Friday, December 27, 2019
Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 15
1 Top 10 Utility Regulation Trends of 2019
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-10-utility-regulation-trends-of-2019
As renewable energy and energy storage resources become increasingly cost-competitive, states have become more ambitious in their clean energy targets. At least 13 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. have now set 100 percent clean energy targets.
2 ‘It’s a good start’: Berkeley takes the lead in charging fee for single use cups
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berkeley-businesses-single-use-to-go-coffee-cups-fee-1.5395807
Beginning Jan. 1, businesses in Berkeley must include a charge of an extra 25 cents US for every to-go coffee cup — part of a growing worldwide movement against single-use items.
3 Volkswagen ahead of schedule in electric cars production
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkwagen-electric-idUSKBN1YV0O5
Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Friday that it would reach a key target in the production of electric autos earlier than previously anticipated.
4 Tesla set to begin deliveries of China-made Model 3 cars on Dec. 30
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-china-idUSKBN1YV0MB
U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) will begin delivering Model 3 vehicles built at its Shanghai factory on Monday, a company representative told Reuters.
5 Why Hasn’t Hydrogen Gone Mainstream?
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Why-Hasnt-Hydrogen-Gone-Mainstream.html
As the world pays more and more attention to reducing emissions and mitigating climate change, analysts believe that the most abundant element in the universe—hydrogen—has the potential to become a mainstream energy technology and a key clean fuel source in the future that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
6 Revealed: microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/27/revealed-microplastic-pollution-is-raining-down-on-city-dwellers
Microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers, with research revealing that London has the highest levels yet recorded.
The health impacts of breathing or consuming the tiny plastic particles are unknown, and experts say urgent research is needed to assess the risks.
7 Offshore wind developer Orsted secures money for renewable hydrogen project
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-orsted-renewables-hydrogen-idUSKBN1YO0WC
anish energy firm Orsted (ORSTED.CO) said on Friday it had secured funding for a demonstration project using offshore wind power to produce renewable hydrogen to power buses, lorries and potentially taxis.
8 Electric vehicle startup Rivian scores $1.3 billion investment from T.Rowe Price, others
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-rivian-idUSKBN1YR1KF
Electric vehicle startup Rivian said on Monday it closed a $1.3 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price and including existing investors Amazon.com and Ford Motor Co.
9 EV Ownership + Rooftop Solar Ownership — New Report & Charts
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/25/ev-ownership-rooftop-solar-ownership-new-report-charts/
We were curious whether EV ownership/leasing correlated with rooftop solar panel ownership, and also whether driving an EV encouraged people to drive more efficiently or even conserve energy more at home, so we surveyed thousands of EV owners. Guess what the results were.
10 FTSE leaves coal and oil firms and G4S on ethical investment list | Business
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/22/ftse-leaves-coal-and-oil-firms-and-g4s-on-ethical-investment-list
Some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies, including Russia’s state oil giant Rosneft, have been added to the London Stock Exchange’s “ethical” investment lists.
11 Is Goldman Sachs’ Recent Environmental Push Enough?
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/21/is-goldman-sachs-recent-environmental-push-enough/
Goldman Sachs has been garnering quite a lot of Twitter praises after the bank updated its “Environmental Policy Framework.” As per the changes, the firm has now pledged:
To decline any financing transaction that directly supports new upstream Arctic oil exploration or development. This includes but is not limited to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Decline the opportunities for transactions which directly finance new thermal coal mine development or any mountaintop removal mining.
12 Coal Killing Long-Duration Energy Storage For Vermont (Vermont?!?)
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/22/coal-killing-long-duration-energy-storage-for-vermont-vermont/
Whelp, it looks like the US coal industry is going to end the 2010s the way it started. Back in 2009, US coal producers probably didn’t know they were staring down at the bottom of an abyss fueled by natural gas and renewable energy — or if they knew, they weren’t telling. Now that the 2020s are here, a major new threat to coal is taking shape in the form of long-duration energy storage. And it’s happening in Vermont, of all places.
13 Are vegetables vegan? Organic agriculture’s dirty little secret | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/24/vegetables-vegan-organic-agriculture-farming
Bonsall is an influential member of a small but growing group of vegan and organic – “veganic” – farmers, who want to revolutionize organic agriculture, which traditionally depends on animals byproducts such as cow manure.
14 Why we put climate concerns on hold for the holiday season
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/climate-change-consumer-holiday-waste-gift-wrap-glitter-tree-psychology-1.5403646
You’re standing in line at the cash register, holding a sparkling roll of colourful gift wrap. You know it’s not a climate-friendly choice. You also know the paper is headed straight for the trash as soon as the gift is unwrapped.
But you buy it anyway.
