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But you might already be aware of one obvious problem — the sun only shines on a particular area of the planet for roughly half of each day.","_key":"d61eea4c7a280"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7c61f464e797","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"e881a422f6bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The remaining 12 hours or so (aka nighttime) delivers no supply of solar energy, thus requiring either expensive storage capabilities or a reliance on other forms of electricity.","_key":"6f8e0b92b9210"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"00a02a1e6e7c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"8ac46bbb0ad30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Reflect Orbital’s answer"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1eaf790a12e8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Ben Nowack, the founder and CEO of a California-based startup company called Reflect Orbital, said he was ","_key":"33dc71cd4d980","_type":"span"},{"_key":"98dd0afe51e1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"inspired by this fundamental flaw"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in solar energy production and believes he’s found a solution.","_key":"b7d32dff4a5d"}]},{"_key":"85a9f62a96e5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Earlier this year, he spoke at the International Conference on Energy from Space and addressed the issue directly.","_key":"0eb0d86e41e00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"84d0d772617a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The problem is that solar energy is not available when we actually want it,” he said. “It would be really great if we could get some solar energy before the sun rises and after sunset, because then ","_key":"acf868230f570"},{"_key":"3f444ec02beb","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"you could actually charge higher prices"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and make a lot more money. 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One major ","_key":"878d4603a5f30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["8f6fb6b45f88"],"text":"concern","_key":"878d4603a5f31"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" involves not only the availability and cost of public charging stations.","_key":"878d4603a5f32"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"beba22cfed47"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a0a12db1142e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where things stand"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5e735df2ecd3"},{"_key":"93e6225542bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ffd91d54c76c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Over the course of the past year, surveys show that EV owners have become a lot happier with the availability and performance of public charging facilities. Reports also indicate a higher level of satisfaction with how much such stations cost and how long they take to deliver a charge."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But what really makes the process confusing is the fact that","_key":"28d583e4b1ee0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" there’s not a uniform price","_key":"ed61d1625208","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"bcbbd8abcf3d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7dc41fac9be6"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While the cost of a gallon of gas can vary greatly depending on location, supply, and other factors, there’s generally some amount of stability on a daily basis. 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If a particular charging station is experiencing greater usage, the cost can go up as a result. 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New reports show the initiative was even more popular than legislators anticipated.","_key":"67da1d6accc62","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a4bdca8e0863","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"$8 billion and counting","_key":"c92d97477f880","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d8a74172c0b4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to estimates released by the Joint Committee on Taxation, tax credits were expected to total about $2.4 billion during the first year and $4 billion in each of the two following years.","_key":"9ff1ab2fadda0"}]},{"_key":"2ff86e0636c5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d3a03e3d2d830","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Last year alone, however, Americans claimed more than $8 billion in credits. Three-fourths of that money went toward the installation of solar panels, leaving about $2 billion for a host of other eco-friendly home renovations."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The average solar panel tax credit ","_key":"c9388f4669b10","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"came in at about $5,000","_key":"8c025a57d967","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":", which is enough to cover roughly 30% of the total cost. For many homeowners, the investment can pay off in just a few years through annual energy savings that can top $2,000.","_key":"ccc57ade3775","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dfda94503206"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f0425dd7648f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While solar panels are by far the most common use of these Inflation Reduction Act subsidies, other household improvements can also save money while cutting emissions. 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Most prior arrangements have taken the form of “","_key":"2aad7edb22cb0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"2a4e2c802814","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"power purchase agreements"},{"text":",” which Google itself was instrumental in proliferating years ago.","_key":"142b70e58daa","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ac1ad0b39532","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That model has proven effective in providing reliable wind and solar energy, but Google admitted that it “has limitations.”","_key":"28802266576e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"95a06e9df2c7"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This time, the company is pursuing what it calls a “","_key":"ef39fe001f21"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"clean transition tariff","_key":"8852a7d723e3"},{"marks":[],"text":"” with NV Energy, implementing an arrangement that taps directly into the existing power grid and can deliver clean energy at all times … even in the absence of reliable wind or solar power supply.","_key":"946d790a9fbf","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a52d35c10941"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"05fd8f461178","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Though this is the first such agreement in place, Google confirmed that","_key":"a30e2fae7a420","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":" a similar project is underway","_key":"be2aa9f81a14","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with Duke Energy along the East Coast.","_key":"e8c021d7fc64"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What NV Energy is saying","_key":"d9b673b3d6060"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"02dbc6211b4c"},{"_key":"f5e46e63bf38","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Google execs aren’t the only ones excited about the deal. NV Energy President and CEO Doug Cannon","_key":"67830f7320050","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" celebrated the partnership","_key":"c96de452af04"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" as well as the “enhanced geothermal” technology being used to make it a reality.","_key":"9e7a49d454f8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"31bc548c86010","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“This innovative proposal will not be paid for by NV Energy’s other customers but will help ensure all our customers benefit from"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" cleaner, greener energy resources","_key":"443477ded530"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” he said.","_key":"0949117eef65"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"edd088c7b064"}]},{"publishDate":"2024-05-08","id":"SnPLRbtt","_rev":"wB0WK8lj43kJgbaPQGyidt","summary":"California is paving the way for a new era of clean energy storage.","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/07/climate/battery-electricity-solar-california-texas.html","_key":"d1ab665d3f8a","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_key":"9f2ca3e3f48d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As technology and creature comforts become a bigger part of our everyday lives and EVs are increasingly common on U.S. roads, America’s demand for electricity"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" has never been greater","_key":"a71bb3abd89c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". 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Since most of the demand occurs in the evenings, the formerly ample supply of solar power has dwindled, meaning that energy providers are forced to once again","_key":"f54fefaa6cc40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" turn to fossil fuels or natural gas","_key":"77a80a535183"},{"_key":"cf8ed4b59a95","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to ensure consistent service."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8df4d9197d75","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Of course, researchers are well aware of this fact … and there’s an ambitious project underway to meet the nation’s modern energy needs.","_key":"068e90dfd5ef0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"children":[{"text":"All about the batteries","_key":"43644f1a825c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"800a1cfca63b","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"California has long been at the forefront of advancements in solar power production, and now experts in that state are taking on the role of","_key":"6049a32a9c570"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" leading in the development of new batteries ","_key":"9b21268eac29"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"capable of storing that energy so it doesn’t go to waste.","_key":"157ee6065757"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e14f71b062a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In fact, more of these massive batteries have been produced in California than in any spot on the planet aside from China.","_key":"04c2a34356c20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"366c52b49220"},{"_key":"40fc3eb94741","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s the deceptively simple goal: Batteries ","_key":"2836eb12acda0"},{"_key":"9dc9e23b1f87","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"store excess solar power collected during the day"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and ","_key":"1f290ff921e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"send it back out after dark","_key":"6ba9a5f9cb27"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" when there’s a spike in demand. States like Texas and Arizona are also taking a leading role as the nation’s battery storage capacity is expected to double this year alone.","_key":"52bac076e082"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"_updatedAt":"2024-05-07T23:49:42Z","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"da2023f45aa0430f8e8ff7d937e66160ff1c6d7f","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/da2023f45aa0430f8e8ff7d937e66160ff1c6d7f-480x300.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/da2023f45aa0430f8e8ff7d937e66160ff1c6d7f-480x300.gif","size":2432701,"originalFilename":"28840619-e840-4668-a373-6d8df2474d15.gif","_rev":"wB0WK8lj43kJgbaPQGyeb3","_id":"image-da2023f45aa0430f8e8ff7d937e66160ff1c6d7f-480x300-gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"VdAT]0D*n~jsWY?wIBoJj@WV.8Mxn%bHf5%gRQWAbHoJ","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.05,"background":"#a86654","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#d9f5f9","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":9.09},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#04295b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#c39689","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.78},"vibrant":{"background":"#38629d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.38},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":9.09,"background":"#d9f5f9"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#2d3f67","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.54}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.6,"height":300},"isOpaque":true},"mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"Well Done Good Job GIF by Proven Energy","id":"dOrKc4pASvkZfdu5uz","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/ProvenEnergy-solar-panel-peter-sutrin-proven-energy-dOrKc4pASvkZfdu5uz"},"uploadId":"MWIRhTKT8Tk3hLIeeVdErJ4afn6QZScn","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"da2023f45aa0430f8e8ff7d937e66160ff1c6d7f","_createdAt":"2024-05-07T23:48:05Z","_updatedAt":"2024-05-07T23:48:05Z"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8904109589041093,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.945205479452055},"_type":"image"},"title":"Why Solar Energy Production Struggles To Meet Real-Life Electricity Demands","_createdAt":"2024-05-07T23:49:42Z","category":"energy","slug":"/story/2024/05/why-solar-energy-production-struggles-to-meet-reallife-electricity-demands","_id":"c441b063-5f6c-422a-a2c1-7e9f57be317e","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"_type":"story"},{"author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"slug":"/story/2024/04/which-company-operates-the-most-ev-charging-stations-hint-its-not-tesla","summary":"The investment is part of a long-term strategy to eliminate its carbon footprint.","body":[{"_key":"f875627af762","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"62ca18ebe5960","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As electric vehicles become a more common sight on U.S. roads, there’s still a major concern among motorists on the fence about possibly buying one. 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All of that driving has sparked concerns about carbon emissions, which the company is working to address.","_key":"ac1ec27549ad0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fc4959cf3831","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"93ecd798dc41","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f8ebd0eb86030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A fleet of Rivian EV vans are now making deliveries nationwide, which is a major factor in Amazon’s pledge to erase its carbon footprint. Of course, it also means there’s a huge need for chargers. At last count, there are"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" more than 17,000 chargers","_key":"1699eb6c6b44"},{"marks":[],"text":" installed outside roughly 120 of the company’s domestic warehouses.","_key":"8e2f9c4aa30c","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"794e52567a15","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"708f3dc4c3d20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though Amazon has walked back from its initial promise to make half of its deliveries emission-free by the end of the decade, it’s making more progress toward a zero-carbon goal than rivals like UPS and FedEx."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"17c23f1640bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Lots more work to do","_key":"4d345241c5450"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fb20fa41173c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Despite its progress, Amazon is still a long way from reaching net zero. In 2019, the company set a target of 2040 to achieve this goal … but evidence from the subsequent five years makes it seem all but impossible. Last year, Amazon emitted roughly","_key":"07d58938a7890"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" 71 million metric tons","_key":"ff85eaf504b8"},{"_key":"978c8fce0894","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of carbon dioxide — or 40% more than it did the year the company set its 2040 goal."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7d10fd1dd8d6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But with a massive investment in hardware and the added power demand of charging all these vehicles, Amazon has shown its commitment to practice what it preaches.","_key":"0f0a368ea8850"}]}],"publishDate":"2024-04-24","_rev":"88day3EElo7PwvFFgvu1Kv","id":"1hB6cJAs","image":{"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":0.9689138499160674,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8801369863013695,"x":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.26,"background":"#8d3514","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.07,"background":"#cab1af"},"vibrant":{"background":"#4d61b9","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.17},"dominant":{"background":"#423930","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.31},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#423930","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.31},"muted":{"background":"#a4a46c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.08,"background":"#cbae8e"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3648,"aspectRatio":1.5111847555923779,"height":2414},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VAGu%gxt00%4IAIxIp?wR;MuICjc~qNLD$IUxu00ae?b"},"uploadId":"wh6lOdkowFmy9SBVCVafbotG8hwO4v0A","sha1hash":"2203953d2e170864205e0d4ec6af619cea37f294","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2203953d2e170864205e0d4ec6af619cea37f294-3648x2414.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2203953d2e170864205e0d4ec6af619cea37f294-3648x2414.jpg","creditLine":"Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock","_rev":"88day3EElo7PwvFFgvtq2H","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":1180815,"assetId":"2203953d2e170864205e0d4ec6af619cea37f294","originalFilename":"sstk-14324174a.jpg","extension":"jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","_id":"image-2203953d2e170864205e0d4ec6af619cea37f294-3648x2414-jpg","description":"Mer electric vehicle charging points at Bramley Station. Mer UK, provide trusted EV charging networks that keep businesses and the public on the road and driving toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. With over 10 years of experience in the electric vehicle industry they are experts in their field.","_createdAt":"2024-04-23T22:13:55Z","_updatedAt":"2024-04-23T22:13:55Z"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0}},"_id":"7958da63-e696-41e3-b6d3-7c5a27f7bccf","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-04-23T22:14:36Z","title":"Which Company Operates The Most EV Charging Stations? 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And this makes sense, of course.","_key":"150b16dec98c0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"589e2bff6e4d","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"51f823473ea8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1afc8216489a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After all, not only are Californians generally interested in prioritizing renewable resources, but there’s also just"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a heck of a lot of sunshine","_key":"ff028932c965"},{"marks":[],"text":" there.","_key":"1b14d0943334","_type":"span"}]},{"_key":"d0c5235db74c","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/22/california-solar-duck-curve-rooftop/","_key":"c6a4e1f93436","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But could there actually be too many panels contributing to the state’s power grid? On the surface, it might sound like an absurd ","_key":"190896f4698d0"},{"text":"question","_key":"190896f4698d1","_type":"span","marks":["c6a4e1f93436"]},{"_key":"190896f4698d2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" … but it’s one that experts are seriously asking."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c7e0994b0691","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"3616cd05f0cf0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Solar energy by the numbers"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are new panels being added everyday, so it’s hard to find up-to-date statistics, but the most recent data available indicates that the state churns out almost ","_key":"0c1758b0e15a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"47 gigawatts of solar power","_key":"cfdbb3a7e249"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That’s enough to provide power to almost 14 million homes and it currently accounts for more than 25% of the state’s electricity output.","_key":"4792dbc78cca"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fd02cbb44e05"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"So what’s the problem? In a nutshell: ","_key":"0aab0af09c570","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"springtime","_key":"6966888739d8"},{"text":".","_key":"8073fb83d6c4","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6f548e8724c9"},{"_key":"eebfd9bc300d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The sun is out and the temperature is moderate, meaning energy supply is significantly higher than demand. This creates a scenario in which the cost of electricity is effectively below zero and some of the solar energy is wasted.","_key":"25e722125a1b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"A nationwide trend emerges","_key":"ea0fc894b3cb0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5b31c0ca09b4"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"45041704d973","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Other U.S. states are ramping up their installation of solar panels with incentives to homeowners who choose to add them to their property. But California’s lead might serve as","_key":"27f6e3cad7e90","_type":"span"},{"text":" a cautionary tale","_key":"aee91ce04466","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"11b212ac5cf5"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Incentives in that state are being rolled back and the formerly furious embrace of solar panels is cooling off significantly.","_key":"b17035bc83820"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f9bb806bdf00","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"6215f3d87e9f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Solar energy is still a valuable resource, though, and researcher Michelle Davis says officials just need to figure out the right balance for their respective states."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5af13fc798d7"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a9b9a8fea9d9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“These are not","_key":"716803705de70"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" insurmountable challenges","_key":"2212580a1833"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” she advised. “But they are challenges that a lot of grid operators have never had to deal with.”","_key":"f3206dceadbd"}],"_type":"block"}],"_type":"story","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"sha1hash":"a1705fdbab42dcde3a0b6b6f6b5c0c81f4f6495b","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/a1705fdbab42dcde3a0b6b6f6b5c0c81f4f6495b-7360x4912.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/a1705fdbab42dcde3a0b6b6f6b5c0c81f4f6495b-7360x4912.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-04-22T23:29:39Z","uploadId":"osVhgvBBKdbUN6YV3zsb5oQZarByCDo8","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_id":"image-a1705fdbab42dcde3a0b6b6f6b5c0c81f4f6495b-7360x4912-jpg","_rev":"EFEWKsR1ofK9Fv1ceUlgcL","description":"Frost-covered solar modules on a house roof on a winter's day, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"Farifo/imageBROKER/Shutterstock","_updatedAt":"2024-04-22T23:29:39Z","originalFilename":"sstk-14340507d.jpg","extension":"jpg","size":6478554,"assetId":"a1705fdbab42dcde3a0b6b6f6b5c0c81f4f6495b","metadata":{"blurHash":"V,IE@toct6t7ax_4s.t7t7a|t7oeofoLj[Roj?WBaej@","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":6.01,"background":"#4d3447","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#6a6798","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.5},"lightVibrant":{"population":1.76,"background":"#d9dafc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.05,"background":"#17090b"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.93,"background":"#928dc0"},"vibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#b74757","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":6.01,"background":"#4d3447","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":7360,"aspectRatio":1.498371335504886,"height":4912},"isOpaque":true}},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.5693146577396235,"height":0.8613706845207529,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9246575342465753,"x":0.5359589041095889}},"visibility":"true","_rev":"EFEWKsR1ofK9Fv1ceUlifi","slug":"/story/2024/04/too-much-power-the-downside-of-californias-solar-panel-boom"},{"slug":"/story/2024/04/old-meets-new-how-hightech-needs-are-increasing-the-demand-for-coal","visibility":"true","_updatedAt":"2024-04-19T22:10:56Z","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"48960c07eb85","markDefs":[{"_key":"68348df0c81f","_type":"link","href":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/data-centers-internet-power-source-coal/"}],"children":[{"_key":"4fec4e134acf0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You might have assumed that as technology improves, so would our collective pursuit of cleaner, renewable sources of energy. 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Some engineers today, however, believe they are on the cusp of producing a ","_key":"e9eac46283530"},{"_type":"span","marks":["7627147c4169"],"text":"method","_key":"e9eac46283531"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that can produce ","_key":"e9eac46283532"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a significant amount of renewable energy","_key":"e9eac46283533"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e9eac46283534"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although it might sound like a pipe dream, the fact is that similar technologies already exist in the formation of modern hydroelectric dams.","_key":"3dc52384d97a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73f4a8550b12"},{"_key":"70e1b4a41d1c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The big problem that experts face when developing a process to turn rainfall into energy involves the very small amount of inherent power found in a single drop. That means a large network of panels must be in operation to harness enough energy to make the process worthwhile.","_key":"d1a9fc221f8b0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In previous attempts, ","_key":"7bd793d6f3010"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"much of that energy was lost","_key":"7bd793d6f3011"},{"marks":[],"text":" before it arrived at the generator. That’s where the recently designed panels fit into the process.","_key":"7bd793d6f3012","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eb09ea9bb780"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A promising new development","_key":"02aa2ff5fe0e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"da6174b20229"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Professor Zong Li led the team that helped create this breakthrough proposal, which he said would borrow some of the basic concepts that have made modern solar panels so much more efficient.","_key":"1923fef775ea0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e510233f6d65"},{"style":"normal","_key":"53701611a1f6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Referring to the design of solar panels in which multiple solar power generation units are connected in parallel to supply the load, we are proposing ","_key":"c1958cda5d340"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"a simple and effective method","_key":"c1958cda5d341","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for raindrop energy harvesting.”","_key":"c1958cda5d342"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Known as “","_key":"08b31604bd6e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"bridge array generators","_key":"08b31604bd6e1"},{"text":",” these devices will theoretically address the energy-loss problem that has plagued previous efforts.","_key":"08b31604bd6e2","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"be54c3e57d81"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a14257c11dbd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Li concluded: “The results of this study will provide a feasible scheme for large-area raindrop energy harvesting.”","_key":"c63adcca37e30","_type":"span","marks":[]}]}],"category":"energy","_updatedAt":"2023-07-29T01:16:35Z","_createdAt":"2023-07-28T20:01:56Z","title":"Solar Power Isn’t The Only Type Of Energy That Comes From The Sky","visibility":"true","summary":"Researchers think they have a way to harness the resources of rainfall.","publishDate":"2023-07-29","_type":"story"}]