Category Archives: environment

EPA Orders Valero Refining to Improve Chemical Safety

“This settlement sends a clear message that EPA will prosecute companies that fail to expend the resources needed to have a compliant, well-functioning Risk Management Plan to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Continue reading

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Toyota, Huntsville Utilities Announce 168-acre Solar Plan

The solar project is expected to generate 62,000 megawatt hours annually, reducing ~22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. That’s enough solar energy to power more than 5600 U.S. homes. This project is the latest step towards achieving Toyota’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035. The solar facility is scheduled to begin generating solar energy in summer of 2024. Continue reading

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Bosch to Build First Automated Battery Recycling Plant

The Bosch Group estimates that electric vehicles will comprise ~70% of all newly registered passenger cars in Europe by 2030. This is increasing demand for batteries and for the recycling of the raw materials they contain, such as lithium, cobalt, … Continue reading

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Biden-Harris Want Stronger Power Plant Toxic Air Standards

“America is leading the way in innovation, and our work to protect public health is no different. By leveraging proven, emissions-reduction measures available at reasonable costs and encouraging new, advanced control technologies, we can reduce hazardous pollution from coal-fired power plants, protecting our planet and improving public health for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s proposal will support and strengthen EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which have delivered a 90% reduction in mercury emissions from power plants over pre-standard levels.” Continue reading

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Milestones: Subaru Recycling – 8 Million Pieces of Trash

During Subaru Loves the Earth month in April, and throughout the year, the automaker works with the global waste management firm TerraCycle® to offer recycling at more than 600 participating Subaru retailer locations nationwide to transform trash into products that benefit their communities. Items collected include disposable cups, lids, straws, snack wrappers, and single-use coffee capsules. Items collected include disposable cups, lids, straws, snack wrappers, and single-use coffee capsules. Continue reading

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EPA Approves New California Heavy-Duty Emissions Standards

In this latest victory for environmentalists, CARB requested two waivers for regulations relating to heavy duty vehicles and diesel engines. After reviewing the technical information provided by CARB, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited authority for review under section 209 of the Clean Air Act, EPA said it was “appropriate” to grant the waiver and authorization requests. Continue reading

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Ford Collaborates with Chinese Huayou on EV Battery Nickel

“This framework gives Ford direct control to source the nickel we need – in one of the industry’s lowest-cost ways – and allows us to ensure the nickel is mined in line with our company’s sustainability targets, setting the right ESG standards as we scale,” said Lisa Drake, vice president for Ford Model e EV industrialization. “Working this way puts Ford in a position to help make EVs more accessible for millions and to do it in a way that helps better protect people and the planet,” claimed Drake. Unmentioned by Drake is that Vale is conducting research in bio-leaching, which eliminates acid for leaching metals from ore by using bacteria to convert the metals such as nickel into a soluble form. Continue reading

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Mazda Adding Renewable Solar Power to Japanese Plants

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MITI) provides subsidies to cover a portion of the expense of installing solar power generation facilities in cases where consumers of electric power coordinated with an electric power producer to establish such facilities. “These subsidies are intended to promote such collaborations and encourage wider adoption of independent initiatives to establish renewable energy sources, contributing to a reliable, long-term, supply-demand balance in energy use during the period up until 2030, thereby supporting the achievement of ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” Continue reading

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Cordless EV w 400 Mile Range – 2023 Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell

At its heart, Mirai remains a breakthrough fuel-cell electric vehicle where the driver fills the tank with compressed hydrogen gas rather than liquid gasoline. It was derived from the Lexus LS 400 platform (rear-wheel drive – RWD-GA-L). A FCEV, of course, generates its own electricity onboard from hydrogen, with water as the only emission. A fuel cell system combines stored hydrogen with oxygen from the air, and a chemical reaction that produces electric current, and water, which drops out of a vent pipe beneath the Mirai. Continue reading

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CARB Environmental Justice Advisory Committee Renewed

“These appointments demonstrate the Board’s commitment to integrating environmental justice and equity as a cornerstone of CARB’s climate programs,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “We know climate change impacts vulnerable communities the most. Each of these members brings a unique perspective from their communities. By partnering together, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address historic inequities by advancing environmental justice and equity in our implementation of the Scoping Plan.” Continue reading

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Stellantis to Spend ~€130M in the Eisenach Assembly for EVs

Opel announced last fall that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for electrified models with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. The Opel Grandland GSe follows the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe. Opel claims it is a high-performance, plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel-drive in the SUV compact class, arguably the fastest growing segment in Europe and Asia. The Opel Grandland currently produced at Eisenach includes plug-in hybrid variants. Opel wants a fully electric lineup by 2028. Continue reading

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BMW Manufacturing Spartanburg Supports 43,000 SC Jobs

The plant’s direct employment base also accounts for 4.8% of all manufacturing jobs across South Carolina. The former Confederate state of South Carolina is currently enmeshed in battle over whether or not to impose the death penalty for abortions. BMW Manufacturing has a Family Health Center at its South Carolina plant for all BMW workers, retirees and their dependents with occupational, primary care services, as well as vision, dental and physical therapy. The combination of cost savings and the benefits of having medical services all in one location offer the company’s non-unionized workforce a progressive option in their healthcare management. The center is a $5 million investment in a 25,000 square foot facility. To say that this would be a politically sensitive at a woke German automaker is an understatement. Continue reading

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Nissan X-in-1 – Shared, Modular EV Components

“We make the most of our expertise and know-how from our more-than-a-decade long development and production of electrified technologies. Through our innovations in electrified powertrain development, we’ll continue to create new value for customers and deliver 100% motor-driven vehicles – EVs and e-POWER – as widely as possible,” said Senior Vice President Toshihiro Hirai, who leads powertrain & EV engineering powertrain development. Like all automakers, converting to EVs is an expensive process, potentially ruinous for shareholders. Continue reading

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SEC Charges Mining Company Rio Tinto with Bribery

Ford Motor (NYSE: F) and Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) among other large international corporations have supply contracts or business relationships with the mining conglomerate  involving electric vehicle battery materials. Whether this is a bum in the road or a longer-term impediment to EV advancement is an open and ongoing matter subject to debate in industrial and public policy sectors. Continue reading

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Honda Using Fuel Cell to Back Up Power at Its Data Center

The power station uses Honda’s hydrogen fuel cell technology know-how and contributes to the company’s global goal to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050.In the coming years, Honda will begin applying a next-generation stationary fuel cell system to Honda manufacturing facilities and data centers globally, thereby reducing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading

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