April 15 NEC Energy News
¶ “‘A New Era’: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Closing Its Final Three Plants” • Germany’s last three nuclear power plants are closing as of April 15, marking the end of the country’s 60 year nuclear era. German opposition to nuclear power was already strong in 2000, when the government promised a phase-out. Then came the Fukushima Disaster. [CNN]
¶ “IAEA Issues Grim Warning On Ukraine Plant” • UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi warned, “We are living on borrowed time,” after two landmine explosions near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed fears over the safety of the plant, Europe’s largest atomic power station. [The Manila Times]
¶ “Nuclear Power: An Uncertain Contribution To Climate Change Solution” • A bill to lift a moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants in Illinois is moving through the state legislature. But an environmental expert said that doesn’t mean there will be a rush to put up new reactors for the first time in decades. “They are exorbitantly expensive.” [WGLT]
¶ “The Clean Energy Milestone The World Is Set To Pass In 2023” • Greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, the largest source of the world’s emissions, are expected to fall for the first time, according to London-based think tank Ember. The world’s demand for electricity is still growing, but new renewable energy is growing faster. [BBC]
¶ “Virginia Lawmakers Kill Youngkin Amendment To Define Nuclear Energy As Renewable” • The Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate rejected an amendment to an energy bill that would have allowed nuclear and hydrogen power to qualify as renewables. It also rejected legislation that would qualify certain biomass facilities as renewable. [The Hill]
¶ “The Wool That Could Capture Carbon” • Sheep Inc claims to be the world’s first “carbon negative” fashion brand. The brand, which is based in London, factors farming (including methane, sheep farming’s main source of emissions), manufacturing, packaging, and transport into its analysis, according to a report from Carbon Footprint. [BBC]
¶ “G7 Ministers Agree On A ‘Drastic’ Increase In Renewable Energy” • The Group of Seven rich nations have agreed to call for “drastically” increasing electricity from renewable sources and are considering targets for solar and wind power, a person familiar with the talks said. The G7 met in Japan for climate and energy talks. [International Business Times]
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