Tipping Points With World Climate Starting — How To Respond?
Are we moving from a rescue mission to a recovery mission? There comes a time in every crisis when we have to give up looking for survivors and start digging through the rubble to find bodies. I wonder if this time has come for the Earth. I try to remain positive. That is why I support the work of Tony Seba and Carbon Tracker (see those recent articles), but a growing amount of evidence is pointing to the breaching of tipping points that have no remediation — ice sheets melting, ocean currents changing, record temperatures in Siberia.
We are gaining more and more access to massive amounts of cheap power. This will be great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. My uncle Ben taught me that. What should this power be used for? Desalination plants to water the expanding deserts and make them produce food (but who will harvest them in that heat? robots, you say?) or air conditioned greenhouses to grow food for the wealthy.
We already have salads grown under lights in shipping containers in Melbourne, so the top-class restaurants can tout their freshness and green credentials. Will they grow their protein like that? There is a nascent industry already, some using fermentation tanks and bacteria, others using pulses and laboratories. Or are we going to see air-conditioned feedlots? Growing enough fodder might be difficult if the temperature goes above 50°C and the droughts get worse.
I thought 2030 would be the year when we would have to reevaluate. But the date seems to be creeping closer. Even the mainstream news is using the words “climate change,” a phrase that has been avoided for so long. Sky News in Australia has introduced a 30-minute news segment twice a day on the climate crisis, even as some of their most vocal spokespeople still deny it is real.
What to do? My personal action plan includes: sharing information (especially with politicians); researching so I can give credible answers to the naysayers; working out what conversations are worth pursuing; writing articles for CleanTechnica; attending events (usually car events) to encourage EV take-up; and investing in clean industries (talk to your super fund).
And on the domestic front (my home faces west and has glass sliding doors across the front): tinting my west-facing windows; planting trees across the front of the house (to hell with the view — all I see in summer is the mountains burning anyway); installing several large air conditioners throughout the house; buying an EV; putting enough solar on the roof to power all of this.
So, I think the answer is hope and work for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Leading yard operation 3PL YMX Logistics has announced plans to deploy fully twenty (20) of Orange EV’s fully electric Class 8 terminal trucks at a number of distribution and manufacturing sites across North America.
As the shipping and logistics industries increasingly move to embrace electrification, yard operations have proven to be an almost ideal use case for EVs, enabling companies like Orange EV, which specialize in yard hostlers or terminal tractors, to drive real, impactful change. To that end, companies like YMX are partnering with Orange EV.
“This relationship between YMX and Orange EV is a significant step forward in transforming yard operations across North America,” said Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. “Besides the initial benefits of reduction in emissions and carbon footprint, our customers are also seeing improvements in the overall operational efficiency and seeking to expand. Our team members have also been sharing positive feedback about their new equipment and highlighting the positive impact on their health and day-to-day activities.”
This Orange looks good in blue
One of the most interesting aspects of this story – beyond the Orange EV HUSK-e XP’s almost unbelievable 180,000 lb. GCWR spec. – is that this isn’t a story about California’s ports, which mandate EVs. Instead, YMX is truly deploying these trucks throughout the country, with at least four currently in Chicago (and more on the way).
“Our collaboration with YMX Logistics represents a powerful stride in delivering sustainable yard solutions at scale for enterprise customers,” explains Wayne Mathisen, CEO of Orange EV. “With rising demand for electric yard trucks, our joint efforts ensure that more companies can access the environmental, financial, and operational benefits of electrification … this is a win for the planet, the workforce, and the bottom line of these organizations.”
We interviewed Orange EV founder Kurt Neutgens on The Heavy Equipment Podcast a few months back, but if you’re not familiar with these purpose-built trucks, it’s worth a listen.
HEP-isode 26
SOURCE | IMAGES: YMX Logistics.
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On today’s thrilling episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the all-new Hyundai IONIQ 9 and its “a “rolling living room” pivoting captain’s chairs, Kia gets a go-fast 7 passenger SUV and an updated EV6, while Honda announces plans to start producing solid-state batteries at its new facility in just a few weeks.
We’ve also got big news for American workers – a Minnesota power company is ditching coal for solar while ExxonMobil and LG Chem get to work extracting thousands of tons of lithium out of Tennessee’s soil.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations sitewide. Learn more by clicking here.
You can watch the episode, below.
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Read more: Farm-fegnugen? Volkswagen rolls out an electric tractor.
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Arevon Energy has kicked off operations at Vikings Solar-plus-Storage – one of the US’s first utility-scale solar peaker plants.
The $529 million project in Imperial County, California, near Holtville, features 157 megawatts of solar power paired with 150 megawatts/600 megawatt hours of battery storage.
Vikings Solar-plus-Storage is designed to take cheap daytime solar power and store it for use during more expensive peak demand times, like late afternoons and evenings. The battery storage system can quickly respond to changes in demand, helping tackle critical grid needs.
Vikings leverages provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that support affordable clean energy, strengthen grid resilience, boost US manufacturing, and create good jobs.
The Vikings project has already brought significant benefits to the local area. It employed over 170 people during construction, many local workers, and boosted nearby businesses like restaurants, hotels, and stores. On top of that, Vikings will pay out more than $17 million to local governments over its lifespan.
“Vikings’ advanced design sets the standard for safe and reliable solar-plus-storage configurations,” said Arevon CEO Kevin Smith. “The project incorporates solar panels, trackers, and batteries that showcase the growing strength of US renewable energy manufacturing.”
The project includes Tesla Megapack battery systems made in California, First Solar’s thin-film solar panels, and smart solar trackers from Nextracker. San Diego-based SOLV Energy handled the engineering, procurement, and construction work.
San Diego Community Power (SDCP) will buy the energy from the Vikings project under a long-term deal, helping power nearly 1 million customer accounts. SDCP and Arevon have also signed an agreement for the 200 MW Avocet Energy Storage Project in Carson, California, which will start construction in early 2025.
Vikings is named after the Holtville High School mascot, and Arevon is giving back to the local community by funding scholarships for deserving Holtville High students.
Arevon is a major renewable energy developer across the US and a key player in California, with nearly 2,500 MW in operation and more than 1,250 MW under construction.
Read more: Minnesota’s largest coal plant goes solar: Sherco Solar comes online
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