Hi, folks:
I’ve seen lots of Green/Renewable Energy News updates on the daily Good News Roundup diaries, but there are enough of them worldwide that I thought I would begin a weekly series on developments. I invite additions in the comments. Now, this series is no substitute for reading other environmental diaries—and certainly not for eco-action. But I hope it will keep up excitement for pressuring faster change from our carbon-based energy economy to a renewable Green Energy Economy. The faster this change happens the sooner we can stabilize climate change and the more we stave off or reduce the impact of, the changes underway because of global warming. Here goes:
1) UPS is ordering 125 Tesla Electric Semis for its trucking fleet for 2019. Many of you saw the Tesla’s unveiling of its new all-electric Semi which will compete with diesel 18-wheel trucks beginning in 2019. If you didn’t, watch the amazing Youtube video here. The average diesel semi costs about $165-175K new and the Tesla Electric Semi will run $200K per unit—but be far cheaper and safer to operate while also outperforming the standard diesel rig. It runs 500 miles on one charge and since the avg. trucking route these days is 250 miles or less, one can go there and back on one charge. The fast charge is 30-45 min and the chargers are solar powered. Pepsi and Walmart have pre-ordered some units to test how big an investment and now United Parcel Service (UPS) is pre-ordering 125, the largest order to date. They’ll probably start them on the West Coast, where pollution laws are strongest and where return on investment will be quickest. If UPS likes this, it has plans to rapidly transform its entire global trucking fleet to electric as part of an overall effort to green the company—more than just greenwashing, UPS recognizes that the Paris Accords means that has to become greener to survive, especially in Europe. (Full disclosure: I work for UPS in addition to teaching philosophy, but I get no kickbacks for pushing either UPS or Tesla.)
2) Mongolia’s Clean Energy Goals Attract Global Investors. The nation of Mongolia is attempting simultaneously to meet growing demands for electric power while rapidly decreasing dependence on coal and oil by investing hugely in solar and wind energy. Developing nations like Mongolia may beat First World economies in making the transition to clean energy because there is less infrastructure intertwined in dirty energy sources in such nations. Mongolia hopes to have 20% of its energy met by solar and wind by 2020 and 30% by 2030.
3) Nissan is giving free solar panel installations to Japanese customers of the Nissan all-electric Leaf. If electricity production is still coal and oil-based, then electric vehicles (EVs) only slightly reduce carbon footprints—mostly they would push the problem “up pipeline.” But if owners use solar power (or some other renewable energy source) to charge their EVs, then EV use takes a much bigger bite out of one’s carbon footprint. So, Nissan is hoping to increase Leaf sales in Japan by offering free solar panel installments to Leaf buyers. It’s a great idea and one I hope other EV manufacturers take up all around the world. (C’mon, Tesla—free solar powered fast chargers with every Model S, I dare you!)
4)Our British cousins, The United Kingdom, broke 13 (!) Clean Energy Records in 2017! 2017 was a tough year for the Brits as well as the USA. (Although, bad as she is, I swear I’d trade Drumpf for Teresa May in a heartbeat if we could convince the UK to take the deal!) But, 2017 was also Britain’s best year yet for clean energy: It had its 1st 24 hr. period with zero coal-generated power since the industrial revolution! It had the “Greenest Summer” with 52% of power generation and use coming from either no-carbon or low-carbon sources. For the 1st time, wind, solar, and nuclear power generated more energy than gas and coal.
5) Planning Breakthroughs Enable Solar Farm Expansion Without Encroaching on Potential Farmland or Conservation Areas. Large scale solar production takes up space. New installation designs can enable more farms without taking away good farmland or wilderness conservation areas. Using CA’s Central Valley as a test case, researchers found 4 alternative solar installations: Rooftop solar and solar on urban buildings; solar farms on land that is too salty for farmland; solar farms at sites that have been contaminated by previous pollution: brownfields and superfund sites; water reservoirs.
6) In the market for an electric vehicle (EV)? Here’s the models coming to market in 2018. Here’s a 2nd list for comparison. Note the differences in affordability, range, re-charging time, etc. Also, tax credits in your area could reduce the sticker price—and savings from not needing gas/petrol, no oil changes, much less maintenance, etc. will reduce ownership costs over time. Most estimates I’ve seen predict 2023 as “the year” when EVs finally break out, but all you early adopters (and our household is looking to transition from hybrid to EV this year if possible) get major good karma points for leading the way.
7) Solar Roads Open in Netherlands, France, and China. Remember the Solar Roadways video that went viral in 2014? I remember it generated a buzz here on DKos. Well, the first ones have appeared in the Netherlands (a bikepath started in 2014) , France (opened in 2016 with major expansion plans throughout France despite a hefty price tag), and, now, in China. Meanwhile, the USA continues to fall behind with our aging infrastructure: MAGA!
8) U.S. states and cities continue to bypass Trump and work harder to fulfill Paris Climate Pledge. The Federal government may be “out” (until we kick Drumpf out!), but mayors, governors, businesses, universities, and ordinary citizens are proving “We Are Still In!” This is accelerating the transition to clean energy and I note with excitement that, at least one Democrat running to replace a GOP governor this year is pledging to join this effort if elected! I hope other Democratic candidates will take up this pledge!
9) Planting 73 million trees, Brazil is attempting Reforestation in the Amazon. There have been several highly successful reforestation projects in recent years, which are great for the environment on so many levels. But, among other things, they are necessary carbon sinks, as we humans try to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere even while we are moving to reduce/eliminate our contributions to that “carbon footprint.” Several environmentalists have listed success stories in reforestation as reasons why they are slightly more hopeful about our future. There’s even an ambitious plan to plant 10 billion trees to offset the damage done by Drumpf’s climate change ignorance and denial.
10) Finally, for today, Hot Solar Cells, making solar cheaper and more efficient, is one of 10 Breakthrough Technologies highlighted by M.I.T.!
Again, add your Green Energy news updates in the comments! I’ll try very hard to update this series weekly! Happy New Year!