This week in cleantech and energy news, preliminary plans for high speed ‘Loop’ transportation systems are unveiled, plants using anaerobic digestion will power the Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, and governments are insuring coral reefs!

In other news, BP Ventures has announced plans to funnel $500,000 into Incubatenergy, the cleantech startup network we are proud to be a part of!

What news have you been reading this week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!

 

Greentech Media – MA Governor Embraces ‘Clean Peak’ Policy to Encourage Renewables Paired With Storage

• Governor Charlie Baker has introduced a bill that will require renewable power be utilized during the state’s peak grid demand hours, in order to reduce greenhouse gases and lower costs.

“’We need to get our policies caught up to where technology is,’ said Lon Huber, head of consulting at Strategen, who developed the clean peak concept on behalf of Arizona’s ratepayer advocate. ‘States are starting to wake up to the fact that clean technology can do way more they thought it could.’”

 

Futurism – Governments Are Insuring Coral Reefs. That May Be Enough to Save Them.

• The Nature Conservancy and the government of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo have created a trust that will purchase an insurance policy for coral reefs.

“A Category 4 or 5 hurricane can destroy as much as 60 percent of a reef’s live coral, according to Oceans Deeply. Quintana Roo’s new insurance policy mandates that if a Category 4 or 5 hurricane hits a certain section of the coast, the policy will immediately pay out the money to repair and restore the reef, keeping the area valuable.”

 

The Guardian – Subsidy-free renewable energy projects set to soar in UK, analysts say

• According to Aurora Energy Research, the falling costs of wind and solar will unlock £20bn of investment in the UK between now and 2030.

“The government has already downgraded the amount of new gas power capacity it expects to be added by 2030 from 22GW to 7GW, but Aurora said that would shrink to just 1GW if subsidy-free renewables took off as anticipated.”

 

Forbes – Arsenal FC Using 100% Renewable Energy Via Startup That Aims To Shake-Up U.K. Market

• Octopus Energy, a startup that provides renewable energy generated in real-time from plants using anaerobic digestion, is powering Arsenal’s Emirates stadium with 100% renewable energy.

“It was an impact statement that went down well among English soccer fans of all stripes despite the fierce and intense rivalry the League is known for. ‘Going green extends beyond soccer turf wars. Arsenal fans are proud of the move, and other fans want their clubs to follow suit.'”

 

Cleantechnica – Another Renewable Energy Baby Step For BP, Another Deep Dive For Enel

• Electricity from Enel’s 320 megawatt Rattlesnake Wind Farm in Nebraska will go to Facebook and Adobe, two very high profile buyers. In other corporate news, BP Ventures is funneling $500,000 into Incubatenergy, a cleantech startup network that includes Greentown Labs.

“The strategic relationship will provide BP Ventures the opportunity to collaborate with Incubatenergy’s senior industry leadership and cleantech start-up companies. It also will support BP Ventures’ mission of growing, developing and investing in new energy solutions for a lower-carbon future, specifically with a focus on power and storage, advanced mobility and digitization of the energy sector.”

 

AP News – New Mexico regulators OK massive wind farms near Texas

• On Wednesday, New Mexico regulators approved a $1.6 billion plan to build two massive wind farms along the Texas-New Mexico border.

“Xcel Energy plans to grow its wind portfolio by more than 50 percent by the end of 2021 by adding a dozen new wind farms in seven states. That would add nearly 3,700 megawatts of new wind capacity to its system.”

 

Electrek – Elon Musk’s Boring Company unveils proposed ‘Loop’ route to travel Washington-Baltimore in 15 mins

• Elon Musk’s Boring Company revealed the first portion of plans for high speed hyperloop systems across the country.

“They say that they want to work with the cities of Baltimore and Washington D.C. to figure the best places to build stations for the ‘Loop’, which they now describe as ‘a high-speed underground public transportation system in which passengers are transported on autonomous electric skates traveling at 125-150 miles per hour.’”