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World:

¶ “At Least 22 Killed In Protests Against Fuel Price Hikes In Angola” • Angola is one of Africa’s largest oil producers, but its refineries cannot meet domestic demand, so it imports oil and gasoline at high prices. At least 22 people were killed in protests sparked by the government’s decision to raise the price of fuel, the president’s office says. [Euronews]

President Lourenço (© Olaf Kosinsky, CC By-SA 3.0 DE, cropped)

¶ “The Ocean Cleanup And Kia Support Guatemala with An Initiative to Stop Plastic Pollution From Reaching the World’s Oceans ” • Kia, its partner The Ocean Cleanup, Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and others have joined to stop one of the world’s largest plastic pollution flows from reaching the ocean. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Japan Assigns Two Sites For Upcoming Offshore Wind Auctions ” • Japan’s industry and land ministers designated Matsumae and Hiyama, areas off the island of Hokkaido, as promotion zones for upcoming offshore wind power auctions, aiming to bolster the country’s renewable energy goals. There is no auction timetable yet. [Offshore Engineer Magazine]

Hokkaido (Zion C, Unsplash)

¶ “EET Launches New Intelligent Plug-And-Play Storage System For Balcony Power Plants” • Efficient Energy Technology GmbH introduced an innovative energy storage system designed for the use and storage of solar energy, especially for balcony systems. SolMate 3 plugs directly into a standard socket and just operates, immediately. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “DOE Moves To Power Last-Mile Homes, Schools With Solar” • The Philippine Department of Energy is ramping up efforts to reach full household electrification through microgrids and solar home systems, aligning with President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr’s directive in his 2025 State of the Nation Address. About 12,000 households are targeted. [powerphilippines.com]

President Marcos (Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs)

¶ “New Renewables Capacity Doubles In First Half” • China’s newly installed renewable capacity nearly doubled YOY for the first half of the year. New power generating capacity during the first six months reached 290 GW, with new solar installations rising 107.1% year-on-year to 210 GW, and new wind power installations up 98.9% to 50 GW. [China Daily]

¶ “A Battery Project At A Former Nuclear Facility To Stabilise German Grid” • German energy company EnBW announced a 400-MW, 800-MWh battery project at a former nuclear power plant site, feeding renewable power into the grid when it is needed. EnBW says the facility will be one of Germany’s largest storage projects. [Smart Energy International]

Closed nuclear site (Lothar Neumann, CC BY-SA 2.5, cropped)

¶ “IAEA Reports Nuclear Sites Stable After Earthquake Off The Coast Of Russia” • The UN nuclear watchdog reported nuclear conditions remained stable at facilities along Japan’s Pacific coast, after a powerful earthquake off Russia’s east coast. Conditions are also stable at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. [Xinhua]

US:

¶ “Why EVs Are Better In Hurricanes” • A Kia salesperson noted recently that EVs are much better than gas cars when hurricanes hit. CleanTechnica has dealt with this before, but we should return to the topic as we go into hurricane season. Here we go into it in four parts: Charging Both Before And After a Storm, Evacuation, Backup Power, and Flooding. [CleanTechnica]

Bidirectional EV charging (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “Radioactive Wasp Nest Found At Site Where US Once Made Nuclear Bombs” • Workers at a site in South Carolina that once made key parts for nuclear bombs, and is to make nuclear fuel, found a radioactive wasp nest. The nest at the Savannah River Site is near tanks where liquid nuclear waste is stored. Officials said there is no danger. [ABC News]

¶ “NREL Technical Support Empowers Local Governments And Tribes To Boost Energy Efficiency And Cut Costs” • From the capital cities in the East to Alaskan villages in the West, NREL is advancing community-driven energy solutions from coast to coast through the US DOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. [CleanTechnica]

Native Village of Chenega, Alaska (NREL image)

¶ “A US Clean Energy Developer Sees Promise Where Others See Ashes” • The US saw $22 billion in clean energy investments go up in smoke over the past six months, and yet the energy transition persists. A case in point is Texas-based Treaty Oak Clean Energy with a 17.3-GW pipeline of solar, wind, and battery storage projects. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Nissan Ariya For $31,000?” • After hearing a person, a progressive Democrat, say that EVs cost $187,000, implying that fossil fuels aren’t that bad, we checked. In less than five minutes, we found a new Nissan Ariya at a Nissan dealer near where the person lived. With no government incentives taken into account, the price was $31,000. [CleanTechnica]

Nissan Ariya (Elizbeth smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Increasing Solar Energy Adoption By Just 15% Could Yield Considerable Emissions Reductions” • Ramping up US solar energy production by just 15% could help the country make significant progress toward achieving national goals for emissions reductions, a study has found. The research was published in the journal Science Advances. [The Hill]

¶ “Primergy Announces The Commissioning Of Ash Creek Solar In Texas” • Primergy Solar LLC announced that the 408-MW Ash Creek Solar project, Hill County, Texas, reached commercial operation, and is now delivering affordable energy to the grid in partnership with Microsoft through a long-term power purchase agreement. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have an unusually graceful day.

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World:

¶ “The First Planned Migration Of An Entire Country Is Now Underway” • Tuvalu is preparing to carry out the first planned migration of an entire country. Recent studies project that much of its territory could be submerged in the next 25 years due to rising sea levels. Its inhabitants must consider migration as an urgent survival measure. [Wired]

Sunset at Tuvalu (INABA Tomoaki, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Portugal Announces €137 Million Investment In Power Grid Upgrades After Blackout” • Authorities in Portugal announced a raft of measures to strengthen the country’s electricity system after the 28 April blackout that left most of Spain and Portugal without power for several hours. Included are €137 million of investments in the electricity grid. [Euronews]

¶ “The ICE Age Ends: How Electric Cars Are Shutting Down Gas Stations And Garages ” • A gasoline-powered car has long been relatively cheap convenience. As EV adoption accelerates past critical mass, this convenience will rapidly unravel. Gas stations will close, oil-change shops will close, and basic maintenance costs will climb sharply. [CleanTechnica]

Abandoned gas station (Dominique Hicks, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Australia’s Most Renewable State To Install 16 ‘Community Batteries,’ Add Them To VPP” • Australian energy giant AGL announced that it will build and operate 16 community batteries in South Australia. They will subsequently be incorporated into the virtual power plant that AGL acquired from Tesla earlier this month. [One Step Off The Grid]

¶ “Geotechnical surveys begin for Lillebaelt Syd” • Geotechnical surveys have begun for the 11-turbine, 165-MW Lillebaelt Syd offshore wind project in Denmark. It is owned by TotalEnergies, European Energy, and the Danish utility company SONFOR. A mobile drilling platform will perform drilling and testing at each of the turbine locations. [reNews]

Mobile drilling platform (European Energy image)

¶ “‘We Went Too Quickly:’ Bp Defends Dramatic Renewable Exit As Fortescue Accelerates To Net Zero” • The head of BP Australia defended its decision to quit the giant 26-GW renewable energy project in the Pilbara. Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto, sitting next to her, underlined the company’s determination to lead the world to “real zero.” [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Canada Designates Four Offshore Wind Areas” • Canada has designated its first four offshore wind energy areas off Nova Scotia, advancing plans to license 5 GW of capacity by 2030. The federal and provincial governments have selected French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank and Sydney Bight for future offshore wind projects. [reNews]

Offshore wind areas (Province of Nova Scotia)

¶ “Fukushima Nuclear Plant Workers Evacuate After Japan Warns Of 3-Meter Tsunami Waves” • Workers were evacuated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant after the country issued tsunami warnings in the wake of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia’s far east. The earthquake hit near the Kamchatka Peninsula, and its tsunami waves are of up to four meters. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency Plans To Kill Landmark ‘Endangerment’ Climate Rule” • The EPA moved to repeal the “endangerment finding,” a 2009 declaration that determined the current and projected concentrations of six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, “endanger both the public health and the public welfare.” [ABC News]

Smoke from burning car batteries, 1972 (Marc St Gil, EPA)

¶ “Extreme Heat Dome Puts 170 Million Americans In Danger For Hot, Humid Temperatures” • Around 170 million Americans from Nebraska to the Northeast are experiencing dangerously warm temperatures due to an ongoing heat wave. The eastern half of the country ia experiencing temperatures that can feel anywhere between 100°F and 110°F. [ABC News]

¶ “Electric Tractor Cost Can Be Reduced By Tens of Thousands With California Program” • Some people think electric vehicles are just about personal transportation. Fortunately, there are many other EVs available. Electric tractors, like the other EVs, have a lot of benefits that their fossil-fuel burning counterparts don’t have. [CleanTechnica]

Electric Tractor (Monarch Tractor image)

¶ “Want To Buy A Used Electric Car Before US Tax Credit Expires? Seven Things To Know” • There are just two months and two days left to get a used electric car in the US and get a $4,000 tax credit. But not everyone is eligible for the tax credit, not every used electric car qualifies, and there are some things to know going into the process. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Administration Considering Blocking Onshore And Offshore Wind Sites” • The Trump administration is pursuing new measures to stymie onshore and offshore wind. The Interior Department said it is evaluating “whether to stop onshore wind development on some federal lands and halting future offshore wind lease sales.” [reNews]

Flag and turbine (Dominion image)

¶ “Elon Musk Hoped To Sell 150,000 Tesla Cybertrucks A Year – On Track For 20,000 In 2025” • At one point, Tesla reportedly pulled in more than one million “reservations” for the Tesla Cybertruck. Many Tesla fans and shareholders were expecting it to reach hundreds of thousands sales a year. It looks like a tiny fraction of that will be sold in 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Energy Company Strikes Deal To Deliver Next-Gen Nuclear Power To Critical US Military Base: ‘We Are Honored'” • Oklo Inc has been selected to deliver carbon-free power to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska through its advanced fission technology, according to Business Wire. Oklo’s fast reactor technology can recycle nuclear waste. [The Cool Down]

Have an especially cheerful day.

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World:

¶ “Fully Electric Tourist Ship Launched” • A tourist ship that is 100% electric has been launched. In China, of course. The ship is powered by CATL batteries – a lot of them. The energy storage capacity of the batteries is a whopping 3,918 kWh. That battery power provides the ship with a range of just about 100 km (62 miles) on a full charge! [CleanTechnica]

Electric tourist ship (CATL image)

¶ “Marine Heatwaves May Have Driven The World’s Oceans To A Critical Tipping Point” • In 2023, the Earth experienced a historic surge in marine heatwaves, setting records in intensity, geographic extent, and duration. Scientists warn that prolonged heatwaves might indicate a tipping point for the world’s oceans with grave effects on the planet. [Euronews]

¶ “WeRide Robotaxis in Saudi Arabia” • WeRide has received approval to operate robotaxis in Saudi Arabia. It is partnering with Uber and Ai Driver to conduct the pilot in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The companies plan to have full-scale commercial operations up and running by the end of the year, the first Saudi robotaxi service. [CleanTechnica]

WeRide Uber robotaxi in Saudi Arabia

¶ “New Energy Projects Spring Up In Western Area Of Jilin Province” • The western area of northeast China’s Jilin Province is witnessing rapid growth in its renewable energy sector, as a series of major projects take shape across the region. The area is tapping into its abundant natural resources to build a robust clean energy industry. [People’s Daily]

¶ “Zelestra And EDP Ink Solar-Battery PPA” • Zelestra and EDP signed a long-term solar and battery storage power purchase agreement in Spain. The agreement, the first of its kind in the Spanish market, will allow Zelestra to build a project consisting of 170 MW of solar capacity with 400 MWh of battery storage in Trujillo, Extremadura. [reNews]

Solar workers (Zelestra image)

¶ “‘We Can Do That:’ AEMO Says Power System Can Be Run On 100% Renewable Energy” • The head of the Australian Energy Market Operator says he confident that the country’s main grid – and in fact its smaller ones – can run on 100% renewable energy. States like South Australia reach more than 100% renewables almost every day. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “First Turbine Foundation In For Nordseecluster” • The first turbine foundation for RWE’s 1,600-MW Nordseecluster offshore wind project has been installed. The monopiles were shipped from the Dutch heavy-lift terminal in Eemshaven to the construction site in the German North Sea by Van Oord’s new offshore installation vessel Boreas. [reNews]

Boreas at work (RWE image)

¶ “All Energy Costs Rise But Small Nuclear Most Reactive” • Of all generating technologies, next-generation nuclear reactors are the most expensive, a report has found. They would significantly increase electricity prices in Australia. Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, released its GenCost report, showing rising costs for energy projects of all kinds. [MSN]

¶ “Wind Power Transforms Life On Roof Of The World” • The Oumatingga wind power project, comprising 25 turbines with a capacity of 100 MW at an average altitude of 4,600 meters, is a landmark achievement that demonstrates Xizang’s (Tibet’s) strong commitment to developing renewable energy, especially in solar PV and wind power. [China Daily]

Tibet (Jiasong Huang, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Honolulu’s Lawsuit Against Fossil Fuel Companies Leads In Climate Change Legal Fight” • Honolulu is not alone in its effort to sue fossil fuel companies to hold them accountable for climate change harms, but the city’s lawsuit is further along than similar litigation across the country. A hearing will indicate how these fights play out in court. [ABC News]

¶ “Sierra Club Statement on Confirmation Hearing of Michael Boren” • The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry voted on Donald Trump’s controversial pick to oversee the US Forest Service. Michael Boren is reported to have had disputes with government agencies, including the agency he will be tasked with overseeing. [CleanTechnica]

Tongass National Forest (US Forest Service image)

¶ “US Wind Market Installed 2.1 GW In Q1” • The US wind market surged ahead in the first quarter of 2025 with 2,100 MW of installations, though regulatory uncertainty led to a significant pullback in wind turbine orders, a report says. The US Wind Energy Monitor shows that in Q1 2025, the US wind sector more than doubled the activity of Q1 2024. [reNews]

¶ “How Renewable Energy Keeps America’s Farms Alive” • For many farmers, wind and solar power are lifelines. Renewable energy provides steady income and affordable power, helping farms stay viable when crop prices fall or drought strikes. But some of that is at risk as the Trump administration cuts federal support for renewable energy. [Informed Comment]

Farm and windpower (Mateusz Niezgoda, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Nevada Takes Top Spot In Solar Power Output And Jobs” • Las Vegas is undergoing a sizable change as record-high numbers of rooftop solar systems are installed, part of a broader change to renewable energy in the region. Homeowners increasingly take advantage of rooftop solar systems in Southern Nevada that help save them from utility bills. [X1075 Las Vegas]

¶ “NY Governor Hochul Announces First Bulk Energy Storage Solicitation” • Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the launch of New York’s first Bulk Energy Storage Request for Proposals, intended to procure 1 GW of bulk energy storage as part of New York’s 6-GW Energy Storage Roadmap. Adding energy storage will reduce costs. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have a generously presented day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Understanding The Tipping Points For Transportation” • To analyze the shift from fossil-burning vehicles to EVs, it’s valuable to combine three theories: Diffusion of innovations, the s-curve or logistic growth, and complex adaptive systems. These models explain why the changes are not gradual but instead come about in sharp bursts. [CleanTechnica]

Abandoned gas station (Polina Skaia, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “NISAR Satellite Could Help Predict Natural Disasters Before They Happen” • The NISAR mission, built by NASA and ISRO, will use two frequencies of radar to measure small changes (less than o.5 inch) on the Earth’s surface. This will help researchers predict  natural disasters, such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides. [ABC News]

¶ “EU Will Buy $750 Billion Worth Of US Energy” • President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the US and the EU had reached a deal that would impose a 15% tariff on most goods. Under the deal, the EU will buy $750 billion worth of energy from the US and increase investments $600 billion. [ABC News]

Nodding donkey (Moritz Kindler, Unsplash)

¶ “Largest PV System In The Philippines On A Mall” • Monsoon rains and the floods that followed the two typhoons that just passed didn’t stop Philippines’ retail store giant SM Supermalls from launching what is now the country’s largest rooftop solar PV system at SM City Fairview. The mall is less than 20 km from the capital of Manila. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Spiro Deploys 500 Electric Motorcycles In Uganda In One Day!” • This has probably got to be the largest rollout of electric motorcycles in Africa in a single day! And Spiro followed this up by deploying another 300 bikes the next day and another 150 bikes a few days later. They are ramping up to deploy at least 175 to 200 motorcycles per day. [CleanTechnica]

Spiro motorcycles (Courtesy of Spiro)

¶ “Koorangie Battery Now Operational” • A new battery system has powered up in the Murray River Region of Victoria, built of 100 Tesla Megapacks. The project provides 185 MW and 370 MWh of energy storage, enough to power 350,000 homes for two hours. The battery plant has a 15-year offtake agreement with Shell Energy. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Thor Offshore Substation Is Installed In Danish North Sea” • The offshore high-voltage substation topside for RWE’s 1-GW Thor wind farm in Denmark has been installed. After the jacket and topside sailed from HSM Offshore’s Schiedam yard, the installation onto the jacket foundation was executed by heavy-lift vessel Gulliver of Scaldis SMC. [reNews]

Heavy-lift vessel Gulliver at work (Scaldis image)

¶ “Labour’s ‘Nuclear Tax’ To Cost Scots £300 Million To Fund English Power Plant” • Labour’s new “nuclear tax” on energy bills will cost Scottish households £300 million over the next decade, it has emerged. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has imposed a levy on energy bills to fund the spiralling costs of the Sizewell C power station in Suffolk. [Yahoo.co]

US:

¶ “Wyoming Wants Renewables. Can The Trump Administration Listen?” • Politicians in Wyoming are delighted that the “Big Beautiful Bill” will fund tax breaks for the state’s faltering fossil fuel industry. But the same politicians are also a bit upset that wind and solar, the fastest-growing energy sector in the state and nation, are under real threat. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines and buffalo (CGP Grey, CC BY 2.0, cropped)

¶ “ChargeScape Demand Response Program For EV Drivers On Long Island” • ChargeScape partnered with PSEG, the primary utility company on Long Island, and drivers of EVs from Ford and BMW in a demand response program that will allow precise management of vehicle charging to lower grid demand during times of peak demand. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Plans For A US Wind Energy “Superhighway” Persist Despite New Hurdles” • To the surprise of nobody, former natural gas CEO and current US Energy Secretary Chris Wright summarily canceled a federal loan guarantee of almost $5 billion for the Grain Belt Express. If that was meant to kill it, Wright missed the mark. The project lives on. [CleanTechnica]

Grain Belt Express (Courtesy of US DOE)

¶ “As Rooftop Solar Gets Hammered, Virtual Power Plants Offer Potential” • The rooftop solar industry is in crisis, as the federal tax credits are being cut off. But solar panels and the batteries that increasingly go with them generate our cheapest electricity. Some experts say the rooftop solar and battery industries should focus on ​“virtual power plants.” [Canary Media]

¶ “‘Total Mental Collapse’: Trump Ripped After ‘Insane’ New Ramble In Europe” • As he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump abruptly started talking about wind turbines. He said wind turbines “rust and rot in eight years,” and then can’t be “buried” because they will harm the soil. A fact-check said he was wrong least six times. [HuffPost]

Have a soothingly satisfying day.

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World:

¶ “A Surprising Climate Solution Right Under Your Feet” • Some 13 billion tons of CO2 flows annually from the world’s trees and other plants to mycorrhizal fungi in enormous mutual support networks. Fungi capture about a third as much carbon emissions as of humanity releases by burning fossil fuels. Fungi also help trees capture carbon emissions as they grow. [Grist]

Mushrooms (Krzysztof Niewolny, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Plans Lodged For Solar Farm To Power 18,000 Homes” • Plans have been lodged for a solar farm with a battery storage system in Derbyshire. Noventum Power has submitted an application to South Derbyshire District Council to build a solar farm capable of powering 18,000 homes, covering an area of about 121 acres (49 ha) on eight fields. [BBC]

¶ “BYD Sealion 06 – Bigger, Faster, Stronger, Better” • The BYD Sealion 6 appeared in 2020 as a gasoline-powered midsize SUV in China. In 2021, BYD made the decision to offer only battery electric and plug-in hybrid models going forward. That seemed to be a huge gamble, but now, BYD is one of the world’s largest car companies by sales volume. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Sealion 06 (BYD image)

¶ “MOU Signed To Build 600-MW Solar Plant In Khulna” • A memorandum of understanding was signed between Sundarban Delta Growth Initiative and the Arab contractor consortium Orascom Peninsula, aiming to build a 600-MW solar power plant in Khulna, Bangladesh, with an estimated cost of 8,000 crore taka ($656 million). [New Age BD]

¶ “Energy Giant Switches On Nation’s Largest Solar Plant Set To Power Over 400,000 Homes” • Zelestra, a Spanish renewable energy company, switched on the largest solar farm in Peru. The San Martín project, consists of 450,000 solar panels and will generate over 830 GWh of clean energy annually, powering more than 400,000 homes. [The Cool Down]

Arequipa, Peru (Megan Kotlus, Unsplash)

¶ “Qinghai Solar Sheep Revolution: How Herders Double Their Incomes Under Panels” • Six years ago, Zhao Guofu struggled to keep 200 sheep. Now he has a thriving flock of 800. But his income isn’t just from wool and meat. Sheep grazing beneath elevated solar panels are the heart of a new model transforming lives and landscapes. [Zoom Bangla News]

¶ “Low-Carbon Power Set To Overtake Fossil Fuels For The First Time” • A report by Ember suggests that 2024 could mark the first year that low-carbon energy generation could overtake fossil fuel energy generation in the UK. The report analyses energy generation and imports into the UK in the period from January to November of 2024. [Solar Power Portal]

Wind turbines (Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Bill McKibben Says Solar Power Is The Path To The Future” • Bill McKibben’s Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, will soon be out. He begins it, “In the past two years … with surprisingly little notice, renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, mainstream, cost-efficient choice around the world.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Oil-Rich Texas Became America’s Net Zero Capital” • Bobby Helmers had nine oil wells on his ranch in West Texas. They went dry. Now he has six wind turbines, and Engie pays well to lease the land they sit on. The free-market, Republican state of Texas has become the biggest generator of renewable energy in the US. [The Telegraph]

Texas wind turbines (Pete Alexopoulos, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “DTE Energy’s Solar Farm Lawsuit And Its Implications For Renewable Energy Investment In Michigan” • The legal battle between DTE Energy and St Clair County over solar project regulations has become a pivotal case in the US clean energy transition. It reflects broader tensions between utility interests, state preemption laws, and local governance. [AInvest]

¶ “US DOE Selects Paducah For Future Energy And AI Facility Site” • The US DOE has named Paducah’s Gaseous Diffusion Plant as one of four federally-owned sites selected for potential AI data center development and the clean energy infrastructure needed to power it. The designation marks a major opportunity for Kentucky. [Northern Kentucky Tribune]

Have an extraordinarily peaceful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Why Taking Another Risk On Nuclear Power In Colorado Would Be A Mistake” • Should Colorado give nuclear power a second look? I argue ‘no’ for three key reasons: The first is high cost and high risk. The second is that it will take a long time to develop. And third, it is a bad fit to Colorado’s renewables-based electric grid. [Colorado Newsline]

Nuclear plant (Stodtmeister, CC BY 3.0, cropped)

World:

¶ “Mexico EV Sales Report: Official Data Were Underreporting Sales – Mexico’s EV Market Is Further Ahead than We Thought!” • Looking beyond the official reports, we see that over 40.000 EVs were sold in Mexico through 2025, a number that more than doubles our previous estimates, which were based on data from Mexico’s Statistical Institute. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “European Auto Industry In Turmoil As Tesla Continues To Lose Market Share” • Tesla is taking it on the chin in Europe. The latest sales data shows Tesla’s market share in European markets fell to 2.8% in June. That represents a 22.9% decline from June of last year. There are more electric car models for sale in Europe this year, and many are from China. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model Y

¶ “Great Yarmouth Port Set For Major Expansion” • In the UK, the Port of Great Yarmouth is set for a major expansion, as it plans to develop a new deep-water terminal. Operator Peel Ports has plans to develop the Southern Terminal at its Outer Harbour as demand from developers and contractors working on energy projects surges. [reNews]

¶ “New Windcat Vessel Completes Sea Trials” • The first in Windcat’s new series of commissioning service operation vessels has completed is sea trials and is almost ready to be delivered. Windcat Rotterdam is the lead ship in Damen’s new Elevation Series of CSOVs. It is designed to be future-proof offshore wind maintenance and support ships. [reNews]

Windcat Rotterdam (Damen image)

¶ “Construction Of Solar Power Plant In Issyk-Kul: Investment Agreement Signed” • The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and RECA LLC signed an investment agreement to develop a solar power plant with a planned installed capacity of up to 1,900 MW at a village in Kyrgyzstan, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy. [24.KG]

¶ “The Next Chernobyl? Nuclear Power Plant Is A ‘Ticking Time Bomb'” • A Soviet-era nuclear power plant in an earthquake zone has been called ‘Chernobyl in waiting’ and a ‘ticking time bomb’ amid fears of disaster. The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was opened in 1976. It comprises two reactors, reportedly supplying the nation with 40% of its electricity. [MSN]

Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (Preacher lad, CC BY-SA 4.0)

US:

¶ “California ZEV Sales Dip As Tesla Sales Crash In The Golden State” • California is far and away the EV leader in the US. Even globally, California has a high percentage of 100% Zero-Emission Vehicle sales. As the original home of Tesla, California has been heavily reliant on Tesla for its high ZEV sales. That’s changing, but perhaps just a bit too fast. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How ‘Corn Sweat’ Exacerbates Heat Waves” • “Corn sweat” could make the extreme heat in a large portion of the US feel worse, according to experts. In the process, water from the soil moves through the plant to evaporate from the leaves, cooling the plant. One acre of corn can put 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water per day into the atmosphere. [ABC News]

Cornfield (Bob Bowie, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “With The Future Of Offshore Wind Up In The Air, Solar Power Shines On” • Executive orders have stalled development of offshore wind farms. A federal tax credit for EVs is set to end. And a reported $22 billion in clean-energy projects have been canceled so far this year. But solar power continues its steady rise across the country. [WGBH]

¶ “Google Is Getting Long Duration Energy Storage” • Google is making a big move to Energy Dome’s long duration storage. The charging cycle starts with CO₂ gas held in a dome-like structure. To charge, it is withdrawn and compressed into a liquid. To make electricity, the CO₂ is vaporized and goes through a turbine to generate electricity. [CleanTechnica]

Energy Dome energy storage (Courtesy of Energy Dome)

¶ “Pennsylvania Hits 2-GW Mark For Solar Energy” • The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Public Utility Commission, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on July 22 to announce 2 GW of installed solar energy in Pennsylvania, only 17 months after crossing the 1-GW threshold. [The River Reporter]

¶ “Tesla And Sunrun Form New Rooftop Solar Alliance” • The downward slide of Tesla’s EV sales gets a lot of media attention, but the Tesla Solar rooftop solar branch has also been sputtering. Not to worry, Tesla fans. Tesla has just hooked up with one of its competitors, Sunrun, to help bring more solar panels to more rooftops in Texas. [CleanTechnica]

Sunrun and Tesla powering a house

¶ “Design Solar For Storage Now, Or Retrofit At A Premium Later” • Clean energy megatrends are converging. Exponential growth in deployed solar and storage capacity, along with a rapid drop in storage prices that is making batteries cost-competitive. These shifts are transforming the possibilities for developers, utilities, and grid operators. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Solar Power Out-Produced Wind For The First Time In May” • A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data from the US EIA shows that solar provided over 11% of all US electricity generated in May. Wind and solar together produced over one-fifth of the electricity for May, and the mix of all renewable energy sources generated nearly 30%. [Solar Power World]

Have a uniquely supportive day.

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World:

¶ “The Precious ‘White Gold’ Fuel Buried In The Earth” • A new type of wildcatters race to replicate the moment when oil, black gold, was found in Titusville, Pennsylvania. They hope to bring about the dawn of a major new energy resource. But it’s not fossil fuels they are looking for. It’s a commercially viable source of natural, low-carbon hydrogen. [BBC]

Possible sources of hydrogen, in blue (USGS image)

¶ “Why Filipinos Keep Getting Married In Flooded Churches” • Submerged Philippine weddings are just the latest example of a festering flood problem that brings misery to millions of people, a problem exacerbated by decaying sewage systems, poor urban planning, and extreme weather events that are growing more intense and frequent. [BBC]

¶ “State-Owned Oil Giants Face Legal Reckoning After ICJ Climate Judgment” • Climate lawsuits, ranging from actions against national governments to lawsuits targeting major fossil fuel corporations, are already reshaping global energy policies. This week’s ICJ ruling, despite its advisory nature, will bolster cases in climate litigation. [CleanTechnica]

Pollution (Maxim Tolchinskiy, Unsplash)

¶ “‘Dark Factories’ – Chinese Automakers Living Tesla’s Dream” • Tesla’s attempts to automate may not have gone well, but some Chinese automakers are doing it. The Wall Street Journal recently created a segment on these “dark factories” so heavily automated that you could basically turn the lights off there while they just go on producing cars. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EDF And ESB Complete 450-MW Neart Na Gaoithe” • EDF and ESB’s 450-MW Neart na Gaoithe wind farm off east Scotland is now fully operational. The array, located 15.5 km off the coast of Fife, has 54 turbines generating enough clean electricity to power around 375,000 homes and offset over 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. [reNews]

First Minister John Swinney (NNG Offshore Wind image)

¶ “ESB Picks Voltalia To Construct Irish PV Duo” • ESB picked Voltalia to construct two new solar farms in Ireland with a total capacity of almost 93-MW. Voltalia was awarded two turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the construction of the 43.7-MW Carriglong solar plant and the 49.2-MW Clashwilliam solar plant. [reNews]

¶ “Philippine Coal Power Generation Declines For The First Time In Seventeen Years” • Coal-fired power in the Philippines dropped for the first time in nearly two decades, according to the country’s Independent Electricity Market Operator. The decline comes as gas and renewable energy generation continue to rise, driving spot energy prices down. [Reccessary]

Philippine coal plant (P199, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Envision Energy Powers The World’s First Green Marine Ammonia Bunkering, For Net Zero Shipping Fuel” • Envision Energy announced that green ammonia fuel produced from its world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plant in Chifeng has successfully powered the world’s first green marine ammonia bunkering operation. [Yahoo.co]

¶ “Iraq Aims To Produce 12,000 Megawatts From Renewable Energy” • Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarej said the ministry is increasing solar energy projects to reach a generating capacity of 12,000 MW by 2030. Maarej’s remarks gave information on the Iraq Energy Transition Assessment Report, prepared by IRENA in cooperation with Iraqi institutions. [Iraqi News]

Karbala (حسن, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “New Coal Ash Rules Thrill Utility Companies But Threaten Human Health” • US administration insists on bailing out the fossil fuel sector, which has been trying for decades to find a way to avoid paying for the damage they have done will bringing the wonders of cheap energy to the world. Now the government is giving coal ash a pass. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Commercial Building Owners Want To Save Energy Star” • Lee Zeldin, head of the EPA, thinks the government can’t do anything right. Government workers are all lazy, shiftless clock watchers who fritter away the day until its time to go home. As a government employee, he wants to eliminate the Energy Star program. That proves that we should save it. [CleanTechnica]

New York City (Jermaine Ee, Unsplash)

¶ “Maine Focuses On Renewables Even As Trump Revokes Climate Policies” • You might think the Trump administration’s rejection of all things climate-related might cause states to pause their clean energy goals. But in Maine, Governor Janet Mills has signed legislation to codify and fast-track the state’s transition to 100% clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Great Lakes Launches US-Built Rock Installation Vessel” • The Texas-based dredging company Great Lakes Dredge & Dock has launched the Acadia subsea rock installation vessel ahead of its maiden deployment for scour protection at Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project off New York. It is expected to be ready for delivery in early 2026. [reNews]

Acadia (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock image)

¶ “Puerto Rico’s Community Solar Power” • Enid Medina Guzman always has candles on hand to deal with blackouts that plague Puerto Rico. She is hopeful the lingering hardship will soon be a thing of the past: Solar panels are being installed on her home as part of a community program promoting energy independence. [themercury.com]

¶ “NRC Gives Crucial Nod For Palisades Nuclear Plant’s Restart” • The NRC approved a series of licensing and regulatory actions that are essential for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant to restart. Palisades ceased operations in May 2022 by Entergy Corp, its New Orleans-based owner, and was sold to Holtec International in June 2022. [WZZM13.com]

Have an exhilaratingly restful day.

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World:

¶ “International Court Of Justice Rules That Climate Change Is An ‘Existential Threat'” • The ICJ delivered a groundbreaking advisory opinion at the Peace Palace in The Hague on July 23, 2025. It said states must act urgently to address the “existential threat” of climate change by cutting emissions, and protecting vulnerable populations and ecosystems. [CleanTechnica]

Peace Palace (Velvet, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Top UN Court Says Countries Can Sue Each Other Over Climate Change” • A landmark decision by a top UN court has cleared the way for countries to sue each other over climate change, including over historic emissions of planet-warming gases. The ruling is non-binding but legal experts say it could have wide-ranging consequences. [BBC]

¶ “Outdoor Workers Demand Protection As Cruel Heat Bakes Southern Europe” • Cruel heat is baking southern Europe. In homes and offices, air conditioning is sweet relief. But under the scorching sun, outdoor labor can be brutal and sometimes even deadly. Hundreds of workers and concerned citizens marched through downtown Barcelona. [ABC News]

Barcelona (Ken Cheung, Unsplash)

¶ “BasiGo Expands Beyond Nairobi With Launch Of Kenya’s First Inter-City Electric Minibus Pilot” • The minibus sector is gaining momentum in Kenya thanks to companies like BasiGo, which started operations about 5 years ago with a Pay-As-You-Drive model for its EV buses. Owners pay affordable rates that cover charging and maintenance. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Changes In The Earth’s Climate Are Making Food Production More Costly” • In a study published in Environmental Letters, researchers reported that extreme weather has driven up food prices around the world in recent years. There are few things more vital to human life than food, and if it is too expensive, inflation will result. [CleanTechnica]

Farm (Werner Sevenster, Unsplash)

¶ “RWE Bags Permit For 180-MW Byers Gill Solar Farm” • RWE has planning permission for the 180-MW Byers Gill solar farm in County Durham, England. UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero approved a Development Consent Order for the ground-mounted scheme. Battery energy storage of around 180 MW will also be included. [reNews]

¶ “VSB Wins Contract For 303-MW Solar Park In Poland” • VSB Group has secured a contract for difference for a 303-MW solar project in Poland’s Lower Silesian Voivodeship, marking the company’s largest solar development to date. The contract was awarded as part of this year’s renewable energy auction run by the Polish Energy Regulatory Office. [reNews]

Solar array (Enel Green Power image)

¶ “Vena Energy Signs 100-MW Load-Following Solar And Wind Deal With SECI” • Green energy provider Vena Energy signed a 100-MW load-following renewable PPA with the Solar Energy Corporation of India. It will develop renewable energy projects with storage to deliver firm, dispatchable renewable energy that matches demand. [pv magazine International]

¶ “EBRD Backs 50-MW Solar Plant In Albania” • A 50-MW solar PV plant will be built in Albania with €39.2 million in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union. The package includes a sovereign guaranteed loan of up to €30 million from the EBRD to KESH, the state-owned utility. [reNews]

Solar power plant (EBRD image)

¶ “Rosatom Blames ‘Unfriendly Countries’ For Delayed Wages At Turkish Nuclear Plant” • Russia’s state nuclear company blamed “external political factors” for delays in paying wages to workers at the Akkuyu Nuclear Plant being built in Turkey. Rosatom said that a major portion of the project’s financing was blocked by unspecified third parties. [The Moscow Times]

¶ “Renewables Generated 50.8% Of The UK’s Electricity In 2024” • Electricity generated by renewables increased by 6.5% in 2024, and now generates 50.8% of the UK’s electricity. Generating with fossil fuels dropped 16% and produces 31.5% of the electricity now. This was due to a 15% fall in gas generation and eliminating generating with coal. [Solar Power Portal]

Rural wind turbine (Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Tesla Profits Drop 16% As CEO Elon Musk Faces Continued Backlash” • Tesla’s profits fell 16% over the quarter ending in June that overlapped with the end of CEO Elon Musk’s tenure in the White House and his ensuing public clash with President Trump, an earnings release showed. Tesla’s performance fell short of analysts’ expectations. [ABC News]

¶ “Congressional Committees Push Back On Proposed NOAA Budget Cuts” • Lawmakers from both parties have so far rejected steep cuts to NOAA proposed by the Trump administration and reiterated their support for a fully staffed National Weather Service during recent committee meetings, which included key appropriations markup sessions. [ABC News]

NOAA ship (NOAA, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Three Positives From Tesla’s Q2 2025 Shareholder Update?” • Three potential positive notes in the Tesla shareholder letter stand out. Are they signs of life, hope, and potential? They are the first builds of an affordable Tesla in June, the beginning of production of the Semi in volume, and the fact that the battery storage business is doing quite well. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Administration Cancels $4.9 Billion Loan Guarantee For A Line To Deliver Green Power” • A $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for a new high-voltage transmission line for delivering solar and wind-generated electricity from the Midwest to the eastern US was cancelled by the Trump administration. It is not immediately clear how that will play out. [ABC News]

Have an unexpectedly nifty day.

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World:

¶ “The UN’s Highest Court Will Decide On Country’s Climate Obligations” • After years of lobbying by exposed island nations who fear they could disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice in 2023 for an advisory, a non-binding opinion. The opinion is expected to come today, July 23. [ABC News]

Sea level rise (Iqro Rinaldi, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “An ‘Underwater Bushfire’ Is Cooking Australia’s Reefs” • In Australia, there is more than one great reef. Ningaloo Reef, the world’s largest fringing reef, spreads along the coast of Western Australia. This year, Ningaloo is in trouble. It is bleaching in a marine heatwave. And this is happening just as the Great Barrier Reef is having the same problem. [BBC]

¶ “United Nations Chief António Guterres Foresees Fossil Fuel Tipping Point” • António Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, gave an address, “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age,” in which he said the shift to renewables has “passed the point of no return.” Solar power is now 41% cheaper than power from fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Engineer at a solar plant (Sikwe Scarter, Unsplash)

¶ “Europe’s 2040 Climate Target Isn’t Just for Environmentalists” • With the US abandoning the Paris Agreement, the center-right led EU Commission’s proposal of a 90% emissions reduction target by 2040 is a very big deal. The question now is how to get this ambitious proposal adopted, and how to design it so that it leads to progress beyond Europe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “CorPower Ocean Wins €40 Million” • CorPower Ocean won a €40 million ($47 million) grant from the EU Innovation Fund to develop VianaWave, a 10-MW pre-commercial wave energy farm off the coast of northern Portugal. The project will consist of a CorPack array of 30 Wave Energy Converters, generating around 30 GWh of electricity annually. [reNews]

CorPower generator (CorPower image)

¶ “All 22 Turbines Installed At Swedish Wind Farm” • Global Wind Service has completed the installation of all 22 turbines at Renewable Power Capital’s 154-MW Storhöjden wind farm in Sweden. The Nordex N163 turbines were installed on TS118-03 towers at the site in the Höga Kusten region. It is the first phase of a 553-MW project. [reNews]

¶ “Renewables Leading The Way On Cost” • Renewables are leading the way on cost in global power markets, with 91% of new clean energy projects now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, a report has revealed. An International Renewable Energy Agency report said renewables maintained their price advantage over fossil fuels. [reNews]

Renewable energy (IRENA image)

¶ “WA Reveals Biggest Grid Investment For A Decade” • The Western Australian state government unveiled what it says is its largest investment in electricity transmission in over a decade, announcing new contracts totalling $342 million for major transmission network upgrades that will help unlock future renewable energy capacity. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Electric Truck Startup Nevoya Raises More Cash To Spread Its Wings And Fly” • The US electric truck startup Nevoya figured out how to make an irresistible offer to fleet owners: Ditch the diesel trucks, and Nevoya’s AI-enabled logistics platform will save money, improve customer satisfaction, and probably make your drivers happier, too. [CleanTechnica]

Nevoya electric truck (Courtesy of Nevoya)

¶ “California Could Suspend Tesla Manufacturing Over False Advertising Claim” • The California DMV has sued Tesla for false advertising, claiming Tesla misled consumers for years when it advertised its “Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving” features. If the state wins, it could suspend Tesla’s Fremont factory operations for 30 days. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hybrid Solar-BESS In Hawaii Powers Up” • A hybrid 30-MW solar and 120-MWh battery energy storage plant in Hawaii is now fully operational. Ingeteam completed the commissioning work for eleven inverter power stations for Innergex Renewable Energy’s Hale Kuawehi project. The project could supply power to 14,600 Hawaiian homes. [reNews]

Hale Kuawehi project (Ingeteam image)

¶ “New Hampshire Raids Clean Energy Fund” • The new state budget of New Hampshire redirects an estimated $15 million from a dedicated renewable energy fund into the general fund, likely signaling the end of plans to expand a popular pilot for municipal solar developments. The budget leaves just $1 million in the renewable energy fund each year. [Canary Media]

¶ “Solar, Wind And Storage Reliably Power Texas Grid During Unexpected Coal Shutdown” • Solar and wind generated 40.2% of the ERCOT grid’s electricity this year through June. When coal plants shut down for unexpected maintenance, solar and wind provided about 50% of generation during peak summer demand in the state. [pv magazine USA]

Solar array (Markus Spiske, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Farmer-Led Trade Association Forms To Help Navigate Solar, Wind On Farmland” • Landowners formed a nonprofit trade association, Renewable Energy Farmers of America, to provide guidance and professional services for locating renewable energy on their land. The REFA is designed to remain “farmer-focused” at every level. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “Rubber Stamp? Has The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Lost Its Independence?” • The pace of undermining the statutory authority of the NRC to provide a basis of nuclear safety in the US and across the world is accelerating. DOGE staff member Adam Blake directed NRC staff to “rubber stamp” DOE and DOD nuclear projects. [Southern Alliance for Clean Energy]

Have a functionally exuberant day.

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World:

¶ “China Begins Building World’s Largest Dam, Fuelling Fears In India” • China is building what will be the largest hydropower dam in the world. The project, in Tibetan territory, has India and Bangladesh concerned. It is criticised for its potential to impact millions of Indians and Bangladeshis living downriver, the local Tibetans, and the environment. [BBC]

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon (mayanming, CC BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “‘It’s A Lifesaver’: Making Solar Power Affordable In South Africa” • Despite recent improvements in South Africa’s power grid, outages persist. For fifteen years, the country has had “load-shedding” blackouts to ease pressure on its ageing infrastructure. The crisis prevents economic growth, destroys job, and threatens lives. Affordable solar power can be a savior. [BBC]

¶ “France’s Increase In Nuclear And Hydropower In 2024 Led To More Electricity Exports” • In 2024, France increased its cross-border electricity deliveries by 48%, from 70 TWh in 2023 to 103 TWh in 2024. The rise in French electricity generation reduced the country’s need for gross electricity imports, which fell by 50% in 2024. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “EV Share In China Is 53%! – June 2025 Sales Report” • June saw the continuation of the growth of the Chinese EV market, with plugins scoring over 1.1 million sales in June, out of 2.1 million in the overall market. The fastest growing technology was battery EVs, up 33% to over 660,000 units. There may be 10 million EVs sold in China this year. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Rezolv Secures €331 Million Financing For Vifor” • Rezolv Energy secured financing of up to €331 million to build the 269-MW second phase of its Vifor wind farm in Romania. The Actis-backed company has signed incremental project finance facilities for Phase 2, which will take the project in Buzău County to its full 461-MW capacity. [reNews]

Building a wind turbine base (Rezolv image)

¶ “EV Charging Stations in Manila to Be Made ‘Sustainable and Convenient'” • Charging technology company Evro signed an agreement with Shell Pilipinas for “improved EV charging experiences” in the Philippines. The Evro–Shell collaboration allows users to use Shell’s chargers and those of other networks through a single platform. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Engie Secures €90 Million Loan From EBRD” • The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is supporting the expansion of renewable energy in Romania with a €90 million loan to Engie. The EBRD’s financing will enable Engie Romania to develop renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of at least 250MW by 2028. [reNews]

Solar and wind (Engie image)

¶ “DP Energy To Develop 1.4-GW Oz Wind Farm” • Irish developer DP Energy is planning to build a 1,400-MW wind farm and 500-MW battery system in Queensland. It will have about 197 wind turbines with an installed capacity of up to 1.4 GW and will be supported by battery facilities of around 500 MW and 2,000 MWh. [reNews]

¶ “Negative Price Hours Rise In Europe” • Around 28% of the potential solar power generation in Germany occurred during periods of negative electricity prices from January to May, according to Enervis. The share is expected to continue to rise as battery storage deployment keeps lagging behind renewable energy growth. [pv magazine International]

Solar farm (ダモ リ, Unsplash)

¶ “UK Gives Final Go-Ahead To £38 Billion Nuclear Plant” • The government has given the final go-ahead for a £38 billion ($51.2 billiion) nuclear power plant in Suffolk. The Sizewell C project will be jointly funded by Canadian pension fund La Caisse, UK energy firm Centrica, and Amber Infrastructure. It will deliver enough electricity for six million homes. [MSN]

US:

¶ “NASA To Launch Two New Satellites To Help Forecast Solar Storms” • The northern lights have been captivating stargazers for generations. But the same charged particles from the Sun’s atmosphere responsible for this brilliant celestial display can also damage and destroy electrical and communications systems in large parts of the Earth. [ABC News]

TRACERS spacecraft (Millennium Space Systems
and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)

¶ “Governor Greg Abbott Calls Special Legislative Session For Flood Emergency Planning” • Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session for the Texas legislature to discuss emergency procedures and early warning systems in the wake of the deadly flooding earlier this month. “We must ensure better preparation in the future,” Abbott said. [ABC News]

¶ “Texas Is Rolling In New Solar Power Plants” • Despite the current downwards spiral in energy policy, large solar power projects keep streaming into Texas, at least for the time being. The flood could turn into a trickle, and that’s up to the voters, but even if ratepayers are asleep at the wheel, leading corporate energy consumers are not. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power in Texas (Courtesy of Primergy)

¶ “Uber, Lucid, And Nuro Join Forces On Robotaxis” • Uber announced it intends to get back into robotaxis in collaboration with Lucid and Nuro. In a press release, Uber said it expects the first robotaxis using Lucid Gravity electric cars equipped with Level 4 self-driving technology from Nuro to begin operating in a major US city in 2026. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Solar Supply Chain Facing Critical Crossroads” • US solar industry faces an increasingly complex web of tariffs and policy restrictions that are fundamentally reshaping the global supply chains, a report from Wood Mackenzie has warned. China is dominating the market through regional subsidiaries despite diversification efforts. [reNews]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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World:

¶ “Kashmir’s Growing Heat Crisis Hits Health And Harvests” • An intense heatwave has gripped Kashmir, a picturesque Himalayan region dotted with glaciers and known for its cool climate, as the heat wented to record-breaking levels this month. The region saw its highest daytime temperature in 70 years at 37.4C (99.32F), at least 7°C above the seasonal average. [BBC]

Kashmir (milind bedwa, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar Farm Near Canterbury Given Green Light” • Plans to build a 38-MW solar farm with battery storage on the edge of a village in Kent have been approved. Covering 56 hectares (138 acres) of land, the Britton Court Solar project near Tyler Hill will supply renewable energy to up to 15,000 homes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. [BBC]

¶ “Sizewell’s Exploding Budget Exposes A Nuclear Blindspot” • The recent announcement that the UK’s Sizewell C nuclear plant’s projected cost of construction has gone from £20 billion in 2020 to nearly £38 billion today is shocking but predictable. For anyone following Europe’s nuclear power saga, such an increase is not an anomaly. [CleanTechnica]

Sizewell C, two center reactors (UK Government, OGL 3.0)

¶ “Brookfield Renewable Boosts Colombian Stake With $1 Billion Investment” • Brookfield Renewable has announced plans to invest up to $1 billion to increase its equity stake in Colombian hydroelectric company Isagen to approximately 38%, marking a significant expansion of the firm’s presence in South America’s renewable energy sector. [Energy Connects]

¶ “Why Is Big Oil Curricula Finding Acceptance In Educational Settings?” • A propaganda campaign started in Norway to protect Big Oil business interests under the cloak of STEM education. Equinor expects around a third of school children in Shetland to participate. A member of Scotland’s Parliament called Equinor’s backing for the projects “concerning.” [CleanTechnica]

North Sea oil platform (Stephen, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “ACWA Power Signs New Deals For Hydrogen And Renewable Power Export To Europe” • Saudi developer of green hydrogen plants ACWA Power sealed several agreements and memoranda of understanding with international partners to work on creating a green hydrogen and renewable energy export value chain for Saudi Arabia and Europe. [Offshore Energy]

¶ “India Adds Record 22 GW Renewables Capacity” • According to Rystad Energy, India added 22 GW of renewable capacity in the first half of 2025, but it is still relying too heavily on fossil fuels. The record amount added was a 57% jump from the 14.2 GW installed during the first half of 2024. The new capacity includes 18.4 GW of solar, 3.5 GW of wind. [reNews]

Wind farm (Suzlon image)

¶ “Eskom Plans 32 GW Of Renewable Energy In South Africa By 2040” • South African utility Eskom plans to boost its renewable energy generating capacity to 32 GW by 2040, up from less than 1 GW currently. At the same time, it expects to reduce its coal-based capacity from 39 GW to 18 GW, according to its long-term energy strategy. [energynews]

¶ “Van Oord Orders New Vessels For Offshore Wind Fleet” • Van Oord has ordered two new subsea rock installation vessels in a bid to meet the rising global demand for infrastructure for offshore energy protection. Subsea rock installation is vital for protecting and stabilising offshore energy assets such as cables, pipelines and wind farm foundations. [reNews]

Vessels For Offshore Wind Fleet (Ven Oord image)

¶ “Sri Lanka And ISA Ink Solar Deployment Roadmap ” • Sri Lanka and the International Solar Alliance signed a Country Partnership Framework to fuel solar energy rollout. Kumara Jayakody, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Energy, said the country aims for 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. [Asian Power]

US:

¶ “Galileo Galilei And The End Of Science” • Galileo based his work on science, and the Catholic Church opposed him. More recently, the EPA announced it would eliminate its scientific research arm and begin firing hundreds of scientists. The parallel between the EPA and the Catholic Church in the time of Galileo could not be more clear. [CleanTechnica]

Roman Inquisition and Galileo (Public domain)

¶ “Google Follows Its Oklahoma Renewable Energy Agreement With One In Pennsylvania” • Tech giant Google plans to spend at least $3 billion building US data centers and powering them with renewable energy. It reached a deal with Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners for 670 MW of hydroelectric energy from plants in Pennsylvania. [Oklahoma Energy Today]

¶ “‘A Disaster For All Of US’: US Scientists Describe Impact Of Trump Cuts” • Donald Trump’s assault on science, particularly climate science, led to unprecedented funding cuts and layoffs across federally funded agencies and programs, threatening to derail research on the most pressing issues facing Americans and humanity more broadly. [The Guardian]

Have a beautifully cool day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Climate Action: Are Democracies Better Than Autocracies?” • This week, The Guardian ran a piece on climate action and the role of autocratic governments in preventing a fully fledged climate meltdown that could endanger the lives of billions. If there is a takeaway, it is that growth is a more compelling narrative than survival. [CleanTechnica]

Patriotic statue in China (Oscar Schnell, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “‘Great British Energy solar panels’ for schools were made in China” • The first eleven schools in England to install what the government described as “Great British Energy solar panels” bought them from Chinese firms, the BBC learned. The schools involved in the GB Energy scheme bought solar panels from Aiko and Longi, two Chinese companies. [BBC]

¶ “The Rise Of Green Tech Is Feeding Another Environmental Crisis” • As the world transitions to more renewable energy sources, the demand for lithium soars. In 2021, about 95,000 tonnes of lithium were consumed globally. By 2024 the demand had risen to 205,000 tonnes, the International Energy Agency says. There are environmental costs. [BBC]

Atacama salt flats (Danielle Barnes, Unsplash)

¶ “Nearly 70% Of Rajasthan’s Power Capacity Comes From Renewable Energy: Pralhad Joshi” • Almost 70% of Rajasthan’s power capacity is now sourced from renewable energy, with over 35.4 GW installed, according to Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi. It includes 29.5 GW of solar and 5.2 GW of wind. [MenaFN]

¶ “Arctic Birders Combat Impact Of Climate Change And Avian Flu On Delicate Ecosystem” • The population of kittiwakes is down by 80% since the 1990s along Norway’s coast. The small seagull species is under siege from climate change, predation, local fisheries and the bird flu. So the people of Vardø, a town on the remote Vardøya Island, are helping. [ABC News]

Kittiwake (Mmo iwdg, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Japan Sees Bright Future For Flexible Solar Panels” • Japan is investing heavily in a kind of ultra-thin, flexible solar panel that it hopes will help it meet renewable energy goals and challenge China’s dominance of the sector. A key component of pliable perovskite panels is iodine, something Japan produces more of than any country but Chile. [Digital Journal]

¶ “Grab Prototypes Autonomous Shuttle With Employees In Singapore” • Southeast Asian superapp Grab, in collaboration with Autonomous A2Z, a South Korean autonomous vehicle technology firm, is prototyping an autonomous electric shuttle bus pilot in Singapore. Insiders said the project is for a feasibility study for general transportation. [CleanTechnica]

Grab Autonomous bus and employees (Grab Singapore image)

¶ “Gorbea Solar Power Plant Completed In Under Eight Months” • Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi commissioned the 435-MW Gorbea Solar Project in Rajasthan. The plant was developed by Zelestra India and completed in under eight months. It has a 25-year PPA with the Solar Energy Corporation of India. [Swarajyamag]

¶ “The $200 Million Plan To Rebuild Ukraine’s Energy Sector” • The United Nations Development Program and the Government of Norway created a $200 million drive to transform Ukraine’s war-damaged energy sector and support increasing its renewable energy capacity. The initiative will focus on both current crisis response and long-term development. [OilPrice.com]

Perovo Solar Park (Activ Solar, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Forest Fire Causes Smoke Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant: No Threat Detected” • On July 19, there was smoke in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The smoke came from a forest fire, and there is no threat to nuclear safety, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency report. [RBC-Ukraine]

US:

¶ “New 150-MW Solar Power Plant Greenlighted For New Mexico” • The 150-MW Santa Teresa solar power plant is slated for construction in Doña Ana County, in New Mexico. The plant is especially interesting as one more demonstration that the US solar industry can deliver more clean kilowatts, more quickly, than any other energy resource. [CleanTechnica]

DESRI solar plant in New Mexico (DESRI image)

¶ “The News About EVs Was Bright But Now The Future Is So Uncertain ” • The transition to electric mobility contributes to the reduction of pollution, which is also beneficial for public health and helps to reduce fossil energy consumption. Then why does the future for EVs so tenuous? There are barriers brought to you by Project 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What’s Different About A Net Zero Hotel?” • The hospitality sector plays a large role in greenhouse gas emissions, with yearly energy expenditures of over $1.7 billion and the release of more than 8 million tons of carbon emissions annually. An eight-story, net zero boutique hotel with a three-story parking garage is now underway outside Burlington, Vermont. [CleanTechnica]

Have a thoroughly grand day.

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World:

¶ “EDF Bags Consent For 50-MW Irish Wind Farm” • EDF Renewables Ireland was given the go-ahead to build a 50-MW wind farm on land in County Clare. The Lackareagh wind farm was granted planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ireland’s national independent planning body. It is expected to be operational in 2030. [reNews]

Wind farm (EDF image)

¶ “These Four Chinese Automakers Have Higher Gross Profit Margin Than Tesla” • An interesting article from CarNewsChina highlighted how much gross profit margin several Chinese automakers are scoring. The article also highlighted, in the headline, that four of these companies now have higher gross profit margin than Tesla! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Cadeler Vessel To Serve Vestas In €210 Million deal” • The latest vessel to join Cadeler’s fleet has landed a €210 million contract with Vestas to support current and future offshore wind projects. Newly-constructed jack-up Wind Keeper is the eighth vessel to join Cadeler’s growing fleet. The three-year contract with Vestas will kick off early in 2026. [reNews]

Wind Keeper (Cadeler image)

¶ “Zelestra Inaugurates 300-MW San Martín Project With Peruvian President Dina Boluarte” • President Dina Boluarte of Peru and the Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Luis Montero Cornejo, joined Zelestra to celebrate opening the fully operating 300-MW San Martín Solar Project. San Martin is the largest solar plant in Peru’s history. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Boom Power Given Nod For UK Solar Farm” • Boom Power has planning permission to build a new solar farm in Yorkshire. Wakefield Council’s planning committee granted consent for the 29.7-MW Woolley Solar Farm. The project will generate enough clean electricity each year to power around 11,700 homes and avoid 7300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. [reNews]

Woolley Solar Farm (Boom Power artist’s impression)

US:

¶ “EPA Eliminates Research And Development Office, Begins Layoffs” • The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees. The EPA is creating the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions instead, to save nearly $750 million. [ABC News]

¶ “Support For California High-Speed Rail Is Surging along with the state’s Ability To Finish The Project” • A poll from Politico California and UC Berkeley’s Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research shows 67% of registered California voters support the continued construction of the bullet train project connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. [CleanTechnica]

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail (Public domain)

¶ “In ‘Big Beautiful’ Bill, Ugly Giveaways to Oil & Gas” • In the runup to the “Big Beautiful” bill, some wondered if Republicans would eliminate all federal subsidies for carbon capture, because Trump thinks climate change is a hoax. But the carbon capture is still subsidized, as long as the CO₂ is pumped underground to force out more oil and gas to burn. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Recurrent Sees Gas Car Tipping Point Soon, Despite New Tariffs” • Recurrent CEO Scott Case posted, “It turns out that when a state approaches 30% new EV sales, that’s the tipping point for the number of gas cars on the road falling. It’s a little counterintuitive that it’s not 50% when that happens.” Old cars retireing are almost all gas-powered. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it (Recurrent image)

¶ “Trade Group Slams New US Renewables Oversight Move” • A US renewable energy trade group has slammed a new move from the administration of Donald Trump to bring all decisions related to wind and solar energy under “elevated review” by the office of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The review applies to all federal lands. [reNews]

¶ “Maine Scraps Offshore Solicitation” • The state of Maine has moved to delay a planned floating offshore wind solicitation, with regulators citing “recent changes in the energy landscape that have caused significant uncertainty in the offshore wind industry.” The Governor’s Energy Office requested the delay and the Public Utility Commission agreed. [reNews]

Maine lease areas (BOEM image)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “NY’s Wind Power Goals ‘Impossible In The Near Term’ Due To Trump, State Says” • New York’s Public Service Commission said the state’s wind power goals are “impossible in the near term,” halting plans to build transmission lines that had been in the works for two years. It cited “significant federal uncertainty” due to the president’s pause on permits. [Gothamist]

¶ “The US Is Testing Portable Micro Nuclear Reactors For Safe Power In Remote Locations” • Nuclear energy is undergoing a shift toward compact, portable systems that bring electricity to places once considered too remote or too vulnerable. The US DOE is advancing this vision by announcing two initial test projects at a new facility in Idaho. [MSN]

Have a mystifyingly mindful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Valves Wide Open: Eyes Wide Shut” • Arnie Gundersen: Natrium is a New Kid on the Nuclear Block and plans its first reactor in Wyoming. Natrium has never designed, constructed, or operated any operating nuclear power plant. Its claim to fame is that it has some financial backing from Bill Gates, the former founder of Microsoft. [Counterpunch]

Wyoming (Brady Stoeltzing, Unsplash)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Unique 1.5 Million Year-Old Ice To Be Melted To Unlock Mystery” • An ice core that may be older than 1.5 million years arrived in the UK where scientists will melt it to unlock vital data about Earth’s climate. Transitions from warm eras to cold glacial eras had been every 41,000 years but it suddenly was 100,000 years. The cores might tell us what caused that. [BBC]

World:

¶ “BYD Launches Its Seventh Ship” • BYD decided at some point in recent years that it would be more economical for it to buy some giant car-carrying ships than to keep paying shipping companies to carry its cars to markets around the world. We covered the launch of BYD’s first ship in December 2023. Now the company has seven. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Zhengzhou

¶ “Zimbabwe Looks To IPPs And Rural Minigrids To Increase Access To Electricity And Plug Electricity Shortages” • Zimbabwe has struggled for a decade to meet its electricity demand. Last year, an average capacity of 1,300 MW was available against a demand of 1,700 MW. Now, the country is looking to improve the grid paradigm. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric Ford Bronco Coming! … But Not For You” • Ford has just unveiled a fully electric Bronco and an EREV extended range EV) version of the Bronco. If you haven’t seen exciting news and marketing around that, that may be because these versions of the Bronco are not for Ford’s home market, in the USA. They are for customers in China. [CleanTechnica]

Electric Ford Bronco

¶ “Brazil’s Congress Passes Bill To Overhaul Environmental Regulations” • A bill to overhaul environmental regulations in Brazil was passed by the country’s lower house. It was criticised by the environmental minister, suggesting a possible presidential veto. The bill was passed by the Senate in May, it now goes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. [ABC News]

¶ “Skyborn And Siemens Gamesa Ink Deals” • Siemens Gamesa signed agreements with Skyborn Renewables to supply turbines for the Gennaker offshore wind farm in Germany. According to the agreements, Siemens Gamesa will supply the 976.5-MW offshore wind project with 63 SG 14-236 turbines and provide long-term maintenance. [reNews]

Siemens Gamesa 14-236 turbine (Siemens Gamesa image)

¶ “Envision Energy, FERA To Develop 1.5 GWh Of Storage In Australia” • Envision Energy, based in China, and Italy’s FERA Australia signed an agreement to collaborate on large-scale hybrid clean energy projects in Australia, delivering up to 1.5 GWh of battery energy storage and possibly 1 GW of wind projects. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Cierco And MPS Partner On Celtic Sea Wind” • Cierco Energy and Marine Power Systems have signed a strategic partnership to advance deep-water floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The two companies will collaborate on deploying MPS’s PelaFlex floating platform at one of Cierco’s Llŷr Test and Demonstration projects off the Pembrokeshire coast. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Innogy image)

¶ “RES To Operate 500-MW Coalburn Battery” • RES has signed an agreement to manage the Coalburn battery energy storage project in Scotland. RES said the former coal mining site will host one of Europe’s largest battery systems, with capacities of 500-MW and 1-GWh. Coalburn is being developed by CIP along with Alcemi. [reNews]

US:

¶ “New York Halts Offshore Wind Grid Plan” • The New York State Public Service Commission has terminated its offshore wind transmission planning process to protect ratepayers amid stalled federal permitting. The Commission said the decision will position New York for faster offshore wind growth once federal policies improve. [reNews]

Empire Wind, rendering (Empire Wind image)

¶ “Secretary Burgum Must Personally Approve All Renewable Energy Projects On Federal Lands” • The Interior Department issued a directive requiring personal approval from Secretary Doug Burgum for all wind and solar energy projects on federal lands and waters. This policy aligns with a push to reduce federal support for renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Secures 527-MW US Order” • Vestas has secured a 527-MW turbine supply order with an undisclosed customer in the US. The Danish OEM will provide its V150-4.5MW model to the project. Delivery of the hardware is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026. Commissioning is planned for the final quarter of that year. [reNews]

Vestas wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “Ohio PUC Sets New Rules For Data Centers” • Data centers are the latest craze. But where will they get power? The Ohio Public Utilities Commission, in a 99 page unanimous decision, said data enter operators had to commit to paying for at least 85% of the upgrades they claim to need for data centers, even if the demand they expect doesn’t materialize. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GM Is Now Taking Aim At Tesla’s Energy Storage Business, Too” • Tesla’s brand reputation crisis hit its EV sales so hard that the Tesla Cybertruck was reportedly outsold by General Motors’s electric Hummer in Q2. Now GM and Redwood issued a press release that takes a shot across the bow of Tesla’s AI data center Megapack business. [CleanTechnica]

Have a neatly measured day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Transport Decarbonisation Is A Lever For Competitiveness But The EU Budget Fails To Capitalise On It” • Support for critical technologies such as batteries and e-fuels is essential to boosting the EU’s competitiveness, energy security, and strategic autonomy. But the scarcity of funding in the ECF risks sidelining key transport investments. [CleanTechnica]

Passenger jet (Dan Stephens, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “EVs Take 28.4% Share In Germany” • June saw plugin EVs take 28.4% share in Germany, up from the 19.8% of the relatively weak 2024 baseline for plugins. Battery EV volumes were up modestly, while plugin hybrid EVs increased strongly. Overall auto volume was 256,193 units, down some 14% YOY. The best-selling BEV in June was the Volkswagen ID.3. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Plans Modified Models For China” • Tesla China this week announced two new variations of the only two cars it sells in the country. One is a 3-row, 6-passenger Model Y, slightly larger than the the standard Model Y. The other is a single-motor Model 3 with a listed range of 800 km (497 miles). Perhaps these can lift Tesla’s sales. [CleanTechnica]

Three-row Model Y (Tesla image)

¶ “Iberdrola Launches First German Solar Park” • Iberdrola has commissioned its first solar park in Germany, marking a key expansion of its German onshore renewable energy business. The 80,000-panel Boldekow solar park will supply more than 53 GWh of renewable electricity annually to Vodafone Germany, according to Iberdrola. [reNews]

¶ “SPR Starts EA3 Cable Installation” • ScottishPower Renewables started pulling the first section of export cable ashore at Bawdsey in Suffolk for its £4 billion East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm. It is another milestone for the project. ScottishPower says the cables will carry 1.4 GW of power 147 km (91 miles) from the project’s offshore substation to the landfall point. [reNews]

Pulling the cable (ScottishPower Renewables)

¶ “Eskom Aims To Generate 32 GW Of Renewable Energy By 2040” • Eskom aims to shift to mainly clean energy sources by 2040 from its current predominantly coal-based generation fleet, it said as it laid out its latest plans for the change. Eskom aims to have 32 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040, compared to less than 1 GW now. [MSN]

¶ “ONP And Semco Forge Floating Wind Partnership” • ONP Management and Semco Maritime signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the floating offshore wind sector. The companies said the partnership will focus on engineering and consultancy services to support the development of floating offshore wind projects globally. [reNews]

Substation on a barge (Semco image)

¶ “HSM Offshore Sends Thor Substation To Site” • HSM Offshore Energy has successfully completed and delivered the offshore substation for the 1.1-GW Thor wind farm, Denmark’s largest offshore wind project to date, the company announced. The substation are en route to their installation site, around 22 km off the west coast of Jutland. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Ford Plans To Bring Affordable EVs To Market” • Bloomberg Green hosted a conference in Seattle where a Ford spokesman told the audience the least expensive EV the company offers, the Mustang Mach-E, sells for as little as $37,995. Is Ford trying to pull a fast one by including the (soon to disappear) $7500 federal tax credit? No, it is not. [CleanTechnica]

Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally (Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Waev Launches Fusion: All-New Li-Ion Commercial Carts and Low-Speed Vehicles” • Waev Inc., an EV manufacturer of right-sized, low-speed solutions for local fleet use, announced that it is adding a new line, Fusion, a family of all-new lithium-ion carts and low-speed vehicles designed specifically for commercial customers. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “$43.5 Million Ad Campaign To Boost EV Sales In The US, Hopefully” • In a real-life story torn from the pages of Norway, Veloz, a nonprofit, is embarking on a $43.5 million consumer education campaign aimed to boost EV sales in the US. That’s not a bad idea. After all, consumer education is credited with Norway’s #1 position in EV adoption. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai EV (Hyundai Motor Group, Unsplash)

¶ “Sol Systems Secures $675 Million Of Revolving Finance For Renewable Energy” • Independent power producer Sol Systems secured a $675 million revolving construction finance facility to support construction of solar and wind projects. The funding will support an initial 500 MW of projects in Illinois, Texas, and Ohio to start operations by the end of 2026. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “Paradise Solar Project To Bring Clean Energy To Muhlenberg County” • Officials in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, renewable energy leaders, and community members gathered to celebrate the formal announcement of the new Paradise Solar Project. The 62.5-MW solar farm will be built on reclaimed coal mining land near the former Paradise Power Plant. [WBKO]

Paradise Power Plant in 2010 (TVA Web Team, CC-BY 2.0)

¶ “Colorado Awards $1.6 Million In Final Round Of Geothermal Energy Grant Program Funding” • The Colorado Energy Office announced $1.6 million in Geothermal Energy Grant Program funding to support geothermal heating initiatives and studies in Colorado. This is the final expected funding round for this program. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Google Backs Ten New Nuclear Reactors For AI, Built by AI. What Could Go Wrong?” • President Trump has announced $92 billion in AI-related investments, one of which is ten new nuclear reactors to be built by Westinghouse in partnership with Google. Construction is supposed to begin by 2030. That might be easier said than done. [MSN]

Have a fantastically sensible day.

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World:

¶ “Iraqi Oil Field On Fire After Drone Strike During Attacks In Kurdish Region” • An oil field in Iraq ‘s Dohuk province was set ablaze after being struck by a drone. It is the latest in a series of similar attacks launched recently against oil facilities in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. [ABC News]

Soldier with drones (Scott Stewart, CC-BY 4.0)

¶ “BYD Sold 2.14 Million Vehicles In The First Six Months Of 2025” • In the first half of the year, BYD Group’s cumulative sales reached 2.146 million vehicles, becoming the only Chinese car maker to exceed 2 million vehicles in a half-year period. BYD sold 206,900 pure battery EVs in June alone, for a year-on-year increase of 42.50%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VW ID.3 Battery Holds 91% Charge After 160,000 Kilometers” • In Germany, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club conducts widely respected third party testing of cars. It recently wrapped up four years of endurance testing of the Volkswagen ID.3. After driving 160,000 km, the test car still had 91% of its initial battery storage capacity. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen ID.3 (Alexander-93, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Tesla Starts Selling Vehicles In India – Finally” • After years and years of delay, Tesla is finally selling cars in India! Tesla opened a store in Mumbai, and you can now buy a Model Y in India. The bad news is that the starting price for a Model Y is about 55% higher in India than in the US, thanks to India’s high tariffs on imported vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “German Onshore Wind Sector Toasts Bumper Half-Year” • Germany’s onshore wind sector recorded its strongest half-year performance since 2017, according to the German Wind Energy Association. In the first six months of 2025, 409 onshore wind turbines were commissioned with a total capacity of 2.2 GW, up 67% from the first half of 2024. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Trianel image)

¶ “Solar Dominates Wind In Polish Renewables Auctions” • Solar projects dominated wind power in the latest renewable energy auctions in Poland. In total, Poland awarded 1.7 GW of capacity for renewable projects, of which more than 1.6 GW was for solar and only 83 MW for onshore wind installations. Of winning bids, 126 were solar and three were for wind. [reNews]

¶ “Giant Gold Mine Switches Off Gas And Diesel For First Time After Completion Of Largest Off-Grid Hybrid System” • A new 115-MW hybrid power system at a massive gold mine in Western Australia has been testing its hydrocarbons-off functionality recently. It meets the mine’s total energy load and is powered by wind and solar energy. [RenewEconomy]

Renewable energy (Pacific Energy image)

¶ “In Australia, Solar And Batteries Drive Down Power Costs” • It seems extraordinary that Australia had a political tussle over the need for nuclear power plants while the combination of solar and batteries is dropping in price so rapidly. Recent figures from BloombergNEF show that the cost of Chinese solar modules fell below 10¢/watt last year. [Small Caps]

¶ “Sarawak A Renewable Energy Hub, Irrelevant To Talk About Nuclear Energy” • Sarawak does not need to consider nuclear power, as the state is rich in other energy sources, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. He said “Instead we can be a hub for renewable energy.” The state has hydropower and solar power, along with combined cycle gas. [MSN]

Dam in Sarawak (UNIMAS Sarawak, CC-BY-2.5)

US:

¶ “Climate Change Is Amplifying Extreme Rain Events In The Northeast, Research Shows” • The extreme rainfall that fell in the Northeast on Monday will likely occur more often in the future as a result of climate change, research shows. The Northeast had a 60% increase in extreme precipitation recent decades. That is the largest regional increase in the US. [ABC News]

¶ “Brookfield And Google Ink US Hydro Pact” • Brookfield and Google announced a Hydro Framework Agreement to deliver up to 3 GW of carbon-free hydropower in the US. Brookfield said the deal is the first of its kind and the world’s largest framework agreement for hydroelectricity. The first contracts executed are for facilities in Pennsylvania. [reNews]

Brookfield’s Holtwood facility (Brookfield image)

¶ “Most Of The Planned Coal Capacity Retirements Are In The Midwest Or Mid-Atlantic Regions” • Based on what power plant owners and operators reported, the capacity of US coal-fired power plants is to fall from 172 GW in May 2025 to 145 GW by the end of 2028. Of planned coal capacity retirements, 58% are in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cable-Laying Begins For CVOW Offshore Wind Farm” • The new Prysmian cable-laying vessel Monna Lisa is now installing the first submarine cable for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Dominion Energy is developing the project. With a capacity of 2.6-GW, it is the largest offshore wind farm under construction in the US. [reNews]

Mona Lisa cable-laying vessel (Prysmian image)

¶ “Geronimo Power Breaks Ground On The 250-MW Portage Solar Project In Wisconsin” • Geronimo Power, formerly National Grid Renewables, started construction of its 250-MW Portage Solar Project in Portage County, Wisconsin. The project marks a significant step in the state’s expansion of renewable energy capacity. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Relief From Drought In Southwest US Likely Isn’t Coming, According To New Research” •The Southwest United States is currently facing its worst megadrought of the past 1,200 years. According to a recent study from The University of Texas at Austin, the drought could continue at least until the end of the century, if not longer. [EurekAlert!]

Have an utterly okay day.

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World:

¶ “India Can’t Wish Away Coal. Can It Be Made Cleaner?” • India has always taken a hard position on coal, arguing that it is crucial for its energy security and development. But energy experts and environment campaigners increasingly say it should at least try to decarbonise or curtail emissions from coal-fired power plants, if it can’t be phased out altogether. [BBC]

Coal miner (Amir Arabshahi, Unsplash)

¶ “Farmers Face Crisis As Drought Causes Grass To Fail” • In the UK, dairy farmers face a crisis, spending thousands of pounds to feed cattle grain that should be saved for the winter. This year’s long, dry spring is the warmest and sunniest on record. It has forced many farmers to take unprecedented action. “The grass is completely dried up,” one farmer said. [BBC]

¶ “ClearVue Update” • It is a few months since CleanTechnica reported on the innovative Australian company, ClearVue, so it is time for an update. The project is expanding with a A$20 million collaboration to improve Australia’s future food security with a smart greenhouse. The five-year research program began earlier this month. [CleanTechnica]

ClearVue Greenhouse (From ClearVue media release)

¶ “Kenya’s First Business Financing Program For Electric Motorcycles Kicks Off With Over 600 Units” • Kenya’s electric mobility sector is growing nicely, with several players getting major traction. The Electric Mobility Association of Kenya says there are over 56 players in Kenya’s electric mobility sector. And financing has not been neglected. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “All 100 Foundations In Place For 1.4-GW Sofia” • RWE has reached a major construction milestone at the Sofia offshore wind farm with the installation of the 100th and final steel monopile foundation structure. All foundations are now in place for the 1.4-GW offshore array, which is on Dogger Bank, 195 km off the north-east coast of the UK. [reNews]

Monopile installation (RWE image)

¶ “Europe’s Clean Power Paradox: Record Solar Sends Prices Below Zero” • Europe is drowning in cheap solar power by day but still scrambling for expensive fossil fuels by night, exposing a growing paradox at the heart of its energy transition. A Montel Analytics report shows a surge in negative electricity prices in Europe for the first half of 2025. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Mooreast And GeoProvider Team Up On Floating Wind” • Singapore-listed Mooreast Holdings joined with GeoProvider, based in Norway, to build up its offering to the floating offshore wind market. Mooreast will tap into GeoProvider’s geotechnical and geophysical database to accelerate offshore data analysis and support larger, more complicated projects. [reNews]

Towing a floating turbine (Mooreast Holdings image)

¶ “India’s Renewable Rise: Non-Fossil Sources Now Power Half The Nation’s Grid” • India has achieved a landmark in its energy transition journey by reaching 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources. It did this five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. [Global Green News]

¶ “Irish Wind Generation Breaks June Record” • In Ireland, wind generated the greatest amount of electricity on record for the month of June, a report from Wind Energy Ireland shows. The report says 30% of electricity demand met by Irish wind farms in the month, up slightly when compared to June 2024. Irish solar farms also set a record for the month. [reNews]

Wind turbines in Ireland (Nordex image)

¶ “IAEA Warning After Gunfire Near Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said agency experts at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant heard “hundreds of rounds of small arms fire” on Saturday evening. Grossi called military activity near a major nuclear plant “unacceptable.” [World Nuclear News]

US:

¶ “Florida City Real Estate Market Crashes After Being Super Hot A Few Years Ago” • Cape Coral had a booming real estate market a few years ago. Now, it is said to be the “worst housing market in America.” Housing prices dropped 11% in two years, and they are still falling. The cause is largely storms worstened by climate change, along with insurance problems. [CleanTechnica]

Florida (Following NYC, Pexels, cropped)

¶ “Trump Administration Won’t Publish Major Climate Change Report On NASA Website” • The Trump administration took another step to make it harder to find major, legally mandated scientific assessments of how climate change is endangering the nation. NASA is required by law to release the report, but it is not available at NASA’s website. [ABC News]

¶ “GM’s Ultium Cells Venture: What If EVs Survive The New Tax Bill After All?” • President Trump spent the first six months of his second term in office trying to make electric cars not happen, but signs of life keep emerging. The Ultium Cells EV battery branch of General Motors just announced plans to bring its low-cost LFP EV battery to market by late 2027. [CleanTechnica]

Cadillac LYRIQ EV (Courtesy of Cadillac)

¶ “A “Zombie” US Offshore Wind Farm Fights For Life” • With President Trump’s pledge to throttle back the US offshore wind industry, it’s a bit surprising to see the 2-GW Maryland Offshore Wind Project working its way through federal permitting. It has hit a snag, but Maryland Governor Wes Moore and developer US Wind both vowed to forge ahead. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump’s Policies Have US States Eyeing Offshore Wind Power From Canada And Elsewhere” • Massachusetts is among the American states exploring sourcing electricity from planned offshore wind farms in Atlantic Canada, following the US market-stalling moratorium imposed on the industry by the Trump administration earlier this year. [Mother Jones]

Have a simply majestic day.

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World:

¶ “The Deepening Water Shortage Row Between The US And Mexico” • A 1944 water-sharing agreement says Mexico must send 430 million m³ of water per year from the Rio Grande to the US. And the US has to send nearly 1.85 billion m³ per year from the Colorado River to the cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. But there isn’t enough rain for that. [BBC]

Rio Grande (Glysiak, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Extreme Weather Is The UK’s New Normal, Says Met Office” • The country’s changing weather patterns mean the UK now has a “notably different” climate to what it was just a few decades ago, its State of the UK Climate report says. We now have many more very hot days and many fewer extremely cold nights, according to this latest assessment. [BBC]

¶ “Urban Arrow’s FamilyNext Cargo Bike” • Electric cargo bikes offer great versatility, and the FamilyNext Pro is Urban Arrow’s most advanced e-cargo bike yet. The front box is rated for 275 lbs (125 kg), and the entire bike has a total weight limit of 550 lbs (250 kg). In this article, General Manager Mark Danhof answered some questions about it. [CleanTechnica]

Urban Arrow FamilyNext Pro

¶ “Trio To Invest $8.3 Billion In 15-GW Of Solar And Wind Plants” • ACWA Power, the Water and Electricity Holding Company, and Saudi Aramco Power Company, are to invest over $8 billion to develop 15 GW of renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia. The projects consist of five new solar PV plants and two large-scale wind farms. [reNews]

¶ “VW’s Electric Hippy Microbus Struggles In America Don’t Signal EV Collapse” • The Wall Street Journal recently described Volkswagen’s electric ID.Buzz as a commercial flop in the US market. In isolation, such headlines contribute to US narratives that the EV transition itself is losing steam. The reality is that the global EV market is thriving. [CleanTechnica]

ID.Buzz (JUICE, Unsplash)

¶ “Asia Drives 15% Jump In Renewable Generation” • Global electricity generation from renewables surged by 15.1% in 2023 from the previous year, with China’s aggressive expansion of wind and solar infrastructure acting as the primary driver. These findings were published by the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA. [Sustainable Times]

¶ “PH Approves Commercial Operations Of 27-MW Dagohoy Solar Plant ” • Philippine authorities have approved the start of commercial operations of the 27-MW Dagohoy Solar Power Plant, the first large solar plant in Bohol province. Commercial operations will start on 16 July, following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval on 4 July. [Asian Power]

Bohol Province (Geio Tischler, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Russia Says Ukrainian Drones Attacked Training Centre At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant” • Ukrainian drones attacked a training centre at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday evening, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said. Reuters could not verify the Russian report independently. [Yahoo]

US:

¶ “Wildfire Destroys Historic Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim Closes For The Season” • The Grand Canyon Lodge was one of dozens of structures destroyed in a fast-moving wildfire over the weekend, the National Park Service said. The lodge sat on the park’s North Rim and was the only in-park lodging option in that part of the park. [ABC News]

Grand Canyon Lodge (National Park Service, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “GE Vernova To Pay $10.5 Million Over Turbine Blade Failure” • The town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, reached a settlement with GE Vernova for losses resulting from a turbine blade failure on the Vineyard Wind 1 project. GE Vernova is to pay $10.5 million compensation to Nantucket over the incident, which happened on 13 July 2024. [reNews]

¶ “Massachusetts Offers New Solar Incentives As Federal Tax Credits Face The Chopping Block: ‘We’re evolving'” • According to EnergySage, while the Big Beautiful Bill will end the solar tax credits early, Massachusetts’ revamped Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program is providing residents with an incentive to install solar. [The Cool Down]

Solar farm (Carl Beech, Unsplash)

¶ “North Jersey Homes Can Now Get Solar Power Without Adding Panels” • North Jersey residents who want to lower their electricity bills by investing in solar power, now have a chance thanks to a new state program without putting panels on their homes. The New Jersey Community Solar Energy Program is making the savings possible. [Bergen Record]

¶ “Texans Could See Higher Energy Costs As The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Slows Clean Energy Growth, Report Says” • Less renewable energy will be built in Texas as a result of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by President Trump. The result could raise annual energy costs for everyday residents in the coming years by hundreds of dollars. [Houston Chronicle]

Have a naturally colorful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Ahead Of Deadly Texas Floods, So Many Warnings From Climate Scientists Were Missed” • In March of this year, climate scientists began ringing the alarm bells for a horrific period of weather starting in spring because the Arctic had the largest melt of ice ever recorded. That prediction is reflected in the deadly floods we have seen this year. [Yahoo News]

Arctic ice (Hector John Periquin, Unsplash)

¶ “Why Small Modular Reactors Won’t Save Nuclear Power” • Arnie Gundersen: “Everywhere you look, the nuclear industry’s hype machine is in overdrive. I once believed in the dream. I helped build the dream. And now, watching this third act unfold, I can only shake my head at the déjà vu.” SMRs are an expensive distraction from climate solutions. [The Energy Mix]

World:

¶ “Med Sea Heatwave Might Feel Nice For Holiday Swimming But There’s A Catch” • Mediterranean Sea surface regularly passed 30°C (86°F) off the coast of Majorca and elsewhere in late June and early July, when 24°C (75°F) would have been usual. It has been the most extreme marine heatwave ever recorded in the western Med at the time of year. [BBC]

Mediterranean beach (Nick Karvounis, Unsplash)

¶ “Community Turbine Group Welcomes Wind Energy Push” • The government’s push for more wind energy is welcome to a group that operates a community wind turbine where residents pay lower prices for electricity. The wind turbine, at a town in Dorset, supplies electricity to about fifty households at prices about 20% lower than the standard rate. [BBC]

¶ “O, Canada! Who Stands On Guard For Thee?” • The president of the US has decided unilaterally to impose punishing new tariffs on Canada. To avoid the harm those tariffs will do to the Canadian economy, the US’ neighbor to the north is being told it must dismantle its policy that calls for all passenger cars sold in Canada to be electric by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

Canada (Natural Resources Canada image)

¶ “BYD Sales Growth Leaves Tesla In The Dust” • BYD sales keep on rising strongly year over year, while Tesla sales continue to stagnate at best and droop significantly at worst. Whereas the race between these EV leaders was tight for years, and Tesla led for years, the Chinese EV producer now looks like it’s leaving Tesla in the dust. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electric Cars Are 73% Cleaner, ICCT Study Shows” • The latest report from the International Council On Clean Transport finds “battery electric cars sold today in Europe emit nearly nearly 4 times less greenhouse gases over their lifetime than gasoline cars.” The study’s authors went to great pains to dispel myths and misinformation about electric cars. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo EV (Benjamin Brunner, Unsplash)

¶ “Iran Opens First Phase Of Its Largest Solar Power Plant In Isfahan” • Iran opened the first phase of its largest solar power plant as part of a government program to expand renewable energy capacity. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used a video link to inaugurate a 120-MW unit of the Aftab Shargh solar farm in Isfahan province. [AnewZ]

¶ “Historic Day For Solar: UK And France Hit New Highs In Renewable Energy Production” • The UK set a record for solar power production. At 12:30 on Tuesday, solar output reached 14 GW, meeting 39% of UK demand. Interestingly, France saw solar output climb past 19.5 GW, providing nearly 40% of the French electricity demand. [Sustainable Times]

Solar farm (Sungrow EMEA, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Last Chance To Get A Really Good Deal On A Very Capable Electric Vehicle” • Two factors combine to make this the time to make the jump to an EV: First, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will end federal rebates on electric cars on September 30. And also, Elon Musk’s toxic politics caused a lot of left leaning EV owners to dump their Teslas. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What’s Up With Wyoming’s Crazy Looking Wind Turbine?” • Airloom Energy, a Wyoming-based startup, is developing a new type of wind turbine. “Modeling shows the [turbine] will produce power for 2.8¢/kWh at a 7 m/sec site.” A utility-scale test of the wind turbine aims at bringing low-cost electricity to people and places across the US. [CleanTechnica]

Radically different wind turbine (Airloom Energy image)

¶ “AP Fact Check: Trump Misstates Key Facts On Wind Power” • President Donald Trump expressed disdain for wind power at a meeting with his Cabinet, calling it an expensive form of energy that “smart” countries don’t use. His comments contained false and misleading information about the use of wind power in the US and around the world. [The Energy Mix]

¶ “Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Creates Economic Obstacle For Renewable Energy In Wyoming, Observers Say” • As it promotes coal, oil, and natural gas via tax breaks, the bill includes several punishing policies for wind and solar. The result will be higher electric bills and unfulfilled job growth in a stunted electrical power sector, observers say. [Wyoming Tribune Eagle]

Have a particularly delightful day.

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World:

¶ “400 Offshore Wind Turbines Survived Typhoon Danas In Taiwan” • Taiwan and Japan collaborated on a strict new standard for offshore wind turbines in the Taiwan Strait back in 2017, and all that hard work is paying off. Typhoon Danas barged through the region earlier this week, leaving all 400 wind turbines were untouched and ready for operation. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm sites (Taiwan National Meteorological Center)
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Seven Rail Megaprojects Get More EU Funds Than 84 Other Key Upgrades” • A T&E report found that just seven projects got 31% of the EU’s main funding envelope for transportation, the Connecting Europe Facility, between 2021 and 2023. Meanwhile, 84 urgently needed key upgrades received only 27% of these funds. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Solar Power Is Helping In Ukraine” • In addition to dealing with climage change and pollution, there’s another use for clean renewable electricity: humanitarian aid. Portable solar power systems can be used in conflict zones for civilians who have no access to electricity or not enough so they can meet their basic daily needs. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power (Image from Hope for Ukraine)

¶ “An Indigenous Australian Community Is Fighting To Protect Sacred Springs From A Coal Mine” • A small ceremonial fire has been burning for over 1,300 days in Wangan and Jagalingou Country in central Queensland. It is at the heart of a standoff between a part of the local Indigenous community and the Carmichael coal mine. [BBC]

¶ “Ørsted Wraps Up Jacket Installation At Changhua 2b&4″ • Ørsted finished installing all 66 suction bucket jacket foundations at its 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. The final structure was installed this week, completing the program ahead of schedule. Heerema Marine Contractors was also on the job. [reNews]

Installation (Heerema Marine Contractors image)

¶ “Australian Solar Farms To Lose Power Due To Bottlenecks On The Grid” • By 2027, almost all large solar farms in southeastern Australia will be forced to curtail at least one-third of the power they generate due to critical delays in energy infrastructure projects, according to new analysis from the Australian Energy Market Operator. [Channel News Australia]

¶ “EGEC Report Forecasts Resurgence In Deployment Of Geothermal Energy Solutions Across Europe” • The European Geothermal Energy Council released its Geothermal Market Report, which expects to see a significant upturn in business activity linked to geothermal energy projects in Europe, starting in 2025. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Geothermal power plant (Gretar Ívarsson, public domain)

¶ “Lepreau Nuclear Plant Outage To Cost At Least $140 Million” • A 140-day planned shutdown starting this month at the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station will cost at least $140 million, according to New Brunswick Power. CEO Lori Clark said the cost of replacement power during the outage, scheduled for July 14 to December 1, is about $1 million per day. [Yahoo]

US:

¶ “Refinery Closures Present Risk For Higher Gasoline Prices on the  West Coast” • California is set to lose 17% of its oil refinery capacity over the next 12 months, as Phillips 66 and Valero plan to close down one refinery each. If realized, the closure of the facilities is likely to contribute to increases in fuel price volatility on the West Coast. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “Climate Change Made Texas Floods 20% To 30% More Severe” • The devastating floods that swept through Central Texas in early July 2025 are a human tragedy, with over 120 dead and more than that still missing. This catastrophe, unfortunately, also has a clear and scientifically measurable fingerprint from climate change. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Came For The Coal, Stayed For The Rare Earths: New Mine Breaks Ground In Wyoming” • The first US rare earth mine in decades is breaking ground in Wyoming. Ramaco Resources was considering reopening a closed coal mine, when they realized it was sitting on the edge of a deposit of rare earth minerals needed for permanent magnets. [Wyoming Public Media]

Coal mine in Wyoming (Mr Satterly, public domain)

¶ “FEMA Maps Underestimated Risk In Catastrophic Texas Flood” • First Street, a risk modeling company, believes that more than double the 8 million homes nationwide that are designated by FEMA to be in flood zones are actually at risk. It found that government models are outdated and fail to consider extreme weather events. [ABC News]

¶ “Texas Renewable Energy Grid Defies Trump’s Claims” • The Texas renewable energy grid shows resilience and low costs, challenging Trump’s claims that the rapid adoption of solar and wind power leads to instability and high electricity costs. Texas’ main grid operator, ERCOT, reported significant improvements in both reliability and costs. [Yahoo Finance]

Have a wonderfully pleasant day.

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World:

¶ “Sites Chosen For New State-Backed Welsh Windfarms” • Wales’ new publicly owned renewable energy developer has announced where it plans to build its first wind farm projects, promising hundreds of jobs. Three sites have been selected. They are in Carmarthenshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Conwy-Denbighshire border. [BBC]

Castle in Carmarthenshire (Michael Hamments, Unsplash)

¶ “Experts Warn Of Heatwave Stress On Wildlife” • An expert environmentist has warned that the third predicted heatwave across England will add stress to animals, plans and inspects. Temperatures are set to reach highs of 34°C (93°F) on Friday and possibly Saturday with the sweltering temperatures continuing into early next week. [BBC]

¶ “The New Volvo ES90: A Big Electric Car With A Small Carbon Footprint” • Production on Volvo’s fully electric ES90 will start this summer, produced with climate-neutral energy. This can be seen in the Life Cycle Assessment report for the ES90, which describes which materials and processes contribute to the car’s life cycle carbon footprint. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo ES90 charging

¶ “Australian EV Penetration Hits 15% In June” • Good news: in June 2025, one in six vehicles sold in Australia had a plug. Tesla has bounced back, and the BYD Shark plugin hybrid continues to take a bite out of the ute market. Some 13,169 battery EVs were sold in Australia in June (10% of market), along with  6,200 plugin hybrid EVs (5% of market). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volkswagen EV Sales Surge 47% In 2025” • Volkswagen came out with its latest sales report, which shows its EV sales were up 47% in the first half of 2025. Best of all, while Volkswagen sales are down over 30% in China, they increased by 90% in Europe, which helped the company stay even in total global sales in the first half of this year. [CleanTechnica]

Electric Porsche and Macan

¶ “Crown Estate Funds Welsh Offshore Wind Scheme” • The Crown Estate will fund a new regional supply chain program to support small and medium-sized businesses in the Southwest of Wales entering the floating offshore wind sector. The 18-month initiative will be delivered by ORE Catapult’s Fit For Offshore Renewables program. [reNews]

¶ “EBRD Unveils €1.5 Billion Ukraine Renewables Plan” • The EBRD and its partners launched a mechanism to unlock €1.5 billion in renewable energy investments in Ukraine, aiming to support 1 GW of new capacity and rebuild generating capacity damaged by war. The European Commission, IFC, and the World Bank are among those in support. [reNews]

Sunflowers and wind turbines (EBRD image)

¶ “Ørsted Has Financial Close On 632-MW Changhua 2 Offshore Wind Farm” • Ørsted has reached financial close on a financing deal for its 632-MW Greater Changhua 2 offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The NT$90 billion (€2.7 billion) package was arranged with 25 banks and five export credit agencies, and marks a key strategic step for Ørsted. [reNews]

¶ “EBRD Supports The First Renewable Energy Auction In Montenegro” • With support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Montenegro’s Ministry of Energy and Mining has launched the country’s first renewable energy auction. The incentive scheme covers 250 MW of solar power generating capacity. [EBRD]

Montenegro (George Kedenburg III, Unsplash)

¶ “Adani Green Energy Ltd Achieves 15.8 GW Of Operational Renewable Energy Capacity” • Adani Green Energy Ltd has released its operational update for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26 (April–June). The developer’s cumulative operational renewable energy capacity rose by 45% year-on-year to 15.8 GW as of June 30, 2025. [pv magazine India]

US:

¶ “Geothermal And Borehole Thermal Energy Storage Can Reliably Heat Buildings In Extreme Cold, NREL Modeling Results Show” • Energy storage research from NREL, a US DOE national laboratory, has demonstrated a way to store and reuse heat underground to meet the heating demands of cold regions like Alaska. [CleanTechnica]

Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska (Molly Rettig, NREL)

¶ “California Pivots: Cutting CEQA Red Tape To Boost Housing And Climate Goals” • In rare good news from the US, California’s just passed reform of the California Environmental Quality Act has opened the door for a wave of infill housing development, marking a significant shift in the state’s longstanding approach to urban growth. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Airports Could Bolster Grid Security And Adaptability” • With fleets of rental vehicles and ground support equipment, demand for electricity at US airports might quintuple within 20 years. NREL researchers are analyzing energy options for a 30-year decision-making prospect. They find on-site energy generation and storage works well in many cases. [CleanTechnica]

Tweed New Haven Airport  (TNHA image)

¶ “After Texas Flood, Elected Leaders Say Cuts To FEMA, NOAA Could Affect Weather Response” • In the wake of the flooding in Texas, some governors and mayors are raising doubts over how cuts to agencies that make up the federal government’s response to major weather events will impact how well the government can respond. [ABC News]

¶ “Battle Brewing Over Hochul’s Push To Build Upstate Nuclear Power Plant” • Upstate New York lawmakers are taking interest in a directive from the governor to build a nuclear power plant, driving a brewing battle between state leaders and those who believe a nuclear facility is the wrong approach to reducing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. [Spectrum News]

Have a productively helpful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Will Have Americans Paying Higher Prices For Dirtier Energy” • When Republicans decided to cut some Biden-era energy subsidies to help fund their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, they could have cut wasteful subsidies and spared the rest. They did the reverse. So Americans will pay the price with higher costs for dirtier energy. [The Conversation]

Pumpjack (Jeff W, Unsplash)

¶ “How Livestreaming 100 Hours Of Weather And Climate Moved Thousands To Action” • Danger Season is well underway, yet the Trump administration continues to hack away at federal agencies that help us predict and survive fires, heat waves, and storms made more extreme by climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists is fighting that. [The Equation]

World:

¶ “Maximising Climate Bank – EIB Operations In Sustainable Transport” • Back in 2021, the European Investment Bank committed to become the EU’s Climate Bank by adopting the Climate Bank Roadmap. T&E has assessed 254 EIB operations in the EU across eight strategic transport sectors from 2021 up to February 2025, worth €61 billion. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Giga Train (NEB image)

¶ “The EIB Lent €7 Billion To Dirty Transport Projects” • The European Investment Bank lent more than €7 billion for new roads, airport expansions, and other transport projects that will increase CO₂ emissions, analysis shows. EIB had adopted climate goals in 2021, and green group T&E examined EIB’s transport loan book for 2021–2024. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Masdar And Iberdrola Close Deal For £5.2 Billion East Anglia 3 Financing” • Masdar and Iberdrola closed a joint investment deal for the 1,400-MW East Anglia 3 offshore wind farm in the UK, in what the companies called the largest offshore wind transaction of the decade. The agreement is just part of a wider €15 billion strategic alliance. [reNews]

Wind turbines (SPR image)

¶ “Electrifying Kenya’s Transportation Sector – EMAK Proposes Policy Measures to Promote Electric Mobility” • The Electric Mobility Association of Kenya released a white paper presenting a policy and fiscal roadmap for accelerating the adoption of EVs, positioning the country as a regional leader in clean, sustainable transportation. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nordex books 2.3 GW Of Q2 Turbine Orders” • Nordex Group recorded 2,300 MW of wind turbine orders in the second quarter of 2025, up 82% year-on-year from 1,270 MW in Q2 2024. The company said it booked 350 turbines in nine countries during the quarter, with Germany, Turkey and Latvia among the strongest markets. [reNews]

Wind turbines (Nordex image)

¶ “NextEnergy Powers Up 130-MW UK Solar Double” • Two new solar farms in Nottinghamshire were energized by NextEnergy Capital, which thereby added 130 MW to its UK portfolio and brought the total operational capacity for its NextPower UK ESG fund to 318 MW. The Inkersall and Crifton projects are rated at 70 MW and 60 MW respectively. [reNews]

¶ “Solar Beats Nuclear In June, Becoming EU’s Biggest Electricity Source For First Time” • Solar generated the most electricity in the EU for the first time last month, with several countries setting records with it, Ember found. Solar power generated 22.1% of EU electricity, nuclear was second at 21.8%, followed by wind, with 15.8%. [Balkan Green Energy News]

Solar array (Andreas Gücklhorn, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Ukraine Building 700 MW Of Wind Power With 200 MW Of Battery Storage” • Ukraine is currently constructing over 700 MW of new wind power capacity, along with more than 200 MW of battery energy storage systems, according to the Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association, Andriy Konechenkov. [Interfax-Ukraine]

US:

¶ “If They Can Put Solar Here, They Can Put It Anywhere” • A bustling, sprawling, 320-acre shipping hub is probably the last place one would expect to see a new, 7.2-MW solar power plant, but there it is. At the Port Newark Container Terminal in New Jersey, solar panels have been shoehorned into a tightly packed, high-traffic shipping facility. [CleanTechnica]

Port Newark Container Terminal (Standard Solar image)

¶ “NREL And CubicPV Join To Push Perovskite Minimodule Performance To New Heights” • A collaborative effort by NREL and CubicPV has yielded a perovskite minimodule that belongs in the record books. The 24.0% certified efficiency marks the first time a US effort has set a record in the perovskite minimodule category. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Invenergy Completes 250-MW Solar Project In Indiana” • Invenergy has brought the 250-MW Fairbanks Solar Energy Center in Sullivan County, Indiana into commercial operation. The company developed and built the facility, which has now been acquired by Northern Indiana Public Service Company. The project can power over 50,000 homes. [reNews]

Solar array (Invenergy image)

¶ “Texas Flooding Live Updates: State Death Toll Jumps To 120” • At least 120 people are dead from the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 95 deaths, including 36 children. President Trump  has signed a disaster declaration for Kerr County and FEMA is on the ground there. At least 176 are missing. [ABC News]

¶ “Trump’s Crackdown On Renewable Energy Has Just Begun” • President Donald Trump issued an executive order this week to order his administration to crack down on remaining loopholes allowing access to renewable energy tax breaks. Congress had voted last week to crushingly roll back the subsidies, gutting the Inflation Reduction Act. [The Detroit News]

Have a very comfortable day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Who Pays The Price For Nuclear’s Clean Energy Promise?” • “Nuclear is not clean,” said Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste specialist for Beyond Nuclear, a nonprofit that advocates for energy alternatives like wind and solar. “It’s been called clean. It’s been called safe. It’s been called cost-effective, none of which are true… These are all Orwellian lies.” [Atmos.earth]

Nuclear plant (NicolasHippert, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “EVs Take 65.3% Share In Sweden – Tesla Model Y Leads” • June saw plugin EVs take 65.3% share in Sweden, up from 56.5% year-on-year. Both battery EVs and plugin hybrid EVs grew volume, whilst all other powertrains declined. Overall auto volume was 27,565 units, up 10% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV in June. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Thor Offshore Substation Is Ready For Sail-Away” • The offshore substation for the 1-GW Thor wind project in Denmark is ready for sail-away. Both the topside and jacket were loaded out for the substation at HSM Offshore’s Schiedam yard in the Netherlands. The substation is a key part of the Thor offshore wind farm, developed by RWE. [reNews]

Thor offshore substation (HSM Offshore image)

¶ “NLC India To Infuse ₹1,631 Crore Into Renewable Energy Arm” • NLC India Ltd, a state-owned coal mining and power generation company, approved an investment of ₹1,630.89 crore ($190 million) in its subsidiary, NLC India Renewables Ltd, through equity infusion. The funds are to be used for upcoming green energy projects. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Haesong Project Secures Grid Interconnection Deal” • The Haesong Offshore Wind project signed a grid interconnection agreement with Korea Electric Power Corporation. The 1-GW project is off the coast of Shinan. It is under development by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, in collaboration with Copenhagen Offshore Partners. [reNews]

Offshore windfarm (CIP image)

¶ “How Solar Power Helped European Grids Pass ‘The Stress Test’ During The Recent Heatwave” • Europe’s latest heatwave dialled up daily power demand by up to 14%, as Europeans turned up their air conditioning to stay cool. But the sunshine also increased the availability of solar energy, helping Europe’s power grids pass “the stress test” of extreme heat. [MSN]

¶ “Turbine Deal To Boost Ukrainian Energy Resilience” • Dutch company IX Decom, part of IX Renewables, signed an agency agreement with MCL Group to bring pre-owned wind turbines to Ukraine to boost the resilience of its energy system. IX Decom is a specialist in the decommissioning and trade of pre-owned wind turbines. [reNews]

Turbine blades (IX Renewables image)

China:

¶ “Poisoned Water And Scarred Hills” • More than all other countries, China has leapt ahead in mining and refining rare earth minerals. Its dominance in the field gives Beijing huge leverage, both economically, and politically. This can be seen when it negotiates with US President Donald Trump over tariffs. But China has paid a steep price. [BBC]

¶ “China Boasts World’s Largest, Fastest-Growing Renewable Energy System” • By the end of May, China’s installed renewable energy capacity reached 2,090 GW, more than double the figure in 2020, said Zhou Haibing, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission. He also said China had over 31.4 million new energy vehicles. [Xinhua]

Wind turbines in Changling ( 大漠1208, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “China’s Emissions May Be Falling – Here’s What You Should Know” • China is responsible for some 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it saw them decline in the twelve months up to May 2025. This is the first time GHG emissions have fallen even as demand for power across the Chinese economy grew rapidly. There are things worth knowing about this. [BBC]

US:

¶ “West Virginia To Host A 335-MW Coal-Killing Wind Farm” • Mountaintop removal coal mining is blowing up mountaintops to reach coal seams, and filling streams and valleys with the rubble. It has happened to hundreds of mountains, and part of West Virginia’s past. Now the President is complaining about a wind farm ruining natural beauty. [CleanTechnica]

Mountain top removal mining (US EPA image)

¶ “Floods In Texas – It’s The Climate, Stupid!” • The facts are not in dispute. According to a report by Le Monde, the Guadalupe River rose by 8 meters (26 feet) in 45 minutes. This was the result of 300 mm (12 inches) per hour of rainfall. That meant that about a third of the average annual precipitation for the region was falling each hour. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Funding Cuts, Then Loss Of Life In Texas” • CBS published an article, dated May 5, titled, “Former National Weather Service leaders warn about ‘loss of life’ resulting from NOAA cuts. All former heads of NWS signed to make the warning. Despite the warning, funding and staff were cut and people died. Climate change will bring more deaths. [Green Energy Times]

July 4 flood in Texas (USCG photo, public domain)

¶ “Time Running Out For The Solar And Wind Tax Credits For Nebraska” • If you want to take advantage of tax credits for switching to renewable energy like solar or wind, the time to act is now. The window is closing to cash in on renewable energy tax credits. “Construction has to start within two years. That is how it was grandfathered,” said US Rep Don Bacon. [WOWT]

¶ “Grid Operators Plan Billions For Transmission To Meet Load And Connect Renewables” • Transmission investments worth tens of billions of dollars are planned by US grid operators SPP, ERCOT, CAISO, and MISO, according to speakers on a regional transmission panel at the Transmission and Interconnection Summit. [pv magazine USA]

Have an acceptably perfect day.

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World:

¶ “WMO Weather Forecast For 2050 Comes True 25 Years Early” • In 2015, the World Meteorological Organization created a fictional weather forecast for Europe in August of 2025, just to get people to sit up and notice. Sadly, that mythical forecast for 2050 has come true, now, 25 years early! The future is already here. “The situation is urgent.” [CleanTechnica]

Fictional weather forecast (WMO via YouTube)

¶ “EU Car Production Can Return To Post-Crisis Peak” • Europe’s car industry could return to producing 16.8 million cars a year if the EU maintains its 2035 clean cars target and strengthens other policies, a study shows. Job displacement in vehicle manufacture could be offset by the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs in battery-making by 2030. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Biochar And Rock Dust: Unlocking The Future Of Climate-Smart Agriculture” • As the world seeks urgent solutions to decarbonize food systems, two nature-based technologies are gaining traction: Biochar Carbon Removal  and Enhanced Rock Weathering. Together, they could sequester carbon at scale and boost yields. [CleanTechnica]

Wheat field (Nick Berger, Unsplash)

¶ “Sinopec Launches New Floating Solar Project, With Green Hydrogen In Play” • Last December China’s state-owned oil company, Sinopec, recapped the results of a modestly scaled floating solar pilot project, aimed at producing green hydrogen from seawater. Sinopec has already enlarged the array and is considering a scale-up to 23 MW. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NESO Opens Window For New Grid Connections” • NESO opened a three-week evidence window for projects with UK grid connection agreements. NESO, the UK National Energy System Operator, will scrap a first-come, first-served system that allowed unviable projects to block ready-to-build wind, solar, and storage schemes. The connections queue is 738 GW. [reNews]

Substation installation (SSE Renewables image)

¶ “UK Sees 22% Increase In Domestic Solar Installations In First Six Months Of 2025” • Over 99,500 domestic solar installations took place in the first six months of 2025 in the UK, an increase of 22% from the same period of 2024. The analysis also shows an 18% increase in wider domestic renewable energy uptake for the six months vs 2024. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Deugro’s New Cargo Vessel Begins Operations” • Deugro’s newly launched Rotra Futura vessel commenced operations with the transportation of wind turbine blades from Denmark to the US. The project supply vessel collected the 108-meter blades at the Port of Aalborg, Denmark, under the supervision of Deugro Denmark’s wind experts. [reNews]

Rotra Futura in the Port of Aalborg (Deugro image)

¶ “”Underwater Turbine Spinning For 6 Years Off Scotland’s Coast Is A Breakthrough For Tidal Energy • Submerged in about 40 meters (131 feet) of water off Scotland’s coast, a turbine has been spinning for more than six years to harness the power of ocean tides for electricity. The durability mark demonstrates the technology’s commercial viability. [ABC News]

¶ “ABO Energy Bags Permit For 165-MW Wind Farm” • ABO Energy was given the go-ahead to build a 165-MW wind farm in Alberta. The Alberta Utilities Commission granted the permit and licence for the Fox Meadows wind project. It will consist of up to 165 MW of windpower capacity and a 70-MW, 219-MWh battery energy storage facility. [reNews]

Wind farm (ABO Enegy image)

¶ “French Regulator Approves Extending Lifespan Of 20 Nuclear Reactors To 50 Years” • ASN, the French nuclear safety authority, authorised France’s state-owned power group EDF to upgrade safety standards on its 1,300 MW reactors, so they can operate beyond their 40-year design lifespan. The decision affects 20 out of France’s fleet of 56 reactors. [Enerdata]

US:

¶ “Trump Signs Order To Eliminate Wind, Solar Subsidies” • US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to eliminate subsidies for green energy sources such as wind and solar. He said, “Reliance on so-called ‘green’ subsidies threatens national security by making the United States dependent on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries.” [reNews]

Donald Trump (The White House)

¶ “Florida Approves Bill Banning Oil & Gas Operations Near Apalachicola” • Apalachicola, in the Florida Panhandle, is home to a thriving seafood industry that relies on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico for its living. With exploritory drilling approved, residents started Kill the Drill to see a law protecting the watter passed. They succeeded. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “At Least 104 Dead And Dozens Missing In Texas Floods As More Rain Looms” • At least 104 people have been confirmed dead and another 41 are missing following flash floods in central Texas on Friday. Figures are changing quickly as rescuers keep on searching for the missing, and officials say the death toll is certain to continue rising. [BBC]

July 4 flood in Texas (USCG photo, public domain)

¶ “Extreme Weather Events Like Texas Rain Are More Likely To Occur Due To Climate Change, Scientists Warn” • The Gulf, which borders Texas, has become much warmer in recent years due to climate change, climate scientist Daniel Swain explained. A very warm body of water produces a lot of evaporation, which can release more moisture. [ABC News]

¶ “NREL Develops Translucent Solar Panels For Bigger, Better Crops” • National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers developed a translucent solar panel to allow only lightto pass through that is optimal for crop growth. They are studying how plants do when sunlight is limited to bands of the spectrum that the plant needs. [pv magazine International]

Have a significantly entertaining day.

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World:

¶ “Syria Looks To Solar Power As More Than A Patchwork Fix To Its Energy Crisis” • With the end of nearly fourteen years of civil war, Syria’s new leaders hope renewables will become more than a patchwork solution to energy problems. Investment is starting to return, including for a solar farm that would secure about 10% of the country’s energy needs. [ABC News]

Damascus with the lights on (T Foz, Unsplash)

¶ “Grandmother Faces Losing Home Over Climate Protest” • A 74-year-old woman could lose her home after refusing to pay council tax for over three years as she protests investments in fossil fuels. She withheld about £5,000 from Buckinghamshire Council to get it to move its pension fund and banking away from “investments in climate destruction.” [BBC]

¶ “South Luzon’s First Electric Jeepney Assembly Plant Begins Operations” • About 100 kilometers south of Manila, the LIMA Industrial Estate is now home to South Luzon’s first EV assembly plant: LCS-EMON e-Jeepney Manufacturing Corp. The factory is producing e-jeepneys, though not yet at its target pace of 500 units per month. [CleanTechnica]

Old Jeepney (jesada technik museum, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “EVs At 24.0% Share In France – Tesla Model Y Tops Chart” • June’s auto market saw plugin EVs at 24.0% share in France, flat from 24.1% year-on-year. The battery EV share grew marginally YOY, but plugin hybrids were slightly down. Overall auto volume was down some 7% YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling battery EV in France in June. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nordex Nets Turbine Order Worth 91 MW” • Nordex Group took an order for 91 MW of turbines for an onshore windfarm in Germany. Wind developer SAB WindTeam placed the order for thirteen of Nordex Group’s N163/6.X turbines. The turbines, each with a hub height of 164 meters, are set to be installed at the Fretzdorf site in Brandenburg. [reNews]

Moving a nacelle (Nordex image)

¶ “GPG Gets State Go-Ahead For 400-MWh Battery Project” • The Victorian government announced that planning approval for Global Power Generation Australia’s 200-MW, 400-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project near Tarrone has been accelerated through the state’s Development Facilitation Program. [pv magazine Australia]
GPG battery (GPG image)

¶ “First Turbine Up At Baltic Power Wind Farm” • The first wind turbine was installed at the Baltic Power offshore wind farm in Poland. The 1.2-GW project, a joint venture between Orlen and Northland Power, will comprise 76 turbines in total, each with a capacity of 15 MW. The Vestas V236-15MW model can produce up to 80 GWh of energy per year. [reNews]

Installing a Vestas V236-15MW (Orlen image)

¶ “Federal Government Keeps Faith In SunCable Project” • The Australian government is keeping its faith in SunCable’s plans to build one of the world’s largest solar and battery energy storage projects, complete with the world’s largest subsea transmission link, extending the major project status for the Australia-Asia PowerLink proposal. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “China To Power Grid With Record Renewable Energy As AI Spurs Demand” • China expects to add a record 500 GW of renewable energy capacity to its national grid this year as the rise of artificial intelligence increases demand for electricity to power computing centers. Over a quarter of the new capacity will come from wind power. [South China Morning Post]

Wind farm in China (Vmenkov, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Renewable Energy Could Save Africa $5 Trillion By 2050” • According to Powershift Africa, a study conducted in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney indicates that a full transition to renewable energy for Africa “could save the continent $3–5 trillion (an average of $150 billion annually).” [CitiNewsroom.com]

US:

¶ “Madre Fire In California Expandes To Nearly 80,000 Acres” • The gigantic Madre Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, had grown to 79,936 acres on Sunday, Cal Fire said. It was 30% contained at that time. It is the largest in California so far this year and is burning in a largely rural area in the Los Padres National Forest. [ABC News]

Madre Fire (Bureau of Land Management)

¶ “At Least 78 Dead And Dozens Missing In Texas Floods As More Rain Looms” • At least 78 people have been confirmed dead in central Texas and another 41 are missing after flash floods that came on Friday without warning. Officials say the death toll is certain to rise. Also, more storms are expected in the next 24-48 hours in the region. [BBC]

¶ “EV Charging Is More Stable Than Ever – Regardless Of Media Reports” • In the first three months of 2025, overall failure rates of EV chargers fell to 16%, the biggest improvement since surveys began in 2021, according to JD Power. This summer, more EV drivers than ever will be able to charge without mishap on their lovely scenic road trips. [CleanTechnica]

EV charger (Roger Starnes Sr, Unsplash)

¶ “Is Wind Power Finally Coming To Maine’s Remote North?” • Two years after the last attempt to build out wind farms in the north of Maine reaches fizzled, the state is again gearing up to seek developers to build at least 1,200 MW of land-based wind capacity and a transmission line to carry the electricity produced to the central part of the state. [Canary Media]

¶ “Feds Speed Up Review For Natrium Nuclear Plant” • The US NRC notified TerraPower that it will trim seven months from the environmental review and safety evaluation of the proposed advanced, liquid-sodium-cooled “Natrium” nuclear reactor plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming. It will finish the final environmental impact statement by December 31. [MSN]

Have an ineffably glorious day.

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World:

¶ “The EV Revolution Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Getting Started!” • OK, the US chooses to sit on the sidelines and suck its thumb while it whines about EVs? Fine. Let it. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is moving forward with the EV revolution and there isn’t anything the crybabies at the Heritage Foundation can do about it. Want proof? Take a look at this. [CleanTechnica]

Ecitaro electric bus (Daimler Truck image)

¶ “A New Wave Of Affordable EVs Is Landing On Latin American Shores. Let’s Check What Some Are!” • We’re seeing more and more announcements of new, affordable EVs arriving in the Latin American market. For those who are not well informed on what’s going on, here is a short report on newly available EVs in Costa Rica, Chile, and Colombia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “An Electric Catamaran Powered By Sun And Sail: The MODX 70” • There are products out there that are labeled “eco,” but actually burn fossil fuels. The MODX 70 is fully electric, as in not a hybrid. It was refreshing to find that out. But there is more to the MODX 70. A representative answered questions about it for readers of CleanTechnica. [CleanTechnica]

MODX 70 (MODX image)

¶ “Development Of Sustainable Energy Is Crumbling In The Netherlands, Specialists Warn” • The development of sustainable energy on land is at risk of coming to a standstill, a mid-year update warns. The 2030 target of at least 35 TWh of renewable energy on land will likely be met, but the more ambitious goal of 55 TWh is increasingly out of reach. [NL Times]

¶ “Filipino Tycoon Sabin Aboitiz Wins $642-Million CBK Hydro-Electric Deal” • Leading business tycoons here are charging into the energy sector, with the intensity of a high-stakes gold rush. But this time, the prize is green power. The ultimate goal: Cut dependence on fossil fuels, while aiming to bring electricity rates down by harnessing renewables. [Gulf News]

Hydropower station (河川一等兵, public domain)

¶ “Singapore And Cambodia Eye Stronger Ties In Renewable Energy And Carbon Markets” • Singapore and Cambodia will work on their ties in various sectors, including renewable energy and carbon credits. During Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s first visit to Cambodia, he discussed priority areas for collaboration with PM Hun Manet. [MSN]

¶ “Renewables Surge Though Geopolitical Shifts Threaten Progress” • Despite high-profile pushbacks against renewable energy and a rapidly changing policy environment, the global clean energy transition has picked up speed over the last year. Countries are finally gaining momentum in building up cleaner and greener energy grids. [OilPrice.com]

Wind farm (Milada Vigerova, Unsplash)

¶ “Russian Strike Causes New Blackout At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • Russian forces struck a power transmission line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine’s energy grid. This is the eighth blackout at the plant since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Texas Officials Say They Were Caught Off Guard By Deadly Rainstorms, Flooding” • The deadly floods that struck Texas on the 4th of July, as the torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise to near-historic levels, came without warning and caught local officials off guard. The river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, in the middle of the night. [ABC News]

Earlier flood in Texas (National Weather Service image)

¶ “Some Interesting News From Two Up-And-Coming US Electric Vehicle Firms” • Allison and Dana are not household names in the EV field. However, the two US-based firms have been in the propulsion business for more than 100 years apiece. Last month they completed a $2.7 billion transaction aimed partly at global EV markets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Pilot Program Rewrites Script For Residential Solar Power'” • A solar energy pilot program in Maryland is rewriting the script for residential solar, landing over $3 million in loans and passing its first‑year target. “In just a few months, we saw enough loan demand to meet our entire annual budget for the program,” said a senior director of the program. [The Cool Down]

Have an outstandingly superior day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Why Grid Forming BESS Technology Is Crucial To Future Renewable Energy Supply” • Battery energy storage systems can supply more responsive grid inertia than the synchronous power generators of traditional systems. Global generating additions from 2024 to 2034 will be dominated by renewable energy that requires BESS support. [Wood Mackenzie]

Power lines (Dmitriy, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Oil Is Going To Take A BIG Hit” • While the US is clearly far behind the world at large, and especially China and Europe, what is clear from our May report is that the car industry is electrifying. With 25% of new vehicles being plugin vehicles, we don’t actually see a big hit to the oil industry yet. That time is coming, however, and soon. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “These Tiny Creatures Gorge, Get Fat, And Help Fight Global Warming” • Zooplankton gorge themselves and grow fat in spring before sinking hundreds of meters into the deep ocean in Antarctica. This locks away as much planet-warming carbon as the annual emissions of roughly 55 million petrol cars, stopping it from further warming our atmosphere. [BBC]

Copepod (Janek Lass, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “European Central Bank Boldly Goes Where Others Fear To Tread” • This year, Europe is baking in extreme heat that has contributed to several deaths. The heat, along with a degradation of nature, can be seen as a political failure. Nevertheless, the European Central Bank is determined to keep climate change as part of its planning agenda. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “BYD Electric Truck Sales Up 333%” • BYD’s commercial vehicle sales started rising considerably at the end of 2024, and they’ve been soaring in 2025. In June, sales were up 333% year over year. Even better, across the first half of the year, sales were up a whopping 711%. They rose from 3,740 in H1 of 2024 to 30,344 in H1 of 2025. Stunning. [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric trucks (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “UK Gives BP-EnBW Green Light For 1.5-GW Mona” • UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has granted planning consent to BP, EnBW’s 1.5-GW Mona offshore wind farm. The 96-turbine array is the first Round 4 development to reach the milestone. The project is to connect to the National Grid’s Bodelwyddan substation in north Wales. [reNews]

¶ “Inch Cape Welcomes First Export Cable Delivery” • Inch Cape Offshore Limited confirmed the arrival of its first export cable at the Port of Blyth. The 85 km long, 220-kV dual circuit AC cable arrived aboard the barge Dong Fang Hai Gong 07, towed up the River Blyth estuary by the tug Brent. Installation will be carried out in three sections by Enshore Subsea. [reNews]

Cable-laying barge (Ithica image)

¶ “Norway Clears Test For GE 18-MW Giant” • The Norwegian regulator granted GE subsidiary Georgine Wind permission to install an 18-MW turbine in the municipality of Gulen as part of a test program to advance offshore wind technology. The project, if built, will feature an 18-MW offshore turbine with a rotor of up to 250 metres in diameter. [reNews]

¶ “DEME Launches Second Norse WTIV” • DEME has launched its second wind-turbine installation vessel, Norse Energi, at the Yantai CIMC Raffles yard in China. The GustoMSC-designed jack-up can handle turbines with rotor diameters above 300 meters and XXL monopiles of up to 3000 tonnes in water as deep as 70 meters. [reNews]

Norse Energi (DEME Group image)

¶ “India Renewable Power Output Grows At Fastest Pace In Three Years” • India’s renewable power output rose at its fastest pace since 2022 in the first half of 2025, a Reuters analysis shows. Renewable power output jumped 24.4% to 134.43 billion kWh for January–June 2025, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the federal grid regulator. [MSN]

¶ “EDF To Spend Estimated $7 Billion On Extending Life Of Nuclear Plants” • French utility EDF expects to spend €6 billion ($7.05 billion) on extending the life of twenty nuclear reactors, after getting the go-ahead from the country’s nuclear regulator. The ASN said state-owned EDF could proceed with upgrading safety standards at its 1300-MW reactors. [MSN]

Cattenom nuclear plant (Stefan Kühn, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “High-Voltage Line Powering Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restored” • Specialist personnel from Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national power company, restored the operation of the high-voltage transmission line supplying power to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The line had been cut by shelling. [Ukrainska Pravda]

US:

¶ “Madre Fire In California Explodes To More Than 52,000 Acres In One Day” • A California wildfire exploded overnight, with the massive blaze prompting evacuation orders and a highway closure. The Madre Fire ignited Wednesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, according to Cal Fire. It has since grown to more than 52,500 acres. [ABC News]

Madre Fire (Bureau of Land Management)

¶ “US EV Tax Credits Ended Sooner Than Expected In Big Bad Budget Bill” • Two weeks ago, it looked like the Republican plan to cut EV incentives may lead to a huge surge in EV sales through the end of the year, but that was based on the plans proposed in the early stages of the bill. As it turns out, the EV tax credits are ending on September 30, 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Shale’s Self-Inflicted Crisis: Wastewater Injection Is Sinking Profits” • The shale industry is facing problems it created. Across major shale-producing basins, particularly East Texas and the Permian, excessive wastewater injection practices have created areas with extreme overpressure, threatening the economic viability of shale production. [CleanTechnica]

Have a particularly praiseworthy day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Hydrogen Isn’t The Answer: 0.7-1.5 Billion Tons CO₂e Would Make It A Climate Liability” • Hydrogen leaks easily, and it’s a powerful greenhouse gas. By 2050, hydrogen leaks could reach a staggering 22 million to 45.3 million tons annually. This is the equivalent of between 726 million and nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO₂ emissions every year. [CleanTechnica]

Sunset, apropos of nothing (Igor Kasalovic, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of Thousands On Greek Island Of Crete” • A major wildfire in eastern Crete forced the evacuation of thousands of people and caused widespread damage to homes and businesses, as strong winds continue to hamper firefighting efforts. The blaze spread rapidly across forested mountainous terrain due to high winds and heat. [BBC]

¶ “$88 Million Pollution-Tracking Satellite Lost In Space” • An $88 million (£65m) satellite designed to detect releases of the gas methane from oil and gas production has been lost in space in a major setback for climate efforts. The MethaneSat satellite was launched only last year and was meant to collect data for five years on sources of methane. [BBC]

MethaneSat (MethaneSat image)

¶ “Global EV Sales: Plugin Vehicles Reach 25% Share!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 22% in May 2025 compared to May 2024. All told, there were over 1.6 million registrations. Battery EVs grew 19% year-over-year to over 1 million units. At the same time, registrations of plugin hybrids grew 28% to more than a half million. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Massive Green Hydrogen Project To Produce Low-Carbon Fertilizer” • The UK-listed firm ATOME is planning to build a $630 millionfertilizer facility in Paraguay. The plant will use green hydrogen to produce ammonia for calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The process nearly eliminates carbon emissions from making the fertilizer. [CleanTechnica]

Itaipu dam in Paraguay (Jonas de Carvalho, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “BYD BEV Sales Grow 42.5% In June!” • For years, BYD trailed Tesla but was by far the closest to the company in fully electric vehicle sales. BYD has passed Tesla, however, in the 4th quarter of 2024. Now it is zipping past the US automaker at hyperspeed as Tesla sales drop and BYD sales keep on rising. This article takes a closer look. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “RES Wins Approval For Magheralin Solar Farm” • RES has secured planning approval for its [30-MW] Magheralin Solar Farm in County Down. The Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough Council approved the application, which RES said marks a crucial step toward a cleaner, more affordable energy future for Northern Ireland. [reNews]

Young resident of a solar farm (RES image)

¶ “UK government launches onshore wind strategy” • The UK government has unveiled its first ever Onshore Wind Strategy, outlining over forty actions to revive the sector and support its Clean Power 2030 ambition of up to 29 GW. The new plan seeks to unlock up to 10 GW of stalled projects and support having ageing turbines repowered. [reNews]

¶ “Solar Plant To Power London Underground Trains” • EDF Renewables UK won a 15-year PPA to provide solar energy to supply part of the London Underground’s electricity. Transport for London’s long-term aim is to purchase up to 70% of its total electricity through PPAs, with the rest coming mainly through a flexible green tariff. [Railway Gazette International]

London Underground (Felix Hanspach, Unsplash)

¶ “ARENA Injects $432 Million Into Hunter Valley Renewable Hydrogen Project” • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is allocating $432 Million to Orica’s Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub. The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub will make green hydrogen using a 50-MW electrolyser powered by renewable electricity, replacing hydrogen from natural gas. [Asian Power]

US:

¶ “Trump Megabill Gives The Oil Industry Everything It Wants And Ends Key Support For Solar And Wind” • Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act ends federal support for solar and wind power, while being friendly for oil, gas, and coal production. The House of Representatives passed Trump’s megabill in time for him to celebrate July 4 with it. [NBC News]

Pumpjacks (Documerica, Unsplash)

¶ “Gas Prices Near Lowest Level In Four Years Ahead Of Fourth Of July” • Gas prices hovered near their lowest summer level in four years as millions of people got ready to hit the roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The national average for a gallon of gas stood at $3.16 on July 3, nearly 10% lower than it was a year ago, AAA data showed. [ABC News]

¶ “Celebrities Push Their Union To Divest Its Pension Plans From Fossil Fuels” • Top industry actors are teaming up with activist groups to pressure the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists to drop fossil fuel investments from one of its pension plans. The campaign is called Retire Big Oil. [CleanTechnica]

Hollywood sign (Ameer Attia, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Some Early Responses to Big Bad Budget Bill” • Congress has passed what has been misleadingly branded “One Big Beautiful Bill” by Donald Trump and the Republicans. CleanTechnica has already published on it, but there have been some early, well thought out responses from other cleantech industry groups, and they get some air here. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Google Invests In Nuclear Fusion With PPA For Virginia Plant” • Google announced an investment in nuclear fusion, a power source not yet successfully deployed anywhere on Earth. The tech giant revealed plans to purchase 200 MW from a proposed nuclear fusion plant being developed in Chesterfield County, Virginia. [Yahoo Finance]

Have an elegantly charming day.

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World:

¶ “Recent Droughts Are A ‘Slow-Moving Global Catastrophe'” • From Somalia to mainland Europe, the past two years have seen some of the most ravaging droughts in history, made worse by climate change, according to a UN-backed report. It describes drought as a “silent killer” which “creeps in, drains resources, and devastates lives in slow motion.” [BBC]

Drought (Daniel Mizrahi, Unsplash)

¶ “Scorching European Heatwave Turns Deadly In Spain, Italy And France” • A wildfire in Spain and high temperatures in other parts of Europe have claimed another six lives as the continent swelters in temperatures topping 40°C (104°F). The UN’s climate agency said such heat waves are becoming more frequent due to “human-induced climate change.” [BBC]

¶ “Catholic Bishops From Asia, Africa, Latin America Demand Climate Justice” • Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa, and Latin America demanded climate justice for the parts of the world most affected by rising temperatures and rejected what they said were the “false solutions” promoted by wealthy countries. They advocated abandoning fossil fuels. [ABC News]

Procession of bishops (Stebunik, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Europe EV Sales Report: King Volkswagen Rules In A Fast Growing (+34% YoY) EV Market” • EVs are picking up in Europe, with some 305,000 plugin vehicles being registered in Europe in May. That’s up 34% year over year, its fastest growth rate since August 2023. This is a particularly positive sign considering that the overall market is stagnant. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global Coalition Calls For No Further Weakening Of EU Batteries Due Diligence Rules” • A coalition of over 30 global civil society organisations, labour organisations, investors and businesses have called on the European Parliament to prevent any further weakening of the due diligence requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation. [CleanTechnica]

BlueOval City, March 10, 2023 (Courtesy of Ford)

¶ “Criminalize Fossil Fuel Disinformation, Says UN Rapporteur” • A report from Elisa Morgera, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and climate change, combines all the wisdom of Tony Seba, Mark Z Jacobson, and Project Drawdown to explain why the need to transition away from fossil fuels is urgent. And it is a call for action. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “WindEurope Urges Annual EU Renewables Targets” • EU member states were called on by WindEurope  to set annual build-out targets for renewables from 2031 to 2040 to ensure the bloc’s proposed 90% emissions reduction target are met. Last year the EU installed just 13 GW of new wind capacity, far below the 30 GW needed to meet goals. [reNews]

Wind farm (Anastasia Palagutina, Unsplash)

¶ “Norway Exempts Solar Power Sharing In Industrial Zones From Grid Fees” • The government of Norway announced it has defined planned regulatory changes to allow surplus renewable energy from plants up to 5 MW to be shared within industrial areas. The provisions exempt related  renewable energy systems from grid fees. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Dieppe-Le Tréport Substation Installed Off France” • Ocean Winds installed the offshore electrical substation for its 496-MW Dieppe-Le Tréport wind farm in the English Channel. Chantiers de l’Atlantique designed and built the topside, and the jacket was supplied by Navantia. Heavy-lift vessel Gulliver, operated by DEME, carried out the installation. [reNews]

Offshore substation (EMDT image)

¶ “Renewables To Account For Above 50% Of Brazil’s Grid Power In 2035” • The majority of Brazil’s annual power generation is hydro. However, overdependence on hydro has made Brazil vulnerable to droughts. To overcome this challenge, it is rapidly developing other renewable capacity. It plans for renewable power to increase to 50.7% in 2035. [Yahoo]

¶ “Historic England Confirms The Botley West Solar Farm Will Do No Harm To Blenheim Palace” • Historic England confirmed that the Botley West Solar Farm project will not have an adverse impact on Blenheim Palace or its surrounding setting. Photovolt Development Partners designed the project to avoid impact on the world heritage site. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Blenheim Palace (Einar H Reynis, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “How Has US Energy Use Changed Since 1776?” • When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, wood, a renewable energy source, was the largest source of energy in the US. Used for heating, cooking, and lighting, wood remained the largest US energy source until the late 1800s, when the leading resource started to change quickly. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Space Force To Test New Tough-As-Nails Solar Array” • The US Space Force is putting up $2 million to test a lightweight, redeployable LightWing orbiting solar array from the materials startup Atomic-6, which claims four times more power per kilogram than conventional arrays. A number of organizations are adding to the effort. [CleanTechnica]

Space solar array (Screenshot courtesy of Atomic-6)

¶ “US Clean Energy Groups Slam Senate Bill” • Clean power advocates have criticized a reconciliation bill passed by the US Senate, claiming the legislation will drive up energy prices, stifle manufacturing growth and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. The American Clean Power Association said the package “is a step backward for American energy policy.” [reNews]

¶ “Trump Fired Hanson Over a ‘Conflict of Visions'” • In what some have deemed an illegal move, President Trump last week abruptly fired Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Christopher Hanson. An irate Hanson threatened legal action, claiming his firing violated federal law and longstanding precedent. And he justified his work at the NRC. [RealClearEnergy]

Have an understandably magnificent day.

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World:

¶ “Eiffel Tower Closes Early As Europe Swelters Under A Heat Wave” • As a heat wave scorches most of Europe, the Eiffel Tower announced it would close early with France expected to hit very high temperatures. Paris is expected to reach 38.3°C (101°F), and the Eiffel Tower closed at 4 pm local time, a statement on the landmark’s official website said. [ABC News]

Eiffel Tower (Kirsten Drew, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Spain And England Record Hottest June As Heatwave Grips Europe” • Spain’s weather service said the “extremely hot” June “has pulverised records,” with an average temperature of 23.6°C (74.5°F). In England, the Met Office said June’s mean temperature of 16.9°C set a new record for that month; the UK as a whole saw its second warmest June on record. [BBC]

¶ “Scania Adds Electric Trucks And Buses to South Australian Fleet” • Swedish truck and bus maker Scania has quietly grown its presence in Australia. Now Scania is producing sixty fully electric city buses for the South Australian government to be used in Adelaide. Notably, SA uses wind and solar energy to meet over 60% of its grid demand. [CleanTechnica]

Scania electric truck and bus (Scania photo)

¶ “XPENG Sales Soar 242%!” • The whole Chinese EV market has been going up, and up, and up, but XPENG has shot through the roof and is on the way to the moon. XPENG’s monthly sales rose 224% in June 2025 compared to June 2024! In the second quarter as a whole, the company’s sales were up 242% compared to the same quarter of 2024. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “VinFast Inaugurates Second EV Plant In Vietnam” • VinFast, the Vietnamese automotive manufacturer, started operations at its new EV plant in the Vũng Áng Economic Zone, Hà Tĩnh Province. The facility, its second EV plant, is about 430 km (267 miles) from its main factory in Hai Phong. Four more Vinfast factories are under construction. [CleanTechnica]

Vinfast Hà Tĩnh facility (Vinfast photo)

¶ “UK Grid Set For £8.9 Billion Expansion” • Ofgem has given the provisional green light to a multi-billion-pound investment to power the biggest expansion of the UK’s electricity grid since the 1960s. An initial £8.9 billion investment is being committed to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network, with a further £1.3 billion ready to go. [reNews]

¶ “North Star Cuts Emissions By 18%” • The UK’s largest ship operator North Star is celebrating progress towards a net-zero fleet after reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 18% since 2022. The company, based in Aberdeen, had a 15% year-on-year cut in Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions. The findings were revealed by strategic projects manager Jen Redman. [reNews]

Jen Redman (North Star image)

¶ “India’s Renewable Power Output Soars 24.4% in H1 2025 As Coal Usage Slips” • India’s renewable energy generation recorded its fastest growth in over two years, marking a major step in the country’s clean energy transition. A Reuters analysis shows that renewable power output surged by 24.4% YOY to reach 134.43 TWh in the first half of 2025. [Pratidin Time]

US:

¶ “Republican Budget Bill Dismantles Climate Law Passed By Democrats” • The Republican budget bill approved by the Senate removes a proposed tax on solar and wind energy projects but phases out tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy quickly. The GOP plan would dismantle the climate law passed by Democrats in 2022. [ABC News]

Wind turbine (Drew Bae, Unsplash)

¶ “What’s Next For Trump’s Sweeping Policy Bill As House Takes Up Senate Version” • Senate Republicans wrangled just enough votes to pass President Trump’s major tax and immigration bill. The legislation now heads back to the House for final approval, but it’s likely to face some headwinds there, especially because it increases the national debt. [ABC News]

¶ “Trump Says He’ll ‘Look’ At Deporting Elon Musk As Feud Reignites” • President Trump told reporters his administration will “have to take a look” at deporting Musk after the Tesla CEO reignited the feud over Trump’s spending bill. Musk, a South African national and a naturalized US citizen, made several posts slamming the bill as “utterly insane.” [ABC News]

Elon Musk (The White House, public domain)

¶ “Big Horrible Budget Bill To Kill Countless American Jobs” • Republicans in the Senate did pretty much what many of us had predicted. They passed a huge budget bill that will blow up the US deficit by providing massive tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations while cutting policies that actually support the US economy and create jobs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Tesla Is Circling The Drain, Thanks To Stupid Elon Tricks” • The latest Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report suggests that Tesla is in desperate trouble. In an email to CleanTechnica, Jeff Coote of EVIR said, “Tesla’s favorability just cratered 27 points. Purchase intent? Down 32. It’s now the only major EV brand underwater across every demographic.” [CleanTechnica]

Tesla (Vlad Tchompalov, Unsplash)

¶ “A Georgia Town Solidly Backed Trump But Could Fall Victim to Green Energy Cuts” • Republicans in Congress want to gut the subsidies for renewable energy in a bill that is likely to pass soon. Cartersville, Georgia, is in a an area that backed Trump with 75% of the vote all three times he was on the ballot. But Cartersville depends on renewable energy growth. [The Well News]

¶ “Building A Nuclear Power Plant Would Be A Costly Endeavor, Experts Say” • Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans for New York state to build a nuclear plant. It’s not a renewable resource, but it would produce carbon-free power while it operates. There are many concerns about with nuclear power, and some experts question its affordability. [NY State of Politics]

Have an altogether excellent day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Plastics Recycling With Enzymes Takes A Leap Forward” • A successful collaboration of a trio of research institutions, NREL, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the University of Portsmouth in England, has provided a road map toward an economically process for using enzymes to recycle plastics into new materials. [CleanTechnica]

Research team at NREL (Josh Bauer, NREL)

World:

¶ “‘Unprecedented’ Alerts In France As Blistering Heat Grips Europe” • Sixteen French regions, including Paris, have been placed on red alert, the country’s highest, while 68 others are on orange alert. Both Spain and Portugal had their hottest June days on record. Heat warnings are also in place for parts of Italy, Germany, the UK, and Balkan countries. [BBC]

¶ “‘Significant Burden’ Of Sleep Apnea Could ‘Double’ As Temperatures Rise: Study” • Rising temperatures, amplified by climate change, are contributing to an increase in cases of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. [ABC News]

Sleeping woman (Lucas van Oort, Unsplash)

¶ “A Cheap And Easy Way To Reduce Carbon Emissions From Ships” • There are a number of strategies proposed to clean up emissions from ships: electrification, biomethane, sails, green ammonia. Each has pluses and minuses. Seabound, a startup based in London, says it can capture some of the emissions in a low tech and affordable way. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Vestas Nets Turbine Orders Worth 274 MW” • Vestas landed five orders for wind turbines in Europe and Japan with a total capacity of 274 MW. The orders, which are part of Vestas’ second quarter intake, include a 143-MW contract to supply and install 23 V162-6.2MW units at Eurowind Energy’s Frumusita, Vector, and Pecineaga wind farms in Romania. [reNews]

Wind farm (Vestas image)

¶ “Record-Setting Wind Farm Comes Online With Power For Thousands Of Homes: ‘The Future Of Power Generation'” • A record-setting wind farm in Egypt is set to drive progress toward cleaner and more affordable energy across Africa. It also shows how quickly change can happen with the right investment and execution. [The Cool Down]

¶ “OX2 Powers Up 100-MW Polish Solar Farm” • OX2 has powered up the 100-MW Rutki solar farm in Poland, its first project as an independent power producer. The solar farm has started delivering electricity to the grid and is expected to generate around 108 GWh of electricity per year. The Rutki project covers 78 hectares (193 acres). [reNews]

Rutki solar farm (OX2 image)

¶ “Cleve Hill Solar Park Begins Commercial Operations” • The Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners’ 373-MW Cleve Hill solar park in Kent has begun commercial operations. Cleve Hill is now exporting at 100% of its 373-MW capacity. The solar park is the largest operational project of its kind in the UK, over four times the size of the next largest. [reNews]

¶ “The War In Ukraine Sparked A Revolution In Off-The-Grid Clean Energy” • Russia has persistently targeted Ukraine’s power grids and energy infrastructure, often leaving communities in the dark. In response, Ukrainian society is quickly pivoting to renewable energy solutions that can keep the power on in the face of the bombings. [Fast Company]

Ukrainian village (Eugene Krasnaok, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “EDF Shuts Down Golftech Nuclear Plant Due To High River Temperature” • French utility EDF said it shut down the No 1 reactor at the Golftech nuclear plant, ahead of an anticipated rise in the temperature of the Garonne river that supplies the plant’s cooling water. The company has to modify production when the average water temperature is over 28°C. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Solar Installations Make Good Neighbors” • Research issued in the journal Frontiers – Sustainable Energy Policy finds that 82% of people who live within an hour’s walk of large solar installations find they make good neighbors. In addition, they either support such installations or are neutral about having more of them in their area. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

¶ “This Reconciliation Bill Proposal Isn’t Just Misguided …” • Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, made a statement on the US Senate’s reconciliation bill: “This reconciliation bill proposal isn’t just misguided – it’s a direct attack on American energy, American workers, and American consumers.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Edison Chouest Launches ECO Liberty” • Edison Chouest has launched a Service Operations Vessel ECO Liberty in Louisiana. The SOV will sail to New York this summer where it will support installation work at Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project. ECO Liberty shows the critical role of Gulf Coast manufacturing companies, Equinor said. [reNews]

ECO Liberty (Equinor image)

¶ “Island Community Explores Pathways To Strengthen Energy Reliability” • When tourists at Martha’s Vineyard pack up their beach umbrellas and head back home, hurricanes and nor’easters are soon to follow. Without easy access to mainland resources, residents need independent, resilient energy sources to weather such storms. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Republican Budget Bill Could Shatter Colorado’s Clean Energy Boom” • A tax on solar and wind projects Republicans added to their marquee budget bill could lead to statewide job losses, strain the electricity grid and boost energy bills, according to some Colorado energy groups who panned the bill ahead of key votes. [Colorado Public Radio]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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