(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Renewable Friday: Batteries! And Robots! In Georgia! [1] ['Greg Dworkin', 'Meteor Blades', 'Thom Hartmann'] Date: 2026-07-17 Do you remember this immigration freakout about Korean tech workers from last year? Some thought the plant was doomed. But it turns out that Hyundai is going to use robots for much of the work to make the batteries, and is going to make the robots, too. U.S. immigration authorities detained around 450 people from a Hyundai EV battery plant in Georgia, including more than 300 South Korean nationals. — Forbes (@forbes.com) 2025-09-05T10:45:04Z Hyundai plans 30,000 humanoid robots a year for factories by 2028 — Axios (@axios.com) 2026-01-05T21:25:46.999Z Hyundai-SK On battery plant begins production in Georgia https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/07/15/hyundai-sk-on-electric-vehicle-plant/7161784154509/ — Natalie Davis (@nataliedavis.journa.host.ap.brid.gy) 2026-07-15T22:58:12.000Z "The plant in the state of Georgia is expected to supply battery cells for up to 300,000 electric vehicles per year and is already supplying Hyundai's new EV plant in Savannah."300k.GM sold 170k last yearHyundai 103kFord 84kVW 73kHonda 51kBMW 45kRivian 42kToyota 22kNissan 20k300k! 🔋🚗🌊 — Zamafir (@zamafir.bsky.social) 2026-07-15T19:10:49.328Z Meetings The 2026 climate event guide Our ongoing list of this year’s global environmental conferences, summits and more Far too many to list here, but these are of critical importance. When: 9–20 November 2026 Where: Antalya, Turkey The largest climate event of 2026 will be hosted by Turkey in the resort city of Antalya, with Australia leading the negotiations as part of an agreement between the two countries. There will also be a ‘pre-COP’ held in a Pacific island country, though the dates and host country have yet to be confirmed. COP31 will build on the deal agreed at COP30 in 2025, which included a tripling of adaptation finance and a just transition mechanism, as well as “roadmaps” to transition away from fossil fuels and to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. When: 9–10 September 2026 Where: Rome, Italy The European Center of Sustainable Development (ECSDEV), in collaboration with CIT University, is organizing ICSD 2026 under the theme “Creating a Unified Foundation for Sustainable Development: Research, Practice and Education” The conference will address environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and research-based solutions to global challenges and the efficient use of resources. When: 4–8 October 2026 Where: Glasgow, Scotland The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition is the leading global event for water and allied professionals, covering the full water cycle. From the core basic needs of water supply and sanitation through to coordinated efforts at basin, national and regional level, action on water sustains human wellbeing, environmental health, and economic development. It underpins both resilience and prosperity. The 2026 edition will provide a showcase for sharing and advancing real-world innovation and options to deliver that action. This will include use of nature-based solutions one of the rapidly areas in which the water sector is evolving. The Good News #COP31 #climatechange #climateemergency #resilientcities #resilientarchitecture #climateresiliencyCOP31 Presidency announces new targets on global electrification, resilient cities, etc.: unfccc.int/news/cop31-p… — Meral E. Williams (@meralekincioglu.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T17:18:17.167Z Iran "Europe's booming solar fleet has saved €20 billion in gas imports since Iran war, finds new analysis"As oil and gas prices remain high due to the Iran war – solar power is cushioning the impact across Europe, investment needs to continue though. www.euronews.com/2026/07/16/s… — Imran Bristol (@imranicus.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T14:23:00.573Z Raw Story: ‘Critically low’ energy reserves alarm expert as diesel prices top $5 per gallon Higher oil prices since the Iran war began mean many oil companies have brought in excess profits. Some U.S. lawmakers want to tax those windfall profits and give the money to lower-income Americans. n.pr/4fimkk9 — NPR (@npr.org) 2026-07-16T12:14:50.883193Z The Trump administration has weakened the Endangered Species Act and invoked emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to bypass California state regulations and restart offshore oil drilling along the coast. — There Is No Spoon (@neumahn.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T20:28:41.192Z Global Warming Catastrophes @extretempsHOTTEST HEAT WAVE IN AFRICAN HISTORYThis madness (49/50C for 2 WEEKS) continues49C again in Algeria and 48C in Tunisia.RECORDS IN ALGERIA48.7 Bouchegouf all time46.8 Guelma monthly45.0 Constantine monthlyMuch hotter next days:50C on the […] [Original post on mstdn.social] — PKs Powerfromspace1 (@powerfromspace1.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy) 2026-07-14T21:44:41.000Z New paper alert: How were Kenyan herders affected by the worst drought in 40 years?Health impacts were universal. Whether herders searched for pasture with their animals or stayed close to home, everyone remembers experiencing headaches, stress, and hopelessness. 1/4 — Anne Pisor (@annepisor.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T21:43:36.434Z “ #HeatDome”! In the coming 1-2 weeks Florida, Europe, and the Central US will find itself under more sweltering heat domes. So what’s behind all the #ExtremeHeat, what #science says, and what can we expect the rest of the summer? .. #ElNino #climatechangewww.facebook.com/share/v/1JZj… — Hal (@heyfriend-1.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T15:50:34.390Z #Wildfire rages near #Paris as heatwave scorches #Europe #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis www.reuters.com/business/env… — Oden (@oden-gjallarhornet.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T16:00:51.254Z Data Centers Trump is demanding New York reverse the first statewide data-center ban in the US, calling it a terrible decision and data centers money machines other states will gladly take. Hochul fired back that New Yorkers deserve more than scraps. — Zubnet (@zubnet.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T14:23:59.000Z Australia looked down at their hands and realized THEY HOLD THE CARDS ;)www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/16/l… — joocifer (@joocifer.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T21:40:55.949Z In first, California city overwhelmingly votes to permanently ban datacenters While many US city councils have passed moratoriums, Monterey Park is first where residents have voted on a ban There is absolutely no reason to level 675 acres of pristine forest habitat for an A.I. data center campus.“After all the tax incentives are offered, the local effects of these data centers are so vanishingly small, there’s no discernible economic benefit.” — Rob (@robertferry.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T14:13:56.688Z Sumita Pahwa @sumitapahwa.bsky.social This sounds like a very particular approach to electricity pricing that spreads out the cost to consumers more broadly rather than requiring those running data centers to pay for what they are actually going to consume/require. Can someone explain to me how common this is? Sumita provided the link to this NYT gift article: A power auction conducted by a giant grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in additional charges to consumers and businesses because of electricity needs of data centers. WVTM 13:Alabama News Beacon — (@xstreamfm.bsky.social) 2025-07-23T17:40:11Z 🏭 Microsoft Reports a Massive 25 Percent Jump in Emissionswww.wired.com/story/micros…#climatechange #ms #datacenters #ai — jbz (@jbzfn.bsky.social) 2026-07-15T04:30:04.670Z Tommy Tuberville says opposition to data centers isn’t real. He claims China is fueling the backlash and argues we need more of them to stay competitive.Environmental damage and the noise, aren’t valid reasons to stop construction.Doug Jones, doesn’t support unrestricted data center development. — Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline.com) 2026-07-16T23:09:24.872Z No New Nukes With summers getting hotter, more people moving here and more data centers being built, Arizona needs more sources of power. Now Arizona leaders want to build a new nuclear power plant.⚛️ www.kjzz.org/the-show/202…📷 APS — KJZZ Phoenix (@kjzz.org) 2026-07-16T21:06:08.130Z As always, I remain ready to CONSIDER thorium molten salt reactors as a way to use up existing uranium and plutonium stockpiles, and get rid of high-level nuclear waste, over several decades. The question arose on Bluesky as I was writing this story. There are about 440 nuclear power plants in the world, with 80-100 tonnes of U-235 each.Total mass of fuel in nuclear reactors: about 44,000 tonnes.There are approximately 12,187 nuclear bombs in the world, each containing 10-100 kg of uranium or plutonium. That would add a comparable mass. — Mokurai (@mokurai.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T22:24:47.047Z The only way to make it safe would be to invent a thorium molten salt reactor that could be licensed & produced in quantity, & use it up over several decades. MSRs use up to 90% of their fuel, compared with <5% for conventional reactors. The resulting waste would decay in 300 years to a safe level. — Mokurai (@mokurai.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T22:24:47.048Z Conventional nuclear waste would be dangerous for 120,000 years.MSRs could also use up the much larger mass of depleted uranium, something like 2 million tonnes, over a much longer period of time, likely several centuries. — Mokurai (@mokurai.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T22:24:47.049Z Oops, that should say 10,000 years. I posted a correction on Bluesky. "The reactor pressure vessel has been installed at unit 1 of the Lufeng nuclear power plant in China's Guangdong province, China General Nuclear announced."#Nuclear #Newshttps://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/reactor-vessel-installed-at-lufeng-unit-1 — Emil Jacobs – Collectifission (@collectifission.greennuclear.online.ap.brid.gy) 2026-07-16T22:00:46.000Z ⚛️ The first nuclear plant restart in US history is underway in Michigan – but it's way behind schedule.Holtec bought the Palisades plant after it shut down in 2022 and has been trying to bring it back online ever since. The 54-year-old reactor just cleared its major renovations, with about 5 […] — jcrabapple (@jcrabapple.dmv.community.ap.brid.gy) 2026-07-16T19:46:01.000Z Denial and Obstruction vs. Resistance and $$Real Money$$™ Record shattering heat waves, huge deadly floods, long lasting wildfires, stronger hurricanes, & the upcoming super El Niño. #Climatechange is real and we need to stop treating these disasters like bad luck and start doing something about it!#globalwarming #capitalism #heatwave #backtonature — Daniel Medina (@danielmedinacomics.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T23:07:04.587Z The most prolific liar as Prime Minister in Canada's entire history. Almost every day. Ask any climate scientist you like about the efficacy of #CarbonCapture as a #ClimateSolution. Another big greasy handout to #BigOil, the exact same guys that made the whole problem in the first place #cdnpoli — TheGentYYC 🇨🇦 (@thegentyyc.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T21:03:01.507Z “Most UK heatwave reports ignored climate change — Analysis” — Realnews Magazine#EnvironmentalNews #Climate #ClimateChange — Environmental News (@environmentalnews.bsky.social) 2026-07-15T03:26:37.058669+00:00 #CarbonCapture is a junk #ClimateSolution serving mainly to funnel money to #BigOil and help them pretend they're helping while they play out the clock. A sucker's bet, and if anybody knows how to fleece a sucker it's a Big Banker like #MarkCarney 🧵#cdnpoli www.desmog.com/2025/01/14/e… — Bentley ****TALK CLIMATE**** (@bigclimate.bsky.social) 2026-07-15T04:09:40.396Z A Different Level of Idiocy Wrong-wing politicians are of course more open to bribery and corruption through legal campaign donations, and far more interested in harming rather than helping the people. Israel is the worst, with an open campaign of Human Sacrifice against all of its neighbors, and Iran besides. A study comparing politicians and citizens across eight countries found that ideological polarization regarding anthropogenic #climatechange is significantly stronger among politicians than among the general public.www.nature.com/articles/s44… — Charles Thistlethwaite (@charlest.bsky.social) 2026-07-14T22:37:06.529Z Resources 🎩 GoodNewsRoundup Want to focus on the ENVIRONMENT: [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/17/800070970/community/renewable-friday-batteries-and-robots-in-georgia/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/