I’ve been astonished the last couple of weeks at the number of disastrous weather events occurring around the world pretty much at the same time. And the consequences are horrific. While it may be beautiful and sunny outside your window this morning, it’s not that way in many other places around the globe. And sooner or later we will all experience increasingly disastrous weather. And of course, this is just a small taste of what we’ve already built into our weather system. Mostly I’m just going to give you the headlines because you’ll get a very frightening and clear picture of what’s happening and if you’re interested in the details you can click the links and get the detail.
First though, I want to bring your attention to a change in the law that you might not be aware of that is making it much easier to buy an electric vehicle and get your $7,500 federal tax credit. Now, instead of having to wait for the money and use it as a tax credit when you file your taxes, you can get it immediately and have it sent to your car dealer to reduce the vehicle price on the spot. And the dealer waits to get the funding.
And as I usually like to do, I’ll end with articles about some things new and innovative.
From E&E News
Treasury Reports Rising Uptake of Instant EV Rebate
04/15/2024
Around 90 percent of qualifying electric vehicle buyers have opted to claim their federal tax credit as an instant rebate at the dealership this year, a positive sign for President Joe Biden’s efforts to boost EV sales.
The Biden administration launched the point-of-sale rebate in January. The new rules allow dealers to take the credit of up to $7,500 off the sticker price of the car or provide the rebate in cash, and receive a reimbursement from the federal government within days. Prior to Jan. 1, EV buyers had to wait to claim the credit until they filed their taxes the following year.
Now for the weather report.
From The Wall Street Journal
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/dubais-heavy-rains-throw-desert-haven-into-disarray-c4dba168#
Dubai’s Heavy Rains Throw Desert Haven Into Disarray
April 18, 2024
Highways are littered with abandoned vehicles, and schools and some businesses have shut for the week
From E&E News
Death Toll from Pakistan Storms Rises to 63 with More Rain Ahead
This month, so far there has been 353 percent more rainfall than normal in Baluchistan
04/18/2024
From E&E News
Rains Flood UAE, Surrounding Nations as Death Toll in Oman Rises to 18
Over 4.75 inches of rainfall had soaked the United Arab Emirates — the typical average for a year in the desert nation — with more expected in the coming hours.
04/17/2024
From E&E News
Climate Change Fuels Record-Setting Dengue Outbreak
More than 1,800 people in North and South America have died this year from the mosquito-borne disease.
04/17/2024
From E&E News
Nearly 14,500 Homes Flooded in Russia-Kazakhstan Border Region
04/16/2024
From E&E News
Malawi Declares Drought Disaster
Over Threats to Food Supply
The southern African country follows neighboring Zambia seeking international aid as drought destroys crops, threatening millions.
03/25/2024
From E&E News
South Sudan Shutters Schools as it Prepares for Extreme Heat Wave
Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit over the next two weeks.
03/18/2024
From E&E News
Ecuador Rations Electricity as Drought Persists in Northern Andes
Precipitation has diminished in Ecuador and Colombia this year due to rising temperatures in the south Pacific Ocean, which can also generate intense droughts in the Andean valleys.
04/18/2024
From E&E News
Lightning, Rains Kill 49 as Pakistan Declares State of Emergency
The rains also caused dozens of houses to collapse.
ASSOCIATED PRESS | 04/16/202
FROM E&E NEWS
58 Killed by 2 weeks of Floods in Tanzania
The coastal region was hit hardest, with 126,831 people affected, according to the East African country’s government
ASSOCIATED PRESS | 04/16/2024
FROM E&E NEWS
Heavy Rains Set Off Flash Floods, Killing 33 People in Afghanistan
ASSOCIATED PRESS | 04/16/2024
If this is exasperating and depressing, don’t feel alone. I was watching MSNBC this morning and there was reporting about the increasing anxiety among the public about climate change. I’ve written about this before but it is now becoming a mainstream and pervasive issue.
So let me leave you with a couple of positive articles about some new exciting developments.
From Bloomberg News
New York’s First Electric Skyscraper Promises Luxury With Lower Emissions
An apartment tower in downtown Brooklyn has ditched fossil fuel heating and appliances as new city rules on energy efficiency are phased in
April 18, 2024
From E&E News
Investment in US Renewables Hit a Record $88B Last Year
The strong showing follows a down year in 2022, when backing of U.S. wind and solar fell to $49 billion
04/18/2024
From Axios
The Batteries and Motors that Could Help Electric Planes Take Off
2/28/2024
From Bloomberg Hyperdrive
| Joby Aviation Expects to Launch its Flying Taxi Service First in Dubai |
March 25, 2024
From Granite Geek
