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News about battery storage. (Hint: it's still booming.)![]()
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insideclimatenews.org/news/31032022/inside-clean-energy-battery-storage/
insideclimatenews.org
Battery storage is quickly moving from the margins to near the center of the U.S. energy system. In 2021, the market added 3,508 megawatts of battery storage capacity, an amount more than double from ...
Ideas about how to safeguard U.S. energy security and deal with oil price spikes:![]()
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www.wri.org/insights/3-steps-boost-us-energy-security-and-relieve-gas-price-spikes
3 Steps to Boost US Energy Security and Relieve Gas Price Spikes
www.wri.org
Expanding U.S. fossil fuel production won't alleviate pain at the pump. The best thing the United States can do to combat rising gas prices is invest in clean energy and electric vehicles.
Road salt is terrible for lakes and streams. Minnesota may have a solution
grist.org
More than 20 million metric tons of salt are dumped on US roads each winter. Minnesota is looking to 'smart salting' as a solution.
Very promising. Solar power used to purify water, including salt water.![]()
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdQBmbvAPEc&t=100s
This company channels the power of sunlight to produce clean drinking water
www.youtube.com
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and o...
"Astonishing" temperatures in Antarctica.![]()
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www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/20/heatwaves-at-both-of-earth-poles-alarm-climate-scient...
Heatwaves at both of Earth’s poles alarm climate scientists
www.theguardian.com
Antarctic areas reach 40C above normal at same time as north pole regions hit 30C above usual levels
Church leaders take on one of our current dilemmas. The desire for energy to heat buildings and run vehicles, and the desire for lower prices vs. the need to prevent ever-worsening climate change. One of their arguments: *new* oil and gas development will take years to alleviate any fuel shortage. Another: a spirited effort to blanket the U.K. in energy efficiency and renewable energy development will pay dividends for many generations to come.![]()
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In the meantime, a windfall profits tax, they argue, can alleviate the pain.![]()
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operationnoah.org/featured/former-archbishop-of-canterbury-50-bishops-and-200-church-leaders-writ...
operationnoah.org
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and more than 50 other Anglican and Catholic bishops sign an open letter to the Government, pushing back on more fossil fuels. Church leaders from around...
A billionaire who almost became a hero to those working on climate change.![]()
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www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/08/this-billionaire-wants-to-buy-up-australia-s-coal-plants-just-t...?
Meet the billionaire planning to bring down Australia's coal industry
www.euronews.com
Australian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes wants to buy up the country's coal plants and make them renewable. Will he succeed?
Mining lithium in the U.S. has its downside, and nearby residents are concerned, and protesting. Is there a way to get this precious material without adversely affecting residents? ![]()
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insideclimatenews.org/news/13032022/as-the-us-rushes-after-the-minerals-for-the-energy-transition...
insideclimatenews.org
On the vast expanse of public lands across the West, a rush for the minerals needed for the 21st century technologies of the energy transition depends on a 150-year-old law. Those lands’ survival of...
climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/![]()
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We have our work cut out for us. ![]()
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418 parts per million of carbon dioxide is not good.
Carbon Dioxide Concentration | NASA Global Climate Change
climate.nasa.gov
Vital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. Current news and data streams about global warming and climate change from NASA.
We have so much work to do...![]()
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unfccc.int/news/global-co2-emissions-rebounded-to-their-highest-level-in-history-in-2021
Global CO2 Emissions Rebounded to Their Highest Level in History in 2021 | UNFCCC
unfccc.int
UN Climate Change News, 9 March 2022 – Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose by 6% in 2021 to 36.3 billion tonnes, their hig...
Some climate activists have taken to irony, on Twitter. Like Bill McKibben. ![]()
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"Someone tell cable news: the sun appears to be providing energy at the same price as last week."![]()
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B. McKibben, Twitter, 3/9/22
Innovation can be controversial, as this post surely will be. That said, if Europe wants its heating systems to be more sustainable, secure, and free from outside manipulation, heat pumps make an awful lot of sense.![]()
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billmckibben.substack.com/p/heat-pumps-for-peace-and-freedom?s=r
Heat Pumps for Peace and Freedom
billmckibben.substack.com
Joe Biden Could Damage Putin Badly--and He Doesn't Have to Ask Joe Manchin
Another solar 'first':![]()
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electrek.co/2022/03/01/in-a-us-first-california-will-pilot-solar-panel-canopies-over-canals/
In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
electrek.co
A year ago, scientists published a feasibility study about erecting solar panels over canals, and it's about to become a reality.
A highly complex case -- in need of a comprehensive solution -- which may now be in the works. Here are arguments in favor of dam breaching.![]()
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earthjustice.org/from-the-experts/2021-october/breakthrough-in-20-year-legal-battle-over-fate-of-...![]()
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And this (older) analysis takes into account Bonneville Power's plight: ![]()
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e360.yale.edu/features/on-the-northwests-snake-river-the-case-for-dam-removal-grows
On the Northwest’s Snake River, the Case for Dam Removal Grows
e360.yale.edu
As renewable energy becomes cheaper than hydropower and the presence of dams worsens the plight of salmon, pressure is mounting in the Pacific Northwest to take down four key dams on the lower Snake R...
Persuasive arguments for new solar 'farms': i.e., parking lot canopies.![]()
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e360.yale.edu/features/putting-solar-panels-atop-parking-lots-a-green-energy-solution
Why Putting Solar Canopies on Parking Lots Is a Smart Green Move
e360.yale.edu
Solar farms are proliferating on undeveloped land, often harming ecosystems. But placing solar canopies on large parking lots offers a host of advantages — making use of land that is already cleared...
A well known energy activist just tweeted (paraphrased): "If you shell/bomb solar panels, they just turn into chunks of glass."![]()
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(Concerns about nuclear power include vulnerability to terrorist [as well as other] attacks).
Important arguments about how energy, national security, and long-term sustainability can be achieved by moving to renewable energy.![]()
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carbontracker.org/clean-energy-can-help-undermine-russia-and-strengthen-europe/
Clean energy can help undermine Russia and strengthen Europe - Carbon Tracker Initiative
carbontracker.org
Even before Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine, gas prices had been increasing sharply with new highs being established.
With sustainable (regenerative) agriculture, the authors argue, "Think about the people. Take better care of the people who do the work."![]()
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civileats.com/2022/02/03/indigenous-farmworkers-are-unheard-overlooked-and-exposed/
Indigenous Farmworkers Are Unheard, Overlooked, and Exposed
civileats.com
In California, thousands of migrant workers are cut off from mainstream health care by language and cultural barriers. Now, community activists are working to bridge the gap.
A new wrinkle: the authors argue that, if we act decisively and fast, there's significant hope -- more than we thought.![]()
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www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/02/23/warming-timeline-carbon-budget-climate-science/
Perspective | How a little-discussed revision of climate science could help avert doom
www.washingtonpost.com
We can reduce global temperatures faster than we once thought — if we act now.
Good record-keeping is crucial.![]()
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www.ft.com/content/bc1c8d25-0ac6-430b-a175-aaa7ec4f0ef0
Energy sector methane emissions under-reported by ‘alarming’ rate, IEA says
www.ft.com
Potent greenhouse gas rose in 2021 as gas prices escalated
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/02/15/sea-level-rise-2050-climate/![]()
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"There will be water in the streets."![]()
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"There's also 'high-tide flooding' to be concerned about." ![]()
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"Farms, ports, other infrastructure could also be significantly affected."![]()
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"This decade is extremely important in determining whether we can stem the flow."
Sea level to rise one foot along U.S. coastlines by 2050, government report finds
www.washingtonpost.com
Sea levels along the United States' shorelines will increase as much by 2050 as they did over the past century, according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Here's a new attempt to fight climate change (which will probably be controversial).![]()
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www.governing.com/now/california-may-require-pension-divestment-from-fossil-fuels
California May Require Pension Divestment from Fossil Fuels
www.governing.com
A bill introduced by the state Senate would require CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest a combined $9.9 billion and prevent future investment in companies considered to have the greatest potential for futur...
Support is building for a Global Plastics Treaty. ![]()
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www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/paris-agreement-plastics-treaty/![]()
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From the first element of the draft treaty:![]()
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"...high and rapidly increasing levels of plastic![]()
pollution, including microplastics, represent a serious environmental problem at a![]()
global scale..."
Can a global plastics treaty solve the pollution crisis?
www.weforum.org
Plastics pollution is a serious - and very visible - problem. This Radio Davos podcast looks at whether it could be solved by a global plastics treaty
Very promising. Arguably, this technology needs to be perfected and utilized as quickly as possible.![]()
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www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/climate/methane-leaks-satellites.html?smid=tw-nytclimate&smtyp=cur
Seen From Space: Huge Methane Leaks
www.nytimes.com
A European satellite reveals sites in the United States, Russia, Central Asia and elsewhere that are “ultra emitters” of methane. That could help fight climate change.
Sometimes the news is just bad.![]()
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www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-02-11/la-fi-tesla-race-discrimination-lawsuit
Horrific allegations of racism prompt California lawsuit against Tesla
www.latimes.com
Racist slurs were hurled daily at Black workers at Tesla’s California plant, delivered not just by fellow employees but also by managers and supervisors, California’s civil rights agency alleges i...
From NOAA:![]()
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fi2K7N9fqA
U.S. sea levels could rise by up to a foot by 2050
www.youtube.com
Sea levels around the United States will rise up to a foot over the next 30 years due to climate change, as much as they have risen in the previous century, ...
It would be great if we were to preserve existing coral reefs...but there may be a use for these innovations as well.
Experts cautioning re: geoengineering...![]()
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grist.org/science/should-the-world-ban-solar-geoengineering-60-experts-say-yes/
Should the world ban solar geoengineering? 60 experts say yes.
grist.org
They say the technology poses an “unacceptable risk.”
A very promising innovation: Kernza.![]()
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usnature4climate.org/2022/02/04/kernza-a-perennial-grain-with-climate-change-solution-potential/
Kernza® - A Perennial Grain with Climate Solution Potential Baked Right In
usnature4climate.org
Perennial grains like Kernza foster healthy soil and help mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in the ground.
News from Denmark (from Twitter):![]()
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The Danish Pension Fund AkademikerPension today announced that they will divest all their oil bonds (USD 300m) by the end of 2022.![]()
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The pension fund has already divested most of its stocks in coal, oil and gas companies.![]()
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The divestment movement has received its share of criticism, but it shows no sign of letting up.
Enormously thought-provoking....key issues yet to resolve:![]()
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--What about reducing consumption levels?![]()
--What are the net energy and resource impacts of constructing this energy island? Has a life-cycle analysis been done? ![]()
--Other ecological impacts (e.g., on bird and other marine life) need to be addressed.![]()
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Overall, however, this is a ground (or ocean) breaking plan -- one of the first times, surely, that a nation has created a concrete plan to power itself entirely on renewable energy -- with a surplus.
A key question re: the sustainability of our economy and society is: what will happen with our oil supply?![]()
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The Wall Street Journal weighs in here, saying that: the U.S. oil 'boom' is ending. ![]()
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Now about that electric car you were thinking of buying....![]()
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www.wsj.com/articles/fracking-oil-prices-shale-boom-11643824329
Oil Frackers Brace for End of the U.S. Shale Boom
www.wsj.com
Companies have tapped many of their best wells. The limited inventory leaves the industry with little choice but to hold back growth, even amid the highest oil prices in years.
This initiative is gaining steam....![]()
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www.theclimategroup.org/ev100
Making electric transport the new normal by 2030 | Climate Group
www.theclimategroup.org
EV100 is our global initiative bringing together forward looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
Have you ever wondered what to do with padded mailers? As online shopping becomes more and more popular....![]()
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For one thing, grocery stores that accept plastic bags for recycling typically accept all-plastic mailers as well, including padded mailers...![]()
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Every bit helps.![]()
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Read on.... Trex plastic lumber is one destination for recycled plastic like this...![]()
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greenandgrumpy.com/can-i-recycle-bubble-mailers-and-padded-envelopes/
Can I Recycle Bubble Mailers and Padded Envelopes? - Green and Grumpy
greenandgrumpy.com
Yes, you can recycle bubble mailers, padded envelopes and plastic sleeves from shippers like Amazon, but usually not in your curbside bin.