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Electrek Green Energy Brief

A daily technical, financial and political review/analysis of important green energy news

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Welcome to the Electrek Green Energy Brief. Put together by our Electrek authors, the Energy Brief is a daily technical, financial, and political review of important green energy news.

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EGEB: Clean energy was second-most prevalent US electricity source in 2020

IPCC report

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • In 2020, clean energy sources generated 21% of all US electricity.
  • A judge rules that the largest known lithium resource in the US can be excavated.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: In 2020, the US produced the lowest energy emissions in nearly 40 years

US energy emissions

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • In 2020, due to the pandemic, US energy emissions fell to the lowest level since 1983. 
  • Belfast, Maine, sees 7 megawatts of community solar launch for Central Maine Power customers.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: A Dutch pilot project will combine solar and strip farming

Dutch solar farming

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Vattenfall gets the green light to run a Dutch pilot combining solar panels and strip farming.
  • The UK currently has around 25,000 EV chargers, and will need 10 times that by 2030.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: 3 ways clean energy is making US grids more resilient right now

US grids clean energy

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Here are 3 ways clean energy is boosting grid resilience right now in the face of extreme weather.
  • Massachusetts announces $1.6 million in grants to support offshore wind workforce training.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: New building energy codes will save Americans $138B over 3 decades

new building energy codes

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • The US Department of Energy announces energy-efficient new building codes to save consumers money and fight climate change.
  • Bloomington, Indiana, launches its Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Switching only 20% of US school buses to electric is a missed opportunity

clean school bus program

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • 68% of Americans support a spend of $20-$25 billion to adopt electric school buses. Let’s adopt more.
  • New York State announces $52 million for community solar projects for underserved communities.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: These 15 US retailers’ ship imports pollute as much as 3 coal plants annually

Arctic ship

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Walmart’s maritime shipping caused more pollution in 2019 than a coal-fired plant emits annually.
  • A solar company sues the Department of the Interior over offshore wind farm approval.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: US was No. 1 producer of natural gas and petroleum in 2020

American Petroleum Institute Biden

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • The US produced more petroleum and natural gas than any other country in 2020.
  • Average US solar construction costs continued to fall in 2019.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: The first house in Scotland is being heated by recycled vegetable oil

recycled vegetable oil

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Heating homes with hydrotreated vegetable oil is now under way in pilots in the UK.
  • New software from the DOE and NREL will greatly speed up residential solar permitting across the US.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Here’s how much it costs to charge your EV with rooftop solar

EV home charger

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Charging an electric vehicle with rooftop solar in the US is cheaper than using grid power or public chargers.
  • El Salvador commissions its very first wind farm.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Southern California will get 38K new chargers in 5 years

Southern California chargers

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready program will install 38,000 chargers over the next five years.
  • US clean energy standard benefits would far outweigh the costs, finds a groundbreaking new report.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: World’s largest offshore wind turbines chosen for first commercial project

offshore wind turbines

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Germany’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm pre-selects huge Vestas wind turbines.
  • Nova Scotia sets a target of reaching 80% renewable energy by 2030.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Maine governor permanently bans offshore wind in state waters [update]

Maine offshore wind

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Maine’s governor permanently bans offshore wind in state waters in a compromise.
  • ION Energy raises $3.6 million with the participation of Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Final turbine is in place at the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm

floating offshore wind pipeline

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • The final floating turbine is connected at the Kincardine floating offshore wind farm in Scotland.
  • 2021’s most and least energy-expensive states, according to a new WalletHub study.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: An Iowa city’s pilot program may put solar on low-income homes

US tax credits rebates

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Dubuque may adopt a pilot program to help low- to moderate-income households install solar.
  • In 2020, US fossil fuel consumption was at its lowest level since 1991.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: UK sales of EVs jumped to 11K in June, 1 in 10 now electric

UK electric vehicles

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Battery electric cars now account for 11% of the UK market – tied with diesel.
  • The US consumed more electricity powered by renewables than by coal in 2020, reports the EIA.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: New Jersey approves US’s largest combined offshore wind farm

offshore wind Trump

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • New Jersey approves US’s largest combined offshore wind project, Atlantic Shores and Ocean Wind II.
  • Transitioning to clean energy will grow the global economy, as investments will pay off, reports IRENA.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: US awards $182 million for 49 e-bus projects in 46 states

e-bus

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • The US government has awarded grants for electric and hydrogen buses to 49 projects in 46 states.
  • Connecticut boosts its electric vehicle rebates.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Caterpillar will develop all-electric vehicles for a graphite mine

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Caterpillar agrees to develop all-electric mining machines for Nouveau Monde Graphite.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo will build two solar farms in the copper- and cobalt-rich southeast.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Indian fossil-fuel billionaire to invest $10.1B in clean energy

India solar

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • India’s most valuable company by market value is investing $10.1 billion in clean energy.
  • Enel Russia launches a 90 megawatt wind farm in western Russia.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Chemical giant buys nearly half of huge 1.5 GW Dutch offshore wind farm

Dutch offshore wind farm

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • BASF will buy 49.5% of Vattenfall’s 1.5 GW offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.
  • Home energy efficiency upgrade company Sealed raises $16 million in Series B funding.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Tesla models make up 54% of US EV sales in 2021 through May, and other fun EV facts

Tesla EV sales

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Tesla models make up more than half of US EV sales in 2021.
  • A Michigan utility wants to be one of the first in the US to go coal-free.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Midwestern states now lead the US in wind capacity

Iowa wind

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • Wind capacity has grown rapidly in the US in the last decade, and most of it is in the Midwest.
  • An Anglo-American partnership wants to launch as many as 40 green hydrogen refueling stations in the UK.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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EGEB: Lyft, DHL, IKEA, others call for net-zero new vehicles by 2030 – exclusive

Net zero new vehicles by 2030

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

  • EV100 businesses call for strong US emissions standards and all new-vehicle sales to be net zero by 2030.
  • Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduces legislation to rapidly boost US solar manufacturing.
  • UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
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