World:
¶ “Oil Prices Rise As Fighting Between US And Iran Intensifies” • Oil prices rose as fighting between the US and Iran intensified. Oil prices jumped in early trading as the US announced attacks for a ninth consecutive night. Iran responded to the strikes by targeting US allies across the Middle East. Benchmark Brent crude rose 3.2% to $90.95 per barrel. [Euronews]
¶ “The Big ICE Meltdown: June’s China EV Sales Report” • In June, EVs took a record 63% of market share of car sales in China! The overall market dropped 23% year over year, to around 1.6 million sales. Combustion-powered models were at the epicenter of this disruption, crashing 39% YOY, with pure petrol bearing the bulk of the sales drop. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “The EU’s ‘Weakened’ Plan Could Slow Cuts In Carbon Emissions” • Last week the European Commission argued that the “geopolitical and economic context” for the system for emissions trading has changed, increasing pressure on EU industry. It proposed relaxing rules to allow businesses more time to reduce their carbon output. [Euronews]
¶ “UK Urged To ‘Stay Green’ As Tax Cut On Bills Unveiled” • The UK has been urged to stay focused on accelerated renewables deployment as new Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled a tax cut on power bills in one of his first big decisions since taking office. The government said it is tackling rising bills with a tax cut to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills. [reNews]
¶ “Asia-Pacific Races To Build A $50 Billion Clean Power Grid To Feed AI Boom” • The Asian Development Bank is believes the region cannot sustain the coming wave of AI data centers, digital economies, and semiconductor manufacturing without changing fundamentally how electricity moves across borders. It wants a continent-wide network to support AI. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Wind And Solar Power Stranded In Europe’s Outdated Energy Grid. Is There An Immediate Solution?” • Europe’s ‘outdated’ energy grid is struggling to keep up with the renewables boom, but experts say an “immediate, zero-intervention” solution is waiting to be unlocked. Previous reports by Ember warn that over 120 GW of renewable projects are at risk. [MSN]
¶ “Deal Sealed To Unlock 3.56 GW Capacity In NSW Renewable Energy Zone” • The New South Wales government’s planned South West Renewable Energy Zone is closer to delivery after EnergyCo signed a Project Development Deed with Transgrid to upgrade a key section of the grid to support 3.56 GW of new renewable energy capacity. [pv magazine Australia]
¶ “Rosatom Financial Woes Threaten Central Asia’s Nuclear Energy Ambitions” • Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan may soon have to rethink their plans to develop nuclear energy. Rosatom, the Russian nuclear entity that has agreements to build nuclear plants in the two Central Asian nations, is experiencing major financial difficulties. [MSN]
US:
¶ “Gas Prices Top $4 A Gallon As Iran War Escalates” • Gas prices in the US topped $4 per gallon on average as an escalation of the Iran war renewed fears of a global oil shortage. Prices of gasoline at the pump have jumped 13 cents per gallon, or 3%, over the past week, AAA data showed, and the average price per gallon now stands at $4.003. [ABC News]
¶ “Sierra Club Condemns Effort To Attack California’s Waivers Protecting Clean Air” • House Republican Representative Harriet Hageman introduced legislation under the Congressional Review Act to revoke California’s Clean Air Act waiver allowing the state to enforce stronger than federal greenhouse gas standards for its vehicles. Sierra Club gave its opinion. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “EV Sales Rebound In Trump’s Nemesis, The Entire State Of California” • Trump is waging a ferocious battle to undercut California policy makers. But try as he might, its California Governor Gavin Newsom who gets the last laugh. EVs racked up a fairly good sales record in Q1 this year, and EV sales in the state continued to rise in Q2. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Court Orders EPA To Implement National Soot Standard” • The US District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the US EPA must follow the law and implement the strengthened health-based 2024 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, commonly called soot. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Construction Surge Pushes US Wind Outlook Higher” • The US wind industry is on track to connect more than 50 GW of capacity through 2030, Wood Mackenzie said in its US Wind Energy Monitor Q2 2026 report. The research group raised its five-year outlook, noting that construction starts increased 8% from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026. [reNews]
¶ “Exus Closes $356 Million Pennsylvania Wind Financing” • Exus Renewables North America has closed close to $356 million in construction financing for the Cambria and Highland North wind farms in Pennsylvania. Exus said KeyBanc Capital Markets served as coordinating lead arranger on the transaction, which finances the two wind projects. [reNews]
¶ “The US Needs 5,000 Miles Of New High-Voltage Lines Every Year. It Only Built 392” • Some transmission experts say the grid needs about 5,000 miles of new lines. The additions reached almost 4,000 miles in 2013. In 2025, the industry added 402 miles. Before we supply AI with electricity, we have to know where it will come from. [OilPrice.com]
Have a wisely considered day.
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