This week in cleantech and energy news, New York City pledges millions for the Paris deal and gears up to deploy electric buses, residential solar shows promising potential for rapid expansion, and public support for renewable energy reaches a record high.

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

 

BBC – Climate change: Michael Bloomberg pledges $4.5m for Paris deal

• Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will pay $4.5 million to make up for the gap in the U.S. commitment to the Paris climate accord.

“America made a commitment and, as an American, if the government’s not going to do it then we all have a responsibility.”

 

Greentech Media – 5 Software Startups Solving the Biggest Challenges in Solar

• Startups solving the greatest challenges in Solar include Greentown Labs members Raptor Maps and Energetic Insurance, making waves in industrial inspection and financing for commercial solar.

“Energetic Insurance, a SunShot-funded startup founded in 2017, comes at the investment problem from a different angle. This year the firm plans to launch its first product: a credit wrap insurance policy called EneRate that allows unrated offtakers to transfer credit risk to the insurer.”

 

Bloomberg – Electric Buses Are Hurting the Oil Industry

• The use of electric buses is resulting in a reduction of about 279,000 barrels of diesel a day, with China adding electric bus fleets every five weeks.

“BYD estimates its buses have logged 17 billion kilometers (10 billion miles) and saved 6.8 billion liters (1.8 billion gallons) of fuel since they started ferrying passengers around the world’s busiest cities. That, according to Ho, adds up to 18 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution avoided, which is about as much as 3.8 million cars produce in each year.”

 

Forbes – This Untapped Market Could Add 320 Gigawatts Of New U.S. Residential Solar Energy

• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds half of U.S. residential rooftop solar potential lies in low to moderate income households (320 GW), which is becoming increasingly feasible thanks to falling renewable energy prices.

“LMI households, or those earning 80% or less of the area median income, represent 43% of the U.S. population. By focusing on LMI households, solar developers can profit from this underserved market segment while expanding solar access.”

 

Business Green – Public support for renewables hits record 85 per cent high

• Recent government attitudes show overwhelming support for clean energy, solar and offshore wind in particular, as concern over climate change continues to rise.

“Support for solar and offshore wind also reached record highs in today’s update, hitting 87 per cent and 83 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, support for other renewables technologies also remained high: 81 per cent voiced support for wave and tidal energy, 76 per cent backed onshore wind, and 69 per cent were in favour of biomass.”

 

Inside Climate News – New York City Aims for All-Electric Bus Fleet by 2040

• New York City is planning to convert its public bus system, which currently deploys 5,700 buses, to be an all-electric fleet by 2040, an announcement made this week by NYC Transit President Andy Byford.

“A study in 2016 by a researcher at Columbia University found that if New York shifted from diesel to electric buses, it could reduce health costs from respiratory and other illnesses by roughly $150,000 per bus. The study also showed that fuel and maintenance costs would drop by $39,000 per year by shifting to electric vehicles, and the city could cut carbon dioxide emissions across the fleet by 575,000 metric tons per year.”

 

Cleantechnica – In A Win For The Robots, First Solar To Open New US Factory

• U.S. company First Solar will be the first to open a 1.2 gigawatt factory in Ohio following the Trump administration solar tariffs. The company will roll out its Series 6 thin film PV technology, and will utilize robotic automation while still employing around 500 people.

“Strong demand in the U.S. for advanced solar technology, along with recent changes in U.S. corporate tax policies, have encouraged our decision to grow First Solar’s U.S. production operations. State and local officials and Jobs Ohio have also worked with us to create a business-friendly environment that supported our objectives. These factors, combined with our own economies of scale in high tech manufacturing, make expanding U.S. operations an attractive, win-win opportunity.”