May 21 NEC Energy News
¶ “Human-Induced Climate Crisis Is Making Japan’s Cherry Blossoms Bloom Earlier” • Japan’s world-famous cherry trees are flowering much earlier than normal due to human-induced climate change, a study has found. The cherry blossoms have special cultural importance, and the dates of flowering have been recorded for centuries. [CNN]
¶ “Ukraine says giant Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant can’t supply Russia” • Russia’s deputy prime minister said Russia would connect a Ukrainian nuclear plant with Russia’s energy system if Kyiv refused to pay for its electricity. Ukraine dismissed the Russian plan to connect the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to the Russian electricity grid as “wishful thinking.” [BBC]
¶ “Energy Secretary: We Must Find A Solution For Nuclear Waste” • It is critical to find a solution for storing the nation’s spent nuclear fuel, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during a visit to a nuclear power plant in Connecticut. Granholm was invited to tour Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford by US Rep Joe Courtney (D). [Texarkana Gazette]
¶ “Entergy Shuts Down The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Ten Days Early” • After more than 50 years in operation, Entergy Corp announced that it had decided to shut down the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township over a week ahead of schedule. Entergy said the nuclear reactor will be removed from service for the last time on May 20. [WMUK]
¶ “Zoox Shows Off Its Battery-Electric Autonomous People Pod” • Amazon has an autonomous robotaxi division, Zoox, which is preparing to bring its battery-electric autonomous people mover to market soon. The Zoox is designed from the ground up to transport people from point A to point B as conveniently as possible. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Harris And EPA Will Announce Schools Can Apply For $500 Million To Replace Diesel School Buses With Zero-Emissions Buses” • The Biden administration is announcing that school districts around the US can apply for the first round of funding to transition to zero emissions buses. It is $500 million out of $5 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law. [CNN]
¶ “Russia halts gas supplies to Finland” • Russia has halted its gas supply to Finland in the latest escalation of an energy payments row with the West. Russia’s gas giant Gazprom confirmed it had completely halted exports to Finland at 04:00 GMT on May 21. Finland said all the deliveries had stopped, but added that there would be no disruption to customers. [BBC]
¶ “Li-Cycle’s Battery Recycling Plant In Arizona Now Open” • An Li-Cycle lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Arizona is now open. This is the company’s third operational Spoke facility in North America and it has a capacity to process up to 10,000 tonnes of manufacturing scrap and end-of-life batteries, the equivalent of 20,000 EVs, annually. [CleanTechnica]
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