Renewables and stability

From Ember's Three facts that show how solar and wind strengthen energy security

In an ever-more tumultuous world, with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) arguably being eclipsed by Brittleness, Anxiety, Non-linearity, and Incomprehensibility (BANI), it's good to keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to find some stability to rest and recover. A world of renewable energy world might offer some of that, as argued in energy analyst firm Ember's latest piece. "With three-quarters of the world in fossil-importing countries," they write. "New data from Ember shows that solar and wind have reached the price and scale to significantly displace fossil fuels and boost energy independence."

And now, our daily summaries of 191 selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• 🌾Agriculture (12 stories) - Techcoop raises $70M, UbiQD secures $20M for quantum dots, Agriculture Resilience Act introduced, potato pangenome decoded, and European wines show TFA contamination.

  
  

• 🪨Carbon (16 stories) - XPRIZE awards Mati Carbon and a Canadian company for carbon removal; Santos Barossa gas project approved despite high CO2; Telemedicine reduces emissions like removing 130K cars.

  
  

• ♻️Circular (8 stories) - Oxford breaks down PFAS; OnePlanet Solar Recycling gets $21.5M for Florida factory; Restaurant Associates uses AI to cut waste; Artists use kelp ink for WWF.

  
  

• 🌱Ecosystems (13 stories) - Cyclone Tam devastates New Zealand; Global coral bleaching at 84%; Honeybee deaths surge; Trump weakens Pacific sanctuary; NJ wildfire nears Oyster Creek; Nepal counts 397 snow leopards; Pangolins aid forest recovery; Great whites vanish from False Bay; Monkey smuggling persists; 10 US species near extinction.

  
  

• ⚡Efficiency (3 stories) - Starbucks Greener Stores, brain-inspired computing, home electrification (heat pumps, plug-in solar).

  
  

• 💰Finance (5 stories) - Massachusetts Energy Saver Home Loan Program, NYC pension funds net zero plans, green building incentives platform, and climate fundraising strategies.

  
  

• 🔌Grid (19 stories) - Modo discusses battery optimization; NSW grants 3.56 GW grid access; Bulgaria awards 9.7 GWh storage; WA completes Collie battery; Burdekin drops solar; Origin secures Yanco Delta access; AES Indiana launches Pike County battery; Prevalon Energy fire safety test; Heimdall Power's Neuron sensors; Caban raises $50M; Texas proposes AI data center framework; Boston hospital's Tesla battery; FERC approves PJM's capacity auction price limits.

  
  

• 🌍Indigenous (5 stories) - Solar training for Indigenous women in South Dakota, Amazon leaders demand oil drilling ban at COP30, Canadian freshwater protection, and Peruvian wildcat conservation.

  
  

• 🏭Industry (12 stories) - DAS Solar in France, Linton's QP950 wafer slicer, JA Solar & TÜV Rheinland desert module certification, Tesla energy storage hit by tariffs, Deep Fission's underground reactors, LEGO's Vietnam factory, Prolific Machines' bioproduction.

  
  

• 📜Policy (73 stories) - Trump's environmental grant freeze blocked; ForestEthics rebrands; Egypt trains African water engineers; NY considers Great Lakes rights; Pope Francis's legacy celebrated; US tariffs on Southeast Asian solar imports.

  
  

• 🔋Renewables (16 stories) - Flores Island geothermal paused; Oregon's 50-year solar journey; Grenergy's Chile auction; Shell Energy & Utah's Cape Station; China's 277 GW solar; Haven Energy's CA program; Google & CIP's Taiwan wind.

  
  

• 🚗Transport (13 stories) - IMO carbon tax, BYD EV scaling, hydrogen fuel-cell struggles, Caltrain electrification, China's EV truck boom, Wizz Air SAF, Kia EV3 design, VW EV concepts, Hyundai design awards, Jeep 4xe, Chevy Blazer EV SS.

Agriculture

Techcoop raises $70M, UbiQD secures $20M for quantum dots, Agriculture Resilience Act introduced, potato pangenome decoded, and European wines show TFA contamination.

• Giving Nature Breathing Room Builds Climate Resilience (Adaptation Fund) - El Salvador project combines agroforestry, water management, and climate-smart agriculture to protect vulnerable communities in South Ahuachapán region from climate impacts.

• How Techcoop plans to build an ‘export-oriented supply chain’ for Southeast Asia’s smallholder farmers (AgFundNews) - Vietnam-based Techcoop raises $70M Series A to build digital platform connecting smallholder farmers to export markets, working capital, and insurance solutions.

• UbiQD lands $20m to scale its light-optimizing quantum dot technology for agriculture and solar (AgFunderNews) - UbiQD secures $20M Series B funding to scale quantum dot technology that optimizes light for enhanced greenhouse farming and solar panel efficiency.

• In Conversation with Leah Penniman – Farming While Black (The Natural Festival) - Black farmer and activist Leah Penniman discusses intersection of agriculture, racial justice, and sustainable farming practices in African American communities.

• Roscoe Burnems – Aint No Whole Foods in the Hood (The Natural Festival) - Poet Roscoe Burnems highlights food access inequality in urban communities through spoken word piece about absence of healthy food retailers.

• Release: Agriculture Resilience Act Advances Bold, Farmer-Driven Vision (NSAC) - Agriculture Resilience Act introduced by Rep. Pingree and Sen. Heinrich aims to achieve net-zero agricultural emissions by 2040 through farmer-led climate initiatives and conservation programs.

• De juiste boom op de juiste plek (Koperwiek) - Dutch Agroforestry Network launches interactive tool to help farmers select optimal tree species based on soil type, groundwater, and economic goals.

• ‘Alarming’ increase in levels of forever chemical TFA found in European wines (The Guardian) - European wines show dramatic rise in TFA 'forever chemical' contamination since 2010, with levels up to 121 micrograms per litre in recent vintages.

• Author Correction: Global influence of soil texture on ecosystem water limitation (Nature) - Scientists correct errors in soil texture study data tables and figure descriptions examining global ecosystem water limitations.

• Potato pangenome reveals the surprisingly complex genetics of the humble spud (Nature) - Scientists decode potato pangenome revealing complex genetics and historical bottlenecks that could help breed more resilient varieties.

• “Move Away From Free Trade Paradigm, Strengthen Food Sovereignty”: ECVC tells European Union (Via Campesina) - European farmers' organization urges EU to abandon free trade policies and prioritize food sovereignty amid US trade tensions and agricultural market vulnerabilities.

• With Global Solidarity, We Build the Path to Food Sovereignty: NFU Canada’s Statement for April 17 (Via Campesina) - National Farmers Union Canada joins global solidarity movement on International Day of Peasant Struggle, advocating for food sovereignty and farmers' rights while opposing corporate monopolies.

Carbon

XPRIZE awards Mati Carbon and a Canadian company for carbon removal; Santos Barossa gas project approved despite high CO2; Telemedicine reduces emissions like removing 130K cars.

• Planetary Wins $1M XPRIZE Award (Planetary Technologies) - Canadian company wins $1M XPRIZE award for innovative seawater-based carbon removal technology that restores ocean chemistry.

• Marginal Wells 101: What are they, where are they, and why do we need to assess them? (RMI) - Over 575,000 low-producing oil and gas wells in US emit significant methane while contributing only 5% of national production, raising environmental and abandonment concerns.

• Carbon Accounting That Helps Companies Shift to Clean Energy Faster (RMI) - New carbon accounting method aims to measure real-world climate impacts of corporate actions beyond traditional emissions reporting, focusing on consequential assessment in electricity sector.

• And the Winner of Elon Musk’s Carbon Removal XPRIZE Is ... (Heatmap News) - Mati Carbon wins $50M XPRIZE grand prize for carbon removal through enhanced rock weathering on Indian farms, beating over 1,000 competitors.

• Clean Energy Ventures Partners with Klimate to Address Operational Emissions through 2028 (Clean Energy Ventures) - Venture capital firm partners with Klimate to remove all operational emissions through 2028 using diverse carbon removal technologies including direct air capture and biochar.

• Building a Future Worth Storing: Powin Releases Inaugural Sustainability Report (Powin) - Energy storage company releases first sustainability report highlighting 17 GWh deployment and emissions reduction of up to 1.08M metric tons CO2 in 2024.

• Santos wins approval for $5.6bn “climate bomb” gas development from regulator (RenewEconomy) - Santos receives regulator approval for $5.6bn Barossa gas project despite 18% CO2 content making it Australia's most emissions-intensive offshore gas development.

• CCS | Brazil (Energy Central) - Brazil advances carbon capture and storage infrastructure development with new projects and investments.

• Introduction to Carbon Capture and Storage (Energy Central) - Carbon Capture and Storage technology explained as method to capture CO2 from industrial processes and store it permanently underground to combat climate change.

• Three ways to cool Earth by pulling carbon from the sky (Nature) - Scientists test three major carbon removal approaches - direct air capture, ocean chemistry alteration, and land-based solutions - as world likely to exceed Paris climate targets.

• Telemedicine had an impact on carbon emissions equivalent to reducing up to 130,000 car trips each month in 2023 (ScienceDaily) - UCLA study finds telemedicine in 2023 reduced monthly carbon emissions equivalent to removing 130,000 cars from roads through decreased medical travel.

• $50 million XPRIZE winner wants to help smallholder farmers (Trellis) - Mati Carbon wins $50M XPRIZE with enhanced rock weathering solution targeting smallholder farmers in India for carbon removal.

• New carbon accounting method could change thinking about short-lived pollutants (Trellis) - New carbon accounting methodology by Global Heat Reduction Initiative emphasizes short-lived pollutants' immediate climate impacts, challenging traditional 100-year measurement standards.

• UK scientists to launch outdoor geoengineering experiments (The Guardian) - UK launches £50m government-funded outdoor geoengineering experiments to study sunlight-blocking technologies for climate crisis mitigation.

• Google's Plans for Artificial Intelligence #ai (TechCrunch) - Google aims for net-zero emissions by 2030 across operations and value chain through clean energy adoption, sustainable materials, and carbon removal technologies.

• The Carbon Copy: How communities see biomass (Carbon180) - Workshop reveals local communities emphasize need for small-scale biomass projects and tailored technical assistance to ensure sustainable management and community benefits.

Circular

Oxford breaks down PFAS; OnePlanet Solar Recycling gets $21.5M for Florida factory; Restaurant Associates uses AI to cut waste; Artists use kelp ink for WWF.

• Could ‘Forever Chemicals’ Be Upcycled? A New Study Says Yes. (Atmos) - Oxford researchers develop method to break down PFAS "forever chemicals" into reusable fluorine compounds through mechanical grinding process.

• North America Solar PV News Snippets: OnePlanet Solar Recycling Raises Funding For Upcoming Fab & More (TaiyangNews) - OnePlanet Solar Recycling secures $21.5M total funding for Florida factory to recycle 2M solar panels annually, expandable to 6M by 2030.

• Closing The Loop: OnePlanet’s Solar Panel Recycling Facility Scores Major Funding Boost (CleanTechnica) - OnePlanet secures $21.5M in funding to build Florida facility capable of recycling 2 million solar panels annually by 2027.

• Upcycling Wasted Food (Bluedot Living) - Companies transform food manufacturing waste into new products through upcycling initiatives, with potential to reduce 90 million tons of annual U.S. food waste.

• A new plan to recycle solar (Canary Media) - Florida startup OnePlanet Solar Recycling plans $90M facility to salvage copper, silicon and aluminum from broken solar panels amid new tariffs on Asian imports.

• Restaurant Associates Cuts Food Waste Value by 21% at Clifford Chance Law Firm in London (Winnow) - Restaurant Associates achieves 21% food waste reduction at London law firm through AI tracking and creative reuse of ingredients, saving £21,000 annually.

• Earth Day, plastic pollution and the Oregon Coast Aquarium (Environment America) - Oregon Coast Aquarium's Earth Day event highlights plastic pollution threats and solutions through educational displays about nurdles, microfiber filters, and beach waste identification.

• ‘It’s almost like Vaseline’: artists including Antony Gormley swap paint for seaweed ink in art challenge (The Guardian) - Leading artists including Antony Gormley create ocean-inspired artworks using kelp-based ink to raise funds for WWF ocean conservation.

Ecosystems

Cyclone Tam devastates New Zealand; Global coral bleaching at 84%; Honeybee deaths surge; Trump weakens Pacific sanctuary; NJ wildfire nears Oyster Creek; Nepal counts 397 snow leopards; Pangolins aid forest recovery; Great whites vanish from False Bay; Monkey smuggling persists; 10 US species near extinction.

• Cyclone Tam brings widespread flooding to New Zealand for days (Mongabay) - Cyclone Tam triggers widespread flooding, power outages, and evacuations across New Zealand's North Island, with wind speeds reaching 160 km/h.

• Ongoing global coral bleaching event affects 84% of world’s reefs (Mongabay) - Global coral bleaching event hits record 84% of world's reefs since 2023, damaging marine ecosystems across 80+ countries with no end in sight.

• How to protect bees this Earth Day (Environment America) - Honeybees face deadliest winter with hundreds of millions dead while 700+ wild bee species near extinction, driven by neonicotinoid pesticides.

• Trump is stripping protections from marine protected areas – why that’s a problem for fishing’s future, and for whales, corals and other ocean life (The Conversation) - Trump administration removes protections from Pacific marine sanctuary, threatening endangered species, coral reefs, and sustainable fishing industries.

• New Jersey wildfire forces evacuations and reaches closed nuclear power plant (The Guardian) - Fast-moving New Jersey wildfire forces 3,000 evacuations, threatens 1,300 structures, and reaches closed Oyster Creek nuclear plant campus.

• Tracing the worst coral bleaching event in recorded history – video (The Guardian) - Global coral reefs face unprecedented crisis as record-breaking marine heatwaves trigger worst bleaching event in history, affecting 80% of world's reefs since 2023.

• More than 80% of the world’s reefs hit by bleaching after worst global event on record (The Guardian) - Over 80% of world's coral reefs suffer unprecedented bleaching in worst global event on record, pushing marine ecosystems into "uncharted territory".

• Nepal announces its snow leopard population after first-of-its-kind assessment (Mongabay) - Nepal announces first national snow leopard count of 397 individuals, representing 10% of global population despite covering only 2% of species' habitat.

• Pangolins help biodiversity recover after fires (Mongabay) - Chinese pangolins' burrowing activity in burned forests accelerates biodiversity recovery by providing refuge for wildlife and promoting plant regrowth, new study finds.

• Loss of great white sharks triggers domino effect down food chain, study shows (Mongabay) - Study reveals disappearance of great white sharks from South Africa's False Bay caused cascading ecosystem changes affecting seal and fish populations.

• Data discrepancies suggest Laos monkey smuggling persists, despite trade ban (Mongabay) - Data discrepancies reveal ongoing monkey smuggling from Thailand to Laos despite trade bans, with breeding farms potentially laundering wild-caught macaques for biomedical research.

• A Look at Some of the Most Endangered Species in the US (Earth.org) - Ten critically endangered US species including red wolves, Florida panthers, and California condors face extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, and human activity.

• Happy Earth Day! 🎨 Deadline Extended for Our Art Competition (The Grey Water Project) - Global K-12 art competition extended to May 2025, inviting students to illustrate climate change impacts on water bodies with cash prizes and gallery exhibition.

Efficiency

Starbucks Greener Stores, brain-inspired computing, home electrification (heat pumps, plug-in solar).

• Starbucks nears 2025 goal for 10,000 ‘greener stores’ (Trellis) - Starbucks verifies 9,400 energy-efficient, waste-reducing cafes under Greener Stores initiative, nearing 10,000-store goal while saving $60M annually.

• DFLS: Qiangfei Xia (UMass Amherst) - Professor Qiangfei Xia discusses development of energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing systems as alternative to power-hungry AI supercomputers.

• Decarbonize Our Homes! Climate Action Party (Climate Action Now) - Expert panel discusses home electrification benefits, strategies, and policy needs, highlighting heat pumps, plug-in solar, and consumer adoption barriers.

Finance

Massachusetts Energy Saver Home Loan Program, NYC pension funds net zero plans, green building incentives platform, and climate fundraising strategies.

• Live Webinar Understanding the Energy Saver Home Loan Program (CET) - Massachusetts Energy Saver Home Loan Program offers low-interest financing for homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades with no money down.

• NYC Pension Funds to Drop Asset Managers Without Strong Net Zero Action Plans (ESG Today) - NYC pension funds to replace asset managers failing to submit strong net zero action plans by June 2025, impacting $280 billion in assets.

• How to Find Homeowner Incentives in 3 Easy Steps | IncentiFind Demo (IncentiFind) - Online platform helps homeowners discover and access green building incentives through searchable database and contractor connections.

• Raising your first institutional capital — 4 major lessons from an early-stage climate investor (Enduring Planet) - Early-stage climate investor shares key fundraising strategies including incremental capital raises, leveraging personal narratives, and exploring non-VC funding options.

• Earth Day Support Unlocks Flower Power (Charleston Climate Coalition) - Earth Day fundraising campaign promises donor will admire one flower for each dollar donated to support local climate action initiatives.

Grid

Modo discusses battery optimization; NSW grants 3.56 GW grid access; Bulgaria awards 9.7 GWh storage; WA completes Collie battery; Burdekin drops solar; Origin secures Yanco Delta access; AES Indiana launches Pike County battery; Prevalon Energy fire safety test; Heimdall Power's Neuron sensors; Caban raises $50M; Texas proposes AI data center framework; Boston hospital's Tesla battery; FERC approves PJM's capacity auction price limits.

• Gridmatic – Modo podcast (Gridmatic) - AI-powered trading firm discusses battery storage optimization strategies and revenue potential in energy markets on Modo podcast.

• Australia’s NSW Grants Grid Access To Over 3.56 GW RE (TaiyangNews) - New South Wales grants grid access rights to 3.56 GW of wind, solar and storage projects in South West Renewable Energy Zone, with operations to begin 2027-2030.

• Bulgaria Awards Close To 10 GWh Energy Storage Capacity (TaiyangNews) - Bulgaria awards 9.7 GWh energy storage capacity in oversubscribed tender, tripling initial target with 82 projects worth $675 million to boost renewable integration.

• ​Battery storage optimization | the importance of marginal cost (GridBeyond) - Battery storage optimization requires balancing revenue against degradation costs through careful monitoring of charge cycles, health metrics, and price forecasting.

• Last of 640 battery packs in place at one of Australia’s biggest storage projects (RenewEconomy) - Western Australia completes installation of 640 battery packs at 500MW/2000MWh Collie facility, set to be surpassed by nearby Neoen battery as state's grid storage capacity expands.

• Giant battery project puts solar component on ice as it focuses on grid stability (RenewEconomy) - 500MW/2000MWh Burdekin battery project in Queensland drops solar component to focus on grid stability and storage services.

• Origin’s grid access win triggers another $175m payment for giant wind project (RenewEconomy) - Origin Energy secures full grid access rights for 1.46GW Yanco Delta wind project in NSW, triggering $175m milestone payment to Virya Energy.

• Four huge wind, solar and battery projects granted grid access, but capacity trimmed in key REZ (RenewEconomy) - Four major wind, solar and battery projects secure grid access in NSW's south-west renewable zone, but total capacity reduced to 3.56GW due to technical constraints.

• AES Indiana honors Earth Day with two new clean energy projects (Renewable Energy World) - AES Indiana launches 200MW Pike County battery storage system and gains approval for 85MW Crossvine solar-plus-storage project, expanding clean energy portfolio.

• Mitsubishi Power battery spinoff completes large-scale fire testing of its HD5 energy storage platform (Renewable Energy World) - Mitsubishi Power spinoff Prevalon Energy successfully completes large-scale fire safety testing of HD5 battery storage platform, proving containment of thermal events.

• How utilities can ‘shield’ equipment from wildfire risk (Renewable Energy World) - San Jose State expert discusses new protective mesh technology that shields utility poles from extreme wildfire temperatures up to 2100°F.

• Why more electric utilities are trying on the ‘Apple Watch’ of the power grid (Renewable Energy World) - Electric utilities are rapidly adopting Heimdall Power's "magic ball" Neuron sensors for real-time grid monitoring, with drone installations enabling quick deployment and up to 42.8% capacity increases on power lines.

• What Energy Impacts We Can Expect This Hurricane Season (EnergyCentral) - Climate experts predict 17 named storms and 10 hurricanes for 2025 season, threatening widespread power outages and energy infrastructure damage across Gulf Coast.

• Caban Raises $50 Million to Expand Clean Energy Infrastructure Solutions (ESG Today) - Energy solutions provider Caban raises $50M to expand renewable power infrastructure and storage solutions for critical infrastructure operators, focusing on telecom sector decarbonization.

• How AI data centers can support grid reliability in Texas and across the US (Utility Dive) - Texas lawmakers propose Enhanced Reliability Interconnection framework to leverage AI data centers' flexible power loads and onsite generation for improving grid stability.

• Data centres on track to match electricity consumption of Japan by 2030 (Nature) - Global data center electricity consumption projected to match Japan's total usage by 2030, raising concerns for climate goals.

• A Boston hospital’s 572 kW battery is expected to pay for itself in 7 to 10 years (PV Magazine) - Boston hospital's 572kW Tesla battery system projected to save $131,175 annually through peak demand management and utility programs, with 7-10 year payback period.

• FERC approves PJM capacity auction price cap, floor (Utility Dive) - FERC approves PJM's capacity auction price limits with $325/MW-day cap and $175/MW-day floor for next two delivery years to address market volatility and consumer costs.

• Why infrastructure will define the next decade of energy (Enode) - Energy retailers must invest in backend infrastructure to enable faster market launches, better user experiences, and scalable device integration across markets.

Indigenous

Solar training for Indigenous women in South Dakota, Amazon leaders demand oil drilling ban at COP30, Canadian freshwater protection, and Peruvian wildcat conservation.

• Free training program prepares Native women for solar jobs (Yale Climate Connections) - Native-led nonprofit in South Dakota offers free solar installation training program specifically for Indigenous women, providing skills and professional network support.

• “It’s shameful”: Amazon Indigenous people call for oil drilling ban at COP30 (Climate Change News) - Amazon Indigenous leaders from five countries unite to demand oil drilling ban at COP30, citing violence and environmental damage in their territories.

• 8 Things to do on Mother Earth Day...🌍🌳 (Cultural Survival) - Indigenous territories contain majority of Earth's biodiversity with 95% of most threatened areas and 11% of planet's forests under Indigenous guardianship, highlighting critical role in conservation.

• Freshwater in Canada is not for sale: 854 groups demand action now (Keepers of the Water) - Over 850 organizations demand federal action to protect Canadian freshwater and Indigenous water rights ahead of 2025 elections.

• Indigenous women in Peru lead wildcat conservation initiative (Mongabay) - Indigenous women in Peru lead successful wildcat conservation project, transforming conflict into coexistence through community-based initiatives and traditional knowledge.

Industry

DAS Solar in France, Linton's QP950 wafer slicer, JA Solar & TÜV Rheinland desert module certification, Tesla energy storage hit by tariffs, Deep Fission's underground reactors, LEGO's Vietnam factory, Prolific Machines' bioproduction.

• China’s DAS Solar Breaks Ground On 3 GW French Module Factory (TaiyangNews) - Chinese solar manufacturer DAS Solar begins construction of 3GW module factory in France's Mandeure region, investing €109 million with plans to establish complete solar supply chain.

• Precision Meets Speed: Linton’s QP950 Series Wafer Slicer (TaiyangNews) - Linton unveils QP950 wafer slicer capable of processing multiple wafer sizes at 45 m/s speed using ultra-thin wires for solar cell manufacturing.

• China Solar PV News Snippets: 'World’s 1st' Desert Solar Module Certification Challenge Launched & More (TaiyangNews) - JA Solar partners with TÜV Rheinland to develop world's first desert solar module certification, while Chinese firms dominate global solar patent rankings.

• Tesla’s Fastest Growing Business Is About to Get Screwed by Tariffs (Heatmap News) - Tesla's energy storage business faces major disruption from Chinese battery import tariffs, threatening 67% year-over-year growth in its fastest-growing segment.

• New Petroleum Product Pipelines Dropped Off A Cliff During Biden Era In USA (CleanTechnica) - US petroleum pipeline projects plummet under Biden administration with only five completed in 2024, down from historical averages.

• Deep Fission To Build Nuclear Power Plants Below The Surface Of The Earth (CleanTechnica) - Deep Fission startup plans to build 15MW nuclear reactors one mile underground, using natural rock containment to reduce costs and enhance safety.

• A surprising group of greenwashing victims: corporate purchasing managers (Anthropocene) - Corporate purchasing managers found equally susceptible to greenwashing as regular consumers, willing to pay same premiums for fake eco-claims as certified products.

• LEGO Group Opens its Most Sustainable, Renewables-Powered Factory (ESG Today) - LEGO opens $1B Vietnam factory featuring 100% renewable energy plans, LEED Platinum certification, and paper-based packaging in company's most sustainable manufacturing facility to date.

• Delta Corporate Video (Delta) - Global power electronics firm leads sustainable tech innovation with smart energy solutions across industrial automation, EV charging, and green buildings spanning 200 locations on 5 continents.

• Tesla Profits Fell 71% in Q1 (Heatmap News) - Tesla reports 71% profit drop in Q1 2024 amid Chinese competition, lack of new models, and impact of Musk's political stance.

• Prolific Machines Announces the Completion of Optogenetic Bioproduction at 200L, Marking the World’s Largest Demonstration of Optogenetics to Date (BusinessWire) - Prolific Machines achieves world's first 200-liter optogenetic bioproduction in stainless steel bioreactor, demonstrating commercial-scale potential for light-controlled cellular manufacturing.

• Demand for electrical engineers is surging (Latitude Media) - Electrical engineers face surging demand from AI data centers, potentially diverting talent from renewable energy projects.

Policy

Trump's environmental grant freeze blocked; ForestEthics rebrands; Egypt trains African water engineers; NY considers Great Lakes rights; Pope Francis's legacy celebrated; US tariffs on Southeast Asian solar imports.

• Federal Funding Opportunities and Guidance – April 23, 2025 (Environmental Protection Network) - Federal court blocks Trump administration's freeze on environmental grants from IIJA and IRA, prompting urgent advisory for grantees to access funds.

• Stand.earth (Stand.earth) - International environmental organization rebrands from ForestEthics to expand mission beyond forest protection to include fossil fuel industry challenges and sustainable community initiatives.

• Sierra Club Foundation (Sierra Club Foundation) - Environmental organization promotes climate solutions and conservation through strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy as independent fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club's charitable programs.

• How Conflict-Sensitive Water Management Builds Peace: Lessons from CGIAR’s Training with Egypt’s NWRC (CGIAR) - Egypt's National Water Research Center trains African water engineers in conflict-sensitive water management strategies to address climate-driven water scarcity and community tensions.

• The Root Of Climate Action Is Hope (Atmos) - Author Joycelyn Longdon explores how transforming climate grief into active hope and meaningful action is essential for effective environmental advocacy.

• Take back the night: Establishing a “right to darkness” could save our night skies (CELDF) - Environmental legal experts advocate for establishing legal "right to darkness" to combat light pollution and protect night skies, challenging voluntary standards' effectiveness.

• Interview on the Great Lakes and NY State Waters Bill of Rights: Does Nature Have Rights? (CELDF) - New York State Assembly considers landmark bill granting legal rights to Great Lakes ecosystem and state waters, aiming to protect drinking water for 40 million people.

• Mexican government looks to correct Tren Maya environmental damages (Mongabay) - Mexican government plans environmental restoration measures for Tren Maya railway damage while simultaneously expanding rail projects across protected areas.

• Integridade da criação (Instituto Socioambiental) - Pope Francis's legacy celebrated for environmental advocacy, indigenous rights defense, and 2015 "Laudato Si" encyclical on climate change and environmental protection.

• The Powerful Role in Geopolitics is to Manage the Energy Transition (IRENA) - Global geopolitical shifts require redefining energy security through renewable capacity rather than fossil fuels, as world adds record 585GW renewable power in 2024.

• Conservative platform misrepresents tanker ban and other environmental legislation (Stand.earth) - Conservative Party platform misrepresents Oil Tanker Moratorium Act and LNG project approval status while threatening environmental legislation and Indigenous rights.

• Farmers, Clean Energy Trades Urge Michigan Lawmakers to Oppose Anti-Business Legislation (Advanced Energy United) - Michigan farmers and clean energy groups oppose House Bills 4027/4028 that would repeal landowner rights for renewable energy projects and increase electricity costs.

• The Power of Partnerships: How MCE Strengthens Communities (MCE) - California energy provider strengthens community impact through partnerships with local organizations, focusing on workforce development and clean energy access for underserved populations.

• Kehoe signs law likely to increase utilities’ profits, Missourians’ utility bills (Energy and Policy Institute) - Missouri Governor signs utility bill allowing construction work in progress charges and future test years, likely raising household bills by $1,115 annually while boosting utility profits.

• Nevada Clean Energy Fund Celebrates Assembly Passage of Solar-Powered Affordable Housing Legislation (Nevada Clean Energy Fund) - Nevada Assembly passes bill AB458 with bipartisan support to enable solar power installations on affordable housing complexes, aiming to reduce utility costs for 50,000 residents.

• Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year (The Conversation) - Controlled burns proven effective at reducing wildfire severity by 62-72%, but funding cuts and staff shortages threaten US Forest Service's prevention efforts.

• ‘Energy security’ is being used to justify more fossil fuels – but this will only make us less secure (The Conversation) - Governments worldwide are misusing 'energy security' to justify increased fossil fuel investments despite IEA warnings this undermines long-term climate stability and true energy independence.

• Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause (The Conversation) - Research shows flooding in Ghana's capital Accra primarily caused by poor land use planning and wetland encroachment rather than climate change, requiring stricter enforcement of regulations.

• What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us (The Conversation) - Survey of 5,000 Australians reveals majority remain open to changing climate change views, with evidence quality and messenger credibility as key factors.

• These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to spot them (The Conversation) - Three major climate misinformation campaigns identified during Australia's election season target renewable energy, gas, and global warming through coordinated false narratives.

• Trump administration pauses new mine safety regulation − here’s how those rules benefit companies as well as workers (The Conversation) - Trump administration pauses new mine safety rule limiting silica dust exposure, despite evidence showing $294M annual benefits versus $89M costs to mining industry.

• Climate Scientist Michael Mann Fights New Court Penalties in 2024 Defamation Trial (DeSmog) - Climate scientist Michael Mann fights court sanctions after judge claims false statements about grant money in 2024 defamation trial, despite winning $1M verdict later reduced to $5,000.

• BBC Blocks Evan Davis from Hosting Clean Heating Podcast (DeSmog) - BBC blocks presenter Evan Davis from hosting educational heat pump podcast over concerns about "public controversy" around clean heating technology.

• The Polluting Paper Mill That Helped Inspire the First Earth Day (The Revelator) - Camas paper mill's severe pollution in 1960s Washington helped inspire Denis Hayes to coordinate first Earth Day in 1970, leading to landmark environmental regulations.

• Acts of Humanity (UUSC) - Youth-led Loss and Damage Youth Coalition advocates for wealthy nations to compensate communities suffering climate crisis impacts, focusing on both economic and cultural losses.

• What’s in the Air: Earth Day Has a Grim Reaper (Moms Clean Air Force) - EPA Administrator Zeldin faces criticism for rolling back environmental protections and shifting agency focus from public health to oil and gas industry interests.

• LCV Statement On Earth Day and Trump White House’s Earth Day Claims (LCV) - Environmental advocacy group condemns Trump's Earth Day statement, criticizing his policies as harmful to public health, environment, and economy.

• Virginia College Students Want More Climate Action on Earth Day (Inside Climate News) - Virginia college students across multiple universities rally on Earth Day demanding stronger climate action and transparency from administrators on carbon reduction plans.

• Nearly Half of Americans Are Breathing Unhealthy Air as Pollution Exposure Numbers Reach Decade High (Inside Climate News) - Nearly half of U.S. population (156 million) now breathing unhealthy air as pollution exposure hits 10-year high, with climate change and wildfires worsening air quality nationwide.

• EPA Continues to Dismantle Environmental Justice Office, Announces Plans to Terminate Nearly 300 Employees (Inside Climate News) - EPA announces termination of 280 environmental justice staffers and reassignment of 175 others as part of Trump administration's dismantling of environmental programs.

• “A chilling signal:” Industry rails against Trump attack on shovel-ready offshore wind project (RenewEconomy) - Trump administration orders Equinor to halt construction of fully-permitted 810MW Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project in New York, sparking industry outrage and legal challenges.

• “I’ll sign, you drill” approach to fossil fuel development has overwhelmed Safeguard Mechanism (RenewEconomy) - Queensland's Safeguard Mechanism undermined as new coal and gas projects add 830,000 tonnes of emissions while existing facilities' emissions remain steady.

• At Trump’s request, FERC Commissioner Phillips steps down (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Trump administration prompts FERC Chair Willie Phillips to resign, shifting commission's balance from Democratic majority to 2-2 partisan split.

• US solar manufacturers, rejoice! Southeast Asian solar imports tariffed into oblivion (Renewable Energy World) - US Commerce Department imposes massive tariffs up to 3,400% on Southeast Asian solar imports, boosting domestic manufacturers.

• As wildfires intensify, utilities want liability protections. But then who pays? (Renewable Energy World) - Western utilities seek legal immunity from wildfire damage liability amid rising climate risks, sparking debate over who bears costs of disasters.

• China dominates solar. Trump tariffs target China. For US solar industry, that means higher costs (RenewableEnergyWorld) - Trump's trade war with China threatens US solar industry with higher costs and supply disruptions as China controls 80% of global solar components.

• Nearly half of Americans breathing in unsafe levels of air pollutants – report (The Guardian) - Nearly half of Americans (156 million) live in areas with unsafe air pollution levels, with people of color facing disproportionate exposure to toxic soot and smog.

• Al Gore draws parallels between Trump 2.0 and early Nazi Germany in speech (The Guardian) - Former VP Al Gore compares Trump administration's climate denial and reality distortion to early Nazi Germany during San Francisco Climate Week speech.

• Sanctioned Russian and Belarusian wood smuggled into UK, study suggests (The Guardian) - Chemical testing reveals 46% of certified birch wood samples in UK likely originate from sanctioned Russia and Belarus, bypassing trade restrictions through mislabeling.

• A silent majority of the world’s people wants stronger climate action. It’s time to wake up | Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope (The Guardian) - Global studies reveal 80-89% of world population wants stronger climate action but majority unaware they represent overwhelming consensus.

• Nigel Farage thinks net zero is the new Brexit. Starmer can prove him wrong | Rafael Behr (The Guardian) - Keir Starmer urged to maintain strong climate commitments despite Reform UK's anti-net-zero campaign, as polls show majority public support for green transition.

• Cultivating Tomorrow’s Climate Leaders (C2ES) - Leading climate policy organization highlights success stories of former interns who now drive climate solutions across diverse sectors including energy, sports, and communications.

• 55 Years Later Earth Day Is Still Being Ignored By The Vast Majority (Energy Central) - Earth Day's 55th anniversary highlights continued widespread public apathy and Trump administration's rollback of environmental protections.

• Societal Pivot Points or Climate Tipping Points – Which will come first? (EnergyCentral) - Global race intensifies between societal transformation efforts and accelerating climate tipping points, with nature restoration emerging as critical solution pathway.

• -21- (Energy Central) - Fossil fuel industry's decades-long disinformation campaigns and lobbying efforts have stalled clean energy transition and climate action despite 1970s oil crisis lessons.

• How we’re battling Trump’s science cuts across small-town America (Nature) - Scientists launch 'Science Homecoming' project encouraging researchers to write op-eds in hometown newspapers to combat federal research funding cuts under Trump administration.

• DOE Releases More Funding to Reopen Palisades Nuclear Plant (Power Magazine) - DOE releases $47 million as third loan disbursement to Holtec for reopening 800-MW Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, part of $1.52 billion total guarantee.

• Smart appliances: Government announces new standards to help slash energy bills (BusinessGreen) - UK government introduces mandatory smart functionality standards for heat pumps and electric appliances to help consumers access cheaper energy tariffs.

• Forest managers and public health experts hope to save lives by working together (Yale Climate Connections) - Forest managers and public health experts collaborate to balance prescribed burns with air quality concerns as wildfires intensify in Western US.

• Is Georgia Power quietly planning a massive buildout of fossil gas? (Canary Media) - Georgia Power's secretive 9.5GW power expansion plan raises concerns over potential massive fossil gas buildout while withholding details from public scrutiny.

• How your showerhead and fridge got roped into the culture wars (Grist) - Trump administration targets home appliance efficiency standards, framing regulations as government overreach while Republicans push to repeal water and energy conservation rules.

• As Trump pushes public land sales, advocates rally (High Country News) - Trump administration and GOP push to sell federal public lands despite bipartisan opposition from Western states and 74% of Americans opposing such sales.

• Climate advocates brace for Trump executive order targeting nonprofits’ tax exempt status (Utility Dive) - Trump expected to issue Earth Day executive order threatening tax-exempt status of environmental nonprofits, sparking preparation for legal challenges.

• System change is our only way out of the climate and biodiversity crises (Climate Change News) - Report reveals climate and biodiversity crises are interconnected, requiring systemic changes rather than market-based solutions to address root causes of environmental destruction.

• Al Gore draws parallels between Trump and early Nazi Germany – video (The Guardian) - Former VP Al Gore warns of parallels between Trump's rhetoric and Nazi Germany's early rise during San Francisco climate week speech.

• Graduating in the Age of Climate Crisis (Gonzaga University) - Climate Institute leaders discuss challenges and responsibilities for graduates entering workforce amid escalating climate crisis and social upheaval.

• Earth Day 2025 | Dayenu (Dayenu) - Jewish climate action group marks Earth Day 2025 by highlighting five years of mobilizing American Jewish communities for fossil fuel divestment and clean energy advocacy.

• SF Climate Week at Climate One: Grist, Project Drawdown and Jenny Odell (Climate One) - Climate Week panel features Project Drawdown and Grist leaders discussing effective climate solutions and author Jenny Odell exploring time's relationship to environmental action.

• Revisiting Pope Francis: Climate Changer? (Climate One) - Pope Francis's landmark 2015 encyclical on climate change and inequality challenged capitalism, technology addiction, and called for urgent environmental action while emphasizing moral responsibility to the poor.

• Keep us in the fight for the planet 🌏️ (WRI) - Global research institute seeks Earth Day support for work on deforestation monitoring, sustainable development, renewable energy access and ocean protection.

• Georgia Power may be hiding its gas plans, critics warn (Canary Media) - Georgia Power's lack of transparency about plans to meet 9.5 GW power demand by 2031 raises concerns about potential last-minute gas plant proposals.

• Indonesia court hands down ‘heaviest sentence’ yet for tiger poacher in Sumatra (Mongabay) - Indonesian court issues record 5-year prison sentence and $12,000 fine for poacher who killed endangered Sumatran tiger.

• Advanced Energy United Applauds FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips’ Impact as He Departs the Commission (Advanced Energy United) - FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips departs commission after tenure focused on modernizing grid infrastructure and transmission planning reforms.

• Public Notices from 04/22/2025 (Center for Coalfield Justice) - Environmental watchdog group updates public database of permit applications and meeting notices for Washington and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania.

• Job Opening: Operations and Administrative Assistant (Quaker Earthcare Witness) - Environmental nonprofit seeks part-time remote Operations Assistant to support administrative functions and environmental justice initiatives.

• For $2.4 billion, this bill aims to lower CT electric bills. Why are both parties split? (CT Mirror) - Connecticut lawmakers propose $2.4 billion bond measure to cut electric bills by up to 40% through public benefits charge removal and procurement reforms, sparking bipartisan debate.

• Ofwat investigating ‘rip-off’ cost of water firms’ infrastructure works (The Guardian) - UK water regulator Ofwat investigates claims water companies charging up to 10 times more than international counterparts for infrastructure projects, driving up consumer bills.

• Scientific naming conventions should keep in step with contemporary science (Nature) - Global scientific community debates changing problematic species names that honor historical figures linked to slavery and colonialism, as botanical congress votes to eliminate racist terminology.

• EPA Administrator Zeldin Delivers Earth Day Message (EPA) - Administrator Zeldin delivers Earth Day message emphasizing environmental protection while boosting economic growth through the "Great American Comeback" initiative.

• Apply for EOPA/USF Certificate in Public Leadership 2025 Summer Cohort (EOPA/USF) - Applications open for 7-week Public Leadership Certificate program in summer 2025, offering $5k implementation prize for best policy proposal.

• Industry Group with Conservative Ties Is Calling for Pipeline ‘Emergency’ (DeSmog) - Conservative-linked industry group Build Canada calls for pipeline 'emergency' powers while pushing anti-regulation fossil fuel agenda aligned with party leader Pierre Poilievre.

• Dutton’s weird energy claims in leaders debate show he’s living in opposite-world (RenewEconomy) - Opposition leader Peter Dutton makes false claims about renewable energy costs and nuclear power during leaders debate, contradicting IEA data showing Australia's electricity prices among lowest globally.

• Happy Earth Day! The latest 89 Percent Project Coverage (Covering Climate Now) - Global media collaboration launches "89 Percent Project" highlighting widespread public support for climate action, featuring coverage from major news outlets on Earth Day.

Renewables

Flores Island geothermal paused; Oregon's 50-year solar journey; Grenergy's Chile auction; Shell Energy & Utah's Cape Station; China's 277 GW solar; Haven Energy's CA program; Google & CIP's Taiwan wind.

• Church pressure spurs scrutiny of Indonesian geothermal projects (Mongabay) - Indonesian governor pauses Flores Island geothermal projects after Catholic Church raises environmental concerns.

• ODOE at 50: Oregon Solar History (Oregon Department of Energy) - Oregon's 50-year solar energy journey marked by pioneering tax credits, highway projects, and community programs that expanded from residential to utility-scale installations across the state.

• Earth Day — Our Power, Our Planet (RMI) - Global clean energy nonprofit highlights diverse projects delivering solar, electrification, and workforce development across US, Nigeria, Caribbean, and India on Earth Day 2024.

• Grenergy’s 1.7 TWh/Year Reverse Auction In Chile (TaiyangNews) - Spanish renewables firm Grenergy launches 1.7 TWh/year reverse auction in Chile for solar and energy storage projects, with power delivery starting 2026-2027.

• Fervo Energy Announces 31 MW Power Purchase Agreement with Shell Energy (Fervo Energy) - Geothermal developer signs 31 MW power purchase agreement with Shell Energy, expanding Utah's Cape Station project to 500 MW total capacity.

• Renewables giant says Australia among easiest places on planet to be green and competitive (RenewEconomy) - European Energy CEO says Australia's natural resources make it one of world's best locations to combine green energy development with strong industrial competitiveness.

• Solar Insiders Podcast: Shouting from the rooftops (RenewEconomy) - OpenSolar executive discusses software solutions to help solar businesses optimize operations and increase rooftop solar installations.

• China’s Solar Capacity Installations Grew Rapidly in 2024 (CleanTechnica) - China installed 277 GW of utility-scale solar in 2024, more than double total US capacity, with 720 GW more in development including massive Great Solar Wall project.

• Zero-Cost Solar & Batteries? Haven Energy Says Yes To California’s Low-Income Homeowners (CleanTechnica) - Haven Energy launches free solar panel and battery installation program for low-income California homeowners through $280 million state incentive program.

• Our EV & Solar Dreams Have Come True (CleanTechnica) - Global renewable energy and EV adoption hit major milestones with 92.5% of new power from renewables and 14% of car sales being fully electric in 2024.

• Global wind energy boom continues to defy economic headwinds (BusinessGreen) - Global wind energy installations reached 117GW in 2024, marking continued industry growth despite economic challenges.

• Google Signs its First Offshore Wind Purchase Deal in Asia Pacific with CIP (ESGToday) - Google signs first Asia-Pacific offshore wind power deal with CIP for 495MW Taiwan project to power regional operations by 2027.

• Haven Energy offers no-cost solar, batteries to income-qualified California customers (Utility Dive) - Haven Energy launches no-cost solar and battery program for low-income California residents, aiming to create 10MW virtual power plant through state incentive program.

• In US, saving money is top reason to embrace solar power (ScienceDaily) - National study reveals financial savings are primary motivator for U.S. households considering rooftop or community solar adoption, while awareness of community solar remains low.

• How a funeral director helped launch wind energy in Missouri (Canary Media) - Missouri funeral director's early-2000s wind energy advocacy brought economic stability to rural county, now generating over half of local tax revenue.

• 97% of executives back the renewables transition (We Mean Business Coalition) - Global survey finds 97% of business executives support rapid transition to renewable energy, with half planning to relocate operations to renewable-friendly markets within 5 years.

Transport

IMO carbon tax, BYD EV scaling, hydrogen fuel-cell struggles, Caltrain electrification, China's EV truck boom, Wizz Air SAF, Kia EV3 design, VW EV concepts, Hyundai design awards, Jeep 4xe, Chevy Blazer EV SS.

• 🌎 IMO sets sail for net-zero #242 (CTVC) - International Maritime Organization approves first global carbon tax and emissions trading framework for shipping sector, targeting 43% emissions reduction by 2035.

• How BYD Got So Big (Heatmap) - Chinese automaker BYD has become world's third most valuable car company through rapid EV production scaling and innovative technology development in China's protected market.

• Guest post: Why hydrogen cars are being outsold by Ferraris (Carbon Brief) - Global sales data reveals hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles being outsold by Ferrari luxury cars despite decades of development and investment in hydrogen technology.

• Germany Pushes Companies Towards Polluting SUVs Instead of Electric Cars (CleanTechnica) - Germany's weak tax incentives for electric company cars lag behind other European nations, offering three times lower benefits than France while inadvertently promoting polluting SUVs.

• Study Shows Dramatic Drop In Pollution Following Switch To Electric Trains (CleanTechnica) - Study finds 89% reduction in black carbon exposure after California's Caltrain switches from diesel to electric trains, equivalent to 30 years of clean air regulations.

• From Austria to California: Why Hydrogen Fuel Stations Aren’t Breaking Even (CleanTechnica) - Global hydrogen fueling stations from Austria to California face widespread financial losses due to low vehicle adoption, high operational costs, and retail prices reaching $36/kg.

• China’s Electrification Of Trucks, Buses, & Construction Vehicles Accelerates Rapidly (CleanTechnica) - China's heavy vehicle sector sees major electric transition in 2024 with battery-electric technology dominating new sales across trucks, buses, and construction vehicles, reaching 10% market share for heavy trucks.

• Wizz Air Launches Net Zero Plan Focused Primarily on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (ESG Today) - Wizz Air unveils net zero roadmap targeting 90% emissions reduction by 2050, primarily through sustainable aviation fuel adoption.

• Kia EV3 Wins Huge Design Award (CleanTechnica) - Kia EV3 electric SUV wins prestigious Red Dot "Best of the Best" Product Design Award, following wins by Kia's EV9 and EV6 in previous years.

• Volkswagen Launches Cool New ID Trio (CleanTechnica) - Volkswagen unveils three new electric vehicle concepts in China - ID. ERA, ID. AURA, and ID. EVO - featuring advanced AI systems and range extender technology.

• Hyundai Motor Wins 6 Awards at 2025 Red Dot Awards — 3 EV Specific (CleanTechnica) - Hyundai Motor Company wins six Red Dot design awards for 2025, including three for electric vehicle products and charging infrastructure.

• Jeep Is Still Serious About Clean Off-Roading (CleanTechnica) - Jeep maintains commitment to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with three new 4xe concept models showcased at Moab event, demonstrating continued focus on electrified off-roading despite industry headwinds.

• New 2025 Chevrolet Blazer SS Takes A Good EV To The Next Level (CleanTechnica) - Chevrolet's 2025 Blazer EV SS delivers 615hp, 303-mile range, and 3.2-second 0-60 acceleration, competing directly with Tesla Model Y Performance at $61,095.