January 31 NEC Energy News
¶ “India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Has Reached 188 GW: President Murmu” • India’s installed renewable energy capacity has increased to about 188 GW, up from 81 GW a decade ago, President Droupadi Murmu said in an address. She noted that solar power capacity has increased 26-fold, wind power capacity has doubled in the last ten years. [Swarajya]
¶ “Report: Palisades Getting Federal Loan To Reopen” • A report from Bloomberg says Holtec International Corporation will get a $1.5 billion loan from the US DOE to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan. The facility was shut down in May 2022 to be decommissioned, but Holtec pitched the restart idea after purchasing the plant. [WKZO]
¶ “Ford Government Wants To Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Reactors But Can’t Say How Much It Will Cost” • Ontario will seek approval to refurbish four aging 1980s Candu nuclear reactors at Pickering. Energy Minister Todd Smith admitted there is no precise cost estimate for the nuclear refurbishment, at least not one he is willing to reveal. [Toronto Star]
¶ “Western Monarch Butterflies Overwintering In California Dropped 30% In 2023” • The number of western monarch butterflies overwintering in California dropped by 30% last year, likely due to how wet it was, researchers said. Other causes of the decline are destruction of habitat due to housing, pesticides, herbicides, and climate change. [ABC News]
¶ “More Green Energy Powers Coal-Rich Shanxi” • China’s major coal-producing region of Shanxi stepped up renewable energy growth as it seeks low-carbon and greener development. Its renewable energy capacity reached 53.09 GW at the end of 2023, up 22.6% year-on-year, data from the Shanxi provincial statistics bureau shows. [China Daily]
¶ “Europe Signs PPAS For 16.2 GW Of Renewables In 2023, Including 10.5 GW Of Solar” • Swiss financial analyst Pexapark has published its latest report on the European renewable power purchase agreement sector, European PPA Market Outlook 2024. It found that European buyers struck deals for a record 16.2GW of clean power in 2023. [PV Tech]
¶ “New Analysis Reveals Implications Of Plummeting Usage Of Coal In The US” • A report from research firm Rhodium Group found that the United States’ planet-overheating gas emissions dropped by 1.9% in 2023, largely thanks to the phaseout of coal burning. Coal produced 17% of US energy last year, according to the report. [The Cool Down]
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