United States
Puerto Rico passes 100% renewable energy by 2050 legislation
The law will bring lower cost electricity to the island and promote a network of distributed microgrids that will help avoid the prolonged power outages that followed in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
74% of U.S. coal production is now more expensive than renewables
211 gigawatts of current US coal capacity, 74% of the coal fleet, is providing electricity that’s more expensive than wind or solar. By 2025, nearly the entire US coal system will be out-competed on cost by renewables.
New Mexico is the third state in the U.S. to legally require 100% carbon-free electricity
The bill requires the state to get 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030 and 80% by 2040. By 2045, it must go entirely carbon-free.
U.S. FDA approves first ever treatment for postpartum depression
The newly-approved drug, sold under the brand name Zulresso, was shown to relieve depressive symptoms within hours of being administered in three different clinical trials — and it continued to show success throughout their 30-day followups.
Karen Uhlenbeck becomes first woman ever to win prestigious Abel Prize for mathematics
For the first time, one of the top prizes in mathematics has been given to a woman. Dr. Uhlenbeck helped pioneer geometric analysis, developing techniques now commonly used by many mathematicians.
Trader Joe’s plans to cut 1 million pounds of plastic
The move follows growing customer demand for less plastic and more sustainable packaging in Trader Joe’s stores; a change.org petition on the subject amassed over 80,000 signatures in two months.
Lake Region Electric Cooperative in Minnesota launches first-of-its-kind solar-wind hybrid renewable energy plant
In GE’s integrated renewable energy system, electricity from the solar panels is funneled through the wind turbine converter. The overall capacity of the system will increase by 3% to 4%, while boosting annual production by up to 10%.
Researcher invents biodegradable Mardi Gras beads made of algae
Hundreds of pounds of plastic beads of Mardi Gras beads end up in the New Orleans’s water system every year. Thankfully, a biologist from Louisiana State University has developed several formulas for biodegradable Mardi Gras beads made of algae.
U.S. NASA announces world’s first-ever all-female spacewalk
On March 29, Anne McClain and Christina Koch will leave the relative safety of the International Space Station for a spacewalk to upgrade the craft’s batteries – the first-ever to be all-female.









