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#renewablesnow — Public Fediverse posts

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

  1. #EPA Expected to Erase Limits on Climate #Pollution From Power Plants

    Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

    By Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman, Sept. 13, 2026

    Excerpt: "The #Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gas, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

    "The shift by the Environmental Protection Agency would complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. [FASCISM!!!]

    "The power sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. This pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, where it traps the sun’s heat, raising temperatures and supercharging extreme weather events around the globe. Scientists say the United States and other industrialized nations must sharply cut emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

    " #LeeZeldin , the E.P.A. administrator, is expected to announce the change during a meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Houston, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the proposal before it is made public.

    "Representatives for the E.P.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday evening.

    " #Environmentalists and energy experts have opposed the move, which has been in the works since last spring. They have noted that if the U.S. power sector were its own country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter in the world after China, the entire United States, India and Russia.

    " 'This is another nail in the coffin for this administration’s commitment to protecting people and tackling the climate crisis,' said Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. The E.P.A., he said, 'is ending its legal and moral responsibility to end #ClimatePollution. '

    "[Idiot-in-chief] President Trump has derided climate change as a 'hoax,' and in his second term, the E.P.A. has systematically dismantled policies aimed at slowing global warming that have been criticized as costly by #oil, #gas and #coal companies. The administration has tried to make it easier and cheaper to produce and use fossil fuels, especially to generate electricity that can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers."

    nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/9eoDk

    #EPA = #EvilPollutersAlliance !
    #USPol #TrumpSucks #EPAFail #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChangeIsReal #BigOilKnew #BigOilAndGas #CorporateFascism #CorporatePolluters #ClimateDenial #CorporateColonialism #GreenhouseGas #Datacenters #MakePollutersPay #AIDatacenters #AI #RenewablesNow #CharacteristicsOfFascism

  2. #EPA Expected to Erase Limits on Climate #Pollution From Power Plants

    Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

    By Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman, Sept. 13, 2026

    Excerpt: "The #Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gas, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

    "The shift by the Environmental Protection Agency would complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. [FASCISM!!!]

    "The power sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. This pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, where it traps the sun’s heat, raising temperatures and supercharging extreme weather events around the globe. Scientists say the United States and other industrialized nations must sharply cut emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

    " #LeeZeldin , the E.P.A. administrator, is expected to announce the change during a meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Houston, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the proposal before it is made public.

    "Representatives for the E.P.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday evening.

    " #Environmentalists and energy experts have opposed the move, which has been in the works since last spring. They have noted that if the U.S. power sector were its own country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter in the world after China, the entire United States, India and Russia.

    " 'This is another nail in the coffin for this administration’s commitment to protecting people and tackling the climate crisis,' said Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. The E.P.A., he said, 'is ending its legal and moral responsibility to end #ClimatePollution. '

    "[Idiot-in-chief] President Trump has derided climate change as a 'hoax,' and in his second term, the E.P.A. has systematically dismantled policies aimed at slowing global warming that have been criticized as costly by #oil, #gas and #coal companies. The administration has tried to make it easier and cheaper to produce and use fossil fuels, especially to generate electricity that can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers."

    nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/9eoDk

    #EPA = #EvilPollutersAlliance !
    #USPol #TrumpSucks #EPAFail #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChangeIsReal #BigOilKnew #BigOilAndGas #CorporateFascism #CorporatePolluters #ClimateDenial #CorporateColonialism #GreenhouseGas #Datacenters #MakePollutersPay #AIDatacenters #AI #RenewablesNow #CharacteristicsOfFascism

  3. #EPA Expected to Erase Limits on Climate #Pollution From Power Plants

    Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

    By Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman, Sept. 13, 2026

    Excerpt: "The #Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gas, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

    "The shift by the Environmental Protection Agency would complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. [FASCISM!!!]

    "The power sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. This pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, where it traps the sun’s heat, raising temperatures and supercharging extreme weather events around the globe. Scientists say the United States and other industrialized nations must sharply cut emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

    " #LeeZeldin , the E.P.A. administrator, is expected to announce the change during a meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Houston, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the proposal before it is made public.

    "Representatives for the E.P.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday evening.

    " #Environmentalists and energy experts have opposed the move, which has been in the works since last spring. They have noted that if the U.S. power sector were its own country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter in the world after China, the entire United States, India and Russia.

    " 'This is another nail in the coffin for this administration’s commitment to protecting people and tackling the climate crisis,' said Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. The E.P.A., he said, 'is ending its legal and moral responsibility to end #ClimatePollution. '

    "[Idiot-in-chief] President Trump has derided climate change as a 'hoax,' and in his second term, the E.P.A. has systematically dismantled policies aimed at slowing global warming that have been criticized as costly by #oil, #gas and #coal companies. The administration has tried to make it easier and cheaper to produce and use fossil fuels, especially to generate electricity that can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers."

    nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/9eoDk

    #EPA = #EvilPollutersAlliance !
    #USPol #TrumpSucks #EPAFail #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChangeIsReal #BigOilKnew #BigOilAndGas #CorporateFascism #CorporatePolluters #ClimateDenial #CorporateColonialism #GreenhouseGas #Datacenters #MakePollutersPay #AIDatacenters #AI #RenewablesNow #CharacteristicsOfFascism

  4. #EPA Expected to Erase Limits on Climate #Pollution From Power Plants

    Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

    By Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman, Sept. 13, 2026

    Excerpt: "The #Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gas, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

    "The shift by the Environmental Protection Agency would complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. [FASCISM!!!]

    "The power sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. This pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, where it traps the sun’s heat, raising temperatures and supercharging extreme weather events around the globe. Scientists say the United States and other industrialized nations must sharply cut emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

    " #LeeZeldin , the E.P.A. administrator, is expected to announce the change during a meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Houston, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the proposal before it is made public.

    "Representatives for the E.P.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday evening.

    " #Environmentalists and energy experts have opposed the move, which has been in the works since last spring. They have noted that if the U.S. power sector were its own country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter in the world after China, the entire United States, India and Russia.

    " 'This is another nail in the coffin for this administration’s commitment to protecting people and tackling the climate crisis,' said Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. The E.P.A., he said, 'is ending its legal and moral responsibility to end #ClimatePollution. '

    "[Idiot-in-chief] President Trump has derided climate change as a 'hoax,' and in his second term, the E.P.A. has systematically dismantled policies aimed at slowing global warming that have been criticized as costly by #oil, #gas and #coal companies. The administration has tried to make it easier and cheaper to produce and use fossil fuels, especially to generate electricity that can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers."

    nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/9eoDk

    #EPA = #EvilPollutersAlliance !
    #USPol #TrumpSucks #EPAFail #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChangeIsReal #BigOilKnew #BigOilAndGas #CorporateFascism #CorporatePolluters #ClimateDenial #CorporateColonialism #GreenhouseGas #Datacenters #MakePollutersPay #AIDatacenters #AI #RenewablesNow #CharacteristicsOfFascism

  5. #EPA Expected to Erase Limits on Climate #Pollution From Power Plants

    Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.

    By Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman, Sept. 13, 2026

    Excerpt: "The #Trump administration plans to announce Monday that the United States will no longer limit the planet-warming pollution that power plants pump into the air while burning coal and gas, according to two people familiar with the proposal.

    "The shift by the Environmental Protection Agency would complete the administration’s erasure of the most consequential climate policies of Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. [FASCISM!!!]

    "The power sector is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. This pollution accumulates in the atmosphere, where it traps the sun’s heat, raising temperatures and supercharging extreme weather events around the globe. Scientists say the United States and other industrialized nations must sharply cut emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

    " #LeeZeldin , the E.P.A. administrator, is expected to announce the change during a meeting of energy ministers from the Group of 20 nations in Houston, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the proposal before it is made public.

    "Representatives for the E.P.A. did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Sunday evening.

    " #Environmentalists and energy experts have opposed the move, which has been in the works since last spring. They have noted that if the U.S. power sector were its own country, it would be the fifth-largest climate polluter in the world after China, the entire United States, India and Russia.

    " 'This is another nail in the coffin for this administration’s commitment to protecting people and tackling the climate crisis,' said Manish Bapna, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. The E.P.A., he said, 'is ending its legal and moral responsibility to end #ClimatePollution. '

    "[Idiot-in-chief] President Trump has derided climate change as a 'hoax,' and in his second term, the E.P.A. has systematically dismantled policies aimed at slowing global warming that have been criticized as costly by #oil, #gas and #coal companies. The administration has tried to make it easier and cheaper to produce and use fossil fuels, especially to generate electricity that can meet growing demand from artificial intelligence data centers."

    nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/9eoDk

    #EPA = #EvilPollutersAlliance !
    #USPol #TrumpSucks #EPAFail #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChangeIsReal #BigOilKnew #BigOilAndGas #CorporateFascism #CorporatePolluters #ClimateDenial #CorporateColonialism #GreenhouseGas #Datacenters #MakePollutersPay #AIDatacenters #AI #RenewablesNow #CharacteristicsOfFascism

  6. However, we need to figure out #Batteries that don't involve #Lithium (or reuse lithium), and also #GreenTechnology that is TRULY green -- ideally from recycled or common place materials, that can be repaired, and that can be recycled/reused once its useful life is over...

    #ClimateSolutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

    Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

    Matthew Pearce
    Thu 10 Sep 2026

    Excerpt: "The report, produced by the University of Exeter with the Earthshot prize, applies tipping point science to 51 priority areas across five environmental goals: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, eliminating waste and tackling the climate crisis.

    "Smith said positive tipping points could be understood as the beneficial counterpart to dangerous climate thresholds, such as the collapse of ice sheets or the death of coral reefs.

    " 'Tipping points can also work in our favour,' he said. The rapid growth of solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, as well as the recovery of some natural systems, showed beneficial change could accelerate after reaching a critical threshold.

    "However, the transition to clean power is being impeded by slow planning and grid expansion, particularly in wealthier economies, and a severe lack of investment elsewhere. Africa receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the report.

    "Research cited in the analysis suggests coordinated policies supporting clean power, transport and heating could bring forward tipping points in those sectors by between two and eight years. Progress in one sector makes the others easier by increasing demand for clean electricity, encouraging investment and driving costs down further.

    "Transforming global commodity supply chains is identified as another high-impact intervention. A relatively small number of #companies, #banks and regulators control trade in commodities including #beef, #soy, #PalmOil, #timber, #cocoa and #coffee, which together drive much of the world’s tropical #deforestation."

    Read more:
    theguardian.com/environment/20?

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/hMMv4

    #SolarPunkSunday #NewTechnology #Capitalism #RenewablesNow #PostOil #PostCapitalism #Earth4All

  7. However, we need to figure out #Batteries that don't involve #Lithium (or reuse lithium), and also #GreenTechnology that is TRULY green -- ideally from recycled or common place materials, that can be repaired, and that can be recycled/reused once its useful life is over...

    #ClimateSolutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

    Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

    Matthew Pearce
    Thu 10 Sep 2026

    Excerpt: "The report, produced by the University of Exeter with the Earthshot prize, applies tipping point science to 51 priority areas across five environmental goals: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, eliminating waste and tackling the climate crisis.

    "Smith said positive tipping points could be understood as the beneficial counterpart to dangerous climate thresholds, such as the collapse of ice sheets or the death of coral reefs.

    " 'Tipping points can also work in our favour,' he said. The rapid growth of solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, as well as the recovery of some natural systems, showed beneficial change could accelerate after reaching a critical threshold.

    "However, the transition to clean power is being impeded by slow planning and grid expansion, particularly in wealthier economies, and a severe lack of investment elsewhere. Africa receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the report.

    "Research cited in the analysis suggests coordinated policies supporting clean power, transport and heating could bring forward tipping points in those sectors by between two and eight years. Progress in one sector makes the others easier by increasing demand for clean electricity, encouraging investment and driving costs down further.

    "Transforming global commodity supply chains is identified as another high-impact intervention. A relatively small number of #companies, #banks and regulators control trade in commodities including #beef, #soy, #PalmOil, #timber, #cocoa and #coffee, which together drive much of the world’s tropical #deforestation."

    Read more:
    theguardian.com/environment/20?

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/hMMv4

    #SolarPunkSunday #NewTechnology #Capitalism #RenewablesNow #PostOil #PostCapitalism #Earth4All

  8. However, we need to figure out #Batteries that don't involve #Lithium (or reuse lithium), and also #GreenTechnology that is TRULY green -- ideally from recycled or common place materials, that can be repaired, and that can be recycled/reused once its useful life is over...

    #ClimateSolutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

    Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

    Matthew Pearce
    Thu 10 Sep 2026

    Excerpt: "The report, produced by the University of Exeter with the Earthshot prize, applies tipping point science to 51 priority areas across five environmental goals: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, eliminating waste and tackling the climate crisis.

    "Smith said positive tipping points could be understood as the beneficial counterpart to dangerous climate thresholds, such as the collapse of ice sheets or the death of coral reefs.

    " 'Tipping points can also work in our favour,' he said. The rapid growth of solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, as well as the recovery of some natural systems, showed beneficial change could accelerate after reaching a critical threshold.

    "However, the transition to clean power is being impeded by slow planning and grid expansion, particularly in wealthier economies, and a severe lack of investment elsewhere. Africa receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the report.

    "Research cited in the analysis suggests coordinated policies supporting clean power, transport and heating could bring forward tipping points in those sectors by between two and eight years. Progress in one sector makes the others easier by increasing demand for clean electricity, encouraging investment and driving costs down further.

    "Transforming global commodity supply chains is identified as another high-impact intervention. A relatively small number of #companies, #banks and regulators control trade in commodities including #beef, #soy, #PalmOil, #timber, #cocoa and #coffee, which together drive much of the world’s tropical #deforestation."

    Read more:
    theguardian.com/environment/20?

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/hMMv4

    #SolarPunkSunday #NewTechnology #Capitalism #RenewablesNow #PostOil #PostCapitalism #Earth4All

  9. However, we need to figure out #Batteries that don't involve #Lithium (or reuse lithium), and also #GreenTechnology that is TRULY green -- ideally from recycled or common place materials, that can be repaired, and that can be recycled/reused once its useful life is over...

    #ClimateSolutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

    Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

    Matthew Pearce
    Thu 10 Sep 2026

    Excerpt: "The report, produced by the University of Exeter with the Earthshot prize, applies tipping point science to 51 priority areas across five environmental goals: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, eliminating waste and tackling the climate crisis.

    "Smith said positive tipping points could be understood as the beneficial counterpart to dangerous climate thresholds, such as the collapse of ice sheets or the death of coral reefs.

    " 'Tipping points can also work in our favour,' he said. The rapid growth of solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, as well as the recovery of some natural systems, showed beneficial change could accelerate after reaching a critical threshold.

    "However, the transition to clean power is being impeded by slow planning and grid expansion, particularly in wealthier economies, and a severe lack of investment elsewhere. Africa receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the report.

    "Research cited in the analysis suggests coordinated policies supporting clean power, transport and heating could bring forward tipping points in those sectors by between two and eight years. Progress in one sector makes the others easier by increasing demand for clean electricity, encouraging investment and driving costs down further.

    "Transforming global commodity supply chains is identified as another high-impact intervention. A relatively small number of #companies, #banks and regulators control trade in commodities including #beef, #soy, #PalmOil, #timber, #cocoa and #coffee, which together drive much of the world’s tropical #deforestation."

    Read more:
    theguardian.com/environment/20?

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/hMMv4

    #SolarPunkSunday #NewTechnology #Capitalism #RenewablesNow #PostOil #PostCapitalism #Earth4All

  10. However, we need to figure out #Batteries that don't involve #Lithium (or reuse lithium), and also #GreenTechnology that is TRULY green -- ideally from recycled or common place materials, that can be repaired, and that can be recycled/reused once its useful life is over...

    #ClimateSolutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

    Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

    Matthew Pearce
    Thu 10 Sep 2026

    Excerpt: "The report, produced by the University of Exeter with the Earthshot prize, applies tipping point science to 51 priority areas across five environmental goals: protecting nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, eliminating waste and tackling the climate crisis.

    "Smith said positive tipping points could be understood as the beneficial counterpart to dangerous climate thresholds, such as the collapse of ice sheets or the death of coral reefs.

    " 'Tipping points can also work in our favour,' he said. The rapid growth of solar power, wind power and electric vehicles, as well as the recovery of some natural systems, showed beneficial change could accelerate after reaching a critical threshold.

    "However, the transition to clean power is being impeded by slow planning and grid expansion, particularly in wealthier economies, and a severe lack of investment elsewhere. Africa receives less than 2% of global clean energy investment despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, according to the report.

    "Research cited in the analysis suggests coordinated policies supporting clean power, transport and heating could bring forward tipping points in those sectors by between two and eight years. Progress in one sector makes the others easier by increasing demand for clean electricity, encouraging investment and driving costs down further.

    "Transforming global commodity supply chains is identified as another high-impact intervention. A relatively small number of #companies, #banks and regulators control trade in commodities including #beef, #soy, #PalmOil, #timber, #cocoa and #coffee, which together drive much of the world’s tropical #deforestation."

    Read more:
    theguardian.com/environment/20?

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/hMMv4

    #SolarPunkSunday #NewTechnology #Capitalism #RenewablesNow #PostOil #PostCapitalism #Earth4All

  11. [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?

    #Walk

    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:
    starisland.org/the-island/gree

    #SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
    #Renewables #RenewablesNow
    #GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals

  12. #Aotearoa / #NewZealand - #MakerFestival

    12 - 13 Sept 2026
    10:00 am – 6:00 pm

    148 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:
    repairnetworkaotearoa.org.nz/r

    #SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafes #RepairNetworkAotearoa
    #RepairReuseRestore #STEMWanaTrust #ZeroWaste #FixIt #RepairFestival #RenewablesNow #SolarPunk #RepairFestival2026 #BuildingCommunity #SustainableTechnology

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. #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

  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. But keep dumping partially treated #RadioactiveWater into the oceans, eh #TEPCO / #Japan?!!

    Walmart recalls frozen shrimp over potential radioactive contamination
    Clouds pass over the Walmart store, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

    By JONEL ALECCIA, August 19, 2025

    Excerpt: "The FDA is investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and products processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods of Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials alerted FDA that they found Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to U.S. ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia. "

    apnews.com/article/walmart-fro

    #OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #NoFukushimaDumping #RethinkNotRestart #TEPCOLied #FukushimaIsntOver #RenewablesNow #NoNukes

  21. HT @btschumy
    And this is why we need to #RethinkNotRestart and #ShutDownAllNuclearPlants -- especially the aging ones! This article outlines a very possible #Doomsday scenario -- but it could be a number of things, including a large #SolarFlare...

    2030 Doomsday Scenario: The Great #Nuclear Collapse

    A timeline of the #EndGame for human civilization

    "Humanity has constructed a doomsday Deadman switch that threatens civilization. Climate destruction will make it increasingly difficult to avoid the looming global nuclear catastrophe we've created.

    "Here's how our future might unravel:
    Late 2020s: Climate Red Alert and Infrastructure Strain

    "By the late 2020s, Earth’s climate is in unprecedented turmoil. Global average temperatures are consistently 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Each year brings record-breaking heatwaves, “freak” floods, and droughts that batter infrastructure. Coastal cities flood more frequently, roads buckle in extreme heat, and power grids strain under surging demand for cooling.

    "This cascade of climate disasters sets the stage for a systemic collapse: as societies grapple with runaway warming, the resilience of #Criticalnfrastructure (power, water, transit) erodes.

    "Energy systems enter a crisis even before 2030. Nuclear power, which in 2025 still provided about 9% of the world’s electricity from ~440 reactors, becomes increasingly unreliable. Many nuclear plants struggle with climate stresses: cooling water sources heat up in summer, forcing reactors to reduce output or shut down to avoid unsafe temperatures. For example, a 2028 European #heatwave pushes river and sea temperatures above 25 °C, triggering emergency shutdowns at multiple reactors that cannot be cooled effectively.

    "At the same time, stronger storms and floods threaten reactor safety. Dozens of reactors worldwide are unprepared for #ExtremeFlooding, meaning a dam failure or #StormSurge could lead to a Fukushima-scale accident. Worrisome reports emerge of power plants in #floodplains and #coasts where defenses are overtopped by #RisingSeas and torrential rains.

    "By 2029, global carbon output remains high, and natural feedback loops are kicking in. In the Arctic, permafrost thaws and releases methane creating a vicious warming cycle where initial warming triggers more emissions, leading to even more warming. Scientists caution that a tipping point is near, beyond which climate change becomes self-perpetuating (a true “runaway” scenario).

    "Society approaches 2030 in a precarious state: aware of looming catastrophe yet unprepared for its speed. The stage is set for the coming collapse, with power grids and nuclear facilities - the backbone of the industrial world - already under severe strain.

    Early 2030s: Blackouts and the First Reactor Crises

    "2030 marks the breaking point.

    "A confluence of climate catastrophes collapses power grids across multiple continents. A severe global heatwave in the summer of 2030 brings record electricity demand while many power plants (nuclear and coal alike) are derated or offline due to overheating coolant water.

    "Then powerful Category 5 storms strike in succession: one hurricane inundates the U.S. Eastern seaboard, while an unprecedented typhoon swamps Southeast Asia. These #disasters knock out transmission lines and flood key substations, leading to prolonged blackouts in dozens of major cities. Emergency systems are overwhelmed. With communications down and transportation paralyzed, manpower shortages become acute - many operators and engineers cannot reach their stations.

    "Nuclear power plants are among the first to feel the emergency. Grid failure triggers automatic reactor SCRAMs (rapid shutdowns) at plants from Florida to France. Control rods halt the fission reactions, but decay heat in reactor cores still needs cooling for days to prevent meltdown.

    "Normally, backup diesel generators would power the cooling pumps, but the scale of the #blackout means diesel resupply is uncertain and some generators fail in flooded facilities. In a grim reflection of 2011’s Fukushima disaster, several coastal reactors lose all power as storm surges drown their backup generators.

    "Within hours to days, the first meltdowns occur.

    "In 2031, a reactor in South Asia becomes a flashpoint: its cooling pumps falter after the grid collapse, leading the core to overheat. The reactor’s heart melts through containment in a matter of days, releasing a plume of radioactive steam and debris.

    "Nearby, an even greater danger unfolds: the plant’s spent fuel pool, packed with years of highly radioactive spent rods, boils dry without cooling. Exposed to air, the zirconium cladding of the fuel ignites, triggering a fire that belches long-lived radioisotopes directly into the atmosphere. This nightmare scenario - once narrowly avoided at #Fukushima by heroic ad-hoc measures - now plays out in full."

    Read more:
    collapse2050.com/2030-doomsday

    #NoNukes #RenewablesNow #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Radiation #NuclearMeltdowns #Polycrisis #NoMoreFukushimas #NoNukesForAI #CivilizationCollapse #NuclearFuture #ARadioactiveWorld

  22. Risky Revival: How #Michigan’s #Palisades #NuclearPlant could impact agriculture

    While state leaders champion the Palisades reopening as an energy solution, local farmers remain divided over the potential threats to their land and water.

    by S. Nicole Lane, for Investigate Midwest December 10, 2024

    COVERT, Michigan — "The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, long synonymous with safety lapses and regulatory oversight, is poised for an unprecedented comeback under Michigan Gov. #GretchenWhitmer’s plan to reopen the shuttered plant by 2025 — the first attempt of its kind in U.S. history.

    "However, in this robust agricultural region, there are fears about how reopening a problematic plant could impact area farmers and the food they produce.

    "Approximately 6,362 farms are within 50 miles of Palisades. In Van Buren County alone, where the plant is located, there are 838 farms. Michigan’s southwestern corner, home to 80% of the state’s farms, is often called the 'blueberry capital of the world.'

    "'A leak (and) this 150-year-old farm is done,' said Bill Adams, who runs Adams Blueberry Farms in Hartford, Michigan, 16 miles south of the plant. 'Why would they restart something that old and sitting this long?'

    "Opened in 1971, Palisades, which is located along #LakeMichigan, once generated 5% of Michigan’s electricity, enough to power 800,000 homes. But a litany of mechanical issues plagued its operations for decades.

    "In 2013, the plant leaked 79 gallons of diluted #RadioactiveWater into Lake Michigan, forcing a five-week shutdown — its ninth closure in just two years.

    "Federal regulators repeatedly flagged the plant for safety concerns, from undetected #RadiationExposure among employees in 2008 to persistent cracks in its 300,000-gallon storage tank that leaked for over a decade. In 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) described Palisades as having some of the worst cases of nuclear fuel container weakening in the nation.

    "The plant was permanently shut down on May 31, 2022, with its owners citing financial and safety concerns. But just months later, Whitmer announced a plan to revive Palisades, reigniting debates over the risks and benefits of #NuclearEnergy in a state still grappling with its troubled legacy.

    "Typically, after 40 years, a nuclear power plant is closed and undergoes a complex decommissioning process that can take up to 30 years to complete. Globally, the only plants that have reopened are in Japan.

    "#Holtec Decommissioning International bought Palisades in 2022 with the goal of dismantling it. Now, with Whitmer’s support, they have since decided to reopen the plant, something Holtec has never done.

    "Neither Holtec nor Whitmer’s office responded to multiple requests for comment. "

    Read more:
    investigatemidwest.org/2024/12

    #NoNukes #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #RethinkNotRestart #RenewablesNow #Holtec #HoltecLies #USPol #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies #NuclearPowerPlants

  23. From the Bretton Woods Project: #Forests

    "Finally, the [#WorldBank] ’s #forest policy and #WeakSafeguards on #ForestProtection have also been observed to infringe the rights of local communities and have failed to protect one of the planet’s most important ‘#CarbonSinks’ (see Observer Spring 2017). CSOs have called for the Bank to open up its Forest Notes – which are meant to guide the interface between its lending and forests – to consultation (see Observer Winter 2017-2018). CSOs have also been highly critical of one of the forest initiatives the Bank manages, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a climate investment fund that supports Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) projects. A March 2017 post in REDD Monitor called the FCPF, 'the most cost-inefficient tree-saving scheme ever,' owing to high administrative costs between fiscal years 2009-2015 absorbing 64 per cent of FCFP’s $55 million expenditure. More generally, the Bank’s overall approach to lending has undermined the protection of vital natural ecosystems in borrower countries. As noted by Bruce Rich in his influential 2013 book, Foreclosing the Future: The World Bank and the Politics of Environmental Destruction, 'When one examines the failures to conserve ecosystems, or to mitigate environmental impacts of development, one finds that failed governance at all levels is almost invariably at the root. …Many of [the Bank’s] problems are associated with a dysfunctional institutional culture in which the relentless pressure to move money out the door, even in violation of the Bank’s own policies and rules, often overrides all other considerations.'"

    2017: World Bank policy lending undermines climate goals

    "One of the main problems is the Bank’s refusal to adequately assess the social and environmental risks of their policy loans" - Harlem Mariño, Derechos, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

    6 April 2017

    "A late January report by US-based NGO Bank Information Center (BIC), together with partners in Egypt, Indonesia, Mozambique and Peru, claimed that the Bank is undermining its climate commitments by supporting investment incentives for coal, gas and oil projects through its development policy financing (DPF) mechanism. DPF accounts for approximately a third of all Bank funding and provides resources for programmes of policy and institutional reforms that are agreed by the Bank and the borrowing government (see Update 82). The report argued that the Bank’s financing through DPF contradicts the internationally agreed and Bank-supported goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to 2°C, which according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change would require that at least two-thirds of existing fossil fuel reserves are left in the ground.

    "BIC’s report looked at the Bank’s DPF measures in four countries: Egypt, Indonesia, Mozambique and Peru. It found that DPF introduced subsidies for coal in all countries, apart from Peru. For example, the report argued that Bank-supported subsidies for coal infrastructure have helped Indonesia become one of the world’s top coal exporters. It found some DPF support for renewable energy, but argued that the Bank could do more given that all countries examined have potential to develop renewable energy. For example, while Peru’s DPF provides subsidies to public-private partnerships to develop oil and gas infrastructure, it does not include plans for solar or wind power projects."

    brettonwoodsproject.org/2017/0

    #FCPF #REDD #Ecosystems #ProtectTheForests #EnvironmentalDestruction #ForestDegradation #Deforestation #EnvironmentalImpacts #Egypt #Indonesia #Mozambique #Peru #LeaveItInTheGround #Coal #BigOilAndGas #ExtractiveIndustries #Exploitation #EnvironmentalImpacts
    #HumanRights #ParisAgreement
    #ParisClimateAgreement #BigOilAndGas #CorporateColonialism #IMFLoanSharks #RenewablesNow

  24. #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:
    bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2024/09

    #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #RenewablesNow #Greenwashing #NoMiningWithoutConsent #RecycleCopper #LithiumAlternatives #PeabodyCoal #PeabodyEnergy #CorporateColonialism #ProtectTheSacred #ProtectMotherEarth #ReaderSupportedNews

  25. #DiabloCanyon #NuclearPowerPlant brings #profits for PG&E, deadly risk for residents [and the #environment]

    Tina Landis
    August 19, 2024

    "Despite opposition from residents and #environmental organizations, California legislators passed #SenateBill846 in 2022 to extend the life of the dangerous, aging Diablo Canyon #nuclear facility.

    "Located on the Central Coast surrounded by several #fault lines, one has to question why a nuclear facility was placed in an #earthquake zone to begin with, much less allowing it to continue to operate well past its retirement date. The world witnessed what can happen to a coastal nuclear facility in an earthquake zone when the 2011 #Fukushima disaster triggered a meltdown that displaced nearly half a million residents, with vast amounts of #RadioactiveWater still being released into the ocean today.

    "As long as Diablo Canyon remains open, Californians live with the constant risk of suffering the same type of disaster.

    "From its inception, Diablo Canyon had little public support. Protests occurred regularly during its construction, and thousands were arrested for #CivilDisobedience actions in 1981.

    "In the 1970s and 1980s, California’s three largest utilities spent billions of dollars building dangerous and costly nuclear plants like Diablo Canyon, which resulted in skyrocketing rates for customers. Big industry fought back against these increased energy costs, which resulted in deregulation bills consisting of multi-billion dollar #bailouts to the state’s utility companies to cover their costly investments in nuclear.

    "Today, the last remaining nuclear plant operating in the state is still draining billions in funds that could be used for safe, #renewable energy development. To keep Diablo Canyon running 5 years past its retirement date is expected to cost $8 billion to $12 billion. A federal aid package of $1.1 billion will contribute to some of those costs – meaning federal #taxpayers’ money – while the remaining billions will be passed on to #California #ratepayers.

    "Despite being run by PG&E and only generating power for its territory, customers of #SouthernCaliforniaEdison and #SanDiegoGasAndElectric will help cover the remaining costs of the Diablo extension. Edison bills will increase by around $1.25 a month and SDG&E by 87 cents a month, while PG&E customers are expected to chip in $2.07 a month – and that’s just for the first year. Critics warn that costs are likely to increase in coming years to keep the plant running, and that’s on top of already skyrocketing PG&E rates that have doubled over the last decade. And if PG&E collects more funds than are needed for Diablo’s operations, they get to keep it!

    "In 2022, when legislators pushed this through #SB846, the excuse of energy shortages was used due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and massive #wildfires. But today, there is plenty of energy being produced with increased #solar and #battery storage capacity that has kept the lights on even during this summer’s unprecedented heat waves driving up demand. The California Public Utility Commission’s own reporting shows that an additional 18,500 megawatts of new resources were added to the grid between 2020 and 2024, which is enough to power around 14 million homes. Another 11,000 megawatts will be added by 2028.

    "Nuclear has the third highest lifecycle emissions of all energy sources after scrubbed #coal fired plants and natural gas – meaning it is far from being zero-emission. It also creates the unresolved issue of the #RadioactiveWaste which remains dangerous for tens of thousands to millions of years.

    "Keeping the Diablo facility running will only hold back further development of safe and truly low-carbon, low cost renewable sources like solar and #wind energy.

    "So why isn’t Diablo Canyon being decommissioned? The short answer is that #capitalism must ensure continued profits for the #InvestorClass.

    "SB 846 authorized Diablo’s extension through 2030, and gave PG&E a $1.4 billion loan for the for-profit utility to facilitate the plant’s extension. #GovernorNewsom facilitated another transfer of taxpayer dollars to PG&E through an additional $400 million loan from the state’s general fund, included in the recent budget deal. Critics warn that these 'loans' will never be repaid, meaning residents will be fully subsidizing the Diablo extension – from federal and state tax dollars to our utility fees.

    "But there is a way out. SB 846 allows the #CPUC to retire the plant earlier than 2030 if sufficient levels of new renewable zero-carbon energy resources exist, are interconnected, and meet demand, which is the case.

    "CPUC has a long track record of serving PG&E’s interests, so intervention by the commission is unlikely. One example of many that demonstrates their close relationship: CPUC is not requiring PG&E to show how much of our utility bill actually goes to the Diablo extension, but instead lumps the cost in with 'public purpose programs,' making it impossible to determine.

    "While communities are demanding an early shutdown of Diablo, PG&E is currently applying for a 20-year license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] for the facility, which is expected to be approved. This would mean customers will foot the bill to keep this dangerous nuclear facility running through 2045, far beyond the original expiration dates of 2024 and 2025.

    "CPUC has proven their unwavering support time and again for PG&E’s monopoly control over the state’s energy system at the expense of residents’ safety and affordable rates. The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is just another mechanism to squeeze ratepayers and line the pockets of shareholders who live far away from the dangers posed by this aging facility. Only a public takeover of this #corrupt utility can win clean, safe and affordable energy for all."

    Source:
    liberationnews.org/diablo-cany

    #PGAndE #RethinkNotRestart #NuclearCorruption #NuclearBailouts #RenewablesNow #NoNukes
    #DiabloCanyonNuclearPlant
    #NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies #California #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife

  26. Lawmakers, keep moratorium on new #NuclearPowerPlants in #Illinois

    The claim of benefits of small modular reactors [#SMR] are fantasies. Turning to nuclear energy will mean more #RadioactiveWaste along with other problems, and will not help our state fight #ClimateChange

    By David Kraft, Oct 27, 2023

    "Hoopla about the alleged 'benefits' of small modular reactors are currently fantasies, mere #NuclearIndustry marketing promises and wishful thinking because small reactors do not exist yet, and will not be available in commercially meaningful numbers until the mid-2030s, and then only if their proposed designs actually work.

    "#SMNRs have been touted to strengthen local economies, provide job stability, support business and augment the tax base, thus leading to more funding for schools. Yet Illinois is already reaping all of these benefits at existing (and proposed) #RenewableEnergy facilities.

    "Illinois currently provides far more jobs in #renewable energy and energy efficiency — a combined 105,591, as of 2021 — than at current #nuclear plants — 3,726 as of 2022. The non-existent small modular reactors actually call for fewer operating staff.

    "Pro-nuclear advocates claim we need more nuclear to fight climate change, a claim challenged by two former Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] chairs, Gregory Jaczko and Allison Macfarlane, who have stated unequivocally that nuclear energy can’t be a silver bullet for climate change because it cannot replace other forms of power generation quickly enough to sufficiently reduce emissions.

    "Other worrisome 'devils in the details' not receiving Legislature debate include: proposals to build small modular reactors without protective #containment buildings; elimination of #emergency planning zones around reactors; and exemption from financial liability in case of accidents."

    chicago.suntimes.com/2023/10/2

    #RenewablesNow #NoNukes #NoNewNukes #PriceAndersonAct