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Energy Week #517 – 4/6/2023
Minute 0: Introduction
Thursday, March 30
Lodging in Vanuatu (Monika MG, Unsplash, cropped)
Minute 2
¶ “World’s Highest Court Can Set Out Countries’ Climate Obligations After Vanuatu Secures Historic UN Vote” • Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu won a historic vote at the UN that calls on the world’s highest court to establish for the first time the obligations countries have to address the climate crisis and the consequences if they don’t. [CNN]
Dolphins (Tom Swinnen, Pexels)
Minute 5
¶ “Crucial Antarctic Ocean Circulation Heading For Collapse If Planet-Warming Pollution Remains High” • Melting ice in the Antarctic is not just raising sea levels but slowing down the deep ocean water circulation with vast implications, a study published in the journal Nature warns. The system collapse could happen before the end of this century. [CNN]
Mississippi River headwaters (Patrick Moes, USACE, public domain)
Minute 8
¶ “Senate Passes Bill To Rescind EPA Waterway Rule In Rebuke Of Biden Administration Regulations” • The Senate passed a bill that would rescind a Biden administration policy regulating “waters of the United States.” The bill challenges an EPA rule that is argued to place a burden on farmers by being too restrictive in defining what is a navigable waterway. [CNN]
Friday, March 31
Renewable energy (Image courtesy of NREL)
Minute 10
¶ “Sun Day Campaign EIA Data Review Shows US Renewable Energy Generation Grew By 8.3% In 2022” • According to a review by the Sun Day Campaign of data recently released by the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy sources provided 12.99% of the nation’s total energy production in 2022. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Whitelee wind farm (Scottish Government, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Minute 13
¶ “Record Level Of Renewable Electricity Generated In Scotland During 2022” • Renewable electricity generation reached record levels in Scotland during 2022. Over the year, total of 35.3 TWh was generated, up 28.1% on 2021 and an increase of 9.8% from 2020 – the previous record year. The rise was mainly driven by increased onshore wind generation. [insider.co.uk]
Drilling rig (Standard Lithium image)
Minute 16
¶ “They’re Drilling For Liquid Gold In Texas, But This Time It Isn’t Oil – It’s Lithium!” • If you see a drilling rig going up in Texas, it’s easy to assume that it must have something to do with oil and gas production. But some drilling rigs in east Texas are helping provide the lithium clean technologies like electric cars and home energy storage need. [CleanTechnica]
Saturday, April 1
Neckarwestheim nuclear plant (Courtesy of EnBW)
Minute 19
¶ “Germany Will Complete Nuclear Phase-Out As Planned But Technology’s Risks Remain” • In Germany, the era of nuclear power will end on 15 April as planned, the country’s environment minister said. Minister Steffi Lemke stressed that the phase-out would not endanger the power supply security in Germany or other countries. [Clean Energy Wire]
Solar manufacture (Image courtesy of Boviet Solar)
Minute 22
¶ “Turning America Into A Solar Manufacturing Powerhouse” • In 2021, the Solar Energy Industries Association’s goal to create 50 GW of US production capacity by 2030 seemed farfetched, but now, that goal is within reach. The country is on its way to becoming the most competitive and collaborative solar and storage industry in the world. [CleanTechnica]
Wuling Bingo (Zotyefan, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Minute 24
¶ “SAIC, GM, And Wuling JV Launched The Wuling Bingo In China, And It’s Priced At Just $8,682!” • The Wuling Bingo, a 5-door hatchback, was launched in China. It will have two options, one with a 30 kW (41hp) motor, and another at 50 kW (68 hp). They will come with batteries of 17.3 kWh and a 31.9 kWh and ranges of 203 km and 333 km. [CleanTechnica]
Sunday, April 2
High waves in an El Niño year (PDPhoto.org, public domain)
Minute 27
¶ “The Oceans Just Reached Their Hottest Temperature On Record As El Niño Looms” • Ocean temperatures have steadily risen over the past several years – despite a lengthy cooling La Niña. The oceans have been record-warm for the past four years, scientists reported in January, temperatures are still rising, and an El Niño will warm things even more. [CNN]
Charging an EV (myenergi, Unsplash)
Minute 30
¶ “US Treasury Releases New EV Tax Credit Rules” • The US Treasury has published its new EV tax credit rules. The window of opportunity to claim the full tax credit is to close on April 18. If you are in a position to make new EV purchase before then, you may want to hurry out to your nearest dealer and get the paperwork done post haste. [CleanTechnica]
Cherry blossoms (Mark Tegethoff, Unsplash, cropped)
Minute 32
¶ “Washington’s Cherry Blooms Draw Crowds – And Climate Questions” • In the nation’s capital, nothing captures springtime more than swaths of soft pink cherry blossoms slowly emerging. This year, it was anticipated between March 22 and March 25. While directly in line with last year’s peak, that’s a full two weeks earlier than the area’s historic average. [WIRED]
Monday, April 3
Providence, Rhode Island (Rafael Rodrigues, Unsplash)
Minute 35
¶ “Climate Change, Lack Of Maintenance Threaten Providence Infrastructure” • The Providence Preservation Society listed all of Providence’s infrastructure on its 2023 Most Endangered Properties List released January, a decision made due to the city’s vulnerability to climate change, PPS Advocacy Manager Adriana Hazelton said. [The Brown Daily Herald]
Refinery (Timothy Newman, Unsplash, cropped)
Minute 38
¶ “Oil Prices Surge After Surprise Move To Cut Output” • Oil prices have surged after several major oil exporters announced surprise production cuts. The price of Brent Crude oil jumped by over 7%, to above $85 as trading began. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and several Gulf states said they were cutting output by more than one million barrels per day. [BBC]
Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco (deror_avi, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
Minute 40
¶ “California’s Salmon Fishers Warn Of ‘Hard Times Coming’ As They Face Canceled Season” • Department of Fish and Wildlife officials in California and Oregon may recommend a ban on salmon fishing this year to protect the falling Chinook salmon populations. Scientists say dam construction and drought fueled by climate change have reduced fish numbers. [CNN]
Tuesday, April 4
Electric truck (Volvo Trucks image)
Minute 43
¶ “EPA Grants California Electric Heavy Trucks Waiver” • For decades, California has had stricter standards on emissions, but only for passenger cars and light trucks. Cement mixers, tractor trailers, and garbage trucks, and other heavy trucks sold in the state only had to meet federal guidelines. Now the California Air Resources Board may regulate them also. [CleanTechnica]
Drought in the Sau Reservoir (espencat, public domain)
Minute 46
¶ “Climate Change: Catalonia In Grip Of Worst Drought In Decades” • In the Sau reservoir of Spain, teams in small boats are hard at work hauling out fish with nets. The idea is to remove them before they die and rot in the water, making it unusable for human consumption. The water level has dropped to below 10% of the reservoir’s capacity. [BBC]
Snow (Daniela Cuevas, Unsplash)
Minute 48
¶ “From Nearly No Snow To A Potentially Record-Breaking Pile-Up In California” • After a remarkable series of winter storms, California water officials reported in their April snow survey the Sierra snowpack is among the largest on record, dating back to the 1950s. Last year, the snow depth in early April 2 was just 2.5 inches. This year it’s 126.5 inches. [CNN]
Wednesday, April 5
The Ocean Conveyor (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Minute 51
¶ “Melt Water In Antarctica Could Stall Major Ocean Currents” • Those who live along the east coast of the US and in Europe are familiar with the Gulf Stream. Without it, much of Europe would not be uninhabitable, but it would be a lot colder than it is. As the Antarctic ice melts, the Gulf Stream and other ocean currents are slowing down – a lot. [CleanTechnica]
Solar array (Supplied photo)
Minute 54
¶ “Final Panels Installed At Queensland Solar Farm Called The Nation’s Largest” • Construction on a massive solar farm on Queensland’s Western Downs has been completed. It will have the capacity to power the equivalent of 235,000 homes. Called Australia’s largest solar farm, the 400-MW project has more than a million solar panels. [ABC]
Hydropower dam (Pixy.org, CC0)
Minute 56
¶ “New Hydropower Dam Designs Leave Fish Unharmed” • Many fish, including eels, migrate between fresh water and the ocean in their life cycles. Their migrations can be blocked by hydroelectric dams. Hydropower developer Natel has designed an innovative turbine that is designed to allow fish safe passage through the turbine itself. [Public News Service]
Minute 59: Finis
Notes: Energy Week #517 – 4/6/2023
George Harvey, blogger, author, and journalist for Green Energy Times and CleanTechnica, computer engineer
Tom Finnell, electrical engineer, transmission grid expert, world traveler, philanthropist, and philosopher
Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind Power, Solar, Batteries, Nuclear, Coal, Oil, Gas, Climate Change
Energy Week with George Harvey and Tom Finnell 