World:
¶ “‘Shrinking-Swelling’ Puts Twelve Million French Homes At Risk” • In what is called clay shrinkage-swelling, rupturing pipes, distorted doors and windows, and huge cracks are the threats that face more than twelve million detached homes in France. It results from climate change, as extreme weather events soak and dry the soil alternatively. [Euronews]
French country home (Karine Zenda, Unsplash)
¶ “Will The War In Iran Threaten The Europe Union’s Green Transition?” • With soaring energy prices and the threat of supply disruptions, the EU is being forced to strike a delicate balance between staying on course towards climate neutrality and ensuring affordable energy for households and businesses across the bloc. [Euronews]
¶ “BYD Electric Buses Rose 71% In March” • BYD’s bus sales rose year over year. With 663 electric bus deliveries, this part of the business was up 70.9% year over year, from 388 bus sales in March 2025, and up 98.5% compared to February, which had 334 deliveries. BYD’s non-bus commercial vehicle sales had an off month, as did its car sales. [CleanTechnica]
BYD K9A Bus (Nissangeniss, CC BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “One-Fifth of Global Oil Trade Is Blocked, But Solar Power Is Softening The Blow” • To a large degree, you can thank solar energy for the fact that you’re not in a 1970s-style gas line. Solar power capacity has seen an exponential rise over the last decade thanks to plummeting costs of the installation and maintenance of PV energy systems. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “France To Launch 10-GW Offshore Wind Tender” • SER, the Renewables trade association, welcomed the decision by the French government to merge the AO9 and AO10 offshore wind tenders for a single 10-GW auction. The new capacity of 5 GW of fixed-bottom and 5 GW of floating technologies is expected to be brought to market by next year. [reNews]
Offshore wind turbines (Siemens Gamesa image)
¶ “UK Renewables Hit Generation Record” •New government statistics show renewables generated a record share of the UK’s electricity in 2025. This reached 52.5%, marking the second consecutive year above 50%. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said clean power output reached 152.5 TWh, up from 144.3 TWh in 2024. [reNews]
¶ “Enviromena Starts 90 MW Of Shropshire Solar Construction” • Enviromena started construction on two solar farm projects in Shropshire with a combined capacity of 90 MW. The company said the sites of the Rock Farm near Ludlow and Steeraway near Telford were acquired in the summer of 2025 and are supported by Contracts for Difference. [reNews]
Solar construction (Enviromena image)
¶ “Russia Prepares Final Evacuation Of Staff From Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Plant” • Russia is preparing the final wave of evacuation from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, with more than 200 people expected to leave next week, the head of state nuclear company Rosatom said. Alexey Likhachev said the evacuation is a priority during the war. [TRT World]
US:
¶ “Tesla Sales Rise After Brutal Year Of Musk Boycotts, But They Still Fall Short” • Tesla said sales rose 6% to 358,023, the first time in three years it posted a first-quarter increase from the period a year earlier period. The positive figure follows a year of plunging sales due to an aging lineup and boycotts over Musk’s right-wing political stands. [ABC News]
Tesla Model S (Tesla Fans Schweiz, Unsplash)
¶ “Rivian Beats Wall Street Sales Expectations, But It’s Still In A Niche” • Rivian delivered 10,365 vehicles to customers in the first quarter of 2026. That was around 700 units above Wall Street estimates (9,678 according to Visible Alpha). Of course 10,365 vehicle sales in one quarter is very niche, but Rivian’s vehicles are still large luxury models. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The Trump Administration’s Attempt to Expand Drilling at Chaco Canyon” • The Trump administration advanced the process of increasing oil and gas drilling on a landscape that is sacred to Pueblos and Tribes. It began a 7-day Public Scoping period, the next step in its proposal to open the Greater Chaco Region to oil and gas drilling. [CleanTechnica]
Chaco Canyon (National Park Service, public domain)
¶ “US Coal Exports Decreased In 2025” • After four years of growth, US coal exports decreased by 16 million short tons (MMst) in 2025, according to data released by the US Census Bureau. Exports totaled 93 MMst in 2025, compared with 108 MMst in 2024. Metallurgical coal exports fell by 11%, and thermal coal exports fell by 18%. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Advocacy Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Decision To Exempt All Oil & Gas Activities In Gulf from Endangered Species Act” • Gulf and environmental groups sued the Trump Administration over its decision to strip Endangered Species Act protection from imperiled species threatened by oil-and-gas drilling activities in the Gulf of Mexico. [CleanTechnica]
Offshore oil rig (Sheng Hu, Unsplash)
¶ “Maine Renters May Soon Be Able To Access Solar Power After Passage Of Plug-In Bill” • Both the Maine Senate and House of Representatives cast final votes this week in support of LD 1730, which would allow for small, plug-in solar units so renters and other Mainers can access the renewable energy source without a large upfront investment. [Maine Morning Star]
¶ “Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Gets Final Go-Ahead To Run Through 2030” • The US NRC renewed Diablo Canyon’s license to operate, ensuring that California’s last nuclear facility will continue to run through at least 2030. Originally, the plant was slated to close in 2025, but it generates more than 8% of the power used by the state. [Yahoo]
Have a generously supportive day.
geoharvey 
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