Audubon Florida Climate and Energy News Roundup This week we share news about a new EV with a longer range, the world’s largest solar battery in Manatee County, an explainer on the recent flooding in Tennessee, and more!

A Least Tern. Photo: Jean Hall

BMW Secures Funding for EV Battery Aiming to Rival Range of a Traditional Engine From CNBC News “A BMW project centered around the development of a long-distance electric vehicle battery has been awarded £26.2 million ($36.07 million) in joint funding from industry and the U.K. government. The Oxford-based project, called BMW-UK-BEV, is one of four to receive funding via the Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative Research and Development competition… With the U.K. planning to stop selling new diesel and gasoline cars and vans by 2030, the rollout of technologies able to boost the distances of electric vehicles will be crucial.” Read the entire article.

World's Largest Solar Battery Nears Completion in Manatee County From FOX-13 Tampa “Sitting on 40 acres of land in Manatee County, Florida Power and Light is nearly finished with construction on the world's largest solar-powered battery. The battery will capture energy during the day from sites like the Manatee Solar Energy Center, and then will be used to power 329,000 homes in Manatee and Desoto counties during the night and times when the sun isn't shining as bright.”   Read the entire article.

Surfside Collapse Shows Solid Construction and Climate Resiliency are Interdependent | Opinion From the Miami Herald “The tragic Surfside condo collapse is a stark reminder of the fragility of our seaside communities and the urgent need for a stronger and safer built environment. My hometown of Miami Beach is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable places. Our community must confront this reality by investing in resilience — our ability to withstand physical hazard events, maintain functionality and adapt to growing risks.” Read the entire article.

EXPLAINER: How Did Tennessee Flooding Downpour Fall So Fast? From the Associated Press “A rural Tennessee community was pummeled Saturday with up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of rain in less than 24 hours, shattering the state record for one-day rainfall by more than 3 inches and leading to quick-rushing floods that killed at least 22 people and left a trail of destruction… Recent scientific research has determined that extreme rain events will become more frequent because of man-made climate change.” Read the entire article.

Biden Wants an Electric Vehicle Revolution. Will Communities of Color Be Left Behind? From NBC News “But persuading more Americans to swap vehicles that run on internal combustion engines for cleaner, battery-powered rides presents a greater challenge. And in places like Chicago, where neighborhoods of color have been combating pollutants and the ill effects of a warming world, providing access to electric cars and charging stations in historically underserved communities so residents benefit from improved air quality and health must not be overlooked, experts say.” Read the entire article.

We Can’t Depend on Extreme Weather to Increase Support for Climate Action From Anthropocene Magazine “Experiencing unusual weather events does not change people’s climate policy preferences, according to an analysis of German survey data. Neither climate deniers nor acceptors are moved by local weather, the researchers found... But few studies have focused on whether and how that translates into support for climate action. And it turns out that just because people accept that climate change is happening doesn’t mean they agree on what to do about it.” Read the entire article.

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