February 18 NEC Energy News
¶ “Amazon Boosts Its Sustainability Credentials With Record Renewable Energy Purchases (Plus Offshore Wind Seaweed Farming!)” • Amazon announced adding 8.3 GW of renewable energy to its portfolio in 2022, with 133 projects in 11 countries. It now has access to more than 20 GW of green power. What next for Amazon? Seaweed farming! [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Six Workers Decommissioning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Exposed To Airborne Radiation” • Six workers decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station were exposed to airborne radiation in August of 2020, a federal inspection report says. The contract workers were wearing air-fed protective suits, and plant employees failed to test the air for radiation. [WCAI]
¶ “Dumping A Million Gallons Of Radioactive Water In Hudson Is ‘Best Option,’ Per Indian Point Nuclear Plant Owner” • The owner of the defunct Indian Point plant says it plans to dump about a million gallons of radioactive water into the Hudson River. The company says the move is the “best option” for the waste. It could happen as early as August. [Gothamist]
¶ “Ford First To Build NMC Batteries And LFP Batteries In The USA” • Ford has become the #2 EV seller in the USA, but it’s also now the first automaker to state that it will produce both nickel manganese cobalt and lithium iron phosphate batteries for EVs in the US. It is investing a full $3.5 billion into a new LFP battery factory in Marshall, Michigan. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Europe’s Natural Gas Prices Fall To 18-Month Low” • Europe’s natural gas prices fell to their lowest level in nearly 18 months in another sign the region has avoided a much-feared energy crisis. Benchmark wholesale gas prices fell to €49/MWh ($52/MWh), their lowest level since September 2021 and a fraction of the all-time high of €320 hit in August last year. [CNN]
¶ “Biden Administration Restores Obama-Era Mercury Rules For Power Plants, Eyes More Regulations In Coming Months” • The Biden administration finalized a decision to reestablish Obama-era rules that require coal and oil-fired power plants to reduce toxic pollutants, including mercury and acid gas, that come out of their smokestacks. [CNN]
¶ “Li-Bridge, US To Double Lithium Battery Revenues To $33 Billion And Provide 100,000 Jobs By 2030” • Li-Bridge, a public-private alliance for US battery making convened by the US DOE and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, released a plan to accelerate the creation of a robust domestic supply chain for lithium-based batteries. [CleanTechnica]
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