Opinion:
¶ “Renewable Energy Is Winning, Trump Is Losing (Shocker!)” • In the US, the all-important business of climate action continues apace despite Trump’s death cult focus on fossil fuels. Renewable energy now claim 30% of power generating capacity in the US. That 30% figure comes from the US EIA, an independent agency affiliated with the US DOE. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Belgian Fries Under Threat As Heat Makes Potatoes Small” • Belgian farmers warn that this year’s potatoes are too small to make the country’s famous fries. Extreme weather had made many of them a quarter of their normal size. A Belgian industry processes over six million tonnes annually, exporting around 90% to over 120 markets. [Euronews]
¶ “EU Countries Face Nearly €41 Billion In Extra Fossil Fuel Costs As Hormuz Crisis Reveals Energy Exposure” • European countries have spent unforeseen billions of euros on fossil fuel imports due to the surge in prices caused by the war against Iran. European and other groups are urging Ursula von der Leyen to set out a plan to phase out fossil fuels. [Euronews]
¶ “UK Households Can Save As Plug-In Solar Panels Come To Market” • More families are set to save money on bills as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain. From 27 August, the easy-to-install panels can be plugged in at the country’s homes, saving households up to £110 a year on their bills by use of clean, homegrown power. [GOV.UK]
¶ “Sodium-Ion Batteries For The Win!” • CATL introduced its sodium-ion batteries a year ago. Since then, they have caught on for a number of reasons,. Sodium is much less expensive than lithium. Sodium batteries perform better at low temperatures. They required far less cooling. And China has a hammerlock on the supply of battery grade lithium. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Small-Scale, Household Renewable Power Plants To Be Expanded” • The Iranian Energy Minister, Abbas Aliabadi, has announced that the development of renewable energy will focus increasingly on household and small-scale installations. He emphasized the environmental superiority of clean energy over fossil fuels. [Tehran Times]
¶ “Finland Plans 26-GW Solar Surge” • Renewables Finland’s updated project portfolio shows that over 26 GW of large solar capacity is being planned in Finland for 300 projects. According to Renewables Finland, 77 projects totaling 4.6 GW have been granted building permits, while another 15 projects representing 1.4 GW have completed the zoning process. [reNews]
¶ “Solar Panels Could Be More Accessible To Homeowners Through Good Energy Finance Scheme” • In the UK, Good Energy launched a new solar panel finance scheme that allows homeowners to pay a 25% deposit and spread the remaining cost over up to 10 years. Good Energy partnered with Zopa Bank on the financing option. [Yahoo News New Zealand]
US:
¶ “Evacuations Ordered As Wind-Whipped Ross Fire In Texas Grows To 80,000 Acres” • The Ross Fire, a wind-whipped grass fire near Fort Worth, Texas, rapidly grew overnight to 80,000 acres, triggering evacuations and road closures in two counties, officials said. It was 12% contained on Wednesday morning, up from 5% a day earlier. [ABC News]
¶ “Study Shows Which Illness And Injuries Rise During Hot Spells” • When the weather heats up, so do emergency rooms, a massive study of Chicago hospital and urgent care records shows. It found increased accidental gunshot wounds, skin problems, kidney complaints, varicose veins, and even mental health issues related to marijuana use. [ABC News]
¶ “Collaboration Win-Win For Cascading Hydropower” • One objective of NLR technical assistance was to identify the impacts of coordination on the entire Western Interconnection, within which the Mid-Columbia hydropower plants operate. The tight coupling and variety of owners make the Mid-Columbia system a valuable model. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Delaware Governor Signs Singular Bill to Power Data Centers with Clean Energy” • The Sierra Club is celebrating Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signing into law a suite of legislation that will protect families in the state from having to pay for pricey artificial intelligence data centers. One bill ensures data centers are powered by clean energy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California Legislature Approves Bill Easing Access To Clean, Affordable ‘Balcony Solar’” • The Environmental Working Group is applauding the California Legislature for passing a bill that will help Californians invest in clean energy while also tackling sky-high energy bills by making it easier to install small, affordable “balcony solar” systems. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Army To Spend $2 Billion To Build Nuclear Micro-reactors At Five Bases As US Seeks To Ramp Up Nuclear Power” • The US Army announced on Wednesday that it is planning to add nuclear micro-reactors at five military bases from New York to Texas. They will be reliable sources of energy independent of the commercial electric grid. [ABC News]
¶ “Trump’s Saudi Nuclear Deal Reaches Congress As Experts Warn Of Proliferation Risk” • US President Donald Trump submitted a proposed agreement with Saudi Arabia on civil nuclear energy to Congress on Monday, starting a mandatory review period for a pact that would open the kingdom to US nuclear technology. [CNBC]
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