This week in clean tech, the hole in the ozone layer is the smallest it’s been since 1988! In similar good news, in a recent study it was found that clean energy is a far cheaper future and more cost effective solution than the current energy plan. In Massachusetts news, the island of Nantucket will soon be powered by a Tesla Powerpack, and the state was ranked number one in on the 2017 State New Economy Index by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

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

 

Washington Post – The Earth’s ozone hole is shrinking and is the smallest it has been since 1988

• NASA scientists report that, in September, the ozone hole over the Antarctic reached the smallest it has been at peak since 1988. Though this was partially due to climate, the ozone layer also has international cooperation to thank for its recovery.

“Weather conditions over Antarctica were a bit weaker and led to warmer temperatures, which slowed down ozone loss”

 

Futurism – The Island of Nantucket Will Be Powered by a 48 MWh Tesla Powerpack System

• The island of Nantucket needs an upgrade in order to keep up with the population’s electricity demand. As such, the National Grid has announced plans to build a new 48 MWh energy system, with Tesla supplying over 200 Powerpacks.

“The BESS provides a very efficient and effective solution to two major energy challenges facing the island. Our customers, communities, and policymakers look to us to deliver innovative solutions like this to help advance our clean energy future.”

 

Clean Technica – 100% Global Renewable Electricity No Longer Flight Of Fancy, More Cost-Effective Than Current System

• Making a global transition to a 100% renewable electricity grid has long been a dream of many, but new research published this week by the Lappeenranta University of Technology has proven it is no longer just a dream but a viable reality — a reality that is more cost-effective than the current fossil fuel-reliant system.

“A full decarbonization of the electricity system by 2050 is possible for lower system cost than today based on available technology”

 

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation– The 2017 State New Economy Index

• Massachusetts was ranked number one on the 2017 State New Economy Index by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

“The State New Economy Index uses 25 indicators to measure the extent to which state economies are knowledge-based, globalized, entrepreneurial, IT-driven, and innovation-oriented.”

 

CNN Tech– Lamborghini and MIT team up on battery-free electric supercar

• Lamborghini is working with engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a new all-electric supercar that won’t have batteries.

“If I have a super sports car and I want to go the [race track], I want to go one, two, three laps without having to stop and recharge after every lap”

 

Reuters- Two children sue over Trump effort to roll back Clean Power Plan

• Two children, backed by the Clean Air Council environmental group, sued U.S. President Donald Trump and two of his Cabinet members on Monday to try to stop them from scrapping a package of pollution-reduction rules known as the Clean Power Plan.

“The lawsuit asks the court to prevent the EPA, Trump and the U.S. Department of Energy, along with Energy Secretary Rick Perry and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, from rolling back any rules that ‘increase the frequency and/or intensity of life-threatening effects of climate change.’”