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Opinion: 

¶ “A Look At China’s Largest Coal Mine And China’s Coal Lie (Video)” • ADVChina, a YouTube channel that focuses on the adventure lifestyle and exploring China, shared an in-depth look at one of China’s largest open-pit coal mines. The hosts of the channel held a discussion about China’s obsession with coal. The video is very informative. [CleanTechnica]

ADVChina hosts (Screenshot via Youtube)

Science and Technology:

¶ “A Recent Aptera Video Gives Us A Peek At Its Repairable Guts” • A video by Aptera shows us that the company is committed to making the vehicle repairable by normal people. It also gave us a peek at how some of that is actually going to happen. These are development vehicles, but it appears that the Aptera is going to have some underbelly access. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Real-Life ‘Lego’ Wind Turbines Coming Soon To A Wind Farm Near You” • Denmark happens to be the home base of both the leading wind turbine manufacturer Vestas and the toymaker Lego. Vestas seems to be taking a page out of Lego’s modularity book to help accelerate the pace of manufacturing wind turbines and drop the costs, too. [CleanTechnica]

Vestas wind turbines (Photo courtesy of Vestas)

¶ “Beginning Of The End Of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch? (Video)” • The Ocean Cleanup achieved proof of technology at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and is ready to return to begin cleanup. In celebration of this milestone, a marine parade welcomed the offshore crew in Canada. The video captures just a bit of that celebration. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “How cities are going carbon neutral” • More than half of the world’s population currently live in cities, and cities are the sources of 60% of our greenhouse gas emissions. But cities are also becoming leaders in the fight against climate change. They are adopting aggressive strategies to reduce both global warming emissions and other pollutants. [BBC]

Cyclists in Amsterdam (Noralí Nayla, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Drivers Left Unable To Start Their Cars After Outage” • Some Tesla drivers say they have been locked out of their cars after an outage struck the carmaker’s app. Dozens of owners posted on social media about an error message on the mobile app that was preventing them from connecting to their vehicles. The problem has reportedly been addressed. [BBC]

¶ “Teslas Multiplying In The ‘Burbs Of Australia” • It wasn’t long ago when my Model 3 was the only Tesla in Bracken Ridge, a suburb of Brisbane. Then it was the only Model 3. Then it was the only red Model 3. Those days are over, as Teslas multiply out in the suburbs. Things are changing. Bracken Ridge is not part of the yuppie wealth belt. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 (Robin van Geenen, Unsplash)

¶ “GM Flags Concern Over Renewable Energy In Mexico, Sees Investment Risk” • A senior executive of carmaker General Motors raised concern about the future of renewable energy usage in Mexico. He said that without a solid legal basis for renewables, automotive investment in Latin America’s number 2 economy would suffer. [Investing.com]

¶ “India’s State Coal Companies Target Installing 5.56 GW Renewable Power By 2030” • India’s state-run coal companies aim to install 5.56 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 and take other measures designed to reduce CO₂ emissions, to meet pledges made at the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, the Ministry of Coal said. [Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide]

Wind farm, Tamil Nadu (Raj, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Japanese Island Ditches Diesel For Microgrid Renewables” • Plans are underway for a microgrid that will combine renewable generating capacity and batteries for tiny Okinoerabu Island in the southern part of Japan. Detailed plans for the project are due to be completed by the end of March 2022, with construction to start soon thereafter. [Microgrid Knowledge]

US:

¶ “Ford Doubles EV Production Plans And GM Books 18,000 BrightDrop Order” • Ford CEO Jim Farley announced on Twitter that his company is doubling its EV production goal to 600,000 vehicles by 2023. General Motors is moving on its own plans to build BrightDrop battery electric delivery vans. It already has one order for 12,600 EV600 vans. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Courtesy of Ford Motor Company)

¶ “New Mexico Co-Op Dumps Monopoly Supplier To Offer More Solar” • Rural areas are sometimes isolated, disconnected from modern conveniences and the latest technologies. The digital divide is real, but one New Mexico cooperative is proving to be an exception, as it connects customers to affordable solar energy and reliable Internet service. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “House Passes Build Back Better Act In US” • The House of Representatives has passed the Build Back Better Act, which includes support for clean energy and contains several provisions that directly impact the offshore wind industry. The legislation includes long-term clean energy tax credits. It is now going to the Senate for consideration. [reNews]

US Capitol (US Government, public domain)

¶ “Intersect Secures €2.3 Billion For US Clean Power Push” • The developer Intersect Power has secured €2.3 billion ($3.09 billion) in financing for the construction and operation of a six-project renewable portfolio in the US totaling 2200 MW. The generating capacity includes late-stage solar projects and 1.4 GWh of storage that will be in operation by 2023. [reNews]

¶ “Southern Co To Build Landmark Small Nuclear Reactor” • Southern Co announced plans to build a small, experimental nuclear reactor in Idaho using technology from TerraPower, a company backed by Bill Gates. The project, partially funded with federal money, is considered a key step in bringing new nuclear technologies to scale. [E&E News] (Waste of money – ghh)

Have an exceptionally fine day.

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Opinion:

¶ “New York Must Act On Clean Trucks” • The future of clean, zero-emission trucks is now in the hands of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The must decide whether to adopt the Advanced Clean Truck rule. We believe the answer is clear: It is imperative that the Department adopt the rule before the end of 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Mack Trucks electric garbage truck (Mack Trucks image)

¶ “Entergy’s Big Bet On Renewables” • It doesn’t seem all that long ago when Entergy had grand plans for nuclear power. But the company is now all-in on renewable energy. The surprising thing is how fast renewables will grow. The company gets 1% of its energy from renewables now, but that figure will rise to 17% in three years and 33% in five. [starherald.net]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Bamboo Has Been Used For Thousands Of Years In Asia. Now, It Could Help Solve Construction’s Sustainability Problem” • Strong and flexible, bamboo grows fast. While soft and hard woods can take between 40 and 150 years to mature, bamboo is ready to harvest in as little as three years. When treated and engineered, it can last for decades. [CNN]

Bamboo growing (Eleonora Albasi, Unsplash)

¶ “The Crazy Dream Of A Flow Battery Electric Vehicle Is Not So Crazy Any More” • Researchers once dreamed of a flow battery to make an EV that could range as far and wide as a gasmobile. Talk about that died down a while back, but the US DOE has just bet $3 million on a new energy storage project that could turn the dream into reality. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Ingenious Living Bridges Of India” • The Indian state of Meghalaya gets so much rain that modern bridges would wash away, but the living bridges stand up to the torrents. Indigenous groups in north-east India have crafted intricate bridges from living fig trees for centuries. Now this ancient skill is making its way to European cities. [CNN]

Double living bridge (Arshiya Urveeja Bose, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

World:

¶ “Deforestation In The Amazon Increased By 33% In First Ten Months Of 2021, Analysis Shows” • The rate of deforestation in the Amazon increased by 33% in the first ten months of 2021, compared to the first ten months of 2020, according to an analysis published by the Institute for Man and the Environment of the Amazon. [CNN]

¶ “Plugin Vehicles Have 23% Of New Car Sales In France” • In France, plugin car sales grew in October, with registrations ending at 27,109 units, divided between 15,582 battery EVs and 11,527 plug-in hybrid EVs. The former jumped 55% year over year, while the latter were up 13%. The overall market was down 31% compared to October 2020 [CleanTechnica]

Renault ZOE (Grey Geezer, placed into the public domain)

¶ “30% Plugin Vehicle Share In German Auto Market!” • The German plugin vehicle market scored over 54,000 registrations last month, a 12% improvement year over year. This is an impressive performance considering the overall market crashed 35%. As a result, last month’s plugin share ended at 30%, with 17% of all sales battery EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa And RES Grow Canadian Partnership With 100-MW Turbine Order” • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has signed its first project with Renewable Energy Systems in Canada for the 100-MW Hilda wind project in Alberta. Siemens Gamesa will supply 20 SG 5.0-145 turbines, sufficient to power about 50,000 homes. [North American Windpower]

Siemens Gamesa wind turbines

¶ “Global Net-Zero Goals Need 85-140 TWh Of Storage” • To enable power grids to become carbon net-zero, between 85 and 140 TWh of long duration energy storage of more than eight hours can be deployed globally, according to a report prepared by the Long Duration Energy Storage Council in collaboration with McKinsey & Company. [reNews]

US:

¶ “$2.6 Billion Committed To New Solar Projects in Texas, California” • Intersect Power announced it has closed eight separate deals, representing a total of $2.6 billion in financing commitments for construction and operation of six late-stage solar energy projects with 2.2 GW of generating capacity in California and Texas. [Power Magazine]

Wind farm in California (Niranjan Arminius, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Tesla And Buc-Ee’s Plans For Superchargers Span 26 Stores In Seven States” • The best way to describe Buc-Ee’s may be as a gas station on steroids with BBQ, fudge, and shopping. Now Buc-Ee’s and Tesla have an agreement to install Superchargers at 26 stores in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Adaptive Headlights Coming To US Within Two Years” • The infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President includes an amendment to Section 108 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard “to allow for the use on vehicles of adaptive driving beam headlamp systems.” The change will take effect within two years. [CleanTechnica]

Adaptive headlights (Image courtesy of Porsche)

¶ “Entergy Louisiana Signs 350-MW Solar Project Portfolio with DE Shaw Renewable” • DE Shaw Renewable Investments, a US renewable energy producer, has signed three renewable energy off-take agreements with Entergy Louisiana LLC. They are to begin supplying solar energy to ELL and its Louisiana customers in 2024. [T&D World]

¶ “Nuclear Regulators Uphold Violations At Georgia Reactors” • Nuclear power regulators affirmed that the NRC will be giving greater scrutiny to two nuclear reactors under construction at Georgia Power Co’s Plant Vogtle after a special inspection found electrical cables were not properly separated. There were 600 instances of failure reported. [The Middletown Press]

Have an intriguingly gorgeous day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “UK-Led COP Aviation Declaration Too Weak To Clean Up Flying” • The UK-led international climate ambition declaration for aviation is too weak to reduce flying’s climate impact, says Transport & Environment. In relying on the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation, the signatories make the same mistakes as earlier efforts. [CleanTechnica]

Future United Airlines electric airplane (United Airlines image)

¶ “Ride In A Century-Old Detroit Electric Car Warped My Mind” • Recently I had the exquisite pleasure of getting a ride in an original 1913 Detroit Electric car built by the Anderson Electric Car Company. On several levels it was a surprising experience. In fact, I really had a hard time projecting what I was perceiving as being part of reality. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “COP26: The Truth Behind The New Climate Change Denial” • As world leaders met at COP26 to debate how to tackle climate change, misleading claims and falsehoods about the climate spiralled on social media. Scientists say climate change denial is now more likely to focus on the causes and effects of warming, or how to tackle it, than to outright deny it exists. [BBC]

Sun with a very large sunspot (NASA image)

¶ “Europe Was Already Facing A Winter Gas Crisis. The Risks Just Got Even Bigger” • When Germany announced this week that it had suspended certification of a controversial new Russian gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, the response in energy markets was immediate. European natural gas futures finished up almost 18% on Tuesday and rose again on Wednesday. [CNN]

¶ “India’s Fossil Fuel Giants Announce Renewable Energy Partnership ” • India’s largest oil refining company and thermal power generation company have announced a partnership to develop renewable energy assets. Reportedly, NTPC will develop renewable energy generation and energy storage applications for Indian Oil Corporation. [CleanTechnica]

Telangana II solar plant (Thomas Lloyd Group, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “India Enhances Solar Module Manufacturing Incentive To $3 Billion” • India’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, recently told media outlets his government has enhanced the production linked incentive package for manufacturing solar modules. Initially, the incentive package was worth $600 million. They just raised that to $3 billion. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Energy Ireland Strives For A Reduction In Energy Prices” • Wind Energy Ireland, the representative body for Irish windpower, called for the reduction of renewable energy prices and overall electricity bills for ratepayers in Ireland. The leader of the organisation said that Ireland has some of the world’s best resources but high energy costs. [Energy Digital]

Irish wind farm (RTG, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Orion Collaboration Will Achieve Net-Zero CO₂ Emissions” • Orion Minerals’ Prieska Power Reserve™ is aimed at generating electrical energy from renewable sources and storing this energy as green hydrogen and ammonia on a long-term basis. The project intends to be energy independent, as it supplies energy for mining zinc and copper. [Mining Review Africa]

US:

¶ “Fires In The Sierra Nevada Likely To Grow In Frequency” • Research from the University of California, Irvine says that by 2040, as humans continue to change the climate, fire-conducive heat waves will become so common that the number of blazes throughout the Sierra stands to increase about 50%. The study appears in the journal Science Advances. [UCI News]

Burnt forest (Brian Bell, UCI)

¶ “Microgrids Powered By Renewables Will Generate 500,000 Jobs And $72 Billion In GDP Growth By 2030” • Microgrids are a solution for resilience, for both the climate and the economy. A Guidehouse Insights report says that every $1 million invested in renewable energy microgrids will create $500,000 in economic benefits and 3.4 skilled jobs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Navy, KIUC, AES, And NREL Innovate And Collaborate For Resilience And Cost-Effective Clean Energy Project On Kauai” • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory partnered with the US Navy to complete a groundbreaking project at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on the west side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. [CleanTechnica]

Pacific Missile Range Facility (US Navy image)

¶ “Massachusetts Could Have An All-Renewable Energy Future, But Challenges Remain” • If wind, solar, and geothermal energy maintain the growth rates they have shown over a decade, those three sources alone could meet the nation’s electricity demand by 2035, Environment Massachusetts said in a report. But more must be done to maintain those rates. [WBUR]

¶ “Solar Developers Commission Maryland PV” • Solar energy developers One Energy Renewables, CleanChoiceEnergy, and Standard Solar have completed four of a nine-project pipeline of projects in Maryland totaling 24 MW in capacity. The portfolio is projected to benefit over 5,000 Maryland households through community solar subscriptions. [reNews]

Solar panels from below (Asia Chang, Unsplash)

¶ “Maine Voters Reject Renewable Energy Transmission” • The Citizens of Maine voted to pass Maine Question 1 in Tuesday’s election. It called for the revocation of approvals previously issued by Maine regulators for a proposed $1 billion power line called the New England Clean Air Connect. Doing so, they made the energy transition harder in several states. [Forbes]

¶ “America’s Nuclear Power Sector Is Getting $6 Billion Bailout” • After failing to grow for years, the US nuclear industry is finally radiating positivity: fine print of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that just became law has $6 billion in grants for struggling reactors. The sudden enrichment is because nuclear is back in vogue for “low carbon emissions.” [Nasdaq]

Have an admirably great day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Nuclear Power Won’t Save the World. It Won’t Even Help” • Putting money into nuclear power goes beyond being a huge waste. It detracts from the vital issue of dealing with climate change now by making money unavailable for dealing with the problem using less expensive, more flexible energy that can be built much more quickly. [Green Energy Times]

San Onofre nuclear plant (awnisALAN, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

World:

¶ “Climate Change: What Did The Scientists Make Of COP26?” • Those who spoke to the BBC praised the conference for getting countries to agree to meet next year to pledge deeper emissions cuts. They welcomed agreements on forests, innovation, and especially methane from fossil fuel extraction and livestock. But they fear politicians won’t deliver. [BBC]

¶ “This City Had Its Hottest Day On Record This Summer. 140 Days Later, It Had Its Wettest” • Abbotsford, British Columbia, recorded its hottest day ever with a temperature of 109°F during an unprecedented heat wave in June. Just 140 days later, it broke another record with 4 inches of rain in 24 hours. Climate change can bring “weather whiplash.” [CNN]

Flood near Abbottsford, 2009 (Murray Foubister, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Germany Suspends Approval For Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline” • Germany suspended its approval process for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which would double its reliance on Russian gas following growing geopolitical pressure to scrap the project. It is a big setback to Kremlin-backed Gazprom’s plans to extend Russian gas dominance. [The Guardian]

¶ “Delhi Smog: Schools And Colleges Shut As Pollution Worsens” • Authorities in Delhi shut all schools and colleges indefinitely amid the worsening air pollution. Construction work has been banned until 21 November, though with specific exceptions. Only five of the eleven coal-based power plants in the city have been allowed to operate. [BBC]

Smog in Delhi (Government of India)

¶ “ZeroAvia Announces Regional Jets Partnership” • ZeroAvia has announced a partnership for regional jets with hydrogen-electric propulsion systems with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet Aviation. ZeroAvia will develop the powertrain technology and Mitsubishi will cover design, certification, and the support experience. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “India To Replace Thermal Power With Renewables Under Existing PPAs” • India’s Power Ministry issued revised guidelines for thermal generation companies to set up renewable power capacity, by themselves or through developers. The companies will supply the bundled power to the consumers under existing power purchase agreements. [PV Magazine]

Power plant (NTPC image)

¶ “First Nations Clean Energy Network Set Up To Deliver Cheap And Reliable Power To Indigenous Communities” • Australian First Nations groups, unions, industry bodies, and academics have launched a new network to build renewable energy projects for Indigenous communities to provide reliable power and end energy insecurity. [ABC]

US:

¶ “Utility-Scale Solar Reaches LCOE Range Of 2.8¢ To 4.1¢ Per kWh In The USA (Record Low)” • Utility-scale solar has reached another record low in Levelized Cost of Energy, at 2.8¢/kWh to 4.1¢/kWh, according to Lazard’s latest LCOE report, version 15.0. Lazard found that renewables are increasingly outcompeting other forms of energy. [CleanTechnica]

Lazard’s LCOE chart (Lazard image)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Study Shows NC Third In Nation For Solar Energy Growth, Tenth In Renewable Energy Overall” • A nonprofit based in North Carolina released a study showing the state is among the top ten in renewable energy development. Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center analyzed renewable energy development in all states. [Carolina Coast Online]

¶ “EDPR Cuts Ribbon At Indiana Crossroads” • EDP Renewables North America and Northern Indiana Public Service Company celebrated the completion of the 302-MW Indiana Crossroads wind farm at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Commercial operations will start by the end of this year, generating power sufficient for 80,000 Indiana homes. [reNews]

Ribbon cutting ceremony (EDPR image)

¶ “America’s Largest Energy Customers Set A Bold Ambition To Achieve A 90% Carbon-Free US Electricity System By 2030 And Accelerate Clean Energy Globally” • The Clean Energy Buyers Alliance organizations announced a goal to have a 90% carbon-free US electricity system by 2030 and a global community of energy customers driving clean energy. [Business Wire]

¶ “$1.1 Billion Renewable Energy Project Touted For Caldwell County” • The Central Texas business corridor is growing yet again, with a massive $1 billion investment from a California company, Chem-Energy, to build two power plants in Caldwell County. The power plants will be solar facilities with and battery storage for energy. [San Antonio Express-News]

Solar farm (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Con Edison Expands Clean Energy Commitment On Path To Net-Zero Emissions” • Con Edison expanded its Clean Energy Commitment, reflecting its strategy to lead the nation in the transition to renewables, give customers more control over their energy use, and prepare the company’s energy-delivery system for the impacts of climate change. [PR Newswire]

¶ “$4 Billion Nuclear Power Plant Backed By Bill Gates And Warren Buffett Is Set For Construction In Wyoming” • Pending federal and local approval, TerraPower will build a $4 billion, 345-MW nuclear facility at the Naughton Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, about 130 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, the company announced. [USA Today]

Have a profoundly composed day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Toyota’s Team Japan Aims To Save Internal Combustion Engine From Extinction” • Toyota’s embrace of hydrogen and the internal combustion engine has become ridiculous. Headed up by Akio Toyoda, Toyota is celebrating its own refusal to sign a pledge to eliminate infernal combustion engines in Glasgow last week by forming Team Japan. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota pickup truck (Dusty Barnes, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Ford And Purdue University Created A Cable That Fully Charges An EV In 5 Minutes” • Ford has teamed up with Purdue University to build a prototype of a cable that could fully charge an EV’s battery in just five minutes without overheating. It could help overcome one of the last major obstacles standing in the way of EVs achieving mass acceptance. [Yahoo]

¶ “Harnessing The Power Of The Tides In Scotland” • The most ambitious of the tidal energy devices operating in the Orkney Islands is the Orbital O2 from Orbital Marine. It has an output of 2 MW, enough to heat the tea kettles and run the lights in 2,000 UK homes. The Orbital O2 is 240 feet long, weighs 650 tons, and is as big as a floating jumbo jet. [CleanTechnica]

Tidal turbine (Image courtesy of Orbital Marine)

World:

¶ “Indian State Of Andhra Pradesh To Buy 7 GW Of Solar Power” • The power distribution utilities of Andhra Pradesh secured approval from the state regulator to procure 7 GW of solar power from projects auctioned by the Solar Corporation of India. Power will be supplied in tranches between September 2024 and September 2026. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrification Of Rail Freight Industry Takes One (Just One) Giant Step Forward” • Everybody knows that transportation by rail freight is fuel efficient. The missing link for sustainability is full electrification. Now we can see some hope in the form of a 100% electric locomotive soon to ply the rails for the Canadian railway company CN. [CleanTechnica]

Battery electric locomotive (Courtesy of Wabtec Corporation)

¶ “Epson Becomes The Manufacturing Industry’s First To Switch To 100% Renewable Electricity At All Sites In Japan” • Epson is the first company in the Japanese manufacturing industry to convert to 100% renewable electricity for all its domestic sites. As a result, Epson will reduce its annual CO₂ emissions by about 250,000 tonnes. [MarketScreener]

¶ “China To Encourage Power Users To Directly Buy Renewables In Cross-Province Spot Trading” • China will encourage power consumers to trade directly with renewable power generators in spot electricity trading, and will gradually add bulk power users and power sellers into the trade, the National Development and Reform Commission said. [MarketScreener]

Solar panels in China (Davidzdh, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “UK, US Partnership Eyes 20-GW Clean Power Goal” • UK-based Low Carbon and the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company joined forces to build a renewable energy independent power producer of 20 GW by 2030. Focusing on international projects, it will leverage proven technologies including solar, storage, windpower, and waste-to-energy. [reNews]

¶ “Global Storage Market ‘Set For Boom’” • Global energy storage installations will reach a cumulative 358 GW by the end of 2030, according to the latest forecast from energy research company BloombergNEF. BNEF forecasts 358-GW, 1028 GWh by the end of 2030, more than 20 times larger than the 17-GW, 34-GWh at the end of 2020. [reNews]

Energy storage (Engie image)

US:

¶ “Biden Signs ‘Once-In-A-Generation’ $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Into Law” • US President Joe Biden has signed into law a $1.2 trillion spending bill. The legislation pledges funding to upgrade highways, roads, and bridges, to modernize transit and passenger rail networks, and for clean drinking water, high speed internet, and a nationwide network of EV charging points. [BBC]

¶ “11% Of Ford F-150 Lightning Pre-Orders Are From Tesla Owners” • A Lightning Owners forum for F-150 Lightning buyers tracks the pre-orders for Ford’s all new electric pickup truck and analyzes the data. One thing it tracks is what vehicle those people will be getting rid of to put an F-150 Lightning in their driveway. It turns out 11% are Teslas. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford Motor Company)

¶ “Tesla Semi Spotted Charging At Megacharger At Giga Nevada” • A Twitter user shared photos of a white Tesla Semi charging at the Megacharger at Giga Nevada. Whether or not Pepsi will be receiving its first Semi this year isn’t known, but what is known is that those old rumors of the Tesla Semi not existing can be put to bed – again. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Jericho’s Two New Solar Plants Will Generate Enough Power For 7,800 Vermont Homes” • Two utility-sized solar plants have come online in Jericho, Vermont, topping a former gravel pit and a closed-down landfill. They are expected to generate enough electricity for 7,800 homes, according to their developer, Encore Renewable Energy. [Burlington Free Press]

Solar array in Jericho (Encore Renewable Energy)

¶ “Solar Project Now Powers Five New England Colleges” • The 76.5-MW Farmington solar project in Maine has entered service, and will supply power to five New England colleges, Amherst, Bowdoin, Hampshire, Smith, and Williams, as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement. A unit of NextEra Energy Resources built the facility. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Rising Sea Levels: How Climate Change Has Affected South Carolina” • While climate projections look to the future and discuss the worst impacts of climate change, we are already experiencing its effects across the US. Here are descriptions of what is happening in South Carolina and neighboring states, along with a link to the national story [WCBD]

Have a thrillingly easy day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “How Much Is Spent Supporting Fossil Fuels And Green Energy?” • Despite pledges to limit support, governments around the world spend more than $420 billion each year subsidizing non-renewable energy, according to the UN Development Programme. How do fossil fuel subsidies work and which countries are spending the most? [BBC]

Abandoned open pit mine (Aedrian, Unsplash)

¶ “Don’t Underestimate Local Knowledge Of Agriculture In Dealing With Climate Change” • In Senegal, the harvest depends on rain. But a study from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona shows that local knowledge of crops and climate can make a huge difference in how much there is to eat. [Forbes]

COP26:

¶ “COP26 Ended With The Glasgow Climate Pact. Here’s Where It Succeeded And Failed” • Nearly 200 countries adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact at the COP26 talks, after wrangling nearly two weeks. The pact will not get us to the goal we need to reach, but in some important ways, the talks were successful in moving us forward. Here are some major points. [CNN]

Demonstration (francis mckee, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “How Might Decisions At The Climate Summit Change Our Lives?” • A deal has been agreed upon and signed at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. You might be left wondering what, if anything, it will mean for you. There a a number of ways in which the decisions made at COP26 could change your life. Here are some of the most important. [BBC]

¶ “Climate Deal Sounds The Death Knell For Coal Power – PM” • The Glasgow climate deal is a “game-changing agreement” which sounds “the death knell for coal power,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Although countries only agreed to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal, a change India insisted on, he said this was a fantastic achievement. [BBC]

Microburst (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “COP26 – Best Summary Out There” • We’ve had the speeches and the briefings, the commitments and the backstepping, big things happening and deals being done. COP26 has dominated the news cycle for many of us. Some see progress, and some see blah blah blah. Here is an “Honest Government” commentary video with highly offensive language. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “NFI Expands Its Partnership With Li-Cycle To Recycle Heavy-Duty EV Batteries At Scale” • NFI Group, the maker of New Flyer buses, announced the expansion of its partnership with Li-Cycle. This will facilitate heavy-duty battery recycling at scale as heavy-duty EV adoption grows. The deal is Li-Cycle’s first program in the heavy-duty vehicle space. [CleanTechnica]

New Flyer Excelsior bus (New Flyer image)

¶ “Ghana Advances Clean Energy With Eight New Solar Plants” • A Ghanaian state entity, Bui Power Authority, announced plans to build eight solar plants in the northern part of the country. The sites are close to substations of the Ghana Grid Company where the solar plants have potential capacities of 10MW to 100MW. [Power Engineering International]

¶ “Renewable Energy Revolution Is Powering Australia’s $720 Billion Mining And Resources Industry” • Along with a solar farm and a battery, five giant wind turbines are powering much of the operations at the Agnew gold project in Western Australia. It is the first resources project in Australia to have a wind farm, but it is unlikely to be the last. [ABC News]

Wind farm (Gold Fields image)

¶ “EDF To Power JPMorgan Chase’s UK Operations With 100% Renewable Energy” • EDF announced a deal with the investment bank and financial services company JPMorgan Chase to power its UK offices with 100% renewable energy. JPMorgan Chase’s electricity consumption will be matched to renewable generation on a 24/7 basis. [Energy Live News]

US:

¶ “This Colorado ‘Solar Garden’ Is Literally A Farm Under Solar Panels” • A Colorado solar garden is also growing vegetables, with help from researchers at nearby Colorado State University and the National Renewable Energy Lab. They had been studying how to turn all the otherwise unused land beneath solar panels into a place to grow food. [WPRL]

Growing produce under solar panels (Kirk Siegler, NPR)

¶ “New Mexico Utilities Can Invest Over $11 Million Into EV Infrastructure And Education” • The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved plans for two utilities to speed up deployment of EVs over the next two years. Their plans include charging infrastructure at single-family and multi-family homes as well as public spaces. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “While Nations Dither, US Cities, Counties, And States Are Suing Fossil Fuel Companies” • How the nations at COP26 will act on climate change is yet to be seen, but US states, counties, and cities are acting. At least 29 of them have filed climate lawsuits in state courts against major fossil fuel companies for fraud, damages, or both. [CleanTechnica]

Have a meticulously uncomplicated day.

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COP26:

¶ “COP26 Climate Deal Includes Historic Reference To Fossil Fuels But Doesn’t Meet The Urgency Of The Crisis” • Nearly 200 nations reached a climate agreement at COP26. It references the role of fossil fuels in the climate crisis for the first time. India made an 11th-hour objection, however, that watered down the language about reducing the use of coal. [CNN]

Machinery in a German lignite mine (C M, Unsplash)

¶ “Evasive Words And Coal Compromise, But Deal Shows Progress” • The COP26 Climate Pact is an ambitious attempt to rein in rising temperatures, but the last-minute row over coal has cast a shadow over the deal. India was joined by China in pushing for a watering down of a key commitment, insisting on “phasing down” rather than “phasing out” coal. [BBC]

¶ “It Won’t Save Us From Drowning” • The COP26 climate deal plans to reduce the world’s reliance on coal and promises more money to help poor countries cope with the impacts of global warming. But those who are most exposed are largely pessimistic about the outcome of the summit, believing that the agreements aren’t enough to save their homelands. [BBC]

Tina Stege, Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands
(PeaceActionMaine, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Blah Blah Blah…: A Brief Summary Of COP26, Says Greta Thunberg” • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of an impending “climate catastrophe,” while climate campaigner Greta Thunberg dismissed Saturday’s COP26 climate conference deal as “blah, blah, blah.” Even those who welcomed the deal said a huge amount of work remains. [India Today]

¶ “What Is COP26 And What Has Been Agreed At Glasgow Climate Conference?” • Extreme weather events linked to climate change are intensifying. The past decade was the warmest on record and governments agree urgent collective action is needed. COP26 was the latest of a series of meetings on what to do about it. Here are some things agreed on. [BBC]

Evidence of climate change (NOAA image)

World:

¶ “Putin Warns Belarus Over Gas Threat To EU” • President Lukashenko of Belarus threatened to cut off gas supplies to the EU after it threatened sanctions over a growing migrant crisis on the Belarus-Polish border. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that stopping natural gas supplies from Russia to the EU would be a breach of contract with Russia. [BBC]

¶ “Korea Needs To Invest More To Meet Wind Power Target” • South Korea needs more aggressive investment in the renewable energy sector to achieve its offshore wind capacity goal by 2030 and address the country’s geographical weaknesses in wind energy, according to a report from London-based consulting firm Ernst & Young. [The Korea Herald]

Korean offshore wind farm (Korea South-East Power Co)

¶ “Li-Cycle And Atlis Motor Vehicles Partner On Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries” • Li-Cycle, based in Toronto, entered into an agreement with Atlis Motor Vehicles, an Arizona startup mobility technology company, according to an announcement. Li-Cycle, which focuses on recycling lithium-ion batteries, is the largest battery recycler in North America. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ “Solar PV And PV+Storage Costs Keep Dropping, New NREL Reports Show” • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released its annual cost breakdown of installed solar PV and battery storage systems. US Solar Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage Cost Benchmark: Q1 2021 details installed costs for PV systems as of the first quarter of 2021. [CleanTechnica]

Change in costs (NREL image)

¶ “Delta Boss Says Climate Change Means Flying Will Cost More” • Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian told the BBC that tackling climate change will make flying more expensive. Atlanta-based Delta, the world’s second biggest airline, says that it spends $30 million per year on carbon-offsetting and has been carbon neutral since March 2020. [BBC]

¶ “XPRIZE & Musk Foundation Announce 23 XPRIZE Carbon Removal Student Award Winners” • Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk along with his foundation are funding the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, which is aimed at fighting climate change. XPRIZE announced that $5 million of that prize was been awarded to 23 student-led teams. [CleanTechnica]

Have an amply enriching day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “It Would Be A Mistake To Re-Evaluate The Closing Of Diablo Canyon” • MIT and Stanford researchers published a report encouraging California to revisit the decision to close the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. I read over the report and was surprised to find myself concluding that it would be a bad idea to re-evaluate the closing of Diablo Canyon. [Almanac Online]

Diablo Canyon (Tracey Adams, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “World Leaders: Phase Out Sales Of New Gas Cars By 2030” • Global leaders can do something at COP26 that would not just protect the environment but also improve air quality in the millions of communities plagued with toxic tailpipe emissions: commit to phasing out sales of new combustion-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs by 2030. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Regenerative Agriculture: A Way To Sequester Carbon” • Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health, with attention also paid to water management and fertilizer use. Such practices will help us fight the climate crisis. [CleanTechnica]

Farming (Image retrieved from NASA, open source)

¶ “New Scalable Method Resolves Materials Joining In Solid-State Batteries” • Scientists at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a scalable, low-cost method to improve the joining of materials in solid-state batteries, resolving one of the big challenges in the commercial development of safe, long-lived energy storage systems. [CleanTechnica]

COP26:

¶ “COP26 Goes Into Overtime As Deep Divisions Remain Over Key Issues Around Money And Markets” • Negotiations may run through the night Friday at COP26, as stark divisions remain on some key issues. A note from COP26 President Alok Sharma said a new draft of the agreement would likely be published at around 8:00 AM local time on Saturday. [CNN]

COP26 experts and stakeholders (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Coal Compromise As Leaders Near Climate Deal” • A draft agreement at COP26 has watered down commitments to end the use of coal and other fossil fuels, as countries race to reach a deal after two weeks of talks. While the language around fossil fuels has been softened, the inclusion of the commitment in a final deal would be seen as a landmark moment. [BBC]

¶ “Crunch Time As Climate Deal Talks Pass Deadline” • Sticking points include phasing out coal, subsidies on other fossil fuels, and financial help to poorer nations. The draft agreement has watered down commitments to end the use of unabated coal and inefficient subsidies on other fossil fuels. Meanwhile, small island nations are fast disappearing to rising seas. [BBC]

Goodbye Bikini Atol (Kurt Cotoaga, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Volkswagen Says Its EV Sales In China Surpass Nio, XPeng, And Li” • China EV Post reported a quote from Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess: “The ID. family continues its steady growth momentum in the China market. In October, ID. models sold nearly 13,000 …, surpassing domestic competitors including NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Delhi Braces For Emergency Measures As Toxic Smog Worsens” • India’s federal pollution control board ordered states and local bodies to be in “complete readiness” to tackle New Delhi’s worsening smog. A thick haze of toxic smog hung over the Indian capital, exacerbated by a spike in the burning of crop waste in surrounding farmlands. [CNN]

Smoke in New Delhi (Tarun Anand Giri, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Africa-Focused Lekela Plans To Spend $2 Billion To Doubcle Renewables Capacity” • Africa-focused renewables developer, one of Africa’s largest renewables companies with a focus on solar and wind power, plans to invest around $2 billion to more than double its renewable power capacity on the continent over the next five years, its chief executive said. [Nasdaq]

¶ “Greece’s Policy Reform Fever: Storage, Net Metering And Sub-500 kW Solar” • The Greek government has completed its wide-ranging policy framework that is expected to reshape the energy sector and also benefit energy storage projects. The bill is now headed to parliament. The reform includes policies that target three categories of storage. [PV Magazine]

Parthenon of Athens (Dimitris Kiriakakis, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Lehigh University Energy Research Center Is Working To Cut Mercury Emissions From Coal Plants And Other Sources” • The Lehigh University Energy Research Center is working out how to reduce mercury emissions. Such emissions usually come from coal-fired plants, cement kilns, industrial boilers, steel mills and waste incinerators. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Turning The Tide For Renewables In Alaska” • A highly energetic corner of the Pacific Ocean, Cook Inlet holds one of the greatest tidal resources on Earth. All that energy has the potential to reduce Alaska residents’ dependence on declining oil and gas production and provide excess renewable energy that could stimulate the Alaskan economy. [AltEnergyMag]

Cook Inlet (Paxson Woelber, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Voices Of 100%: Des Moines Commits To Clean Electricity Around The Clock” • Though it’s insulated from sea level rise, the state of Iowa faces many dangerous climate change impacts. These in turn threaten the nation’s food supply. Fortunately, the state is rich in renewable energy potential and eager advocates who hope to harness it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “PJM IMM Identifies Market Design Issues As Gas Prices Drive Up PJM Power Prices” • PJM Interconnection real-time, load-weighted average power prices increased 68.1% in the first nine months of 2021, driven mostly by natural gas price increases. PJM IMM serves 65 million customers in the Eastern US from Pennsylvania to Virginia and Illinois. [S&P Global]

Have a simply magical day.

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COP26:

¶ “Draft Deal Calls For Stronger Carbon Cutting Targets By End Of 2022” • Countries are being urged to strengthen their carbon-cutting targets by the end of 2022 in a draft agreement published at the COP26 Glasgow climate summit. The document says vulnerable nations must get more help to cope with the deadly impacts of global warming. [BBC]

Ursula von der Leyen (Dati Bendo, CC0 with attribution)

¶ “Fear Of Failure As Climate Summit Enters Final Day” • The COP26 climate summit is entering its final day, amid growing fears that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C is unlikely to be met. UN Secretary General António Guterres said the summit would probably not see governments make the pledges needed to cut CO₂ emissions sufficiently. [BBC]

¶ “Young People Call For Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty As Delegates Spar Over Coal, Oil, And Gas” • At the COP26 climate summit, a group of young climate activists gave delegates a sharp rebuke, demanding that a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty be put in place and calling out global leaders for their continued closeness to the coal, oil and gas industries. [CNN]

COP26 protest (Fraser Hamilton, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “China And India Among 22 Nations Calling For Key Section To Be Cut From COP26 Agreement” • In the fiercest opposition to the COP26 draft agreement, Bolivia’s chief negotiator said his country and 21 other allied nations – including major emitters China, India and Saudi Arabia – would oppose the entire section on climate change mitigation. [CNN]

World:

¶ “Subaru Reveals Its First Electric SUV, Co-Developed With Toyota” • The Subaru Solterra all-electric SUV has been made public in Japan. The Subaru Solterra model was co-developed with Toyota and is a close replica to that company’s BZ4X. Solterra has a 71.4-kWh battery pack with the buyer’s choice of one or two electric motors. [Newsweek]

Subaru Solterra (Subaru image)

¶ “Tesla’s Robyn Denholm At APEC CEO Summit: ‘Every Nation Has A Critical Role To Play'” • Tesla’s Chair, Robyn Denholm, was a keynote speaker at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit. She made the urgency of the climate crisis clear and pointed out that we are past the tipping point of the renewable energy transformation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Powering Northern Ireland Has Changed” • A new energy strategy for Northern Ireland is expected soon, but its electric power has already changed enormously over two decades. The country now gets 46.4% of its electricity from renewable sources, mostly from the wind. Developing additional technologies is important, and hydrogen is a place to start. [BBC]

Wind farm in Northern Ireland (Giuseppe Milo, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Adani Green Targets 45 GW Of Renewables Capacity By 2030” • In India, Adani Green Energy, the world’s largest solar power developer, aims to reach 45 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with the average tariff below the average power purchase cost at the national level. AGE had 5.4 GW of renewable capacity operating on September 30. [PV Magazine]

¶ “BASF Signs Longest Offshore Wind Power Purchase Deal With Ørsted” • German chemicals giant BASF and Ørsted concluded a 25-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement, under which BASF will offtake the output of 186 MW from Ørsted’s planned Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in the German North Sea. [Splash 247]

Ørsted wind farm (Ørsted image)

¶ “Oz Metals Outfit To Transform Operations With Green Hydrogen” • Energy consultancy Xodus signed a memorandum of understanding with Unique Metals for a green hydrogen project in Australia. Unique HyMetals aims to build and operate a hydrogen energy ecosystem with 65 tonnes of green hydrogen production annually. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Five EU Countries Form Anti-Nuclear Alliance At COP26” • In face of a French-led push to revive nuclear power in Europe, five EU countries led by Germany have banded together to urge the European Commission to keep nuclear out of the EU’s green finance taxonomy. Austria and Luxembourg are fierce opponents of nuclear power. [EURACTIV.com]

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Kilian Karger, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Hertz Is Educating Its Customers About Tesla And EVs” • Hertz is doing for Tesla something that many Tesla supporters have been divided about Tesla doing for itself: advertising and giving consumers factual information about EVs. As it advertises its new fleet of EVs, Hertz has stepped up to the plate for Tesla. And Hertz isn’t holding back. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Menlo Park Police To Purchase Tesla Model Ys And Ford Mustang Mach-Es” • In California, Menlo Park is upgrading its police fleet. The city council approved purchase three Tesla Model Y cars for a pilot program as well as six Ford Mustang Mach-Es, The Almanac reports. The city has a goal to reduce its carbon footprint. [CleanTechnica]

Downtown Menlo Park (LPS.1, placed into the public domain)

¶ “Tesla Attends 2021 Society Of Hispanic Professional Engineers National Convention Looking For Talent” • The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers is holding its 2021 National Convention in Orlando, Florida. Tesla has a booth and is actively looking for engineers at the convention. The convention has over 9,000 people attending. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$1 billion renewable energy project planned for Central Texas” • Chem-Energy Corp, a California-based energy company, is planning to invest $1.15 billion in Caldwell County, Texas, over nine years to build and maintain two power plants near Kyle and San Marcos. The plants will combine solar generation and battery storage. [Austin American-Statesman]

Have an incomparably enjoyable day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Financial Markets May End Up Killing Off Fossil Fuels Before Governments Do” • An interesting email from Bloomberg Green discusses how the cost of capital is going up for fossil fuels and down for renewables. The concluding sentence goes like this: “Markets may end up killing off fossil fuels before governments do.” Why is that? Let’s dig into it. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm (Mark König, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Canadian Electric Vehicle-To-Grid Project Uses Blockchain” • In Canada, a V2G project is using a Nissan Leaf connected to a technology platform created by SWTCH that allows electricity to flow from the Leaf’s battery to a multi-tenant building. SWTCH’s CEO, Carter Li, answered some questions about the project for CleanTechnica. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Coastal Saltmarsh ‘Engineered’ To Fight Climate Change” • Re-flooding coastal wetlands could provide an opportunity to “work with nature” and use sea level rise to fight climate change, scientists say. An ongoing study of a coastal marsh in Scotland that was was restored in 2018 has shown the potential to lock carbon emissions into mud. [BBC]

Salt Marsh (JD Doyle, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “China Surprises Climate Summit With Pledge To Work With US, But Doesn’t Budge On Climate Goals” • The US and China surprised the COP26 climate summit when representatives of the countries announced an agreement to ramp up their climate ambitions, just days before the end of the conference in Glasgow. China and the US agreed to have a virtual summit. [CNN]

¶ “Top Automakers Won’t Commit To Selling Only Zero-Emission Cars By 2040” • Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, Nissan, Stellantis, and other car makers refused to back a commitment to sell only zero-emissions cars and vans by 2040. The UK, Canada, India and Poland, and 19 other countries signed the pledge, but not the US and China. [CNN]

Traffic (Musa Haef, Unsplash)

¶ “COP26: Draft Deal Calls For Stronger Carbon Cutting Targets By End Of 2022” • Countries are being urged to strengthen their carbon-cutting targets by the end of 2022 in a draft agreement published at the COP26 Glasgow climate summit. The document says countries should submit long-term strategies by the end of next year for reaching net-zero. [BBC]

¶ “South African Retail Firm Woolworths Introduces Electric Vans On Its Delivery Routes” • Retail firm Woolworths is trialing electric panel vans as part of its online shopping delivery fleet, a first in South Africa, according to an announcement on Twitter. Woolworths is one of South Africa’s premier clothing, grocery, beauty, and home retailers. [CleanTechnica]

Woolworths electric delivery van (Woolworths image)

¶ “Netherlands Reaches 24% BEV Share In October!” • The Dutch plugin EV (PEV) market was down in October, but not as much as the overall car market. Last month’s PEV share of the overall passenger auto market reached an amazing 35%, with 24% battery EVs (BEVs), pulling the year-to-date PEV share to 24% (14% BEV) and the total tally to 61,701 units. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NSW Formally Declares Australia’s First Renewable Energy Zone” • The government of New South Wales has established Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zone, formally declaring the Central-West Orana zone. It will host at least 3 GW of solar, wind, and storage. NSW will use such REZs to replace its coal-fired power stations. [Renew Economy]

Wind farm in New South Wales (CWP Renewables)

US:

¶ “NVIDIA’s New DRIVE Hyperion 8 Released, Includes Radar And Lidar” • NVIDIA announced a computer architecture, sensor set, and full-self driving software (in some scenarios), DRIVE Hyperian 8. The company says the system is designed for the highest levels of safety and cybersecurity and is available to buy now for 2024 vehicle models. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Oil Companies Are In No Rush To Solve Biden’s Gas Price Problem” • Gasoline prices have surged to seven-year highs and Wall Street banks are warning that $100 or even $120 oil is on its way. But US oil companies are in no rush to come to the rescue, leaving the White House facing pressure from its own party to intervene in energy markets. [CNN]

Gas station (Jean-christophe Gougeon, Unsplash)

¶ “NM To Focus On Renewable Energy With Infrastructure Funds” • New Mexico’s infrastructure has been chronically underfunded, officials say. The state could receive $3.7 billion from the federal infrastructure package. The money would support renewable energy, roads, broadband access, and water supply improvements. [Government Technology]

¶ “US Electricity Customers Experienced Eight Hours Of Power Interruptions In 2020” • On average, US electricity customers had just over eight hours of electric power interruptions in 2020, the most since collecting electricity reliability data began in 2013. The high number is due to high numbers of major events. Other interruptions have held steady. [CleanTechnica]

Graph of interruptions (Energy Information Administration)

¶ “New Solar Array Combines Farming Land With Renewable Energy” • BlueWave Solar has covered 10 acres of wild blueberry fields in Rockport, Maine, with solar panels. The dual purpose of the land is called agrivoltaic, and it’s the first of its kind in Maine. The research and design were done by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. [WABI]

¶ “Entergy Mississippi Announces Plans To Add 1,000 MW Of Renewables In Five Years” • Entergy Mississippi has announced its largest commitment to renewable resources. It will replace aging natural gas plants with 1,000 MW of renewable capacity over the next five years, giving customers an effective hedge against volatile gas prices. [Solar Power World] 

Have an ingeniously advantageous day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “You Can’t Crop An Entire Continent Out Of The Fight Against Climate Crisis” • In Uganda, it used to be that few people really talked about climate change. It was taught in school as if it were a far-off threat. Now, Africans are losing their incomes, and even their lives, but the entire continent is often ignored in global discussions on climate change. [CNN]

Farmland in Uganda (Random Institute, Unsplash)

¶ “Breaking News: Fusion Recedes Into Far Future For The 57th Time” • When Lewis Strauss, then chairman of the US Atomic Energy Commission, talked about nuclear being “too cheap to meter” in 1954, he was talking about fusion, not the fission power we use. Now, 67 years later, the advent of fusion power seems to be as far off as ever. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Turning Crop Waste To Fertilizer Could Fight Air Pollution In India” • After their rice harvest, millions of Indian farmers clear the leftover stubble by setting entire fields alight to prepare for the upcoming wheat crop. This creates a lot of smoke. A young entrepreneur, may have a solution that would help reduce the air pollution and generate revenue for locals. [CNN]

Indian farmer at a rice field (Nandhu Kumar, Unsplash)

¶ “Microgrid Fast Charging Station Design And Operation Software Passes Key EV Charging Test” • There are big challenges for building a charging network for electric trucks. A study by Xendee Corporation and the Idaho National Laboratory shows the technical and economic feasibility of building out charging stations optimized for the challenges. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Material Could Pave Way For Better, Safer Batteries” • To have safer, more powerful batteries, researchers are working to replace liquid electrolytes used in batteries with solids. A team from Brown University and the University of Maryland came up with a material for use in solid-state batteries that’s derived from an unlikely source: trees. [CleanTechnica]

Trees in a forest (Lukasz Szmigiel, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Greenpeace Germany Sues Volkswagen Over CO₂ Emissions Targets” • Environmental activist Clara Mayer and the heads of Greenpeace Germany have sued Volkswagen in a German court. Greenpeace accuses the automaker of failing to do its part on climate change. One of the demands is that VW stop making internal combustion engine cars by 2030. [CNN]

¶ “COP26: PM Calls On Nations To Pull Out The Stops As Draft Agreement Published” • Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going back to the COP26 climate summit and urging nations to “pull out all the stops” to limit warming. The agreement’s first draft has been published. It sets out how countries will cut emissions to avoid temperature rises of above 1.5°C. [BBC]

Boris Johnson at COP26 (Prime Minister’s Office, OGL v.3)

¶ “Daimler Busted For Eight Illegal Emissions Control Defeat Devices In Diesel Emissions Scandal” • Testimony from an automotive software expert showed that Daimler AG was deeply involved in the diesel emissions scandal than thought. He found eight previously unknown defeat devices in a Mercedes-Benz E-Class with Euro 6 Diesel. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Project To Examine Whether Electric Car Batteries Could Power Homes” • Researchers are exploring how EV charging technology could be used to power homes, even making money for EV owners. The project, which involves the Universities of Nottingham and Warwick, is looking at how the batteries could store electricity and support the grid. [BBC]

Professor Lucelia Rodrigues (University of Nottingham)

¶ “Investors Will Reject EU ‘Green’ Label For Gas And Nuclear” • The European Commission is currently considering including gas and nuclear in its ‘green’ labelling system. An international group of 60 investors representing around €9 trillion has warned against including gas and nuclear in the new European taxonomy [classification] on sustainable finance. [EUobserver]

¶ “France To Relaunch Construction Of Nuclear Reactors, Macron Announces” • French President Macron announced that France would launch a drive to build new nuclear energy plants in order to better meet growing energy and environmental challenges. Macron said the new reactors would be of the third generation EPR type. [The Local France]

Flamanville-3, late and over budget (schoella, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “GE Is Splitting Into Three Companies” • General Electric, founded by Thomas Edison in 1892, is breaking up. GE will be three separate companies for aviation, healthcare and energy, in 2023 and 2024. GE has struggled since it made a disastrous bet on building combustion gas turbines when the world was turning toward cleaner renewable energy solutions. [CNN]

¶ “Cadillac Is Buying Out Dealers That Don’t Want To Modernize In Order To Compete With Tesla” • Reuters reported that Cadillac is buying out dealers who don’t want to sell EVs. It wants to sell a new EV and has 40% fewer US dealers than it had in 2018. Even with fewer dealers. Cadillac still has more US dealers than any other luxury brand. [CleanTechnica]

Cadillac Lyriq (Image courtesy of Cadillac)

¶ “Plus Power Lines Up Financing For 565-MWh Storage Project” • Energy storage developer Plus Power said it has funding for its 185-MW, 565-MWh Kapolei Energy Storage project, now under contract with Hawaiian Electric. It said the financing serves as a “strong signal” of capital market support for standalone energy storage projects. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Entergy Louisiana Set To Purchase 475 MW Of Solar Power” • In a press release, Entergy Louisiana announced it will be buying 475 MW of additional solar power from four solar facilities in the state. Construction on the facilities start this year, but they will have different types of contracts. The utility has about 240 MW of renewable energy now. [KPLC]

Have a fantastically worthwhile day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “The World’s Fight For ‘Climate Justice'” • As the temperature of our planet creeps up, for many people the fight to stop climate change is truly a matter of life and death. But exactly how it should be stopped, and who should take what action to stop it, is still far from settled. This matter is at the heart of the push to achieve international climate justice. [BBC]

Marshall Islands (Christopher Michel, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Wind And Solar Could Meet 85% Of Current US Electricity Needs” • Wind and solar power could meet around 85% of US electricity needs, a paper published in Nature Communications says. Batteries, capacity overbuilding, and other storage options could increase that figure. Pooling resources across regions could cover shortfalls. [Engadget]

¶ “$1 Billion Bet On Clean Technology That Is Not Supposed To Happen” • Three pie-in-the-sky areas of clean technology are sustainable aircraft fuel, hydrogen, and carbon capture. They are beginning to creep from the impossible to the possible. An EU investment fund of up to $1 billion has been set up to push all them into the realm of probability. [CleanTechnica]

ZeroAvia airplane (ZeroAvia via prnewswire.com)

World:

¶ “Rwanda Goes Electric With Locally Made Motorbikes” • There are around 25,000 motorbike taxis operating in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Some drive up to 10 hours a day, covering hundreds of kilometers. Start-up Ampersand hopes that over the next five years, electric motorbikes will be adopted so almost all of Rwanda’s motorbikes will be electric. [BCC]

¶ “BP Won’t Quit Controversial US Oil Lobby. Its CEO Explains Why” • French oil giant Total made waves early this year when it broke with the American Petroleum Institute, the largest and most powerful oil lobby in the US, because of its stance on climate issues. BP pledged to reduce oil production by 40% this decade, but it won’t quit API. Its CEO tells why. [CNN]

Refinery (Robin Sommer, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Sold 54,391 Vehicles In China In October, And Giga Shanghai Ceremony For New Construction Phase” • October sales figures from the China Passenger Car Association are in. They show that Tesla’s delivery total was 54,391 units, with 40,666 exported, despite a one-week closure of Giga Shanghai due to China’s National Day celebrations. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Obama Tells Young People To Stay Angry On Climate Fight” • Barack Obama has called on young people to “stay angry” in the fight against climate change at the COP26 summit. The former US president urged them to apply political pressure to make a change, but warned they would need to accept compromises along the way. [BBC]

Climate protest (Mika Baumeister, Unsplash)

¶ “Shell And Norsk Hydro Team Up For Green Hydrogen” • Royal Dutch Shell and Norsk Hydro are looking into jointly producing hydrogen from renewable electricity in a push to decarbonize their operations and supply heavy industry and transport customers, Hydro said. They are looking for locations where green H₂ can be made and used. [FX Empire]

¶ “UK Joins Rolls-Royce And US Power Group For $550 Million SMR Funding” • The launch of a fleet of SMRs (small modular nuclear reactors) is a step closer as Rolls-Royce was joined by co-investors and the UK government to fund development of the technology. It claims to offer rapidly deployable zero-carbon energy competitive with renewables. [Recharge News] (“Claims”)

Rendering of a Rolls-Royce SMR (Rolls-Royce image)

US:

¶ “Pepsi Is Preparing For Its First Tesla Semi Truck Delivery This Year” • Pepsi CEO Ramon Laguarta told CNBC’s Jim Cramer that Pepsi is getting its first deliveries of Tesla Semi trucks this year. He also emphasized the importance of clean energy. The answer was to a question from Cramer about Pepsi’s plan to reduce emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Energy Ventures Will Provide Retail Electric Services In Texas” • According to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, Tesla Energy Ventures, a subsidiary of Tesla, will provide retail electric services throughout the area serviced by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT’s grid is separate from the rest of the country. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla residence (Tesla image)

¶ “Native-Owned Renewable Energy Companies To Receive More Than $6.5 Million From DOE” • The DOE awarded Native Sun Community Power Development over $6.5 million to purchase a fleet of EVs for official use by the Red Lake Tribal Nation in Minnesota and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North and South Dakota. [Native News Online]

¶ “RFP Alert: Georgia Power Seeks 1,030 MW Of Renewable Generation” • Georgia Power, a utility with more than 2.6 million customers, issued a request for proposals for 1030 MW of new renewable energy generating capacity. Applicable projects will be 3 MW or greater in size, and would reach in-service dates in 2023 and 2024. [pv magazine USA]

Silicon Ranch 102.5-MW solar farm (Silicon Ranch image)

¶ “AEP Remains On Path To Get Half Its Power From Renewable Sources By 2030” • American Electric Power, one of the biggest US power companies, says it is on track to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as it moves away from coal. AEP says it plans to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 80% by 2030. [The Columbus Dispatch]

¶ “Encore Renewable Energy Completes Two Brownfield Solar Projects In Vermont” • Encore Renewable Energy and Vermont Electric Cooperative announced that two new solar projects with a total capacity of 4.5 MW are now operating in Jericho, Vermont. They are on a former municipal landfill and a former gravel pit for the town. [Solar Power World] 

Have a wonderfully enchanting day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Did You Turn Off The Gas?” • Carbon Tracker’s key findings should have investors in gas taking note. They found that 22% of European and around 31% of US gas-fired power generation capacity included in their model is unprofitable. And countries dependent on gas have found the volatile prices of 2021 damage their economies. [CleanTechnica]

Gas burners (Kwon Junho, Unsplash)

¶ “Rethinking Humanity’s Future: A Video Series By Tony Seba And James Arbib” • Tony Seba has been at the forefront of predictions about disruption and change for over a decade. Now, he is tackling the biggie: Can civilization survive the current catastrophes that are occurring? His answer is yes, but humanity must use a different approach. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Five Ways Rural Drivers Benefit From Electric Vehicles” • An electric lifestyle would be a boon to our rural heartland. Rural drivers stand to benefit most from switching to EVs, regardless of the state they live in or the type of vehicle they currently drive. All rural drivers share certain characteristics, and all could find the change a benefit. [CleanTechnica]

Rivian R1T (Ben Moon, Rivian)

¶ “Pledges, Progress, And PR Spin? What You Need To Know As The COP26 Climate Talks Enter The Final Week” • Ministers arriving in Scotland’s largest city of Glasgow early this week will strive to resolve any outstanding sticking points and conclude the talks with an agreement that is sufficient to avoid more frequent and progressively worse climate impacts. [CNBC]

Science and Technology:

¶ “New High-Resolution Climate Model Predicts More Extreme Weather Events In The Future” • A first-of-its-kind study uses a new high-resolution climate model to highlight local extreme weather risks decades in advance. It shows that impacts of extreme rainfall could be more frequent and severe due to climate change than had been thought. [CNN]

Rainfall (Kevin Wong, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “What do the poorest countries want from climate summit?” • Developing countries have historically contributed a very small portion of the damaging emissions that drive climate change. The richest 1% of the global population account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50%. The poorest are also most vulnerable. [BBC]

¶ “Fossil Fuel Industry Has Largest Delegation At Climate Summit” • Campaigners led by Global Witness assessed the participant list published by the UN at the start of this meeting. They found that 503 people with links to fossil fuel interests had been accredited for the climate summit. That is more than are associated with any single country. [BBC]

Oil & Gas industry (Patrick Hendry, Unsplash)

¶ “Inox Wind Bags Order Of 150 MW Wind Power Project” • Inox Wind bagged an order for a 150 MW wind power project from NTPC Renewable Energy, to be commissioned in the Indian state of Gujarat. NTPC has a target of having over 60 GW of Renewable Energy capacity, accounting for nearly 50% of its generating capacity, by 2032. [Business Standard]

¶ “China Could Kickstart A New Nuclear Energy Revolution” • Nuclear is still one of the most controversial sources of energy on the planet. The EU stands completely divided on the issue of nuclear power at the COP26 Climate Summit. China is betting big on a nuclear future, however, aiming to bring over 150 new reactors online over the next 15 years. [Oil Price]

Nuclear plant (Frédéric Paulussen, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Americans Should Expect To Pay Higher Heating Costs This Winter, Granholm Says” • Americans should expect to pay more to heat their homes this winter, a result of high gas prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Households that rely on natural gas for heat could spend 30% more than last year. [CNN]

¶ “Verdict On First US Fuel Economy & Emissions Program For Trucks” • A decade ago, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized the first fuel economy and global warming emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks. The EPA has released its first scorecard on how truck makers are faring with the standards. The answer: Quite well. [CleanTechnica]

Truck in California (Sander Yigin, Unsplash)

¶ “Working Toward A Clean Energy Future” • The director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory held a virtual meeting with labor leaders and CEOs of companies leading clean energy innovation. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee started it by reminding all that clean energy is a $23 trillion international industrial sector. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vail Resorts Reaches 85% Renewable Energy Milestone” • Vail Resorts is prioritizing efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Earlier this Fall, Vail reported that its 34 North American mountain resorts had reached an 85% renewable electricity rate, a key milestone as the company aims to have a zero net operating footprint by the year 2030. [DCSki]

Vail Resorts ski area (Vail Resorts image)

¶ “Hawaiian Electric Pledges To Help US Achieve Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goal” • Hawaiian Electric framed its goal in the 25-year period of 2005 to 2030 as a 70 % reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. Through the end of 2020, its CO₂ emissions from power generation were down 24%. It now envisions 50,000 more solar rooftops by 2030. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Texans Face Greater Risk Of Heat, Drought And Hurricanes, But Abbott Administration Has No Plan To Tackle Future Threats Of Climate Change” • While science on climate change clearly says that Texas will face a future of more extreme heat, drought, fire and hurricanes, Governor Greg Abbott’s administration has no policy on how to address those risks. [WFAA]

Have a singularly agreeable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “What’s The Difference Between 1.5°C And 2°C Of Global Warming?” • Really, what is the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of warming? “At 1.5°C, there’s a good chance we can prevent most of the Greenland and west Antarctic ice sheet from collapsing,” said climate scientist Michael Mann at Pennsylvania State University. At 2°C, we lose that chance. [Reuters]

Calving glacier (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Ice on the edge of survival: Warming is changing the Arctic” • The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet and is on such a knife’s edge of survival that the UN climate negotiations underway in Scotland this week could make the difference between ice and water at the top of the world, according to scientists. [CTV News]

World:

¶ “Delhi Pollution: Are Diwali Fireworks To Blame?” • Around 57,000 people died prematurely in Delhi in 2020 as a result of exposure to air pollution according to Greenpeace, despite the Covid lockdown. During Diwali, fireworks make air pollution even worse than usual. Several Indian states have banned them, but enforcement is often weak. [BBC]

Diwali in Jodhpur (Anirudh, Unsplash)

¶ “Countries Must Make Bold Compromises At Summit – PM” • Ministers and negotiators at COP26 should “pull together and drive for the line” to secure ambitious action on climate change, Boris Johnson said. He said countries must be ready to “make the bold compromises and ambitious commitments needed” at the final week of the climate summit. [BBC]

¶ “AXA Restricts Investment In And Insurance Of New Oil & Gas Projects” • How can you build it if you can’t insure it? It is getting harder and harder to insure those activities that are increasing the risk of climate events. AXA, multinational insurance firm based in France with roughly a trillion dollars worth of assets, is leading the way on decarbonizing risk. [CleanTechnica]

Tanker (Ian Simmonds, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs Help Lower Total Emissions In Norway By 3.5% In 2020” • The latest report from Statistics Norway says the country’s EV policies are working. In 2020, total emissions for the country were down 3.5% from the prior year. Elbil, the Norwegian electric car association, says the greater number of EVs on the roads was a big factor in that reduction. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Geothermal Power Plants In Japan Quadruple Since 2011 Nuke Accident” • The number of geothermal power plants in Japan has quadrupled since the 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, industry data shows. Nevertheless, geothermal power accounts for only 0.3% of the country’s total power output because many of the plants are of small scale. [Kyodo News]

Geothermal power plant (Yuzawa Geothermal Power image)

¶ “Tesla Opens A New Factory For Battery Manufacturing Equipment In Canada” • Tesla opened a new factory to produce battery manufacturing equipment in Canada, Reuters reports. Frank Scarpitti, the mayor of Markham, Ontario, took to Twitter to share his excitement about Tesla’s presence in his city, in an official statement. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ “Ford Slips EV Version Of Popular Transit Van Past Mustang Media Fuss” • Everybody is making a big fuss about Ford Motor Company’s EV version of its iconic Mustang line, but Ford has been working on an EV version of its super-popular Ford Transit van, too. The company has released a preproduction model to at least two leading customers. [CleanTechnica]

Ford E-Transit (Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Co)

¶ “Ford’s CEO Says Tesla Needs To Be Taken Seriously As The Dominant Player In The EV Market” • There was a time when Tesla and Elon Musk were butts of legacy auto jokes. But Ford CEO Jim Farley recently held an internal meeting with 20,000 Ford employees, and a good portion of that meeting was about Ford’s competition, primarily Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Professor Collaborates With DOE On A Nuclear Waste Project” • University of North Texas Professor Haifeng Zhang is working on a project for the DOE, to find new ways to monitor the storage of nuclear waste. Other researchers on the project are from the National Energy Technology Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [North Texas Daily]

Have a remarkably superior day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “How Might The World Meet Its Clean Energy Needs” • With the world trying to reach net zero by the middle of this century, what sources of energy could replace fossil fuels? Projects like Hywind’s floating wind farm off the northern coast of Scotland offer one present-day glimpse of what that future could look like. But it is not the only technology we have. [BBC]

First floating wind turbine (Lars Christopher, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “One Simple Tax Change Could Unlock More Critical Clean Energy Infrastructure” • The current design of the Build Back Better Act addresses many limitations that prevented incentives from maximizing clean energy usage in the past. But a simple change in the tax rules for stand-alone batteries and transmission could make the bill more effective. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Want To Make Energy Cheap? Build Renewables Fast, Not Gradually” • At the UN climate summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to quintuple India’s current 100 GW of renewable capacity to 500 GW by 2030, more than India’s entire capacity today. He could do this because the faster we install renewables, the faster the price goes down. [Salon.com]

Solar array in Telangana (Thomas Lloyd Group, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Electric Car FAQs: How Long Do Electric Cars Last?” • Most of the time, the only difference between EVs and old fuel burners is what powers the car. But the other differences probably need explaining in order for mainstream buyers to buy electric cars. Here, we look into the questions of how long EVs last, how they are maintained, and more. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New COP26 Pledges Could Limit Warming To 1.8°C” • An analysis from the International Energy Agency shows that new pledges announced at the COP26 climate conference could keep global warming below 2°C if they’re actually implemented. Based on the new pledges, countries could limit the Earth’s warming to 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels in 2100. [The Hill]

Wind turbine (Sander Weeteling, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “What Happened When The Royal Ecowarriors Descended On COP26” • Prince Charles is a without doubt a pioneer on green issues. He delivered his first speech on the topic way back in 1970 when he warned about plastic waste. Recently, his focus has been on climate change and his warnings have become ever more stark. He has been active at COP26. [CNN]

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Wins Overall Silver Medal In New Zealand In September” • New Zealand is a land that is dominated by sheep, powered by hydro, and financed by farmers. The highest selling vehicle in New Zealand in September was still the Ford Ranger. This is to be expected. But in an unexpected twist, the number 2 place went to the Tesla Model 3! [CleanTechnica]

New Zealand countryside (Martin Bisof, Unsplash)

¶ “BMW’s EV Sales Double In 2021, But Still Can’t Catch Tesla” • During an earnings call, the BMW Group announced it had a 42.4% increase in third quarter net profits to $2.99 billion, a result of higher prices and BMW’s EV sales that counterbalanced lower deliveries due to scarce chips. BMW’s EV sales grew by 121.4% in the first 9 months of 2021. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Signs Licensing Deal With China Energy To Boost Offshore Biz” • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Energy United Power Technology, advancing its licensing business model. Siemens Gamesa plans to license its 11-MW Direct Drive offshore technology to United Power. [GreentechLead]

Siemens Gamesa wind turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)

US:

¶ “GOP Push To Shake Label Of Climate Crisis Denier Runs Into Trump” • As global temperatures rise, some congressional Republicans are feeling the pressure to show they’re embracing climate change and offer up their own plan for how to deal with it. But they are also running smack dab into a familiar obstacle: former President Donald Trump. [CNN]

¶ “US Lawmakers Approve $1 Trillion Infrastructure Spending Package” • The US Congress has passed a landmark $1 trillion (£741 billion) infrastructure spending package, delivering a major domestic win to President Joe Biden. The infrastructure package, billed as a “once-in-a-generation” measure, now heads to Mr Biden’s desk to be signed into law. [BBC]

Williamsburg Bridge (Zac Ong, Unsplash)

¶ “The State Taking On An Oil Giant For Greenwashing” • The question of responsibility for the effects of global warming is going through tests in court. In one case, Massachusetts is using consumer laws to take on ExxonMobil. If the state wins, it will be the first case to successfully prosecute a fossil fuel company for greenwashing and misleading the public. [BBC]

¶ “Buffalo Region Leads The Way In Renewable Energy And Sustainability” • When you think of Buffalo, New York, your mind could go to lost Super Bowls, snow, and chicken wings. But the real news coming out of Buffalo is renewable energy. For over a century, the Western New York city has been a leader in clean energy. [American City and County]

Buffalo City Hall (Mikerussell, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Project Looks To Improve The Reliability Of Wind Energy In Wyoming” • The Seminoe Pumped Storage Project is looking to increase the reliability of wind energy in Wyoming. It would need a new reservoir above Seminoe Reservoir. It’s still in the feasibility study phase, but rPlus Hydro CEO Matthew Shapiro is optimistic about the location. [Wyoming Public Media]

¶ “Maine Voters Reject Transmission Line – How NIMBY Blocks Renewable Energy Expansion” • Voters in Maine rejected the New England Clean Energy Connect project, which aims to move Canadian hydropower to customers in Massachusetts, by a margin of 59% to 41%. Avangrid Inc has filed a lawsuit in Maine state court challenging the referendum. [Forbes]

Have a scrupulously gleeful day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “More And More: Five Offshore Wind Stories I’m Watching” • I am a person who spends a lot of time thinking about climate change and consumption. Need a little clean energy pick-me-up? Offshore wind is offering more and more excitement as it looks to become a large-scale reality off our shores. Here’s what’s going on in five categories I’m watching. [CleanTechnica] 

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

¶ “Is It Green, Or Forever Toxic? Nuclear Rift At Climate Talks” • Nuclear power is a central sticking point as negotiators plot out the world’s future energy strategy at the climate talks in Glasgow. While many see a need for it, critics decry its mammoth price tag, the disproportionate damage caused by nuclear accidents, and the radioactive waste left behind. [WREX]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Will Survive If Warming Kept To 1.5°C, Study Finds” • A study by an Australian university focused on the Great Barrier Reef and global warming. If global warming is kept to 1.5°C, the mix of corals on the Barrier Reef will change but it could still thrive, according to the study’s lead author, Professor Terry Hughes. [CNN]

Healthy corals, Great Barrier Reef (Toby Hudson, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

World:

¶ “Gasoline Prices Are Soaring. OPEC And Russia Aren’t Coming To The Rescue” • OPEC and its allies disregarded calls from US President Joe Biden to do more to tame soaring energy prices that fuel inflation and hurt vulnerable households. They decided to stick to their plan to increase production gradually by only 400,000 barrels per day in December. [CNN]

¶ “Indonesia Criticises ‘Unfair’ Deal To End Deforestation” • Indonesia’s Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar criticized terms of a global deal to end deforestation by 2030, signalling that the country may not abide by it. She said the authorities could not “promise what we can’t do.” However, President Joko Widodo signed the deal. [BBC]

Deforestation in Indonesia (Hayden, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Climate Change: Facebook Fails To Flag Denial, Study Finds” • Climate change denial is spreading unchecked on Facebook, two studies by disinformation researchers have found. The Center for Countering Digital Hate and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue said less than 10% of misleading posts were marked as misinformation. [BBC]

¶ “Will Brazil Really Save The Amazon?” • Deforestation is by far Brazil’s biggest emissions problem. Destruction of the Amazon, one of the world’s most important carbon sinks, accounts for nearly half of Brazil’s annual share of emissions. If Brazil does not bring deforestation under control, the country will struggle to reach carbon neutrality. [BBC]

Deforestation of the Amazon in Brazil (Ibama, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “US Oil Giants Top List Of Lobby Offenders Holding Back Climate Action” • ExxonMobil and Chevron are the world’s most obstructive organisations when it comes to governments setting climate policies, according to research into the “prolific and highly sophisticated” lobbying ploys used by the fossil fuel industry. Toyota is number three. [The Guardian]

¶ “Renewables Provided 92.3% Of Kenya’s Electricity Generation In 2020!” • As the world races to decarbonize, Kenya’s electricity sector is well on the way to being powered by 100% renewables. And the country’s clean electricity puts Kenya in a very nice position to take a lead in the transition to electric mobility on the continent. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Image courtesy of Opibus)

US:

¶ “Coastal Flood Event Mirroring A Hurricane Is Underway In Charleston, South Carolina” • A potentially historic flood event is taking shape across Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and portions of coastal Georgia, including near Savannah, as water levels will be at heights usually found in powerful hurricanes, above 10.5 feet near Savannah. [CNN]

¶ “New NREL Tool Provides Cybersecurity And Savings For Hydropower Plants” • A tool from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory provides hydropower operators custom assessments of their cybersecurity risks and demonstrates how different investments will help improve overall resilience. [CleanTechnica]

Hydro dam (American Public Power-Association, Unsplash)

¶ “Seattle City Light Explores Renewable Hydrogen Fuel At The Port Of Seattle With DOE Awards” • Two studies exploring the potential of shifting from fossil fuel to clean hydrogen to power medium and heavy vehicles are getting underway, led by a team from Seattle City Light, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. [Powerlines]

¶ “Entergy Arkansas Cuts Plans For Natural Gas Plant, Seeks More Renewable Energy Resources” • Entergy Arkansas, a utility of Entergy Corp, released its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan. It doesn’t include plans to build a new natural gas-fired power plant that was included in the previous long-range plan, but it does look to add renewable energy resources. [KATV]

Solar farm (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “The GIANT Company Signs Agreement With Constellation To Power Pennsylvania Operations With Renewable Energy” • The GIANT Company has announced a long-term agreement with Constellation to supply its Pennsylvania operations, including select stores, fuel stations, and a perishable distribution center, with renewable energy. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Nuclear Plant Price Doubles To $28.5 Billion As Other Owners Balk” • The cost of two nuclear reactors being built in Georgia is now $28.5 billion, more than twice the original price, and other owners of Plant Vogtle argue Georgia Power Co has triggered an agreement requiring Georgia Power to shoulder a larger share of the financial burden. [Statesboro Herald]

Have a perfectly happy day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Climate Change Poses Great Risk For Florida’s Military Bases” • In the Pentagon’s Climate Risk Analysis, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote, “To keep the nation secure, we must tackle the existential threat of climate change.” The report identified climate threats that exacerbate existing risks while creating new security challenges for the US. [Military Times]

MacDill Air Force Base (Senior Airman Tiffany Emery, USAF)

World:

¶ “The Effort To Phase Out Fossil Fuels Gains Momentum At COP26” • The effort to phase out all fossil fuels is gaining momentum at the COP26 climate summit. At least 20 countries have agreed to end financing for fossil fuel projects abroad, a UK official told CNN. The deal goes beyond coal, to include ending financing for oil and natural gas. [CNN]

¶ “Global Finance Pledge Could Mean $100 Trillion For The Climate” • Banks, insurers, pension funds, money managers, and others in finance signed up to tackle the climate crisis, swelling the ranks of a coalition led by former Bank of England governor Mark Carney. With a total $130 trillion in assets, the coalition has control of over 40% of global banking assets. [CNN]

Wind turbines (Dan Meyers, Unsplash)

¶ “Carbon Emissions Show Rapid Rebound After Covid Dip” • CO₂ emissions are set to rebound globally to near the levels they were at before Covid, a finding that has surprised scientists. The amount of planet-heating gas released in 2020 fell by 5.4% during the pandemic. But a report by the Global Carbon Project predicts CO₂ emissions will rise by 4.9% this year. [BBC]

¶ “190 Nations And Organisations Pledge To Quit Coal” • Major coal users including Poland, Vietnam, and Chile committed to shift away from the fossil fuel, in pledges made at the COP26 climate summit, the UK government says. Some 190 nations and organisations vowed to quit coal. But Australia, India, China, and the US, did not sign up to the pledge. [BBC]

Coal-burning power plant (Robert Linder, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar On The Roof Goes Through The Roof In Australia” • Australia is fast becoming the country with the most solar power generation per person in the world. The domestic market is very different to most other countries, as it is dominated by rooftop PV. Electricity for the people by the people – 13 GW are now on the nation’s rooftops. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volkswagen Introduces ID.5 In Standard And GTX Trim” • In Germany, Volkswagen unveiled the ID.5 and ID.5 GTX. The new models are a variation of the ID.4 and ID.4 GTX cars already on sale, but with a more svelte and swoopy roofline that appeals to many of today’s buyers who want to pretend they really have a sportscar instead of a people-hauler. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.5 GTX, on left, and ID.5 (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Sweden Holds Above 50% Plugin EV Share In October, Despite Slow Month For Tesla” • October saw Sweden’s plugin EV market remain above 50% for the second month in a row, gaining 50.9% share, up from 36.2% a year ago. battery EVs alone took 22.9% of the market, up 2.8 times year-on-year. The overall auto market volume was down 28.5%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Australian Fossil Fuel Projects Given $36.7 Billion In Foreign Public Financing Over A Decade” • Public financial institutions overseas, including export credit agencies, poured $36.7 billion into Australian fossil fuel projects over a decade, according to a report. That amount is eleven times as great as what was put into renewable energy. [The Guardian]

Solar plant in Australia (Jeremy Buckingham, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Greening Deserts: India Powers Renewable Energy Ambitions With Solar Push” • Solar power is a cornerstone of India’s bid to be a clean energy powerhouse. Coal powers 70% of the nation’s electricity now, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that by 2030, India will produce more energy through solar and other renewables than its entire grid does now. [Forbes India]

¶ “China’s Climate Goals Hinge On A $440 Billion Nuclear Buildout” • Nuclear power once seemed like the world’s best hope for a carbon-neutral future. After decades of cost-overruns, public protests and disasters elsewhere, China is now the world’s last great believer, with plans to generate eye-popping amounts of nuclear energy soon. [BNN]

Nuclear plant in China (Placed into the public domain)

US:

¶ “Rep Hoyer Introduces $9 Billion Bill To Meet Biden’s COP26 Deforestation Pledge” • After President Joe Biden entered the US into a global pledge at COP26 to end and reverse deforestation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer introduced a bill to put $9 billion behind Biden’s commitment. The bill would create a fund to help end deforestation globally. [CNN]

¶ “NREL Researchers Point Toward Energy Efficiency Instead Of Long-Term Storage” • Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nation’s buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “City Of Riverton, Riverton Senior Citizen Center Celebrate New Solar Project” • The City of Riverton, Wyoming, and the Riverton Senior Citizen Center commissioned a solar project that will help the non-profit group provide the best possible social environment for seniors to gather, while focusing on promoting their independence. [County 10]

¶ “Penn State Recognized For Green Power Leadership” • The US EPA recently recognized Penn State in its latest Top 30 College & University List of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. Penn State ranks Number 14 nationally and Number 2 in the Big Ten in terms of total kilowatt-hours used of green energy. [Penn State University]

Have a constructively pleasant day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “My Island Home Is Threatened – We Have No Hill To Run To” • The Marshall Islands are only 2 meters above sea level and we are one of the most threatened countries in the world, due to the sea level rise caused by climate change. Unlike many other island nations, we have no high ground to go to. At COP26, I follow the loss and damage negotiations. [BBC]

Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner (350 Pacific)

¶ “How China Shapes The World’s Coal” • China, the world’s largest funder of coal, is closing down its finance for the industry overseas, as it announced in September. China provided half of overseas public finance to coal-fired power plants from 2013 to 2018. But developing countries reliant on China could now find their energy policies turned on their heads. [BBC]

Science and Technology:

¶ “NREL Gets Ready To Perform Ground-Truth Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence For Equitable Decarbonization And Energy Savings” • In Basalt, Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is installing its award-winning foresee™ software in local homes to field-test smart energy management and energy aggregation at the community level. [CleanTechnica]

Basalt Colorado (Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork)

World:

¶ “US, UK And EU Will Help Fund South Africa’s Coal Phaseout, Offering A Model For The Developing World” • The US, UK, EU, France, and Germany will help fund South Africa’s move away from coal. The effort could serve as a model for other nations. The mood at COP26 had been low after the G20 leaders’ summit failed to put an end date on the use of coal. [CNN]

¶ “South Africa Hails Deal To End Reliance On Coal” • South Africa is set to receive $8.5 billion to help end its reliance on coal in a deal announced at the COP26 climate summit. President Ramaphosa has called it a “watershed moment.” The country is a major emitter of greenhouse gases due to its addiction to coal, which it uses to generate electricity. [BBC]

Coal-burning Arnot Power Station (Gerhard Roux, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “CIP Plans To Invest $115 Billion In Renewable Energy By 2030” • At the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Danish investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced plans to invest €100 billion ($115 billion) in renewable energy by 2030. The company said that the investment goal is ‘well-supported’ by a pipeline of renewable projects. [Power Technology]

¶ “Deforestation: Which countries are still cutting down trees?” • World leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow have pledged to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. There have been earlier attempts to protect forests, but the forests are still in decline. The worst losses are in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia. [BBC]

Logging road (Jonathan Lampel, Unsplash)

¶ “NuScale Power To Build Small Modular Reactor Plant In Romania – White House” • The United States and Romania, in partnership with US private company NuScale Power, plan to build a small modular reactor plant in Romania, the White House said. The commercial agreement will be for a NuScale plant with six modules. [SeeNews]

US:

¶ “Biden Announces New Methane Rules And Launches Global Pledge To Reduce Planet-Warming Emissions” • President Joe Biden targeted planet-warming methane emissions from the UN climate summit. He announced strong new regulations from the EPA and launched a Global Methane Pledge, in partnership with the EU. It has been signed by about 100 countries. [CNN]

Liquefied natural gas tanker (kees torn, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Volkswagen Working On High Power Wireless Charging With ORNL And UT” • Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced it is partnering with Volkswagen’s Innovation Hub in Knoxville and the University of Tennessee on wireless charging for production cars. Wireless systems were once limited to 6.6 kW, but ORNL is already working on 120-kW systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US DOE Announces $199 Million To Reduce Emissions From Cars And Trucks” • Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm announced that the US DOE awarded $199 million to fund 25 projects aimed to put cleaner cars and trucks on US roads, including long-haul trucks powered by batteries and fuel cells. [CleanTechnica]

Charging an electric truck (Volvo trucks image)

¶ “Tesla Model 3 SR Gets Range Boost, And Tesla Offers Wall Charger With J1772 Connector” • A new item in the Tesla Store is a Tesla Wall Charger with a J1772 connector for non-Tesla EVs. Providing up to a 9.6-kW power output for a single vehicle, the J1772 Gen 2 Wall Connector is priced at $415. The Model 3 SR also got a 10 mile range boost. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Large Solar, Storage Project Planned At Former Nuclear Power Site” • Alliant Energy announced a plan for a solar energy and storage facility at the site of the former Duane Arnold nuclear power plant near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The project when complete would position Alliant as the largest combined solar and storage operator in the state. [POWER Magazine]

Duane Arnold plant, now closed (NextEra Energy Resources)

¶ “Microsoft Signs 15-year Deal With Renewable Energy Provider AES To Reduce Carbon Emissions” • In a bid to boost the use of renewable energy and reduce CO₂ emissions, AES Corporation, an electric power distribution company, said it signed a 15-year deal with Microsoft to help the IT firm to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2030. [Nasdaq]

¶ “‘Concrete Cancer’ Spreading At Seabrook Nuclear Plant” • The Seabrook nuclear plant seems to have been born to lose. It was intended to have two reactors, at a cost of $1 billion. Ten years on, one reactor had cost $10 billion, and the other was cancelled. Now, it has been found that the concrete at the site has “concrete cancer,” as cracks develop and spread. [OB Rag]

Have an awesomely copacetic day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “What’s Different About This World Climate Summit” • At the UN’s COP26 climate change summit, countries acknowledge the danger of climate change and say they’re committed to doing something about it. But there is increasing alarm that countries won’t do enough to hold world temperatures below the key threshold most scientists have set. [CNN]

Losing time and resources (Matt Palmer, Unsplash)

¶ “What Makes A Good Net Zero Carbon Emissions Pledge?” • The number of net zero targets that have been set, by national governments, industries, companies and others, has burgeoned in recent years. Pledges to reach net zero now cover almost 80% of the global economy. But not all targets are created equal and the difference is a bit complicated. [BBC]

¶ “Questions Remain Over The UK’s Nuclear Power Plans” • In 2007, Vincent de Rivaz, at that time the EDF chief executive, said Britain would be “cooking our Christmas turkeys” with electricity from Hinkley Point C nuclear station by 2017. Instead the first concrete was poured that year and the turkey is now scheduled for late 2026. [The Guardian]

Hinkley Point construction, 2017 (Nick Chipchase, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

World:

¶ “Brazil Brings Big Green Plans To COP26. But Its Track Record Is Dismal” • Brazil is heading to the Glasgow UN climate summit with some ambitious environmental promises, including cutting emissions 50%, ending illegal deforestation entirely by 2030, and becoming carbon neutral by 2050. But time will tell whether any of this is to be believed. [CNN]

¶ “Over 100 World Leaders Will Agree To End Deforestation By 2030 At COP26” • More than 100 world leaders representing more than 85% of the planet’s forests will commit to ending and reversing deforestation and land degradation by 2030, a British government statement says. It would be the first substantial deal of the COP26 climate talks. [CNN]

Deforestation (Maksim Shutov, Unsplash)

¶ “XPeng Deliveries Grow 233%” • XPeng delivered 10,138 smart electric vehicles in October. That’s a 233% increase over October 2020. As astounding as that seems, it is actually the trend. In the first 10 months of the 2021, XPeng delivered 66,542 vehicles. The October result wasn’t all that high, considering its in a year with a 289% increase year over year! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “India PM Narendra Modi Pledges Net Zero By 2070” • India has promised to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the pledge, the first time India has set a net zero target, at the Glasgow summit. However, the pledge misses a key goal of the COP26 summit for countries to commit to reach that target by 2050. [BBC]

PM Narendra Modi (Ms Sarah Welch, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “France Hits Record 23% Plugin EV Share In October” • France, Europe’s second largest auto market, saw plugin electric vehicle share climb to a new record 22.9% for September, up from 11.8% last year. Petrol share was down to a record low of 36.0% from almost 44% a year ago. Overall auto market volume was down some 34% over seasonal norms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Student Transportation Of Canada Orders 1000 Electric School Buses From Lion Electric” • Student Transportation of Canada placed a conditional order for 1000 electric school buses from Lion Electric, based in Quebec. STC is a subsidiary of Student Transportation of America, a North American leader in student transportation. [CleanTechnica]

Lion Electric school bus (Crenaissanceman, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Sunny But Isolated, Cyprus Toils To Boost Green Energy” • Cypress has 340 sunny days per year. In the past year, the number of solar panels increased by 16%, according to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. But in 2019, just 13.8% of the energy came from solar and wind, and Cyprus is still struggling to increase its use of renewable power. [RFI]

¶ “Carbon Capture Storage Trial In Queensland To Demonstrate Morrison’s Promise To Reduce Emissions Via ‘Technology” • A trial to capture and sequester CO₂ in the exhaust of a coal-fired power station is underway in Queensland. One analyst said the move is “horrendously expensive,” and will increase the cost of electricity from the plant by over 80%. [ABC News]

Moonie sequestration site (Low Emission Technology Australia)

US:

¶ “Joe Biden Wants America To Lead The World Against The Climate Crisis. That Goal Faces A Big Test This Week” • President Joe Biden’s ambitions to lead the world in slowing the planet’s warming will be tested on two continents this week. He is in Scotland for important climate talks, while lawmakers come closer to realizing his visions back home. [CNN]

¶ “NREL Explores Innovative Manufacturing Approach For Next-Generation Wind Turbine Blades” • National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers are furthering their revolutionary use of recyclable thermoplastics and additive manufacturing (better known as 3D printing) to manufacture advanced wind turbine blades. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in the desert (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Renewable Energy Could Drive Healthcare Costs WAY Down, According to Experts” • Researchers from Columbia and Duke Universities have looked at the implementation of renewable energy sources as a way of driving down medical costs. Their findings suggest that the positive effects of moving away from fossil fuels are almost immediate. [Tech Times]

¶ “Indiana Utility Breaks Ground On 465-MW PV” • Northern Indiana Public Service Company has announced that ground has been broken on two solar farms totaling 465 MW. They are the 265-MW Dunns Bridge 1 in Jasper County and the 200-MW Indiana Crossroads in White County, Indiana. They are are expected to be operational in 2022. [reNEWS]

Have a very amusing day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “COP26 Climate Talks Off To An Ominous Start After Weak G20 Leaders’ Meeting” • The G20 leaders’ meeting that just ended suggests that leaders are finally listening to the science, but they still lack the political unity to make the ambitious decisions required to meet the moment. For one thing, they failed to put a date on the end of use of coal. [CNN]

Coal mining equipment and plant (Arcticbear1, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Saving Us By Katharine Hayhoe Review” • To say that Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World is one of the more important books about climate change is not an exaggeration. This book by Katharine Hayhoe, a renowned climate scientist, could result in a massive expansion of interest in the subject. [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change: Extreme Weather Events Are ‘The New Norm'” • Extreme weather events are now the new normal, says the World Meteorological Organisation. The State of the Climate report for 2021 highlights a world that is “changing before our eyes.” The report says the world is entering “uncharted territory,” with increasing impacts across the planet. [BBC]

Tornado (Nikolas Noonan, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “COP26: World Leaders Need To Act On Climate Change – Boris Johnson” • The world is at “one minute to midnight”, after running down the clock on waiting to combat climate change, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. He was speaking as world leaders gather in Glasgow for the landmark COP26 climate change conference. [BBC]

¶ “G20 Agrees On Key Climate Goals Around Global Warming Limits And Coal Financing, But Lacks Firm Commitments” • The G20’s leaders’ summit ended with an agreement on climate that commits its member nations to end coal financing by the end of the year and to aim to contain global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. [CNN]

Heads of G20 nations (Government of Brazil, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Revolving Door Provides Window Into Big Oil’s Dirty Secret” • Six oil companies and their lobby groups stand accused of dirty tactics designed to slow down, or even block, climate action and the move to a zero-emission transport fleet in the EU. Shell, BP, Repsol and Eni are among the companies caught red handed in 72 revolving door cases. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trucks With Onboard Solar Are Becoming A Thing” • Vehicles like the “never charge” Aptera and the Sono Sion are proving that solar can power at least a good chunk of people’s driving, but can it work for larger vehicles? Fraunhofer has an electric truck on German roads right now with 3500 watts of solar power on the trailer for 5% to 10% of its needs. [CleanTechnica]

Truck with solar panels (Image provided by Fraunhofer)

¶ “Investors Bet Big On Renewables While Solar Takes On Coal” • According to a report by the International Energy Agency, India will be the main driver of rising demand for energy over the next two decades, accounting for 25% of global growth. India has 33 GW of coal-fired capacity under construction, soon to become stranded assets. [pv magazine India]

¶ “South Australia To Get Another Big Battery” • South Australia has granted development approval for the state’s largest battery project, which will be able to power 40,000 homes. Maoneng Australia expects to start building the $150 million facility 22 km north of Adelaide late in 2022. It should be up and running in about another 12 months. [7NEWS]

Wind farm in South Australia (Mattinbgn, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “New Zealand Strait Crossed For First Time By Electric Plane” • Gary Freedman made history as the first person to fly an electric plane across the body of water that separates New Zealand’s two main islands. His 40-minute solo flight in the small two-seater came 101 years after the first person flew a conventional aircraft over the Cook Strait. [KDVR]

¶ “China Pushes Ahead Major Renewable Energy Projects” • The construction of wind power and solar power stations with an installed capacity of 30 million kilowatts in China’s northern and northwestern sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts kicked off in mid-October, according to a statement by China’s top economic planner. [Global Times]

Dual axis trackers in China (Vinaykumar8687, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “JCB Signs Deal To Import ‘Green’ Hydrogen From Australia To UK” • The construction equipment maker JCB has signed a multibillion-pound deal to import and supply hydrogen made with renewable energy. Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries will start selling “green” H₂ through a specialist division, Ryze Hydrogen, early next year. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “Proposed US EV Incentives Have Created A Storm Of International Outrage” • The current EV rebate proposal (which has not passed either of the houses of Congress) would make the rebate higher for an EV made in America by American workers, and higher still if those workers are part of a labor union. Other countries are not happy. [CleanTechnica]

Cars ready for shipment (Volkswagen image)

¶ “89% Of Democrats, 42% Of Republicans Believe Big Oil To Blame For Climate Crisis” • When oil executives testified before Congress, they acknowledged that burning their products was driving climate change but said they had not mislead the public. But a majority of Americans want to see oil and gas companies held accountable for lying. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Americans In Climate-Threatened Regions Anxious For Solutions From World Summit” • The IPCC says we can stop climate change. For Pam McVety, a Florida scientist, and Sean Casten, a chemical engineer and congressman from Illinois, fighting climate change is a moral imperative driven by their love of their families. [Georgia Recorder]

Have a thoroughly entertaining day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Here To Stay Or Gone In 30 Years? Inside The Fight Over The Future Of The Oil Industry” • Oil is back above $80 per barrel, but production has been on the decline since the turn of the century. Even without a need to stop use of fossil fuels, the oil industry cannot last forever. The companies extracting oil and gas want to explore for more anyway. [CNN]

Oil rig and oil spill (Arvind Vallabh, Unsplash)

¶ “Can COP26 Really Save The Planet?” • Will COP26 be a “turning point” as Boris Johnson wants, or more “blah blah blah,” that Greta Thunberg condemns? At face value, things do not look promising. The previous 25 of these conferences failed to turn off the tap of the greenhouse gases that are driving up global temperatures. But there is hope. [BBC]

¶ “No, EVs Aren’t Going To Overload Electric Grids” • Anti-EV media have been running out-of-context quotes saying EVs will overload the grids. None of this is true. Here is the lowdown on the grid situation for you. I can give you some factual arguments you can use the next time people start sharing that kind of alarmist nonsense. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera (Image by Aptera, cropped)

¶ “Reasons To Be Hopeful: The Climate Solutions Available Now” • The climate emergency is the biggest threat to civilization we have ever faced. But there is good news: we already have every tool we need to beat it. The challenge is not finding solutions, but rolling them out with great speed. The problem is turning that possibility into reality. [The Guardian]

Science and Technology:

¶ “COP26 Climate Summit: Experts Warn Leaders 1.5°C Is ‘real Science’, Not A Political Number” • Ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, leading climate scientists warned that the 1.5°C temperature limit politicians will talk about is a vital physical threshold for the planet’s climate and not an arbitrary political construct that can be haggled over. [Republic World]

Greenland ice (William Bossen, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Flooding Destroyed His Home Four Times In Three Years. This Is The Reality Of Climate Change For India’s Poor” • For his entire life, a concrete retaining wall protected Anish Yadav and his neighbors from increasingly severe monsoon storms. But the wall collapsed. Unprotected in a changing climate, he has had to rebuild his home four times in three years. [CNN]

¶ “New Zealand Says It Will Cut Greenhouse Emissions By 50% By 2030 As COP26 Starts” • At the start of the UN COP26 climate conference, New Zealand pledged to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The country’s leaders said its previous target was not consistent with global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. [CNN]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, 2020 (Eesan1969, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “G20: World Leaders Agree To Historic Corporate Tax Deal” • Leaders of the world’s 20 major economies approved a global agreement to have the profits of large businesses taxed at least 15%. It follows concern that multinational companies re-route their profits through low-tax jurisdictions. All the leaders at the G20 summit in Rome agreed to the pact. [BBC]

¶ “‘Moment Of Truth’ As World Meets For Climate Summit” • The COP26 climate change summit is beginning in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Delegates from about 200 countries will be there to announce how they will cut emissions by 2030. With a need for urgent action, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said we are at the “world’s moment of truth.” [BBC]

Boris Johnson (Ben Shread, Cabinet Office, OGL v.3)

¶ “Tesla To Buy 45 GWh Of LFP Batteries From CATL” • A report says Tesla agreed to buy 45 GWh of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP or LiFePO₄) batteries from CATL to meet its expected demand for the Model 3 and Model Y in 2022. This is enough to power about 800,000 vehicles. LFP is becoming the chemistry of choice for medium- and low-price EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Toyota Reveals Specs For BZ4X Electric SUV” • Toyota put out some details about its BZ4X. It will have a 71.4-kWh battery. One version will offer a single front-mounted motor with 201 hp (150 kW), a 0–100 km/h time of 8.4 seconds, and a range of 310 miles. A slightly faster dual motor version will have 214 hp (160 kW), and a range of 285 miles. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota BZ4X (Toyota image, cropped)

US:

¶ “Exxon CEO Accused Of Lying About Climate Science To Congressional Panel” • ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods was accused of lying to Congress. After he and other oil and gas company heads testified under oath at a congressional hearing, Rep Carolyn Maloney wants to issue subpoenas to force the firms to reveal what they knew. [NationofChange]

¶ “After Widespread Flooding, No Relief Yet For The DC Metro Area As 14 Million People Remain Under Alerts” • Heavy flooding inundated communities across the Maryland-Virginia area on Friday, with forecasters expecting the rain to continue. Nearly 14 million people were under a coastal flooding warning Saturday, the National Weather Service said. [CNN]

Flooding in Washington, DC (National Weather Service image)

¶ “Danos Applying Oil And Gas Skills To Renewable Energy” • Danos, based in Louisiana, is taking its 74 years of experience serving the oil and gas industry and putting it into the renewable energy sector. Danos formed a partnership with SOLV, a division of Swinerton Renewable Energy, and has completed five solar contracts to date this year. [mySA]

¶ “Residents Push Task Force To Adopt 100% Renewable Energy By 2030” • Residents of Columbia, Missouri, gathered at a meeting of the Integrated Electric Resource and Master Plan Task Force to urge a more aggressive path to renewable energy. They backed a call for reaching 100% renewable energy by the “earliest practical date.” [Columbia Missourian]

Have an abundantly amazing day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Takeaways From The Big Oil Congressional Hearing” • Under withering questioning from Congress, oil executives bobbed and weaved, making no admission of guilt. But Thursday’s hearing marked the first time ever that the leaders of America’s biggest oil companies acknowledged, under oath, that their products are causing global warming. [Sierra Club]

Emissions (Kamran Ch, Unsplash)

¶ “The Oil And Gas Industry Knew About Climate Change In The 1950s” • Four years ago, I traveled around America, visiting historical archives, looking for documents that might show when the major coal, oil and gas companies became aware of climate change. They knew what the problems were in 1959. Now they are testifying before Congress. [The Conversation]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Solid-State Batteries Are Coming! Solid-State Batteries Are Coming!” • Two announcements suggest we are moving into the solid-state battery era. Solid Power and SK Innovation entered into a partnership to make solid-state EV batteries. And Hyundai announced a development agreement with Factorial Energy of Woburn, Massachusetts. [CleanTechnica]

Solid state batteries (Solid Power image)

World:

¶ “Australia’s 2050 Net Zero Emissions Plan Relies On ‘Gross Manipulation’ Of Data, Experts Say” • The Australian federal government’s 2050 net zero emissions plan relies on a “gross manipulation” of data that suggests trees and soil can absorb far more carbon dioxide than is actually possible, according to experts in the field. [The Guardian]

¶ “UK Wants To Be The First Major Economy To Require Companies To Reveal Climate Risks” • The UK is pushing ahead with legislation that will make more than 1,300 of its largest companies to disclose climate risks. The UK government said it plans to be the first major economy to require corporations to report climate-related risks and opportunities. [CNN]

Big Ben (Jurica Koletić, Unsplash)

¶ “Volkswagen Group’s In-Depth Conference Call Highlights Company’s Focus On Transition” • Volkswagen Group held its 3rd quarter shareholder conference call, and there is one thing the call made very clear. Even a glance at what Volkswagen is doing clearly shows that battery electric vehicles are front and center in 2021 and beyond. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Everyday Ingredient That Harms The Climate” • Much of Indonesia’s vast tropical forest – the third largest in the world – grows on peatlands, which sequester huge amounts of carbon dioxide. But the oil palm, a non-native plant originally from West Africa, prefers dry land. So the forest is burned, the land is dried, and CO₂ is released. [BBC]

Oil palm plantation in Africa (Marco Schmidt, CC-BY-SA 2.5)

¶ “Ireland To Open Its Second Renewable Electricity Auction By End Of 2021” • Ireland will have a second renewable electricity auction to support its ambition of having 80% of its electricity be renewably generated by 2030. The new auction has been brought forward from the initial timetable and is now set to be open before the end of the year. [Silicon Republic]

¶ “New Life From The Void – Another Coal Hub Repurposed” • In New South Wales, the coal-burning Liddell power plant is slated to begin closing down next year, and the Bayswater plant may follow. Hundreds of jobs will be lost. But a pumped storage project is to be built at their site, with solar, batteries, and green hydrogen, creating new jobs. [CleanTechnica]

Liddell Power Station (Webaware, public domain)

¶ “Bentley Travels 455 Miles Across Iceland On Renewable Power” • Using only energy from waste straw and the power of the planet, an engineering prototype of the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid has driven 733 km (455 miles) across Iceland in a single stint. Bentley claims the journey is validation both of the grand touring range of its new Hybrid. [Tech Digest]

¶ “UK Renewable Energy Figures Shows Boom In Project Starts During 2021” • Renewable energy projects that started work in 2021 jumped in value by 70% year-on-year to over £5 billion, a report by Glenigan showed. And that number is set to increase dramatically. The government plans to have 40 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030. [New Civil Engineer]

Wind farm in Wales (Dara Jasumani, CC BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “After Touch-And-Go Negotiations, Climate Emerges As Big Winner In Biden’s Economic Framework” • As the dust settles on Democrats’ $1.75 trillion economic framework, climate has emerged as a big winner. The framework crafted by President Joe Biden and congressional leaders includes $555 billion for climate and clean energy provisions. [CNN]

¶ “Supreme Court To Review EPA’s Ability To Address Climate Crisis and Regulate Greenhouse Gases” • The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that was brought by Republican-led states and coal producers to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases and address the climate crisis. [CNN]

Coal-burning power plant (Wim van ‘t Einde, Unsplash)

¶ “New York Says No To Two Natural Gas Thermal Generating Plants” • New York governor Kathy Hochul’s administration has done something unheard of. It has denied permits to repower two unnatural gas generating plants. When it denied the permits, the Department of Environmental Conservation was following the New York climate law. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Pueblo Citizens Voice Concerns About Nuclear Power To Colorado Public Utilities Commission” • Nuclear Free Pueblo was formed to oppose nuclear power in Pueblo County, after it was suggested at a town hall event in July that nuclear energy could be used to replace Xcel Energy’s Comanche 3 Power Plant. That plant will close before 2040. [Pueblo Chieftain]

Have a brilliantly untroubled day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Ford Performance Is Treating EVs Like The Cool Thing They Are” • Ford Performance took Vaughn Gittin, Jr to the Faroe Islands to make a neat video. Without making a huge deal of the vehicle’s efficiency, range, or green credibility, they just had some fun with the vehicle and showed customers that EVs can be as much fun as any other Mustang. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E in Iceland (Ford Performance via Twitter)

¶ “Too Expensive, Too Slow: Even The Baseload Argument Doesn’t Work For Nuclear” • Voices are being raised in various quarters in support of building nuclear power plants. This is of concern, because every dollar invested in nuclear power makes the climate crisis worse by diverting investment from renewable energy technologies. [Renew Economy]

World:

¶ “Pope Urges ‘Radical’ Climate Response In Exclusive BBC Message” • In a message recorded exclusively for the BBC, Pope Francis has called on world leaders meeting next week at the UN Climate conference in Glasgow to provide “effective responses” to the environment emergency and offer “concrete hope” to future generations. [BBC]

Pope Francis (Xonn, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Wolfsburg vs Grünheide – Volkswagen To Revolutionize Its Main Manufacturing Plant, Inspired By Tesla” • Recently, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess and VW brand chief Ralf Brandstätter called 120 top-level executives to company HQ in Wolfsburg for a crisis meeting. They announced a “struggle against Grünheide,” meaning Tesla. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Some Good News: Ten Countries Generate Almost 100% Renewable Electricity” • Sometimes it’s good to notice the small victories and celebrate them, and find ways to learn from them. Today’s small victory is that there are already ten countries in the world whose electric power generation comes from 97 to 100% renewable energy sources. [CleanTechnica]

Geothermal plant in Iceland (Gretar Ívarsson, public domain)

¶ “South Africa Picks 25 Preferred Bidders In 2.6-GW Renewable Power Tender” • The government of South Africa has selected 25 preferred bidders in an effort to beef up the renewable electricity supply as the country grapples with power shortages. The tender for 2.6 GW was launched in April to find the quickest options to ease the power shortages. [TechCentral]

¶ “Mainstream Renewable Power Projects To Deliver 1.27 GW Of New Wind And Solar For South Africa” • Mainstream Renewable Power-led consortium was awarded 50% of the total allocation in the latest round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in South Africa. It won bids on twelve solar and wind projects. [ACROFAN]

Wind farm in South Africa (Warren Rohner, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Tata Power Raises Renewable Energy Target To 60% By 2025” •Tata Power is raising its target for renewable energy supply from 4 GW to 25 GW by 2030. Currently, approximately 30% of Tata Power’s power supply comes from renewables, and the company is expecting to increase the percentage to 60% of its installed capacity by 2025. [DigiTimes]

¶ “Jellyfish Attack Nuclear Power Plant” • Scotland’s only working nuclear power plant shut down in an emergency procedure this week when jellyfish clogged its sea water-cooling intake pipes, according to the Scotland Herald. Without access to cool water, a nuclear power plant risks overheating, with potentially disastrous results. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

Jellyfish (Omegacentrix, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Japan Looks To Renewables, Role Of Nuclear Elusive Ahead Of Election” • Japan aims to increase its reliance on renewable energy in achieving net-zero emissions, but the role of nuclear power will play in that appears to be elusive even in the energy plan approved by the Cabinet about a week ahead of Sunday’s general election. [The Mainichi]

US:

¶ “Forecasters Predict One Of The Biggest Tidal Flood Events Of The Past Two Decades” • Over 20 million people are under alerts for coastal flooding, including the residents of Baltimore and Washington, DC, as a large and powerful low pressure system shifts from the central US toward the Northeast. Two to four feet of coastal flooding is likely. [CNN]

Coastal flooding (North Carolina DOT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Oil Executives Testify About Climate Disinformation” • The heads of six oil companies and major lobbying groups have testified before the House Oversight Committee about climate disinformation and their organizations’ role in it. This article is a collection of reports relating to what the oil companies have done and said. [CNN]

¶ “Six bid for space at New Jersey wind port” • The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has received 16 non-binding offers from six bidders to become tenants at the New Jersey wind port from six of the largest turbine manufacturers and offshore wind developers in the world. The 16 offers will now be scored in the coming days. [reNews]

New Jersey wind port (New Jersey Governor)

¶ “Biden Lands In Europe With Domestic Spending Plans In Limbo” • US President Joe Biden has arrived in Europe for two international summits, leaving his $2.75 trillion domestic agenda in limbo. Mr Biden had hoped to trumpet his environmental package at next week’s global climate summit in the UK, but his whole platform is still up in the air. [BBC]

¶ “US DOE Announces $209 Million For EV Battery Research” • The DOE announced $209 million in funding for 26 laboratory projects focusing on EVs, advanced batteries, and connected vehicles. Advanced, lithium-based batteries play an integral role in 21st century technologies such as EVs, stationary grid storage, and defense applications. [CleanTechnica]

Have a terrifically peaceful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Invests In R&D, Not Advertising, And The Results Speak For Themselves” • The auto industry dropped over $14 billion on ads in the US in 2018, a spend second only to that of the retail industry. Tesla, however, is an automaker that spends nothing on traditional advertising. Tesla puts its money into R&D instead. And the results show. [CleanTechnica]

In the “lab” with the Tesla fleet (Tesla image)

World:

¶ “Medicane Storm Tears Through Southern Italy, Flooding Streets And Leaving Two Dead” • A medicane – a hurricane-like storm that formed over the Mediterranean Sea – dumped one year’s worth of rain on the Linguaglossa region of Sicily in two days. The extraordinary wet weather is brought by climate change, along with periods of drought. [CNN]

¶ “These World Heritage Forests Have Gone From Removing Carbon From The Atmosphere To Emitting It” • Human activity and climate change-fueled disasters have turned ten of the planet’s internationally recognized forests, also known as World Heritage sites, from carbon absorbers into carbon emitters, researchers have found. [CNN]

Redwood National Forest (KC Welch, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “China Rations Diesel Amid Fuel Shortages” • Petrol stations in many parts of China have begun rationing diesel amid rising costs and falling supplies. Some truck drivers are having to wait entire days to refuel, according to social media posts. China is in the midst of a massive power crunch, as coal and natural gas shortages have hit hard. [BBC]

¶ “General Motors Plans 40,000 EV Chargers Across US And Canada” • This week, GM made a new commitment about its EV charging infrastructure. It said it will install up to 40,000 EV charging stations in the US and Canada as part of its $750 million plan to bolster its presence in the rapidly growing electric vehicle charging sector. [CleanTechnica]

Chevy Bolt and a Volta EV charging station (Photo via Volta)

¶ “Apple Announced Ten Renewable Energy Projects Worldwide” • Apple announced its latest efforts to meet its climate goals. Its Power for Impact program is launching ten projects around the world. Projects will be developed in partnership with Sioux tribes in the US, a school in South Africa, a healthcare center in Nigeria, and others. [The Mac Observer]

¶ “Iran Agrees To Restart Nuclear Talks As Pressure Grows” • Iran said it will resume talks with world powers on reviving a nuclear deal in November, after a five-month gap, as mounting warnings showed international patience was wearing thin. Iran had been in negotiations with the Biden administration, but talks went on hiatus in June. [International Business Times]

Nuclear plant in Iran (Nanking2012, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Biden Heads To Europe With A Bit Less Shine And More Work To Be Done” • June’s three-stop tour of Europe was a parade of “America is back” reassurances, but this week’s excursion to summits in Italy and the UK will reflect a more workmanlike attempt to unify US partners against the world’s most pressing challenges. [CNN]

¶ “Fossil Fuel Executives Set To Testify At House Oversight Hearing On Climate Disinformation” • For the first time, the executives of major fossil fuel companies and industry groups will testify before a Congressional Committee about the spread of disinformation on the climate crisis and the role their organizations have played in it. [CNN]

Petrochemical plant (Malcolm Lightbody, Unsplash)

¶ “NREL Research Supports Equitable Deployment Of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure” • A National Renewable Energy Laboratory report sheds light on the potential for residential charging access. Funded by the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, the report provides insight into potential roadblocks for residential charging access. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Turning The Tide For Renewables In Alaska” • A highly energetic corner of the Pacific Ocean, Cook Inlet holds one of the greatest tidal resources on Earth. All that energy has the potential to reduce Alaska residents’ dependence on declining oil and gas production and provide excess renewable energy that could stimulate the Alaskan economy. [CleanTechnica]

Surveying for tidal power (Illustration by Al Hicks, NREL)

¶ “Hinsdale Solar Project Shines Light On Deficiencies In NH Renewable Policies” • By the middle of November, NextEra will present to New Hampshire’s Site Evaluation Committee its plan for a 50-MW solar farm on property held by private landowners in the commercial/industrial district on both sides of Lipscombe Brook in Hinsdale. [Brattleboro Reformer]

¶ “Stonyfield Organic To Use RECs And Solar To Reach 100% Renewable Energy Three Years Early At NH Plant” • Yogurt maker Stonyfield Organic announced that it will be leveraging renewable energy credits and new solar facilities to achieve 100% renewable energy at its Londonderry, NH, plant three years ahead of schedule. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Yogurt and dahlias (Alisa Anton, Unsplash)

¶ “Amazon Climate Pledge Fund Invests In Three New Tech Startups” • In 2020, Amazon launched its $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund to support the development of sustainable and decarbonizing technologies and services. This week, Amazon announced investments in three new companies working to develop sustainable technologies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California’s ‘Biggest Hybrid Renewable Power Plant’ Under Construction, Clearway Says” • Clean energy developer Clearway is combining 482-MW of solar PV with 394-MW of battery energy storage in the Daggett project, which is being built adjacent to a retired coal and natural gas power plant in San Bernadino, California. [Energy Storage News]

Have an outrageously lovely day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “High-Renewables Systems Are Scalable, Resilient, And Secure With Communication-Less Controls” • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory says transitioning to renewables is achievable. It showed that relatively simple controls can enable power grids to operate with 100% wind, solar, and storage, without dedicated device-to-device communications. [CleanTechnica]

NREL Flatirons Campus (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “NREL Breaks Solar Panels (So Yours Won’t)” • National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers are not only skilled at making photovoltaic cells and modules. They are also world-class destroyers of PV modules. The goal in this is to discover and understand how these modules might degrade when installed outside for many decades. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Hydrogen ‘Cheaper Than Conventional’ By 2030: Australia CEFC Executive” • By 2030, the cost of green hydrogen will fall below that of conventional hydrogen produced by fossil fuels with carbon capture, on the back of economies of scale and consumer choice, according to the head of the Australian Clean Energy Finance Corporation. [S&P Global]

DOE worker on hydrogen project (US DOE image)

World:

¶ “How The Netherlands Is Turning Its Back On Natural Gas” • Natural gas has provided the Netherlands with cheap heat for generations. As the country’s largest gas field slowly closes down, a wealth of clean alternatives are opening up to keep homes warm. The nation is among many starting a drastic shift to low or zero-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels. [BBC]

¶ “Moldova: Russia Threatens Gas Supply In Europe’s Poorest State” • Up till now 100% of Moldova’s gas has come from Russia, but the contract for it expired in September. Gazprom raised the price and Moldova balked at paying it. In the absence of a new deal, Gazprom reduced supplies, prompting Moldova to declare a 30-day state of emergency. [BBC]

Farming in Moldova (Ghenadie Cebanu, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Energy Sector Makes Net Zero Commitment” • In the publication,“Towards Net Zero emissions: the energy industry’s commitment to the climate, customers and jobs,” Energy UK’s members commit to continuing the transformation towards a system powered by clean energy, while keeping bills down for customers and maintaining security of supply. [reNews]

¶ “Climate Change: UN Emissions Gap Report A ‘Thundering Wake-Up Call'” • National plans to cut carbon fall far short of what’s needed to avert dangerous climate change, according to the UN Environment Programme. Their Emissions Gap report suggests the world is on course to warm around 2.7°C with hugely destructive impacts. [BBC]

Global warming emissions (Marek Piwnicki, Unsplash)

¶ “Epson Becomes The Manufacturing Industry’s First To Switch To 100% Renewable Electricity At All Sites In Japan” • Seiko Epson Corporation will be the first company in the Japanese manufacturing industry to convert to 100% renewable electricity for all its domestic sites, as of November 1. The company uses 530 GWh annually. [MarketScreener]

¶ “China To Be Cut Out Of Sizewell C Plant In New Move To Fund Nuclear Power” • China will be cut out of British nuclear power after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng moved to put initial building costs of new plants on consumers’ energy bills. Cutting the China General Nuclear Power Group out of the £20 billion Sizewell C project a top priority for him. [iNews]

Existing nuclear plant at Sizewell (Ivor Branton, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Australia:

¶ “Australia Will Be The Rich World’s Weakest Link At COP26 With Hollow Net-Zero And Emissions Pledges” • Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison finally unveiled a climate plan, and his country is joining the other developed nations by aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It is the weakest climate plan among the G20’s nations. [CNN]

¶ “Islanders Sue Australia For Inaction On Climate Change” • A group of Torres Strait Islanders living off Australia’s north coast filed a court claim against the Australian government, alleging it has failed to protect them from climate change which threatens their homes. The case is the first climate class action brought by Australia’s First Nations people, its backers said. [CNN]

Harbor at Thursday Island (Gonzo Gooner, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Ten Community Solar Farms In Australia To Use LAVO Hydrogen Fuel Cell” • The Commonwealth Bank and Providence Asset Group are partnering to fund ten community-based solar farms in Victoria. These solar farms are already operational and produce enough power for 20,000 homes. They will get some storage support from LAVO fuel cells. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ “Xponent Power Solar Awning For RVs Are Now Available” • Xponent Power is a renewable energy company that enables solar adoption in markets that cannot be served by traditional solar solutions. Addressing the power needs of the RV industry, the company has just introduced Xpanse, a stylish, compact, and retractable solar awning for RVs. [CleanTechnica]

RV with solar awning (Xponent Power image)

¶ “Tired But Determined, Five Young Activists Continue Their Hunger Strike Outside The White House” • Five young climate activists are on their seventh day of a hunger strike outside the White House. They had a virtual meeting with White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy and special climate envoy John Kerry, but found it disappointing. [CNN]

¶ “Enel Starts Work On 250-MW US Site” • Enel Green Power North America began construction of the 250-MW 25 Mile Creek wind project in Oklahoma, the company’s 12th wind farm in the state. Enel Green Power’s investment in Oklahoma windpower is over $3 billion. Enel now has over 2.5 GW of new wind and solar capacity under construction in the US. [reNews]

Have a sensibly organized day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “New Research Findings Showing That Renewables Are Poised To Crush Fossil Fuels In The Market” • Costs of renewables have fallen faster than expected. And deployment has been faster than predicted, reducing costs even further. With this virtuous cycle, we have come to a point that a rapid clean-energy transition is the least expensive path forward. [interest.co.nz]

Wind farm (Charl Folscher, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Solid-State Batteries Could Use Electrolyte Derived From Cellulose” • Scientists from Brown University and the University of Maryland are using cellulose nanofibrils derived from wood as a starting point for a solid-state electrolyte for batteries. The material is paper-thin, which allows it to bend and flex to absorb stress as the battery cycles. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “China Unveils Plan To Cut Fossil Fuels But Fails To Announce New Emissions Target” • China plans to cut its reliance on fossil fuels to below 20% by 2060, according to a published cabinet document. While the document detailed new measures on how the world’s biggest polluter will decarbonize, the country is not updating its pledge to reduce emissions. [CNN]

Wind farm in China (林 慕尧, Chris Lim, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “CO₂ Levels In The Atmosphere Reach A Three Million Year High, Putting The World ‘Way Off Track’ On Climate Goals” • The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has once again reached record highs, a UN report says, putting the planet on course for warming that far exceeds critical limits to stave off catastrophic climate change. [CNN]

¶ “Australia Pledges To Reach Net Zero Emissions By 2050” • Australia promised to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Over the next twenty years, it will invest over A$20 billion (£11 billion, $15 billion) in such technologies as carbon capture in soil, low-cost solar energy, and green industry development. But the country has no plan to limit fossil fuels. [BBC]

Sydney (Road Trip with Raj, Unsplash)

¶ “Panasonic Unveils New 4680 Prototype Battery Designed For Tesla” • Panasonic unveiled a new prototype battery designed for Tesla, Reuters reported. It was designed to help Tesla lower its production costs and is intended to strengthen the ties between the two companies. But it’s not a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, the type Tesla said it will adopt. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “London Drivers Ditch Diesel As New ULEV Rules Kick In” • Drivers in London are being charged £12.50 to enter the city’s new Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle zone if they are behind the wheel of a gasoline-powered car manufactured before 2005 or a diesel-powered car made before 2015. Buses and large trucks will be charged £100 a day. [CleanTechnica]

London (Charles Postiaux, Unsplash)

¶ “Singapore Studying Geothermal Energy As Potential Source For Power Generation” • Energy from underground heat could help to power cooling systems and water desalination processes in Singapore. Exploratory studies will be carried out in the northern and eastern parts of Singapore for geothermal energy, the Energy Market Authority announced. [CNA]

¶ “Egypt To Greece Subsea Cable To Deliver North African Renewable Energy to Europe” • Egypt is closer to becoming a regional electricity hub by clinching a deal with Greece to build the EU-backed EuroAfrica Interconnector subsea cable to transmit renewable energy from North Africa to Europe via Cyprus. [Journal of Petroleum Technology]

EuroAfrica Interconnector route

US:

¶ “West Coast Slammed By Record-Breaking Bomb Cyclone” • The last installment of a parade of storms barreled into the West Coast on Sunday, unloading more heavy rain that resulted in serious flooding and debris flows across drought-stricken and wildfire-ravaged California. The storm even broke some all-time 24-hour precipitation records.  [Yahoo News]

¶ “First Of Two Possible Nor’easters Poised To Drench NYC To Boston” • A powerful storm has formed off the Atlantic coast, and it is poised to bring miserable weather conditions to areas from the mid-Atlantic coast to New England over this week. Weather forecasters say it’s just the first of multiple storms that are taking aim at the Northeast. [AOL]

Bomb cyclone (NASA image)

¶ “Tesla Surpasses $1 Trillion Valuation After Hertz Order” • Tesla surpassed a market value of $1 trillion, after it struck a deal to sell 100,000 vehicles to the car rental firm Hertz, which drove shares up 12.6%. It is the fifth company to top $1 trillion, after Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google-owner Alphabet. Elon Musk’s Tesla shares are worth $230 billion. [BBC]

¶ “Tesla Isn’t The Only Company Elon Musk Propelled Over A $100 Billion Valuation” • Elon Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX reached a rare milestone – a $100 billion market value. According to reports, SpaceX entered an agreement with existing and new investors for selling $755 million worth of shares at $560 per share. [CleanTechnica]

SpaceX takeoff (SpaceX, Unsplash)

¶ “Update: Is Gas Cheaper Than Electric In Joe Biden’s America?” • Many people, new to the EV discussion, still think of an electric car as a luxury item. As gas prices in California start to approach $8 per gallon, however, even the most staunch opponents of EVs are asking themselves, “Is gas cheaper than electric?” The answer is undeniable: “Of course not!” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Old Nissan LEAF Batteries Being Used For Grid-Scale Storage In California” • Batteries that get swapped out of cars typically still have about 80% of their original capacity. B2U Storage Solutions uses old Nissan LEAF batteries to store grid electricity when there is an excess and sell it back to the grid when it is in short supply. [CleanTechnica]

Have a gloriously delightful day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Covid Looms Over Crucial Climate Talks As Some Leaders Snub The Event” • In the battle against climate change, the summit in Glasgow is still of vital importance, but there is now a question about whether it will adequately flesh out the 2015 Paris Agreement. Some G20 countries have not disclosed their plans yet, and some key leaders will not attend. [CNN]

Climate protest sign (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

¶ “Senator Manchin’s Inaction On Climate Change Is The Real ‘Fiscal Insanity'” • West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin called the proposed social safety net spending in the reconciliation bill “fiscal insanity.” But when it comes to climate change, the true insanity is ignoring the brutal fiscal reality that our nation will face if we don’t make serious investments now. [CNN] 

¶ “The Environmental Disasters We’ve Almost Fixed” • There are no simple solutions to complex problems like climate change. But there have been times in the past when the world has come together to try to fix an environmental crisis. We dealt with acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer. Do those examples have lessons for tackling global warming? [BBC]

Dead trees in Yellowstone National Park (Evan Boehs, Unsplash)

¶ “North Carolina’s Big Clean Energy Plan An Example For Battleground States” • A breakthrough law allows North Carolina to transition from having a Clean Energy Plan to having a law with enforceable steps. North Carolina is a “moderate” state, and this legislation shows how climate solutions can be ground for both sides to advance priorities. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Bumpy Road To India’s Electric Car Dreams” • EV sales in India are up, but they still account for only 1.66% of India’s 20 million automobile sales. Some EV firms are betting big, but the demand is still lukewarm. Prime Minister Modi’s government is trying to change that with a $3.5 billion (£2.5 billion) scheme to boost manufacturing. [BBC]

Tata Altroz EV (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Q3 Saw Europe’s EV Share Break New Ground Above 20% & Overtake Diesel For First Time” • Europe’s auto market saw plugin electric vehicles climb above 20% share for the first time in Q3 2021, almost doubling year-on-year. Plugin share also overtook diesel’s falling share (15.4%) for the first time – diesel will now quickly fade to nothing. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Great Experiment To Put A Price On Nature” • Fresh water, clean air, peace of mind – natural landscapes make life better for humans in myriad ways. Tucked away in the Scottish Highlands, in an old commercial forest, is a rewilding project with a difference. Now scientists are trying to put a dollar figure on exactly how much nature is worth. [BBC]

Robin (Gislane Dijkstra, Unsplash)

¶ “Azure Power Secures Rights To First Wind Farm” • Indian developer Azure Power has received a letter of award from Solar Energy Corporation of India for a 120-MW wind farm in the region of Karnataka, India. The company said the wind farm will be constructed within a period of 18 months from the signing of power purchase agreement. [reNews]

¶ “MingYang Wins 375-MW Order For Vietnamese Offshore” • MingYang Smart Energy secured a 375-MW turbine order from PowerChina for the Can Mau offshore wind farm in Vietnam. The order includes the supply of 75 MySE 5.0-166 machines. Can Mau will be built in two stages, with the first batch of turbines to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (MingYang Smart Energy image)

¶ “Singapore grants in-principle approval to import 100 MW solar power from Indonesia” • The Energy Market Authority has granted in-principle approval on a pilot project to import 100 MW of solar power from Indonesia to Singapore. The project is part of a collaboration among a consortium of companies in Singapore and Indonesia. [The Business Times]

¶ “Woodside Petroleum Unveils Plans For $1 Billion Hydrogen And Ammonia Plant In Kwinana” • Oil and gas giant Woodside has announced plans to build a production hub for hydrogen and ammonia on government land south of Perth. But there is debate over the project’s green credentials, as it would start by producing mostly “blue” hydrogen. [ABC News]

Proposed Woodside H2Perth plant (Woodside image)

¶ “RWE Commissions First French Onshore Project” • RWE has commissioned the Les Pierrots wind farm about 250 km south of Paris. The €33 million wind farm is RWE’s first onshore project in the country. It has 11 Nordex N117 2400 turbines for a capacity of over 26 MW. RWE has a three-year PPA with Statkraft for the wind farm’s electricity. [reNews]

US:

¶ “CMC Approves New Bachelor’s Degree Program” • Colorado Mountain College’s board of trustees has approved the addition of a new bachelor’s degree program. The Bachelor of Science in Ecosystems Science and Stewardship program is anticipated to start accepting students in August 2022, when the fall semester begins. [Aspen Daily News]

Coring a tree to find its age (Courtesy photo)

¶ “What Are The Chesapeake Bay’s Marshes Worth? New Study Suggests Billions” • Large swaths of the marshes along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia are expected to disappear under rising water by 2100. That loss will rob many low-lying communities of a critical natural buffer that protects them from storm surges and widespread flooding during hurricanes. [Bay Journal]

¶ “With Decommissioning Complete, PG&E Files Request To Terminate Humboldt Bay Power Plant, Unit 3 License” • With decommissioning activities now complete, Pacific Gas and Electric filed a request with the NRC to terminate the power plant license for Humboldt Bay Unit 3. Decommissioning began in June, 2009. [Redheaded Blackbelt]

Have a totally okay day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “The Bar For Climate Ambition Must Be Set By Science, Not Congressional Politics” • Precisely because the present emissions gap is so great, we cannot solely lean on the incredible progress enabled by leading states, localities, businesses, and individuals. To truly bend the curve, we need federal action – action, not spun words or justifications. [CleanTechnica]

Microwave storm observation (NASA image)

¶ “The Gas Car Death Spiral” • A recent CleanTechnica article said 500 million gallons of gasoline were displaced by EVs in 2020. Lower sales of fossil fuels hit profits of fuel companies because the fixed costs cannot be reduced quickly. Companies operating marginally may go bankrupt but others must raise prices. And that makes EVs more attractive. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Utilities And EV Dreams In India” • India needs to increase the number of its EV charging stations to power close to 102 million EVs on the road in 2030 to prevent a climate catastrophe. In India, limited communication between utilities and charge point operators is often responsible for slowing the development of charging infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]

BluSmart charging station (Courtesy of BluSmart India)

¶ “All Hail The Net Zero Strategy: A Year Late And Lacking In Both Ambition And Funding” • The UK climate strategy falls short on both ambition, and government funding. Critics say the carbon savings it sets out will not get the UK close to its net zero goal by 2050, and without the funds it might fail to meet even this limited ambition. [The Guardian]

World:

¶ “Top Oil Exporter Saudi Arabia Targets Net Zero Emissions By 2060” • Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said that the world’s top oil exporter aims to reach zero-net emissions by 2060 and is more than doubling its annual target to reduce carbon emissions. But Saudi Arabia would also ensure oil market stability, stressing the ongoing importance of hydrocarbons. [CNN]

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (backer Sha, Unsplash)

¶ “Apple Battery Talks With CATL And BYD Collapse” • Wanting to be an EV maker, Apple held talks with Hyundai about building cars. Hyundai eventually backed away, saying it did not want to be just a contract manufacturer. Apple’s attempts to get batteries did no better. Autoblog said both CATL and BYD have declined to get involved in Apple’s plans. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Largest Depot For Electric Buses In Australia” • Transit Systems (owned by Sealink Travel Group) is currently operating 15 electric buses in Sydney’s Inner West urban streets. With 40 more ordered, the time has come to create the largest electrified depot in Australia. It will have 2.5-MW, 4.9-MWh of batteries; and a 387-kW rooftop solar PV array. [CleanTechnica]

Solaris Urbino 12 electric bus interior (Image courtesy of Solaris)

¶ “Schools Turn To Solar Power, Helping State Achieve Emissions Reduction Targets” • On Monday, when students return to classes at Jamison High School, the power for their laptops and the light their classrooms will come from rooftop solar PVs. The school, in western Sydney, New South Wales, is just the latest to ramp up a renewable energy system. [Sydney Morning Herald]

¶ “NSW Treasurer Matt Kean Says Federal Nationals ‘Can Resign From The Ministry’ If They Don’t Back Net Zero” • New South Wales treasurer Matt Kean, says the Nationals need to decide if they want to resign if they don’t back a federal commitment of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And he said MPs advocating nuclear were “pursuing a fantasy.” [The Guardian]

Wind farm in New South Wales (Grahamec, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “Weather Whiplash: A Series Of Storms Could Ease California Drought, But Also Unleash Flood Hazards” • Parts of the West Coast will go from extreme drought to facing a series of bomb cyclones, and an atmospheric river. The Pacific Northwest and Northern California will have rains, flash floods, debris flows, and potential hurricane-force winds. [CNN]

¶ “Florida Is Ditching Palm Trees To Fight The Climate Crisis” • When you think of Florida, beaches and palm trees come to mind. But what if those palm trees were slowly replaced with other trees? That could happen over time because of climate change, and communities in South Florida are trying to save the world from the climate crisis. [CNN]

Live oak (Ashley Knedler, Unsplash)

¶ “US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s Security Details Drives A Ford Mustang Mach-E” • US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is walking the walk instead of just talking the talk like most politicians do. Nobody would have said a thing about keeping his security detail strictly gas-powered, but he decided to put it into an EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nevada Becomes The 16th Clean Cars State, And A Model For Others” • Nevada is the 16th US state to adopt clean cars. The Clean Cars Nevada program was approved in a bipartisan vote by the Legislative Commission. The vote was the final approval step after the Nevada State Environmental Commission supported the program unanimously. [CleanTechnica]

Rivian pickup (Rivian image)

¶ “Caltrain Pushes For Renewability With Electric Trains” • After a period of delayed funding, Caltrain’s electrification project is finally coming into place. Its mission is to transform all of Caltrain’s diesel trains into fully electric ones. The change will see benefits of quieter, faster, and less polluting train service, according to one employee. [Scot Scoop News]

¶ “Fox Weather Channel To Embrace Climate Change” • Fox Weather, a new 24-hour sister network of Fox News, will strongly embrace climate change as part of its coverage, multiple press reports say. “If you’re asking about climate change, climate change is part of our lives,” Sharri Berg, the Fox executive who will head the division, told Variety. [Newsmax]

Have a really super day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “How America Is Tackling Its Greatest Source Of Emissions” • Cars are central to American culture, giving people mobility and the freedom to travel. But since 2017, transportation has been the single largest source of greenhouses gases in the US, largely due to cars. To reach net zero by 2050 the US needs to rethink its relationship with the automobile. [BBC]

Arizona traffic (Randy Lisciarelli, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Australia Refuses To Give Up Coal” • Mining has helped drive Australia’s economy for decades, and coal remains the country’s second-biggest export. Only Indonesia sells more coal than Australia globally. The current government dismantled Australia’s emissions trading scheme in 2014, and it remains supportive for the coal industry. [BBC]

¶ “The Build Back Better Act Is A Bridge To The Future We Need. Senator Manchin, Don’t Blow It Up!” • The reconciliation bill is a long overdue investment in the well-being of the people and the future of the US. But now, thanks to the intransigence of Senator Manchin, a key provision to help reduce emissions is at risk of being removed from the package. [CleanTechnica]

Forest fire (US National Park Service image, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Energy Storage Ecosystem Offers Lowest-Cost Path To 100% Renewable Power” • As states reach toward 100% renewable operation, energy storage will be key to enabling a more variable power supply. But no single technology will be a perfect fit for all our energy storage needs. A portfolio of storage solutions makes best economic sense. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “EV Revolution Gathers Pace In New South Wales” • New South Wales is the best Australian state to be in, if you want to buy an EV. Legislation was passed there to provide a $3,000 rebate for eligible EV purchases cars under $68,000, waive stamp duty fees (about $2,500), and provide funding for the rollout of a statewide charging network. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Courtesy of Hyundai)

¶ “Cheap, Abundant Renewable Energy Powers A Cluster Of Quebec Data Centers” • With vast amounts of cheap, renewable electricity mostly generated from hydro dams, Quebec is seeing more and more tech giants setting up power-hungry data centers in the province. Quebec now has fifty operating. There were only 39 there just two years ago. [Urdupoint.com]

¶ “Solar Farm Output Overloads National Grid, Sparking Calls For Accelerated Transmission” • As Australian homeowners embrace rooftop panels and solar farms pop up, renewable output is outpacing the means of transmission. With a glut of solar energy overwhelming the power grid, there’s been a seismic shift in the electricity network. [ABC News]

Rugby Run solar farm (Supplied by Adani Australia)

¶ “Japan OKs Plan To Double Use Of Renewables For Energy By 2030” • The Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved a new basic energy plan that will double the percentage provided by renewable energy sources in fiscal 2030 in comparison to the level of fiscal 2019. Japan continues its dependence on coal-fired thermal power plants, however. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶ “NTSB Found That The “Driverless” Tesla Crash Wasn’t So Driverless After All” • Remember that so-called “driverless” Tesla crash in Houston that the media went nuts over? Well, now the National Transportation Safety Board has issued an investigative update on it. It found that there actually was a driver in the car at the time of the accident after all. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model S (Greg Gjerdingen, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Tesla To Triple Size Of Supercharger Network Within Two Years” • Drew Baglino, Tesla’s vice president for drive systems and energy engineering, indicated during the recent earnings call that Tesla plans to triple the size of its Supercharger network over the next two years. Tesla plans to open its charging network to other makes and models. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Interbrand: Tesla Is The Fastest Growing Brand Of 2021” • Interbrand published its Best Global Brands 2021 list, and named Tesla as the fastest-growing brand of 2021. Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft continue to shine in the top ten of the list, which now includes fast risers Salesforce and Adobe. But Tesla is the winner in terms of improvement. [CleanTechnica]

Interbrand graphic (Courtesy of Interbrand)

¶ “Swell Energy Working On 45-MW Distributed Power Plant Redwood Coast Energy Authority” • Renewable energy provider Swell Energy Inc has contracted with Redwood Coast Energy Authority to develop a Community Grid Program designed to provide 45 MW of additional capacity and resource adequacy to Humboldt County, California. [Solar Builder]

¶ “Ameresco’s 2-GWh Battery Storage For Utility SCE To Help Address California’s Power Reliability Risks” • Clean energy systems provider Ameresco has contracted with California utility Southern California Edison to deliver battery energy storage systems with a total of 537.5 MW of power and 2,150 MWh of energy capacity. [Energy Storage News]

Military facility with solar PVs and storage (Ameresco image)

¶ “FERC Rulings May Change Renewables’ Path In Southeast And California” • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued two major decisions yesterday that could determine access to renewable energy in large swaths of the US, even as the FERC commissioners fought over whether the country is facing “gas scarcity.” [E&E News]

¶ “Georgia Power’s Vogtle Nuclear Project Hit With New Delays, Challenges” • Georgia Power flagged new delays at its Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion, a prospect that could lead to more cost overruns paid for by millions of Georgians. It’s the fourth such announcement the company has made about the project in the last six months. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Have an especially perfect day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “This Might Just Look Like Grass, But It Has The Power To Absorb A Load Of Our Carbon Emissions” • Forests, peatlands, deserts, and tundra can all absorb and hold stocks of CO₂. Of all the carbon held in land-based ecosystems, around 34% can be found in grasslands, data from the World Resources Institute show. That’s close to the 39% held in forests. [CNN]

Grassland (Jonathan Farber, Unsplash)

¶ “The Regenerative Revolution In Food” • Through carbon farming, a new generation of farmers seeks to capture emissions instead of creating them. The challenge has been to make this form of regenerative farming financially viable, paying farmland owners to rejuvenate degraded soils by turning their fields into vast CO₂ sponges. [BBC]

¶ “How Tweaking Flight Plans Can Help The Climate” • Aviation produces 2.4% of climate emissions, but that is only part of its effects. Contrails may account for 57% of the climate impact of aviation by trapping heat. One scientist said changing the altitude of fewer than 2% of flights could reduce contrail-linked climate change by a staggering 59%. [BBC]

Contrails (William Hook, Unsplash)

¶ “Compass Minerals Found A Way To Convert Sustainable Lithium Brine To Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide” • Compass Minerals announced the success of the conversion testing of its sustainable lithium brine resource into both lithium carbonate and battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The testing was performed by a third party, Veolia Energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Green Hydrogen Key To Hitting Climate Target” • Keeping global warming close to a 1.5°C climate target requires green hydrogen investment, according to Statkraft’s latest annual Low Emissions Scenario. Stopping global warming at 1.5°C will require a “substantial increase in both political ambitions and pace of global action.” [reNews]

Wind turbines (Statkraft image)

World:

¶ “XPeng Sales Grow 199% Year Over Year” • The big news from XPeng is that it delivered 10,412 of its “smart electric vehicles” to customers, and that’s over 10,000 for the first time. Interestingly, XPeng’s September 2021 sales were 199% above XPeng’s sales for September 2020, and XPeng’s Q3 2021 sales were 199% above its Q3 2020 sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Climate Change Will Bring Global Tension, US Intelligence Report Says” • Climate change will lead to growing international tensions, the US intelligence community has warned in a bleak assessment. The first ever National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change looks at the impact of climate on national security through to 2040. [BBC]

Storm in Accra, Ghana (Etornam Ahiator, Unsplash)

¶ “Record Levels Of Renewable Energy Drive Down Electricity Prices Across Australia” • Record levels of renewable energy drove down electricity prices across Australia in the September quarter, with prices zero or lower a sixth of the time, AEMO said in a report. Solar, wind, and hydro power supplied a record 31.7% of the electricity. [The Guardian]

¶ “There Are More Electric Cars Than Gas Cars On The Road In Oslo” • Norway, like other countries, still has enormous numbers of older cars on its roads that are powered by gasoline and diesel engines. The numbers show that cars with plugs are taking over nearly all of the new car market, and now the transition to EVs is filtering down to the street level. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla deliveries in Norway (Norsk elbilforening video screenshot)

¶ “UK Net Zero Strategy Puts Nuclear As A Low Priority” • The UK has published its net zero strategy, setting out how it will reach net zero emissions by 2050. It has plans to secure 440,000 well-paid jobs in green industries and unlock £90 billion in private investment. But it does not say much about nuclear power. [Nuclear Engineering International]

¶ “Renewable Energy Jobs Reach 12 Million Globally, Forecast To Reach 25 Million By 2030” • The number of people working in the renewable energy sector worldwide grew to 12 million last year, up from 11.5 million in 2019 despite Covid-19, according to a report. The report also projects growth to 25 million jobs in the sector by 2030. [PV Magazine]

Installing solar panels (IRENA image)

US:

¶ “Climate Crisis Is An ‘Emerging Threat’ To Financial Stability, US Regulators Say” • The Financial Stability Oversight Council released a report on climate change outlining the danger that a warming planet will have on the financial future of the US. The FSOC director said climate change is an “emerging threat to the financial stability of the United States.” [CNN]

¶ “Tesla Switching To LFP Batteries For Standard Range Model 3 And Model Y Cars” • Tesla started using LFP batteries in Model 3s made in China last year. Tesla will use lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO₄) chemistry for all standard range cars globally from this point forward. It is also using LFP battery cells in its grid-scale energy storage products. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model 3 after facelift, China (Jengtingchen, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Merchants Fleet Pivots To Help Fleet Managers Electrify Their Fleets” • Merchants Fleet, a fleet management company based in Hooksett, New Hampshire, is transitioning to EVs. CEO Brendan Keegan made it clear that the time for planning a transition to EVs is now, as the cost of operating an EV fleet close to parity with combustion vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hanover Joins Newly-Formed Community Power Coalition Of New Hampshire” • Hanover joined the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire. The coalition, which includes twelve other municipalities and Cheshire County, aims to help member governments pool their resources to transition to more renewable forms of electricity. [The Dartmouth]

Have an unassailably exquisite day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Is The UK’s Green Plan Enough To Halt Climate Change?” • The government of the UK set out a number of plans aiming to put the country on course to achieve its climate goals. Funding for green cars, an end to gas boilers, and tree-planting are some of the key announcements. They’re a remarkable achievement, but are they enough? [BBC]

Stormy sea (Carl Jorgensen, Unsplash)

¶ “How trading CO₂ could save the climate” • Proponents of a global carbon market say it could greatly reduce the world’s carbon emissions. Critics say that giving polluters the option to pay for their emissions is not the answer. One flaw in the plan can be seen in the number of trees planted for carbon offsets that burned in the Bootleg Fire last summer. [BBC]

¶ “Don’t Buy Another Gas Car!” • Maybe you normally let your cars run five years, ten years, or longer before you replace them. However, when the time comes to replace your car, don’t buy another gas car! The car companies are increasingly making EVs. Within 10 years, we will look on gas cars like we now look on film cameras and tube TVs. [CleanTechnica]

Rivian pickup (Rivian image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Report Warns Of Climate Change’s ‘Code Red’ Impact On Health” • A report in the medical journal The Lancet predicts that droughts will hurt food production, rising temperatures will encourage the spread of dangerous pathogens such as malaria and cholera, and current climate trends indicate a “code red” for future health. [CNN]

¶ “Study Shows Recycled Lithium Batteries As Good As Newly Mined Lithium Batteries” • There’s a new study out that found that recycled lithium-ion batteries are as good as and even better than new batteries made with newly mined materials. The study showed that recycled NMC111 cathodes actually are superior in both rate and cycle performance. [CleanTechnica]

EV battery factory (Image courtesy of Volkswagen)

World:

¶ “Document Leak Reveals Nations Lobbying To Change Key Climate Report” • Leaked documents seen by BBC News show countries are trying to change a crucial scientific report on how to tackle climate change. Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia are among countries asking the UN to play down the need to move rapidly away from fossil fuels. [BBC]

¶ “Foxconn Intends To Become A Global EV Manufacturer” • Foxconn, the Taiwan-based company best known for making iPhones for Apple, held a splashy corporate event to announce that it plans to introduce three electric vehicles shortly – a sedan, an SUV, and a bus. The cars will be based on an EV skateboard it showed last year. [CleanTechnica]

Foxcon Model C (Foxcon image)

¶ “Indian Solar – Exciting News Out Of One Of The World’s Largest Economies” • The last three months showed a surge in solar installations in India. After a dip in 2020 due to Covid, solar installations quadrupled. At this rate, coal-fired power could peak in 2024 and the increased solar generation could satisfy India’s increasing thirst for energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Instead Of A Coal Mine, This Alberta Mountain May Now Become A ‘Green Energy Complex'” • Montem Resources gave up a plan to develop an open-pit coal mine on Tent Mountain. It has a new proposal to use the mountain for pumped-hydro energy storage, powered by nearby wind turbines, along with a green hydrogen production facility. [CBC.ca]

Tent Mountain in southwestern Alberta (Montem Resources)

¶ “Spain To Phase Out Coal, Nuclear And Oil-Fired Plants By 2035” • Spain is on track to phase out nuclear, coal, and oil-fired plants by 2035. Spain had 7.1 GW of nuclear power in 2020 and will phase it out from 2027 to 2035. In 2020, the country closed seven coal plants with a total capacity of 3.95 GW and aims to phase out all coal by 2025. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Rio Tinto Outlines 6-GW Australia Renewables Plan” • Global mining giant Rio Tinto has outlined plans to decarbonize some of its Australian operations by using wind and solar power. The company expects to spend around A$7.5 billion (€4.8 billion, $5.6 billion) in direct capital expenditure decarbonizing Rio Tinto’s assets from 2022 to 2030. [reNews]

Wind farm (Yeyo Salas, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Tesla Reports Record Q3 Earnings” • Tesla announced its third-quarter 2021 earnings, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, another record was broken. Tesla had $1.3 billion of operating cash flow for Q3. It also paid its debts, as Elon Musk recently replied to one of our articles. That amount was a total of $1.5 billion this quarter. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Leeward Picks Up 110-MW Californian PPA” • Valley Clean Energy and Leeward Renewable Energy entered into a 15-year solar-plus-storage PPA on energy from Leeward’s 72-MW solar and 36-MW battery storage Willow Springs 3 facility in Kern County, California. The Willow Springs 3 project will supply electricity to VCE by the end of 2023. [reNews]

Solar array (Chelsea, Unsplash)

¶ “Grassley Calls On Biden To Support Renewable Energy Industry” • Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) called on President Biden to support renewable energy as green manufacturing jobs are now leaving Iowa. In a letter, Grassley asks the President to do everything in his power to ensure workers are not hurt by federal policies moving forward. [Senator Chuck Grassley]

¶ “This Alaskan Air Base Will Host Experimental Mini Nuclear Reactor” • The Air Force announced that it has picked Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska to host a new small nuclear reactor in a pilot program. The US military and the DOE have been increasingly looking into micro-reactor designs as possible ways to meet ever-growing electricity demands. [The Drive]

Have an unqualifiedly magnificent day.

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Opinion: 

¶ “Biden’s Climate Targets Are Possible Without Clean Energy Program, But Will Need Tax Credits And Regulations” • Even if Democrats’ cornerstone climate policy is stripped out of their budget bill, an independent analysis estimates President Joe Biden can still meet his climate goals. But it would take decisive action and regulations. [CNN]

Offshore wind farm (Bob Brewer, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The World Is Banking On Giant Carbon-Sucking Fans To Clean Our Climate Mess. It’s A Big Risk” • We have emitted so much CO₂ into the atmosphere that machines like one in Iceland are being used to suck the gas back out, like big vacuum cleaners, in an attempt to slow the climate crisis and prevent some of its most devastating consequences. [CNN]

World:

¶ “UK Unveils Its Net Zero Strategy With Pledges For Guilt-Free Flying, Electric Cars And More Trees” • The UK government unveiled its roadmap to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, putting new funds behind electric vehicles, sustainable aviation fuel, and forests as carbon sinks, while boosting the role of nuclear in its energy transition. [CNN]

Sheep in a wind farm (Luke Thornton, Unsplash)

¶ “Fossil Fuel Production Set To Soar Over Next Decade” • Plans by governments to extract fossil fuels are incompatible with keeping global temperatures to safe levels, according to the UN. The UNEP production gap report says up to 2030 countries will drill or mine more than double the levels needed to keep the 1.5°C threshold viable. [BBC]

¶ “Wave Energy Pilot To Power Offshore Vessels” • In Australia, Carnegie Clean Energy and Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre have launched the MoorPowerTM Scaled Demonstrator project. MoorPowerTM is a wave energy product designed for moored vessels to be able to secure clean energy and reduce reliance on diesel generation. [reNews]

Wave (Tim Marshall, Unsplash)

¶ “Update On Australia’s Solar-Led Renewable Energy Charge” • Australia’s federal government is doing everything it can to keep the coal mines open and the political donations coming in. But ordinary citizens are putting about 3 GW per year of solar on the roof. Local councils are buying electric buses. And Businesses are going green. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “88-MW Vietnamese Wind Farm Comes Online” • In Vietnam, the 88-MW Ninh Thuan wind farm, a joint venture of AC Energy and BIM Group, is operating. K2 Management did engineering on the final phase of the project, which has incorporated the development of the country’s largest salt production facility, powered by wind and solar. [reNews]

Wind farm (K2 Management image)

¶ “Oil, Coal, And Gas Got $5.9 Trillion In Subsidies In 2020 – IMF Report” • The latest analysis by the International Monetary Fund says the fossil fuel industry received $5.9 trillion in direct and indirect subsidies in 2020. That’s up from the $2 trillion the IMF estimated in 2014. The figures include intangibles such as tax breaks, but also societal costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “G7 Could Decarbonise Electricity By 2035” • G7 members are well placed to fully decarbonise their electricity supply by 2035, according to a report from the International Energy Agency. This would accelerate the technological advances and infrastructure rollouts needed to lead global energy markets towards net zero emissions by 2050. [reNews]

IEA executive director Fatih Birol (IEA image)

US:

¶ “EDF And Magill University Document 81,000 Orphan Oil & Gas Wells In US” • The Environmental Defense Fund and Magill University researchers have identified 81,000 orphan wells in America, using data from the states. These oil and gas wells are inactive, unplugged, and have no solvent owner of record. They are also air polluters. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “West Virginia’s Reliance On Coal Is Getting More Expensive, And Joe Manchin’s Constituents Are Footing The Bill” • In West Virginia, 89% of the electricity comes from coal, compared to just 19% nationwide. But coal is now more expensive than renewables or natural gas, whose prices have fallen greatly. West Virginia’s ratepayers are footing the bill. [CNN]

Sago Mine entrance (US MSHA, public domain)

¶ “US DOE Awards Nearly $40 Million For Grid-Decarbonizing Solar Technologies” • The US DOE awarded nearly $40 million to forty projects that are advancing the next generation of solar, storage, and industrial technologies necessary for achieving the Biden–Harris administration’s climate goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Major Solar Farm Project Underway, Set To Benefit Salt Lake City And More” • Numerous local leaders, including Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, attended a groundbreaking for a large solar farm in Tooele County. Once completed, the 80-MW project will provide renewable energy to six large customers, including Utah’s capital city. [ABC4 Utah]

Salt Lake City (Brent Pace, Unsplash)

¶ “Valley Clean Energy Signs PPA On 72-MW California Solar + Storage Project” • California electricity provider Valley Clean Energy entered into a 15-year solar + storage power purchase agreement on Leeward Renewable Energy’s 72-MW solar and 36-MW, 144-MWh battery storage Willow Springs 3 facility in Kern County, California. [Solar Power World]

¶ “Company Announces First-Of-A-Kind $3 Billion Renewable Hydrogen Project” • The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub would use new arrays of solar panels to generate electricity, which in turn would power electrolyzers that split hydrogen from water molecules. The green hydrogen would be stored in underground salt caverns for later use. [E&E News]

Have a hugely felicitous day.

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