Good News Notes: “The solar PV train has left the station with strong momentum in 2022, showing 36% year-over-year growth through February when compared to the first two months of 2021. This marks significant growth despite a year of challenges for the industry. This figure includes both large-scale and small-scale generation, as reported by the Energy Information…
Tag: United States
California solar bill would extend access, savings to renters and low-income families
Good News Notes: “California has been the clean energy frontrunner in the United States, and it has been particularly strong in deploying distributed, rooftop solar. Distributed generation, especially when paired with energy storage, has numerous advantages in cost savings, efficiency, a lessened carbon footprint, the preservation of land, and more when compared to centralized resources….
Ford launches F-150 Lightning this week
Good News Notes: “Ford is set to roll out an all-electric version of its iconic F-150 pickup truck this week. a pivotal moment in the push to move to hybrid and electric vehicles in the United States. The F-150 Lightning was first announced last year, and as of Monday morning, the 2022 model of the Lightning was…
Compostic cling wrap is biodegradable, just as good as plastic
Good News Notes: “Every year, people in the United States buy enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the entire state of Texas. While that may sound impressive, the downside is that plastic wrap is difficult to recycle because it can clog machines and tends to end up in landfills, incinerators, or in the mouths of marine life. It…
Keurig Dr Pepper To Pilot Compostable Paper Bottle
Good News Notes: “Keurig Dr Pepper is developing a recyclable and compostable paper bottle that it will test in the United States. The No. 56 consumer goods company is teaming with Cologne, German-based packaging manufacturer PAPACKS for a bottle that uses fiber and organic materials, rather than the plant-based PET plastic or sustainably sourced pulp with…
BlocPower gets big infusion from Microsoft to convert old buildings to green energy
Good News Notes: “In a four-story apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, a very small company is implementing a very big idea: Electrify every building in the United States by leasing landlords the necessary equipment to make the transition. BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based start-up that has “greened” more than 1,200 buildings in New York City…
Small City Sets Example for Floating Solar, Empowered by NREL Data Set
Good News Notes: “Two city employees of Cohoes, New York, were brainstorming how to power the city’s municipal buildings with renewable energy, but few options made sense. Cohoes does not have acres of unused land for solar panels, and the slate-topped buildings cannot hold rooftop solar. Moreover, with its high amount of low- and moderate-income…
IKEA Has Perfected Vegan Meatballs. Is Plant-Based Chicken Coming, Too?
Good News Notes: “Swedish furniture giant IKEA recently added plant-based chicken nuggets to its menu in the United States. The new option is part of a kids meal (recommended for children 12 and under) that includes broccoli and is priced at $3.49. While IKEA typically develops its own plant-based meats, these nuggets are made by…
We’re going to need a lot more grid storage. New iron batteries could help.
Good News Notes: “One of the first things you see when you visit the headquarters of ESS in Wilsonville, Oregon, is an experimental battery module about the size of a toaster. The company’s founders built it in their lab a decade ago to meet a challenge they knew grid operators around the world would soon…
The urine revolution: how recycling pee could help to save the world
Good News Notes: “On Gotland, the largest island in Sweden, fresh water is scarce. At the same time, residents are battling dangerous amounts of pollution from agriculture and sewer systems that causes harmful algal blooms in the surrounding Baltic Sea. These can kill fish and make people ill. To help solve this set of environmental…