Opinion:
¶ “Unlock The Full Potential Of Community Solar” • In the national conversation about clean energy, large-scale utility solar farms and rooftop solar often dominate the spotlight. Between those two extremes lies one of the most promising, inclusive, and rapidly evolving models for renewable energy deployment: community solar. [CleanTechnica]
Rooftop solar system (yue chan, Unsplash, cropped)
¶ “Elon Musk Is The Cause, Not The Solution To Tesla’s Deep Problems” • Jennifer Sensiba: “Elon Musk’s propaganda machine is in overdrive. … But, if we focus on whether he’s telling the truth, we will eventually find that we’ve skipped past a much more important question: Will Tesla be a stronger company with Elon Musk spending more time on it?” [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Coastlines In Danger Even If Climate Target Met, Scientists Warn” • The world could see hugely damaging sea-level rise of several meters or more over the coming centuries even if the ambitious target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C is met, scientists warn. They warn that 1.5°C should not be considered “safe” for coastal populations. [BBC]
Miami (Ryan Parker, Unsplash)
¶ “Tropical Forests Destroyed At Fastest Recorded Rate Last Year” • The world’s tropical forests, which provide a crucial buffer against climate change, disappeared faster than ever recorded last year, satellite analysis suggests. Researchers estimate that 67,000 sq km (26,000 sq mi) of these pristine, old-growth forests were lost in 2024. [BBC]
¶ “€800 Million Green Bond Fills 50Hertz Coffers” • Eurogrid, the parent company of German transmission system operator 50Hertz, raised €800 million in its first Green Bond issuance of 2025. The proceeds will support eligible onshore and offshore projects that integrate and transport renewable electricity, in line with Eurogrid’s Green Bond Framework. [reNews]
Offshore substation (50Hertz image)
¶ “Sodium Batteries: Yet Another Sign EVs Are Here To Stay” • US President Donald Trump has been losing his battle against EVs, and he’s about to begin losing even biglier now that new sodium-ion EV batteries are emerging on the market. Already, such stakeholders as industry leader CATL are laying plans for mass production. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Jeonnam 1 Powers Up” • Copenhagen Offshore Partners has announced that the 96-MW Jeonnam 1 offshore wind project in South Korea has now begun commercial operations. Jeonnam 1 is South Korea’s largest privately led offshore wind farm. It has ten 9.6-MW turbines and is expected to generate enough power for around 90,000 households. [reNews]
Jackup ship at work (COP image)
¶ “Grenergy Signs Its Largest Battery Purchase Agreement With BYD Energy Storage For 3.5 GWh” • Grenergy has signed an agreement with global energy solutions provider BYD Energy Storage for the supply of 3.5 GWh in energy storage systems to be installed in the sixth phase of the Oasis de Atacama project in northern Chile. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Report Warns Thousands Of Species Threatened By Climate Change” • Over 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change, a report warns. Global warming now ranks alongside overexploitation and habitat alteration as the greatest threats to wildlife, say scientists. “We’re at the start of an existential crisis for the Earth’s wild animals.” [Black Hills Pioneer]
Penguin (Arya Tulsyan, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “Honda Pulls Back On EV Strategy For Now And Will Push Hybrid Sales” • Honda said EV sales were slowing in the US, so it will scrap its goal for EVs to be 30% of its global vehicle sales by 2030. Honda’s initial plan was to invest ¥10 trillion ($69 billion) in a strategy to electrify through 2031, but it is reducing that amount to ¥3 trillion ($48 billion). [ABC News]
¶ “What To Know About Senate’s Effort To Block Emission Rules For Vehicles In California” • Congress may stop California from implementing its first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas powered cars by 2035. A Senate vote expected as soon as this week could end the nation’s most aggressive effort to transition toward EVs. [ABC News]
Smog (Jacek Dylag, Unsplash)
¶ “California EV Sales Stay Strong, Model Choice Skyrockets” • The California electric vehicle market continues to be one of the best in the world. It’s not on a growth spurt at the moment, but even with Tesla sales drooping in what had been their home state, 20.8% of autos sold in California were full electric vehicles in the first quarter. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “US Refining Industry Risks From 2025 Hurricane Season” • Colorado State University’s hurricane forecast estimates the 2025 hurricane season will have almost twice the storms of the 1991–2020 average. This suggests heightened risk for weather-related outages of oil industry production, especially refinery outages along the US Gulf Coast. [CleanTechnica]
Flooding after Katrina (Jocelyn Augustino, FEMA, public domain)
¶ “Solar Apprenticeships Give Virginia Students A Head Start On Clean Energy” • A regional partnership working to add solar panels to commercial buildings in Virginia aims to train young people as they go, developing workforce skills in anticipation of increasing demand for renewable energy-focused jobs in the heart of coal country. [Canary Media]
¶ “First US Utility Seeks Permit For A Small Nuclear Reactor” • The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, announced that it submitted a construction permit application to the US NRC for a small, modular nuclear reactor. It wants to develop next-generation nuclear power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at its Clinch River site. [Coast Reporter]
Have a cheerfully cozy day.
geoharvey 
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