World:
¶ “UK Could Hit 30°C At Earliest Recorded Point In A Year” • The UK is set for its hottest day of the year so far on Thursday, and the high could hit 30°C (86°F) at the earliest recorded date, forecasters said. The heat follows one of the warmest and driest Aprils on record. It’s bad timing for those who want to bask in the sun over the three-day weekend. [ABC News]
Brighton (Ben Guerin, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Ukraine Signs Minerals Pact With US As State Department Praises ‘Deal-Maker’ Trump” • The United States and Ukraine have signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country’s critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defence against Russia. [Yahoo News UK]
¶ “Europe EV Sales Report” • Some 365,000 plugin vehicles were registered in Europe in March, rising 22% year over year, in an overall market that was up by just 3%. There was a steep fall of diesel sales, down 27% YOY to 7% share now. Petrol is also in a death spiral: Petrol vehicles saw their sales fall by 20% YoY, and their share dropped to 28%. [CleanTechnica]
Charging an EV (JUICE, Unsplash)
¶ “UK Councils Advise Government: Rooftop Solar Should Be Required On All New Homes” • In the Local Government Association’s April 2025 report, the LGA called for mandatory rooftop solar panels on all new homes in the UK, urging stronger building standards to accelerate decarbonization and reduce household energy bills. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “BYD Launches In Benin, Seychelles, Croatia, Slovakia, And Cambodia, Plus The World’s Largest Car Carrier!” • In April, BYD was joined by Dubai Taxi Company and Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility to deploy 200 all-electric BYD SEAL taxis in Dubai. BYD also launched the BYD Shenzhen, the world’s largest car carrier, to carry 9,200 vehicles. [CleanTechnica]
BYD launch event in Seychelles (Courtesy of BYD)
¶ “Voltalia Secures Finance For UK Solar Project” • Voltalia raised a £20 million finance package to build a 34-MW solar project near Scarborough, north Yorkshire. Voltalia’s £20 million finance package consists of a construction and long-term operating loan of up to £18.9 million, from Triodos Bank UK, and a debt service reserve facility of €1.1 million. [reNews]
¶ “European Commission Backs Nine Renewables Projects in Finland And Estonia” • The European Commission allocated €52 million ($58.7 million) for nine projects in Finland and Estonia through the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism. The funding aims to strengthen the EU’s renewable energy and foster cross-border cooperation of member states. [Rigzone]
Night in Finland (Niilo Isotalo, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “New Military Activity Reported Near Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants, IAEA Says” • Explosions, drone flights, and air raid signals have continued for weeks near Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports. [RBC-Ukraine]
US:
¶ “Smart Electrical Panel Startup SPANs NREL’s Accelerator Programs” • SPAN created a smart electrical panel that goes beyond traditional capabilities. Users can control individual circuits for individual devices. SPAN also has an app that gives users a dashboard to keep track of the connected appliances and electric loads. [CleanTechnica]
SPAN smart electrical pane (Photo from SPAN)
¶ “Republicans Want A New $250 Tax On Electric Vehicles” • Republicans in Congress have dropped the idea of funding the Trump-Musk budget cuts with a $20 fee on all passenger cars. Now they are pushing for a tax on EVs, in the form of a national $250 registration fee. So much for the tax-cutting, pro-business, law-and-order Republican party. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project Can Now Support Coastal, Remote, And Island Communities” • Coastal, remote, and island areas need affordable, reliable, secure energy systems but many lack the resources to improve. Harsh weather conditions and aging infrastructure can relatively isolated places vulnerable. Now than can get support. [CleanTechnica]
Casco Bay (Dougtone, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)
¶ “Tariffs Could Result In $120 Million Q2 Hit To CVOW Costs” • Dominion Energy increased the cost estimate for its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project by $120 million due to impacts of tariffs, the company said in an update. Chief executive Bob Blue said the project cost will increase residential customer bills by just $0.04 per month. [reNews]
¶ “Trump Official Accepts Empire Order Is ‘Dangerous'” • Leslie Beyer, nominated as assistant secretary of the interior, lands and minerals management, agreed with Senator Angus King at a confirmation hearing that the administration’s decision to issue a stop order for Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind projects off New York sends a negative signal. [reNews]
Leslie Beyer (US Congress image)
¶ “Fossil Fuels Within Electricity Sector Falls To All Time Low In US” • A study determined that the US reached a record low for fossil fuels generating electricity in April, while solar and wind reached a record high. According to data collected by Ember, the global energy think tank, fossil fuels produced 49.2% of the US supply of electricity. [NationofChange]
¶ “Largest Solar Project East Of Mississippi River Now Online In Illinois” • Swift Current Energy has brought its 800-MW Double Black Diamond Solar project online in Illinois. It is the largest solar project in operation east of the Mississippi. Swift Current Energy joined project customers and local leaders to celebrate the start of operations. [Solar Power World]
Have a comfortably mild day.
geoharvey 