#renewablesnow — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #renewablesnow, aggregated by home.social.
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[2/2] #StarIsland, #GosportNH - #GreenGosport Initiatives that can be practiced on the #Mainland!
"Plan Your Errands
Star Island: We run a boat back and forth to the mainland most days of the week, and we recognize the cost of doing so both environmentally and economically. By planning our boat schedule accordingly, we eliminate unnecessary or redundant trips and reduce the number of times we need to go back and forth. This means less diesel to power the boat.
Mainland: When you have errands to do, make one long trip out of it instead of several. Going back and forth from your home is less efficient time wise, but also uses more gasoline if you’re driving. This requires planning, but we know you can do it. You plan to come to Star Island, right?
Star Island: #Walking is how we get around on Star Island. Aside from a few freight trucks used to move heavy objects around the island (like luggage, or trash), people get from A to B by walking. This provides exercise, but also means that we are not using carbon-based fuels for transportation. Walking is an easy way to get where you’re going on island, even if it requires three flights of stairs. The only time we don’t suggest walking on island is if you’re late for a boat, then try running.
Mainland: We recognize that walking isn’t always the most practical form of transportation on the mainland, but we encourage you to think about where you can walk. If you live near your city center, why not walk to go out to eat instead of drive? Or, if you’re driving to a shopping center, park once and walk to several stores instead of driving to each one. Walking takes time, yes, but it’s well worth it. Studies have even suggested walking promotes creativity.
Make Informed Purchases
Star Island: We make purchases mindfully and consider several factors: do we need this item? Is this item energy efficient / #EnvironmentallyFriendly? What’s the quality, will this item last? Are we supporting another local organization? Sometimes we seek alternatives. For example, we mix #vinegar and #BakingSoda together for an all-purpose cleaner and use vinegar to wash windows and mirrors instead of glass cleaner. Also, we consider packaging when purchasing: is the product packaged in bulk? Can we reuse or recycle the packaging?
Mainland: When you’re shopping, think about what you need instead of what you want. You might miss the latest cellphone craze, but you’ll still be able to text and call people, right? Shop second hand. Purchase in bulk and reuse containers (for example: use canning jars to purchase and store dry goods such as coffee, popcorn, oats, and rice among others). Also, consider paper bags instead of plastic bags when making purchases. Or, remember to use a reusable bag or opt out if you’re only purchasing a few items.
Comfort Level
Everywhere: Do what makes sense for you. Don’t walk 50 miles to work when taking public transportation makes more sense. And if you don’t have a yard, growing a garden will be rather difficult. We encourage you to make choices that you are comfortable with, but also to ask yourself if you can do more to make a sustainable impact in your life and for your community. Be creative. Have fun. #GoGreen! "
Source:
https://starisland.org/the-island/green/practices/#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
#Renewables #RenewablesNow
#GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals -
[1/2] #StarIsland, #GosportNH - #GreenGosport Initiatives that can be practiced on the #Mainland!
Green Practices
"For centuries, living on Star Island has required a knowledge of conservation and respecting the environment. Since 2011, we have taken a more proactive approach to this with the Green Gosport Initiative — a program designed to educate our island and mainland communities about sustainability, and to serve as a model for others. The efforts we make on island are sometimes huge (we recently installed a solar array), but often are relatively easy to accomplish. Here are some of the things we do on Star to reduce our impact locally while thinking globally. We’ve included suggestions about how you can take what we do on the island and practice it on the mainland.
#ReuseStar Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. Therefore, we seriously consider how we can reuse items on-island before trashing or recycling them. For example, several years ago we collected used glass bottles to line the beds in our vegetable gardens. We also reuse historic furniture and replace small parts instead of replacing entire fixtures. We also reuse food waste to create compost, which in turn helps to grow more food.
Mainland: Instead of throwing something away, ask yourself if you can reuse it. Some simple things to reuse include plastic sandwich bags for more sandwiches, shopping bags as trash bags, and newspaper for kindling or wrapping paper. Random bits of plastic from everyday products and toys might also be great sources for a rainy day art project. And to help you stay hyrdated, use a water bottle to refill instead of buying new bottled water.
Star Island: When you can’t reuse, recycle. We send metal, glass and paper off island to get recycled if we can’t reuse it.
Mainland: Most municipalities have curbside recycling, and we encourage you to take advantage of this easy way to recycle. Also, if you’re ever out and about and need to dispose of something (paper coffee cup, plastic drink bottle), check to see if it is recyclable and find a proper receptacle instead of trashing by default.
Use #RenewableEnergyStar Island: In the fall of 2014 we installed a solar array on Star that has provided an estimated 60% of our energy needs since the 2015 summer. We’re not fully running on solar power, but this renewable energy source is our focus moving forward.
Mainland: Installing solar panels on your home allows you to take advantage of sustainable energy and excess, unused energy can even be back fed into the larger electrical grid. Not only are you taking a step to reduce carbon emissions, but you could also be saving money.
Turn Off Lights
Star Island: We turn the lights off whenever possible. Although lights are left on in certain public spaces such as walkways, hallways, and the main lobby for safety, for the most part the island goes dark at night. We even rely entirely on candlelight for evening chapel services. On Star we’re swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LEDs, and considering sensors for lights in areas that don’t need to be lit when no one’s using them at night (bathrooms, hallways, walkways). Fewer lights means less electricity, reducing the need to use as much diesel to support the solar array.
Mainland: If you’re the last one leaving a room, turn the light off; installing automatic switches can be helpful if you’re apt to forget. Also, question if you really need the light on-daylight is often just fine. Fewer lights means less electricity, which may even reduce your electric bill.
Use Energy Efficient Equipment
Star Island: Replacing equipment with more efficient models has allowed us to reduce demands on our island’s infrastructure. A recent example is the purchase of a new dishwasher, which uses less power during operation and also uses less water. Less water used means less drinking water treated and less used water sent to the island’s wastewater treatment facility. This leaves more water available for other uses, such as guest showers. Water and wastewater treatment are also two of the three biggest electrical uses on-island, so this energy and water efficient dishwasher means an overall reduction in energy use. On Star we’re also swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LED’s.
Mainland: Replace household appliances with those receiving Energy Star rating. Energy Star products are “certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality.” This rating helps you choose household equipment that can help realize energy savings. Click here to learn more.
Star Island: Over the past few years we’ve been generating more produce from the several vegetable gardens on island. This produce supplements the food we order from the mainland. By growing our own food, we are also able to eat fresher, more nutritious food and also reduce the cost of our food bill.
Mainland: Just like a 1940’s victory garden, growing a portion of your own food is a great cause. You are stating that you want to know where your food comes from, and you’re choosing varieties of produce you like. Having your own food in your yard, or in a planter on your porch might also mean less trips to the grocery store.
Eat Your Veggies
Star Island: We know that eating your vegetables isn’t just good for your body, it can be good for the environment, too. Every meal on Star includes a vegetarian option. When you register, just let us know you’ll be choosing the vegetarian option. And while we have your attention, why not consider making your stay on Star a chance to try out being a vegatarian? You’ll still get your protein and iron, don’t worry. Want to learn more? Click here to read about the effects of cattle farming on the environment.
Mainland: Try practicing a vegetarian diet. You might find your grocery bill to be lower than usual, and you might find some awesome recipes that you’ll keep forever. If switching to a vegetarian diet is a bit too much, we suggest trying #MeatlessMondays as a way to incorporate meals one day a week that are less intenstive on the environment.
Star Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. We separate food waste from trash and compost this to transform it into a beneficial commodity that helps improve island soil in gardens and on the lawn. Chickens also help by eating leftovers such as bread, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes (they love vegetarian pot pie!). Composting food waste helps reduce demands on island boats and provides the island with a reusable product.
Mainland: A small compost bin is easy to use and maintain for household scraps. You can build your own, or check with your town/municipality to see if they participate in a program that offers compost bins for a reduced cost. By composting you reduce the amount of waste that is thrown into landfills. Some municipalities are even starting to collect compost along with trash and recycling. We encourage you to investigate your mainland options including companies that collect compost for you.
Take Fewer, Shorter Showers
Star Island: If you’ve stayed on Star Island you know that we have a shower schedule that provides 3 showers for both staff and guests over a 7-day period. We limit showers because water on-island is hard to come by. Yes, there’s plenty of salt water nearby, but fresh water isn’t readily available (recall the Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Water, water everywhere and not one drop to drink). Fresh water is provided through reverse osmosis of sea water, filtration and disinfection of collected #rainwater, and water delivery by boat (i.e. a lot of work).
Mainland: An every other day shower schedule isn’t just something to practice for water conservation, it’s also recommended for your skin and hair health."
https://starisland.org/the-island/green/practices/
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
#Renewables #RenewablesNow
#GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals -
The Isle of #Eigg: The community-owned island that powers itself
Despite being one of the smallest Scottish islands with just 110 residents, the Isle of Eigg is a model of forward-thinking, sustainable, eco-conscious living.
By Hugh Tucker
31st October 2023
"As the ferry bobbed with the ebb and flow of the tide against the concrete pier at the Isle of Eigg, there was a delay before the passengers could disembark. Boxes and parcels were heaved up from the boat to the waiting hands above, and the bow was double-checked to ensure nothing had been forgotten. Last to be unloaded was a bundle of newspapers, tightly rolled and individually labelled. As they were lifted, one slipped and rolled back towards the steps leading down to the water. It was stopped by the boot of one of the ferry crew just before it reached the edge. Although it was only a paper, even those just arriving seemed to sense the stakes were higher here and shared the relief of the islanders waiting on the pier."Eigg is one of a collection of islands in the Scottish #InnerHebrides called the #SmallIsles. It lies 15 miles from the mainland and is reliant on a ferry that runs a few times a week, weather dependent, for supplies and transport. As such, waste isn't an option here and sustainability is a necessity.
" ' #Sustainability has always been a part of island and crofting life here,' explained Norah Barnes, Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger on Eigg. 'You're a bit more aware of what you're using. You can't just go to a shop down the road to get something. Everything that we want, we literally have to lift off the boat.'
"Combined, the Small Isles of Eigg, #Canna, #Sanday, #Rùm and #Muck have a population of just 150-200 people. Measuring five miles by three, Eigg is the second largest in size but by far the most populous with around 110 residents, and this has helped to foster a community that has collectively been able to take charge of the future of the island."
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Renewables #RenewablesNow #Reforestation #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving
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#Aotearoa / #NewZealand - #MakerFestival
12 - 13 Sept 2026
10:00 am – 6:00 pm148 Durham Street, #Tauranga 3110, New Zealand
"Innovate. Create. Electrify the Future.
#STEM #WanaTrust proudly presents our first ever #MakerFest ! A #SustainableTech event that aims to inspire #innovation and #EnvironmentalResponsibility by developing and showcasing #RenewableEnergy and electrification projects to a broad audience.
Maker Festival will also have a dedicated #RepairCafé over the 2 event days.
Registration: Register for this event and find out more by heading to the learn more button or here
Audience: While the festival is about hands-on learn by doing, #MakerFest is suited to older rangatahi and young adults. We welcome all ages, but some activities will be unsuitable to those under 12 years of age. Please check our programme for the day for more info on what to expect to avoid disappointment.
Accessibility: Public transport, #WhānauFriendly and #Mobility #accessible
Cost: Free entry
Venue: 148 Durham Street, Tauranga 3110
Maximum Capacity: 1600"FMI and to register:
https://www.repairnetworkaotearoa.org.nz/repair-festival-2026/maker-festival-tauranga-repair-caf%C3%A9#SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafes #RepairNetworkAotearoa
#RepairReuseRestore #STEMWanaTrust #ZeroWaste #FixIt #RepairFestival #RenewablesNow #SolarPunk #RepairFestival2026 #BuildingCommunity #SustainableTechnology -
Boo hiss...
Controversial #JackdawGasField set to be approved in weeks, sources say
Simon Jack, 3 September 2026
"The #UK government is set to give the go-ahead for a controversial new #GasField off the coast of #Aberdeen, the BBC understands.
"Approval for the Jackdaw project could come in mid-September, just before #Parliament breaks for party conference season, according to government and industry sources.
"The gas field was approved by the former #ConservativeGovernment in 2022 but was delayed by a legal ruling from a #ScottishCourt, after #EnvironmentalGroups argued consent was given without fully considering the #ClimateImpact.
"Jackdaw's owner says it will account for 6% of UK gas output when at peak production but environmental groups say it will provide only 2% of UK use when imports are included.
"Campaigners launched legal challenges after Jackdaw was approved in 2022 and when the #RosebankOilField off #Shetland was given the green light in 2023.
"The Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled last year that #Rosebank and Jackdaw had been unlawfully approved because the government had failed to take into account the climate impact of burning extracted #OilAndGas from the sites.
"A judge ruled that more detailed climate assessments had to be published, and further estimates were put out for consultation in July.
"Both Jackdaw and Rosebank are operated by #Adura, a joint venture between energy giants #ShellOil and Norway's #Equinor. Aberdeen-based firm Ithaca also owns 20% of Rosebank.
"Adura has estimated that Jackdaw could produce 35.8m tonnes of carbon over its 11-year lifetime, the equivalent of 90% of Scotland's emissions for 2023. But it said a more likely estimate was about 23.6m tonnes - equivalent to 60% of the 2023 figure.
" #Environmentalists insist that more #drilling would be unconscionable, hampering efforts to cut planet-warming carbon emissions as deadly #heatwaves and #ExtremeWeather affect billions across the globe.
"They also say starting production would not protect energy security and that transitioning sooner to #GreenerTechnologies would be better for supporting jobs."
Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9xe09jz4eo#RenewablesNow #NoDrilling #NorthSea #ScottishCoast #UKNews #UKPol #Scotland #BigOilAndGas #ShellLies #Oiligarchy
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@jblue Here's another article about Aeroleaf Hybrid technology...
https://www.cleanthesky.com/innovation/aeroleaf-hybrid-technology
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#Solarpunk #Lagos - #ObohMoses
5 August 2026"Oboh Moses is a Black digital illustrator who has been passionate about art since he was seven years old. In 2021, his work was selected for the American Illustration 40th anniversary annual award book. He lives and works in Lagos, #Nigeria.
This illustration depicts a lively neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria, reimagined as a thriving solar-powered community. The scene captures an ordinary residential area transformed through the widespread adoption of #renewable energy, offering a glimpse of a future where clean, #sustainable power is part of everyday life.
At first glance, we see numerous solar panels installed on nearly every rooftop, children play football and run freely in the open spaces, residents gather on balconies and verandas to chat with neighbors, watch the activity below, or simply enjoying the day. reinforcing the close-knit nature of the community.
Beyond capturing daily life, this artwork tells the story of an energy transition. It shows how solar power can strengthen local communities by providing reliable electricity, reducing dependence on #FossilFuels and unstable grid power, lowering energy costs, and improving everyday life. Overall, the illustration celebrates a future where clean, renewable energy is accessible to everyone."
https://storyseedlibrary.org/art/oboh-moses/solarpunk-lagos/
#SolarPunkSunday #StorySeedLibrary #BuildingCommunity #RooftopSolar #SolarPower #OffGrid #RenewablesNow #SelfSufficiency #CommunitySufficiency #Resilience #Africa
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#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, 2026Excerpt: "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:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/business/energy-environment/plug-in-balcony-solar.htmlArchived version:
https://archive.ph/0yRS2#SolarPunkSunday #BackyardSolar #Renewables #SolarEnergy #BalconySolar #RenewablesNow
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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:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/solar-companies-maine-land-management-livestock-farmers/73178986#SolarPunkSunday #MaineFarms #SolarEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrovoltaics
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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:
https://www.fruitlogistica.com/en/blog/double-harvest-raspberries-and-renewable-energy.html#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #Solar #RenewableEnergy #RenewablesNow #Agrosolar #Agrovoltaics #SolarPanelAgriculture #SolarOnFarms #SolarEnergy
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#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.' "
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#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:
https://apnews.com/article/solar-towers-africa-energy-diesel-5ab1f050d9b0ba90d21a5d53f153ba2d#SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower
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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 1https://www.the-independent.com/tech/solar-panel-breakthrough-renewable-energy-b2948432.html
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RE: https://mastodon.social/@clim8_solutions/116301517820619555
There's a lot of sunshine in #Australia! ☀️Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday!
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#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:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/10/climate/trump-nuclear-regulation-safety-energy-future#NoNewNukes #NoNukes #USPol #TEPCOLied #HoltecLies #TrumpLies #NoMoreChernobyls #NoMoreFukushimas #SMRs
#NRCFail #RenewablesNow #MakeAmericaRadioactiveAgain -
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:
https://apnews.com/article/refinery-explosion-texas-coast-60ecf6d9a70a2f1d5494fb8e38a84c4a#BigOilAndGas #BlackRain #ToxicPlumes #RenewablesNow #USPol #TrumpSucks #Oiligrchy
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#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:
https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-wars-renewable-energy-asia-4b5fe0693ce5816472c905db85f7da6e#FossillFools #Oiligarchy #RenewablesNow #WarOnIran #WorldPol
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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:
https://climateviewer.com/2013/11/24/10-most-radioactive-places-on-earth/#Hanford #Sellafield #Chernobyl #Fukushima #Mediterranean #Mayak #SomalianCoast #Kazakhstan #Chernobyl #Kyrgyzstan #EnvironmentalRacism #IndigenousPeoples #SiberianChemicalCompound #NoNukes #RethinkNotRestart #RenewablesNow #NuclearDumping #NuclearColonialism
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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:
https://simplyinfo.org/2026/03/simplyinfo-org-15th-anniversary-report-fukushima-daiichi/Asashi investigative report [pdf]:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ysaf6a7hj62286sv4hoql/alps_water_d250130_14-j_translated.pdf?rlkey=3u397ndoafdtiq6fgjczg4a74&st=845tdf30&dl=0#FukushimaIsntOver #TEPCOLies #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #RenewablesNow #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #NuclearPlants #NuclearDisaster #Remember311
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#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:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18022026/new-england-plug-in-solar-legislation/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/5znfp -
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."
#KashiwazakiKariwa #TEPCOLies #KEPCOLIes #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #Geothermal #WaveEnergy #Japan #JapanPol #RenewablesNow #FukushimaIsntOver
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Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday, #RenewablesNow, @portugal ! Thanks for sharing this news!
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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."
#SolarPunkSunday #WaveSails #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #RenewablesNow #PhaseOutFossilFuels #Energy #Invention
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The perfect place for a #SolarPlant -- where there is LOTS of sun!
#Iraq inaugurates first phase of largest solar plant to date
The first phase of the #Karbala #SolarPowerPlant, totaling 22 MW, is now online. Its capacity is expected to reach 75 MW within the next two moves, ahead of a final 300 MW target.
September 22, 2025 Patrick Jowett
Read more:
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/09/22/iraq-inaugurates-first-phase-of-largest-solar-plant-to-date/ -
#Jellyfish Shut Four French #NuclearReactors as #HeatWave Builds
By Eamon Farhat
August 11, 2025"#Electricite de France SA [#EDF] was forced to shut four #AtomicReactors after a swarm of jellyfish clogged up filter drums at its #Gravelines power plant.
"The 'massive and unforeseen' [um, not if you read my posts -- very much FORESEEN] presence of jellyfish in the filter drums of pumping stations closed four out of six reactors at Gravelines on the north coast of France, EDF said in a statement on Monday. Pumping stations for coastal #NuclearPlants usually draw in sea water for cooling, sometimes exposing them to marine life.
"A #MarineHeatWave is intensifying off the west coast of France, with unusually warm waters in the English Channel near Gravelines, data from #Copernicus Marine Service show. Jellyfish populations can 'bloom' at such times, and France has closed several beaches in recent weeks due to invasions of the eight-legged molluscs, according reports compiled by the beach information app Meduseo."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/bahil#EuropeHeatWaves #France #Jellyfish #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #NuclearPowerNoThanks #NuclearWasteIsForever #NuclearPowerPlants #ExtremeHeat #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #RethinkNotRestart
#LeNucléaireNonMerci -
We’re having a #heatwave...
And #NuclearPower can’t cope. Worse still, it’s actually a liability under ever more extreme climate conditions, write Karl Grossman and Harvey Wasserman
Posted on July 27, 2025, by #BeyondNuclear
"At the core of the latest attempted 'renaissance' of nuclear power is the big lie that #AtomicReactors are an answer to #GlobalWarming. In fact, they are significant sources of heat.
"There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world today that fission atoms at 300 degrees Centigrade, (572 degrees Fahrenheit). More are under construction or proposed. As the International Atomic Energy Agency states, 'water-cooled reactors offer heat up to 300 degrees Celsius. These types of reactors include pressurized water reactors (PWRs), boiling-water reactors (BWRs), pressurized heavy-water reactors, and light-water-cooled graphite-moderated reactors (LWGRs).'
"Some heat is absorbed in the water—drawn from water bodies—used to cool these nuclear power plants and then returned, still with considerable heat, to #rivers or #seas.
"The heatwave going on in recent weeks in Europe, in combination with this discharge of heated water from nuclear plants, has caused #NuclearPlants there to shut down.
"Consider these headlines from recent days:
" '#France and #Switzerland shut down nuclear power plants amid scorching heatwave,' was the July 3rd headline on Euronews. As the piece explained: “To cool down, nuclear power plants pump water from local rivers or the sea, which they then release back into water bodies at a high temperature. However, Europe’s ongoing heatwave means that the water pumped by nuclear sites is already very hot, impacting the ability of nuclear plants to use it to cool down. On top of this, nuclear sites run the risk of posing a dangerous threat to local #biodiversity, by releasing water which is too hot into rivers and seas.'
"A New York Times article, also dated July 3rd, related how in Europe, 'operators shut down one of the two reactors at the #Golfech nuclear power plant in southern #France after forecasts that the #GaronneRiver, from which it draws water and then discharges it after it is used in the plant as coolant, 'could top…82 degrees Fahrenheit.' The Times continued: 'The #Beznau Nuclear Power Plant in #Switzerland, built along the #AareRiver followed suit, shutting down one of its reactors on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday.' "
Source:
https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/blog/#ExtremeHeat #ClimateChange #NuclearPowerPlants #NuclearPowerNoThanks #RenewablesNow! #WaterIsLife #NoNukes #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukesForAI
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'Planet Wreckers': 4 Rich Nations Plotting Nearly 70% of New Oil and Gas Over Next Decade | Common Dreams
This is not just hypocrisy," said one climate campaigner. "It is a death sentence for communities on the frontlines of the #ClimateCrisis."
Brett Wilkins
Jun 16, 2025"Four wealthy nations—the #UnitedStates, #Canada, #Norway, and #Australia—account for the majority of planned oil and gas expansion over the next decade, according to new data published by #OilChangeInternational on Monday, the first day of the #BonnClimateChangeConference in Germany.
"Oil Change's analysis, titled #PlanetWreckers, notes that if those four #GlobalNorth nations stopped their planned new oil and gas extraction, 32 billion tons of carbon pollution would stay in the ground instead of being burned and released into the atmosphere, where they fuel planetary heating. That's the equivalent of three times the annual global emissions created by burning coal.
" 'A handful of the world's richest nations remain intent on leading us into disaster. This is not just hypocrisy. It is a death sentence for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis,' Oil Change International global policy lead Romain Ioualalen said in a statement Monday.
"It is sickening that countries with the highest incomes and outsized historical responsibility for causing the climate crisis are planning massive oil and gas expansion with no regard for the lives and livelihoods at stake," Ioualalen added."
Read more:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/oil-change-report-planet-wreckers#Oligarchy #Oiligarchy #BigOilAndGas #DrillBabyDrill #LeaveItInTheGround #CorporateColonialism #FossilFuels #Fracking #Oil #Pollution #Drilling #Ecocide #USPol #CanadaPol #PetroState #ThanksBigOil #ClimateCatastrophe #BPKnew #ExxonKnew #WaterIsLife #AirIsLife #OilUpTheSwamp #ExtractiveIndustries #NoPipelines #RenewablesNow #FossillFuel #NoJobsOnADeadPlanet
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#Diné Youth at #WorldWaterWeek in Sweden 2024
#BlackMesa youth travel to Stockholm, Sweden, for World Water Week to share the need to protect our water in the face of #FalseSolutions and #ClimateChange.
by Adrian Herder, Media/Community Organizer, #CensoredNews
[email protected]FLAGSTAFF, Arizona – "On Friday, August 23, 2024, members of #TóNizhóníÁní traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, for World Water Week 2024, an international leading conference on global water issues organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute. Earlier this year, Tó Nizhóní Ání was invited to attend World Water Week 2024 and asked to be on a panel on #GreenColonialism. The #Sámi national youth organization, #Sáminuorra, organized this panel. Given this panel's #Indigenous youth focus, Tó Nizhóní Ání took this opportunity to fund raise and send a delegation of Diné (#Navajo) youth from the Black Mesa region to represent and speak on this topic.
"During the panel on Green Colonialism, #JarenNumkena, Diné youth from Black Mesa, spoke on his upbringing as a farmer, the history of his family as a #coal-impacted community member, and the proposed projects on and near Black Mesa, such as the #BlackMesaPumpedStorageProject and the #HydrogenPipeline. As our nation moves to alternative forms of energy, we must do so in a way that does not use or impact our water on the #NavajoNation, which is why we need #solar and #wind energy."
Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09/dine-youth-at-world-water-week-in.html#WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #RenewablesNow #Greenwashing #NoMiningWithoutConsent #RecycleCopper #LithiumAlternatives #PeabodyCoal #PeabodyEnergy #CorporateColonialism #ProtectTheSacred #ProtectMotherEarth #ReaderSupportedNews
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What?!! #NEI is actually publishing something NEGATIVE about #NuclearEnergy? That doesn't happen very often!
US #NRC proposes fining #Urenco USA
Staff writer, April 7, 2023
"The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has proposed a $70,000 civil penalty for Urenco USA for two violations of agency requirements related to improperly implementing safety controls at its #EuniceNewMexico, #UraniumEnrichment plant.
"The first violation occurred during a March 2022 event when plant staff found three construction vehicles parked near a building that handles #UraniumHexafluoride [#UF6] without physical barriers in place. The company notified NRC as required and the agency launched a special inspection in response and documented its findings.
"Specifically, the company did not take enough precautions to prevent a potential accident sequence involving construction vehicles damaging the facility or the uranium hexafluoride inside – increasing the risk to plant workers and the public. Urenco USA was notified of the apparent violations in December 2022 and in a written response admitted the violations, and discussed plans for corrective actions. NRC said it had reviewed Urenco USA’s response and determined that, while the incidents did not result in the release of radioactive material, the potential safety consequences warrant the proposed fine. The company has 30 days to pay the proposed penalty or contest it. The NRC will consider any response from the company before making a final determination on the matter."
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/us-nrc-proposes-fining-urenco-us-10741390/
#NoUraniumEnrichment #HALEU #Uranium #NewMexico #NoNewNukes #NewNuclear #RenewablesNow
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So, #Terrapower and other #HALEU energy projects are being touted as "carbon-free". But alas, a lot of energy is spent digging, milling, transporting and enriching #Uranium -- and there's still no place to permanently store #NuclearWaste.
And #NewNuclear is far from CLEAN -- ask the residents of #PiketonOhio -- who are still dealing with #contamination from when the uranium enrichment plant was operating before!
Radioactive cylinders abound at former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site
by The Guardian
August 7, 2024
PIKETON, Ohio – "The site of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon is home to a significant number of radioactive cylinders, posing ongoing environmental and health risks. As of 2022, there are a total of 20,570 uranium hexafluoride (#UF6) cylinders at the site, including 1,879 low-enriched uranium (LEU) cylinders, 18,206 depleted uranium cylinders, and 385 empty cylinders.
"These cylinders, which have been stored in the open for decades, are known to be among the highest sources of #radioactive contamination at the entire plant site. The U.S. Department of Energy [#DOE] has repeatedly reported the #hazardous conditions associated with these cylinder yards.
Chemical Reaction and #Corrosion
"UF6 is highly reactive with moisture, forming uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). Both compounds are extremely corrosive and toxic. HF can lead to severe corrosion of the cylinder walls, potentially resulting in leaks and the release of hazardous materials. The environmental and health impacts of these compounds are severe; HF can cause respiratory issues, skin burns, and eye damage, while UO2F2 can lead to kidney damage and other serious health problems.
Historical Accidents
"The potential risks are not hypothetical. In 1978, a major incident occurred when a UF6 cylinder ruptured, releasing over 20,000 pounds of uranium hexafluoride into the atmosphere. Over the years, there have been dozens of such accidental releases, exacerbating the environmental and health risks associated with the site."
#NoUraniumEnrichment #BillGates #Greenwashing #NoUraniumMining #RenewablesNow #NoNukes #NoNewNukes #TerrapowerHype #NewNuclearHype #SameOldSameOld
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#IronAir Batteries Are Here. They May Alter the Future of Energy.
Battery tech is now entering the Iron Age.
By Darren Orf
Published: Jan 17, 2023"Each iron-air battery is about the size of a washer/dryer set and holds 50 iron-air cells, which are then surrounded by an electrolyte (similar to the Duracell in your TV remote). Using a principle called 'reverse rusting,' the cells 'breathe' in air, which transforms the iron into iron oxide (aka rust) and produces energy. To charge it back up, a current reverses the oxidation and turns the cells back into iron.
"NASA first started experimenting with iron-air batteries back in the late 1960s, and it’s obvious why this next-gen storage system has engineers excited. For one, iron-air batteries solve a few of lithium’s biggest shortcomings right off the bat. As their name suggests, these batteries use primarily #iron, the fourth most abundant element on Earth, and ... well ... air. This tech’s adoption could help curtail the large amounts of water used to mine #lithium (not to mention alleviating the potential for #GroundwaterContamination
"Secondly, and most importantly, iron-air batteries would be 10 times cheaper, perform better, and last 17 times longer. Right now, these batteries’ primary task would be to bridge the gap when utilities need more power during peak hours, and as green energy eats up a bigger share of the energy pie, they could also crucially store excess energy on sunny days to shore up supply when the clouds roll in. Lithium-ion only provides approximately four hours of storage, whereas iron-air could deliver up to 100 hours—a full four days to bridge those energy gaps.
"The downsides to iron-air batteries? They’re big and also slow to recharge, which is likely why lithium-ion will remain the battery of choice for electric cars and smartphones. #FormEnergy also says these iron-air batteries will form 'power blocks' where iron-air batteries handle long load times, while lithium-ion batteries take care of spikes in demand."
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a42532492/iron-air-battery-energy-storage/
#RenewablesNow #IronAirBatteries
#SolarPower #WindPower #EnergyStorage #NoLithiumMining #RecycleLithium #LincolnMaine -
In a #Cleveland suburb, this old #CoalPlant will soon be replaced by a massive #SolarFarm
Inside Climate News
July 26, 2024"#CoalFired power plant that started running more than a century ago is about to get a long-overdue retirement, and its electricity will be replaced by a solar farm and a #BatteryStorage system on an existing #brownfield.
"The project in #PainesvilleOhio, a suburb of Cleveland, is one of about two dozen clean energy and emissions-reduction initiatives across the country that are sharing $4.3 billion in funding announced on Monday by the #BidenAdministration.
"It was a happy day for Doug Lewis, Painesville’s city manager. He and his colleagues have been considering how to close the city-owned power plant and replace it with a cleaner alternative. They also have wanted to redevelop the site of a long-shuttered #chemical factory near the shores of Lake Erie.
"The federal government will now pay about $80 million to install solar and batteries on the former factory land and to beautify the rest of the brownfield by planting a #meadow of #wildflowers and constructing a #BikeTrail. The trail will provide a connection between Painesville and a regional trail that runs along the lake.
[...]
"The solar farm will have capacity of 35 megawatts and the battery storage system will have capacity of 10 megawatts. It will be capable of running for three hours at that level before recharging.
"The new construction will be on land that once was home to the Diamond Shamrock Corp. chemical plant, which operated there from 1912 to 1977 and occupied about 1,100 acres. The plant’s products included baking soda, chromium compounds, and hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.
"Since the site closed, the community and the federal government have gone through the slow and trying process of removing #pollutants to make it site safe for redevelopment.
The current project can serve as a case study for many things, including regional cooperation. Painesville, in Lake County, worked with officials in neighboring Cuyahoga County and the Cleveland city government to file an application with the federal government that included #RenewableEnergy projects for all of them."
#SolarFarms
#RenewablesNow
#RenewableEnergy
#LocalEnergy
#NoNewNukes
#NoNukes #Ohio #Bicycles #BikePaths #GreenSpace #Reclamation #SolarSundays -
Scientists test #agriculture and #SolarEnergy on #Illinois #farms
Two experiments in the state are measuring which crops could grow well under these panels.
By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco
Jul 18, 2024, 2:58pm EDT"Thousands of #wildflowers are blooming under rows of solar panels in eastern Illinois. #Milkweeds, #BlackEyedSusans and native #PrairieGrasses catch the sunlight that streams past solar panels on one end of this 54-acre property near Champaign.
"'Obviously, this setting is not perfect for the farming system,' D.K. Lee, a professor of crop sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said about the narrow space between solar panel arrays.
"But this experimental station called #SolarFarm 2.0 could help UIUC scientists determine whether the marriage between Midwestern agriculture and solar power will be a happy one. Researchers are piloting how crops such as grains and #soybeans used primarily to feed livestock grow with solar panels obstructing their full view of the sun. The counterintuitive practice is called #agrivoltaics, a nascent industry that partners solar developers looking for large plots of land and farmers looking to make additional income.
"That’s why two parallel experiments are underway here to find out what can grow and thrive under solar panels. To hit the ambitious clean energy targets set by state and federal officials, solar power will have to increase close to seven times over current capacity by 2035. That will mean millions of acres devoted to solar power — many of which could be in America’s #farmlands. But to make sure that agricultural communities aren’t left behind by the clean energy transition, scientists want to know what it will take for life to persist beneath solar panels — potentially a first step for farmers and solar power to co-exist.
"'We can only farm about 70% of the land here,' said Bruce E. Branham, professor of horticulture at UIUC. 'So we’ve got 30% of the land that would be farmed in full sun that is just vacant.'
"But in just two years and despite physical constraints, initial findings suggest that the #sorghum grain could be a promising crop to grow alongside solar panels. Branham said that so far it appears that combining sorghum with solar panels has resulted in a 59% increase in efficiency. And wildlife, including #birds and #bees, are flocking to the improved habitat. It’s a good start, but there’s still ways to go before solar farms like these are generating serious energy.
"'This is a 54-acre site, and we’re getting 12 megawatts,' Banham said. 'A lot of power plants are much, much greater than that.'
"In all, Solar Farm 2.0 produces close to 1% of the generating power of the #ClintonPowerStation, a #NuclearPowerPlant just a 45 minute drive east. But for Banham and others, this presents an opportunity to combine Midwestern row crops with solar power to generate enough energy to compete with #FossilFuels and other clean energy alternatives."
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarFarms #RenewablesNow #RenewableEnergy #LocalEnergy #NoNewNukes #NoNukes #SolarFarm #SaveTheFarms #IllinoisFarms #MidwestFarms #SolarSundays #Agrivoltaic
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#China is installing the #wind and #solar equivalent of five large #NuclearPower stations per week
By technology reporter James Purtill
Posted Mon 15 Jul 2024"While #Australia debates the merits of going #nuclear and frustration grows over the slower-than-needed rollout of solar and wind power, China is going all in on #renewables.
"New figures show the pace of its clean energy transition is roughly the equivalent of installing five large-scale nuclear power plants worth of renewables every week.
"A report by Sydney-based think tank Climate Energy Finance (#CEF) said China was installing renewables so rapidly it would meet its end-of-2030 target by the end of this month — or 6.5 years early.
"It's installing at least 10 gigawatts of wind and solar generation capacity every fortnight.
"By comparison, experts have said the Coalition's plan to build seven nuclear power plants would add fewer than 10GW of generation capacity to the grid sometime after 2035.
"Energy experts are looking to China, the world's largest emitter, once seen as a climate villain, for lessons on how to go green, fast."
Read more:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-07-16/chinas-renewable-energy-boom-breaks-records/104086640#RenewablesNow #NoNukes #NoNewNukes #RethinkNotRestart #NuclearPowerPlants #RenewableEnergy
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#Supai, #Ute, #Dine', #Arapaho, and #Lakota Testify on #Uranium #Exploitation before #InterAmericanCommission on #HumanRights
"The legacy of #UraniumMining in the #Southwest is death from #cancer and unreclaimed uranium mines. Now the contamination threatens the #ColoradoRiver. Tilousi urged the Commission to support the tribes efforts and pressure the #UnitedStates to change the #1872MiningLaw that allows international companies to seize #PublicLand for mining."
by Brenda Norrell, #CensoredNews
March 1, 2024WASHINGTON -- "'There was no respect for the people living on these lands, and certainly no respect for #MotherEarth,' Edith Hood, Dine' from Red Water Pond Road community, told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
"'The government was aware of the risks and the dangers but failed and neglected to inform our people.'
"Dine', Havasupai, Northern Arapaho, Oglala Lakota and #WhiteMesa Ute testified on uranium exploitation by the United States on Wednesday, during the session, 'Impacts of Uranium Exploitation on #IndigenousPeoples' Rights.'
"The #BIA, #EPA and #NuclearRegulatoryCommission praised themselves, and attempted to #CoverUp the legacy of death from uranium mining, strewn #RadioactiveWaste, and deadly uranium mills in Indian country.
Eric Jantz, legal director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, disagreed with the United States assertions.
Jantz pointed out that the U.S. appears to want Native people to sacrifice more for 'national security' -- rather than to deal with the devastation. As for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it has not honored public comments. And as for the EPA, it's too late. There are more than 500 uranium mine sites waiting to be cleaned up on the Navajo Nation. Zero have been fully cleaned up, Jantz told the Commission."'Our ancestors remains were desecrated to build the mill,' Anthony Badback, Ute Mountain Ute at White Mesa, told the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today in Washington. Badback testified that #EnergyFuels uranium mill has contaminated the #groundwater, plants, birds, #wildlife, and air in his community in southeastern #Utah.
"The young people are getting asthma, and the people can no longer use their spring water for ceremonies. Ute must buy bottled water to drink, and no longer hunt because of the contamination. Now, the mill is bringing in international waste and has become a low-level radioactive waste repository, because of the lax standards of the state of Utah. 'We want the mill to be shut down,' Badback told the Commission. 'Please help us.'
Read more: https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/02/navajo-ute-lakota-to-testify-on-uranium.html
#WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #UraniumMills #Reprocessing #IndigenousActivism
#CulturalGenocide #EnvironmentalRacism
#NoNukes #NoNewNukes
#RenewablesNow #NoMining #UraniumMining -
#HinkleyPointC delayed to 2029 at the earliest as budget increases substantially
by Jack Loughran
January 24, 2024"#Environmental campaigners are currently making efforts to block its construction over claims that the government did not assess the environmental impact of its proposals for a #water supply."
#NoNukes #UK #CashStrapped #WaterIsLife #EDF #HinkleyPoint #ExtremeWeather #ClimateCrisis #NuclearPlants #UK #CoastalFlooding #RenewablesNow