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May 18, 2022

Summary

›	Training programs prep young Philadelphia workers for the solar industry.
›	Clean energy deployment expected to set a new record this year.
›	Offshore wind could be America’s next big energy boom.
›	New extraction techniques aim to boost clean energy supply chains.
›	EV sales are soaring in 2022.
›	Analysis shows many EVs are cheaper on a monthly basis than gas cars.

Quote of the Week:

“Cutting red tape, accelerating permitting and providing the right incentives for faster deployment of renewables are some of the most important actions governments can take to address today’s energy security and market challenges,” said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

CLEAN ENERGY

Must Be Equitable

Philadelphia training programs prep workers for solar industry. The Bright Solar Futures program is training young Philadelphians for the solar industry, offering a leg up to join the growing clean energy sector. Solar panel installation is projected to be one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country, and Pennsylvania is a top 10 state for solar industry job growth. Many program participants say they’re motivated not only by the job prospects, but also by the prospect of supporting their community by improving climate and air quality. (WHYY)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Replacing Fossil Fuels

New mineral extraction techniques hope to boost clean energy. As the world shifts to clean energy, growing importance has been placed on the mineral supply chains that underpin clean energy technologies. To ensure adequate supply for a rapid global energy transition, researchers and developers are exploring new techniques to extract more minerals more efficiently while mitigating negative impacts. Some researchers are developing techniques to extract lithium — a key battery component — from the brines produced by geothermal power plants, Inside Climate News reports. Researchers and startups are also working to develop new technologies for mineral exploration, extracting minerals from mine waste, and using tailings to absorb carbon emissions from the air, writes National Geographic. (Inside Climate News, National Geographic)

EV registrations are booming. Registrations for new electric cars and trucks rose by 60 percent in the first quarter of 2022, even as overall vehicle registrations dropped by 18 percent. Today, electric vehicles account for 4.6 percent of all domestic passenger vehicle sales. Analysts project that with the pace of electric vehicle adoption, there could be 40 million electric cars and trucks on the road by 2030. (USA Today)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is a Good Investment

Clean energy on track for record deployments in 2022. After adding a record 295 gigawatts of clean energy in 2021, the world is on pace to break that record with another 320 gigawatts of clean energy this year, according to analysis from the International Energy Agency. China was the leader in clean energy deployment, followed by the E.U. and U.S. The growth comes despite industry headwinds as supply chain congestion, rising commodity costs, and construction delays have challenged clean energy buildout. (Yale Environment 360)

Offshore wind could be America's next big energy boom. As the federal government opens up coastlines for offshore wind development, energy companies have been clamoring to score leases and invest in the industry. A February auction for offshore wind development rights off the coast of New York generated a record $4.4 billion in investment, and more auctions are planned for this year. Industry interest has grown as offshore turbine technology has advanced significantly, and as state and federal governments have signaled historic support through subsidies, incentives, port and transmission infrastructure investments, and clean energy targets. (Houston Chronicle $)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Affordable

EVs can be cheaper month-to-month than gas cars. While many analyses have shown that electric cars and trucks are cheaper to own over their lifetimes than gas-powered cars, a new report from Energy Innovation finds that even the monthly costs of many electric cars are lower than their fossil-fueled equivalents. Comparing the monthly costs of financing and operating different models of cars across all 50 states, the analysis shows that federal tax credits and low operating costs give many electric models an edge over gas-powered counterparts in many states. (Canary Media)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Challenging

Aging U.S. power grid could slow energy transition. While the U.S. clean energy industry is seeing major growth, the country’s aging electric infrastructure is becoming the largest obstacle to clean energy progress. Decades of underinvestment — along with increasingly frequent severe weather events — have contributed to rising power outages in recent years, and experts say modernizing the grid could cost trillions. Yet the federal government lacks the powers to unilaterally direct nationwide grid expansion and modernization, and the patchwork of local, state, and regional regulators controlling the country’s transmission system face political pressures and incentives that are often at odds with the massive grid investment. (Reuters)