January 4 Green Energy News

Headline News:

“Scientists Discover How Aerosols From Pollution, Desert Storms, and Forest Fires Can Intensify Thunderstorms” • A link between pollution aerosols and thunderstorms has been seen for decades, but the cause has not been well understood. Researchers have now found a way atmospheric aerosols can generate more frequent thunderstorms. [SciTechDaily]

Thunderstorm (NOAA image, public domain, Unsplash)

“Massachusetts Will Require All New Cars Sold Be Electric By 2035” • Governor Charlie Baker and his administration shared a plan that will deal a major blow to fossil fuel automakers while greatly cutting the state’s greenhouse-gas emissions. These changes include the mandate that all new cars sold in the state will be electric by 2035. [CleanTechnica]
“Negotiators Reach Deal On Major Climate Bill” • After six months of private talks, legislative negotiators in Massachusetts reached an agreement on a major bill to accelerate the pace toward addressing the global problem of climate change. The bill (S 2995) would establish in state law a “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions limit for 2050. [WWLP.com]
“One Perfect 100% Renewable Day In South Australia” • South Australia got another glimpse of its 100% renewably powered future, when solar and wind generation made up 99.6% of electricity in the grid on December 27, as tracked by OpenNEM. The state got 59% of its electricity from renewable resources for the year 2020 as a whole. [pv magazine International]
“Global Heating Will Make Colorado River Basin Drought More Severe” • Climate research indicates that as average temperatures on Earth increase, hotter, drier conditions will constrain water supplies and reduce harvests. Without water from the Colorado River Basin Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles simply would not exist. [CleanTechnica]

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