Summary

Quote of the Week:

“[The Biden administration's $6 billion program is] yet another exciting step in the race to fully decarbonize our heavy industries, and will help drastically reduce harmful pollution while ensuring America’s manufacturing sector is strong and competitive,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

CLEAN ENERGY

Must Be Equitable

Philadelphia is reconnecting communities. Armed with a $1.8 million Reconnecting Communities grant, Philadelphia is planning to cap its long-criticized Vine Street Expressway and reconnect the Chinatown community divided by its construction in 1991. Advocates say the expressway intensified social and economic gaps in the community and exacerbated environmental justice issues.The first phase of the project will focus on community engagement to determine guidelines for the second phase, which will develop possible designs. Advocates hope the project will ultimately provide cleaner air, economic opportunity, and more outdoor public space. (Smart Cities Dive) 

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Affordable

Nissan is slashing prices for its EVs. As part of its shift to electric cars, Nissan is aiming to cut costs by improving the efficiency of its batteries. The company aims to cut manufacturing costs 30 percent by 2026 compared to 2019 levels, and to reduce the amount of rare minerals in its batteries from 25 percent of the total battery weight to just 1 percent. By 2030, Nissan expects its EV offerings will retail at the same price as gas cars. On top of those upfront savings, EV owners can also save between $1,800 and $2,600 in fueling and maintenance costs for every 15,000 miles driven. (Associated Press)

CLEAN ENERGY

Has Many Benefits

Smart charging can help the grid. Smart charging features for devices like phones, EVs, heat pumps, and other appliances could be a huge asset to the grid by shifting when these devices charge. On top of avoiding blackouts or brownouts caused by overwhelming demand, these features can also reduce emissions by drawing power when clean energy supply is greatest. While each individual device may have a small impact on the grid, the combined effect is significant — the EPA estimates that emissions from phone charging across the country are equivalent to 85,000 new gas-powered cars on the road. Apple has already introduced a 'Clean Energy Charging' mode on the iPhone, which forecasts when the grid is strongest and cleanest and shifts charging to those periods. (Washington Post $)

Floating solar panels can power cities while saving water. Solar arrays suspended over water could fully meet the electricity demand of over 6,000 cities across over 100 countries, according to a new study. Cities would need to cover just 30 percent of local reservoirs with 'floatovoltaics' to meet that demand, avoiding competition with agriculture and conservation efforts around siting and permitting. And because the floating arrays block sunlight and reduce evaporation, the researchers also project that these efforts could conserve as much water as 300 million people use per year. The study suggests that water would also have a cooling effect that prevents solar panels from overheating and keeps them working efficiently. (The Verge)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Replacing Fossil Fuels

Biden launches $6 billion program to clean up heavy industry. The Energy Department’s new Industrial Demonstrations Program will provide grants to companies and researchers working to reduce climate pollution from the production of cement, metals, fertilizer, and other heavy industrial sectors. The program is part of the Biden administration’s pledge to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050. Global steel production alone accounts for roughly 9 percent of the world’s annual climate pollution, and some 'green steel' initiatives are already taking shape. The program is expected to fund pilot projects for clean industrial technology as well as commercial-scale projects. (Canary Media)

Breakthrough could make batteries last longer. A new ‘superconductor’ material could make batteries last longer and power grids more efficient, according to researchers at the University of Rochester. While existing superconductors are considered impractical because they require extreme cooling and high pressure to work, the new material called 'reddmatter' can operate at room temperature and at much lower pressure. The researchers say those features could make the superconductor commercially viable and become a major asset in the energy transition. (Wall Street Journal $)

CLEAN ENERGY

Is Challenging

Clean energy investors warn of high interest rates & costs. High interest rates and commodity prices could derail the energy transition, investors warned at the CERAWeek energy conference. While clean energy investment in recent years has been boosted by a low interest rate environment, recent inflationary pressures are making it more difficult to finance new clean energy projects. While federal incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act can defray some of those upfront costs, investors are becoming hesitant to back new energy projects since the risk of delays could threaten financial viability. (Reuters)

MULTIMEDIA

Map: How EVs perform on a California road trip