Good News Notes: “Martin County, Kentucky, is coal country. That means its economy is in the toilet. Where once there were thousands of coal miners in the county, today there are less than two dozen. Even when coal mining was big business in Kentucky, Martin County was far from prosperous. It is where Lyndon Johnson…
Tag: renewable energy
New wind turbine wall could harness enough energy to power your home
Good News Notes: “Wind energy has played a key role in helping national grids around the world reduce dependence on fossil fuels to generate energy, but the wind turbines for the home have encountered very slow uptake due, in part, to their intrusive physicality. The New York-based designer and entrepreneur Joe Doucet has designed the Wind Turbine…
Germany powering down three nuclear plants in shift to renewables
Good News Notes: “Germany will be shutting down three of its six remaining nuclear power stations on Friday as it moves away from nuclear power in favor of renewable energy. The nuclear reactors in the cities of Grohnde, Brokdorf and Gundremmingen will be shut down and disconnected on the evening of Dec. 31. According to S&P…
IKEA Assembles a Future Without Plastic Packaging
Good News Notes: “Thanks to tiny pieces and convoluted instructions, putting together a bookshelf from IKEA can be a maddening experience. But there’s a payoff: What’s stressful is stylish—and also sustainable. The Swedish retailer has been a champion of the environment for years. In 2018, for instance, it announced plans to use only renewable and recycled materials…
Israeli firm uses air and water to store solar energy for nighttime
Good News Notes: “The southern tip of Israel is a rocky desert where solar panels are abundant and the sun, when shining, is the source of nearly all electricity. Once it sets, however, the grid shifts back to fossil fuels to generate power. Renewable energy from solar and wind powered systems cannot be stored without…
GE’s LM Wind Power to Produce Zero-waste Wind
Good News Notes: “GE Renewable Energy’s LM Wind Power said this week it planned to produce zero waste wind turbine blades by 2030. “LM Wind Power will play a central role in supporting its customers to develop fully circular wind turbines that generate less waste during their production. In practice, LM Wind Power’s vision of…
The US finally adopts a national recycling strategy
Good News Notes: “The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new national recycling strategy today, the agency’s first ever such commitment, according to the Washington Post. It’s a roadmap for the US to achieve a goal of recycling at least half of its municipal waste by the end of the decade. That’s a steep rise considering the US’ recycling rate has actually…
Solar panels in space could be clean-energy gold mines
Good News Notes: “Solar power has been a key part of humanity’s clean energy repertoire. We spread masses of sunlight-harvesting panels on solar fields, and many people power their homes by decorating their roofs with the rectangles. But there’s a caveat to this wonderful power source. Solar panels can’t collect energy at night. To work…
Greening deserts: India powers renewable ambitions with solar push
Good News Notes: “As camels munch on the fringes of Thar desert, an oasis of blue solar panels stretches further than the eye can see at Bhadla Park — a cornerstone of India’s bid to become a clean energy powerhouse. Currently, coal powers 70 percent of the nation’s electricity generation, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra…
All UK’s electricity will come from clean sources by 2035, says PM
Good News Notes: “Speaking from Manchester, the prime minister said the target could be achieved through advances in wind power and other renewable sources. The shift towards renewable energy is part of government efforts to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. However some green groups have warned that the UK is behind schedule for…