California NEVI investment of $19 million in highway EV charging infrastructure leads national efforts
The California Energy Commission and California Department of Transportation have approved over $19 million in California NEVI Investment funding to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along state highways. This initiative, part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, will result in the installation of 248 fast charging ports across 45 sites, positioning California at the forefront of a nationwide push for EV adoption.
New Hampshire’s solar superfund site will repurpose contaminated land and produce 3.5 million kWh of electricity in its first year
Construction has commenced on New Hampshire’s first landfill energy project on a Superfund site. The groundbreaking ceremony for the solar superfund site, held at the former Somersworth Sanitary Landfill, marks a significant step towards enhancing energy sustainability in the region.
The solar superfund site energy installation is projected to generate over 3.5 million kWh in its inaugural year. Over two decades, the cumulative energy production is expected to surpass 67 million kWh. This is enough energy to cover the electricity consumption of 486 American family homes for 20 years. This substantial output translates to a yearly reduction of 2,461 metric tons of CO2 emissions or the annual carbon sequestration ability of almost 3,000 acres of U.S. forests yearly.
Heat storing firebricks could reduce clean energy transition costs by over a trillion dollars
A new study published in PNAS Nexus suggests that using special heat storing firebricks could significantly reduce the costs and challenges of switching to 100% clean energy worldwide. The research, led by Mark Z. Jacobson of Stanford University, looked at how these bricks could impact 149 countries.
These special bricks, called heat storing firebricks, can withstand extreme heat. They can be heated for energy storage using extra electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar. Later, they can release that stored heat for use in factories and industrial processes. This approach could help solve one of the biggest problems with renewable energy: its variability.