Well, it’s still here, which is good news.
But in case you’ve been in the dark about the latest happenings, here’s an update on all things Mother Earth.
Jeff Bezos has opened a massive wind farm in Texas
In a move that can only be described as ‘peak Bezos,’ the yoked Amazon founder christened his latest project — Amazon Wind Farm Texas — by smashing a champagne bottle on a wind turbine while suspended 300 feet in the air.
The 100-turbine farm, purchased from Lincoln Clean Energy, is Amazon’s largest to date. The company now controls 18 wind and solar farms across the US and has plans to build 35 more in the coming years.
The government sucks at estimating solar installations
Bi-annually, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases projections on energy usage. They’re usually wrong, but last year was an absolute doozy.
In 2016, the EIA underestimated solar power capacity in the US by — wait for it — 4,813%. Kind of a big deal, when you consider these figures are used to set national policies and regulations.
Germany’s got a bug problem
Usually, ‘bug problem’ means “WE’VE GOT A MOSQUITO IN THE HOUSE. GET IT THE F*&# OUT!” — Not in Germany.
In the past 25 years, more than three-quarters of all flying insects in the country’s nature preserves have vanished. Scientists are calling it an “ecological Armageddon,” and suspect that pesticides may be to blame.