Global conferences demand that developing countries hasten their journey to clean energy, but African political leaders are pushing back. They want to develop the continent’s gas deposits, in particular, to deliver vitally needed power.
‘We are not the problem’ – Africa insists on gas as transition fuel
Tag: sustainable energy
Europe Looks To Reduce Dependence On China’s Critical Minerals
Europe Looks To Reduce Dependence On China’s Critical Minerals
China is the dominant player on the markets for the materials used in solar panels, batteries, and magnets. European countries have recently ramped up efforts to establish local supply chains and diversify imports away from one dominant supplier, especially if this supplier is Russian ally China.
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According to the European Commission, China provides 98% of the EU’s supply of rare earth elements (REE).
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China could reduce exports of critical materials, as authorities said in the latest five-year plan that the country would cut overseas shipments to meet the rise in demand domestically, Deutsche Welle noted earlier this year.
Germany’s economy, Europe’s biggest, became more dependent on China during the first half of 2022, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) seen by Reuters.
Bill Gates and the Secret Push to Save Biden’s Climate Bill
Bill Gates and the Secret Push to Save Biden’s Climate Bill
Gates started wooing Manchin and other senators who might prove pivotal for clean-energy policy in 2019 over a meal in Washington DC. “My dialogue with Joe has been going on for quite a while,” Gates said. “Almost everyone on the energy committee” — of which Manchin was then the senior-most Democrat — “came over and spent a few hours with me over dinner.”
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Also at Manchin’s insistence, automakers also will see new strings attached to electric vehicle tax incentives so they will have to be made in North America and, by 2024, can’t use batteries sourced from China. Labor leaders bemoaned that the final package doesn’t contain much support for workers who lose their jobs in the green transition.
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There’s been such whiplash from 2016 when, as Gates puts it, green spending from the US government “had dropped to near zero.” Six years later, American climate finance has been “reinvigorated,” and Gates now sees innovation “going way faster than I expected. That’s why I’m optimistic that we will solve this thing.”
The working class is going to be thrown under the bus, but at least Bill Gates is happy. 🤷🏼♀️
An Unjustified Fear Of Nuclear Energy Is Holding The Industry Back
Governments are backing nuclear power in a big way but fears of disasters still linger, with any mishap having the potential to derail the big nuclear resurgence. As governments get behind nuclear projects for the first time in several decades, in order to boost their energy security, many continue to be fearful of nuclear developments for both safety and environmental reasons. But will leaders be able to convince the public of the need for nuclear energy as part of a green transition? Nuclear energy was hailed years ago as the cleaner alternative to fossil fuels that could provide reliable energy to countries around the globe. But as it was increasing in popularity, with several major global developments being achieved, three notable disasters undermined the potential for widespread nuclear development. The events of Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979; Chornobyl in 1986; and Fukushima in Japan in 2011 led to a movement away from the development of nuclear projects in favor, largely, of fossil fuels.
An Unjustified Fear Of Nuclear Energy Is Holding The Industry Back
Will you get insulin-cost relief from the inflation bill? Not if you have private insurance
Will you get insulin-cost relief from the inflation bill? Not if you have private insurance
But an out-of-pocket cap identical to that for Medicare was stripped from the bill for those with private insurance because Democrats are trying to pass the bill by a simple majority through the reconciliation process. That requires Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough to vet the provisions. She said most of the health-related features were fine, but the insulin proposal for those who have private insurance, not Medicare, violated the Byrd provision, which says that issues “extraneous to the federal budget” cannot be passed by simple majority through reconciliation.
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Out-of-pocket spending for those with Part D Medicare drug coverage will be capped at $2,000 a year.
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In 2024, a 5% coinsurance payment that now kicks in after someone reaches the catastrophic drug spending level of $7,050 in Medicare will end. Because drug companies set their own prices, 5% on expensive drugs can be a lot of money.
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Read More »The climate bill could short-circuit EV tax credits, making qualifying for them nearly impossible
The U.S. Senate passed a far-reaching climate, energy and health care bill on Aug. 7, 2022, that invests an unprecedented US$370 billion in energy and climate programs over the next 10 years – including incentives to expand renewable energy and electric vehicles.
The climate bill could short-circuitEV tax credits, making qualifying for them nearly impossible
Manchin’s Climate Reversal Comes With Major Caveat: Expanding Oil and Gas
Conservative coal baron Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) announced on Wednesday that he has come to an agreement with Democratic leaders for a reconciliation bill with key climate, prescription drug price and tax reforms — with a major caveat to expand oil and gas exploration.
Manchin’s Climate Reversal Comes With Major Caveat: Expanding Oil and Gas
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Senate Dems reach draft deal to extend ACA premiums, lower drug costs
Also included in the Inflation Reduction Act — a bid to lower drug prices. Medicare will be allowed to negotiate the prices of some 10 pharmaceutical drugs in 2026, 15 more drugs in 2027 and 2028 and 20 more in 2029. In addition to price negotiation, the bill also imposes penalizing rebates on pharmaceutical manufacturers who hike drug costs above the rate of inflation starting next year.
The Global NATO Alliance, the European Left, and the Crack in Everything
Disclaimer: The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site.
The Democratic Party is unquestioningly supporting an endless proxy war and has been reluctant to press President Biden to prioritize a negotiated settlement to the war.
The Global NATO Alliance, the European Left, and the Crack in Everything
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 