Sustainability Unveiled: E+E Leader Weekly Roundup - 3/7/2025

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🌍🔋 **Sustainability Unveiled: Weekly Roundup** 🔋🌍

This week, we dive into critical developments shaping the energy landscape:

1. **Project 2025 in Action**: Examining Trump's energy policy shift towards fossil fuels and deregulation.
2. **Charging Forward**: A new initiative aims to enhance electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
3. **Birds and PFAS**: Alarming research on PFAS contamination in migratory birds raises health concerns.
4. **Richmond's Utility Challenges**: Critical infrastructure upgrades needed to prevent future outages.
5. **Geothermal Gains**: The DOD accelerates geothermal energy deployment for enhanced national security.

Don't miss out on these insights! 🎧 Tune in to the full episode for a comprehensive look at these pressing issues. Listen now!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Sustainability Unveiled Weekly
Roundup, exclusive sponsorshipopportunities available.
Reach top sustainabilityprofessionals with our weekly
roundup sponsorships.
Contact the advertising team atEnvironment and Energy Leader
to learn more.
This week's top headlinesProject 2025 in action Trump's

(00:32):
plan to reshape US energy policy.
President Trump's energy agendaaligns with Project 2025,
prioritizing fossil fuels,deregulation and energy
independence.
The administration has reversedrestrictions on oil and gas
production, withdrawn from theParis Agreement and restructured

(00:54):
the Department of Energy tofocus on traditional energy
sources, with strategicappointments reinforcing the
agenda.
The US energy landscape isundergoing a major shift.
In early 2025, offshoredrilling in the Gulf of Mexico
and the Arctic was expanded,methane emission regulations

(01:15):
were rolled back and the federalgovernment halted subsidies for
solar and wind projects.
Additionally, the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission, or
FERC, has relaxed itsrestrictions on natural gas
pipeline approvals, ensuringfaster infrastructure
development.
These moves signify afundamental restructuring of

(01:39):
national energy policy.
Strategic Partnership revives EVchargers after Shell shutdown.
With Shell Recharge shuttingdown its EV charging software,
zevtron, parkmobile and AthenaPartners Strategy Group have
launched an initiative totransition effective stations to

(02:00):
a new platform.
The partnership ensuresseamless payments, enhanced
management tools for site ownersand a long-term strategy to
build a more resilient EVcharging network.
Zevtron's white-label softwarerestores functionality to EV
stations while allowing sitehosts to control pricing, access

(02:23):
and reporting.
Meanwhile, parkmobile'sintegrated payment system
simplifies transactions byallowing drivers to use an
existing platform, reducingfriction in the charging process
.
Athena's role is to overseeimplementation and ensure these
changes, create long-termstability in the EB charging

(02:45):
sector.
Study finds high PFAS levels inmigratory birds raising concerns
.
New research reveals alarmingPFAS contamination in migratory
birds, with concentrations 180times higher than previous
estimates.
Concentrations 180 times higherthan previous estimates.
The study raises concerns forwildlife, human health and

(03:08):
industries reliant on PFAS, suchas textiles, packaging and fire
suppression, potentiallyleading to tighter regulations.

(03:29):
Scientists use the totaloxidizable precursor assay, a
cutting-edge detection method,to measure PFAS in birds.
Findings indicate significantcontamination in avian liver
samples, with PFAS levelsexceeding those found in regions
polluted by firefighting foamor AAF.
The study also revealedcontamination in shellfish,
raising concerns about humanexposure through the food chain.

(03:50):
With global PFAS regulationstightening, industries may face
heightened oversight andpressure to seek safer
alternatives.
Richmond's utility failureshighlight a need for urgent
infrastructure upgrades.
A recent after-action reportexposed critical weaknesses in

(04:13):
Richmond's power grid, includingfaulty switchgear and delayed
response times.
Experts recommend electricalupgrades, automated failover
systems and enhanced emergencyprotocols to prevent future
outages.
Without immediate action, thecity faces repeat destructions.

(04:34):
The failure stemmed frommalfunctioning transfer
equipment, a blown fuse in thecontrol cabinet and a defective
closed coil in the switchgear,resulting in a prolonged outage
affecting water services andcritical municipal operations.
Engineers ultimately restoredthe power using a spare breaker,

(04:54):
but the report calls forsignificant upgrades to power
transfer infrastructure andfaster coordination between
Dominion Energy and cityutilities.
Geothermal energy gains momentumin national security.
The US Department of Defensehas designated 11 companies to

(05:15):
accelerate geothermal energydeployment at military bases.
Firms like Sage Geosystems andGreen Fire Energy will help
enhance energy resilience andreduce on-external power grids,
reinforcing national securityobjectives.
The initiative, managed throughTradewind Solutions Marketplace
, will streamline procurementand accelerate the geothermal

(05:38):
energy development at Air Force,army and Navy installations.
These companies were selectedbased on technical feasibility,
scalability and contributions toenergy resilience.
Projects currently indevelopment include
utility-scale geothermal powerplants capable of providing
continuous electricity tomilitary bases during grid

(06:01):
disruptions.
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