Energy Efficiency, Microgrids, Regulation, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 19, 2019

Weekend reads: UPS & Amazon's last mile; NY's green deal

It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:

UPS and Amazon: A tale of 2 last-mile sustainability strategies (Supply Chain Dive)  The last mile is an expensive mile. Figure out a way to reduce it, and you improve the bottom line. Or at least that’s the case for carriers, said Patrick Browne, director of global sustainability at UPS. With an average 60,000 UPS van drivers on the U.S. road each day, making 120 deliveries each, according to Browne, small tweaks can make a big difference in fuel efficiency and miles driven. In the era of e-commerce, sustainability in last-mile delivery is even more of a hot topic thanks to the Amazon effect. 

Governor Cuomo announced green new deal included in 2019 executive budget (governor.ny.gov)  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Green New Deal, a nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda that will aggressively put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality, is included in the 2019 Executive Budget. The landmark plan provides for a just transition to clean energy that spurs growth of the green economy and prioritizes the needs of low- to moderate-income New Yorkers. Video of the Governor making this announcement is available on YouTube here and in TV quality.

Smarter consumption, microgrids and PPAs: The answer to volatile energy markets? (The Energyst)  Strength and volatility have returned to commodity markets and non-commodity energy bill elements continue to rise. How can businesses navigate an increasingly complex environment? The Energyst asked energy experts. The tail end of 2018 saw several smaller energy suppliers going bust and the Capacity Market suspended. It underlined “how quickly things can change in the energy market”, according to Ben Spry, head of risk management at Npower’s Energy HQ.

All The Good News About Renewable Energy — From The US Department Of Energy (Clean Technica)  File this one under W for With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies? President* Trump front-loaded his 2016 campaign with a pledge to revive the US coal industry, but during his tenure the growth prospects for coal power have flatlined. The latest outlook on electricity generation from Trump’s own Department of Energy serves up the bad news for coal with a side of good news about renewable energy and some so-so news for natural gas, too. 

MSU students show off their designs at NAIAS (WNEM.com) The Motor City is living up to its nickname with the unveiling of the latest and greatest at the North American International Auto Show. It’s not just about sleek and shiny cars, but also brand-new, innovative technology changing the way of driving forever. “The goal of this is to design, build and then race a formula-style racecar every year,” said Curtis Lynn, with the Michigan State Formula Racing team. That’s exactly what Michigan State engineering students did over the summer. They raced their car against colleges from all across the United States. Not one inch of the car was engineered by professionals.

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