“The announcement is a significant step toward proving that small nuclear reactors, an emissions-free technology of a type that has never been deployed, can play a role in decarbonizing the grid.”
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California’s Blackouts Show Nuclear’s Importance
“The shutoffs were necessary because of the state’s reliance on renewable energy. Cloudy days and still weather meant renewable power sources could only serve 18% of Californian’s demand — nowhere near enough…California could avoid this problem in the future by embracing nuclear power.”
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SMR Developer X-Energy Completes Canadian Pre-Licensing Milestone, Projects Look Promising
"The reactor system employs a seamless process wherein more than 200,000 fuel pebbles are gravity-fed and continuously rotated through the core. The innovative fuel cycle enables uninterrupted operation for up to 60 years, according to X-energy. Helium circulates within the core, absorbing immense quantities of heat without becoming radioactive. This superheated helium is then employed to convert water into steam, subsequently propelling a turbine to generate a constant supply of carbon-free electricity."
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The World Needs Nuclear Power, And We Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of It
“For many years, we have let fear, rather than facts, control the narrative over nuclear power. While the conventional story around nuclear power focuses on the few disasters that have occurred, nuclear’s track record tells a different story: one of unparalleled safety, successful waste management, and abundant, affordable, green energy.”
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Ocean plastic pollution is a huge — but solvable — problem
“Reducing the flow of ocean-bound plastic by 80 percent will require a society-wide effort. The good news is that it would benefit marine life, the planet and humans alike — and that it could happen within our generation.”
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This $344 million Georgia factory will use old solar panels to make parts for new ones
"As huge numbers of solar panels are deployed now, the future waste challenge also keeps growing. By the end of the decade, one estimate found that the number of solar panels due to be retired would cover 3,000 football fields. By 2050, the U.S. could produce two million metric tons of solar panel waste each year."
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America’s forest sector is ready for climate action and rural America can benefit
“So why do America’s forests deserve such a strong role in climate action? America’s forests and forest products already sequester over 750 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. That is nearly 15 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and represents by far our largest land-based carbon sink. With the right actions, our forests can do even more.”
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How African companies are solving the continent’s solar finance problem
"For African countries, the biggest obstacle to building out the solar industry is that the financing tricks used in China, Europe, and the U.S. to clear the way for widespread solar adoption — government subsidies and utility payments to solar-equipped customers — can’t work in places where states, utilities, and households are all chronically strapped for cash. At the same time, supply chain problems and the widespread perception by financial institutions that investments in Africa are high-risk mean that the cost of solar is far higher than in other places — the same solar system costs twice as much in Ghana as in the U.S. Bringing down the cost of capital requires a stronger track record of profitable investments than what the industry has been able to show so far. That means new business models are needed to make solar affordable for a broader base of customers."
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The secret to conserving our crown jewels? Maintenance
“The National Park Service could economize by following the lead of other agencies and contracting out more services and activities. More than 1,000 Forest Service campgrounds and recreation areas are operated by private concessionaires who perform routine maintenance, collect fees, and return a portion of their receipts to the agency."
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Deep Geothermal Can Solve the Need for Baseload Power
Deep geothermal is safe and secure, making it the solution for clean baseload power. Legislative support, exemplified by recent rare bipartisan legislation for geothermal energy and investment, is a strong barometer for the future of this limitless green energy that has the operations and technological prowess to deliver. Watch for 2024 to be the year geothermal moves past promise and into a leading role for global power.
