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Science and Technology:

¶ “One-Fifth Of Water Pollution Comes From Textile Dyes. But A Shellfish-Inspired Solution Could Clean It Up” • Every year, the textile industry uses 1.3 trillion gallons of water to dye garments. Most of this water, loaded with harmful chemicals and dyes, flows untreated into rivers and streams. Researchers found a way to address the problem. [CNN]

Loom (Sergio Gonzalez, Unsplash)

¶ “Perovskite Solar Cells Set New Record For Power Conversion Efficiency” • Perovskite solar cells designed by a team of scientists from the National University of Singapore have attained a world record efficiency of 24.35% with an active area of 1 cm². The achievement paves the way for cheaper, more efficient, and more durable solar cells. [ScienceDaily]

World:

¶ “The High-Speed Train That Zooms Across The Saudi Desert” • Muslim pilgrims used to walk to the holy city of Mecca. Now they can go via high-speed train. About 50 times each day these sleek, long-nosed javelins shoot across the baking-hot deserts of Saudi Arabia at speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph) carrying pilgrims and other passengers. [CNN]

Bullet train in Japan (Fikri Rasyid, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Asia Heatwaves Put Renewable Power Fleet To The Test” • A record heatwave hitting much of Asia is putting its fast-growing renewable power fleet to the test, highlighting the need for back-up supply, transmission system upgrades and tariff reforms to ensure reliability and stave off a slowdown in green energy adoption. [The Straits Times]

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Expands Rapidly” • Ireland has maintained its standing in the latest edition of the EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index remaining in 13th position. Global investment in renewables are soaring as governments eye domestically produced, low-cost, low-carbon energy in bids to reduce their dependence on imports. [Irish Tech News]

Wind turbines (Pixabay)

¶ “These Companies Want to Beam Space-Based Solar Power To Earth” • Space manufacturing startup Orbital Composites and space energy company Virtus Solis announced a collaboration to bring space-based solar power even closer to reality. They plan a megawatt-scale space-based solar power station that can beam energy down to Earth. [Gizmodo Australia]

¶ “Government Wants To Speed Up Construction Of Renewable Energy Plants” • The Swiss government has approved a plan to speed up construction of solar, wind, and hydroelectric stations to reduce Switzerland’s dependence on foreign suppliers. The bill needs to be approved by parliament, which the government hopes will happen this autumn. [Swissinfo]

Solar farm (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “EDF Group Unveils Lazer Floating Solar Power Plant In France” • EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the EDF Group, has inaugurated the Lazer floating solar power plant, on the reservoir at the Lazer Dam hydropower plant and is operated by EDF. The facility represents a milestone, combining PV and hydroelectric generation at a single site. [Construction Review]

¶ “Norwegian Duo Eye Onshore Wind Opportunity” • The Norwegian energy companies Eidsiva and Hafslund are joining forces to develop onshore wind power, in collaboration with host municipalities, landowners and local communities. Hafslund and Eidsiva are owned by 28 municipalities in Innlandet and Oslo Municipality. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Anant Chandra, Unsplash)

¶ “Ukraine Warns That Russia May Be Planning To Attack Occupied Nuclear Power Plant” • Ukraine wants other countries to heed its warning that Russia may be planning to attack the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to cause a radiation disaster, its president said. Members of his government briefed international representatives on the threat. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Ford Qualifies For $9.2 Billion DOE Loan To Build Three US Battery Factories” • The US DOE Loan Program Office approved a $9.2 billion conditional loan for Blue Oval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On. The loan is earmarked for construction of three battery factories in the US, one in Tennessee and two in Kentucky. [CleanTechnica]

BlueOval City construction (Ford image)

¶ “TV Meteorologist Quits After Getting Threats And Harassment Over Climate Change Coverage” • After spending the last two years as chief meteorologist at Des Moines news station KCCI, Chris Gloninger announced he is resigning. He said he has developed post-traumatic stress due to death threats arising from climate change coverage. [CNN]

¶ “Some New Orleans Restaurants Hope To Use Solar Power To Be ‘Community Hub’ After A Hurricane” • We all hope for a quiet hurricane season especially after days and weeks without power after Hurricane Ida. But when another storm knocks out power, some New Orleans restaurants will stay open, because of solar power and Tesla batteries. [WWL-TV]

Bourbon Street (Kristina Volgenau, Unsplash)

¶ “Maine Congressman’s Bill To Block Wind Power From Lobster Management Area 1” • Rep Jared Golden (D-ME) introduced a bill that would block commercial offshore wind development from Lobster Management Area 1, and require a study of how federal agencies do environmental reviews for potential wind projects in the Gulf of Maine. [National Fisherman]

¶ “Oregon County Sues Oil, Gas Companies Including Exxon, Shell, Chevron For Deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome” • Multnomah County is suing five major oil and gas companies and related organizations for the damages caused by the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome. The county said the companies are significantly responsible for the deadly heat event. [CNBC]

Have an elegantly merry day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Cool Roof Technology Could Eliminate Billions Of Tons Of Carbon Dioxide” • While the world frantically pushes EVs to reduce carbon emissions and scientists research geoengineering strategies, here is a technique that is already available and quite inexpensive that could offset the carbon emissions from 300 million cars and trucks. [CleanTechnica]

Reflecting sunlight (Courtesy of Berkeley Lab)

¶ “Hydrogen To The Rescue: Delivering Power To Disaster Recovery Sites With Zero Emissions” • Accelera, by Cummins Inc, was awarded $1 million to create a disaster-relief vehicle that meets emergency field standards and uses an alternative fuel. H2Rescue is a hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck designed to provide power for disaster relief operations. [NREL]

World:

¶ “Vinfast’s Small EV Concept VF 3 Could Be Transformational” • VinFast has unveiled the VF 3, a compact electric car designed specifically for the Vietnamese market and positioned to become the “national vehicle” of choice because of its size and mass market intentions. The company expects to be delivering the car the third quarter of 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Vinfast VF 3 (Photo from Vinfast)

¶ “Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant To Be Built In Taiwan By RecycLiCo And Zenith” • RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc and Zenith Chemical Corporation created a 50–50 joint venture for a battery recycling project in Taiwan. It is to be able to recycle 2,000 metric tons per year of black mass material, at an initial investment of $25 million. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Assault Of The Batteries” • It appears that Australia is in the middle of a massive assault of new battery installations. After the success of the Hornsdale Battery Reserve in South Australia (the “Tesla Big Battery”), grid managers, policymakers, businesses, and homeowners are seeking more dependable, cheap power through the use of batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Solar and batteries (Image courtesy of Springers)

¶ “Companies Forge Geothermal Partnership” • The Swedish geothermal outfit Baseload Capital has partnered with oil and gas technology company Baker Hughes for collaboration in multiple regions worldwide, to enable development of geothermal energy projects. The collaboration is intended to facilitate expansion of geothermal capacity. [reNews]

¶ “IRENA: Annual Renewable Power Additions Must Triple by 2030” • In the World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023, the International Renewable Energy Agency calls for raised global ambition for renewables. Some progress has been made, but the gap between what has been achieved and what is required keeps growing larger. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

Wind farm (IRENA image)

¶ “ISW: Russia May Threaten Nuclear Plant Sabotage To Prevent Ukrainian Counteroffensive” • Russia may be signaling that it’s willing to sabotage the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to dissuade Ukrainian forces from conducting a counteroffensive in the area, the Institute for the Study of War wrote in its latest assessment on June 22. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Italy Unlikely To Revamp Nuclear Power, Should Focus On Solar Growth – Expert” • Any path towards a relaunch of nuclear power in Italy could be hardly pursued and the country should instead aim at boosting its renewable capacity – particularly solar power generation – Nicola Armaroli, research director at Italy’s National Research Council told ICIS. [ICIS]

Closed Enrico Fermi plant (Alessandro Vecchi, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “3M Agrees To Pay $10.3 Billion To Settle ‘Forever Chemicals’ Drinking Water Lawsuits” • 3M announced that it had reached an agreement to settle lawsuits claiming that toxic PFAS, “forever chemicals,” had contaminated water supplies in the US. The company said it would pay up to $10.3 billion over 13 years to fund affected US public water suppliers. [CNN]

¶ “Supreme Court Rules Against Navajo Nation In Water Supply Case” • The Supreme Court ruled against the Navajo Nation on a lawsuit arguing that the federal government has the legal duty under treaties signed in the 1800s to develop a plan to provide the tribe with an adequate water supply. The 5-4 opinion ruled it is not the court’s place to update the treaties. [CNN]

Water (Jos Speetjens, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Rivian Joins Tesla Supercharger Party” • More automakers are joining the switch from CCS Type 1 adapters to the Tesla NACS plug, most recently including Rivian. A recent announcement said Rivian will make its next vehicle generation with the NACS plug, joining Ford and GM, and putting even more pressure on other automakers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Twiggy’ Forrest Of Fortescue Future Industries Cuts Loose On Hydrogen” • Dr Forrest said that Fortescue Future Industries would invest tens of billions of dollars in hydrogen projects in the US, partly as a result of the Inflation Reductions Act. For the sake of the investors, FFI will concentrate on the US market in the short to medium term. [CleanTechnica]

Twiggy Forrest (Chatham House, flickr CC By 2.0)

¶ “Austin Energy Rolls Out Updates To Renewable Energy And Storage Program” • Richard Genece, vice president of customer energy solutions, and Tim Harvey, renewable solutions manager, stopped by last week’s Electric Utility Commission meeting to present a number of developments in the utility’s microgrid technologies. [Austin Monitor]

¶ “Duke Energy Indiana Commits To Purchase Up To 199 MW Of Solar Power From Shelby County-Based Facility” • Duke Energy is expanding its Indiana solar energy resources. Duke Energy signed an agreement with renewable energy developer Ranger Power for up to 199 MW of solar power to serve the equivalent of roughly 35,000 homes. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a fantastically convenient day.

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Opinion and Review:

¶ “US Needs To Protect Its Farmworkers From ‘Danger Season’” • The US has a $1.264 trillion food and farm economy, yet the Union of Concerned Scientists found the federal agencies that focus on agriculture and health invested an average of only $16.2 million dollars per year in farm worker health research projects in 2019 through 2022. [CleanTechnica]

Field worker (Tim Mossholder, Unsplash)

¶ “CleanTechnica Tested: The EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Solar Generator” • Following on the heels of a successful lineup of portable power stations and solar panels, EcoFlow has introduced the DELTA 2 Max portable power station. This two kilowatt-hour unit packs a punch with its ability to push out nearly 2,800 watts of continuous AC power output. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Ukraine’s Green Recovery To Kick Global Decarbonization Into High Gear” • The law of unintended consequences is on overtime for Russia, after its invasion of Ukraine. Now Ukraine is launching a green recovery plan that aims to decarbonize Europe along with its own economy, with Russia left holding the fossil fuel bag. [CleanTechnica]

Field in Ukraine (Rodion Kutsaiev, Unsplash)

¶ “Neoen And Tesla Will Install A 197-MW, 788-MWh Battery In Western Australia” • To help soak up the vast amount of solar power available during the day, the Australian Energy Market Operator approved a proposal by Neoen to install a 197-MW battery near the town of Collie in Western Australia with a 4-hour discharge time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ilmatar Secures Land For 350-MW Swedish Solar Farm” • The Nordic developer Ilmatar secured land for a proposed 350-MW solar farm in Grums, in central Sweden. Ilmatar has signed a fifty year lease agreement with landowners in Grums, Värmland for the solar far to be built on 300 to 400 hectares of leased land. It will be one of the largest in Sweden. [reNews]

Solar farm (Ilmatar image)

¶ “NSW Energy Minister Orders Inquiry Into Renewable Energy Transmission Lines Going Underground” • A New South Wales parliamentary committee has been given nine weeks to conduct an inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding high-voltage transmission lines, as the state pushes ahead with renewable energy transition projects. [ABC]

US:

¶ “Biden Administration Looks To Reinstate Protections For Endangered Species Curbed By Trump” • A proposal to restore the strength of the Endangered Species Act was announced by the Biden administration. It would repeal certain Trump-era rules that weakened protection. The proposal would reinstate a “base level of protection” for species. [CNN]

Monarch butterfly (Kenneth Dwain Harrelson, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Thousands Of Americans Are Leaving Homes In Flood-Risk Areas. But Where Are They Going?” • For over four decades, the US government has paid cities and states to move homeowners away from areas that are at high risk of severe flooding. A study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters provides new data about the buyouts. [CNN]

¶ “Tesla Tells EPA To Tighten Heavy-Duty Truck Emissions Standards: ‘The Time For Doing So Is Now’” • Tesla is pushing the US EPA to finalize significantly stricter heavy-duty emissions limits than proposed in April. Tesla insists that medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are being electrified much faster than had been previously thought possible. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Truck (Courtesy of Tesla)

¶ “Reduced Wind Generation Puts Texas Power System To The Test” • ERCOT, the Texas power grid operator urged businesses and homes to conserve electricity for the season’s first heat wave. Power prices topped $2,500/MWh in the state’s day-ahead market on expectations that demand would reach record levels, ERCOT said. [Market Screener]

¶ “Enel Starts Up 200-MW Illinois Wind Farm” • Enel North America has begun operations at the 200-MW Alta Farms wind farm in DeWitt County, Illinois. The project supports Meta’s DeKalb Data Center through a long-term power purchase agreement for 125-MW. Enel invested over $345 million and began construction in 2021. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Enel image)

¶ “Long Awaited Power Line Project Breaks Ground, Bringing Renewables To A Fossil Fuel Community” • Federal and state officials broke ground on a 732-mile transmission project in Wyoming. The power line is to transfer electricity from the 3,000-MW, 600 turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project. [Wyoming Public Media]

¶ “Solar And Wind Generated More Electricity Than Coal For Record 5 Months” • US Solar and wind power hit a new record this year, generating more power than coal for the first five months of the year, according to preliminary data from the US EIA. It’s the first time that wind and solar have out-produced coal for that time. [CBS News]

Wind turbines (Anna Jiménez Calaf, Unsplash)

¶ “Clearing The Path For Renewable Geothermal Project Development” • What is stopping clean geothermal energy from rapid expansion? Instead of focusing on technical roadblocks, NREL researchers examined the nontechnical barriers that can also dramatically impact geothermal project timelines, budgets, and approvals. [NREL]

¶ “Plan To Discharge Water Into Hudson River From Closed Nuclear Plant Sparks Uproar” • Sitting on the Hudson River, the Indian Point nuclear plant repeatedly attracted controversy during its time. Two years after its shutdown, it still is, with plans to release 1.3 million gallons of water with traces of radioactive tritium into the river. [Olean Times Herald]

Have a pleasantly perfect day.

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World:

¶ “The North Atlantic Is Experiencing A ‘Totally Unprecedented’ Marine Heat Wave” • Temperatures in parts of the North Atlantic Ocean are soaring off the charts. Parts of the North Sea are in a a category 4 marine heat wave – defined as “extreme” – according to NOAA. In some areas, water temperatures are up to 5°C (9°F) hotter than usual. [CNN]

Temperature anomalies (Climate Change Institute, U Maine)

¶ “Heat, Drought And Fire: Europe’s Year Of Extremes In 2022 Will Not Be A ‘One-Off,’ Report Finds” • The climate crisis is taking an enormous toll on Europe, which was ravaged by extreme heat, drought, wildfires and glacier melt last year, an analysis has concluded. It found that last summer was the hottest on record for Europe. [CNN]

¶ “Fossil Fuels Are “Incompatible With Human Survival,” Says UN Secretary General” • World leaders and their representatives are preparing for COP 28, which will take place in Dubai from November 20 until December 12. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been monitoring those preparations and is less than pleased with what he has seen so far. [CleanTechnica]

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Mark Garten, UN)

¶ “No New EU Money For Green Tech In Latest Budget Review” • While the US is pumping $369 billion (€340 billion) into key industries like batteries and wind turbines, resistance from European capitals – notably Berlin – meant that the EU could only commit to a meagre €10 billion, under the mid-term budget review it announced. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Continues EV Expansion In Cologne” • Ford has inaugurated the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, a cutting-edge production facility dedicated to manufacturing Ford’s new generation of passenger EVs for a vast European clientele. The iconic Cologne plant has undergone a transformation as part of a $2 billion investment. [CleanTechnica]

Ford factory (Ford image)

¶ “Dairy Manufacturing Plant Revamp Among Victorian Renewable Energy Projects To Receive Funding” • Victoria’s Government is investing over $8 million through a bioenergy fund to boost 24 projects. One investment is to improve a dairy business that aims to convert cheese whey waste into biogas that can power its dairy plant. [Australian Manufacturing]

¶ “Transgrid Maps $16 Billion Plan To Modernise Grid For 100% Renewables” • Transgrid, a transmission group based in New South Wales, released a 10-year roadmap that outlines a A$16.5 billion ($11.17 billion) plan for the exit of coal, 100% renewables, and a complete change in the way the grid is managed and the technologies it uses. [Renew Economy]

Transgrid control room (Transgrid image)

¶ “Russians Mine Zaporizhzhia NPP Cooler, Threat Of Explosion Exists – Budanov” • Russian occupation forces mined the cooling system at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. If the mines are blown up, there is a good chance of “significant problems,” said Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov. [Ukrainian News Agency]

US:

¶ “ChargePoint Partnerships Growing – Tesla, Arval, ALD Automotive …” • ChargePoint is one of the largest EV charging station networks in the US. Following Ford and GM partnering with Tesla for access to Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint is jumping in as well. Other companies offering charging stations are acting similarly. [CleanTechnica]

Chargepoint facility (Chargepoint image)

¶ “These States Fine People For Owning Electric Cars” • Some states are requiring EV owners to pay extra registration fees as part of a move to recoup lost revenue on gas taxes. In one state, a new senate bill requiring added costs for EV registration is set to become effective on September 1, and 32 other states feature similar fees. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “First 100% Tesla Police Department” • The South Pasadena PD is using $300,000 in taxpayer dollars plus its own resources to buy and customize twenty Tesla Model Y and Model 3 EVs. The trasition is expected to be complete in 2023. The Tesla EVs have zero emissions, low maintenance costs, reliability, and of course impressive acceleration. [CleanTechnica]

South Pasadena PD officers (Courtesy of Unplugged Performance)

¶ “Wind Speeds Will Make Or Break The State Power Grid This Summer” • ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, says Texas could see a maximum power demands of 83,412 MW this summer. It may only have 65,091 MW available from natural gas, nuclear, and coal plants. To make up the difference, Texas will have to rely heavily on windpower. [KENS 5]

¶ “Ameren Missouri Plans Solar Farms That Can Power 95,000 Homes” • Ameren Missouri announced plans to open four solar farms by 2026, sufficient to power a total of 95,000 homes. The investor-owned power utility, which serves St Louis and eastern Missouri, said it would build or purchase the solar farms, with a total capacity of 550 MW. [Missouri Independent]

Solar farm (Photo courtesy of Ameren Missouri)

¶ “Xcel Energy Reports Surpassing 50% Renewable Energy Goal” • More than half of the power Xcel Energy generates across the eight states it serves now comes from carbon-free sources. In its 18th annual Sustainability Report, Xcel said carbon-free energy made up 53% of the its 2022 energy mix, compared to an average of 41% nationwide. [Sterling Journal-Advocate]

¶ “California Senate Approves Wave And Tidal Renewable Energy Bill” • The California State Senate unanimously passed SB 605, which directs the California Energy Commission to work with the relevant California state agencies to study the feasibility and potential for wave and tidal energy development. The bill now goes to the State Assembly. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a wholly uncluttered day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Poor Air Quality Isn’t The Only Way Wildfires Affect Cities” • The catastrophic effects of the wildfires in Quebec make it clear that a forest’s impact – or the impact of its destruction – expands far beyond the forest itself. By making forests more resilient to wildfires, cities can protect their communities. Here are a few ways they can act. [CleanTechnica]

New York smog (Matthew Henry, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Regenerative Agriculture Finds Its Mojo, With Or Without Agrivoltaics” • The regenerative agriculture movement is accelerating, with huge implications for soil conservation and carbon sequestration. Adding to the attraction is the emerging field of agrivoltaics, which enables some degree of farming to occur within a solar array. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Great Wall Motor To Manufacture EV Batteries In Thailand” • Great Wall Motor, based in the province of Hebei, China, intends to construct EV batteries in Thailand and may conduct research and development for battery electric pickup trucks. In 2021, GWM launched the Ora Good Cat in Thailand. It is now the country’s best selling EV. [CleanTechnica]

Great Wall ORA Funky Cat in the UK (GWM image)

¶ “Hackers Have Renewable Energy Projects In Their Crosshairs” • The EU has plans to boost its wind and solar power generation capacity by orders of magnitude in order to hit decarbonization goals. However, that capacity is heavily reliant on software, which can be hacked, and cyberattacks against the energy sector are on the increase. [Oil Price]

¶ “Tesla And BYD Search For New European Factories” • It seems that both Tesla and BYD are considering new factories in Europe – the second for Tesla and the first for BYD.  The two companies are totally committed to manufacturing electric cars (and trucks and buses in the case of BYD), but they have quite different business philosophies. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Seal (BYD image)

¶ “Renewables To Underpin South Africa’s Energy Security, Says Wärtsilä” • South Africa’s immense renewable energy and natural gas resources will be the key to alleviating the energy crisis which continues to impact the country, according to a report, “2022 Pathways for Africa’s Energy Future,” published by Wärtsilä, an energy technology company. [Energy Capital & Power]

¶ “Glastonbury Festival To Run Entirely On Renewable Energy For 2023” • Glastonbury Festival is to run entirely on renewable energy. “We’re very pleased to report that all of Glastonbury 2023’s power needs will be met by renewable energy and renewable fuels, eliminating the need to rely on fossil fuels for power across the Festival,” its tweet said. [DJ Mag]

Glastonbury Festival (Annie Spratt, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EU Power-Market Design Talks Fail Amid French Nuclear Rift” • Energy ministers failed to agree on how to overhaul the EU electricity market, with disagreement over how to treat nuclear power holding up a key law meant to help navigate a low-carbon transition. Germany had concerns about what it saw as unfair subsidies to French nuclear sector. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Enersense Joins Finnish Offshore Wind Hub” • The Finnish developer and clean energy company Enersense is participating in a center of excellence and operations that the City of Pori is building around offshore wind power. The centre of excellence will also employ international wind power technology and service providers. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash)

Australia:

¶ “‘Not Fast Enough’: AEMO Says Renewable Pipeline Is Huge, But Stuck At The Gates” • The head of the Australian Energy Market Operator confirmed that the renewable energy transition is not moving fast enough to meet the federal government’s 2030 targets, despite a massive pipeline of projects waiting in the wings. [Renew Economy]

¶ “Neoen Wins Contract For 219-MW Oz BESS” • Neoen has been awarded a 197-MW four-hour capacity services contract by the Australian Energy Market Operator in a competitive tender initiated by the Western Australian Coordinator of Energy. It will provide 197 MW for four hours, charging during the day and then discharging across the evening peak. [reNews]

Neoen battery (Neoen image)

¶ “The Year Of The Cat – The ORA Cat Arrives In Australia!” • When Great Wall arrived in Australia, its first EV was criticized as subpar. This is not the case any longer, and the Cat is proof of that. With Queensland’s incentives, it is at price parity with the Toyota Corolla hybrid. Naysayers will have to find another reason to not buy an EV. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶ “Florida Enacts Car Dealers Protection Law To Stymie Online Sales” • The National Automobile Dealers Association is one of the most influential lobbying entities in Washington. In 2022, it the amount it spent on federal lobbying set a record. In Florida, it was behind a law that makes it hard for legacy auto makers to have any control on prices of their EVs. [CleanTechnica]

Miami (Denys Kostyuchenko, Unsplash)

¶ “Hobbs Vetoes Bill To Regulate Renewable Energy” • Calling it a potential barrier to renewable energy, Arizona Gov Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would have imposed new requirements on solar and wind generating plants. HB 2618 “would have a deep chilling effect on renewable energy development in Arizona,” Hobbs wrote. [Arizona Capitol Times]

¶ “Plaintiff In Montana Youth Climate Trial Criticizes State” • An 18-year-old concluded testimony from the 16 youth plaintiffs and expert witnesses in the Montana climate change trial by railing against the state government for what he said has been decades of ignoring science and relentless attempts to stop the plaintiffs from having their day in court. [KTVQ]

Have an especially lovely day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Did You Know That Soil Health Affects Human Health?” • The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is investigating links between human health and soil health. As it does, it is looking into how soil management practices providing healthy soils influence the nutritional content of foods and affect overall human health. [CleanTechnica]

Farm (Jan Kopřiva, Unsplash)

¶ “Experts Explain Link Between Wildfires And Climate Change” • This year, Canada has already had over 2,600 wildfires, and the season is just starting. Experts say the reason there are so many wildfires this year is that the changing climate is creating the conditions for fires to break out more easily, more frequently and more intensely. [CTV News]

World:

¶ “Switzerland Referendum: Voters Back Carbon Cuts As Glaciers Melt” • Voters in Switzerland backed a climate bill designed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The law will require a move away from dependence on imported oil and gas towards the use of renewable sources. The green energy proposals were backed by 59.1% of voters. [BBC]

Train passing a Swiss glacier (Janita Top, Unsplash)

¶ “South African taps run dry after power shortages” • Private boreholes are being drilled across the wealthier neighbourhoods in South Africa’s economic heartland, where taps have been running dry. South Africa’s recent electricity woes – with regular lengthy scheduled blackouts – have had a knock-on effect on the supply of water. [BBC]

¶ “Cool BYD Electric Bus News From Europe” • BYD says there are 4,200 BYD eBuses either in operation or on order in Europe. They have covered 235 million kilometers, which is equivalent to reducing 250,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. This is pretty cool, as electric buses are helping to get more people accessing electric mobility options. [CleanTechnica]

BYD B19 eBus (Image courtesy of BYD)

¶ “India To Be Self-Sufficient In Solar Modules By 2026” • In a challenge to China’s dominance of the PV market, India is set to have the capacity to manufacture 110 GW of solar panels by 2026, making it self-sufficient. After that, we may see India enter the PV export market. China’s PV market dominance makes many countries nervous. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What Russians Do With ZNPP Is Nuclear Blackmail” • Russia continues its tactics of nuclear blackmail, both by using the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and by deploying Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said in an interview. [Ukrinform]

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Energoatom via Energy.gov)

UK:

¶ “Labour To Introduce ‘Tough’ Offshore Wind Planning Targets” • The UK Labour Party plans to set “tough new targets” to reduce the time clean energy projects take in planning dramatically. It would streamline consenting for offshore wind, require local authorities to identify areas suitable for clean energy, and allow onshore wind development. [reNews]

¶ “Scotland Could Become ‘World Leader’ In Renewable Energy” • Scotland could become a world leader in renewable energy, an analysis shows. Researchers for the independent think tank Green Alliance mapped where future green industrial clusters might be sited for maximum benefit, and found Scotland to be in a strong position to develop them. [STV News]

Offshore wind farm (SSE image)

¶ “Rare Earth Magnet Recycling Firm Reaches Milestone” • Northern Ireland magnet rare earth recycling company Ionic Technologies has developed a process for producing high purity rare earth materials, suitable for high performance permanent magnets. The move could make it a significant producer of rare earth oxides for the UK. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Biden To Highlight Climate Commitments During West Coast Swing” • President Joe Biden will highlight climate commitments made by his administration and announce new federal funding for climate resilience projects as part of a three-day trip to the Bay Area in Northern California that begins June 19, according to a White House official. [CNN]

Golden Gate (Steven Lewis, Unsplash)

¶ “How Utility Companies Fight To Keep Their Monopoly Status Using YOUR Money” • Floodlight is a nonprofit investigative newsroom. It published a report claiming 25 investor-owned US utility companies funneled at least $215 million to dark money groups financing state legislators’ campaigns. The payoff has not benefitted ordinary people. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Charging Depot For 96 Electric Trucks Coming To Livermore, California” • The East Bay Community Energy board approved providing $4.5 million in financing to Forum Mobility, which develops zero-emission truck projects, to support development of an innovative electric truck charging depot in Livermore, California. [CleanTechnica]

Have a delightfully daffy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Ongoing, Systemic Changes That Have Kept Tesla’s Competitors Scrambling” • Tesla has played the role of industry torchbearer, differentiating itself in terms of brand image, function design, sales model, in-car intelligence, and service platforms. Each year we see more development and innovation, as Tesla matures. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla logo (Manny Becerra, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Drought Forces Fuente De Piedra Flamingos To Find New Home” • A protracted drought in Spain’s renowned southern wetlands has forced flamingos to hatch chicks elsewhere. The Fuente de Piedra wetlands in the Malaga province were declared a natural reserve in 1984. But on Saturday, only a few dozen adult birds could be seen in the saltwater lagoon. [BBC]

¶ “Bangladesh Prepares For Electric Vehicles” • As China, the US, and Western Europe charge ahead to become majority passenger electric fleets, we must remember that this will not be enough unless the rest of the world joins us. Bangladesh is encouraging the uptake of EVs, and there is hope it can achieve its goal of carbon emissions goal. [CleanTechnica]

Palki EV (Courtesy of Palki Motors)

¶ “World Economic Forum Explodes The Myth of Profits Vs Sustainability” • A report from the World Economic Forum suggests the view that we must choose profits or sustainability is wrong. The pathway to future profits begins by embracing the transition to sustainability. Choosing profits is the real road to negative economic consequences. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Countries Powered By Renewable Energy Recover Faster From Economic Crises” • Ecological Economics published a study that examined 133 economic crises in 98 countries over a 40-year period, from 1970 to 2011. The researchers found that the best predictor of economic recovery was the amount of renewable energy a country used. [Cosmos Magazine]

Wind turbines (Thomas Richter, Unsplash)

¶ “Exploring The Potential Of Wind Energy In Lebanon’s Renewable Energy Future” • Wind energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels in the global quest for clean and sustainable energy. As countries around the world strive to reduce their carbon footprint and switch to renewable energy, Lebanon is no exception. [Evwind]

¶ “Al Gore Calls On South Korea To Bump Up Solar And Wind In Energy Mix” • Al Gore told The Hankyoreh he’s confident that expanding renewable energy is where countries are headed, no matter what government may be in power. He said there may be bumps in the road, as when new administrations win elections in South Korea or the US. [The Hankyoreh]

Al Gore speaking (Courtesy of the Climate Reality Project)

¶ “EU Close To Mapping Out Electricity Market Reform, French Energy Ministry Says” • EU energy ministers could strike a deal on Monday to adopt the outline to reform its electricity market, a French official said. France hopes it will accept the European Commission’s recognition of the role of nuclear energy in a recent renewable energy law. [Reuters]

¶ “New Wind Farm To Boost Canberra’s Renewable Electricity Supply” • The government of the Australian Capital Territory has announced the Berrybank Stage 2 wind farm in Victoria’s Western Plains is now in operation after it struck a 10-year deal with Global Power Generation in 2020 to supply the Territory with renewable electricity. [Riotact]

The Berrybank Stage 2 wind farm (GPG image)

¶ “Ministry Says Way Of Renewable Energy Development In Russia To Differ From Europe” • The way renewable energy is developed in Russia will differ from the way it is in the European countries as Moscow will focus on nuclear and gas generation, as well as large hydropower plants, apart from solar and wind, Azernews reports, citing TASS. [AzerNews]

US:

¶ “NASA Spacewalkers Finish Installing Roll-Out Solar Array” • Expedition 69 flight engineers Woody Hoburg and Steve Bowen of NASA concluded their spacewalk after 5 hours and 35 minutes. They completed their major objective to install an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array. The 20-kW array is 60 feet by 20 feet (18.2 by 6 meters). [CleanTechnica]

Solar array unfolding (NASA TV image)

¶ “Sandia Scientists Achieve Breakthrough In Tackling PFAS Contamination” • A team at Sandia National Laboratories is developing materials to tackle a growing world problem: human exposure to a group of “forever chemicals” in contaminated water and other products. Sandia is now taking their research to the next level. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy And Health Impacts Highlighted In The Climate Trial” • Plaintiffs in Held v Montana, a first-of-its-kind youth climate lawsuit, sought to illustrate both the feasibility of transitioning Montana to fossil fuel-free energy sources and the physical, emotional, and societal dangers of a “business as usual” approach to climate policy. [Montana Free Press]

Montana (Matthew Lancaster, Unsplash)

¶ “State Launches New Climate-Focused Forestry Initiative” • An initiative to ensure the state’s forests are managed to optimize carbon sequestration and mitigate climate harms as part of meeting Massachusetts’ climate goals was announced by Gov Maura Healey. The state is required to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. [CapeCod.com]

¶ “Building Renewable Energy Projects A Better Way With Community Buy-In” • Luigi Resta, president of rPlus Energies headquartered in Utah, grew up on a certified organic farm in California and was head of the North American division of Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company. Now he is growing solar fields in Utah. [Deseret News]

Have a hugely fortuitous day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Four Alarming Charts That Show Just How Extreme The Climate Is Right Now” • Soaring temperatures. Unusually hot oceans. Record low levels of Antarctic ice. Record high levels of carbon pollution in the atmosphere. The year 2023 is only half over, and extreme climate records are being broken. Here are graphs that show it happening. [CNN]

Weather (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Aluminum-Ion And Lithium-Sulfur Battery News” • Here’s an update on some battery news from this week. Researchers from a pair of German universities reportedly created new anodes for aluminum-ion batteries that significantly improve performance. Lyten announced the opening of its pilot battery factory in the US for lithium-sulfur batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gas Stoves Pollute Homes With Benzene, Which Is Linked To Cancer” • When the blue flame fires up on a gas stove, there’s more than heat coming off the burner. Researchers at Stanford University found that among the pollutants emitted from stoves is benzene, which is linked to cancer. The benzene can spread through the home. [NPR]

Gas stove (Kwon Junho, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Australian Wind Farms Set First Record Of 2023” • Wind farms on Australia’s eastern seaboard set a record of over 7 GW on June 8, covering over 30% of grid demand. Wind capacity has grown, and more is coming online. As Australia moves further into winter, wind power is picking up. We can bet that more records will be broken. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “FedEx Canada Adds 50 Brightdrop Electric Delivery Vans, Merchants Fleet Orders 12,500 Electric RAM Vans” • FedEx took delivery of 50 electric delivery vans and thinks that is worth celebrating. The reaction at the CleanTechnica spritzer bar is “Meh.” Merchants Fleet has more than 30,000 of them on order. Our reaction to that is “Yowzah!” [CleanTechnica]

FedEx delivery (Fedex image)

¶ “EU Countries Strike Deal On Renewable Energy Law With Ammonia Caveat” • EU countries’ ambassadors struck a deal on a landmark renewable energy law after the Commission agreed to possibly exempt certain ammonia plants from renewable fuel targets. The law requires 42.5% of EU energy to be renewable by 2030, up from a 32% target. [Reuters]

¶ “Renewable Energy Soars, Fossil Fuels Decline In Electricity Report” • Renewable energy sources grew remarkably while fossil fuel-based electricity production declined, the International Energy Agency’s Monthly Electricity Statistics report shows. Fossil fuel generation declined 8.1% in the OECD, and nuclear genaration was off 3,1%. [Energy Live News]

Wind turbines (Efe Kurnaz, Unsplash)

¶ “IAEA Director General Speaks Of Visiting The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • After his visit to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressed the utmost need for maintaining the required levels of water in the pond that are essential for cooling the nuclear station. [Yahoo News]

US:

¶ “How ‘Tornado Alley’ Is Changing” • Perryton, Texas, was torn up by a tornado. The latest research suggests that such incidents are set to become more common across the US. Though the central states currently witness more tornadoes than anywhere else, in the future, the main area of peril could also include the southeast. Tornado alley is widening. [BBC]

Tornado (Will Campbell, National Weather Service, public domain)

¶ “Tesla Cuts Model S And Model X Prices By $8,500 In Q2 Inventory Push” • After reducing prices, Tesla went further by dropping the price of inventory Model S and Model X cars by a whopping $7,500. This combines with earlier offers of an additional $1,000 off (with referral code), three years of free Supercharging, and more. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Interior Department Announces $578.8 Million In Payments To Support Vital Services In Communities” • The Department of the Interior disclosed that over 1,900 state and local governments will receive a total of $578.8 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes funding for 2023. PILT payments are important because public lands don’t pay taxes but need services. [CleanTechnica]

Oshkosh electric fire truck (Courtesy of Oshkosh Corp)

¶ “CVS Health Adds 18 MW Of Renewable Energy For Michigan Sites” • CVS Health is adding to its efforts with an 18-MW energy agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase zero-emission, renewable energy. This commitment will cover the electricity needed by all of the 147 CVS Health locations throughout the state of Michigan. [Environment + Energy Leader]

¶ “Georgia Power Says Vogtle Nuclear Reactor Delayed Another Month By Turbine Problem” • Commercial operation of a new reactor at a Georgia nuclear power plant has been delayed for at least another month. Georgia Power Co that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, has a problem in a system used to cool its main electrical generator. [11Alive]

Have a brilliantly whumsical day.
(“Whumsical is more Whimsical than Whamsical.”)

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Opinion:

¶ “Tesla Drops 50 Places In Brand Reputation Survey – What Does That Mean?” • Tesla may still be retaining customers to a greater degree than other automakers (based on 2022 data), but it has taken a serious reputational hit. A recent survey of 100 top brands showed that Tesla’s brand reputation dropped from #11 in this ranking to #62. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Gigafactory Texas (Larry D Moore, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Harnessing Solar Power For Sustainable And Climate-Resilient Farming” • There is an urgent need for innovative solutions that can help the agricultural sector adapt to climate change and ensure food security for future generations. One solution is to leverage solar power or other renewable energy for agriculture that is smart about the climate. [EnergyPortal.eu]

World:

¶ “Iphone Maker Foxconn To Switch To Cars As US-China Ties Sour” • iPhone maker Foxconn is betting big on electric cars and redrawing some of its supply chains as it navigates a new era of icy Washington-Beijing relations. Chairman Young Liu said even as Foxconn shifts some supply chains away from China, EVs will drive its growth in the coming decades. [BBC]

Foxconn EV (Foxconn image)

¶ “The Indians Taking On Giant Saudi-Backed Refinery” • “We don’t want this chemical refinery. We will not allow dirty oil from an Arab country to destroy our pristine environment,” Manasi Bole says. She is among thousands of people protesting plans to build the largest petrochemical refinery on Earth in India’s ecologically fragile Konkan belt. [BBC]

¶ “Sri Lanka Aims To Reach 500,000 Electric Tuk-Tuks” • Tuk-tuks sure can be dirty vehicles, but some countries have a lot on the roads. Sri Lanka is one of those countries, and it is now looking to do something about this problem. Within the next five years, Sri Lanka plans to convert half a million fossil-fueled tuk-tuks to electric tuk-tuks. [CleanTechnica]

Tuk-tuk in Thailand (Lauren Kay, Unsplash)

¶ “BYD ETP3 Panel Van, ETM6 Cargo Truck, & ETH8 Truck Available In Poland” • BYD announced a partnership with Inter Cars SA to accelerate the adoption of sustainable pure-electric mobility solutions for commercial transportation in Poland. Inter Cars is the largest automotive parts distributor in Central and Eastern Europe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “FedEx Deploys Its First Ten Electric Delivery Vans In South Africa” • FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, deployed its first ten EVs in South Africa, as part of the company’s continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainability. FedEx plans to transform its entire global pickup and delivery fleet to EVs by 2040. [CleanTechnica]

FedEx EV (FedEx image)

¶ “Sunshot Gets State Backing To Deliver Queensland Renewable Energy Zone” • Sunshot Industries will develop and deliver a renewable energy industrial precinct in western Queensland, which will be linked to large-scale wind and solar projects and provide manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “SJVN To Build 5 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects In India” • SJVN, a state-owned hydropower producer, agreed to develop 5 GW of renewable energy projects in Maharashtra. The projects would include hydro, pumped storage, wind, solar, hybrid, and green hydrogen technologies. SJVN is targeting 25 GW of power generation capacity by 2030. [PV Magazine]

Reservoir in Maharashtra (Neha173, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Triple-Digit Heat Across Texas Is Forecast To Break Energy Records” • Summer is still a week away and the Lone Star State is already sweltering, as triple-digit heat could lead to more than 75 heat records being broken across the state of Texas this week. The blast of hot weather raises the potential for record energy usage, according to ERCOT. [CNN]

¶ “US Goes Bonkers Over Floating Solar Power Plants” • First it was a trickle, now it’s a flood. US energy planners are starting to catch up with the floating solar trend, in which solar panels rest on lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water. The technology could provide solar developers with another pathway for solar energy in rural areas. [CleanTechnica]

Floating solar array in New Jersey (Businesswire.com image)

¶ “Interior Department Looks To Boost Solar And Wind Power Development On Public Lands” • The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management proposed a Renewable Energy Rule to reduce fees for renewable energy projects by around 80%, streamline certain application reviews, and provide the private sector with greater certainty. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hawaiian Electric, Wailuku River Hydroelectric Want To Keep Providing Reliable, Sustainable, Renewable Energy To The Big Island” • Wailuku River Hydroelectric has provided up to 10 MW to the Big Island power grid for thirty years. Now, the dam owner and the grid operator are asking the PUC to allow them to extend their contract for five years. [Big Island News]

Wailuku River Hydroelectric dam (Courtesy of BHE Renewables)

¶ “Alabama Public Service Commission Greenlights More Large-Scale Solar” • The Alabama Public Service Commission approved a 480% increase in Alabama Power’s renewable capacity, allowing the utility to increase its renewable certificate program to 2,400 MW, a big increase from the 500 MW of capacity authorized by the PSC in 2015. [Southern Environmental Law Center]

¶ “US Still Pays Russia $1 Billion Per Year For Nuclear Energy” • Two years after the US pulled out of purchasing Russian fossil fuels amid start of the war in Ukraine, American companies are still buying roughly $1 billion worth of enriched uranium per year from Russia’s state-controlled nuclear agency, according to a New York Times report. [The Messenger]

Have a really heavenly day.

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Opinion:

¶ “BYD Says The Inflation Reduction Act Is Keeping Out Cheap EVs, But Does That Make Sense?” • Asked about the matter of coming to the US, BYD’s Stella Li says the US isn’t “under our current consideration” due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The IRA is quite new, so it isn’t what kept BYD out of the US car market up to now. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (BYD image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Using Electric Water Heaters To Store Renewable Energy” • A report published by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency recommends policies to replace gas water heaters with “smart” electric water heaters that can switch on and off in response to changes in electricity supply and demand. In effect, they would be storing energy. [Architecture & Design]

¶ “Building A Blueprint For Zero-Emissions Agriculture” • To reduce agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions to zero, innovation and investment will be needed, according to a paper from Carnegie Staff Associate Lorenzo Rosa and Visiting Scholar Paolo Gabrielli. Their findings were published in Environmental Research Letters. [EurekAlert!]

Farm (Gozha Net, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Fiat Shows New 600e Electric Crossover” • It’s not an official reveal with specs and stats and all the rest, but a reveal is a reveal, and Fiat just revealed the look of its all-new electric crossover. Due to be formally introduced later this year, the upcoming Fiat 600e all-electric compact crossover is in a video you can check out video for yourself. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Marine Environment At Risk Due To Ship Emissions” • A study by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden says the release of metals and other environmentally harmful substances by ships poses a significant threat to a marine ecosystem. Over 90% of the contaminants was from the water discharged by ships’ exhaust scrubbers. [CleanTechnica]

Cargo ship (Kinsey W, Unsplash)

¶ “Long-Awaited Energy Plan Aims To Boost Renewables in Vietnam, But Fossil Fuels Still In The Mix” • A long-anticipated Vietnamese plan meant to fix the country’s energy crunch and help achieve ambitious climate change goals will offer some relief but may not go far enough in weaning the country off of fossil fuels, experts say. [PBS]

¶ “Iberdrola Secures Permit For 100-MW Spanish Solar Plant” • Iberdrola has planning consent to begin building a 100-MW solar plant for on-site self-consumption for chemicals producer SABIC, in Cartagena, Spain. Iberdrola and SABIC also signed a 25-year renewable energy purchase agreement power to supply an industrial complex in La Aljorra. [reNews]

Industrial complex (Iberdrola image)

¶ “ABB Powers Up Philippines BESS” • ABB started operations at a 50-MW energy storage system in the Philippines. It will help stabilize the grid in Bataan Province. The Limay site forms part of a broader contract for a 240-MW capacity packaged battery energy storage system to strengthen grid stability on the islands of Luzon and Visayas. [reNews]

¶ “Global Wind Industry Reaches One Terawatt Milestone In June” • It has taken over forty years to reach the 1-TW milestone, although with the continual gain in momentum, the next TW will take less than 7 years to install, data from the Global Wind Energy Council shows. GWEC is organizing events to mark the achievement. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind turbines at NREL (NREL image)

¶ “UN Nuclear Head Grossi Starts Visit To Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi has started a visit to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Ukrainian nuclear energy company Energoatom said. The visit comes after the trip was delayed due to reports of heavy fighting in southern Ukraine. [Al Arabiya]

US:

¶ “California’s Lake Oroville Is Back At 100% Capacity After Being Hit Hard By Yearslong Drought” • California’s drought-stricken reservoirs recovered remarkably in recent months in a barrage of storms. Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir is at 100% of its capacity after being at critically low levels for several years. It was the state’s hardest hit reservoir. [CNN]

Lake Oroville, full (Quinn Comendant, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “New Round Of Smoke From Canada Fires Prompts Air Quality Alerts Across The Upper Midwest” • Thick plumes of smoke are billowing across the US border, ruining the air quality for millions of residents in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Rising from dozens of Ontario wildfires, it has put all of Minnesota and most of Wisconsin under air quality alerts. [CNN]

¶ “Biden Vetoes Legislation That Would Roll Back EPA Emissions Standards” • President Joe Biden vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have rolled back rule the EPA in 2022 to set stronger vehicle emissions standards to reduce air pollution. The rule is to take effect in model year 2027. Overriding the veto would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers. [CNN]

Emissions (Chris LeBoutillier, Unsplash)

¶ “Held Vs Montana Seeks To Enforce Provisions In State’s Constitution” • Montana is Big Sky country, where people feel a special connection to the land. That connection is enshrined in Article IX of the Montana Constitution. Sixteen young plaintiffs have sued the state, claiming it has failed to provide their rights, and the suit is going to trial now. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NREL Announces Participants For The 2023 Executive Energy Leadership Program” • Twenty-one leaders have been selected by NREL to participate in the 2023 Executive Energy Leadership program. The curriculum is designed to assist nontechnical decision makers from government, corporate, nonprofit, and communities of various sizes. [NREL]

Have a gloriously beautiful day.

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World:

¶ “An ‘Unprecedented Drought’ Is Affecting The Panama Canal. El Niño Could Make It Worse” • An “unprecedented drought” is affecting the Panama Canal’s water supply, and it is leading authorities to impose surcharges and weight limits on ships traversing the key global trade route, according to the Panama Canal Authority. [CNN]

Panama Canal (Michael D Camphin, Pexels)

¶ “IEA: Renewable Energy Growth Projected To Reach Up To $1.7 Trillion In 2023” • Aside from mitigating the effects of climate change, the IEA said countries that invest in renewable energy will see economic benefits. IEA Deputy Executive Director Mary Warlick said annual growth in renewable energy is expected to reach up to $1.7 trillion this year. [ABS-CBN News]

¶ “Finland’s Plan To Bury Spent Nuclear Fuel For 100,000 Years” • The Onkalo geological disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel is nearing completion. It cost €1 billion (£860 million, $1.07 billion) to build and is expected to begin operations in about two years. Its arrival has been hailed as a game changer by many, including the International Atomic Energy Agency. [BBC]

Onkalo (kallerna, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “South Africa Expects To Add 5,500 MW Of Renewable Energy To The Grid By 2026” • South Africa expects more than 5,500 MW of additional renewable energy projects to come online by 2026, according to electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. He said that 66,000 MW of wind and solar projects are under development in the country. [ZAWYA]

¶ “China Offers To Donate 66 GW Of Solar And Wind Power Equipment To South Africa” • The Chinese government has offered to donate to South Africa solar PV panels and generators that can be installed at public institutions to prevent power disruptions, according to Chen Xiaodong, China’s ambassador to South Africa. [The Mail & Guardian]

Wind turbines (Thomas Reaubourg, Unsplash)

¶ “Asia Leads Charge In Renewable Energy Growth” • IRENA’s report Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023 shows that in 2022, Asia accounted for nearly 60% of the worldwide increase in renewable energy generating capacity, resulting in a total of 1.63 TW of renewable capacity by year end. A huge part of this increase was in China. [PV Magazine]

¶ “Electricity Imports Surpass Nuclear Power In The UK” • Electricity imports in the UK have overtaken nuclear power generation as the country experiences a decline in nuclear output to its lowest level in 40 years. The findings come from the Q1 edition of the Electric Insights report, compiled by Imperial College London. [Energy Live News]

Heysham nuclear power plant (Rwendland, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Australia:

¶ “Australia Set For Cheaper Solar Power As Supply Of Panels Soars, Says Report” • Australians could soon start to benefit from cheaper solar panels as a dive in raw material costs and a “boom” in global output delivers annual solar electricity price falls of 10% for the rest of the decade, according to a report by Climate Energy Finance. [The Guardian]

¶ “Copenhagen Energy Receives State Backing For Oz Project” • Copenhagen Energy has received support from the government of Western Australia as it progresses plans for its Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm project. The project has been awarded lead agency status by the state’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. [reNews]

Leeuwin Offshore Wind Farm (Copenhagen Energy image)

¶ “Historic Moment In Australia’s Energy Transition: Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System Is Commissioned” • Marking a new era in Australia’s energy transition, Hazelwood is the first retired coal-fired power station in the country to host battery storage. It is a key moment in repurposing former thermal assets for renewable technologies. [Yahoo Finance]

US:

¶ “House Passes GOP-Led Gas Stove Bill” • The House is taking up a pair of GOP-led bills that Republicans say would prevent a nationwide ban on gas stoves, despite the White House’s insistence that it has no such plans. The chamber passed the first of the two bills by a vote of 248 to 180. The issue has become part of the political culture wars. [CNN]

Gas stove (Eduardo Pastor, Unsplash)

¶ “$192 Million To Advance Battery Recycling Technology From Joe Biden Administration” • The US DOE announced more than $192 million in funding for recycling batteries from consumer products, launching an advanced battery R&D consortium, and the continuation of the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize, which began in 2019. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Form Energy To Supply 15-MW, 1500-MWh Battery To Georgia Power” • Form Energy announced that it is moving forward with its agreement with Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, to deploy a 15-MW, 1500 MWh iron-air battery system. The battery system is expected to come online as early as 2026. [CleanTechnica]

PV array in Georgia (Jud McCranie, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Solar + Battery Microgrid Provides Seminole Tribe Of Florida With Energy Security” • The Seminole Tribe Of Florida is installing solar PVs with battery storage on its rural Reservation of Big Cypress. The primary goals of the project are to provide reliable electricity to residents during grid outages and weather events and to lower energy costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Energy Department Launches Plan To Relocate Spent Nuclear Fuel” • The prospect of removing spent nuclear fuel stored at the decommissioning San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station came one step closer to being realized after the US DOE initiated a plan to find temporary repositories while a permanent site is completed. [The Coast News]

Have a wonderfully delightful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Inflation Reduction Act Is Making America Great Again!” • People have been wringing their hands and bemoaning the fate of America’s once great industrial empire for decades. They refer to America’s industrial heartland as the “Rust Belt.” The Inflation Reduction Act has changed all that, and manufacturing in the US is roaring back. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Gigafactory Nevada (Smnt, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Nuclear Power Is No Silver Bullet To Wean Us From Fossil Fuels” • A growing chorus in Washington says weaning the US off killer fossil fuels means relying heavily on new nuclear power plants. We have compelling reasons to drop that silver bullet thinking about nuclear power. Among them are high cost and lack of reliability. [Chicago Sun-Times]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Did Climate Change Cause Canada’s Wildfires?” • Attributing a particular fire or spate of fires to climate change is difficult. But historical datasets and complex statistical models have made it possible for researchers to show the impact of rising greenhouse gas emissions on heatwaves around the world by making them more likely or severe. [BBC]

Smoky sky in Toronto (Sikander Iqbal, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Volkswagen Claims Dry Battery Process Will Save Hundreds Of Dollars Per Car” • Volkswagen intends to bring a new dry coating process for EV batteries into large-scale production, according to Der Spiegel. Dry coating reduces consumption of energy in the production of battery cells by 30%, which could lower the cost of EVs. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Planet’s Coldest, Saltiest Ocean Waters Are Heating Up And Shrinking, Report Finds” • Antarctic deep ocean water is heating up and shrinking, with consequences for climate change and deep ocean ecosystems that could be far-reaching, according to a report published by the British Antarctic Survey. The study took place in the Weddell Sea. [CNN]

Weddell Sea (66 north, Unsplash)

¶ “Strong Euro 7 Emissions Standards Will Deliver Better Air Quality In European Cities” • Research shows that if robust Euro 7 air pollution rules are adopted, NO₂ pollution from road transport will be reduced by around 50% by 2035. The research debunks one of the car industry’s major claims opposing the tightening of air pollution rules. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Europe Turns To Pork Fat For Aviation Biofuel” • A number of EU subsidies meant to encourage the use of sustainably-sourced biofuels for transportation have had unintended consequences, a report says. They’ve doubled demand for biodiesel sourced from rendered animal fats, with some unanticipated ecological knock-on effects. [CleanTechnica]

Pig (Steve Smith, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “PM’s Vision For A Renewable Energy Superpower Nation” • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese  urged Australia to grasp the opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower. He warned that Australia could not afford to wait, watch, and react to the clean energy transformation or rely on breakthroughs in technology. [MSN]

¶ “$19 Billion For Energy Transition In Queensland Budget As It Pushes State Ownership, Milks Coal” • Queensland’s government has allocated A$19 billion ($12.9 billion) to deliver on its energy transition plan, with a focus on public ownership of energy assets. Queensland’s flush financial position was enabled by an increase in coal royalties. [pv magazine Australia]

City of Gold Coast, Queensland (City of Gold Coast, Unsplash)

¶ “Fossil Fuels Now Account For Less Than Half Of China’s Power Capacity” • In 2021, China set a goal for renewable capacity, by which it means wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear, to exceed fossil fuel capacity by 2025. Those capacity resources now make up 50.9% of the country’s power capacity, Reuters reports. China hit its goal two years early. [Yale E360]

¶ “SSEN Transmission To Invest £10 Billion In UK Grid” • SSEN Transmission announced a £10 billion program of investment into the network across the north of Scotland. This will play a key role in enabling connection of up to 11 GW of new offshore wind capacity through ScotWind projects, enough to power more than 10 million homes. [reNews]

Power lines (Andrey Metelev, Unsplash)

¶ “Fukushima Operator Starts Tests Before Releasing Treated Radioactive Wastewater” • TEPCO, the operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, began tests on newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea. The plan is strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring countries. [The Manila Times]

US:

¶ “Last Week’s Haze May Be Just The Beginning Of A New ‘Summer Of Smoke’” • What we saw unfold along the Eastern Seaboard last week was surreal. But just because the smoke has mostly cleared for now doesn’t mean those apocalyptic scenes won’t be back. Canada’s fire season is just getting going, this could be a summer of smoke. [CNN]

Haze (Alaric Duan, Unsplash)

¶ “Beverly Hilton And Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Announce New Thermal Energy Storage System” • The Beverly Hilton and The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotels announced the launch of their new ice-based thermal energy storage system from Nostromo Energy. Nostromo installed a 1.4-MWh energy storage system to serve both hotels. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Duke Energy To Sell Some Renewable Energy Assets For $2.8 Billion” • Duke Energy agreed to sell its unregulated Commercial Renewables business to Brookfield Renewable, a wind and solar power asset operator. Duke said it intends to grow its other wind and solar business with plans to incorporate more than 30 GW of regulated capacity in the next 12 years. [Oil Price]

Have an amazingly gratifying day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Hydrogen Can Make Global Heating Worse, CICERO Study Shows” • CICERO, a climate and environmental research center based in Oslo, has published a report that says while the use of hydrogen may result in no emissions, leakage from the hydrogen distribution system can be twelve times as destructive as carbon dioxide to the environment. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (CICERO via Nature.com)

World:

¶ “Used Electric Car Prices Dropping” • With inflation, we have seen record high car prices, both for used cars and for new cars. This has especially been the case in the EV market. But at long last, prices have been dropping strongly in the used EV market. While used car prices were generally up slightly in the UK, used EV prices dropped by 18.6%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar And Wind Power Now Producing More Electricity Than Fossil Fuels In EU!” • The EU has hit a crossover point. For the first time, solar power and wind power have combined for more electricity generation than fossil fuels in the EU. Last month, the two core renewables of the new clean energy era achieved that historic crossover point. [CleanTechnica]

Wind power (Filipe Resmini, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Tata Group Building $1.6 Billion Battery Factory In India” • Indian manufacturing giant Tata Group is now making a big move into EVs, reportedly investing ₹130 billion ($1.58 billion) in a lithium-ion battery cell factory in the country. Currently, only 1% of Indian auto sales are EV sales, but Tata Motors, the leader in the sector, may see that changing. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Oman’s Huge Renewable Hydrogen Potential Can Bring Multiple Benefits In Its Journey To Net Zero Emissions” • Oman’s high-quality renewable energy resources and extensive tracts of available land make it well placed to produce large quantities of low-emissions hydrogen, according to a report presented by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. [IEA]

Desert area of Oman (Tanja Cotoaga, Unsplash)

¶ “Chennai Airport Turns Green, Runs Fully On Renewable Energy” • All power used by Chennai Airport, which handles around 20 million passengers per year, is now from renewable sources. The airport uses power generated from rooftop solar plants, solar energy purchased from firms, and green power from the power company Tangedco. [B2BCHIEF]

¶ “EU To Try Again For Renewable Energy Deal After Nuclear Row” • EU countries will try to pass a deal on new renewable energy targets, which were stalled by concerns of France and other states that the law sidelines nuclear energy. The countries lodged last-minute opposition to the more ambitious EU goals for renewable energy last month. [The Star]

Nuclear power plant (Lukáš Lehotský, Unsplash)

¶ “UN Concerned By ‘Discrepancy’ In Ukraine Nuclear Plant Water Levels After Dam Collapse” • The UN atomic watchdog has said it needs wider access around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to check “a significant discrepancy” in water level data at the breached Kakhovka dam. The water is used for cooling the plant’s reactors. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “New Jersey Is Teaching Kids About Climate. Opponents Call It ‘Indoctrination.’” • New Jersey is the first state to adopt standards for learning about climate change in each grade, from K through 12, and across several different subjects. This year, the standards in some core subjects came up for revision. And with that, came controversy. [NJ Spotlight News]

Classroom (Max Fischer, Pexels)

¶ “Holcim Us Expands Renewable Energy Efforts In New York” • Renewable energy plays a key role in industrial sectors’ efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Holcim US, the nation’s leading sustainable building solutions company, is on a quest to enter Purchase Power Agreements to introduce renewable energy solutions. [World Cement]

¶ “As Smoke From Canada Enters Virginia, Research Links Climate Change With More Frequent Wildfires” • Last week, Virginia was filled with a haze of varying degrees in different areas due to smoke from current wildfires in Canada that officials there said numbered more than 400, with about 230 listed as out of control as of Friday. [Virginia Mercury]

Have a sufficiently enchanting day.

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(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) km² CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ♦♦♦♦♦

Science and Technology:

¶ “Megawatt Electrical Motor Designed By MIT Engineers Could Help Electrify Aviation” • To electrify large commercial airliners, megawatt-scale motors are required. To meet this need, a team of MIT engineers is now creating a 1-MW motor, to be powered by a battery or fuel cell, that could be a key stepping stone toward electrifying larger aircraft. [CleanTechnica]

Airbus electric and hybrid airplane designs (Airbus image)

¶ “Big Test Coming For Hydrogen Fuel Cells At Sea” • The jury is still out on hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars, but just about every other means of conveyance is fair game, including racing yachts. The clean tech accelerator OceansLab has announced plans to showcase hydrogen fuel cells in high profile races, with an eye on decarbonizing ships. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “What Attacks Have There Been On Dams?” • Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam. The Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of shelling it. The Kakhovka dam is one of a number that supply Ukraine with 10% of its electricity. A number of them have been attacked by Russia. Such attacks may be war crimes. [BBC]

Dnieper hydro station (Olga Drobiazgina, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Canada Wildfire Crews Try To Control The Uncontrollable” • Hazardous smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed large parts of North America last week. The government says Canada is on course for its worst year for wildfires on record. In Quebec, over 120 fires are burning, and fire crews are battling an element that always surprises. [BBC]

¶ “Transformer Launched And Yewt Getting Closer – New Electric Vehicles In Australia” • Australian vehicle maker ACE is establishing an electric vehicle industry in that country. ACE has already launched its transformer van, and expects to bring its yewt to market in 2024. (“Yewt,” or “ute,” is Australian for “utility vehicle,” or pickup.) [CleanTechnica]

Ace Yewt (Courtesy of Ace EV)

¶ “Fair Cape Dairy Spurred By Its Renewable Energy Projects Explores Biogas To Fuel Its Delivery Vehicles” • Fair Cape Dairy is one of countless businesses in South Africa that have been forced to turn to alternative energy sources. Apart from benefits for the environment, its renewable energy systems have begun to make it more competitive. [IOL]

¶ “Massive Clean Energy Investments Propel China’s Energy Transition” • China is racing toward decarbonization at a rate that few could have predicted. China is still burning more fossil fuels than almost any other country , but its turbocharged clean energy sector bodes well for a cleaner future for the nation and the world. [Oil Price]

Solar panels (Thomas Coker, Unsplash)

¶ “Last Reactor At Ukraine’s Biggest Nuclear Power Plant Shut Down For Safety” • Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency says the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been put into a ‘cold shutdown’ for safety. The other five reactors at the plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, are already in cold shutdown. [Metro UK]

US:

¶ “New York City Will Charge Drivers Going Downtown. Other Cities May Be Next” • New York City is moving ahead with a landmark program to toll vehicles entering Lower Manhattan. The Federal Highway Administration signed off on the release of an environmental assessment, and the public review period is ending on Monday. [CNN]

Manhattan (Jenin Abumazen, Unsplash)

¶ “Cities Across The Northeast Experience Better Air Quality As Hazardous Wildfire Smoke Subsides” • Sorely missed blue skies are returning and cities across the northeastern US have better air quality after the monstrous cloud of smoke from the wildfires in Canada dissipates. The area of Canada that has burned so far is more than twice the size of New Jersey. [CNN]

¶ “New York Protects “The Birds And The Bees” With Nation-Leading Legislation” • The New York State Legislature has passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act, a first-in-the-nation bill that would rein in the use of neurotoxic neonicotinoid pesticides, banning most use of neonics in the state. The bill is now heads to Governor Hochul for her signature. [CleanTechnica]

Beekeeper (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

¶ “Youth Environmentalists Are Bringing Montana Climate Case To Trial After 12 Years, Seeking to Set A Precedent” • Whether a constitutional right to a healthy, livable climate is protected by state law is at the center of a lawsuit going to trial Monday in Montana. Sixteen young plaintiffs and their attorneys hope to set an important legal precedent. [USNews.com]

¶ “Governor Launches New Climate-Focused Forestry Initiative” • The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an initiative to ensure Massachusetts’ forests are managed to optimize carbon sequestration and mitigate climate harms as part of meeting the state’s aggressive climate goals, which include net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. [iBerkshires.com]

Have a generously enriched day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Canadian Wildfire Smoke Is A Climate Change Wake-Up Call For The USA” • The New York Post ran a headline this week telling readers to “Blame Canada” for the smoke hanging over the city. It is typical of reactionaries in the US to look around and refuse to see what is happening before their eyes. The climate crisis ss arriving early, and we aren’t ready. [CleanTechnica]

Wildfire (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “A Manufacturing Revolution Is Underway In The USA, Thanks To Joe Biden” • The Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are stimulating a massive reinvestment in manufacturing, infrastructure, and good working class jobs in the US. Despite some who obsess over potential recession, we have a booming economy. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Mushrooms Could Play A Key Role In Solving The Climate Crisis” • The scientific journal Cell Press is publishing a study showing that a group of fungi with mycorrhizal systems draw down and store more than 13 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. That’s nearly the annual greenhouse gas output of China and the US combined. [The Japan Times]
(Please note: “Million” is a typo. It should read “billion.”)

Mushroom cluster (Timothy Dykes, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Smoke From Canada’s Wildfires Has Reached As Far As Norway” • The smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada, which has already put around 75 million people in the US under air quality alerts, has reached Norway, the country’s scientists say. Some Norwegians may be able to smell the smoke and notice the haze. [CNN]

¶ “Quebec Sees Progress In Wildfire Battle” • Quebec has made progress in its battle to fight wildfires that have contributed to the smoke that blanketed large parts of North America this week. Philippe Bergeron, with Quebec’s firefighting agency, said that firefighters have been successful in putting out a few fires and containing larger ones. [BBC]

Wildfire (Government of Alberta)

¶ “Vancouver Company Bets On Utility-Sized Batteries For Renewable Energy” • Invinity Energy Systems, a Vancouver company, is betting big on the utility-sized batteries it builds in a former machine shop with high ceilings and overhead cranes. Its batteries pair with intermittent renewable power systems to provide reliable electricity. [MSN]

¶ “Tesla Hits UK With Strongest Ever May” • Tesla hits the UK with its strongest ever May, helping lift the plugin EV market share to 23.1%, up from 18.3% year on year. Battery EVs have grown well, whilst plugin hybrids have remained mostly flat. Overall market volume was up 17% YOY, though still below the pre-2020 norms. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y (Michal Lauko, Unsplash)

¶ “Ramokgopa Looking Forward To Big Renewable Energy Projects” • Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he’s looking forward to big renewable energy projects that will see South Africa ditch its power problems. He spoke while visiting the Redstone Concentrated Solar Power Thermal Plant in the Northern Cape. [SABC News]

¶ “Switching From Coal Power Contracts To Renewable Energy Can Save Kerala ₹9,000 Crore In Five Years” • Replacing its coal power contracts with renewable energy can save the Indian state of Kerala ₹9,000 crore ($1.09 billion) over a five-year period, a study by think tank Climate Risk Horizons says. The report recommended phasing out coal by 2030. [The Hindu]

Coal-burning power plant (Johannes Plenio, Unsplash)

¶ “Tokyo Gas To Spend $1.4 Billion On Renewable Power At Home And Abroad” • Tokyo Gas, the biggest city gas provider in Japan, plans to spend ¥200 billion ($1.4 billion) over the next three years to boost its renewable capacity at home and abroad to 6 GW by 2030 from 1.5 GW now. It will focus on offshore wind farms for the investment. [Natural Gas World]

¶ “France Says Nuclear Power Is ‘Non-Negotiable’” • “Nuclear power is an absolute red line for France, and France will not relinquish any of the competitive advantages linked to nuclear energy”, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire insisted at the French Electricity Union. France’s 56 ageing reactors normally provide 70% of French electricity needs. [EURACTIV.com]

Fessenheim nuclear plant, 2010 (Florival fr, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “California Approves Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot Technology, With Limitations” • Mercedes has received permission from the state of California to sell cars which feature Level 3 Drive Pilot technology to the public. But the permission comes with some restrictions, among which are the words, “This permit excludes operation on city or county streets, …” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hoosiers To Lead Rural Solar Power Revolution” • US farms are beginning to transition from energy-sucking, water-guzzling, habitat destroying sources of greenhouse gases into hosts for solar power plants, biodiversity havens, and carbon sinks. That can translate into an economic lifeline for farmers, and Indiana provides a good example. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaics (Courtesy of Lightsource bp)

¶ “Attractiveness Of America For Renewable Energy Investing Is Increasing” • For the first time in the six years the American Council on Renewable Energy has conducted investor surveys, investors unanimously said they expect the attractiveness of US renewable energy investment to increase compared to other countries over coming years. [Daily Energy Insider]

¶ “Officials Announce $26 Million In Funding For Nuclear Waste Relocation Search” • Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm, on a visit to the soon-to-be demolished San Onofre nuclear plant, announced that thirteen groups from across the country would receive $26 million of funding to help identify sites to store the spent nuclear fuel. [KUSI News]

Have a positively great day.

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World:

¶ “The World’s Biggest Companies Have Made Almost No Progress On Limiting Global Warming Since 2018” • The vast majority of the world’s biggest companies have done almost nothing in the past five years to cut their planet-heating pollution enough to avoid catastrophic climate change. Of big companies, 45% are aligned with warming of at least 2.7°C. [CNN]

New York Stock Exchange (Tomas Eidsvold, Unsplash)

¶ “Siberia Swelters In Record-Breaking Temperatures Amid Its ‘Worst Heat Wave In History’” • Dozens of heat records have fallen in Siberia, as temperatures climbed above 100°F (37.7°C). Despite the fact that it is only early June, records are tumbling across parts of Siberia as extreme heat pushes into unusually high latitudes. [CNN]

¶ “El Niño planet-warming weather phase has begun” • Scientists confirmed that El Niño had started. Experts say it will likely make 2024 the world’s hottest year. They fear the world will go past the 1.5°C warming mark partly due to its effects on world weather. They could include drought in Australia, increased rain in the southern US, and a weak mosoon in India. [BBC]

Monsoon season in India (Boudhayan Bardhan, Unsplash)

¶ “Canada Wildfires: Global Help Arrives As Quebec Fights ‘Historic’ Fires” • Global firefighters are now beginning to arrive in Quebec to help put out the more than 130 forest fires burning in the region. Around 110 firefighters from France are scheduled to arrive in Quebec on Thursday, and 600 firefighters from the US are also headed for Canada. [BBC]

¶ “Hurtigruten Norway Plans Electric Cruise Ship With Sails And Solar Panels” • Norway’s Hurtigruten operates a small fleet of cruise ships that ply the country’s coast, giving people a chance to witness the wonders of Norway’s fjords. Now it says it will build a battery electric cruise ship that features actual sails that will be covered in solar panels. [CleanTechnica]

Cruise ship in a fjord (Courtesy of Hurtigruten)

¶ “Dynamic Line Rating – Pushing The Grid To Its Max In Denmark” • The Danish government has agreed on a framework for tenders of offshore wind to the tune of 9 GW of power! It was previously agreed that the build-out of this magnitude should happen, but now we are getting really close to the wind farms actually being built. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tata Power Renewable Energy To Build 966-MW Hybrid Wind-Solar Project For Tata Steel” • Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd has received a Letter of Award to set up a 966 MW hybrid renewable power project for round-the-clock supply to Tata Steel. The project will comprise 379 MW of solar and 587 MW of wind capacity. [pv magazine India]

Renewable energy (Hpgruesen, CC0)

¶ “Bank Of America Is Betting Big On India’s Renewable Energy Potential” • India has ambitious climate targets, such as installing 500 GW of renewable energy capacity, reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by 45%. The Bank of America expects heavy investment in India’s renewable energy, battery storage, and green hydrogen sectors. [Oil Price]

¶ “TotalEnergies signs 1-GW Kazakh PPA” • TotalEnergies has signed a PPA for a 1000-MW wind project in Kazakhstan. The Mirny wind project is to be a 1-GW onshore wind farm with a 600-MWh battery energy storage system for a reliable power supply. It will be the first PPA signed in the country for a wind development of such scale. [reNews]

Wind farm (Total Eren image)

¶ “Ukraine Sent Note To European Commission Regarding Possible Intensification Of Cooperation In Nuclear Energy With Russia” • Ukraine’s note to the European Commission on any cooperation on nuclear power with Russia said, “Rosatom is part of the Putin regime, which supports its terrorist actions and endangers nuclear facilities.” [Ukrainian News Agency]

US:

¶ “Canada Wildfires: US East Coast Sees Worst Air Quality In Years” • Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York City had their worst air quality in years, as intense wildfires in Canada impact more than 100 million people in the US. President Joe Biden described the fires as a “stark reminder of the impacts of climate change.” [BBC]

Haze in the countryside (Paul Earle, Unsplash)

¶ “GM Joins Ford In Using Tesla Superchargers” • CNBC reports that GM will begin installing the NACS charging port used by Tesla instead of the current industry-standard CCS charging port in its EVs starting in 2025. With Ford and GM now in the NACS camp, that will put pressure on other EV makers to adopt the Tesla technology in North America. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Solar Market Expected To Triple In Size In Five Years” • The US solar industry installed 6.1 GW of capacity in the first quarter of 2023, according to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that the solar market will triple in size over the next five years. [pv magazine USA]

Solar project in California (White Pine Renewables image)

¶ “The Success Of “Clean Cities” Shows How US Government Can Help Deploy More Clean Tech” • A new National Renewable Energy Laboratory report, Clean Cities: A Model of Collaborative Technology Innovation Built Over 30 Years, tells the story of the Clean Cities Coalition Network, documenting how and why its success can serve as a model. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Decorated Climate Scientist Says Montana Should Expect Climate-Driven Water And Wildfire Woes” • Montanans should expect long, intense wildfire seasons and reduced streamflows, the state’s most decorated climate scientist said in the keynote address of Billings’ inaugural Climate Week. The event is to raise awareness about climate change. [NBC Montana]

Have a notably enjoyable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “As Ocean Oxygen Levels Dip, Fish Face An Uncertain Future” • Global warming not only increases ocean temperatures, it also triggers a cascade of effects that are stripping the seas of oxygen. With global warming, oceans around the world are becoming ever more deprived of oxygen, forcing many species to migrate from their usual homes. [BBC]

Clown fish (Rachel Hisko, Unsplash)

¶ “Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions At All-Time High, Study Finds” • Greenhouse gas emissions have reached an all-time high, threatening to push the world into “unprecedented” levels of global heating, scientists warn. The world is rapidly running out of “carbon budget,” according to a study published in the journal Earth System Science Data. [The Guardian]

¶ “Drones Fly Low And Slow For Radiation Detection” • One day, drones may work with humans on surveys to detect low levels of radiation, information that could help with decommissioning of sites no longer needed for nuclear-related energy production or research. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has been testing drones for the purpose. [CleanTechnica]

Preparing to test drone (Graham Bourque, PNNL)

World:

¶ “Ukraine: Dam Destruction Could Have A Number Of Serious Consequences” • The destruction of the dam at Nova Khakovka could have a number of serious consequences. One is the danger of flooding. Water supplies have been cut off. There are social, economic, and environmental concerns. And the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is losing its cooling water. [BBC]

¶ “Russia’s War In Ukraine Is Undermining Global Efforts To Tackle The Climate Crisis, Report Finds” • The war in Ukraine has had an enormous human toll. But beyond the immediate, visceral impacts, the conflict is also causing a climate disaster at a time when the world is already struggling to meet climate goals, according to a report. [CNN]

Destroyed Russian tank (Dmitry Bukhantsov, Unsplash)

¶ “Germany – Plugin EVs Take 22.9% Share, Tesla Leads” • The auto market in Germany saw plugin EVs take 22.9% share in May 2023, down from 25.3% year on year. Full electrics gained share, but were outpaced by the losses in plugin hybrid share, due to recent policy changes. The bestselling battery EV in May was the Tesla Model Y. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “150 Double-Decker Electric Buses From Volvo Headed To UK” • One of the largest double-decker electric bus orders ever was made in the UK. UK coach and bus operator Stagecoach ordered 150 electric double-decker electric buses and 39 single-decker electric buses from Volvo Buses. It’s the largest electric bus order Volvo Buses has received. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo buses (Volvo image)

¶ “Ørsted Ratifies Renewables Goal Of 50 GW By 2030” • Ørsted is confirming its ambition to reach an installed capacity of 50 GW of renewable energy by 2030 during its Capital Markets Day, on 8 June. The Danish developer and owner of offshore wind and other renewable assets expects to invest Dkr475 billion ($68.32 billion, €64 billion) by 2030. [reNews]

¶ “Shell Adverts Banned In UK Due To “Misleading” Content” • The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has banned multiple adverts for oil giant Shell due to “misleading” content. According to the ASA, the adverts “omitted significant information about the overall environmental impact of Shell’s business activities in 2022.” [Offshore Technology]

Shell truck (Shell image)

¶ “Ukraine: UK boosts funding To International Atomic Energy Agency” • The UK announced an additional £750,000 of funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency to support missions in Ukraine, at the meeting of the Board of Governors in Vienna. The UK has now provided £5 million to support IAEA efforts in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. [GOV.UK]

US:

¶ “Where is the wildfire smoke headed next, and when will it clear out?” • Unfortunately, the current weather pattern is not helping. The low pressure that is funneling the smoke into the US is forecast to linger in New England through the weekend. This pattern could eventually break by next week as a new storm system moves in from the west. [CNN]

Haze from smoke (NASA image)

¶ “VW Seriously Doesn’t Want Dealers To Mark Up The ID. Buzz” • One concern for those of us who have watched the auto dealer shenanigans of the past few years is some massive dealer markups. Auto dealers will add really big markups to a vehicle, if they can. Volkswagen understands that, and the company does not want to see it happen. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Introduces The EX30: A Compact Electric SUV For The Masses” • With a goal of selling only fully EVs by 2030, Volvo has launched the EX30. The fully electric five-seater compact SUV is a revolution for the brand. The well-appointed vehicle is sure to find buyers, at the jaw-dropping price of $34,950 in the US and around €36,000 in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EX30 (Image courtesy of Volvo)

¶ “DESRI Gains Approval For US Solar Storage PPA” • DE Shaw Renewable Investments secured approval for its offtake contracts for a 130-MW solar and battery project in New Mexico. The New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission has approved offtake contracts for Carne solar project, including its 65-MW battery, with El Paso Electric. [reNews]

¶ “NRC Faults Energy Northwest In Worker Contamination Event” • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a “white finding,” of low to moderate safety significance, after workers were exposed to radiation in May 2021. The NRC’s inspection report said Energy Northwest faults made it unable to properly evaluate doses. [Environmental Health News]

Have a reliably magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Right Wing Texans Love EVs, If You Don’t Say ‘Environment’” • Buzz Smith is a former car salesman turned blogger who bills himself as The EV-angelist. Take the time to learn how EVs actually work, he counseled. Get the buyers out for a test drive. “The big message, though, is do not mention the environment. Do NOT mention climate change.” [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E (Adrian N, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Cargo Ships Return To Wind Power, Again” • The ocean-going wind power firm Norsepower launched its different-looking Rotor Sails back in 2014, and now it looks like all that hard work is about to pay off. There are other benefits being free of emissions, as well. “The rotor sails dampen the roll motion so the ship hardly rolls at all.” [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “The Arctic May Be Sea Ice-Free In Summer By The 2030s, New Study Warns” • The Arctic could be free of sea ice roughly a decade earlier than projected, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. It is another clear sign the climate crisis is happening faster than expected as the world continues to pump out greenhouse gases. [CNN]

Polar bear (Hans-Jurgen Mager, Unsplash)

¶ “A ‘Once-In-200 Years’ Heat Wave Caught Southeast Asia Off Guard. They Will Be More Common” • An unprecedented heat has engulfed Southeast Asia in the past two months. Highs have soared to over 40°C (104°F) in Hanoi, where daily highs for May average 32°C (90°F). Without human-caused climate change, the heat wave would be “virtually impossible.” [CNN]

¶ “Collapse Of Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka Dam An ‘Ecological Catastrophe’” • The Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine has collapsed, sparked fears of an ecological catastrophe. Ukrainian President Zelensky described the situation as “an environmental bomb of mass destruction.” The dam was in Russian control. The cause of the collapse is not entirely clear. [CNN]

Nova Kakhovka dam in 2018 (Дзюбак Володимир, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Investments In Renewable Energy Exceed Expenditures For Fossil Fuels” • The International Energy Agency released data showing the recovery from the slump caused by Covid-19 and the response to the global energy crisis provoked by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have provided a significant boost to renewable energy investments. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BlueFloat Energy Launches In The Philippines, Promising 7.6 GW In Four Locations” • BlueFloat Energy announced its entry to the Philippines, with four Wind Energy Service Contracts. They are in Central, North, and South Luzon, and in Southern Mindoro. Combined, the four sites will deliver 7.6 GW to feed the power-hungry archipelago. [CleanTechnica]

Floating wind turbines (Bluefloat Energy image)

¶ “UAE And Egypt Sign Agreement To Advance $10 Billion Wind Project” • A group of companies, including Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, have signed an agreement with Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority to secure land for a $10 billion wind farm. The 10-GW project is expected to save Egypt $5 billion in annual natural gas costs. [The National]

¶ “Spain’s Renewable Power Generation To Top 50% In 2023” • With strong wind and solar production, Spain is on track to generate over 50% of its electricity from renewable sources this year, the first of the top five European power consumer countries to achieve the feat. In doing so, Spain has beat France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. [OGV Energy]

Wind farm in Spain (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Grid Survey Shows 66-GW Development Pipeline In South Africa” • A survey of South Africa’s renewable-energy development pipeline shows that 66 GW of wind and solar projects are at various stages of development in the country and that a number of these projects are envisaged to be coupled with battery storage. [Engineering News]

¶ “Ukrainian Dam Is Destroyed – Nuclear Plant Lives In A ‘Grace Period’” • The Kakhovka dam was blown up. It is a critical piece of infrastructure, hosting a hydroelectric plant and managing a reservoir that supplies water for drinking, irrigation, and cooling of the upstream six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

Cooling spray ponds at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (Energoatom)

¶ “Ukrainian Dam Collapse Poses ‘No Immediate Risk’ To The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • The breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam and the draining of the reservoir behind it does not pose an immediate safety threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, but has long-term implications for its future, according to Ukrainian and UN experts. [The Guardian]

US:

¶ “New York City’s Air Pollution Among The World’s Worst As Canada Wildfire Smoke Shrouds Northeast” • New York City topped the list of the world’s worst air pollution for parts of Tuesday as harmful smoke wafted south from over a hundred wildfires in Quebec. Smoke from Canada’s fires has periodically engulfed the region for over a week. [CNN]

Manhattan (Aaron Burson, Unsplash)

¶ “Republican Lawmakers Are Making It Harder For Power Companies To Pivot Away From Coal” • Republican legislators and state officials are making it harder for power companies to retire coal plants even when it makes clear economic sense to do so – propping up the ailing industry at the cost of higher energy prices for their constituents. [CNN]

¶ “Ford Could Sell 500,000 EVs Per Year In USA With Tesla Supercharging Access” • Ford is on track to sell between 40,000 and 50,000 EVs in the US this year. That’s not good, considering that Tesla is on track to sell about 640,000 EVs in the US in 2023. But first-quarter sales imply Ford will be the third best selling car maker for EVs in 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Have a comfortably sustainable day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Home Energy Storage Is Getting A Flow Battery Makeover” • Once limited to utility-scale uses, flow batteries are coming down in size as well as cost. A research team based in the Georgia Tech laboratory of assistant professor Nian Liu has been working on a new configuration that cuts down the size of a flow battery cell by an impressive 75%. [CleanTechnica]

Small flow battery experiment (Georgia Institute of Technology)

World:

¶ “Ukraine Accuses Russia Of ‘Ecocide’ As Critical Dam Near Kherson Destroyed Sparking Evacuations” • A dam and hydro-electric power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine was destroyed, prompting mass evacuations and fears for large-scale devastation as Ukraine accused Moscow’s forces of committing an act of “ecocide.” [CNN]

¶ “Canada Could See Its Worst Wildfire Season On Record” • Canada is bracing for what forecasters say may be the country’s worst wildfire season on record. It has already seen 2,214 fires this year, and they have burned an area roughly totalling the size of Belgium. Climate change is blamed for increasing the frequency and intensity of wildires. [BBC]

Wildfire (Canadian Forest Service)

¶ “More Investment In Solar Than Oil In 2023” • “Solar is the star performer and more than $1 billion per day is expected to go into solar investments in 2023 ($380 billion for the year as a whole), edging this spending above that in upstream oil for the first time,” the International Energy Agency writes in its report, World Energy Investment 2023. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “MAN Goes All In On Electric Buses, Daimler Introduces Fuel Cell ECitaro” • MAN, the heavy vehicle arm of Volkswagen Group, has made an executive decision not to manufacture diesel-powered buses that comply with the upcoming Euro 7 exhaust emissions rules. Instead, it will focus on producing battery-electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus (MAN image)

¶ “World EV Sales Now 14% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 70% in April 2023 compared to April 2022. There were 928,000 registrations. Plugins took a 14% share of the overall auto market (10% battery EV share alone). This means that the global automotive market remains in the Electric Disruption Zone. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Akuo Commissions French Floating Solar Farm” • Akuo has commissioned a new floating solar power farm in Cintegabelle, near Toulouse in southern France. With a capacity of 8.7 MW, the Cintegabelle plant is located on Cap Vert lake on the southern edge of the village, a 19 hectare man-made lake created when a gravel quarry ceased operations. [reNews]

Floating solar system (Akuo image)

¶ “NZ ‘Well Placed’ To Reach 100% Renewable Energy – But Obstacles Must Be Overcome” • A report by global professional services company GHD showed that New Zealand is relatively well placed to reach 100% renewable energy if critical barriers are removed. But the first challenge is to ensure New Zealand is able to meet its own energy demands. [RNZ]

¶ “Switzerland Is Installing Solar Panels In Train Tracks” • Swiss startup Sun-Ways is installing solar panels on railway tracks in Switzerland. The panels are reportedly being rolled out ‘like a carpet’ in the gap between the tracks near the Buttes train station following the go-ahead from the country’s Federal Office of Transport. [TechSpot]

Solar panels between tracks (Sun-Ways image)

¶ “Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant At Risk From Kakhovka Dam Breach” • After an explosion at the Kakhovka Dam, the water level is rapidly decreasing, which is an additional threat to the Russian occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, Energoatom said. Water from the reservoir is necessary for turbine condensers and safety systems at the plant. [Yahoo News]

US:

¶ “Smoky Week Ahead From Wildfires In Canada Is Expected To Lead To More Alert Warnings For The Northeast” • More than 8 million acres have burned this year across Canada, with nearly half a million acres in Quebec alone. The fires are sending thick smoke south and east into the US Northeast, affecting air quality for millions of people. [CNN]

Smog in New York (Juan Ordonez, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “US Issues 20-Year Ban On Drilling Near Indigenous Cultural Site In New Mexico” • Interior Secretary Deb Haaland acted to protect the cultural and historic resources around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from new oil and gas leasing and mining claims. The order applies to public lands within ten miles of the park for 20 years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Arizona Limits New Construction Around Phoenix Due To Lack Of Groundwater” • The Phoenix area has been one of the fastest growing areas of the US for decades, but the growth can’t go on. There isn’t enough water to wash the dishes and flush the toilets and fill the pools of all the new homes that will be needed to house more people. [CleanTechnica]

Canal (Central Arizona Groundwater Replacement District)

¶ “Fossil Fuels Got A Boost From Lawmakers Aiming To Fix The Texas Grid, But Renewable Energy Escaped Stricter Regulations” • Texas lawmakers passed a huge economic incentives package to lure companies to Texas, which included the oil and gas industry but excluded wind and solar energy companies. Energy efficiency went unsupported. [Fort Worth Business Press]

¶ “Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever National Clean Hydrogen Strategy” • The Biden-Harris Administration released the US National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, a comprehensive framework for accelerating the production, processing, delivery, storage, and use of clean hydrogen. [Department of Energy]

Have a conveniently sufficient day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Charging Remains Biggest US Hurdle To EV Adoption” • Although EVs have taken huge steps toward adoption over the past few years, at least one major barrier remains. As Tesla and others work to expand their charging networks, consumers may still struggle to go electric until public charging becomes more extensive and reliable. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla charging station in Williston, VT (Stephen Mease, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Is There Continued Obsession With Adding More ‘Water Guzzling’ Coal And Nuclear Power Plants?” • To continue to establish more power plants based on coal and nuclear power technology might be irresponsible. These thermal power plants require huge amounts of water to operate, making it unavailable for other things. [Counterview]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Scientists: Safe Global Warming Limit For Humans Has Already Passed” • Scientists have long backed a goal to cap global warming at 1.5°C, to avoid its most dangerous effects. But a new analysis says the limit to prevent significant harm to people is just 1°C. That warning, published in the journal Nature, says the Earth has already heated up by about 1.2°C. [Europe]

No jobs on a dead planet (Markus Spiske, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Oil Prices Rise As Saudi Arabia Pledges Output Cuts” • Opec+ oil-producing countries agreed to continued cuts in production in a bid to shore up prices. Saudi Arabia said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day in July, and Opec+ said targets would drop by a further 1.4 million bpd from 2024. Opec+ accounts for around 40% of the world’s crude oil. [BBC]

¶ “Australia To Triple Size Of Protected Marine Park To Area Larger Than Germany” • Australia plans to triple the size of the Macquarie Island Marine Park and close off an area larger than Germany to fishing and mining, the government announced, protecting millions of vulnerable seabirds and animals. The park is between Tasmania and Antarctica. [CNN]

Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island (M Murphy, public domain)

¶ “France’s Plugins Over 24% Share” • May saw France’s plugins take over 24% market share, up from 20.9% year on year. Full electrics grew from 12.0% to 15.6% share, while plugin hybrids lost slightly. Overall auto volume was 145,536 units, up some 15% year on year, though still down on pre-2020 norms. The bestselling BEV in May was the Tesla Model Y. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Can Pakistan Capitalize On Solar As It Becomes Popular” • In a remarkable turning point, the International Energy Agency has reported that solar energy is to attract more capital investment than traditional oil for the first time ever. This significant shift has profound implications for Pakistan’s power production and its energy dependencies. [The Express Tribune]

Solar installer (USAID Pakistan, public domain)

¶ “Oracle Energy Strikes Hydrogen Deal With PetroChina” • Oracle Energy will work with PetroChina International Middle East to develop commercial avenues for its Green Hydrogen Project in Sindh, Pakistan. The two companies agreed that Oracle Energy, a subsidiary of Oracle Power, will supply and deliver green hydrogen to PCME. [reNews]

¶ “Progressture Solar Taps Sarawak For Renewable Energy” • Progressture Power remains committed to the renewable energy landscape in Malaysia. It has its eyes set on Sarawak’s renewable energy potential, and it is launching an East Malaysian venture, Hornbill Solar. It plans to invest RM200 million ($43.7 million) in renewable energy within two years. [Borneo Post Online]

Sarawak (Ir-One M, Unsplash, cropped)

India:

¶ “Tata Power Renewable Energy Commissions 110-MW Solar Power Project For Kerala State Electricity Board” • Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited has commissioned a 110-MW solar project in Rajasthan, the company announced. The project will supply the green power it generates to the Kerala State Electricity Board. [Free Press Journal]

¶ “Eco-Friendly Push Can Raise Farmers’ Incomes” • With effective implementation, solar energy can be rewarding for farmers. Renewable energy and the farm sector can be a winning combination, because together, they can help improve the crop yield, cutting overhead costs and improving efficiency of farm processes. [Tribune India]

Floating PVs (Harvinder Chandigarh, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “NTPC Is Likely To Add 5,000 MW Of Renewable Energy Capacity Annually” • India’s largest power utility, NTPC Limited, is likely to add 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of renewable capacity annually to achieve its ambitious clean energy target. The utility has targeted adding up to 60 GW of installed renewable power capacity by 2032. [Saur Energy International]

US:

¶ “Evacuation Orders Lifted, I-75 Reopens In Northern Michigan As Wildfire Continues To Burn” • Michigan is seeing hot and dry conditions that are “unprecedented” for this time of year. With gusty winds, they create a high the risk of fires. A fire in Northern Michigan burned 3,600 acres, leadign to evacuation orders on Saturday, but the orders have been lifted. [CNN]

Wildfire (Michigan State Police Seventh District via Twitter)

¶ “Tesla To Reap $1.8 Billion From IRA Incentives, All Model 3 Cars Eligible For Full Tax Credit” • Tesla and Panasonic are expected to receive about $1.8 billion in IRA production tax credits this year, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports. That puts the two companies far ahead of what GM and LG Energy Solution are expected to get. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Save $1,000, Get 3 Months FSD On Tesla Model S, Model X With Referral Code In June” • With Tesla’s newly relaunched referral program, Tesla owners can once again get bonuses by referring others to buy a Tesla car or solar power system. This month, Tesla offers an additional incentive to both referring owners and buyers of two EV models. [CleanTechnica]

Have an unusually amusing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Build NY’S Clean Energy Future: Utilities Need The State To Help With The Move From Fossil Fuels To Renewables” • With federal and state policies enacted in this year’s budget, New York is taking tremendous strides toward a clean energy future, but we will need more support from leaders in Albany and Washington to achieve our clean energy goals. [New York Daily News]

Solar array in Manhattan (US DOE, public domain)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Solar Panels: An Eco-Disaster Waiting To Happen?” • Solar panels have a limited life and must eventually be recycled. The world’s first factory dedicated to fully recycling solar panels will open this month in France. ROSI, the specialist solar recycling company that owns the facility, hopes eventually to be able to extract and re-use 99% of a unit’s components. [BBC]

World:

¶ “BYD Dolphin Launched In New Zealand” • The BYD Atto 3 was the top selling BEV in New Zealand in May, getting 223 sales. The BYD Atto 3 is also the top selling BEV in New Zealand over the past three months, with 1,024 sales. It was followed closely by the Tesla Model Y in second place with 965 sales and the MG ZS EV in third with 623 sales. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Dolphin (BYD image)

¶ “Sweden Hits 62% Plugin EV Market Share In May, Tesla Model Y High” • Plugin electric vehicles saw strong year on year growth in market share in Sweden, taking 61.9% of the market, up from 47.5% in May 2022. Full electrics carried all of the growth, alone accounting for 40.9% share, with plugin hybrids slightly losing share year over year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland To Legislate Renewable Targets In $62 Billion Wind, Solar And Storage Plan” • Queensland is the most coal-dependent state in Australia. But it says it will lock in its multiple renewable energy targets through legislation as part of a $62 billion investment plan over the next decade. The targets will rise to 80% by 2035. [Renew Economy]

Renewable energy workers (Courtesy of the Queensland Jobs Plan)

¶ “The Rise Of China’s Clean Energy Sector And Its Global Dominance” • China is racing toward decarbonization at a rate that few could have predicted. Bloomberg recently said frenzied enthusiasm for solar power and EVs “suggests China is nearing an inflection point in its energy transition more than a half-decade before a 2030 target to peak emissions.” [Oil Price]

¶ “IEA: Renewables Installations In 2023 Soar To Levels We’ve Never Seen” • The energy crisis in Europe, the US Inflation Reduction Act, and the continued strong expansion of green energy installations in China are all expected to contribute to the biggest-ever increase in renewable energy capacity additions this year, an IEA report says. [Oil Price]

Windpower (Pixabay, Pexels)

¶ “Climate Change Is Fuelling A Spike In Lyme Disease Cases Across Canada” • Lyme disease is increasing in Canada. Nick Ogden, a senior research scientist with PHAC and director of the Public Health Risk Sciences Division, which tracks Lyme disease, said the most important factor for the increase of Canada’s tick population is warmer temperatures. [CBC]

¶ “Climate Change: Kashmir’s Agriculture And Horticulture Sectors At Risk” • In Jammu and Kashmir, unusual weather events, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning, have become more frequent. This is affecting crop productivity and fruit quality. Experts attribute the changes in the weather to climate change. [Ground Report]

Kashmir (Durray Sameen Rajouri, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “China Backs IAEA’s Efforts To ‘Prevent Nuclear Disaster’ At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • China lauded efforts by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in providing all possible forms of assistance to prevent a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is said to be “extremely vulnerable.” [Republic World]

US:

¶ “Tesla Model 3 Lifecycle Cost Nearly Matches The Cheapest Car In America!” • After price and incentive changes: “I decided to go against the cheapest car available in the US today, the 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage, selling for $16,245. With the Tesla Model 3 costing over twice as much up front, I didn’t really think it would be competitive, but I was wrong!” [CleanTechnica]

Mitsubishi Mirage (Mr.choppers, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Nebraska Renewable Energy Training Programs Struggle To Recruit Students Amid National Worker Shortage” • In Nebraska, Central Community College is teaching future workers in the renewable energy industry, offering wind, solar energy, and battery storage accreditation. There are not enough students. It is a common problem in the US. [Lincoln Journal Star]

¶ “$2.2 Billion And Counting: Dominion Readies Its Grid For Renewable Energy” • Dominion Energy has a $2.2 billion-plus “grid transportation plan” to upgrade its 66,400 mile grid network connecting over 2 million customers to power plants. With EVs and data centers coming, it expects a five-fold increase in demand. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

Have an acceptably excellent day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “How Fiber-Optic Sensing And New Materials Could Reduce Cost Of Floating Offshore Wind” • Two key concerns for floating offshore windpower are the potential to disrupt the clean energy space and how the offshore technologies would impact marine life. Researchers developed fiber-optic sensing that can monitor acoustic signals such as whale calls. [CleanTechnica]

Fiber-optic sensing (Jenny Nuss, Berkeley Lab)

World:

¶ “Black Sea Urchins Have Disappeared From The Gulf Of Aqaba. Their Loss Could Kill Off An Entire Coral Reef” • Under the blue water of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, expansive coral reefs teem with life: colorful fish and invertebrates. But Black Sea urchins gone missing from this beautiful scene, and that could threaten the entire ecosystem. [CNN]

¶ “Daimler, Toyota, And Mitsubishi To Partner On Hydrogen Tech” • Daimler and Toyota Hino are two of the biggest names in commercial trucking, and they’ve just signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Fuso that will see the acceleration of that company merging with Hino and the development of new, advanced trucking tech (hydrogen). [CleanTechnica]

Daimler trucks (Daimler image)

¶ “Scientists Find Earth Is In ‘Danger Zone’” • A study by the Earth Commission, a group of 51 scientists among the world’s leading research institutions, which was published recently in Nature, found that the planet is failing on seven out of eight “planetary boundaries,” or safety limits for environmental and human well-being. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Unprecented Achievement: IRENA Report Praises India’s Renewable Energy Growth ” • A recent report titled ‘Low-cost finance for energy transition,’ which was produced by the International Renewable Energy Agency, has praised India’s achievement in rolling out renewable energy capacity, calling it “unprecedented.” [The Hindu BusinessLine]

Astonfield solar plant in Gujarat (Citizenmj, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “BlueFloat Energy Propels Offshore Wind Projects Forward In Taiwan” • BlueFloat Energy, a prominent player in the field of floating offshore wind, made an exciting announcement in May 2022 about its entry into the Taiwanese market. Now, its Winds of September project is set to build an offshore floating wind power capacity of up to 1 GW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Queensland To Legislate 80% Renewable Power By 2035” • Queensland will enshrine a target of 70% renewable energy by 2032 into law, rising to 80% in 2035, if the draft legislation it just released passes state parliament. Its release came as the state government announced a $500 million budget investment into large-scale solar and wind projects. [WAtoday]

Windy Hill Wind Farm (Leonard Low, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Ukraine’s Ticking Nuclear Time Bomb” • Of all the horrors of Putin’s war on Ukraine, the most disastrous might be his constant threat to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The Zaporizhzhia plant is a ticking nuclear time bomb. Through accident, attack, or sabotage it could become the worst nuclear catastrophe since Chernobyl. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Finland’s Newest Nuclear Plant Is Warming The Sea, Harming Wildlife” • The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor near Eurajoki in southwest Finland began regular electricity production in April and now produces power at a rate of around 1,600 MW without emitting greenhouse gasses. But climate groups are pointing to a number of adverse effects of the reactor. [Yle.fi]

Olkiluoto unit 3 under construction (schoella, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

US:

¶ “Redflow Will Supply 20-MWh Flow Battery Storage System In California” • Redflow designed and built zinc-bromine flow batteries for almost a decade. With the success of a 2-MWh flow battery system it installed in California over a year ago, the company has just landed one of its biggest orders ever, a 20-MWh system in California. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Official Volkswagen ID. Buzz For North America Reveal!” • The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been anticipated for a long time. Rumors, speculation, and guesses about the ID. Buzz have been coming thick and fast, in advance of the official North American reveal on June 2. Now June 2 is finally here and the official press release is out. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID. Buzz (Courtesy of Volkswagen)

¶ “$230 Million Solar Energy Project Coming To Martin County” • The state of Kentucky ranks last in the nation in terms of renewable energy production. With multiple other solar projects in the state in the works, Edelen Renewables hopes to change that. It is building a $230 million solar energy array in Martin County, at the old Martiki Coal Mine. [WYMT]

¶ “NRG Exits Nuclear With Sale Of South Texas Project Stake” • NRG has agreed to sell its 44% equity interest in the South Texas Project to Constellation Energy, “subject to customary purchase price adjustments.” Constellation noted that the transaction is valued at $1.75 billion, but the effective purchase price is $1.4 billion, given tax benefits. [World Nuclear News]

South Texas Project (NRG image)

¶ “BLM Advances Battery Storage For Renewable Energy In California Desert” • The Bureau of Land Management issued a Notice to Proceed with construction for the Sunlight Storage II Battery Energy Storage System project in California. When it is completed, it will have renewable energy storage capacity of up to 300 MW. [Bureau of Land Management]

¶ “SoCal Startup Repurposes EV Batteries For Solar Power Storage” • Startup B2U Storage Solutions is repurposing EV battery packs so they can store solar energy. The company notes its approach makes renewable energy more accessible and efficient. It reduces fossil fuel dependence and can significantly reduce battery waste. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a significantly pleasant day.

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Opinion and Review:

¶ “Europe Faces A Flood Of Chinese Electric Cars. How Should It Respond?” • The Chinese car industry is like a bees’ nest that is ready to swarm. It wants to branch out and establish new markets elsewhere, and it is moving to do just that. So the real question is what will the impact of globalization be when China becomes a dominant market player? [CleanTechnica]

NIO House in Oslo (Premeditated, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “CleanTechnica Tested: The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 Solar Generator” • UGREEN is a new player in the solar generator market and is rushing the scene with its PowerRoam 1200 Power Station to lead the charge. They sent us a PowerRoam 1200 and a few of their 200-W folding solar panels for us to run through the paces and we gladly obliged. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Nova Scotia Battles Its Largest Wildfire On Record” • In Nova Scotia, firefighters are battling the largest wildfire in the history of the Atlantic province. And another fire forced the evacuation of thousands near Halifax. The wildfire smoke travelled south, with air quality warnings in the US. Heat that comes with climate change has driven the wildfires. [BBC]

Smoke from Nova Scotial Wildfires (NASA image)

¶ “Funding Solar PVs For Schools And Community Housing In Australia” • Community housing tenants in Adelaide will enjoy reduced power bills with new solar panels on their roofs. The Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia partnered with Believe Housing on solar systems for thirteen community housing properties in the city. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Honda Fit And Wuling Bingo April Sales In China Give Us An Indication Of What’s To Come” • The Wuling Bingo is another small hatchback launched in China. The Bingo looks like another smash hit from the SAIC, GM, and Wuling joint venture. It starts from around $8,600, out two-thirds the cost of the Honda Fit powered by fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Wuling Bingo (Wuling image)

¶ “Australian Retailer Woolworths To Make All Its Home Delivery Trucks 100% Electric By 2030” • Australia’s Woolworths Group announced that it aims to make all its home delivery trucks 100% electric-powered by 2030, which means more than 1,000 EVs will be added to the nation’s roads. It will be the first Australian supermarket chain to convert to EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Network Of Geothermal Power Stations ‘Could Help Level Up UK’” • A network of geothermal plants is being touted as a way to help level up the UK after a study discovered that many areas with the greatest geothermal potential lie beneath the towns and cities most in need of investment. Geothermal energy is accessed by drilling down to hot rocks. [The Guardian]

Letting off steam naturally (Emily Campbell, Unsplash)

¶ “Capgemini Achieves 100% Renewable Energy In India” • Capgemini, a multinational information technology services and consulting firm, made a significant announcement regarding its operations in India. Its facilities in the country are now running entirely on renewable energy, marking a significant step towards its sustainability goals. [Construction World]

¶ “Solar Leads Way With Renewables On Course To Shatter Deployment Records” • The International Energy Agency expects global additions of renewable capacity to surge by 107  GW in 2023 to 440 GW, the largest annual addition yet. This is about one third more renewable energy than the world added in 2022. [pv magazine Australia]

Rooftop solar power (Solar Victoria image)

¶ “PepsiCo Canada Will Achieve 100% Renewable Electricity Target In 2023 From Canadian Sources” • All electricity used to make PepsiCo products will be matched with renewable energy from Canadian sources. The company’s owned operations will leverage Canadian renewable energy, as it is commited to 100% renewable energy. [Canadian Manufacturing]

¶ “Presidential Climate Commission Says No To New Coal-Fired Power Stations And Nuclear Energy” • The Presidential Climate Commission has concluded that there is no room for new coal and nuclear power in South Africa’s energy. It recommended a least-cost option that includes 50 to 60 GW of renewable energy and no new coal or nuclear power. [The Mail & Guardian]

Koeberg nuclear plant (Paul Scott, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “Arizona Announces Limits On Construction In Phoenix Area As Groundwater Disappears” • Arizona officials announced on Thursday that the state will no longer grant certifications for new developments within the Phoenix area, as groundwater rapidly disappears amid years of water overuse and drought driven by climate change. [CNN]

¶ “Heliostat Consortium Announces Funding Awards Supporting Heliostat Deployment” • The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, co-leads of the Heliostat Consortium, announced seven awardees from a request for proposals aimed to achieve DOE’s goals for heliostat cost and performance. [CleanTechnica]

Heliostats (NREL image)

¶ “Empowering New Wave Of Incoming Solar Customers” • To meet the increase in demand for solar power created by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Solar Energy Industries Association is releasing an updated suite of consumer resources. SEIA’s new resources are designed to make decisions on solar power as easy and straightforward as possible. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “FERC Aims To Fix The Grid’s Renewable Energy Backlog” • FERC is preparing to issue a final rule changing how new energy projects connect to the grid. The commission proposed a rule on the topic last year, with a goal of more efficiently linking up solar, wind, and battery storage projects while reducing energy costs and making the grid more reliable. [E&E News]

Have an unquestionably grand day.

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World:

¶ “If Climate Goals Are Meant To Protect Us From ‘Significant Harm,’ Then They Aren’t Good Enough, Scientists Say” • The world has been focusing on limiting global warming to 1.5°C. But even at that amount, millions of people will still face “significant harm,” including death, displacement, and scarcity of food and water, a report says. [CNN]

After a fire (Landon Parenteau, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “35% Plugin Vehicle Market Share In China!” • Plugin vehicles are all the rage in the Chinese auto market, where about half of all plugin sales are made.  Plugins scored over half a million sales last month, up 93% year over year. That pulled the year-to-date tally to over 1.9 million units. Full battery EVs alone accounted for 24% of the country’s auto sales. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Inventing The €100 Per Month Electric Car” • Electric cars may be the future, but it is undeniable that EVs are unaffordable for many people today. We need a revolution in the way we think about clean energy support, and EVs are a great place to start. The French and their social leasing plan may well have found the solution to that problem. [CleanTechnica]

Twingo Electric (Courtesy of Renault Group)

¶ “The Philippines Needs Offshore LiDAR To Measure Wind Power Accurately In Upcoming OSW Projects” • An executive order signed by Philippine President Bongbong Marcos includes some things that need to be clarified. One is the use of floating LiDAR systems for offshore wind projects. Bluefloat Taiwan has the equipment for that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “OX2 Forges 1.2-GW Finnish Wind Partnership” • OX2 has signed an agreement with Finnish partner Tuulialfa for the development and construction of a 1200-MW onshore wind portfolio in Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland. The agreement covers six wind farms with a total of approximately 150 wind turbines to be built. [reNews]

Wind turbine (OX2 image)

¶ “Asia Climate Woes Mount As Heat Shatters May Records” • A number of countries across Asia have been hit by another round of extreme heat that has toppled seasonal temperature records throughout the region, raising concerns about their ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Experts warned that there is more to come. [Devdiscourse]

¶ “Global Renewables Set To Break Records In 2023” • Global additions of renewable power capacity are expected to jump by a third this year, according to the International Energy Agency. A number of global issues are driving strong deployment of solar PV and wind power to achieve a more that 440 GW of additional capacity in 2023. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Lisa Baker, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “China Halts Floating Nuclear Power Plan Over Security Fears” • China’s plan to build a fleet of nuclear power reactors to provide electrical power to islands on the South China Sea was suspended over security concerns, the South China Morning Post reports. Regulators said they were withholding approval, partly due to safety concerns. [Global Construction Review]

US:

¶ “Canadian Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality In The US Northeast For A Second Day” • Smoke and haze from wildfires raging in Nova Scotia will linger in portions of the US Northeast, prompting air quality alerts. Sensitive groups, including the elderly and young children, should minimize time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. [CNN]

Smog (Dom J, Pexels)

¶ “US Energy-Insecure Households Were Billed More For Energy Than Other Households” • On average, US households were billed $1.04 per square foot for energy usage across all energy sources in 2020. Energy-insecure households were billed $0.20 more per square foot than the national average and $0.26 more than households with energy security. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Colorado Boosts EV Incentive To $5000 And Adds A $2500 Sweetener” • Colorado is on a mission to get almost a million EVs on its roads by 2030. This year, over 10% of new vehicles sold in Colorado are EVs. The state already has a $2,000 tax credit for residents who purchase an electric car, but as of July 1, that will increase to $5,000. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)

¶ “Pacific Power Submits To PUC Inaugural Plan To Achieve Net-Zero Emissions In Oregon By 2040” • Pacific Power released plans to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions for all electricity sold to Oregon consumers by 2040, while significantly enhancing customer and community participation in the decarbonization efforts. [KTVZ]

¶ “Duke Plans New, Renewable Life For A Retired Coal Plant In Western North Carolina” • In 2020, Duke Energy retired the coal-fired power plant on Lake Julian, just south of Asheville, North Carolina. Now, the company is planning to put a solar farm on the site, covering a coal ash basin, landfill and part of the old plant. [Spectrum News]

Old coal-fired plant near Asheville, NC (Duke Energy image)

¶ “Last-Minute Power Grid Bill Is Bad For Illinois Transition To Renewable Energy” • In a last-minute maneuver, the Legislature found a way to hobble Illinois’ conversion to renewable energy. A Senate amendment gives utility Ameren monopolistic control over new regional power lines in its territory. The governor said he will veto the idea. [Chicago Sun-Times]

¶ “The Laws That Took Down Mobsters Are Now Being Turned Against Big Oil” • Hoboken, New Jersey, has sued oil companies, including Exxon and Chevron, hoping to put them on trial for deceiving the public. In a new twist, Hoboken’s lawyers have amended the complaint, alleging that Big Oil had violated the state’s RICO Act. [NJ Spotlight News]

Have a refreshingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Norwegian Researchers Show Us How To Avoid A Battery Crisis” • While there’s a lot of lithium around the world, some Norwegian researchers have figured out that there just won’t be enough to go around, even if we all chose LEAFs instead of Cybertrucks. “It seems very likely we’ll have a shortage. The key lies in the demand.” [CleanTechnica]

Batteries (Image courtesy of Aptera)

¶ “The Benefits Of Renewable Electricity Are Biggest Part Of The Story” • The benefits of adding wind and solar to power our electricity go deeper than fighting climate change; they include more affordable energy bills, healthier homes and cities and more good quality jobs. Renewable energy is also local, secure, stable energy. [David Suzuki Foundation]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Japan Is On A Mission To Beam Solar Power From Space By 2025” • Japan’s decades-long mission to transmit solar power collected in space back to Earth could move a step closer to reality in just a few years. A public-private partnership wants to start a trial sometime around 2025 using small satellites launched into orbit. [TechSpot]

SpaceX launch, SpaceX, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Tesla Model Y Rules Supreme In Europe!” • Some 197,000 plugin vehicles were registered in April in Europe – which is up 25% year over year. Unfortunately, the overall market grew 16%, getting close to 1 million sales as it is finally recovering from a couple of bad years. Full battery EVs grew at a faster rate than plugins in general, up 50% YOY. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ARC Ride Launches The Corbett Electric Motorbike And Automated Battery Swap Stations In Nairobi” • ARC Ride designs and builds EVs, and it runs a battery-as-a-service business in Nairobi, Kenya. Last week, ARC Ride launched the Corbett, a practical and durable electric motorbike designed for deliveries or personal commuting. [CleanTechnica]

ARC Ride Corbett (ARC Ride image)

¶ “Green Light For 49.9-MW Of English Solar” • The appeal for Aura Power’s Hawthorn Pit Solar Farm in Durham, England, has been allowed, thereby granting planning permission for the project. The 49.9-MW Hawthorn Pit site will provide enough clean electricity to power over 17,000 homes each year, saving about 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. [reNews]

¶ “EDF And Simply Blue Ink Irish JV” • EDF Renewables Ireland has entered a partnership with Simply Blue Group to develop the Western Star and Emerald floating wind projects. One project will be off the west coast of Clare and have a total capacity of up to 1.35 GW. The other, off the south coast of Cork, will have a total capacity of up to 1.3 GW. [reNews]

Floating wind turbines (DCNS Energies – GE)

¶ “Oil Companies In Southeastern Europe Accelerate Renewable Energy Investments” • In Southeastern Europe, INA, Motor Oil, MOL, and OMV Petrom all reported progress in green energy investments and projects just a couple of days apart from one another. They are all pursuing growth in the share of renewables in their operations. [Balkan Green Energy News]

¶ “European Power Prices Go Negative As Renewables Soar” • Balmy springtime weather across Europe and growing renewable energy capacity has led to multiple days of negative wholesale power prices, highlighting the need for increased energy storage capacity. A number of factors have led to consistent negative wholesale power prices. [Renew Economy]

Wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “Russia And Ukraine Fail To Embrace IAEA Plan To Protect Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Neither Russia nor Ukraine committed to respect five principles laid out by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday to try to safeguard Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. [The Straits Times]

US:

¶ “What Is Permitting Reform? The Critical Energy Provision Buried In Debt-Ceiling Negotiations” • Tucked into a bipartisan debt ceiling deal is a critical energy provision that Democrats and Republicans in Washington both want, at least in theory. Energy permitting reform, which aims to cut down the time it takes for new projects to get approved. [CNN]

Transporting a wind turbine blade (Acroterion, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “State Farm Will No Longer Sell Insurance Coverage For New Homes In California” • State Farm is the largest home insurance company in California in terms of total premiums paid. State Farm recently announced it will no longer insure new homes in California due to the increased risk of catastrophes like wildfires and high construction costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Launches New ‘Envolve’ Brand To Serve Business And Fleet EV Customers” • General Motors says it is entering a new phase of expansion, focusing on providing an array of solutions to corporate clients to minimize their ecological footprint, optimize fleet management, and enhance driver safety. GM is introducing “GM Envolve.” [CleanTechnica]

GM EV interior (GM image)

¶ “Georgia To Lead EV Revolution, ESG Or Not” • Georgia is among the US states where public officials rant against investing that follows environmental, social, and governance principles. But the latest clean tech investment for Georgia is a $4.3 billion joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and battery maker LG Energy Solution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texas Sunset Bill Softens The Blow From Anti-Renewables Changes” • Under HB 1500, the ‘PUC Sunset’ bill, renewable energy projects will have to pay higher transmission fees and, starting in 2027, all renewable energy projects will be forced to subsidize fossil fuels through “firming” requirements. But that is an improvement. [pv magazine USA]

Have an incontestably gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “South Africa’s Power Crisis Is A Warning For The World” • For over a decade, South Africa has struggled to keep the lights on. Its aging coal power plants have fallen into disrepair. Resources set aside for fixing the infrastructure have been squandered. The result is rolling blackouts, known locally as load shedding. They have crippled the economy. [Asia Times]

Kusile Power Station (JMK, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The ‘Exploding’ Demand For Giant Heat Pumps” • Heat pumps made by MAN Energy Solutions are among the largest in the world. With a heating capacity of up to 48 MW, one of them could heat thousands of homes. We are in a time of urgent need to end the use of fossil fuels, especially in Europe. “The demand for district heating is exploding.” [BBC]

¶ “An EV Drive Unit Built Without Rare Earth Minerals” • Vitesco Technologies came up with a really cool EV drive unit design. What really sets it apart from other designs is that it doesn’t depend on rare earth minerals and permanent magnets. The unit also has certain advantages for efficiency because it does not have permanent magnets. [CleanTechnica]

Vitesco engine (Vitesco Technologies)

¶ “Innovation Continues In The Solar Industry” • The solar PV industry has come a long way since its inception, evolving from early experiments to being an integral part of our daily lives. But the innovation continues, despite the long history and seemingly established nature of the technology. Here is a look at how that is happening. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Shanghai Records Its Highest May Temperature In More Than 100 Years” • The Chinese city of Shanghai recorded its highest May temperature in more than 100 years on Monday, hitting a record 36.1°C (nearly 97°F). The previous record of 35.7°C (96.3°F) was first recorded in May 1876. More record high temperatures are being set with climate change. [CNN]

Shanghai (David Veksler, Unsplash)

¶ “Applications For Installation Of Solar PV Systems In Cape Town Hit Record Levels” • Cape Town is the first city in South Africa to offer households and businesses cash for their excess rooftop solar power. The City is set to start paying businesses cash for power, and residents will be able to start selling power for cash later this year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EVs Play Big Roles As Official Cars At 2023 ASEAN Summit” • To push the agenda for EVs at the recently concluded ASEAN Summit 2023 in Indonesia, organizers made sure there were no ICE vehicles used by the delegates, their staff, and visitors. The Indonesian news outlet Antara reported that 395 electric cars were used for the summit. [CleanTechnica]

BMW iX Image (Courtesy of BMW)

¶ “We Expect A Lot From Our Buildings – How Do International Codes Assure Sustainability?” • May is Building Safety Month. Up-to-date international codes can make communities more equipped to endure increasingly frequent and severe weather events, improve sustainability, and address the affordable housing crisis. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Irish Wind Farm To Support Meta ” • Ørsted recently announced the opening of a new Irish wind farm. It is located in County Kilkenny and County Laois adjacent to two of Ørsted’s existing wind farms. Togehter, the three phases of Lisheen have a capacity of 89 MW, combining to be Ørsted’s largest wind farm in Ireland. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Wind farm (Courtesy of Ørsted)

¶ “United Nations Security Council To Discuss Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • A UN Security Council Meeting on the situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will take place on Tuesday to discuss ways to protect the station. Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi will deliver a report on the current situation. [UrduPoint]

US:

¶ “Plant-Based Food Association Execs Talk Resilience And Innovation” • You may not be a vegetarian or a vegan, but by now you’ve heard about the health benefits of eating plants, which have essential nutrients that you cannot get from other foods. Here, four execs of the Plant Based Food Association give brief interviews on the subject. [CleanTechnica]

Vegetables (Randy Fath, Unsplash)

¶ “Renewable Energy Becomes A Flash Point In Our Culture Wars” • We all know, at least at some level, that renewable energy will eventually displace the thermal generation of electricity. But some would prefer the changeover be delayed by a century or two to give us time to extract every molecule of coal, oil, and methane gas we can find. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Debt Limit Deal Commits To Speeding Up Energy Projects” • US financial markets breathed a sigh of relief after negotiators from Democratic and Republican parties reached an agreement to raise the debt limit. Among its key provisions, the new deal will make it easier for both fossil fuel and renewable energy projects to get licenses. [Yahoo Finance]

Wind turbines (Peter Beukema, Unsplash)

¶ “US Renewables Body Hails Debt Ceiling Deal” • US renewable energy industry group the American Clean Power Association has hailed the compromise deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling. President Joe Biden has been negotiating with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to allow the US Federal Government to borrow more than the current $31.4 trillion cap. [reNews]

¶ “Nuclear News: Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 Has Reached Maximum Energy Output” • Georgia Power announced Monday that Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 reached 100% energy output. This marks the first time the unit has reached its expected output of approximately 1,100 MW of electricity, which can power about 500,000 homes and businesses. [The Augusta Chronicle]

Have a fundamentally superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Fake Social Media Accounts Are Attacking Electrify America” • The author says it seems clear that somebody has it out for Electrify America and they are engaged in an astroturfing campaign to discredit the EV charging brand. It is clear that there’s an effort underway to make the company’s problems look bigger than they really are. [CleanTechnica]

Trusted new friend, a bot (Pixy.org, CC0)

¶ “India Has Big Clean Energy Goals – So Why Is It Banking On Coal?” • Countries like India need fast deployment of renewables to meet green power goals. The IEA said they could be held back by low levels of investment due to such factors as higher interest rates, unclear policy frameworks, financially stressed utilities, and weak power grids. [Eco-Business.com]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Continuous Clean Energy: Scientists Are Pulling Power Out Of Thin Air” • In a groundbreaking study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, engineers demonstrated the potential to produce continuous clean energy from humidity in the air. The secret is a porous structure at the nanoscale that can be put into virtually any material. [Earth.com]

Overcast day in New Zealand (Antoine Barrès, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Lukashenko Offers Nuclear Weapons To Nations Willing ‘To Join The Union State Of Russia And Belarus’” • Belarus President Lukashenko claimed that nations willing “to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus” will be given nuclear weapons, days after confirming the transfer of some tactical nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk had begun. [CNN]

¶ “Volta Trucks Enters Partnership To Help Build Testing Fleet” • Volta Trucks is trying a different approach to cargo vehicles in cities. While it promises impressive safety features, the Volta Zero has no emissions, making it an ideal choice for sustainable cities. It promises to revolutionize urban delivery trucks and make roads safer. [CleanTechnica]

Volta Zero (Courtesy of Volta Trucks)

¶ “Ukraine Built More Onshore Wind Turbines In Past Year Than England” • Ukraine has completed more onshore wind turbines than England since it was occupied by Russian soldiers, despite the UK government’s promise to relax restrictions on onshore windfarms. Ukraine’s 114-MW Tyligulska wind power plant was the first built in a conflict zone. [The Guardian]

¶ “New 3-Row VW ID.Buzz Reveal Incoming!” • The Volkswagen Microbus, also known as Kombi, is a cultural icon. Introduced in the 1950s, the Microbus quickly gained popularity due to its unique design, versatility, and association with various social movements. We can guess what the the ID.Buzz will be like, when it is revealed on June 2. [CleanTechnica]

Interior of the original ID.Buzz prototype (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Projected to Reach $2.4 Trillion, at a 10.10% CAGR, by 2030” • According to a Comprehensive Research Report by Market Research Future, between 2022 and 2030, the renewable energy market can expect to expand from $1.2 Trillion in 2022 to $2.4 Trillion. This represents annual growth at a rate of 10.10%. [ForexTV]

¶ “Sterlite Copper And Serentica Renewables Partner To Set Up A 16-MW Captive Hybrid Renewable Energy Project” • Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of Vedanta, entered into a 25-year power delivery agreement with Serentica Renewables India Pvt to get 16 MW of hybrid renewable power for its copper operations in Silvassa, India. [Energy And Mines]

Copper workers (Sterlite Copper image)

¶ “Solar Power Installed Capacity Tops 10,000 MW” • Turkey’s installed solar power capacity has exceeded 10,000 MW, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said. In terms of installed capacity in solar power, Turkey, was rather a latecomer, but now the country ranks fifth in Europe and twelfth in the world, he explained. [Hürriyet Daily News]

¶ “Labour Energy Plan To Focus On Green Energy” • The UK Labour Party’s upcoming energy strategy will focus on renewable energy as part of a move away from fossil fuels. A party source, quoted in the Sunday Times, said that Labour will block new oil and gas developments and will only borrow investment for green energy schemes. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Bastian Pudill, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “UCS Releases Online “Danger Season” Map” • This summer is projected by the NOAA to be hotter than normal, and the Union of Concerned Scientists launched an online “Danger Season” map, showing areas of the US that are at risk of extreme heat, wildfires, storms, or flooding. The map will be updated daily through October. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Moab’s Getting Its CCS Charging Mojo Back” • With the rising popularity of EVs, Moab, Utah is quickly becoming an important destination for EV owners looking to take a vacation. With its stunning red rock landscape and its wide variety of outdoor activities, Moab offers something for everyone. And now it is easier for EV owners. [CleanTechnica]

Chargers in Utah (Rocky Mountain Power and Electrify America)

¶ “New York To Build 13 Fast Charging Hubs” • The New York City Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority have disclosed a partnership aimed at establishing as many as 13 EV fast-charging hubs throughout municipal parking facilities in the city. In total, these hubs are expected to house around 50 fast-charging plugs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kern Plays Biggest Role As California Taps Renewable Energy To Avoid Blackouts” • State officials say California probably won’t suffer any power outages this year, for two reasons: Snowmelt will produce record hydroelectric power, and new solar and wind capacity and battery storage are coming online. Kern County is a leader in that. [The Bakersfield Californian]

Have a purely worthwhile day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Neuralink And Elon Musk Want To Control Your Brain” • Neuralink, a company cofounded in 2016 by Elon Musk and scientists, received permission from the US Food And Drug Administration to begin human trials of brain implants. Elon Musk takes many of his ideas from science fiction. Do you really want him poking around in your head? [CleanTechnica]

Neuralink advertisement (Neuralink image)

Science and Technology:

¶ “NOAA: How Greenhouse Gas Pollution Amplified Global Warming In 2022” • Greenhouse gas pollution from human activity trapped 49% more heat in the atmosphere in 2022 than those same gases did in 1990, an annual NOAA report says. The biggest culprit in global warm is the carbon dioxide emitted when fuels are burned. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California’s Redwood Forest: Scientists Are Using Lasers To Age The World’s Tallest Trees” • Until recently, the only way of working out just how big these trees were was to climb up them, approximate using the diameter of their trunks, or cut them down. But these methods are not particularly reliable. Scientists found a way to use lasers for the job. [Euronews]

Redwoods (Bruno Wolff, Unsplash)

¶ “Bring Back The Seabirds, Save The Climate” • Some estimates say the overall world seabird population has dropped by as much as 90% in the last two hundred years, with a decline of 70% since 1950. Seabirds are the most threatened birds and among most endangered groups of species, the International Union for the Conservation of Natures says. [Wired]

World:

¶ “Europe Is Trying To Ditch Planes For Trains. Here’s How That’s Going” • There’s definitely been progress in Europe for the move from planes to trains. Airlines including Dutch carrier KLM are entering into rail partnerships on certain routes, while countries like Austria and France are seeking to restrict internal routes where trains are available. [CNN]

German bullet train (Markus Winkler, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Murderers,’ ‘Criminals’: Meteorologists Face Unprecedented Harassment From Conspiracy Theorists” • “We are watching you.” “Murderers.” “Criminals.” These are just a handful of the threats and abuse sent to meteorologists across the world in recent months. Abuse and harassment “have always happened,” but they have been increasing recently. [CNN]

¶ “Wind Energy Has A Waste Problem. New Technologies May Be A Step Closer To Solving It” • Wind turbine blades have been difficult to recycle, but Danish wind company Vestas announced a “breakthrough solution.” New Vestas technology would allow wind turbine blades to be recycled without needing to change their design or materials. [CNN]

Wind turbines at Copenhagen (Mads Eneqvist, Unsplash)

¶ “Volvo Proves Anti-EV Trolls Wrong” • Volvo found a way to truly stick it to the trolls that attack EVs. Addressing emissions throughout the entire production process and lifespan of the Volvo EX30, the automaker has successfully reduced the vehicle’s total carbon footprint to under 30 tonnes over a driving distance of 200,000 kilometers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Extinction Rebellion Protest In Netherlands Ends With 1,500 Arrested” • Over 1,500 climate protesters have been arrested by police in the Netherlands after blocking a major motorway in The Hague. In the protest, organised by Extinction Rebellion, activists walked onto the A12 highway demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies. [BBC]

A12 Motorway (No author given, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “France Cuts Red Tape For Nuclear Power Despite Cracks In Reactors” • The construction time for new nuclear reactors could be reduced by at least two years thanks to a bill that simplifies administrative procedures and planning documents. What the bill cannot address is the large cracks found in pipes at nuclear plants, leading to shutdowns. [The Connexion]

US:

¶ “Mammoths, Sloths, And Camels Are Hurting The Renewable Revolution” • The US needs new transmission lines but faces opposition. The most recent transmission line fiasco comes in the form of the Greenlink West project, which is to pass through an area famous for the fossils of wooly mammoths, giant sloths, and ancient American camels. [Oil Price]

Mammoth in a museum (Thomas Quine, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Nebraska Renewable Energy Training Programs Struggle To Recruit Students Amid National Worker Shortage” • A teacher training students about wind turbines at Central Community College has a problem: there aren’t enough students. That struggle is shared by Nebraska’s other community-college based renewable energy training program. [Star-Herald]

¶ “Proposed Texas Permitting Regime Could Shrink Wind And Solar Development” • The ammendment approved by the Texas Senate last week would require wind farms within ten miles, and solar farms within five miles, of a river, park, historic site, or wildlife management area to get a special permit from the Texas Public Utility Commission. [Environment America]

Have a gracefully developing day.

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Opinion:

¶ “No, There Won’t Be Nuclear-Powered Commercial Shipping This Time Either” • A while ago, the author published a sexy-practical quadrant chart for maritime shipping decarbonization. He did not even include nuclear power for commercial ships in the chart because the idea is so obviously flawed from a business perspective. [CleanTechnica]

Ship at sea (Borderpolar Photographer, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “World’s Biggest Investment Fund Takes On Exxon And Chevron Over The Climate Crisis” • The world’s biggest stock market investor wants ExxonMobil and Chevron to do more for the climate. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund holds $1.4 trillion in assets, and it will back calls for the US oil companies to set more aggressive emission reduction targets. [CNN]

¶ “Brazil To Host COP30 Climate Summit In The Amazon In 2025” • The UN has chosen Brazil to host the international climate meeting, COP30, in the Amazonian city of Belém do Pará in 2025, the country’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced. Lula had made Brazil’s bid to host COP30 during last year’s COP27 meeting in Egypt. [CNN]

Belém do Pará (Building race, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Global Transition To Electric Vehicles Needs Urgent Support, Report Warns” • Without targeted support for needy and middle-income countries to transition toward zero-emission mobility, global progress toward zero-emission goals will be critically slowed. This shortage of assistance risks serious and inequitable outcomes, a report warns. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Off-Grid Solar Brings Hope To Remote Villages” • Hundreds of millions of people live in communities without electricity. The International Energy Agency says almost 775 million people did not have access to electricity in 2022. Some of the largest of the populations are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.  Solar power can bring some hope. [CleanTechnica]

Round hut in Ethiopia (A Davey, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “100% EVs Now 13% Of New Car Sales In France” • Plugin vehicles continue to rise in France, with last month’s plugin vehicle registrations ending at 27,995 units. That was divided between 17,113 battery EVs (13% overall market share) and 10,882 plugin hybrids (8% share). The former jumped 35% year over year, while the latter were up by 6%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SSE Unveils Plans To Invest £40 Billion In Clean Energy” • Scottish energy giant SSE promised to invest up to £40 billion ($49.3 billion) in green energy in the next decade after seeing its annual profits almost double. Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said the pledge was a “further vote of confidence in the British economy.” [Energy Digital Magazine]

Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm (SSE image)

¶ “Russians Prepare Large-Scale Provocation At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has reported that in the coming hours, Russia is preparing a large provocation to simulate an accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Russia will announce an emergency leak of radioactive material and blame Ukraine for the incident. [Yahoo News]

US:

¶ “Blue Bird Opens New Production Facility For Electric School Bus Production” • Blue Bird unveiled its EV Build-up Center in Georgia. The company repurposed an almost 40,000 ft² facility to address the growing need for electric school buses. Blue Bird aims to increase its electric school bus production capacity from four vehicles to twenty per day. [CleanTechnica]

Blue Bird bus facility (Blue Bird image)

¶ “New Report: Carbon Capture And Storage Serves California Communities, Environment, And Economy” • A new report by George Peridas of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Benjamin Grove of the Clean Air Task Force examines the economic viability of carbon capture and storage projects in California. It finds some are viable. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Officials Visit Li-Cycle’s Arizona Battery Recycling Plant” • It’s pretty clear that lithium battery recycling is crucial for the future of clean technology. We shouldn’t be surprised that US government officials support such efforts. Most recently, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Senator Mark Kelly visited the Li-Cycle plant in Arizona. [CleanTechnica]

Visit to the Li-Cycle plant (Li-Cycle image)

¶ “WSP USA Completes Drilling Two Wells At Hydrogen Hub Designed For Curtailed Renewable Energy Use” • WSP USA has successfully completed drilling operation and mechanical integrity tests for two new cavern wells for the Advanced Clean Energy Storage I project in Utah. It is part of the first phase for the ACES Delta hydrogen hub. [WSP]

¶ “California Hits Record for Renewable Energy Generation” • In 2021, 37% of California’s electricity was generated by renewable sources such as solar and wind. But more broadly, when nuclear power and hydroelectricity from large dams are included, 59% of the electricity used in California in 2021 came from carbon-free sources. [Government Technology]

Solar array (Tom Brewster Photography, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “California’s Senate Approves Wave And Tidal Renewable Energy Bill” • The California State Senate has unanimously approved a bill that aims to put the state on the path to developing wave and tidal energy as a new source of renewable energy. This helps meet its carbon-free targets while bolstering the power grid. [Offshore Energy]

¶ “As Texas Legislative Session Nears End, Republican Legislators Try One Last Push Against Renewables” • “Backward-looking,” “Self-defeating,” and “discouraging” are just some of the terms renewable energy advocates use to describe the 2023 Texas legislative session. With only a few days left before the session ends, it could become even worse. [KUT.org]

Have a seriously magical day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Groups Warn Biden Ukraine War Shows Attacks On Nuclear Plants ‘Could Happen Here’” • In the wake of another nerve-wracking outage at a Russian-held Ukrainian nuclear energy facility, ninety groups and dozens of individuals wrote to US President Joe Biden with “grave concerns regarding security at US nuclear power plants.” [Common Dreams]

Nuclear plant cooling towers (Kelly, Pexels)

World:

¶ “The ‘Untapped Potential’ Of Commercial Buildings Could Revolutionise UK Solar Power” • Schools, warehouses, and car parks could be at the forefront of a revolution in affordable solar power, plans discussed at the first meeting of the Government’s new Solar Taskforce show. The UK’s target is for solar capacity to grow nearly fivefold to 70 GW by 2035. [GOV.UK]

¶ “Gogoro Increases Partnership With Dotstation To Serve Eight Cities In Korea” • The Gogoro Network is operating a clever swappable battery system in Taiwan’s urban areas. This advanced network supports 540,000 riders and has over 1.1 million smart batteries at 2,500 locations. The Gogoro Network is expanding now to other countries. [CleanTechnica]

Battery swapping (Bikebank and Gogoro)

¶ “Philippines’ Renewable Energy Sector To Accelerate As The Country Aims For 35% Renewable Energy Mix By 2030” • The Philippines is ramping up its adoption of renewable energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and meet increasing energy demand, even as the nation sees a surge in consumption and production of oil and gas. [OGV Energy]

¶ “Mike Cannon-Brookes Wins Control Of Mega Solar Project” • Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes claimed control of the Sun Cable solar export project, winning a bidding war after falling out with his former project partner, Andrew Forrest. The project will still pursue its original goal of exporting solar power from the Australian outback to Singapore. [ABC]

Proposed solar farm (Sun Cable image)

¶ “Designs For Battery Tankers To Transport Renewable Energy By 2026” • Japanese startup PowerX Manufacturing announced details of a concept to develop battery tankers that would make up the backbone for a power transmission network distributing renewable energy from areas with high potential generation to areas with high demand. [The Maritime Executive]

¶ “Electricity Prices In Finland Flipped Negative On A Huge Oversupply Of Hydroelectric Power” • Finland had an unusual problem on Wednesday: clean electricity that was so abundant it sent energy prices into the negative. The price drop was driven by an unexpected glut of renewable energy, with an added new nuclear power plant. [Business Insider]

Wind turbines in Finland (Teemu Vehkaoja, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Russia Accuses Ukraine Of ‘Nuclear Terrorism’ After Failed Attack On Two Nuclear Power Plants” • The Russian Federal Security Service claimed that it thwarted a terrorist attack on two nuclear power stations and accused Kyiv of “nuclear terrorism.” It said a sabotage group mined over 30 electric power lines to break the normal operating mode. [Anadolu Agency]

US:

¶ “Atlantic Hurricane Season Expected To Be Near Average This Year, NOAA Says” • The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be near average this year, NOAA officials said. Storm activity will largely depend on two competing factors: El Niño, which inhibits storm development, and near record-high ocean temperatures, which help fuel hurricanes. [CNN]

Hurricane Ian approaching Florida last year (NOAA and NASA)

¶ “Supreme Court Rolls Back Federal Safeguards For Wetlands Under Clean Water Act” • The Supreme Court cut back on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act, with a 5-4 majority continuing a trend in which the conservative-leaning court has narrowed the reach of environmental regulations. [CNN]

¶ “Ford Electric Cars To Have Best Fast Charging In USA With Tesla Supercharging” • Ford and Tesla announced that Ford’s EV coming to market that will include Tesla’s Supercharging port, starting in 2025. Before then, starting in early 2024, Ford will offer adapters for its EV owners so they will be able to use Tesla Superchargers. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E at a Tesla Supercharging station (Ford)

¶ “House Upholds President Biden’s Solar Tariff Veto” • The US House of Representatives failed to override the veto of legislation that would have overturned President Biden’s two-year solar tariff moratorium. Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, commented on the jobs and security saved by the veto. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “California Breaks Its Record For Renewable Electricity” • California has hit a new milestone in clean energy. In 2021, 37% of the state’s electricity was generated by renewable sources like solar and wind, according to numbers recently released by the California Energy Commission. This is more than double the 16% total of 2012. [The Brunswick News]

Power lines (Rob Martin, Unsplash)

¶ “BLM Advances Clean Energy Transmission Projects In Nevada” • The Bureau of Land Management is initiating the environmental review for the Greenlink North project and releasing a draft environmental impact statement for Greenlink West transmission projects, to help connect 8 GW of renewable energy to the grid. [US Department of the Interior]

¶ “Renewable Energy Groups Urge Congress To Pass Permitting Reforms” • Renewable energy organizations are urging leaders of Congress to enact transmission permitting legislation. One thing they ask is that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s siting authority over critical interstate transmission lines be enhanced. [Daily Energy Insider]

Have an outstandingly quintessential day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Ask A Scientist: Calling Out The Companies Responsible For Western Wildfires” • The US wildfire season used to last about four months. These days, it stretches six to eight months, the US Forest Service says, and in some places it’s now a year-round affair. Just seven companies accounted for a whopping 18.7% of total emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Hand crew from Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Navajo Region
returning to fire camp (Photo by Bureau of Indian Affairs)

¶ “May As National Wildfire Awareness Month: 10 Tips To Prevent Wildfires” • May is National Wildfire Awareness Month for the US. Almost nine out of ten wildfires are human-caused. These preventable wildfires threaten lives, property and our precious natural resources. Here are tips for preventing wildfires and protecting natural resources. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Why You Should Care About Warmer-Than-Average Ocean Temperatures” • Humanity’s carbon pollution has the potential to turn oceans into a global warming “time bomb.” Ocean temperatures have spiked: NOAA data collection indicates ocean temperatures are probably the highest they’ve been in more than 100,000 years. [CleanTechnica]

Coral and fish (Pixy.org, CC0)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change And Marine Animals: A Challenge For Conservation” • Marine animals, from whales to sea turtles, depend on a functioning ocean ecosystem for survival. They are also important indicators of overall ocean health. Scientists at NOAA Fisheries are finding that climate change is leading to rapid changes in our oceans. [NOAA Fisheries]

World:

¶ “France Bans Short-Haul Flights To Cut Carbon Emissions” • France has banned domestic short-haul flights where train alternatives exist, in a bid to cut carbon emissions. The law came into force two years after lawmakers had voted to end routes where the same journey could be made by train in under two-and-a-half hours. [BBC]

Airplane (Pascal Meier, Unsplash)

¶ “Invasion Of Ukraine ‘Has Fuelled Funding Boom For Clean Energy’” • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has helped ignite a boom in clean energy investment which will significantly outpace spending on fossil fuels, an International Energy Agency report shows. It found that clean energy investment is on track to reach $1.7 trillion (£1.4 trillion) this year. [The Guardian]

¶ “Daimler Truck Subsidiary Fuso Announces Production Start Of Next Generation ECanter” • With increased power, enhanced efficiency, and an extended range, the Next Generation eCanter from Fuso operates with zero CO₂ emissions as it is driven. Fuso, a Daimler Truck subsidiary, is now producing this all-electric light truck in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

ECanter trucks (Daimler image)

¶ “Punjab Government To Introduce Green Hydrogen Policy, Aiming For Renewable Energy Leadership” • To establish Punjab as a leading state in the production of non-conventional energy, the state government is to introduce a Green Hydrogen Policy. This was announced by the Minister of New and Renewable Energy Sources for Punjab. [SolarQuarter]

US:

¶ “Powerful Typhoon Mawar Slams Guam With Heavy Rain And Damaging Winds” • The governor of Guam urged residents to continue staying home for their protection and safety a day after Typhoon Mawar, the strongest storm to impact the US territory in decades, slammed into the island. Mawar’s eyewall pelted the island with winds and heavy rain. [CNN]

Typhoon Mawar (NASA Earth Observatory image)

¶ “Enel Chooses Oklahoma For $1 Billion Solar Panel Factory” • Enel North America subsidiary 3Sun USA announced that it has chosen Inola, Oklahoma, to build a $1 billion manufacturing facility for innovative, sustainable, and American-made PV cells and modules. The factory will have a capacity of 3 GW of solar panels per year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford Signs Battery Materials Deal, Hints At Fixed Pricing Strategy” • There’s a torrent of news about Ford Motor Company this week, so let’s get you caught up on recent developments. For a start, Ford announced a long-term contract with EnergySource Minerals to purchase the lithium it needs to manufacture EV batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford Motor Co image)

¶ “Duke Energy Florida Celebrates A Renewable Energy Landmark” • Duke Energy Florida celebrated their milestone of surpassing 1 GW of renewable energy at an event for Duke Energy’s solar program. The Clean Energy Connection allows customers to subscribe to solar power without having to install their own equipment. [WCJB]

¶ “How MSD Plans To Turn Sewage Into Renewable Energy” • A planned anaerobic digestion plant in Cincinnati will turn sewage into renewable energy. The Metropolitan Sewer District plans to build the facility next to the existing Little Miami Wastewater Treatment Plant. In the anaerobic digestion process, bacteria makes methane from organic matter. [WVXU]

Anaerobic digestion plant (Metropolitan Sewer District)

¶ “With Responsible Mining, Idaho Shifting Toward Renewable Energy” • Idaho is emerging as a player in the move to renewable energy by ensuring responsible mining practices and acting to reduce the consumption of environmentally harmful resources. Idaho Power, the state’s largest utility, has plans to leave coal behind by 2028. [Idaho Business Review]

¶ “Timeline: How Georgia And South Carolina Nuclear Reactors Ran So Far Off Course” • The first of two nuclear reactors in Georgia is generating electricity and could be days away from achieving full-power operation. But the new units at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle are $17 billion over budget and running seven years late. [Financial Post]

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Opinion:

¶ “Nuclear Safety Is Another Casualty Of The Ukraine War” • Despite the international treaties, with nuclear power plants the possible consequences of a careless miscalculation can be too enormous to contemplate. This is why the fighting in Ukraine is perilous not only to its long-suffering population but also for the international community. [The National]

Nuclear plant (Pixy.org, CCo)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Synergy Project Demonstrates Renewable Energy’s Black Start Potential” • In what may be a global first, SP Energy Networks completed the first phase of a £4.4 million black start trial, demonstrating how the electricity network can be restored at a faster pace using only renewable energy in the event of a major power outage. [Smart Energy International]

¶ “Prieto Introduces Battery That Charges In Three Minutes” • Prieto, a startup based in Fort Collins, Colorado, has unveiled a prototype of a battery it says works in a range from -30°F to above 100°F. What is even more exciting about Prieto is that its 3D batteries can be fully charged from 0 to 100% in just three minutes and are nonflammable. [CleanTechnica]

Prieto battery (Prieto image)

World:

¶ “‘Go To Hell, Shell.’ Climate Protests Disrupt Oil Company’s Shareholder Meeting” • Chaotic scenes unfolded at Shell’s annual shareholder meeting as climate activists stormed the venue, calling for the oil company to be “shut down” and accusing it of “killing” the planet. They sang, “Go to hell, Shell, and don’t you come back no more.” [CNN]

¶ “Global Temperature Rise Could See Billions Live In Places Where Human Life Doesn’t Flourish, Study Says” • If the current pace of global warming goes unchecked, it will push billions of people outside the “climate niche,” the temperatures where humans can flourish, according to a study published in the journal Nature Sustainability. [CNN]

Tamil Nadu in the morning (Remi Clinton, Unsplash)

¶ “LevelTen Energy Launches PPA Auctions, Delivering More Speed And Deal Certainty To Renewable Energy Sellers And Buyers” • LevelTen Energy, operator of the world’s largest PPA marketplace, launched PPA Auctions, a faster way to contract power purchase agreements. LevelTen’s PPA Auctions respond to the industry’s need for new solutions. [AltEnergyMag]

¶ “South Africa Load-Shedding: The Roots Of Eskom’s Power Problem” • South Africa is heading into winter with the prospect of power cuts lasting up to sixteen hours a day. The roots of the problem lie in poor management, corruption, sabotage, and gangs willing to kill anyone who threatened to clean up the coal industry or move towards renewable energy. [BBC]

Power outage (Claudio Schwarz, Unsplash)

¶ “ROK Experts Begin Fukushima Nuclear Plant Tour on Treated Water” • A delegation of South Korean experts began a two-day observation of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to look into issues related to treated water. TEPCO’s plan to release the treated water into the ocean caused strong concerns in South Korea. [The Japan News]

¶ “The Shoprite Group’s Solar Rooftop Installation Program Continues Throughout South Africa” • The Shoprite Group is accelerating the rollout of rooftop solar installations at its sites in South Africa. It is South Africa’s largest retailer by sales, profit, number of employees and customers, and market capitalization. It operates in eleven African countries. [CleanTechnica]

Solar rooftop installation at a Shoprite in South Africa

US:

¶ “House Votes To Revoke Tougher EPA Emissions Regulation For Trucks” • The House voted Tuesday to rescind a Biden administration emissions regulation for heavy-duty trucks. The Senate voted to overturn the rule in April, so it will now be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk. The White House has said the president will veto it. [CNN]

¶ “New York’s Skyscrapers Are Causing It To Sink – What Can Be Done About It?” • The ground under New York City is sinking partly due to the sheer mass of all its buildings. But New York is not the only coastal city to be suffering this fate. And at the same time, sea levels are rising at the same time to meet these concrete jungles. Can they be saved? [BBC]

New York City (Siegfried Poepperl, Unsplash)

¶ “A Monster Typhoon Is Barreling Toward A US Territory With Deadly Winds And Dangerous Storm Surge” • Typhoon Mawar is barreling toward Guam, threatening to slam into the US territory as the strongest storm there in decades. The typhoon poses a “triple threat” of deadly winds, exceptional storm surge and torrential rainfall. [CNN]

¶ “How Clearloop Is Using Carbon Offsets To Develop Solar Power Farms In Mississippi” • Most of Mississippi’s electricity comes from natural gas, nuclear, and coal, Energy Information Administration data shows, and only about 1% is from solar. Clearloop, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is developing three solar power farms in the state. [CleanTechnica]

Solar Farm (Clearloop image)

¶ “As Debt Ceiling Negotiations Continue, Renewable Energy Groups Push Congress For Bipartisan Transmission Permitting Legislation” • Leading renewable energy organizations sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging enactment of bipartisan transmission permitting legislation to build on the clean energy policies in the Inflation Reduction Act. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Governor Hochul Announces Ge Vernova To Invest $50 Million To Locate An Onshore Wind Nacelle Manufacturing Operation To Schenectady County” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced that GE Vernova will invest $50 million to locate an onshore wind nacelle facility to Schenectady, creating at least 160 full-time jobs. [Governor Kathy Hochul]

Have a quintessentially convenient day.

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