California Lawmakers Pass Plug-In Solar Bill

Β© Poppy Lynch for The New York Times

Β© Poppy Lynch for The New York Times
Federal-state stoush comes as rating agency warns that electricity bills could skyrocket
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Queensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal governmentβs plans to mandate that AI datacentres use renewable power, rubbishing Anthony Albaneseβs proposals to regulate the booming technology as βunderdeveloped ideas that hand increased power to Canberraβ.
The latest federal-state stoush on energy comes as S&P Global, the economic rating agency, warns that power use from datacentres could rise five-fold by 2035 to 10% of Australiaβs total consumption, and that a mismatch between delivery timelines for datacentres and renewable projects could lead to energy bills skyrocketing.
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Β© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Law change means renters and flat owners may be able to cut bills as energy costs soar amid Iran war
British households will be able to buy plug-in solar panels later this summer after the government changed the law so the UKβs biggest retailers could bring them to market for the first time.
People across the country will be able to join the millions across Europe generating their own electricity using βbalcony solar panelsβ from 27 August, according to legislation passed last week.
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Β© Photograph: Ronald Rampsch/Alamy

Β© Photograph: Ronald Rampsch/Alamy

Β© Photograph: Ronald Rampsch/Alamy

Β© Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Β© Collin Chappelle for The New York Times
Top 10% generate climate and biodiversity damage bill that exceeds economies of most countries, say researchers
The environmental damage bill racked up by the highest-consuming 10% of the worldβs population has reached up to $5.7tn a year β larger than the economy of every country except the US and China, a study has found.
Mega-consumers in this group are concentrated in the global north, accounting for more than half the population of the US and 40-45% of people in the EU.
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Β© Photograph: Francis R Malasig/EPA

Β© Photograph: Francis R Malasig/EPA

Β© Photograph: Francis R Malasig/EPA
A well-heeled homeowner has spent nearly Β£1 million converting his home so that it could achieve an Energy Performance Certificate with an βAβ rating β and demonstrated just how unaffordable Net Zero is.
The post Β£900,000 β The Price of An A-rated Energy Performance Certificate appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Asda, Amazon and B&Q among retailers in talks to sell devices that feed into household sockets and can cut electricity bills by 30%
Bosses of some of Britainβs biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.
Executives from brands including Currys, B&Q and Amazon met Martin McCluskey, the minister for energy consumers, on Tuesday to discuss guidelines for selling βbalcony solar panelsβ to the British public.
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Β© Photograph: Climate Central

Β© Photograph: Climate Central

Β© Photograph: Climate Central

Β© Bing Guan for The New York Times
As summers become hotter, air conditioner sales are booming. If youβre looking to invest, hereβs what to consider
When a heatwave struck the UK this week, Jon Connorton, a software developer, began monitoring temperatures inside his east Hampshire terrace house. With some rooms reaching close to 40C, it was time to deploy the air conditioner. βWe just wheel it out in emergencies,β he said. βWe were having trouble sleeping.β
Connorton and his wife have a portable air conditioner. These plug-in devices cool interior air by removing heat from it and blowing that heat outside, typically via a large hose slung from a window or door.
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Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

Β© Photograph: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images
Government should fit solar panels to power air con units where vulnerable people live, say green advocates
As the country baked in record May temperatures, climate campaigners have said the UK government needs to urgently start installing air conditioning units in schools, care homes and places where vulnerable people live.
In 2022, when temperatures spiked above 40C (104F), about 3,000 people in Britain died of causes associated with heat. Studies show air conditioning can cut heat related deaths by 75%.
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Β© Photograph: mar-fre/Alamy

Β© Photograph: mar-fre/Alamy

Β© Photograph: mar-fre/Alamy