Friday, Aug 22

Dear Reader,

Thank goodness for the Feel-Good news of Friday, right? Especially today, with UN chief António Guterres telling us that the world is on the brink of climate breakthrough. Why such a bold proclamation? Because more than nine in 10 renewable power projects commissioned in 2024 were less expensive than their fossil fuel equivalent. (It’s hard to argue with numbers. And it’s hard to convince people to keep using an energy source that’s more expensive, and leaves economies and people at the mercy of price shocks, supply disruptions, and geopolitical turmoil, though plenty of fossil fuel fat cats are trying.) Solar was 41% cheaper on average and land wind 53% cheaper to produce and deliver. “The sun is rising on a clean energy age,” Guterres said, according to reporting in The Guardian. “There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind.” 

That’s some pretty potent Feel-Good Friday stuff. But want some bonus Feel-Good news? As EVs increasingly replace gasoline-fuelled vehicles, we’re going to have to deal with disposal of a lot more batteries. But Inside Climate News reports that these batteries are being put to work storing excess energy for Texas’ electric grid. It’s a low-cost way to eke about another eight years out of devices made from critical minerals, including lithium, nickel and cobalt.

Feeling good, Reader? Me too.

Happily,

Dotz