October 20 NEC Energy News
¶ “‘A Massive Enterprise’: California’s Offshore Wind Farms Are On A Fast Track” • The areas off California with the strongest winds are far from shore and too deep for traditional platforms, so developers are planning clusters of floating platforms about 20 miles off the coast, in waters more than a half-mile deep and tethered by cables. [The Salinas Californian]
¶ “IAEA Team Gathers Samples Near Fukushima As Treated Radioactive Water Is Released” • An International Atomic Energy Agency team is visiting Fukushima for its first marine sampling since the nuclear plant began releasing treated radioactive water. One team member said he does not expect any rise in radiation levels in the area’s fish. [ABC News]
¶ “Australia Needs ‘Drastic’ Renewables Boost As Nuclear Not An Option For Decades, Says Center-Right Thinktank” • A center-right thinktank is calling for “drastically accelerated deployment” of renewable energy, batteries, and transmission infrastructure. It acknowledged there is no prospect of nuclear energy playing a role in Australia before 2040. [The Guardian]
¶ “It’s A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train Party, And California Has Been Invited” • Many slings and arrows have been lobbed at the idea of outfitting EVs with hydrogen fuel cells instead of battery packs, but the vision of fuel cells refuses to die. Now California is to add a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell trains to its stable of alternatives to fossil fuel. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Atlantic Hurricanes Twice As Likely To Strengthen From Weak To Major Intensity In 24 Hours” • The Atlantic basin’s tropical cyclones may now be more than twice as likely to strengthen from a weak hurricane or tropical storm into a major hurricane in just 24 hours due to climate change, a paper published in Scientific Reports found. [ABC News]
¶ “The World Is Mobilizing Against Big Biomass This Week” • In actions around the world, protestors stress that burning forest-based wood pellets for large-scale energy production imperils climate change efforts and harms communities. Governments are urged to prevent carbon-storing forests from being turned into wood chips. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Biden Wants To Drag The Creaky, Cranky US Electrical Grid Into The 21st Century” • In some cases, requests to connect to the grid are taking up to five years for approval, which is why the Biden administration announced $3.46 billion in funding to upgrade America’s electric grid. It is the largest single investment in the US grid in history. [CleanTechnica]
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