizations signed agreements to explore creating the marketplace in the West. If it is created, companies could buy or sell power a day before it’s needed. [The Fort Morgan Times]

Have a sweetly presented day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Classic Megaproject Early Mistakes Will Create A Fiscal Disaster For Netherlands Nuclear” • Recently, the new coalition government of the Netherlands looked across its decarbonization portfolio, realized that it had failed to meet renewables targets, and so announced that it would build two nuclear power reactors. Beyond that, there is no real plan. [CleanTechnica]

Nuclear plant (Michael Gattorna, Pexels)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Scientists Design Solar Roofs For Greenhouses” • UCLA materials scientist Yang Yang and his team have designed solar panels that can absorb energy from sunlight without blocking the light plants need. In a study published in Nature Sustainability, they explore the new, viable application of solar cells that does not require large plots of land. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tornadoes And Climate Change: How A Warming World May Affect Tornado Season” • Climate change seems to be shifting the concentration and range of tornadoes, pushing them into more vulnerable areas. In addition, evidence suggests there will be a more favorable environment for severe weather – and probably tornadoes – in a warmer future. [CBS News]

Tornado (Randy Milanovic, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “A Sunken Oil Tanker Is Threatening Biodiversity In The Philippines” • It has been more than a month since the MT Princess Empress, carrying 800,000 liters (211,340 gallons) of industrial fuel, capsized near the Philippine province of Oriental Mindoro. As much as 36,000 hectares (88,958 acres) of marine area could be affected. The ship is still leaking. [CNN]

¶ “Nottingham City Council’s Greener HousiNG Scheme Installed Retrofit Measures On 1,036 Homes” • Sustainable energy measures often include such retrofits for old homes as insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps. The Nottingham City Council has been rolling out such retrofits as part of its Greener HousiNG scheme. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar (Courtesy of the Nottingham City Council)

¶ “The City Of Cape Town Is Proposing To Raise Feed-In Tariffs By 10.15%” • The problem of load-shedding is crippling the South African economy, costing up to $50 million per day. The City of Cape Town presented its Town 2023/2024 budget. Part of the initiatives announced for the budget include more plans to help the City end load-shedding. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted And Highview Power Sign Storage Pact” • Ørsted and Highview Power will carry out detailed analysis during 2023 to investigate combining Ørsted’s wind technology with Highview Power’s liquid air energy storage to promote the investment case for new offshore wind projects. The UK lost 1.35 TWh of energy this winter due to lack of storage. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Ørsted image)

¶ “UK Ministers Meet Climate Change Deniers ‘All The Time’, Government Says” • UK government ministers hold meetings with climate deniers “all the time,” a government spokesperson has said. The admission comes after it emerged that business secretary Kemi Badenoch dined with a controversial US think-tank’s lobbyists. [The Independent]

¶ “UK’s Biggest ‘Renewable’ Power Station Could Lose Its Funding Over Alleged ‘Greenwashing’” • Drax produced 11% of the UK’s electricity in 2019. Now it is under scrutiny by Ofgem, the energy regulator, following allegations that it was burning wood from ancient forests to generate electricity. It could lose up to £800 million per year in funding. [iNews]

Drax power station (StaraBlazkova, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “UN Nuclear Chief Discusses Ukraine Nuclear Plant In Russia” • Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s atomic energy watchdog met with Russian officials in Kaliningrad for negotiations on the safety of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The plant, currently held by Russian forces, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. [Albuquerque Journal]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Proposes Tougher Rules To Reduce Harmful Mercury Pollution From Coal Power Plants” • The EPA proposes to reduce mercury pollution and harmful particulate matter from coal-fired power plant emissions by up to 70%. If finalized, it would be the strongest update to the mercury standards since 2012. [CNN]

Coal-fired power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “DOE Announces $450 Million For Clean Energy On Mine Lands” • Deploying clean energy projects in current and former mine lands across the nation is a key to strengthening rural economies, creating new, good-paying jobs, and reducing the harmful greenhouse gas emissions that jeopardize public health and pollute local ecosystems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Several Good News Items From GM” • GM has recently announced several good things for its EV efforts. Bolt EV and EUV sales are doing well, Brightdrop (its electric cargo van division) scored some important partnerships, among which is a really good deal it struck with Ryder. Here we take a good look at each of them. [CleanTechnica]

Electric van (Courtesy of GM/Brightdrop and Ryder)

¶ “Tesla Plans To Manufacture 4 Million Less Expensive Electric Cars Each Year” • Sources say Tesla is gearing up to build a less expensive, smaller electric car that will sell for around $25,000, according to CNEvPost. And they claim Tesla plans to make 4 million of them each year by 2030, including 2 million at a new factory in Mexico. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Appalachian Power Says More Companies Are Demanding Renewable Energy” • Appalachian Power is asking for approval for work on renewable energy projects. The state’s power source is currently about 5% renewable energy, but companies coming to the state are demanding to run on at least 20% renewables to keep a certain carbon footprint. [WCHS]

Have a meticulously organized day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Melt Water In Antarctica Could Stall Major Ocean Currents” • Those who live along the east coast of the US and in Europe are familiar with the Gulf Stream. Without it, much of Europe would not be uninhabitable, but it would be a lot colder than it is. As the Antarctic ice melts, the Gulf Stream and other ocean currents are slowing down – a lot. [CleanTechnica]

The Ocean Conveyor (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

¶ “Battery News – Water In Texas, Hydrogen In Kentucky” • The lithium-ion battery is a marvelous thing, but it has disadvantages. The search for better, cheaper batteries is ongoing in laboratories around the world. At Texas A&M, researchers are exploring the use of water-based electrodes, and EnerVenue has a long-lived nickel-hydrogen battery. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Research Confirms Benefits Of Agrivoltaics” • Combining agriculture and solar panels, agrivoltaic systems can benefit both agriculture and energy. It is a win for farmers, energy producers, and the environment. It provides farmers with a steady revenue stream and actually increases the yield of many crops. It can also increase the output of PVs. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic pilot, Fraunhofer Inst (Tobi Kellner, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “New Hydropower Dam Designs Leave Fish Unharmed” • Many fish, including eels, migrate between fresh water and the ocean in their life cycles. Their migrations can be blocked by hydroelectric dams. Hydropower developer Natel has designed an innovative turbine that is designed to allow fish safe passage through the turbine itself. [Public News Service]

World:

¶ “BEV Sales In South Africa Look Set To Double Again In 2023” • Last year, 502 battery EVs were sold in South Africa, up from 218 in 2021. There has been a slow but steady increase in BEV sales in the country, aside from a sharp decline in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. BEV sales look set to double again, at the very least, in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

BMW iX (Image courtesy of BMW South Africa)

¶ “Brookfield Kicks Off Australian Renewables Splurge With 400-MW Wind Farm And Battery” • The renewable energy arm of Canadian investment giant Brookfield, the proposed new owner of Origin Energy, has plans to co-develop, own and operate a 400-MW wind farm and big battery in Queensland. Construction is to begin in 2025. [Renew Economy]

¶ “ARENA Announces $120 Million To Roll Out Community Batteries Across Australia” • Australia is a world leader when it comes to adoption of rooftop solar. Nearly one in three of its homes has solar panels! They combine for approximately 20 GW of power capacity. The best way to store their energy may be community batteries. [CleanTechnica]

CellCube battery system (CellCube image)

¶ “President Of Philippines Assures Support For Renewable Energy Sector” • Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr assured investors in the energy sector that his administration remains committed to extending all the support mechanisms needed to ensure a genuine partnership in a mutually beneficial relationship. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Final Panels Installed At Queensland Solar Farm Called The Nation’s Largest” • Construction on a massive solar farm on Queensland’s Western Downs has been completed. It will have the capacity to power the equivalent of 235,000 homes. Called Australia’s largest solar farm, the 400-MW project has more than a million solar panels. [ABC]

Solar array (Supplied photo)

¶ “Foundation In Fukushima Nuclear Plant Reactor Likely Badly Damaged” • Videos taken in a survey of the Fukushima Daiichi No 1 unit’s containment vessel by operator TEPCO showed major damage to the inside wall of a cylindrical foundation supporting the reactor pressure vessel, raising concerns about its ability to withstand future earthquakes. [Xinhua]

US:

¶ “Home Electrification Incentives In The Inflation Reduction Act” • Home electrification upgrades like solar panels, electric stoves, heat pumps, and EV chargers are a means to a cleaner, cheaper, and more resilient home energy ecosystem. Sadly, most of us don’t have the money it takes for those upgrades. A look at the IRA might help. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system (Krišjānis Kazaks, Unsplash)

¶ “US House Republicans Push Through An Energy Bill That’s A ‘License To Pollute’” • House Republicans passed an energy bill aimed at expanding mining and fossil fuel production that would repeal sections of the landmark climate change legislation signed into law last summer. White House advisors called it “a thinly veiled license to pollute.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EDF To Deliver 425-MW Indiana Solar” • EDF Renewables North America has signed solar agreements with Indiana Michigan Power by which I&M will add 425-MW of solar energy to its clean energy mix. EDF will also purchase 100% of the equity interests in the 245-MW Lake Trout Solar, following completion of construction activities. [reNews]

EDF solar farm in California (EDF image)

¶ “Biden Wants Coal Country To Rise Like A Phoenix” • The Biden administration is urging renewable energy companies to consider areas where coal-fired power plants and mines have closed. The latest incentive is a bonus tax credit for clean energy projects. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said coal country would rise like a phoenix. [Politico]

¶ “Bipartisan Group Of US Senators Proposes Legislation To Advance Nuclear Power” • A bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation intended to help expand nuclear power more quickly. The director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists dismissed the legislation as a “grab bag of special interest provisions.” [Utility Dive]

Have a downright superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Illinois Has No Time to Waste in Building Its Carbon-Free Electricity Future” • Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act sets a bold goal for the state – no carbon pollution from electricity generation by 2045. The Union of Concerned Scientists has commissioned power flow modeling to study the effects of retiring Illinois fossil fuel plants. [UCS blog]

Wind turbines (US DOE image)

¶ “DOE’s Nuclear Growth Proposal ‘Untethered to Reality’” • The US DOE is once again promoting large-scale reactors after it had spent a decade advancing smaller models. It boldly declared in a report last month that the domestic nuclear industry has the potential to scale up to about 300 GW by 2050. This is beyond absurd – it’s irresponsible. [Energy Intelligence]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Oil And Gas Production In Gulf Of Mexico Has Twice The Climate Impact Of Official Estimates” • Oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has significantly higher levels of potent, planet-heating gas than previously thought, research shows. The research found the climate effects of the operations are twice those of official estimates. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig (Kayden, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “Vehicle Exhaust Filters Do Not Remove ‘Ultrafine’ Pollution” • Airborne particles from vehicle emissions are a major factor in air pollution. Exhaust filters designed to mitigate this pollution are legally required in new vehicles, but a study, published in Environment International, shows they are not very effective at removing smal liquid particles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Researchers In Australia Find A New Reason To Recycle Solar Panels” • Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, a lead researcher at the Deakin Institute of Frontier Materials, and his team of co-workers say they have developed a sustainable way to reclaim silicon from old solar panels, purify it, and reconfigure it to to use in better batteries. It is highly lucrative. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Philippines Sets June Auction For New 11,600 MW Renewables Capacity” • In June, the Philippines will auction rights to build up to 11,600 MW of new power capacity from renewable sources in the next three years, the Department of Energy said. The country is to reduce its reliance on coal, replacing it with onshore wind, solar, biomass, and waste-to-energy. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Climate Change: Catalonia In Grip Of Worst Drought In Decades” • In the Sau reservoir of Spain, teams in small boats are hard at work hauling out fish with nets. The idea is to remove them before they die and rot in the water, making it unusable for human consumption. The water level has dropped to below 10% of the reservoir’s capacity. [BBC]

Drought in the Sau Reservoir (espencat, public domain)

¶ “Next-Generation Volkswagen Golf Will Be Battery Electric” • Reuters reports that Thomas Schäfer, the head of the Volkswagen brand, told Germany’s Automobilwoche that the company does not plan to develop a new combustion engine generation of the Golf after the current version reaches the end of its normal life. The next generation will be all-electric. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UN Asks International Court Of Justice For Advisory Opinion On Climate Change” • The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect to climate change, with most speakers hailing the move as a milestone for climate justice. [CleanTechnica]

International Court of Justice (ICJ image)

¶ “Powering Up Britain: Multi-Billion Pound Investment In Energy Revolution Unveiled” • The UK government says that it is delivering a radical shift in the energy system towards cleaner, more affordable energy sources to power more of Britain from Britain. The plan is to scale up affordable, clean, homegrown power and foster green industries. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ “From Nearly No Snow To A Potentially Record-Breaking Pile-Up In California” • After a remarkable series of winter storms, California water officials reported in their April snow survey the Sierra snowpack is among the largest on record, dating back to the 1950s. Last year, the snow depth in early April 2 was just 2.5 inches. This year it’s 126.5 inches. [CNN]

Snow (Daniela Cuevas, Unsplash)

¶ “Federal Judge Rules Willow Project Construction Can Move Forward As Environmental Groups’ Lawsuits Proceed” • A federal judge in Alaska declined to block progress on the controversial Willow oil drilling project while lawsuits against the project go on. Environmental law group Earthjustice and law firm Trustees for Alaska filed the complaints. [CNN]

¶ “EPA Grants California Electric Heavy Trucks Waiver” • For decades, California has had stricter standards on emissions, but only for passenger cars and light trucks. Cement mixers, tractor trailers, and garbage trucks, and other heavy trucks sold in the state only had to meet federal guidelines. Now the California Air Resources Board may regulate them also. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck (Volvo Trucks image)

¶ “California Grid Needs $9.3 Billion Upgrade In Renewables Shift” • California’s power grid operator says $9.3 billion in new projects is needed over the next decade to support the state’s shift to renewable energy and plug-in cars. The California Independent System Operator identified 46 projects that will be needed for grid reliability. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Ørsted Signs US PPA With Google” • Google signed a 150-MW PPA with Ørsted to purchase renewable energy generated by the 268-MW Helena Wind Farm for the next 15 years. The project was commissioned in mid-2022 and provides electricity to the South ERCOT service territory, enough to provide annual power an estimated 90,000 homes. [reNews]

Have a decidedly enchanting day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Wright’s Law Spells Doom For Legacy Auto Around The World” •  This article explains how Wright’s Law is impacting legacy auto sales in the US, Europe, and China, looking at the factors most affecting each market. It discusses how a reduction in costs of 15% every doubling in volume for the auto industry affects the markets. [CleanTechnica]

Model T Ford (Philip Schroeder, Unsplash)

¶ “Gas Cars Are Embarrassingly Uncompetitive In Lifecycle Cost Analysis” • We can consider the 5-year total cost of ownership of battery EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles. Clearly, battery EVs benefit their owners with lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs, and potentially longer life. A full life-cycle cost analysis captures this. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Oil Prices Surge After Surprise Move To Cut Output” • Oil prices have surged after several major oil exporters announced surprise production cuts. The price of Brent Crude oil jumped by over 7%, to above $85 as trading began. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and several Gulf states said they were cutting output by more than one million barrels per day. [BBC]

Refinery (Timothy Newman, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Paris Votes To Ban Rental e-Scooters” • Parisians have voted to ban rental electric scooters in their city, dealing a blow to scooter operators and a triumph for road safety campaigners. Almost 90% of votes cast favoured a ban on the battery-powered devices, official results showed. But we should note that under 8% of those eligible turned out to vote. [BBC]

¶ “BYD Launches The Tang SUV, Han Flagship Sedan, And Yuan Plus In Mexico” • BYD sold just under 190,000 EVs in 2020. And then, in two years, it managed to multiply sales to over 1,863,494 vehicles last year. Times ten in two years, how cool is that? Now, BYD has launched the Tang SUV, Han flagship sedan, and the Yuan Plus in Mexico. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Tang (BYD image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Construction Investment Tipped To Reach $11.8 Billion Peak” • In Australia, investment in new renewable capacity is forecast to jump almost 50% this year and continue to climb to a peak in 2026 with historically high levels of activity to follow, as the country transitions away from fossil fuel-fired power generation. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Government To Issue Tenders For 250 GW Of New Renewable Capacity By March 2028” • The government of India will issue tenders for 250 GW of renewable energy by March 2028, the renewable energy ministry said in a memo seen by Reuters. It will issue tenders to install 70 GW of renewable capacity in the fiscal year ending March 2024. [NDTV.com]

Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Scotland Generates Record-Breaking Renewable Energy” • According to official data, Scotland broke previous records by generating 35.3 TWh of renewable electricity in 2022, marking a 28.1% increase from 2021 and 9.8% from 2020. This amount of electricity could power all households in Scotland for over three years. [Energy Digital Magazine]

¶ “SSE Renewables Pairs With Equis Development For Oz Offshore Bid” • SSE Renewables and Asia-Pacific independent power producer Equis Development Pte have formed a 50/50 owned joint venture to bid for a feasibility licence in Gippsland, Australia’s first Federal Government declared offshore wind zone, near the State of Victoria. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (SSE Renewables image)

¶ “Russia Turned Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plant To A Military Base, Poses ‘Severe Threat’ To Region” • Oleh Korikov, the acting chairman of the Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine, said more evidence shows that Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant now serves as a military base for Moscow’s troops. [International Business Times]

¶ “India Eyes Major Expansion Of Nuclear Power” • In India, officials have made some ambitious pronouncements, calling for as many as twenty new nuclear power facilities to be brought online over the next decade. If that is done, it would more than double the number of operating nuclear power plants operating in the country. [POWER Magazine]

Narora nuclear plant (Courtesy of the Government of India)

US:

¶ “California’s Salmon Fishers Warn Of ‘Hard Times Coming’ As They Face Canceled Season” • Department of Fish and Wildlife officials in California and Oregon may recommend a ban on salmon fishing this year to protect the falling Chinook salmon populations. Scientists say dam construction and drought fueled by climate change have reduced fish numbers. [CNN]

¶ “Climate Change, Lack Of Maintenance Threaten Providence Infrastructure” • The Providence Preservation Society listed all of Providence’s infrastructure on its 2023 Most Endangered Properties List released January, a decision made due to the city’s vulnerability to climate change, PPS Advocacy Manager Adriana Hazelton said. [The Brown Daily Herald]

Providence, Rhode Island (Rafael Rodrigues, Unsplash)

¶ “$1 Billion Opening To Oklahoma Farmers, Ranchers, And Rural Businesses” • USDA’s Rural Development Oklahoma State Director announced that USDA will accept applications starting on April 1 for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and improve energy efficiency. [Duncan Banner]

¶ “Retirees Protest Against Banking Industry In Name Of Climate Change” • On the first day of spring, a large group of retirees gathered at a former farm field in Belfast, now the site of a Bank of America office. They greeted the new season with a demand that the bank stop funding fossil fuel projects, which endanger life on earth. [The Maine Monitor]

Have a spectacularly tranquil day.

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World:

¶ “The Oceans Just Reached Their Hottest Temperature On Record As El Niño Looms” • Ocean temperatures have steadily risen over the past several years – despite a lengthy cooling La Niña. The oceans have been record-warm for the past four years, scientists reported in January, temperatures are still rising, and an El Niño will warm things even more. [CNN]

High waves in an El Niño year (PDPhoto.org, public domain)

¶ “BYD Launches The ATTO 3, Han, And Tang SUV In Spain” • BYD has been on a roll announcing its entry into new markets on a seemingly weekly basis. BYD has launched new battery EVs in markets all across the world. Now, BYD is launching in Spain with 3 BEVs from its lineup. These three are the ATTO 3, the Han, and the Tang SUV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Debuts The Dolphin And Seal In Costa Rica” • BYD has been the number one company selling “New Energy Vehicles” in Costa Rica for three years in a row. BYDs NEVs consist of plugin hybrids and full battery electric vehicles. BYD has already sold over 2,000 NEVs cumulatively in Costa Rica since it launched sales there a few years ago. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “The BMW IX1 Now On Sale In South Africa” • The all-electric BMW iX1 is now on sale in South Africa. It starts from R1,140,000 ($62,928). It joins the growing list of battery EVs now available from BMW for South African consumers, joining the BMW i4 eDrive 35 M Sport, the MINI Cooper SE, the iX3, the i4 M50, the iX, and the flagship i7 sedan. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hampshire renewable energy company sells major project” • A global renewable energy company based near Romsey sold its first battery energy storage system. French utility Engie acquired the Broxburn 50-MW project in Scotland from East Wellow’s Hive Energy and its partners Ethical Ethical Power, Sirius Group, and EcoDev Group. [Hampshire Chronicle]

Hive Energy bamboo farm in Portugal (Hive Energy image)

¶ “Coal-Fired Projects Back On, Mega Lithium Battery Storage Push In New Power Policy Blueprint” • A new blueprint for India’s power sector planners marks a discernible reversal in the policy thrust from its last edition, where the focus was almost entirely on renewable energy. The fresh draft cites the need for fresh coal-based capacity. [The Indian Express]

¶ “Marlish Waters Switches Northumberland Farm Factory To All Renewable Power” • Soft drinks firm Marlish Waters promised its range of drinks flavoured with natural fruit extracts will be made with 100% solar, wind and biomass energy. The Marlish Waters facility has undergone investment in technologies to build solar capacity and efficiency. [Business Live]

Marlish Waters drinks (Marlish Waters image)

¶ “CSIRO’s Renewable Energy Storage Roadmap: CSP Lowest Cost” • The CSIRO Renewable Energy Storage Roadmap outlines the significant role that concentrating solar thermal power (CSP or CST) will play in supplying industrial heat and long-duration storage. The Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association is in support of the findings. [SolarPACES]

¶ “VAT Rate On Solar Panels Cut To Zero Saving Households €1,000 On Installation” • Irish households installing solar panels are to save an extra €1,000 as the VAT on initial costs is to be completely abolished. Eamon Ryan, leader of the Green Party, is reducing VAT to 0% on the supply and installation of solar panels on homes and public buildings. [Irish Examiner]

Rooftop solar systems (Jaggery, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “US Company Signs Deals In Europe For Small Nuclear Reactors” • Last Energy, based in Washington, DC, announced that it had signed agreements in the UK and Poland for 34 small modular reactors. These are among the tiniest small modular reactor designs we have seen to date, producing a mere 20 MW of electricity each. [OilPrice]

US:

¶ “US Treasury Releases New EV Tax Credit Rules” • The US Treasury has published its new EV tax credit rules. The window of opportunity to claim the full tax credit is to close on April 18. If you are in a position to make new EV purchase before then, you may want to hurry out to your nearest dealer and get the paperwork done post haste. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an EV (myenergi, Unsplash)

¶ “Here’s Where Renewable Power Is Increasing (And Where It’s Not)” • Despite supply-chain problems amid the pandemic, 2022 saw major increases in solar and wind power in the US, though that growth varied by state, according to a report released last month by a nonprofit focused on climate change. Here is an assessment of how states did. [Kansas Reflector]

¶ “Washington’s Cherry Blooms Draw Crowds – And Climate Questions” • In the nation’s capital, nothing captures springtime more than swaths of soft pink cherry blossoms slowly emerging. This year, it was anticipated between March 22 and March 25. While directly in line with last year’s peak, that’s a full two weeks earlier than the area’s historic average. [WIRED]

Cherry blossoms (Mark Tegethoff, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Jane Goodall Brings Message To Miami-Dade: ‘We Have A Window Of Time To Try And Slow Down Climate Change’” • World-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall spoke at Florida International University. The 88-year-old conservationist and climate activist met with Local 10 News Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre before the event. [WPLG]

¶ “Georgia Power Says New Nuclear Reactor At Plant Vogtle Is Now Online” • Georgia Power says a new nuclear reactor at its Plant Vogtle is now generating electricity. And another reactor should be online later this year. In 2012, the estimated cost was $12 billion. Georgia Power says the actual cost at least $34 billion. Now come higher customer rates. [13WMAZ]

Have a significantly uplifting day.

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Opinion:

¶ “2027 – The Year It Is Over For ICE Vehicles” • “This morning, I was struck by this headline: ‘BMW M also forecasts that BEVs and PHEVs will overtake sales of ICEs as early as 2027.’ I’ve got news for BMW – by 2027, PHEVs won’t sell, and BEVs will be 90% of the market. If BMW isn’t making enough BEVs, it will lose market share.” [CleanTechnica]

BMW i3 (Vitali Adutskevich, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “20% Of New Cars In Europe Have A Plug!” • In February, 182,000 plugin vehicles were registered in Europe, up 14% year over year . Unfortunately, the overall market grew almost as fast, so the plugin market share was close the where it was 12 months ago. Last month’s plugin vehicle share of the overall European auto market was 20%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Mercedes-Benz Expands Lithium Production In Germany” • Rock Tech Lithium Inc, a German-Canadian startup, broke ground for a lithium plant in Guben, Brandenburg. Rock Tech is partnering with Mercedes-Benz to provide a high-grade lithium hydroxide, which will aid in scaling up production of fully electric vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

Groundbreaking (Mercedes-Benz image)

¶ “PM Invites UAE Firm To Invest In Renewable Energy Sector” • The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, invited Hayat Bio-Tech, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, to invest in Pakistan’s renewable energy sector. He gave assurance that the government would extend all possible facilitation in this regard. [The News International]

¶ “SAIC, GM, And Wuling JV Launched The Wuling Bingo In China, And It’s Priced At Just $8,682!” • The Wuling Bingo, a 5-door hatchback, was launched in China. It will have two options, one with a 30 kW (41hp) motor, and another at 50 kW (68 hp). They will come with batteries of 17.3 kWh and a 31.9 kWh and ranges of 203 km and 333 km. [CleanTechnica]

Wuling Bingo (Zotyefan, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Shell Splits Up Global Renewable Power Unit In Shakeup” • Shell will split up its global renewable power business as part of a shakeup by new CEO Wael Sawan, Bloomberg reported. The change embeds renewables operations such as wind and solar within regional divisions of Shell Energy, the company’s power business. [Offshore Technology]

¶ “Germany Will Complete Nuclear Phase-Out As Planned But Technology’s Risks Remain” • In Germany, the era of nuclear power will end on 15 April as planned, the country’s environment minister said. Minister Steffi Lemke stressed that the phase-out would not endanger the power supply security in Germany or other countries. [Clean Energy Wire]

Neckarwestheim nuclear plant (Courtesy of EnBW)

US:

¶ “End Of Utah Coal Power In Sight As Rocky Mountain Power Moves To Renewables And Nuclear” • Rocky Mountain Power announced it will shut down its coal-fired power plants in Emery County by 2032 and replace them with smaller nuclear-powered plants in the same locations. In the mean time, it will reduce the plants’ pollution. [The Salt Lake Tribune]

¶ “Turning America Into A Solar Manufacturing Powerhouse” • In 2021, the Solar Energy Industries Association’s goal to create 50 GW of US production capacity by 2030 seemed farfetched, but now, that goal is within reach. The country is on its way to becoming the most competitive and collaborative solar and storage industry in the world. [CleanTechnica]

Solar manufacture (Image courtesy of Boviet Solar)

¶ “US Data Centers Buy 40 GW Of Renewable Power – Two-Thirds Of The Corporate Market” • The amount of renewable power booked by data center operators increased by 50% in a year, and the sector now consumes two-thirds of the renewable power available to corporates in the US, according to a report from S&P Global. [DatacenterDynamics]

¶ “Grid Transmission Progress In The US” • As the US continues to see the highest levels of renewable energy investment in its history, the investment required to expand and improve the energy transmission grid will need to keep pace. Through a combination of private investment and support by the Biden administration, it is happening. [CleanTechnica]

Sticks & strings (National Energy Technology Laboratory image)

¶ “More Renewable Energy, Advanced Nuclear Energy Planned For The West” • A long-term resource plan put out by PacifiCorp anticipates a nearly fourfold increase in new wind and solar energy by 2032 and a system-wide 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The 2023 Integrated Resource Plan also includes 7,400 MW of energy storage. [Deseret News]

¶ “Ford Inks $4.5 Billion Battery Materials Deal, May Reprise The Capri Name For New EV” • Ford announced that it concluded an agreement with PT Vale Indonesia and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt to collaborate to advance more sustainable production of nickel in Indonesia and to help make electric vehicle batteries more affordable. [CleanTechnica]

Ford EV (Ford image)

¶ “Pilgrim Nuclear Owner Agrees To Wastewater Study, But Says It Won’t Pay For It” • The company decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station agreed to cooperate with an independent environmental study, but refused to pay for it. The study would evaluate risks involved with discharging over a million gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. [WBUR]

¶ “Senate Votes To Lift Nuclear Construction Ban” • The Illinois Senate approved a measure that would lift a moratorium on nuclear power plant construction. The vote was 39 to 13. The state’s ban went into effect in 1987 and was intended to remain in effect until the federal government identifies a national nuclear waste disposal strategy. [WGLT]

Have a fantastically amusing day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Industrial Heat Will Decarbonize With Electricity Instead Of Molecules. Here Is Why” • Electrification with resistance is usually more efficient for high temperatures. Burning fossil fuels creates a lot of waste heat. If a process needs 10 MW of heat provided by natural gas, often only 5 MW of electricity is needed to replace it. [CleanTechnica]

Glass making (Paul Harrison, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Drought, Heat Waves Could Worsen Air Pollution For Vulnerable Communities” • Research suggests that the hardships inflicted by heat and drought may be more widespread than previously thought. Heat and drought worsened air pollution for low-income and non-white communities throughout California, according to a study. [Los Angeles Times]

World:

¶ “This Once-Thriving Lake Has All But Dried Up. It’s A Story Repeated Across Europe As The Drought Deepens” • Lake Montbel is a shimmering, turquoise lake, stretching across 1,400 acres of southwest France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. But after the driest winter in more than six decades, it is at about 28% of its capacity. Much of Europe is in drought. [CNN]

Lake Montbel (Carolina Betancur, Unsplash)

¶ “With Tesla Price Cuts, Tesla Growing Faster In EU Than Any Other Automaker” • Some analysts claimed that Elon Musk and Tesla’s sweeping price reductions were a sign of weak demand. However, new data approaching the end of the first quarter shows how the move has boosted the automaker’s market share in a few key world markets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Weichai’s Electric Trucks Will Use BYD’s Blade Battery” • BYD’s revolutionary LFP Blade Battery has been instrumental in boosting production and sales of BYD’s battery EVs as well as its “Super Hybrid” DM-i and DM-p plug-in hybrids. BYD sales have been growing rapidly, but the company is also offering its Blade Battery to other OEMs. [CleanTechnica]

Blade Battery (Image courtesy of BYD)

¶ “BYD Partners With EV Cab Service In India, Will Deliver 100 BYD E6s With Blade Battery” • BYD has partnered with Evera, a cab service based in New Delhi. BYD will deliver 100 e6 station wagon EVs. Evera provides app-based cab services in the Indian capital. This will be one of the largest orders of EVs in the fleet sector for BYD India. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Luxon Takes Aim At Red Tape In Ambitious Plan To Boost Renewable Energy Production” • New Zealand’s National Party says its new renewable energy policy will double the amount of electricity produced from solar, wind, and geothermal plants. Leader Christopher Luxon announced plans to change consent rules to get renewable capacity built faster. [RNZ]

New Zealand geothermal plant (Ingolfson, public domain)

¶ “Fortescue Signs Renewable Power Supply For 300-MW Green Hydrogen Project” • Fortescue Future Industries says it signed a long term contract for renewable power to supply its proposed 300-MW green hydrogen and green ammonia facility to be built in Norway. Statkraft will supply the electricity, presumably from hydropower. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Record Level Of Renewable Electricity Generated In Scotland During 2022” • Renewable electricity generation reached record levels in Scotland during 2022. Over the year, total of 35.3 TWh was generated, up 28.1% on 2021 and an increase of 9.8% from 2020 – the previous record year. The rise was mainly driven by increased onshore wind generation. [insider.co.uk]

Whitelee wind farm (Scottish Government, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Urgent Action Needed To Harness Africa’s Renewable Energy Sources” • African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has told a high-level international conference in Berlin that urgent action is needed to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and harness Africa’s renewable energy sources. [Devdiscourse]

¶ “Photo From Inside Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant Shows Fresh View Of Damage” • Damage to the interior of a structure at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant can be seen in a photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. Part of the pedestal’s inner wall can be seen to have melted away, exposing its rebar. [Asia News Network]

Damage at the Fukushima plant
(International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning)

¶ “Scotland Slams UK’s Nuclear Emphasis In Energy Security Plan” • The Scottish Government condemned the recent move by the UK Government to prioritise nuclear power. In its policy plan, Powering Up Britain, the UK Government launched the Great British Nuclear which will be responsible for driving the delivery of new nuclear projects. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “They’re Drilling For Liquid Gold In Texas, But This Time It Isn’t Oil – It’s Lithium!” • If you see a drilling rig going up in Texas, it’s easy to assume that it must have something to do with oil and gas production. But some drilling rigs in east Texas are helping provide the lithium clean technologies like electric cars and home energy storage need. [CleanTechnica]

Drilling rig (Standard Lithium image)

¶ “Sun Day Campaign EIA Data Review Shows US Renewable Energy Generation Grew By 8.3% In 2022” • According to a review by the Sun Day Campaign of data recently released by the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy sources provided 12.99% of the nation’s total energy production in 2022. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “REI’s Renewable Energy Goal Climbs To New Heights” • The Recreational Equipment Inc Co-op set and achieved a 100% renewable energy goal a decade ago. This week, it announced it’s upleveling that commitment, pledging to source local renewable energy in each of its 181 stores and to support clean energy projects. [Greenbiz]

Have a marvelously lovely day.

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Opinion:

¶ “A Deep Dive Into The Technical Side Of The 2023 IPCC Report” • This month, the final installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) was issued. The Technical Summary of AR6 is a document that hasn’t received much media scrutiny. So let’s look at some of its key areas, especially those of interest to the cleantech audience. [CleanTechnica]

High water, low sales (Pixy.org, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Crucial Antarctic Ocean Circulation Heading For Collapse If Planet-Warming Pollution Remains High” • Melting ice in the Antarctic is not just raising sea levels but slowing down the deep ocean water circulation with vast implications, a study published in the journal Nature warns. The system collapse could happen before the end of this century. [CNN]

¶ “US Steel Announces New Steel That’s Ideal For EVs” • In a recent announcement, US Steel says it developed a new version of what is called electrical steel. It can be made much wider and thinner than other steels. It’s supposed to be lighter, stronger, and better for electrical environments, too. Also, it’s said to be more corrosion resistant. [CleanTechnica]

Making steel (US Steel image)

World:

¶ “EU Reaches Deal On More Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets For 2030” • EU negotiators struck a deal on more ambitious targets to expand the use of renewable energy by 2030, an important pillar of the bloc’s plans to fight climate change and end the use of Russian fossil fuels. The EU will get 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources. [RTE]

¶ “World’s Highest Court Can Set Out Countries’ Climate Obligations After Vanuatu Secures Historic UN Vote” • Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu won a historic vote at the UN that calls on the world’s highest court to establish for the first time the obligations countries have to address the climate crisis and the consequences if they don’t. [CNN]

Lodging in Vanuatu (Monika MG, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Heavy Duty Electric Trucks Now Being Offered In Some African Countries” • The good news is that there are now quite a number of heavy duty electric trucks on the market in Europe and elsewhere from the likes of Scania, Volvo, and BYD. There is more good news: They have already started to sell heavy electric trucks in some African states. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “33% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China – February 2023 Sales Report” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market. Even in one of the slowest months of the year, they scored almost half a million sales, up 56% year over year. And February showed another great performance, plugin vehicles hit 33% market share! [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song Plus EV (Evnerd, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “UK Government Gambles On Carbon Capture And Storage Tech Despite Scientists’ Doubts” • The UK government will defy scientific doubts to place a massive bet on technology to capture and store CO₂ in undersea caverns, to enable an expansion of oil and gas in the North Sea. It believes that developing oil and gas is still necessary. [The Guardian]

¶ “Minister Galushchenko: Renewable Energy Is A Matter Of National Security” • Since October 10, 2022, Russia has launched numerous missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy objects. At times, Ukrainian nuclear power plants generated enough electricity, but they could not supply it to affected areas. Renewable energy is a matter of security, the energy minister said. [Ukrinform]

Solar panels (Jeneva Stiles, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “UN Nuclear Watchdog Says Fighting Near Ukraine Power Plant Is ‘Intensifying’” • Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has made a second visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine amid an escalation in the fighting around it. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “Senate Passes Bill To Rescind EPA Waterway Rule In Rebuke Of Biden Administration Regulations” • The Senate passed a bill that would rescind a Biden administration policy regulating “waters of the United States.” The bill challenges an EPA rule that is argued to place a burden on farmers by being too restrictive in defining what is a navigable waterway. [CNN]

Mississippi River headwaters (Patrick Moes, USACE, public domain)

¶ “US Department Of Energy’s Strategy To Advance Offshore Wind Energy In The United States” • On March 29, 2023, the US DOE released  a comprehensive summary of DOE’s role in the nationwide effort to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and setting the nation on a pathway to 110 GW or more of offshore windpower by 2050. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Biden Administration Moves Ahead With Massive Gulf Of Mexico Drilling Auction” • Just a few weeks after allowing the Willow oil drilling project in Alaska to go forward, the Interior Department is auctioning off over 73 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil and gas drilling. Joe Manchin made the auction a condition of the Inflation Reduction Act. [CNN]

Offshore oil rig (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)

¶ “EV Acceleration Challenge” • As part of President Biden’s goal of having 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030, the White House is issuing a call to action to all stakeholders in the private and public sectors to dedicate resources and make independent commitments in order to actively support this historic transition to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bill Allowing Utilities To Charge Upfront Costs To Build Nuclear Plants Advances In Missouri House” • The repeal ban on utilities billing customers for the upfront costs of building nuclear power facilities, which had been approved by voters nearly fifty years ago, won initial approval from the Missouri House. [Moberly Monitor]

Have a singularly ideal day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Shoveling Money Into Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Won’t Make Their Electricity Cheap” • Data on the current costs of small modular nuclear reactors is starting to roll in. As a result, it’s now possible to make some projections of how long it would take for their costs to drop to the level of renewables today. The results aren’t good for SMRs. [CleanTechnica]

Proposed NuScale plant (NuScale image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Research Team Supports Isostatic Pressing For Solid-State Battery Manufacturing” • Following months of promising test results, battery researchers at the US DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory recommend that the solid-state battery industry focus on isostatic pressing as it looks to bring next-generation batteries to market. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Swiss Court Case Ties Human Rights To Climate Change” • More than 2,000 women are taking the Swiss government to court claiming its policy on climate change is violating their right to life and health. The Swiss women – who have an average age of 73 – say climate change is putting their human rights, their health, and even their lives at risk. [BBC]

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland (Tim Trad, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Push For Decision At World’s Top Court” • Four years after students in Fiji first proposed the idea of taking their concerns on climate change to court, the International Court of Justice is about to be asked to decide on a country’s obligations to fight global warming. The UN has to approve the request for the legal opinion, but 120 countries say they support it. [BBC]

¶ “Oil Tankers Already Sailing Into The Sunset Of Peak Oil Demand” • A global shipping logistics contact reached out to share a very interesting data point and article with me. It seems no one is ordering new oil tankers these days. No one in the shipping industry appears to be interested in investing in assets that will soon be stranded. [CleanTechnica]

Stranded asset (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “NTPC To Supply 1.3 GW Of Renewable Power To Greenko’s Green Ammonia Plant” • NTPC Renewable Energy said it would supply 1.3 GW of round-the-clock renewable energy to Greenko’s upcoming green ammonia plant in Andhra Pradesh, India. The facility is to produce up to 1 million tons of green ammonia annually by 2027. [Mercom India]

¶ “CSIRO Says Australia’s Storage Capacity Must Grow Tenfold, Urges Alternative Technologies” • In a report on energy storage, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation estimates the country could require a 10 to 14-fold increase in its electricity storage capacity by 2050. CSIRO calls for support of new technology. [pv magazine Australia]

Pumped storage plant (Cmh, CC-BY-SA 3,0, cropped)

¶ “Australian Technology May Help Generate Power From Defunct Gold Mines In Kolar Gold Fields” • An Australian renewable energy company’s unique scheme to generate electricity may resuscitate the fortunes of one of India’s iconic but defunct gold mines, namely the Kolar Gold Fields, in the state of Karnataka. [The Hindu]

¶ “Iberdrola In Global Wind, Solar Power Play With Amazon” • Iberdrola signed its largest-ever global PPA to develop renewable projects with Amazon. Baltic Eagle and Windanker offshore wind farms will provide Amazon with a total of 1.1 TWh of energy each year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity needs of more than 314,000 European homes. [reNews]

Solar power plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Latest In Ukraine: IAEA Chief Says Deal To Protect Nuclear Plant Could Be ‘Close’” • A deal to secure the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine could be “close,” although final details have yet to be agreed upon by Russian and Ukrainian officials, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency. [VOA News]

US:

¶ “Youth Versus The State Of Montana: Support For Fossil Fuel Companies Is Unconstitutional” • Sixteen young Montanans have sued their state, arguing that its support of fossil fuels violates their due as citizens. In their complaint, they cited the Montana Constitution, which guarantees residents “the right to a clean and healthful environment.” [CleanTechnica]

Montana (Amparo Ryburn, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “LG Energy Solutions Announces Major Investment In Arizona” • LG Energy Solution announced a historic investment of $5.5 billion into building a battery manufacturing complex in Queen Creek, Arizona. This new facility will be the single largest investment in a standalone battery manufacturing complex in US history. [Chamber Business News]

¶ “Genesis Announces EV Sales Expansion Into More US States” • Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, has announced an expansion of EV sales in the US. The brand offers its EV lineup of cars at select retailers in 15 states, providing customers with more choice and access to sustainable transportation options. Genesis aims for an all-electric lineup by 2030. [CleanTechnica]

Genesis charging (Courtesy of Genesis and Electrify America)

¶ “Xcel: Monticello Leak Fixed, Nuclear Plant Will Restart In Next Week” • Xcel Energy officials said crews have repaired a leak at the Monticello nuclear plant, and it will resume producing power in the next week. The plant fully powered down early Saturday morning and will power down again in mid April for a scheduled refueling outage. [MPR News]

¶ “Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Accident Happened 44 Years Ago” • While most people were still asleep just before 4 am on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, a malfunctioning valve, design issues, and human failure set off what some people would call “the most serious accident in US commercial nuclear power plant operating history.” [Penn Live]

Have a superbly jolly day.

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Opinion and Interviews:

¶ “The Great Battery Materials Charade Explained” • The US Treasury and the IRS are working on draft rules determining who is eligible for the billions of dollars of federal tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. The problem is the US doesn’t manufacture stuff anymore. The issue is how to avoid China while working with the EU. [CleanTechnica]

Cathode materials (Courtesy of Ascend Elements)

¶ “More Green Batteries For Europe And USA – From Norway’s FREYR” • CleanTechnica had FREYR CEO Tom Jensen for a podcast. They discussed FREYR’s plans for battery gigafactories in Europe and the USA, and particularly these regions catching up to China in EV battery production, including the battery supply chain. [CleanTechnicia]

¶ “Why The EU’s Power Grids Need Higher Renewable Energy Targets” • 2022 was a record year for clean energy deployment in Europe, and clean technology is predicted to continue growing. But to maintain the growth, the EU will need realistic plans for infrastructure. A crucial part of this is attention to the EU’s electricity grids. [EURACTIV.com]

Wind farm (Thomas Richter, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Algae Phoenix Rises: Biofuel Down, Concrete Up” • To the surprise of no-one, ExxonMobil finally canceled its long-running algae biofuel research program earlier this year. The University of Colorado at Boulder emerged as a hotspot for zero emission concrete research based on algae, working on an organism called a coccolithophore. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Petrochemical Industry Flattened By Sustainable Fashion, High Tech Soy Edition” • The US biotech company Modern Meadow contacted CleanTechnica to introduce its plant-based approach to sustainable fashion, with a focus on leather. Teasing from plants the same level of performance and aesthetics as plastics has been a challenge. [CleanTechnica]

Plant-based alternative (Courtesy of Modern Meadow)

World:

¶ “Volkswagen’s PowerCo Is Taking Off” • Last year, Volkswagen started a new battery production company that would operate under the VW umbrella: PowerCo. Two announcements from PowerCo show us that the company is making progress toward its goals. One said that the company is not working alone, and the other relates to new factories. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Swedish Mining Group Boliden Is Getting Electric Trucks From Volvo For Underground Mining Operations” • Mines and similar campus-based operations are some of the best places for EVs. It’s safe to say drivers of heavy electric trucks in such places will not be too worried about range anxiety even with full loads of heavy rocks. [CleanTechnica]

Electric truck in a mine (Courtesy of Volvo Trucks)

¶ “Farmers Take On Renewable Energy Sources In Face Of Rising Electricity Costs” • A 30% hike in energy costs can be a tough pill to swallow, particularly when an annual bill is more than $100,000. That’s the case for many farm businesses, dairy and horticulture in particular. Investments in renewable energy help farmers reduce their energy bills. [ABC]

¶ “European Energy Orders Stiesdal Electrolyser” • Danish renewables and PtX developer European Energy has ordered a Stiesdal electrolyser. The agreement between European Energy and Stiesdal’s subsidiary, Stiesdal Hydrogen, is for a 3-MW unit developed by Stiesdal Hydrogen that will be tested in a European Energy green hydrogen facility. [reNews]

Electrolyzer (European Energy image)

¶ “‘Global Energy Transition Needs $35 Trillion By 2030’” • The global energy transition is off-track, aggravated by the effects of global crises, and requires $35 trillion of investment by 2030 to ensure climate targets are delivered upon, the International Renewable Energy Agency says. Renewables deployment must grow by 1000 GW annually. [reNews]

¶ “Paris Plots Response To Ursula Von Der Leyen’s ‘Unfortunate’ Comments On Nuclear” • The office of French Energy Minister has slammed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent comments about nuclear not being “strategic” for EU decarbonisation. It plans a counter-offensive at an EU energy ministers meeting in Brussels. [EURACTIV.com]

Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission)

¶ “Zelenskiy Says Russia Is Holding Nuclear Plant ‘Hostage’” • Russian troops are holding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant “hostage” and its safety can’t be guaranteed until they leave, Ukraine’s president says, while his forces shut the frontline town of Avdiivka and plan their next move. He decried the Russian presence as “radiation blackmail.” [Corowa Free Press]

US:

¶ “Honda’s Working On More US-Based Battery Production” • Ascend Elements, a US company specializing in battery recycling and engineered materials, announced a preliminary agreement with Honda at the end of last month. Only days later, Honda and LG Energy Solution held an official groundbreaking ceremony for a new EV battery plant. [CleanTechnica]

Groundbreaking for the EV battery plant (Honda image)

¶ “Renewable Electricity Production Outpaces Coal For First Time In US” • Only 20% of the country’s power came from coal last year, the US Energy Information Administration said. Coal generated 23% in 2021, and peaked at almost 50% in 2007. But Renewables’ combined contribution to US electricity came to 21% in 2022. [Casper Star-Tribune]

¶ “Amogy Secures $139 Million Series B-1 Round Funding To Support Ammonia-To-Power Technology” • Amogy, a company specialising in ammonia power solutions, has announced its $139 million Series B-1 fundraising, led by SK Innovation, to enable the company to begin manufacturing its ammonia-to-power technology. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have a consistently fortunate day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “As Flooding Increases, These Cities Are Designed To Work With – Not Against – The Water” • With the climate crisis threatening cities, some are trying a different way to protect themselves from rising water levels. These vulnerable urban areas are looking to work with, rather than against, the water. There are many ways to accomplish this. [CNN]

Floating homes in Amsterdam (Courtesy of Space&Matter)

¶ “Tesla Supplier CATL To Produce M3P Batteries That Will Deliver Big Boost In Range For EVs” • The world’s largest battery manufacturer CATL is to begin production of its M3P batteries, which are 15% more energy dense than LFP (LiFEPO₄) batteries, and will perform better and cost less than nickel and cobalt-based batteries. [The Driven]

World:

¶ “As Antarctica’s Penguins Struggle With Record Low Sea Ice, One Species Is Adapting – It Offers Lessons To Us All” • While Adélie and chinstrap penguins are stuck in their ancient ways, the much more flexible gentoo penguins are ranging ever farther south. And as they show willingness to abandon a nest or chase new prey, their numbers are exploding. [CNN]

Gentoo penguins (Derek Oyen, Unsplash)

¶ “Germany-EU Spat Over E-Fuels Ends Amicably – For Now” • The EU was to ban new cars with internal combustion engines 2035, but Germany insisted they be allowed if they were to run only on green synthetic fuels.  The two sides have reached a compromise that would put sensors into the cars to prevent their running on fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “TRIG And BT Ink Blary Hill Power Supply Deal” • TRIG, the Renewables Infrastructure Group, has entered into a corporate power purchase agreement with BT for output from its Blary Hill wind farm in Scotland. TRIG’s 35-MW subsidy-free Blary Hill wind farm, was completed in early 2022 within budget and ahead of schedule. [reNews]

Wind farm (RES image)

¶ “EDF And Maple Power Win 1-GW French Offshore Tender” • EDF Renewables and Maple Power won a tender to develop an offshore wind project off the Normandy coast. The competitive tender for the 1-GW Centre Manche 1 site scored candidates’ bids on various factors, including blade recycling and contribution to a biodiversity protection fund. [reNews]

¶ “Enel Green Power Inaugurates PV Plant In Italy” • Malvezzi solar park, the first PV power plant with active involvement of the local community, is now operational in Poggio Renatico, in the province of Ferrara, Italy, thanks to the online crowdfunding initiative Scelta Rinnovabile (Renewable Choice) promoted by Enel Green Power. [Energy Global]

Solar farm in Italy (DavidSmat, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Boris Johnson’s Climate Adviser Backs Labour’s Energy Security Strategy” • Boris Johnson’s former climate adviser has backed Labour’s plans to make Britain energy secure by 2030, the Guardian learned. His endorsement came after Rishi Sunak signalled the end of a moratorium on new onshore wind projects after facing a Conservative rebellion. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “CATL M3P Battery Production Begins, DOE Predicts 1000 GWh Of North America-Built Batteries By 2030” • CATL, the world’s largest lithium battery maker, is ready to make its M3P batteries, which have greater energy density for longer range. The US DOE said it expects US battery production in 2030 will be 20 times what it was in 2021. [CleanTechnica]

CATL display (CATL image)

¶ “Ford CEO On EV Transition: ‘Batteries Are The Constraint’” • Companies such as Ford are collectively pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into EVs. But as the industry transitions toward zero carbon emissions, battery supply chains could stand in the way of those ambitions, Ford CEO Jim Farley said in an interview with Yahoo Finance Live. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “The Chevy Bolt EV Is On The Verge Of Overtaking The Ford Mustang Mach-E” • The Chevy Bolt EUV makes a strange rival to the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Bolt EUV can’t compete with the Mustang Mach-E in performance. They are not rivals for speed records. However, the Bolt EUV is about to overtake the Mach-E in sales. [MotorBiscuit.com]

Chevy Bolt (Kevauto, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Eolian Starts Operations At Texas Battery Duo” • US energy storage developer Eolian has begun commercial operations at 200 MW of battery capacity in Texas. The Madero and Ignacio energy storage plants were provided by Wärtsilä and consists of two interconnected batteries. Construction of the projects began in January 2021. [reNews]

¶ “Monticello Nuclear Plant Leak: Xcel Energy To Host Another Open House Q&A” • Xcel Energy temporarily powered down the plant Friday after finding a new radioactive leak. The company first found a leak in November, which amounted to about 400,000 gallons of radioactive water. Xcel Energy is hosting a Q&A webinar today. [CBS News]

Have a remarkably satisfying day.

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Opinion:

¶ “We Won’t Act On Climate Change Until Our Comfortable Lives Are Threatened – And That Day Is Coming” • The IPCC’s latest climate report stopped some of us in our tracks because there are many warnings about our heating planet and escalating climate breakdown, and each new one is a reminder that we’re still not responding as required. [Independent.ie]

Sunset in Ireland (Pixy.org, CC0)

World:

¶ “Porsche’s Next Cayenne Will Be An EV, Built In Bratislava” • Since the release of the Taycan in 2019, Porsche has continued to expand its portfolio of EVs. The Cayenne is set to become the fourth model line to feature an all-electric powertrain. And the Cayenne has enduring association with a plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Stellantis Announces German Assembly Expansion For New BEV Crossover” • Stellantis may have at least part of its transition figured out, with an expansion to an existing plant to introduce more full-electrics. The company revealed plans to invest more than €130 million into the Eisenach Assembly Plant in Germany, where it makes the Opel Grandland. [CleanTechnica]

Opel Grandland (Stellantis image)

¶ “Lula Opens First Integrated Renewable Energy Complex” • Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attended the inauguration of the Neoenergia renewable energy complex in Paraíba state. According to the government, this is Brazil’s first renewable energy complex combining wind and solar PV generating capacities. [TV BRICS]

¶ “Over 400 Million Indians To Suffer Because Of Climate-Triggered Calamities: Experts” • As the 2023 IPCC report was released this week, experts again warned of a huge crisis related to climate change which could affect over 400 million Indians, and how India remains unprepared to tackle even a fraction of the global warming. [Greater Kashmir]

Rural India (Sreehari Devadas, Unsplash)

¶ “Zimbabwe Sets Tone For Renewable Energy Revolution In The Region” • After hours of deliberations, the delegates at the International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2023 in Victoria Falls agreed to a number of resolutions that would help shape the energy industry. The resolutions will advance African renewable energy. [Newsday Zimbabwe]

¶ “Qaidam Basin Has Potential To Be China’s Renewable Energy Base: Study” • Chinese researchers evaluated the potential for solar and wind energy in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau They found the Qaidam Basin has the potential to be the country’s renewable energy base, with abundant hydropower and geothermal energy, in addition to solar, and wind. [China Daily]

Qaidam Basin (David Rubin, USGS, public domain)

¶ “IAEA Chief To Visit Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Next Week” • Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said he plans to visit the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine next week. It will be Grossi’s second time crossing Ukraine’s front line to visit Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant. [The Brunswick News]

US:

¶ “LG Energy To Build New Battery Plant In Arizona” • The Inflation Reduction Act has encouraged battery manufacturers to move to the US. So it should be no surprise that LG Energy Solution is investing in a new battery manufacturing complex in Arizona. It is a significant development in the domestic battery production industry. [CleanTechnica]

LG Energy battery cells (LG Energy image)

¶ “North Carolina Regulators Strengthen State’s Rooftop Solar Market” • The North Carolina Utilities Commission issued final orders in its net metering “Smart $aver” docket. It approved a three-year path for solar customers to transition from monthly credits to a time-of-use rate structure that incentivizes the use of solar when it is most valuable. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Company To Begin Testing Tidal Systems Again” • After being dormant in its tidal power operations in the Cobscook Bay area of Maine for a decade, Ocean Renewable Power Company is gearing up to again begin testing commercially viable turbine generator units off Eastport this year. The test will start with single turbine. [The Maine Monitor]

RivGen device (Courtesy of Ocean Renewable Power Co)

¶ “8th Circuit Rules Minnesota Suit Against Exxon, API, And Koch Industries Can Be Heard In State Court” • Minnesota sued the American Petroleum Institute, Exxon Mobil Corp, and Koch Industries in state court, alleging a decades-long effort to deceive the public about climate change. Now, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that suit can proceed. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “South Carolina Is Getting A New EV Battery Materials Facility” • Cirba Solutions announced an important milestone for the sustainability and viability of EVs. It is investing in a world-class lithium-ion EV battery recycling facility in South Carolina, allowing EV makers to reduce costs and increase production at the same time. [CleanTechnica]

Have a plainly elegant day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Want Electric School Buses? Been Waitlisted? Consider A Repower” • Many school districts are having trouble complying with laws requiring them to electrify because the wait for new electric buses is so long. There are alternatives. Complete Coach Works has converted 65 buses to electric since 2015, logging over 3 million repowered miles. [CleanTechnica]

Electrifying a school bus (Courtesy of Midwest Transit Equipment)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Commercially Operated Wärtsilä Engine Runs On 25% Hydrogen Blend” • Wärtsilä and WEC Energy Group successfully tested a Wärtsilä engine running on 25% hydrogen-blended fuel. The tests were conducted at WEC Energy Group’s 55 MW AJ Mihm power plant in Michigan, and they were completed in October 2022. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Renewables Generation Predictability Can Improve Profitability” • A study by researchers at the University of Adelaide looked to quantify the effect of predictability on the profitability of renewable assets. It found that low predictability can reduce up to 10% of a solar facility’s revenue. The findings were published in Patterns. [pv magazine USA]

Electrical grid simulation (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

World:

¶ “Earth Hour: Why People Across The World Are Turning Their Lights Off” • Each year, millions of people in over 190 countries and territories coordinate to turn off their lights for just one hour to raise awareness about climate change. To participate, all you’ll need to do is turn off the lights in your home from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm in your local time zone on Saturday. [CNN]

¶ “Gogoro’s Swappable Batteries To Power Food Delivery Scooters In Singapore” • Gogoro got their start in Taiwan, where scooters are already veryy popular. But, Gogoro figured out a way to make it easier to keep an electric scooter charged up in a place where most people can’t plug in where they park, creating a lot of electric transportation potential. [CleanTechnica]

Gogoro ad (Gogoro image)

¶ “New Global Solar Capacity Additions Hit 191 GW In 2022, Says IRENA” • The International Renewable Energy Agency said developers installed 295 GW of renewable energy worldwide in 2022, bringing the total global installed capacity to 3,372 GW. The growth was largely PV systems, with 191 GW of solar PV systems installed during the year. [PV Magazine]

¶ “HDF Energy Signs MOU With Zimbabwe’s ZETDC For Utility-Scale Solar Project Plus Green Hydrogen Storage” • HDF Energy (Hydrogène de France) said it signed an MOU with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company for Zimbabwe’s first high-powered green hydrogen power plant, the Middle Sabi Renewstable®. [CleanTechnica]

Solar plus storage (HDF Energy image)

¶ “How China, The US And Others Watered Down A Key UN Climate Document” • China, the US and Saudi Arabia are among the countries that significantly altered a UN IPCC document that will shape global climate policy for years to come, says a report by Earth Negotiations Bulletin of the international negotiations preceding its release. [The Japan Times]

¶ “More Predictable Renewable Energy Could Lower Costs” • Lower electricity costs for consumers and more reliable clean energy could be some of the benefits of a study by University of Adelaide researchers who have examined how predictable solar or wind energy generation is and the impact of it on profits in the electricity market. [EurekAlert!]

Wind turbine in Denmark (Bernetta Tinkham, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Restart Of Damaged Swedish Nuclear Reactor Delayed Further” • Ringhals 4 was originally scheduled to be reconnected to the energy system last November, after a damaged pressure vessel was repaired. The restart date was first pushed back to January 2023, then to Feb 24, March 19, March 26, and now to April 1, Dagens Nyheter reported. [The Star]

US:

¶ “California Govermor Newsom Rolls Back Some Drought Restrictions, Keeps Others, As Recent Storms Ease Dry Spell” • California Gov Gavin Newsom announced the removal of some drought restrictions, while keeping others to bolster water supply for vulnerable communities and develop water resilience after a parade of atmospheric river storms. [CNN]

Gavin Newsom speaking (Office of the Governor of California)

¶ “Ford Teases Second Electric Truck, Shows BlueOval City Progress” • Ford’s EV and battery manufacturing campus in West Tennessee is to begin production in 2025. It should produce up to 500,000 electric trucks each year at full capacity. The facility will be home to Ford’s second-generation electric truck, code named Project T3. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The US Department Of Energy And Stellantis Announce The Battery Workforce Challenge” • BattChallenge is a three-year competition joining universities with vocational partners, such as community colleges, trades and apprenticeship programs, to design, build, test and integrate an advanced EV battery into a future Stellantis vehicle. [CleanTechnica]

Working on an EV (Argonne National Laboratory image)

¶ “Researchers Suggest Prosecuting Fossil Fuel Companies For Climate Homicide” • Two researchers are suggesting that fossil fuel companies could be prosecuted for climate homicide. They have laid out their case in an article that has been accepted for publication in the Harvard Environmental Law Review. The paper is titled “Climate Homicide.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EDF Renewables To Provide 117 MW-AC Of Solar Energy To Southern California Public Power” • EDF Renewables North America inked a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Southern California Public Power Authority for the energy and renewable attributes related to the 117 MW-AC (148 MW-DC) Sapphire Solar project. [Solar Builder]

Have a very enjoyable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “The Promise Of Kelp-Powered Flight” • Catriona Macleod, deputy head of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in Australia, describes seaweed as the “Swiss army knife” of tools to tackle planetary challenges. Already widely used for food, it could eventually power airplanes. [BBC]

Seaweed (Peter Southwood, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “Over €200 To Fill Up – The Cost Of Germany’s Bid To Keep Combustion Engines” • Olaf Scholz’s support for e-fuels in new cars could leave the average German driver paying €210 to fill up their tank, analysis shows. The German Chancellor is in a stand-off with the EU over his insistence that cars powered by e-fuel are allowed to be sold after a 2035. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Announces Electric Explorer Will Only Be For Europe, But That’s OK” • Ford revealed that its next EV for Europe is an EV version of the Explorer. Ford says its all-elecctric Explorer is a revolutionary electric vehicle that paves the way forward for the Ford brand in Europe. But, for some reason they’re not going to sell it in the US. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Explorer (Ford Europe image)

¶ “European Tiny Modular Reactor Deal Starts With Absurdly Expensive Electricity” • Supposedly a European energy deal has been reached in which a US firm sells a bunch of tiny nuclear reactors to European countries at an enormous price. It’s hard to think that anybody would ink the deal as described. (A correction makes it a high price per MWh.) [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Enel Turns Sod On 170-MW Italian Agrivoltaic Project” • Enel Green Power has kicked off construction of a 170MW agrivoltaic solar project. The developer said not only will it be the biggest agrivoltaic plant in Italy, it will be the largest solar plant. It will be fully integrated with the agricultural sector in Tarquinia, in the province of Viterbo, Latium. [reNews]

Green power on a green field, (Enel Green Power image in B&W)

¶ “China To Launch New Renewable Energy Pilot Scheme For Rural Areas” • China is pressing ahead with plans to accelerate the already rapid rollout of renewable energy by developing clean energy in rural areas under a new action plan. Provincial governments are to identify areas they consider suitable for renewable energy deployment. [Oil Price]

¶ “Spain’s Grid Operator Sees Renewables Reaching 50% Of Power Generation In 2023” • Spain’s electricity grid operator Red Electrica said renewable energy sources could account for half of the country’s annual power generation this year, up from 42% in 2022. The estimate was announced during a presentation of Red Electrica’s annual reports. [Nasdaq]

PS10 solar plant in Spain (afloresm, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “South Africa’s Renewable Power Production To Reach 13.2 GW By 2023-End – Report” • The South African renewable energy market is poised to reach 13.21 GW by the end of 2023 following favourable regulations and private sector participation, advocacy group African Energy Chamber said in a report. There are 77 new wind and solar projects expected. [ZAWYA]

¶ “Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant’s Situation ‘Perilous,’ Says Un Agency Head” • The head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency says the situation is still “perilous” at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, as it remains connected to only one primary power source. Its last 330-kV power line is still out of service. [CBC]

Russian T-90 tank (Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “The West’s Snow Boom Could Ease The Water Crisis. But Experts Worry More Hot, Dry Weather Is Coming” • A parade of storms has given the West some relief from its historic drought, filling reservoirs and increasing much-needed snowpack. But experts question whether it will be enough to help lift the West out of its multi-year water crisis. [CNN]

¶ “Hyundai Announces Charging Partnership, Safety Feature For IONIQ 6 EV” • Electrify America announced a partnership with Hyundai, offering IONIQ 6 owners two years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions from the date of purchase. A mobile app allows owners to easily locate and access the company’s DC fast chargers on the road. [CleanTechnica]

Charging station (Image by Electrify America and Hyundai)

¶ “FreeWire Helps Road Ranger Get EV Charging Stations Up Faster” • FreeWire has an innovative solution to the problem of getting fast chargers operating where transmission infrastructure is weak. FreeWire Technologies works to reduce the costs of installing fast charging stations by integrating battery storage into the station. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “DOE Awards $9 Million To Twelve Projects To Advance Desalination And Water Reuse Technologies Across The US” • The US DOE and the National Alliance for Water Innovation announced that they had selected twelve projects that will improve the energy efficiency of desalination and water reuse technologies across the country. [CleanTechnica]

Ocean (Freida Mcmurtrie, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Four Legislative Actions For An Equitable Energy Transition” • The energy transition will not happen automatically, and it is important that the move towards renewable energy is rapid and equitable. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) shared his vision of a progressive energy transition in a presentation at the Roosevelt Institute in New York. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Xcel Energy To Power Down Monticello Nuclear Plant Early After More Radioactive Water Leaks Out” • Xcel Energy will start to power down its Monticello nuclear plant several weeks earlier than planned after more radioactive water leaked from the facility. Temporary repairs had been made after an earlier leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water. [CBS News]

Have a thoroughly successful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Steel Is A Major Climate Problem, But It Can Decarbonize Rapidly In The Coming Decades” • Global steel manufacturing produces about 7% of the CO₂ emissions causing global warming. The good news in this challenging but necessary space is that it’s actually fairly easy to decarbonize steel manufacturing. But the steel produced will cost more. [CleanTechnica]

Blast furnace (Třinecké železárny)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Photosynthesis ‘Hack’ Could Lead To New Ways To Generate Renewable Energy” • Researchers ‘hacked’ the earliest stages of photosynthesis, which powers the vast majority of life on Earth, and discovered new ways to extract energy from the process, a finding that could lead to new ways of generating clean fuel and renewable energy. [ScienceDaily]

World:

¶ “One Of Europe’s Busiest Airports To Be Forced To Cut Flights Due To Planet-Warming Carbon Pollution” • Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, is to be forced to limit the numbers of its international flights and passengers under the Dutch government’s plans to reduce carbon emissions. The move has triggered airline concerns. [CNN]

Takeoff at Schiphol Airport (CardMapr.nl, Unsplash)

¶ “South African Battery Storage Firm Solar MD Sees Record Growth In South Africa Last Year” • Solar MD makes its own battery packs in Cape Town by integrating cells from CATL. The record levels of load-shedding in 2022 provided a big growth opportunity for the stationary storage industry in South Africa, and Solar MD took advantage of that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Climate Change Is Reshaping The Alps” • A mountain in the French Alps is the site of one of the most unusual natural laboratories in the world. Scientists are using instruments set up on it to monitor permafrost in the rock walls. In the European Alps, more permafrost is thawing each year, threatening the very mountains as it does. [BBC]

Mont Blanc (Andrea Caramello, Unsplash)

¶ “Data Center Firm Teraco Plans To Build 200 MW Of Solar PV To Power Its Facilities In South Africa” • Teraco says it is the first provider of highly resilient, vendor-neutral data environments in sub-Saharan Africa. The company entered into a development agreement to build two 100-MW solar PV sites to generate power for Teraco’s facilities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Launches Dolphin In Thailand At Price Parity With Popular ICE Vehicles” • BYD, partnering with Rever Automotive, launched the BYD Dolphin hatchback at the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show. Rever Automotive announced that the Dolphin will start at 799,999 Baht, which is about $23,256 after government incentives. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (Anonymousfox36, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Analysis: China’s New Coal Plants Set To Become A Costly Second Fiddle To Renewables” • China’s plans for some 100 new coal-fired power plants to back up wind and solar capacity have sparked warnings from analysts that the world’s second-biggest economy is likely to end up lumbered with even more loss-making power assets. [Reuters]

¶ “Solar And Wind Power Through Energy Crisis To Chart Record Renewables Growth” • Defying a global energy crisis and supply chain issues, global renewable generation capacity soared in 2022, growing by 295 GW, or 9.6%, to reach 3,372 GW. The renewable energy growth continues to grow at record levels despite global uncertainties. [Renew Economy]

Solar array (Courtesy of Nextracker)

US:

¶ “Tesla Updates FSD In Response To NHTSA Recall Notice” • On February 15, 2023, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration issued a recall notice for 362,758 Tesla vehicles equipped with the so-called “Full Self Driving” (Beta) driver-assist system. Tesla says it has an over-the-air update ready for its Full Self Driving Beta software. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Some Ford Dealers Withdraw From Its Electric Car Sales Program” • Last year, Ford asked its 3,000 US dealers to make a choice to upgrade their facilities to support EVs or forego the opportunity to sell EVs from Ford. A total of about 1,900 decided to upgrade at different levels, but since that time some have withdrawn from the EV program. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (MrWalkr, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $200 Million To Modernize And Expand Hydropower” • The Biden-Harris Administration, through the DOE, announced more than $200 million for the modernization and expansion of hydroelectric power throughout America and the advancement of new marine energy technologies. [Department of Energy]

¶ “Lawmakers Take Up Renewable Energy Project Proposed For Aroostook County” • State lawmakers are being asked to approve a nearly $2 billion energy project that would connect Aroostook County to the New England power grid. The project is expected to provide 1,000 MW of renewable energy at a lower cost than natural gas. [Maine Public]

Mars Hill (Michael Surran, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Aging Maine Grid Is Putting Hundreds Of Renewable Energy Projects At Risk” • Proposals for community solar farms have surged in Maine, but they are encountering a serious obstacle: An aging grid that requires expensive upgrades to connect more sources of power to customers, putting the state’s clean energy transition at risk. [Bangor Daily News]

¶ “Restarting Michigan Nuclear Power Plant Risks ‘Chernobyl-Scale Catastrophe,’ Coalition Warns” • A coalition made up of 191 individuals and 185 groups representing thousands of people implored the federal government for the third time not to fund the revival of a 51-year-old nuclear power plant in Michigan that was shut down last May. [Common Dreams]

Have a satisfyingly beneficial day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The New Normal In Energy Systems” • In this time of rapid change, things that used to be new are now normal. EVs are not just greener, they are better technology than internal combustion engine vehicles. The major green energy technologies – wind, solar, EVs, batteries, and ancillary technologies – are not just greener, but better. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Sam Forson, Pexels)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Can We Really Take CO₂ Back Out The Air?” • The AR6 report published by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should serve as a “a survival guide for humanity,” UN chief Antonio Guterres has said. It is looking more clear that we will have to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere actively. Here is a look at that possibility. [BBC]

¶ “Massive Spray Drones Are Transforming Agriculture With Win After Win” • Agricultural drones are pervasive. One professinal guess was 15% usage by the two million farms in the US, either as a service or with direct ownership, but data suggest current usage is far greater, with 75% of farmers surveyed in 2018 having used or planning to use drones. [CleanTechnica]

Drone (Jason Blackeye, Unsplash)

¶ “The IPCC’s Sixth Synthesis Report on Climate Change” • On March 20, the IPCC issued its Sixth Synthesis Report On Climate Change, refered to as AR6. This report synthesizes three reports produced in 2021 and 2022. None of those earlier reports is trivial in scope or size. Each, by itself, is a monumental work of science. [Green Energy Times]

¶ “Qnetic Unveils Revolutionary Flywheel Energy Storage System To Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption” • Qnetic has developed a groundbreaking flywheel energy storage system to tackle the storage challenge head-on. The Qnetic battery has a 2 MWh capacity, with a 500 kW power output and a discharge duration of 4 to 12 hours. [Benzinga]

Qnetic system (Qnetic image)

World:

¶ “UN Warns Against ‘Vampiric’ Global Water Use” • A UN report warns of a looming global water crisis and an “imminent risk” of shortages due to overconsumption and climate change. It says the world is “blindly travelling a dangerous path” of “vampiric overconsumption and overdevelopment,” It comes before first major UN water summit since 1977. [BBC]

¶ “Indian Solar Module Maker Lands $2.5 Million Funding From World Bank” • Indian solar module manufacturer Insolation Solar has secured funding from a World Bank-backed fund for expansion of its production line. Insolation Energy currently has a module and cell production capacity of 700 MW and plans to expand it to 1,700 MW. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Tata Power Secures 510-MW Solar-Wind Hybrid PPA” • One of the largest renewable energy companies in India, Tata Power Renewable Energy, has entered into a power purchase agreement for a solar-wind hybrid project. The company signed a 510-MW power purchase agreement with group company Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy Sees Record Increase in 2022, Agency Says” • Renewable energy saw a record increase in 2022 with capacity up almost 10% globally, as 83% of new power capacity came from renewable sources, the International Renewable Energy Agency said. But IRENA also warned it was not enough to limit climate change. [VOA News]

Wind turbines (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Wales Launches Tidal Lagoon Challenge” • The Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has announced £750,000 for the Tidal Lagoon Challenge. The money will be available for at least three research projects focusing on the deployment of tidal lagoon technology. The work will advance the future development of a tidal lagoon project in Welsh waters. [reNews]

US:

¶ “California Battles Heavy Floods With More Rain And Wind To Come” • California residents are confronting heavy floods as the state braces for yet another week of storms. Millions of people in central and southern California, including the Los Angeles area, are under flood watches as the twelfth atmospheric river of this season is hitting the state. [BBC]

Atmospheric river hitting California (NOAA image)

¶ “Fisker Partners With ChargePoint For Public Charging In North America” • Fisker Inc, a leading EV innovator, announced ChargePoint as its North American partner for providing public charging systems. This strategic partnership will enable Fisker to expand its reach and offer more charging options to customers across the continent. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Boston’s Mayor Wants To Adopt Climate-Friendly Building Code” • Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants the City to adopt a green building code for new construction. The updated energy code will deliver the long-term benefits of improved air quality, lower energy costs, reduced carbon emissions, and enhanced thermal comfort to residents. [CleanTechnica]

Boston (Sean Sweeney, Unsplash)

¶ “Entergy’s New Solar Station” • Entergy Mississippi announced that its 100-MW solar power station is up and running near the small Delta town of Ruleville. This power station, known as the Sunflower Solar Station, is the largest utility-owned solar PV installation in Mississippi, providing enough energy to power 16,000 homes. [Entergy Newsroom]

¶ “US Regulators Delay Decision On Nuclear Fuel Storage License” • US regulators have said they need more time to wrap up a final safety report and make a decision on whether to license a multibillion-dollar complex intended to provide temporary storage for tons of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants around the nation. [USNews.com]

Have a reasonably frolicsome day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Five Things We’ve Learned From UN Climate Report” • The sober tones of the study by the IPCC make clear that there is very little chance of keeping the world from warming by more than 1.5°C. Governments had agreed to act to avoid that. But the world has already warmed by 1.1°C and now experts say that it is likely to breach 1.5°C in the 2030s. [BBC]

Business as usual (Christopher Lague, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Strategic EV Charging Might Eliminate The Need For New Power Plants” • Charging control and infrastructure build-out are critical factors shaping charging load. MIT researchers found that it’s possible to mitigate or eliminate EV charging problems without advanced technological systems of connected devices and real-time communications. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Pipelines Contain Four Years Of US Steel Demand, And Will Be Scrapped For It” • Peak oil demand ies expected to arrive between 2025 and 2030 and peak natural gas around 2035. That means lots more scrap steel will become available, including the 3 million miles of US pipeline, and 40% of deepwater ships that carry bulk coal, oil, and gas. [CleanTechnica]

Oil pipeline in Alaska (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Nuclear Energy Will Not Halt The Climate Crisis – Lorna Slater” • As yesterday’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirmed, the Climate crisis is the greatest and most urgent crisis that we will ever face. But the government of the UK is looking to double down on fossil fuels and a so-called “Great British Nuclear” scheme. [Edinburgh News]

World:

¶ “‘The Climate Time-Bomb Is Ticking’: The World Is Running Out Of Time To Avoid Catastrophe, New UN Report Warns” • The world is rapidly approaching catastrophic levels of heating with international climate goals set to slip out of reach unless immediate and radical action is taken, according to a new UN-backed synthesis report. [CNN]

Melting glacier (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Over 1 GW Of Private Solar And Wind Projects Registered In South Africa In The First 2 Months Of 2023” • South Africa has removed some stringent requirements for companies to generate their own power. Before the change, to generate electricity, they needed licenses for power plants larger than 1 MW. That’s been changed to 100 MW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Apollo To Build Substations For Floating Wind Research Site” • Apollo has received a contract from Celtic Sea Power to develop a floating offshore wind test site in Wales. The contract covers the pre-FEED for the 400-MW Pembrokeshire Demonstration Zone Multi-connection Offshore Substation and two 1-GW MOSs for the Crown Estate Refined Area of Search A. [reNews]

Floating wind turbines (Equinor image)

¶ “DOE To Bid Out 11,000-MW Renewable Energy Capacity” • The Philippine Department of Energy eyes to auction off more than 11,000 MW of renewable energy capacity for the next three years under its second Green Energy Auction Program, an official said. They looking for renewable energy developers with a ready capacity of 3,590 MW by next year. [Inquirer Business]

¶ “Climate Alarm Underlines Need For UK CfD Action” • The latest IPCC report underlines the urgent need to secure more clean power in this year’s UK renewable energy Contract for Difference auction, according to RenewableUK. The trade body’s executive director of policy Ana Musat said the research sounds a ‘final warning’ on the climate crisis. [reNews]

Ana Musat (RUK image)

¶ “Netherlands Plans 500-MW Wind-To-Hydrogen Project” • The Government of the Netherlands has announced plans to use offshore wind power for offshore hydrogen production. The project has about 500 MW of electrolysis capacity and will be based in the North of the Wadden Islands wind energy area. It is to be operational around 2031. [reNews]

¶ “BV-Classed Hybrid Ferries With Battery And Solar Power To Be Deployed In Hong Kong ” • Bureau Veritas, a world leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification, has announced that it will class two hybrid double hull, double end ferries, which will be equipped with battery and solar power technology for operation in Hong Kong. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Electric ferry for Hong Kong

US:

¶ “Lucid Continues To Expand Its Retail Presence In California” • Lucid Motors is revolutionizing the EV industry with its luxury electric cars. Lucid has created an unparalleled level of comfort and performance. Its flagship model, the 2023 Lucid Air Touring, offers a range of up to 517 miles on a charge while providing a smooth and quiet ride. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Number Of Light-Duty All-Electric Vehicle Models In USA Nearly Doubled From Model Year 2021 To 2022” • The number of light-duty battery EV models nearly doubled from model year 2021 to 2022, going from 20 to 38. The number of EV models in 2022 also surpassed the number of plug-in hybrid EV models for the first time since 2014. [CleanTechnica]

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “President Biden Vetoes Republican Attempt To Undo Labor Department Rule On Sustainable Investment In Retirement Plans” • President Joe Biden issued his first presidential veto, rejecting an attempt by Congress to nullify a Labor Department rule that allows managers of retirement plans to consider ESG factors in making decisions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Utility Regulators Approve Purchase Of Wisconsin’s Largest Renewable Energy Plant” • The Wisconsin PSC approved the $649 million purchase of the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center by We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, and Madison Gas and Electric. The project is to have 300 MW of solar and 165 MW of battery storage. [Wisconsin Public Radio]

Have a perfectly grand day.

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Opinion:

¶ “US EIA Is Sending Mixed Messages On Fossil Fuels And Emissions” • The US Energy Information Agency says that US emissions will fall in the years to come as more renewable energy comes to the US electrical grid. The same agency says that US oil production will increase through 2050. So we burn less, as we push more on the rest of the world. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Electric Vehicles Tantalizingly Close To Price Parity With Gas Burners” • The main barrier to widespread EV adoption, from a buyer’s standpoint, is very simple: They cost more to buy than legacy vehicles. Due to a variety of factors, the costs of producing EVs could drop drastically over the next few years, and that is likely to lead to lower prices. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Six Ways To Remove CO₂ Pollution From The Atmosphere” • Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have emitted more than 2,000 gigatons of CO₂ into the atmosphere. This concentration of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases in the air causes the climate change impacts we’re experiencing today. Here are six ways to draw it down. [CleanTechnica]

Seaweed (Photo by the National Parks Service)

¶ “How Climate Change May Be Triggering More Earthquakes – And Vice Versa” • Between 1900 and 1950, the Earth recorded an average of 3.4 earthquakes per year with a magnitude greater than 6.5. That figured doubled to 6.7 a year in the early 1970s, and was almost five times that in the 2000s. The increase may be connected to climate change. [Worldcrunch]

World:

¶ “Millions Of Dead Fish Have Washed Up In A River Near An Australian Town” • Millions of dead fish have washed up in a river near a small Australian town, in a phenomenon that state officials say is related to the “heatwave conditions” that are sweeping the country at a time when flood waters are receding. The combination leads to low oxygen levels. [CNN]

Pool at Menindee Wier (Jeremy Buckingham, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Indonesia To Assemble Minicab-MiEV For Local Use By 2024” • Last February, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that Indonesia would definitely host the assembly of its first mini EV, the Minicab-MiEV. Sources in Indonesia told CleanTechnica that vehicle prototyping has begun and the first locally assembled vehicles will be released by mid 2024. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Delivers Its First Electric Heavy-Duty Truck In Africa” • Volvo Trucks has delivered its first heavy-duty electric truck to Morocco, marking a major milestone in the development of EVs in Africa. The truck, to be used for refuse collection, is the first battery-electric truck from a global manufacturer to be put into commercial operation in Africa. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo heavy-duty truck (Volvo Trucks image)

¶ “Emerald Set To Supercharge By Joining CQ Big Battery Blitz” • The town of Emerald was selected for Central Queensland’s next large-scale network-connected battery site. Emerald is home to over 1,920 solar systems, and the battery will allow locals to capture cheap renewable energy and drive down power bills, easing the cost of living. [Media Statements]

¶ “Malaysia’s Renewable Energy Supply Now At 25%, On Track To Achieve 2025 Target” • Renewable energy supply in Malaysia is now at 25%, said Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The country was on the right track to source 31% of its power capacity from renewables by 2025 and 40% by 2035. [New Straits Times]

Kuala Lumpur (Ishan @seefromthesky, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “When Russia Took Control Of Zaporizhzhia’s Nuclear Power Plant, Ukrainian Technicians Were Forced To Flee, Or Work At Gunpoint” • The warfare taking place around Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant has prompted warnings of possible disaster – but workers say the scenes inside the Zaporizhzhia station are just as alarming. [RNZ]

US:

¶ “A 12th Atmospheric River Is Headed Towards Storm-Fatigued California, Threatening Even More Floods” • Still reeling from an onslaught of powerful storms and floods, California is bracing for a 12th atmospheric river that’s expected to bring a new round of heavy snow and rain to the state. The latest storm is already dumping rain and snow on the state. [CNN]

Atmospheric river (NOAA, CCo)

¶ “Foxconn Wants To Manufacture Half Of All Electric Cars” • Foxconn now owns GM’s former Lordstown factory in Ohio, a facility capable of cranking out 330,000 vehicles a year at full capacity. It plans to standardize the primary systems needed to make electric cars, so it can quickly and cheaply the plant to build a wide range of models. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SparkCharge Expands Mobile EV Charging Fleet Service Across The US” • SparkCharge, the company behind the world’s first mobile EV charging system, announced that its Charging as a Service option called SparkCharge Fleet is going nationwide in the US. The service provides businesses with immediate access to EV charging. [CleanTechnica]

SparkCharge Fleet (Courtesy of SparkCharge)

¶ “These Small States Punch Above Their Weight On Clean Energy” • It’s no surprise that huge states like California and Texas are heavy hitters in generating electricity from wind and solar. But what if we look at generation per square mile of land? Then the leader is Iowa, powered largely by wind. Second place is Rhode Island, with its solar power. [Mother Jones]

¶ “Vermont Teens Call On Lawmakers To Act On Climate Change And Pass The Affordable Heat Act” • As legislators scrambled to meet crossover deadlines for policy bills at the Statehouse, youth climate activists from Youth Lobby, Sunrise Chittenden and the Sierra Club were calling on lawmakers to prioritize climate justice. [VTDigger]

Have an excitingly comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The President Miscalculates On Climate Change” • Running for president, Joe Biden promised, “No more drilling on federal lands, period. Period, period, period.” No matter how he tries to sell his approval of the Willow project, an $8 billion plan to extract 600 million barrels of oil from federal land in Alaska, he looks like a hypocrite. [The Register-Herald]

Tundra (Viktoria Spokojna, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “BYD Launches Han BEV, Song PLUS DM-I, And Destroyer 05 PHEV In Uzbekistan” • BYD launched three new EV models in Uzbekistan at a brand and product presale conference. The three models are the brand’s flagship Han BEV sedan and two of its super hybrid models, the very popular Song PLUS DM-i and the Destroyer 05. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “India Can Achieve Energy Independence By 2047 Through Clean Technology: Study” • India can achieve its vision of energy independence by 2047, according to a study titled “Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat,” by the US DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. One benefit is $2.5 trillion in consumer savings through 2047. [CleanTechnica]

Rural India (Remi Clinton, Unsplash)

¶ “Nottingham City Council’s Eastcroft Depot Launches New Vehicle-To-Grid Demonstrator” • My Nottingham News reported that a first of its kind vehicle-to-grid demonstrator project in the UK was launched at Nottingham City Council’s Eastcroft Depot to show how technology can be used to improve energy demands caused by changing fleets to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Airlines Downplayed Science On Climate Impact To Block New Regulations” • Airlines have been accused of using a “typical climate denialist” strategy after downplaying decades of scientific research on aviation emissions to block tougher regulations. Campaigners said the lobbying tactics echoed those of the 20th century tobacco industry. [openDemocracy]

Contrail (Rae Galatas, Unsplash)

¶ “United States And Indonesia Announce Partnership On Small Modular Reactor Nuclear Clean Energy” • At the Indo-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Forum, Indonesia and the US announced a partnership to help Indonesia develop its nuclear clean energy program, supporting Indonesia’s interest in small modular reactors. [US Embassy Jakarta]

US:

¶ “Never Mind The Bottlenecks, Wind Farm Repowering Is Taking Off” • Anti-wind activists have been barnstorming around the country, making life more difficult for wind developers. Still, they can’t stop the wind. And there are plenty of opportunities to keep the industry humming along, including repowering older wind farms with new turbines. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Texas Leads The Country In Combined Wind And Solar Renewable Energy” • Texans take a certain pride in their state. Texans who work to save the planet take pride that Texas leads the country in generating renewable energy, according to a report issued by the US Energy Information Administration. Not California. Texas. [KXAN]

¶ “Ski Resorts Embracing Climate Activist Role” • Ski resorts have tiny greenhouse of the gas emissions, but they have an outsized influence on popular culture and in the business world. Some resorts are going beyond reducing their own emissions to leverage their influence to shift public opinion and advocate for climate legislation. [The Times Leader]

Ski resort (Quenten Janssen, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Now Required On New Mexico State Land After Lujan Grisham Signs Bill” • Public land managed by New Mexico was required to see developments of renewable energy, after a bill was signed to make its Office of Renewable Energy permanent. Last year, estimated revenue from wind and solar power was over $12 million. [Carlsbad Current-Argus]

¶ “Regulators: Nuclear Plant Leak Didn’t Require Public Notice” • Minnesota regulators knew four months ago that radioactive waste had leaked from a nuclear power plant in Monticello, but they didn’t announce anything about it until this week. They said the leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water did not require public notification. [Republican-American]

Have a comfortably magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Forging A Clean Steel Economy In The United States” • Steel industry first movers are already working to lower emissions through carbon capture or renewable hydrogen pathways to meet demand. Their momentum is fueled by public-private partnerships, indicating an appetite to claim market share in low-emissions differentiated steel. [CleanTechnica]

Old steel mill (Peter Herrmann, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Babanango: South Africa’s Big New Game Park Is The Result Of A Dramatic Transformation” • Five years ago, the area now safeguarded by the Babanango Game Reserve in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa was virtually devoid of wildlife after decades of cattle grazing and unrestrained hunting. Now, it is coming back to what it had been. [CNN]

¶ “Shell Continues Expanding Its EV Charging Footprint” • Shell may have big challenges staying anywhere near its current size as the world transitions to electric vehicles. But it sure is building a big foothold in the EV charging realm so that it at least has that diversification offshoot for profit. Lately, it has been building a network in Switzerland. [CleanTechnica]

Charging station (Image courtesy of evpass)

¶ “Africa Soaks Up The Sun” • African countries are moving rapidly towards renewable energy, primarily through their abundant resource of solar. Funding for these projects is coming from a variety of sources – EU, Arab states, US, and Kenya. The grid size ranges from mini to maxi. Here are some notes on progress in a number of countries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Allume Energy SolShare System Brings Rooftop Solar To Apartment Dwellers” • Australia’s Allume envisions a world where everyone can access clean and affordable energy from the sun. It says its SolShare system can make low cost, zero emissions electricity available to those who live in inexpensive housing, whether they own or rent. [CleanTechnica]

Apartment buildings with rooftop solar systems (Allume image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Projects At Risk: ‘UK’s Latest Plans Could Cause Missed Investments’” • Trade association RenewableUK warned that the government plans for the year’s auctions for contracts to generate clean power will fall short in attracting maximum investment in wind, solar, and tidal projects, so the UK could fail to meet targets. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Plans Submitted For 49.9-MW English Solar Farm” • Gamcap submitted a planning application for a solar farm in Yorkshire. The 49.9-MW project could supply energy to around 16,000 homes if approved by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The Wyton Road Renewable Energy Project, will also include a battery energy storage system. [reNews]

Solar system (Chelsea, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “UK Backs Rolls-Royce Project To Build A Nuclear Reactor On The Moon” • The UK Space Agency said it would back research by Rolls-Royce looking at the use of nuclear power on the moon. The UKSA will provide £2.9 million ($3.5 million) of funding for the project, which it said would “deliver an initial demonstration of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor.” [CNBC]

US:

¶ “The Mountain Town Buried By California Winter Chaos” • While beautiful, and a relief for the state’s dwindling water supply, the recent heavy snows wreaked havoc. Multiple counties are under emergency orders. It may be hard to believe that a warming planet would cause such an event, but climate science says that’s exactly what’s happening. [BBC]

Deep snow in California (Ryan C, Unsplash)

¶ “7-Eleven Now In EV Charging Business With 7Charge” • Everyone can see that the auto industry is electrifying. That includes oil companies and gas stations & convenience stores like 7-Eleven. Regarding the latter, the news this week is that 7-Eleven has launched its own EV charging network! The name of that charging network is 7Charge. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Now Chair Of The Senate Budget Committee, Whitehouse Argues That A Warming Planet Poses Fiscal Dangers” • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is now head of the Senate Budget Committee. His first day there, he gave each of his colleagues a 615-page binder detailing the fiscal threats posed by droughts, storms, wildfires, and rising seas. [CleanTechnica]

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Whitehouse Senate Office)

¶ “US Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions Will Fall Through 2050, EIA Says” • The EIA forcasts US energy-related CO₂ emissions to drop 25% to 38% below what they were in 2005 by 2030. The US energy-related CO2 emissions reductions are driven by greater electrification, higher efficiency, and renewables deployment in the electric power sector. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wisconsin’s Renewable Energy Wave Is Prompting Some Farmers To Lease Land For Fields Of Solar Panels” • Dean Ortwell, CEO of the Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, said he’s seen farmers offered $750, $800 and even $1,500 per acre in lease offers from solar energy developers. That compares to $250 to $350 per acre for farming uses. [hngnews.com]

Wisconsin farm (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Morgan Stanley Report Predicts Renewable Energy Will Replace Coal By 2033” • A Morgan Stanley report says renewable energy will replace coal-fired power plants by 2033, according to Power magazine. Coal use for power generation is already on the decline due to lower prices for natural gas and more stringent environmental regulations. [EHS Daily Advisor]

¶ “Duke Energy To Build Florida Floating Solar Array” • Duke Energy Florida announced that its first floating solar array pilot will begin construction later this month in Polk County. The floating solar array will feature more than 1,800 floating solar modules, for almost 1 MW, and occupy about two acres of water surface on an existing cooling pond. [reNews]

Have a vastly delightful day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Will Shipping Return To Its Ancient Roots?” • To get on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050, international shipping will have to reduce its emissions by 15% by 2030. So far, emissions from the industry have been going more or less consistently in the other direction. Emissions from shipping can be reduced by using sails, however. [BBC]

Modern sailing ship (Oceanbird image)

¶ “New Study Gives Big Boost To Floating Solar” • A study in the journal Nature Sustainability argues that floating solar on many of the world’s reservoirs could provide a significant share of the renewable energy needed to transition away from electricity generated by burning fossil fuels. This means that pressure is off of land use for solar. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “EU Takes 1st Step To Ensure Green Technologies Are Made In Europe” • The EU unveiled two draft laws in response to the US subsidies that it fears are luring European cleantech companies away. One will help the bloc secure supply of the metals needed for green technologies. The other is a first step to ensure that the technologies are made in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

Mercedes-Benz factory (Mercedes-Benz image)

¶ “EU Plans Subsidies For Hydrogen Made Using Renewable Energy” • The European Commission is outlining plans for a hydrogen subsidy scheme that would make clean versions of the fuel more competitive with fossil fuel-based hydrogen, a draft document showed. EU industries use about 8 million tonnes of hydrogen. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

¶ “Solar And Wind Dominate India’s Capacity Additions In 2022” • India saw strong growth of renewable capacity in 2022, setting the stage for the country to assume climate leadership in the run up to this year’s G20 summit. Solar and wind capacity accounted for 92% of the year’s total additions. Only 5% of the new capacity was coal-burning. [Ember-climate.org]

Solar array (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Controversial Alberta Coal Mine Could Soon Get Green Energy Makeover” • TransAlta was once Canada’s premier provider of coal-fired electricity. Now, it is partnering with Australian company Montem Resources in a project to turn Tent Mountain’s historic mining operation into a pumped hydro plant to store renewable energy. [Global News]

¶ “Singapore Moves Ahead With Plan To Import Clean Energy” • Singapore took steps toward sourcing renewable power abroad by signing agreements with Indonesia and Cambodia. Indonesia and Singapore agreed to jointly develop renewables. Cambodia’s Royal Group Power Co will supply electricity generated from 4 GW of renewable capacity. [Yahoo Finance]

Singapore (Mike Enerio, Unsplash)

¶ “IEA: More Than A Third Of The World’s Electricity Will Come From Renewables In 2025” • A significant rise in CO₂ emissions from the global power sector is unlikely over the next few years, thanks to the rapid rise in renewable energy capacity. That’s a key finding from the International Energy Agency’s “Electricity Market Report 2023.” [The World Economic Forum]

¶ “Germany And Spain Push To Keep Nuclear Out Of The EU Renewable Energy Goals” • Seven EU states including Germany, Spain, and Denmark have strengthened their resistance to efforts by France to count nuclear energy towards EU renewable energy targets, a letter seen by Reuters says. The EU is negotiating more ambitious renewable energy targets. [ZAWYA]

Nuclear plant (Pixy.org, CC0)

US:

¶ “Southern California Water Board Rescinds Emergency Conservation Measures Following Winter Storms” • California’s water supplies were at critically low levels before recent storms. Now, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California says it is no longer mandating emergency restrictions on water use for over 7 million people. [CNN]

¶ “Comparing The Net Value Of Geothermal, Wind, Solar, And Solar+Storage In The Western US” • Studies show that a diverse portfolio of zero-carbon resources will be needed to decarbonize the US electricity sector, and that high-capacity-factor renewable resources like geothermal could become particularly important in later stages of decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

Geothermal power plant (David Elvar Masson, Pexels)

¶ “Google And LevelTen Make Renewable Energy PPAs Easy As Pie” • Foes of clean energy object to “woke capital,” but Google has pulled the rug out from under them. In a partnership with the startup LevelTen Energy, Google aims to kick wind and solar development into high gear by cutting 80% off the time it takes to execute power purchase agreements. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Encouraging’: Boise’s Emissions Drop As Climate Initiatives Come Online, Renewables Stay Strong In Idaho” • Boise is working on multiple climate initiatives. The latest figures on its carbon emissions show declines as the city moves toward a series of climate goals over the coming decades, making the City of Trees carbon neutral by 2050. [Boise Dev]

Anderson Dam (Courtesy of the Bureau of Reclamation)

¶ “Entergy Seeks To Boost Economic Development In Louisiana Through Renewable Power Expansion” • To do its part to protect the environment and help the state with economic development, Entergy Louisiana recently made the largest renewable power expansion request in state history. It is seeking to add 3 GW of solar capacity. [Market Screener]

¶ “400,000 Gallons Of Radioactive Water Leak From Minnesota Nuclear Plant” • Minnesota regulators said they’re monitoring the cleanup of a leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from Xcel Energy’s Monticello nuclear plant. The company said there’s no danger to the public. The leak was first detected in November of last year. [CBS News]

Have a simply spectacular day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Renewables Surge, Yet Carbon Emissions Hit Record. What Gives?” • The world’s emissions of heat-trapping CO₂ rose to record levels last year, according to an International Energy Agency report, but renewable energy sources continued their exponential growth. Some analysts believe that the world’s fossil fuel demand has peaked. [Christian Science Monitor]

Earth from above the Gulf of Mexico (NASA image, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Budget: Why Chancellor Jeremy Hunt Is Dead Wrong About Nuclear Power – Dr Richard Dixon” • The nuclear industry and their friends are stepping up their propaganda war but their terrible track record shows that new reactors are still not the answer to either reducing emissions or supplying affordable power. [MSN]

World:

¶ “‘Endless, Brutal Heat’: Argentina’s Late-Season Heatwave Has ‘No Similarities In History’” • Argentina is grappling with an unprecedented late-summer heatwave as temperatures soar to record-breaking levels. The heat causes crops to wither, spreads wildfires, and adds huge pressure to a country already facing an economic crisis. [CNN]

Puerto Madero (Sebastian Cyrman, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Brazilian Researchers Find ‘Terrifying’ Plastic Rocks On Remote Island” •The geology of Brazil’s volcanic Trindade Island has fascinated scientists for years, but some rocks recently found in the remote turtle refuge are alarming. The rocks have melted plastic intertwined in them. The island is 1,140 km (708 miles) off the coast of Espirito Santo. [CNN]

¶ “Honda And Volkswagen Accelerate EV Plans” • Honda and Volkswagen both announced plans to ramp up their conversion to electric vehicles. Honda is moving production around to clear factory space for its forthcoming EVs, while Volkswagen says it is committed to investing more than $193 billion worldwide over the next several years. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.2all (Volkswagen image)

¶ “85% Of Global Companies Don’t Have Credible Plans To Reduce Corporate Flying Emissions” • 85% of global companies are failing to set real targets to reduce their travel emissions, the second edition of a ranking on business travel by The Travel Smart Campaign shows. Only 50 companies out of 322 have set targets to reduce travel emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Italy Is Fighting Energy Poverty And Climate Change” • San Giovanni a Teduccio is a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. A rooftop solar system provides low-cost, clean energy to twenty of its families. San Giovanni is one of at least 35 renewable energy communities across Italy, according to the nonprofit Legambiente Campania. [CleanTechnica]

Naples (Danilo D’Agostino, Unsplash)

¶ “35% Of Philippine Energy Supply To Come From Renewable Sources By 2030” • The Energy Regulatory Commission said the Philippines is planning to make renewable energy one of its leading sources of power supply in less than ten years. It will account for at least 35% of the energy mix by 2030 and more than 50% by 2040. [Inquirer Business]

¶ “Chancellor Unveils Nuclear And Carbon Capture Incentives” • The UK Chancellor has announced funding for carbon capture, usage, and storage and nuclear power plants in a Spring Budget devoid of new incentives for wind and solar projects. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled up to £20 billion to develop what he calls “another plank of our green economy.” [reNews]

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (UK Government image)

¶ “Japan Regulator Bypasses Experts In Declaring Faults Under Nuclear Plant Not Active” • Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority approved an electric power company’s claim that faults running just below a nuclear plant are “not active,” without seeking to consult a group of experts who indicated the possibility of the faults being active in 2016. [The Mainichi]

US:

¶ “EPA Finalizes Rule To Cut Down On Harmful Smog And Pollution From Power Plants” • The EPA has finalized what is called its good-neighbor rule, which aims to cut down on smog and NOₓ pollution from coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities. A rule to reduce CO₂ pollution from coal and natural gas-fired power plants is expected soon. [CNN]

Smoke (DDP, Unsplash)

¶ “Notre Dame Solar Plant To Cut Campus Carbon Emissions 600 To 700 Tons A Year” • The University of Notre Dame will install a 46,000-square-foot solar array on the west side of campus, along Indiana 933, as part of an ongoing effort to diversify its energy supply and achieve net zero campus carbon emissions by 2050. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “To California Regulators: Delay Harmful Rooftop Solar Plan!” • California regulators should revise a rooftop solar plan to make solar more affordable for low-income communities, dozens of groups are telling the California PUC. The commission’s plan drastically reduces the credit new solar users would get when they send solar energy to the grid. [CleanTechnica]

Installing solar panels (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “AVANGRID Continues Expansion Of Solar Farms With New Projects In Texas And Ohio” • AVANGRID, a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, is building its presence in the US renewable energy industry with two solar projects in Texas and Ohio. They will generate 523.5 MW of clean and affordable power. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Announces $750 Million To Advance Clean Hydrogen Technologies” • The Biden-Harris Administration, through the DOE, announced the availability of $750 million for research, development, and demonstration efforts to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen. Long-term energy storage is one use of hydrogen. [Department of Energy]

Have an uncommonly comfortable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “A Diverse Approach Is Key To Carbon Removal” • One key takeaway from a study led by scientists at the US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is that diversification reduces risk. The effective path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C in this century likely requires a mix of technologies to pull CO₂ from Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. [CleanTechnica]

Forest (John Towner, Unsplash)

¶ “Drought Study Finds Climate Change Responsible, Irrefutable Research” • A NASA-led study published in Nature Water confirms that major droughts and pluvials – periods when precipitation and water storage on land was excessive – have been occurring more often. For the study, NASA scientists examined 20 years of data from the NASA satellites. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What Are Atmospheric Rivers?” • Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. They come in many shapes and sizes, but those that have the largest amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds can create extreme rainfall and floods. [CleanTechnica]

Lake Oroville, Sep 2021 (California Department of Water Resources)

Lake Oroville, Dec 2022 (California Department of Water Resources)

World:

¶ “South Africa Issues Tender For 513-MW, 2,052-MWh Battery Storage Spread Across 5 Sites” • South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has called for bids for storage capacity totaling 2,052-MWh under the Battery Energy Storage Capacity Bid Window of the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Trucks Is Bringing Electric Trucks To South Africa!” • Volvo Trucks has announced that it will start delivering heavy electric trucks to customers in South Africa from May of 2023. In South Africa, these heavy electric trucks fall within the extra heavy commercial vehicle segment, with gross vehicle weight ratings exceeding 16.5 tonnes. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo electric truck (Volvo image)

¶ “2,000 MW Of Renewable Energy Projects To Be Developed By Onix Group In UP” • Onix Group revealed at the recently finished Uttar Pradesh Investors Conference 2023 that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Uttar Pradesh to build 1,000-MW of solar capacity and 1,000-MW of wind capacity in the state. [Construction World]

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Size To Grow To $2.0 Trillion By 2028” • The Global Renewable Energy market was estimated at $1.20 trillion in 2021 and is anticipated to reach $2.0 trillion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.5%. Sources counted as renewable energy are wind, ocean, bio, sunlight, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. [openPR.com]

Wind turbine (Crissy Ocallaghan, Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “168.39 GW Renewable Energy Capacity Installed In India – Union Power & NRE Minister RK Singh” • So far, a total of 168.39 GW of renewable energy capacity has been installed in India. This includes 63.89 GW of solar, 46.85 GW of large hydro, 41.98 GW of wind, and others. Also, 80.15 GW of capacity is under implementation. [Odisha Diary]

¶ “Premier: No Electrical Shortage After Nuclear Generator Decommission” • Premier Chen Chien-jen says Taiwan will not experience electrical shortage following the decommissioning of the Kuosheng nuclear plant’s No 2 reactor. The government is retiring the generator because the operating permit reached its 40-year contract. [Radio Taiwan International]

Nuclear plant in Taiwan (Toach japan, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “West And East Coasts Battered In Storm ‘Double-Whammy’” • Intense storms slammed into both coasts of the US on Tuesday, bringing more rain, flooding and mud slides to California, and high winds and heavy snow to the north-east. Nearly 90,000 customers are without power in New York State and over 3,000 flights in the US have been delayed. [BBC]

¶ “Inside The Biden Administration’s Fraught Decision To Green-Light The Controversial Willow Project” • About two weeks before the Willow oil project was approved, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland held a meeting with key environmental advocates and Indigenous groups that opposed it. She told them the agency had to make difficult choices. [CNN]

North Slope of Alaska (Paxson Woelber, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Opens Applications For First Round Of $2.5 Billion Program For EV Charging Infrastructure” • The Biden-Harris Administration opened applications for a new multi-billion-dollar program to fund EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in US communities and along designated highways. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “American Lung Association Supports All-Electric Building Act” • The American Lung Association penned a memo in support of the All-Electric Building Act, which seeks to effectively ban gas-powered appliances in residential units. The ALA urges the New York state senate and assembly to include the bill in their new One House budget proposals. [CleanTechnica]

Gas stove (Dane Deaner, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Honeysuckle Solar Farm Powers Through Winter, Ramping Up Construction” • Honeysuckle Solar Farm, a renewable energy project located on just over 1,000 acres of former farmland in St. Joseph County, Indiana, is set to generate 150 MW of power early next year. The $164.7 million project is being developed by Lightsource BP. [NewsBreak Original]

¶ “Republicans Want Nuclear Power Back In Maine” • Two Republican lawmakers are looking to bring nuclear power back to Maine. Reps Mark Walker (R-Baldwin) and Richard Campbell (R-Orrington) both have bills in that could open the door to the generation of electricity using nuclear power in Maine for the first time since 1996. [The Maine Wire]

Have a charmingly uncomplicated day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Alaska Oil Project Will Be Obsolete Before It’s Finished” • Though world leaders now talk constantly about transitioning away from fossil fuels, they also fret about ensuring a supply of oil and gas. But now they are also green-lighting new fossil-fuel projects that won’t start producing energy for years and won’t wind down operations for decades. [The Atlantic]

Trans-Alaska Pipeline (Arthur T LaBar, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Energy Insecurity” • One lesson countries are learning from the current war in Ukraine is that centralized power generation is vulnerable, producing energy insecurity. In a despicable move against the civilians of Ukraine, Russia has targeted energy infrastructure. As in many other countries, energy generating in Australia is being decentralized. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Georgia’s Big New Nuclear Reactors Could Be The Last Built In The US” • The first nuclear reactor built in the US in 30 years reached a milestone last week that brings it close to syncing up with the electrical grid and generating power for customers. But this is not the dawn of the long-threatened nuclear renaissance. It’s more like a swan song. [Canary Media]

New nuclear plant (Georgia Power image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Electric Vehicle Batteries Could Get Big Boost With New Polymer Coating” • Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a conductive polymer coating called HOS-PFM that could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium-ion batteries for EVs. The coating conducts both ions and electrons at the same time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Water Disasters On Both Ends Of The Spectrum – Dry And Wet – Are Getting More Intense As Planet Warms, Study Finds” • From lengthy droughts to severe flooding, the intensity of water-related disasters around the world has increased over the last two decades as temperatures climbed to record levels, according to research by NASA. [CNN]

Flood (Phillip Flores, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Aukus Deal: US, UK, And Australia Agree On Nuclear Submarine Project” • The leaders of the US, UK, and Australia have unveiled new details of their plan to create a fleet of next generation nuclear-powered submarines. Under the Aukus agreement, Australia will first receive at least three nuclear-powered submarines from the US. [BBC]

¶ “Volkswagen Picks Canada For New Battery Factory” • In a press release, Volkswagen Group said it and its battery company PowerCo have selected St Thomas in Ontario as the site of its first overseas gigafactory for cell manufacturing. The new factory will produce sustainable unified cells, with the start of production planned for 2027. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.3 (Volkswagen image)

¶ “BYD, Hozon Auto, And SGMW Set Up Factories In ASEAN Member States In Global Push To Provide Affordable EVs” • The SAIC-GM-Wuling Joint Venture has a factory in Indonesia. After the success of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV in China, SGMW is expanding its offering in this class of vehicles and taking the Wuling Air to markets outside China. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Octopus Electric Vehicles To Buy 5,000 Vehicles From BYD In UK” • BYD announced that the Atto 3 SUV is now available for orders in the UK and that deliveries start this week. The first BYD ‘Pioneer’ stores will open imminently and are situated along the spine of UK including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and Milton Keynes. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Atto 3 SUV (BYD image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Only Solution To Pakistan’s Energy Woes: Abbasi” • Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Pakistan was phasing out its oil-based energy generation as 42% of its energy is from renewable resources, rising to 50% by 2030. He said that renewable energy is the only solution to Pakistan’s energy woes. [The News International]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Approves Controversial Willow Oil Project In Alaska” • The Biden administration has approved the massive Willow oil drilling project in Alaska, angering climate advocates and setting the stage for a court challenge. The project could generate enough oil to release 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming CO₂ per year. [CNN]

Brooks Range (US Fish and Wildlife Service, CC0)

¶ “Activists Push Green Energy To Counter NJ Transit’s Plan For Fossil Fuel Power Plant” • Environmental activists heralded a report that they say proves a hybrid renewable energy microgrid is feasible to help power NJ Transit’s power needs during an unexpected outage. The agency is weighing a fossil-fuel-burning power plant in Kearny. [NorthJersey.com]

¶ “Young Activists Put El Paso On The Front Line Of Climate Defense” • A group of young people in Texas gathered more than 40,000 signatures last year to force a referendum on whether fossil fuel activities in and around El Paso should be curtailed. El Paso sits on the edge of the Permian Basin, which produces about 40% of all US oil. [CleanTechnica]

Nodding donkeys (CGP Grey, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “NH Community Power: Rates Will Be 20% To 40% Less Than Utility Companies” • Using a model that’s called “transformative” for the energy market, the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire has announced that its initial electricity rate will be 15.8¢/kWh. This is a 20% to 40% savings compared to the state’s utility companies. [New Hampshire Bulletin]

¶ “Biden Says Generation ‘Damned’ If We Don’t Fix Climate Change, Also Approves Willow Oil Drilling Project” • Biden did admit that Earth’s rising temperature would have consequences for younger generations. But his decision to approve the Willow oil drilling project also reneged on his 2020 campaign promise to end the passage of new oil and gas permits. [Yahoo]

Have an abundantly nice day.

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Opinion:

¶ “With Heat From Heat Pumps, US Energy Requirements Could Plummet By 60%” • The actually useful energy we have to make will drop drastically when we apply heat pumps everywhere we can. The energy we have to replace is not what is on the left side of the Sankey diagram, but the rejected energy, the gray area on the right. Electrifying will reduce it a lot. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (LLNL image)

¶ “Geopolitics Cast A Shadow Over Russian Nuclear Supplies” • Russia’s strengths in nuclear energy are multifaceted. It mines about 5% of the world’s uranium. But more importantly, it has almost half of the world’s enrichment capacity, to produce uranium suitable for nuclear fuel. Even the US and France depend substantially on Russia. [The National]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Longest-Lasting Tropical Cyclone On Record” • For over a month, Tropical Cyclone Freddy has cast about in the Indian Ocean, bringing powerful winds and downpours to anything in its long and wandering path. The storm first developed off the North Australian coast on February 6, 2023. On March 8, it was hitting Mozambique for the second time. [CleanTechnica]

Cyclone Freddy (NASA Earth Observatory)

World:

¶ “Why East Antarctica Is A ‘Sleeping Giant’ Of Sea Level Rise” • Scientists once thought the East Antarctic ice sheet, which has enough water in it to raise sea levels 52 meters (170 ft), was stable. But now its ice shelves are beginning to melt. Some glaciers in what one explorer called the “home of the blizzard” are melting and might be at risk of sudden collapse. [BBC]

¶ “Monster 66-Tonne Electric Truck Unveiled For Trial Run In Norway” • Scania has established a track record for electrification in Norway, where it already has more than 100 electric trucks on the road. The new model represents a step up, and according to Scania, it is the first of its kind. It apparently is still in a pilot project stage. [CleanTechnica]

Super-sized electric truck (Scania image)

¶ “BrightNight And ACEN Partner To Deploy 1.2-GW Hybrid Renewable Power Portfolio In India” • BrightNight, a global renewable power producer that offers dispatchable solutions, has partnered with ACEN Corporation to accelerate development, construction, and operation of its 1.2 GW multi-technology renewable power portfolio in India. [SolarQuarter]

¶ “Electric Vehicles Proliferate In New Zealand Market” • With over a dozen new models being released in New Zealand this year, it looks like the NZ electric vehicle buyer will be spoilt for choice. Most of these vehicles have already been released in the UK right-hand-drive market. But for those of you who wish to taste a great summary, have a look. [CleanTechnica]

LDV eT60 (LDV image)

UK:

¶ “Britain’s Tax Take Risks Blowing Green Energy Off Target” • A cap on revenue and the lack of the kind of incentives offered to oil explorers are blocking the development of renewable energy in Britain, according to industry officials who are pressing for changes ahead of this week’s budget. They say goals could be missed without policy changes. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “A Tidal Power ‘Mega Project’ In One Of Europe’s Iconic Waterways Could Power A Million Homes. But The Costs Are Huge” • If all goes to plan, the Mersey could also play a major role in the UK’s sustainable future. Authorities in Liverpool want the river to be home to a huge tidal power project which, they say, could power up to 1 million homes. [CNBC]

Liverpool from across the Mersey (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “Consent Granted For Wales’ First Floating Windfarm” • The Welsh Government has granted consent for Wales’ first floating windfarm located 40 km off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Project Erebus will house seven next-generation 14-MW turbines on floating platforms, providing enough low carbon energy to power 93,000 homes. [GOV.WALES]

US:

¶ “Another Step Toward Zero Emissions: A Medium-Duty Electric Mack Truck” • Mack Trucks has announced its Mack® MD Electric, the first electric Mack Truck in the medium-duty segment of the industry. The Mack MD Electric will be available in Class 6 and Class 7 ratings. Both models are exempt from the 12% Federal Excise Tax. [CleanTechnica]

Mack® MD Electric (Mack Trucks image)

¶ “Virginia General Assembly Split On Whether To Pursue Nuclear Power More Aggressively” • Virginia’s Republican House of Delegates and governor want to encourage nuclear and SMR use. But the majority of Senate Democrats have balked, saying they’d like to see more research into SMRs in particular before committing to develop them. [Virginia Mercury]

¶ “Duke Energy’s Largest Solar Power Plant Begins Commercial Operations” • Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions announced the successful operation of its largest solar power plan. The 250-MW Pisgah Ridge Solar project in Texas will help DESS expand its renewable energy resources, offering energy to commercial customers. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Have a neatly presented day.

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geoharvey is not tax-deductible.