Green Energy Times

Headline News:

• “Ice Dam At Glacier Releases Floodwater Toward Downstream Homes” • A huge basin of rainwater and snowmelt dammed by Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier is releasing, and residents in parts of Juneau are urged to evacuate ahead of flooding downstream. Last year, the Mendenhall River’s release flow was about half that of Niagara Falls. [ABC News]

Mendenhall River (Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

• “Casa Dos Ventos Selects Nextracker For 1.5 GW Of Solar Projects In Brazil” • Casa dos Ventos, known for its leadership in Brazil’s wind energy sector, is now including solar in its portfolio of renewables, part of a growing trend for Brazilian developers aiming to optimize projects. It awarded contracts for four solar projects totaling 1,563 MW. [CleanTechnica]
• “Use Of Plastics And Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations” • The world’s nations are convening at a UN conference in Geneva to negotiate a deal aimed at tackling plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Many wish to reduce production and use of specific chemicals. Some oil-producing countries oppose these goals in favor of managing waste. [Euronews]
• “Rezolv Secures 731 MW In Romania CFD Auction” • Rezolv Energy has won three contracts for difference totalling 731 MW in Romania’s second renewable energy auction. The awards cover capacity from the 1,044-MW Dama Solar PV park in Arad County and the 300-MW Dunarea East wind farm in Constanța County. [reNews]
• “US Unlocks Frozen EV Charging Funds” • When the current US administration took office in January, one of the first things it did was impound all funds appropriated by Congress for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. After fourteen states got a preliminary injunction, the Trump administration blinked and backed down. [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “Jellyfish Forced Shutdown Of French Nuclear Plant” • EDF confirmed that four of the six reactors at the Gravelines nuclear plant were shut down by jellyfish clogging the cooling system. Their abundance was tied to sea temperatures raised by climate change. The remaining reactors were down for maintenance already, so all 5.4 GW were offline. [Euronews]

Jellyfish (Jack B, Unsplash)

• “Offshore Wind Gains Momentum In Atlantic Canada” • In parts of Newfoundland winds regularly reach a Category 3 hurricane’s power, and offshore winds are higher and steadier. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston proposed the Wind West project to develop 40 GW of offshore capacity, enough to meet 27% of Canada’s demand. [The Energy Mix]
• “US Banks Cut Fossil Fuel Financing As The Market Outweighs Politics” • Wall Street’s six largest banks cut their financing to oil, gas, and coal projects by 25% year-over-year through August 1, 2025. In dollar terms, that means a cut from roughly $97 billion in 2024 to $73 billion this year. Morgan Stanley cut its fossil fuel lending by more than half. [CleanTechnica]
• “Vestas Secures 950 MW Of US Orders” • Vestas has received orders totaling 950MW for undisclosed wind energy projects in the US. The company did not disclose project details or turbine models, but said the orders form part of its latest intake in the region. The announcement follows yesterday’s news that Vestas won a 40MW order in Poland. [reNews]
• “Next Massachusetts Solicitation Delayed” • Massachusetts officials delayed their fifth round of offshore wind procurement until next year. A Department of Energy Resources memo said that feedback from developers overwhelmingly recommended that the next request for proposals for offshore wind projects not be issued until 2026 at the earliest. [reNews]

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

Headline News:

• “It’s Time To Divest From Plastic – Ceramics Are One Viable Alternative” • Plastics Treaty negotiations began on August 5 and are due to conclude on August 14, 2025, but a failures at the proceedings have put the fate of the plastics treaty in jeopardy. In this article, we look at ceramics as an alternative to plastics for many articles. [CleanTechnica]

GaeaStar ceramic cups (GaeaStar image)

• “Swarm Of Jellyfish Shuts French Nuclear Power Plant” • The Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France has been shut down after a swarm of jellyfish entered the filter drums that pull in cooling water, according to its state-owned operator, EDF. The plant is one of the largest in France. It is cooled by water from a canal connected to the North Sea. [The Guardian]
• “Black Hole: Dozens Of Renewable Energy Projects Still Waiting On EPBC Decision” • There is more evidence that Australia’s EBPC Act approvals process is failing renewable energy projects, with another report showing no projects sent into the queue 2023 or 2024 have been approved. The EPBC is doubling timelines. [RenewEconomy]
• “Five Community Batteries Power Up In Adelaide” • The first batteries in the ARENA Community Batteries Project, managed by Momentum Energy, were switched on in Adelaide, South Australia. Five batteries, with a total capacity of 770 kW and 2,061 kWh, help reduce costs for the retirement village residents and shop tenants. [Energy Source & Distribution]
• “Google Launched An AI Model That Functions Like A Virtual Satellite” • Satellites gather images help scientists understand our planet. But these images come from many different sources, and it can be difficult to combine them into a single picture. Google’s AI model AlphaEarth Foundations can combine them to create highly detailed maps almost in real time. [Euronews]

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

Headline News:

• “Climate Solutions That Can Spread Fast? Scientists Outline A Strategy To Tip The System” • An international research group has a new method to identify “positive tipping points,” when small shifts in behaviour, technology or policy could lead to sweeping, self-sustaining climate progress. Their proposed plan is described in Sustainability Science. [Euronews]

Helping hand (Neil Thomas, Unsplash)

• “High Temperatures To Affect Nuclear Power Production In South West France” • High water temperatures are expected to affect electricity production on the Garonne river, from August 12, particularly at the 2.6-GW Golfech nuclear plant, nuclear operator EDF said in a notice. The high temperatures are also expected to affect other plants. [MSN]
• “BYD EV Struck By Lightning Holds Up Fine ” • A BYD electric car was recently struck by lightning, three times, while it was in motion. There was driver in the car at the time. The good news is that the driver and the car were fine, with only minimal damage. A mechanic inspected the battery, motor, and electronic contols and found nothing wrong. [CleanTechnica]
• “New Study Shows How Climate Change Is Driving Wildfire Season To Start Earlier In California” • Fire season is expanding in California, with an earlier start to wildfire activity in most of the state. In parts of the northern mountains, the season is now starting more than 10 weeks earlier than it did in the 1990s, a study shows. [PBS]
• “Tesla Dissolves Its Dojo Supercomputer Team Amid A Talent Exodus” • Tesla is dissolving the team that was developing its Dojo supercomputer, according to Bloomberg. The change marks a notable shift away from using in-house technology to train the AI models powering Tesla’s self-driving features and its Optimus humanoid robot. [MSN]

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

Headline News:

• “‘Will European Cities Become Unlivable?” • Due to the “heat island” effect, cities are especially affected by heat. Cities can be 10°C to 15°C (18°F to 27°F) hotter than rural areas around them during summer. There are green solutions, and many cities are adapting, but if CO₂ emissions are not reduced to zero, experts warn cities could become unlivable. [Euronews]

Montmartre, Paris (Bastien Nvs, Unsplash)

• “Administration Rescinds Biden Approval of 1,000 MW Wind Farm In Idaho” • The Trump administration rescinded approvals for a proposed 1,000 MW wind energy facility in southern Idaho that had been the object of controversy due to its proximity to a site where Japanese Americans were interned in government camps during World War II. [The Well News]
• “Leapmotor Gets Its Own Ocean Vessel For Vehicle Shipments” • Leapmotor is really excelling and deserves more of a nod. It is a Chinese EV brand that is seeing soaring overseas sales, especially in Europe. Now it has its own ship, Grande Tianjin, leased by Grimaldi Group, to deliver cars. It’s new EV, B10, has a starting price of 99,800 yuan ($13,900). [CleanTechnica]
• “Over 50 Million People On Alert For Dangerous Heat In The Southwest” • Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for parts of the desert Southwest. Phoenix has already seen a high of 118°F. This not only was the hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of August, it is also tied for the ninth-hottest day all time since records began in 1895. [ABC News]
• “A Moment Of Opportunity To Embrace Renewables Is Smart Economics” • Smart economics is the driving factor for global renewable adoption. That is the argument behind a speech titled “A Moment of Opportunity” by UN Secretary General António Guterres. He described how “we are on the cusp of a new era” of powering our lives. [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “Massive, 18-Mile-Long Patagonia Glacier Experiencing Rapid Ice Loss For First Time” • What was once thought the most stable glacier in Patagonia is undergoing ice loss at rates far greater than previously thought, a study shows. The glacier, measuring about 18.6 miles long, has retreated nearly half a mile in some areas over the past few years. [ABC News]

Glaciar Perito Moreno (Chrysanthi Ha, Unsplash)

• “Vestas Wins 274-MW Turbine Order In Canada” • Vestas has secured a 274-MW order from EDF power solutions North America for the Madawaska wind project in Quebec, Canada. The deal covers the supply of 25 V162-6.0MW and 20 V162-6.2MW EnVentus turbines, alongside a 10-year Active Output Management 5000 service agreement. [reNews]
• “Gresham Hits 1-GW Milestone For UK BESS” • Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has reached 1 GW of operational battery energy storage capacity in the UK. Gresham said it has delivered 282 MW and 770 MWh of operational assets since the 2024 interim results, completing construction of its 1,072-MW, 1,701-MWh portfolio. [reNews]
• “Make America Gaslit Again” • Trump & Cohort are trying to shut down as much renewable energy as possible. And they are doing so as rapidly as possible. Will the surviving wind and solar power be enough? Probably not. It would probably not be enough in any event, because demand is rising rapidly. We should prepare because the numbers don’t add up. [CleanTechnica]
• “Trump’s Attack On Wind, Solar Cuts Deeper Than Industry Expected” • President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on wind and solar power, with a rapid-fire campaign that exceeds the industries’ worst fears. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration instituted permitting reviews that threaten US wind and solar developments. [Yahoo Finance]

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

Headline News:

• “US Secretary Of Interior Announces End To Lava Ridge Wind Project In Idaho” • The Interior Department announced that the Lava Ridge Wind Project is being canceled. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he would reverse approval of the large wind farm project that had been approved to be built outside of Twin Falls on BLM land. [Yahoo]

Wind farm in Power County, Idaho (US DOE image)

• “Failed US Government Wants To Dismantle Solar For All Program” • During Joe Biden’s term, as much as $7 billion was approved in the Inflation Reduction Act for the Solar For All program, intended to help homeowners install solar systems. Now the government want to stop that, as it shovels out $90 billion for tech centers. [CleanTechnica]
• “Record Coral Losses In Great Barrier Reef Spark Concern Over Escalating Climate Stress” • Parts of Australia’s iconic reef suffered their worst annual decline since records began almost 40 years ago. Back-to-back climate stressors have driven a sharp drop in coral cover – the percentage of a reef’s surface covered in live coral – in its three regions. [Euronews]
• “Critics Of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Argue It Should Be Shuttered Due To Environmental Concerns” • An eight-hour hearing on environmental concerns over the Florida migrant detention center called “Alligator Alcatraz” ended without even establishing who runs the controversial facility. We still do not know whether it is run by the state or federal government. [ABC News]
• “Tesla Shareholders Sue Elon Musk Over Autopilot And FSD Failures” • The $329 million jury verdict against Tesla last week was the last straw for several Tesla shareholders. They decided “Enough is enough!” and sued Tesla and Elon Musk personally for repeatedly overstating the effectiveness of and prospects for their autonomous driving technology. [CleanTechnica]

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

Aug. 8th, 9th & 10th — in Brandon, VT

We’re celebrating with great live music, incredibly informative workshops, and fun arts & activities for the whole family.

Check out the the performers at Solarfest.org, from folk to jazz and reggae to rock, the lineup features 3 days of live music from top-quality local, national, and up & coming talent.

Don’t miss dozens of workshops with hands-on, valuable knowledge you can use.

From affordable housing to food, energy, and sustainable living, there’s personal and business information from experts and practitioners about ways to save money and live better, while adapting to our changing world.

Tickets and Camping Reservations are On-Sale Now with a few openings for volunteers to attend free!

Activities include favorites like art displays from Bread & Puppet, our large exhibitor pavilion, the latest electric vehicles, tours of the juice bar, and free admission for kid’s 12 & under. But we’ve also added some new fun with a free community dinner and movie screening on Friday.

Note: Sunday is a full-day Sustainability Expo, with free admission for all.

Don’t miss the fun — See you there!

Headline News:

• “BYD Electric Bus Sales Grow 128.5%” • We should take a look at the stunning growth coming from BYD’s commercial vehicle divisions. In July, BYD’s fully electric bus sales rose 128.5% year over year, from 267 in July 2024 to 610 in July 2025. Other commercial vehicle sales rose from 776 in July 2023 to 1,317 in July 2024 to 2,656 in July 2025. [CleanTechnica]

BYD B12 (S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0)

• “Wind And Solar Droughts Have More Impact On Prices Than Reliability” • Long duration droughts of variable renewable energy are really neither that long nor that severe. Nevertheless, electricity spot prices are very elastic, and fewer than 0.5% of days have wind and solar output below 66% of normal for four days or longer in a row. [RenewEconomy] 
• “Change For The Baltic Sea As Poland Bets On Offshore Wind Energy” • Poland is one of the largest CO₂ emitters in the EU, but its first offshore turbines are already standing in the Baltic Sea. Construction by the Baltic Power consortium aims to create a 1,200-MW farm, and Poland’s goal is 6,000 MW of offshore wind farms by 2030. [Euronews]
• “EU Approves €11 Billion French Offshore CFD” • A  French State aid scheme worth €11 billion, backing three floating wind farms with a total of 1.5 GW, has been approved by the European Commission. Each of the three planned wind farms – one in the waters off southern Brittany and two in the Mediterranean – will have a capacity of about 500 MW. [reNews]
• “Germany Urges EU To Cut China Magnet Reliance” • At this time, over 90% of permanent magnets containing rare earth elements are produced in China. They are vital components for wind turbine generators. The German wind industry proposed that Europe target sourcing 30% of all permanent magnets from suppliers outside China by 2030. [reNews]

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

Headline News:

• “Inch Cape Installs Offshore Substation” • The offshore jacket foundation and substation for the 1,100-MW Inch Cape offshore wind farm have been installed in the North Sea. The Siemens Energy Offshore Transformer Module and its jacket foundation were lifted into place by Heerema Marine Contractors’ crane vessel Sleipnir. [reNews]

Sleipnir – Each crane can lift 10,000 metric tonnes. (Heerema Marine Contractors image)

• “Renewables Will Be World’s Top Power Source By 2026” • Wind and solar are increasingly under attack from politicians on the right, such as US president Donald Trump. Even so, they will meet over 90% of the increase in global electricity demand out to 2026, the IEA says, making renewables the world’s biggest source of electricity. [Reccessary]
• “Plastic Causing ‘Disease And Death From Infancy To Old Age'” • Plastic pollution is a “grave, growing and under-recognized danger” to health that costs the world at least $1.5 trillion per year, a report in the Lancet medical journal said. The report was published one day ahead of fresh talks in Geneva aiming for the first treaty on plastic pollution. [MSN]
• “Global EV Sales: Plugin Vehicles Reach 28% Share!” • Global plugin vehicle registrations were up 22% in June 2025 compared to June 2024. There were over 1.8 million registrations. Battery EVs grew 24% year-over-year to over 1.1 million units, compared to plugin hybrids growing 18% to around 600,000 units in the same period. [CleanTechnica]
• “New Jersey Says Three Chemical Makers Agree To ‘Forever Chemical’ Settlement Worth Up To $2 Billion” • DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle claims stemming from PFAS, the companies said. The deal calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. [ABC News]

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