GHG Emissions, Commercial, Industrial, Sourcing Renewables  -  October 1, 2016

Weekend reads: Geothermal on Mars; solar emissions; a 'flimsy attack on clear air,' & more

Every Saturday, we'll bring you five most interesting — or quirky; it is the weekend after all — energy stories from the prior week that you may have missed from around the web. This weekend's reads:

 Why Geothermal Energy Will Be Key To Mars Colonization (Forbes): If SpaceX founder Elon Musk truly wants to die a natural death on the Martian surface he’s not only going to have to get there, he’s going to have to survive there for years, if not decades. The latter arguably requires some sort of long-term source of energy. Initially, such energy could be provided by solar and radioisotope thermoelectric generators, but over a generation, Mars colonists will require some sort of in situ heat and electricity generated from the planet itself. 

Arizona Solar Power Plant Pays $1.5 Million In Emissions Violation Fines (KJZZ): One of Arizona's largest solar generating stations this week settled with Maricopa County Air Quality Department after dozens of emissions violations. The Solana Generating Station in Gila Bend opened three years ago to produce electricity for Arizona Public Service and is privately owned by Arizona Solar One.

A Flimsy Legal Attack on Clean Air (The New York Times editorial board): In eight years, President Obama has established a strong record in fighting climate change, including ambitious fuel efficiency standards aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks. But one very important part of his strategy remains in legal limbo — the Clean Power Plan, a rule created by the Environmental Protection Agency that would place strict limits on carbon dioxide emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants and would force many of the dirtiest to shut down.

SolarCity Names Finance Chief, Pairs With Citi on Solar Funds (The Wall Street Journal): SolarCity Corp. named a new chief financial officer and said it was teaming up with Citi on a program to finance more than $347 million in solar projects in the U.S.  SolarCity and Citi plan to form two funds, including one to fund $284 million of residential projects nationwide and another fund to finance $63 million of projects for small and midsize businesses in California.

Renault Beats Tesla And GM To The Punch With 250 Mile Range EV 'Available Now' (Forbes): There is one thing Tesla can be proud of: Automakers around the world are getting off their duffs. Today, French carmaker Renault announced at the Paris auto show that its fully electric “ZOE will be available for immediate sale with the Z.E. 40 battery enabling it to travel 400km NEDC.” The car is just one in a wave of longer-range EVs, launched by major automakers to compete with Tesla’s Model 3, which is not expected to appear in serious quantities before 2018.

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