Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with solar development grants for Native communities. SunShare - a renewable energy company whose director of development is an Iñupiaq woman, was chosen to set up solar gardens for New Mexico’s community solar program using $7.2 million in grant funds. Next, read the fascinating story of how larvae of wax moths found (and removed) from a scientist’s beehive honeycombs helped her discover a possible bio-inspired means to recycle plastic. She since has co-founded a startup and research group to dive deeper into the concept. Then, in other insect and plastic related news, researchers at Texas A&M are developing a way to use discarded soldier fly carcasses to make biodegradable plastics. Finally, widely available sawdust and plant-based materials could be the key to filtering microplastics out of our drinking water, according to research in the testing phase at the University of British Columbia. Enjoy! (links in comments section).
Iñupiaq woman focuses on Indigenous-led renewable energy efforts in New Mexico - Source New Mexico
sourcenm.com
Growing up as an Iñupiaq woman with family roots in northwestern Alaska, Salina Derichsweiler feels at home in New Mexico surrounded by other Native communities. And leading the development of new co...Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with news the state of Illinois will soon be installing 176 new EV fast which will charge an EV in 15 minutes, adding to the already 1,100 public EV chargers in the state. Then, news that Ford has taken a 3 pronged view for their EV vehicle development which includes an off-road model. Next, the move toward Community Development Agreements explained as developers move into communities creating large scale projects like wind farms and solar parks. They promote things like safe, equitable clean energy development and guaranteed local benefits like jobs and improved infrastructure to affected communities. Finally, an article mapping how New Mexico and surrounding western states can take advantage of tax incentives for clean energy growth. There are some interesting maps regarding specific clean energy technologies shown. Enjoy! (links in comments section).
176 New EV Fast Charging Ports Will Be Installed In Illinois
cleantechnica.com
Texas-based Universal EV Chargers recently announced that the company was selected by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to receive grants in order to install 176 new DC fast charging...Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with grid energy in Texas. The state just hooked up its first virtual power plant (VPP) to help the grid. Select customers now have the power to participate in Texas energy markets with their own devices — and get paid. Then, a Fiat branded start-up is joining others in the affordable EV market with the Citroen which has a battery range of 186 miles and starts at $27,000. Next, an emerging concept – V2G, (vehicle to grid) or down the line, V2E (vehicle to everything). Can it work? As EVs become more a part of the mainstream in the future, the notion of plugging EVs in en masse to relieve the stress of the grid. A broad subject which will bring about debate, no doubt. Finally, a fascinating article again about VPPs (virtual power plants) – specifically a VPP in Utah powered by 3,000 homes, run by Rocky Mountain Power (a company owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, which is heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry). Read about the details of VPPs and how this unlikely project came to be. Enjoy! (links in comments section).
Texas hooked up its first virtual power plants to help the grid
www.canarymedia.com
Select customers now have the power to participate in Texas energy markets with their own devices — and to get paid for doing so.
Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with an article having links with 5 stories to choose from – and a 17 minute podcast , “This Week in Cleantech” if podcasts are your jam. Stories included – Fixing Our Failing Electric Grid (NPR) - Europe’s Gas Guzzling Days are Fading (Wall Street Journal) – Pioneering Wind Powered Cargo Ship Sets Sail (BBC) – Solar Panels to Surround Dulles Airport Will Deliver Power to 37,000 Homes (AP) – Chinese Solar Makers Face New Tariffs After U.S. says they are dodging duties (Bloomberg). Enjoy!
Solar tariffs, grid tech, and wind-powered cargo ships — This Week in Cleantech
www.renewableenergyworld.com
The new "This Week in Cleantech" podcast breaks down the biggest stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.Sustainable Good News Sunday begins with news that the city of Chicago is committing $15 million to help lower-income residents decarbonize with grants for electric stoves, heat pumps and energy-efficiency measures. Then, air-pollution regulators adopted a first-in-the-nation rule that aims to dramatically reduce emissions from hundreds of commercial food ovens in California – which possibly will spread throughout the nation. Next, a start-up facility in central Alabama claims it can reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions from concrete production by 70 -100 %. Finally, in more concrete production news – the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition, a network of local governments in Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, gave a grant to a family-owned masonry business in Flagstaff which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from concrete production by 70%. Good news for this energy heavy industry. Enjoy! (links in comments section)
Chicago to fund electric stoves and heat pumps for lower-income homes
www.canarymedia.com
The $15 million initiative is expected to help remove fossil fuel appliances from at least 200 households that might not otherwise have the means to do so.