In this special year-end episode of The Clean Energy Show, we reflect on the remarkable progress in clean energy throughout 2024. From groundbreaking renewable energy initiatives to significant policy changes and technological advancements, this year has been a monumental one for the transition to a sustainable future. Join Brian Stockton and James Whittingham as they delve into the stories that defined the year, sprinkle in a few laughs, and preview what lies ahead in 2025.

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• California’s $2,000 Electric Bike Vouchers: A wildly successful program that ran out in minutes.
• Record Investments in Clean Energy: A staggering $2 trillion in 2024, double the amount spent on fossil fuels.
  Learn more
• Tesla Co-Founder’s Battery Recycling Breakthrough: Redwood Materials achieves 95% efficiency in critical mineral recovery.
  Read the full story
• Britain’s Coal-Free Milestone: The UK becomes the first G7 nation to close all coal plants, with renewables dominating its energy mix.
• China’s Offshore Solar and Wind Records: A 1GW floating solar PV facility and the world’s first 26MW wind turbine set new benchmarks.
• Pakistan’s Solar Surge: The country adds 17GW of solar capacity, revolutionizing its energy landscape.
  Dive deeper
• Paris Olympics and Sustainable Transport: A model for urban cycling and reduced car reliance.

• Major Victory in Montana Climate Lawsuit: A landmark ruling upholding youth climate advocates' rights.
  Full decision here
• Poland’s Coal Exit Accelerates: On track to phase out coal entirely by 2032.
• Hudson Bay’s Christmas Heatwave: Temperatures projected to soar 20°C above historical averages.
• Innovative Floating Wind Technology: Mingyang Smart Energy's "V"-shaped OceanX turbine goes live.

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Copyright 2024.

Welcome to episode 242 of The Clean Energy Show! This week, we explore a groundbreaking proposal to connect Europe's and North America's power grids using undersea cables, a move that could revolutionize clean energy by balancing solar and wind production across continents. California is launching a new program offering free e-bikes to low-income residents, but there's a catch: applicants must sit through climate change and e-bike safety videos. Meanwhile, OPEC faces a harsh reality check as oil demand peaks much sooner than anticipated, leaving petrostate politicians scrambling. And in New York City, plans for mandatory e-bike license plates spark controversy.

Also in the show: Mercedes gets the green light for Level 3 autonomous driving in Germany, GM pulls the plug on its Cruise robo-taxi business, and BC Hydro opens a powerful new EV charger in British Columbia. All this and more, including the ever-illuminating Lightning Round!

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Main Stories

• California's Free E-Bike Program: Read more.

• Transatlantic Power Grids: Full report.

• OPEC’s Oil Demand Reality Check: Read the full analysis.

Other Highlights

• Mercedes-Benz's DRIVE PILOT gets approval in Germany for Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing drivers to legally read, work, or watch TV while the car drives itself.

• GM halts its Cruise self-driving taxi operations after safety incidents.

• BC Hydro opens a new 350 kW EV charger in Oyama, BC, significantly improving EV travel in the region.

Listener Mail

The Lightning Round

• US Supreme Court upholds California’s right to set its own vehicle emissions standards.

• Global renewable energy installations hit a record 560 GW in 2023, compared to just 7.1 GW of new nuclear.

• EV battery life may last 40% longer than previously estimated.

• Study finds only 1% of EV owners would switch back to gas-powered cars, with cost savings being the primary reason.

• BYD plans to introduce 6C charging technology, enabling 10-80% charging in just 7 minutes.

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We’re also preparing our year-end wrap-up! Let us know what stories from 2024 stood out to you and how you feel about the progress made this year.

Thank you for listening to The Clean Energy Show! See you next week!

This week, we dive into the latest advancements in clean energy and sustainability! A universal ‘Plug and Charge’ protocol for EVs is set to roll out in 2025, promising a seamless, app-free charging experience for all electric vehicles. In Boston, a groundbreaking program prescribes solar power to low-income patients—an innovative approach to health and energy security. Meanwhile, scientists uncover a surprising factor contributing to global warming: the Earth is dimming, with reduced cloud cover playing a significant role.

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We also welcome back a beloved guest with a special EV announcement and discuss listener mail on passive solar building codes, spinning homes, and solar history. All that and much more, including quick updates on Hyundai’s fast-charging push in India and the Pope’s new electric ride!

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• EV Charging Revolution: Learn how the upcoming universal 'Plug and Charge' protocol will streamline charging for all EV drivers. Source.
• Solar Power Prescriptions: Boston doctors prescribe solar energy to improve health and prevent utility cutoffs for vulnerable patients. Source.
• The Earth’s Dimming: Reduced cloud cover is accelerating global warming, adding a new layer of urgency to climate action.
• Listener Mail: Insights into passive solar design and how cities like Davis, CA, led the way in sustainable building practices.
• Pope’s New EV: Mercedes-Benz unveils an all-electric popemobile, showcasing the intersection of sustainability and tradition. Source.

• Seaweed for Cattle: Feeding seaweed to cows cuts methane emissions by 40%.
• Kenya’s Renewable Transformation: From 60% fossil fuels in 2000 to just 6% today.
• Egypt’s Renewable Ambitions: 18.6 GW of new wind and solar by 2030.
• Battery Price Drop: Lithium-ion battery packs see the steepest price decline since 2017. Here's a gift link to the Bloomberg article.
• Heat-Related Deaths

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