World:
¶ “Should We Expect More Monster Storms Like Hurricane Melissa As The Planet Warms?” • Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest Atlantic storms to make landfall on record. Its winds reached 295 kph (183 mph) and it dumped over a meter of rain in parts of Jamaica. Experts estimate that Melissa was about 10% stronger because of climate change. [Euronews]
In the eye of Melissa (Lt Col Mark Withee, USAF, public domain)
¶ “What The US-China Deal Means For Rare Earths, Soybean Farmers, And TikTok” • A short-term agreement between the US and China appears to dial back the trade war between the world’s two largest economies, carrying implications from smartphones to soybeans. Whether the agreement can withstand mercurial US-China relations is a question. [ABC News]
¶ “Trump’s Attack On UN Shipping Deal Is A Harbinger” • The UN’s International Maritime Organization is not normally a place that grabs the headlines, but unprecedented scenes have unfolded there. The US government put its political capital into getting other countries to destroy a climate deal they had agreed to in principle six months ago. [CleanTechnica]
BYD XI’AN (BYD image)
¶ “Putin’s Attacks On Energy Grid Condemned As ‘Nuclear Terrorism’” • The Ukrainian foreign ministry said Putin’s forces are carrying out “targeted strikes” on power substations that supply energy to nuclear plants across Ukraine. The IAEA also condemned the attacks, saying that the strikes affect Ukraine’s “nuclear safety and security”. [The Independent]
¶ “Uber, NVIDIA, And Stellantis Team Up On Robotaxis And AI” • Uber has been big on the idea of robotaxis for several years, but it made a big step forward on this matter this week. Partnering with NVIDIA and Stellantis, Uber aims to speed up development in this arena. The current goal is 5,000 fully self-driving vehicles, though they don’t say when. [CleanTechnica]
Uber, NVIDIA, and Stellantis
¶ “Jellyfish Invasion Shuts Down Europe’s Energy – America Braces As Jellyfish Spread Toward Its Shores” • The massive jellyfish attack on the Gravelines nuclear power plant in France forced the shutdown of one of Europe’s largest generating stations. The threat may become an imminent challenge on the shores of America as well. [ECOticias.com]
US:
¶ “Is The Tesla Semi Finally Coming To Mass Market?” • The Tesla Semi was the author’s favorite Tesla vehicle when it was introduced. It could cut emissions, and looked cool. Sadly, we’re now approaching the eighth anniversary of its unveiling! Now, it seems Tesla is almost ready to scale up production and actually get them on the road. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Semi (Courtesy of Frito-Lay)
¶ “California Still Has Some EV Purchasing Incentives” • The federal EV incentives are gone, so it matters a lot if some US states still offer them. The author of this article wondered if California still has incentives, and luckily it still does, a state website says. The State of California Clean Driving Assistance Program is still going. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Tariffs Add $443 Million To CVOW Costs” • Tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump are going to add $443 million to the cost of Dominion Energy’s 2600-MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind array, according to the company. The projected impact is up from the $193 million that Dominion forecast in August, when tariffs were lower. [reNews]
CVOW staging area (Dominion Energy image)
¶ “Shell Formally Ends Atlantic Shores Involvement” • Shell has formally ended its involvement in Atlantic Offshore Wind. This marks the oil supermajor’s withdrawal from the US offshore wind sector. The company said in a release that it had assigned its 50% ownership of Atlantic Shores to its joint venture partner EDF with immediate effect. [reNews]
¶ “Solar Power Has Provided More New Generating Capacity Than Any Other Source For Two Years Straight” • A review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reveals that of solar and wind together accounted for 88% of electrical generating capacity added in the first eight months of 2025. [Solar Power World]
Solar farm (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)
¶ “Meta Bought 1 GW Of Solar This Week” • Meta signed three deals this week to procure nearly 1 GW of solar power as it races to power its lofty AI ambitions. The trio of agreements brings Meta’s total solar purchases to over 3 GW of capacity this year. Solar is cheap and quick to build, and as a result, it has become a go-to power source. [Yahoo Finance]
¶ “At Rallies In Utah And Wyoming, PacifiCorp Customers Urge The Utility To Pursue Renewables” • Activists in Wyoming and Utah held rallies urging state regulators to scrutinize Rocky Mountain Power’s 2025 integrated resource plan. They believe it will raise energy bills for hundreds of thousands of Westerners, and worsen air pollution. [Inside Climate News]
Have a thoughtfully grand day.
geoharvey 