California now has 50% more EV chargers than gas pumps

While not a panacea, electric vehicles are important. California says it's hit an important milestone in the transition to EVs:

178,549 public/shared EV chargers are now available statewide – 48% more than the 120,000 gas nozzles. 26% of cars sold in California were plug-in hybrids or battery EVs. That will be legally required to be 100% by 2035.

"The California EV driver experience is getting better by the day," California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild says. "The state will continue to heavily invest in EV infrastructure, with particular emphasis in hard-to-reach areas, making these vehicles an easy choice for new car buyers."

Longtime car blog Jalopnik has good coverage and comments.

And now, our daily summaries of nearly 200 selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (12 stories) - Starbucks' tree initiative aids coffee farmers; Japanese farmers protest; Verley launches dairy proteins; CAFO concerns; Plenty (vertical farming) bankruptcy; CGIAR's food system research; honeybee threats; MK-V electric tractor; farmer economic hardship.

  
  

• Carbon (5 stories) - Planetary Technologies reports carbon removal milestones; new carbon-negative building material; UK emissions fall 4%; sea ice at record lows.

  
  

• Circular (8 stories) - Guterres targets fast fashion; Swan warns on EDCs; Holly stresses e-waste; Colgate-Palmolive tests NoPalm oil; gener8tor, BEAM Circular, and Cox Cleantech accelerate cleantech.

  
  

• Ecosystems (29 stories) - Southern Resident orcas, pink river dolphins, sunflower sea stars, eelgrass meadows, and thresher sharks among species impacted by Eaton Fire, DRC conflict, plastic pollution, dams, and illegal wildlife trade; new killifish discovered in Kenya; beaver protections advance in Oregon; studies on forest stability, soil moisture, and North American pollinators; Windermere sewage, Oder Delta rewilding, Antarctic cooling trend, South Korea wildfire, and Melbourne Pollinator Corridor highlight ecosystem changes; SOCAN, Center for Biological Diversity, Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy, and Australia's Labor Environment Action Network involved in conservation efforts.

  
  

• Efficiency (5 stories) - Vilisto launches hydronic balancing software; Duke Energy Ohio withdraws efficiency plan; Electrification + insulation beats "fabric first" for building decarbonization; Fire-resistant building costs hinder wildfire resilience.

  
  

• Finance (8 stories) - SEC abandons climate rule defense; Elliott pressures RWE on renewables; InnoEnergy targets €160B clean tech investment; ISSB launches reporting tool; Equifax UK unveils emissions calculator.

  
  

• Grid (22 stories) - Ausgrid, distributed networks, and PJM Interconnection focus on grid integration of renewables and storage; GridPoint, ASCE, and EPRI address grid resilience and upgrades; AI and 5G solutions from Honeywell/Verizon, LineVision, and others optimize grid management; FERC, Utah lawmakers, and Georgia Power grapple with data center power demands and costs; nuclear power and SMRs re-emerge as potential solutions.

  
  

• Indigenous (5 stories) - Grijalva's environmental legacy, First Nations clean energy leadership training in Australia, Lana's cultural preservation, Munduruku's fight against extractive industries, and various Indigenous rights issues.

  
  

• Industry (6 stories) - British Steel rejects UK green steel funding; GravitHy secures $65M for low-carbon iron plant; Microsoft cancels data center leases; Tire industry deforestation concerns; Mining water management practices.

  
  

• Policy (56 stories) - Clean RIDES Network, EDF, LiveEO & ACTUM Digital launch initiatives; Trump EPA & administration face legal challenges and criticism for environmental rollbacks impacting clean air, water, and energy; Global policy discussions focus on IRA, EUDR, CSRD, Paris Agreement, and climate finance goals; Just Stop Oil ends UK protests.

  
  

• Renewables (29 stories) - JinkoSolar ships record 99.59 GW of modules; Sungrow hosts ESS Experience Day & receives JET certification; LONGi advocates for China-Australia collaboration; AIKO & Windon partner for Nordic solar; US corporate clean energy procurement tops 100 GW; DOE cancels clean energy projects; Australian government approves solar + storage; RayGen develops new long-duration storage; Vattenfall abandons wood pellet plant; RMI empowers women in sub-Saharan Africa clean energy.

  
  

• Transport (11 stories) - ZeroAvia, H55, and Solar Impulse advance electric aviation; faster EV charging with 3D current collectors; San José approves autonomous transit; Hyundai expands EV production; XPENG showcases AI-powered EVs; GMC expands Sierra EV lineup; Rivian spins off micromobility venture "Also"; UK promotes hydrogen transport.

Agriculture

Starbucks' tree initiative aids coffee farmers; Japanese farmers protest; Verley launches dairy proteins; CAFO concerns; Plenty (vertical farming) bankruptcy; CGIAR's food system research; honeybee threats; MK-V electric tractor; farmer economic hardship.

• ‘We’re just trying to adapt’: Coffee farmers face down climate change (Conservation.org) - Guatemalan and Salvadoran coffee farmers are adapting to climate change by planting climate-resilient coffee varieties, using traditional soil erosion control methods, and participating in Starbucks' 100 million trees initiative.

• Japan: Peasant Movements and Consumer Groups Plan Tractor Rally on March 30 to Highlight the Agrarian Crisis (ViaCampesina) - Japanese peasant unions and consumer groups plan a tractor rally in Tokyo on March 30, 2025, to protest the country's agrarian crisis, highlighting issues such as low rice prices, earthquake recovery delays, rising production costs, and declining food self-sufficiency.

• Bon Vivant rebrands to Verley, unveils ‘world’s first’ functionalized recombinant dairy proteins (AgFunderNews) - Verley (formerly Bon Vivant) launches "functionalized" recombinant dairy proteins with improved heat stability and gelling properties for enhanced food applications and clean labels.

• What are CAFOs? (Friends of the Earth) - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), also known as factory farms, raise large numbers of livestock in confined spaces, leading to ethical, environmental, and public health concerns.

• Plenty, an autopsy: It promised the moon, but plants don’t run on pitch decks, say experts (AgFunderNews) - Vertical farming company Plenty, backed by Bezos, files for bankruptcy after failing to meet its ambitious goals, highlighting the clash between Silicon Valley’s rapid-growth ethos and the realities of agriculture.

• Spring Has Sprung… 🌱 (Faircado) - Spring gardening guide offers tips for indoor and outdoor planting, from herbs to vegetables, and emphasizes bee-friendly wildflowers.

• Redcatch Community garden meets growing needs in Knowle (Bristol Energy Cooperative) - Redcatch Community Garden in Knowle thrives by connecting people through food growing, cooking, and sharing, overcoming challenges through community support and partnerships to fund diverse programs and sustainable infrastructure.

• Strategy session: Food Frontiers and Security (CGIAR) - CGIAR's 2025-2030 portfolio focuses on research and innovation to address challenges faced by fragile food systems, collaborating with partners to integrate local knowledge with scientific research for sustainable and equitable food systems.

• Indiscriminate pesticide use threatens Bangladesh honeybees (Mongabay) - Indiscriminate insecticide use, particularly neonicotinoids, threatens honeybee populations in Bangladesh.

• Ramping Up for Spring Ops in Vineyards with the MK-V Electric Tractor (Monarch Tractor) - The MK-V electric tractor assists vineyards with spring operations like powering tools, mowing, and ripping, offering exportable power, automated row following, and reduced emissions.

• Farmers need support to survive this economic squeeze (EDF) - Farmers are facing economic hardship due to high input costs, low commodity prices, and policy uncertainty, necessitating support from business partners and long-term federal programs for resilience.

• The science of a handclap 👏 (CALS Snapshot) - Cornell University researchers used high-speed cameras to measure the forces involved in a handclap, with potential applications in bioacoustics and personal identification, while other experts investigate unprecedented honeybee colony losses.

Carbon

Planetary Technologies reports carbon removal milestones; new carbon-negative building material; UK emissions fall 4%; sea ice at record lows.

• Polar sea ice continues steep decline; but will a troubled world notice? (Mongabay) - Arctic and Antarctic sea ice reached record and near-record lows, raising concerns about accelerated global warming and ecosystem disruption.

• 2024 Impact Report: A Year of Milestones (Planetary Technologies) - Planetary Technologies' 2024 Impact Report highlights milestones in carbon removal research, community partnerships, and scaling ocean-based carbon removal efforts.

• By zapping seawater with electricity, scientists make a solid carbon-negative building material (Anthropocene Magazine) - Researchers have developed a carbon-negative method for creating building materials by using electrolysis to convert carbon dioxide in seawater into solid minerals.

• UK carbon emissions fell by 4% in 2024, official figures show (The Guardian) - UK carbon emissions decreased 4% in 2024 due to reduced gas and coal use in electricity and industry, but transport remains the largest emissions source.

• Weatherwatch: Could global heating wreak havoc on Earth’s satellites? (Guardian) - Climate change is cooling and contracting the thermosphere, reducing atmospheric drag and increasing the risk of satellite collisions.

Circular

Guterres targets fast fashion; Swan warns on EDCs; Holly stresses e-waste; Colgate-Palmolive tests NoPalm oil; gener8tor, BEAM Circular, and Cox Cleantech accelerate cleantech.

• Fast fashion fuelling global waste crisis, UN chief warns (UN News) - UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that the fast fashion industry is accelerating an environmental catastrophe, contributing to massive waste and pollution while urging for sustainable practices and zero-waste initiatives.

• Is Plastic Making Your Sperm Decline? Dr. Shanna Swan Answers at Moms’ Plastic Summit on April 3 (Moms Clean Air Force) - Environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan emphasizes the impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics on human health, particularly sperm count, and advocates for safer product alternatives.

• Circular economy updates from North America (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) - North America Lead Danielle Holly emphasizes the growing e-waste problem, highlighting the vast amount of valuable materials lost and the need for circular economy solutions in the electronics sector.

• the New York times: Care About Food Waste? In Massachusetts, You Can Be a Compost Consultant. (CET) - Massachusetts offers businesses compost consulting services to help them comply with state regulations requiring food waste reduction.

• What Are The Benefits Of Using Eco-Friendly Products In Your Daily Life? (EcoSoul Home) - Eco-friendly products offer numerous benefits, including environmental advantages (reduced reliance on non-renewable resources, less pollution), health benefits (toxin-free composition), and cost savings (durability and reusability).

• Colgate-Palmolive and NoPalm Ingredients Join Forces to Bring Fermentation-Based Soap Bars to Life (NoPalm Ingredients) - Colgate-Palmolive partners with NoPalm Ingredients to test the use of their fermentation-based, upcycled oil in soap bars at a pre-industrial scale.

• Dear Dot: Is Vegan Leather a More Ethical Fashion Choice? (Bluedot Living) - Vegan leather, often marketed as a sustainable alternative to traditional leather, presents a complex environmental dilemma with varying impacts depending on the source material (apple peels, pineapple leaves, cacti, etc.) and manufacturing processes.

• gener8tor Sustainability March Newsletter | Innovating for a better tomorrow (gener8tor) - Market forces drive clean energy transition as gener8tor's portfolio companies develop commercially viable solutions and the BEAM Circular and Cox Cleantech Accelerator programs launch with cohorts focused on sustainable materials, resource recovery, and AI-driven reporting.

Ecosystems

Southern Resident orcas, pink river dolphins, sunflower sea stars, eelgrass meadows, and thresher sharks among species impacted by Eaton Fire, DRC conflict, plastic pollution, dams, and illegal wildlife trade; new killifish discovered in Kenya; beaver protections advance in Oregon; studies on forest stability, soil moisture, and North American pollinators; Windermere sewage, Oder Delta rewilding, Antarctic cooling trend, South Korea wildfire, and Melbourne Pollinator Corridor highlight ecosystem changes; SOCAN, Center for Biological Diversity, Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy, and Australia's Labor Environment Action Network involved in conservation efforts.

• Altadena: Four Stories (Places Journal) - Four Altadena residents share personal stories and photographs reflecting the impact of the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed over 9,000 buildings.

• The untold environmental toll of the DRC’s conflict (Mongabay) - Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is driving deforestation, impacting conservation efforts in national parks, and fueling illegal resource extraction.

• Community-based conservation cuts thresher shark fishing by 91% in Indonesia: Study (Mongabay) - Community-based conservation efforts in Indonesia, providing alternative incomes, cut thresher shark fishing by 91%.

• Locals debunk myths linking endangered pink river dolphins to ‘love perfumes’ (Mongabay) - Indigenous communities and conservationists in the Peruvian Amazon are working to debunk myths linking endangered pink river dolphins to “love perfumes,” which are fueling the illegal trade of dolphin parts.

• Southern Resident orcas spotted along the Oregon Coast (Environment America) - An endangered L Pod of Southern Resident orcas were sighted off the Oregon Coast, likely searching for dwindling Chinook salmon populations impacted by dams.

• New research suggests sunflower sea stars are negatively impacted by plastic pollution (Environment America) - A new study links plastic microfiber pollution to the decline of sunflower sea stars in the Pacific Northwest, exacerbating the existing threat of Sea Star Wasting Disease and impacting kelp forest ecosystems.

• Oregon bill supporting eelgrass meadows passes its first legislative hurdle (Environment America) - An Oregon bill passed its first legislative hurdle, aiming to protect and restore declining eelgrass meadows, vital for coastal ecosystems, carbon sequestration, and mitigating climate change impacts.

• New documentary showcases cross-border rewilding efforts in the Oder Delta (Rewilding Europe) - A new documentary showcases cross-border rewilding efforts in the Oder Delta, highlighting collaborative projects between Germany and Poland to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.

• Ecological disruptions are a risk to national security (The Conversation) - Ecological disruptions, such as overfishing, zoonotic disease outbreaks, and environmental crime, pose national security risks by causing social and political instability, economic strife, and strained international relations.

• Global soil moisture in ‘permanent’ decline due to climate change (CarbonBrief) - Global soil moisture has declined since 2000 due to a warming atmosphere and shifting rainfall patterns, potentially marking a permanent shift in the water cycle and increasing drought severity.

• SOCAN Testimony Supporting HB3932 (SOCAN) - Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) testifies in support of HB3932, which protects beavers for their role in biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience.

• Forest stability: A marker of our oldest, strongest forests (Woodwell Climate) - Researchers have developed a "forest stability" index using satellite data to map and quantify the resistance of primary forests to disturbances, aiding in prioritizing forest protection and restoration efforts.

• Earth’s Land Masses Are Drying Out Fast, Scientists Warn (Inside Climate News) - Scientists warn that Earth's land masses are drying out at an alarming rate, impacting the planet's spin and potentially leading to irreversible changes in the global water cycle.

• What Can Be Done To Save Pollinators From Extinction? (CleanTechnica) - A new study reveals that over 22% of North American native pollinators are at risk of extinction due to habitat degradation, pollution, pesticides, and climate change, impacting ecosystems and food security.

• ‘The nation is watching’: sewage dumps in Windermere must end, says activist (The Guardian) - Windermere, England's largest lake, faces ecological damage from 6,327 hours of raw sewage discharge in 2024, prompting calls for an end to pollution from United Utilities treatment works.

• A Path for Pollinators (Bluedot Living) - The Melbourne Pollinator Corridor project, founded by Emma Cutting, transforms overlooked urban spaces into interconnected pollinator gardens, creating a five-mile haven for bees and butterflies.

• Melting ice, more rain drive Southern Ocean cooling (ScienceDaily) - Increased meltwater and rain around Antarctica are causing a cooling trend in the Southern Ocean by creating a less dense surface layer that limits mixing with warmer waters below, contrary to climate model predictions.

• Expert says climate change behind South Korea's worst wildfires on record – video (The Guardian) - Experts attribute South Korea's largest wildfire on record to climate change, citing decreased rainfall, increased temperatures, and stronger winds.

• 🚀 🌱Now live: The Nature Tech Biodiversity Sector Map!  (Nature Tech Collective) - A new interactive map showcases 600+ organizations driving biodiversity innovation, aiming to improve collaboration and understanding of the tech landscape for practitioners, funders, and policymakers.

• Hit the streets to tell Trump: Hands off wildlife (BiologicalDiversity.org) - The Center for Biological Diversity is organizing nationwide rallies on April 5th to protest the Trump administration's environmental policies and defend endangered species and public lands.

• Famous bonobo Kanzi, known for smarts & gaming, dies at age 44 (Mongabay) - Kanzi, a renowned bonobo known for his communication skills and ability to play games like Minecraft, died at age 44.

• Researchers find new killifish species in Kenya (Mongabay) - Researchers discovered a new killifish species, Nothobranchius sylvaticus, in Kenya's Gongoni Forest, highlighting the need for conservation efforts due to its restricted habitat.

• Small but feisty: the clever cuttlefish that changes colour to bedazzle predators (The Guardian) - The flamboyant cuttlefish, a small but venomous cephalopod, uses dazzling colour changes and hypnotic arm movements to bedazzle predators rather than flee.

• Exploring India, finding new species: Interview with biologist Zeeshan Mirza (Mongabay) - Indian biologist Zeeshan Mirza has discovered over 60 new species in India, highlighting the biodiversity of the Western Ghats and Himalayas while emphasizing conservation challenges from human encroachment and the illegal pet trade.

• Mongabay Webinar: How To Cover Wildlife Corridors (Mongabay) - A webinar will guide journalists on reporting about wildlife corridors, crucial habitat strips connecting ecosystems, and their role in law, policy, and conservation.

• DEADLINE: Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy — A Fellowship for Journalists (SEJ) - The Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) fellowship program offers US-based, mid-career journalists a three-month opportunity to explore the intersection of ocean governance, social justice, and equity.

• Labor’s grassroots environmental group dismayed by rushed bill protecting salmon industry (The Guardian) - Australia's Labor Environment Action Network criticizes the government's rushed bill protecting Tasmanian salmon farming, citing concerns about its impact on endangered species and environmental assessments.

• In the hills of Italy, wolves returned from the brink. Then the poisonings began (The Guardian) - Relaxed EU wolf protections in Italy lead to increased poisonings, raising concerns among conservationists about vigilante actions and highlighting the complex conflict between farmers and returning wolf populations.

• How corroding sea structures can provide vital habitats for marine life (The Conversation) - Corroding sea structures, while seemingly negative, create beneficial habitats for marine life by providing textured surfaces for larval attachment and fostering interconnected ecosystems.

Efficiency

Vilisto launches hydronic balancing software; Duke Energy Ohio withdraws efficiency plan; Electrification + insulation beats "fabric first" for building decarbonization; Fire-resistant building costs hinder wildfire resilience.

• Burned Homes Can Be Rebuilt More Resilient to Wildfires, but Many Homeowners Can’t Afford the Price (Inside Climate News) - Rebuilding homes with fire-resistant materials after wildfires offers increased resilience, but high costs pose a barrier for many homeowners, highlighting the need for community-wide fireproofing strategies.

• The “Fabric First” Trap: Decades Of Studies Show Electrification Wins Every Time (CleanTechnica) - Studies over decades show that electrifying buildings, paired with moderate insulation, is more effective for decarbonization than focusing primarily on insulation retrofits ("fabric first").

• Ohio utility retracts energy-efficiency plan despite potential savings (Canary Media) - Duke Energy Ohio withdrew a proposed energy-efficiency plan that would have saved customers $126 million, due to a settlement excluding non-low-income customers from the program.

• Another setback for energy efficiency in Ohio (Canary Media) - Ohio's efforts to restore utility-run energy efficiency programs suffer another setback as Duke Energy Ohio retracts its plan, leaving regulators to consider a smaller, low-income-focused alternative.

• vilisto launches new software for intelligent hydronic balancing (SET Ventures) - Vilisto launches software for automated hydronic balancing in buildings, improving heating efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Finance

SEC abandons climate rule defense; Elliott pressures RWE on renewables; InnoEnergy targets €160B clean tech investment; ISSB launches reporting tool; Equifax UK unveils emissions calculator.

• Solutions Series: Money (350.org) - Governments and banks continue to fund fossil fuels despite their contribution to the climate crisis, necessitating a shift towards renewable energy finance to support a just transition.

• SEC Drops Court Defense of Its Climate Risk Disclosure Rule (EDF) - The SEC has decided not to defend its climate risk disclosure rule, which mandates large corporations to disclose climate-related financial risks to investors, in court.

• Fossil fuel activist investor claims another win as it steers energy giants away from renewables (RenewEconomy) - Activist investor Elliott Investment Management pressures German utility RWE to reduce renewable energy investments in favor of share buybacks, following similar actions targeting BP's green energy pivot.

• Better access to banks can help Latinos recover after disasters (Yale Climate Connections) - Lack of access to traditional banking, due to systemic barriers including limited branch access, language barriers, and distrust in institutions, makes Latino communities more vulnerable to climate disasters and hinders recovery.

• InnoEnergy “Muscling Up” to Mobilize €160 Billion in Clean Tech Investments by 2030 (ESG Today) - InnoEnergy aims to mobilize €160 billion in clean tech investments by 2030, focusing on early-stage companies and expanding into new sectors like batteries, solar PV, green hydrogen, and fertilizers.

• ISSB Launches New Roadmap Tool to Help Jurisdictions Adopt Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESG Today) - The IFRS Foundation's International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) launched a new tool to help jurisdictions adopt its sustainability reporting standards.

• Dry powder ready for “resilient” European agrifoodtech as funding returns to 2020 levels (AgFunderNews) - European agrifoodtech funding, while down 29% in 2024, shows signs of recovery with a focus on resilience and "critical foodtech" amidst geopolitical and climate change concerns.

• Equifax Launches Financed Emissions Calculator (ESG Today) - Equifax UK launched a Financed Emissions Calculator, in partnership with CienDos, to help financial institutions automate, measure, and track financed emissions for streamlined sustainability reporting.

Grid

Ausgrid, distributed networks, and PJM Interconnection focus on grid integration of renewables and storage; GridPoint, ASCE, and EPRI address grid resilience and upgrades; AI and 5G solutions from Honeywell/Verizon, LineVision, and others optimize grid management; FERC, Utah lawmakers, and Georgia Power grapple with data center power demands and costs; nuclear power and SMRs re-emerge as potential solutions.

• Energy Insiders Podcast: A cheaper way to host wind and solar (RenewEconomy) - Ausgrid is developing its own independent system operator (ISP) to manage increasing wind and solar connections and battery storage on local networks.

• “Missing middle:” Local networks say they can host wind and solar at fraction of cost of new transmission (RenewEconomy) - Australian distributed electricity networks argue they can host significantly more renewable energy capacity at a lower cost than new transmission lines, proposing a "distributed ISP" to integrate their potential into national energy planning.

• Do eight-hour big batteries stack up? One developer says it’s tough enough to fund projects half the size (RenewEconomy) - Australian energy storage developers find financing four-hour battery projects challenging, while eight-hour systems raise further questions about commercial viability.

• An AI dispatch from Distributech (Latitude Media) - At Distributech, the electricity transmission and distribution conference, AI's role in grid management and resilience was a key theme, with discussions on its impact, integration challenges, and new product rollouts.

• Nuclear-Powered Data Centers—What U.S. Developers Need to Know (Powermag.com) - U.S. nuclear power plants are attracting data centers seeking reliable, low-carbon electricity, prompting regulatory reviews of grid impacts and cost allocation by FERC.

• Heathrow Airport Transformer Fire Prompts Urgent Inquiry, Exposes Cracks in Grid Resilience (POWER) - A transformer fire at Heathrow Airport's North Hyde substation caused widespread outages, prompting an inquiry into the UK's grid resilience and aging infrastructure.

• GridPoint Raises $45 Million to Expand Platform to Decarbonize Buildings, Stabilize Grids (ESG Today) - GridPoint secures $45 million to expand its building energy management platform, aiming to decarbonize commercial buildings and enhance grid stability amidst rising electricity demand.

• US energy infrastructure gets a D+ from American Society of Civil Engineers (Utility Dive) - The American Society of Civil Engineers gave US energy infrastructure a D+ grade due to aging grid vulnerabilities, including transformer shortages, severe weather impacts, and insufficient transmission capacity amid rising demand from EVs and data centers.

• Outsmarting outages: AI predicts disruptions before they happen (Utility Dive) - AI-powered predictive models are helping utilities proactively prevent outages by integrating diverse data sources like weather patterns and vegetation management insights.

• Changes are coming to Rocky Mountain Power’s contracts with AI centers, but not its rate structure (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) - Utah lawmakers are revising Rocky Mountain Power's contracts with large-load customers like AI centers to protect existing ratepayers from cost increases, but the utility's rate structure remains unchanged.

• Georgia Power rolls out new long-term plan, red carpet for more data centers (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Georgia Power's long-term energy plan anticipates increased data center demands, focusing on grid expansion, renewables, and existing energy sources amidst criticism over cost and environmental impact.

• Impact of Location and Optimization on Maximizing BESS Revenue (Gridmatic) - Battery energy storage system (BESS) revenue depends significantly on location and bidding optimization strategies, with performance varying widely even within the same grid zone, highlighting the importance of advanced forecasting and AI-powered optimization.

• HI Group Expands Smart Energy Solutions with GridBeyond (GridBeyond) - HI Group partners with GridBeyond to enhance its energy management services, enabling businesses to generate revenue from surplus energy and accelerate their transition to net zero.

• Honeywell smart meters get Verizon 5G connectivity (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Honeywell partnered with Verizon to integrate 5G connectivity into smart meters, enabling real-time data access for utilities and consumers to optimize energy management and grid stability.

• LineVision unveils new enhancements to its situational awareness platform at DISTRIBUTECH (RenewableEnergyWorld) - LineVision upgrades its LineAware platform with hyper-local wind data to improve wildfire risk mitigation for utilities.

• MEPPI subsidiary and Clean Power Research launch streamlined DER management integration at DISTRIBUTECH (RenewableEnergyWorld) - MEPPI subsidiary Smarter Grid Solutions and Clean Power Research integrate their DERMS and interconnection platforms to streamline DER asset registration and control for utilities.

• Clean Power Research, Envelio announce new interconnection workflow partnership at DISTRIBUTECH (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Clean Power Research and envelio partner to integrate their software solutions, PowerClerk and Intelligent Grid Platform, to automate and improve utility grid interconnection processes for distributed energy resources.

• A new consortium brings together energy companies, tech giants to create open AI model for the power sector (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) - A new consortium of energy companies and tech giants, led by EPRI and Microsoft, aims to develop an open AI model for the power sector to enhance grid reliability and efficiency.

• Here’s how Siemens Energy is thinking about cybersecurity for the grid (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Siemens Energy emphasizes cybersecurity solutions for evolving power grids, addressing vulnerabilities arising from increasing complexity and the transition to greenfield technologies.

• The potential for flexible data centers (Catalyst) - A new study finds that up to 98 GW of new data center load could be added to the US grid if data centers curtailed just 0.5% of their annual load to avoid peak demand.

• PJM fast-track interconnection process draws 26.6 GW in proposals (Utility Dive) - PJM Interconnection's fast-track initiative for grid reliability drew 94 applications totaling 26.6 GW of proposed power projects, including new and upgraded nuclear, natural gas, and battery storage.

• Nation’s First Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Could Come to Michigan in 2030 (Inside Climate News) - Michigan may host the first US commercial small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) by 2030, pending NRC approval, at the Palisades nuclear plant site, raising questions about cost, safety, and waste disposal despite proponents' claims of faster construction and lower expenses.

Indigenous

Grijalva's environmental legacy, First Nations clean energy leadership training in Australia, Lana's cultural preservation, Munduruku's fight against extractive industries, and various Indigenous rights issues.

• Honoring the Legacy of Rep. Raúl Grijalva (7 Directions of Service) - Rep. Raúl Grijalva's legacy is honored for his environmental advocacy and work protecting Indigenous sacred sites.

• First Powering Up workshop delivered to First Nations in Western Australia (First Nations Clean Energy Network) - A workshop in Geraldton, Western Australia, empowered 25 First Nations leaders with knowledge and strategies to engage in clean energy development.

• Luiz Lana: guardião da memória e tradição Desana (ISA) - Luiz Lana, a Desana leader, artist, and author of "Before the World Didn't Exist," the first Indigenous-authored book in Brazil, passed away, leaving a legacy of preserving and sharing Desana culture and advocating for Indigenous rights.

• Militant Mothers of the Movement: Meet Maria Leusa Munduruku (Amazon Watch) - Maria Leusa Munduruku, a Munduruku mother, law student, and co-founder of the Wakoborũn Women’s Association, leads the fight against extractive industries and the Marco Temporal thesis threatening Indigenous land rights in the Brazilian Amazon.

• March Enews: Energy Transfer vs. Greenpeace Ruling Has Implications for All (Cultural Survival) - This newsletter discusses a variety of Indigenous rights issues including a North Dakota jury's decision against Greenpeace in a defamation case, Hyundai's impact on Indigenous communities, climate change impacts, land rights struggles, and Indigenous voices at RightsCon 2025.

Industry

British Steel rejects UK green steel funding; GravitHy secures $65M for low-carbon iron plant; Microsoft cancels data center leases; Tire industry deforestation concerns; Mining water management practices.

• British Steel crisis prompts renewed calls for more support for green steel projects (BusinessGreen) - British Steel's Chinese owner rejects a £500m green steel support package, prompting calls for increased government funding for green steel projects.

• GravitHy Raises $65 Million to Help Decarbonize Steel Industry (ESG Today) - GravitHy secures $65 million in funding to build a low-carbon iron production plant in France, utilizing green hydrogen to reduce steel industry emissions.

• Why Are AI Stocks Falling Again? (Heatmap) - Microsoft's cancellation of data center leases signals a potential slowdown in AI infrastructure investment, impacting related energy and technology companies.

• The Surprising History of Scientific Ballooning in 11 Missions (Nautilus) - From carrying farm animals in the 1780s to studying exoplanet atmospheres in 2024, scientific ballooning has played a key role in understanding Earth and the cosmos.

• Are your tires deforestation-free? Even their makers can’t tell, report finds (Mongabay) - Only one of the world’s 12 major tire manufacturers has shown its supply chain is deforestation-free, raising concerns about compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation.

• What Are The Main Responsibilities of a Mining Company’s Water Operator? (KETOS) - Mining water operators ensure responsible water management throughout the mining lifecycle, balancing operational needs with environmental protection by managing water sources, treatment, quality monitoring, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, conservation, and technology integration.

Policy

Clean RIDES Network, EDF, LiveEO & ACTUM Digital launch initiatives; Trump EPA & administration face legal challenges and criticism for environmental rollbacks impacting clean air, water, and energy; Global policy discussions focus on IRA, EUDR, CSRD, Paris Agreement, and climate finance goals; Just Stop Oil ends UK protests.

• The Greenlining Institute Joins 100+ Organizations to Launch Clean RIDES Network; Group Unveils New Policy Analysis (Greenlining Institute) - The Clean RIDES Network, a coalition of 100+ organizations, launched to support state-level clean transportation efforts prioritizing equity and sustainability, releasing a policy analysis highlighting potential cost savings, emissions reductions, and commute time improvements.

• A New Gold Rush Is Turning Ghana’s Water Into Poison (Atmos) - Illegal gold mining in Ghana, known as galamsey, has contaminated over 60% of the country's water sources, impacting fishing communities and causing a public health crisis.

• Trump EPA Website Offers to Help Sources Emit Pollution Instead of Complying with Standards (EDF) - The Trump EPA launched a website encouraging industrial polluters to apply for exemptions from clean air standards, prompting an EDF lawsuit demanding transparency.

• New dam approval in Cambodia raises concerns about REDD+ projects (Mongabay) - New dam approvals in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains threaten 5,200 hectares of protected forest within two REDD+ carbon credit projects, raising concerns about deforestation, Indigenous community impacts, and the government's commitment to emissions reductions.

• ‘Their gas, your cash’ In the North Sea, European activists protest arrival of US fossil gas (Greenpeace) - Greenpeace activists protested a US LNG tanker arriving in Zeebrugge, Belgium, denouncing Europe's fossil gas dependence, which fuels geopolitical instability and high energy costs, urging a transition to renewables.

• LiveEO | LiveEO and ACTUM Digital Partner to Protect Business and Forests (LiveEO) - LiveEO and ACTUM Digital partner to offer an end-to-end EUDR compliance platform, TradeAware, combining satellite-based deforestation risk assessments with system integration and support services.

• Building an Equitable Energy Future: How the CEC is Developing a Justice, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan to Include All Californians (CalEnergyBlog) - The California Energy Commission (CEC) is developing a Justice, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JAEDI) Action Plan to ensure its policies and programs support a just energy future for all Californians, particularly focusing on tribal and disadvantaged communities.

• China’s FIT Policy End To Push Up Prices Across PV Value Chain (TaiyangNews) - TrendForce predicts a surge in solar component prices in Q2 2025 due to China's shift from feed-in tariffs to market-based pricing, followed by a potential price drop in Q3 due to increased competition.

• What the 1990s Can Tell Us About the IRA’s Chances (Heatmap) - Lobbyist Frank Maisano argues that historical precedent suggests the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) may survive Republican budget cuts, citing similar proposals over the past 40 years and bipartisan support for certain IRA provisions.

• Glossary: Decoding the climate and energy jargon used in China (CarbonBrief) - This glossary decodes jargon used in China's climate and energy policies, explaining terms related to climate goals, energy policy, economic policy, and political institutions.

• Experts: What do Trump’s tariffs mean for global climate action? (CarbonBrief) - Experts warn that Trump's escalating trade war, including tariffs on various imports, could disrupt clean technology supply chains, hinder US fossil fuel expansion, and benefit China's clean tech industry.

• Hallmark Support for SJR28 (SOCAN) - Oregon resident and Almeda wildfire survivor J. Allen Hallmark testifies in support of SJR 28, the “green amendment,” to protect Oregon's environment, including clean air and water, thriving ecosystems, and a stable climate.

• Supreme Court Declines to Hear Youth-Led Climate Case. The Youth Say They Will Fight On (Inside Climate News) - The Supreme Court declined to hear the Juliana v. United States case, ending a decade-long legal battle by young people alleging the government's support of fossil fuels violated their constitutional rights, though the plaintiffs vow to continue their fight.

• Dutton goes full Trump on climate, energy and industry as Albanese sets May 3 election date (RenewEconomy) - Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton's energy policy mirrors Donald Trump's, focusing on fossil fuels and nuclear power while dismissing renewables, despite industry giants like Rio Tinto embracing wind and solar for cost savings and reliability.

• Campaign against nuclear heats up with attack ads aiming at hip pocket (RenewEconomy) - Smart Energy Council launches a $1 million ad campaign highlighting the potential cost increases for Australian households if the Coalition's nuclear power plan proceeds.

• New York City Indoor Pollution Law Upheld By Federal Court (CleanTechnica) - A New York City law banning gas appliances in new buildings has been upheld by a federal judge, contradicting a prior ruling against a similar law in Berkeley, California.

• Fossil fuel companies get direct email line to Trump for exemption requests (The Guardian) - The Trump administration created an email address for fossil fuel companies to request exemptions from Clean Air Act regulations.

• US could see return of acid rain due to Trump’s rollbacks, says scientist who discovered it (Guardian) - The Trump administration's rollback of pollution protections could lead to the return of acid rain in the US, according to the scientist who first discovered the phenomenon.

• Just Stop Oil to ‘hang up the hi-vis’ after three years of climate action (The Guardian) - Just Stop Oil, the UK climate activist group known for disruptive protests, is ending its street demonstrations after three years but will continue campaigning through legal challenges.

• How countries cheat their net zero carbon targets – video (Guardian) - A loophole in the 2015 Paris Agreement allows countries to manipulate net zero targets through creative accounting, potentially undermining efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.

• It’s National AI Literacy Day. But what even is AI and why do you keep hearing about it? And what are data centers? How are they connected? (Climate Justice Alliance) - The increasing energy and water demands of AI-driven data centers raise concerns about environmental impact, disproportionately affecting Black communities and perpetuating economic and energy insecurity.

• The View from Washington (Energy Central) - The Trump administration is targeting Biden's climate legacy, including the Clean Power Plan, Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, and vehicle emission standards, through executive orders facing legal challenges.

• What do Energy, the Environment, and the Economy Mean to You? (Energy Central) - Citizens are urged to resist fossil fuel industry influence over energy policy and consider the interconnectedness of energy, environment, and economy.

• Just Stop Oil to ‘Hang Up the Hi-Vis’, Final Protest in April (Earth.org) - Just Stop Oil, the UK climate activist group known for disruptive protests, is ending its campaign after achieving its goal of halting new fossil fuel licensing, with a final demonstration planned for April.

• Trump’s Push to Expand Logging Is A Major Threat to US Forests and Wildlife (Earth.org) - Trump's push to expand logging on federally protected lands threatens to increase carbon emissions, worsen wildfires, destroy wildlife habitats, and exacerbate soil erosion and air pollution.

• At a congressional hearing on grid stability, the IRA became a flashpoint (Latitude Media) - At a US House hearing, grid operators warned of unprecedented load growth and debated the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on capacity shortfalls, with Republicans criticizing its effect on reliability and Democrats defending its incentives for new energy capacity.

• UK greenhouse gas emissions fell four per cent in 2024 (BusinessGreen) - UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 4% in 2024, reaching 54% below 1990 levels.

• New EPA data shows 158M people exposed to ‘forever chemicals’ in U.S. drinking water (EWG) - EPA data reveals 158 million Americans are exposed to PFAS "forever chemicals" in drinking water, highlighting a widespread public health crisis.

• Illinois city passes law to slash emissions from big buildings (Canary Media) - Evanston, Illinois passed an ordinance requiring large buildings to transition to 100% renewable electricity and eliminate fossil fuels by 2050, joining a growing number of cities adopting building performance standards to curb emissions.

• Trump wants to wind down FEMA. Could states fill the gap? (Grist) - The Trump administration's proposed elimination of FEMA raises concerns about states' capacity to handle disaster response and resilience, especially given increasing climate-related disasters.

• The government aims to cut funding for safer streets. Here’s who would be hurt most. (Grist) - The Department of Transportation, under the Trump administration, is reviewing and potentially cutting federal funding for bicycle infrastructure and projects benefiting disadvantaged communities, prioritizing fossil fuels despite increased pedestrian deaths and contradicting local support for sustainable transportation.

• The US and Canada have long managed the Great Lakes together. That era could be ending. (Grist) - US-Canada tensions, including a diplomatic snub at the Great Lakes Day summit, threaten the long-standing cooperative management of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

• The world’s biggest youth climate lawsuit lost in court, but it ‘changed the world’ (Grist) - The Supreme Court rejected the Juliana v. United States climate lawsuit, ending the youth plaintiffs' attempt to secure a constitutional right to a stable climate, but the case significantly influenced the youth climate movement and inspired similar litigation.

• EU Council Approves Delay to CSRD and CSDDD Sustainability Reporting Regulations (ESG Today) - The EU Council has approved a delay in the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), reducing reporting burdens on companies, especially SMEs.

• Trump halts historic orphaned well-plugging program (High Country News) - The Trump administration halted a $4.7 billion program funded by the Biden administration to plug orphaned oil and gas wells, causing concern among environmental groups and some states.

• Trump’s unprecedented attack on America (High Country News) - The Trump administration's executive orders and deregulation efforts, spearheaded by officials like Lee Zeldin and Doug Burgum, are jeopardizing public lands, environmental protections, and democratic norms.

• Q&A: China set to stay the course on green policies, despite Trump (ClimateChangeNews) - Despite Trump's trade and climate policies, China is expected to maintain its focus on green energy development and domestic climate goals, driven by economic and domestic interests.

• We’re kicking off the REALITY® Tour tomorrow in Paris—and online. (Climate Reality Project) - Former US Vice President Al Gore kicks off the global REALITY® climate action tour in Paris and online with branches around the world hosting training sessions.

• Save the EV Tax Credits! Climate Action Party (ClimateAction.org) - Congressional Republicans are attempting to cut EV tax credits, which would negatively impact the auto industry, increase costs for consumers, and slow climate progress.

• Advanced Energy is Good for Business (Advanced Energy United) - Virginia Governor Youngkin's proposed amendments to clean energy legislation threaten to undermine the state's progress on renewable energy development and grid reliability.

• Food for Thought - March 2025 (CHEM Trust) - A new briefing highlights the need for revised EU legislation on food contact materials due to the negative impacts of non-harmonized laws, including differing consumer protection levels and increased compliance costs for businesses.

• SRSG Kamal Kishore's speech at the High-Level Policy Forum on Accelerated Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction to Build Resilience in Oslo, Norway (UNDRR) - UN Disaster Risk Reduction chief urges increased investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) at Oslo forum, citing rising disaster costs, strained humanitarian aid, and the need for risk-informed investments from both public and private sectors.

• LiveEO | Choosing the Right EUDR Software: A Comprehensive Guide (LiveEO) - Businesses must choose EUDR compliance software carefully, considering features like automated due diligence statement creation, AI-powered supplier management, and deforestation risk assessment to meet regulatory requirements and avoid penalties.

• Release: NSAC Commends Defense of Farmers Amidst Ongoing Unlawful Contract Freeze (SustainableAgriculture.net) - The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauds the introduction of the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025, which aims to compel the USDA to fulfill existing contracts with farmers and prevent further office closures and funding freezes.

• Answers to common questions about the EU Omnibus proposal (Watershed) - The EU's proposed Omnibus regulation clarifies questions around CSRD reporting, including potential changes to ESRS, reporting timelines for US parent companies, and the scope of emissions reporting, but maintains key requirements like Scope 3 emissions.

• The Language of Climate Politics: Author Genevieve Guenther in Conversation With Journalist Daniel Wolfe (SEJ) - Author Genevieve Guenther discusses her book, "The Language of Climate Politics," exploring fossil-fuel propaganda and offering new ways to discuss the climate crisis.

• Here Comes Degrowth Donald (Heatmap) - Trump's economic policies, including tariffs on oil and cars, are inadvertently advancing a degrowth agenda, causing distress among fossil fuel executives and potentially impacting the auto industry.

• The IRS Is Taking Mercy on Electric Car Buyers (Heatmap) - The IRS has fixed a technical issue with its online portal that prevented some electric vehicle buyers from claiming the EV tax credit on their 2024 returns.

• The Future is Feminist (UUSC) - The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee participated in the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, highlighting grassroots feminist activism and resistance against threats to women's and LGBTQIA+ rights globally.

• Election Watch: Dutton’s nuke and gas plan relies on the death of Australian industry, and its smelters (RenewEconomy) - Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton's energy plan, based on nuclear and gas, relies on AEMO modelling that assumes a significant decline in Australian manufacturing and industrial electricity demand.

• Hurricane Katrina survivors offer emotional support to Helene survivors (Yale Climate Connections) - Hurricane Katrina survivors provide emotional support and shared experiences to those affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.

• Tap water truths: Your questions, our answers (EWG) - This Q&A addresses common concerns about tap water safety, including contaminants beyond lead and PFAS, filtration options, testing, and advocating for stricter regulations.

• Energy bills and debt are rising yet again – here are three things that would help vulnerable households (The Conversation) - Rising energy prices in the UK are outpacing benefit, wage, and pension increases, leading to record levels of energy debt and exacerbating fuel poverty, especially for vulnerable households.

• How to reinforce the multilateral climate system in 2025: Step up, one by one (ClimateChangeNews) - Countries must individually support the multilateral climate system by contributing their fair share to the $300 billion Baku Finance Goal and submitting ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions.

• DOE's clean energy 'hit list' (Canary Media) - An Illinois city enacts building performance standards to curb emissions, while an Ohio utility withdraws an energy-efficiency plan.

• A Gulf of Mexico Capitulation (Covering Climate Now) - Major US TV networks avoid using "Gulf of Mexico" in coverage of returning astronauts to appease Trump, raising concerns about similar self-censorship in climate reporting.

Renewables

JinkoSolar ships record 99.59 GW of modules; Sungrow hosts ESS Experience Day & receives JET certification; LONGi advocates for China-Australia collaboration; AIKO & Windon partner for Nordic solar; US corporate clean energy procurement tops 100 GW; DOE cancels clean energy projects; Australian government approves solar + storage; RayGen develops new long-duration storage; Vattenfall abandons wood pellet plant; RMI empowers women in sub-Saharan Africa clean energy.

• “There’s money in this green energy lark” – Ambition Lawrence Weston have a lot to celebrate (Bristol Energy Cooperative) - Ambition Lawrence Weston, a Bristol community organization, celebrates the success of its new community hub, funded in part by a community-owned wind turbine and offering various services to residents.

• Netherlands’ largest forest biomass plant canceled, forest advocates elated (Mongabay) - Vattenfall, the Netherlands' third-largest energy producer, abandons plans for the nation's largest wood pellet-burning power plant after years of advocacy and legal challenges citing environmental concerns and the technology's high carbon emissions.

• The Fast Track to Clean Energy: Building Women’s Leadership Capacity to Close the Gender Gap (RMI) - RMI’s Energy Transition Academy launched a fellowship program in sub-Saharan Africa to empower women in the clean energy sector through technical training, mentorship, and leadership development.

• JinkoSolar’s 2024 Annual Solar PV Shipments Exceed 99 GW (TaiyangNews) - JinkoSolar shipped a record 99.59 GW of solar products in 2024, but lower average selling prices led to a 22.3% drop in annual revenue.

• Sungrow ESS Experience Day Munich: Accelerating to a Sustainable Future for Europe (TaiyangNews) - Sungrow hosted an Energy Storage System (ESS) Experience Day in Munich to showcase its latest battery storage systems and discuss the growing role of ESS in Europe's renewable energy transition.

• Upcoming Global Renewable Energy Summit 2025: Sungrow’s Game-changing Innovations Debut Soon (TaiyangNews) - Sungrow will showcase new products and discuss market trends at the Global Renewable Energy Summit 2025, focusing on grid-forming capabilities, energy storage safety, and green hydrogen solutions.

• Sungrow Residential Energy Storage System Earns JET Certification, Empowering Japanese Households with Green Energy (TaiyangNews) - Sungrow's residential energy storage system receives JET certification in Japan, enabling households to store solar energy and reduce electricity costs.

• LONGi Chairman Zhong Baoshen Attends Boao Forum for Asia: Continuously Deepening China-Australia Tech Collaboration in Clean Energy (TaiyangNews) - LONGi Chairman Zhong Baoshen advocated for deeper China-Australia collaboration on clean energy technology, trade, and green standards at the Boao Forum for Asia.

• AIKO Partners with Windon to Deliver First Utility-Scale Solar Project in the Nordics (TaiyangNews) - AIKO and Windon partner to supply high-efficiency solar modules for utility-scale projects in the Nordics, marking AIKO's first such venture in the region.

• TaiyangNews PV Price Index – 2025 - CW13 (TaiyangNews) - The TaiyangNews PV Price Index saw increases for five products in week 13 of 2025, with polysilicon prices stable, wafer and module prices up, and solar glass seeing the largest increase.

• US Corporate & Industrial Clean Energy Procurement Surpasses 100 GW (TaiyangNews) - US corporate and industrial clean energy procurement surpasses 100 GW, driven by solar and PPAs.

• China Solar PV News Snippets: GCL ET & Ant Digital Collaborate On EnergyTS AI Model & More (TaiyangNews) - Several Chinese solar companies announce technological advancements, including GCL ET's AI-powered PV model, Trinasolar's extreme climate solution, HiTHIUM's IPO, and TrinaStorage's grid-forming tests.

• Europe Solar PV News Snippets: RENA Technologies At TaiyangNews Solar Manufacturing Conference & More (TaiyangNews) - Several European solar energy projects are underway, including Masdar's acquisition of Spanish solar assets, Energiekontor's commissioning of a German solar park, and Repsol's partnership with Schroders Greencoat.

• Secret Energy Department "hit list" targets renewable energy industry (HEATED) - The Department of Energy is seeking to cancel numerous clean energy projects, including long-duration energy storage initiatives, despite prior funding commitments and potential benefits for renewable energy reliability.

• Empire Wind in the Crosshairs (Heatmap News) - Residents and officials in several US states are fighting proposed renewable energy projects, including offshore wind in Massachusetts and New York, solar in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and battery storage in Texas and Kansas.

• As Offshore Wind Struggles Under Trump, There’s Still Room for Progress (Inside Climate News) - The U.S. offshore wind industry faces challenges under the Trump administration's policies and economic pressures, but states remain committed to renewable energy goals, offering hope for the industry's future.

• Victoria green-lights major solar farm and battery in contested “hidden Hollywood” location (RenewEconomy) - Victorian government approves a 330MW solar farm and 250MW/500MWh battery project near Geelong, despite local opposition citing environmental and aesthetic concerns.

• How cheap is Peter Dutton’s gas? And how does it compare to “reckless renewables”? (RenewEconomy) - Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's proposed National Gas Plan, aiming to reduce domestic gas prices to under $10 per gigajoule, is significantly more expensive than renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

• US Geothermal Energy Startup Pre-Qualified By US Air Force, Eyes Scaleup (CleanTechnica) - Geothermal startup XGS Energy secures $13 million in funding and pre-qualification from the US Air Force to scale its closed-loop, modular geothermal technology.

• 6.1 MW Community Solar Power Project Completed In DC (CleanTechnica) - A newly completed 6.1 MW community solar project in Washington, D.C., will provide over 1,000 low-to-moderate income households with a 10% discount on their electricity bills, saving an estimated $7.5 million over 20 years and offsetting 5,610 metric tons of CO2 annually.

• RayGen Combines Technologies for Long-Duration Energy Storage (CleanTechnica) - RayGen has developed a new long-duration energy storage system that combines concentrated solar power with an Organic Rankine Cycle to utilize waste heat, achieving a round-trip efficiency of 70-80% and offering a cost-effective alternative to pumped hydro and lithium-ion batteries.

• Renewables surged in 2024 — but so did fossil fuels (Grist) - Despite record growth in renewables and nuclear energy in 2024, global energy demand surged, leading to increased fossil fuel use, but a slight decoupling of emissions from economic growth.

• As offshore wind struggles, is advanced nuclear a viable Plan B for Eastern states? (Utility Dive) - Eastern states explore advanced nuclear power as a potential alternative to offshore wind amid federal policy shifts and economic challenges.

• Growing competition could drive down solar PPA prices by 2026: Enverus (Utility Dive) - Increased competition among solar developers could lower solar PPA prices by 2026, contingent on the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits.

• Solar sees new barriers in Southeast (Canary Media) - Southeast states consider new restrictions on solar projects, while Oklahoma considers wind turbine setbacks, and Hyundai opens a new EV factory in Georgia.

• Fortescue Proposes 644 MW Solar Farm For Mining Operations (TaiyangNews) - Fortescue Metals Group proposes a 644 MW solar farm in Western Australia to power its iron ore mining operations, pending environmental approval and public consultation.

• Coatings Gain Majority Share In Solar Backsheet Segment (TaiyangNews) - Coatings-based backsheets are increasing market share in the solar panel industry, with Jolywood leading the shift away from PVDF-based products.

• Australia’s Northern Territory Scraps 50% Renewables Target (TaiyangNews) - Australia’s Northern Territory government scrapped its 50% renewables target by 2030, citing high costs, and will instead focus on expanding solar and storage projects for grid stability.

• Liquid Hydrogen Storage (Energy Central) - Liquid hydrogen storage is discussed as an energy storage solution.

Transport

ZeroAvia, H55, and Solar Impulse advance electric aviation; faster EV charging with 3D current collectors; San José approves autonomous transit; Hyundai expands EV production; XPENG showcases AI-powered EVs; GMC expands Sierra EV lineup; Rivian spins off micromobility venture "Also"; UK promotes hydrogen transport.

• ZeroAvia and FlightSafety International to Partner on Pilot & Maintenance Training for Zero-Emission Flight (ZeroAvia) - ZeroAvia and FlightSafety International partner to develop pilot and maintenance training resources for hydrogen-electric aircraft, supporting the adoption of zero-emission aviation technology.

• Fast Company: H55 Named One of the 10 Most Innovative Companies in Transportation for 2025 (H55) - Swiss aviation company H55, founded by the first solar-powered plane pilot, develops and produces electric propulsion systems and battery storage for small aircraft, securing funding and partnerships to expand its technology.

• H55 flies ‘ACROSS AMERICA’ in its electric aircraft, the B23 Energic, carrying passengers to demonstrate the future of electric aviation—Quiet, Economical, and Emission-Free. (H55) - Solar Impulse alumni launch US tour showcasing their certified electric aircraft, the Bristell B23 Energic, demonstrating the viability of quiet, economical, and emission-free aviation.

• Enabling Faster EV Battery Charging with Addionics’ 3D Current Collectors (Addionics) - 3D current collectors enable faster EV battery charging by optimizing ion transport, reducing resistance, and minimizing degradation, paving the way for high-speed charging without compromising performance or lifespan.

• San José City Council Unanimously Approves Next Phase of San José Airport Connector Project (Glydways) - San José City Council unanimously approved the next phase of the Diridon-Airport Connector project, an autonomous, electric, on-demand transit system.

• Hyundai, Kia, & Genesis Plant That Can Produce 500,000 Electric & Hybrid Vehicles Opens In Georgia (CleanTechnica) - Hyundai Motor Group opens its largest electric and hybrid vehicle plant in Georgia, USA, with a capacity of 500,000 vehicles annually.

• The Silent Revolution: How Electric Vehicles are Transforming India's Logistics (Energy Central) - Electric vehicles are transforming India's logistics sector by offering businesses significant cost savings, increased efficiency, and a future-proof operation.

• XPENG Prioritizes AI-Powered Experience-First Strategy at Bangkok International Motorshow (CleanTechnica) - XPENG showcases its AI-powered smart EV strategy, featuring advanced autonomous driving capabilities, proprietary charging network, and user-centric software updates, at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

• More Choice, More Adventure: 2026 GMC Sierra EV Adds AT4 & Elevation Trims (CleanTechnica) - GMC expands its 2026 Sierra EV lineup with the AT4 and Elevation trims, offering a wider range of battery options and capabilities.

• In Midst Of Trade Wars, Rivian Spins Off New Micromobility Venture (CleanTechnica) - Amidst new US import tariffs, Rivian spins off "Also," a micromobility venture with a \$105 million investment from Eclipse Ventures, focusing on small, lightweight vehicles.

• Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure: Standardisation (Energy Central) - The UK is pushing for hydrogen in transportation to meet its net-zero goals, despite the sector's declining CO2 emissions and questions about hydrogen's long-term role in zero-emission vehicles.