Henry Harrell"s Blog: February 3 Green Energy News

Headline News:

Exxon Mobil Corp has reported that it expects global oil demand to drop sharply by 2040 if regulations aimed at limiting the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate are fully implemented. Under this scenario, Exxon projected world oil consumption will drop 0.4% annually to 2040 to 25% below current levels. [The Star Online]

Wreckage of the Exxon Desert Tanker (Artwork: azrainman, Wikimedia Commons)

Reduced state incentives and new US trade tariffs are likely to speed the decline of small and medium-sized solar power installations, trade group Renewable Energy Vermont said. The number of new net-metered PV panels declined by 50% last year, REV reported, citing data from the Vermont Public Utilities Commission. [BurlingtonFreePress.com]
Numbers for Australia’s renewable energy installations in 2017 were outstanding, and PV installations produced what were called “eye watering charts.” The latest tally from PV market analysts SunWiz has revealed a record smashing total so far of 1.25 GW of solar PV installed across the year, eclipsing the former record set in 2012. [CleanTechnica]
In Washington state, a version of Gov Jay Inslee’s carbon-tax proposal took a key step forward as lawmakers approved the legislation in a vote of the state Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee. It passed out of committee on a 6-to-4 vote. The bill must go through other committees before it reaches the full legislature. [Seattle Times]
One of the oldest nuclear power plants in the country will be shutting down more than a year ahead of schedule. Exelon, the country’s largest nuclear utility, said that it would shut down the Oyster Creek power station in New Jersey in October of 2018, more than a year ahead of schedule. The plant is licensed to run until 2029. [Washington Examiner]

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