I'm going to keep things simple today and focus on doing one thing really well: sending you well-recommended updates based on your interests. So please subscribe by email if you haven't yet and you'll get those recommendations.

Our quantity of updates we're considering is getting big enough now (it was over 130 today) that I had to break the set up and run 3 sets of 50 through our recommender - then I had a championship round that selected 3 stories for you out of 9 first-round picks. Hopefully the end result is especially good.  The relationship between quantity and quality is one that's fascinated me my entire life.

Ok, let's go!

-Marshall Kirkpatrick

Earth Catalyst: Boosting your efficacy and capacity with two decades of trailblazing & the newest technology

Today and every day, our system scans over 1,000 green tech and sustainability organizations for updates. Below, you'll find:

• A Visual of the Day

• A digest-style Table of Contents for 130 selected updates from around the green tech and sustainability world

• (If you subscribe by email) 3 personalized selections just for you and your work

Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Welcome! You can subscribe here and get your own personal recommendations each day.

Visual of the Day

Everything's in bulk at Costco

From Electrek: "Costco Wholesale has collaborated with North American EV charging network Electrify America and rolled out a series of DC fast chargers available to all EV drivers at select store locations. The EV chargers are operational at those Costco stores now, beginning in three states."

There's some interesting conversation in comments there, if you want to see what EV-heads are saying about the news.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (3 stories) - Local knowledge integration proves vital for farm transitions; Brazilian bat study reveals chemical risks in monoculture vs. agroforestry; equity-focused food system adaptations prioritize community solutions

• Carbon (10 stories) - Capture6 wins desalination prize for CO2 removal tech; UK's East Coast Cluster and ExxonMobil advance carbon capture projects; Tufts Cove achieves 24/7 ocean alkalinity enhancement; NET Power plans 1 GW zero-emission plants; Arctic tundra shifts to net carbon source

• Circular (1 story) - Thrifting surge: Gen Z and European consumers lead shift to pre-owned holiday gifting

• Ecosystems (10 stories) - Jane Goodall and Sylvia Earle unite in Singapore fundraiser, as Andean glaciers hit 12,000-year low and WHO reports rising malaria cases amid ecosystem threats from Browse gas project and declining pollinator diversity

• Efficiency (2 stories) - Water quality analytics for PFAS monitoring; Cool Coalition and Africa Center of Excellence advance sustainable cooling solutions

• Finance (11 stories) - Record $324B in clean energy loan requests as DOE commits $55B; Connecticut launches GreenGain initiative; Nevada's $156M solar fund opens; 3Degrees expands to Asia-Pacific; investors debate 2025 climate tech outlook

• Grid (11 stories) - SSEN's £22bn UK grid plan, Energy Vault's 2GW battery rollout, and DOE's $305M thermal storage loan lead major infrastructure investments, while ERCOT expands virtual power plants and USDA commits $6.3B to rural modernization

• Indigenous (12 stories) - Tribal fire networks expand nationwide as White House Summit celebrates $46B in climate initiatives; Indigenous land stewards lead prescribed burns, mapping projects, and ecosystem restoration from California to the Amazon

• Industry (8 stories) - Shell's PA plastics controversy, UK hydrogen auction debates, copper refining startups, and Rondo Energy's thermal battery milestone shape industrial sector shifts

• Policy (44 stories) - ICJ hears Pacific Island climate testimony; 13 U.S. states advance plastic bans; CELDF expands Great Lakes protections; Biden's LNG pause faces scrutiny; $300bn COP-29 climate fund pledged in Baku

• Renewables (15 stories) - Vestas repurposes Isle of Wight factory; El Hierro achieves 50% energy independence; Australia declares 20GW Bass Strait wind zone and awards 6.4GW renewables; Google-Intersect Power's $20B data center plan; Philippines starts 3.5GW solar project; global floating solar to reach 77GW

• Transport (9 stories) - Electrify America's Costco chargers, $735M for electric school buses, Tesla Model Q plans, and rising EV adoption in Colorado lead transport electrification; BYD dominates global EV production

Agriculture

Local knowledge integration proves vital for farm transitions; Brazilian bat study reveals chemical risks in monoculture vs. agroforestry; equity-focused food system adaptations prioritize community solutions

• Agroecological transitions through science, practice, and social movements in India, Peru, and Senegal (CGIAR) - Scientists studying farming transitions in three nations found that 100% of successful changes required merging local wisdom with modern research methods.

• Brazil natural landscape degradation drives toxic metal buildup in bats (Mongabay) - Toxic lead and manganese from farming chemicals and mining have accumulated in Brazilian Atlantic Forest bats, with contamination rates highest in monoculture regions compared to agroforestry areas.

• Current Research in Environmental Sustainability Journal Special Issue Published (CGIAR) - Global researchers examine equity-focused climate adaptation strategies across food systems in developing nations, with emphasis on community-driven solutions for sustainable resource management.

Carbon

Capture6 wins desalination prize for CO2 removal tech; UK's East Coast Cluster and ExxonMobil advance carbon capture projects; Tufts Cove achieves 24/7 ocean alkalinity enhancement; NET Power plans 1 GW zero-emission plants; Arctic tundra shifts to net carbon source

• Arctic Tundra Shifts to Source of Climate Pollution, According to New Report Card (InsideClimateNews) - Arctic tundra now emits 207 million tons of carbon yearly through wildfires and melting permafrost, transforming from a carbon sink into a significant climate threat.

• Capture6 awarded Global Prize Innovation in Desalination (Capture6) - American startup Capture6 triumphed over 540 competitors to win the Global Prize Innovation in Desalination for its dual-purpose technology merging CO2 removal with water purification.

• Contracts signed for UK’s first carbon capture projects in Teesside (Energy Central) - The UK government has signed contracts for its first carbon capture projects at Teesside's East Coast Cluster site, advancing the nation's clean industry goals.

• ExxonMobil Planning Large Gas-Fired Plant to Serve Data Centers (POWER) - ExxonMobil will enter commercial power generation with a 1,500+ MW gas-fired plant featuring 90% carbon capture, designed to power data centers within five years.

• Halifax Project Update (Planetary Technologies) - Carbon removal operations at Halifax's Tufts Cove have achieved continuous 24/7 ocean alkalinity enhancement, marking the first full-time deployment in harbor waters.

• High rises made out of wood? What matters in whether ‘mass timber’ buildings are sustainable (The Conversation) - Mass timber construction could slash building carbon footprints by 18% versus concrete, though benefits hinge on responsible forest management and commercial plantation sourcing.

• How a Chinese firm ran a billion-euro carbon credit scam (DW) - Chinese company Beijing Karbon defrauded Germany's emissions trading scheme of €1 billion by falsely registering existing oil field gas projects as new installations.

• Methane Emissions Continue to Decline Across U.S. Oil & Gas Basins (Energy Central) - Methane emissions across U.S. oil and gas basins have plunged 44% since 2011, even as domestic crude production reaches historic highs, according to EPA data.

• NET Power and CRC Team to Deploy 1 GW of Carbon-Free Gas Power Plants in California (POWER Magazine) - California Resources Corp. and NET Power will deploy 1 GW of zero-emission gas power plants across Northern California, integrating carbon capture technology with CO2 storage capabilities.

• The Arctic Tundra’s Tragic Transformation (Heatmap News) - Arctic tundra now emits more carbon than it absorbs, with 1.4 trillion metric tons of stored carbon at risk from thawing permafrost and wildfires, NOAA's latest Arctic Report Card shows.

Circular

Thrifting surge: Gen Z and European consumers lead shift to pre-owned holiday gifting

• Regifting and thrifting for sustainable holiday gift ideas (Mongabay) - Amid rising eco-consciousness, 64% of Europeans and half of American Gen Z shoppers now embrace secondhand gifts and thrifting as sustainable holiday options.

Ecosystems

• Wildlife crossings can protect Oregon’s biodiversity (Environment America) - Oregon's Route 82 wildlife crossing slashed deer-vehicle collisions by 90% in its first year, prompting advocates to call for more animal passages across the state.

• “Hope & Harmony" with Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle (Jane Goodall Institute) - Two of the world's most renowned conservationists united in Singapore, raising S$150,000 while sharing insights from their combined 120 years protecting Earth's wildlife and oceans.

• Andes glacier melt threatens Amazon’s rivers & intensifies droughts (Mongabay) - Andean tropical glaciers have hit their lowest levels in nearly 12,000 years, threatening to slash Amazon river flows by 20% as the region faces unprecedented drought conditions.

• Housebuilders supply only half of promised nature-friendly features, survey finds (The Guardian) - Developers of 42 English housing estates delivered just 53% of pledged eco-friendly features, including trees, bird boxes and hedgehog highways, a new survey reveals.

• Less pollinators species drive to an unstable ecosystem (BC3) - Declining pollinator diversity has reduced plant reproduction by 50 percent, threatening ecosystem stability and particularly impacting wild plants and invertebrate species, researchers report.

• Malaria cases rise for fifth year as disasters and resistance hamper control efforts (The Guardian) - Global malaria cases hit 263 million in 2023, marking a fifth straight yearly rise as drug resistance, climate disasters and a £3.4bn funding gap impede control efforts, WHO reports.

• Rare vision of WA’s Scott Reef shows dazzling ecosystem threatened by gas projects – video (The Guardian) - Rare footage reveals Scott Reef's marine life faces peril from Woodside's Browse gas project, which could release 6bn tonnes of CO2 by 2070.

• The Tennessee River, Resilient and Healthy River Communities Series (EESI) - Experts shared strategies to protect biodiversity and reduce pollution across the Tennessee River's four-state watershed during a recent Congressional briefing on aquatic conservation.

• Trawl the sea or mine for metals? Pacific nations wrestle with how to protect oceans - and livelihoods (The Guardian) - Pacific nations grapple with proposals to reduce fishing zones and explore seabed mining, as leaders seek balance between ocean protection and economic survival.

• Wildlife conservation is a key climate change solution (commentary) (Mongabay) - Local wildlife protection efforts help fight climate change, as species like elephants create natural firebreaks and spread carbon-absorbing plants throughout vulnerable ecosystems.

Efficiency

Water quality analytics for PFAS monitoring; Cool Coalition and Africa Center of Excellence advance sustainable cooling solutions

• Empowering Organizations with Data to Comprehend PFAS Risk (KETOS) - A new data service aims to help organizations monitor PFAS contamination through water quality analytics, offering comprehensive risk assessment capabilities.

• The Resilience Podcast: How To Tackle Extreme Heat (The Resilience Podcast) - Global experts explore sustainable cooling strategies, from urban forests to new technologies, as initiatives like the Cool Coalition and Africa Center of Excellence tackle rising temperatures worldwide.

Finance

• The rise of the AI infrastructure asset class | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Major investors are pouring billions into AI infrastructure assets, with experts projecting up to $1 trillion in required investment by 2030 for data centers, power plants, and transmission lines.

• Connecticut Launches “GreenGain” Sustainability Program for Small Manufacturers (CT Green Bank) - Connecticut's new GreenGain initiative will provide sustainability training, mentoring, and funding to small manufacturers seeking to implement energy efficiency and renewable projects.

• DOE Loan Programs Office: Monthly Application Activity Report (DOE Loan Programs Office) - Clean energy loan applications hit $324.3 billion across 212 projects in 14 technology sectors and 8 regions, marking the highest level in program history.

• Drilling in the Arctic Refuge: A Financial Disaster and a Threat to Our Future (Alaska Wilderness League) - Drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge requires oil prices between $63-84 per barrel to break even, while facing harsh conditions and limited investor support.

• Get ready: Global Market Insights Report (3Degrees) - Leading climate solutions firm 3Degrees will expand its market insights coverage to Asia-Pacific, complementing existing US and European reporting ahead of its global analysis launch in Q1 2025.

• Helping Organizations Understand PFAS Risk Through Data (KETOS) - Data analytics firm KETOS unveils AI-powered PRISM platform, aggregating EPA, USGS, and NOAA data to assess PFAS chemical risks across organizations.

• Impact Investing Pioneer, Christa Velasquez, Joins GPI’s Board of Directors (Better Energy) - Impact investing expert Christa Velasquez brings 25 years of philanthropic experience to Great Plains Institute's board, advancing the organization's net-zero carbon goals.

• NCEF Launches Nevada Solar for All Intake Forms for Affordable Housing Properties, Community Solar Hosts, and Solar Contractors (NCEF) - Nevada Clean Energy Fund opens applications for its $156M solar initiative, aiming to help 20,000 low-income households save 20% on utilities through housing and community projects by 2029.

• New Tool Offers Ultimate Resource for Water Quality and Environmental Data related to PFAS: PFAS Proximity Finder as a Service (KETOS) - A new AI-powered platform aggregates PFAS chemical monitoring data from EPA, USGS, and NOAA sources to track water quality across the United States.

• One Big Climate Investor Is Bullish About 2025. Another Sees Disaster Brewing. (Heatmap News) - Climate tech investors Obvious Ventures and Generate Capital clash on 2025 forecasts, with one predicting strong bipartisan growth while the other warns of impending company collapses.

• The Department of Energy’s loan office is more popular than ever | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - The Department of Energy's loan office has committed $55 billion across 33 projects amid surging applications and faster deal closings as companies race to secure funding before potential political changes.

Grid

• “Ripping off customers:” Energy utilities force households to pay more than double than business (RenewEconomy) - Australian households pay up to 13 times more profit per MWh than businesses to energy giants AGL and Origin, contributing between $595-755 annually to company profits.

• Can regulators protect small customers from rising transmission costs for big data centers? (Utility Dive) - Regulators weigh options to shield residential customers from soaring transmission costs as data centers drive infrastructure expansion across multiple states.

• 'Mission-critical': SSEN Transmission unveils £22bn grid investment plan (BusinessGreen) - Energy giant SSEN Transmission has proposed a £22bn grid infrastructure investment plan to support Britain's net zero targets through 2031.

• Energy Vault partners with data center developer on deployment of new hyperscale battery energy storage system (Renewable Energy World) - Energy Vault and RackScale Data Centers will deploy 2GW/20GWh of B-Nest battery systems by 2026, providing data centers with 1.6GWh per acre and 10+ hours of backup power.

• Feds offer $305M loan for ‘Project IceBrick,’ a cold thermal energy storage virtual power plant (Renewable Energy World) - The Department of Energy will loan $305M to deploy ice-based thermal storage across 193 California sites, enabling peak-hour cooling for commercial buildings through virtual power plant technology.

• How cyber attacks could threaten the energy transition | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Sophisticated cyber attacks and the surge in IoT devices threaten power grid security and clean energy goals, warns Microsoft executive.

• It’s Been a Big 24 Hours for AI Energy Announcements (Heatmap News) - Tech giants forge ahead as ExxonMobil plans 1.5GW gas plants with carbon capture for data centers, while Google commits $20B to clean energy partnerships with TPG and Intersect.

• Texas task force aims to ‘tear down barriers’ to virtual power plant pilot as participation lags (Utility Dive) - Texas grid operator ERCOT may double its virtual power plant pilot to 160 MW and ease technical rules after attracting only two participants and falling short of its 80 MW target.

• UK provider chosen to optimise 500MWh Canberra battery with unique revenue sharing deal (RenewEconomy) - UK-based Habitat Energy will optimize a 250MW/500MWh battery in Canberra under a unique revenue-sharing deal between Eku Energy and the ACT government.

• USDA invests $6.3B in rural electric infrastructure and smart grid tech (Renewable Energy World) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $6.3 billion across 44 states to modernize rural power grids, with $5.7 billion dedicated to smart grid technologies and electrical improvements.

• Wind & Solar Researcher: “We Are Actually Trying to Use the Natural Variability Itself to Address the Variability.” (CleanTechnica) - Engineers at MIT have developed a mapping system that merges weather and demand data to optimize renewable energy site placement, potentially reducing storage costs by up to 50%.

Indigenous

• 20 Environmental Books to Inspire You in the Year Ahead (The Revelator) - Twenty new environmental books explore climate change, conservation, and Indigenous perspectives, offering readers scientific insights and ecological wisdom for navigating Earth's mounting challenges.

• A Shared Love for Community-Led Fire: The 2024 PBA Leader’s Exchange in California (Fire Networks) - California's prescribed burn network has expanded from a single association in 2017 to more than 25 today, as leaders gather at Hopland Research Center to share community fire management strategies.

• Biden and Tribal Leaders Celebrate Four Years of Accomplishments on Behalf of Native Americans (Inside Climate News) - The White House Tribal Nations Summit marked four years of federal-tribal partnerships that protected 4.5 million acres of land and launched $46 billion in climate initiatives for Native communities.

• Celebrating 10 Years of the Blog! (Fire Networks) - Fire Networks' blog platform marks a decade of impact, sharing more than 680 stories about wildfire resilience, prescribed burning, and community experiences since 2014.

• Community Weaving for Eco-Cultural Restoration: Partnering with Tribes in Lake County, CA (Fire Networks) - Local nonprofit joins forces with Pomo tribes to restore Clear Lake's ecosystem through traditional land management practices and watershed rehabilitation workshops.

• Environmental journalist in Cambodia shot and killed by suspected logger (Mongabay) - Environmental journalist Chhoeung Chheng was fatally shot near Cambodia's Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary while documenting illegal logging activities.

• Escape Into the Story: Three Longform Reads for Your Weekend (Fire Networks) - Three new interactive maps delve into wilderness fire control, Texas' urban interface success story, and a two-decade partnership between fire networks and watershed researchers.

• Indígenas Yanomami e Ye’kwana respondem: Como recuperar a floresta? (ISA) - Indigenous leaders from Yanomami and Ye'kwana tribes met in Auaris to plan forest restoration and combat illegal mining threatening their Amazon territories.

• Participatory GIS is transforming resource management and gender inclusion in Isiolo County, Kenya (CGIAR) - Women's expertise is reshaping rangeland management in Kenya's Isiolo County, where GIS mapping technology now incorporates local knowledge from female community members.

• UN sets guidelines for conservation groups to safeguard human rights (Mongabay) - The UN Environment Programme has issued 10-point human rights guidelines to protect Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities from violations by conservation organizations in protected areas.

• Untrammeling the Wilderness (Fire Networks) - Scientists urge federal wilderness managers to embrace prescribed burns and Indigenous fire practices after findings show 120 years of fire suppression has damaged natural ecosystems.

• Voces del Fuego (Voices of Fire) (Fire Networks) - Fifty fire practitioners from 27 organizations across eight countries unite in California's first Spanish-language prescribed burn training program, captured in "Voces del Fuego."

Industry

Shell's PA plastics controversy, UK hydrogen auction debates, copper refining startups, and Rondo Energy's thermal battery milestone shape industrial sector shifts

• ‘I have to live in a cocoon’: locals in Pennsylvania feel ‘sacrificed’ for Shell plastics plant (The Guardian) - Shell's $1.6bn tax-subsidized Pennsylvania plant draws fierce criticism as residents report health issues and unmet employment promises while producing 3.5bn tons of plastic yearly.

• Auction Design | Hydrogen (Energy Central) - Energy experts across Britain are examining auction frameworks and infrastructure plans aimed at expanding the nation's hydrogen market, which could power 3 million homes by 2030.

• Copper is in high demand. These startups aim to refine it in a cleaner way. (Canary Media) - Amid soaring global demand, three startups are developing cleaner refining methods to reduce the 65 million tons of carbon emissions produced annually by traditional copper smelting.

• Hydrogen | Auction Design Report (Energy Central) - Former energy executive Matthew Bleasdale warns that hydrogen sector auctions could undermine market stability and green energy growth while reducing industry profits.

• Learning from the Ground Up: Bristol-Plymouth Students Tour Construction of their New Technical School (HMFH) - Students at Bristol-Plymouth Technical School explored their future $305M campus in Taunton, gaining hands-on insights while witnessing their trades in action during construction.

• Researchers harness copper versatility to enable control of CO2 reduction products (ScienceDaily) - Scientists at Tohoku University have engineered copper nanoclusters that can selectively control CO2 reduction products, achieving precise methanol synthesis through defect manipulation.

• Rondo Energy’s complicated path to building heat batteries | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Rondo Energy's first 2-megawatt-hour heat battery installation overcame production hurdles while demonstrating brick-based thermal storage's potential for industrial steam generation.

• The world economy needs to simplify (EnergyWorld) - Global energy constraints could force a 42% drop in industrial output by 2050, with population decline likely to follow, according to new economic modeling data.

Policy

ICJ hears Pacific Island climate testimony; 13 U.S. states advance plastic bans; CELDF expands Great Lakes protections; Biden's LNG pause faces scrutiny; $300bn COP-29 climate fund pledged in Baku

• ‘A human face on an abstract problem’: ICJ forced to listen to climate victims (The Guardian) - Pacific Island communities and marginalized groups testified about climate change impacts at the International Court of Justice during a landmark case examining state obligations.

• ‘Making Argentina great again’? What a year under a climate-change denying president has done for the country (The Guardian) - President Milei's first year in Argentina has seen widespread environmental deregulation, mining expansion and indigenous land reductions, alongside the nation's withdrawal from global climate talks.

• 2024 Year-end Newsletter: Living in Nature (CELDF) - Environmental law group CELDF reports progress on Great Lakes protection, Amazon partnerships, and rights of nature education while seeking donations to sustain community initiatives in 2024.

• As Efforts on a Global Treaty Stall, Cities and States Are on the Front Lines of the Battle Over Plastic Pollution (InsideClimateNews) - As global plastic treaty talks falter, 13 U.S. states and over 500 municipalities forge ahead with local bans and regulations to combat the mounting crisis of plastic waste.

• Can we avoid the enshittification of clean-energy tech? (Volts) - Tech monopolies and lax oversight could degrade clean energy products as homes grow increasingly reliant on software, warns author Cory Doctorow.

• Climate Activists Take America’s Newest ‘Fuel Choice’ Law to Court (Heatmap News) - Environmental groups and local officials have filed suit over Washington's Initiative 2066, alleging voters were deceived about the measure's sweeping effects on climate policy.

• Climate footprint of space exploration is passing below the radar (The Hindu) - Space exploration's environmental toll, including 1,000 annual rocket launches projected by 2030 and millions of space debris pieces, continues unchecked by global climate treaties.

• Coalition to dump environment from grid objective in latest bizarre thought bubble on green energy (RenewEconomy) - Coalition seeks to strip environmental factors from national power planning while advocating nuclear energy and prolonged coal operations across Australia.

• Collaboration is key to enhancing disaster-related statistics: Global Expert Forum highlights (UNDRR) - International experts gathered in Ethiopia to standardize disaster data collection methods, with more than 80 specialists working to improve statistical frameworks across multiple sectors.

• Communities’ Fight Against Gas Pipeline Projects Heats Up (Earthjustice) - Federal courts have overturned five gas pipeline approvals this year, including New Jersey's REAE project which would have boosted state emissions by 12% annually, citing insufficient climate analysis.

• Community power, cleaner energy and lower bills (350.org) - Climate activists in New Hampshire have helped 65 towns and one county switch to cheaper renewable energy through Community Choice Aggregation, reducing fossil fuel reliance.

• Community Wildfire Defense Grants: A Round Three Application Primer (Fire Networks) - US Forest Service launches $200 million grant program, enabling communities and Tribes to mitigate wildfire risks through February 2025.

• COP-29 AND BEYOND (EnergyPost) - Global leaders at COP-29 in Baku have pledged $300bn annually by 2035 to support developing nations' climate initiatives, reinforcing the critical 1.5°C warming limit target.

• Drill baby drill! Why Trump’s return does not augur well for India’s energy security (EnergyCentral) - Trump's pro-fossil fuel agenda could jeopardize $500 billion in U.S.-India clean energy partnerships, despite India's commitment to achieve 50% renewable power by 2030.

• EPA bans widely used chemicals linked to cancer before Trump takes office (The Guardian) - US environmental regulators ban TCE and perc, two widely-used industrial chemicals linked to cancer, in a move that could withstand potential policy changes under the incoming administration.

• EPBC green tape is crippling renewables investment as timelines double, report says (RenewEconomy) - Federal approval times for Australian renewable energy projects have surged from 1.3 to 2.2 years, jeopardizing the nation's goal of 82% clean power generation.

• Extreme weather disrupts education worldwide (Yale Climate Connections) - Extreme weather disrupted education for more than 400 million students worldwide between 2022 and 2024, hitting low-income nations hardest, according to World Bank data.

• Hawaii County Official Admits Climate Lawsuits Are “Another Source of Funding” (Energy Central) - Hawaii County Councilwoman confirms climate litigation against energy firms aims to secure funding, as officials add Sher Edling to their legal team.

• How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt? (Yale Climate Connections) - Scientists warn the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could collapse by 2050, potentially triggering severe global impacts, though uncertainties remain about precise timing and effects.

• How Wildfire Policy Hits the Ground (Fire Networks) - Federal efforts to combat wildfires face hurdles in distributing $10.5B across communities, despite major funding boosts from recent infrastructure and climate legislation.

• I regret none of the climate policies we pushed in Ireland. But we underestimated the backlash | Eamon Ryan (The Guardian) - Former Green Party leader stands by Ireland's climate policies that cut emissions 6.8% during his coalition government, despite voter backlash ending his term.

• In first auction after voters defended the program, Washington’s cap-and-invest brings in record high revenue for the year (EDF) - Washington's cap-and-invest program secured $272 million in its latest auction, with allowances selling at $40.26 per unit, marking the highest revenue since the program's inception.

• KETOS Launches KETOS PRISM: Helping Organizations Understand and Address PFAS Risk Through Transformational Data Access (KETOS) - Water monitoring firm KETOS unveils AI-powered PRISM platform, aggregating EPA, USGS, and NOAA data to assess PFAS contamination risks in water supplies.

• Key Questions to Consider As the House Dives Deeper Into the LNG Pause (Energy Central) - Lawmakers probe the Biden administration's liquefied natural gas export pause amid questions over Department of Energy research, environmental advocacy, and national defense concerns.

• Labour’s 2030 green energy goal faces ‘significant challenges’, experts warn (The Guardian) - Experts warn Labour's ambitious clean power target could burden vulnerable households with higher costs while facing major implementation hurdles before 2030.

• Led by Rep. Jim McGovern, 34 Congressional Leaders Urge President Biden: Pardon Environmental Lawyer Steven Donziger (Amazon Watch) - Thirty-four members of Congress have called on President Biden to pardon environmental lawyer Steven Donziger, detained 993 days after winning a $9.5B case against Chevron for Amazon oil pollution.

• Massages and country clubs: Your electric bill may be funding lavish perks (Floodlight) - Utility companies across America are billing customers for luxury perks like massages and country club memberships, with regulators failing to catch many improper expenses, a watchdog report reveals.

• Ministry of Local Administration & Environment (UNDRR) - Syria's Ministry of Local Administration & Environment leads national disaster risk reduction efforts while facing multiple crises, including conflict, earthquakes, and climate impacts.

• More coal, more gas, higher prices, higher emissions: What Coalition’s nuclear plan will do to the grid (RenewEconomy) - Analysis reveals Coalition's 7GW nuclear power plan would boost coal and gas usage, raise electricity prices, and delay decarbonization efforts by a decade.

• National Meterological Organization (PreventionWeb) - Rising temperatures along Libya's migration routes threaten both migrants and local communities, with climate change set to intensify risks, a new assessment warns.

• New York Climate Activists Urge Gov. Hochul to Sign ‘Superfund’ Bill (InsideClimateNews) - Climate activists face arrests while pressuring Gov. Hochul to sign a $75 billion bill that would force fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages across New York.

• Nursery rhyme to the editor: There was a whole country who swallowed a lie (RenewEconomy) - Australian reader pens nursery rhyme mocking national energy policy, highlighting the country's 63% dependence on coal despite growing renewable options.

• Oversight Hearing Puts Spotlight on Biden’s LNG Pause (Energy Central) - Department of Energy's LNG export study, set for mid-December release with 60-day comment period, faces scrutiny as Crabtree contradicts earlier claims about White House's role in pause decision.

• PCEF Committee Meeting - Dec. 11, 2024 (continued from Dec. 10) (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Committee members approved $8.7 million for eight climate action projects, mandating enhanced community benefit agreements and stricter partnership timelines.

• PCEF Committee Meeting - December 10, 2024 (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Committee members evaluated eight climate action proposals seeking $10.3M for renewable energy, community solar, and transportation safety initiatives across Portland.

• Queensland environment minister stands by ‘scepticism’ about human-induced climate change (The Guardian) - Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell reaffirmed his doubts about human-caused climate change while overseeing the state's 75% emissions reduction target, echoing his contested 2012 stance in parliament.

• Regulator to force gas companies to be “clear and accurate” when comparing electric appliances (RenewEconomy) - Western Australia's regulator will require gas companies to provide factual efficiency and cost comparisons with electric alternatives in marketing materials.

• State actions provide springboard for an ambitious 2035 emissions target consistent with 1.5°C (RenewEconomy) - Australian states' combined pledge to cut emissions 71% by 2035 paves way for potential national target of 85%, aligning with global 1.5°C temperature goals.

• Tell President Biden there’s still time to achieve climate progress! (PSR) - Environmental advocates call on President Biden to block liquefied natural gas export permits before 2025, warning of health and climate risks from fossil fuel expansion.

• The Conflict and Environment Academic Network, one year in (CEOBS) - Academic network tracking war's environmental toll reaches milestone with 163 members across 30+ countries and 119 published articles in its first year.

• The Top Ten Climate Developments of 2024 (RMI) - Global climate action surges as battery costs drop 40%, clean energy prices fall 25%, and China hits renewable targets three years early amid worldwide shifts in shipping, aviation, and industrial sectors.

• Treasury finalizes ITC rules, providing clarity to solar, storage, other clean energy sectors (Utility Dive) - Treasury Department's finalized tax credit rules clarify eligibility for offshore wind, geothermal, biogas, hydrogen storage and co-located energy storage projects through 2033.

• U.S. Supreme Court denies utility effort to block coal ash rule (SCOTUS) - The nation's highest court rejected a utility company's bid to halt EPA regulations mandating cleanup of toxic coal ash pits contaminating water supplies.

• UN Agreements On Oceanic Geoengineering Don’t Cover Dominant Land-Based Systems (CleanTechnica) - Global carbon removal systems operating on land remain unregulated by UN maritime agreements, despite those agreements covering oceanic geoengineering activities.

Renewables

Vestas repurposes Isle of Wight factory; El Hierro achieves 50% energy independence; Australia declares 20GW Bass Strait wind zone and awards 6.4GW renewables; Google-Intersect Power's $20B data center plan; Philippines starts 3.5GW solar project; global floating solar to reach 77GW

• 'Agreement in principle': Government and Vestas announce plan to save 300 wind turbine factory jobs (BusinessGreen) - Government officials have struck a deal with Vestas to convert their Isle of Wight blade factory into a new manufacturing facility, safeguarding 300 jobs.

• ‘We’re an evolving laboratory’: the island on a quest to be self-sufficient in energy (The Guardian) - The remote Canary Island of El Hierro has achieved 50% energy self-sufficiency through its wind-hydro system, logging 10,000 hours of complete independence from fossil fuels.

• Bowen declares new offshore wind zone capable of hosting 20 GW, despite being shrunk and pushed out to sea (RenewEconomy) - Australia has declared a 7,100-square-kilometre offshore wind zone in Bass Strait, capable of generating 20GW of renewable energy from waters 30km off Tasmania's northern coast.

• Chart and Map of the Day: The big winners from Australia’s biggest wind and solar auction (RenewEconomy) - Australia's largest-ever renewable energy auction has awarded 6.4GW of wind and solar projects, with New South Wales claiming 3.7GW across 19 projects.

• Clean Power Capacity Installations Up 86% In 2024 In USA (CleanTechnica) - US clean power installations surged to 29.6 GW in 2024's first three quarters, marking an 86% increase from last year with record-breaking deployments in solar, wind, and storage sectors.

• ComEd and Ameresco Complete Community Solar Project at Former Landfill in Belvidere (Ameresco) - A new 3.5MW community solar project at a former Belvidere landfill will serve Boone County facilities and local businesses, offering potential annual electricity savings of 10 percent.

• Floating Solar Power To Rise To 77 Gigawatts By 2033 (CleanTechnica) - Global floating solar capacity is set to surge to 77 gigawatts within a decade, with Asia-Pacific nations controlling 81% of installations, according to Wood Mackenzie analysts.

• Google, Intersect Power to develop co-located energy parks with $20B of renewables, storage (Utility Dive) - Tech giant Google and Intersect Power will invest $20 billion to build data centers alongside renewable energy parks and storage facilities, with initial operations starting in 2026.

• Google’s new data center model signals a massive market shift | Latitude Media (Latitude Media) - Google's $20B shift to building data centers in renewable-rich regions, partnering with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate, marks a departure from traditional fiber hub locations.

• India Solar Power Installations Growing 106% in 2024 (CleanTechnica) - India's solar installations soared to 17.44 GW across utility-scale, rooftop, and off-grid segments, marking a 106% increase in the first three quarters of 2024.

• Intersect Power partners with Google, TPG to scale clean energy for data centers (Renewable Energy World) - Tech giants Google and TPG join forces with Intersect Power in a $20 billion initiative to integrate data centers with renewable energy facilities, targeting initial operations by 2026.

• Now with more domestic content! Enphase rolls out new microinverters with bonus tax credits in mind (Renewable Energy World) - US-based Enphase has begun shipping domestically-manufactured IQ8 microinverters with increased American-made components, enabling customers to qualify for additional clean energy tax incentives.

• Philippines Building World’s Largest Solar + Battery Project (CleanTechnica) - The Philippines has begun construction of a massive 3,500 MW solar facility with 4,500 MWh battery storage, set to power 2 million homes by 2027.

• Raptor Maps secures $35M investment to sort out solar asset underperformance (Renewable Energy World) - Solar software firm Raptor Maps raised $35M to tackle underperforming solar assets, which caused $4.6B in global revenue losses last year.

• The World’s Largest Solar Plant Is Greenwashing China’s Uyghur Genocide (Atmos) - China's massive 3.5GW solar installation near Urumqi continues the exploitation of Uyghur territory amid ongoing reports of genocide and forced displacement of the indigenous population.

Transport

Electrify America's Costco chargers, $735M for electric school buses, Tesla Model Q plans, and rising EV adoption in Colorado lead transport electrification; BYD dominates global production

• E-Bike Incentive Programs Need Well-Defined Goals To Be More Effective (CleanTechnica) - New research reveals e-bike subsidy programs cost $4,000 per bike purchased, suggesting programs need broader social benefits beyond emissions reduction to justify investment.

• Electrify America & Costco Wholesale Launch New Charging Station Partnership (CleanTechnica) - Electrify America will install high-speed EV charging stations capable of 350kW speeds at five Costco locations across California, Colorado, and Florida.

• EPA announces millions of dollars in awards for electric school buses (Environment America) - Federal officials awarded $735 million to 70 recipients nationwide for replacing diesel school buses with electric alternatives, with deployment set for early 2025.

• EVs leap to almost 9% of US light duty vehicle sales in Q3: EIA (Utility Dive) - Electric vehicle sales hit 8.9% of U.S. light-duty vehicles last quarter, with luxury models accounting for 71% of EV purchases despite prices averaging 16% above market rates.

• From runways to residences: confronting aviation’s hidden air quality crisis with real solutions (EDF) - New data shows up to 16 million Americans, predominantly from minority and low-income communities near airports, face health risks from aircraft-related particle pollution.

• Increasing ship traffic kills whales. Scientists now know where speed limits and stop signs can help. (Anthropocene Magazine) - Global research shows speed limits in just 3% of ocean waters could dramatically reduce whale deaths from ship collisions.

• Shift Key Classic: How China Created an EV Juggernaut (Heatmap News) - China's electric vehicle sector surged from modest pilot programs in 2009 to controlling 60% of global EV production today, fueled by state backing and companies like BYD.

• Tesla Model Q Specs Leaked, Will Start At Under $30,000? (CleanTechnica) - Tesla's upcoming Model Q vehicle will target a sub-$30,000 price point after subsidies when production begins in June 2025, according to the company's investor relations head.

• Which state is rivaling California on EV leadership? Colorado (Canary Media) - Colorado outpaced California with 25% of new vehicles registered as electric in Q3 2024, fueled by state incentives offering up to $7,500 in tax credits.