home.social

#renewablesnow — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #renewablesnow, aggregated by home.social.

fetched live
  1. #PlugInSolar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in #US Backyards

    Ten U.S. states have legalized systems that can be plugged into standard wall outlets. The technology typically does not require permits or electricians.

    By Ivan Penn and Claire Brown
    Published July 31, 2026, Updated Aug. 3, 2026

    Excerpt: "Millions of Americans worried about rising energy costs might soon follow in her footsteps as states start allowing homeowners and renters to plug in solar panels on balconies, in backyards and other places. Plug-in systems are much smaller and cheaper than rooftop build-outs — some costing just a few hundred dollars a panel. Permits are not required in the states that allow their use, and people can often install them on their own.

    "Utah became the first state to legalize plug-in solar systems last year. Nine others, including New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado, have joined it, and lawmakers in California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and several other states are considering doing so."

    Read more:
    nytimes.com/2026/07/31/busines

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/0yRS2

    #SolarPunkSunday #BackyardSolar #Renewables #SolarEnergy #BalconySolar #RenewablesNow

  2. #PlugInSolar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in #US Backyards

    Ten U.S. states have legalized systems that can be plugged into standard wall outlets. The technology typically does not require permits or electricians.

    By Ivan Penn and Claire Brown
    Published July 31, 2026, Updated Aug. 3, 2026

    Excerpt: "Millions of Americans worried about rising energy costs might soon follow in her footsteps as states start allowing homeowners and renters to plug in solar panels on balconies, in backyards and other places. Plug-in systems are much smaller and cheaper than rooftop build-outs — some costing just a few hundred dollars a panel. Permits are not required in the states that allow their use, and people can often install them on their own.

    "Utah became the first state to legalize plug-in solar systems last year. Nine others, including New Jersey, Virginia and Colorado, have joined it, and lawmakers in California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and several other states are considering doing so."

    Read more:
    nytimes.com/2026/07/31/busines

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/0yRS2

    #SolarPunkSunday #BackyardSolar #Renewables #SolarEnergy #BalconySolar #RenewablesNow

  3. More of this, please...!

    #Solar companies partnering with #MaineFarmers for land management

    by Jamie Azulay, Jul 28, 2026

    #HollisME - "#Nexamp, a #RenewableEnergy company with several solar farms in Maine, is working with local farmers to manage the land beneath its panels. In Hollis, Jonathan Tibbetts was contracted to bring his flock of about 40 #sheep to an approximately 20-acre field.

    " 'Basically, what their job is, is to keep the grass below the panels,' Tibbetts said. 'When we leave, we don’t necessarily want it to look like a lawn, but we want the vegetation managed.'

    "Nexamp leases the land, and it prefers to avoid heavy machinery powered by #FossilFuels to maintain it.

    " 'It’s kind of a no-brainer. It’s more #sustainable. The costs are good,' said Keith Hevenor, Nexamp's communication manager. 'It’s safer in a lot of ways than running mechanical mowers through #SolarFields where you can kick up a rock or do some sort of damage.'

    "Nexamp is grazing 2,000 acres across sites in the United States. Eighty sites, with a combined 600 acres, are being grazed in Maine. These partnerships keep operations environmentally friendly while also supporting #LocalAgriculture.

    " 'Land access for farming is getting harder and harder for every farmer,' Tibbetts said.

    "Tibbetts was running out of space on his farm, but now his business is growing with access to the Nexamp field.

    " 'I can go out and put sheep on solar and make an income,' he said. 'To me, that’s still agriculture. It’s just not what people are used to.'

    "The partnerships reflect a new age of agriculture, which some farmers are adjusting to while others are struggling to accept the changes.

    " 'Solar is controversial, but the reality of it is, it’s here,' Tibbetts said.

    "Hevenor hopes the critics who say solar companies are stealing farmland eventually come around. He argues the company is only borrowing these fields temporarily.

    "State-mandated decommissioning plans allow the land to return to its previous use if that is what the property owner chooses to do.

    " 'If you come in here and build an #AmazonWarehouse or a #Datacenter or a neighborhood, it’s permanently gone,' Hevenor said.

    "Hevenor said many of the landowners Nexamp leases from are farmers themselves.

    " 'I can see how somebody in their 70s who’s just trying to keep the farm and is looking for some type of income, who isn’t able to farm the way they were 20 years ago, it’s an avenue for them to keep their farm,' Tibbetts said.

    "Nexamp has fields out of state being grazed by pigs and cattle. Hevenor said that could be a possibility in Maine in the near future."

    Watch video:
    wmtw.com/article/solar-compani

    #SolarPunkSunday #MaineFarms #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrovoltaics

  4. More of this, please...!

    #Solar companies partnering with #MaineFarmers for land management

    by Jamie Azulay, Jul 28, 2026

    #HollisME - "#Nexamp, a #RenewableEnergy company with several solar farms in Maine, is working with local farmers to manage the land beneath its panels. In Hollis, Jonathan Tibbetts was contracted to bring his flock of about 40 #sheep to an approximately 20-acre field.

    " 'Basically, what their job is, is to keep the grass below the panels,' Tibbetts said. 'When we leave, we don’t necessarily want it to look like a lawn, but we want the vegetation managed.'

    "Nexamp leases the land, and it prefers to avoid heavy machinery powered by #FossilFuels to maintain it.

    " 'It’s kind of a no-brainer. It’s more #sustainable. The costs are good,' said Keith Hevenor, Nexamp's communication manager. 'It’s safer in a lot of ways than running mechanical mowers through #SolarFields where you can kick up a rock or do some sort of damage.'

    "Nexamp is grazing 2,000 acres across sites in the United States. Eighty sites, with a combined 600 acres, are being grazed in Maine. These partnerships keep operations environmentally friendly while also supporting #LocalAgriculture.

    " 'Land access for farming is getting harder and harder for every farmer,' Tibbetts said.

    "Tibbetts was running out of space on his farm, but now his business is growing with access to the Nexamp field.

    " 'I can go out and put sheep on solar and make an income,' he said. 'To me, that’s still agriculture. It’s just not what people are used to.'

    "The partnerships reflect a new age of agriculture, which some farmers are adjusting to while others are struggling to accept the changes.

    " 'Solar is controversial, but the reality of it is, it’s here,' Tibbetts said.

    "Hevenor hopes the critics who say solar companies are stealing farmland eventually come around. He argues the company is only borrowing these fields temporarily.

    "State-mandated decommissioning plans allow the land to return to its previous use if that is what the property owner chooses to do.

    " 'If you come in here and build an #AmazonWarehouse or a #Datacenter or a neighborhood, it’s permanently gone,' Hevenor said.

    "Hevenor said many of the landowners Nexamp leases from are farmers themselves.

    " 'I can see how somebody in their 70s who’s just trying to keep the farm and is looking for some type of income, who isn’t able to farm the way they were 20 years ago, it’s an avenue for them to keep their farm,' Tibbetts said.

    "Nexamp has fields out of state being grazed by pigs and cattle. Hevenor said that could be a possibility in Maine in the near future."

    Watch video:
    wmtw.com/article/solar-compani

    #SolarPunkSunday #MaineFarms #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrovoltaics

  5. Double harvest: #raspberries and #RenewableEnergy - #FruitLogistica

    Excerpts: "Based on current findings, strawberries do not thrive under #SolarPanels, so this combination of crops does not have a promising future. This was the conclusion of a Wageningen University study on fruit cultivation beneath #photovoltaic systems.

    Strawberries grown beneath solar panels with 25 to 50 per cent light transmission experienced a significant drop in yield – by 25 to 30 per cent.

    The situation was quite different for raspberries, however: under solar panels with 40 per cent light transmission, the harvest yield fell by only five per cent, and the quality of the fruit remained unchanged. At the same time, the panels reduced evaporation and water consumption, protecting the berries from burns and heat peaks.

    The scientists also expect positive effects on #WaterConsumption and protection against #ExtremeWeather conditions.

    [...]

    One clear advantage is that raspberries are currently grown under rain protection films that have to be replaced every five to seven years. This equates to a significant amount of plastic that would no longer be required if solar modules were used instead. And they last at least ten years."

    Full article:
    fruitlogistica.com/en/blog/dou

    #SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #Solar #RenewableEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #SolarEnergy

  6. Double harvest: #raspberries and #RenewableEnergy - #FruitLogistica

    Excerpts: "Based on current findings, strawberries do not thrive under #SolarPanels, so this combination of crops does not have a promising future. This was the conclusion of a Wageningen University study on fruit cultivation beneath #photovoltaic systems.

    Strawberries grown beneath solar panels with 25 to 50 per cent light transmission experienced a significant drop in yield – by 25 to 30 per cent.

    The situation was quite different for raspberries, however: under solar panels with 40 per cent light transmission, the harvest yield fell by only five per cent, and the quality of the fruit remained unchanged. At the same time, the panels reduced evaporation and water consumption, protecting the berries from burns and heat peaks.

    The scientists also expect positive effects on #WaterConsumption and protection against #ExtremeWeather conditions.

    [...]

    One clear advantage is that raspberries are currently grown under rain protection films that have to be replaced every five to seven years. This equates to a significant amount of plastic that would no longer be required if solar modules were used instead. And they last at least ten years."

    Full article:
    fruitlogistica.com/en/blog/dou

    #SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #Solar #RenewableEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #SolarEnergy

  7. #Trump admin abandons fight against #WindEnergy as clean energy output surges

    Legal victories have dampened the Trump admin’s efforts to halt #wind and #SolarPower.

    Aman Azhar, Jun 16, 2026

    Excerpt: "Environmental and wildlife advocacy groups applauded the move. #NancyPyne, a senior advisor to the #SierraClub, said renewable energy continues to prevail and grow in spite of Trump’s relentless attacks.

    " 'While everyday Americans face soaring bills and unstable prices,' she said, 'renewable energy offers an affordable, common sense solution to lower costs and protect our health and our environment.' "

    Read more:
    arstechnica.com/science/2026/0

    #USPol #TrumpSucks #WindEnergy #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow

  8. #Trump admin abandons fight against #WindEnergy as clean energy output surges

    Legal victories have dampened the Trump admin’s efforts to halt #wind and #SolarPower.

    Aman Azhar, Jun 16, 2026

    Excerpt: "Environmental and wildlife advocacy groups applauded the move. #NancyPyne, a senior advisor to the #SierraClub, said renewable energy continues to prevail and grow in spite of Trump’s relentless attacks.

    " 'While everyday Americans face soaring bills and unstable prices,' she said, 'renewable energy offers an affordable, common sense solution to lower costs and protect our health and our environment.' "

    Read more:
    arstechnica.com/science/2026/0

    #USPol #TrumpSucks #WindEnergy #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow

  9. #Africa’s #cellphone towers turn to #solar as diesel costs surge

    By ALLAN OLINGO, Updated 12:04 AM EDT, May 2, 2026

    NAIROBI, #Kenya (AP) — "Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran war are adding urgency to a shift already underway across Africa to move cellphone towers off #FossilFuels and onto #SolarPower.

    "Diesel, which powers the majority of Africa’s roughly 500,000 telecommunications towers, has become more expensive and sometimes harder to secure in recent weeks as global fuel markets tightened following the conflict. Several African countries that rely heavily on imported fuel have reported price spikes and supply disruptions, prompting governments and companies to reassess energy strategies.

    "The transition to cleaner power for the towers that provide cellphone service predates the latest price shocks, driven by cost pressures and climate goals. But the war in the Middle East has accelerated the push.

    " 'Diesel has always been a major cost, but recent global events have made it even more volatile,' said Lande Abudu, senior energy specialist for Africa at GSMA, a global industry organization representing mobile operators. “That strengthens the case for solar and hybrid solutions.' "

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/solar-tower

    #SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower

  10. #Africa’s #cellphone towers turn to #solar as diesel costs surge

    By ALLAN OLINGO, Updated 12:04 AM EDT, May 2, 2026

    NAIROBI, #Kenya (AP) — "Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran war are adding urgency to a shift already underway across Africa to move cellphone towers off #FossilFuels and onto #SolarPower.

    "Diesel, which powers the majority of Africa’s roughly 500,000 telecommunications towers, has become more expensive and sometimes harder to secure in recent weeks as global fuel markets tightened following the conflict. Several African countries that rely heavily on imported fuel have reported price spikes and supply disruptions, prompting governments and companies to reassess energy strategies.

    "The transition to cleaner power for the towers that provide cellphone service predates the latest price shocks, driven by cost pressures and climate goals. But the war in the Middle East has accelerated the push.

    " 'Diesel has always been a major cost, but recent global events have made it even more volatile,' said Lande Abudu, senior energy specialist for Africa at GSMA, a global industry organization representing mobile operators. “That strengthens the case for solar and hybrid solutions.' "

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/solar-tower

    #SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower

  11. Unfortunately, this new breakthrough involves #Molybdenum, the mining of which is very polluting. The article does also mention breakthroughs using #perovskite, and hopefully, lead-free perovskite (like those using tin) will be developed... Always ask -- How long will this new technology last? What happens when it becomes obsolete? Are there polluting materials involved?

    Scientists achieve ‘impossible’ #solar efficiency in #renewables breakthrough

    ‘Spin-flip’ technique promises to shatter efficiency limits

    Anthony Cuthbertson
    Monday 30 March 2026 1

    the-independent.com/tech/solar

    #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow

  12. Unfortunately, this new breakthrough involves #Molybdenum, the mining of which is very polluting. The article does also mention breakthroughs using #perovskite, and hopefully, lead-free perovskite (like those using tin) will be developed... Always ask -- How long will this new technology last? What happens when it becomes obsolete? Are there polluting materials involved?

    Scientists achieve ‘impossible’ #solar efficiency in #renewables breakthrough

    ‘Spin-flip’ technique promises to shatter efficiency limits

    Anthony Cuthbertson
    Monday 30 March 2026 1

    the-independent.com/tech/solar

    #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow

  13. #Trump has undermined the agency tasked with making sure America never has another #nuclear meltdown

    By Ella Nilsen, Updated Mar 10, 2026

    "The federal regulatory agency tasked with keeping America’s #NuclearPower plants safe and running smoothly is set to make huge cuts to the amount of time its staffers spend on #safety and emergency #inspections, opening the door to more self-policing from the industry.

    "As it embarks on a reorganization to fulfill executive orders from President Donald Trump, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] is proposing to dramatically reduce its inspection hours for existing #NuclearPowerPlants, cutting back on the amount of time independent inspectors look for plants’ security procedures, #radiation protection for staff, #maintenance and safety.

    "The NRC has been a crucial part of keeping America’s nuclear energy operating for the past 40 years — and experts say its authority is only more necessary than ever as the Trump administration seeks to usher in a new golden age of nuclear energy. But Trump wants to streamline the agency, and staff cuts combined with executive orders are troubling signs that Trump is undoing the NRC’s independence, experts said."

    Read more:
    cnn.com/2026/03/10/climate/tru

    #NoNewNukes #NoNukes #USPol #TEPCOLied #HoltecLies #TrumpLies #NoMoreChernobyls #NoMoreFukushimas #SMRs
    #NRCFail #RenewablesNow #MakeAmericaRadioactiveAgain

  14. #Trump has undermined the agency tasked with making sure America never has another #nuclear meltdown

    By Ella Nilsen, Updated Mar 10, 2026

    "The federal regulatory agency tasked with keeping America’s #NuclearPower plants safe and running smoothly is set to make huge cuts to the amount of time its staffers spend on #safety and emergency #inspections, opening the door to more self-policing from the industry.

    "As it embarks on a reorganization to fulfill executive orders from President Donald Trump, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] is proposing to dramatically reduce its inspection hours for existing #NuclearPowerPlants, cutting back on the amount of time independent inspectors look for plants’ security procedures, #radiation protection for staff, #maintenance and safety.

    "The NRC has been a crucial part of keeping America’s nuclear energy operating for the past 40 years — and experts say its authority is only more necessary than ever as the Trump administration seeks to usher in a new golden age of nuclear energy. But Trump wants to streamline the agency, and staff cuts combined with executive orders are troubling signs that Trump is undoing the NRC’s independence, experts said."

    Read more:
    cnn.com/2026/03/10/climate/tru

    #NoNewNukes #NoNukes #USPol #TEPCOLied #HoltecLies #TrumpLies #NoMoreChernobyls #NoMoreFukushimas #SMRs
    #NRCFail #RenewablesNow #MakeAmericaRadioactiveAgain

  15. Fire out and shelter-in-place order is lifted after #OilRefinery explosion near #Texas coast

    By HALLIE GOLDEN
    Updated 7:29 AM EDT, March 24, 2026

    "An oil refinery fire near the Texas coast was put out Tuesday and a shelter-in-place order was lifted, hours after a large explosion at the complex shot plumes of smoke into the air, officials said.

    "No one was injured in Monday’s explosion at the #Valero refinery in #PortArthur, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses said. She had urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay put.

    " 'There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,' she said. 'They’re trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible.'

    "Residents at least several miles away said they felt their homes shake. Some schools in the area were closed Tuesday as a precaution.

    "The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war.

    "The refinery has about 770 employees and can process about 435,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Valero’s website. The plant refines heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel."

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/refinery-ex

    #BigOilAndGas #BlackRain #ToxicPlumes #RenewablesNow #USPol #TrumpSucks #Oiligrchy

  16. Fire out and shelter-in-place order is lifted after #OilRefinery explosion near #Texas coast

    By HALLIE GOLDEN
    Updated 7:29 AM EDT, March 24, 2026

    "An oil refinery fire near the Texas coast was put out Tuesday and a shelter-in-place order was lifted, hours after a large explosion at the complex shot plumes of smoke into the air, officials said.

    "No one was injured in Monday’s explosion at the #Valero refinery in #PortArthur, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses said. She had urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay put.

    " 'There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,' she said. 'They’re trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible.'

    "Residents at least several miles away said they felt their homes shake. Some schools in the area were closed Tuesday as a precaution.

    "The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war.

    "The refinery has about 770 employees and can process about 435,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Valero’s website. The plant refines heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel."

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/refinery-ex

    #BigOilAndGas #BlackRain #ToxicPlumes #RenewablesNow #USPol #TrumpSucks #Oiligrchy

  17. #Iran war #EnergyCrisis is a #renewable energy wake-up call

    By Aniruddha Ghosal, March 20, 2026

    HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — "The war in Iran is exposing the world’s reliance on fragile #FossilFuel routes, lending urgency to calls for hastening the shift to renewable energy.

    Fighting has all but halted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, or LNG. The disruption has jolted energy markets, pushing up prices and straining import-dependent economies.

    Asia, where most of the oil was headed, has been hit hardest, but the disruptions also are a strain for Europe, where policymakers are looking for ways to cut energy demand, and for Africa, which is bracing for rising fuel costs and inflation.

    Unlike during previous oil shocks, renewable power is now competitive with fossil fuels in many places. More than 90% of new renewable power projects worldwide in 2024 were cheaper than fossil-fuel alternatives, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency."

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/middle-east

    #FossillFools #Oiligarchy #RenewablesNow #WarOnIran #WorldPol

  18. #Iran war #EnergyCrisis is a #renewable energy wake-up call

    By Aniruddha Ghosal, March 20, 2026

    HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — "The war in Iran is exposing the world’s reliance on fragile #FossilFuel routes, lending urgency to calls for hastening the shift to renewable energy.

    Fighting has all but halted oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, or LNG. The disruption has jolted energy markets, pushing up prices and straining import-dependent economies.

    Asia, where most of the oil was headed, has been hit hardest, but the disruptions also are a strain for Europe, where policymakers are looking for ways to cut energy demand, and for Africa, which is bracing for rising fuel costs and inflation.

    Unlike during previous oil shocks, renewable power is now competitive with fossil fuels in many places. More than 90% of new renewable power projects worldwide in 2024 were cheaper than fossil-fuel alternatives, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency."

    Read more:
    apnews.com/article/middle-east

    #FossillFools #Oiligarchy #RenewablesNow #WarOnIran #WorldPol

  19. From 2013: Ten Most #Radioactive Places on Earth Mapped Out [GRAPHIC]

    "Do you know the dirty side of the #NuclearIndustry? After researching this article by brainz.org, we were shocked to find out how truly awful our radioactive waste problem is and how it is going to be hurting us all, for a long time to come. Please take the time to read the links below, share this with your friends, and discuss solutions to these problems. ~ Jim Lee, #ClimateViewer News

    "This list is not a definitive TOP TEN, it is simply ten very disgusting examples of nuclear warfare against the citizens of this world."

    Read more:
    climateviewer.com/2013/11/24/1

    #Hanford #Sellafield #Chernobyl #Fukushima #Mediterranean #Mayak #SomalianCoast #Kazakhstan #Chernobyl #Kyrgyzstan #EnvironmentalRacism #IndigenousPeoples #SiberianChemicalCompound #NoNukes #RethinkNotRestart #RenewablesNow #NuclearDumping #NuclearColonialism

  20. From 2013: Ten Most #Radioactive Places on Earth Mapped Out [GRAPHIC]

    "Do you know the dirty side of the #NuclearIndustry? After researching this article by brainz.org, we were shocked to find out how truly awful our radioactive waste problem is and how it is going to be hurting us all, for a long time to come. Please take the time to read the links below, share this with your friends, and discuss solutions to these problems. ~ Jim Lee, #ClimateViewer News

    "This list is not a definitive TOP TEN, it is simply ten very disgusting examples of nuclear warfare against the citizens of this world."

    Read more:
    climateviewer.com/2013/11/24/1

    #Hanford #Sellafield #Chernobyl #Fukushima #Mediterranean #Mayak #SomalianCoast #Kazakhstan #Chernobyl #Kyrgyzstan #EnvironmentalRacism #IndigenousPeoples #SiberianChemicalCompound #NoNukes #RethinkNotRestart #RenewablesNow #NuclearDumping #NuclearColonialism

  21. SimplyInfo.org: 15th Anniversary Report #FukushimaDaiichi

    March 2, 2026

    Excerpt: "This TV Asahi investigative report from March 2025 [linked below] paints a sobering picture of the enormous challenges still facing the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi, fourteen years after the accident. While #TEPCO achieved a milestone the previous November by extracting roughly 0.7 grams of #NuclearFuel debris for the first time, experts interviewed for the piece emphasized that debris removal is just one piece of a far more complex puzzle. Around 1,000 fuel assemblies
    still remain in the spent fuel pools of Units 1 and 2, untouched since the accident, and officials from the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (#NDF) described clearing these pools as the single most urgent priority — in part because another
    #earthquake or #tsunami could strike at any time.

    "Before large-scale debris removal can even begin, the area around the reactor buildings must be cleared of heavily contaminated structures and exhaust stacks to make room for the massive equipment required. Because humans cannot safely approach the highly radioactive debris, all removal work must be done remotely. Radiation levels outside the buildings remain dangerously high — a dosimeter near #Unit2 showed particularly elevated readings — and contaminated water continues to be generated at a rate of roughly 80 tons per day as #rainwater and #groundwater contact radioactive materials on site, despite TEPCO having already released about 80,000 tons of treated [but still radioactive] water into the ocean.

    "Perhaps the most troubling concern raised in the article is what happens to the debris and #RadioactiveWaste after it is removed. Hiroshi Miyano, chairman of the Decommissioning Review Committee of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, was blunt in his criticism, saying no serious thought has been given to managing this waste over the coming century or two.

    "The Fukushima debris is uniquely complicated because it is a mixture of melted nuclear fuel and structural materials, and experts warned that removal may not even be possible until a concrete disposal plan is in place. General decommissioning superintendent Toyoshi Fukada warned that without proper storage facilities ready in advance, the entire decommissioning effort could eventually grind to a halt simply because there would be nowhere to put the waste."

    Read more:
    simplyinfo.org/2026/03/simplyi

    Asashi investigative report [pdf]:
    dropbox.com/scl/fi/ysaf6a7hj62

    #FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #NuclearPlants #NuclearDisaster #Remember311

  22. SimplyInfo.org: 15th Anniversary Report #FukushimaDaiichi

    March 2, 2026

    Excerpt: "This TV Asahi investigative report from March 2025 [linked below] paints a sobering picture of the enormous challenges still facing the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi, fourteen years after the accident. While #TEPCO achieved a milestone the previous November by extracting roughly 0.7 grams of #NuclearFuel debris for the first time, experts interviewed for the piece emphasized that debris removal is just one piece of a far more complex puzzle. Around 1,000 fuel assemblies
    still remain in the spent fuel pools of Units 1 and 2, untouched since the accident, and officials from the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (#NDF) described clearing these pools as the single most urgent priority — in part because another
    #earthquake or #tsunami could strike at any time.

    "Before large-scale debris removal can even begin, the area around the reactor buildings must be cleared of heavily contaminated structures and exhaust stacks to make room for the massive equipment required. Because humans cannot safely approach the highly radioactive debris, all removal work must be done remotely. Radiation levels outside the buildings remain dangerously high — a dosimeter near #Unit2 showed particularly elevated readings — and contaminated water continues to be generated at a rate of roughly 80 tons per day as #rainwater and #groundwater contact radioactive materials on site, despite TEPCO having already released about 80,000 tons of treated [but still radioactive] water into the ocean.

    "Perhaps the most troubling concern raised in the article is what happens to the debris and #RadioactiveWaste after it is removed. Hiroshi Miyano, chairman of the Decommissioning Review Committee of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, was blunt in his criticism, saying no serious thought has been given to managing this waste over the coming century or two.

    "The Fukushima debris is uniquely complicated because it is a mixture of melted nuclear fuel and structural materials, and experts warned that removal may not even be possible until a concrete disposal plan is in place. General decommissioning superintendent Toyoshi Fukada warned that without proper storage facilities ready in advance, the entire decommissioning effort could eventually grind to a halt simply because there would be nowhere to put the waste."

    Read more:
    simplyinfo.org/2026/03/simplyi

    Asashi investigative report [pdf]:
    dropbox.com/scl/fi/ysaf6a7hj62

    #FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #NuclearPlants #NuclearDisaster #Remember311

  23. BBC News: G7 nations to hold emergency meeting on oil as stock markets sink - BBC News
    BBC News - G7 nations to hold emergency meeting on oil as stock markets sink - BBC News
    bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79542

    Trump has demonstrated why we should reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

    #renewablesnow

  24. #NewEngland Lawmakers Weigh #PlugInSolar as Europe’s Model Spreads

    Legislation in #Maine, #Vermont, #NewHampshire, #Massachusetts and #RhodeIsland would allow small solar panels to plug directly into home outlets, expanding access to clean energy.

    By Ryan Krugman
    February 18, 2026

    "The solar panels that hang from balconies across Europe may soon be coming to New England, helping lower energy costs and ease grid demand.
    This could be a breakout year for plug-in solar in the United States, with more than two dozen states considering legislation this session, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The small-scale systems are seen as a way to expand access to renewable energy, particularly for renters and apartment dwellers, but first require legislative approval.

    " 'For many of my neighbors, especially renters, solar panels can feel like they’re meant for someone else,' said state Sen. Nicole Grohoski, a Democrat and sponsor of Maine’s plug-in solar bill, LD 1730. 'It’s about giving someone in a third-floor apartment the same chance to lower their electricity bill as a homeowner with a south-facing roof.' "

    Read more:
    insideclimatenews.org/news/180

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/5znfp

    #SolarPunkSunday #Solar #RenewablesNow #SolarPower

  25. #NewEngland Lawmakers Weigh #PlugInSolar as Europe’s Model Spreads

    Legislation in #Maine, #Vermont, #NewHampshire, #Massachusetts and #RhodeIsland would allow small solar panels to plug directly into home outlets, expanding access to clean energy.

    By Ryan Krugman
    February 18, 2026

    "The solar panels that hang from balconies across Europe may soon be coming to New England, helping lower energy costs and ease grid demand.
    This could be a breakout year for plug-in solar in the United States, with more than two dozen states considering legislation this session, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The small-scale systems are seen as a way to expand access to renewable energy, particularly for renters and apartment dwellers, but first require legislative approval.

    " 'For many of my neighbors, especially renters, solar panels can feel like they’re meant for someone else,' said state Sen. Nicole Grohoski, a Democrat and sponsor of Maine’s plug-in solar bill, LD 1730. 'It’s about giving someone in a third-floor apartment the same chance to lower their electricity bill as a homeowner with a south-facing roof.' "

    Read more:
    insideclimatenews.org/news/180

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/5znfp

    #SolarPunkSunday #Solar #RenewablesNow #SolarPower

  26. World’s biggest #NuclearPlant fires up 1,356MW reactor after 13-year freeze

    Story by Everett Sloane, February 11, 2026

    Excerpt: "Coverage of the planned restart has noted that Japan’s #Kashiwazaki and Kariwa units faced a suspension just hours after an earlier attempt began, after a minor malfunction triggered alarms. Separate reporting on Jan developments stressed that the significance of bringing Reactor No. 6 online was rising as tight supply threatened winter reliability, a reminder that grid operators are juggling risk on two fronts at once: the risk of another accident and the risk of blackouts if demand outstrips capacity. This dual pressure is why I see unit 6 less as a side story and more as the template regulators will use to judge whether No. 7 can safely move from fuel loading to full power."

    Read more:
    msn.com/en-us/news/world/world

    #KashiwazakiKariwa #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLIes #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #Geothermal #WaveEnergy #Japan #JapanPol #RenewablesNow #FukushimaIsntOver

  27. World’s biggest #NuclearPlant fires up 1,356MW reactor after 13-year freeze

    Story by Everett Sloane, February 11, 2026

    Excerpt: "Coverage of the planned restart has noted that Japan’s #Kashiwazaki and Kariwa units faced a suspension just hours after an earlier attempt began, after a minor malfunction triggered alarms. Separate reporting on Jan developments stressed that the significance of bringing Reactor No. 6 online was rising as tight supply threatened winter reliability, a reminder that grid operators are juggling risk on two fronts at once: the risk of another accident and the risk of blackouts if demand outstrips capacity. This dual pressure is why I see unit 6 less as a side story and more as the template regulators will use to judge whether No. 7 can safely move from fuel loading to full power."

    Read more:
    msn.com/en-us/news/world/world

    #KashiwazakiKariwa #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLIes #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #Geothermal #WaveEnergy #Japan #JapanPol #RenewablesNow #FukushimaIsntOver

  28. Danish #WaveEnergy firm step closer to commercial pilot project in #Barbados

    Danish wave energy firm #Wavepiston has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Export Barbados (BIDC), an agency of the Barbados Government, as part of its journey towards commercial wave energy deployment in the Caribbean.

    February 4, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

    "Initial results show that Wavepiston’s flexible sails prove effective in mitigating peak forces during extreme events, thereby validating the company’s approach of using sails composed of flexible panels to passively counter extreme events. Data was collected by multiple gauges, including force gauges, motion trackers and video recordings from multiple angles."

    offshore-energy.biz/danish-wav

    #SolarPunkSunday #WaveSails #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels #Energy #Invention

  29. Danish #WaveEnergy firm step closer to commercial pilot project in #Barbados

    Danish wave energy firm #Wavepiston has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Export Barbados (BIDC), an agency of the Barbados Government, as part of its journey towards commercial wave energy deployment in the Caribbean.

    February 4, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

    "Initial results show that Wavepiston’s flexible sails prove effective in mitigating peak forces during extreme events, thereby validating the company’s approach of using sails composed of flexible panels to passively counter extreme events. Data was collected by multiple gauges, including force gauges, motion trackers and video recordings from multiple angles."

    offshore-energy.biz/danish-wav

    #SolarPunkSunday #WaveSails #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels #Energy #Invention

  30. Oooooh... This is cool... Has there been further development on this?

    '#WaveEnergy:' This Floating Spine-Like Device Generates Sea #Waves Into Electricity!

    By Joaquin Victor Tacla
    Published: Aug 18 2022

    "The #WavelineMagnet prototype, which consists of numerous floating platforms connected to give it the impression of a floating spine, was shown by the business earlier this year.

    The flexible and modular system is made to allow the energy generator to follow the motion of the waves smoothly. This gives the gadget control over how much energy is collected from the waves, according to the firm."

    techtimes.com/articles/279318/

    #SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels
    #Energy #Invention #Cypress #Renewables

  31. Oooooh... This is cool... Has there been further development on this?

    '#WaveEnergy:' This Floating Spine-Like Device Generates Sea #Waves Into Electricity!

    By Joaquin Victor Tacla
    Published: Aug 18 2022

    "The #WavelineMagnet prototype, which consists of numerous floating platforms connected to give it the impression of a floating spine, was shown by the business earlier this year.

    The flexible and modular system is made to allow the energy generator to follow the motion of the waves smoothly. This gives the gadget control over how much energy is collected from the waves, according to the firm."

    techtimes.com/articles/279318/

    #SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels
    #Energy #Invention #Cypress #Renewables

  32. This invention may change the world of #RenewableEnergy

    February 1, 2026

    "Do you know that by 2024 the total renewable energy capacity will exceed 4 tw (Terawatts)? This is equivalent to the total electricity generated in the United States. The proving grounds for the most exotic and complex projects are remote regions, whose residents regularly face the problem of a stable electricity supply. Welcome to Innovative Techs! Today you will learn how a small island off the coast of Australia will change the world with the new wave-activated power generating apparatus."

    Watch:
    msn.com/en-us/weather/topstori

    #SolarPunkSunday #WaveEnergy #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels #Energy #Invention #Uniwave200 #Australia

  33. This invention may change the world of #RenewableEnergy

    February 1, 2026

    "Do you know that by 2024 the total renewable energy capacity will exceed 4 tw (Terawatts)? This is equivalent to the total electricity generated in the United States. The proving grounds for the most exotic and complex projects are remote regions, whose residents regularly face the problem of a stable electricity supply. Welcome to Innovative Techs! Today you will learn how a small island off the coast of Australia will change the world with the new wave-activated power generating apparatus."

    Watch:
    msn.com/en-us/weather/topstori

    #SolarPunkSunday #WaveEnergy #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels #Energy #Invention #Uniwave200 #Australia

  34. Who needs #BioLabs when there's all sorts of #bacteria about to be exposed after thousands of years!

    Researchers issue warning after making grim #Antarctic discovery: 'We are only beginning to understand'

    Story by Daysia Tolentino, January 29, 2026

    Excerpt: "A study published in the journal #Biocontaminant examined the effects of #GlacialMelting on our #WaterSupply.

    "#Glaciers serve as reservoirs for #AntibioticResistanceGenes, or #ARGs, and other #microbes. When they are released from the ice, they enter our water systems, posing a major health risk to people downstream.

    "Millions of people get their water from glacier-fed rivers and lakes. ARGs are strands of DNA that make bacteria more resistant to drugs. When ARGs in #meltwater make their way into our water supply, they become a global public health risk.

    "The study emphasizes the importance of viewing glaciers, rivers, and lakes as being part of a 'glacier continuum.' This means they are an interconnected system rather than separate environments.

    Why are melting glaciers concerning?

    "From our gas-powered cars to #overconsumption, human activity has contributed to the production of heat-trapping gases that warm the planet. Rising global temperatures have caused glaciers to rapidly melt, causing elevated sea levels and releasing ARGs.

    "ARGs from melting glaciers are worrisome because they help facilitate the spread of diseases. This threat is compounded by the fact that our growing #microplastic problem is also helping #AntibioticResistant #bacteria breed. As a result, #medicines are being rendered less effective."

    msn.com/en-us/weather/topstori

    #WorldPol #USPol #FossilFuels #FossilFools #Degrowth #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #HumanFolly #NewDiseases

  35. Who needs #BioLabs when there's all sorts of #bacteria about to be exposed after thousands of years!

    Researchers issue warning after making grim #Antarctic discovery: 'We are only beginning to understand'

    Story by Daysia Tolentino, January 29, 2026

    Excerpt: "A study published in the journal #Biocontaminant examined the effects of #GlacialMelting on our #WaterSupply.

    "#Glaciers serve as reservoirs for #AntibioticResistanceGenes, or #ARGs, and other #microbes. When they are released from the ice, they enter our water systems, posing a major health risk to people downstream.

    "Millions of people get their water from glacier-fed rivers and lakes. ARGs are strands of DNA that make bacteria more resistant to drugs. When ARGs in #meltwater make their way into our water supply, they become a global public health risk.

    "The study emphasizes the importance of viewing glaciers, rivers, and lakes as being part of a 'glacier continuum.' This means they are an interconnected system rather than separate environments.

    Why are melting glaciers concerning?

    "From our gas-powered cars to #overconsumption, human activity has contributed to the production of heat-trapping gases that warm the planet. Rising global temperatures have caused glaciers to rapidly melt, causing elevated sea levels and releasing ARGs.

    "ARGs from melting glaciers are worrisome because they help facilitate the spread of diseases. This threat is compounded by the fact that our growing #microplastic problem is also helping #AntibioticResistant #bacteria breed. As a result, #medicines are being rendered less effective."

    msn.com/en-us/weather/topstori

    #WorldPol #USPol #FossilFuels #FossilFools #Degrowth #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #HumanFolly #NewDiseases

  36. Japan Is Restarting Its #NuclearPower Program 15 Years After the #Fukushima Disaster

    One of the surviving reactors at the #KashiwazakiKariwa plant was loaded with fuel last summer and recently turned back on, to mixed reactions.

    By Elizabeth Rayne, Published: Jan 28, 2026

    Excerpt: "Despite the benefits [sic] of nuclear energy, not everyone is so sure about this move. The Japanese government’s strategic energy plan previously intended to reduce the use of nuclear power as much as possible, but as far back as 2021, it has been focused on incorporating nuclear back into its bank of power sources as a way to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Its newest plan addresses the progress that has been made since the Fukushima disaster, admitting that the power plant failed to make improvements because of 'the myth [that] created the impression that meeting the standards and conditions set by the government and industry would eliminate all risks.'

    "Some citizens see the return to nuclear power as a dismissal of caution."

    Read more:
    popularmechanics.com/science/e

    #RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NoNukes #RenewablesNow #Geothermal #Hotsprings #FukushimaIsntOver #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #Radiation #NuclearWasteIsForever

  37. Japan Is Restarting Its #NuclearPower Program 15 Years After the #Fukushima Disaster

    One of the surviving reactors at the #KashiwazakiKariwa plant was loaded with fuel last summer and recently turned back on, to mixed reactions.

    By Elizabeth Rayne, Published: Jan 28, 2026

    Excerpt: "Despite the benefits [sic] of nuclear energy, not everyone is so sure about this move. The Japanese government’s strategic energy plan previously intended to reduce the use of nuclear power as much as possible, but as far back as 2021, it has been focused on incorporating nuclear back into its bank of power sources as a way to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Its newest plan addresses the progress that has been made since the Fukushima disaster, admitting that the power plant failed to make improvements because of 'the myth [that] created the impression that meeting the standards and conditions set by the government and industry would eliminate all risks.'

    "Some citizens see the return to nuclear power as a dismissal of caution."

    Read more:
    popularmechanics.com/science/e

    #RethinkNotRestart #NoMoreFukushimas #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLies #NoNukes #RenewablesNow #Geothermal #Hotsprings #FukushimaIsntOver #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #Radiation #NuclearWasteIsForever

  38. #Germany is using heated #bricks to replace gas-fired industrial boilers

    Michelle Lewis | Jan 19 2026

    "At 100 megawatt‑hours (MWh), the Brunsbüttel system is scheduled to come online by the end of 2026. It will be tied with the 100 MWh Rondo heat battery that went into operation in California in October as the largest industrial heat battery in the world. Covestro’s project is backed by Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and the European Investment Bank.

    [...]

    "The underlying technology is deceptively simple. Rondo’s heat battery uses bricks – a proven heat‑storage medium that’s been used in steelmaking for centuries – paired with modern automation and controls. Electricity heats the bricks; the stored heat runs a conventional boiler; and the system produces emission‑free steam using electricity from #renewable sources."

    Read more:
    electrek.co/2026/01/19/germany

    #SolarPunkSunday #OldSchoolTechnology #NewSchoolTechnology #HeatBatteries #HeatStorage #RenewablesNow