Heat Wave Death Toll Triples; Facebook, States Embrace Clean Energy
A recent heat wave in the Northwest claimed three times more lives than initially reported by news outlets. Meanwhile, CNN reports that Facebook plans to power a new data center in Arizona with solar energy, while Hawaii and New Mexico embrace innovative solutions for clean power and emissions monitoring.
In a grim revelation, the actual death toll from the June heat wave in the Northwest was three times higher than official estimates, according to news reports. This alarming figure underscores the urgent need for better heat wave preparedness and response, as reported by news sources.
In a more positive development, Facebook is investing $800 million in a new data center in Mesa, Arizona. The tech giant plans to power this facility with 450 MW of capacity from three new solar installations, demonstrating a commitment to renewable energy, as reported by news outlets.
Hawaii is also embracing clean energy. Crews have begun work on a 185 MW lithium-ion battery installation in Oahu, set to replace generation from a retiring coal-fired power plant, as reported by news sources.
In Wyoming, developers of an advanced nuclear reactor are seeking regulatory tweaks and a tax waiver to facilitate their project, which could significantly impact the state's energy landscape, according to news reports.
New Mexico regulators will soon employ stratospheric airships to pinpoint ground-level emissions sources, a novel approach to environmental monitoring, as reported by news outlets.
Despite a pause in oil and gas leasing on public lands, drilling activity in Wyoming has tripled, raising questions about the Interior Department's leasing policies, according to news sources.
A California natural gas-fired power plant that exploded in May has reopened, providing much-needed power to a heat-strained grid, as reported by news outlets.
The Biden administration's approach to drilling in New Mexico's Greater Chaco Region is under scrutiny as a critical test of its energy policy, according to news reports.
A new study warns that wildfire smoke blanketing the Western U.S. could lead to reduced rainfall by affecting cloud droplet formation, as reported by news sources.
Whitefish, Montana, is doubling down on efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, considering a full-time sustainability coordinator position, as reported by news outlets.
These developments highlight the complex nature of energy and environmental policy, with initiatives ranging from innovative clean energy projects to regulatory challenges and the impacts of climate change. Stakeholders continue to grapple with these issues, seeking balance between energy needs, environmental concerns, and public safety, as reported by news sources.
