Opinion:
¶ “Maybe There’s Hope For A Hopeless Time” • The Great Green Wall of Africa is an attempt to stop the southward expansion of the Sahara Desert. The wall project stretches from Senegal, on the west coast, to Djibouti, on the east, covering a distance of something over 4,800 miles at a depth of perhaps five miles. It is seen as a source of hope. [CleanTechnica]
Great Green Wall (Sevgart, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “The Fight Over EV Rules In California Misses The Big Picture” • For thirty years, California has been granted waivers by both Republican and Democratic administrations that let it enact stricter exhaust emissions standards than those prescribed by the federal government. But now, the US Senate has voted to revoke those waivers. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Agrivoltaics Benefit From Comparatively High Acceptance” • PV systems do not always meet with approval. But agrivoltaics is viewed more favorably, as researchers at the University of Bonn have now been able to show. In agrivoltaics, the solar cells are installed in spaces that are still used for agriculture, such as on pastures or over grapevines. [CleanTechnica]
Agrivoltaic plant (Agrivoltaïsme, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “TotalEnergies Inaugurates Its Largest Solar Field In Europe” • TotalEnergies has inaugurated its largest solar power plant cluster in Europe. It consists of five solar projects in Spain, with a total installed capacity of 263 MW. It will produce 515 GWh per year of electricity, enough to meet the damand of over 150,000 Spanish households. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Aikido Technologies Full-Scale Floating Wind Demonstrator To Be Tested In Norway” • Aikido Technologies, Inc, a floating offshore wind technology provider, announced this week that it signed an agreement with Marin Energy Test Centre in Norway, to deploy a 15-MW demo project. The platform will be one of the largest floating wind platforms. [CleanTechnica]
Aikido One quarter-scale platform installed in 2024
¶ “EU Adopts Rules Defining Scope Of NZIA” • The European Commission adopted rules defining the scope of the Net-Zero Industry Act, which aims to boost deployment of clean energy technologies. The rules clarify which manufacturing projects can benefit from specific provisions in the Act, such as on permitting and strategic project status. [reNews]
¶ “Denmark Clears Way For Offshore Wind Duo” • The Danish Energy Appeals Board has rejected appeals against construction permits for two offshore wind farms, and they can be built as planned. The 240-MW Jammerland Bugt and 165-MW Lillebælt Syd offshore wind farms will have a total of 27 turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW. [reNews]
Offshore wind farm (European Energy image)
¶ “Romania Launches Call To Identify Offshore Wind Zones” • The Romanian Ministry of Energy has launched a public call for expressions of interest in a study to identify suitable areas of the Black Sea for the development of offshore wind farms. The goal is to support the development of an installed offshore wind energy capacity of at least 3 GW by 2035. [reNews]
¶ “For The First Time, Global Solar Energy Production Exceeded Nuclear Energy Production” • Data from the energy analyst Ember shows that solar power generation reached 233 TWh in April, exceeding the 213 TWh generated by nuclear power plants worldwide. This marks a significant shift in the international energy landscape. [Yourweather.co.uk]
Solar panels (Soren H, Unsplash)
US:
¶ “How The GOP Tax Bill Could Impact Sustainability Efforts” • The multitrillion-dollar GOP tax bill could have detrimental impacts on decarbonization efforts in the U.S., according to energy experts. The tax cuts would also impact sustainability efforts and domestic climate goals, environmental policy experts told ABC News. [ABC News]
¶ “Trump Signs Executive Orders To Boost Nuclear Energy And Reduce Oversight” • President Trump signed a set of executive orders to speed up nuclear energy development by reducing regulations. Nuclear reactors are expensive and time-consuming to build and have problems like waste storage, environmental effects of mining, and more. [Inside Climate News]
Signing an executive order (Sean Spicer, public domain)
¶ “Tesla Model Y And Model 3 Still First And Third Best Selling Cars in California” • Despite a horrendous year-over-year sales decline globally in Q1, including in California, Tesla’s two mass-market models topped the quarter’s sales charts in the state. Well, instead of taking first and second place, as they had previously, they took first and third. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Yesterday’s Congressional Attack On Clean Transportation” • The Congressional Review Act resolutions passed by the US Senate strike down waivers previously granted by the EPA, which allowed states to implement regulations favoring low emissions. “Today’s vote makes it clear that Congress wants Americans to waste more money on gasoline.” [CleanTechnica]
Distant US Capitol (dconvertini, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Renewable Energy Industry Becoming A Powerful Source Of Employment In SD” • While workforce shortages plague many industries and employers in South Dakota, great opportunities abound for skilled workers to build, operate, and maintain the state’s renewable energy facilities, including at its wind farms. Scholarship programs help. [Black Hills Pioneer]
¶ “US Solar Keeps Surging, Generating More Power Than Hydro In 2025” • In the US, many newly constructed generating plants are brought online at the end of the year to qualify for tax incentives. With the first three months of data in for 2025, it’s clear this year is no exception: Solar power is up a staggering 44% compared to the prior year. [Ars Technica]
Have an incomparably perfect day.
geoharvey 
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