There's a Beaver for That!

The group Southern Oregon Climate Action Now has testified in favor of Oregon bill HB 3932: Relating to Protecting Beavers. The bill would close loopholes that allow people to kill or dislocate beavers.

In fact, it would be great if we could all be more like beavers: slowing down the flow, filtering out the garbage, making things nice for everyone while we're building our homes.

Notable details from the testimony:

• Oregon's in the worst shape: “Oregon has more than 120,000 miles of polluted or “impaired” rivers and streams – the most nationwide…” - ‘The Clean Water Act at 50 (EIP 2022)

• Beavers are bigger than climate change for water quality: ”The research reveals that when it comes to water quality in mountain watersheds, beaver dams can have a far greater influence than climate-driven, seasonal extremes in precipitation. The wooden barriers raise water levels upstream, diverting water into surrounding soils and secondary waterways, collectively called a riparian zone. These zones act like filters, straining out excess nutrients and contaminants before water re-enters the main channel downstream.” - Hadahazy (2022), reporting on a Stanford University study (Dewey et al. 2022) indicated:

• “Beavers are ecological engineers whose ponds store carbon, improve water quality, create habitat to support biodiversity, and help reduce climate impacts.” -McNamara (2023)

And now, our daily summaries of 58 selected updates from around the world of green tech and sustainability.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (1 story) - Behavioral nudges and menu design strategies boost plant-based food adoption in dining settings

  
  

• Carbon (3 stories) - Stardust's climate intervention, Exxon's CCS retreat, and expert calls for holistic carbon project assessment

  
  

• Ecosystems (2 stories) - Beaver conservation and wolf ecology highlight keystone species' climate adaptation strategies in Oregon's environmental policy landscape

  
  

• Grid (8 stories) - Thermal storage, big batteries, and nuclear restarts reshape Australian and U.S. grid infrastructure with Tesla, Duke Energy, and Zen Energy innovations

  
  

• Indigenous (3 stories) - Indigenous women lead global knowledge exchange and advocacy for cultural preservation, environmental resilience, and legislative recognition

  
  

• Industry (2 stories) - BASF advances green hydrogen with Germany's largest electrolyzer, targeting industrial decarbonization through zero-carbon hydrogen production

  
  

• Policy (15 stories) - SBTi's Net Zero Draft, Amazon's Carbon Credits, and EU Steel Decarbonization Spark Global Policy Shifts

  
  

• Renewables (19 stories) - Tongwei, LONGi, and JinkoSolar Drive Global Solar Innovation with Record-Breaking Efficiency Modules, Strategic Partnerships, and Advanced Technologies Across UK, Japan, Mexico, and Europe

  
  

• Transport (3 stories) - BYD's Ultra-Fast Charging and Battery Swapping Innovations Redefine EV Technology and Charging Infrastructure

Agriculture

Behavioral nudges and menu design strategies boost plant-based food adoption in dining settings

• What Happens When Menu Design Accentuates Plant-Based Choices? (CleanTechnica) - Strategic menu design significantly increases plant-based food selection by subtly repositioning vegetarian options and leveraging behavioral nudges.

Carbon

Stardust's climate intervention, Exxon's CCS retreat, and expert calls for holistic carbon project assessment

• Going beyond carbon with Sarah Heard | BeZero Carbon (BeZero Carbon) - Senior Director Sarah Heard advocates for comprehensive carbon project evaluation beyond emissions, emphasizing social and environmental risks alongside carbon impact.

• Stardust Creating Geoengineering Technology For Governments (CleanTechnica) - Israeli startup Stardust develops secretive geoengineering technology to block sunlight and potentially modify global climate with minimal public oversight.

• Exxon abandons Gippsland basin CCS project, but doesn’t say why (RenewEconomy) - Exxon abruptly abandons Gippsland basin carbon capture and storage project without providing a specific rationale.

Ecosystems

Beaver conservation and wolf ecology highlight keystone species' climate adaptation strategies in Oregon's environmental policy landscape

• SOCAN Testimony Supporting HB3932 (SOCAN) - Oregon climate advocacy group urges passage of HB3932 to protect beavers as critical ecological engineers for water quality and climate resilience.

• How Wolves Help Safeguard Ecosystems And What We Can Do to Protect Them (Earth.org) - Wolves play a critical role in ecosystem balance by regulating prey populations, supporting biodiversity, and reshaping landscapes through complex ecological interactions.

Grid

Thermal storage, big batteries, and nuclear restarts reshape Australian and U.S. grid infrastructure with Tesla, Duke Energy, and Zen Energy innovations

• Can Underground Thermal Batteries Warm Northern Cities in Deep Winter? (CleanTechnica) - Underground thermal batteries using seasonal storage can provide low-carbon heating solutions for northern cities by capturing and storing summer heat for winter use.

• A $7.50 Monthly Credit For Off-Peak EV Charging, Imagine Doing That With Your Gasmobile (CleanTechnica) - Duke Energy offers Florida EV owners a $7.50 monthly credit for charging during off-peak hours, expanding a successful pilot program to encourage grid-friendly electricity consumption.

• Construction starts on new big battery after landing “first of its kind” debt package in NSW (RenewEconomy) - Equis Developments launches 250 MW Calala battery in NSW with innovative debt financing and Tesla technology.

• Follow the sun: Big batteries now key players in evening peaks, and as clouds smother PV output (RenewEconomy) - Big batteries in Australia are increasingly managing solar output variations, providing over 10% of evening peak demand and stabilizing grid during cloud cover and solar fluctuations.

• Zen seals deal to develop four new big battery and solar projects across three states (RenewEconomy) - Zen Energy partners with Taiwanese firm HDRE to develop 695 MW of big batteries and 100 MW of solar across three Australian states.

• Bill for single cable Marinus Link now estimated at almost $5 billion (RenewEconomy) - Marinus Link subsea cable project cost balloons to $4.8 billion, nearly $2 billion over original 2019 estimate.

• Multiple Nuclear Reactors Are on the Road to Restarts (Energy Central) - Multiple U.S. nuclear reactors, including Palisades and Duane Arnold, are moving towards potential restarts with federal support and renewed interest from utilities.

• Nationals guarantee that Coalition can lower power prices ‘in the short term’ met with scepticism (Guardian) - Nationals promise to lower power prices by increasing gas supply, met with expert skepticism about feasibility and actual impact.

Indigenous

Indigenous women lead global knowledge exchange and advocacy for cultural preservation, environmental resilience, and legislative recognition

• 🌟Pollinating the Future: Report, Global Events, and Women Who Inspire! (Meli Bees) - Indigenous women share biodiversity stories and traditional knowledge through innovative global collaboration and community leadership programs.

• Kuleana, Solidarity, Memorial, Jamestown (Places Journal) - Scholarly exploration of land inheritance, urban solidarity, memorial sites, and rising sea levels in diverse geographical contexts.

• Ask your legislators to co-sponsor the MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda (Cultural Survival) - Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda seeks to protect Native rights through five key bills addressing mascots, education, heritage, and cultural recognition.

Industry

BASF advances green hydrogen with Germany's largest electrolyzer, targeting industrial decarbonization through zero-carbon hydrogen production

• Debunking The Myth: Green Hydrogen Is Essential To Displace Current Industrial Hydrogen Use, Not As An Energy Source (CleanTechnica) - Green hydrogen is crucial for displacing fossil-based industrial hydrogen production, not as a universal energy solution, with electrification being the preferred decarbonization pathway.

• BASF Commissions Electrolyzer for Major German Hydrogen Production Project (Power Mag) - BASF commissions Germany's largest 54-MW green hydrogen electrolyzer at Ludwigshafen site, enabling zero-carbon hydrogen production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 72,000 metric tons annually.

Policy

SBTi's Net Zero Draft, Amazon's Carbon Credits, and EU Steel Decarbonization Spark Global Policy Shifts

• ESG Today: Week in Review (ESG Today) - Major sustainability developments include SBTi's net zero standard draft, Amazon's carbon credit service launch, and EU's steel decarbonization strategy.

• From bombs to SLAPPS: We will not be silenced (Greenpeace) - Environmental organization faces $660 million SLAPP lawsuit from Energy Transfer, challenging free speech and peaceful protest rights.

• How political leaders communicate climate policy will be a defining factor this election (The Conversation) - Canadian political leaders' climate policy communication strategies will be crucial in determining electoral success and public trust in the upcoming election.

• If Trump Destroys Inflation Reduction Act, Economic Fallout May Come (Forbes) - Trump's potential dismantling of the Inflation Reduction Act could trigger massive economic disruption, potentially costing $190 billion in GDP and hundreds of thousands of jobs by 2035.

• MPs could axe clause in bill banning forced labour in GB Energy supply chain (Guardian) - UK MPs may remove anti-forced labor clause from Great British Energy bill, risking solar panel supply chain exploitation.

• Election Factcheck: Angus Taylor’s mysteriously cheap nukes (RenewEconomy) - Angus Taylor's nuclear power plan relies on dubious cost estimates and misleading claims about reactor pricing during Australia's election energy debate.

• Labor’s bid to protect Tasmanian salmon industry met with unease from pro-environment MPs (Guardian) - Labor pushes controversial legislation to protect Tasmanian salmon industry despite environmental concerns and opposition from green groups.

• The Trump administration’s climate policies jeopardize research in disaster-prone Puerto Rico (Grist) - Trump administration's climate policies threaten critical research funding for Puerto Rican scientists studying climate change impacts.

• The IRA Has a Math Problem (Heatmap News) - Republican budget reconciliation math threatens to gut key climate tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, potentially undermining clean energy investments.

• Is FERC’s Future at Stake in its Titanic Clash with American Efficient? (Inside Climate News) - FERC alleges American Efficient fraudulently operated a $722 million energy efficiency scheme that saved no actual energy, challenging the company's market manipulation tactics.

• Rattled by wind farm, Arkansas county passes moratorium (Canary Media) - Arkansas county passes five-year moratorium on wind and solar projects after surprise wind farm announcement sparks local resistance.

• How not to lower utility bills (Canary Media) - New England states consider cutting clean energy programs to lower utility bills, but advocates argue these programs will ultimately save customers money.

• AI Digital Forum, 2 forest events, GLF Africa 2025 (Global Landscapes Forum) - Announces multiple 2025 events including AI for the Earth digital forum, GLF Forests, and GLF Africa, alongside new online learning courses on forest landscapes and gender inclusion.

• Answers to common questions about the EU Omnibus proposal (Watershed) - EU's Omnibus proposal seeks to simplify CSRD reporting requirements, potentially reducing data points and aligning with global standards while delaying implementation timelines.

• Teach Climate Network Workshop: Dispatches from the future (Climate Generation) - Educators explore innovative teaching methods to help students imagine positive climate futures beyond dystopian narratives.

Renewables

Tongwei, LONGi, and JinkoSolar Drive Global Solar Innovation with Record-Breaking Efficiency Modules, Strategic Partnerships, and Advanced Technologies Across UK, Japan, Mexico, and Europe

• Great British Energy Bringing Renewables To Schools, Hospitals, & Local Governments (CleanTechnica) - UK's Great British Energy launches £200 million solar initiative to install renewable energy systems in schools, hospitals, and local governments, aiming to reduce energy costs and support clean power goals.

• Tongwei Showcases Upgraded TNC 2.0 Modules at PV EXPO 2025 in Tokyo (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei unveils high-efficiency TNC 2.0 solar modules at PV EXPO 2025 in Tokyo, targeting Japanese distributed PV market with advanced technological innovations.

• JinkoSolar and AIS GmbH Germany Complete PV+ESS Project Signing Ceremony (TaiyangNews) - JinkoSolar partners with AIS GmbH Germany to launch 66.5MWh photovoltaic and energy storage project with advanced liquid-cooling technology.

• Tongwei Showcases High-Efficiency Modules at RE+ Mexico 2025 (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei showcases high-efficiency solar modules at RE+ Mexico 2025, highlighting technological leadership and commitment to Mexico's zero-carbon energy transition.

• Hi-MO 9's power generation demonstration in Yinchuan achieves a gain of 18% (TaiyangNews) - LONGi's Hi-MO 9 solar module demonstrates 18% power generation gain by effectively mitigating shadowing and obstruction challenges in desert power plant test.

• LONGi Hi-MO X6 Anti-Glare Solar Modules – More Power and No Glare Pain (TaiyangNews) - LONGi introduces Hi-MO X6 Anti-Glare solar modules with ultra-low reflectivity, addressing visual safety concerns for solar installations near populated areas.

• Tongwei Showcases TNC 2.0 Series Modules at Solar Solutions Amsterdam 2024 (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei showcases high-efficiency TNC 2.0 solar modules at Solar Solutions Amsterdam, highlighting technological innovations and strategic partnerships in the evolving European PV market.

• World Water Day: Trinasolar’s Way to Finding Harmony Between Solar Energy and Water (TaiyangNews) - Trinasolar demonstrates innovative water conservation strategies in solar manufacturing, highlighting sustainable practices and ecosystem protection for World Water Day.

• Sungrow Outlines 10 Must-Know Technological Trends Driving Solar and Storage Development (TaiyangNews) - Sungrow reveals 10 critical technological trends driving solar and storage development, emphasizing innovation in efficiency, grid integration, AI, and sustainable energy solutions.

• LONGi's HPBC 2.0 Technology Hi-MO 9 Modules Earn Prestigious 'Pacesetter' Advanced Technology Certification (TaiyangNews) - LONGi's Hi-MO 9 solar modules achieve industry-leading 24.8% efficiency and 670W output, earning prestigious 'Pacesetter' Advanced Technology Certification.

• Tongwei Solar Sets a New Record with THC-G12 HJT Module, Reaching 790.8W (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei Solar breaks photovoltaic module efficiency record with 790.8W THC-G12 HJT module, achieving 25.46% full-area efficiency.

• 25.28%! Tongwei TNC High-Efficiency Module Breaks Efficiency Record Again! Tongwei Sets New Records for Module Efficiency and Power (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei breaks solar module efficiency record with 25.28% conversion rate and 682.8W power output, showcasing advanced TOPCon cell technology.

• The First Hi-MO X10 Power Station in shanghai received 8% higher power generation than expected (TaiyangNews) - LONGi's first Hi-MO X10 Power Station in Shanghai exceeds expected power generation by 8% in pilot rooftop solar project.

• TNC 2.0 Debuts in Pakistan, Powering a New Era of Energy (TaiyangNews) - Tongwei introduces advanced TNC 2.0 solar modules at Pakistan International Energy Exhibition, showcasing high-efficiency technology for distributed PV applications.

• China solar giant launches new module range to address glaring issue at airports (RenewEconomy) - Chinese solar manufacturer Longi develops anti-glare solar modules to reduce dangerous light reflection at airports and critical infrastructure.

• Giant wind farm opponents give up legal battles, to focus efforts on delayed federal green tick (RenewEconomy) - Tasmanian wind farm opponents abandon legal challenges, shift focus to federal environmental approval process.

• Debunking clean energy’s “cost problems” (Canary Media) - Multiple studies debunk claims of clean energy's high costs, showing renewable energy can lower electricity bills and create jobs.

• Australia should hitch its solar wagon to the China juggernaut (RenewEconomy) - Australia urged to leverage China's dominant solar and battery manufacturing capabilities to accelerate domestic renewable energy transition.

• TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing – March 2025 (TaiyangNews) - Solar module efficiency rankings show AIKO maintaining top spot at 24.2%, with LONGi and Maxeon sharing second place at 24.1% efficiency, highlighting significant technological advancements in photovoltaic cell performance.

Transport

BYD's Ultra-Fast Charging and Battery Swapping Innovations Redefine EV Technology and Charging Infrastructure

• BYD drops another bomb (Keep Cool) - Chinese EV giant BYD unveils breakthrough ultra-fast charging platform capable of adding 249 miles of range in just five minutes, potentially revolutionizing electric vehicle charging technology.

• The Guardian view on China's EV breakthrough: helped by the kind of strategic state Elon Musk despises | Editorial (The Guardian) - China's BYD outpaces Tesla with breakthrough EV charging technology that delivers 400km range in just five minutes, challenging Western automotive dominance.

• Battery Swapping Uses Fewer Batteries Than Buffered Fast Charging (CleanTechnica) - Battery swapping requires fewer total battery packs compared to buffered fast charging, offering more efficient and cost-effective electric vehicle charging infrastructure.