Opinion:
¶ “We May Be Looking At The Debate On AI And Data Centers All Wrong” • Adam Mastroianni is an experimental psychologist and author of a science blog. In an opinion piece published by the New York Times, he suggests the hoopla over data centers, while understandable, rather misses the point. A lot of thought is yet to go into this, however. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “More Than 320,000 Now Evacuated In France And Spain As Wildfires Continue To Spread” • More than 320,000 people have now been evacuated in parts of France and Spain as wildfires continue to ravage southern Europe. French government officials say about 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) have burnt in France since the beginning of the year. [Euronews]
¶ “In Italy Petrol Tops €2.6” • Fuel prices in Italy have been rising since 3 July, when the reduction in excise duties introduced by the government at the outbreak of the war between the US and Iran to tackle the price emergency came to an end. In Milan and on motorways fuel prices now sometimes exceed €2.60 a liter. That is equivalent to $11.22 per US gallon. [Euronews]
¶ “EVs At 37.7% Share In Germany – Tesla Model Y Leads” • The second quarter of 2026 saw plugin EVs having a 37.7% share in Germany, up from 28.6% in Q2 2025. The battery EV share grew strongly YOY, though Plugin hybrids grew slowly. Overall, Q1 auto volume was 784,989 units, up some 6% YOY. Tesla’s Model Y was the best-selling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Oil Prices Ease After US And Iran Pause Their Attacks” • Oil prices eased in early trading Sunday, falling further from a high of $102 per barrel set last week, after the US and Iran refrained from launching military strikes in the Persian Gulf for a second straight day. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil for delivery in September fell to $92.02. [ABC News]
¶ “Crown Estate Launches 1.5-GW Morgan Retender” • The Crown Estate has launched a fresh tender for the 1.5-GW Morgan offshore wind site in the Irish Sea. The new streamlined process could see the site awarded to a new developer buy the end of the year, the Crown Estate said. The project already has substantial consenting and grid progress in place. [reNews]
¶ “Campaign Steps Up Opposition To South Wales Nuclear Project” • Campaigners stepped up efforts to oppose plans for a new nuclear power project in south Wales as public consultations come to a close. Friends of the Earth Cymru is backing an effort against proposals by Last Energy to build four small modular nuclear reactors at Cwm Llynfi. [Nation.Cymru]
¶ “Nordex Secures €2.475 Billion Credit Facility” • Nordex has secured a new €2.475 billion credit facility, the turbine maker announced. The ESG-linked guarantee facility covers multiple currencies and provides company with a larger, more flexible and more cost-efficient financing framework for the period from 2026 to 2031. [reNews]
¶ “ERG Files For NI Wind Farm Extension” • ERG has filed a planning application with the Department for Infrastructure for a proposed extension to the existing Evishagaran Wind Farm in County Derry. The extension would add to an existing 13-turbine wind farm. The application is supported by a comprehensive Environmental Statement. [reNews]
¶ “Australia’s Clean Energy Boom Is Gathering Speed” • Australia is well on its way to shifting dependence away from coal toward cleaner alternatives. The government, having long depended on coal, now aims to establish a more diverse energy mix to ensure that Australia can be energy self-sufficient in the years to come, while supporting a green transition. [OilPrice.com]
¶ “Sunshine State Sets New Solar Record – In The Middle Of Winter” • Queensland has set a new record for the share of solar power in its electricity mix. This is part of a “useful snapshot” of changing daytime operating conditions in Australia’s Sunshine state, as, importantly, the record was set during the middle of the Australian winter. [Renew Economy]
US:
¶ “Partnership To Test Massachusetts Residential Vehicle-To-Grid Program” • Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House are leaders in grid flexibility and smart charging. Together, they announced a joint effort for residential Eversource and National Grid customers to test vehicle-to-grid capabilities in Massachusetts. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Blames Canada For Smoke From A Climate America Created” • Donald Trump says Canada is poisoning American cities with wildfire smoke. He has told Prime Minister Mark Carney to get the fires under control, demanded compensation, and threatened tariffs because smoke from the Canadian fires crossed into the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “As Trump Boosts Nuclear Power, NRC Regulators Seek To Eliminate A Longstanding Radiation Safety Practice” • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to eliminate a foundational safety principle that has for fifty years minimized the radiation people in the US are exposed to and that has been adopted around the world. [WRDW]
¶ “US Renewables Top 30% Of Electricity, And Solar Could Pass Natural Gas By Spring 2027” • Renewables have a larger share of the US power mix, providing 30% of the electricity during the first five months of 2026. Solar is helping drive that shift and is growing quickly enough to challenge natural gas’ lead in installed capacity, Solar Power World reported. [The Cool Down]
Have a significantly enthusiastic day.
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