January 1 NEC Energy News
¶ “China’s Solar Sector Steams Ahead Of EU And US” • Chinese manufacturers have a huge cost advantage over international rivals, a Horizons report from Wood Mackenzie says. China’s dominance is the result of economies of scale of large facilities, and Chinese companies have easy access to funding and less restrictive policies. [DW]
¶ “Illinois’ New Nuclear Bill Goes Dark Before It Can Spark” • Illinois ended its 36-year nuclear moratorium, but it’s a mistake to think that means more nuclear-powered electricity is coming to local homes. The legislation keeps the door shut on building traditional nuclear power plants. It ends the moratorium only for small modular reactors. [Illinois Policy]
¶ “Magnitude 7.4 Quake Strikes Central Japan” • A powerful earthquake and tsunami struck central Japan and its western coast at 4:10 pm on Monday, triggering warnings for residents to evacuate, knocking out power to large areas, and disrupting flights and rail services. Nuclear regulators said there were no irregularities at nucle plants. [Japan Today]
¶ “New Flow Battery Electric Car To Be Made In The USA” • The crazy dream of a flow battery EV really is not so crazy after all. The European firm nanoFlowcell set up a US office to pitch its new QUANTiNO twentyfive electric car with new flow battery technology. Now the company is hatching plans for a whole US flow battery ecosystem. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Amtrak Has Big Plans For 2024, But Congress Wants To Derail A Big Advantage” • With funding and support for the railroad up in the last few years, some key upgrades and improvements are going into place that could help many more travelers take it seriously. But some members of Congress are pushing safety issues that are not realistic. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Will Climate Change Affect Chocolate Production?” • People around the world are discussing the disastrous effects of climate change on our planet; glaciers will melt, sea levels will rise, new diseases will appear, droughts and floods will destroy our habitats and farmlands, it may become too hot or cold to farm. But what about cacao beans for chocolate? [ScienceABC]
¶ “Climate Scientists Agree: 2023 Was Bad But The Worst Is Yet To Come” • People look forward to a new year with hopes of a better life. But the mood is somber among climate scientists this year, where the consensus is that 2023 marked the end of the prelude to climate change and the start of a new reality of an overheated planet. [CleanTechnica]
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