geoharvey

World:

¶ “Christian Leaders Lambast Big Fossil Fuel Companies As They Demand An EU Windfall Tax” • A coalition of Christian organisations has issued an urgent appeal to the EU to “remain steadfast in its founding values of human dignity and the common good by accelerating a just energy transition.” They ask for a windfall profits tax. [Euronews]

¶ “EU Fertilizer Plan Exposes Link Between Energy And Food Bills” • The European Commission’s latest fertilizer plan is an attempt to break the chain reaction linking gas prices, fertilizer shortages, and rising grocery bills, triggered by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Critics say it fails to protect consumers. [Euronews]

¶ “The UN Has Bad News For Global Growth As Middle East Crisis Continues” • UN economists said global GDP growth is now forecast at 2.5% for 2026, down from 2.7% in January, and could fall to just 2.1% “in a more adverse scenario.” That would be one of the weakest growth rates this century, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Euronews]

¶ “XPENG Starts Producing Robotaxis” • XPENG has been quick to develop its autonomous driving capabilities. It feels like the company is still so young, and now it’s making robotaxis! A couple of days ago, the company announced “the official rollout of its first mass-produced Robotaxi in Guangzhou.” This is a first, even for China. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Open Letter: EU Passenger Package Is A Golden Opportunity For Rail To Reach Its Full Potential” • The Youth on Track coalition, uniting youth organizations, consumer groups, and environmental NGOs of the EU, is calling in an open letter to EU institutions to raise the ambitions of the EU Passenger Package for rail service. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hyundai Motor Group Expands Pan-India Network To Accelerate Battery And Electrification Research” • Hyundai Motor Group is expanding its Center of Excellence in India, establishing a pan-India network of academic-industrial partners to accelerate the research and development of battery and electrification technologies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Seanergy 2026: Siemens ‘Has Capacity For Offshore Surge'” • European power giant Siemens Energy has told the offshore wind industry that it has the turbines and electrical equipment to deliver “whatever needs to be done” in the sector. Some of its customers had fears it would not be able to deliver turbines and substations. [reNews]

¶ “24/7 Renewables Could Happen Sooner Than You Think” • A new type of clean megaproject is starting to look not only possible but also economically attractive. These projects would load up the sunniest and windiest places on Earth with enough solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries to deliver ​“firm power” 24 hours a day. [Canary Media]

¶ “Vattenfall Inaugurates 139-MW Bruzaholm Windfarm” • Vattenfall has inaugurated the 139-MW Bruzaholm wind farm in Eksjö, Sweden. Approximately 50% of the wind farm’s power will go to Volvo under a long-term PPA with the automaker. The agreement helps to secure Volvo’s long-term access to a source of competitive electricity. [reNews]

¶ “German Government Plans First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant By The 2040s” • The German government plans to build the world’s first commercial fusion plant in the 2040s,. The aim is to build a demonstration fusion power plant in Germany by the end of the 2030s and the world’s first commercial fusion plant in the 2040s. [Yahoo]

US:

¶ “Water Supplies Along Colorado River Basin In Peril, Experts Say” • The Colorado River basin and its two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are facing possible record-low water levels in the coming months due to a snow drought in much of the West over the winter season, a study from the US Bureau of Reclamation shows. [ABC News]

¶ “Oracle Exec Sues Tesla Over Full Self Driving Promises And Wins $10,600” • A director of software engineering at Oracle who feels he got duped when he paid for Tesla Full Self Driving years ago recently filed a claim in Texas small claims court against Tesla. He got $10,600 in a default judgment as well as $72.88 in court costs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Avangrid And PSE Sign Big Horn PPA” • Avangrid and Puget Sound Energy have signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the Big Horn I wind farm in Washington state. The project has a capacity of 199.5-MW, Iberdrola said. The agreement will secure clean energy supply from the Klickitat County project. [reNews]

¶ “First EV Chargers Installed At Large Restaurant Chain” • EV chargers are getting to be much more common in the US. The restaurant chain Bojangles recently installed its first EV chargers at one of its restaurants and reportedly will expand EV charging at many or all of them. Bojangles has about 800 restaurants in 23 states. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Energy Storage Jumps 32% To Q1 Record” • US energy storage developers added 9.7 GWh of new battery capacity in the first quarter of 2026, the highest level ever recorded for any quarter, with a 32% year-on-year increase, Reuters said. This comes despite federal actions the industry says are slowing clean energy development. [Egypt Oil & Gas]

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