March 28 NEC Energy News
¶ “Forest Fires Spread To 10,000 Hectares Around Chernobyl Nuclear Plant” • More than 10,000 hectares of forest are ablaze in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, posing a dangerous risk of nuclear wildfires, an Ukrainian official warned, according to the Interfax agency. The fires could cause increased levels of radioactive air pollution in nearby countries. [Republic World]
¶ “Senator John Barrasso Calls For Banning Russian Uranium, Increasing US Production” • Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming called to shut down imports of Russian uranium and increase US production, arguing that the imports prop up the Russian attack on Ukraine. The ban would add to an earlier ban on imports of Russian oil and gas. [Washington Times]
¶ “Ukraine War: Chernobyl’s Vodka Producer Remains Defiant” • Scientists studying crops grown in the Chernobyl exclusion zone used leftover grain to make alcohol. That produced a spirit drink called, appropriately enough, Atomik. With all the radioactive dust stirred up by the Russian army there are questions about whether it is still safe to drink. [BBC]
¶ “Canada Pledges To Help Countries Stop Using Russian Oil” • Canada says it can provide more oil, gas and uranium to help solve the global energy crisis. Prices have soared because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Canada’s natural resources minister said many countries are committed “to help as much as we can in terms of displacing Russian oil and gas.” [BBC]
¶ “Progressing World’s Largest Renewable Energy System” • The Northern Territory Labor Government will introduce legislation to facilitate the $30 billion Sun Cable Australia-Asia PowerLink project. The Sun Cable project is the world’s largest renewable energy transmission system. One part of it is the world’s largest solar farm and battery. [Mirage News]
¶ “Creativity And Exploration Drive Marine Energy Research” • There are vast marine energy resources in the US, and the National Renewable Energy Laboritory water power team is catalyzing its creativity and the full scope of the laboratory’s capabilities to make marine energy a viable and productive renewable energy source. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Russia Must Be Removed From IAEA For ‘nuclear Terrorism’, Urges Ukraine’s Energy Ministry” • Ukraine’s Energy Ministry has urged that Russia must be removed from the International Atomic Energy Agency for ‘nuclear terrorism,’ after they attacked Ukrainian nuclear plants and occupied the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia plants. [Republic World]
¶ “Renewables’ Share In Austria Stands At About 60% In Feb” • Renewable energy covered around 60% of the electricity needs in Austria in February as windpower generation more than doubled in annual terms thanks to stormy weather, the Austrian Power Grid said. Wind turbines provided nearly 18.5% of the country’s electricity mix. [Renewables Now]
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