"A new generation of American advanced reactors will make immense contributions to global security, U.S. economic growth, and climate action if we let them. If not, the U.S. could fail to meet its own clean energy pledges while also losing ground to China and Russia on technological innovation."
After The Ukraine Invasion: Energy Realism Emerges In Germany While The US Doubles Down
"In Germany’s about-turn in energy policy, the government is now considering options to extend the operations of its coal power plants beyond 2030. The country had previously committed to a full exit from coal by that date. To reduce dependency on Russian gas imports, Halbeck is also not ruling out options to extend the life-span of its three remaining nuclear power plants."
The dangerous war on natural gas
"Economists of all political stripes agree economic growth has been a tremendous engine for sustained improvements in human welfare, especially the welfare of the poorest people in society. Shutting down natural gas will shut down economic growth. In turn, no person who actually cares about the poorest members of society and also wants to move to reliable electricity with a high reliance on wind and solar should support the war on natural gas."
To modernize infrastructure, start with NEPA reform
"Congress is allocating trillions of dollars to infrastructure solutions, but without regulatory reforms, these funds will be caught up in a labyrinth of bureaucratic delay. We can’t modernize our infrastructure without modernizing our regulatory process. Reforming NEPA is the place to start."
Energy security abroad starts at home
"It’s our job — and the job of policy leaders — to make sure that we deliver on all their priorities: reliable, affordable and cleaner power generation that keeps the lights on, homes warm in winter and cool in summer, and the economy humming."
The Defense Production Act Cannot Increase Critical Mineral Production Without Streamlining Project Permitting
"We cannot achieve energy security, tackle climate change, transition efficiently to clean energy, or reduce our reliance on foreign minerals until we fix the permitting process. The Biden administration needs to speak with one voice about critical minerals, streamline permitting, and stop proposing additional hurdles that impede mining projects."
Tracking plastic pollution hot spots
"The tool, whose interface resembles maps tracking other environmental problems, from wildfires to carbon dioxide emissions, provides for the possibility of partnerships with governments that are contributing a significant amount of land-based plastic waste."
California tries to pass the buck on Diablo Canyon
"California policymakers made choices that rendered nuclear power unfeasible in its market, struggled to supply its citizens with power due to those policy choices, and are now seeking federal tax dollars to fix this self-inflicted problem."
IKEA: Serving Up Solar, Sustainability, and Swedish Meatballs
Want solar, sustainably sourced materials, shelving, and Swedish meatballs all from the same place? Just head to your local IKEA.
Can AI Predict If Your House Is Going To Burn To The Ground?
Cyrus Farivar and Alex Knapp of Forbes write about a tech platform that is looking to prevent damage from extreme weather events. “His company has been gathering data and using it to train machine learning models to better assess risks caused by climate change, like wildfires, on behalf of its clients, mostly insurance companies.” Read...