GHG Emissions, Regulation, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  January 21, 2023

Weekend Reads: Wind vs. Solar; China Dominates Battery Market

It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:

Climate law fuels solar vs. wind battle (Politico)  President Joe Biden’s $369 billion climate law promises to drive down the cost of solar power and battery technology — but that new economic landscape could also throw a curveball in regions with big wind plans. Iowa’s largest-ever wind energy proposal is now the subject of fierce criticism from some of the biggest champions of renewable power: environmental groups and tech companies that are eager for carbon-free electricity to run their data centers, writes POLITICO’s E&E News reporter Jeffrey Tomich. 

Renewables Projected to Soon Be One-Fourth of US Electricity Generation. Really Soon. (Inside Climate News)  Renewable energy is poised to reach a milestone as a new government report projects that wind, solar and other renewable sources will exceed one-fourth of the country’s electricity generation for the first time, in 2024. This is one of the many takeaways from the federal government’s Short Term Energy Outlook, a monthly report whose new edition is the first to include a forecast for 2024. The report’s authors in the Energy Information Administration are expecting renewables to increase in market share, while natural gas and coal would both decrease.

Webinar: Is Your Energy & Sustainability Data Financial Grade? (EnergyCap)  Whether it’s driven by investor pressure, consumer demand, business partners, or altruism, energy and sustainability reports are front and center in boardrooms across the country. In fact, 90 percent of companies say they either have or are developing a formal strategy to manage corporate ESG practices.  But is your data financial grade? Is your reporting data reliable and defendable? If you were audited tomorrow, how confident are you in your energy & sustainability reports?  Tune into this webinar as we unpack the critical components of financial grade energy & sustainability data, why it’s so important, and what you can do today to prepare for an audit tomorrow. REGISTER HERE

Visualizing China’s Dominance in Battery Manufacturing (2022-2027P)  (Visual Capitalist)  Global lithium-ion battery production is projected to increase eightfold by 2027. Here’s a look at the top countries for battery manufacturing in 2022 and 2027, based on BloombergNEF’s lithium-ion supply chain rankings.

First of its kind in Alabama, net zero development breaks ground in Huntsville  (Advance Local)  The groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday prominently featured words such as “renewables” and “sustainability.” Such words generally don’t buzz around building a $108 million building that will feature multi-family housing and retail. Wellory Living at MidCity District in Huntsville, though, is different. First announced last month, its unique trait is that plans call for it to be a net zero energy facility by developer RCP Companies. 

Webinar: The 2023 State of Sustainability (Atrius)  Now in its 4th year, the State of Corporate Sustainability Report has a history of taking a deep dive into understanding the biggest drivers, motivators, and challenges facing professionals within the energy and building management space. This year is no different; built from the perspective of over 300 industry professionals, this year’s findings showed that both energy and sustainability professionals have critical roles to play in meeting corporate ESG goals. In this webinar, we’ll be reviewing key findings from the report with an expert panel. REGISTER HERE

Consider the Windmill (Texas Monthly)  We set out from Marfa one recent Tuesday at a predawn hour so raw that only ghosts were awake, our truck rolling eastward with a mare bound for a distant vet appointment. It was too early for many words. As the featureless dark country spilled past, a syncopated spray of red lights appeared near Iraan, blinking not quite in unison from hidden hillsides. Wind turbines, we surmised, and by the time we entered Schleicher County, dozens of them gently greeted us at sunrise, their arms turning slow-motion cartwheels against the sky.

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