March 13 NEC Energy News

¶ “Will Russia’s Attack On Ukraine Help Thaw US-Venezuela Relations?” • These are desperate times, and desperate measures are needed. Oil helps make the world go round and Venezuela has a lot of it – and when the world is in crisis, such as with the ban on Russian oil exports causing prices to surge, leaders start revisiting those awkward friendships. [BBC]

Oil tanker (Wilfredor, CC0 1.0, public domain)

¶ “Finland Opens Nuclear Power Plant Amid Concerns Of European Energy War” • Europe’s first nuclear power plant to open in 15 years, Olkiluoto 3, began production in Finland, at a crucial moment for energy supply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The plant is seen as possibly helping to reduce the need to import gas from Russia. [The Guardian]

¶ “Dozens March To Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station To Protest Planned Nuclear Waste Dumping” • Dozens of people rallied outside Plymouth Town Hall and marched to the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station on Saturday to protest planned nuclear waste dumping into Cape Cod Bay off the Massachusetts coast. The plant is being decommissioned. [WCVB-TV]

¶ “Rusty Metal Could Be The Battery The Energy Grid Needs” • An electrochemistry professor at the MIT, Yet-Ming Chiang, with his colleagues are working on a low-cost iron-air battery that will provide multi-day storage for renewable energy by 2024. When the battery is charged rust turns to iron, and discharging returns the iron to the form of rust. [Popular Science]

How an iron air battery works (Form Energy Image)

¶ “Traditional Automakers Could Face ‘Kodak Moment’ If They Fail To Catch Up With Tesla” • Legacy automakers are serious about EVs. But do they have what it takes to catch up with Tesla? According to Rob Hull at the UK’s This is Money media outlet, “Tesla’s ability to continue delivering EVs in 2022 could see it extend its stronghold over the market.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NM wind project creating the ‘Route 66 of renewable energy'” • Pattern Energy officially dedicated its Western Spirit wind project in late February. The project includes four sprawling wind farms with a total of 377 turbines scattered throughout the three counties. It will support the electricity needs of nearly 1 million people in central New Mexico. [Yahoo News]

¶ “Bill Would Require RI To Get All Electricity From Renewable Sources By 2030” • Experts say that when it comes to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as required by a landmark climate change law enacted last year, the conversion of Rhode Island’s electric system to a reliance on renewable sources is the logical first step. [The Providence Journal]

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