Henry Harrell"s Blog: May 20 Green Energy News

Headline News:

Star Renewable Energy has been awarded funding to develop the UK’s first water source heat pump or medium temperature district heating to service existing buildings. The 2.5-MW water source heat pump on the Clyde at the Gorbals will be deployed by September 2018 and will be Britain’s largest inner city 80° C heat pump. [Energy Live News]

The River Clyde in Glasgow will be used as a heat source (Image: Thinkstock)

President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget request would slash EPA spending by almost a third, according to a copy of the proposal obtained by CNN. The budget blueprint, which the White House plans to submit to Congress next week, would cut the EPA’s total budget by more than 30% and its operational budget by 35% from current levels. [CNN]
“Offshore wind won a German power auction without needing any subsidies” • The price of offshore wind power has been dropping so quickly that it threatens to upend the electricity industry around the world. Choosing free zero-pollution power over costly dirty power isn’t a tough choice for utilities or most countries. [ThinkProgress]
Dutch offshore wind farm (Credit: AP | Peter Dejong, File)
The Global Seed Vault, which was built under a deep mountain in Arctic Svalbard to secure a million packets of the world’s most precious seeds from all natural and man-made calamities, has been flooded by melting permafrost. The seeds are safe, for the time being, but scientists are alarmed. No one envisioned that this would happen. [International Business Times UK]
Pacific Gas and Electric Co announced the cost to participate in its 100% solar energy program has dropped by 30% for residential customers and by nearly 50% for some business customers. The cost reduction is thanks in part to PG&E’s continued investment in clean energy infrastructure throughout its service area. [Electric Light & Power]

Henry Harrell"s Blog