Mondays Overnight Energy & Environment – Welcome!The latest news from the environment and energy sector. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.
Today were looking at a snowstorm knocking out power for more than 750,000 households, Germany drawing a line on nuclear energy and the latest on the Biden administrationsconservation initiative.
Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk were the Hill’s editors. Send us tips to [email protected] or [email protected] Follow us on twitter: @RachelFrazin @BudrykZack.
Lets jump in.
Winter storm hits South, mid Atlantic
On Monday, more than 750,000 people were without power as a winter storm battered parts of the South and mid-Atlantic.
According to the National Grid, approximately 757,000 people in Maryland and Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Tennessee, and the Carolinas were without power at 3:45 p.m. ET on Monday. PowerOutage.US.
On Monday, Virginia experienced 444,600 outages, the most in the country. According to PowerOutage.US which analyzes power outage data from utilities across America, North Carolina had more than 110,000 outages.
How much snow do we really need?These outages occur as a winter storm batters a number of states. According to the Weather Channel, heavy snow accumulations of 6-12 inches could occur in the middle of the storms. AccuWeather.
AccuWeather reports that the storm began Sunday night in the lower mid-Atlantic and has since moved up to the East Coast.
But that’s not all.Inclement weather conditions are also leading to flight cancellations. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Monday’s cancellations have reached more than 2,900 as of Wednesday, March 55th, at 3:55 pm eastern. FlightAware.
On Monday, more than 4,600 delays were also issued by airlines within, into, or out of the U.S.
Find out more about storms.
Boulder County recovers after the storm
Boulder County residents are trying to recover from the destruction caused by a devastating suburban firestorm. About 1,000 homes were destroyed and thousands fled the area. Sharon Udasin, The Hill’s reporter from the area, reports that the firestorm has left a trail of destruction.
The Marshall Fire destroyed at least 991 structures, and caused damage to an additional 127, according to a preliminary report by the Boulder County Sheriffs.
According to local media reports one of the three missing persons was found while authorities searched for the two other and investigated the cause of the fire.
View Sharon’s full report by clicking here
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
The Biden administration is still looking for answers to key questions that will help it approach its goal of conserving 30% of U.S. lands, and waters by 2030.
It asks for information about conservation actions that can be taken as part of the goal, sometimes called “30 by 30,” per a Federal Register noticeAnnounced Monday
It also asks about the features that included lands or waters should have.
These questions were posed as part of an effort by an “Atlas”, which collects baseline data on the amount and types land and water that are being conserved and restored.
The notice, which provides a formal comment period where the public can weigh-in, also announced three listening sessions which will take place in January.
In a status report last month, the administration stated that it was making “significant advances” in its efforts.
PARABLE OF THE SEWER
After a historic leakage of up 7 million gallons untreated sewage, Los Angeles’ beaches were closed this weekend.
On Thursday, a 48-inch sewer main broke, sending millions of gallons into Los Angeles Harbor’s Dominguez Channel.Long Beach stated in a Friday press release.
Los Angeles County ordered the closures of several beaches following the spillage. ABC 7 reported.Seal Beach was temporarily closed by Long Beach and Orange County.
After the spillage, sewerage made its way into the streets of cities.
Jessica De Nova, a reporter, wrote on Twitter that one neighborhood was “filled with awful odors and this river of rawsewage running through their street Thursday.” She added that residents “hope their governments leaders do more to improve the quality of their life here.”
Germany calls nuclear power “dangerous”
Monday’s announcement by the German government that it will reject an EU plan to classify certain forms of nuclear energy (such as those used for power generation) as renewable was a warning.
The EU The proposal was announcedSunday, the European Commission stated that natural gas and nucleus are still viable options to help facilitate the transition to a more renewable future.
[T]This would require that these energy sources are classified under strict conditions (e.g., gas must be from renewable sources or emit low levels of carbon by 2035), especially as they contribute to climate neutrality.Germany doesn’t have it: On Monday, however, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told reporters [w]e consider nuclear tech dangerous and have stated that the government rejects it being a renewable. According to The Associated Press.
Germany has repeatedly stated that nuclear energy is not a renewable source of power unless there is a plan to dispose off nuclear waste. According to The New York Times.
Hebestreits comments echo those offered by Robert Habeck (German Vice Chancellor), who also serves as climate minister. In a Statement to the German news agency dpaHabeck stated that it was impossible to foresee the EU Commission approving the new proposals.
You can read more about the announcement here.
WHAT WERE YOU READING?
And last but not least, something completely off-beat and unusual:New Year’s Day: A strong start.
This is it for today. Thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment pageFor the most recent news and coverage. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
