[GWSG] Greener Buffet; big battery succeeding; oil queasy; maybe stranded; but trying to look green; a dream team

[Tilley, Al]

1. PacificCorp is preparing to request proposals for 1,920 MW of new wind power, 1,823 MW of solar, and 595 MW of energy storage  by 2023. By 2038 it plans over 6,300 MW of solar, 4,600 MW of wind, and 2,800 MW of storage. This will be the first time the Berkshire Hathaway owned utility group, serving 1.9 million customers as the largest grid operator in the US West, has constructed solar plus storage as a cost-saving alternative to gas. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/pacificorp-prepares-gigawatt-scale-solar-plus-storage-wind-power-solicitation?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Daily&utm_campaign=GTMDaily



2. The biggest lithium-ion battery storage facility in the world is Australia’s Horndale Power Reserve—Tesla’s big battery. It has recouped its construction costs in just over two years, is making big money for its owners, and has saved consumers over $150 million. https://reneweconomy.com.au/tesla-big-battery-recoups-cost-of-construction-in-little-over-two-years-25265/



3. Oil is relatively cheap (though no longer free). Renewables remain competitive, and their generating plants are much cheaper to operate, their fuel being free. Several stories collected by Peter Sinclair foresee that renewables are unlikely to be among the victims of the novel coronavirus, and that fossil fuels are likely to be victims of their own nature. https://climatecrocks.com/2020/05/13/renewables-can-preserve-the-economy-drive-the-recovery/



4. In a 13-minute video series, Just Have A Think makes the case that oil is financially stranded. https://climatecrocks.com/2020/05/14/have-a-think-is-big-oil-at-the-end-of-its-rope/



5. Shell, BP, and Total have recently taken to publicizing net zero emissions goals. They do not include the emissions from the oil they intend to keep producing. https://grist.org/climate/the-problem-with-big-oils-climate-goals-they-dont-include-all-the-oil/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily



6. I do try not to be partisan here, in spite of appearances. It’s just that Republicans seldom appear in any positive role. Given that Trump is likely to be the Republican candidate, it is not partisan to be interested in Biden’s plans for climate action. He has named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and John Kerry co-chairs of his Climate Task Force. (Shouts of joy.) The other team members are also well selected.  https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13052020/biden-ocasio-cortez-kerry-climate-task-force

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