Summary

Quote of the Week:

“We need other states to adopt California’s shipping policies to minimize harm to the port communities and their workers,” said Teresa Bui, state climate policy director for Pacific Environment. “It does take a lot of money to make sure there’s adequate power. ​Ports really have to revamp the [electrical] installation for the terminal itself. [But] once you have mandates [and funding] in place, then you’re going to see a proliferation of these [clean shipping] technologies.” 

CLEAN ENERGY

Must Be Equitable

Inflation Reduction Act offers billions for an equitable transition in coal country. The legislation includes $4 billion in tax credits for projects aimed at retooling coal mines and retired coal plants. The tax breaks cover up to 30 percent of the project cost, and are forecast to spur investment in clean energy like fuel cell manufacturing, geothermal energy, and mineral processing. New guidance from the IRS also increases the investment tax credit for wind and solar projects in low-income communities by 20 percent, as part of the Biden administration’s goals for achieving an equitable energy transition in communities whose economies have historically relied on fossil fuels. (Utility Dive) 

CLEAN ENERGY

Has Many Benefits

Electrifying US ports makes air much cleaner. Waterfront communities would see a major drop in air pollution if ports powered their ships and trucks with electricity, according to new analysis from the International Council on Clean Transportation. Focusing on the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Seattle, researchers found that switching every ship, ferry, tugboat, and truck at the ports to electric power could reduce fine particulate matter 75 percent in Seattle and 69 percent in New York and New Jersey. The Inflation Reduction Act could accelerate the transition to all-electric ports, with $3 billion allocated to help ports shift to clean technologies and another $1 billion to electrify port trucks. (Canary Media)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Affordable

EVs could reach price parity with gas cars this year. Thanks to increased competition, government incentives, and falling supply chain costs, sticker prices for new EVs are coming down. Automakers are pouring investments into EV supply chains to scale their operations to meet rising demand and capture federal tax credits, and that mass production is making new EV models more affordable. Factoring in federal tax incentives, the electric versions of some new cars like G.M.’s Equinox will cost less than the cheapest gas-powered version. Used EV prices are also plummeting, down 17 percent since July after automakers like Tesla, Ford, and G.M. cut prices for certain EV models. (New York Times $)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is A Good Investment

Battery recycler scores $2 billion DOE loan. Redwood Materials, a Nevada battery recycling startup founded by a former Tesla executive, will use the funding to construct the country’s first factory producing key EV battery components like anode copper foil and cathode active materials. By 2025, the company expects to produce enough materials to supply 1 million EVs a year — enough to cut more than 3.5 million tons of climate pollution, according to the Energy Department. While the supply of used EV batteries is currently low, the infrastructure the company is developing could eventually help ensure a nearly closed-loop battery production system. (Grist)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Replacing Fossil Fuels

Tesla is opening its charging network to all EV drivers. Under a new partnership with the White House, Tesla will make at least 7,500 EV chargers from its Supercharger and Destination Charger networks available for other EVs for the first time in 2024. The move is expected to boost EV adoption by giving drivers confidence in their ability to refuel on-the-go. The news comes as the White House also announced steps to standardize EV charging networks across the country and expand public charging ports with funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law. (Associated Press)

EU charts full shift to clean cars by 2035. The European Union approved a new law this week mandating a 100 percent cut in climate pollution from new car sales by 2035. The move is expected to help the 27-country bloc accelerate its shift to fully zero-emission vehicles and meet its climate goals. Automakers like Volkswagen have already announced intentions to sell only electric cars in Europe by that date. EU officials noted that the operating costs of EVs are already significantly cheaper than those of gas-powered cars. (Reuters)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Challenging

Disinformation about whale deaths is being weaponized to stall offshore wind. Following a spate of dead whales washing up on beaches in the Northeast that authorities affirmed had nothing to do with offshore wind, anti-wind activists have been cynically exploiting the deaths to stifle offshore wind development in coastal waters. While their claims that offshore wind development activities harm whales have been debunked by experts and federal officials, the baseless speculation has been amplified by right-wing media and fossil fuel interests to build local political opposition to offshore wind. Despite their feigned concern, these groups and their allies have been notably silent on what marine scientists say are the greatest threats to whale populations — climate change, fishing gear, ship strikes, and plastic pollution. (USA Today)

MULTIMEDIA

Chart: Which clean energy jobs are growing the most?