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

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: 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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EGEB: ISS astronauts successfully deploy solar arrays on second attempt

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

  • After running into glitches last week, ISS astronauts successfully installed Roll-Out Solar Arrays yesterday.
  • IKEA and The Rockefeller Foundation start a $1 billion fund for small-scale clean energy.
  • 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: Glitches prevent astronauts from deploying solar array at ISS

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

  • Technical delays kept ISS astronauts from fully installing a new pair of solar arrays.
  • Enevate says its next-gen battery tech provides lower carbon footprint during EV 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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EGEB: How US utilities are trying to block rooftop solar adoption

Georgia solar EPA

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

  • US special interest groups and utilities are working to stall the growth of rooftop solar.
  • Why Penn State University won the US Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition.
  • 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: GM and Wabtec will develop electric freight locomotives

electric train

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

  • GM and Wabtec will work together to develop and commercialize electric locomotives.
  • The US consumed a record amount of clean energy 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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