geoharvey

World:

¶ “Oil Prices Surge After Israel’s Strike On Iran” • Oil prices surged and Asian shares were lower after Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military targets, as the attack raised the risk of war between them. US benchmark crude oil rose by $3.93, or 5.8%, to $71.97 per barrel. International standard Brent crude was up by $3.82 to $73.18 per barrel. [ABC News]

Pumpjack (Jeff W, Unsplash)

¶ “Officials Race To Tow Burning Ship Away From India Coast To Prevent ‘Ecological Disaster'” • The Indian Coast Guard is trying to tow a burning Singapore-flagged cargo ship away from the coast of Kerala, to prevent an “ecological disaster.” The Indian defence ministry said current efforts are to establish a tow line and pull the vessel away from the coast. [BBC]

¶ “Acorn Carbon Capture Project To Get £200 Million” • UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that £200 million will be provided to progress the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage scheme in Aberdeenshire. Miliband said he told the company behind the project that he expected it to make a final investment decision by the end of the parliament. [BBC]

Carbon capture facility (North Sea Midstream Partners)

¶ “Weak Aircraft Innovation Is Undercutting Aviation’s Green Transition” • Repeated delays in aircraft technology innovation are hindering aviation’s green transition. T&E analysis hints that European aviation could be up to 13% more efficient by 2050 in an achievable innovation scenario, saving renewable electricity sufficient for 27 million heat pumps. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EV Sales In China Continued Their Upward Climb In May” • Things are happening in the new car market in China that those outside of China may not fully understand. At the end of May, BYD announced sweeping price cuts of up to 34%. That move sent shockwaves through the domestic industry and sent stock values, including BYD’s, tumbling. [CleanTechnica]

BYD’s Philippine lineup (Photo from BYD PH)

¶ “Volvo Cars to Use Recycled Steel in Next EV” • Volvo Cars has long been a green, sustainability leader. The news says it is to get “high-quality, recycled and near zero-emissions steel” starting this year from SSAB. Volvo Cars is the first automaker to sign such a deal for the mass-produced cars they call “serial produced deliveries.” [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Taiwan Opens Talks On 3-GW Round 3.3” • Taipei has opened consultations with industry on its latest offshore wind allocation round. The island’s government held talks over Round 3.3 of up to 3 GW. Reports are that Taipei is considering the introduction of an auction floor price. The government is also said to favor reducing the localisation burden. [reNews]

First suction bucket (Ørsted image, via LinkedIn)

¶ “Sino-LAC Partnerships Fuel Region’s Green Push” • Nearly all Latin America and the Caribbean countries are working for sustainable development. Regional leaders are pursuing green industry, renewable energy, and climate resilience to address economic inequality and environmental vulnerability. China’s role in this is pivotal. [China Daily]

¶ “UK To Invest £500 Million In Hydrogen Networks” • The UK government confirmed over £500 million in funding for new hydrogen infrastructure, with one aim being to create thousands of skilled clean energy jobs. The announcement is part of a Plan for Change strategy to make Britain a clean energy superpower and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. [reNews]

Opening a solar farm (Gobierno de Chile, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

US:

¶ “A Waymo Costs More, But People Love It” • An app called Obi aggregates real-time pricing from different ride-hailing and taxi providers. It just published an analysis of the different service prices in San Francisco from March 25 to April 25. Average prices range from Lyft’s, at $14.44, to Waymo’s, at $20.43. But people love Waymo! [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Texans Love Their Wind Power, Even If Trump Doesn’t” • In Texas, a variety of new power generation assets are still growing, with plans for new natural gas and potentially new nuclear and geothermal facilities. Yet wind and solar projects constitute most of the new power plants recently built in Texas, and that capacity is expected to keep growing. [CleanTechnica]

Roscoe Wind Farm in Texas (Matthew T Rader, CC BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Texas Approves Use Of Wastewater From Fracking To Irrigate Crops” • Texas passed legislation that allows recycled wastewater from fracking to be used to irrigate crops. According to WFAA News, proponents argue the recycled water could supplement the state’s supply of fresh water and incentify oil and gas industries to clean up their messes. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EPA Proposes Rolling Back Clean Air Rules For Power Plants: What To Know” • EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and several Republican lawmakers announced the agency’s plan to repeal two landmark power plant emission regulations. Former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy wrote that Zeldin’s rationale is “absolutely illogical and indefensible.” [ABC News]

Emissions (Anne Nygård, Unsplash)

¶ “Invenergy Breaks Ground On 240-MW Ohio Solar Site” • In Franklin County, Ohio, Invenergy started construction on the 240-MW Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center. It mark s a $230 million local investment and the latest addition to Invenergy’s growing clean energy portfolio in the state. The solar project will create up to 300 construction jobs. [reNews]

¶ “Report Warns Of Big Risks From Small Nuclear Reactors In NY” • As Governor Hochul pushes to build nuclear power in the state, a Food & Water Watch report says small modular reactor in particular could pose serious risks to communities, ratepayers, and the climate. The NRC approved NuScale’s latest SMR design just days before the report was out. [Food & Water Watch]

Have an impressively good day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Transport Of Mercury Through Rivers Has Risen Threefold Since Industrial Revolution, Study Finds” • Such industries such as coal burning, mining, and manufacturing increase mercury pollution and change the way it moves through rivers, causing a threefold rise in mercury concentrations around the world since the 1850s, a paper in the journal Science shows. [ABC News]

Mississippi River (Justin Wilkens, Unsplash)

¶ “Brazil EV Sales Report: Local EV Production Imminent As Sales Set A Record In May” • With over 14,000 EVs sold in May and year-on-year growth of 63%, Brazil’s EV market seems to be gearing up for a record 2025. YOY sales have grown every month of this year so far. And the country is just getting ready for its own EV production. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Alberta’s Renewable Energy Sabotage: Time For Federal Intervention” • Alberta’s latest assault on renewable energy investors is as clear as it is cynical. Alberta’s new reclamation rules for wind and solar projects are exorbitant, requiring project developers to post 30% of total anticipated decommissioning costs at project inception. [CleanTechnica]

Highway near Banff (Leon O’Neill, Unsplash)

¶ “Philippines Starts 3.3-GW Offshore Wind Auction” • The Philippines’ Department of Energy set up its Fifth Green Energy Auction, targeting 3,300 MW of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity for delivery between 2028 and 2030. It is the country’s first auction dedicated solely to offshore wind and forms part of its Green Energy Auction Program. [reNews]

¶ “EDPR Wins Auction For 219-MW German Wind Plot” • EDPR has secured exclusive rights to develop a 219-MW wind project in Lower Saxony, marking its initial major wind venture in Germany. EDP has signed lease agreements with landowners covering approximately 2,700 hectares with suitable sites and has plans for up to 38 turbines. [reNews]

Wind turbine (EDPR image)

¶ “Victorian Water Sector Leads The Charge To Net Zero” • The State Government has announced that all 18 of Victoria’s water corporations are on track to be powered with 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2025. And the state’s water corporations have all set targets to reduce their emissions to net zero by 2035 or earlier. [Utility Magazine]

¶ “RES Files To Build 150-MW Westport Battery” • RES has submitted a planning application for a 150-MW battery energy storage project in East Ayrshire, Scotland. RES said the project is designed to help stabilize the electricity grid and support net-zero targets by providing rapid-response flexibility to balance the variable output from renewables. [reNews]

RES battery project (RES image)

¶ “India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Grows 17% To 227 GW” • India’s total renewable energy capacity grew 17.13% year-on-year to 226.74 GW in May, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said. Solar power capacity expanded 31.49% to 110.83 GW from 84.28 GW in May 2024. Wind capacity saw a rise of 10.49% to 51.29 GW from 46.42 GW last year. [Rediff MoneyWiz]

¶ “Pakistan’s Renewable Energy Capacity Nearly Doubles Amid Shift Toward Greener Power Mix” • In Pakistan, the installed renewable energy capacity nearly doubled during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, rising from 2,867 MW to 5,680 MW. This is primarily due to a large increase in net metering connections to the national grid. [MSN]

Terbela dam (Zakariahazro, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Did California Break The Law While Cutting Rooftop Solar Subsidies” • The California Public Utilities Commission voted in late 2022 to change to “Net Metering 3.0,” cutting compensation for rooftop solar electricity by about 80%. Environmental groups are suing now, saying the CPUC did not consider the financial benefits of rooftop solar fully. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ten Solar Energy Facts You Should Know – USA Edition” • We can be sure you know that solar energy is cheaper, quicker to build, more resilient, and good for energy independence and security. But what solar facts do you know in order to impress during a summer rooftop party by the pool? Here are a few to impress your friends. [CleanTechnica]

Solar power (Michael Förtsch, Unsplash)

¶ “New Mexico Offers $5.3 Million In Low-Interest Loans For Energy-Saving Building Upgrades” • Nonprofits, community centers, and other public-serving buildings across the state of New Mexico can now apply for low-interest loans to make their facilities more energy efficient, thanks to a new $5.3 million fund from the state government. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Adds Record Amount Of Battery Energy Storage In First Three Months Of 2025” • The US added a record 1,602-MW of battery storage capacity in the first quarter of 2025, equivalent to the capacity of a large coal fired power plant, the American Clean Power Association said. The US had 30 GW of battery storage at the end of March. [Environment America]

Battery system (Bureau of Land Management, public domain)

¶ “Earthrise Secures $630 Million For Solar Project” • Earthrise Energy secured $630 million in financing for its 270-MW Gibson City Solar project in Illinois, marking a first-of-its-kind deal in the MISO power market. A construction-to-term loan, tax equity bridge loan, and letter of credit facility are included in the deal. The project is to be operational in 2026. [reNews]

¶ “Oklo To Provide Nuclear Power To Air Force Base After Two Year Delay” • Nuclear start-up Oklo said that it was conditionally selected to provide power to an Air Force base in Alaska after a delay of nearly two years. The company, based in Santa Clara, California, was issued a Notice of Intent to Award by the Defense Logistics Agency. [MSN]

Have a uniquely delightful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Oceans Cannot Become ‘Wild West’, Warns UN Chief” • It is a key aim of the now running UN oceans conference is to get sixty countries to ratify a High Seas Treaty and thus bring it into force. One aim of the conference is to take a stand on unregulated mining in the deep sea. It should not be allowed to go ahead, the head of the UN has warned. [BBC]

Dolphin (Noah Boyer, Unsplash)

¶ “Scotland To Prioritize Renewable Energy Over Nuclear” • Scotland will focus on renewable energy not nuclear power, a government minister said after England decided to fund nuclear plants. Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin told BBC Scotland News that they would “capitalize on renewable energy capacity” rather than “expensive new nuclear.” [BBC]

¶ “Emperor Penguins Show Dramatic Decline, Satellite Photos Show” • The population of emperor penguins in one part of Antarctica appears to be declining faster than had been thought, according to an analysis of satellite imagery. Between 2009 and 2024 the population of sixteen colonies had declined 22% due to climate change reducing sea ice. [ABC News]

Emperor Penguin (Andrew Dawes, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Reassessing Steel: Falling Cement Use Alters Projections” • Cement and steel are closely intertwined, with about half of global steel demand tied to construction and infrastructure, the sectors driving cement consumption. A whitepaper by the World Cement Association says global cement demand will soon peak and then steadily decline. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “What Can We Do To Save The Insects? Build Solar Arrays” • Insects play key ecological roles. They are critical to the survival of many other species. We need to protect them. Research shows how solar arrays (yes, those maligned tools of renewable energy) offer safe havens for not only insects but birds, mammals, and other creatures. [CleanTechnica]

Deer graze under the PV array (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)

¶ “Ocean Winds Toasts Assembly Of First EFGL Turbine” • Ocean Winds toasted the successful assembly of the first turbine at its Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion floating offshore wind project at Port-La Nouvelle. The 10-MW Vestas turbine, the most powerful ever installed in France, was mounted at a dedicated offshore wind terminal. [reNews]

¶ “Danske Commodities Signs German Wind Deal” • Danske Commodities signed a PPA with Germany’s largest independent energy purchasing group to deliver around 180 GWh of wind energy from July 2025 to December 2026. The Danish company said the deal with e.optimum will supply renewable electricity to roughly 48,000 households. [reNews]

German wind farm

¶ “Wins Worth Celebrating For Australia’s Climate Progress” • New data from the Clean Energy Regulator and the Federal Department of Climate Change show some great steps in Australia’s energy transition. And three important reports all indicate a decline in emissions and record levels of renewable energy generation. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “NDA To Consider Renewables At Sellafield” • UK energy minister Michael Shanks asked the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council to explore the potential for siting clean energy projects on land adjacent to the Sellafield nuclear waste, processing, and decommissioning site in north-west England. [reNews]

Solar array (Enel Green Power)

¶ “Russia Has Deal To Build Eight Nuclear Power Plants In Iran” • The president of Iran’s nuclear energy agency said officials in that country signed an agreement with Russia for construction of at least eight nuclear power plants in Iran. Mohammad Eslami, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed the deal. [POWER Magazine]

US:

¶ “US Adds 8.6 GW Of Solar Manufacturing Capacity, One Of Its Strongest Quarters of Growth Ever” • The US solar industry added 8.6 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity in Q1 2025, marking the third-largest quarter for new manufacturing capacity on record. The surge comes from eight factories in Texas, Ohio, and Arizona. [CleanTechnica]

Solar wafer manufacture (Oregon DOT, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “The US Produced More Energy Than Ever Before In 2024” • US total energy production was over 103 quadrillion British thermal units in 2024, a 1% increase from the previous record set in 2023. Several energy sources each set domestic production records last year: natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids, biofuels, solar, and wind. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Artificial Intelligence Models Improve Efficiency Of Battery Diagnostics” • Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed and demonstrated a groundbreaking physics-informed neural network model that can predict battery health nearly 1,000 times faster than traditional models. Earlier models are resource-intensive. [CleanTechnica]

NREL battery researcher (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “Ben And Jerry’s Powers Organic Waste-To-Energy Facility” • PurposeEnergy, a provider of organic waste-to-renewable energy solutions, has officially opened its new anaerobic digestion plant in St. Albans, Vermont. Construction commenced in May 2023, and the facility began exporting electricity to the Vermont grid in December 2024. [Recycling Product News]

¶ “How The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Positions US Energy To Be More Costly For Consumers And The Climate” • When it comes to energy policy, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – the official name of a massive federal tax-cut and spending bill passed in May by House Republicans– risks raising Americans’ energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. [The Conversation]

Have a passably lovely day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “China’s EV Moves In UK And EU Progressing” • It’s no secret: China’s electric vehicle market is the most developed in the world. EVs account for about half of the country’s new car sales and it’s a hyper-competitive market where many automakers are struggling to scale up, outcompete each other on price, and eventually make a profit. [CleanTechnica]

BYD Surf

¶ “Renewables Surge In South Korea As New Government Charts Electrified Future” • South Korea’s political shift marks a critical turning point for its energy future, anchored in pragmatism and strategic economic reasoning rather than ideological preference. The country’s new government has decisively recommitted to renewable energy. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The All-New Nissan LEAF: A Perfect Blend Of Performance, Comfort, And Efficiency” • In the second installment of the LEAF Insights video series, Nissan Motor Co, Ltd today divulges details of the third-generation LEAF’s enhanced suspension and maneuverability, improved heat regeneration features and a quieter, more refined cabin. [CleanTechnica]

New LEAF powertrain

¶ “Experts Highlight Crucial Tool That Could Ensure Energy Security For Millions” • Generative AI is stepping up to help power grids run more efficiently while also keeping sustainability at the top of the priority list. GenAI is already helping energy companies make their systems more reliable, efficient, and ready for more renewable energy. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Shoreline Brings AI Platform To Onshore Wind Market” • Shoreline Wind has entered the onshore wind market with a full-scale planning, construction and O&M platform. With an established offshore wind platform, Shoreline now brings its simulation-first approach to the onshore wind market, for developers, operators, and service providers. [reNews]

Wind farm (CIP image)

¶ “DOE Awards Over 6,000 MW Of Renewable Energy Projects Under GEA-3” • The Philippine DOE issued a Notice of Award for the third round of the Green Energy Auction, for over 6,000 MW in Philippine renewable energy capacity. This is a huge step in the government’s efforts on clean energy and improves energy security nationally. [Power Philippines]

¶ “Aura Power Secures Financing For 50-MW Solar Farm” • Aura Power has secured project financing for its 50-MW Grimsby solar farm, which is now ready for construction. The Grimsby array is the third UK solar project for the company’s operations business. The latest achievement follows the successful financing of the Kemble and Burtree solar farms. [reNews]

Solar farm (Aura Power image)

¶ “Sydney Can Become Its Own Renewable Energy Zone, Take A Load Off NSW Regions” • Sydney could take ownership of its electricity use and production as one big renewable energy zone, a think tank is suggesting. Doing so would make Sydney the first city in Australia to shift the focus from getting power from a grid to making what it uses. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Tata Power Hits 4 GW Of solar Module Production Capacity” • TP Solar Ltd, the manufacturing unit of Tata Power and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, made over 4 GW of solar modules at its facility in Tamil Nadu. As of May 31, 2025, the plant has made 4,049 MW of solar modules and 1,441 MW of solar cells. [pv magazine International]

Solar module plant (Tata Power image, screenshot)

¶ “No Blank Cheque For Sizewell C Says Starmer, As £14.2 Billion Investment Confirmed” • Speaking to BBC business editor Simon Jack, Starmer says his government is not writing a “blank cheque” to fund Sizewell C. The £14.2 billion investment “carries with it 10 years’ worth of jobs for 10,000 people,” energy security, and independence for the UK, he says. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Call It Scienticide, Brain Drain, Or Anti-Intellectualism – The US Is Losing Its Futurists” • What happens when thousands of US scientists lose their jobs or grants? They need to look at every option. The idea of relocation may be necessary for scientists as the year evolves. Not able to wait, US scientists are applying for jobs abroad in record numbers. [CleanTechnica]

Scientist at work (CDC, Unsplash)

¶ “Emissions Fell When Firms Reported Them – EPA May End Rule” • The EPA started requiring large polluters to report their own pollution more than a decade ago. Emissions from four coal-fired plants in southwest Indiana have dropped 60% since 2010, when the rule took effect. Now, the EPA is thinking about ending the rule, and emissions may go up. [ABC News]

¶ “Energy Department Orders Michigan Coal Generating Station To Remain Open” • The latest outrage is an emergency order by Chris Wright, billionaire head of the DOE, who made his money pumping millions of gallons of toxic pollutants underground to unlock pockets of methane. His order prohibits the closure for a coal-fired plant in Michigan. [CleanTechnica]

JH Campbell plant (Michigan Public Power Association)

¶ “Atlantic Shores Moves To Scrap New Jersey Offtake” • Shell-EDF joint venture Atlantic Shores has asked the state of New Jersey for permission to pull out of its agreement with the state to deliver 1500-MW of offshore wind power from its planned array off the state’s southern coast. Atlantic Shores pointed to the withdrawal of a key air permit by the US EPA. [reNews]

¶ “Amazon To Spend $20 Billion On Pennsylvania Data Centers, Including One Next To A Nuclear Power Plant” • Amazon said it will spend $20 billion on two data centers in Pennsylvania. It is building one of these alongside the Susquehanna nuclear plant that has drawn federal scrutiny over an agreement to essentially plug right into the power plant. [MSN]

Have a decidedly enjoyable day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Is It Better To Neglect Your Garden?” • When she’s not leading garden-based learning at the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University, Ashley Louise Miller Helmholdt likes to garden and has several gardens of her own. “I have a little plot that’s just wild,” she says. “I have a native plant and pollinator garden. So I have a little bit of everything.” [BBC]

Dandilions and buttercups (Kate Cullen, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Arran Seabed Restoration Action Championed By Sir David Attenborough” • Recreational divers Don MacNeish and Howard Wood took action after seeing the seabed off the Isle of Arran being destroyed. The pair spent years convincing the Scottish government to create Scotland’s first “no take zone” in Lamlash Bay which halted all forms of fishing. [BBC]

¶ “Vinfast EV Taxis Now In Manila” • Vietnamese transportation company Green & Smart Mobility has just debuted its fleet of VinFast VF e34 taxis in the Philippines. The country is the fourth in Southeast Asia to receive the electric taxis after Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia. GSM was founded by VinFast CEO Pham Nhat Vuong, a Vietnamese billionaire. [CleanTechnica]

VF e34 GSM taxi (Photo from VinFast)

¶ “EVs Take 33.7% Share Of The UK – The BYD Dolphin Surf Arrives!” • May saw plugin EVs take 33.7% share of the UK auto market, up from 25.7% year-on-year. Battery EVs grew in volume by 26% YOY, while plugin hybrids grew 51%. Overall auto volume was up a bit year-on-year, at 150,070 units. Volkswagen was the leading battery EV brand in May. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New private sector coalition to support COP30 Brazil” • The Global Renewables Alliance has launched a Brazilian renewable energy mobilisation committee to support the presidency of COP30. Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President, said, “[In] Brazil we know how viable renewables are, and above all, the economic logic of renewables …” [reNews]

Elbia Gannoum (Image via LinkedIn)

¶ “AMEA Power Signs MOU With Kyuden International For Renewable Energy And Green Hydrogen” • AMEA Power and Kyuden International Corporation have partnered on renewable energy and green hydrogen projects that will contribute to decarbonisation, resilience, and inclusive economic growth in key markets. [Middle East Construction News]

¶ “Solar Surpasses Nuclear For First Time, Contributes 10% Of Global Power In April” • Solar power generated 10% of global electricity in April 2025, its highest-ever monthly share and for the first time it overtook nuclear energy, according to Ember’s Electricity Data Explorer. Solar power has also passed windpower for the first time on record. [ET EnergyWorld]

Solar power (Nuno Marques, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Sonnedix, Renfe Ink Major Solar PPA” • Renewables company Sonnedix signed a solar PPA with Spanish national rail network operator Renfe. Under the deal, Renfe will purchase 420 GWh of renewable energy per year to power its commercial operations. The annual energy will be enough to power 112,000 homes and avoid 155,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. [reNews]

US:

¶ “US Wind Clears Last Hurdle For Maryland Project” • US Wind has received an air quality permit for its Maryland offshore wind project, clearing the way for construction to begin. The project had received the go-ahead from the federal government last December, but was awaiting the final required permit from the state of Maryland. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (EDF image)

¶ “EV Charging Stakeholders Play The Long Game As US Market Sags” • The outlook for EV sales has dampened the spirits of electrification advocates, but stakeholders in the EV charging industry are still betting that time is running out for gasmobiles. EV charging apps are getting a user-friendly makeover from three leading stakeholders. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Westinghouse Pursues $75 Billion US Nuclear Expansion By 2030, FT Reports” • Westinghouse Electric Company is in talks with US officials and industry partners about deploying ten large nuclear reactors, according to the Financial Times. The reported talks follow President Donald Trump’s May 23 executive orders directing the NRC to reduce regulations. [KCCI]

Byron nuclear plant (Ben Jacobson, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Tesla Moves To Block City Of Austin From Releasing Robotaxi Information” • Tesla is a publicly held company that intends to begin a robotaxi service on public roads in Austin, on June 10. Even though the public is an unwitting (possibly unwilling) party in the experiments, Tesla is fighting fiercely to keep any and all information about them private. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Three States Driving America’s Solar Boom” • In addition to California, some unexpected states have come out on top for green energy production in the US in recent years. Texas and Florida join the Golden State as the top wind and solar energy producers in the US, having invested heavily in increasing their renewable energy capacity. [OilPrice.com]

Have a downright upbeat day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Debunking Trump’s False Claims On Wind Energy” • The US President claimed that “windmills are driving whales crazy” and “are not truly green,” statements then repeated on social media to bash renewable energy sources. DW’s Fact check team takes the wind out of the sail of disinformation by checking some of the most viral claims. [DW]

Wind turbines (Thomas Galler, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “World Environment Day Calls To #BeatPlasticPollution” • The theme of World Environment Day 2025, #BeatPlasticPollution, is a campaign led by the UN Environment Program to encourage us all to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change. In two months, countries meet again to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Transforming Canada: Mapping A 100% Electrified Energy Economy” • Canada stands at a crossroads in its energy future. As a Canadian who is involved in shaping Ireland’s 2050 energy roadmap, I see a opportunity for Canada to follow a similarly ambitious trajectory toward comprehensive electrification and renewable energy integration. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in Canada (Keshav Rajasekar, Unsplash)

¶ “Malta To Boost Renewable Energy To 25% By 2030” • Malta is on track to increase its share of renewable energy to nearly 25% by 2030, according to a progress report from the Climate Action Authority on its National Energy and Climate Plan. This marks a major rise from 3.76% in 2013. The shift is part of broader efforts to curb climate change. [Italpress]

¶ “ACEN Grows Footprint With Cagayan Solar Bid” • ACEN Corp, a unit of the Ayala Group, expanded its renewable energy footprint in North Luzon with the now-operating 133-MW Cagayan North Solar project in Lal-lo, Cagayan. Developed with CleanTech Renewable Energy 4 Corp, facility generates 188 GWh of electricity annually. [Daily Tribune]

Cagayan North Solar farm (ACEN image)

¶ “Renewables Hit Nearly 20% Of Dutch Energy Use In 2024, Led By Offshore Wind, Biodiesel” • In 2024, renewable energy made up 19.8% of the Netherlands’ total energy consumption, up from 17.4% in 2023. The share of renewables has more than doubled compared to five years ago, according to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands. [NL Times]

¶ “New Solar Power Plant Neighbors Slovenia’s Sole Pumped-Storage Facility” • Electricity is being produced at the Kanalski Vrh solar power plant. It is operated by Soške elektrarne Nova Gorica, part of the Slovenian HSE Group. The facility is next to Slovenia’s only pumped-storage plant and will generate 3.3 GWh of electricity annually. [ceenergynews]

Pumped storage in Czechia (Lukas Marek, Unsplash)

¶ “Moscow Reaches Out To IAEA Over Restarting Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant” • Russia announced its intention to restart operations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Moscow has approached the International Atomic Energy Agency to initiate this process, Sky News reports. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is near an active front line of the war. [MSN]

US:

¶ “More Bad News For Tesla, EV Charging Edition” • Convenient access to a trusted, reliable EV charging network is necessary for widespread EV adoption. Tesla burst onto the EV market with “gold standard” Supercharger stations baked into its pitch for EV sales. The results were stunning for Tesla’s EV sales … until things went south. [CleanTechnica]

Applegreen charging station

¶ “Mercedes And Ford Execs Propose Possible Tariff Deals” • Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes, told Der Spiegel he has an idea that would resolve the trade and tariff dispute. What he suggests is that cars made in the US would be allowed into the EU tariff free. In return, an equal number of cars made in Europe would be allowed into the US duty free. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Insurance Companies Canceling Home Owner Insurance Are Supporting LNG Terminals” • The same insurance companies that are refusing to insure homes in many areas of this country because of climate related risks are doubling down on insuring LNG terminals that will make global heating worse. Talk about being two-faced! [CleanTechnica]

Bayou channel (Chris Light, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Experts Uncover Unexpected Benefits Of Combining Solar Panels With Livestock: ‘Enough … Energy To Power 70,000 Homes'” • The Myrtle solar farm in Brazoria County, Texas, is a shining example of sustainability that spans 2,400 acres of former pasture land and eliminates the need for fuel-powered lawnmowers. It is run by TotalEnergies. [Yahoo]

¶ “AT&T Signs VPPA With Enbridge For 130 MW Of Solar Power In Texas” • US telco AT&T has inked a long-term virtual Power Purchase Agreement with Canadian energy giant Enbridge for the entire output of a 130-MW solar project in Jim Wells County, Texas. The Orange Grove Solar project is Enbridge’s first solar project in Texas. [Data Center Dynamics]

Have a comfortably contented day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The Bomb That Will Hit The US Solar Industry And US Jobs From The ‘Big Beautiful Bill'” • Zachary Shahan: “Not wanting any of Joe Biden’s big wins to continue, and being slaves to fossil fuel industries as they have been for decades, Republicans are attacking the EV industry, the wind industry, and the solar industry in this bill.” The cost is US jobs. [CleanTechnica]

Job losses by state (Solar Energy Industry Association image)

¶ “Renewable Energy Helps Keep Alaska Power Affordable. Tax Credits Shouldn’t Be Eliminated” • Federal tax credits make renewable energy projects more economical to build. Right now we need Senator Murkowski’s help in restoring tax credits and other renewable energy provisions that were eliminated by the House of Representatives. [Anchorage Daily News]

World:

¶ “Cities Around The World Are Sinking At ‘Worrying Speed’” • Dozens of coastal areas are sinking at a worrying speed, a study by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore shows. The team studied subsidence at 48 coastal cities, in places that are particularly vulnerable to a combination of sinking land and seas that are rising due to climate change. [BBC]

Tianjin (Marshall W, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “As UN Climate Talks Loom, Brazil’s Amazon Forest Loses In May An Area Larger Than NYC” • Brazil’s environmental goals suffered a major setback in May as deforestation in the Amazon surged 92% compared to the same month last year, according to official monitoring data. Forest loss reached 960 km² (371 mi²) during the period. [ABC News]

¶ “India’s Coal & Gas Decline Signals Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition” • A rapid contraction in coal usage, attributed to an amalgamation of economic slowdowns, surging renewable deployment, and increasingly cost-competitive solar and wind projects, suggests India may finally be reaching a tipping point towards substantial decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

Coal-burning plant in India (sheikh sohel, Unsplash)

¶ “EVs Take 94.9% Share In Norway – Renault 5 First Customer Deliveries” • May saw plugin EVs take 94.9% share in Norway, up from 82.3% year-on-year. Battery EVs alone took 93.9% share. Overall auto volume was 14,260 units, up 39%, year-on-year. The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle. And the Renault 5 is being delivered. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Firefly Likely To Come To UK In October” • NIO should be approaching profitability this year, but the Chinese EV market is so hyper-competitive that there’s always another new competitor trying to eat your lunch. NIO has again nailed the design side of things with its Firefly brand, however, and it has developed a very attractive little car. [CleanTechnica]

NIO Firefly EV

¶ “Yorkshire Approves Carr House Solar-Battery Hybrid” • The developer Renewable Connections received consent from North Yorkshire Council for the 23-MW Carr House solar and battery complex, near East Heslerton and Sherburn. The decision, made under delegated powers on 6 June, follows a period of public and statutory consultation. [reNews]

¶ “NR Marine Unveils New Cyclone Class CTV” • NR Marine Services commissioned Walker Marine Design to develop a  Cyclone Class crew transfer vessel, extending its UK-built offshore fleet with a focus on comfort and capacity. The 29-meter Cyclone Class follows the success of NR Marine’s Storm and Typhoon Class vessels. [reNews]

NR Cyclone Class CTV (NR Marine image)

¶ “£127 Million Wasted On Failed UK Nuclear Cleanup Plan” • In the face of a 2028 deadline to replace its 70-year-old analytical lab, the center for the UK’s nuclear industry wasted £127 million ($172 million) during delays and replanning as it scrambled to find alternatives for facilities that treat and repackage plutonium, a Parliamentary report found. [The Register]

US:

¶ “Climate Change Is Causing The Florida Real Estate Market To Tumble” • Climate change has created what many are calling a perfect storm: HOA insurance rate hikes, triggered by extreme weather events and compounded by special assessments to pay for the required Milestone work, have put many condo owners out of the FL real estate market. [CleanTechnica]

Miami Beach (Dylan Sauerwein, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Why Scientists Are Concerned Over The Record Amount Of Seaweed In The Caribbean” • Millions of tons of seaweed floating in the tropical Atlantic Ocean could soon make its way toward the US, according to researchers. A record amount of sargassum is coming ashore in the Caribbean, releasing toxic gas, and killing wildlife. [ABC News]

¶ “Quaise ‘Proof Of Concept’ Demo Goes Live In Texas” • An MIT spinoff known as Quaise, proposes to use microwaves to drill holes deep enough to reach super hot zones as much as 12,000 feet down. Quaise believes there is enough heat below the surface of the Earth to generate virtually all the electricity people might need for millions of years. [CleanTechnica]

Quaise demonstration facility (Quaise image)

¶ “Solar Arrays Can Aid Grasslands During Drought” • New research from Colorado State University and Cornell University shows that the presence of solar panels in Colorado’s grasslands may reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels and, particularly during dry years, increase plant growth by about 20% or more compared to open fields. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Freedom Caucus Warns It Will ‘Not Accept’ Senate Changes On Green Energy Tax Credits” • In a post on social media, the Freedom Caucus warned, “[If] the Senate attempts to water down, strip out, or walk back the hard-fought spending reductions and IRA Green New Scam rollbacks achieved in this legislation, we will not accept it.” [The Hill]

Have an acceptably superb day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “FeatherEdge Serration ‘Cuts Turbine Noise'” • German developer Schierloh Engineering has successfully trialled a new noise-reduction technology on one of its Enercon E-160 E3 turbines. The project involved replacing the turbine’s standard serrations with FeatherEdge, a blade-edge retrofit developed by Canadian firm Biome Renewables. [reNews]

Wind turbine with new technology (Schierloh Engineering)

World:

¶ “Most New Build Homes Must Have Solar Panels – Miliband” • Builders will be required to fit solar panels to the “vast majority” of new homes in England under changes coming this year, said Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. He said this was “just common sense” adding that solar panels would save the typical household £500 per year on energy bills. [BBC]

¶ “Action Needed Before Wildfire Season, LFB Urges” • Fire breaks should be built in open areas to prevent wildfires this summer, the London Fire Brigade has said. Spring is likely to be one of the driest on record, according to the Met Office, and landowners and councils are being asked to play their part to reduce the risks. [BBC]

Burnt land (LFF image)

¶ “EVs At 63.2% Share In Sweden” • May’s auto sales saw plugin EVs at 63.2% share in Sweden, up year-on-year from 53.6%, though only slightly above May 2023’s share (61.9%). Overall auto volume was 25,675 units, fractionally up YOY. The improvement is rather marginal, however. The Volvo XC40 was the best-selling battery EV. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Another Electric Vehicle Benefit: No Motor Oil Leaks” • Cars that burn fossil fuels use motor oil, and unfortunately, many of them leak their oil onto driveways, garage floors, parking lots, roads, highways, and interstates. They can also leak oil into dirt roads, gravel roads, off-road, and into our waterways. EVs don’t have such problems. [CleanTechnica]

EV charging at LA Auto Show (Oxana Melis, Unsplash)

¶ “Egypt To Rely On Renewable Energy To Ensure Supply Security” • Egypt plans for the renewable energy within its electricity mix to be 42% by the year 2035. The nation is actively expanding its capacity through solar and wind energy initiatives. Renewable power capacity in the country is expected to reach 31.6 GW in 2035. [Power Technology]

¶ “Bold Climate Action Needed To Avoid ‘Hothouse Destination’” • Australia must act urgently to cut emissions and transition to clean energy or risk catastrophic climate and biodiversity losses, Matt Kean, chair of the Climate Change Authority has warned. He said governments must ignore fossil fuel lobbyists and “act in the national interest.” [reNews]

Matt Kean (Climate Change Authority Australia)

¶ “India’s Clean Energy Must Now Be Round-The-Clock” • India is working to generate 500 GW of renewable power, a move that supports climate goals and fuels industrial growth, urbanisation, and national progress. Delivering this power reliably, constantly, and economically at all hours is the real challenge in achieving this goal. [BW Businessworld]

¶ “Neoen Opens Portugal’s Largest Solar Park” • Neoen opened Portugal’s largest solar park, a 272-MW facility comprising the Rio Maior and Torre Bela solar farms. Together, the two solar farms will generate over 500-GWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the consumption of 110,000 households, according to the French developer. [reNews]

Solar farm (Neoen image)

¶ “China Has Significantly Cut Power Outages, Energy Authority Says” • China made connecting to the power grid easier and less expensive, Song Hongkun, a National Energy Administration official, told a news conference. The average power outage time for urban users decreased by 28% last year, compared to 2020. For rural users, the time fell 44%. [China Daily]

¶ “EnBW Selects Lautec For Tracking Vessels” • Lautec signed a contract with German energy company EnBW to provide digital tracking of crew transfer vessels at its operational offshore wind farms. EnBW will deploy Lautec’s Daily Progress Reporting, WindGIS, and Analytics modules to improve real-time visibility of vessel movements and offshore logistics. [reNews]

Offshore wind vessel (EnBW x Lautec image)

¶ “Russia Cannot Safely Restart Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – Ukraine” • Russia cannot safely restart the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. According to First Deputy Energy Minister of Ukraine Yurii Sheiko, Russia is simply using such statements as a means to blackmail Ukraine and the international community. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Ford F-150 Is Top Selling Electric Truck In USA – In May And All Time” • Ford reached out with the news that the Ford F-150 Lightning is the best selling electric pickup truck in the US again. That’s for both the month of May and across all time. In total, the F-150 Lightning has sold a lot more units than the #2 Rivian R1T and the #3 Tesla Cybertruck. [CleanTechnica]

F-150 Lightning (Historicalunit1857, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “How Cuts To The Inflation Reduction Act Will Hurt Everyday Americans” • If the Republican-dominated House has its way, the Inflation Reduction Act will be terminated. Cuts to the IRA will take the wind out of the Biden–Harris administration’s clean energy plans, as popular programs like incentives for EVs and solar panels are eliminated. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Latest AAA Survey Casts A Shadow Over The EV Revolution” • Every year, AAA surveys Americans to find out what cars they plan to buy, and why. Most recently, AAA found that “only 16% of US adults report being ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to purchase a fully electric vehicle as their next car, the lowest percentage recorded of EV interest since 2019.” We look at why. [CleanTechnica]

Have a sufficiently cool day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “How High-Rise Forests Can Transform City Life And Make Us Happier” • In 2007, Italian architect Stefano Boeri saw a city being built in Dubai, full of skyscrapers covered in glass, ceramic and metal. He was soon designing buildings covered with leaves. Ten years after the first were built, we see they are better in many ways, including cooler. [BBC]

Nanjing Vertical Forest in China (Stefano Boeri Architetti)

¶ “Rare Birds Appear On Restored Wetland ‘In Hours'” • A year ago, the National Trust started restoring 590 acres (238 hectares) of lowland peat at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire. The fen is a vital carbon store at its oldest nature reserve. Rare wetland birds, including cranes and great egrets, appeared within hours of the completion of the restoration project. [BBC]

¶ “Global EV Sales – BYD Song Beats Tesla Model Y On The World Stage!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations grew to about 1.5 million, up 22% in April 2025 compared to April 2024. Battery EVs grew at 26% YOY to 1 million units while plugin hybrids grew 15%. More big news is that the BYD Song has beaten the Tesla Model Y! [CleanTechnica]

BYD Song (Quzhouliulian, public domain)

¶ “Ivory Coast Launches Tenders For 200 MW, 66 MWh Of Solar-Plus-Storage” • Ivory Coast’s state-run utility Ci-Energies has launched two tenders for the construction of 100 MW solar power plants, each connected to 33 MWh of storage capacity. The tenders seek proposals for plants in the towns of Dabakala and Niakaramandougou. [pv magazine International]

¶ “BYD Plans Megawatt Charging Network For Europe” • One of the smartest things Elon Musk ever did was create a network of Superchargera. That decision came to be critical to the success of Tesla to date. Now that the network is open to drivers of electric cars from other manufacturers. And BYD is taking a page from the Tesla playbook. [CleanTechnica]

BYD presentation (BYD via CnEVPost)

¶ “India Coal-Fired Power Output Falls At Fastest Pace In Five Years In May” • India’s coal-fired electricity generation in May fell at the fastest pace in five years, as overall power demand declined for the first time since August and renewable energy generation rose to a record high, according to a Reuters analysis of government data. [Yahoo News Singapore]

¶ “ScottishPower Renewables Backs Charging For Electric Vessels Offshore” • SPR confirmed technical and economic feasibility of offshore charging for electric service and crew transfer vessels. MJR’s analysis found that regular offshore and onshore charging could make electric vessels cost-competitive with marine gas oil alternatives in the near future. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (ScottishPower Renewables image)

¶ “WA Residential Battery Scheme” • Western Australia has made important revisions to its Residential Battery Scheme to expand rebates. WA’s Residential Battery Scheme will help households with the cost-of-living pressures, to support Western Australian businesses and jobs, and furthering the energy transition by the use of renewables. [wa.gov.au]

¶ “Global Energy Investment To Hit $3.3 Trillion In 2025” • The Global energy investment is set to reach a record $3.3 trillion in 2025, with clean technologies attracting over twice the capital of fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency says. IEA executive director Fatih Birol said energy security is a key driver of this year’s record investment levels. [reNews]

Fatih Birol (IEA image)

¶ “Iran’s Supreme Leader Criticises US Proposal For Nuclear Agreement” • Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticised the US proposal for a new nuclear agreement, insisting it will not stop enriching uranium. Khamenei said the proposal is “100% against the idea of ‘We can,'” a slogan of the founder of the Islamic Republic. [BBC]

US:

¶ “Fresh Court Challenge To Empire Wind Launched” • Foes of offshore wind launched a new lawsuit aimed to stop Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind. Plaintiffs sued the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, claiming that reversal of the stop-work order that paused construction was “arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.” [reNews]

Marine terminal in Brooklyn (Equinor image)

¶ “Tesla Robotaxi Service Begins Next Week In Austin” • After nearly ten years of promises, Elon Musk says full self driving is finally about to run, as a small fleet of Tesla Model Ys equipped with the latest FSD software upgrades will begin robotaxi service in Austin, Texas next week. The cars will be limited to driving on streets in certain areas of the city. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Invenergy Brings 250-MW Ohio Solar Project Online” • In Ohio, Invenergy started operations at the 250-MW Hardin III Solar Energy Center, its third solar project in Hardin County. WEC Energy Group is the majority owner of the project, while Microsoft will buy the electricity and renewable energy credits under a power purchase agreement. [reNews]

Solar farm in Ohio (Master Sgt Beth Holliker, USAF)

¶ “Utilities Warn Republican Budget Bill Would Increase Energy Costs For Colorado Households” • The US Senate is debating a multi-trillion-dollar megabill meant to enact President Trump’s domestic agenda after the House approved it. Colorado utility leaders warn the plan could upend their operations and lead to higher energy prices. [Colorado Public Radio]

¶ “Industry Group Says Trump Tax Bill Could Kill Nearly 22,000 Solar Jobs In Florida” • Florida installed the second most solar power capacity in the country last year. It is predicted to become the top-ranked residential solar state in 2028. But Florida could lose up to 21,800 solar and storage jobs if it is made law, the Solar Energy Industries Association says. [Florida Phoenix]

Have a verifiably ideal day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Greenhouse Gases Cut By Almost Half Since 1990” • Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 48% between 1990 and 2023, a report shows. The States’ data said the island emitted 357,626 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023, compared with almost 700,000 in 1990. The government’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap aims to make Jersey net zero by 2050. [BBC]

Jersey (Henry Barnes, Unsplash)

¶ “NIO Expands Into Seven More European Markets” • Smart EV company NIO is expanding its European rollout, entering seven more markets in 2025 and 2026, offering users an innovative, sustainable, and premium mobility experience. NIO will keep building its established direct-to-consumer business and service network in key regions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Fortescue Determined to Decarbonise International Shipping” • Fortescue is on a mission to achieve “Real Zero” under the able leadership of Dr Andrew Forrest. As such, it needs to reduce not just the carbon emissions in its mining operations in Pilbara, Western Australia, but also in shipping that iron ore, about 200 million metric tons of it. [CleanTechnica]

Dual-fuel Green Pioneer (Fortescue image)

¶ “Preliminary Data Shows Tesla Sales In Europe Continued To Fall In May ” • Automobile sales figures from Europe are starting to appear and they show that sales of Tesla EVs in May continued their dramatic decline in all but one country. Reuters reports that Tesla sales in May were down 53.7%, year over year. EV sales were up about 25% overall in May. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Norges, RWE Complete Offshore Wind Tie Up” • Norges Bank Investment Management acquired a 49% stake in RWE’s 1.6-GW Nordseecluster and 1.1-GW Thor offshore wind projects. RWE will retain a 51% share and remain responsible for construction and operation of both projects. The transaction is valued at around €1.4 billion. [reNews]

Tower sections on a ship (RWE image)

¶ “Climate Change Added Thirty Days of Extreme Heat For Over 4 Billion People Since Last Year” • Anthropogenic climate change added thirty days of extreme heat for over four billion people last year, worldwide, a report found. The report is a joint effort by the World Weather Attribution, Climate Central and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. [EcoWatch]

¶ “Acciona Commissions 280-MW Forty Mile Wind Farm In Alberta” • Acciona Energia has commissioned the 280-MW Forty Mile Wind Farm in Alberta, the largest project the company has built to date in North America. Forty Mile is one of Canada’s top ten largest wind farms. It comprises 49 Nordex turbines, each with a capacity of 5.7 MW. [reNews]

Forty Mile Wind Farm (Acciona image)

¶ “Electricity Prices In Europe Fell Significantly In May Thanks To Renewable Energy” • A fall in electricity prices in May was largely driven by an increase in production of wind and solar energy and falling demand, despite fluctuations in gas prices. Most European markets also recorded negative hourly prices during the month. [GMK Center]

¶ “Vestas Turbine Makes Its Debut” • Vestas reached a milestone with the first successful installation of its latest 7+MW wind turbine model. Installation of the first commercial V172-7.2MW took place in Germany. The turbine, part of the company’s EnVentus platform, was delivered to customer LSF Energy GmbH & Co KG in Salzkotten. [reNews]

V172-7.2MW turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “No Way To Restart Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant At Present, IAEA Chief Says” • The idled Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine is not in a condition to be restarted at present, due to a lack of water for cooling and the absence of a stable power supply, the head of the IAEA, the UN’s nuclear safety watchdog said. [MSN]

US:

¶ “Forecast For Summer Of 2025 Shows Hotter-Than-Average Temperatures” • The latest summer season outlook by NOAA shows hotter-than-average temperatures are predicted across much of the country this summer, with the greatest likelihood of extreme heat hitting swaths of the East Coast, southern Plains, and the West. [ABC News]

Pond on a hot day (Nick Sexton, Unsplash)

¶ “Environmentalists Criticize Trump Administration Push For New Oil And Gas Drilling” • Top Trump administration officials, after touring one of the country’s largest oil fields in the Alaskan Arctic, held an energy conference headlined by the Republican governor of Alaska. Environmentalists criticized promoting new oil and gas drilling in a climate crisis. [ABC News]

¶ “The Dark Roof Lobby Is Coming For Your Cool Roof!” • A dark roof lobby of manufacturers reps is pressuring state officials and local building officials to roll back “cool roof” mandates in laws and building codes. Why would anybody do that? They get paid to make their case, and if they are not successful they stop getting paid. [CleanTechnica]

TPO roof system (GAF image)

¶ “Dynamic Pricing Beats Time-of-Use Pricing In EV Charging Pilot” • We are quickly entering the EV era, and one of the most exciting things about it is may be flexible, smart EV charging. The potential is already there, but as the vehicle fleet electrifies, that potential will become gigantic. A pilot program in California goes one more step along this path. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Constellation Signs 20-Year PPA With Meta For Nuclear Power In Illinois” • Constellation and Meta have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement to utilise the output from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. The agreement supports Meta’s clean energy objectives and regional operations by providing it with 1,121 MW of nuclear energy. [Power Technology]

Have a compellingly unbounded day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Entrion Bags Patent For Deep-Water Foundation” • Entrion Wind was granted a second patent for its deep-water offshore wind technology. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office issued the patent for the company’s Fully Restrained Platform monopile design. Entrion said the design supports extending offshore wind into deeper waters. [reNews]

Entrion deep-water foundation (Entrion image)

World:

¶ “European EV Sales Surge 28% YOY!” • We have good news from Europe, with 282,000 plugin vehicles registered in April, up 28% year over year, or 33% if we exclude a falling Tesla. This is their biggest growth rate since August 2023, which means that after the so-so year of 2024, Europe’s EV market is back on track, despite Tesla’s woes. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “How Electric Scooters Are Driving China’s Salt Battery Push” • China is racing ahead of the rest of the world to bring sodium-ion batteries to the mass market. The batteries are being used for Vespa-like scooters that sell for between £300 and £500 ($400 and $660). Unlike lithium, sodium is an abundant element. It can be extracted from sea salt. [BBC]

Yadea scooters (Yadea image)

¶ “Abundance Or Sufficiency? Charting A Path To The Future” • Lloyd Alter was a primary force behind Treehugger for over a decade. He lives in Toronto, where he teaches others about the power of thinking small. He focuses is on efficient dwellings that meet the needs of mere mortals, sufficient in every respect but not more than that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The World Hit Another Clean Power Record For Electricity In 2024” • Despite an abrupt shift in energy policy over in the US, it’s a big world and lots of decarbonization action is going on. The think tank Ember, for example, ran the numbers and found that clean power (including nuclear) accounted for over 40% of global electricity capacity last year. [CleanTechnica]

Aquaculture powered by geothermal (VAXA Technologies)

¶ “Azerbaijan To Launch Ten Renewable Energy Plants Within Two Years” • Azerbaijan is set to boost its renewable energy capacity with ten solar and wind power plants slated to become operational over the next two years, Azernews reports, citing the Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov. Azerbaijan is poised to invest $2.7 billion in the projects by 2027. [AzerNews]

¶ “Strategic Marine Delivers Two CTVs To Louis Dreyfus” • The Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine delivered two new offshore wind crew transfer vessels to Louis Dreyfus Armateurs. The two CTVs are sister vessels to Acti’Vent and Esti’Vent, which are already in LDA’s fleet. The vessels will support the company’s offshore wind operations. [reNews]

Crew transfer vessel (Strategic Marine)

¶ “World’s Installed Renewable Capacity To Reach 11.2 TW By 2035” • GlobalData expects the global renewable energy installed capacity to reach 11.2 TW by 2035 from 3.42 TW in 2024, led by solar and wind power. This reflects a cumulative annual growth rate of 11% from 2024 to 2035, driven largely by declining costs and strong policy support. [Asian Power]

¶ “Iranian Official Says US Nuclear Proposal Is ‘Incoherent And Disjointed,’ As Sources Warn Talks Momentum Is Collapsing” • A senior Iranian official told CNN the nuclear proposal recently presented to Tehran is “incoherent and disjointed,” as sources familiar with the progress of the talks said the momentum of the negotiations appears to be collapsing. [CTV News]

Tehran (Shiva Mardahi, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Cancellation OF CCS Worth $3.7 Billion Explained ” • Once again, the Trump administration has swung its ideological axe at clean energy initiatives, cutting $3.7 billion in funding previously earmarked by the DOE for carbon capture and storage, synthetic fuels, hydrogen fuels, and a variety of technologies for industrial decarbonization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Arizona Tribes Explore Benefits Of Floating Solar” • Thirty miles south of Phoenix, members of the Akimel O’otham and Pee Posh tribes, known collectively as the Gila River Indian Community, installed floating solar panels over one of those canals that flows through their property last November. It is the first such installation in the US. [CleanTechnica]

Floating solar power (Earth.com via Instagram)

¶ “It’s Time To Stop Super Speeders ” • New York State could become the first state to implement speed limiters for repeat offenders. Such legislation is a big step in efforts to make streets slower and safer. Only 1.5% of vehicles get six or more speed camera tickets in a year, but they are involved in over 20% of pedestrian deaths in New York City. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Crew Transfer Vessel To Support US Wind Projects” • American Offshore Services expanded its fleet of offshore wind vessels with the delivery of the Gamekeeper. The new vessel is the fourth addition to the company’s growing G-Class fleet. The vessel was delivered from the shipyard and is operational for offshore wind projects on the East Coast. [reNews]

Gamekeeper (Northern Offshore Group)

¶ “Shapiro’s Renewable Energy Plan Advances As The Trump Administration Keeps PA Fossil Fuel Plant Online” • The Blue Creek wind farm in Ohio, consists of 152 wind turbines with a total capacity of 304 MW. But the Trump administration ordered a fossil fuel-fired power plant outside Philadelphia to run past its planned retirement date. [Yahoo News]

¶ “US Tariff Policies To Drive Up Costs For Power Industry” • Recent US tariff policies are set to increase the cost of power generation technologies, with energy storage seeing the biggest hike, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie. Energy storage would be hit the hardest due to its dependence on Chinese imports, the report warned. [reNews]

Have a deftly conceived day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Suzlon Energy Eyes 60% Growth, Led By Strong Wind Power Demand” • Suzlon Energy Ltd, based in India, expects a 60% growth across the board in FY26, backed by a strong demand for wind power, according to Chief Executive Officer JP Chalasani. Chief Financial Officer Himanshu Mody underscored Suzlon’s commitment to maintaining margin. [MSN]

Suzlon wind turbine (Suzlon Energy image)

¶ “NIO Sales Increase 13% In May” • NIO sales continue to rise, with deliveries in May totaling 23,231 vehicles. That’s a 13.1% increase year over year. Through the first five months of the year, sales were up 34.7%, reaching 89,225 deliveries. From NIO’s first car onward, the company has logged 760,789 deliveries. It’s not XPENG, but it is enviable. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPENG Sales Soar 230%!” • XPENG keeps rockin’. With 33,525 deliveries in May, the company saw 230% year-over-year growth. That’s the kind of growth that makes the CEO happy, right? This is also the seventh month in a row that XPENG scored more than 30,000 sales. This year is off to a strong start for the year, despite the Chinese New Year. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG showroom in Beijing (Raysonho, public domain)

¶ “DTI: 78% Of Fast-Tracked Investments Now In Renewable Energy” • A surge in renewable energy projects is driving record investment approvals for the Philippines. Clean energy has 78% of Green Lane-certified projects. As of May 27, 2025, there are 208 projects with Green Lane status, 78% of which are renewable energy ventures. [Power Philippines]

¶ “Death Toll Reaches At Least 200 In Flooded Nigerian Town” • The death toll from devastating flooding in the market town of Mokwa rose to at least 200, a local official said. Communities in northern Nigeria have been going through dry seasons worsened by climate change followed by severe flooding from excessive rainfall during the brief wet season. [ABC News]

Post office in Mokwa (Sabiu001, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “Batam To Host Indonesia’s Largest Solar Plant” • Aslan Energy Capital, based in Singapore, ran a tender clarification workshop in Batam, marking a milestone in the development of what will become Indonesia’s largest solar project, a 1,200 MW plant. The event forms part of the Aslan’s ongoing RFQ process, according to the company. [Cloud Data Center Events]

¶ “Fortescue Secures State Approval For 644 MW Solar Hub” • Mining giant and renewable energy company Fortescue got a green light from the Western Australian government for a 644-MW solar farm that is to help power its operations in the state’s Pilbara region. The project could still go through a review by the federal government. [pv magazine Australia]

Solar farm (Fortescue image)

¶ “Tasmanian Renewable Energy To Fuel Heavy Vehicles” • The Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub says it can fuel over 2,200 heavy vehicles annually if it makes 45,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year as predicted. The 2025-26 budget has $64.8 million for Tasmania to increase strategic renewable energy projects in the next four years. [Prime Mover Magazine]

¶ “Innergex And MMBC Close Financing On 102-MW Wind Farm” • Innergex and Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corp have reached financial close for the construction and operation of the 102-MW Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n 2 wind farm in Canada. The financing has a $163.9 million green loan, an interconnection bridge loan of $41 million, and an LC facility of $10.2 million. [reNews]

Wind farm (Innergex image)

¶ “Colombia Announces 19 Measures To Unblock Renewable Energy Projects” • Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has presented a package of inter-institutional actions to expedite environmental licensing, prior consultation, and connection of renewable energy projects, with the goal of incorporating more capacity into its grid. [pv magazine International]

US:

¶ “California Has Over 15,000 MW Of Energy Storage” • About two years ago the California Energy Commission said the state had a little over 6,600 MW of energy storage online. New data has come out recently, showing the total is now over 15,000 MW. Obviously, that is a huge amount and a great increase over a short time span. [CleanTechnica]

Energy storage (Sandia National Laboratories, public domain)

¶ “Musk’s Pattern To Overpromise And Underdeliver” • Even more unsettling than Elon Musk’s ties to Trump is how he has bragged, over and over, about upcoming Tesla innovations and failed to deliver. The most stalwart Tesla supporters are wary of Musk’s pattern to overpromise Mars the moon and deliver a pale Model Y upgrade. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Sheep Will Make Room For 500,000 Honeybees In New Agrivoltaic Project” • It is a bright spot for agrivoltaic projects. Solar energy, crops, and livestock can coexist on the same land, with opportunities for farmers to earn revenue while preserving the land from development as shopping malls, housing projects, fulfillment centers, and the like. [CleanTechnica]

Lambs join bees at a solar array (Courtesy of Urban Grid)

¶ “Trump Fast-Tracks Utah Uranium Mine, But Industry Revival May Wait For Higher Prices” • Hundreds of abandoned uranium mines dot the West’s arid landscapes, hazardous reminders of nuclear power of the Cold War. Now the Trump administration has fast-tracked one mine for regulatory approval, and it could start up again. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]

¶ “US Approves Environmental Review For Michigan Nuclear Plant Restart” • After the US NRC conducted an environmental review, it said Holtec’s planned restart of the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan would not harm the environment, a needed step in its plan to become the first such plant to return from permanent shutdown. [MSN]

Have a steadfastly encouraging day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Military Aircraft Evacuates Residents From Fast-Moving Canada Fire” • Military aircraft and helicopters are being used to evacuate residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba from fast-moving wildfires. Thousands have already evacuated western Canada, particularly the central prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. [BBC]

Wildfire (Caleb Cook, Unsplash)

¶ “Changan Solid State Battery Will Unlock Up To 1500 Km Of Range” • According to CnEVPost, Chinese automaker Changan claims it has developed a solid-state battery that will allow electric cars to travel up to 1500 kilometers without needing to be recharged. That’s 932 miles for those of you who have never used the metric system. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “It Appears Chevrolet Will Stop Selling Cars In China” • The Chinese auto market is innovating and evolving super fast. You have to be hyper-innovative in the EV sector specifically if you want to see increasing sales. And if you are not doing much in the EV sector, well, good luck and most likely RIP. GM, like some other legacy brands, hasn’t done well. [CleanTechnica]

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 3LT (Courtesy of GM)

¶ “TotalEnergies, RGE Unite For Major Solar-BESS Project” • TotalEnergies and Singapore’s RGE joined forces to develop a solar and storage project in Indonesia. The Singapore Energy Market Authority granted a conditional licence to their joint venture Singa Renewables to import from Indonesia 1 GW of renewable electricity. [reNews]

¶ “Enviromena Given Go-Ahead For PV-And-BESS Project” • Independent power producer Enviromena was given a green light to build a solar farm and battery energy storage system in County Durham. The solar project, with a capacity of 49.9 MW, will be capable of providing enough clean energy to meet annual power needs for nearly 26,000 homes. [reNews]

Enviromena renewable energy (Enviromena image)

¶ “India, A Major User Of Coal, Is Making Large Gains In Clean Energy Adoption” • Most of the electricity in India, the world’s most populous nation, still comes from coal, one of the dirtiest forms of energy. But coal’s dominance is dropping, going from 60% of installed power capacity 11 years ago to less than 50% now, according to India’s power ministry. [MSN]

¶ “India’s Renewable Energy Rose 47% In Utility Solar” • India’s renewable energy sector made major strides in Q1 of 2025. Utility-scale solar dominated new installations between January and March, contributing about 5.93 GW of added capacity, a 12.2% rise compared to the previous quarter. Wind power also rebounded, adding 1.87 GW of capacity. [MSN]

Indian solar plant (Sarvajanik Puralekh, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “UN Nuclear Watchdog Reports On Iran’s Growing Uranium Stockpile Amid Talks With US” • Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels, a confidential report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog revealed. It urges Tehran to change course and cooperate with ongoing investigations. [The Indian Express]

US:

¶ “The State Of The Food We Consume” • Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill is in the hands of the Senate. Some of the House measures within those 1,000 pages will look different, but three food and agricultural provisions that will affect the state of the food we eat are expected to stay. Together, they mean less food for hungry children and less money for farmers. [CleanTechnica]

Mexican grocery produce (Ryan Harvey, CC BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Woman Sues Oil Companies Over Her Mother’s Death” • Julie Leon, age 65, was found unresponsive in her car in Seattle in 2021. She died of heat later that day. This week, her daughter, Misti Leon, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Superior Court for King County in the State of Washington. The suit seeks to hold a number of oil companies responsible. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Empire Wind Farm Gets Assist From ‘Heerema’s Workhorse'” • A 1980s-era semisubmersible crane vessel known as “Heerema’s Workhorse” steamed its way over to Rhode Island last week to gear up for its next assignment, building the 810-MW Empire Wind offshore wind farm off the coast of Long Island. It shows Empire is back in business. [CleanTechnica]

Semi-submersible crane vessel Thliaf (courtesy of Heerema)

¶ “Ahead Of Hurricane Season, Dominion Energy Expands Its Underground Power Line Initiative” • Hurricane season begins on June 1, but Dominion Energy says it works year-round to keep storm-related power outages in Virginia to a minimum. It is moving power lines underground, where they are shielded from wind, rain, and falling trees. [WRIC ABC 8News]

¶ “State Leaders Reveal New Plan To Revive Wasted Land Hiding In Plain Sight” • As Michigan state searches for suitable sites to develop new solar projects on, policy advocates suggest turning contaminated brownfields, abandoned or underused industrial sites, into locations for producing clean, renewable energy, Inside Climate News reported. [The Cool Down]

Have an incontrovertibly gorgeous day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “You’re In A New Paradigm! Behave Like It! ” • Clearly (to me), the problem holding up dealing with climate change is that the world has too much drivel and not enough thought. Renewable energy’s problem is not that it is variable and needs backup. Baseload power will nearly never meet demand without a lot of backup, and it’s expensive. [CleanTechnica]

Lost dinosaur (Huang Yingone, via Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Should We Be Afraid Of Driverless Vehicles On Our Roads?” • On June 12, Tesla’s first driverless vehicles to launch in Texas. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that for “the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y carson Austin public streets with no incidents.” Driverless vehicles are ready for prime time. So says Musk. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “How The Seas Could Hold The Key To Climate Change” • The counties of Devon and Cornwall are at the global heart of finding sea-based solutions to climate change. Their universities have researchers who study restoring seagrass and oyster beds, look into seaweed as a sustainable food source, and ask how marine fungi can combat disease. [BBC]

Red cliffs of Sidmouth (Red Zeppelin, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Tesla Status Dropping In China As BYD Rises And Xiaomi Soars” • While Tesla was the clear EV leader globally in 2020 and Chinese auto companies were more focused on selling small, cheap electric cars, a lot has changed in five years. Chinese EV leaders are rapidly innovating to create the most appealing packages on the market. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New MONA M03 Max And Plus Get 12,566 Orders In One Hour!” • XPENG’s new MONA brand got off to a good start. It has helped to boost the company’s sales in an extremely competitive, cut-throat market. The relatively young brand has new versions of its initial model about to arrive, and they are looking like a big hit already. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG MONA MO3

¶ “Gazelle Secures €2 Million For Floater Demo” • Gazelle Wind Power secured a €2 million investment to enable further work on its 2-MW Nau Azul floating wind demonstrator project in Portugal. Gazelle agreed on financing with Banco Português de Fomento through the deal-by-deal co-investment program, in partnership with Indico Capital Partners. [reNews]

¶ “Aker Solutions Nets BalWin2 Foundation Deal” • Aker Solutions is to provide the foundation for the BalWin2 offshore wind farm’s 2-GW HVDC converter station. AS signed a contract with Dragados Offshore to deliver the steel substructure for the converter station for the project’s grid connection system in Germany, developed by Amprion Offshore. [reNews]

HVDC converter station (Aker image)

¶ “Hitachi Energy Provides A Solution For A Green Hydrogen Project” • Hitachi Energy has delivered rectifier transformers for electrolytic hydrogen to a hydrogen industry park built by China Energy Engineering Corporation in Songyuan, a city in China’s Northeast. The transformer solution will help ensure a reliable green power supply. [Hydrogen Central]

¶ “Statkraft Plans Scottish Green Hydrogen Project” • Statkraft is to progress plans for a green hydrogen facility at Hunterston, the former coal terminal in Ayrshire, Scotland. Clydeport exchanged an option agreement with Statkraft to explore development at its Hunterston Port and Resource Campus site for the production, storage, and export of hydrogen. [reNews]

Hunterston site (Peel Ports image)

¶ “Ex-Envoy Gives Reality Check On Pakistan’s Nuclear Power” • An old interview of Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, has resurfaced online. “Half the population of Pakistan is below the age of 21. One-third of (Pakistan’s) young population… never see the inside of any school,” he said. “And yet the country has nuclear weapons.” [News18]

US:

¶ “US Hybrid Vehicle Sales Continue To Rise As Electric And Plug-in Vehicle Shares Remain Flat” • About 22% of light-duty vehicles sold in the US during Q1 were hybrid, battery electric, or plug-in hybrid vehicles, up from about 18% in Q1 of 2024. Hybrid electric vehicles gained market share while sales of the others were flat. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “10,000 Jobs, $14 Billion in Clean Energy Investments Nixed as Biden’s ‘Investing in America’ Agenda Reversed” • The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was a great stimulus for new clean energy projects, EV factories, battery factories, etc. It led to massive new investments, blue collar jobs, and a more vibrant economy. Now that is to be ended. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Solar Power Continues To Grow As Storm Clouds Gather ” • The latest renewable energy report from Ember shows solar and wind in the US provided more electricity than coal in the first quarter of 2025. After providing 50.5% of US utility-supplied electricity in March, clean energy sources accounted for 50.8% in April, Ember data shows. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (Biel Morro, Unsplash)

¶ “Los Angeles USD Invests $20 Million In Renewable Energy Projects” • The Los Angeles Unified School District has partnered with Ameresco, an energy solutions provider, to install over 2.7 MW of solar carport and shade structure PV systems, and EV charging infrastructure, at five of its middle schools in support of state and city goals. [MSN]

¶ “South Carolina Considers Reviving Failed $9 Billion Nuclear Project” • The Virgil C Summer nuclear plant was a dramatic failure. When its two reactors were canceled in 2017, they were less than half done. The developer, Westinghouse, was bankrupt, people were indicted for fraud, and ratepayers were stuck with a $9 billion bill. Now it might be given new life. [Yahoo]

Have a sustainably sublime day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Red America Is Making Money Off Green Energy” • The wind industry is investing billions in Wyoming, but a State Senator, Larry Hicks, proposed a temporary ban that “puts a moratorium on wind and solar for the next five years.” He said, “It’s a simple little bill.” A simple little five year plan? How do you say, “Aw, shucks” in Russian? [miningjournal]

Wind turbines in Wyoming (CGP Grey, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Honoring Judith Mohling” • We remember Judith Mohling, who educated many about the dangers of nuclear weapons, and particularly Rocky Flats, which made plutonium bomb parts near Boulder, Colorado. She led a successful letter writing campaign about illegal plutonium burning at the facility. A service is planned for May 31 in Boulder. [RMPJC]

World:

¶ “Why Glaciologists Believe The Birch Glacier Collapsed And Buried A Nearby Swiss Town” • Blatten, a village in the Swiss Alps, was buried beneath ice, rock and mud after a massive piece of a nearby glacier collapsed. The collapse likely occurred as a result of permafrost thawing underneath and along the sidewalls that surrounded the glacier. [ABC News]

Village of Blatten (Johannes Löw, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Western Canada Wildfires Emergency Hits Another Province As Thousands Flee” • Scott Moe, the Premier of Saskatchewan, declared a state of emergency as 14 wildfires rage uncontrollably in the province. A day earlier, 17,000 people were told to flee wildfires in the neighbouring province of Manitoba that had been made worse by climate change. [BBC]

¶ “Ørsted Awards £100,000 Hornsea 3 Grant” • Ørsted awarded its first Hornsea 3 Legacy Fund grant of £100,000 to the North Norfolk District Council to fund the creation of an eco-learning hub. To be based in Holt Country Park, the facility will provide a dedicated space for environmental education and sustainability initiatives in the local community. [reNews]

Hornsea 3 Project Director Jessica Westcott (Ørsted image)

¶ “Vatican City Is To Be Powered By Solar” • Pope Francis wants the Vatican to run entirely on green energy, highlighting a need to transition to a sustainable development model. He announced that solar panels will be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome, and the power they generate could supply all of Vatican City’s energy needs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Top End Solar Farms Finally Allowed To Send Power To The Grid” • Three utility-scale solar farms in the Northern Territory are finally being allowed to send power to the grid, five years after they were actually built. How the three solar projects were stranded has been one of the most extraordinary episodes in Australia’s green energy transition. [RenewEconomy]

Solar project in Queensland (Kgbo, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “NLC, Mahapreit Form JV To Develop 5 GW Of Renewable Energy Projects In Maharashtra” • Through a subsidiary, the state-owned coal miner NLC India Ltd, agreed on a joint venture with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd to develop 5 GW pf renewable energy projects in Maharashtra. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Valorem Inaugurates First Greek Wind Farm” • The French renewables developer Valorem commissioned its first wind farm in Greece. The 27-MW Magoula wind farm has six Vestas V150 turbines. It is to generate 68 GWh of electricity per year, enough to meet electric demand of 18,000 households, while avoiding 26,000 tonnes of emissions per year. [reNews]

Wind farm ceremony (Valorem image)

US:

¶ “Supreme Court Limits Environmental Impact Studies” • The Supreme Court put limits on the scope of federally mandated environmental impact statements for major transportation and energy projects. In the past, groups that opposed particular projects have often sued to block them, alleging that studies were incomplete or inaccurate. [ABC News]

¶ “Green Energy Firms Brace For Federal Funding Cuts” • The Trump administration has been particularly hostile to green energy. One of the President’s actions since taking office was temporarily suspending renewable energy projects on federal lands. Now, US green energy companies have to be ready for funding cuts that may be in the budget. [BBC]

Solar array (USDAgov, public domain, cropped)

¶ “The US Solar Industry Is Safe In Texas – For Now” • Some lawmakers in Texas thought they had a win this year, when they advanced several bills aiming to whack their state’s booming renewable energy industries. The bills are now officially dead and the US solar industry, in particular, can live to fight another day. So it is, for now. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Toyota Plans To Get Out Of The EV And PHEV Slow Lane In The US” • The car industry is buzzing with news about Toyota – yes, Toyota – announcing it has big plans to bring more battery-powered electric and plug-in hybrid models to customers in the US between now and the end of the decade. Wait, Toyota said that? Yes, Virginia, it did. [CleanTechnica]

Toyota Rav4 cars (Toyota image)

¶ “New $168 Million Beneficial Electrification Program” • ComEd has roughly four million customers in Illinois, about 70% of the state’s population. ComEd’s new $168 million, three-year plan will start in 2026, helping its customers transition to and take advantage of EVs. The new plan is an extension of a plan that is already running. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NuScale Secures US NRC Approval For Uprated 77-MW SMR Design” • US nuclear power company NuScale Power received small modular reactor design approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its uprated 250 MW thermal, (77 MW electrical) NuScale power modules. NuScale plans to deploy its technology by 2030. [Power Technology]

Have an astonishingly comfortable day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “We Have Failed Science In The USA” • It takes some education to appreciate rigorous statistical analysis, the scientific process, and the difference between believing something because of the way it sounds and believing something because it was proven via well conducted science. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t have that level of education. [CleanTechnica]

Science (Julia Koblitz, Unsplash)

¶ “Trump’s Executive Orders Could Endanger America’s Nuclear Renaissance” • Last week, President Trump signed four executive orders designed to expand and accelerate US development and construction of nuclear power plants. Three flawed premises guide the new executive orders. In a nutshell, they show an ignorance of reality. [The Hill]

World:

¶ “German Court Rules Against Peruvian Farmer In Landmark Climate Lawsuit” • A German court ruled against a Peruvian farmer in a climate lawsuit against RWE. He claimed that global warming fueled by RWE’s historical greenhouse gas emissions is melting glaciers above his hometown of Huaraz, Peru, increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding. [ABC News]

Mountain near Huaraz, Peru (Edward Blanco, Unsplash)

¶ “Cutting Red Tape: What The World Can Learn From The UK’s Heat Pump Reforms” • The UK government is taking a quiet step that should significantly accelerate the nation’s shift to low-carbon heating. With minimal fanfare, the UK eliminated a couple of minor but frustrating regulatory barriers to residential heat pump adoption. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “XPENG Enters Estonia, Latvia, And Lithuania, Choosing Modus Group As Exclusive Partner” • XPENG, a leading global smart EV manufacturer, is entering the Baltic market, with sales scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025. It appointed Modus Group as its exclusive distribution and import partner for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. [CleanTechnica]

XPENG G6

¶ “Grenergy Unveils €3.5 Billion Investment Plan” • Grenergy has unveiled its 2025–2027 strategic plan during Capital Markets Day in London, announcing an investment of €3.5 billion to reinforce its leadership in the energy storage sector. By 2027, the company aims to reach 4.4 GW of installed solar capacity and 18.8 GWh of battery storage. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Trump Administration Denies North Carolina Request For Hurricane Helene Relief At Level Biden Approved” • The Federal Emergency Management Agency is denying North Carolina’s request that the agency match 100% of the state funds for Helene cleanup, says a letter sent by the acting FEMA administrator to the governor of North Carolina. [ABC News]

After Helene (NCDOTcommunications, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Ava Community Energy Launches New Virtual Power Plant Initiative In California” • Ava is a not-for-profit power provider in Alameda County, across the bay from San Francisco. Recently, Ava started a virtual power plant initiative for its customers. CEO Howard Chang of Ava Community Energy has answered some questions for CleanTechnica. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Dimaag Megawatt Mobile Charging System For Construction And Mining Industries” • When heavy duty trucks and mining equipment need diesel fuel at a remote site, a tanker brings it to them. But how do heavy electric machines get their batteries recharged? The answer could be the Dimaag Mobile Megawatt Charging System. [CleanTechnica]

Dimaag Mobile Megawatt Charging System (Dimaag image)

¶ “Tesla Dropped from #2 Auto Brand to #3 Auto Brand In California In First Quarter” • In California, Tesla sales declined by about 7,000 units in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2024. With Honda climbing by about 5,000 sales, Tesla dropped from the second best selling auto brand in the Golden State to third best. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Groups File Suit To Halt New England 1&2 Projects” • US environmental and fishing groups have filed a suit in federal court claiming the Departments of Interior and Commerce and sub-agencies violated the law when they approved the Record of Decision for Avangrid’s New England 1&2 offshore wind projects, totalling 1,791 MW. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Iberdrola image)

¶ “Solar Power Curtailment Rises In California” • In California, curtailment of solar power has risen for years, reaching new highs in 2024, data from the Energy Information Administration shows. EIA said solar accounts for 93% of all curtailment in the California Independent System Operator region, which services most of the state. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Anti-Solar Bills Die In Texas House” • Three “anti-solar” bills, SB 819, SB 388 and SB 715, appear dead after failing to meet the state’s deadlines that would otherwise allow them to progress. The three bills missed Saturday’s deadline for legislation that passed in the Senate to clear a committee vote in the House of Representatives. [pv magazine USA]

Solar Panels (Chirayu Trivedi, Unsplash)

¶ “Why The Solar Industry Is Counting Ohio’s Newest Energy Law As A Win” • A new Ohio law has several technology-neutral provisions that could benefit clean energy projects, including property tax breaks for siting them on brownfields and former coal mines. The law loosens restrictions on behind-the-meter electricity generation. [Canary Media]

¶ “Harckham, Environmental, And Labor Advocates Call For ASAP Act” • New York State Senator Pete Harckham rallied with environmental and labor advocates at the Capitol supporting legislation to advance the New York solar energy sector, as it creates thousands of jobs, saves ratepayer energy bills and avoids emitting greenhouse gases. [The New York State Senate]

Have a neatly exuberant day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “World’s Nations To Gather In France To Tackle Matter UN Calls Global Emergency” • The world’s nations are gathering in France next month to tackle a matter the UN calls a global crisis facing the world’s oceans as they confront warming water, plastic pollution choking marine life, and relentless overexploitation of fish and other resources. [ABC News]

Ocean (Silas Baisch, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla’s Monthly Sales In Europe Down By Half, Signaling Backlash Against Musk” • Tesla sales across Europe plunged by half last month even as growth in the electric car market picked up pace, according to data released Tuesday. Sales of Tesla cars in 32 European countries tumbled 49% to 7,261 in April from 14,228 in the same month in 2024. [ABC News]

¶ “BYD Sparks Price War In China, Slashes New Car Prices By Up To 34%” • BYD announced it was reducing prices on 22 electric and plug-in hybrid models through the end of June. The starting price for the BYD Seagull was rolled back 20% to 55,800 yuan ($7,780). The dual motor Han PHEV was cut by 34% to 102,800 yuan ($15,000), CNBC reported. [CleanTechnica]

BYD event in Seychelles (Courtesy of BYD)

¶ “Two Bus Routes, One In Kenya And One In Rwanda, Now Served By 100% Electric Buses!” • OMA Service Limited is the first operator in Nairobi, Kenya, to run an all-electric fleet on a core route. Also this past week, Rwanda’s first all-electric regular route from Nyabugogo to Kabuga went live powered by ten BasiGo electric buses. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solaria Nets Financing For 175-MW Spanish PV Project” • The European renewable energy company Solaria has reached an agreement in principle with Banco Sabadell for the long-term financing of a 175-MW solar project in Spain. This agreement will finance the Oliva Solar project, which consists of five PV plants to be built in Guadalajara. [reNews]

Solar array with sheep (Solaria image)

¶ “Ireland Eyes 18 GW Of New Offshore Wind Sites” • Ireland could develop up to 18 GW of additional fixed-bottom offshore wind on top of current plans. In the Offshore Wind Technical Resource Assessment, the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications outlines the country’s long-term offshore wind potential. [reNews]

¶ “Brunvoll To Provide Thrusters For DFO Vessel” • Norwegian company Brunvoll signed a contract with VARD for a propulsion and manoeuvring system for a new offshore subsea construction vessel for Dong Fang Offshore. The system has two azimuth propulsion thrusters, two well-mounted tunnel thrusters and a retractable azimuth thruster. [reNews]

Service operations vessels (Dong Fang Offshore image)

¶ “Karnataka Launches Tender For 250-MW Solar Project With 250-MW, 1,100-MWh Battery Storage System” • Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd invited bids to develop a 250-MW solar PV power project along with a battery energy storage system at Ryapte in Karnataka with capacities of 250-MW and 1,100 MWh. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Pacific Energy Unlocks $1 Billion Of Growth Capital” • Pacific Energy and QIC successfully completed a $2 billion refinancing and equity raise, securing roughly $1 billion of growth capital to support the company’s continued expansion. The company has brought its total debt capacity to $1.6 billion. Pacific Energy is a multi-national corporation. [Energy Magazine]

Tronox solar farm (Pacific Energy image)

¶ “Russians Constructing Power Line In Occupied Territories Of Ukraine To Restart ZNPP – Greenpeace” • A power transmission line is being constructed in the temporarily Russian-occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. It could be used to enable the restart of the seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to Greenpeace. [Ukrinform]

US:

¶ “FEMA Has Canceled Its Hurricane Strategic Plan” • Federal forecasters have predicted there will be a 60% chance of an above average hurricane season this year. The beginning of hurricane season is hardly a week away, and so the Federal Emergency Management Agency invalidated its strategic plan, which guides hurricane response efforts. [CleanTechnica]

Storm in Florida (Craig Cameron, Unsplash)

¶ “America’s Veterans Are Becoming a Major Part of the Solar Workforce” • Too often, veterans find it difficult to transition into the civilian workforce and find a supportive employer that values their transferable skills and previous experience. The Solar Ready Vets Network is helping bring America’s veterans into the solar sector. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EPA Administrator Wants To Destroy The ‘Climate Change Religion'” • EPA administrator Lee Zeldin made it his mission to undo a 2009 EPA finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health. Repealing it would eliminate the EPA’s legal authority to regulate carbon pollution from power plants, vehicles, oil and gas infrastructure, and more. [CleanTechnica]

New Hampshire, changing climate (NOAA, Unsplash)

¶ “Illinois Considers Clean Energy Package” • Environmental advocates worry Illinois may delay the retirement of coal plants to help meet rising demand from new data centers and AI. And renewable energy projects in Illinois are waiting for permission to connect from the grid operators. The legislature is considering a bill to deal with those issues. [pv magazine USA]

¶ “SEIA Report Says America’s Solar Industry Is Under Threat” • Solar and storage are adding energy to the grid faster than all other sources combined. But the SEIA reports that 330,00 jobs could be lost, 331 factories closed or canceled, and $285 billion in investments erased by President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have a gorgeously great day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “‘Social Leasing’ Could Provide Affordable EVs to 3 Million Households in Europe ” • Social leasing, which allows EVs under €25,000 to be leased at low rents, already exists in France and could be taken up by other EU countries. It could help up to 3 million households on low or modest incomes in the five largest EU countries go electric by 2032. [CleanTechnica]

Dacia Spring (Alexander Migl, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “The Fossil Fuel Car Trap: Europe’s Transport Vulnerability Risk” • Öko-Institut did an analysis of the transport vulnerability arising from fossil fuel car dependency in five EU countries. A briefing by T&E focuses on how current mobility patterns and the uneven vehicle fleet electrification risk leaving households behind in the energy transition. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Is The World’s First Electrostate” • Many nations that made coal, oil, and methane the basis of their economies are known as “petrostates.” A recent article published by the Financial Times says, “China is the world’s first major electrostate,” shifting from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity to relying mainly on renewables. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (天王星, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

¶ “Japan’s Troubled Automaker Nissan Banks On Hybrid EV Technology” • Japanese automaker Nissan is banking on its “e-Power” technology to bring it back from loss. The e-Power, a hybrid, has both an electric motor and gasoline engine, like a Toyota Prius. Unlike a Prius, it runs on electric power only, and the engine charges it as needed. [ABC News]

¶ “European Wake Effects Study Begins” • Scientists and experts from Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark are working on methods to increase the accuracy of forecasts of wake effects in offshore wind farms. In the North Sea, dense installations of offshore wind farms are planned in several regions, and reliable power production forecasting is needed. [reNews]

Offshore windpower (insung yoon, Unsplash)

¶ “Alliance To Advance Cross-Border Supply Of Renewables” • Energy companies from Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam have formed an alliance to explore the cross-border supply of renewable energy, with a key focus on offshore wind. The joint development agreement will explore exporting renewables from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore. [reNews]

¶ “SeaRenergy, Tethys Robotics Form Partnership” • SeaRenergy and Swiss company Tethys Robotics are collaborating to enhance offshore subsea inspection services. The partnership integrates the Tethys ONE system into the SeaRenergy offshore service portfolio, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency and quality of subsea inspections. [reNews]

Tethys ONE (Tethys Robotics image)

¶ “Australia Sets New Grid Rules To Speed Up Renewable Energy Connections” • The Australian Energy Market Commission has released the first of two major reforms to the National Electricity Marketaccess standards, which it said are fit for the evolving electricity generation landscape to ensure grid security and fair access, starting August 21. [pv magazine International]

¶ “Pacific Energy Completes $2 Billion Funding Raise To Boost Growth Plans” • Pacific Energy has raised A$370 million ($240 million) in fresh equity and secured a debt facility for A$400 million, upsizing its total debt capacity to A$1.6 billion as the company looks to advance a “robust pipeline” of renewable energy projects in Australia. [pv magazine Australia]

Renewable energy (Pacific Energy image)

¶ “SEC Leaps Into Victoria’s Electricity Market With Deal For ‘100% Renewables’ For Government” • The State Electricity Commission has signed up to supply all Victorian government operations with 100% renewable energy, in a deal that will reboot the government-owned utility as its fifth-largest commercial and industrial electricity retailer. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Oopsies! Trump Misses Green Hydrogen Export Opportunity, Bigly” • Energy professionals advise that Europe needs to import more green hydrogen to meet its decarbonization targets. That would be a golden opportunity for US producers, except for the meddling fingers of the incompetent Commander-in-Chief who occupies the White House. [CleanTechnica]

Hydrogen projects at the Port of Rotterdam

¶ “With PSC Hearings Pending, Critics Pan Georgia Power’s Plans To Increase Use Of Fossil Fuels” • The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to vote July 15 as the state’s largest utility expects to spend billions of dollars to meet rising energy demands due to new data centers. Georgia Power’s plan includes both fossil fuels and renewables. [Georgia Recorder]

¶ “Texas Becomes Front Line Of GOP Civil War Over Energy” • Texas has become ground zero in a GOP battle over energy, pitting a suburban populist right that seeks to throttle the state’s renewables program against the mainline Republican business establishment. A similar red-on-red fight is taking place at the federal level. [The Hill]

Texas wind farm (USDA NRCS Texas, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Cape Cod’s May Elections Unanimous Against Nuclear Waste” • Voters across Cape Cod and nearby towns are sending a clear message for state leaders: they don’t want wastewater vapor from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, closed since 2019, released into the air. That is the position they took overwhelmingly in a nonbinding ballot question. [Cape Cod Times]

¶ “The US Administration Targets 400 GW Of Nuclear Capacity By 2050 ” • Two Executive Orders were signed to expedite and promote the production and operation of nuclear energy. They aims to expand the US nuclear capacity from about 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050. One part of this would be to expand the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain. [Enerdata]

Have an enthusiastically admired day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Wind Turbines Power ‘Surprising’ Tourism Boom” • When Rampion windfarm was proposed off the Sussex coast, concerns were raised that it would ruin local tourism. Critics claimed the turbines would spoil views from Brighton’s iconic beach and the South Downs National Park, deterring people from visiting. But the opposite has been true. [BBC]

Rampion wind farm (Jon Lavis, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Canada To Fast-Track Energy Projects” • Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson has pledged to “make Canada a true conventional and clean energy superpower.” He said the new Canadian government would fast-track Projects of National Interest through a Major Federal Projects Office, with decisions coming in two years. [reNews]

¶ “Agrivoltaics With Sheep And Solar Benefit All – Especially The Sheep” • A study conducted at a Lightsourcebp solar farm in Australia, showed the co-location of solar farming with sheep grazing is not negatively impacting wool production, even in the case of pre-existing high-quality standards. Some data suggested that wool quality improved. [CleanTechnica]

Sheep and solar power (Lightsource bp image)

¶ “TenneT Lays Dutch Offshore Wind Cables” • NRG will start six drillings under the dunes this week as part of TenneT’s project to bring wind energy from the sea to land on the Maasvlakte in the Netherlands. Three more of them will follow after the summer. The special drilling can be followed live from the information point on the Noordzeeboulevard. [reNews]

¶ “French PV Project Powers Up” • La Gineste solar farm in the French municipality of La Tourette-Cabardès, Aude, was put into service by Q Energy and Velto Renewables. Equipped with more than 15,200 solar modules, the 9-MW plant will generate enough renewable electricity to provide annual needs for roughly 5,500 municipal residents. [reNews]

Solar project (Q Energy and Velto Renewable)

¶ “NASA’s Discovery Of Atmospheric Shifts In North America Is Reshaping Climate Science” • The jet stream is showing erratic behavior. It normally flows in a consistent west-to-east course, but data indicate unpredictable oscillations. The disturbance has introduced crazy weather patterns, so new engineering methods need to be used to offset impacts. [MSN]

China:

¶ “Clean Energy Just Put China’s CO₂ Emissions Into Reverse For First Time” • Analysis for Carbon Brief shows China’s emissions were down 1.6% year on year in the first quarter of 2025 and by 1% for the latest year. Electricity supply from new wind, solar, and nuclear capacity was enough to cut coal-power output even as demand surged. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

¶ “China Plays The Green Hydrogen Card While Others Fold” • Three weeks ago, S&P Global took note of a hydrogen report posted by China’s National Energy Administration. Although China is producing a prodigious amount of hydrogen from fossil resources, the nation’s green hydrogen footprint is growing into a market force to be reckoned with. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “China Invests More In Wind And Solar Than Coal Overseas” • China’s overseas investments in renewable energy sources have overtaken fossil fuels for the first time. The shift highlights the growing dominance of China in renewable energy technologies and the critical mineral and metal supply chains that support their increasing use. [Inside Climate News]

Wind farm in Egypt (Hatem Moushir, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Shanghai Develops Framework To Regulate Virtual Power Plants” • Shanghai’s Songjiang district enacted the Measures for the Precise Response Management of Virtual Power Plants in Songjiang District, Shanghai (Trial). It is the city’s first district-level regulatory framework for VPPs and a pioneering move for Shanghai’s energy management. [China Daily]

US:

¶ “Enel Signs US Swap Deal” • Enel Green Power North America signed a swap agreement with Gulf Pacific Power in which the former will increase its indirect equity stake in certain corporate vehicles owning wind farms, bringing it to 51%. This will be in exchange for its stakes in other corporate vehicles owning wind farms, one amounting to 100%, plus cash. [reNews]

Wind turbine (Enel image)

¶ “Cadillac Lyriq Is Stealing Sales From Tesla” • Cadillac is very happy that many buyers of its all electric Lyriq never owned a Cadillac before. And a lot of its new customers are getting out of a Tesla and getting into a Cadillac. According to Carscoops, about one in four Lyriq buyers is a former Tesla owner, and 80% are new to the Cadillac family. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Climate Scientists Sound Alarm Over Trump Plan To Remove Limits On Power Plant Emissions” • The EPA is drafting a plan to end all limits on greenhouse gases emitted by coal and gas-fired power plants, The New York Times reports. The EPA argues that emissions from these plants “do not contribute significantly to dangerous pollution.” [Yahoo News Canada]

Have a seriously enviable day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Electrifying Short-Sea Routes and Hybridizing Blue-Water Shipping” • By the 2040s, the technology landscape for maritime electrification will have significantly evolved. Battery energy densities, charging infrastructures, and renewable generation capabilities will have improved dramatically, making previously ambitious scenarios commonplace. [CleanTechnica]

Ship (Chris Pagan, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Government Encourages Solar PV Adoption” • The Malaysian government is opening opportunities for all parties, especially local authorities, to adopt solar PV systems as part of efforts to transition towards clean energy. By installing solar PV systems, these entities can save on electricity, generate renewable energy, and reduce carbon emissions. [The Edge Malaysia]

¶ “Meridian Opens $186 Million Battery Farm To Boost Energy Resilience In Northland” • Meridian Energy’s new $186 million battery farm is a big step towards strengthening energy resilience in New Zealand’s Northland and supporting the region’s shift to renewable energy. So electric power can be quickly reinstated after a blackout. [NZ Herald]

Meridian energy storage system (Meridian Energy image)

¶ “NSW Pitches First “Urban” Renewable Zone Based Around Rooftop PV, Batteries And EVs” • The NSW Labor government flagged the creation of the state’s first “urban” renewable energy zone, pitching the use of rooftop solar PV, home batteries and EVs in a major switch from the usual pitch of large scale wind, solar, and transmission lines. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Liberia Unveils $105 Million Renewable Energy Investment Plan” • Liberia has launched a US$105 million Renewable Energy Investment Plan Framework & Roadmap, aiming to boost access to energy, reduce emissions, and achieve major strides toward its 2030 climate goals. The Liberia Electricity Corporation’s service currently has unreliable supply. [MSN]

Monrovia, Liberia (blk24ga, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Scientists Develop Powerful New Battery From Radioactive Waste” • Scientists at Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency developed a novel rechargeable flow battery that uses depleted uranium as its active material, according to a recent article in IEEE Spectrum. JAEA’s prototype demonstrates a promising ability to provide stable energy output. [The Cool Down]

US:

¶ “Empire Wind Project Restarts, Gas Pipleline Does Not” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul has convinced the White House to lift a stop-work order on the Empire Wind offshore wind project. Empire Wind still plans to generate electricity in 2027. But the Constitution Pipeline proposal some observers tie to it may still encounter obstacles. [CleanTechnica]

Empire Wind offshore project (Courtesy of Equinor)

¶ “NOAA Federal Funding Cuts Send Shockwaves” • NOAA plays a crucial role in forecasting and data analysis. Its reach extends from agriculture to tourism to navigating floods, hurricanes, fires, and other climate-fueled disasters. Its life-saving alerts and environmental monitoring help maintain safety. Administration budget cutters say we don’t need it. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gas-Killing Geothermal Energy Bonanza Discovered Under Nevada” • President Donald Trump has embraced geothermal energy as part of his “American Energy Dominance” scheme, perhaps assuming that geothermal resources are a bit limited in scope, posing little or no threat to his pals in the fossil energy industry. Guess again. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it. (Courtesy of USGS)

¶ “Cybersecurity Concerns Bar GPA From Obtaining Batteries From US Adversaries” • The Guam Power Authority General Manager John Benavente said the GPA is looking to get energy storage system services so it can use stored solar energy during peak demands times at night. But concerns about cybersecurity are an issue. [The Guam Daily Post]

¶ “Meta Invests In 650 MW Of Solar Power To Support Growth Of AI” • Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, made a move to buy clean energy, as they signed a deal for 650 MW of solar power from AES Corporation. This energy will help power Meta’s data centers in Texas and Kansas, which are using AI increasingly. [Microgrid Media]

Have a powerfully sufficient day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Maybe There’s Hope For A Hopeless Time” • The Great Green Wall of Africa is an attempt to stop the southward expansion of the Sahara Desert. The wall project stretches from Senegal, on the west coast, to Djibouti, on the east, covering a distance of something over 4,800 miles at a depth of perhaps five miles. It is seen as a source of hope. [CleanTechnica]

Great Green Wall (Sevgart, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “The Fight Over EV Rules In California Misses The Big Picture” • For thirty years, California has been granted waivers by both Republican and Democratic administrations that let it enact stricter exhaust emissions standards than those prescribed by the federal government. But now, the US Senate has voted to revoke those waivers. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Agrivoltaics Benefit From Comparatively High Acceptance” • PV systems do not always meet with approval. But agrivoltaics is viewed more favorably, as researchers at the University of Bonn have now been able to show. In agrivoltaics, the solar cells are installed in spaces that are still used for agriculture, such as on pastures or over grapevines. [CleanTechnica]

Agrivoltaic plant (Agrivoltaïsme, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

¶ “TotalEnergies Inaugurates Its Largest Solar Field In Europe” • TotalEnergies has inaugurated its largest solar power plant cluster in Europe. It consists of five solar projects in Spain, with a total installed capacity of 263 MW. It will produce 515 GWh per year of electricity, enough to meet the damand of over 150,000 Spanish households. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Aikido Technologies Full-Scale Floating Wind Demonstrator To Be Tested In Norway” • Aikido Technologies, Inc, a floating offshore wind technology provider, announced this week that it signed an agreement with Marin Energy Test Centre in Norway, to deploy a 15-MW demo project. The platform will be one of the largest floating wind platforms. [CleanTechnica]

Aikido One quarter-scale platform installed in 2024

¶ “EU Adopts Rules Defining Scope Of NZIA” • The European Commission adopted rules defining the scope of the Net-Zero Industry Act, which aims to boost deployment of clean energy technologies. The rules clarify which manufacturing projects can benefit from specific provisions in the Act, such as on permitting and strategic project status. [reNews]

¶ “Denmark Clears Way For Offshore Wind Duo” • The Danish Energy Appeals Board has rejected appeals against construction permits for two offshore wind farms, and they can be built as planned. The 240-MW Jammerland Bugt and 165-MW Lillebælt Syd offshore wind farms will have a total of 27 turbines, each with a capacity of 15 MW. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (European Energy image)

¶ “Romania Launches Call To Identify Offshore Wind Zones” • The Romanian Ministry of Energy has launched a public call for expressions of interest in a study to identify suitable areas of the Black Sea for the development of offshore wind farms. The goal is to support the development of an installed offshore wind energy capacity of at least 3 GW by 2035. [reNews]

¶ “For The First Time, Global Solar Energy Production Exceeded Nuclear Energy Production” • Data from the energy analyst Ember shows that solar power generation reached 233 TWh in April, exceeding the 213 TWh generated by nuclear power plants worldwide. This marks a significant shift in the international energy landscape. [Yourweather.co.uk]

Solar panels (Soren H, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “How The GOP Tax Bill Could Impact Sustainability Efforts” • The multitrillion-dollar GOP tax bill could have detrimental impacts on decarbonization efforts in the U.S., according to energy experts. The tax cuts would also impact sustainability efforts and domestic climate goals, environmental policy experts told ABC News. [ABC News]

¶ “Trump Signs Executive Orders To Boost Nuclear Energy And Reduce Oversight” • President Trump signed a set of executive orders to speed up nuclear energy development by reducing regulations. Nuclear reactors are expensive and time-consuming to build and have problems like waste storage, environmental effects of mining, and more. [Inside Climate News]

Signing an executive order (Sean Spicer, public domain)

¶ “Tesla Model Y And Model 3 Still First And Third Best Selling Cars in California” • Despite a horrendous year-over-year sales decline globally in Q1, including in California, Tesla’s two mass-market models topped the quarter’s sales charts in the state. Well, instead of taking first and second place, as they had previously, they took first and third. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Yesterday’s Congressional Attack On Clean Transportation” • The Congressional Review Act resolutions passed by the US Senate strike down waivers previously granted by the EPA, which allowed states to implement regulations favoring low emissions. “Today’s vote makes it clear that Congress wants Americans to waste more money on gasoline.” [CleanTechnica]

Distant US Capitol (dconvertini, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Renewable Energy Industry Becoming A Powerful Source Of Employment In SD” • While workforce shortages plague many industries and employers in South Dakota, great opportunities abound for skilled workers to build, operate, and maintain the state’s renewable energy facilities, including at its wind farms. Scholarship programs help. [Black Hills Pioneer]

¶ “US Solar Keeps Surging, Generating More Power Than Hydro In 2025” • In the US, many newly constructed generating plants are brought online at the end of the year to qualify for tax incentives. With the first three months of data in for 2025, it’s clear this year is no exception: Solar power is up a staggering 44% compared to the prior year. [Ars Technica]

Have an incomparably perfect day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “The Basics Of IRA Subsidies And Why It’s Stupid To Kill Them” • Republicans are doing what they said they’d do, as they tilt the scales for the rich. They are attempting to return the US to a past glory that they imagine was founded on fossil fuels. But to do this, they are ignoring market trends that will continue to go on, even without the US. [CleanTechnica]

Driving away (Hyundai Motor Group, Unsplash)

World:

¶ “Critical Minerals For Clean Energy Concentrated In Fewer Countries” • World sources of critical minerals are increasingly concentrated in just a few countries, most notably China, leaving the global economy vulnerable to supply cutoffs that could be disruptive to economies and hit consumers with higher prices, according to a report. [ABC News]

¶ “Hyundai Motor Group And Incheon International Airport To Deliver Next-Level Convenience With AI-Powered EV Charging Robots” • Hyundai Motor Group and Incheon International Airport Corporation have forged a strategic agreement to deploy EV automatic charging robots, based on AI, at the airport as part of a demonstration project. [CleanTechnica]

Hyundai EV charging at IIAC

¶ “In EU News, BYD Overtakes Tesla As Northvolt Suspends Production” • According to JATO Dynamics, a market research firm, BYD sold more EVs in the EU in April than Tesla, 7231 to 7165. That is a small difference, but the implications are huge. Also, EV battery maker Northvolt, which entered bankruptcy last year, is shutting its factory. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “100% Solid-State EV Batteries” • The US might have taken a total U-turn on EVs, but the rest of the world is moving on. A case in point is BMW Group, which is moving forward with plans to introduce 100% solid-state EV batteries. In a key test, the firm is trying out technology from the Colorado-based startup Solid Power. [CleanTechnica]

BMW with a new solid-state battery (BMW Group image)

¶ “China Achieves Milestone In Renewable Energy Transition” • China has set a new benchmark in its transition to renewable energy, with wind and solar power sources generating 26% of the nation’s electricity in April 2025. Wind power was responsible for a 13.6% share, while solar power made up 12.4%, according to global energy think tank Ember. [Yahoo]

¶ “Final Offshore Substation Installed At Dogger Bank C” • The Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its delivery partners completed the installation of the HVDC offshore substation platform at Dogger Bank C. Installation of the offshore substations is now complete on all three phases of Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm under construction. [reNews]

HVDC substation intallation (Heerema image)

¶ “New Report Reveals ‘Rapidly Emerging’ Energy Breakthrough Transforming The Future” • Even in the dead of winter, solar power is smashing records in Europe, and it is reshaping the continent’s energy future. In the first quarter of 2025, Europe’s solar electricity production surged by 32% compared to the same period in 2024. [The Cool Down]

¶ “Equinor And Polenergia Bank Over €6 Billion For Baltyk 2 And 3” • Equinor and Polenergia have reached financial close for the 1,440-MW Bałtyk 2 and Baltyk 3 offshore wind projects in Poland. Two project financing packages of over €3 billion for Bałtyk 2 and over €3 billion for Bałtyk 3, including ancillary facilities, have been secured. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor)

¶ “RES Submits Plans For Northern Ireland Wind Project” • A planning application for a 66-MW wind project in Northern Ireland has been validated by the Strategic Planning Directorate Department for Infrastructure. RES’ 11-turbine Mullaghclogher project is located approximately 4 km north-east of Plumbridge, County Tyrone. [reNews]

US:

¶ “Solar Stocks Plunge As Republican Tax Bill Worse Than Feared For Clean Energy” • Solar stocks plungedafter House Republicans passed a tax bill that terminates key clean energy credits. The GOP bill is a “worse than feared” scenario for clean energy, as it takes a “sledgehammer” to the Inflation Reduction Act, Jefferies analysts told clients in a note. [CNBC]

Capitol Building (Harold Mendoza, Unsplash)

¶ “Crippling Clean-Energy Tax Credits Won’t Fly, GOP Senators Say” • The House’s draconian cuts to former President Biden’s landmark climate law won’t fly in the Senate, key Republican senators said. Softening aggressive phaseouts of key tax credits for clean electricity and nuclear projects are some top priorities, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. [Yahoo Finance]

¶ “US Senate To Vote On Cuts to IRA” • The US House narrowly passed the current reconciliation proposal, with dramatic cuts to key provisions of the Investment Reduction Act. The IRA was designed to bolster US manufacturing, develop a local US supply chain, and establish transmission systems. The Senate is urged to roll back the cuts. [reNews]

Liz Burdock of Oceantic Network (Oceantic Network image)

¶ “California Has Far More EV Chargers Than Gas Stations” • Author Jake Richardson, talking with the California Energy Commission, found that there are about 178,549 EV charging ports in the state. He looked up the total number of California gas stations. It turns out there are only about 15,000 gas stations or less, varying by source. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Stocks Surge On Report Of Trump Executive Orders To Boost Industry” • Shares of nuclear power rose in premarket trading after a Reuters report said US President Donald Trump will sign executive orders aimed to jumpstart the nuclear energy industry as soon as Friday. Trump is expected to streamline the regulatory process for new reactor approvals. [MSN]

Have a totally copacetic day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “UK Sea Temperatures Soar After Exceptionally Warm Spring” • Temperatures in the seas around the UK and Ireland soared recently with some areas now 4°C warmer than normal. There may be implications for marine life and swimming people. The heatwave is most intense off the west coast of Ireland and some areas off Cornwall and Devon. [BBC]

Coast near Sidmouth (Red Zeppelin, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Volvo To Produce Electric Semis In Australia” • After a trial of two smaller electric trucks, Linfox announced plans to purchase thirty electric prime movers from Volvo Group. It is the largest order to date for battery electric prime movers in Australia. The trucks will be made at a Volvo facility in the western suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Shrinking Nemo’: Smaller Clownfish Sound Alarm On Ocean Heat” • A growing body of evidence suggests some animals are shape shifting to cope with climate change, including fish, birds, lizards, and insects. Scientists say the discovery was a big surprise and could help explain the rapidly declining size of fish in the world’s oceans. [BBC]

Clownfish (David Clode, Unsplash)

¶ “China Dominates Global Trade Of Battery Minerals” • China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, data from regional UN Comtrade shows. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “‘Renewables On Unstoppable Trajectory’ Says Rio Tinto Boss” • Speaking at Aurora’s Spring Forum in London, Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm told delegates, despite the current geopolitical uncertainties, the “direction of travel” of the transition is clear. “We take a long-term view in our business and it is clear that the energy transition is happening.” [reNews]

Rio Tinto ore truck (US Consulate General Perth, public domain)

¶ “South America Sets Historic Benchmark: Zero New Coal Plants Planned” • When the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, South America had eighteen coal-fired plants on the drawing board, reflecting expectations about the role coal would play in its future. Today, the entire continent now has no new coal-fired power plants planned. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ørsted Installs Final Greater Changhua 2b Foundation” • All suction bucket jacket foundations have been installed at the Greater Changhua 2b offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The first foundation at the 337.1-MW project was installed in early April, and Ørsted finished installing 24 of them ahead of schedule, in just over one month. [reNews]

Installing a wind turbine foundation (Ørsted image)

¶ “China’s Solar Capacity Up 30.54% In Q1” • China added 59.71 GW of solar power in the first quarter of 2025, a 30.54% increase from the previous year. This brought China’s total solar capacity to 950 GW as of March 2025. Beijing also added 14.62 GW of wind, 2.13 GW of hydroelectric, and 9.25 GW of thermal power in the first quarter. [Asian Power]

¶ “Nuclear Has Highest Investment Risk; Solar Shows Lowest, Say US Researchers” • A study by Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability found that nuclear power plants had the highest cost overruns and delays, with average construction costs exceeding estimates by 102.5%. By contrast, PV plants recorded cost underruns of 2.2%. [pv magazine International]

Nuclear plant in France (Jametlene Reskp, Unsplash)

¶ “Solar Power Set To Surpass Nuclear This Summer” • If the pace of growth in solar installations is sustained though June, July, and August, solar output is set to top 260 TWh in the summer months. This would beat the average 223 TWh of global nuclear power generation from 2024, according to a Reuters report on data from Ember. [OilPrice.com]

US:

¶ “Tesla CEO Heads Back Home, Leaving A Potential Honeybee Crisis Behind” • A crisis in US bee populations is called Colony Collapse Disorder. The Department of Agriculture is credited with identifying the causes of die-offs, reducing the risk of the ultimate disaster, and restoring honeybee populations. Then Elon Musk came on the scene. [CleanTechnica]

Honeybee (Akbar Nemati, Unsplash)

¶ “Repugnican Budget Bill Could Decimate US Solar Industry” • The current US government is planning to eviscerate incentives baked into the Inflation Reduction Act. This may be just because that legislation was passed by Democrats. The massive budget bill championed by Repugnicans seeks to dismantle many of the benefits of the IRA. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “NY Inks Contracts On 2.5 GW Of Renewables Capacity” • Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that contracts have been executed for 26 renewable energy projects across New York state, totalling more than 2,500 MW of capacity. These contracts result from a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority solicitation. [reNews]

Governor Kathy Hochul (Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr)

¶ “Boralex Inks RECs Deal For 450-MW Of New York Solar” • Boralex has entered into an agreement with NYSERDA for the procurement of Renewable Energy Certificates from 450-MW of solar capacity. The Renewable Energy Standard Agreement with the New York authority is for output from two large Boralex solar projects. [reNews]

¶ “US Redirects Puerto Rico Solar Power Funds To Oil Plants” • The Trump administration will halt funding of $365 million awarded during the previous administration for rooftop solar power in Puerto Rico and redirect it to baseload plants and maintenance of infrastructure, it said. In this case, baseload power plants are those burning fossil fuels. [MSN]

Have a pleasingly satisfying day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Unlock The Full Potential Of Community Solar” • In the national conversation about clean energy, large-scale utility solar farms and rooftop solar often dominate the spotlight. Between those two extremes lies one of the most promising, inclusive, and rapidly evolving models for renewable energy deployment: community solar. [CleanTechnica]

Rooftop solar system (yue chan, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Elon Musk Is The Cause, Not The Solution To Tesla’s Deep Problems” • Jennifer Sensiba: “Elon Musk’s propaganda machine is in overdrive. … But, if we focus on whether he’s telling the truth, we will eventually find that we’ve skipped past a much more important question: Will Tesla be a stronger company with Elon Musk spending more time on it?” [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Coastlines In Danger Even If Climate Target Met, Scientists Warn” • The world could see hugely damaging sea-level rise of several meters or more over the coming centuries even if the ambitious target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C is met, scientists warn. They warn that 1.5°C should not be considered “safe” for coastal populations. [BBC]

Miami (Ryan Parker, Unsplash)

¶ “Tropical Forests Destroyed At Fastest Recorded Rate Last Year” • The world’s tropical forests, which provide a crucial buffer against climate change, disappeared faster than ever recorded last year, satellite analysis suggests. Researchers estimate that 67,000 sq km (26,000 sq mi) of these pristine, old-growth forests were lost in 2024. [BBC]

¶ “€800 Million Green Bond Fills 50Hertz Coffers” • Eurogrid, the parent company of German transmission system operator 50Hertz, raised €800 million in its first Green Bond issuance of 2025. The proceeds will support eligible onshore and offshore projects that integrate and transport renewable electricity, in line with Eurogrid’s Green Bond Framework. [reNews]

Offshore substation (50Hertz image)

¶ “Sodium Batteries: Yet Another Sign EVs Are Here To Stay” • US President Donald Trump has been losing his battle against EVs, and he’s about to begin losing even biglier now that new sodium-ion EV batteries are emerging on the market. Already, such stakeholders as industry leader CATL are laying plans for mass production. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Jeonnam 1 Powers Up” • Copenhagen Offshore Partners  has announced that the 96-MW Jeonnam 1 offshore wind project in South Korea has now begun commercial operations. Jeonnam 1 is South Korea’s largest privately led offshore wind farm. It has ten 9.6-MW turbines and is expected to generate enough power for around 90,000 households. [reNews]

Jackup ship at work (COP image)

¶ “Grenergy Signs Its Largest Battery Purchase Agreement With BYD Energy Storage For 3.5 GWh” • Grenergy has signed an agreement with global energy solutions provider BYD Energy Storage for the supply of 3.5 GWh in energy storage systems to be installed in the sixth phase of the Oasis de Atacama project in northern Chile. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Report Warns Thousands Of Species Threatened By Climate Change” • Over 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change, a report warns. Global warming now ranks alongside overexploitation and habitat alteration as the greatest threats to wildlife, say scientists. “We’re at the start of an existential crisis for the Earth’s wild animals.” [Black Hills Pioneer]

Penguin (Arya Tulsyan, Unsplash)

US:

¶ “Honda Pulls Back On EV Strategy For Now And Will Push Hybrid Sales” • Honda said EV sales were slowing in the US, so it will scrap its goal for EVs to be 30% of its global vehicle sales by 2030. Honda’s initial plan was to invest ¥10 trillion ($69 billion) in a strategy to electrify through 2031, but it is reducing that amount to ¥3 trillion ($48 billion). [ABC News]

¶ “What To Know About Senate’s Effort To Block Emission Rules For Vehicles In California” • Congress may stop California from implementing its first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas powered cars by 2035. A Senate vote expected as soon as this week could end the nation’s most aggressive effort to transition toward EVs. [ABC News]

Smog (Jacek Dylag, Unsplash)

¶ “California EV Sales Stay Strong, Model Choice Skyrockets” • The California electric vehicle market continues to be one of the best in the world. It’s not on a growth spurt at the moment, but even with Tesla sales drooping in what had been their home state, 20.8% of autos sold in California were full electric vehicles in the first quarter. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Refining Industry Risks From 2025 Hurricane Season” • Colorado State University’s hurricane forecast estimates the 2025 hurricane season will have almost twice the storms of the 1991–2020 average. This suggests heightened risk for weather-related outages of oil industry production, especially refinery outages along the US Gulf Coast. [CleanTechnica]

Flooding after Katrina (Jocelyn Augustino, FEMA, public domain)

¶ “Solar Apprenticeships Give Virginia Students A Head Start On Clean Energy” • A regional partnership working to add solar panels to commercial buildings in Virginia aims to train young people as they go, developing workforce skills in anticipation of increasing demand for renewable energy-focused jobs in the heart of coal country. [Canary Media]

¶ “First US Utility Seeks Permit For A Small Nuclear Reactor” • The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, announced that it submitted a construction permit application to the US NRC for a small, modular nuclear reactor. It wants to develop next-generation nuclear power in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at its Clinch River site. [Coast Reporter]

Have a cheerfully cozy day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Why We Need ‘Revolutionary’ Cooling Tech” • With climate change, we need cooling, but the refrigerants typically used for that typically have high global warming potential. Now some scientists are looking toward cooling devices that don’t need liquid refrigerants at all. One major set of revolutionary cooling tech is solid-state cooling. [BBC]

Phonic cooling systems (Phonic image)

World:

¶ “Queensland Makes EV Progress Despite Government Shift To The Right” • In 2024, Queensland citizens voted out the Labour state government and voted in the more conservative Liberal National Party. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Public Works said there has been no formal announcement of policy change for EVs, however. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Pilots Chasing ‘Sky Rivers’ And Cyclones From Japan To The US” • Storm-hunting planes chase atmospheric rivers from Japan to the US, revealing new insights into these powerful storms and how we can keep ourselves safe. They are becoming bigger, and the strongest ones are becoming more frequent, due to climate change. [BBC]

Flying to Japan (US Air Force image)

¶ “How Poland Changed Its Energy Story” • Poland’s energy story is both a cautionary tale and an inspiring narrative about how a nation dependent on coal has managed to diversify its energy mix greatly within just a few decades. Poland’s coal generation has dropped rapidly from over 90% of energy to 63% since 1990, all due to renewables. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “SSE Begins Construction Of 208-MW Strathy South” • SSE has begun construction on its 208-MW Strathy South wind farm in the Scottish Highlands. The £400 million onshore wind farm, in Sutherland near SSE’s existing Strathy North project, will have 35 Vestas V162-6.2MW turbines. It is expected to be operating commercially in late 2027. [reNews]

SSE wind farm (SSE image)

¶ “Microgrids Power China’s Green Energy Transition” • The demand for microgrid projects is surging in industrial parks across China, as companies see them as a way to help cut costs and transition toward greener growth. And local governments are encouraged to build smart microgrid projects that cater to regional needs. [China Daily]

¶ “UK Could Net 10,000 Extra Jobs Through Offshore Wind” • Regional Growth Prospectuses released by the Offshore Wind Industry Council and The Crown Estate set out how coastal regions of the UK can expand their activities in key parts of the country’s rapidly-growing offshore wind supply chain, which could have 10,000 extra jobs. [reNews]

Offshore wind farm (Innogy image)

¶ “Nuclear Power Wrecks Political Marriage As Nationals Quit Coalition With Liberals After 70 Years” • Nuclear energy has blown up a political agreement between the Nationals and the Liberals after their respective leaders failed to reach common ground. The coalition couldn’t continue after its disastrous result in the federal election. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “TenneT Has Installed 900-MW BorWin Converter Platform” • TenneT has reached a milestone in the development of its 900-MW German offshore grid connection system BorWin5. With a weight of 12,300 tonnes, twice the weight of the Eiffel Tower, and the height of a 16-storey building, the platform is now anchored at sea and almost ready for use. [reNews]

Platform installation in progress (TenneT image)

US:

¶ “Trump’s Policies Could Impact The Environment Long After He Leaves Office, Some Experts Say” • The policies promoting use of fossil fuels will be difficult to put into effect, experts say. But the campaigns against wind, energy, batteries, EV charging and energy efficiency will put the US on a slower path to dealing with global warming. [ABC News]

¶ “Greer Fire Expands To 20,000 Acres With More Than 700 Personnel Battling Flames” • A wildfire in eastern Arizona expanded to over 20,000 acres. The Greer Fire, named after the small community in Arizona’s White Mountains where the blaze sparked on May 13, has grown to over 20,425 acres and is 38% contained, officials said. [ABC News]

Greer Fire in eastern Arizona (@azstateforestry via X)

¶ “Republican Bill in Congress Threatens 300 US Factories And 300,000 US Jobs” • The Solar Energy Industries Association shares that legislation passed through two committees last week could jeopardize nearly 300 American solar and storage factories and lead to the loss of 145,000 GWh of solar generation by 2030, if it is enacted. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Trump Loses Big Game Of Offshore Wind Chicken” • The dramatic stop-work order abruptly issued in April against the Empire Wind offshore wind farm by the Trump administration didn’t last long. On May 19, Equinor announced that the order to stop work has been lifted. Exactly how and why will probably remain a mystery. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore windpower (Capmat007, CC-BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

¶ “Texas Welcomes More Solar Factories Despite Anti-Solar Lawmakers” • Republican lawmakers in the red state of Texas are making new laws aimed at making life miserable for Texas solar developers. Meanwhile, solar factories in Texas are churning out gigawatts’ worth of solar panels, making life easier for solar developers around the US. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Doral Renewables Gains $1.5 Billion Financing For US Solar Projects” • US-based renewable energy assets developer Doral Renewables has secured up to $1.5 billion in financing for its Mammoth South, Mammoth Central I, and Mammoth Central II solar projects in Pulaski County, Indiana, US. Each will have 300 MW of capacity. [Power Technology]

Have a subtly insightful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Science and Technology:

¶ “Two New Renewable Energy Technologies That Just Might Work” • CleanTechnica is bringing you two new developments. The first news flash came from Fraunhofer, the highly respected German technology research organization. The other is the O-Wind Sphere from O-Innovations that offers free electricity from prevailing breezes. [CleanTechnica]

Energy storage system (Fraunhofer image)

World:

¶ “‘Green’ EU Investment Funds Full Of Fossil Fuel Companies” • One problem that is raised over and over is inclusion of fossil fuel companies in ESG or “green” investment funds. A new look from the Guardian and Voxeurop found this problem again. “Green” funds in Europe hold over $33 billion in in oil and gas investments. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “These Trees Exist In Only One Place. Climate Change And Goats Threaten Their Survival” • The dragon’s blood tree is a species found only on the Yemeni island of Socotra. It is now struggling to survive intensifying threats from climate change, grazing by invasive goats, and persistent turmoil in Yemen, one of the world’s poorest countries. [BBC]

Dragon’s blood trees (Rod Waddington, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “WoodMac Tips Australia To Fall Short Of 82% Renewables Goal” • Global analytics firm Wood Mackenzie predicts Australia will fall well short of its target of 82% renewable generation by 2030 due to grid connection delays, inadequate investment, and moves from some state governments to scale back their clean energy ambitions. [pv magazine Australia]

¶ “Norway Opens Tender For Utsira Nord” • The Norwegian government has opened a floating offshore wind tender for the Utsira Nord site. The Ministry of Energy is seeking applications for three project areas in Utsira Nord, each with an installed capacity of up to 500 MW. The winner will be the one who bids the lowest funding requirement. [reNews]

Floating wind turbine (Ideol image)

¶ “Change Of Plans For NSW REZ” • After long consultation, the northern energy hub for the renewable energy zone in New South Wales will be relocated in an effort to reduce potential impacts to private landowners and the Boorolong community. EnergyCo and Origin Energy are working together to relocate the north hub. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Ørsted Begins Construction Of Bahren West 2” • Ørsted has started construction of the Bahren West 2 wind farm in Lusatia. It follows the completion of the Bahren West 1 wind farm, which has been feeding electricity into the grid since March 2025. The new 61.6-MW Bahren West 2 wind farm will consist of eleven 5.6-MW wind turbines. [reNews]

Wind farm construction (Ørsted image)

¶ “Reliance Power Secures Long-Term PPA With Bhutan’s GDL For 500-MW Solar Project” • Reliance Power Ltd has signed a commercial term sheet for a long-term PPA with Bhutan’s Green Digital Pvt Ltd for a 500 MW solar project. The 500 MW plant is to be developed by Reliance Power through a 50:50 joint venture with DHI. [pv magazine India]

¶ “Croatia Reaches 1 GW Solar Milestone” • Croatia’s total solar capacity reached 1 GW, the Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia Association says. A spokesperson told pv magazine the country recently reached 1 GW, up from 872 MW at the end of 2024. PM Andrej Plenković said the green energy transition is one of the country’s four strategic goals. [pv magazine International]

Construction (Government of Croatia)

¶ “Germany Shifts Stance On Nuclear Power In EU Policy” • Germany, which has been opposing for years EU attempts to treat nuclear power as a green electricity source on par with renewable energy, has dropped this opposition under new chancellor Friedrich Merz. This could make EU energy policy much easier to adopt. [OilPrice.com]

US:

¶ “Why Winemakers Need To Embrace Sustainable Growing Practices” • The climate crisis has upended a necessary balance for winemakers and their crops. No longer are grape yield, composition, and wine quality a certainty with the backdrop of earlier season warm temperatures. The entire cycle of wine grape growth is shifting. [CleanTechnica]

Vineyard in California (Tim Mossholder, Unsplash)

¶ “Flow Battery Takes On The Data Center Energy ‘Crisis'” • XL Batteries announced the installation of its flow battery at pilot scale in Texas. A flow battery can discharge electricity for days or weeks at a time, depending on the formula and the architecture. So a flow battery could store enough energy to provide a data center with reliable electricity. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Guam’s Journey To 100% Renewable Energy” • Guam, a small US island in the Pacific, is making big changes. The island is hard at work to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy. It aims to protect the environment and lower energy costs for residents. As of 2024, about 12% of Guam’s electricity comes from renewable sources, mainly solar power. [Microgrid Media]

Have a perfectly okay day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Northwest Leaders Set Renewable Energy Goals, But They Neglected A Key Element Required To Achieve Them” • Oregon and Washington have some of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the country. They’ve vowed to replace all of the states’ electricity with renewable sources. The problem starts with a lack of transmission lines. [Oregon Public Broadcasting]

Wind farm in Oregon (Steve Wilson, CC-BY-SA 2.0)

¶ “Australia And China Can Power Up Southeast Asia’s Green Energy Transition” • Australia and China share key interests in Southeast Asia, despite their rivalry. By collaborating, both countries can strengthen their ties in Southeast Asian, build the foundation for an energy transition, and show a commitment to international stability. [East Asia Forum]

World:

¶ “Powering Ports: Electrifying Harbor Craft And Ferries For Lower Costs And Emissions” • After we start to electrify ground equipment, the critical next phase for powering ports is to electrify port vessels such as harbor tugs, service boats, and local ferries. This will establish critical infrastructure for even more ambitious steps to come. [CleanTechnica]

Electric ferryboat (Franz Wender, Unsplash)

¶ “With New EV Charging Stations, Norway’s Excellent EV Adventure Is About To Get More Excellent” • Norway has found the secret of selling more EVs. A next step is building up its EV charging infrastructure. Demand for charging ports could run into a grid bottleneck, slowing down the pace of the transition to EVs, but there is another way. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Record Breaking Uptake of Starlink In Africa Reminds Us Again Of The Continent’s Untapped Potential” • The latest quarterly update by Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority shows VSAT subscriptions, including those to Low Earth Orbit satellite services, jumped 513.79% in Q4 of 2024. This is due to costs declining. [CleanTechnica]

House in Zimbabwe (Claire Roadley, Unsplash, cropped)

¶ “Firm Secures $5 Million Investment For 108 Solar Mini-Grids” • The International Finance Corporation, together with the Canadian Government, has made a $5 million investment in Husk Nigeria to scale up the deployment of solar hybrid mini grids and renewable energy to underserved communities in Northern Nigeria. [Punch Newspapers]

¶ “Taiwan Shuts Down Last Nuclear Reactor After Forty Years In Operation” • Taiwan’s last operating nuclear power reactor has been shut down. The end of its productive life caps four decades of operation in line with the government’s policy to phase out atomic energy, though some people claim that goal remains uncertain. [The Mainichi]

Maanshan nuclear plant (Jnlin, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

US:

¶ “Tesla Stock Soars, But Will Sales?” • Tesla stock soared this week. Part of the reason may be that it had been pushed down by tariffs, which had been rolled back. Another part of the reason, however, is that Tesla’s sales are down. And in order for Tesla stock to rise to its former heights, sales must get back to their former glory. Will that happen? [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Farm To Power 200,000 Homes And Boost Clean Energy Capacity By 20%” • A 1.3-GW solar farm in northern Indiana is all set to become one of USA’s largest solar power projects following an agreement between Philadelphia-based renewable energy operator Doral Renewables and engineering firm Bechtel, based in Virginia. [MSN]

Groundbreaking, 2021 (Gov Eric Holcomb, public domain)

¶ “More On Illegal Communication Devices Found In Chinese-made Solar Power Inverter” • US energy officials are reassessing the risks posed by Chinese-made devices that play an important role in renewable energy infrastructure. This was done after unregistered communication devices were found on some of these devices. [VOI.ID]

¶ “The Nuclear Company Raises $51 Million To Develop Massive Reactor Sites” • The Nuclear Company is taking an old approach to building new nuclear reactors. Rather than come up with a new design or try to mass manufacture smaller reactors, it wants to develop a series of reactors using existing designs. But nuclear power is facing headwinds. [MSN]

Have a gratifyingly eventful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Hidden Source Of Clean Energy Could Power Earth For 170,000 Years” • Sources of hydrogen could be hiding in the Earth’s crust, enough to power Earth at its current energy needs for 170,000 years, according to a paper published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. The researchers developed ways to assess where to find it. [ABC News]

Geologic provinces (USGS, public domain)

¶ “Chinese Solar PV Market More Than Three Times Bigger Than US And EU Markets Combined” • China has been the largest solar PV market far and away for several years now, but it’s stunning to see that the solar market there is now over three times as big as the US and EU solar PV markets combined. China stands alone as the leader. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Electrifying Ground Vehicles: The Practical First Phase Of Port Sustainability” • Ports sit at the crossroads of global trade, and they are increasingly central to global decarbonization efforts. Ground vehicles and cargo handling equipment offer relatively low-hanging fruit given the availability and proven reliability of electric alternatives. [CleanTechnica]

Loading a container (David Wilson, CC-BY-SA 2.0, cropped)

¶ “Utility-Scale Outshining Rooftop Solar As Global Solar Market Explodes” • We’re seeing the end phase of a superior technology taking over the electricity generation market. Solar PV costs have come down for decades, but now they’re so low that nothing can truly compete most of the time. This is really superpowering utility-scale solar. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Wind Industry Hit New Record In 2024” • New figures show the wind industry delivered a record 127 GW of new capacity globally in 2024 despite economic and policy challenges. The figures from Global Wind Energy Council’s annual Supply Side Data report show that 29 turbine suppliers installed 23,098 units last year. [reNews]

Wind farm (Vestas image)

¶ “ReNew Commits $2.5 Billion To Build One Of India’s Largest Hybrid Renewable Projects” •ReNew Energy Global will invest ₹22,000 crore ($2.5 billion) to develop one of India’s largest hybrid renewable energy projects in Andhra Pradesh. It will have 1.8 GW of solar capacity, 1 GW of windpower, and a 2-GWh battery storage system. [ESG News]

¶ “Estonia Grants Key License For Offshore Wind Farm” • The Estonian government has granted a key licence to Saare Wind Energy, paving the way towards a building permit for the first offshore wind farm for the country. Saare Wind Energy is planning to build a wind farm with a capacity of up to 1.4 GW off the island of Saaremaa. [reNews]

Lease area (Saare Wind Energy image)

¶ “AfDB Commits $29.4 Million To 62-MW Solar Power Project In Togo” • The African Development Bank has committed €26.5 million ($29.4 million) in financing for a 62-MW solar power plant in Togo, to be developed by French state-owned utility EDF, the bank announced. Togo has a goal to reach 200 MW of installed renewable capacity by 2030. [MSN]

¶ “Sungrow Installs BESS Near Arctic Circle” • Sungrow has installed one of the world’s northernmost battery energy storage systems, less than 100 km south of the Arctic Circle. The BESS project in Simo, Lapland, with a capacity of 60 MWh, supplies Finland’s renewable energy grid. It was developed as part of the FRV AmpTank joint venture. [reNews]

BESS project in Simo, Lapland (Sungrow image)

¶ “First SMR In North America To Be Operational In Five Years” • The Ontario government gave a green light to Ontario Power Generation to build the first of four Small Modular Reactors at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site. OPG says it will be the first commercial grid-scale SMR in North America, with an in-service target date of 2030. [OilPrice.com]

US:

¶ “A Perfect Storm For Energy May Be Coming To The US” • It looks like a perfect storm for energy could be coming to the US. The Trump administration is trying to push energy resources that cannot be built quickly, while attempting to kill some that can. And this is happening just as demand is increasing. This could become a problem. [CleanTechnica]

Looming storm (Frank Mittermeier, Unsplash)

¶ “Tesla Brand Image Plunges Amidst Regulatory Questions And Competitors’ Rising Approval Ratings” • Tesla has lost its appeal as a relevant pioneer. There are bumper stickers distancing Tesla owners from CEO Elon Musk and reports of graffiti at Tesla showrooms. In fact, Tesla is the only brand where negative views of the automaker exceed 15%. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar Opportunity As Electricity Demand For Datacenters Is Expected To Triple In Five Years” • The datacenter boom is well underway. Electricity demand is expected to triple for AI and cloud computing from 200 TWh in 2025 to 600 TWh in 2030, says a report from LandGate. The increase represents 11.7% of the total US electricity demand. [pv magazine USA]

Solar array (Avangrid image)

¶ “Tesla Sales In April Of 2025 Continue To Disappoint” • Sales data for April 2025 is now in, and the skies over Tesla continue to get darker. The company still refuses to release sales figures by country and only reports total sales on a quarterly basis. For now, the numbers don’t look good, though official numbers are not expected until July. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nuclear Power ‘Dead In Its Tracks’ With House GOP Tax Bill, Advocates Warn” • Nuclear power advocates are warning that the industry’s recent growth could be halted by the cuts to clean energy incentives advanced by House Republicans as part of the sweeping fiscal overhaul meant to implement much of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. [MSN]

Have a gloriously tranquil day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “Powered By Volcanoes: Dominica Boosts Clean Energy” • To end its reliance on diesel-powered generators, Dominica is building a geothermal power station. The power station will be built in the south of the country and will access boiling hot water that is currently contained in natural underground reservoirs that are heated by volcanic rock. [BBC]

Geothermal plant building (Ormat Technologies)

¶ “Uruguay EV Sales Report: At 17.6% BEV Market Share In April, We Have A New Leader in Latin America!” • Uruguay’s battery EV sales have boomed this year, with every month presenting explosive growth year over year. April was not an exception, presenting 153% growth from April of 2024 and surpassing 900 battery EVs sold for the first time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US EIA Forecasts World Oil Consumption Growth To Slow Amid Less Economic Activity” • The US Energy Information Administration forecasts consumption growth of crude oil and other liquid fuels will slow over the next two years, driven by a slowdown in economic growth, particularly in Asia, in its May Short-Term Energy Outlook. [CleanTechnica]

Offshore oil platform (Zachary Theodore, Unsplash)

¶ “Clean Energy Shifts China’s CO₂ Emissions From Growth To Decline” • For the first time in modern history, China’s annual CO₂ emissions have dropped, and not due to economic turmoil or external shocks. It’s a result of deliberate, sustained expansion of clean energy infrastructure. The significance of this milestone cannot be overstated. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Approves Joint Venture Of BP And JERA” • The European Commission has approved the creation of an offshore wind joint venture by JERA Nex and BP Gamma. The 50:50 company will have a balanced mix of development projects and operating assets with total 13 GW potential net generating capacity, the companies said. [reNews]

Offshore wind turbines (Carbon Trust image)

¶ “Canadian Wind Project Secures $1 Billion In Financing” • A Canadian consortium that includes Boralex has financing for the 400-MW Des Neiges – Secteur sud wind project in Quebec. La Societe de projet BVH1 also inclues Energir Developpement and Hydro-Quebec, and it has in place $960 million of financing for the wind project. [reNews]

¶ “Elawan Secures Financing For 175 MW Of Hydro Projects” • Elawan Energy has secured financing for 23 small hydropower plants in Spain with a total capacity of 175 MW. The €76 million transaction has been structured as a non-recourse project finance deal, aligned with the company’s sustainability principles and energy transition objectives. [reNews]

Hydro power (Elawan Energy image)

¶ “Victoria Lays Out Plan For Seven Renewable Zones, And Four New Transmission Lines To Replace Coal” • VicGrid has released a first draft of the much anticipated Victorian Transmission Plan, proposing the establishment of seven renewable energy zones and four new transmission lines to support the state’s transition to 65% renewables by 2030. [RenewEconomy]

US:

¶ “Mid-Drive Muscle Under $2.5K? Ride1Up’s Prodigy V2 E-Bike Just Got Even Cheaper” • You may have noticed how mid-drive bikes with premium components can easily cost $4,000. By contrast, the Ride1Up Prodigy V2 brings top-tier specs, like a Brose mid-drive motor, Gates belt drive, and Enviolo CVT hub, down into the $2,000 range. [CleanTechnica]

Ride1Up Prodigy V2 (Ride1Up image)

¶ “The Huge Waymo Recall That Wasn’t” • The headlines said Waymo robotaxis were being recalled! 1,212 of them! Apparently, at low speeds, they were running into trouble with gates and chains and such. Not life threatening, but not great. But a 1,212 vehicle recall?! As it turns out, they just needed an over-the-air software update. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “US Bill Will Deter Renewables” • The United States draft budget reconciliation bill would deter renewable energy projects, analysts warn. Energy analytics company Wood Mackenzie has warned that if the bill is passed, solar, wind, and energy storage forecasts could be downgraded, while 95% of announced green hydrogen projects will be put at risk. [reNews]

Colorado wind farm (Invenergy image)

¶ “EnergyRe And Google Sign 600-MW Solar Deal” • EnergyRe signed a renewable energy agreement which allows Google to invest in and purchase Renewable Energy Credits from a portfolio of more than 600 MW of new solar and solar with storage projects in South Carolina. This marks Google and energyRe’s second collaboration. [reNews]

¶ “National Grid Takes £303 Million US Offshore Wind Hit” • National Grid booked an impairment of £303 million ($403 million) on its paused 2,800-MW Community Offshore Wind in the New York Bight, a joint venture with RWE. The company cited the regulatory uncertainty created in the US since the election of President Donald Trump. [reNews]

New York Bight lease areas (BOEM image)

¶ “‘Rogue’ Communication Devices Found On Chinese-Made Solar Power Inverters” • US officials have discovered undisclosed communication devices on the power inverters of some solar panels manufactured in China, Reuters reported. The inverters are part of the hardware package connecting solar arrays to the power grid. [Utility Dive]

¶ “US Would Assess Nuclear Waste, Plutonium For Reactor Fuel Under Draft Order” • Nuclear waste and radioactive plutonium would be assessed as a fuel for reactors under a draft executive order being considered by the administration of President Donald Trump on expanding nuclear power. The moves are opposed by nonproliferation experts. [MSN]

Have an exuberantly nifty day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

World:

¶ “IEA Global EV Outlook 2025 Shows US Falling Behind On Electric Cars” • In it EV Global Outlook 2025 report, the IEA says that 20% of new cars sold worldwide in 2024 were electric, a definition that includes plug-in hybrids as well as battery-electric cars. And the US, which had been doing badly, is no longer even in the race. [CleanTechnica]

BYD ships (BYD image)

¶ “Powering the Future: A 30-Year Roadmap to Zero-Emission Port Operations” • European ports face an increasingly urgent mandate to reduce carbon emissions across their landside and waterside operations, driven not only by climate policies but also by local air quality concerns. The scale of the challenge is huge but manageable with good policies. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Great British Energy Bill Passes Parliament” • Legislation to establish Great British Energy passed through Parliament, setting the stage for a publicly-owned energy company to invest in clean power delivering energy security under the government’s plan for change. The Great British Energy Bill got legislative consent from all three devolved governments. [reNews]

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (UK Government)

¶ “Why Modern Cities Are Embracing Trolleybuses Again” • The humble electric trolleybus, powered by overhead wires, had been favored for efficiency and lower emissions compared to diesel buses. Now it is enjoying an unexpected global revival, quietly returning to the spotlight in the relentless push for sustainable urban transit solutions. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Hollandse Kust Topside Set For North Sea Voyage” • Two weeks after the successful load out, the steel superstructure, or topside, for the Hollandse Kust West Beta platform will leave the port of Hoboken near Antwerp in the afternoon of Saturday, 17 May. The superstructure of the transformer platform weighs over 3,500 tonnes. [reNews]

Topside under way (TenneT image)

¶ “Pockets Of Naturally Occurring Hydrogen In The Earth’s Crust Could Be Important Source Of Clean Energy” • Scientists from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto found that naturally occurring pockets of hydrogen in the Earth’s crust could be important sources of clean hydrogen. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “CorPower To Build 5-MW Wave Project” • Wave energy developer CorPower Ocean has signed a berth agreement to build a 5-MW wave energy project at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Scheduled for deployment in 2029, the 5-MW array is expected to become the UK’s largest wave energy project. [reNews]

Wave energy device (CorPower Ocean image)

¶ “India’s Storage-Backed Renewables To Reach Over 25 GW In Three Years” • The installed storage-backed renewable energy in India is projected to increase from almost nil to between 25 GW and 30 GW by 2028, according to Crisil Ratings. It will account for more than 20% of the total renewable energy capacity to be added over the three years. [Asian Power]

¶ “China’s CO₂ Emissions Have Started Falling – Is This Finally The Peak?” • China, the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, has seen a slight decline in those emissions over the past twelve months, even as power demand went up. This is an encouraging sign that the country’s massive investment in clean energy might have begun to displace fossil fuels. [New Scientist]

Renewable energy in China (w0zny, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

¶ “Government Moves To Dismantle Power Sources Responsible For Nearly A Fifth Of Energy Production: ‘A Glimpse Into The Future'” • Spain gets 20% of its power from the seven nuclear reactors it plans to shut down within the decade. Solar panels, giant batteries, and wind turbines are being expedited to fill that gap over five years. [The Cool Down]

US:

¶ “Federal Court Rules Against Withholding Endangered Species Act Protections From Joshua Tree” • A federal court in California struck down a US Fish and Wildlife Service attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections for the Joshua tree. A FWS decision to not provide ESA protections for the Joshua tree is unlawful and sidesteps climate science. [ABC News]

Joshua trees (Cedric Letsch, Unsplash)

¶ “Eastern Arizona Wildfire Explodes Over 7,000 Acres Amid High Winds, Red Flag Conditions” • Crews in eastern Arizona continue to battle a wind-driven wildfire that had burned over 7,000 acres by Wednesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The blaze was sparked Tuesday morning, and is at 0% containment amid high wind conditions. [ABC News]

¶ “GM, Ford Tease New Game Changing LMR EV Batteries” • General Motors and The Ford Motor Company are both over the moon about new lithium manganese-rich EV batteries, which GM is pitching as “a leap forward that will offer consumers EVs with an attractive combination of long range and low cost.” But Tesla is nowhere to be seen. [CleanTechnica]

Prototype LMR battery cell (Steve Fecht, General Motors)

¶ “Vermont Reverses Course On EV Sales Targets” • Phil Scott is the Republican governor of Vermont, a state known for maveric politicians. Vermonters take their obligations to sustainability and the environment seriously. But he signed an executive order to direct the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to be in line with GOP goals. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Hampshire Budget Bill Would Defund State Renewable Energy Grant Program” • A sprawling budget bill working its way through the New Hampshire legislature includes some under-the-radar provisions that would redirect millions of dollars from a state renewable energy fund to the general budget and rebates for utility customers. [Canary Media]

Have an impressively facilitated day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

Opinion:

¶ “Trump Administration Attempts Burying Climate Change Evidence to Further Fossil Fuel Agenda” • To limit the damage of the climate crisis, the country must transition quickly from fossil fuels to clean energy and invest in resilience. The administration is hell-bent on doing the exact opposite. And what better way than to hide the facts and spread the lies? [The Equation]

Flood (Justin Wilkens, Unsplash, cropped)

World:

¶ “Why Too Much Carbon Dioxide Harms The Planet” • Since the 1800s. human activity, specifically the use of fossil fuels for energy, has been overwhelming the planet’s natural carbon sinks, such as oceans and forests. Therefore, the heat-trapping gas causes global temperatures to rise as more of it accumulates in the Earth’s atmosphere. [ABC News]

¶ “Extreme Heat Could Make Pregnancy Riskier For Millions Of Women: Report” • As human-induced climate change continues warming the planet, pregnancy risks are increasing, an analysis by Climate Central says. Climate Central, a nonprofit science and communications organization, analyzed daily temperature data from 2020 to 2024 in 940 cities. [ABC News]

Pregnant (Camylla Battani, Unsplash)

¶ “XPENG Partners With Plugsurfing To Secure Powerful Charging Network” • EV maker XPENG partnered strategically with Plugsurfing, one of Europe’s largest EV charging providers, to access over 940,000 charging points in 27 countries, creating a powerful, transcontinental charging network that links Europe and Asia. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “A New Era of Wheelchair Accessible Electric Vehicles” • Kia Corporation showcased the PV5 WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) model at the Financial Times’ Future of the Car Summit in London in collaboration with UK-based Motability Operations Ltd. The PV5 WAV comes in response to increasing demand for accessible vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

Kia PV5 WAV (Kia image)

¶ “EVs Take 28.8% Share In Germany – Volkswagen ID.7 Still On Top” • April saw plugin EVs take 28.8% share in Germany, up from 18.4% year on year. Battery EVs volumes recovered from their incentive-cut trauma, and plugin hybrids are also up. Auto volume was 242,728 units overall, flat YOY. The best-selling BEV in April was the Volkswagen ID.7. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ocean Winds Celebrates Portuguese Floater” • Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renováveis and Engie, is celebrating five years of successful operator of the 25-MW WindFloat Atlantic project, the first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm in the world, located approximately 20 km off the coast of Portugal. [reNews]

Floating wind turbine (Ocean Winds image)

¶ “Renewables Could Offer £47 Billion Boost To Wales” • A report released at the Senedd outlines a bold vision for Wales’ renewable energy future. It warns that only the most ambitious path will unlock its full economic and environmental potential. Under the scenario, Wales could reach 17.9 GW of operational renewable capacity. [Energy Live News]

¶ “EnBW Powers Up Cluster Of German Solar Parks” • EnBW has connected three solar parks to the grid in Germany. The two solar parks in Rosenberg and one plant in Hardheim have a total capacity of 24.2 MW and are now fully operational. The largest of the three parks is the Hardheim plant, which has a capacity of around 10.9 MW. [reNews]

Hardheim solar park (EnBW image)

¶ “Powertech Warns Skills Shortage Poses Threat To Energy Transition” • Perth-headquartered engineering and technical services business Powertech has warned that the industrial sector’s desperate skills shortage must be addressed for Australia to meet its lofty clean energy targets. Australia will require up to 700,000 clean energy workers, [pv magazine Australia]

US:

¶ “Extreme Heat Will Make It Feel More Like August Than May For Texas And Southeast US” • Triple-digit temperatures more commonly seen in the throes of summer and not in the spring were making an unwelcome visit to Texas and other parts of the southeastern US this week, placing millions of Americans under extreme heat warnings. [ABC News]

Heatwave (Alex Braga, Unsplash)

¶ “Engie Partners With Cipher Mining To Power Texas Data Center” • Engie North America has revealed a preliminary arrangement with Cipher Mining for a power supply contract for a data centre in Texas. This agreement is set to enable Cipher to acquire up to 300 MW of renewable energy from one of Engie’s wind energy facilities. [Power Technology]

¶ “A Unique Solution for Transportation Data Sharing Turns Fifteen” • This year, the Transportation Secure Data Center turns fifteen years old. It still increases the availability and usability of travel and transit surveys and studies from municipalities, transit agencies, and other entities that want to share their results while protecting participant privacy. [CleanTechnica]

Train in motion (Werner Slocum, NREL)

¶ “This Year’s First Major Heat Wave Is Here. How Will The ERCOT Power Grid Hold Up?” • The Texas power grid should sail through the first major heat wave of the year without issue, largely thanks to its diverse and growing mix of power plants and renewable energy. This is ironic, because legislators are acting against renewable energy. [Houston Chronicle]

¶ “New Nuclear Generation Eyed For Shuttered Kewaunee County Plant Site” • The owner of a shuttered nuclear power plant in northeast Wisconsin, Utah-based nuclear company EnergySolutions, is working with the state’s largest utility company to explore the potential for bringing new nuclear energy generation to the site. [WPR]

Have an ineffably beautiful day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.

(, CC-BY-SA 3.0) km² CO₂ NH₃ CH₄ ₹ NOₓ ‽ ♦♦♦♦♦

World:

¶ “Nigeria Has A Food Security Problem As Water For Crops Is Harder To Find” • Climate change is challenging agriculture in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. With long dry spells and extreme heat, bodies of water are drying because the arid season is getting longer than it was. The wet season can dump excessive rain, but it is short. [ABC News]

Cattle and goats in Nigeria (Fulani215, public domain)

¶ “Electric Depots: The Key To Electrifying Road Logistics” • A study shows that depot charging will prepare the market for a rapid ramp-up of battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles. Battery-electric trucks are already competitive with internal combustion engine trucks in regional freight transport. Tthe time to electrify depots is now. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “UK Startup’s New Hope For Algae Biofuel: Carbon-Negative Production” • There are upsides for idea of extracting biofuel from oil-rich algae, but the cultivation process uses a lot of energy. Now the cost of renewable energy is down. The startup HutanBio has cracked the code and they are gearing up for commercial production. [CleanTechnica]

HutanBio algae biofuel plant (Courtesy of HutanBio)

¶ “Syncraft Opens Clean Power Plant That Provides Electricity, Heat, And CDR” • Syncraft is opening biomass power plants of a new type. It gasifies forest residues to deliver 500 kW of electric power to the local grid. It provides 750 kW of heat for a town’s district heating network. And it has a byproduct, which is high-quality biochar. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “ILTE To Finance Ten Green Genius Solar Parks” • Lithuania’s national development bank ILTE signed a deal with international renewable energy company Green Genius to finance ten remote solar parks across the country. The total capacity of the projects will reach around 89.7 MW. The loan for the projects amounts to €48.9 million. [reNews]

Solar, wind, and flowers (Green Genius image)

¶ “Report: Renewables Soaring, Coal Declining” • Renewable capacity is soaring in Australia’s electricity market while coal availability declines, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics report. During the March quarter 2025, while solar and wind generation grew, battery output surged 86%. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “First Floater Launched For Pilot Project In France” • The first floating platform for Ocean Winds’ 30-MW Eoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion pilot floating offshore wind project has been launched in Marseille. Ocean Winds partnered with Banque des Territoires on the project. It showcases Principle Power’s third-generation WindFloat technology. [reNews]

Floating platform (Ocean Winds image via LinkedIn)

¶ “Iranian Resistance Uncovers Secret Nuclear Site In Eyvanki” • In a dramatic and timely revelation, the National Council of Resistance of Iran exposed a previously unknown nuclear facility in Eyvanki, Semnan Province. The announcement raises serious concerns about the regime’s transparency and intentions in negotiations with the US. [Eurasia Review]

US:

¶ “So Much For ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’” • Hurt by weakening demand and depressed prices, US oil production is expected to shrink in 2026, S&P Global Commodity Insights projected. S&P estimates that US oil output will dip to 13.3 million barrels per day in 2026, 130,000 barrels less than its 2025 forecast. Oil production last fell during the COVID pandemic. [CNN]

Pumpjack (Jeff W, Unsplash)

¶ “America Closed For Business: Bill Rolling Back IRA Provisions Will Depress Investment” •The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, introduced comprehensive, decade-spanning incentives designed to catalyze investments in renewables, hydrogen hubs, EV, and domestic manufacturing. It was working, until the return of Donald Trump. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Solar And Wind Make Up 98% Of US Generating Capacity Added In Trump’s First Three Months” • Analysis of government data revealed that solar and wind accounted for nearly 98% of new electricity generating capacity in the US through the first quarter of 2025, despite efforts by President Trump to unravel clean energy efforts. [RenewEconomy]

Solar farm (Raphael Cruz, Unsplash)

¶ “Empire Wind ‘Faces Axe Within Days’” • Equinor reportedly said it will be forced to terminate the Empire Wind project “within days” unless President Donald Trump’s administration makes a U-turn on an order that halted construction. The order stopped the New York offshore wind project after Equinor had already invested $2.5 billion. [reNews]

¶ “Aypa Power Secures $535 Million For Solar-Plus-Storage Project In California” • Aypa Power has secured $535 million in debt financing for a 320-MW solar-plus-storage project in San Bernardino County, California. The Vidal project will combine 160 MW of solar generation with a 160-MW, 640-MWh battery system. [Environmental Health News]

Have a really fantastic day.

geoharvey is free and without ads.
geoharvey is not tax-deductible.