Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere

REV2024 Conference Request for Proposals is Open!

The REV2024 Conference will be on Wednesday and Thursday,

October 16 & 17 in Burlington, VT

For two days each fall, hundreds of business leaders, policymakers, regulators, academics, and community organizers from throughout New England focus on building an equitable, integrated, 100% renewable energy economy. We hope to see you there!

Speaking Proposals
Take a moment to review the RFP guidelines and submit a proposal below. You do not need to have a complete panel with confirmed speakers to apply. It is more useful that we receive your idea by the deadline rather than waiting for the application to be “complete.” Submissions that bring first-time REV Conference presenters are encouraged.

IMPORTANT: All sessions at REV2024 must feature gender and racially diverse voices and no panels/topics will be considered if they do not.

that applications propose/support speakers who have less experience speaking at conferences when appropriate. We will only reach a sustainable, inclusive 100% renewable energy future by creating space and adding weight to all voices.

REV2024 RFP Form
Deadline: Wednesday, May 15 by 9:00 am
**If you cannot access this Google form use this PDF version and submit it to kit@revermont.org.

April 10 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Incredible 60% Of Europe’s Electricity Was Powered By Clean Energy In The First Two Months Of 2024” • According to energy think tank Ember, Europe’s generation of 516,500 GWh of renewable electricity in January and February satisfied 60% of overall power demand. This marks a gain of 12% from the same period in 2023. [Good News Network]

Wind turbines in Spain (Raimond Klavins, Unsplash)

  • “Swiss Climate Group Wins Victory At European Court Of Human Rights” • A group of older Swiss women brought a suit to the European Court Of Human Rights, claiming that the Swiss government has denied them a clean and safe environment. The ECHR found Switzerland had failed to comply with its duties to stop climate change. [CleanTechnica]
  • “Wiscasset Looks To Negotiate After Nuclear Plant Loses Tax Exemption” • Wiscasset officials are hopeful that a new state law that closed a tax exemption for the former Maine Yankee nuclear power plant will eventually result in more revenue flowing to the town. But it’s still unclear when that revenue will arrive, or how much it will amount to. [Bangor Daily News]
  • “Texas Solar Power Growth Changing the Shape of Daily Electricity Supply in ERCOT” • The electricity mix of energy sources in Texas, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas electricity grid operator, changed noticeably in 2023. This was because additions of solar generating capacity grew rapidly, often co-located with storage. [CleanTechnica]
  • “RWE Forges 5-GW Alliance With US Developer” • RWE Clean Energy has established a strategic relationship with WhiteRock Renewables to accelerate the expansion of RWE’s onshore wind, solar and energy storage development pipeline. WhiteRock is expected to originate and develop 4 GW to 5 GW of onshore wind, solar, and battery projects. [reNews]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 9 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “New Electric Tugboat Unveiled At Port Of San Diego” • The Port of San Diego recently unveiled an electric tugboat, the eWolf. The electric tugboat runs only on electricity, whereas a conventional tugboat uses diesel fuel. Air pollution at ports is a well-documented problem, and this electric tugboat generates no carbon dioxide or air pollution. [CleanTechnica]

The eWolf (Courtesy of Crowley Maritime Corporation)

  • “A Small Group Of Carbon Majors Has Created The Most Climate Pollution, And They’re Not Slowing Down” • Which companies are most heavily linked to CO₂ emissions? The ignominious winners are the most prominent group of carbon majors, the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers. And the emissions are increasing. [CleanTechnica]
  • “Nuveen, Exus Ink 800-MW Italian Battery Deal” • Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus Renewables have agreed to co-develop 800 MW of battery storage projects in southern Italy. The deal will see Nuveen Infrastructure and Exus commence a series of standalone battery energy storage system schemes across the Puglia region of Italy. [reNews]
  • “Swapping An 800-MW Gas Generator For A 680-MW, 2720-MWh Grid-Scale Battery” • A decade ago, GE installed a state of the art combined cycle methane-fired turbine at a generating station southeast of Los Angeles. Fast forward to 2024: It has been demolished, and a $1 billion battery storage facility is being built for Calpine in its place. [CleanTechnica]
  • “March Is Tenth Straight Month To Be Hottest On Record, Scientists Say” • For the tenth consecutive month, Earth set a new monthly record for global heat in March, with temperatures of both the air and the oceans hitting an all-time highs for the month, according to Copernicus, the EU climate agency. It was 1.68°C (3°F) warmer than in the late 1800s. [NPR]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 8 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Adani Kicks Off Commercial Production Of Wafers, Ingots” • Adani Group has started production of the wafers and ingots essential for manufacturing solar power cells and modules at a plant in Gujarat. Adani Group aims to be India’s first integrated renewable energy player and plans for its renewables to reach 45 GW by 2030. [Manufacturing Today India]

Technician working on a silicon wafer (ENERGY.GOV, public domain)

  • “New Jersey National Guard To Help With 6 GW Of Offshore Wind” • Fossil energy stakeholders smelled blood last year when they helped mobilize local residents to oppose offshore wind off the coast of New Jersey. Now the Garden State is back on track on a long-term goal of 11 GW by 2040, with a little help from the New Jersey National Guard. [CleanTechnica]
  • “Climate crisis impacts citizens’ right to life: Supreme Court” • Climate change impacts the constitutional guarantee of right to life, India’s Supreme Court said in a judgment. It emphasized that India must prioritise clean energy initiatives such as solar power as citizens have a right to be free from the adverse effects of the climate emergency. [Hindustan Times]
  • “Washington State Passes Cutting-Edge Policies To Reduce Emissions” • Washington passed the first law in the US to outline a pathway for a combined gas and electricity utility to transition away from gas. The state requires all utilities to offer 100% clean electricity by 2045. This law paves the way for its largest dual-fuel utility to decarbonize. [CleanTechnica]
  • “A New EPA Rule Is Meant To Prevent Chemical Disasters, But Safety Advocates Say Loopholes Remain” • There is a chemical disaster on average once every two days in the US, the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters says. The EPA recently released a safety rule meant to reduce chemical disasters, but advocates say loopholes remain. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 7 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Solar Beats Coal In Fossil-Friendly Texas, Despite Fossil Friends” • The renewable energy juggernaut keeps rolling on in Texas, even though public officials bend over backwards to keep fossil energy interests safe. Coal’s market share fell below 10% for the first time ever, to just over 9%. And solar’s market share rose above 10% in the same month. [CleanTechnica]

Solar pavilion at Fair Park in Dallas (Michael Barera, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

  • “Government To Electrify Small Isolated Villages With Solar Power” • The Sindh Chief Minister said that according to the Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman’s election manifesto, the provincial government would provide solar power systems to energise small isolated villages under the Village Electrification Programme. [The News International]
  • “Alternus Clean Energy, Acadia Energy Form JV To Develop Microgrids In New York” • Alternus Clean Energy said it formed a joint venture with renewable energy developer Acadia Energy to co-develop 200 MW of microgrid projects in New York State. The JV will focus on developing and operating the microgrids over the next two to three years. [Reuters]
  • “‘Simply Mind-Boggling’: World Record Temperature Jump In Antarctic Raises Fears Of Catastrophe” • Scientists at Concordia research station on the east Antarctic plateau documented a remarkable event. They recorded the largest temperature jump ever measured at a meteorological center on Earth, 38.5°C above its seasonal average. [The Guardian]
  • “Volvo Sets All-Time Sales Record Thanks To EV Sales Surge” • Volvo sold 78,970 vehicles worldwide in March, a 25% increase YOY. Sales of fully electric cars were up 43% and made up 23% of all Volvo March global sales. Volvo sales in Europe, the firm’s top market, rose 33% in March. Even better, sales of its fully electric cars rose 66% over last year’s total. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 6 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “$19 Million For Innovative Solar Panel Installation Over Canals” • The Interior Department announced a $19 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to install solar panels over irrigation canals in California, Oregon, and Utah. This reduces evaporation of needed water while it increases clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

Solar PVs over a canal (Courtesy of Turlock Irrigation District)

  • “US Geothermal Capacity Set To Grow by 1,900% by 2050” • In March, the US DOE announced it would invest $60 million in funding to demonstrate the efficacy and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems to access underground heat to be used as renewable energy. The DOE said it expects geothermal capacity to supply 10% of US electricity by 2050. [OilPrice.com]
  • “The Potential Of Solar And Mesh-Grids” • While the power potential of mini-grids make them viable for densely populated areas, they are too expensive for rural areas with low population densities. Mesh-grids are offer a more affordable system than traditional off-grid installations, often with a cost just 60% of that of mini-grids. [CleanTechnica]
  • “Austria Likely To Be Largely Ice-Free Within 45 Years As Its Glaciers Recede Quickly, Experts Say” • Austrian glaciers receded rapidly last year and the country is likely to be largely ice-free in 40 to 45 years as the process continues. The Austrian Alpine Club said that, of the 93 glaciers its volunteers measured, all but one receded in 2022-2023. [ABC News]
  • “World EV Sales Now 13% Of World Auto Sales” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 3% in February 2024 compared to February 2023. There were 830,000 registrations, making it possibly the last month with fewer than one million sales per month ever for plugin EVs. Year to date, plugin EV market share was at 14% (9% battery EV). [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 5 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • AutoFlight Delivers First Electric Air Taxi To Customer In Japan” • AutoFlight has achieved a significant milestone by officially delivering its first Prosperity aircraft to a customer in Japan, marking the world’s inaugural delivery of a civilian ton-class eVTOL aircraft. The five-seater Prosperity aircraft went to a commercial operator. [CleanTechnica]

AutoFlight Prosperity (AutoFlight image)

  • “Leeward Energy Starts Operations At Huge South Texas Solar Project” • Dallas-based Leeward Renewable Energy completed construction and commenced operations at its 200-MW Horizon Solar Project in South Central Texas. The project will provide Verizon Communications with renewable energy under a power purchase agreement. [Dallas Innovates]
  • “Investment Deficit Puts Planet On Path To Miss 1.5°C, Study Finds” • A lack of investment in green energy has left the world on track to overshoot the 1.5°C temperature increase that many scientists regard as a critical threshold in global efforts to contain climate change. REN21, a renewable energy think tank, published the finding. [Insurance Journal]
  • “More Power, More Water: Solar-Over-Canal Projects Are Coming To California” • California is pioneering innovations to generate clean electricity while conserving water. The state is teaming up with the Biden Administration on a solar-over-canal pilot project to clean solar power and transform the state’s water system. [California State Portal]
  • “Plans Filed For New Jersey’s Garden State Energy Path Grid Upgrade” • National Grid Ventures and Con Edison Transmission have submitted plans to build transmission infrastructure that will connect offshore wind power to the New Jersey electricity grid. Garden State Energy Path will be able to carry 6 GW of electricity from four wind farms. [reNews]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 4 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Renewables Failing To Keep Pace With Energy Demand” • A report from REN21 found that persistent obstacles prevent renewables from keeping pace with rising energy demand. This leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Renewables are increasing in the overall energy mix, but they are not replacing coal, oil, and gas at the pace required. [reNews]

View from the top of a wind turbine (WindEurope image)

  • “MIT Engineers Design Artificial Reef To Protect Coastlines And Marine Species” • MIT calls it an “architected” reef. It is a sustainable offshore structure engineered to mimic the wave buffering effects of a natural reef while also providing pockets of safety for fish and other marine life. It breaks up incoming waves, dissipating most of their energy. [CleanTechnica]
  • “EU Carbon Market Emissions Fall Record 15.5% As Renewable Power Soars” • Carbon dioxide emissions regulated under the EU’s Emissions Trading System fell by a record 15.5% in 2023 as renewable power output soared, the European Commission said. Around 45% of the EU’s output of greenhouse gases is regulated by the EU ETS. [Reuters]
  • “Digital Battery Passports Coming to EU” • Starting in February 2027, every new traction battery, two-wheeled vehicle battery, and industrial battery with a capacity of over 2 kWh that is sold in the EU will need a digital battery passport. There are several reasons for this, including transparency and sustainability in the battery value chain. [CleanTechnica]
  • “US DOE Releases First Ever Federal Blueprint to Decarbonize America’s Buildings Sector” • The Biden-Harris Administration just released Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector. It presents the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonization to be developed by the federal government. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 3 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “Portuguese Utility Says Renewables Covered 91% Of Demand In March” • Renewable energy covered 91% of Portugal’s demand for electricity in March, according to data from the grid operator. Hydropower provided 47%, followed by wind at 31%, solar at 6%, and biomass at 5%. Natural gas plants generated the remaining share. [pv magazine International]

Solar + horses (Voltalia image)

  • “NRC Underestimates Climate Risks To Nuclear Power, GAO Says” • A Government Accountability Office report found that the NRC uses historical data, rather than climate projections, to identify and assess risk in initial licensing processes and during safety reviews for plants. That may underestimate how weather could affect nuclear power plants. [E&E News]
  • “Adani Green Energy Has Over 10 GW Of Renewable Capacity Operating” • Adani Green Energy Ltd has reached an operating renewable energy portfolio of 10,934 MW, the largest in India. AGEL’s operating renewable energy portfolio consists of 7,393 MW of solar, 1,401 MW of wind and 2,140 MW of wind-solar hybrid capacity. [pv magazine India]
  • “Tesla Sales Tumble Nearly 9%, Largest Drop In Four Years, As Competition Heats Up And Demand Slows” • Tesla sales fell sharply last quarter as competition increased worldwide, EV sales growth slowed, and price cuts failed to lure more buyers. Tesla said it delivered 386,810 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter, down almost 9% year on year. [ABC News]
  • “US Gives Go-Ahead For 2.6-GW New England Wind” • The US government announced its approval of Avangrid’s 2,600-MW New England Wind offshore wind project. With the approval, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 10 GW of capacity from offshore wind projects. It said this is enough to power nearly 4 million homes. [reNews]
  • “Doe Funds Heated Sand Energy Storage Project Pilot” • NREL researchers are working on a multi-day energy storage system using heated sand have developed a prototype. Now it has set the stage for a pilot project. Computer modeling has shown that a commercial-scale system would retain more than 95% of its heat for at least five days. [pv magazine USA]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

April 2 Green Energy News

Headline News:

  • “New Texas Fuel Cell Gigafactory Pours More Cold Water On Clean Power Foes” • In Texas, public officials have been pulling out all the stops to obstruct clean energy investment, but the hits just keep on coming. In the latest development, Ballard Power Systems is moving forward with plans to set up a 3-GW fuel cell factory in Rockwell. [CleanTechnica]

Fuel cell electric bus (Photo courtesy of Ballard)

  • “UK Energy Production Hits Record Low – Biggest Drop Since 1948” • In 2023, UK energy production declined 9%, reaching its lowest level since records began in 1948. Government data show that production was down by 36% from 2010 and 66% from its peak in 1999. Oil production hit a record low, while production of gas hit its second lowest level. [Energy Live News]
  • “Imminent Insect Demise Means Global Food Web Is On Verge Of Collapse” • Buried in the late Friday afternoon news cycle, the most recent annual assessment from the World Entomology Body on the health of insects indicates that loss of whole insect communities is imminent. This would have disastrous effects for the global food web. [CleanTechnica]
  • “India Hydropower Output Records Steepest Fall In Nearly Four Decades” • India’s hydroelectricity output fell at the steepest pace in at least 38 years over the year ending March 31, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Erratic rainfall and high demand forced further dependence on coal-fired power, a major water consumer. [The Globe and Mail]
  • “Virginia Greenlights 764 MW Of Solar Sites” • The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved more than a dozen solar projects, with 764 MW of capacity. The projects will output enough energy to power nearly 200,000 homes at peak output. Four projects will belong to Dominion Energy Virginia, which will buy the output of and the others. [reNews]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.