** A century-old rail lift bridge that crosses the U.S.-Canada border near the cities of International Falls, Minnesota, and Fort Frances, Ontario, has collapsed, and it’s unclear when the area will reopen to water traffic along the Rainy River. No trains were involved, and no one was injured in Wednesday’s collapse, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. ** …
Category: Solar Energy in Oklahoma
County commissioners adopt rules that kill a solar farm near Wichita
The approval by county commissioners of new rules restricting solar farms around the city of Wichita, Kansas just killed a planned Invenergy solar farm. Sedgwick County Commissioners voted this week in support of new rules to include prohibiting solar farms in “urban growth areas,” a move that killed a 103 MW project first proposed in 2019. …
Energy briefs
** An oil company reports it plans to begin operations next summer at a $1.3 billion direct air capture project in Texas as it absorbs one of the Permian Basin’s largest independent oil producers. ** As she looks to secure Pennsylvania voters for the upcoming presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris is trying — and struggling — to dodge …
Electrical blackouts in Texas also mean the state can’t get help from neighboring states
As renewable energy growth advances across Texas and more electricity is coming from wind and solar, it also presents a quandry for the state’s power grid. Texas doesn’t share the renewable electricity with other states and it avoids any federal oversight. On the other hand, it also means should Texas suffer intense power outages, …
County commissioners in Wichita want solar farm restrictions
County commissioners in Wichita, Kansas plan a vote this week to set limits on large-scale solar projects but one developer already says it would block his company’s planned $200 million project. Sedgwick county commissioners are proposing rules to limit solar projects to 1,280 acres and at the same time, ban large farms that …
Another large solar manufacturing plant will be built in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico is about to get a second large-scale solar manufacturing plant. Ebon Solar, with Singapore connections, plans to construct a 834,000-square-foot plant at a development area called Mesa del Sol. The site is also where another solar energy firm, Maxeon Solar Technologies, is planning to locate. Ebon announced this week it will …
Energy briefs
** More than a dozen House Republicans wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday asking him not to axe clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) if the GOP maintains or expands its House majority next year. ** The reaction to selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be running mate to …
Energy briefs
** Navajo Nation tribal President Buu Nygren issued an executive order banning the transportation of uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine through reservation property in Arizona. ** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an emergency order Tuesday to remove from the market a pesticide linked to fetal damage, its first such action in nearly four …
Energy briefs
** Financially troubled Stellantis might kill some of its underperforming EV brands. It’s what CEO Carlos Tavares said in response to the company’s latest earnings report which showed a net profit drop of 48%. ** Banks including Citigroup Inc. have downgraded their growth forecasts for Asia’s biggest economy, while export prices of US oil heading to …
Nation’s oldest church in Santa Fe has solar panels
Going solar—the nation’s oldest Christian church, San Miguel chapel in the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Solar panels were recently installed on the roof of the church that was constructed in 1610. Since it is located in a Historic District, it means special construction requirements and permits had to be met by installers …
