Green Energy Times

Headline News:

• “Renewable Energy Is Winning, Trump Is Losing (Shocker!)” • In the US, the all-important business of climate action continues apace despite Trump’s death cult focus on fossil fuels. Renewable energy now claim 30% of power generating capacity in the US. That 30% figure comes from the US EIA, an independent agency affiliated with the US DOE. [CleanTechnica]

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

• “Finland Plans 26-GW Solar Surge” • Renewables Finland’s updated project portfolio shows that over 26 GW of large solar capacity is being planned in Finland for 300 projects. According to Renewables Finland, 77 projects totaling 4.6 GW have been granted building permits, while another 15 projects representing 1.4 GW have completed the zoning process. [reNews]
• “California Legislature Approves Bill Easing Access To Clean, Affordable ‘Balcony Solar’” • The Environmental Working Group is applauding the California Legislature for passing a bill that will help Californians invest in clean energy while also tackling sky-high energy bills by making it easier to install small, affordable “balcony solar” systems. [CleanTechnica]
• “Evacuations Ordered As Wind-Whipped Ross Fire In Texas Grows To 80,000 Acres” • The Ross Fire, a wind-whipped grass fire near Fort Worth, Texas, rapidly grew overnight to 80,000 acres, triggering evacuations and road closures in two counties, officials said. It was 12% contained on Wednesday morning, up from 5% a day earlier. [ABC News]
• “Delaware Governor Signs Singular Bill to Power Data Centers with Clean Energy” • The Sierra Club is celebrating Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signing into law a suite of legislation that will protect families in the state from having to pay for pricey artificial intelligence data centers. One bill ensures data centers are powered by clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

• “Is Maine Finally About To Make Wind Power Happen?” • For nearly two decades, Maine has tried to build utility-scale wind in the northern reaches of the state. Utility regulators just brought that vision a little closer to reality by choosing an 800-MW wind farm proposal and a 1.2-GW transmission line plan from the bids it received earlier this year. [Canary Media]

Moose in Maine (US FWS, CC BY-SA 2.0)

• “Mongolia Positions Itself As Asia’s Next Data Centre Hub” • Mongolia is positioning itself as a global data centre hub, signing agreements for 863 MW of data centre capacity on the sidelines of a UN conference on desertification that had 197 delegations in Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia offers cheap renewable energy, a cold climate for cooling, and lots of land. [Euronews]
• “Homes In London Are Cracking As The Clay They Are Built On Shrinks” • The soil in most of greater London is clay, which is highly sensitive to variations in moisture content. When the clay gets dry, it shrinks. This summer, as London went through five intense heatwaves, that shrinking happened in many parts of the city, and it damaged homes. [CleanTechnica]
• “Korea To Build Renewables Equal To 45 Nuclear Reactors By 2040” • South Korea will expand renewable energy capacity to 220 GW by 2040, the government said. Assuming utilization rates of 80% for nuclear power, 20% for solar, and 30% for wind, that is roughly the amount of electricity 45 nuclear reactors could generate. [Seoul Economic Daily]
• “A ‘Jungle’ Grows In The Arctic, But Warming Is Changing Earth’s Mini-Greenhouse” • Up close, “the tundra’s kind of like the jungle,” said one plant biology student. Researchers are studying this ten-inch-tall jungle to see how climate change is affecting it. Will its plants evolve to cooperate or to compete in the new conditions? [ABC News]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “World’s Oceans Hit Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded In August As El Niño Takes Hold” • The world’s oceans reached their highest daily temperature on record, with global sea surface temperatures hitting 21.1°C. The record was set on August 22, when temperatures would normally be declining, according to the EU’s climate change data. [Euronews]

Ocean (Sebastien Gabriel, Unsplash)

• “Elia Completes Belgium Energy Island Foundations” • Elia Transmission Belgium completed foundation installation for the 3.5-GW Princess Elisabeth Island. Comprised of DEME and Jan De Nul, the TM Edison Consortium put the last of 23 caissons in place to form an outer perimeter at the site 45 km off the Belgian coast. Work was started in 2024. [reNews]
• “Making This Fossil Fuel Crisis Europe’s Last One” • Fossil fuel dependence has repeatedly undermined Europe’s prosperity and constrained its ability to act in the world. As long as Europe relies on fossil fuels, its citizens remain exposed to price shocks and geopolitical decisions made elsewhere. That exposure is a choice, and Europe can choose differently. [CleanTechnica]
• “Tens Of Thousands Evacuated As Hawk Wildfire Nears The City Of Reno” • Authorities in Nevada urged tens of thousands of people to evacuate and ordered schools to stay closed as a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bore down on Reno. About 42,000 people have been forced to evacuate and an additional 45,000 have been told to get ready to leave. [Euronews]
• “Broad Coalition Of 95 Organizations Urges Congress To Reject Attacks On Long-Standing Clean Air Protections” • A broad coalition urged Congress to reject four Congressional Review Act resolutions that would overturn long-standing Clean Air Act preemption waivers relied on by states to protect public health and air quality. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Indonesian Police Arrest 72 People Suspected Of Starting Forest Fires” • Indonesian police arrested 72 people suspected of starting recent forest and peatland fires as blazes in central and western parts of the country triggered a harmful cloud known as a choking haze. Plantation owners and traditional farmers often start fires to clear land for farming. [ABC News]

Farmland in Sumatra (ahmad hidayat, Unsplash, cropped)

• “BYD Da Han Claims Global Flagship Status” • BYD launched the new Da Han last week as a global flagship-level sedan. This is not just an evolution of the Han and BYD brand. It challenges and, in many ways, beats top models from the global premium automakers. BYD clearly has its sights set on taking the lead from legacy flagship-level sedans. [CleanTechnica]
• “Ireland Hits Solar Record As Renewables Top 30% Of July Electricity Supply” • Ireland’s power mix reached a milestone in July, with solar delivering its strongest monthly showing yet and helping renewable sources supply over 30% of the Irish electric energy. This signals a broader shift toward cleaner power that could reduce reliance on fossil fuels. [The Cool Down]
• “Maryland Announces Major Solar Energy PPA Expected To Save $300 Million” • Maryland approved a 20-year solar PPA expected to save the state hundreds of millions of dollars while expanding use of locally generated renewable energy. Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of General Services announced the agreement. [fundsforNGOs News]
• “In The American Southwest, The Water Crisis Threatens Existential Harm To Millions” • Seven US states rely on the water in the Colorado River. In 1922, those seven states agreed on how to divide up the water in the Colorado River. A lot has changed since that time, and they are drawing more water now than the river can provide. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change. 

Headline News:

• “Romania Is Falling Behind The Renewables Race. Can The EU’s Biggest Solar Farm Save It?” • The EU’s largest solar farm has taken one step closer to becoming a reality, and could soon deliver enough power for almost one million people. The Dama Solar farm, led by Rezolv Energy, will be in the northwest of Romania, near the Hungarian border. [Euronews]

Solar array (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

• “Paks Nuclear Plant Reconnects First Turbine To National Grid” • Paks turbine 6 has been successfully connected to the Hungarian electric grid and is producing increasing amounts of energy. The eight turbines are expected to be back in operation by Wednesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar said on a live television broadcast. [The Budapest Times]
• “COP17 In Mongolia: Finding Solutions To Land Degradation” • Delegates of 179 members of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification are engaging with business partners and local communities to find solutions for land degradation. The issue affects half of the world’s population, creating poverty. It is a cause of migration. [Euronews]
• “Europe’s Devastating Wildfires Unveil Deadly New Threat – Buried Bombs From WWI And WWII” • As fires burned huge areas of land in western Europe in recent months in extreme heat and droughts, firefighters have faced the additional threat of exploding shells. Explosions have been reported in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. [Euronews]
• “Red States Are Killin’ It With Their Solar Factories” • In the topsy-turvy world of US energy policy, some conservative states are pushing the solar industry envelope the hardest. Texas is one clear example, and now a startup that specializes in transportable microgrids is putting deep red South Carolina on the map with a new 1.3-GW solar factory. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Heart Aerospace Just Flew The Aviation Transition Investors Should Be Putting Billions Into” • Heart Aerospace’s X1 flew for 27 minutes from Plattsburgh International Airport, powered by just batteries. The X1 weighed over 25,000 pounds at takeoff and drew more than 1 MW at peak. Heart says the X1 is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown. [CleanTechnica]

Heart Aerospace X1 (Heart Aerospace image)

• “Parts Of Northwest Indiana Have Been Without Power For Over Ten Days” • On August 11, a storm hit the area around Gary, Indiana with winds of over 100 mph. The power went out power lines were destroyed. On Thursday, 65,000 Northwest Indiana customers are still without power. It will take until August 25 for electricity to be restored. [ABC News]
• “Torrential Rain And Flooding In Parts Of Italy” • In just a few hours, the extreme heat that had been tormenting northern Italy for weeks gave way to exceptional rainfall, flooding, and a sharp drop in temperatures. Rainfall totaled up to 250 mm (9.8 in), according to the Lombardy regional hydrometeorological and climate center. [Euronews]
• “Romania Proposes Three Black Sea Wind Sites” • Romania’s Ministry of Energy has reportedly proposed three areas in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea for offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 3.1 GW. The ministry said the first phase comprises one proposed 1.9 GW area and two of 600 MW each, all suitable for fixed foundations. [reNews]
• “Federal Government Orders Steep Colorado River Water Cuts For Three States” • The federal government had hoped the states that draw water from the Colorado River could agree on how to divvy up the water. After they failed to do so, the Department of Interior ordered cuts to the amount of water going to California, Nevada, and Arizona. [ABC News]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Germany Reports Record 14,000 Heat-Related Deaths This Year, Official Data Shows” • Germany had a record of around 14,000 heat-related deaths this summer as Europe struggled through a series of punishing heatwaves, official data showed. Around 9,600 of those deaths were recorded in one week in late June when it was over 40°C (104°F). [Euronews]

People cooling off in Berlin (Roy Zuo, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• “The Panama Canal Is To Reduce Shipping As El Niño Fuels Drought In The Lakes That Feed The Waterway” • The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month because of drought caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon, the operator of the strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific said. [Euronews]
• “How Solar Panel Prices Fell 90% In 15 Years” • Solar power is by far the world’s fastest-growing form of energy production, beating out every other form of energy on Earth in 2025. Despite the recent political pivot away from renewable energy in the largest economy in the world, solar power continues to shatter its own records. [OilPrice.com]
• “Sunrun Shifts Away From Affiliates To Direct Sales” • Sunrun has been the #1 rooftop solar power installer in the US for several years now, ever since SolarCity got swallowed up by Tesla and dwindled to a relatively low level. But that doesn’t mean Sunrun hasn’t been facing its own challenges. Now it has decided to shift more to a direct sales strategy. [CleanTechnica]
• “Princeton Critical Minerals Has Raised $16 Million To Scale Lithium Production Technologies” • Princeton Critical Minerals, a startup developing technologies to extract lithium from brine, has raised $16 million to address increasing demand for critical minerals used in energy storage, electrification, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Italian Scientists Relying On Octopuses To Get Blue Crab Populations In Check” • Italian scientists have become octopus breeders in the latest battle of a long war against invasive blue crabs. The crabs, with are estimated to have caused €200 million worth of damage to the fishing industry, thrive in waters made warmer by climate change. [Euronews]

Blue crab (WitherSweat, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

• “Europe’s Gas Prices Have Doubled, With The Worst Yet To Come” • Europe is in another summer heatwave, part of the reason the coming winter is likely to be expensive. The heat pushes up electricity demand just as drought and heat curb hydro and nuclear generation. That forces gas power plants to use gas just when it should be stored. [Euronews]
• “Hungary Targets Tenfold Expansion in Wind Power Capacity by 2030” • The government of Hungary is targeting an increase from the country’s current roughly 330 MW of installed wind capacity, which has remained largely unchanged since 2016, to at least 4,000 MW of new grid connection capacity, an analysis by Taylor Wessing shows. [Budapest Business Journal]
• “India’s Under-Construction Renewable Pipeline Surpasses 150 GW” • Rating agency ICRA expects renewable energy, including large hydropower, to account for more than 35% of India’s total electricity generation by 2029-30, up from 22% in 2024-25. The renewable energy project pipeline remains strong, with over 150 GW under construction. [pv magazine Global]
• “Famous US Automaker Faces The Music As Million-Dollar Vote Scheme Goes South” • In the run-up to Election Day 2024, Elon Musk promised to gift $1 million each to some randomly selected voters in Pennsylvania. The selection was not so random after all, and a federal judge has decided that a lawsuit seeking damages from Musk can move forward. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Record-Breaking Investment In Renewables Could Cement Canada As New Clean Energy Superpower” • Canadian officials announced plans for “the largest clean energy investment in North American history.” A total of C$70 billion ($50.43 billion) is earmarked to increase wind and hydropower generation in the eastern part of the country. [Euronews]

Shipping blades by rail (Kelisi, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped)

• “Solar Power Passes Three Terawatts!” • Solar power has passed another big milestone. Solar has reached and quickly surpassed the 3-terawatt – yes, terawatt – marker globally. That’s how much solar power is installed in the world. And the speed of adoption of solar power is expected to increase even more. BNEF expects the world will get to 9 TW by 2036. [CleanTechnica]
• “Ørsted Unveils New Taiwan Offshore Project” • Ørsted filed early paperwork for an offshore wind project of up to 2 GW in the Taiwan Strait. The project, known as Dadu 2, will cover a 234 square kilometer space 38 km off the coast of Changhua County. The Danish developer is proposing using turbines rated between 14 MW and 22 MW. [reNews]
• “Will Gas Prices Fall If Companies Build Oil Routes To Bypass The Strait Of Hormuz?” • The war with Iran pushed US gasoline prices above $4 a gallon, increased inflation, and set the stage for the midterm elections. But it could take five years to build the infrastructure necessary to replace most of the oil that passed through the Strait before the war. [ABC News]
• “Duke’s New Energy Plan For Data Centers Requires Consumer Protections Now” • Duke Energy’s latest energy plan proposes two more gas plants and extends coal plant operations based on speculative data center developments. This underscores the need for the South Carolina PSC to adopt strong consumer protection guardrails for data center development. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Looming Rock Collapse Threatens Swiss Village As Thawing Permafrost Destabilizes Alps” • An unstable mountain rock formation looming above the Swiss village of Kandersteg is threatening a landslide that could rival the one that destroyed nearby Blatten last year. Scientists linked the problem to thawing permafrost and glacier dynamics. [ABC News]

Kandersteg (Eleazar, CC BY-SA 2.0)

• “Geothermal Energy Promises Domestic Energy, But The EU Needs A Strategy” • Geothermal is one of the largest untapped sources of clean, domestic power in the EU. The Earth is hotter as you go deeper, and geothermal puts that heat to work. But developers need to put millions into exploration before they know exactly where to build a plant. [Euronews]
• “Earthjustice And Sierra Club Urge FAA To Keep Its Ban on Commercial Supersonic Flight” • Earthjustice and Sierra Club filed comments urging the Federal Aviation Administration not to repeal its long-held ban on commercial supersonic flight over land. Supersonic flight is disproportionately harmful to public health and the environment. [CleanTechnica]
• “Vestas Books 306-MW US Turbine Order” • Vestas received orders for 306 MW of turbines in the US. The orders will go to undisclosed projects. Vestas announced that it had delivered 1,129 MW of turbines in the US in the second quarter of this year, up from the 771 MW of turbines the company delivered in the same quarter last year. [reNews]
• “New Jersey Greenlights Sixteen Agrivoltaics Projects On Local Farms” • The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities voted to award sixteen projects totaling 52.06 MW in the first solicitation of its Dual-Use Pilot Agrivoltaics program. Such solar projects put PV panels above or among crops, grazing areas, or other agricultural operations. [Solar Power World]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Solar Helps ‘Stabilize’ Europe’s Grids As Heatwaves Spike Power Demand” • Solar has done some “heavy lifting” to help Europe meet its energy needs in a string of blistering heatwaves. An analysis by Ember found that solar generating in European countries rose by up to 17% on days during heatwaves in June and July, helping the grid meet demand. [Euronews]

Solar panels (American Public Power Association, Unsplash)

• “Bilfinger To Support Ocean Winds At Polish Offshore Site” • Bilfinger has been selected to provide technical advisory services during the execution phase of the 390-MW BC-Wind project in the Polish Baltic Sea for Ocean Winds. Bilfinger said that it will oversee key offshore construction activities, supporting Ocean Winds in its activities. [reNews]
• “Millions Across Europe Swelter Through A New Wave Of Extreme Temperatures” • Millions of Europeans, particularly in France, Italy, Spain, and the UK, sweltered through a new wave of extreme temperatures as the continent’s latest heatwave picked up. Parts of France went past 42°C and the UK marked the hottest day so far this year. [Euronews]
• “Solar Surpasses Wind In Global Electricity Generation For The First Time” • The latest Statistical Review of World Energy shows how dramatically the renewable landscape has changed. Solar generation has surpassed wind as a source of electricity worldwide. Hydropower remains the largest renewable source overall, but solar is growing fast. [OilPrice.com]
• “Joby Buys Defense Company For Half A Billion Dollars” • The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft startup Joby seems to have been here for ages. Like other eVTOL aircraft companies, it has been hard to know if it is going anywhere. Now, however, it turns out that Joby has enough money to buy Resonant Sciences for half a billion dollars. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Trump-Connected Greenland Energy Company Falls On Its Face” • The self-declared US firm Greenland Energy Company was all set to drill for oil in Greenland. It had no permit, but it did have a personal connection from President Donald Trump. As may be expected, the plan soon unraveled and Greenland Energy put the plan on hold. [CleanTechnica]

Pump jack (US DOE image)

• “Extreme Weather And Jellyfish Knock One-Fifth Of France’s Nuclear Capacity Offline” • France normally gets around 70% of its electricity with nuclear power. But the country is experiencing a shortfall of over 20% in nuclear power production as it was hit by environmental-related outages linked to drought, extreme heat, and an invasion of jellyfish. [Euronews]
• “How Nuclear, Gas, Wind, And Solar Power Are Affected During Heatwaves” • When temperatures soared past 40°C in parts of Europe this year, nuclear reactors shuttered, gas plants’ efficiency fell, wind speeds dropped, and electricity networks sagged. But solar power production increased because the heat came with clear skies. [CleanTechnica]
• “Nordex Lands 82-MW German Citizen Deal” • Nordex Group took orders totaling around 82 MW from EFG Energy Farming Group to supply and install twelve wind turbines for citizen wind projects in Lower Saxony. Nordex said the orders cover the Erlte-Endel project in the district of Vechta and the Bad Essen project cluster in the district of Osnabrück. [reNews]
• “What To Know About Elon Musk’s Massive $16.8 Billion Chip Factory” • Elon Musk plans to build a $16.8 billion chip factory that he says is set to be the largest building in the world. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, announced the project as chip makers worldwide ramp up production in response to a surge of demand triggered by advances in AI. [ABC News]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Heatwaves In France: Is Thermal Comfort Becoming A New Property Criterion?” • Heat is a factor during property viewings in France now, after the heatwaves of this summer. Home buyers are paying more attention to the thermal comfort of a property, evaluating its exposure, shutters, air conditioning, ventilation, and shade of nearby trees. [Euronews]

Cottage in France (Pascal Bernardon, Unsplash)

• “Jellyfish Force Shutdown Of Three Reactors At Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant” • A nuclear plant in France shut down three reactors after a swarm of jellyfish clogged pumps used to cool its reactor units, EDF said. Overfishing, plastic pollution, and warming seas due to climate change have created conditions allowing jellyfish to thrive. [Euronews]
• “Vernon Now Faces Three Futures For The Valley That Once Held Vermont’s Only Nuclear Plant” • The decommissioning task for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant went to NorthStar Group Services, in 2019. NorthStar leased the site recently to PowerTransitions, which offers three use options: a data center, a battery center, or a nuclear plant. [Energies Media]
• “UK Set For ‘Warmest Summer On Record’ As Europe Preps For Yet Another Heatwave” • The UK is on course to record its “warmest summer on record,” according to the Met Office. Provisional statistics showed that the current recorded mean temperature across the UK from 1 June to 10 August was 1.88°C (3.38°F) above the average for 1991-2020. [Euronews]
• “Federal Government Ends Support For Key Arctic Climate Report” • For two decades, NOAA’s Arctic Report Card has provided a comprehensive view of the health and changing conditions of the Arctic, where climate change is having its greatest effect. But now, the agency has announced that it will no longer sponsor the annual report. [ABC News]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Plastic Made From Sugar Can Be An Alternative To Harmful Microplastics” • A Massachusetts lab, CJ Biomaterials, ferments sugar to make plant-based polymers that microbes will consume. These alternatives to traditional plastics made of fossil fuels are seen by some as one of many solutions needed to confront global plastic pollution. [ABC News]

Plastic tableware (Alanthebox, public domain)

• “FEMA Says It’s Providing Water Trailers To Puerto Rico Amid Water Crisis” • The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that it’s providing water trailers to Puerto Rico as the island grapples with a water crisis. The trailers will be distributed for up to 30 days initially, following the Puerto Rican government’s request for federal support. [ABC News]
• “CATL Battery For Electric Aviation Passes Important Safety Test” • CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, has developed a battery for use in electric aircraft. In particular, this battery is designed for passenger eVTOL aircraft (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). The battery has now passed an important safety test in China. [CleanTechnica]
• “Drought Declared In ‘Almost Three-Quarters’ Of England, UK Government Says” • Some 71.3% of England is in drought, the UK government said. This year, the nation experienced its driest July on record, with a fifth heatwave and scant rain forecast for the week ahead. Farmers battling low crop yields warned of possible food shortages. [Euronews]
• “Drought Forces Water Restrictions Across Nearly 70% Of France, Government Says” • “As France is experiencing a particularly severe drought, the effects of climate change continue to increase pressure on water resources,” the ministry for ecological transition said, adding that “nearly 70% of French territory is subject to restrictions on water use.” [Euronews]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “AI Making Renewable Energy Generation More Reliable” • Through real-time analysis of rainfall, wind, solar conditions, and other data, an AI “commander” is making renewable energy generation in China more stable and reliably dispatchable. The model aims to help tackle challenges such as intermittency and instability facing green power output. [China Daily]

Wind turbines in Hunan (Huangdan2060, public domain)

• “Western Europe Sets New Temperature Record As Heat Waves Continue To Pummel Region” • Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July on record as climate change fuels an historic summer of heat, drought, and wildfires across the region, the EU’s global warming monitor said. Europe is warming faster than any other continent. [Euronews]
• “Cadeler In €805 Million Deal For Two New Installation Vessels” • Cadeler signed firm contracts with COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard for two new T-class offshore wind installation vessels for about €805 million together. Cadeler said the vessels will be built at the shipyard in Qidong, China, with delivery scheduled for 2030 and 2031. [reNews]
• “As Extreme Heat Spreads To The Midwest, The East Coast Remains Hot And Sticky” • Continuing high temperatures in Colorado caused 72 people to be treated for heat-related illnesses at the Tacos and Tequila festival in Colorado Springs, including seven who had to be hospitalized, the Colorado Springs Fire Department said. [ABC News]
• “Are Heat Domes Getting More Common In North America?” • Yes. The number of heat domes in North America has increased every year since 1940, a study found. The rise in heat domes comes with an increase in extreme heat due to human-caused climate change. Their number in northwestern North America is projected nearly to double by 2080. [The Colorado Sun]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Wildfire Smoke Poses Growing Risk To Pregnant Women As Climate Change Worsens” • A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Health tracked exposure to fine particulate matter from US wildfires from 2003 to 2019. It found that emissions from transport and industry fell in that time, smoke from wildfires offsets some of the gains. [Euronews]

Statue of Liberty in a smoky sundown (Chris Barbalis, Unsplash)

• “World’s Largest 12.8-GWh Battery Storage Cluster Activated in China” • Sources at Envision told Cleantechnica that its 4-GWh flagship plant could very well be “the world’s largest single-site electro-chemical energy storage facility.” It serves as the central anchor for a network of energy storage installations distributed across energy production centers. [CleanTechnica]
• “Renewable Energy Equipment Now Duty-Free for Import in Cuba” • A range of renewable energy components, including solar panels, transformers, lithium-ion batteries, and other batteries, can now be imported into Cuba without incurring customs duties. The plan is for this exemption to be in effect until December 31, 2027. [CubaHeadlines]
• “Harvesting Rainwater From Rooftops Could Cut The Number Of Heatwave Days And Reduce AC Reliance” • Rooftop rainwater could be a secret weapon to address urban heat. Researchers at The University of Manchester modeled capturing rainwater from rooftops and spraying it onto buildings during hot weather, reducing a need for air conditioning. [Euronews]
• “Twenty Thousand Flee Wildfires As British Columbia Declares State Of Emergency” • British Columbia has declared a state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than twenty thousand people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada. Dozens of them were rescued by aircraft. [ABC News]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “US Battery Storage Capacity Averaged 70% Growth Over The Last Three Years” • Battery storage capacity in the US grew a lot over the last three years, with an annual average growth rate of 70%. By the end of 2025, the US had battery storage capacity of 43.6 GW operating. Over the first six months of 2026, operators added another 8.3 GW. [CleanTechnica]

Growth in utility batteries (EIA image)

• “Wildfires Keep Raging As Europe Swelters Under Extreme Heat” • Firefighters were battling multiple wildfires in Serbia on Friday, as temperatures remain extremely high. Serbia was not the only country affected, however. Days of extreme heat with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) fueled wildfires in several Balkan countries. [Euronews]
• “Rising Temperatures Could Keep More Flights From Taking Off On Time” • Airline passengers know to expect possible flight delays when forecasts call for rough weather. But extreme heat also disrupts flights. On the hottest days, thinner air can make it harder for aircraft to get off the ground safely. Airlines might even remove passengers to save weight. [ABC News]
• “California Produced Over Half Its May Electricity From Solar, A World Record” • California hit a major milestone in May, with over half its electricity coming from the sun. It is believed to be a global first, according to analysis from Ember. And in the first five months of 2026, California made more electricity from solar than from natural gas. [Arizona Daily Sun]
• “New Hampshire Law Empowers Homeowners With ‘Balcony’ Solar Panels” • A state law set to go into effect on January 1, 2027, gives Granite Staters an ability to install so-called “balcony solar” panels. DIY solar power users still need to do their homework to understand the technology, safety requirements, the potential for their home, and possible limits. [NH Business Review]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Headline News:

• “Europe’s Electricity Prices Spike To €500/MWh” • Intense heat waves are threatening energy security across Europe. A scorching, arid summer is causing high electricity demand for air conditioning just as rivers warm up and dry out. For nuclear and hydropower the consequences are devastating, with prices rising to €500/MWh ($576/MWh). [OilPricecom]

Nuclear plant (Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

• “How Europe’s Drought Exposes ‘Weakness Of Fossil Fuels’ As Poland Is Forced To Shut Down Coal Plants” • Polish utility giant Enea has had to reduce generation at two coal-fired power plants after critically low water levels in the Vistula River limited the cooling water supplies. The move is said to have removed 1.3 GW from Poland’s power system. [Euronews]
• “Trump Administration To Pay $1.22 Billion To Cancel RWE Offshore Wind Leases” • The US will pay German energy firm RWE $1.22 billion to cancel its offshore wind leases off New York, California, and Louisiana. “After careful consideration, it was determined there is no path forward to permit these projects in the US for the foreseeable future,” RWE said. [Euronews]
• “The Ford Fathom Is Here” • Finding a truck for less than $30,000 is nearly impossible in this market, but Ford Motor is betting that cash-strapped Americans will sign up to buy its all-new Fathom. It is an electric midsize pickup with a starting price of $28,350. Ford said it will be the first vehicle to be produced on its Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. [ABC News]
• “Court Overturns Trump Administration’s Wind Pause” • The US District Court for the District of Oregon has ruled in favor of clean energy developers. Judge Karin Immergut, who is a Trump appointee, ruled that DOD’s wind project review freeze “violates statutory and regulatory deadlines” and ordered DOD to resume review of onshore wind projects. [CleanTechnica]

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Headline News:

• “Short-Haul Electric Flights Could Be A European Reality In Less Than Four Years” • European travelers could take electric flights on some of the continent’s most popular routes by the early 2030s, thanks to rapid advancements in tech. Electric and hybrid flights would make short-haul travel more sustainable, and less dependent on imported fuel. [Euronews]

Electric airplane (Elysian Aircraft image)

• “Cause Determined In The Deadly 2025 Eaton Fire” • The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released a report on the 2025 Eaton Fire. It said the fire was caused by electrical arcing events that took place on a Southern California Edison tower that was out of service. The fire killed 19 people. [ABC News]
• “Climate Change Is Rewriting Europe’s Nuclear Cooling Assumptions” • Romania is redirecting the Danube to get water to one of its four nuclear reactors could keep going for at least two extra days. France had to constrain twelve of its reactors. Switzerland and Hungary have reactors offline. Climate change has effects on nuclear power. [CleanTechnica]
• “Solar Power Is Portugal’s Main Source Of Electricity In July For The First Time” • Last month, renewable sources accounted for 53% of consumption, with solar providing 19% of that energy, followed by hydro (16%), wind (13%) and biomass (5%). Solar power was, for the first time, the main source of electricity for the country. [Euronews]
• “In A First, Utah Got More Power From Solar Than Any Other Source” • Utah’s solar generation eclipsed all other electricity sources for the first time ever in May, after a slow but steady years-long shift away from coal. Energy experts are calling it a win for the environment and the state’s economy. PV panels in Utah produced nearly 1 TWh in May 2026. [Yahoo]

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Headline News:

• “The Elusive Dream Of Solar Powered EVs Is Not So Elusive After All” • The pursuit of solar-powered EVs has discouraged more than one would-be automaker, but the US startup Aptera has a unique angle. Instead of pitching four-wheeled passenger cars decked out in solar panels, the company has kept the solar panels and removed one wheel. [CleanTechnica]

Aptera (Aptera image)

• “Europe’s Hydropower Nears ‘All-Time-Low’ As Summer Drought Worsens” • Hydropower in the Alpine region is “close to an all-time low,” as Europe’s summer drought worsens. Fueled by climate change, back-to-back heatwaves and scant rainfall have left much of the continent parched. Concerns go beyond energy to food shortages and wildfires. [Euronews]
• “Five Amazon Countries Arrest Hundreds In Major Crackdown On Environmental Crime” • Police from Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru have arrested hundreds of people and seized timber, minerals, and thousands of livestock in one of the largest coordinated crackdowns on environmental crime ever carried out in the world’s largest rainforest. [ABC News]
• “As The Stock Market Soars, European Central Bank Warns Climate Change Threatens Global Economy” • As wildfires are devastating almost every continent and water levels are too low to cool some nuclear power plants, stocks in New York hit an all time high, fueled by a belief that AI will lead to unimaginable abundance. But ECB is assessing damage. [CleanTechnica]
• “Remote Mining Proves Australia’s High-Renewables Energy Future” • Remote mining operations in Australia are showing several off-grid industrial sites are consistently operating at renewable energy penetration rates above 80%, according to Zenith Energy. Mining companies are increasingly investing in hybrid energy systems. [Mining.com.au]

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