UK wind sets new record
On Sunday night, wind power in the United Kingdom supplied more electricity than domestic coal, biomass, and hydropower (combined) and set a new record for maximum hourly output. According to RenewableUK, this record was reached at 10pm when wind supplied an hourly average of 5 GW over an hour (17% of the total electricity demand on the UK power grid at that time). The new average was a 25% increase from one year ago, when generation hit 4 GW in August 2013. According to the UK Wind Energy Database, the nation has a total onshore wind power capacity topping 7.4 GW and approximately 3.7 GW in offshore capacity. As this wind power fleet reached its new record high on Sunday, nuclear and gas power plants were supplying the majority (57%) of the electricity going to the UK power grid. Remaining demand was met by coal (11%), hydropower (2%), biomass (2.5%), and imported power (10%).
California is walking
Californians now walk to their destination twice as much as they used to; the proportion of their trips made by foot is up from 8.4 percent in 2000 to 16.6 percent.
The study, which is based on the behavior of 109,000 people from more than 42,000 households over the course of 2012, also shows that more Californians are biking and using public transit to get around. In total, the amount of carless trips went from 11 percent in 2000 to 23 percent. The Federal Highway Administration has the nation’s trips by foot growing from 8.9 percent in 2001 to 11.5 percent in 2009. We hope this means America is speed-walking to catch up with California, which is often thought of as the national trendsetter for all things green.
CIA ‘kidnapped’ Soviet mooncraft for detailed study
during the Cold War race to the moon between the US and the former USSR, the former had “kidnapped” a Soviet mooncraft in the 60s called Lunik, studied it in detail and returned it intact. This operation was carried out by the CIA when the Soviets were moving the mooncraft from one exhibition to another in various cities. The US National Security Archive declassified the information recently by releasing a document detailing the operation. It’s called “The Kidnapping Of The Lunik.” In the 60s, the Soviet Union held exhibitions in several countries highlighting its achievements. The Lunik was a part of this show. These mooncraft were launched between 1959 and 1976, and 15 were successful and accomplished many firsts in space exploration. The Americans were keen on obtaining details of the Lunik.
Opposition to EU-US trade deal growing as negotiations start in Brussels
Trade unions and campaign groups have written to Vince Cable calling for a halt to negotiations on the EU-US trade deal. The groups, including the UK’s second biggest trade union UNISON, environmental, social justice and anti-poverty organisations, believe the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will undermine democracy, threaten public services and lead to lower standards in a range of areas including environmental protection, workers’ rights and food safety.
Groningen: The World’s Cycling City
Groningen, a city of about 192,000 people has the highest mode share of bicycle users of anywhere in the world. 50% of all trips in Groningen are done by bike. That number rises to just under 60% in the city centre.