The Stream, June 27: Britain Abandons $1.7bn Tidal Lagoon Renewable Energy Plan

The Global Rundown

The British government rejects plans for  a £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) tidal lagoon, saying that the renewable energy scheme is too costly. Advisors urge the Serbian government to invest in fixing “devastating” environmental problems, including a lack of sewage treatment facilities. Monsoon rains bring flooding and landslides to Vietnam, killing at least 15 people. Residents of Northern Ireland are urged to conserve water amid an ongoing heatwave. The U.S. conducts a Great Lakes Coastal Flood study to determine at-risk coastal communities.

“The inescapable conclusion of an extensive analysis is, however novel and appealing the proposal that has been made is … the cost that would be incurred by consumers and taxpayers would be so much higher than alternative sources of low-carbon power that it would be irresponsible to enter into a contract with the provider.” –Greg Clark, Britain’s business secretary, summarizing the nation’s decision to reject plans for a £1.3bn tidal lagoon in Wales. The announcement has drawn widespread criticism from environmentalists, who believed the lagoon would be an important new source of renewable energy. The Guardian

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By The Numbers

10 percent Amount of wastewater that is processed in Serbia. The remaining raw sewage is dumped into the country’s rivers. Serbia’s fiscal advisory council is encouraging the government to invest 1.3 percent of the nation’s GDP into fixing the country’s “devastating” environmental issues, which include wastewater dumping and air pollution. Reuters

15 Death toll from recent flooding and landslides in Vietnam, as of Tuesday evening. The death toll is expected to rise as torrential monsoon rains continue to batter the deluged country. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is spearheading a Great Lakes Coastal Flood study to help identify and strengthen at-risk coastal zones. The study comes as part of a nationwide initiative to update flood maps and build resilience in vulnerable communities. Wisconsin Public Radio

On The Radar

A heatwave has settled across the United Kingdom, prompting Northern Ireland Water to urge citizens to conserve water. Hot temperatures are also affecting the Republic of Ireland, where utilities have warned that water restrictions are “unavoidable” if the heatwave persists and demand continues to rise. A handful of Irish towns and cities are already experiencing water outages. BBC

Kayla Ritter

Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter