In Between Times 1-26-2023
Exxon wants new oil regulations? Clean energy not red or blue anymore, The most fuel efficient cars over the last 5 decades, Transpartisanship
Tesco the UK grocery giant is using discarded plastic from the world's beaches to package its fish. Let's encourage them!
It's a solid step in the right direction. The discarded bottles and other waste will be recycled and used to package salmon, haddock, cod, and sea bass, removing "500 metric tons" of plastic from the ocean. The packaging will be made 30% from these materials.
Let's congratulate Tesco and encourage them to do more like this.
Click here to sign the petition!
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Exxon ends Permian Basin routine gas flaring, wants stricter limits - report
Companies are not always for fewer regulations. Sometimes, even oil companies, want more regulation. Why?
There are number of answers to this question. In this case Exxon seeks a broad standard on methane flaring because such a standard reduces uncertainty for the company. It makes business sense for Exxon. If the industry as a whole must adhere to clear flaring parameters Exxon doesn’t have to worry about taking on the expense of mitigating flaring while their competitors do nothing.
It should also be noted that methane flaring is horribly wasteful. In addition to the methane that escapes into the atmosphere which is problematic from a climate perspective, 96% - 98% is simply burned off. That natural gas doesn’t go to heat homes or turn turbines or do anything. It’s just wasted.
(From SeekingAlpha)
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) said it has stopped routine flaring of natural gas from production in the Permian Basin and will press for stronger regulations for rivals to do the same, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The company's embrace of tighter methane regulations "levels the playing field," Exxon's (XOM) chief environmental scientist Matt Kolesar said, according to the report. "We need strong regulations so it doesn't matter who owns the facility" or where they operate around the world.
Click here for the article.
What is gas flaring?
“The friction of good intent” - The realities of mining green energy minerals in an ESG and climate focused world
Clean energy is not the red vs. blue issue it once was
It certainly is not. Plenty of Republicans have solar panels on their roofs. Plenty of Republicans drive EVs. Plenty of Republicans are for mitigating emissions. Your editor knows a few. More than a few actually.
This article comes from the fair Commonwealth of Virginia, my home state. Times have changed a good bit in The Old Dominion when right of center folks are writing op-eds like this.
(From Cardinal News)
Virginians want reliable electricity at affordable prices delivered to them on demand 24/7/365. Folks also want clean energies to be powering our grid so long as affordability and reliability are not sacrificed along the way. The road to achieve these goals is not paved with government action.
We have rural Virginia to thank for the vast majority of solar energy generation – the source of much of the renewable energy currently powering the grid. In these rural areas, the conversations are much different. Some of the most vociferous supporters of solar energy development are ruby-red, rural conservatives who see solar energy as an economic driver, job creator, and valuable investment for rural Virginia. This deserves recognition.
Click here for the article.
Amid rising emissions, could Congressional Republicans help the US reach its climate targets?
Mercedes-Benz plans to build a U.S. electric car charging network
Ah, Mercedes-Benz, the words are just nice to say. They evoke thoughts of quality and style of the generally conservative sort. Mercedes is also synonymous with innovation. (They have been since the very beginning more than 100 years ago. My favorite example of this is the hydraulic windows in the old 600.) That is one of the reasons why Mercedes is building an EV network across the United States.
The company says it wants to be entirely electric by 2030.
(From AllSides)
Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius called the project “one of the building blocks that will perhaps persuade even more customers to jump into the EV side of the Mercedes-Benz.” Källenius stated that for Mercedes-Benz, the EV infrastructure development is “a strategic decision to really put our money where our mouth is and back up the direction that we’re already taking over the last few years, pivoting towards electric and putting the company in a position by the end of this decade to be able to serve markets with an all-electric lineup.”
Click here for the article.
The Guardian: How the US transition to electric cars threatens environmental havoc
With new solutions come new problems. This is the case with the ongoing transition to electric cars. Currently the batteries used in EVs use copious amounts of lithium and cobalt. These minerals must be mined and sometimes, often, the mining operations are fraught with miserable labor practices and pollution.
We have written about the increasing efficiency of next generation batteries which will take less lithium and less cobalt, but the fact remains that worldwide demand for both minerals is increasing very quickly. The often negative knock on effects of mining for minerals key to electrification should be discussed.
(From The Guardian)
Researchers created a novel modeling tool to compare the amount of lithium needed to achieve zero transport emissions for personal vehicles (cars, trucks and SUVs) under different scenarios. It’s the first study to project future lithium demand based on variables like car ownership, battery size, city density, public transit and battery recycling, and connect this with avoidable harms.
In each scenario, the US achieves zero emission transportation by 2050 and in each case some additional lithium mining will be needed.
How much lithium depends on policy decisions taken now, according to the report, impacting economic prosperity, public health, environmental justice, ecosystems and communities at every part of the supply chain for decades to come.
Click here for the article.
The most fuel efficient cars from 1975 to today
Transpartisanship and transformation
Your editor and other people who contribute to this publication have long been advocates of what is called “transpartisanism”. The idea that we SHOULD reach out to people with whom we often disagree, particularly on political matters. That it is good for society that we be civil with one another. That the “other” isn’t really the “other”. That despite our perceived and often very real differences there is a shared humanity.
There can also be shared solutions.
(From the Fulcrum)
Democracy is our process of deciding how to live together in our society - of governing ourselves through disagreements. It’s messy and good citizenship requires us to be committed to the process, rather than getting our way. Today’s American society seems to have veered away from the values of democracy; of being one American family first, with many individual differences.
Healthy families know how to fight. They know how to have fun with each other. And ultimately, they have each other’s backs. As a society, we would have better results with these types of family values.
Let us commit to one another – to a nation that uplifts every citizen with equal opportunity and provides equal treatment under the law. These are results I’m committed to.
Click here for the article.
Listen to last week’s A Moment of BS with Bill Shireman
EVENT
February 20 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Separation of Church & State
Location: Online
Tired of conversations about issues of our time that turn ugly and divisive? Then join us in this guided civil discourse experience. Practice listening and empathy skills.
This session invites people from across the political spectrum to share views on “Separation of Church and State”. In preparation, you are encouraged to contemplate your views on germane issues such as:
• Christian nationalism
• Prayer in schools and public meetings
• Legislating morality
• Love vs. the law in religion and politics
• One nation, under God
• Government support for religious schools and colleges
Watch how commonalities begin to transcend differences when we take care to understand each other and honor dignity.