This week’s Current Climate, which every Saturday brings you the latest news about the business of sustainability. Sign up to get it in your inbox every week.
On Monday, Georgia Power announced that a third nuclear reactor at its Plant Vogtle is now operational and is providing power to customers in the state. The first two reactors at the plant were installed in the 1980s and a fourth is expected to begin operations in 2024. This is the first nuclear reactor that has come online in the United States since 2016.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States has more nuclear power capacity than any other country in the world, and nuclear power is responsible for about 20% of the country’s power generation. Electricity generation is by far the largest source of greenhouses gasses worldwide, and while wind and solar power generation continues to grow, nuclear power offers benefits to the climate as well–it produces zero carbon emissions and its power generation doesn’t fluctuate with natural conditions.
“It is important that we make these kinds of long-term investments and see them through so we can continue providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to our 2.7 million customers,” Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene said in a statement.
The Big Read
U.S. Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs: Here’s What To Know
The Biden Administration implemented a ban on incandescent light bulbs on Tuesday in favor of energy-efficient bulbs, following a yearslong bipartisan effort to phase out the bulbs after earlier regulations and standards were blocked by former President Donald Trump.
Read more here.
Discoveries And Innovations
California-based startup Torch is taking pre-orders for its first batch of wildfire detectors, which are used in forests to spot small fires before they turn into infernos.
We are just a few days past the hottest July on record. Here’s why that has meteorologists and climate experts concerned.
Scientists are exploring the use of resilient “super corals” as a way to mitigate the impact of climate change on coral reefs around the world.
The Big Transportation Story
EV Prices Sinking, New CarGurus Report Shows
Among the key reasons many car shoppers are resisting the switch to battery electric vehicles is price: they remain thousands of dollars more expensive than gasoline models. But a new study by auto shopping and research site CarGurus.com reveals numbers that might break down some of that resistance. It found that the top 10 vehicles with the biggest recent price declines year-over-year were all EVs.
Read more here.
Sustainability Deals Of The Week
Thermal Solar: Glasspoint, which produces solar steam for industrial processes, announced that it has raised an $8 million series A led by 300PPM.
Infrastructure AI: Transcendence Software, which uses generative AI to help design sustainable infrastructure projects, announced it has raised a $20 million series B round.
Coal Transformation: EV maker Rivian has partnered with power company BrightNight and the non-profit Nature Conservancy to turn what was once one of the largest coal mines in Kentucky into a solar power plant.
Electric Trucks: Ford has restarted its production of the F-150 Lightning after pausing work in the factory to reconfigure it for a faster manufacturing rate in order to hit the company’s increasing production targets.
What Else We’re Reading This Week
‘We’re changing the clouds.’ An unforeseen test of geoengineering is fueling record ocean warmth (Science)
Power companies must adapt to climate change now. Here’s how researchers can help (Nature)
Tesla faces California class action on its EV range claims (Reuters)
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