This week in Cleantech, a new study found that one in eight people support renewable energy. Similarly, another survey found that one million Americans back the Paris Agreement. In New York, UPS is working to convert 1,500 trucks in it’s fleet to electric by 2020. New efforts are being made in grid modernization by the states and a new round of funding has opened for a laboratory to study wave energy.
What have you been reading this week? Let us know on Twitter @GreentownLabs
Scout Somerville– Greentown Labs Gears Up to Open New Center
- Greentown Labs, the country’s largest cleantech startup incubator, will open a facility in early December that will more than double its square footage.
“We’re really hoping to bring together some collaboration around some of the key areas we’re going to support in the wet lab. For example, there’s a lot going on in water innovation in the Boston area and we’d like to be a hub for that type of innovation. I think it’s important to think about not only what people are doing in the lab, but also what are the benefits of having a lot of people in the same space, thinking about the same thing.”
Business Green– Survey: Eight in 10 people back renewable energy future
- Major new global survey of 26,000 people reveals widespread backing for a future powered by renewable energy
“Green energy has become cheaper than black, and the newly released Green Energy Barometer shows overwhelming public support for a shift from black to green. We owe it to the planet and to future generations to transform our energy systems from black to green. And with the economics and public opinion now supporting a shift to renewable energy, there’s no reason not to speed up the transformation.”
Futurism- UPS Wants to Convert 1,500 Delivery Trucks in NYC to Electric by 2020
- UPS wants to convert over half of the New York City delivery fleet from diesel to electric by 2020. The plan would convert over 1,000 UPS trucks into electric vehicles to help support the city’s 2030 emission goals.
“This program will help UPS develop and deploy electric delivery trucks faster and more affordably. Because they are cleaner and quieter, electric vehicles are ideal for dense urban environments like New York City and are a critical part of our strategy for the future.”
UtilityDIVE– As feds focus on baseload, grid modernization is sweeping the nation
- In the third quarter of 2017, there were 184 actions on grid modernization proposed, pending or enacted across 33 states and the District of Columbia, according to a new report. Those findings reflect an ongoing push for modernization nationwide. In Q2, there were 181 grid mod actions in 36 states, up from 148 actions in Q1.
“We are still at the beginning of grid modernization but more and more states are doing broad investigations to understand it better.”
Innovation Magazine– 1M Americans back Paris Agreement
- A petition signed by over one million Americans in support of the Paris Agreement has been presented to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn today.
“From Bonn to New York to Portland and beyond, we are rising united to demand a fast and just transition to a fossil free world that puts people and our planet first”
NPR- Oceans May Host Next Wave Of Renewable Energy
- The Department of Energy is spending up to $40 million to build a wave energy test facility off the Oregon coast.
“OSU’s Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center will build the new offshore test facility. It will be connected to the power grid by underwater cables.”