This paper came out in 2022 but it's an interesting evaluation of the US DOE SolSmart program. That program works with volunteer communities to help them promote siting of solar energy facilities. Open access.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2106201119ISO-NE transmission study from Nov 2023 says "we can get to 2050 goals with a transmission system that doesn't look very different from what we have now.
https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100008/2024_02_14_pac_2050_transmission_study_final.pdfThis seems like an important milestone. Is it the first autonomous ride share system? Or are there already others?
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-navy-yard-begins-autonomous-electric-shuttle-service/
Philadelphia Navy Yard begins autonomous, electric shuttle service
The Navy Yard’s AV shuttle can fit nine seated passengers and a wheelchair.
I agree that we get lost in the sexy details of the Energy Transition and forget that, even when we decarbonize, we won't have solved the underlying problem.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/emotional-behavior-behavioral-emotions/202401/a-human-behavioural-crisis-threatens-humanity
A Human Behavioural Crisis Threatens Humanity
The climate crisis should shift from technological solutions to human behavior.
USNational Research Council is holding public info session on offshore wind.
The webinar will be webcast on the Climate Conversations: Offshore Wind webpage on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 3:00 to 4:15pm ET. Closed captioning will be provided. The conversation will include questions from the audience and will be recorded and available to view on the page after the event.https://events.nationalacademies.org/41964_02-2024_climate-conversations-offshore-wind
Climate Conversations: Offshore Wind
Register for this event from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Curious to read what the pro-SMR community has to say in response to this short piece by Ramana.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nuscale-uamps-project-small-modular-reactor-ramanasmr-/705717/
The collapse of NuScale’s project should spell the end for small modular nuclear reactors
Although there were problems specific to the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems project, the financial challenges and cost trends witnessed in that case will afflict any small modular nuclear reactor.
8 months later, still waiting on my whole house heat pump rebate from Mass Save...
Articles like the one below fail to acknowledge how red states have passed laws preventing local communities from regulating O&G activities, even from establishing setbacks from frack wells.
https://apnews.com/article/wind-solar-energy-projects-local-opposition-eb300574867f53f8abba85127574adc3
States with big climate goals strip local power to block green projects
More than a dozen states have given themselves the power to override local zoning restrictions that block large-scale renewable energy projects. The decisions come as some states implement ambitious goals requiring utility providers to generate 100% carbon-free energy by 2040. Local officials and residents who don’t want wind turbines and solar panels on their land are pushing back. In Michigan, advocates for local control are collecting signatures in hopes of bringing the issue before voters this year. Michigan's Democratic leaders approved legislation in 2023 granting a state commission the power to approve locations for new utility projects.
To be honest, I greatly prefer my oil heat with hot water radiators to my heat pumps. With the cold I switched on the furnace for the first time this winter and I'm so much more comfortable. The HPs are great for a/c in the summer though.
Great. They got their clicks and can put on their resume that they published in the Conversation. But all this crap science does is give the Anti's more talking points when they show up to rant and rave about the 1MW solar farm in their town.
Crap science because it assumes we cover 20% of the Sahara Desert with solar panels. How likely is that?
https://theconversation.com/gigantic-solar-farms-of-the-future-might-impact-how-much-solar-power-can-be-generated-on-the-other-side-of-the-world-220458
Gigantic solar farms of the future might impact how much solar power can be generated on the other side of the world
Solar farms that span whole countries could change the climate – new study.
