Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere
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Headline News:
- “Tesla Model Y To Be Best Selling Car In World In 2023?” • 2023 is not half over, but the Model Y is likely to win the annual sales title. According to Tesla, it was the best-selling passenger vehicle on Earth in the first quarter of the year. With production and sales expected to grow throughout the year, it’ll be tough for any other car to catch the Y. [CleanTechnica]
- “National Grid Profits Jump To £4.6 Billion Amid Green Energy Delays” • National Grid reported a jump in annual profits to almost £4.6 billion at the same time concerns grow that it is not connecting renewable energy projects fast enough to meet the UK’s climate targets. Profits from its electricity distribution business climbed by 39%, year over year. [The Guardian]
- “Loophole: How Ineligible Electric Cars Can Still Qualify For $7,500 Tax Credit” • Recent changes to federal regulations deemed certain electric vehicles no longer eligible for the full $7,500 tax credit. However, a loophole has been spotted that restores eligibility to nearly any EV, whether from Tesla or other automakers. [CleanTechnica]
- “First US Congestion Pricing Plan Gets Closer To Reality In New York City” • New York City traffic is bad. At peak hours of the day, traffic is at a virtual standstill in many areas, and air quality and traffic noise can be terrible. New York City could soon be the first city in the US to implement its own traffic tolling system to address the problem. [CleanTechnica]
- “‘Sounding The Alarm’: World On Track To Breach A Critical Warming Threshold In The Next Five Years” • The world is now likely to breach a key climate threshold for the first time in the next five years due to a combination of greenhouse gas pollution and a looming El Niño, according to the annual climate update of the World Meteorological Organization. [CNN]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Rising Ocean Temperatures Are A Threat To Human Survival” • The ocean is like the cooling system in a conventional car. It is amazing at absorbing waste heat, but once it reaches its limit, watch out. There is a full-fledged disaster ahead that most are unaware of it because accurate information about what is going on in the ocean is so hard to get. [CleanTechnica]
- “Renewable Energy Projects Worth Billions Stuck On Hold” • The BBC reported that their research found billions of pounds’ worth of green energy projects are on hold because they cannot plug into the UK’s electricity system. Some new solar and wind sites are waiting up to 10 to 15 years to be connected because of a lack of grid capacity. [Rural Services Network]
- “Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Now Available For Just $2,838 Plus $28 Per Month For The Battery Plan” • The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture launched a monthly battery payment plan for the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. The plan allows customers to buy the EV starting at just $2,838, and then pay $28 per month for the battery for 5 years. [CleanTechnica]
- “Tesla Leads Auto World In Operating Margin, Model Y Is The Best Selling Car In World – Tesla Meeting Highlights” • Tesla had its 2023 annual shareholder meeting. Some things were already in the company’s Master Plan Part 3, Investor Day presentation, and previous quarterly shareholder conference calls. Here’s a look at some highlights. [CleanTechnica]
- “Biden Administration Announces Nearly $11 Billion For Renewable Energy In Rural Communities” • The Department of Agriculture announced a nearly $11 billion investment to help bring affordable clean energy to rural communities. Electric cooperatives, renewable energy companies, and utilities can apply for funding. [San Mateo Daily Journal]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES PROVIDED 65% OF NEW U.S. ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY
IN FIRST QUARTER 2023
CAPACITY ADDITIONS BY SOLAR AND WIND EXCEEDED FERC’S EARLIER FORECAST BY OVER 50%
AS RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY NEARS ONE-THIRD OF U.S. TOTAL
Based upon a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data newly released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided almost two-thirds (64.64%) of new U.S. utility-scale generating capacity added in the first quarter of this year.
New utility-scale solar capacity was 2,530 megawatts (MW) or 39.56% of the total … and that does not include small-scale distributed PV systems. New wind capacity provided 1,475-MW or 23.06% of the total. Hydropower and biomass added 100-MW and 29-MW respectively. New natural gas capacity totaled 2,259-MW (35.32)% and was supplemented by 2-MW of new oil. No new capacity additions were reported for coal, nuclear power, or geothermal energy.
In the month of March alone, all new capacity additions were provided by just solar (491-MW) and wind (409-MW). These included the 297.3-MW Seven Cowboy Wind Project in Washita County, Oklahoma and the 112.0-MW Deerfield Wind Energy II Project in Huron County, Michigan, as well as the 102.0-MW Chaparral Solar Project in Kern County, California; the 100.0-MW Skyhawk Solar Project in Obion County, Tennessee; and the 100.0-MW Crossett Solar Project in Ashley County, Arkansas.
With these latest additions, renewable energy now accounts for 27.67% of total installed utility-scale generating capacity including 11.51% from wind and 6.67% from solar.
Notably, the share of U.S. generating capacity is growing at a substantially faster rate than had been anticipated by FERC. In March 2020, renewables’ share of total generating capacity was just 22.74%. At that time, FERC projected that “high probability” additions by solar in the ensuing three-year period would be 24,083-MW. In fact, solar grew by 39,470-MW. Likewise, FERC’s three-year forecast for net “high probability” wind additions was 26,867-MW. Instead, wind expanded by 38,550-MW. Combined, new solar and wind capacity additions totaled 78,020-MW during the past three years or 53.13% more than FERC had expected.
For the next three years, FERC is now forecasting 77,594-MW of new “high probability” solar capacity joined by 17,071-MW in net new wind capacity plus 556-MW from hydropower and 2-MW from geothermal steam. By comparison, coal capacity is foreseen as dropping by 28,507-MW, oil by 1,572-MW, natural gas by 574-MW, nuclear power by 123-MW, and biomass by 103-MW.
If FERC’s projections prove to be accurate, by the end of the first quarter of 2026, renewable energy generating capacity will be more than a third (33.46%) of the total with nearly equal shares provided by wind (12.23%) and solar (12.16%). Meanwhile the shares provided by fossil fuels and nuclear power will all decrease: natural gas from 44.00% to 41.83%, coal from 17.12% to 14.16%, oil from 2.99% to 2.73%, and nuclear power from 7.97% to 7.63%.
Keeping in mind, however, the degree to which FERC underestimated wind and solar growth during the past three years, U.S. generating capacity by the mix of all renewables by spring 2026 could end up being significantly higher than FERC now expects.
“Over the past three years, renewable sources, led by solar and wind, added nearly five percentage points to their share of the nation’s electrical generating,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong. “If that pace continues or accelerates – as seems likely – renewables will be providing more than a third of total installed generating capacity within the next three years and quite possibly more.”
# # # # # # # # #
Sources:
FERC’s 8-page “Energy Infrastructure Update for March 2023” was released on May 15, 2023, and can be found at: https://cms.ferc.gov/media/energy-infrastructure-update-march-2023. For the information cited in this update, see the tables entitled “New Generation In-Service (New Build and Expansion),” “Total Available Installed Generating Capacity,” and “Generation Capacity Additions and Retirements.” FERC notes that its data are derived from Velocity Suite, ABB Inc. and The C Three Group LLC. and adds the caveat that “the data may be subject to update.”
Notes:
[1] FERC generally only reports data for utility-scale facilities (i.e., those rated 1-MW or greater) and therefore its data do not reflect the capacity of distributed renewables, notably rooftop solar PV which – according to the EIA – accounts for approximately 30% of the nation’s electrical generation by solar. That would suggest that the total of distributed and utility-scale solar capacity combined is significantly more than the solar capacity of 6.67% reported by FERC for the first quarter of 2023 and is perhaps closer to 9.0% or 10.0%.
[2] Capacity is not the same as actual generation. Capacity factors for nuclear power and fossil fuels tend to be higher than those for most renewables. Thus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that renewables accounted for 22.6% of the nation’s total electrical generation in 2022 – that is, somewhat less than what FERC reported was their share (27.3%) of installed generating capacity last year.
On May 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened applications for a new grant program for rural electric cooperatives called “ New ERA,” designed to promote clean energy, economic development, and job growth in rural areas. The New ERA program is made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and provides funding for a variety of clean energy projects, including renewable energy generation, battery storage, transmission, and energy efficiency programs. Under the IRA, individual utilities may each apply for up to $970 million in direct support, including both grants and low-cost loans for a wide range of clean energy programs. Rural utility companies will be able to find clean energy portfolios that work for their customers, benefiting from low-cost financing options and grants that can cover a quarter of their initial expenses.
“Rural cooperatives deliver energy to 92% of counties experiencing persistent poverty across the country. Yet, for decades, they have been shut out of the opportunities critical federal programs provide, driving up energy costs for those who can least afford it,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous. “We’re pleased the Biden Administration is continuing to advance this critical program, which has the potential to finally drive down energy costs for working families while positioning rural cooperatives as clean energy leaders.”
“New ERA represents an important step toward leveling the playing field for rural electric cooperatives in clean energy development,” said Sierra Club Senior Advisor Jeremy Fisher. “Combined with direct-pay tax credits, rural cooperatives will be able to build low-cost solar, wind, storage, and demand management programs, driving down costs for members and increasing rate stability. New ERA enables rural communities to not only host the transition, but own it. We’re excited to see this program finally come to fruition, and the Biden Administration’s dedication to getting New ERA implemented effectively. We applaud the cooperatives that are positioning themselves as clean energy leaders, and looking to make the most of this program.”
“We applaud USDA for launching the New ERA grant program, which will not only promote clean energy but also support economic development and job growth in rural areas,” said Amelia Myers, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Director, Intermountain West. “This program is a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable and equitable future for all. By providing funding for renewable energy generation, battery storage, transmission, and energy efficiency programs, the New ERA program will help rural electric cooperatives build clean energy portfolios that work for their customers while benefiting from low-cost financing options and grants. We encourage all eligible utilities to apply for this program and take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities.”
“USDA’s New ERA provides a much-needed opportunity at this critical moment. Indiana’s investor-owned utilities have been rapidly accelerating toward clean energy, and it’s time that we level the playing field for the cooperatives that serve our rural communities,” said Wendy Bredhold, Senior Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in Indiana and Kentucky. “This is an exciting opportunity for Hoosier Electric and Wabash Valley to make deep investments in our rural clean energy economy, drive down costs to members, and clean up our air. Rather than just hosting the clean energy economy, rural communities can lead and own this transition.”
“I recently spent a week in Eastern Kentucky with rural communities still recovering from last year’s flood damage, where they are leveraging many of the new federal programs that will empower rural America,” said Lane Boldman, Director, Kentucky Conservation Committee. “It is exciting to see the energy and optimism in these communities, which are actively planning for a new future through these programs, and I hope the New ERA program will bring even greater benefits to the rural communities that need them most.”
“Tri-State Generation and Transmission is already leading the rural clean energy transition nationally by making steps to replace expensive coal units with more affordable clean energy, and there is still more work to be done,” said Grace Thorvilson, Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Colorado. “With Coloradans already facing high energy costs this year, it is more important than ever for utilities like Tri-State to take advantage of New ERA funding to replace its expensive coal units with affordable, local clean energy.”
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Headline News:
- “Renewables Supplied 65% Of New US Utility-Scale Generating Capacity In Q1 2023” • Renewables provided almost two-thirds (64.64%) of new US utility-scale generating capacity added in the first quarter of 2023, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission data shows. Renewable energy now accounts for 27.67% of total installed utility-scale generating capacity. [Electrek]
 Solar farm (Tom Fisk, Pexels, cropped)
- “EVs Vs Hybrids: No Contest” • The EVs vs hybrids contest has been largely staged by politicians, legacy automakers, and media pundits. However, once EV chargers are as ubiquitous as gas pumps are now, the EVs vs hybrids contest will end – hybrids, with dual engines and two sets of likely problems, will fade into a Gen Z’s memory. [CleanTechnica]
- “More Than A Third Of The Area Charred By Wildfires In Western North America Can Be Traced Back To Fossil Fuels, Scientists Find” • Millions of acres scorched by wildfires in the Western US and Canada can be traced back to carbon pollution from the world’s largest fossil fuel and cement companies, scientists reported. [CNN]
- “UCLA Says We Can Hack The Ocean To Store Carbon Dioxide” • A proposed pathway that could help extract billions of metric tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere each year was suggested by UCLA researchers. Instead of directly capturing atmospheric CO₂, the technology would extract it from seawater, enabling the seawater to absorb more. [CleanTechnica]
- “Mississippi Takes Green Hydrogen To Next Level” • The DOE launched an $8 billion hydrogen program last year, and state officials around the nation are scrambling to get a slice of the pie. In some cases they are even putting partisan politics aside. The latest example is the deep red state of Mississippi, where Hy Stor Energy is hard at work. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “This US Offshore Wind Farm Is Piloting A Bubble Curtain – What It Is And Why It’s Cool” • Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts will pilot a secondary bubble curtain, on a project with the local firm ThayerMahan, which specializes in seabed surveys, acoustic mitigation, and monitoring. Here’s what that is and why it’s great for the undersea environment. [Electrek]
 Bubble Curtain (Vineyard Wind image)
- “Oceans Have Been Absorbing The World’s Extra Heat. But There’s A Huge Payback” • In March, the surface temperature of the world’s oceans was above anything seen in the forty years that satellites have been measuring it. But two kilometers below the surface, heat has been rising relentlessly for decades, thanks to burning fossil fuels. [The Guardian]
- “‘World’s Largest Ocean Restoration Project’ Designed For Dubai” • In a city known for superlatives, it’s no surprise that someone in Dubai plans to build another of the “world’s largest.” But unlike the tallest skyscraper or the deepest pool, the latest proposed project is not simply an architectural feat, it’s a win for ocean conservation too. [CNN]
- “UK Could Unlock £70 Billion A Year In Renewable Energy, Report Claims” • The UK could unlock £70 billion every year by generating enough clean electricity to become a major exporter of energy to mainland Europe, a former government economist said. Meeting the UK’s climate targets could create an additional 279,000 British jobs, also. [The Guardian]
- “Budget 2023: ARENA To Shape Green Hydrogen Future” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will help develop a $2 billion revenue support program to scale up green hydrogen production in Australia. Hydrogen Headstart aims to position the country as an early mover and global leader for green hydrogen. [Australian Renewable Energy Agency]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Federal Delays Cost Wyoming More Than 6,000 Oil And Gas Wells” • Wyoming oil and gas production could be much higher were it not for projects involving more than 6,000 wells being canceled after lengthy waits for permits. One Wyoming project had 5,161 planned wells canceled after waiting eight years for approval. [Cowboy State Daily]
- “Climate Crisis Deniers Target Scientists For Vicious Abuse On Musk’s Twitter” • Some of the UK’s top scientists are struggling to deal with what they describe as a huge rise in abuse from climate crisis deniers on Twitter since the social media platform was taken over by Elon Musk last year. Twitter’s sustainability arm has vanished since then. [The Guardian]
- “US Treasury Announces New Solar Tax Credit Guidance – Who’s Happy?” • The federal government wants to speed up the installation of solar power plants, but it also wants to encourage domestic production and protect American manufacturers. New rules have come out from the US Treasury Department. They are not intended to make everyone happy. [CleanTechnica]
- “UK Neglecting Climate Crisis Effects On New Nuclear Power Stations” • UK explain that nuclear power stations will generate of low-carbon forms of electricity to fight the climate crisis, but they forget to consider the effects of the climate crisis on the nuclear power stations. The nuclear plants will be built along the sea, but the sea level is rising. [Al Mayadeen English]
- “Can Tesla’s Price War Accelerate Electrification?” • Tesla’s price reductions in the first quarter of the year have sent some waves through the auto industry. As legacy automakers and startups both try to catch up to Tesla’s EV dominance, some wonder whether the automaker’s price cuts could actually spur on a quicker transition to EVs. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- ¶ “Renewables Revolution: The US Green Energy Is Poised For ‘Staggering’ Growth, According To BloombergNEF Report” • The US clean energy sector is set to deliver a record-breaking 600 GW of solar, wind, and energy storage capacity by the end of the decade, according to BloombergNEF’s latest Clean Energy Market Outlook. [Yahoo Finance]
 Wind turbines (Serge Le Strat, Unsplash)
- ¶ “IAEA Chief Aims To Present Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Deal To UN This Month, Diplomats Say” • UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi plans to present an agreement with Russia and Ukraine on protecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to the UN Security Council this month, indicating a deal is close, four diplomats told Reuters. [The Globe and Mail]
- ¶ “Why John Kerry Is Confident Biden’s Climate Policies Can Survive A Republican President” • Former Secretary of State John Kerry is confident that if a Republican is elected president, Biden administration’s wins on climate change and clean energy will still not be reversed. He believes the markets would reject a challenge to the US path to clean energy. [CNN]
- ¶ “E-Fuels, Renewable Natural Gas, And Carbon Capture Are Deep Fakes” • The problem is, all of them hold some kernel of potential, but they are just another way for fossil fuel firms to keep on doing what they have always done – make high profits from extracting, transporting, refining, distributing, and burning coal, oil, and methane gas. [CleanTechnica]
- ¶ “East African Groups Urge Policymakers To Ditch Fossil Fuels For Renewables” • More than three dozen progressive advocacy groups implored East African leaders in a letter this week to stop funding fossil fuel projects and instead put efforts into ramping up investment in renewable energy production and other green economic initiatives. [Common Dreams]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “EPA Proposes New Rules That Would Dramatically Slash Planet-Warming Pollution From Power Plants” • The EPA has proposed one of its most highly anticipated climate rules to date, compelling nearly all US power plants that generate the nation’s electricity to capture or otherwise greatly reducue their planet-warming fossil fuel emissions. [CNN]
- “Helion And Microsoft Lead World Down Nuclear Fusion Rabbit Hole” • The announcement of a 50-MW agreement between Helion and Microsoft is historic, but it raises a lot of thorny questions about fusion, the role of tech in promoting new energy sources, and whether all this talk about fusion is even doing any good for the planet. [Gizmodo]
- “Wildfire Smoke From Alberta And British Columbia Reaches US” • Much of Canada and parts of the US are blanketed by smoke as wildfires in Alberta rage. As of Thursday, there are 75 active wildfires in Alberta, 23 of which are considered out of control. Early May is typically the start of wildfire season in the region, but this level activity is unusual. [BBC]
- “The Investment Differences Between Renewable And Coal-Fired Power” • In Vietnam, investment in renewable energy was 480% higher than planned, but for thermal power it was just 60% of the plan. Also, a total of 6.6 GW of thermal power was behind schedule for installations, but 14 GW of solar power was ahead of schedule. [Vietnamnet]
- “NextEra Blows Green Hydrogen Raspberry At Renewable Energy Foes” • The Florida energy firm NextEra Energy Partners has decided to ditch its natural gas pipelines and transform itself into a pure-play renewable energy investment opportunity. If all goes according to plan, green hydrogen will come to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, too. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
Headline News:
- “Pulling Power From The Ocean Is The Final Frontier For Renewable Energy” • With 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, wave power could be one of our largest untapped energy resources. The Biden administration’s Ocean Climate Action Plan reveals how the ocean holds important potential for renewable energy. [CNET]
 Wave energy converter (OceanEnergy and PNNL)
- “New Hampshire Utility Proposes Transmission Line From Canada To Carry Renewable Power To New England” • The proposed 211-mile, $2 billion Twin State Clean Energy Link would enter the US in Canaan, Vermont. It would be buried along highways until it links to an existing transmission corridor in New Hampshire. [Yahoo]
- “Tesla Produces 5000 Model Y In One Week In Texas And Launches Lithium Refining Site” • Tesla is on a roll this week. To keep up with its almost constantly growing sales, Tesla has been ramping up Model Y production at sites around the world. It has also just broken ground on a lithium refinery project. The news on both fronts comes from Texas. [CleanTechnica]
- “Texas Proposes Tightened Renewable Energy Permits” • The utility-scale solar and wind market was dealt a blow to the head when a Texas senate group voted 21-9 in favor of SB 624, a state bill which would enforce permitting restrictions and fines on solar and wind projects in the state. A companion bill now heads to the state’s House for approval. [pv magazine USA]
- “Quebec And Montreal Order 1229 Electric Buses” • The province of Quebec will soon have 1,229 electric buses providing passenger service to its residents. The provincial government is providing $1.1 billion to fund the acquisition of the electric buses while the federal government will contribute $780 million toward the purchase. [CleanTechnica]
For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.
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