** ArcLight Capital Partners, a major private equity buyer of power assets, launched a new unit with initial capital of $500 million to acquire and upgrade wind and solar projects that will help meet surging electricity demand from data centers. The investment vehicle, SkyVest Renewables, made its debut deal with the purchase of a 160-megawatt wind farm in the Permian Basin of West Texas. The company didn’t disclose what it paid for the project, which has been operating for four years.
** Another step toward a cleaner planet was just taken when the world’s first hydrogen-powered crane became operational at the Port of Los Angeles. In stark contrast to the diesel cranes used at ports throughout the world, the H2-ZE Rubber-Tired Gantry Transtainer Crane releases zero harmful pollutants.
** Arizona regulators approve a proposed transmission line through midtown Tucson amid residents’ opposition.
** Some Wyoming landowners continue to fight a proposed 504 MW wind facility in the southeastern part of the state, saying it will blight views and harm property values.
** Nearly three years after Michigan officials announced plans for an electric vehicle charging network around Lake Michigan, access to chargers remains spotty, making long road trips challenging.
** Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoes a state budget item that would have provided $3 million in rebates to gasoline retailers who sell E15 blends of ethanol.
** NextEra officials examine the potential reopening of an Iowa nuclear plant that shuttered in 2020 as demand grows for carbon-free electricity.
World
** Clean energy icon Tesla has taken its passion for solutions abroad, partnering with New Zealand-based power company Contact Energy to build a 100-megawatt battery storage system, as explained by Teslarati. To be constructed in Glenbrook, near Auckland, the project will cost up to $163 million NZD, which is $99.4 million USD.
** China’s main grid operator, State Grid Corp. of China, which covers more than 80% of the country, will increase spending 13% to 600 billion yuan ($83 billion) this year, the Economic Information Daily reported, citing a budget plan.
** German automaker Volkswagen has announced plans to invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, a California-based electric truck company, as reported by The New York Times. The deal will have the two auto manufacturers collaborate on building software for electric vehicles.
** Australia’s plans to introduce stringent rules on climate disclosures are driving up concerns among businesses about compliance in one of the world’s biggest per-capita emitters. More than 6,000 companies including listed and unlisted firms, financial institutions and asset owners will eventually fall under the auspices of mandatory rules being rolled out from January.
