Renewable Energy
Will we ever fully embrace clean energy?
One climate change policy expert says the Inflation Reduction Act has changed the landscape for renewables
One climate change policy expert says the Inflation Reduction Act has changed the landscape for renewables
The following article is derived from a Tulane University press release. Tulane University climate change policy and politics expert Joshua Basseches discusses the elements of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and how it will impact the perception of “clean energy” with the bill’s sweeping renewable incentives and how it could affect states and their policy makers individually.STM Daily News
Did The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 change the national conversation about clean energy? Tulane University climate change policy and politics expert Joshua Basseches says the sweeping bill’s incentives for renewables and other investments have states and policymakers moving from the debate about whether they need to shift to cleaner energy to now discussing how to make the shift happen.
Basseches shared his thoughts on the challenges ahead for making the transition to clean energy, whether the power grid is capable of handling the change and why he believes the policy landscape has shifted substantially.
“The faster this issue becomes one of dollars and cents rather than political ideology, the more progress we’ll see and the less reversible that progress will be,” said Basseches, the David and Jane Flowerree Professor in Environmental Studies and Public Policy at Tulane University School of Liberal Arts. “Any state resisting clean energy risks getting left behind.”
What are the most significant opportunities when transitioning to cleaner, renewable energy sources under the Inflation Reduction Act?
The Inflation Reduction Act represents an enormous opportunity for utilities and ordinary individuals to accelerate the transition to energy sources that produce little-to-no greenhouse gas emissions, thus slowing down the pace of climate change. The $369 billion law supports a wide range of green investments. These include incentivizing utilities to build large-scale renewable electricity generation plants or sign power purchase agreements with other developers that qualify for generous federal tax credits, as well as incentivizing individuals and households to purchase and drive electric vehicles with a $7,500 rebate for eligible new vehicles and a $4,000 rebate for eligible used vehicles. Additionally, $9 billion is available in rebates for eligible energy-efficient home appliances such as electric heat pumps and for retrofitting entire homes to conserve energy.
What are the biggest constraints?
The constraints remain the lack of compulsory mechanisms to ensure that the economic transformation envisioned by the law occurs as well as the fact that states remain critical intermediaries when it comes to energy provision. A great deal of the funding flows through state-level offices and it is unclear if all states will embrace these investments. We may see some foot-dragging as we did with, for example, the Affordable Care Act, which similarly relied on state-level implementation. When it comes to electric utilities, state-level public service commissions or public utility commissions remain in the position of ultimately arbitrating the plans of utilities.
What are you most optimistic about when it comes to the clean energy transition?
I’m optimistic about how quickly the policy landscape has been shifting, even though energy transitions never occur overnight. The energy economy is fundamentally different now than it was just a few months ago, before the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and for the better when it comes to fighting climate change. There continues to be strong demand, especially from young people, for climate policy, and while the energy policy in the United States remains relatively obscure, it is under more scrutiny now than ever before. And that’s a good thing. Venture capital directed toward decarbonization has reached levels not seen before, and the conversation seems to be shifting from whether to address climate change to how best to do so.
What are you most worried about?
I worry about a couple of things. The first is transmission, which is needed to create a well-functioning, clean electricity grid. It was not adequately addressed in the Inflation Reduction Act. Unlike fossil fuel energy sources, which can be located near population centers, renewable energy potential is concentrated in parts of the country that consume the least amount of electricity (in the aggregate, since there are far fewer people and businesses located in those areas). Many miles of new transmission lines will need to be constructed (and paid for) to calibrate clean electricity supply with demand. Building transmission is costly and politically complicated.
The second is the possibility that the transition will exacerbate economic and social inequality. The fact that electricity in this country is largely privatized means that the interests of energy company shareholders can often be pitted against those of consumers. Energy costs, in general, are highly regressive, meaning that lower-income folks are hit the hardest by high energy bills, which utilities may pursue to recover the costs of prematurely closing down fossil fuel plants. We also see equity issues regarding access to rooftop solar, which, for example, typically requires homeownership as a pre-requisite.
Source: Tulane University
News
bp unveils first US bp pulse EV charging Gigahub™ at Houston headquarters
A ribbon cutting for the Gigahub™ located at the bp Westlake campus with bp executives and local elected officials will be held on March 20, 2024
HOUSTON, March 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — bp (NYSE: BP) will celebrate the opening of its new electric-vehicle charging site at its bp America headquarters in Houston, Texas, expanding its network of EV chargers in the US. The new bp pulse station is the first bp pulse branded Gigahub™ in the US and will be open to the public on April 2.
bp unveils first US bp pulse EV charging Gigahub™ at Houston headquartersTweet
Emma Delaney, bp Executive Vice President for Customers & Products, said: “As we expand our global footprint, I am thrilled to unveil our first EV charging Gigahub in the US. With leading fast charging positions already in key markets in the UK, China, and Germany, we’re learning about customer charging preferences on the go.”
The Gigahub™, expected to open on March 20, 2024, will offer 24 high-speed EV charge points with Tritium 150kW DC fast chargers. The chargers will be integrated with the bp pulse app, allowing users to locate the site, access real-time charging availability, and connect to WiFi.
“We’re excited to bring bp pulse to America’s energy corridor and expand our presence in the US public EV-charging market,” said Sujay Sharma, CEO of bp pulse Americas. “This project will bring fast, reliable charging to EV drivers when and where they need it, helping support faster electric-vehicle adoption in the US. We look forward to welcoming new and existing EV drivers to our growing network.”
bp pulse aims to continue deploying additional charging points at high-demand locations, such as airports, major metropolitan areas, and bp-owned properties across the US. bp has also been awarded grant funds through programs, including National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and California Energy Commission (CEC) to provide charging infrastructure at sites in California, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.
In February 2023, bp announced plans to invest $1 billion in America’s EV charging infrastructure by 2030, with $500 million invested in by the end of 2025. bp pulse also shared commitments to deliver 3,000 charge points by 2025. EV charging is one of bp’s five strategic transition growth engines in which the company expects to significantly grow investment through this decade. The other transition growth engines include bioenergy, hydrogen, convenience and renewables & power.
Today bp has 29,000 EV charge points worldwide and aims for more than 100,000 globally by 2030 – around 90% rapid or ultra-fast.
About bp
bp’s ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. We’re transforming bp from an international oil and gas company to an integrated energy company – and America is core to the strategy. bp has a larger economic footprint in the United States than anywhere else in the world, investing more than $145 billion since 2005 and supporting more than 275,000 jobs. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bpamerica.com.
About bp pulse
bp pulse is bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business. Focused on fast and reliable charging, bp pulse deploys charging points for EV drivers and commercial fleets on the go; at destination hubs, at the depot and bp retail sites. Around the world bp pulse is partnering with some of the world’s biggest businesses, while developing the Gigahub™ network, a series of large EV high-speed charging hubs in high-demand locations. For more information, visit bppulsefleet.com
Further information: bp US press office, USPRESS@bp.com
Cautionary statement: In order to utilize the ‘safe harbor’ provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the ‘PSLRA’), bp is providing the following cautionary statement. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements – that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances – which may relate to one or more of the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of bp and certain of the plans and objectives of bp with respect to these items. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘will’, ‘expects’, ‘is expected to’, ‘aims’, ‘should’, ‘may’, ‘objective’, ‘is likely to’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’, ‘plans’, ‘we see’ or similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F under “Risk factors” and in any of our more recent public reports. Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on our website at www.bp.com,or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov.
SOURCE bp America
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (Newswire.com) – Cenergy Power, a leading community solar provider, announced today that it has received a Community-Driven Community Solar (CDCS) Award from the Illinois Shines Program for its 5 MWac solar project in Madison County, Illinois.
CDCS projects are awarded based on their commitment to provide direct and tangible benefits to the communities in which they operate, and only four other projects were selected as CDCS projects in the Ameren Illinois utility region in 2023. To ensure such local benefits are achieved by its community solar project, Cenergy is partnering with Edwardsville Community Foundation (ECF), a charitable trust that receives, manages, and distributes tax-deductible charitable contributions for the benefit of the greater Edwardsville area communities and its residents.
As part of this partnership, Cenergy Power will make direct donations of at least $400,000 to ECF and $60,000 to Madison County to benefit their local communities. In addition, Cenergy and ECP will coordinate on awareness campaigns of the 20% or more power bill savings for local subscribers of the clean energy generated by the project.
Caryn Mefford, ECF Chair, stated, “Edwardsville Community Foundation (ECF) is excited to work with Cenergy on the Community Driven Community Solar (CDCS) project located in Madison County. The CDCS project along with the economic and strategic benefits the project provides, matches ECF’s mission to continue to provide economic and job training benefits from a growing and thriving renewable energy industry in Illinois.”
Cenergy Power
Grounded by a deep sense of community, Cenergy Power’s mission is to spread the economic and sustainability benefits of reliable clean energy projects to local stakeholders. www.cenergypower.com
Edwardsville Community Foundation
The Edwardsville Community Foundation is a charitable organization that serves local communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Moro, Dorsey, Worden and other surrounding areas.
Source: CENERGY POWER
Newswise — According to quantum biologists from the University of Surrey, the unlocking of the immense potential of laboratory-designed DNA, commonly referred to as synthetic DNA, is poised to revolutionize various fields with groundbreaking advancements.
Diverging from naturally occurring DNA, synthetic DNA presents scientists with the opportunity to engineer novel genes or augment existing ones, presenting a gateway to revolutionary prospects in medicine and biotechnology. Moreover, synthetic DNA has the potential to sustain Darwinian evolution, laying the foundation for captivating advancements in comprehending genetic systems.
Quantum biologists at the University of Surrey conducted a distinctive study exploring the movement of protons within Hachimoji DNA, a synthetic DNA variant that has yet to be observed in natural organisms.
By employing density functional theory, the researchers from the University of Surrey utilized a methodology to determine the rate of proton transfer and its temperature-dependent effects. Their findings revealed that proton transfer occurs with greater ease in Hachimoji DNA when compared to conventional DNA. Particularly, specific base pairs in Hachimoji DNA facilitate proton movement that is approximately 30% faster than in regular DNA. This observation implies that Hachimoji DNA may exhibit a higher susceptibility to mutations in contrast to normal DNA.
Dr. Louie Slocombe, the principal investigator of the research project at the University of Surrey, remarked:
“The investigation into Hachimoji DNA and its unique characteristics holds great promise for the fields of synthetic biology and genetic research. Our study offers invaluable insights into the dynamics of proton transfer in Hachimoji DNA, thereby illuminating its potential impact on mutation rates.”
“This knowledge holds the potential to steer future advancements in DNA engineering and broaden our understanding of genetic systems, not only on Earth but also in realms beyond our planet.”
Hachimoji DNA, a laboratory-engineered synthetic DNA, surpasses the conventional four-letter genetic code (A, T, C, G) by incorporating four additional building blocks (Z, P, S, B). This expansion broadens the scope of genetic information, unlocking unprecedented possibilities in genetic research, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology. Hachimoji DNA holds great promise as a potential catalyst for engineering organisms with exceptional abilities and for pioneering groundbreaking drug development.
Dr. Marco Sacchi, one of the co-authors of the study conducted at the University of Surrey, expressed:
“The University of Surrey is dedicated to spearheading scientific research and catalyzing transformative breakthroughs. The exploration of Hachimoji DNA showcases the university’s expertise in quantum biology and highlights the potential of this emerging field to unravel the complexities of genetic systems and leverage the capabilities of cutting-edge technologies.”
Source: University of Surrey
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