Results for: Environment

Highland Electric Fleets, a leading provider of electric school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service, has announced its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (CHDVs) Grant Program. This program provides funding for electric vehicles to benefit school districts, municipalities, states, and tribes, making them more accessible to communities. Highland Electric Fleets stands ready to assist with applications and leverage their experience in deploying electric school buses and fleets nationwide.

An eight to 10-feet-long prehistoric salmon species called Oncorhynchus rastrosus stalked the seas and streams of the Miocene period. It weighed upwards of 400 pounds and had a formidable pair of front teeth that projected out from the sides of their mouths like tusks. This major dental update is detailed in a study published April 24 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. Scientists are not exactly sure what these signature tusks were used for, but believe they were primarily used to fight off other salmon or predators.

Ameren has been named a 2024 Tree Line utility by the Arbor Day Foundation, a testament to the company’s commitment to proper urban forest management within its service area. Tree Line is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizing organizations that prioritize best practices for the protection and cultivation of America’s urban tree canopy. This recognition acknowledges utilities that successfully balance the delivery of safe and reliable electricity with the preservation of healthy community forests.

The European Parliament has approved stricter standards to measure and monitor air pollutants, marking a significant step towards cleaner air in EU cities. The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) sets a zero-pollution goal for 2050 and introduces interim air quality standards for 2030 that closely align with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The new law aims to reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution, estimated at 300,000 annually in Europe.

The Biden administration has finalized standards for federal buildings that will eliminate onsite fossil fuel usage for new projects by 2030. The new rule requires 90 percent cuts to emissions from new construction between 2025 and 2029, with onsite emissions eliminated from all new projects and major renovations beginning in 2030. The administration projects that the cuts will save $8 million in taxpayer funds from equipment and infrastructure expenses, and they will eliminate 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions and 16,000 tons of methane emissions over the next three decades. The rule defines ‘major’ renovations as those costing $3.8 million or more, meaning ‘smaller projects’ will be excluded. The rule also includes an option to apply for limited, case-by-case exemptions for scenarios, such as supply chain issues or issues with a building’s physical structure that make the technological adaptations impractical.

The UK is braced for a surge in temperatures this weekend, with advanced weather modeling maps indicating the possibility of a heatwave. While temperatures will remain low in the next few days, reaching a maximum of 14C tomorrow, they are expected to rise significantly on Saturday and Sunday. The south coast is likely to experience the warmest weather, with temperatures reaching 17C on Saturday afternoon and 18C on Sunday. London, Cambridgeshire, and parts of Lincolnshire could also see highs of 17C, while most of Wales, Scotland, and northern England will experience cooler weather. The gradual temperature increase is set to continue into May, with possible heatwave conditions on the horizon.

Denver residents can enjoy mostly sunny skies on Wednesday, but the pleasant weather will be short-lived as severe storms are expected to hit parts of northeast Colorado on Thursday afternoon and evening. Forecasters predict a 20% chance of rain showers in Denver after 4 p.m. Wednesday, with a high of 78 degrees and a low of 48 degrees. Thursday will bring another warm day, but the chance of showers and thunderstorms increases to 40% in the afternoon, bringing wind gusts as high as 22 mph.

Cadiz, Inc. has signed a water supply agreement with Solstra Communities California LLC to provide 1,275 acre-feet per year of water from the Cadiz Water Supply and Storage Project to support the development of more than 4,000 homes for military and working families along the coast. This is the first time Cadiz has contracted with a housing developer for water supply. The water will be delivered through exchanges with regional water contractors utilizing the Company’s Northern Pipeline, a 220-mile natural gas pipeline originally built to transport oil from the coast to oil refineries.

The European Union has taken a significant step towards protecting marine life beyond national borders by ratifying the High Seas Treaty. This agreement aims to safeguard biodiversity in international waters and the seabed. The EU’s endorsement is a major boost, as it played a key role in treaty negotiations. The treaty requires 60 countries to ratify it before it comes into effect. With 89 countries having signed and four ratified so far, the EU’s ratification brings the total closer to the target. This move sends a strong signal that the EU prioritizes ocean protection and encourages other nations to follow suit.

Hyundai has swept the automotive industry by winning three prestigious awards from U.S. News & World Report, recognizing the company’s leadership in the electric and hybrid vehicle market. The IONIQ 5 has been crowned Best Electric SUV, while the IONIQ 6 has earned the title of Best Electric Car, and the Tucson Hybrid has claimed the Best Hybrid SUV award. This remarkable achievement underscores Hyundai’s commitment to delivering exceptional vehicles that meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers.