06.14 Good Clean Energy News

Clean Energy Powers Minnesota
Minnesota’s wind and solar power accounted for a third of its electricity in 2023, with zero-carbon energy sources making up 54% of the state's power, the highest in the Midwest. The state's shift from coal to renewables and a new mandate for 100% carbon-free energy by 2040 highlight Minnesota's leadership in clean energy.
Read more: Wind, solar now provide one third of Minnesota’s electricity

Upgrading America's Power Grid
The White House announced a 21-state plan to upgrade the U.S. power grid. This initiative aims to reduce power outages and improve transmission capacity. With support from the Department of Energy, the project uses funds from Biden's Infrastructure Law to promote clean energy and enhance grid technologies.
Read more: White House unveils 'unprecedented' 21-state initiative to modernize U.S. power grid - UPI.com

Building Offshore Wind in Virginia
Construction has begun on Dominion Energy’s Virginia Beach offshore wind farm. The project, featuring 176 turbines, will provide clean energy to 660,000 homes by 2026. Despite opposition from anti-offshore wind groups citing whale safety concerns, Dominion is proceeding with plans while pausing construction during whale migration season.
Read more: Virginia Beach offshore wind farm construction begins

Green Buses for Schools
Fifteen Minnesota school districts are receiving federal funds to replace nearly 100 old buses with clean energy ones, including 67 electric buses. St. Paul and Rochester will benefit the most, with 25 new buses each. This initiative is part of the EPA’s Clean Bus Program to improve air quality and reduce pollution.
Read more: Several Minnesota school districts get federal funds for green school buses

Record Clean Energy Investment
In the first quarter of 2024, clean energy investments in the U.S. reached a record $71 billion, driven by electric vehicle manufacturing. This is a big increase from $51 billion in the same period last year. Despite some declines in solar and wind investments, emerging technologies like clean hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels saw substantial growth.
Read more: US clean energy investment reaches record quarterly high of $71B: report | Utility Dive

Clean Heat Pilot Starts
Massachusetts launched its first pilot project to convert gas utilities to clean heat. Eversource’s $14 million project in Framingham uses a thermal energy network with geothermal wells to heat and cool buildings. This innovative approach aims to reduce fossil fuel use and lower energy bills, with 31 residential and five commercial buildings participating.
Read more: Massachusetts kicks off first pilot to shift gas utilities to clean heat

Clean Energy Saves Billions
A new study finds that increased use of clean energy in the U.S. from 2019 to 2022 led to $249 billion in climate and health benefits. The shift to wind and solar cut carbon emissions by 900 million metric tons and reduced harmful air pollutants, improving air quality and public health.
Read more: Increasing use of renewable energy in US yields billions of dollars of benefits

Sources

Takemura, A. F. (2024, June 6). Electric lawn equipment, solar could be home-electrification ​‘gateways’. Canary Media. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electrification/electric-lawn-equipment-solar-could-be-home-electrification-gateways?utm_medium=email

Ambrose, J. (2024, June 6). Investment in clean energy likely to be double figure for fossil fuels in 2024, IEA says. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/06/investment-in-clean-energy-likely-to-be-double-figure-for-fossil-fuels-in-2024-iea-says?utm_medium=email

Jordan, E. (2024, June 5). New wind turbine blade recycler opens in Fairfax. The Gazette. https://www.thegazette.com/environment-nature/new-wind-turbine-blade-recycler-opens-in-fairfax/?utm_medium=email

Thorp, B. (2024, June 6). Indiana is building an electrified highway to charge EVs as they drive over it. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/06/06/nx-s1-4985688/indiana-is-building-an-electrified-highway-to-charge-evs-as-they-drive-over-it?utm_medium=email

Fischer, A. (2024, June 7). US solar module manufacturing capacity grows by 11 GW in Q1. PV Magazine. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/06/07/us-solar-module-manufacturing-capacity-grows-by-11-gw-in-q1/?utm_medium=email

Scott, I. (2024, June 10). What happens when sheep meet solar panels? A ‘beautiful symbiotic relationship.’ Microsoft Start. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/what-happens-when-sheep-meet-solar-panels-a-beautiful-symbiotic-relationship/ar-BB1nY0yU?utm_medium=email

Casey, T. (2024, June 9). Agrivoltaics Hitches A Ride On The Community Solar Train. Clean Technica. https://cleantechnica.com/2024/06/09/agrivoltaics-hitches-a-ride-on-the-community-solar-train/