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Mantra’s Murals Collect Enormous Butterflies in Building-Size Specimen Cases

Mantra’s Murals Collect Enormous Butterflies in Building-Size Specimen Cases

Fascination by nature and its preservation, the French artist creates monumental specimen cases on buildings around the world.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Mantra’s Murals Collect Enormous Butterflies in Building-Size Specimen Cases appeared first on Colossal.

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

Toxic chemicals from sewage sludge used as fertilizer pose health risks to those who regularly consume products from farms that use it, in some instances raising cancer risk by “several orders of magnitude” over what is considered acceptable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), federal officials said on Tuesday. EPA’s draft risk assessment, […]
The post PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn appeared first on EcoWatch.

Los Angeles Fires Lead to Over $200 Billion in Losses, Potentially the Most Expensive Wildfire Event in U.S. History

Los Angeles Fires Lead to Over $200 Billion in Losses, Potentially the Most Expensive Wildfire Event in U.S. History

As deadly wildfires continue to blaze around greater Los Angeles, the economic cost of the fires has now been estimated to be over $200 billion. That has made this tragedy, which started on January 7, potentially the most expensive wildfire event in U.S. history. At least 24 people have died as of the time of […]
The post Los Angeles Fires Lead to Over $200 Billion in Losses, Potentially the Most Expensive Wildfire Event in U.S. History appeared first on EcoWatch.

Powering Indonesia’s Future with Geothermal Energy

Powering Indonesia’s Future with Geothermal Energy

Powering Indonesia’s Future with Geothermal Energy
jschoshinski
Tue, 01/14/2025 – 16:19

Indonesia ranks second behind the U.S. in installed geothermal capacity and is home to some of the world’s largest geothermal reserves. However, despite its vast geothermal potential, Indonesia faces challenges in securing financing and navigating regulatory hurdles for large-scale geothermal projects. One such project, the Ijen geothermal power plant in East Java, experienced delays after initial agreements in 2013, with investors pulling out and development stalling. Given Ijen’s importance in the nation’s energy transition and its inclusion in Indonesia’s 10-year Electricity Supply Business Plan, it was critical that the project secure funding to help Indonesia meet its clean energy goals.  
USAID played a pivotal role in overcoming these barriers by providing essential transaction advisory services to the project financing lender Indonesian infrastructure bank PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI). Through the USAID Sustainable Energy for Indonesia’s Advancing Resilience (USAID SINAR) activity, USAID provided legal due diligence, identified development risks, and prepared term sheets, facility agreements, and corporate approvals. With the Agency’s support, the Ijen project is expected to leverage $227 million in financing and achieve generation capacity of 110 MW, helping to strengthen Indonesia’s energy security. 
In 2024, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a commitment of up to $126 million for Indonesian geothermal developer PT Medco Cahaya Geothermal (MCG) to support the first phase of development at Ijen. DFC’s commitment  is in cooperation with PT SMI, which signed its own financing agreement with MCG in 2023.  
The first phase of the Ijen geothermal project, which will generate 31 MW of renewable energy capacity to the interconnected Java-Bali grid, is now on track for commercial operation by the end of this month. Once operational, the plant will provide a low-carbon energy source to two of the country’s most populous regions, helping Indonesia reduce its reliance on coal and decrease its carbon emissions. This achievement aligns with USAID’s regional priorities of advancing clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing energy resilience in Southeast Asia.
The success of the Ijen geothermal project highlights the importance of transaction advisory services, innovative financing, and strategic partnerships in overcoming financial and regulatory hurdles for renewable energy projects. Innovative financing leverages U.S. Government, Government of Indonesia, and private sector investments to support the development of renewable energy infrastructure, ultimately advancing the energy transition towards a more sustainable future. Future energy transition efforts in Indonesia will benefit from similar approaches, emphasizing the need for strong public-private partnerships and clear legal frameworks to accelerate the deployment of advanced energy technologies.

Teaser Text
The USAID Sustainable Energy for Indonesia’s Advancing Resilience (USAID SINAR) activity provided support to the Ijen project, which is expected to leverage $227 million in financing and achieve generation capacity of 110 MW.

Publish Date
Tue, 01/14/2025 – 12:00

Author(s)

Janice M. Laurente

Hero Image
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Blog Type
Blog Post

Strategic Objective

Mitigation

Region

Asia

Topic

Carbon
Emissions
Climate Finance
Clean or Renewable Energy
Grid Integration
Mitigation
Partnership
Private Sector Engagement

Country

Indonesia

Sectors

Energy

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