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And like those before it, the electricity it distributes will be produced by burning coal.","_key":"9e64e94e8e020"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“It’s not right,” she said. “These power lines? They’re not for me and my family. ","_key":"7b53518c4ab50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"I didn’t vote on this","_key":"2c90bb07e3ae"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And the data centers? That’s not in West Virginia. That’s a whole different state.”","_key":"dac3be18d95a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e452e7ac6636"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e2472dc81105","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"A not-so-hidden secret","_key":"71649f1c93f00","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Virginia officials like to tout their commitment to clean energy, but all it takes is a cursory glance at its neighbor to the west to find out what's really going on. 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One glaring example involved the ability of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve certain types of development on reservations — even over the objection of the tribes who live there.","_key":"c4c572aeaaf60"}]},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/native-american-tribes-gain-new-authority-stop-unwanted-107471343","_key":"a64133fa1027"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But there’s been a major ","_key":"031c693d658c0"},{"text":"reversal","_key":"031c693d658c1","_type":"span","marks":["a64133fa1027"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that put a lot more power back into the hands of Native Americans.","_key":"031c693d658c2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c976e93833bf"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The quest of renewable energy","_key":"ed5e1171309e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0e2587c6ec4b"},{"style":"normal","_key":"5bee4d73505a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Amid growing demand for sources of energy that aren’t dependent on coal and oil, many developers have gravitated toward hydropower as a reliable and cleaner source. 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In addition to EVs, you’ll find it in"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" solar panels, smartphones, and many other consumer electronics","_key":"061bd9ab9380","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"c52907759f6c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But in our current race to turn the automotive industry green, the Salton Sea discovery is particularly big news.","_key":"6b0b1e188f470"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2e479dc6147e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be299039e6ef","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Lithium is","_key":"57cc2522989e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" vital to decarbonizing the economy","_key":"661ad9d22261"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and meeting President Biden’s goals of 50% electric vehicle adoption by 2030,” explained Energy Department official Jeff Marootian.","_key":"50b2e38afd51"}]},{"_key":"6043a9752d0f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"California Gov. 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Power Isn’t The Only Type Of Energy That Comes From The Sky","visibility":"true","_rev":"ZiZjTl1hJy7QjcPiC6O71F","_createdAt":"2023-07-28T20:01:56Z","publishDate":"2023-07-29","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As we all look for new types of renewable energy, one common focus remains solar power. 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Some engineers today, however, believe they are on the cusp of producing a "},{"_type":"span","marks":["7627147c4169"],"text":"method","_key":"e9eac46283531"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that can produce ","_key":"e9eac46283532"},{"_key":"e9eac46283533","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a significant amount of renewable energy"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e9eac46283534"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although it might sound like a pipe dream, the fact is that similar technologies already exist in the formation of modern hydroelectric dams.","_key":"3dc52384d97a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73f4a8550b12","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The big problem that experts face when developing a process to turn rainfall into energy involves the very small amount of inherent power found in a single drop. 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And while the cost of a gallon of fuel is sure to include plenty more fluctuation in the future, the current ","_key":"c91ea17ec34d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["c880647c8981"],"text":"trend","_key":"c91ea17ec34d1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" appears to be going down.","_key":"c91ea17ec34d2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fd94a7f7d446","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.wsj.com/articles/falling-gas-prices-fuel-expectations-for-record-holiday-travel-c16da053?reflink=integratedwebview_share","_key":"c880647c8981"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The holiday reprieve","_key":"06961f4deb6b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"38d496f8f2e8"},{"_key":"d9b001ecdc70","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As Independence Day approached and many Americans were planning a road trip, the cost of gasoline was significantly lower than it had been during the same period in 2022. 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Now the company has its sights set on a new spin on things with what it’s calling the “hydrogen combustion engine.”","_key":"14847e6e19620"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e1c6cb7d220a","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what you should know about hydrogen:","_key":"2dc08e0db46b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d70a13abf360"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d7878163711d","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is the ","_key":"af69c39502f00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"most abundant element ","_key":"af69c39502f01"},{"text":"in the universe","_key":"af69c39502f02","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_key":"54cca5c7d74e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It also has the "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"highest energy density","_key":"54cca5c7d74e1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" aside from nuclear power","_key":"54cca5c7d74e2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be51947343fe","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"It ","_key":"a9ce502ab57e0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"doesn’t produce exhaust","_key":"a9ce502ab57e1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" or any other toxins","_key":"a9ce502ab57e2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"777bc9f1c94f"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e9d2426eb774","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is ","_key":"4cc6dd3044940"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"easy to create","_key":"4cc6dd3044941"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", safe to store, and simple to distribute","_key":"4cc6dd3044942"}]},{"_key":"c7a684a0ae89","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So using hydrogen seems like a no-brainer … and Toyota’s plans could prove to be a better solution than the EVs on the road today.","_key":"d11b1627b48e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"8a0d93061ffe","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Here’s how it will work","_key":"299ed3f9eb270"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"dd7fb776e6e2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although hydrogen combustion engines are still in the research and development phase, there are already plenty of details about how Toyota hopes to put it all together.","_key":"977407a433500"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"b5b595a8cc52","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The underlying technology is similar to traditional petroleum-powered engines, but it’s been modified to run on hydrogen. 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That’s because costs tend to reach their annual peak and start coming down a bit around this time of the year.","_key":"916f52ee83e32","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aed3b396cb47"},{"style":"normal","_key":"12b53a487be7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f9bea0ad07b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Gearing up for summer"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are a few main reasons for the yearly cycle of rising and falling gas prices, but a major contributor is the fact that summer gas is different than what’s in pumps during other seasons.","_key":"d37d2ea580740"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dc206cdf3ad7"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what you should know about the summer blend:","_key":"bec3f1b543640"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"02af5098e51c","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"It’s a ","_key":"c13de8a567420","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"higher grade","_key":"c13de8a567421","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"c13de8a567422","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that limits evaporation during warmer months."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a6ae80b3d893","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"10f941831aea","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The blend typically adds ","_key":"b081172109a90"},{"_key":"b081172109a91","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"about 15 cents"},{"marks":[],"text":" to the cost of each gallon.","_key":"b081172109a92","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"322a36c2e3f0","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Gas stations are required to use it between ","_key":"53328903655b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"June 1 and Sept. 15","_key":"53328903655b1"},{"_key":"53328903655b2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So if summer gas costs more, why do prices tend to come down in May?","_key":"724c868ad6cf0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"acf1dca066af"},{"style":"normal","_key":"756eae7b8a64","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan explains: \"Typically, the summer is frontloaded and the highest prices are before or just as summer starts. The lowest prices are as summer is setting in September because the supply of gasoline builds up over the course of the summer.\"","_key":"3c7d8ddd83000","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"9bd5c1d7abe30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where we are right now"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8a706facae11","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"97de1aa70a7c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If 2023 follows the example of previous years, the peak price will come somewhere around May 2. 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U.S. gas prices have surged an average of 39 cents in the past 35 days as a result of the price of crude oil prices increases, scheduled seasonal refinery maintenance beginning and a labor dispute at a Tesoro refinery. It is predicted that the price of gas will continue to rise through March.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)","assetId":"16057b4b37cea6e26f2ecaa8bb176e426e6113c0","_id":"image-16057b4b37cea6e26f2ecaa8bb176e426e6113c0-3000x2010-jpg","_updatedAt":"2023-04-29T01:37:02Z","description":"MILL VALLEY, CA - MARCH 03:  A customer pumps gasoline into his car at an Arco gas station on March 3, 2015 in Mill Valley, California. U.S. gas prices have surged an average of 39 cents in the past 35 days as a result of the price of crude oil prices increases, scheduled seasonal refinery maintenance beginning and a labor dispute at a Tesoro refinery. It is predicted that the price of gas will continue to rise through March.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/16057b4b37cea6e26f2ecaa8bb176e426e6113c0-3000x2010.jpg"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0.0564373897707231,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9435626102292769,"x":0.5282186948853616,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","alt":"Gas Prices","attribution":"Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images"},"title":"Don’t Let The Mirage Of Falling Gas Prices Fool You This Year","id":"T3RnTFSM","category":"energy","visibility":"true","summary":"Here's why we might be reaching an annual peak."},{"_rev":"R20mnQwzAhmntTdZq8Yk8i","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2023-03-15T19:53:28Z","id":"BiFaJbxw","slug":"/story/2023/03/could-floating-solar-panels-soon-be-powering-cities-worldwide","category":"energy","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Vast swaths of sparsely populated areas across the U.S. and many other countries are dedicated to collecting solar energy. 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That isn’t stopping advocates from pushing for more investment around the world, though.","_key":"a325e051436c2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d5b95dcf6b2e","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A promising new study","_key":"85294905e01d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d5ffe914773a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Researchers behind a new report published in the Nature Sustainability journal say that the theoretical output of floating solar panels is enough to power ","_key":"fde423abc44e0"},{"text":"6,256 cities in 124 nations","_key":"fde423abc44e1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" just by covering roughly 30% of the water surface in local 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researchers at Monash University, a specific enzyme found in soil bacteria seems to act like a “natural bacteria” by ","_key":"a46d9f63c9370"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"converting hydrogen in the air","_key":"a46d9f63c9371"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" directly into electricity.","_key":"a46d9f63c9372"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"badd78974a6d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The enzyme in question — called Huc — is apparently pretty common and, if the process is as efficient as early evidence suggests, could provide a truly renewable energy resource.","_key":"cfea60bf4e570"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7924a1b44dd1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rhys Grinter, one of the study’s lead researchers, explained: “We’ve shown that when we isolate [Huc] in the lab, we can put that into an electrical circuit and it produces electricity.”","_key":"b8a6ae3dfade0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"5c268d8d495d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Don’t get too excited"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c7a74d4ab66","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"be6858138c9b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Huc isn’t going to replace coal-fired power plants anytime soon.","_key":"3aab7e535a1a0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"8786a2b3353a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For starters, the recent study reflects just the tip of the research iceberg and experts will need to devote a lot more time and resources before this clever enzyme is powering consumer devices.","_key":"18fe91cd6b470"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Additionally, even if the process is perfected, there’s not nearly enough hydrogen in our atmosphere to produce enough power for anything other than small 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Even Grinter acknowledged that ","_key":"d3bbe04cea330"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"you’d need an external hydrogen source","_key":"d3bbe04cea331","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to keep anything larger going.","_key":"d3bbe04cea332"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fe73f814a767"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Hydrogen power expert Robert Willows was even more cautious, calling the concept of getting electricity from the air “a big reach.”","_key":"559b1fb188590"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9f2fadf2e064","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It might be useful in narrow applications, though — like a smart monitor that helps you keep track of how fresh your food is.","_key":"798697f3665c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"83aa960f0675","markDefs":[]}],"title":"Could This ‘Natural Battery’ Be The Answer To Humanity’s Energy Crisis?","publishDate":"2023-03-11","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"}},{"publishDate":"2023-02-08","body":[{"_key":"598b15a57e5e","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/exploding-problem-fires-sparked-lithium-batteries-are-confounding-fire-rcna65739","_key":"9a75669c40f9"}],"children":[{"_key":"9c2ea059d3220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As a growing number of new vehicles rely on electric power as opposed to the traditional combustion engine, "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"there are sure to be a few issues","_key":"9c2ea059d3221"},{"marks":[],"text":" that will take a while to figure out — such as how to ","_key":"9c2ea059d3222","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["9a75669c40f9"],"text":"combat","_key":"9c2ea059d3223"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" lithium-ion battery fires.","_key":"9c2ea059d3224"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Where the batteries are used","_key":"a43dbaf943a70","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"187d5a5bb35f"},{"_key":"732216235dd3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In addition to supplying the primary power source for new EVs, lithium-ion batteries are also a central component in electric scooters, bikes, and even solar energy products. Although fires involving these and other products are statistically rare, ","_key":"69fa52036f9e0"},{"_key":"69fa52036f9e1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"they are becoming more common"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"69fa52036f9e2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"939931bb7cf9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Each time such a blaze breaks out, it is up to local emergency crews to battle it to the best of their ability. All too often, that is much easier said than done.","_key":"c88f3299baf30"}]},{"children":[{"text":"Why the fires are so tricky","_key":"53cb911c8bec0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1b9e0afdb77e","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Any battery fire is going to present unique challenges, but experts say the lithium-ion variety is particularly insidious.","_key":"b1e99cbdad6a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aef0542b1e33"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to University of Texas at Austin professor Ofokike Ezekoye, the main issue is that the gas that fuels the fire “is ","_key":"12c47d8b146a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"confined within a cell battery","_key":"12c47d8b146a1"},{"_key":"12c47d8b146a2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that will not allow water in” and therefore “takes a lot longer to be able to control the fire because it requires so much more water.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d6f3b651a1ff","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"f2b85b4769ff","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is the overheating of these flammable gasses that typically cause the ignition of most of these blazes.","_key":"c237deb83f560"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How firefighters are responding","_key":"37523f1fb6b80"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9c5e690ace65"},{"children":[{"text":"An initial explosion and the powerful blaze that follows can be deadly and destructive, which means the quicker it is extinguished, the better. 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And as states pursue plans to phase out gasoline-powered cars entirely over the next decade or so, it’s clear that we’ll be seeing a lot more EVs in the near future.","_key":"463d7d14a2270","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"71fdd0ce18f2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While there are concerns about how to find enough resources to create batteries for all of these vehicles, there’s a consensus that EVs are better for the environment than their internal combustion alternatives.","_key":"b8376ec976970"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a6963f4cd8f2","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/01/the-us-needs-8x-more-ev-chargers-by-2030-according-to-new-report/","_key":"6723302c1091"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But while there are gas stations on just about every corner in many American cities, ","_key":"81af061c7a5a0","_type":"span"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"there is no such infrastructure available to rapidly charge electric vehicles","_key":"81af061c7a5a1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — and that’s causing some ","_key":"81af061c7a5a2"},{"_type":"span","marks":["6723302c1091"],"text":"upheaval","_key":"81af061c7a5a3"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the industry.","_key":"81af061c7a5a4"}]},{"_key":"8b1dd3fd54fe","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What we’ll need","_key":"30d3e6578a6a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7ecf37f19b5f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"3102dec3444e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Many prospective EV customers don’t have a garage or carport from which they can conveniently charge their vehicles at home. Furthermore, the majority of residential setups do not allow for rapid charging. This all adds to the need for many more public charging stations in communities nationwide."}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d82f5e168c90","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Estimates suggest EVs could make up ","_key":"8669233ef67f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"as much as 40%","_key":"8669233ef67f1"},{"text":" of all vehicles on the road by 2030.","_key":"8669233ef67f2","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b58f14df4d17","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"50583bf9a7830","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At the current rate, we’ll need "},{"_key":"50583bf9a7831","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more than 700,000 level 2 chargers"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and 70,000 level 3 chargers by 2025.","_key":"50583bf9a7832"}],"level":1},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"By 2030, those numbers will increase to ","_key":"88c165072dac0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more than 2.13 million","_key":"88c165072dac1"},{"text":" and 172,000, respectively.","_key":"88c165072dac2","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e707ec05e69d","listItem":"bullet"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How we’ll get there","_key":"c9390b53df2f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2859362e1354","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It will require coordination by multiple sectors — but everyone seems to be taking it pretty seriously.","_key":"6c98cd3a40130"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"991007ddb3b5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"3fc25bf5da1c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Biden administration has allocated $5 billion for building fast charges along interstates and at least half a million stations in total by 2030."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fa08edf4602e"},{"_key":"279b2df7e488","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Individual states are also investing in the process,","_key":"9fa9783c86280"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" including $2.9 billion by California","_key":"9fa9783c86281"},{"text":" to reach 250,000 public chargers by 2025.","_key":"9fa9783c86282","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0baa4845a2f0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Finally, the auto industry is working to create fast chargers throughout the country.","_key":"ef9104aa3fb00","_type":"span"}]}]},{"visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2022/12/this-could-be-a-gamechanger-in-the-quest-for-clean-energy","category":"energy","summary":"Nuclear fusion has been just out of reach for decades --- but that might be changing.","id":"4YZy22","publishDate":"2022-12-13","_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:50Z","_rev":"BPyZGvs0pJRGqz7s02FkCK","title":"This Could Be A Game-Changer In The Quest For Clean Energy","_id":"5a68893e-65ce-4ed8-9b54-f96e18033e05","_createdAt":"2022-12-12T23:21:25Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"alt":"","attribution":"Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images","asset":{"_rev":"YsND8fzVq1l7vIZQKncb7i","description":"ABINGDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Members of the research team look at test results in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak Upgrade (MAST-U) control room at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), where the Joint European Torus (JET) plasma physics experiment is based, on September 22, 2022 in Abingdon, England. In February 2022, JET scientists at the centre announced that they had generated the highest sustained energy pulse ever created by fusing together atoms, more than doubling their own record set in 1997. The UK Atomic Energy Authority hosts JET, but its scientific programme is run by a European collaboration named \"EUROfusion\" . ITER, the successor to JET, is currently being built in France, with the first plasma scheduled for December 2025. Scientists have strived to harness nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source for decades but recent developments at JET suggest that a breakthrough is edging closer. Research teams are already carrying out stress tests on materials to work out how to construct a nuclear fusion power plant, with Professor Chris Llewellyn Smith, director of energy research at Oxford University, stating that \"with enough money we could probably build a fusion reactor now but it would not be economical. 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Scientists have strived to harness nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source for decades but recent developments at JET suggest that a breakthrough is edging closer. Research teams are already carrying out stress tests on materials to work out how to construct a nuclear fusion power plant, with Professor Chris Llewellyn Smith, director of energy research at Oxford University, stating that \"with enough money we could probably build a fusion reactor now but it would not be economical. 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That might be changing.","_key":"28611677b5f60"}]},{"_key":"f4ee3d115bf4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"856d62be64300","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Here’s the background"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"05c91e88b5a0","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/12/23505416/nuclear-fusion-scientific-breakthrough-how-to-watch-announcement-biden","_key":"a1104f8b5dfa","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to recent ","_key":"67de0a009b560"},{"_key":"67de0a009b561","_type":"span","marks":["a1104f8b5dfa"],"text":"reports"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", decades of investments appear to have begun to pay off as scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory successfully created a reaction that actually ","_key":"67de0a009b562"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"created more energy than it required","_key":"67de0a009b563"},{"_key":"67de0a009b564","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"ce639797ac37","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This has been the goal of researchers pursuing nuclear fusions — and there were plenty of skeptics who thought it might never be feasible. Of course, it’s too early to start celebrating. There’s supposed to be an announcement today that will provide additional details, but there’s clearly some optimism among insiders that we’re on our way to perfecting an easily renewable and environmentally friendly form of energy.","_key":"64de10c1fdb60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"What it could mean","_key":"3d8ec3881c5a0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ea4eabe79bbf"},{"_key":"2488734cd2e6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nuclear fusion is created when an almost impossibly intense source of heat causes atomic particles to fuse and produce new energy. If the latest accomplishments can be replicated on a much larger scale, it could mean much ","_key":"c80e3d2bec090"},{"_key":"c80e3d2bec091","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"lower costs and increased supply"},{"text":" without taking a negative toll on the planet.","_key":"c80e3d2bec092","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The lab’s spokesperson, however, included a pretty significant caveat along with early reports, noting that the analysis “is still ongoing,” which means the team is “unable to provide details or confirmation at this time.”","_key":"1644fc19f8540"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"14c1964449da"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"41e4623afdc3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Tune in today for more","_key":"9dae2a9afa4e0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4fd0f7d7a7eb0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Biden administration officials from the Department of Energy and White House Office of Science and Technology are set to join officials from the laboratory to provide additional details about the latest advancements."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c5fd1538dbad"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"aecddd4b9fd20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern Time with a question-and-answer session to follow. You can tune in at energy.gov/live to check it all out as it happens."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73de5959c43a"}],"_type":"story"},{"id":"o4G1wZ","_type":"story","_rev":"G5tlNFGA2uX0YSIWc60Zpp","visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2022/11/understanding-the-importance-of-oil-in-diplomacy","_createdAt":"2022-11-03T23:04:10Z","publishDate":"2022-11-04","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"91342426e0d3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"After Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine earlier this year, nations across Europe and beyond cut ties with the nation. This meant ","_key":"04ab2a73d0850","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"shutting off imports","_key":"424b25938380"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of Russian oil, which in turn led to higher fuel prices and a limited supply of petroleum.","_key":"cba468dd3d79"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"U.S. President Joe Biden reached out to Saudi Arabia — after ","_key":"5c64e3de458b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["81c74059ee4c"],"text":"previously","_key":"5c64e3de458b1"},{"_key":"5c64e3de458b2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" calling it a “pariah” — in hopes of increasing that nation’s oil supply. But it didn’t work, and prices at the pump have remained high across America."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dc97f271a7bf","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/us/politics/biden-saudi-arabia.html","_key":"81c74059ee4c"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1ba5ce8811740","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Strange bedfellows"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"532e1fb82833"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9a2f8e045181","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"As it turns out, U.S. officials are apparently willing to overlook some problematic details about nations other than Saudi Arabia in hopes of procuring a more robust flow of petroleum. The Trump administration instituted sanctions on Venezuela about three years ago due to the country’s authoritarian regime and efforts to quash fledgling democratic uprisings.","_key":"bb6b85ce8e8c0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"_key":"a084e77f85c5","_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2022/11/03/1133615222/us-venezuela-diplomacy-oil-sanctions-negotiations"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"U.S. forces even pushed for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's ouster — ","_key":"5c0992477ab40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"but he’s still in charge","_key":"7c3e657aacd1"},{"marks":[],"text":". Now, the Biden administration is reversing that hard-line stance and ","_key":"feddbab07ed2","_type":"span"},{"text":"embracing","_key":"5c0992477ab41","_type":"span","marks":["a084e77f85c5"]},{"_key":"5c0992477ab42","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" a more diplomatic approach when dealing with the country."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23bfb4d96cde"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7efb19b66fd6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What’s happening behind the scenes","_key":"9aab41e64da30"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"American diplomats are calling on Marudro and other Venezuelan officials to pick up negotiations that fell apart during the previous administration. One step forward in this tenuous process involved a prisoner exchange that saw seven U.S. citizens freed.","_key":"05aa3e67f4030"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1cb96e39cef","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36ccbe3ee0bf","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Five of those released prisoners ","_key":"f31fb007e8b20","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"just happened to be oil executives","_key":"5338b1db5724"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"f8195cb5b481"}]},{"_key":"1ccccf5d72ae","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The White House is also dangling the possibility of easing existing sanctions against Venezuela with the obvious benefit to America of seeing an increase in oil production and exports in that country. The U.S. was previously the top importer of Venezuelan fuel.","_key":"7d7ce87d30d10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"275906e263ba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If the two countries do reach a deal, the increasingly impoverished Venezuelan economy could receive a much-needed lifeline.","_key":"9846a16c8b9b0"}]}],"category":"energy","summary":"America and Venezuela might be reconciling their differences.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Understanding The Importance Of Oil In Diplomacy","_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:37Z","image":{"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.32765151515151514,"y":0.605491442926676,"height":0.7252315905165643,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.5757575757575758},"_type":"image","alt":"","attribution":"Pexels","asset":{"uploadId":"TPXEdyFuCLrFqpI5jJ8WL0ktgMbjSjl5","sha1hash":"1b1ff8a9e65a03b7a4f50ed4834749b58ac49554","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/1b1ff8a9e65a03b7a4f50ed4834749b58ac49554-2400x1854.jpg","_id":"image-1b1ff8a9e65a03b7a4f50ed4834749b58ac49554-2400x1854-jpg","originalFilename":"pexels-pixabay-162568.jpg","extension":"jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","assetId":"1b1ff8a9e65a03b7a4f50ed4834749b58ac49554","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#8f6609"},"vibrant":{"population":5.53,"background":"#c48735","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.99,"background":"#40200a"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4f3c29","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.06},"muted":{"background":"#785220","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":4.25,"background":"#f6d17c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#40200a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.99}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":2400,"aspectRatio":1.2944983818770226,"height":1854},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VqJ?iwE3oyn%a#~8RkofWCWXI;s.j[WVazt5WCa|oLod"},"_rev":"1K8pT3qofyahtESQAVeb1M","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/1b1ff8a9e65a03b7a4f50ed4834749b58ac49554-2400x1854.jpg","size":546615,"_createdAt":"2023-02-28T20:48:26Z","_updatedAt":"2023-02-28T20:48:26Z"}},"_id":"0c9bbe00-e708-4ea3-b292-c2eae27f07ee"},{"author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"publishDate":"2022-11-01","id":"3otOth","summary":"Corporations and politicians talk big, but ordinary citizens have the most impact.","category":"energy","visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2022/11/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference-in-the-energy-crisis","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From skyrocketing rates across Europe to the threat of rolling blackouts here in the United States, it’s become quite clear that energy shortages are causing major headaches around the world. While some business leaders and politicians claim that they know how to fix it, the truth is that it will probably come down to folks like you and me to actually make a dent in the problem.","_key":"6925a2b3bb840"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b3e3446f4123","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"732c022052d30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What has already been done"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3a9cefe76108"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d326f17c837f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"There’s no denying the fact that a billionaire corporate executive or an influential elected official can do more than your typical working Joe. When people work together toward a common goal, however, there is truly an impressive amount of ","_key":"2bb14c7d55ab0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"power in numbers","_key":"2bb14c7d55ab1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"2bb14c7d55ab2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/23340991/power-demand-response-blackout-consumer-climate-change-california-texas-cop27","_key":"5c15c781a719","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As University of Basel sustainability research leader Paul Burger ","_key":"f61b174d9f3b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["5c15c781a719"],"text":"explained","_key":"f61b174d9f3b1"},{"marks":[],"text":", it will take efforts at every level to address this serious issue.","_key":"f61b174d9f3b2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"416ad991aa05"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7615113d592e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"433f0d8a52660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"People in the hardest-hit regions of America have already shown that they are willing to do their part — and more. In California, for example, authorities warned of possible blackouts and asked millions of citizens to limit their power usage."}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"cb4fae91397d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Within 10 minutes of receiving the alert, consumer ","_key":"69669b1cb7350"},{"_key":"69669b1cb7351","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"energy demand fell by a whopping 1,200 megawatts"},{"marks":[],"text":", thus averting a blackout. Similar scenarios have played out elsewhere across California and beyond.","_key":"69669b1cb7352","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b19b7abaf707","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f7ac4377bca80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What else you can do"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"fc7a4d5a92fe0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s great to respond to imminent threats like the one I referenced above, but citizens can also make smart decisions that could stave off similar emergencies in the future. Here are a few of the steps experts recommend:"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9ffcb4ceea46"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e8e93ef3a2a10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Drive energy-efficient cars or use public transit"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a59c0d512ecc","listItem":"bullet"},{"style":"normal","_key":"616add223401","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Turn off lights and other services during peak hours and heat waves","_key":"c02b9d7e87a10"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e468d49635e5","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e08f562fa63a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Invest in green appliances and other products"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"On their own, none of these things will reverse the energy crisis — but if we all work together, ","_key":"fb4caa0eec870"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"we’ll make a big difference","_key":"fb4caa0eec871"},{"_key":"fb4caa0eec872","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"829225e413b1"}],"title":"Here’s How You Can Make A Difference In The Energy Crisis","_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:56Z","_id":"93c5a73e-cceb-4a89-8acc-ae7abbc7afa4","_rev":"BPyZGvs0pJRGqz7s02FnsS","_type":"story","image":{"attribution":"Photo by Diana Bagnoli/Getty Images","asset":{"_rev":"cAWu7qvPfyNGMEttw8JvdE","assetId":"97746a58369fc1457f54205eaa96a5ab8443be52","extension":"jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"ALESSANDRIA, ITALY - OCTOBER 04:  A general view during a candlelit dinner at \"Hop-Mangiare di Birra\" restaurant and brewery on October 4, 2022 in Alessandria, Italy. 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(Photo by Diana Bagnoli/Getty Images)","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/97746a58369fc1457f54205eaa96a5ab8443be52-5530x3679.jpg","_id":"image-97746a58369fc1457f54205eaa96a5ab8443be52-5530x3679-jpg","uploadId":"CxTGk9g6GAQz3wvEfvVpvZQDX2ysNwJb"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5684931506849313,"y":0.5180245133381398,"height":0.835204449479864,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.44178082191780815},"_type":"image","alt":""},"_createdAt":"2022-10-31T22:52:58Z"},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","id":"4I4Zds","category":"energy","title":"Here’s How One German Town Is Battling Rising Energy Costs","_id":"82bfcbfe-34ae-4fe0-a521-7350e73b297d","summary":"Locals put a plan in place nearly 30 years ago.","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"b80f9f349752","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s been a lot in the news about an energy crisis that is causing costs to soar across Europe and beyond. 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No member state can offer effective and long-term solutions on its own.\"","_key":"4896fd9ccfe64"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"da09a06a97ee","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Maybe taking a page from Feldeim’s playbook can help cities and nations around the world deal with a situation that has gotten progressively worse since Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine.","_key":"e8d861bb81be0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2022/09/heres-how-one-german-town-is-battling-rising-energy-costs","_rev":"l28MLa9EqJWOqXPxf5c0Um","_createdAt":"2022-09-29T21:46:11Z","_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:54Z","image":{"attribution":"Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images","asset":{"extension":"jpg","metadata":{"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3000,"aspectRatio":1.5965939329430547,"height":1879},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V:JbT~?wRkofxuo#WFM|M{f7WBWBWVj]f6oJjsj@j[ay","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.8,"background":"#57452e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"population":0,"background":"#8c9c54","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":7.98,"background":"#b8d2ed","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.44,"background":"#2b2d0a"},"lightMuted":{"population":2.98,"background":"#98b3cf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#c7d02e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":7.98,"background":"#b8d2ed","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"}},"uploadId":"eqN2Q8E8zGxKNU2GQWrR3TFKpixt1smS","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/cba60f2e9e2f5b93cb142e5bab4a783354057698-3000x1879.jpg","size":550867,"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","creditLine":"FELDHEIM, GERMANY - JUNE 20:  A 2 MW wind turbine of German alternative energy producer Energiequelle GmbH spins in a field of wheat on June 20, 2011 near Feldheim, Germany. 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(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)","sha1hash":"cba60f2e9e2f5b93cb142e5bab4a783354057698","assetId":"cba60f2e9e2f5b93cb142e5bab4a783354057698","_createdAt":"2023-02-28T20:47:02Z","_rev":"1K8pT3qofyahtESQAVavwI","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/cba60f2e9e2f5b93cb142e5bab4a783354057698-3000x1879.jpg","_updatedAt":"2023-02-28T20:47:02Z","originalFilename":"getty-117049942.jpg"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.44255766116679085,"height":0.6553459670007438,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.45205479452054786,"x":0.2636986301369862},"_type":"image","alt":""},"publishDate":"2022-09-30"},{"slug":"/story/2022/05/sony-accelerating-green-energy-initiative","_rev":"BPyZGvs0pJRGqz7s02Fi6G","author":{"_ref":"pYanAoHWh","_type":"reference"},"category":"energy","_type":"story","_id":"47709bd3-b709-477d-b7fb-813f0ae1cb3f","publishDate":"2022-05-20","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In a ","_key":"3f4c9f69e0b10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["e283ff2d5daa"],"text":"press release","_key":"3f4c9f69e0b11"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", Sony announced the company is accelerating plans to achieve zero environmental footprint by ten years. Originally Sony planned to reach this goal by 2050, but the press release announced the new target date as 2040.","_key":"3f4c9f69e0b12"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"43801080756f","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/202205/22-022E/","_key":"e283ff2d5daa","_type":"link"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"587b1f40b857","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"","_key":"af3fdcec3d450","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"4cdd6d9cfbba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a0aed0237dc60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From the press release, \"Sony is making various efforts regarding the environment from the two perspectives of \"Responsibility\" and \"Contribution.\" Sony has pursued environmental initiatives in accordance with its environmental principles since the early 1990s, and in 2010, the company announced the \"Road to Zero,\" a long-term global environmental plan that aims to realize a sustainable society by achieving a zero environmental footprint throughout the life cycle of Sony’s products and business activities by the year 2050.\""}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"05c402243f240"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"caf9174c1cea","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"ffe1474a0889","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The memo would go on to say, \"...Sony made the decision to accelerate its environmental impact reduction activities in the climate change area and to bring forward the target year of achieving a zero environmental footprint in this area by ten years.\"\n","_key":"8f515a59d5c40","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3c9aea4aeb7a","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/","_key":"da0778c122da"},{"href":"https://interestingengineering.com/11-ways-humans-impact-the-environment","_key":"05977404f5a6","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_key":"b53e721d15a00","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With a lot of "},{"_type":"span","marks":["da0778c122da"],"text":"conversation","_key":"b53e721d15a01"},{"_key":"b53e721d15a02","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" concerning the carbon footprint of human beings, it's a good time to remember we (animals, humans, etc) only have one"},{"_type":"span","marks":["05977404f5a6"],"text":" environment","_key":"b53e721d15a03"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Credit to Sony for taking environmental issues seriously. If only governments around the world would do a bit more.","_key":"b53e721d15a04"}],"_type":"block"}],"summary":"Sony is going greener, faster.","id":"wTkOv2","image":{"_type":"image","alt":"","asset":{"_createdAt":"2023-02-28T20:48:15Z","_id":"image-e1293e5d1f427420b311a8326c5305866cbfa756-800x450-jpg","metadata":{"palette":{"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":8.53,"background":"#8abceb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#58671a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01},"lightMuted":{"background":"#b4acc4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0},"vibrant":{"background":"#6cb4f4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":8.61,"background":"#5a6040","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#5a6040","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.61},"muted":{"background":"#617995","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.78}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":800,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":450},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MnC@N#o~WAaxj[.TbcofkCa#tmWDj[bHbI","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/e1293e5d1f427420b311a8326c5305866cbfa756-800x450.jpg","assetId":"e1293e5d1f427420b311a8326c5305866cbfa756","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_updatedAt":"2023-02-28T20:48:15Z","extension":"jpg","_rev":"1K8pT3qofyahtESQAVe0ax","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/e1293e5d1f427420b311a8326c5305866cbfa756-800x450.jpg","size":171740,"originalFilename":"technology-sunlight-environment-green-clean-environmental-925037-pxhere.com.jpg","uploadId":"auas0ttUcizT2BOU8PCHxHy07AcenunU","mimeType":"image/jpeg","sha1hash":"e1293e5d1f427420b311a8326c5305866cbfa756"}},"_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:47Z","_createdAt":"2022-05-20T11:54:21Z","title":"Sony Accelerating Green Energy Initiative","visibility":"true"}]