notsonice + 1,255 DM April 5, 2022 Ohio’s Sammis coal plant, saved by House Bill 6, will close or be sold by 2023, owner says Updated: Mar. 14, 2022, 5:19 p.m. | Published: Mar. 14, 2022, 4:48 p.m. Smoke stacks rise from behind the coal piles at the Sammis power plant in Stratton Ohio shot Friday Nov. 16, 2001. Energy Harbor, the plant's owner, announced Monday it intends to sell or close the Sammis plant's three remaining open units by June of 2023. (AP Photo/Gary Tramontina) The Plain Dealer By Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Energy Harbor announced Monday it plans to deactivate or sell the remaining units of its W.H. Sammis coal power plant along the Ohio River in Jefferson County by June 2023, five years earlier than previously expected. In a release, the Akron-based company said the move is part of its plan to become 100% carbon-free energy generator by the end of next year. Energy Harbor also announced it would sell or close its other coal plant, Pleasants Power Station in West Virginia, by the same deadline. “Retiring the fossil-fueled plants is a difficult but necessary strategic business decision critical to the continued transformation of our company,” said David Hamilton, Energy Harbor’s executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nuclear officer, in a statement. “I am grateful for the dedication and work ethic of our employees as well as the strong support shown by their union leaders and the communities where the plants are located.” Energy Harbor spokesman Jason Copsey declined comment Monday when asked why the company decided to make the announcement now and whether it intends to close or sell the Sammis plant. Erin Bzymek, communications director for the Utility Workers Union of America, which represents many workers at the Sammis plant, also declined comment. Energy Harbor already closed four of the Sammis plant’s seven units in 2020; the company notified state officials last year that it intended to close its three remaining units by the end of 2028. The company didn’t give a reason at the time, though it noted that new federal wastewater pollution discharge limits for coal power plants go into effect at the end of 2025. Four years ago, Energy Harbor -- then a FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary called FirstEnergy Solutions -- announced plans to fully close the 62-year-old Sammis power plant by 2022. But those plans were reversed in 2019 with the passage of the scandal-ridden House Bill 6. HB6 didn’t directly subsidize the Sammis plant, but Energy Harbor CEO John Judge said during legislative debate on HB6 that the bill’s $1 billion-plus bailout of the company’s two Ohio nuclear power plans would allow his company to be “economically healthy” enough to keep the Sammis plant running. State Sen. Frank Hoagland, a Jefferson County Republican whose district covers the plant, also conspicuously asked an Energy Harbor official during the HB6 hearings why he should vote for the nuclear bailout if the company was putting his constituents out of work. Hoagland ultimately voted for HB6. Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer reached out to Hoagland on Monday for comment on Energy Harbor’s announcement. The nuclear bailout was repealed last year after federal authorities charged ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and five others with using $60 million in FirstEnergy bribe money to secure the passage of the HB6. Householder, along with co-defendant Matt Borges, a former Ohio Republican Party chair, have maintained their innocence and will go to trial next January. Three other defendants have pleaded guilty, and one committed suicide. Cardinal in Jefferson County, Gavin in Gallia County, and Kyger Creek in Gallia County are the only large coal plants left in the state without announced plans to fully close in the coming years. Kyger Creek, along with the Clifty Creek coal plant in Indiana, are subsidized by Ohio ratepayers under a part of HB6 that hasn’t been repealed. However, the future of the Gavin and Clifty Creek plants remain uncertain. In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed denying requests by the two plants to continue using unlined surface ponds to hold coal ash -- a residual byproduct of burning coal that, if not properly stored, can contaminate groundwater and the air with toxins such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
footeab@yahoo.com + 2,191 April 5, 2022 One day your myopic view will widen to more than the USA... who get this, has massive amounts of NG allowing the supposed "closure" of these plants and whom without said NG would NEVER REGULATE their coal plants into oblivion forcing said artificial closure. EU, can only play make believe "modern" life exists and EV's exist without coal due to... NG imports... and now are bringing coal back and get this can't get enough... imported massive LNG. Buy, hey, your religion makes you blind to reality. Indian coal is in full swing upward and so is Chinese coal. So is Vietnamese coal. Indonesian coal. Thailand coal.... oh right, these guys are building modern civilizations producing goods, instead of residing in the stone ages... Maybe if you Take a good snort of the Kum-bai-ya pipe your myopia can be cured(as if taking more snorts on it will improve your delusions). You love living in the stone age? Go move to Africa who has almost no coal and wishes they did. Enjoy being Tanzania with going on 50-->100million(if fertility figures do no fall in next 15-->20 years) people and yet only has 1.6GW of electrical power production. Tiny Luxemburg(less than 1 million) uses more power than ALL of Tanzania with 50-->100 Million people... 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP April 5, 2022 (edited) 23 hours ago, footeab@yahoo.com said: One day your myopic view will widen to more than the USA... who get this, has massive amounts of NG allowing the supposed "closure" of these plants and whom without said NG would NEVER REGULATE their coal plants into oblivion forcing said artificial closure. EU, can only play make believe "modern" life exists and EV's exist without coal due to... NG imports... and now are bringing coal back and get this can't get enough... imported massive LNG. Buy, hey, your religion makes you blind to reality. Indian coal is in full swing upward and so is Chinese coal. So is Vietnamese coal. Indonesian coal. Thailand coal.... oh right, these guys are building modern civilizations producing goods, instead of residing in the stone ages... Maybe if you Take a good snort of the Kum-bai-ya pipe your myopia can be cured(as if taking more snorts on it will improve your delusions). You love living in the stone age? Go move to Africa who has almost no coal and wishes they did. Enjoy being Tanzania with going on 50-->100million(if fertility figures do no fall in next 15-->20 years) people and yet only has 1.6GW of electrical power production. Tiny Luxemburg(less than 1 million) uses more power than ALL of Tanzania with 50-->100 Million people... This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for a large scale solar project! Perfect conditions 95% of the year! Edited April 6, 2022 by Rob Plant 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boat + 1,324 RG April 5, 2022 4 hours ago, notsonice said: So Much For Coal’s Rebound - Plant Closures Come Roaring Back. It’s Time To Unlock A Just Transition. Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology Contributor We are a nonpartisan climate policy think tank helping policymakers make informed energy policy choices and accelerate clean energy by supporting the policies that most effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Silvio Marcacci Contributor Communications Director Mar 15, 2022,07:15am EDT Coal roared back to life in 2021, showing it will be part of our energy mix for years to come. Or, at least that’s what industry proponents say. Even though the Ukraine invasion has given coal executives a macabre opportunity to use war for self-promotion, 2021’s rebound was just a fleeting respite from coal’s continuing crash – plant closures are once again accelerating across the United States. FirstEnergy Completes Demolition of R.E. Burger Power Station. Image via FirstEnergy Flickr account. ... [+] FIRSTENERGY The fundamentals of coal’s decline are unequivocal: It simply costs more to dig up rocks, crush them into powder, and burn them for power than it costs to generate clean energy. This is especially true when environmental costs come into play – utilities can’t economically justify keeping plants open. Of course, the climate imperative of closing coal plants is clear – the pollution they belch into our atmosphere causes unprecedented warming, makes extreme weather impacts more devasting to our communities, and harms our health. But America’s transition from coal to clean is also a watershed moment in our history to generate good jobs for workers dependent upon the coal industry, stable tax income for the communities that hosted coal facilities, and clean economic growth for utilities. All three are possible with the right policies. Coal closures accelerating toward a “record plunge” U.S. coal power capacity peaked in 2011 at more than 317 gigawatts (GW), but steadily declined nearly 30% ever since, hitting a record high of 19.3 GW closed in 2015 and 13.1 GW closed in 2020. For context, coal’s share of U.S. electricity generation has plummeted from 50% a decade ago to less than 20% today. Then came coal’s 2021 rebound. Emissions rose as the U.S. economy came back to life from the COVID-induced recession, and coal-fired electricity generation grew 17% according to Rhodium Group analysis, increasing for the first time since 2014. Because plants ran more often than they had over the past decade, utilities closed just 4.6 GW of capacity last year. But the fundamental economic pressures pushing coal out of the U.S. electricity mix remain unchanged – 80% of existing coal plants across the country cost more to continue running than replacing them with new local wind or solar generation. Plant closure announcements have resumed their march to zero, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reporting 12.6 GW of coal capacity will close in 2022, representing 85% of all electric generation capacity retirements this year. Years in service for US coal-fired electric generating unit retirements and planned retirements, ... [+] U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION Coal’s outlook is even more grim over the next several years. S&P Global Market Intelligence reports utilities will close 51 GW of coal power between 2022 and 2027, followed by a “record plunge” in 2028 with more than 23 GW scheduled closures. Federal rules to keep coal ash and toxic metals out of drinking water will take effect that year – regardless of Supreme Court decisions on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions – and many utilities are not investing in compliance upgrades for plants that keep losing money. When utilities ignore coal’s economic and regulatory headwinds, they risk punitive consumer cost spikes. In West Virginia, where coal supplies 89% of statewide power but plants require hundreds of millions in mandatory upgrades, power prices have risen up to 122% in recent years. Paul Chodak, executive vice president of generation at American Electric Power, told S&P the necessary investments to keep plants online and comply with regulations “was not justified” compared to forecast market prices and alternatives like renewable energy. Other utilities seem to agree with him. Duke Energy, the country’s second-largest utility, recently announced it will close its 11 coal-fired power plants by 2035 – 13 years earlier than previously expected. Duke says it will replace that generation capacity by more than doubling its renewable energy portfolio to 24 GW by 2030. Georgia Power, one of America’s most coal-reliant utilities, similarly announced that it would close all 14 of its coal plants no later than 2035 and double its renewable energy generation with up to 6 GW of solar and wind. Smart policy can help coal-dependent utilities and communities transition The data also shows we can close coal plants and maintain a reliable power supply, while keeping prices low and creating jobs. A meta-analysis of 11 studies from universities, think tanks, and other organizations agree that closing all coal by 2030 and replacing that generation with clean energy is feasible. Power prices would stay roughly the same or even decline, and this transition would add 500,000 to 1 million new net jobs per year, while generating up to $1.5 trillion in new net investment. Andres Quiroz, an installer for Stellar Solar, secures a solar panel during installation at a home ... [+] © 2012 BLOOMBERG FINANCE LP However, smart policies are required to help utilities navigate the coal-to-clean shift, keep customer costs low, and ensure a just transition with new economic opportunities for the communities and workers who depend upon the coal industry. Utilities, their regulators, and state policymakers have multiple options to address early coal retirements and facilitate the financial transition. State legislatures can allow utilities to refinance outstanding debt on existing coal plants by authorizing ratepayer-backed bonds on uneconomic but as-yet undepreciated generation. “Securitization” as it is commonly known, was used extensively to retire stranded utility assets in the 1990s and 2000s, is already being used to help utilities retire coal plants in states like Michigan, and has been authorized in states like Colorado and New Mexico. State regulators can also allow utilities to change depreciation schedules so that they can free up capital for clean energy investments without forcing customers to continue paying off the “mortgage” on uneconomic coal plants. Utilities can then refinance that mortgage to reduce consumer rates by replacing equity with corporate debt in a “debt for equity” swap. If utilities are allowed to reinvest capital from uneconomic coal assets into solar or wind when the cost of building new renewables is cheaper than operating existing coal, they can swap “steel for fuel” on early coal plant retirements to add value for investors and customers and reduce operating costs. An emerging alternative policy option in this field is the “solar for coal swap” that could be particularly helpful for utilities to leverage private capital for solar investments that pay a better return on investment over time. This approach can help facilitate a just transition for coal-dependent workers and communities if done right. In Colorado, for instance, state regulators have approved utility plans to close coal plants and build replacement generation within the same local area, ensuring clean energy jobs and tax revenue help replace those lost to coal closures. A instillation of four wind generators operate alongside Interstate 25 ten miles south of Pueblo, ... [+] CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES Economic solutions must go beyond utilities retiring coal plants to ensure a just transition for the communities that host coal plants and mines, and the workers who depend on them. Policy roadmaps to create a fair economic transition include the Just Transition Fund’s Blueprint for Transition, the National Economic Transition Platform created by a coalition of organizations, and the Reimagine Appalachia coalition’s blueprint. Congress is also currently debating federal energy provisions including economic transition measures, which could build on President Obama’s Power Initiative for coal communities. America’s coal closures aren’t ending – it’s time to think about what’s next When even Peabody Coal, the world’s largest private coal company, announces it will invest in 5 GW of new solar and storage capacity, it’s time to admit America’s coal-to-clean transition is accelerating, whether fossil fuel industry proponents admit it or not. Global events and the oil and gas price volatility they create may slow that trajectory a bit, but only temporarily. Coal’s long-term downward spiral will continue as the world transitions to cleaner energy and the energy security, stability, and sustainability it provides. But it’s not enough to push coal plant closures. Utility regulators, state officials, and the utilities themselves must be actively engaged now in implementing the policies that can facilitate a shift away from coal that keeps utilities in business, avoids customer rate spikes, and ensures a just transition for the workers and communities who have economically depended on coal. Over the next 2-3 years battery storage for the grid will really take off possibly speeding up coal replacement. Summertime in the South could be 100% renewable if battery prices fall to projections. I listened to a forward thinker talking about a huge overbuild of renewables/storage and dropping electricity prices to 5 cents during the day. Think of the money society would have to spend on other things. Dumps would become the mines of this era. Recycle needs big cheap energy. We’re getting closer. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastian James 0 April 5, 2022 Some of you guys sound like the people who have been shorting Tesla for the past few years. "Never gonna happen!" "Insane!" "Who does he think he is?" Meanwhile Tesla just had their biggest month yet. And the West will shed petroleum; just as we shed the horse and buggy as primary transportation. It was never going to happen overnight, but time and progress endure. Putin/Ukraine and MBS means it will come an itty-bit sooner. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notsonice + 1,255 DM April 5, 2022 the death of coal....one turbine at a time.....or in the case of Moray 100 turbines Ocean Winds hits top power at Moray East 950MW Scottish offshore wind farm has been able to produce electricity while construction was ongoing 5 April 2022 13:16 Offshore Wind [Image: Moray East] Related Stories Ocean Winds recruiting for Moray East O&M 28 April 2021 RES wins Moray East monitoring contract 7 April 2021 Final Siemens OTM to set sail for Moray East 28 August 2020 Lamprell lands Moray East foundations prize 20 December 2018 Moray East mirth for Cromarty Firth 20 November 2018 Moray East has achieved its full contracted output of 900MW to the UK national transmission grid. The offshore wind farm has been able to produce electricity while construction was underway. Moray East project director Enrique Alvarez said: “Offshore wind has a unique advantage; we don’t have to wait until work has finished to switch on. “Output can start after the first few turbines have been commissioned and increase incrementally as work progresses. “Over the period of nine months from June last year, as more and more of our 100 turbines were installed, we supplied more and more electricity to the gird – 1,415,000 megawatt hours. “While construction was underway, between starting our first turbine and finishing the wind farm, we supplied enough electricity to meet the annual needs of every household in Edinburgh and Aberdeen – with enough left over for most of the County of Moray as well. “This, of course, is our output from a fraction of a year with a fraction of our turbines. “I am delighted to announce that Moray East has now achieved its full contracted output of 900MW. He acknowledged and thanked everyone who has contributed to this achievement; from introducing the project as a concept more than a decade ago, to delivering it as “today’s reality in shining steel”. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 7, 2022 On 4/4/2022 at 11:26 PM, nsdp said: The single largest factor in Chinese coal is a patch work grid with so many parallel path bottlenecks that China wasted enough wind and solar to power Beijing for an entire year each year.Why China’s wasting huge amounts of cleanly-produced electricity and how to fix it https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2096955/why-chinas-wasting-huge-amounts-cleanly-produced Neither you nor Ecocharger know enough about operations of a grid or any kind fossil fuel generation or nuclear thermal pollution to know your posterior from a hole in the ground. Get a copy of Gray's Anatomy and a college freshman's test book on geology. Dig in and learn something. Hey, why are you so worked up about "clean"? The new coal burners are practically zero toxic emission, and the old saw about CO2 "pollution" has already been exposed as hack science. Let the markets work without frantic and mindless panic over climate. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 7, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 4:55 AM, notsonice said: Only reason I still have a 20 year old car is I need to replace it with an all wheel drive car for winter driving in snow and the Ford Escape PHEV does not come with all wheel drive yet. If they had one on the market today I would own one......I only drive vehicles with all wheel drive or 4wd... To old for pushing a stuck car ....My driveway is way too steep Got it ??? or do you need more details??? I like Fords ...... Always have bought Fords my entire life...I like supporting America. If Ford does not come out with an all wheel drive PHEV I will buy whatever meets my criteria. Yep I guess I am clinging on , not by love of an ICE vehicle by any means...just waiting for what I really need and built by Ford. I do not trade in cars every couple of years as I stated I do not drive too much. Does that bother you??? as you seem to be bothered by the fact that PHEV and EVs are on the road..My car will be replaced in the next few years. If Ford had a PHEV Suv 20 years ago...10 years ago or even today I would not own the one I have. On my end I use around 140 gallons of gas a year. Is that gas Guzzling??? I do not think it is .Yet I will replace it and go all electric as much as I can when driving ....how much gas do you go through every year???? my bet a lot more than 140 gallons. I bet you are paying dearly at the pump filling up your tanks...You keep living in denial that ICE vehicles are on the way out. Let me guess you will cling on to your ICE vehicles no matter what. You sound desperate by posting ....hysterical and fanatic opponents of fossil fuels??? you are babbling BS ....... Not sure what point you are trying to make....The transition from ICE to PHEVs and EVs is happening now....I will join the move in the next few years....Rome was not built in a day....... You seem to live in the past.....you seem to be trying to cling on to coal and ICE vehicles like it was a badge of honor. Lots of old grumpy old farts tend to do that. "In the next few years"? Hah! It will never make sense to transition to electric. And you will find more excuses to maintain your dirty old internal combustion engine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 7, 2022 (edited) It had to happen....Europe is reversing the gears and going back to oil and coal. Reality has trumped over fantasy. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/UK-Has-All-Options-On-The-Table-In-Push-For-Energy-Independence.html "War in Ukraine has spurred the UK to reduce dependence on foreign energy. UK may lift the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Fracking in England would take years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced for the market." Edited April 7, 2022 by Ecocharger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 7, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 3:42 PM, notsonice said: the death of coal....one turbine at a time.....or in the case of Moray 100 turbines Ocean Winds hits top power at Moray East 950MW Scottish offshore wind farm has been able to produce electricity while construction was ongoing 5 April 2022 13:16 Offshore Wind [Image: Moray East] Related Stories Ocean Winds recruiting for Moray East O&M 28 April 2021 RES wins Moray East monitoring contract 7 April 2021 Final Siemens OTM to set sail for Moray East 28 August 2020 Lamprell lands Moray East foundations prize 20 December 2018 Moray East mirth for Cromarty Firth 20 November 2018 Moray East has achieved its full contracted output of 900MW to the UK national transmission grid. The offshore wind farm has been able to produce electricity while construction was underway. Moray East project director Enrique Alvarez said: “Offshore wind has a unique advantage; we don’t have to wait until work has finished to switch on. “Output can start after the first few turbines have been commissioned and increase incrementally as work progresses. “Over the period of nine months from June last year, as more and more of our 100 turbines were installed, we supplied more and more electricity to the gird – 1,415,000 megawatt hours. “While construction was underway, between starting our first turbine and finishing the wind farm, we supplied enough electricity to meet the annual needs of every household in Edinburgh and Aberdeen – with enough left over for most of the County of Moray as well. “This, of course, is our output from a fraction of a year with a fraction of our turbines. “I am delighted to announce that Moray East has now achieved its full contracted output of 900MW. He acknowledged and thanked everyone who has contributed to this achievement; from introducing the project as a concept more than a decade ago, to delivering it as “today’s reality in shining steel”. World-wide coal production is set to increase above the previous all-time high levels. I will loan you my handkerchief to dry your tears. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP April 7, 2022 9 hours ago, Ecocharger said: It had to happen....Europe is reversing the gears and going back to oil and coal. Reality has trumped over fantasy. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/UK-Has-All-Options-On-The-Table-In-Push-For-Energy-Independence.html "War in Ukraine has spurred the UK to reduce dependence on foreign energy. UK may lift the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Fracking in England would take years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced for the market." The UK is looking at all forms of energy, which is the smart thing to do. This is the UK's Energy Security strategy going forward https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-acceleration-of-homegrown-power-in-britains-plan-for-greater-energy-independence Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
specinho + 470 April 7, 2022 (edited) 16 hours ago, Ecocharger said: "In the next few years"? Hah! It will never make sense to transition to electric. And you will find more excuses to maintain your dirty old internal combustion engine. read somewhere that the recorded speed for wheel driven ICE car set on 21 Aug 1991 in Bonville Salt flats was 696 km/h........ could this be a new game for car racers........ to race on not tarred roads but on less resistance surface like salt flat or concrete? And let the surface (e.g. salt flat) absorb the CO2 released.....? Edited April 7, 2022 by specinho 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay McKinsey + 1,490 April 7, 2022 18 hours ago, Ecocharger said: It had to happen....Europe is reversing the gears and going back to oil and coal. Reality has trumped over fantasy. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/UK-Has-All-Options-On-The-Table-In-Push-For-Energy-Independence.html "War in Ukraine has spurred the UK to reduce dependence on foreign energy. UK may lift the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Fracking in England would take years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced for the market." The UK energy plan that Rob linked does not include any coal and oil is a minor component. They are still planning on banning new ICE in 2030. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron Wagner + 710 April 7, 2022 20 hours ago, Ecocharger said: Hey, why are you so worked up about "clean"? The new coal burners are practically zero toxic emission, and the old saw about CO2 "pollution" has already been exposed as hack science. Let the markets work without frantic and mindless panic over climate. The handling of coal tailings is very important in the protection of soil and water. Coal should be used until natural gas, petroleum, wind, and solar can handle the job worldwide. Cost is an essential factor in all of the competing sources of energy, like it or not. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay McKinsey + 1,490 April 8, 2022 (edited) Global Plug-In Electric Car Sales Doubled In February 2022 The Tesla Model Y strengthened its position as the #1 electric car model. Global passenger plug-in electric car sales doubled year-over-year in February, which is an outstanding result considering all the challenges with parts supply. According to EV-Volumes data, shared by Jose Pontes, 541,780 new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered last month, which is 99% more than a year ago. Market share amounted to 9.3%, including 6.4% for all-electric cars. Plug-in car registrations: BEVs: N/A (6.4% share) PHEVs: N/A (2.9% share) Total: 541,780 (up 99% year-over-year) and 9.3% share https://insideevs.com/news/578241/global-plugin-car-sales-february2022/ Edited April 8, 2022 by Jay McKinsey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay McKinsey + 1,490 April 8, 2022 (edited) Tesla delivered the first made-in-Texas Model Y TESLA TESLA MODE Add Your Comment Tesla has officially delivered the first made-in-Texas Model Y vehicles, but it is still being vague about the new version of the electric SUV, especially regarding the specs and pricing. The Cyber Rodeo event yesterday marked the opening of Gigafactory Texas, which was the real star of the show.During a presentation at the event, CEO Elon Musk spent most of his time talking about the factory, which he believes will become “the highest-volume car factory in America” with the eventual production of over 1 million vehicles per year.He said that Model Y will account for over 500,000 of those vehicles, and at the end of the event, he said that Tesla is officially delivering the first made-in-Texas Model Y vehicles that night – rolling some of them on stage as he announced it. The CEO reiterated that those new Model Ys are “revolutionary” for being built with only three major pieces: a front and back giant single piece casting joined together by a structural battery pack enabled by Tesla’s new 4680 battery cell. These important changes are expected to affect the specs of the electric SUV. Musk noted the advantages of this new version of Model Y, like the simplicity of the manufacturing process, the weight reduction, which also translates into efficiency improvements, and the improved safety. Edited April 8, 2022 by Jay McKinsey 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 8, 2022 20 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said: The UK energy plan that Rob linked does not include any coal and oil is a minor component. They are still planning on banning new ICE in 2030. Coal is also going up in UK. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 8, 2022 5 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said: Tesla delivered the first made-in-Texas Model Y TESLA TESLA MODE Add Your Comment Tesla has officially delivered the first made-in-Texas Model Y vehicles, but it is still being vague about the new version of the electric SUV, especially regarding the specs and pricing. The Cyber Rodeo event yesterday marked the opening of Gigafactory Texas, which was the real star of the show.During a presentation at the event, CEO Elon Musk spent most of his time talking about the factory, which he believes will become “the highest-volume car factory in America” with the eventual production of over 1 million vehicles per year.He said that Model Y will account for over 500,000 of those vehicles, and at the end of the event, he said that Tesla is officially delivering the first made-in-Texas Model Y vehicles that night – rolling some of them on stage as he announced it. The CEO reiterated that those new Model Ys are “revolutionary” for being built with only three major pieces: a front and back giant single piece casting joined together by a structural battery pack enabled by Tesla’s new 4680 battery cell. These important changes are expected to affect the specs of the electric SUV. Musk noted the advantages of this new version of Model Y, like the simplicity of the manufacturing process, the weight reduction, which also translates into efficiency improvements, and the improved safety. Still under 1% of the vehicle market. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay McKinsey + 1,490 April 8, 2022 1 hour ago, Ecocharger said: Coal is also going up in UK. Not going up, just holding steady for a bit longer than planned. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 8, 2022 2 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said: Not going up, just holding steady for a bit longer than planned. Going up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 8, 2022 (edited) The madness continues, panicked by weak science and thoughtless agitators. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Americas-Green-Regulation-Wave-Will-Have-A-Global-Impact.html "But how accurate are any of these emissions numbers? It’s impossible to say. The maker of Cocoa Puffs doesn’t send bean counters to every cocoa farm in Ghana and Cote d’lvoire to find out the precise types of fertilizers, tractors, fuel and agricultural practices they use. That would be prohibitively expensive, given that the company has suppliers operating in more than 100 countries. Instead, General Mills and other companies use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) computer models to tally emissions. But these models, like those used in everything from economics to climate science, are only as accurate as the consultants who design them and the data that’s fed into them. The data is the biggest problem. General Mills hired the consulting firm Quantis to calculate its supply chain emissions. Quantis uses national averages for particular businesses like cocoa farms in Ghana that may be several steps removed from the actual farms that supply General Mills, creating uncertainty about the accuracy of the estimates. Nor do computer models typically include some of the biggest sources of emissions, such as the release from tilling the soil and from converting forests and grasslands, which sequester carbon, to crops. Quantis didn’t respond to a request for an interview. “We need a more accurate estimate of our baseline emissions,” Steven Rosenzweig, a soil scientist at General Mills, told the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February. “Using these databases means our current footprint is static, it doesn’t change from year to year. It also might be based on the global average that isn’t very relevant to the practices that farmers in our supply sheds are using.” To make better Scope 3 estimates, Rosenzweig said, companies need to develop more sophisticated data tracking systems, which will require satellites to monitor changes to land use." Edited April 8, 2022 by Ecocharger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay McKinsey + 1,490 April 8, 2022 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Ecocharger said: Going up. Another of your misinformation claims for which you present no evidence. And no you have not posted any articles that provide the evidence. The only discussion in the UK is about keeping the West Burton coal plant in operation past its planned closure in September of this year. "The government says it still plans to stop using coal by 2024, despite claims one of the last UK plants could be kept open to help tackle the energy crisis. Nottinghamshire's West Burton A plant is set to be closed this year as part of the UK's net zero plans. According to a report in The Times, EDF - the French energy giant that runs the site - has been approached to see if it could keep the site running. A government spokesman said it had "made no formal request to EDF"." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60742052 The UK government may delay the closure of its remaining coal power plants, the Independent reports. According to the outlet, the government has contacted EDF Energy about keeping the West Burton A coal-fired plant in Lincolnshire open past its scheduled closure date. It says: “EDF confirmed to The Independent the government had been in touch with the firm in relation to the timing of its closure, but for now it is still on track to close in September 2022.” Meanwhile, the Times, which covered the story yesterday, notes that only three coal power plants are still in operation in the UK. It adds: “The early-stage talks are aimed at preventing Britain becoming even more reliant on burning gas for electricity, as prices hit record highs and the government seeks to end gas imports from Russia.” Bloomberg says talks are “at the very early stage”. However, BBC News says that “the government says it still plans to stop using coal by 2024”, adding that a government spokesperson has said it “made no formal request to EDF”. https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/uk-may-delay-closure-of-coal-power-stations-due-to-energy-crisis Edited April 8, 2022 by Jay McKinsey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
notsonice + 1,255 DM April 9, 2022 (edited) In Zimbabwe, coal power project seeks other backing after China's U-turn By Nelson Banya and Helen Reid 1/5 Workers walk beneath cooling towers at Hwange Power station's Phase 8, currently under construction, in Hwange, Zimbabwe, October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo March 30 (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean company that had been banking on Chinese financing to build a major coal-fired power plant says it is now looking for alternative backers as China pulls back on funding such projects overseas. The effort by RioZim Ltd (RTNR.ZI), one of Zimbabwe's biggest mining and energy companies, reflects how China's recent U-turn on foreign coal financing is forcing developing nations across Africa and Asia to rethink their energy plans. China, which had been a top funder of coal power projects around the globe, announced in September it would not build new coal projects abroad as part of efforts to curb future carbon emissions. Energy and climate specialists are watching to see the impact, including whether it will force a speedier shift to cleaner energy, result in other funders stepping in or lead to power shortages. Zimbabwe, which already suffers from a lack of electricity, has among the biggest coal reserves in Africa. "The energy policy juncture Zimbabwe now finds itself at is emblematic of what many developing countries around the world are facing," said Leo Roberts, UK-based research manager who focuses on coal transition at climate think tank E3G. Plans for the multi-billion dollar Sengwa power plant in northwest Zimbabwe involve more than doubling the country's current electricity capacity. RioZim's energy division, Rio Energy, had been hoping for funding for the planned plant and associated coal mine from Chinese banks Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and China Minsheng Banking Corporation Ltd. Now, Rio Energy is considering alternative financing plans. "We are still in the market to fund the project and we will work with all possible funders, including the Chinese," parent RioZim told Reuters. The company said another option under consideration is to transform the project to a gas-powered plant, but that idea is "subject to the outcome of feasibility studies" and no time frame for those has been set. RioZim told Reuters that ICBC and Minsheng Bank "came in to play a supporting role" but that it can't comment on the current status of their involvement because it doesn't have a direct relationship with the companies. Chinese bank financing for coal power plants overseas has often been arranged to support Chinese construction companies, which then enter into building contracts with the company planning the power plant. ICBC told representatives of environmental non-governmental organisations in a June 2021 meeting that the bank would no longer finance the Sengwa project, according to two people who attended the meeting. ICBC did not respond to requests for comment, including about the meeting or whether it plans to fund the Sengwa project. Minsheng Bank also didn't respond to Reuters questions about funding plans. Plans for another large coal power project in Zimbabwe, known as Lusulu, are also up in the air, according to PER Lusulu Power, the Harare-based energy company behind the plant which had been planning on Chinese backing. A Zimbabwe government spokesperson declined to comment on the status of either project. He said Zimbabwe has the right to exploit its coal resources if needed and would not "sacrifice growth prospects on the altar of arguments to do with the environment." China's foreign ministry didn't respond to questions about the status of the funding of the Sengwa and Lusulu projects. But it said Beijing will support developing countries in shifting to greener energy. The foreign ministry added that China, which has close economic and diplomatic ties with Harare, "will increase its support to Zimbabwe's development of renewable energy power projects, and help Zimbabwe's sustainable development." HANGING IN THE BALANCE Christine Shearer, programme director for coal at U.S. think tank Global Energy Monitor, said Chinese financing for coal power appears to be frozen. Despite the lack of clarity about what Xi's announcement means for planned projects, no new coal plants have since publicly announced Chinese support, "suggesting the international financing tap for new coal projects from China has indeed been turned off," said Shearer. Globally, some $63 billion of Chinese state financing across 57 projects could be at risk from China's withdrawal from coal financing overseas, according to Global Energy Monitor. The pullback could cut Africa's pipeline of coal power projects by two thirds to 3.6 gigawatts (GW), estimates think tank E3G. In Zimbabwe, less than half the population has access to electricity. The country has been betting on coal-fired power to address chronic electricity shortages and create jobs. RioZim has talked about building the Sengwa plant for more than a decade. Plans include adding 2.8 gigawatts (GW) to the grid and restarting the adjacent coal mine, which has been closed since 2014. Currently, Zimbabwe has the capacity to generate around 2.3 GW, which comes mostly from a large hydroelectric power plant but also four coal-fired power stations. The planned Sengwa plant, near the town of Gokwe, would create 1,100 permanent jobs and nearly four times as many temporary construction jobs, according to Rio Energy. Sedeya Jetro, head of a local primary school, said the jobs would enable parents to pay school fees and "mean a lot to this community." Rio Energy told Reuters that ICBC had in 2019 provided an expression of interest - or non-binding commitment - to a Chinese construction company to fund the first phase of the Sengwa project. Neither the construction company, PowerChina International Engineering Co., nor its parent, Power Construction Corporation of China, responded to requests for comment. Minsheng Bank also provided a non-binding commitment to RioZim to fund a second phase of the Sengwa project, according to Rio Energy and an August 2020 letter of interest from Minsheng Bank that Reuters reviewed. The pledge expired in February 2021, according to the letter. A Minsheng Bank official who signed the document said in an emailed response to Reuters that the letter of interest was "a trade secret" and didn't respond to questions about funding plans. Spokespeople for Minsheng Bank and ICBC didn't respond to requests for comment. Rio Energy was hoping for $3.4 billion of funding for the second phase of the power plant, according to a draft contract with a unit of engineering and construction company China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC). The contract, which was reviewed by Reuters, was dated November 2020 and drafted by both companies. In response to questions about the planned Sengwa plant, CGGC's parent company China Energy Engineering Corporation told Reuters that a subsidiary signed a construction cooperation agreement in 2020. "There is no progress on this project currently," it said, citing a lack of financing commitments. PER Lusulu Power plans to build the 2.1 GW Lusulu plant in Zimbabwe's western province of Matabeleland North. It announced in 2015 that Chinese financial institutions had agreed to fund its construction, subject to conditions. PER Lusulu Power's website says the company entered into a construction contract with China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which would secure debt finance from Bank of China. PER Lusulu Power had also sought financing of up to $2 billion for the project from ICBC, according to extracts of a term sheet dated August 2020 viewed by Reuters. The term sheet is a non-binding agreement setting out the terms and conditions for an investment. It was unsigned, and was prepared by ICBC, according to a person familiar with the document. Bank of China said in a statement that it doesn't have any electricity projects in Zimbabwe and has no plans to develop any. ICBC and China State Construction Engineering did not respond to questions about the Lusulu project. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT One Chinese-funded project that is progressing is in the northwestern town of Hwange, where construction was already well underway when China announced its coal-funding freeze. The project involves the expansion of an existing coal-power plant and has been financed by a loan of roughly $1 billion from Export-Import Bank of China, the Zimbabwe government has said. Zimbabwe Power Company, which manages the plant, said in a November statement that the expansion "continues to progress well" and was more than two thirds complete. China's EximBank didn't respond to a request for comment. The project is expected to increase employment by nearly doubling the current 2,853-strong workforce, while also sustaining the town's coal-mining industry, which employs thousands more people. The Zimbabwean government spokesperson said the country will be much better placed to meet electricity demand once the expansion - which is due to add 600 megawatts - is complete. Renewable power advocates in Africa and elsewhere say China's pullback from coal power provides an opportunity to clean up. Zimbabwe is expanding its plans for generating renewable energy, such as solar power, but such projects can require fewer permanent employees than coal, making them less attractive for governments keen to generate employment. Sydney Gata, executive chairman of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, said that an instant switch to solar and wind isn't feasible given the scale of the country's power needs. "Renewables are not an immediate plan B for Zimbabwe," he said Edited April 9, 2022 by notsonice 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 9, 2022 (edited) 23 hours ago, Jay McKinsey said: Another of your misinformation claims for which you present no evidence. And no you have not posted any articles that provide the evidence. The only discussion in the UK is about keeping the West Burton coal plant in operation past its planned closure in September of this year. "The government says it still plans to stop using coal by 2024, despite claims one of the last UK plants could be kept open to help tackle the energy crisis. Nottinghamshire's West Burton A plant is set to be closed this year as part of the UK's net zero plans. According to a report in The Times, EDF - the French energy giant that runs the site - has been approached to see if it could keep the site running. A government spokesman said it had "made no formal request to EDF"." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60742052 The UK government may delay the closure of its remaining coal power plants, the Independent reports. According to the outlet, the government has contacted EDF Energy about keeping the West Burton A coal-fired plant in Lincolnshire open past its scheduled closure date. It says: “EDF confirmed to The Independent the government had been in touch with the firm in relation to the timing of its closure, but for now it is still on track to close in September 2022.” Meanwhile, the Times, which covered the story yesterday, notes that only three coal power plants are still in operation in the UK. It adds: “The early-stage talks are aimed at preventing Britain becoming even more reliant on burning gas for electricity, as prices hit record highs and the government seeks to end gas imports from Russia.” Bloomberg says talks are “at the very early stage”. However, BBC News says that “the government says it still plans to stop using coal by 2024”, adding that a government spokesperson has said it “made no formal request to EDF”. https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/uk-may-delay-closure-of-coal-power-stations-due-to-energy-crisis Plans subject to change and reversal.....yes we have heard that. Edited April 9, 2022 by Ecocharger 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ecocharger + 1,475 DL April 9, 2022 (edited) 11 hours ago, notsonice said: In Zimbabwe, coal power project seeks other backing after China's U-turn By Nelson Banya and Helen Reid 1/5 Workers walk beneath cooling towers at Hwange Power station's Phase 8, currently under construction, in Hwange, Zimbabwe, October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo March 30 (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean company that had been banking on Chinese financing to build a major coal-fired power plant says it is now looking for alternative backers as China pulls back on funding such projects overseas. The effort by RioZim Ltd (RTNR.ZI), one of Zimbabwe's biggest mining and energy companies, reflects how China's recent U-turn on foreign coal financing is forcing developing nations across Africa and Asia to rethink their energy plans. China, which had been a top funder of coal power projects around the globe, announced in September it would not build new coal projects abroad as part of efforts to curb future carbon emissions. Energy and climate specialists are watching to see the impact, including whether it will force a speedier shift to cleaner energy, result in other funders stepping in or lead to power shortages. Zimbabwe, which already suffers from a lack of electricity, has among the biggest coal reserves in Africa. "The energy policy juncture Zimbabwe now finds itself at is emblematic of what many developing countries around the world are facing," said Leo Roberts, UK-based research manager who focuses on coal transition at climate think tank E3G. Plans for the multi-billion dollar Sengwa power plant in northwest Zimbabwe involve more than doubling the country's current electricity capacity. RioZim's energy division, Rio Energy, had been hoping for funding for the planned plant and associated coal mine from Chinese banks Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and China Minsheng Banking Corporation Ltd. Now, Rio Energy is considering alternative financing plans. "We are still in the market to fund the project and we will work with all possible funders, including the Chinese," parent RioZim told Reuters. The company said another option under consideration is to transform the project to a gas-powered plant, but that idea is "subject to the outcome of feasibility studies" and no time frame for those has been set. RioZim told Reuters that ICBC and Minsheng Bank "came in to play a supporting role" but that it can't comment on the current status of their involvement because it doesn't have a direct relationship with the companies. Chinese bank financing for coal power plants overseas has often been arranged to support Chinese construction companies, which then enter into building contracts with the company planning the power plant. ICBC told representatives of environmental non-governmental organisations in a June 2021 meeting that the bank would no longer finance the Sengwa project, according to two people who attended the meeting. ICBC did not respond to requests for comment, including about the meeting or whether it plans to fund the Sengwa project. Minsheng Bank also didn't respond to Reuters questions about funding plans. Plans for another large coal power project in Zimbabwe, known as Lusulu, are also up in the air, according to PER Lusulu Power, the Harare-based energy company behind the plant which had been planning on Chinese backing. A Zimbabwe government spokesperson declined to comment on the status of either project. He said Zimbabwe has the right to exploit its coal resources if needed and would not "sacrifice growth prospects on the altar of arguments to do with the environment." China's foreign ministry didn't respond to questions about the status of the funding of the Sengwa and Lusulu projects. But it said Beijing will support developing countries in shifting to greener energy. The foreign ministry added that China, which has close economic and diplomatic ties with Harare, "will increase its support to Zimbabwe's development of renewable energy power projects, and help Zimbabwe's sustainable development." HANGING IN THE BALANCE Christine Shearer, programme director for coal at U.S. think tank Global Energy Monitor, said Chinese financing for coal power appears to be frozen. Despite the lack of clarity about what Xi's announcement means for planned projects, no new coal plants have since publicly announced Chinese support, "suggesting the international financing tap for new coal projects from China has indeed been turned off," said Shearer. Globally, some $63 billion of Chinese state financing across 57 projects could be at risk from China's withdrawal from coal financing overseas, according to Global Energy Monitor. The pullback could cut Africa's pipeline of coal power projects by two thirds to 3.6 gigawatts (GW), estimates think tank E3G. In Zimbabwe, less than half the population has access to electricity. The country has been betting on coal-fired power to address chronic electricity shortages and create jobs. RioZim has talked about building the Sengwa plant for more than a decade. Plans include adding 2.8 gigawatts (GW) to the grid and restarting the adjacent coal mine, which has been closed since 2014. Currently, Zimbabwe has the capacity to generate around 2.3 GW, which comes mostly from a large hydroelectric power plant but also four coal-fired power stations. The planned Sengwa plant, near the town of Gokwe, would create 1,100 permanent jobs and nearly four times as many temporary construction jobs, according to Rio Energy. Sedeya Jetro, head of a local primary school, said the jobs would enable parents to pay school fees and "mean a lot to this community." Rio Energy told Reuters that ICBC had in 2019 provided an expression of interest - or non-binding commitment - to a Chinese construction company to fund the first phase of the Sengwa project. Neither the construction company, PowerChina International Engineering Co., nor its parent, Power Construction Corporation of China, responded to requests for comment. Minsheng Bank also provided a non-binding commitment to RioZim to fund a second phase of the Sengwa project, according to Rio Energy and an August 2020 letter of interest from Minsheng Bank that Reuters reviewed. The pledge expired in February 2021, according to the letter. A Minsheng Bank official who signed the document said in an emailed response to Reuters that the letter of interest was "a trade secret" and didn't respond to questions about funding plans. Spokespeople for Minsheng Bank and ICBC didn't respond to requests for comment. Rio Energy was hoping for $3.4 billion of funding for the second phase of the power plant, according to a draft contract with a unit of engineering and construction company China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC). The contract, which was reviewed by Reuters, was dated November 2020 and drafted by both companies. In response to questions about the planned Sengwa plant, CGGC's parent company China Energy Engineering Corporation told Reuters that a subsidiary signed a construction cooperation agreement in 2020. "There is no progress on this project currently," it said, citing a lack of financing commitments. PER Lusulu Power plans to build the 2.1 GW Lusulu plant in Zimbabwe's western province of Matabeleland North. It announced in 2015 that Chinese financial institutions had agreed to fund its construction, subject to conditions. PER Lusulu Power's website says the company entered into a construction contract with China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which would secure debt finance from Bank of China. PER Lusulu Power had also sought financing of up to $2 billion for the project from ICBC, according to extracts of a term sheet dated August 2020 viewed by Reuters. The term sheet is a non-binding agreement setting out the terms and conditions for an investment. It was unsigned, and was prepared by ICBC, according to a person familiar with the document. Bank of China said in a statement that it doesn't have any electricity projects in Zimbabwe and has no plans to develop any. ICBC and China State Construction Engineering did not respond to questions about the Lusulu project. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT One Chinese-funded project that is progressing is in the northwestern town of Hwange, where construction was already well underway when China announced its coal-funding freeze. The project involves the expansion of an existing coal-power plant and has been financed by a loan of roughly $1 billion from Export-Import Bank of China, the Zimbabwe government has said. Zimbabwe Power Company, which manages the plant, said in a November statement that the expansion "continues to progress well" and was more than two thirds complete. China's EximBank didn't respond to a request for comment. The project is expected to increase employment by nearly doubling the current 2,853-strong workforce, while also sustaining the town's coal-mining industry, which employs thousands more people. The Zimbabwean government spokesperson said the country will be much better placed to meet electricity demand once the expansion - which is due to add 600 megawatts - is complete. Renewable power advocates in Africa and elsewhere say China's pullback from coal power provides an opportunity to clean up. Zimbabwe is expanding its plans for generating renewable energy, such as solar power, but such projects can require fewer permanent employees than coal, making them less attractive for governments keen to generate employment. Sydney Gata, executive chairman of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, said that an instant switch to solar and wind isn't feasible given the scale of the country's power needs. "Renewables are not an immediate plan B for Zimbabwe," he said World wide coal output set to reach new all-time levels.....but there is no need to worry about the effects of CO2, that is simply an intellectual science malfunction. The new research is zeroing in on the real determinants of climate change, solar variables. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020EA001223 Edited April 9, 2022 by Ecocharger 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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