Opinion:
¶ “The National Science Board Purge Is A Warning About American Decline” • The members of the National Science Board were dismissed by email from the Presidential Personnel Office. Nature reported that members of the board, which was founded by Congress in 1950, were given no explanation for their termination. [CleanTechnica]
Work in science (ThisisEngineering, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Taiwan’s Scooter Capital Taipei To Go Fully Electric” • Q1 2026 figures show a clear rise in electric scooter purchases in Taiwan, largely fueled by a replacement wave as older gasoline-powered units are retired. Electrification is no longer limited to early adopters or fleet operators. It is increasingly the default option for everyday commuters. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Nordex Earnings Surge In ‘positive’ Q1” • Nordex Group reported EBITDA of almost €131 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 64% year on year. The company said this corresponded to an EBITDA margin of 8.2%, compared to 5.5% in the same period last year, reflecting continued margin improvement. Sales reached €1.6 billion in the quarter. [reNews]
Nordex wind turbine (Nordex image)
¶ “Grenergy Signs Spain Escuderos Storage Contract” • Grenergy signed a 12-year financial toll agreement for the battery system of its Escuderos hybrid project in Castilla-La Mancha with an international utility rated Investment Grade. The contract will run for 12 years from July 2028, with Grenergy responsible for operation and trading management. [reNews]
¶ “SmartestEnergy And AGR Sign Solar PPAs” • SmartestEnergy has agreed a series of power purchase agreements with AGR Renewables covering a 192-MW UK solar portfolio. The PPAs span four co-located projects with expected annual output of around 209 GWh, SmartestEnergy said. They offer a bankable and flexible route to market. [reNews]
Solar array (SmartestEnergy image)
¶ “China’s Renewable Energy Capacity Reaches 2,400 GW By End-March” • China’s renewable energy sector continued its rapid expansion in the first quarter of 2026. New installations accounted for the largest part of overall power capacity growth, according to a press briefing by the country’s National Energy Administration. [CGTN]
¶ “Fortieth Chernobyl Disaster Anniversary: Zelenskyy Accuses Russia Of ‘Nuclear Terrorism’” • As Ukraine marks the fortieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster, its president Volodmyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of committing “nuclear terrorism” by regularly flying attack drones over the site, risking a man-made disaster. [The Nation Newspaper]
Abandoned buildings in Chernobyl (Viktor Hesse, Unsplash)
¶ “155 Hits On Ukraine’s Nuclear Substations” • Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, explained that Russia is targeting substations essential for getting electricity from nuclear power plants to the national grid. He warned that each strike increases the risk of emergencies and disruptions. [Transformers Magazine]
US:
¶ “US Renewable Capacity Set For 80 GW Rise” • Large solar, wind, and battery storage are projected to add over 80 GW of new generating capacity in the US by February 2027. Renewable energy’s share of total utility-scale capacity is expected to rise from 33.4% to 36.6% over the period, the US Energy Information Administration said. [reNews]
Solar power (Red Zeppelin, Unsplash)
¶ “Providence, Rhode Island Is Ready To Decarbonize” • Mayor Brett Smiley hopes to position Providence as a national leader in the green economy. The Mayor and a group of stakeholders have announced a $3 million proposal to unveil the city’s first green revolving fund, designed to dedicate City funds to renewable energy and decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Our Electrified Home” • This article examines a household turning away from fossil fuels. With installation of a Mitsubishi Hiper-Heat cold climate air source heat pump in January 2024, it is essentially fully electrified for all home energy uses. What this means is its people no longer burn fossil fuels for their vehicles, home heat, and appliances. [CleanTechnica]
Have a totally copacetic day.
geoharvey 