Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere
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This year’s conference is FREE and open to everyone.
Kicking off on Saturday, December 10th from 9am-12:00pm, join us for a plenary session of the conference: Climate, Energy and Environmental Justice – An Opportunity to Build an Equitable Transition Together. We’ll be joined by a robust lineup of speakers who are experts and leaders in Vermont’s work to advance an equitable clean energy transition in the face of climate change. After each portion panel, there will be a facilitated Q&A to get your big questions answered and learn more about how your community can get involved.
Then, starting on Monday, December 12th through Friday, December 16th, we hope you can join us each day for a 12-1:30pm for a lunchtime, virtual workshop series covering a range of topics.
Each workshop will include a panel of experts and leaders in Vermont’s major emissions sectors, leading the charge to build an equitable clean energy transition. Workshops will also include a facilitated Q&A and opportunities to engage with other community energy leaders. Learn more about each of the weekday workshops, and register to join us for as many as you can, at each of the links below:
Monday, 12/12: Understanding and Identifying Strategies for Addressing Energy Inequities – Register here.
Tuesday, 12/13: Act 172 – Vermont’s Opportunity to Achieve Municipal Energy Resilience and How Your Community Can Support Success – Register here.
Wednesday, 12/14: Transforming Transportation – Maximizing the Short Term While Planning for the Long Term – Register here.
Thursday, 12/15: Powering Our Lives – New Opportunities for Additional Local Renewable Energy Generation & Creative Community Ownership Models – Register here.
Friday, 12/16: Tackling the Split Incentive – Addressing Weatherization in the Multifamily Sector to Create a More Just Energy Transition – Register here.
Headline News:
- “BLM Announces Geothermal Lease Sale In Southwestern Utah” • The Bureau of Land Management proposes to offer two geothermal lease sale parcels in Millard County, Utah, totaling about 3,045 acres. The land is in the Fishlake National Forest, where the BLM Fillmore Field Office manages the subsurface minerals. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
 Fishlake National Forest (Robert Merrill, Unsplash, cropped)
- “Solar Power Will Beat Out Coal In Three Years, IEA Predicts” • An IEA report predicts that over the next five years, the world will increase its renewable power capacity by 75%, an amount equivalent to all of today’s installed power capacity in China. By 2027, the biggest source of the world’s electricity will be solar, followed by coal, natural gas and wind. [MSN]
- “Renewables Providers To Be Paid To Ensure Stable Electricity Supply” • In Australia, the Federal and state-level governments have unanimously signed on to developing an energy “capacity mechanism” to pay renewable energy providers to be available to increase electricity supply at a moment’s notice, providing dispatchable renewable power. [ABC]
- “Five Companies Will Pay $750 Million For The Opportunity To Build Huge Floating Wind Turbines Off The West Coast” • The Biden administration’s first offshore wind energy lease sale for federal waters off the West Coast generated over $750 million, as energy companies competed for five areas that could be made homes to massive floating wind turbines. [CNN]
- “More Americans Are Moving Into Harm’s Way As Climate Disasters Increase” • A study by researchers from the University of Vermont found that Americans have moved out of some areas prone to scorching summer heat waves and hurricanes in the last ten years. Yet many are migrating into regions hit by extreme wildfires, heat, and worsening drought. [CNN]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “65% Of Dealers Say Yes To Ford’s No Haggle EV Sales Policy” • In September, Ford CEO Jim Farley delivered an ultimatum to its dealers: If you want to sell our battery-electric cars and trucks, you will have to commit to making certain upgrades, and you will need to agree to a “no haggle” sales process. Two-thirds of dealers agreed. [CleanTechnica]
 Ford F-150 Lightning (Ford image)
- “Tesla Model S Tops Euro NCAP Safety Tests” • Just months after the Tesla Model Y earned the highest score in history on a European safety index, another Tesla model set another record. The luxury Model S sedan broke the record for the European New Car Assessment Program’s safety score ceiling, surpassing even the Model Y’s record. [CleanTechnica]
- “Wind Power To Cut Cargo Ship Emissions 20%” • Here is one more threat to fossil energy stakeholders who plan to continue enjoying that “high-carbon lifestyle.” Seawing, a retrofit for cargo vessels that applies old-fashioned sailing ship technology to harvest energy from wind power, aims to cut emissions 20% by reducing fuel consumption. [CleanTechnica]
- “Billionaire Andrew Forrest Increases Exposure To Renewable Energy With Acquisition” • Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has significantly increased his exposure to the renewables sector through an acquisition worth more than A$4 billion. One of his companies acquired CWP Renewables, which with solar, battery, and wind farms. [Sky News Australia]
- “Zimbabwe Only Gets Electricity Between Midnight And 4 AM” • While there are floods Pakistan and Nigeria, other places in East and Southern Africa have citizens bearing the brunt of prolonged dry spells and feeling the effects of low water levels in reservoirs. The Zambezi River Authority is only supplying electricity from midnight to 4:00 am. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Global Renewables Capacity Is To Double In The Next Five Years” • Global renewable energy capacity is predicted to double in the next five years, driven by energy supply concerns due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Energy Agency said. Growth in renewables is also being driven by new policies in the US, China, and India. [Energy Live News]
 Wind turbines (Narcisa Aciko, Pexels)
- “The Clean Energy Company Turning City Blocks Greener” • BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based clean energy company, is bringing all-electric heating and cooling systems to older buildings in lower income areas to reduce carbon footprints and energy bills. BlocPower saves building owners between 20% and 40% annually and increases property values. [CNN]
- “Ford And SK Innovation Break Ground On EV Battery Factory In Kentucky, Create 5,000 New Jobs” • Ford and SK Innovation broke ground today in Glendale, Kentucky, on a battery factory that will create 5,000 new jobs. The battery factory will sit on about 1,500 acres and be able to produce more than 80 GWh of batteries per year. [CleanTechnica]
- “Rivian Makes Huge Investment Into Renewables To Power Operations” • Rivian signed a power purchase agreement with Apex Clean Energy to supply their manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, with wind power. Rivian will invest an unstated amount in 50 MW of wind energy that will supply the company’s operations at the factory. [Teslarati]
- “As Land Washes Away, Native Tribes Start To Receive Funding To Relocate Inland” • The climate crisis is altering ecosystems, coastlines, and ways of life in the Northwest. Native villages in Alaska are particularly at risk. Their situation is untenable, and the US government is stepping in with federal funding so select tribes can relocate inland. [CleanTechnica]
- “Russia Says Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Is On Its ‘Territory.’ It Won’t Withdraw” • Russia says that it will never cede control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, insisting that the occupied plant sits on “Russian territory.” Nuclear experts have safety concerns and Ukraine accused Russia of using the facility to store weapons and ammunition. [MSN]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Just In! is NY-GEO’s weekly news feed for members. NY-GEO’s calendar-year memberships are open to everyone and available for as little as $35. See more information on memberships here. Click here to see some of the work a NY-GEO membership supports. We also feature three of the top news item summaries on the NY-GEO home page every Monday.
Sponsored by
Governor Hochul: Record Level of Clean Energy Jobs Reached in NYS – The 2022 New York Clean Energy Industry Report released today by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides data on the state’s clean energy job growth through the end of 2021. The report shows that this sector rebounded faster from the impact of COVID-19 than nearly all other industries in New York and that since 2015, clean energy employment in the state has grown by approximately 17 percent, or over 24,000 jobs. 165,055 New Yorkers had clean energy jobs at the end of 2021, up from 157,686 in 2020….’This year’s Clean Energy Industry Report shows what I have always known to be true of New Yorkers – that we are resilient, and we keep moving forward in the face of adversity,’ Governor Hochul said. Full press release here.
Inspiring Video on Marcus Garvey Geothermal Affordable Housing Project – This 4.5-minute video describes Con Edison’s partnership with L&M Development, along with design services from NY-GEO member ZBF Geothermal, in creating a 170-unit geothermal project with no natural gas connection at Marcus Garvey Apartments in Brooklyn. 100% of the heating, cooling, and hot water is from the geothermal system. According to L&M Senior Director Elaine Braitwaithe “This geothermal system will help the residents of this building offset costs through lower utility bills…we would definitely recommend it. We have two other buildings in the area that are using this system,…and we have one that is up and running out in the Rockaways”. Video here.
 L&M Senior Director Elaine Braitwaithe (left) discusses the Marcus Garvey project Hydrogen Will Run Afoul of New York’s Climate Goals – Anshul Gupta – Op Ed in the Albany Times-Union – All independent research to date has deemed hydrogen unsuitable for existing utility networks for a multitude of reasons… hydrogen’s tiniest-in-the-universe molecules don’t just escape from microscopic gaps, but can also lodge amid the relatively gigantic metal atoms in pipes and appliances causing embrittlement, which is why legacy gas systems can’t handle significant amounts of hydrogen blending. Since burning the superlight hydrogen yields only a fraction of the heat of the fossil “natural” gas, its potential to replace the latter is even smaller.” Full Op Ed here.
 Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) – link to photo and hydrogen embrittlement article here Rewiring Schools – Rewire America – “How to campaign for a comfier, healthier, carbon-free campus – These resources will help you and your district get it done! Run a campaign to get your school board to pass a resolution. Then, point your board to our handbook for planning and implementation help, and use our education materials to answer all your electric questions.” Website here.
Headline News:
- “’Weather Whiplash’ Could Be a Disturbing New Normal in a Weird, Warming World” • In northern New Mexico, the year began with months of unseasonal heat, dryness and extreme wind that fueled the largest wildfire of the year in the lower 48 states. Then, the annual monsoon rains dumped nearly twice as much moisture as the previous year. [CNET]
 Monsoon arriving (Chaz McGregor, Unsplash)
- “Airbus Looking At India For Green Hydrogen Supplies For Its Ambitious Zero-Emission Aircraft” • European aerospace major Airbus is looking to source green hydrogen from markets like India, Australia, and Latin America as part of its decarbonisation efforts, a senior company official said. Airbus will use the fuel for hydrogen-powered airplanes. [Zee News]
- “EU Agrees To Include Shipping In Emissions Trading System” • The EU Emissions Trading System is the oldest and largest program of its type, but it has had a big weakness. It covered power stations and factories but did not cover emissions from shipping. In a landmark accord last week, negotiators agreed to correct that oversight. [CleanTechnica]
- “Nuclear Off Table As States Seek Power Fix” • South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, left the door open to nuclear, as he seeks to advocate its safety. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek were quick to shoot their Labor colleague down, pointing out nuclear energy will not work out financially. [Great Lakes Advocate]
- “The Great Solar Panel Tariff Debate Heats Up” • The Biden administration is putting $37 billion into incentives to help US companies manufacture the products needed to fulfill the US renewable energy goal using American workers and materials wherever possible. But the US needs foreign PVs and does not want to get them from China. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Parking Lots Are Becoming As Important As Cars In Climate Change Efforts” • A new law in France requires that parking lots with 80 or more spaces be covered by solar panels within five years. The biggest parking lots, those with over 400 spaces, have been given three years for at least half of the parking lot’s surface area covered by solar. [CNBC]
 Solar parking lot at Disneyland, Paris (Jay Black, Unsplash)
- “Lightyear 0 Solar-Powered Car Begins Production” • Lightyear now has a production successor to Lightyear 1, a prototype that introduced the possibility of an electric car powered by sunlight. The company announced this week that it has begun production of its first vehicle, the Lightyear 0, at the Valmet Automotive facility in Finland. [CleanTechnica]
- “Restoring Observatory Access Key To Climate Science” • So far the Mauna Loa lava flow has been a spectacle and not a disaster, except for the Mauna Loa Observatory, which is the worldwide headquarters for collection of climate-change data. Lava from the volcano’s eruptions has cut off access and power for the foreseeable future. [KHON2]
- “IAEA Says Deal Over Ukrainian Nuke Plant ‘Almost There’” • A deal aimed at safeguarding Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is close at hand, the head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency said. The power plant, which was seized by Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine, has since come under repeated shelling. [KDAL 610]
- “New Mercedes eSprinter Goes 475 Kilometers In Real-World Driving” • The Mercedes eSprinter has been for sale in Europe for some time, but its range of just under 100 miles is too short for most customers. Now, Mercedes is about to start production of the next-generation eSprinter, which was able to go over 475 km (295 miles) on a single charge. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “IAEA Gives Update On Demilitarising Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant As War Attacks Continue” • The International Atomic Energy Agency carried out a nuclear safety and security mission to the plant this week. The agency announced that it hopes for a deal on the demilitarized zone around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by the end of 2022. [Republic World]
 IAEA inspectors (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
- “Impacts Of Wind Power On Air Quality, Premature Mortality, And Exposure Disparities In The US” • Wind power relating to renewable portfolio standards in 2014 resulted in $2.0 billion in health benefits from improved air quality. Health benefits could have been $8.4 billion if displacement of fossil fuel generators prioritized the most polluting. [Science]
- “Honda To Build Fuel Cell Car Based On CR-V In 2024” • Honda announced this week that it will begin manufacturing a fuel cell vehicle based on the popular CR-V at its Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio in 2024. The car will be North America’s first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with fuel cell EV technology. [CleanTechnica]
- “Ukraine War: G7 And Allies Approve Cap On Price Of Russian Oil” • The G7 group and its allies have officially approved a cap on the price of Russian oil. The price cap will come into force on 5 December or “very soon thereafter.” The plan, which stops countries paying more than $60 (€57, £48) a barrel, needed the agreement of all EU states. [BBC]
- “Feds Find Four Chinese Solar Panel Companies Have Been Evading US Tariffs” • After a months-long investigation, US officials have preliminarily determined that four Chinese solar panel companies have been avoiding US tariff laws by routing their operations through Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. [CNN]
- “Tesla Semi Reveal – Huge Power, Huge Charging Ability” • Tesla held its long awaited ceremony to introduce its electric Class 8 tractor, known simply as the Tesla Semi, on December 1. You can watch a video of the event here. In it, you will see Elon Musk drive a white Semi on stage followed by two others decked out in Pepsi and Frito-Lay livery. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Agrivoltaics: Solar Panels And Tomatoes May Be Perfect For Each Other” • Agrivoltaics can increase yields for farmers. A research paper published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory surveyed agrivoltaic research all across America. It noted that, on average, yields of tomatoes doubled compared to non-agrivoltaic sites. [CleanTechnica]
- “Vermont Officials Seek To Engage Public In Renewable Energy Policy Review” • Vermont is reevaluating its renewable energy policies and want to engage the public in the process, especially disadvantaged people who may have been left out of the process in the past. The three-phased process will being with engaging Vermonters on the issue. [WCAX]
- “Insured Losses From Disasters Will Exceed $100 Billion For Second Year In A Row, Led By Hurricane Ian, New Data Shows” • Preliminary analysis by Swiss Re found that 2022 was the second year in a row in which insured losses are expected to exceed $100 billion. Swiss Re said losses trended up each year at a rate of 5 to 7% over the past decade. [CNN]
- “Canoo Delivers Modular Light Tactical Vehicle To US Army” • In July, the US Army signed a contract with Canoo in which it agreed to evaluate the company’s Light Tactical Vehicle for its uses. This week, Canoo announced that it has delivered the first LTV to the Army so it can be put through its paces in a real world combat environment. [CleanTechnica]
- “Ford To Bump Mustang Mach-E Production To 270,000 A Year” • Ford is the second bestselling electric car brand in the US. Now, it is accelerating Mustang Mach-E production and targeting global annual production rate of 270,000 as part of its plan to scale to a rate of 600,000 electric vehicles annually by the end of 2023 and 2 million by 2026. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Canadian Ambassador Tells EU That Deforestation Rules Are ‘Burdensome’” • Canada’s ambassador to the EU voiced concern with proposed EU rules to curb deforestation. The regulation is intended to limit the trade of products linked to deforestation worldwide. Climate campaigners have called Canada’s resistance to the rules “shocking.” [BBC]
- “Governor Hochul Announces The Start Of Construction On The 339-Mile Champlain Hudson Power Express Transmission Line” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the start of construction of the 339-mile Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line to deliver reliable clean energy from Hydro-Québec to New York City. [NYSERDA]
- “Bringing Nuclear Power To Montana More Expensive Than Originally Forecast” • The cost of power from a small nuclear reactor, which has been eyed by Montana legislators and utility commissioners as a potential lifeline for the Colstrip Power Plant, has nearly doubled according to reports from early adopters in Utah and Idaho. [The Billings Gazette]
- “Europe Embarks On Solar Power ‘Revolution’ To Solve Its Energy Crisis And Fight Climate Change” • Spurred by Russia’s war in Ukraine and its own pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, the EU is aggressively ramping up its use of solar power, installing panels on everything from city rooftops to farmland. [Yahoo News]
- “More Than 70 Water Agencies In California Could Face Water Shortages In The Coming Months” • The California Department of Water Resources issued a report on its water supply. Nearly 20% of the urban water agencies said they could see significant water shortages in the coming months in the state’s potential fourth consecutive year of drought. [CNN]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
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VECAN Conference, Virtual, Dec 10, 12-15, 2022
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