News Feeds | ecology.iww.org (2024)

There’s plenty of media coverage on what he came for, and the messages he wanted to deliver but the main thrust of his first day was the wave of media reports on what he felt about China’s human rights record.

In a 1283-word preface, signed by Blinken there are 49 words related to China but these 49 words achieved all the media attention. They were:

The Report documents ongoing grave human rights abuses in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). For example, in Xinjiang, the PRC continues to carry out genocide, crimes against humanity, forced labour, and other human rights violations against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups.

The post The State Department Report On Human Rights appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

Thousands of farmers in Pakistan have launched a nationwide movement demanding increased government procurement of wheat. The campaign will kick off with national mobilizations on Friday, May 10, Khalid Khokhar, the leader of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (Pakistan Farmer Movement or PKI), a united body of most of the farmers’ unions in the country, said in a press conference on Sunday.

The mobilizations are set to kick off in Multan, Punjab and would be a continuation of the last month’s agitation in several parts of the country. Khokhar claimed that an even greater number of farmers’ organizations and groups would be participating in the campaign and mobilizations.

The post Pakistani Farmers Launch A Nationwide Movement appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

A sentencing hearing has concluded in the case of Australian whistleblower David McBride who was forced to plead guilty to leaking classified documents to the media after he was essentially denied a defense at his trial in November. The documents ultimately revealed evidence of war crimes committed by the Australian Defence Force.

Justice David Mossop will pronounce the sentence next Tuesday. The government has demanded more than two years in prison, while the judge could impose as little as house arrest, monitoring , and counseling outside prison for up to four years.

McBride, a former military lawyer, was charged with stealing government documents and giving them to journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The post Whistleblower David McBride To Be Sentenced appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

April 2014 was a pivotal month for the people of the Donbass region in what was then still part of Ukraine. It was then that the governing regime was newly installed in Kiev by a coup d’état on February 20/21embarked on military hostilities against the people of the region. The coup overthrew Ukraine’s elected president and legislature. It sparked rebellion in Crimea, Donbass (Lugansk and Donetsk), and in towns and cities in other regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.

The coup installed a pro-Western, anti-Russia government. Police actions by the new regime to suppress opposition to the coup only deepened the rebellions, whose consequences are still felt today.

The post Anti-Coup Rebellion In Eastern Ukraine Completes 10 Years appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

PoWHR Coalition - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 16:35

Charlotte, NC — On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, a crowd of 100 frontline community members impacted by the Mountain Valley Pipeline and allies gathered in Charlotte to hold the financiers behind MVP accountable for the destruction the pipeline has wrought across Appalachia. This action took place a week after MVP experienced serious pipe failures during hydrostatic testing as it tries to go into service at the end of May.

PHOTOS & VIDEOS CAN BE ACCESSED HERE

WATCH LIVESTREAM FROM VANGUARD

WATCH LIVESTREAM FROM BANK OF AMERICA

“We face life-threatening conditions on this methane gas pipeline route due to MVP’s recklessness and it’s all made possible by these banks and asset managers. We are in the midst of a climate crisis; these financiers must stop locking their investors into bad deals by backing companies like MVP,” said directly harmed community member and co-director of POWHR Russell Chisholm.

Activists, carrying signs that said “Defund MVP”, met in the morning at Vanguard’s offices to call out their continued reckless and immoral financing of methane gas pipelines like MVP which contribute to climate chaos and destruction. Vanguard is the single largest investor of fossil fuels in the world.

“Vanguard is often insulated from the ugly impacts of its massive investments in expanding fossil fuel development, but we know that the Mountain Valley Pipeline is a danger to everyday people living nearby, and ultimately, a bad investment for Vanguard. We came all the way from Pennsylvania to act in solidarity with those on the frontlines of this pipeline, and we will be sharing their stories with the growing number of Vanguard customers who are ready to move their money out if Vanguard continues on this dangerous path,” said Lina Blount, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Earth Quaker Action Team.

The actions continued in uptown Charlotte where 100 Indigenous water protectors, frontline leaders, and allies carrying puppets and signs, and singing songs and chants, delivered letters on the financial risk of MVP to Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America. They conducted a mock-trial in front of the Bank of America headquarters called “The People vs. Bank of America”, to expose the crimes against humanity and the planet.

“No human being can survive without clean water, yet Bank of America continues to fund projects like MVP that destroy precious drinking water sources without a second thought. These banks and asset managers must know that MVP continues to wrack up unprecedented violations, including violations of the rights of tribal nations to informed consultation. So long as they choose to keep funding these harms, our multiracial, multifaith grassroots movement will only keep getting louder,” said Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, co-founder of 7 Directions of Service, Citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and impacted community member on the Southgate route.

This action continues the work that local faith leaders and activists with GreenFaith have been leading against Bank of America including monthly Earth Witness Wednesday events and the most recent protest on April 23 the day before the bank’s annual general meeting.

“Our many faiths teach us that we are to care for people and protect the planet. The financial decisions of big banks are destroying the planet and causing untold human suffering. As people of faith and conscience we know this is wrong, inhumane and also deeply unjust since so many of these projects disproportionately exploit Indigenous lands and peoples as well as many black and brown communities in the US and the Global South,” said Rev. Amy Brooks Paradise, US Organizer with GreenFaith.

Further interviews are available with frontline leaders, including: Dr. Crystal Cavalier Keck (co-founder of 7 Directions of Service and impacted community member on the Southgate route), Russell Chisholm (co-director of the POWHR Coalition and directly harmed community member on the MVP mainline route), and Mariah Clay (MVP organizer with West Virginia Rivers Coalition).

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Categories: G2. Local Greens

Mining.Com - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 16:21

From your humble drink can to the airframe of an F-16 fighter jet, aluminium’s role in the global economy is diverse and critical.

Like copper, aluminium is used in established industries, such as manufacturing and housing construction. Yet, it is also leveraged to growth sectors.

With superior corrosion resistance, aluminium is widely used in solar installations. Here, it’s used in frames, wires, and support structures.

According to some sources, the ability to withstand the elements gives aluminium a service life exceeding 70 years.

Corrosion resistance also makes it ideal for offshore wind farms… Tower platforms, transformer stations, and turbines are all made from aluminium.

For these reasons, the United States and the European Union have classified the metal as a critical mineral. Yet, one of the biggest growth drivers could come from the mass build-out of the global power grid.

Few have considered the LIMITATIONS of the existing energy grid in the relentless move toward renewables. However, this is the critical link connecting power generation to the end consumer, and aluminium is set to play a crucial role.

Power grid upgrade… it’s not all about Copper

You might be surprised to learn that aluminium is already widely used in power grid installations as an alternative to copper.

This is not a new phenomenon.

The decision to find an alternative to copper dates back more than 80 years, taking shape in the early days of WW2.

At the time, the copper supply was being funnelled into manufacturing shells, bullets, and other war munitions. Recycling wasn’t an option—copper was being blown out of the circular economy!

In desperation, the US began minting steel coins to divert more copper to the war effort.

With the stakes high, engineers were tasked with testing an alternative metal—a metal with similar conductive properties… Aluminium offered a viable alternative.

After passing initial trials, aluminium was incorporated into power utilities and other electrical wiring, including homes and factories.

Although up to 40% less efficient than copper, aluminium can conduct electricity long distances. Since then, aluminium has continued to play an important role in energy transfer.

That leads us to an important question… Could mass global electrification drive strong demand for aluminium?

Electrification and the aluminium opportunity

Aluminium doesn’t receive as much attention as its high-profile base metal cousin, copper. Yet, it does share similarities.

Note the strong correlation between aluminium and copper prices, below:

While copper has fared better since coming off the resource-wide peak in 2022, both metals appear to be marching to the beat of a similar drum, gaining strong momentum in 2024.

Like copper, interest is picking up for this base metal.

According to theInternational Aluminum Institute, demand has been forecasted to grow by 33.3 million tonnes over the next decade. Rising from 86.2 million tonnes in 2020 to 119.5 million tonnes in 2030.

Around 37% of this growth is expected to stem from China, through manufacturing, construction, and the country’s ambitious power grid upgrade to accommodate electrification.

And like copper, SUPPLY will play a critical role in this metals outlook.

Understanding the supply dynamic

Aluminium ore, known as bauxite, is not typically rare.

The formation is similar to laterite nickel deposits, where high volumes of rainfall remove ‘mobile’ elements from the soil, leaving behind a natural concentration of the less mobile elements.

That includes nickel, iron and aluminium.

Copper deposits, on the other hand, form via the mineralisation of primary ore deposits deep below the surface, making them harder to find and more expensive to extract.

That’s why, pound-for-pound, the per-unit value of copper will always exceed that of aluminium.

While bauxite deposits are relatively common, supply problems emerge at the processing level. You see, aluminium production is energy intensive. About 17,000 kWh of electricity is required to produce just 1 tonne of refined metal.

Rising energy costs can impact supply, that’s what we witnessed across Europe in 2022.

As war broke out in Ukraine and Putin restricted gas supplies, energy prices spiked. In response, aluminium smelters slowed operations and curtailed output.

So, where’s the investment angle?

Given that bauxite is relatively common, the upside for miners may be limited.

Similarly, unless refiners have access to a cheap energy source, companies will be hostage to higher operating costs.

Investing in a dedicated aluminium ETF could be the most strategic option for gaining upside here.

Usually, I levitate toward stocks, but given the added risks, ETFs could offer the best opportunity. That’s not to say there aren’t company-specific opportunities though.

HPA, a highly purified form of aluminium oxide is offering some exciting opportunities. We’ll explore that in our next update.

James Cooper runs the commodities investment service Diggers and Drillers. You can also follow him on X (Twitter) @JCooperGeo

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Military Poisons - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 16:15

May 8, 2024

The historic letter from Denise Trabbic-Pointer to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board posted in the Federal Register (4/6/24) states, “The new discovery of the presence and extensive use of Agent Orange at the base was devastating in its implications, in addition to everything else we already knew.”

Despite the compelling evidence described below, the DOD still insists the toxins were never used at Fort Ord. The same is true for dozens of bases across the country.

The DoD says it reviewed thousands of government documents from a variety of sources to include the National Archives and Records Administration, Air Force Historical Research Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, and Defense Technical Information Center.

According to the Pentagon, Information obtained from these documents was assessed against criteria developed jointly by VA and DoD to identify specific locations inside and outside the United States where certain herbicide agents and their chemical components were tested, used, or stored.

USA Today April 26, 2024

Vets exposed to Agent Orange at US bases
denied VA compensation - By Hannah Norman
and Patricia Kime KFF Health News

This article presents overwhelming evidence that Agent Orange was recklessly used at Fort Ord for many years, endangering thousands. _____________________________________

The historical record is clear that the Army sprayed 9,000 acres with Agent Orange or similar herbicides at Fort Ord, California for more than 20 years while hundreds of thousands of soldiers trained for wars in Korea and Vietnam. The use of Agent Orange is more clearly documented at Fort Ord than anywhere on earth.

How could the DOD leave Fort Ord off of the list of bases where regulatory presumptions of exposure to Agent Orange are established?

Rather than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) has been assigned the responsibility to maintain and update this list. Little is known about this board.

To: Armed Forces Pest Management Board

From: Denise Trabbic-Pointer

e-mail: osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb-tactical-herbicides@mail.mil

RE: Request to add Fort Ord to the DoD List of locations where herbicide active ingredients were stored and used

April 6, 2024

Introduction

I am a Chemical Engineer with a BS and MS in Hazardous Materials Management, a career EHS professional and a Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM) Emeritus. My education and EHS career included an emphasis on the health impacts and effects of exposure to chemicals in the workplace. I retired in January 2019 after 42 years with DuPont. The last 7 years were with a spin-off company, Axalta Coating Systems, as their Global Environmental Competency Leader. Since May 2019, I have been the Sierra Club – Michigan Chapter, Toxics & Remediation Specialist, working nationally as a technical resource for communities impacted by releases of toxics to air, water and/or soil.

For nearly one year now, I have read, researched, and written extensively about the historic and current contamination at Fort Ord. I’ve researched and assessed the cumulative and synergistic impacts of the numerous chemical contaminants in soil, wastes and groundwater to human health and the environment and have heard the heart-breaking stories of deadly illnesses experienced by veterans and their families that lived and worked there. The relatively new data indicating the presence of high levels of pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the base was yet another unpleasant, but not unexpected finding. This new discovery of the presence and extensive use of Agent Orange (AO) at the base was devastating in its implications in addition to everything else we already knew.

The potential exposures to the active ingredients in AO during the time that it was used at the base cannot be overstated. The people that applied it, mixed it, and maintained the equipment used for spraying, solders training in areas where it was used, families captive in their homes downwind of where it was used or made airborne by excavation activities and prescribed burns across the base. And so many more ways they could have been exposed. And the insidious properties of Agent Orange after the active ingredients were past their half-lives and gone, dioxin and furans remained.

Health outcomes from exposure to AO

The VA has recognized certain cancers and other health problems as presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service. Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for benefits for these diseases. A list of diseases is located at this link. Five more diseases are proposed in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 38 CFR Part 3, RIN 2900–AR10, Updating VA Adjudication Regulations for Disability or Death Benefit Claims Related to Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents.

Health outcomes from exposure to dioxin/furans

The CDC assessed health hazards from Dioxins, Furans and Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls and links to other agency findings are located at this link.

EPA Dioxin Website.Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (“dioxins”) are persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals characterized by EPA as probable human carcinogens. It also biomagnifies similar to PCB where animals eat impacted foliage and other animals eat them through the food chain and dioxin levels are increasingly magnified. People near dioxin-impacted environmental media (soil, water, air) can be exposed to dioxin through oral, dermal and inhalation routes. Any burn areas where chlorinated solvents and/or used oil was included will likely include dioxin in the list of soil/GW contamination.

Active movement and remediation of soil containing dioxin would likely have been cause for particulate to become airborne. This risk would have been particularly increased when the facility was performing closure activities (1995 to final closure activity).

Furans should be included whenever mentioning dioxin as they are created in essentially the same manner. There are 210 different dioxins and furans. All dioxins have the same basic chemical "skeleton," and they all have chlorine atoms as part of their make-up. Furans are similar but have a different "skeleton".Furan is listed in the Department of Health and Human Services list of carcinogens andconsidered as possibly carcinogenicby the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

How dioxin/furans are created (specific to chemicals and activities at Fort Ord)

Dioxins are mainly byproducts of industrial practices. They are produced through a variety of incineration processes, including improper municipal waste incineration, and burning of trash, and can be released into the air during natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes.

At Fort Ord, wherever waste, trash or other materials were burned are likely locations where dioxin/furans could be found. A common practice at Fort Ord was to perform prescribed burns prior to munitions cleanup. The following is from the 2019 document OE-0973, Prescribed Burn Frequently Asked Questions: Former Impact Area, from the Fort Ord Base Realignment and Closure Office.

A prescribed burn at Fort Ord

“Prescribed burns are an important part of the munitions cleanup and are also required under an agreement between the Army and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a part of the Installation-Wide Multispecies Habitat Management Plan.

The prescribed burn will make the ground surface accessible for safe munitions removal to follow.”

Because closure of Sites at Fort Ord were historically confirmed and accepted by relevant agencies, there is no recourse that we are aware of to request that areas should be resampled using today’s advanced analytical methods and knowledge of the hazards of the contaminants. But what is a legitimate request from veterans and their families is to insist that ATDSR include this information and considerations in their new review of health hazards posed to people living and working at Fort Ord during the time period they have determined and through facility cleanup activities.

Documented evidence of the storage and use of Agent Orange at Fort Ord

The following are documents and facts regarding the use of and potential exposure to Agent Orange and dioxin/furans by veterans, their families and other workers that lived and worked at Fort Ord Army base on Monterey Bay in California.

According to the VA, the two active ingredients in the Agent Orange herbicide combination were equal amounts of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), which contained traces of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The dioxin TCDD was an unwanted byproduct of herbicide production. The following are documents and facts regarding the use of and potential exposure to Agent Orange and dioxin/furans by veterans, their families and other workers that lived and worked at Fort Ord Army base on Monterey Bay in California.

In summary, new information includes:

1. There is documented evidence that indicates the active ingredient of Agent Orange was stored and extensively used at Fort Ord.

2. There was potential exposure, not only to Agent Orange, but also to dioxin/furans across a large portion of Fort Ord.

3. Exposure to these chemicals posed serious health hazards to veterans, their families and other people living at Fort Ord historically and throughout closure activities.

4. There are gaps in historic data and information about the potential exposure to Agent Orange by veterans and their families that lived and worked at Fort Ord, primarily because RCRA and site closure documents do not always include dioxin/furans as possible analytes. There is also increased knowledge about the hazards of these chemicals and these facts need to be considered in the current ATSDR Fort Ord reevaluation as well as any new claims submitted to the VA.

Key documented proof that Agent Orange (AO) was used at Fort Ord

From the VA, Citation Nr: 1235530, Decision Date: 10/15/12, Archive Date: 10/23/12, DOCKET NO. 09-49 139, https://www.va.gov/vetapp12/files5/1235530.txt

“Notably, the Veteran has submitted a letter from the Department of the Army, dated in December 1980, noting that the Pest Control Shop at Fort Ord had monthly records dating back to January 1973 of all herbicides used on that installation, and that 2-4-5 T and 2-4 D usage was included in the records.”

·POISON OAK CONTROL WORK AT FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA Floyd L. Otter Management Agronomist U.S. Army, Fort Ord, California, Not Dated

https://ucanr.edu/repository/a/?a=164771

AO wastes stored at Fort Ord – Further documented proof

The precise building or location referred to as the “Pest Control Shop” by veterans where AO was reportedly stored could not be confirmed. However, available information suggests that wastes containing AO active ingredients, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, were stored at the DRMO Hazardous Waste Container Storage Unit located near what is currently the Arts Park at the former East Garrison.

The following cited documents confirm that wastes containing AO active ingredients were stored at the DMRO Hazardous Waste Container Storage Unit.

When no longer useful if its intended purpose or if accidentally released to the environment, Agent Orange is a hazardous waste. Subpart D, 40 CFR 261.31 of RCRA includes a list of hazardous wastes from non-specific sources (aka F-Codes). F027 on the list is the hazardous, waste code for the active ingredients of AO and is characterized by EPA as “Discarded unused formulations containing tri-, tetra-, or pentachlorophenol or discarded unused formulations containing compounds derived from these chlorophenols.” F027 is agent orange.

“Draft” Final Closure Plan for the DRMO Container Storage Unit, Appendix B is the 1995 Part A RCRA permit application and it indicates that up to 1,000 lbs/year of F027 waste might be stored in the DMRO Container Storage Unit prior to offsite disposal. The Part A permit is a regulatory document that was signed and certified by responsible Department of Defense personnel.

RCRA Closure Certification Report, DMRO Hazardous Waste Container Storage Unit, Former Fort Ord, California, December 6, 2000. Section 5.0 Summary and Conclusions of document BW-2083 (page 12) assesses that approximately 54 cubic yards of soil was removed as part of the RCRA closure of the container storage unit and was taken to the OU2 landfill “for use as the foundation layer”. Appendix E of the same document includes analytical results of chemicals from soil and sediment samples as well as equipment confirmatory rinsate samples from RCRA closure activities of the DMRO Hazardous Waste Container Storage Unit.

Components of AO, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, are not included in the Appendix E Chemical Data Report, likely because of their short half-lives in the environment. However, 2,4,5- and 2,4,6- trichlorophenol are on the Chemical Data Report. 2,4,5-trichlorophenol is an intermediate in the manufacture of the herbicide 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4,5-T) and as a fungicide and bactericide.

What is notable about the Appendix E Chemical Data Report is that dioxin and furans were not included in the analyses, even though they are known byproducts of Agent Orange and records indicate that waste AO was stored at the DRMO Storage Unit. “Dioxins and furans” is the abbreviated or short name for a family of toxic substances that all share a similar chemical structure and are noted for their toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative properties. Dioxins, in their purest form, look like crystals or a colorless solid. Most dioxins and furans are not man-made or produced intentionally but are created when other chemicals or products are made. Of all of the dioxins and furans, one, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dibenzo-dioxin (2,3,7,8 TCDD) is considered the most toxic. The fact that DoD did not include analysis for dioxin/furans under the DRMO Storage Unit is a significant gap in information that the DoD should include in their review and that ATSDR should take into consideration in their current reevaluation.

The other disturbing discovery from document BW-2083 is that the DoD followed proper closure of the DRMO Hazardous Waste Container Storage Unit by excavating soil from under the Storage Unit. However, what they did with the soil that was removed was to take it to the OU2 landfill “for use as the foundation layer”. Suffice it to say, using known impacted soil to line a landfill is not a great idea. The OU2 landfill was and continues to be the source of significant groundwater contamination at Fort Ord, including Trichloroethylene (TCE) and other chlorinated solvents as well as per- and polyfluorinated substance (PFAS). The DoD has operated a groundwater pump and treatment system since the mid-1990s, with limited success initially, to control the spread of the contaminants and with some success more recently. They continue to monitor the groundwater on a regular basis but to my knowledge, dioxin/furans have not been included in any of the analyses. This is yet another consideration for the DoD to review and the ATSDR to include in their current reevaluation of the health hazards posed to human health at Fort Ord over the years..

Taken together, the above referenced documents and related information confirms the use and storage of Agent Orange at Fort Ord and the likely exposure routes for veterans and their families that lived and worked there. For these reasons, Ford Ord must be added to the “DoD List of Locations Where Tactical Herbicides and Their Chemical Components Were Tested, Used or Stored Outside of Vietnam.”

Respectfully submitted,

Denise Trabbic-Pointer, MS, BS, CHMM Emeritus

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

I will be travelling to Ireland, UK, and Germany in July and to Japan in August to meet up with environmental activists to test surface waters draining from industrial and military sites. It’s important work. It draws attention to the issue! I’m trying to arrange it so that I don’t have to take a bath. Please help! Each test kits costs $70. Please make a note that your contribution is for testing waters in Europe and Japan. - Thanks, Pat

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Downs Law Group helps to make this work possible. Their support allows us to research and write about military contamination in Ireland and around the world.

The firm is working to provide legal representation to individuals in the U.S. and abroad with a high likelihood of exposure to trichloroethylene, PFAS, and other contaminants.

The Downs Law Group employs attorneys accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist those who have served in obtaining VA Compensation and Pension Benefits they are rightly owed.

If you spent time in the military and you think you or your dependents may be sick as a result of your service, think about joining this group to learn from others with similar issues.

Are you interested in joining a multi-base class action lawsuit pertaining to illnesses stemming from various kinds of environmental contamination? Contact James Bussey at busride1969@hotmail.com

Consider joining the Veterans & Civilians Clean Water Alliance Facebook group. 2,700 members and growing.

Categories: G1. Progressive Green

Renew Economy - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 16:12

Queensland quadruples storage capacity of Stanwell battery to make it the biggest in the state as it seeks to lock in renewable transition.

The post Queensland quadruples size of Stanwell Tesla battery to make it biggest in the state appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Categories:

Mining.Com - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 15:46

Battery material innovator CarbonScape announced Wednesday the appointment of Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles, Jay Kim, and Darryl Robinson to its leadership team, spearheading the next stage of the company’s growth.

Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles joins CarbonScape as the new chief commercial officer, having previously served as CCO of Vulcan Energy Resources and executive director of corporate strategy at Infinity Lithium.

Ledoux-Pedailles will lead CarbonScape’s global commercial strategy, drawing on his track record for strong commercial outcomes in the battery technology space. With an initial focus on European investors and offtakers, he will be based in France.

Jay Kim joins as the new chief product officer. He brings extensive leadership expertise in the sector from his time at Northvolt and Samsung SDI. Utilizing his depth of battery science knowledge acquired over the last two decades, Kim will be driving CarbonScape’s technological innovation and will be based in South Korea.

Darryl Robinson joins as the new chief financial officer, bringing over 20 years of experience spanning the high-growth technology sector and large corporations. Robinson will be leading CarbonScape’s financial strategy as it commercializes biographite and scales production to meet skyrocketing demand.

Last year, CarbonScape received an $18 million investment to jumpstart the commercialization of biographite in Europe and the US, enabling cleaner lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. The new hires will play an important role in facilitating CarbonScape’s commercialization plans as the company scales, it said.

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Pittsburghers for Public Transit - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 15:14

image description: PPT Members who attended the transit Rider Transit Worker Solidarity workshop pose after their workshopPPT’s Spring Training was a SUCCESS! So much energy, so many workshops, so many members built build bonds together. Our organizing will be stronger because of it all!

It is with great joy that PPT members declare our first-ever day-long organizer training a HUGE SUCCESS! For the last two months a Planning Committee of 9 members have been hard at work preparing a big day of skills-building. The committee first surveyed the membership to find out what skills people were interested in developing. They then took those responses and created an agenda of 10 workshops to dive deeper into those topics. They recruited 18 other members with skills to lead those workshops. And finally, they promoted the event and got nearly 50 members to join for the day of!

If you joined us at the 2024 PPT Member Spring Training, please fill out a survey asap to let us know what to improve for next year!Fill Out a Spring Training Attendee Surveyimage description: PPT Members smile during one of 10 member-developed workshopsCheck out the schedule of amazing workshops that were all led by members! And keep an eye out – we’ll be sharing recordings in the coming weeks if you missed it.

• A Vision for Equitable Transit Service, co-facilitated by Bo Fan and Amy Zaiss
• How to Make Our Transit More Accessible, co-facilitated by Brian Hatgalatkas, Laura Perkins, and Margot Nikitas
• Sustaining Yourself in Movement Organizing, co-facilitated by Fawn Walker-Montgomery and Samey Jay
• Art Making for Movements, facilitated by Marcel Walker
• Press Training, Amplifying our Voices Through the Media, facilitated by Patrick McGinty
• Worker and Rider Solidarity, co-facilitated by Akshai Singh and Marcus McKnight
• Creating Presentations, facilitated by Dean Mougianis
• Power Mapping, co-facilitated by Aly Shaw and Gabriel McMorland
• How to Be An Ally to our Disability Constituency, co-facilitated by Alisa Grishman and Monica Still
• Canvassing at Bus Stops & on Buses, co-facilitated by Ms. Teaira Collins and Connor Chapman

Beyond our members from Allegheny County, we had attendees join us from our Transit Riders of the US Together (TRUST) coalition- coming to PGH from as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Columbus, Kansas City, and Denton, Texas!

You best believe we had a very happy Happy Hour celebration afterward!Image Description: Marcus McKnight from Philadelphia and Akshai Singh from Cleveland smile with PPT Staffer Nicole GallagherEnormous THANK YOU! To all of the PPT members who led one of 10 amazing member-developed workshops!Akshai Singh

Alisa Grishman

Alisa Grishman is a disability activist and founder of Access Mob Pittsburgh, an advocacy group that utilizes positive approaches to making change, such as education and economic incentives. A self-described shameless agitator, Grishman has also been arrested multiple times fighting for disability rights with ADAPT, a national advocacy group. Her work has been recognized locally and nationally in such outlets as the Rachel Maddow Show, NPR, Huffington Post, Esquire Magazine, KDKA News, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Along with her direct advocacy work, Grishman co-runs Ballots for Patients and Care to Vote, sister efforts that respectively collect emergency absentee ballots from hospitalized peoples on election day and work with nursing and personal care homes to help residents register to vote and fill out ballots. In her free time, Grishman enjoys knitting and collecting antique books. She lives in the Uptown neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA.

Aly Shaw

Aly Shaw is a Research Analyst working in the state power mapping program at LittleSis. She works with activists and base building groups around the country to conduct power research on corporations, billionaires, and rightwing groups. Based in Pittsburgh, she previously spent 8 years as an environmental justice organizer at Pittsburgh UNITED and labor organizer at UFCW Local 1776. Over the years she has led campaigns to prevent the privatization of Pittsburgh’s water system, to make drinking water safer and more affordable, and organized grocery store workers to win higher wages and safer working conditions during the COVID 19 pandemic. She received her BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master’s in Public Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

Amy Zaiss

Amy Zaiss has been a transit rider and cyclist all of her life, having lived car-free for the past fifteen years in five major cities. Her strong belief that better public transportation improves the quality of life for everyone led her to join Pittsburghers for Public Transit shortly after moving to the area in 2021. She contributed to PPT’s Represent Our Routes Report – a comprehensive analysis of the state of transit in Pittsburgh at the district level. Though it was her first introduction to speaking with elected representatives, it was not her last. She continues to stay involved with PPT and holds a leadership position in Pro-Housing Pittsburgh. When she’s not volunteering, you might spot her around town riding her e-bike.

Bo Fan

Brian Hatgelakas

Connor Chapman

Dean Mougianis

Dean Mougianis has been a media producer for fifty years and an educator for thirty years. As a producer, writer, video editor and motion graphic artist, Dean has worked with a wide range of projects and clients, both commercial and non-profit. In the nineteen seventies was among the group of people who put community radio station WYEP on the air and served as an early station manager As an educator Dean has taught courses and workshops in various aspects of video production from beginner to advanced for Pittsburgh Filmmakers, as well as local colleges and unviersities. An early convert to digital media, Dean now specializes in teaching motion graphics and animation.

Fawn Walker-Montgomery

Fawn Walker Montgomery is a community leader, healer, activist, and consultant who is deeply committed to supporting her community, advocating for social justice, promoting Black Liberation, and advancing racial equality. She’s the principal consultant at Fawn Walker Montgomery Consulting and CEO/Co- Founder at Take Action Advocacy Group (TAAG). Fawn has extensive experience in public service and human services. She served two terms as a councilwoman in McKeesport and made history as the first Black woman to run for a State seat in the Mon Valley without a major party endorsem*nt. Fawn’s mental and physical health suffered significantly as a result of years of hard work. After bravely facing a life-threatening battle with endometriosis in the public eye, she decided to start a blog. The purpose of her blog was to raise awareness about holistic natural remedies, such as herbalism, and the healing power of ancestral connections. Additionally, she shed light on the injustices faced by Black women in the medical field. She has a strong belief in using community organizing to push for change.

Gabriel McMorland

As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.

Laura Perkins

As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.

Marcel Walker

As Casa San Jose’s Human Rights Organizer, Laura Perkins is on-call 24/7 to respond to immigration and police detentions in southwest Pennsylvania. With the goal of a Pittsburgh region that is safe for all immigrants, Laura runs monthly new arrival orientations, Know Your Rights sessions, a jail visitation program, and legal clinics. She coordinates the Fondo Solidario, which pays immigration bonds and loans money to victims of workplace violations. Before working at Casa San Jose, Laura did human rights work in Honduras and Nicaragua, throughout two political crises. In her free time, you can find Laura legally observing protests, playing ultimate frisbee, and looking for window cats.

Marcus McKnight

Marcus McKnight is a lifelong resident of the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia with over 15 years of experience both working in the transit industry and advocating for better public transit. He has past experience working at SEPTA in the planning and customer service sectors. He has served as the chairperson of SEPTA’s Youth Advisory Council and was a part of a team that was instrumental in restoring all night subway service in Philadelphia. He is currently a schoolteacher, transit operator and cofounder of the Philly Transit Riders Union which is an advocacy organization that highlights the viewpoints of transit riders and transit employees.

Margot Nikitas

Monica Still

Monica Albert Still, RN, BSN is an adult with Spina Bifida who is proud to be among the first generation of kids with SB on the threshold of Senior Citizenship. Monica spent most of her life in Connecticut. She has spent her nursing career keeping people in the community. Working her way from client care in the home to starting two Home Health Care Agencies as the administrator, she decided to take on a new challenge. After 30 years in nursing, she has now turned her focus to the advocacy part of nursing and serving her community on a broader level. She is involved in advocacy at the local, state and national levels. Monica currently serves as a board member of Access Mob Pittsburgh. She is honored to serve as the secretary of the board for Disability Rights PA, chair fior the Mental Health Advisory Council and member of the CT Health Law Project board. She is on the planning committee for Disability Pride Pittsburgh. She is also a founding member of the SBA Adult Advisory Council and continues to serve to this day as well as serving on various other committees. She combines care with advocacy.

Patrick McGinty

Samey Jay

Samey Jay is a passionate organizer invigorated by her early experiences during the Occupy movement and her working-class background, she believes that our activism must be accessible, impactful to, and most importantly, grassroots-led. She was a founding member of Fight Back Pittsburgh, a community-labor affiliate organization of the United Steelworkers local 3657. Samey has developed digital organizing strategies and communications for local campaigns around Affordable Housing, Environmental, Racial, and Economic Justice, and has coordinated marshalls and volunteers for marches and public demonstrations around Pittsburgh for over 6 years. Samey’s activism is informed by intersectional ideals that prioritize wellness above all else. Samey now works for Thomas Merton Center as a community organizer.

Teaira Collins

The post First-ever PPT Spring Training was a HUGE SUCCESS! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

Categories: Z. Transportation

Allegheny Front - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:52

The center features organisms intentionally altered through domestication, selective breeding or genetic engineering. The book asks if we humans could be considered postnatural ourselves.

The post Book illuminates Pittsburgh’s Center for PostNatural History appeared first on The Allegheny Front.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Solar Industry Magazine - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:36

EnCap Energy Transition has closed its Energy Transition Fund II (EETF II) with $1.5 billion in commitments, the company says.

EnCap has made investment commitments to five portfolio companies through EETF II so far: Linea Energy, Parliament Solar, PowerTransitions, Arbor Renewable Gas and Bildmore Renewables.

“The EnCap Energy Transition team is proud to have raised a sizable pool of capital to continue to invest in the opportunity created by the shift to a lower-carbon energy system. We greatly appreciate the strong support from our existing investor base and are pleased to have added a number of new, high-quality investors, both domestically and internationally,” says Jim Hughes, EnCap managing partner.

“Since our inception in 2019, we now manage approximately $2.7 billion of capital commitments to invest in decarbonization and are excited for the opportunities ahead of us.”

Vinson & Elkins served as legal counsel to EnCap on the fund’s formation.

The post EnCap Energy Transition Closes $1.5B Energy Transition Fund II appeared first on Solar Industry.

Categories:

Pittsburghers for Public Transit - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:29

PRT’s New Stroller policy should include public input from the disabled community.

The stroller policy on PRT is inhabiting the ability for disabled riders to get on the bus, or be safe while on the bus. PRT is choosing to prioritize strollers instead of making the buses accessible for everyone. With no guidance on how strollers should be stored while open for safety, and no policy on how to navigate using mobility device spaces on the buses for strollers, it is difficult for riders and operators to navigate situations where open strollers are inhabiting spaces where people using mobility devices need to be to ride the buses, and be secured to ensure their safety while on buses.

There are two spaces for mobility devices on buses that carry from 40 to 60 passengers. We have heard from disabled riders that they are often passed up on buses because there is no space for them. It is already likely that these spaces are used. Allowing open strollers on buses crowds these spaces even faster, making it difficult for disabled riders to even be let onto buses to get to where they need to go throughout their day.

We are at a critical point for making our transit more accessible for everyone in Allegheny County. The PPT accessibility committee and other members of our organization have created a letter to the PRT board that we hope to read at the upcoming meeting on Friday, May 24th, 2024, where we will ask for changes that could positively impact the disabled ridership in Allegheny County.

We at PPT are ready to speak out in hopes that PRT will begin to make changes that are better for everyone.

Join PPT’s Accessibility Committee and testify to the PRT Board to call for a more accessible policy: Read a copy of the PPT Accessibility Committee’s statement on the new stroller policy:

PPT Statement on New Stroller Policy

In the second half of 2023, PRT adopted a new stroller policy allowing open strollers on buses. Unlike other large transit agencies such as MTA and SEPTA who have recently revised their stroller policies, PRT did not obtain community feedback prior to this change and did not issue the new policy in conjunction with changes to bus designs to accommodate strollers outside of the accessible seating area. As a result, the change was made suddenly and without the engagement that would have alerted PRT to issues now being seen throughout the bus system.

Since the new policy was announced, people who use wheelchairs and scooters have been denied access to buses as a result of open strollers parked in the accessible seating area. Drivers have passed them at bus stops when open strollers are already present in the accessible seating area, and riders with strollers have refused to move from accessible seats when requested by drivers. People with disabilities are already negatively impacted by PRT’s infrequent service and now must contend with additional lack of access to buses despite their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).

Further, the new stroller policy has not been implemented safely for children in strollers as well as other passengers. Open strollers are not consistently secured to prevent rolling while the bus is moving. Children are not always appropriately strapped into the stroller. People with disabilities attempting to use accessible seating often have difficulty maneuvering around a stroller in order to sit or safely park their wheelchair or scooter.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit, along with the undersigned organizations and community members, is deeply concerned about the development and implementation of this new policy. PRT failed to consult with people with disabilities, including the Committee for Accessible Transportation and the City-County Task Force on Disabilities, before making this change. The new policy has resulted in increased barriers for people who use wheelchairs and scooters, and we are troubled by implementation that appears to not comply with the ADA. It has also not been applied in a way that keeps riders, especially young children, safe. We are concerned that the failure to ensure both strollers and children are secure will result in harm to some of PRT’s most vulnerable riders.

In light of the above, PRT must take the following steps:

• Consistently enforce accessible seating priority being given to people with disabilities, as required under the ADA, and seniors.
• Provide training to drivers on the riders prioritized for use of the accessible seating area and how to navigate conflict over these seats.
• Create designated stroller areas on buses that allow for open strollers to safely be stored on the bus in an area separate from accessible seating.
• Require any open stroller to have its brakes engaged and be physically held by the individual controlling it.
• Obtain community input on a final version of the stroller policy that supports parents and children without denying people with disabilities access to the only seating area available for their use on the bus.

Join us at the next PRT meeting on Friday, May 24th, 2024 from 9:30am-10:30am at 345 6th Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 to share your story on how updating the stroller policy will impact your life as a PRT rider.

Join PPT’s Accessibility Committee and testify to the PRT Board to call for a more accessible policy:SIGN UP TO JOIN US

The post PPT’s Accessibility Committee Wants You To Speak Out for Updates to New Stroller Policy at PRT Board Meeting appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

Categories: Z. Transportation

Allegheny Front - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:24

Maryland National Guard's jets would have flown just 100 feet above the ground. Pa.'s two U.S. senators and others pressured the military to abandon the plan.

The post Plan for low flyovers of fighter jets above PA Wilds is grounded appeared first on The Allegheny Front.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Greenbelt Alliance - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:21

Greenbelt Alliance is excited to endorse Eden Housing’s proposed residential development 847 Woodside Road Housing Project in Redwood City. This 100% affordable housing development will include 86 new homes at varying affordability levels.

The project is centrally located on Woodside Road and close to essential amenities, such as a full-service supermarket and pharmacy. The SamTrans route 278 stops right next to the project site, and additional amenities—parks, additional shopping, community centers—are within walking distance. 847 Woodside Road is thoughtfully designed to maximize the quality of life for residents and upgrade the urban fabric along Woodside Road.

Social Benefits

In addition to bringing sorely needed affordable housing to San Mateo County, 847 Woodside Road includes additional social benefits to further advance housing equity. The development will provide extremely-low, very-low, and low-income housing at varying Area Median Income (AMI) levels, which facilitates a more equitable and inclusive development in an area typically not financially feasible to build affordable housing.

This project will also help deliver on the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)and Redwood City’s Housing Element goals of producing 6,882 new homes in the next eight years.

Transit Access for SMART Development

Our endorsem*nt to this project comes as it aligns with our climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—development criteria in several ways.

The development will promote alternative transportation by providing transit passes for residents and including approximately 86 secure bike parking spots (1:1). Importantly, the site is walkable or bikeable to two Caltrain stations and jobs within Redwood City. It will also comply with the City’s stringent standards to provide a variety of types of EV spaces. Such features of a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to GreenTRIP—a free online tool created by TransForm that models traffic and greenhouse gas impacts of residential projects in California—the 847 Woodside Road development project will result in:

1,521 fewer miles driven daily compared to the San Mateo County average.

57% fewer GHG impacts daily compared to the San Mateo County average.

41% less parking use daily compared to the San Mateo County average.

Greenbelt Alliance’s Climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—Development Endorsem*nt Program goals call for fully protecting the Bay Area’s greenbelt, directing growth into our existing communities, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a way that equitably benefits all Bay Area residents. Our Endorsem*nt Program provides support for projects that advance the right kind of development in the right places. By promoting climate SMART development, we can create thriving, resilient neighborhoods with ready access to transit and housing choices for all of the Bay Area’s people.

Find out more about our Endorsem*nt Program here. Feel free to contact our team for more information and support.

The post Greenbelt Alliance Endorsed: 847 Woodside Road appeared first on Greenbelt Alliance.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Solar Industry Magazine - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:20

Vesper Energy has sold its Deer Creek Renewable Energy project to what the company calls a leading Fortune 500 energy company.

The project is a solar and storage project located on 378 acres in Tulare County, Calif., with a potential generating capacity of 50 MW solar and 50 MW of energy storage capacity.

“We are excited about the sale of the Deer Creek Renewable Energy project, which showcases Vesper Energy’s strong growth and development portfolio in key renewable energy markets like California,” says Mark Rostafin, co-CEO at Vesper Energy. “We look forward to building on this momentum as we enter a new phase of growth.”

The post Vesper Energy Completes Sale of Deer Creek Project appeared first on Solar Industry.

Categories:

Public Advocates - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 8, 2024

Media Contact: Sumeet Bal, Director of Communications, 917.647. 1952, sbal@publicadvocates.org

Civil Rights Law Firm Urges CA College Leaders to Protect Rights of Students, Engage in Dialogue

San Francisco—Public Advocates, a 54-year-old civil rights law firm and advocacy organization that focuses on strengthening community voices—a central pillar of our democracy—is deeply concerned about the punitive actions and police violence that students on college campuses across our state and nation are facing for exercising their rights to free speech and assembly.

We are particularly alarmed by the silencing effect these harmful campus responses will have on student activism, especially from underrepresented and marginalized students who are often compelled to voice opinions that are regarded by those in authority roles as deeply unpopular or controversial. Punitive actions by campus administrators, like ordering police raids on peaceful student encampments, or issuing disciplinary consequences that deny peaceful student protesters the ability to complete coursework, access on-campus housing and other services, or graduate, not only harm students, but create a culture of intimidation.

Higher education institutions must provide safe settings for dialogue and the exchange of diverse opinions, including contentious debate and peaceful protests. As one protester recently proclaimed, “Nuanced conversations require empathy,” and we would add, engagement. Campus administrators have an obligation to meaningfully dialogue with students as critical and equal stakeholders in decision-making rather than respond to them with militarized force. It is unacceptable to ignore, pressure, or penalize students who are well within their constitutional rights to peacefully assemble and express their views. Moreover, it is incumbent on administrators to protect peaceful student protesters from violence and intimidation by outside agitators or others seeking to disrupt the exercise of free speech.

Student protests are a part of our country’s rich democratic history and have been integral to advancing social justice—on and off of college campuses. We call on university leaders to protect students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. Regardless of opinion, college administrators owe students an opportunity for expression and dialogue.

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Public Advocates Inc. is a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transportation equity, and climate justice.

The post Media Statement: Public Advocates Urges CA College Leaders to Protect Rights of Students, Engage in Dialogue appeared first on Public Advocates.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

North American Windpower - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:06

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a preliminary list of ten potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for such expansion.

DOE also announced minimum eligibility criteria for direct loans under the Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) program, which can finance project development in designated NIETCs.

The department is now seeking public input on both the preliminary list of potential NIETCs and the TFF program application and evaluation process.

“At more than a century old, our power grid is showing its age, leaving American consumers to bear the costs of maintaining it with frequent and longer power outages from extreme weather,” says U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is leveraging every tool to expand transmission and deploy more reliable, affordable, and clean power in every pocket of the nation.”

A NIETC designation unlocks federal financing and permitting tools to spur transmission development, including direct loans through the TFF program, public-private partnerships through the Transmission Facilitation Program and federal siting and permitting authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in certain circ*mstances. 

The potential NIETCs included in the list have one or more potential transmission projects currently under development whose deployment could be accelerated, as well as have the possibility of facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources.

DOE’s announcement initiates Phase 2 of the NIETC designation process, including opening a 45-day window for public comments on the geographic boundaries and potential impacts of these designations on environmental, community and other resources.

Following Phase 2, the department will prioritize which potential NIETCs move from the preliminary list to Phase 3, during which DOE will draft NIETC designation reports, conduct environmental reviews, proceed with government-to-government consultation with any impacted Tribal Nations as appropriate and engage in public feedback.

The post DOE Releases Initial High-Priority Area List for Accelerated Transmission Expansion appeared first on North American Windpower.

Categories:

Mining.Com - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:02

Critical minerals play a key role in advancing emerging technologies, such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. Improving access to these supplies should support a greener future. However, the associated global supply chain includes challenges and opportunities to address.

Concentration of supply

One of the current difficulties with the global supply chain for critical minerals is that too few countries produce most of them. For example, China is the top producer of many critical minerals, along with South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This concentration of supply could cause significant, rippling effects. For example, if a regional conflict affects one country, manufacturers worldwide could experience associated hardships.

Many countries have begun dedicated plans to increase domestic production, but getting meaningful results will take a while. For example, China produced more than 98% of the world’s gallium as of 2023. However, diversification doesn’t come easily or quickly. The U.S. has only one primary mining site for critical minerals.

Since establishing new mines in the country may take decades, scientists and corporate heads are eager to find secondary or little-known alternative sources. That essential work could reduce the current supply chain strain.

Opportunities also exist to create new technologies that use fewer or no critical minerals. Additionally, people must invest in recycling facilities that can reclaim some of those supplies. One company handles an average of 15,000 battery packs and modules monthly, highlighting the present demand for these services.

Sustainability

Many authority figures insist that companies, countries and individuals make progressively sustainable choices to shrink their carbon footprint. However, a reality that poses challenges and opportunities is that the processes used to obtain critical minerals are not traditionally sustainable. Many workflows must become entirely transformed to meet new emissions targets.

Fortunately, industry decision-makers have many possibilities to consider. For example, diesel suppliers serving industrial clients typically have wide distribution networks to keep their supply chains secure. These arrangements may reduce the overall distance diesel must travel to reach clients, substantially reducing the likelihood that clients will run out of fuel. The latter benefit supports sustainability.

Some mining company leaders are also using advanced data analytics tools to determine the most viable places before launching their extraction efforts. Such approaches are more sustainable because they allow making the most of time and resources without unnecessary harm to the environment. Estimates suggest one in every 100 potential sites becomes a mine. That means precision is an important part of making ongoing improvements.

Another possibility is to apply artificial intelligence to find high-quality ores and reduce mining’s downstream impact. It’ll likely take a while to make such efforts consistently viable. Even so, people must seize these opportunities to see what works well and what options may need further development before people use them in industrial environments.

Analysts warn that the global supply chain needs robust investment to keep pace with expected demands over the coming years. There’s no easy or universally applicable solution to make the necessary progress, but the possibilities explored above are worth further investigation by industry leaders.

(Ellie Gabelis an environmental science writer at Revolutionized)

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Mining.Com - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 13:03

VoltVision, the high voltage (HV) electrical data analytics business is continuing to expand across the African and Middle Eastern mining sectors. Following successful trials, it has acquired four new contracts with top-tier miners Barrick Gold, Centamin, Resolute Mining and Allied Gold, the company said.

These partnerships utilize VoltVision’s capabilities in the digitisation of complex high and medium voltage power grids, and the technology is helping mining companies to improve operational efficiencies and, in doing so, accelerating the decarbonisation of the industry.

Barrick Gold: Lumwana Project

Barrick’s Lumwana Mine in Zambia has partnered with VoltVision to gain a deeper understanding of its power performance, both at site and group level. VoltVision’s solutions have enabled the Lumwana operations team to monitor the electrical performance of the processing plant. This will improve efficiencies and help manage the relationship with the grid supplier through ongoing monitoring and billing verification. The customised reporting feature will also streamline the reporting process for the site management team.

Centamin: Sukari Mine

At Centamin’s Sukari Mine in Egypt, VoltVision will digitise three critical areas of the mine complex including the underground operations, the process plant and all power generation units – encompassing a recently installed 36MW solar park and 50MW of heavy-fuel operated power generators. VoltVision’s pioneering solutions will enable Sukari to better operate its Power Management System, maximise solar PV usage, and advance to automated real-time energy reporting.

Resolute Mining: Syama Project

Resolute Mining has partnered with VoltVision to gain better visibility into Syama’s medium voltage (MV) power network. VoltVision has retrofitted its solutions across Syama’s entire MV power networkenabling the site management team to monitor diesel generation, power usage and power quality. VoltVision has streamlined the reporting process, guaranteeing accuracy and availability by using customised reporting feature. This automatically populates all power reports needed across the site and at ExCo.

Allied Gold: Sadiola Project

At Allied Gold’s site, VoltVision has implemented a comprehensive monitoring solution, providing site-wide power digitisation. This has given the ExCo team unprecedented access to power usage and quality data across the entire processing plant, allowing them to identify areas for improved efficiency. VoltVisionhas also built a centralised multi-asset monitoring tool for the site management team.

“We are thrilled to be working with Centamin, Resolute Mining, Allied Gold and Barrick’s Lumwana complex in their respective efforts to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and address climate change,” Manoli Yannaghas, VoltVision managing director said in a news release.

“VoltVision is proud to be supporting an increasing number of leading miners in Africa and the Middle East on their journey to becoming more responsible users of power, tackling energy wastage and addressing carbon intensity.”

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry