"Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will build a GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at its Darlington Nuclear Station in Clarington, Ontario, marking a major triumph for the nuclear vendor in a stiff competition for the much-watched utility-scale project."
Duke net metering agreement with renewables advocates expected to increase North Carolina solar adoption
"The proposed rate design requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. If regulators approve it, the rates would go into effect for new net metering customers applying in 2023. The parties to the agreement requested expeditious action from North Carolina regulators based on the directives of legislation like HB 951."
Nuclear-Fusion Startup Lands $1.8 Billion as Investors Chase Star Power
Jennifer Hiller of The Wall Street Journal reports on a nuclear fusion startup. “Nuclear fusion has long been the holy grail of the energy world. Fusion is the process of generating energy by melding atoms. Current nuclear power plants create energy through nuclear fission, or splitting atoms. Fusion has the potential to create nearly limitless energy...
Exxon sets new emissions goals for 2030
"Intensity doesn't measure total greenhouse gas emissions, but Exxon expects the combined targets to reduce absolute emissions by roughly 20%."
Nissan to Spend $17.6 Billion on Battery-Powered Vehicles Over Five Years
"Beyond that, Nissan is investing more than $1 billion in solid-state batteries, which will replace the liquid electrolyte used in current lithium-ion batteries with a solid one. That technology allows batteries to be lighter and safer, Nissan said. The car maker aims to have its version in production by 2028."
300 companies chart path for CO2-free energy technology
"The alliance, whose members also include Microsoft Corp., Walmart Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and General Motors Co., is specifically seeking to channel financial support to clean energy options such as long-term batteries, geothermal energy, hydrogen fuels, hydropower installations on existing dams, CO2 capture from gas-fired power plants and new nuclear reactor projects to help jump-start these technologies."
While Travel Was Quiet, JetBlue Was Busy with Sustainability
"During COVID, JetBlue, having led the industry for some time when it comes to sustainability, announced several ESG targets — including net zero by 2040, as well as a set of short-and medium-term targets to help them get there. We had a chance to ask Carl Otto, JetBlue’s Senior Analyst of Sustainability and ESG, how they’ll do it."
Ikea says it will eliminate plastic packaging by 2028
"The company previously explored mushroom-based packaging to replace styrofoam, for example, though for now, it’s too difficult for manufacturers to produce the scale of packaging Ikea needs. Other startups are exploring packaging materials made from waste from the food industry, from coconuts to the byproducts of beer brewing. Ikea is also beginning to use waste from its own production in some packages, such as packaging for textiles sewn from scraps of the material."
U.S. to release oil from reserves in coordination with other countries to lower gas prices
"Prices at the pump have followed the ascent, and are currently hovering around their highest level in seven years. The national average for a gallon of gas stood at $3.409 on Monday, according to AAA, up from $2.11 one year ago. Crude prices make up between 50% and 60% of what consumers pay to fill up their tanks, AAA said."
Mangrove Lithium Closes USD $10M Series A Led By Breakthrough Energy Ventures
"Mangrove Lithium, a Vancouver based company, has developed a breakthrough platform for the most cost-effective production of battery grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate from diverse input streams and assets. Mangrove’s modular solution can be scaled to any capacity and co-located with upstream lithium producers or cathode and cell manufacturers."