Tsleil-Waututh Study Proves Damage from Marine Traffic in B.C.’s Burrard Inlet – The Energy Mix: “Seeing the erosion happen before your eyes—it’s a piece of your
history—it’s like having your grandmother’s quilt and watching threads
of it being pulled and torn,” said Tsleil-Waututh spokesperson Charlene
Aleck. She confirmed that higher traffic in the Inlet, which acts as
Vancouver’s central harbour, has changed the “wave climate”, leading to
degradation of shoreline ecosystems and damage to both archaeological
sites and places of present cultural importance.

After having its concerns ignored or rebuffed by regulators, the
Nation hired engineering consultants Kerr Wood Leidal to conduct a study
of the wave climate in the area. Working with Marine Labs, the experts
“found that vessel wakes significantly increase the overall wave energy
in Burrard Inlet beyond natural wind-generated waves between 1.2 and 4.6
times depending on the location, and that current tugboat traffic
contributes up to 20% of waves generated by vessels.”

Tsleil-Waututh Study Proves Damage from Marine Traffic in B.C.’s Burrard Inlet – The Energy Mix: “Seeing the erosion happen before your eyes—it’s a piece of your
history—it’s like having your grandmother’s quilt and watching threads
of it being pulled and torn,” said Tsleil-Waututh spokesperson Charlene
Aleck. She confirmed that higher traffic in the Inlet, which acts as
Vancouver’s central harbour, has changed the “wave climate”, leading to
degradation of shoreline ecosystems and damage to both archaeological
sites and places of present cultural importance. After having its concerns ignored or rebuffed by regulators, the
Nation hired engineering consultants Kerr Wood Leidal to conduct a study
of the wave climate in the area. Working with Marine Labs, the experts
“found that vessel wakes significantly increase the overall wave energy
in Burrard Inlet beyond natural wind-generated waves between 1.2 and 4.6
times depending on the location, and that current tugboat traffic
contributes up to 20% of waves generated by vessels.”Read More

Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home: The design recently won the approval of Norway’s
state energy company, Equinor, which named Vortex on a list of the 10
most exciting startups in the energy sector. Equinor will also offer the
startup development support through its tech accelerator programme.

The
bladeless turbines stand at 3 metres high, a curve-topped cylinder
fixed vertically with an elastic rod. To the untrained eye it appears to
waggle back and forth, not unlike a car dashboard toy. In reality, it
is designed to oscillate within the wind range and generate electricity
from the vibration.

Good vibrations: bladeless turbines could bring wind power to your home: The design recently won the approval of Norway’s
state energy company, Equinor, which named Vortex on a list of the 10
most exciting startups in the energy sector. Equinor will also offer the
startup development support through its tech accelerator programme.The
bladeless turbines stand at 3 metres high, a curve-topped cylinder
fixed vertically with an elastic rod. To the untrained eye it appears to
waggle back and forth, not unlike a car dashboard toy. In reality, it
is designed to oscillate within the wind range and generate electricity
from the vibration.Read More

World’s Lost Forest Regions May Never Regenerate – The Energy Mix: “Forests cover 30% of the planet’s land surface, and yet, as humans heat the atmosphere, some locations where they would have grown now appear too dry or hot to support them,” reports The Guardian.

A 2013 analysis of wildfire sites in the Rocky Mountains found that almost one-third of areas burned since 2000 showed no regeneration “whatsoever,” with flowers and shrubs still remaining where tree seedlings were expected.  

“In the Rocky Mountains, estimates hold that by 2050, about 15% of the forests would not grow back if felled by fire because the climate would no longer suit them,” The Guardian writes, reeling off a devastating forecast. “In Alberta, Canada, about half of existing forests could vanish by 2100.”

World’s Lost Forest Regions May Never Regenerate – The Energy Mix: “Forests cover 30% of the planet’s land surface, and yet, as humans heat the atmosphere, some locations where they would have grown now appear too dry or hot to support them,” reports The Guardian.A 2013 analysis of wildfire sites in the Rocky Mountains found that almost one-third of areas burned since 2000 showed no regeneration “whatsoever,” with flowers and shrubs still remaining where tree seedlings were expected.  “In the Rocky Mountains, estimates hold that by 2050, about 15% of the forests would not grow back if felled by fire because the climate would no longer suit them,” The Guardian writes, reeling off a devastating forecast. “In Alberta, Canada, about half of existing forests could vanish by 2100.”Read More

Fort Nelson First Nation Nabs Federal Funding for 15-MW Geothermal Project – The Energy Mix: The money will be spent on the Clarke Lake field near the community
of Fort Nelson, which is nearing depletion after nearly 60 years of
production, The Canadian Press reports. That, combined with low natural gas prices, has reduced investment and employment from the resource.

The first full-size geothermal well will be drilled early this year
and commercial operation is expected by late 2024. The project is
expected to generate up to 15 megawatts of green energy, enough to power
up to 14,000 households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000
tonnes.

The project is entirely owned by the Fort Nelson First Nation, with
involvement from the Saulteau First Nation. Fort Nelson Chief Sharleen
Gale said the project will use the skills local workers already have,
redirecting them from fossil fuels to geothermal.

Fort Nelson First Nation Nabs Federal Funding for 15-MW Geothermal Project – The Energy Mix: The money will be spent on the Clarke Lake field near the community
of Fort Nelson, which is nearing depletion after nearly 60 years of
production, The Canadian Press reports. That, combined with low natural gas prices, has reduced investment and employment from the resource.The first full-size geothermal well will be drilled early this year
and commercial operation is expected by late 2024. The project is
expected to generate up to 15 megawatts of green energy, enough to power
up to 14,000 households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000
tonnes.The project is entirely owned by the Fort Nelson First Nation, with
involvement from the Saulteau First Nation. Fort Nelson Chief Sharleen
Gale said the project will use the skills local workers already have,
redirecting them from fossil fuels to geothermal.Read More

Analysts See ‘Marathon’ Ahead as China’s Five-Year Plan ‘Defers Heavy Lifting on Decarbonization’ – The Energy Mix:

The five-year plan, released by Premier Li Kequiang at a National
People’s Congress session “as heavy smog settled over Beijing,” contains
“no target for limiting total energy consumption and no overall carbon
emissions cap, which campaigners had been calling for,” Climate Home
News reports.
“This leaves room for emissions to continue to increase to 2025,
deferring the heavy lifting on decarbonization until later this decade.”

Analysts See ‘Marathon’ Ahead as China’s Five-Year Plan ‘Defers Heavy Lifting on Decarbonization’ – The Energy Mix: The five-year plan, released by Premier Li Kequiang at a National
People’s Congress session “as heavy smog settled over Beijing,” contains
“no target for limiting total energy consumption and no overall carbon
emissions cap, which campaigners had been calling for,” Climate Home
News reports.
“This leaves room for emissions to continue to increase to 2025,
deferring the heavy lifting on decarbonization until later this decade.”Read More