Clean, Sustainable & Renewable Energy Power Source's Worldwide & in the U.S.

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16 minutes ago, 8thdaypriest said:

And what do you think charges the electric cars?  Answer:  Fossil Fuels

Which is being slowly fazed out? Which the article is saying:

"Coal has been on a steady decline thanks to pollution rules and relatively inexpensive and abundant natural gas — now by far the largest power source."

Personally I believe Solar and Wind energy will be getting more and more prominent as time goes on, and besides they should've been something we should've had much sooner!!

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How ERCOT survived the latest freeze

A substation in Dallas on Jan. 16. Photo: Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Solar power helped keep the lights on during the latest Arctic blast in Texas. Driving the news: Dallas-Fort Worth temperatures dropped below freezing two weekends in a row without major power outages — a relative win for ERCOT, the state's power grid operator. Why it matters: The Texas power grid has been vulnerable to winter and summer weather extremes and has faced intense scrutiny since mass power outages during a historic multiday winter storm in February 2021 contributed to hundreds of deaths. The latest: Last week's freeze was the state's second-longest winter storm in the past 15 years and its third coldest, Woody Rickerson, an ERCOT senior vice president and its COO, said during a public utilities meeting on Thursday. Rickerson said surplus energy from solar generation throughout the storm helped charge batteries and gave operators a chance to correct issues at thermal plants, reports Axios' Jacob Knutson. By the numbers: Energy demand soared as minimum temperatures in Dallas and other Texas cities began to fall to the mid-20s and teens beginning last Sunday. The state saw three consecutive unofficial winter demand records throughout the freeze, with the peak topping out at 78,138 megawatts on Tuesday morning. (ERCOT couldn't measure peak demand during the 2021 storm, and it was likely higher than the new record.) Tuesday's peak demand will likely be the state's third highest, being around 7,370 megawatts lower than the all-time record set in August 2023. Details: Later that afternoon, Texas set a new solar power generation record, with panels contributing 14,835 megawatts to the grid, or around 20% of the total generated power at the time. Wind also accounted for 30% of the power generated last Monday. Yes, but: Conditions during the recent cold front were significantly better compared to those during the historic 2021 winter storm, so the most recent freeze may not be an accurate depiction of how the grid might perform in worse weather. The bottom line: The end of winter is still more than a month away. ps:Once again Solar helps Texas out!!!!!

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The United States has its first large offshore wind farm, with more to come

America’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm is officially open, a long-awaited moment that helps pave the way for a succession of large wind farms.

https://apnews.com/article/orsted-offshore-wind-new-york-south-fork-climate-cbb9360388d91be1368dd91ba35aa384?

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☀️ Mapped: America's solar leaders

Data: Climate Central. Map: Axios Visuals California, Texas and Iowa lead the country in solar and wind power generation, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj write from a new analysis. Why it matters: Solar and wind power are producing a comparatively small but growing share of America's overall energy supply. 🧮 By the numbers: Solar installations generated nearly 240,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity across the U.S. in 2023, according to the analysis by Climate Central, a climate research nonprofit. That's eight times higher than 2014. Wind generation hit about 425,000 GWh last year — double that of a decade ago. More data ...

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Texas' wind and solar production

By Alex Fitzpatrick,  Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi and Kavya Beheraj

Data: Climate Central; Note: Includes both utility-scale and small-scale solar generation; Map: Axios Visuals Texas is a top producer of solar power and wind energy in the country, per a new Axios analysis. Why it matters: Energy from wind and solar installations nationwide is expected to outpace coal-fired electricity this year, per Axios Generate's Ben Geman. And, solar power helped keep the lights on during January's Arctic blast in Texas. The big picture: Solar installations across the U.S. generated about eight times the gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2023 than in 2014, per Climate Central, a climate research nonprofit. Wind generation has doubled in the past decade. The two energy sources generated enough electricity last year to power more than 61 million average American homes, Climate Central says. State of play: Coal and natural gas remain the top generators in Texas, though the state has focused on diversifying its portfolio over the years. Texas installed more solar capacity than any other state last year, which likely contributed to a 25% increase in the state's solar energy production between 2022 and 2023. Wind energy generation in the state increased 4% between 2022 and 2023. Renewable energy now accounts for a third of the power generated in Texas, more than any other state. By the numbers: Texas generated significantly more wind energy — around 119,836 GWh — than any other state in 2023. Iowa came in second, with around 41,869 GWh produced. Between the lines: Last year, the Texas Legislature excluded wind and solar from a massive tax break program and passed bills to prop up the fossil fuel industry. But the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden's landmark climate legislation, has spurred production of renewable energy in Texas and across the country. Yes, but: Higher interest rates, inflation and supply chain issues are spoiling the financial math of some alt-energy investments. In Texas, January's low wind speeds contributed to a 22% drop in power generation by the state's wind farms compared to the same month in 2022. What we're watching: How the wind and solar boom will help Texas in the summer.

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2023 was a record year for wind installations as world ramps up clean energy, report says

The world installed 117 gigawatts of new wind power capacity in 2023, a 50% increase from the year before, making it the best year for new wind projects on record, according to a new report by the industry’s trade association.

https://apnews.com/article/energy-global-wind-report-2024-74dd788b62c429edd004332808440b60?

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Bill awaiting DeSantis’ OK would end years of renewable energy policies

TALLAHASSEE — A bill sitting on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk would end the state’s support of renewable and clean energy and keep Florida reliant on fossil fuels, critics say.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/05/03/bill-awaiting-desantis-ok-would-end-years-of-renewable-energy-policies/?

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More and faster: Electricity from clean sources reaches 30% of global total

Billions of people are using different kinds of energy each day and 2023 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy sources — ones that don’t emit planet-warming pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane — according to a report published Wednesday by Ember, a think tank based in London.

https://apnews.com/article/renewable-energy-climate-solar-wind-fossil-fuels-2718fce0ed37232dc25dbf46fff87955?

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🔋 Data du jour: Batteries rising

Data: Grid Status. Chart: The New York Times There's a new, rising power source in California: A network of giant batteries soak up solar power in the Golden State during the day and store it for use when the sun goes down, The New York Times reports. Stunning stat: "Those batteries play a pivotal role in California's electric grid, partially replacing fossil fuels in the evening. Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on April 30, for example, batteries supplied more than one-fifth of California's electricity and, for a few minutes, pumped out 7,046 megawatts of electricity, akin to the output from seven large nuclear reactors."

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New solar will help keep power on during scorching summer, report says

With some parts of the country already facing heat waves, the organization in charge of setting reliability standards for the American electric grid is warning that a scorching summer could lead to a shortage of power generation in some regions.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/05/28/new-solar-will-help-keep-power-on-during-scorching-summer-report-says/?

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Speed drives Texas' clean energy boom

By Katie Fehrenbacher and Asher Price

Illustration: Victoria Ellis/Axios

Wind and solar projects are hot in Texas — and short interconnection times, low development costs and rising regional power needs are fueling the demand. Why it matters: Companies are searching for the quickest way to get clean electricity to power data centers for AI, and Texas' relatively quick hookups are increasingly attractive. State of play: Texas installed the second most solar panels of any state in the first quarter of 2024, per Wood Mackenzie researchers. Growing power needs in Texas, long interconnection delays in other markets, and the explosive growth of AI and data centers are driving the demand for clean energy. Investors and developers are focused on clean energy projects. Most roads appear to be leading to Texas for the next two years when it comes to new wind and solar projects, says Sam Scroggins, managing director of Lazard's Global Power, Energy & Infrastructure Group. Yes, but: The Texas grid can get congested during peak times and has faced rolling blackouts. Solar project developers need to be able to manage their risks for when clean energy is curtailed during peak times. What's next: All eyes will be on how the state's grid performs this summer with record-shattering heat expected. ERCOT has said it could face rolling blackouts in August. Meanwhile, Texans have little confidence in the grid. Go deeper: "A sunny solar pipeline for Texas"

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Detroit plans to harness solar power on vacant lots throughout the city

DETROIT (AP) — Patricia Kobylski remembers when there were lots of people living in her eastside Detroit neighborhood. There aren’t as many anymore — and haven’t been for a long time.

https://apnews.com/article/detroit-solar-energy-array-which-neighborhoods-f84e5c4cc7c62fdc845bc74e901d637c?

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⚡ Surprise climate tech hub

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Wyoming — a leading coal mining state — has been morphing into a key place to develop next-gen climate technologies such as carbon removal, nuclear and wind, Katie Fehrenbacher writes for Axios Pro: Climate Deals. Wyoming still gets 71% of its electricity from coal. But Republican Gov. Mark Gordon has pledged to help the state go carbon-negative to fight climate change. The goal has sometimes made him unpopular with his GOP peers. His vision is to use carbon capture tech as a means to get there instead of shutting down coal plants. Keep reading ($) ...

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🤠 Texas' green-energy groundswell

Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios

Texas — the oil and gas capital of the U.S. — is also quickly becoming a leader in renewable energy, Axios' Ben Geman reports. ☀️ Texas has passed California as the state with the most power-generating capacity from big solar projects. It's long been No. 1 in wind power, and now it's second in battery storage. 🔌 What's next: The state's oil giants, including Exxon and Chevron, are investing in lower-carbon business lines, including carbon capture and hydrogen. And the state is a hotbed for climate tech startups who now rub shoulders with incumbent energy companies. Go deeper.

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Tugboat powered by ammonia sails for the first time, showing how to cut emissions from shipping

KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) — On a tributary of the Hudson River, a tugboat powered by ammonia eased away from the shipyard dock and sailed for the first time to show how the maritime industry can slash planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.

https://apnews.com/article/ammonia-fuel-diesel-amogy-shipping-60beccfb8894c79ddc624026fbf0a8e5?

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The Dirty Business of Clean Energy: The U.K. Power Company Polluting Small Towns Across the U.S

All Sheila Mae Dobbins wants is an apology.

In 2014, an industrial facility producing wood pellets opened so close to her house in Gloster, Mississippi, that she could overhear conversations between managers and staffers as they worked and smell the fumes the plant pumped into the air.

https://theintercept.com/2024/09/30/drax-wood-pellet-energy-air-pollution/?

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Florida has installed the second most solar power capacity in the country in 2024

Nearly 30,000 Floridians have installed solar power this year, bringing the number of installations to over 253,000 according to a new report.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/12/06/florida-has-installed-the-second-most-solar-power-capacity-in-the-country-in-2024/?

ps:Should've been long ago but kept getting voted down to keep the oil companies happy!!!!!

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Top editors stiff WashPost

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

The situation at The Washington Post is so dire that two candidates to run the paper — Cliff Levy of The New York Times and Meta's Anne Kornblut, a former Post editor — both withdrew from consideration for the top newsroom job over the paper's strategy, sources involved in the process tell us. Why it matters: The Post is scrambling to find a new executive editor, the chair once held by Ben Bradlee, amid shrinking paid readership and revenue. Publisher and CEO Will Lewis, handpicked by owner Jeff Bezos to save The Post, hasn't impressed the candidates with his vision for the future, the sources tell us. One person involved in the search told us Lewis' pitch was foggy and uninspiring. 🔬 Zoom in: Levy, who pulled out last week, and Kornblut, whose conversations ended in September, declined to comment. Other candidates include current interim executive editor Matt Murray. But it's hard to imagine this monthslong process unfolding so publicly — only to end with the same guy in charge. A few candidates were asked to write six-page memos — a hallmark of Amazon culture — about their journalistic vision for the paper, using AI and how to grow The Post's audience. Levy is a two-time Pulitzer winner who was an early advocate for digital innovation, and now is deputy publisher of two prized Times properties, The Athletic and Wirecutter. He started talking to The Post in August after the paper's search firm, Egon Zehnder, reached out. Kornblut, who declined to move forward with the process after initial conversations, is Meta's VP of global product content operations. She had a formidable newspaper career before moving to the Bay Area as a tech executive: She was a Washington correspondent for The Boston Globe and The New York Times before becoming a Washington Post reporter and editor for eight years. Kornblut rose to deputy assistant managing editor for national news, where she was the lead editor on Pulitzer-winning coverage of Edward Snowden's NSA revelations. Matea Gold — a respected, popular managing editor many reporters wanted in the top job, and who conceived of and ran The Post's Pulitzer-winning investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol — announced last week that she's moving to The New York Times as Washington editor, making her deputy to the bureau chief. There's lots of anxiety in The Post newsroom right now about whether the paper is still committed to that kind of fearless accountability reporting. Axios confirmed that the search firm also reached out to Kevin Merida and Steven Ginsberg, two former Washington Post managing editors. Neither expressed interest in the role. 🖼️ The big picture: Bezos has said little about what he wants for a revived Post. He is scheduled to dine with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago this week — two months after killing a Post endorsement of Trump's rival, Vice President Harris. Bezos' various business interests — Amazon and the Blue Origin space company — stand to gain or suffer from Trump's presidency. The Post has announced no major shifts or innovations under the Lewis regime. Toss in a demoralized staff and invigorated labor unions, and you have a mighty challenge for the next top editor. 🔎 Between the lines: The Post has lost a ton of talent this last year, and several stars are talking to competitors about leaving soon. One hot rumor inside The Post: The Atlantic is licking its chops over political writers who are increasingly poachable. Other Posties are eying The New York Times, long known at the Post as "Brand X." People involved in the process say Bezos has been mostly MIA at the Post, leaving matters to Lewis, who is unpopular in the newsroom. Several people familiar with The Post's search were baffled by the apparent absence of editorial vision or business strategy. "I'm not sure it's salvageable," one of them said. The extravaganza will be replaced by a smaller awards dinner in the new year for the winners, including revered sportswriter Sally Jenkins, and their families. A scaled-back toast to the newsroom winners will be held today at 2:30 p.m., along with a sendoff for Gold.