EDITOR'S CHOICE

Why Are Taxpayers Propping Up the Fossil Fuel Industry?

12 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"Worldwide, government subsidies for oil and gas are at a record high. Global financial institutions have been trying for years to get them phased out.

"Last year, countries spent $1 trillion subsidizing fossil fuels for consumers...That was double what they spent the year before...Subsidies reduce consumer prices, which means phasing them out can cause social unrest... the I.M.F. said that "clear communication, gradual phasing out, and mechanisms to compensate vulnerable groups" should be key components of any policy for reducing fossil fuel subsidies...

Read Full Story

No, Fusion Energy Won't Be "Limitless"

12 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"...ignition experiment still consumed energy overall, because the laser burned a lot more power than it delivered to its target...you can argue that fusion energy is as limitless as there are hydrogen atoms in the universe...

"The early conclusion is that fusion energy ain't going to be cheap - certainly not the cheapest source of electricity over the coming decades as more solar and wind come online...In most scenarios, fusion appears likely to end up in a niche much like that held by good ol? nuclear fission today, albeit without the same safety and waste headaches."

Read Full Story

Have Combustion Vehicle Sales Already Peaked?

11 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"...EV sales really picked up steam around 2019. This is likely due to various government subsidies and a growing list of models to choose from.

"EV ranges, once a major limiting factor, are also becoming less of a concern as battery technology improves and more charging stations become available...In the U.S., the 13 states that adhere to California’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Program are aiming for 100% of cars sold in 2035 to be ZEVs."

Read Full Story

The Country's Most EV-Friendly Metro Areas for Housing Renters

11 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"...the availability of EV charging infrastructure varies widely depending on geographic location. Out of the top 10 U.S. metros for electric-vehicle friendliness, California metros make up more than half of the spots

"...27% of renters said they were interested in EV charging stations, and respondents said they would pay $28.12 more per month for them...4.7% of multifamily residential buildings nationwide offer EV charging stations as an amenity."

Read Full Story

Americans Aren't Loving EVs Yet - Less Than Half Say Their Next Car Will Be Electric

11 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"About 4 in 10 U.S. adults are at least somewhat likely to switch, but the history-making shift from the country's century-plus love affair with gas-driven vehicles still has a ways to travel.

"...only 19% of U.S. adults say it's 'very' or 'extremely' likely they would purchase an electric vehicle the next time they buy a car, according to the poll...Six in 10 said the high cost is a major reason they wouldn't and about a quarter cited it as a minor reason."

Read Full Story

The Rising Chorus of Renewable Energy Skeptics

11 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

We are going to have to dramatically downsize the dream of a future in which we replace 150-year-old fossil fuel infrastructure with 'clean energy' by 2050.

"...the world needs a better plan to avoid collapse other than replacing one unsustainable fossil fuel system with another intensive mining system powered by even more extreme energies..One of the great lies of modern technological society is that of endless mineral abundance."

Read Full Story

Climate Misinformation Is On The Rise - Can We "Reduce The Binary?"

11 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"Misinformation campaigns, backed by...'well-funded actors, exploiting marketing techniques, and networks of power,' are actively seeding doubt and denial over climate science and solutions.

"The Climate Action against Disinformation (CAAD) coalition is working to shatter the illusion of climate mythology...CAAD is a comprised of 50+ organizations..[committing to rebutting] misleading and false content that perpetuates false narratives..."

Read Full Story

Seventeen States Could Accelerate U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales To 75% By 2050

10 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule could dramatically accelerate electric vehicle (EV) deployment...Seventeen states - nearly 38% of the U.S. car market - are contemplating or have already adopted these standards.

"Section 177 of the Clean Air Act gives California the authority to set stronger standards than those set by the EPA, and allows other states to adopt California’s standards...if all 17 states adopt ACC II, more than 75% of all cars on the road could be electric by then."

Read Full Story

EV-to-Grid Charging Is Complicated, But California Is Gearing Up to clear the Way

10 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"The enormous battery packs people already have in their electric vehicles, and the California Senate is discussing a bill that is hoping to cut through the red tape associated with V2G (vehicle-to-grid) charging.

"...a 50 kWh battery pack kept at 50% charge, and that they all volunteer to deliver power to the grid until they hit 20%, we would have 15 kWh available per vehicle, times a million...V2G isn’t going to be the solution to end all discussion about power management."

Read Full Story

The Secret Behind The Increasing Popularity of E-Bikes That You Don't Know

10 Apr 2023 | Synopsis

"According to NPD Group, a market research firm, e-bike sales in the United States increased 145% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Moreover, e-bikes will account for nearly a third of all bicycles sold globally by 2023.

"From word of mouth to convenience and versatility, e-bikes have made new-age activity and daily mobility easy and fast...the recent surge in fuel pricing has also helped the e-bike community’s growth."

Read Full Story