Green Energy Times

Headline News:

• “The Geysers Adds 25 MW Of Geothermal Capacity” • California’s largest geothermal resource added 25 MW of new generating capacity, strengthening the state’s geothermal energy. Calpine, a Constellation business unit, announced completion of the expansion project at The Geysers geothermal complex in Sonoma County, California. [ThinkGeoEnergy]

Geothermal plant at The Geysers, California (Calpine image)

• “The Cost Of Balancing The Grid If The EU Cuts EV Targets: 150 New Power Plants” • Europe’s electricity system could be a big victim of plans to scale back EV targets. EVs can be ‘batteries on wheels,’ providing a different math of the electricity sector. Fewer EVs would mean less storage capacity for the grid and a need for more power plants. [CleanTechnica]
• “Off-Grid Mine Runs Solely On Renewables For Nearly A Week” • Bellevue Gold is celebrating a milestone at its namesake gold mine in Western Australia. The site was able to run entirely on renewables for 155 consecutive hours. The site’s 90-MW hybrid power station has 27 MW of solar, 24 MW of wind, and 15 MW, 33 MWh of battery storage. [Energy Magazine]
• “Use Of Bomb-Grade Plutonium For Energy” • The President of the US signed an executive order directing the DOE to stop an operation getting rid of nuclear bomb materials. Instead, it is to give the weapons-grade plutonium to private companies to use in nuclear reactors. They are to get enough plutonium to build 2,000 nuclear bombs. [Green Energy Times]
• “Judge tosses Trump bid to restrict renewable energy tax credits” • A federal judge struck down a Trump administration effort to restrict tax credits for wind and solar energy. The ruling is a win for renewable energy supporters, but it comes less than a month before a deadline to phase out the credits entirely under so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” [The Hill]

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

Headline News:

• “Elon Musk Said He Wouldn’t Take SpaceX Public, But Two Things Changed His Mind” • The stress of taking Tesla public seems to have worn Musk down tremendously. He said he would not do that again. But he needs money for SpaceX, and with the IPO that is coming, he will be able to retain control of 85% of the company’s stock. [CleanTechnica]

Lift off (Kim Shiflett, NASA, public domain)

• “How Hot Conditions Could Impact The World Cup” • The World Cup is set to begin during one of the hottest times of year in more than a dozen cities in Canada, the US and Mexico, and several of the host cities may see high temperatures during the soccer tournament. High temperatures that may put athletes and even spectators at risk. [ABC News]
• “Mexico Reaches 5 GW Of Distributed Solar Power” • Mexico has reached another renewable energy milestone. From 600,368 installations across the country, Mexico reached 5,164.98 MW of small-scale, distributed solar power capacity by the end of 2025. Net metering has been a key driver of small-scale solar growth in the country. [CleanTechnica]
• “Nordex Wins 255-MW German Haul” • Nordex Group has secured orders totalling 255 MW for fourteen wind projects in Germany during the first two months of the second quarter. The orders cover 39 turbines, including nineteen N163/6.X units, eleven N175/6.X units and nine N149 turbines, according to the company. [reNews]
• “Greek Solar Producers With CfDs To Get Paid When Prices Reach Zero” • Currently, when prices are zero or lower for two consecutive hours, solar power producers with contracts for difference (CfDs) don’t get paid. The Greek Energy Ministry decided that renewable energy producers will be paid when the price is zero. [Balkan Green Energy News]

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

Reproduction of the demon core. A sphere of plutonium about the size of a softball, it weighed about 13.7 pounds. It was about the size as the core in the bomb that leveled Nagasaki. Notice of Permission: This image is from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Unless otherwise indicated, this information has been authored by an employee or employees of the Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS), operator of the Los Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. Government has rights to use, reproduce, and distribute this information. The public may copy and use this information without charge, provided that this Notice and any statement of authorship are reproduced on all copies. Neither the Government nor LANS makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any liability or responsibility for the use of this information.

George Harvey

This story is what I would call almost incredible. The President of the United States signed Executive Order 14302, titled “Reinvigorating the Nuclear Base,” which directed the US Department of Energy to stop its operation getting rid of nuclear bomb materials by diluting and dispersing them. The DOE would instead give the weapons-grade plutonium to private industries to use in nuclear reactors.

The amount of plutonium under discussion is to be twenty metric tons. The Fat Man bomb used on Nagasaki contained about 6.2 kilograms, or 13.66 pounds. It leveled about two square miles of the city. Twenty metric tons is enough to make thousands of such bombs.

The plutonium would go to five nuclear energy startups with the idea that it would be used to make electricity. But the theft of just a few pounds of it could be enough to make the terrorist attack on the twin towers look like a children’s game.

U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) commented on this at his official web site. We have reprinted the comment in full, here.

# # #

Washington (June 2, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-Chair of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today wrote to President Trump urging him to cancel the Department of Energy’s (DOE) plans to give 20 metric tons of weapons-usable plutonium—enough for approximately 2,000 nuclear bombs—to private industry for commercial energy use. If implemented, this would be the first time the U.S. government has made weapons-grade plutonium available to private companies. These plans go against long-standing bipartisan U.S. nuclear security policy, raise serious weapons proliferation concerns, make little economic sense, and raise conflict of interest issues. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright recently served on the Board of Directors of Oklo, one of the companies that may receive plutonium.

In the letter, Senator Markey wrote, “For five decades, the United States has avoided the commercial use of plutonium and opposed the spread of technology to separate (“reprocess”) plutonium from used reactor fuel. We did so to prevent nations with nuclear power plants (such as Iran) from being able to extract plutonium from that fuel, which they—or terrorists into whose hands it could fall—could use to make nuclear weapons.”

Senator Markey continued, “I am concerned that your Administration is moving forward with plans to transfer plutonium to Oklo not because these proposals make sense for the United States, but because Oklo stands to benefit financially and Secretary Wright is acting in his former company’s interest. Secretary Wright’s close ties to the company present an appearance of impropriety.”

In the letter, Senator Markey requested answers by June 15, 2026, to questions that include:

• Why should the U.S. government facilitate the transfer of plutonium to private industry and the development and export of proliferation prone reprocessing technologies?
• What safety and security measures are planned for the transport of weapons-grade plutonium to private actors?
• What role did Secretary Wright play in the selection of Oklo for the Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program?
• Does Secretary Wright currently have a financial stake in Oklo, and does he stand to benefit in any way from Oklo’s role in this program?

On September 23, 2025, Senator Markey wrote to Trump raising concerns about Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s close relationship with Oklo Inc., a nuclear technology company that suggests a conflict of interest within the Administration that could compromise U.S. national security by providing weapons-usable plutonium to private industry. On September 10, 2025, Senator Markey and Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08) wrote to President Trump expressing concern over DOE’s plan to transfer at least 20 metric tons of weapons-usable plutonium to private industry for commercial energy use.

# # #

We should keep in mind that the purpose of the organizations that intend to use the plutonium is to use it to make electricity. It is worth looking at that.

No commercial nuclear reactor has ever been run entirely on plutonium. Reactors using what is called MOX (mixed oxide) are used in France, but they only contain about 11% plutonium, at most. A nuclear reactor that uses plutonium would have to be developed from scratch, a process that would take years.

There would have to be adequate security on the plutonium. This goes beyond meaning that terrorists would not get any of it. The security around moving it would be complex, but it would have to be very sure. If the reactor were in Wyoming and the plutonium at Los Alamos, in New Mexico, it would have to be transported between those sites. How would that be done? It would have to be done entirely in secret, to be safe. But that means secret shipments of a material that is potent enough to make a nuclear bomb out of less than twenty pounds. And that is just one of many considerations.

On the other hand, we have ways to generate electricity that are almost certainly less expensive, do not produce waste, are non-polluting, and are highly reliable. These are solar, wind, and batteries. Solar and batteries are commonly used for off-grid homes, but they can be scaled from up to provide for a power grid. This is not new technology. It is used all over the world. And the electricity it produces is highly reliable and just about the least expensive out there. It can be installed very quickly.

Why would anyone what to pay extra to have bomb-grade materials moved secretly through their communities for the sake of making what may be the highest-cost power available?

Headline News:

• “Fuel Prices Are Shaping Summer Plans As US Boaters Get Ready To Hit The Water” • Recreational boaters, like motorists, are feeling a pinch from the Iran war. US gas prices have come down in recent weeks, but a gallon of regular gas still cost an average of 34% more than it did a year earlier, according to motor club AAA. [ABC News]

Motorboat at sunset (Zia Ur Rehman, Unsplash)

• “Heat Map Shows Most Of Spain In Intense Heat” • Clear skies will dominate almost everywhere in Spain, and 34ºC (100°F) will be reached in much of central and southern regions. Madrid will hover around the high, and Seville and Córdoba will reach 36ºC at noon. And even along the Cantabrian coast temperatures will rise sharply. [Euronews]
• “CATL Developing 12,000 Wh Per Kg Lithium-Air Battery” • Now that CATL, the largest battery manufacturer in the world, has begun mass production of sodium-ion batteries, it is turning its attention to the batteries it will manufacture in the future. And reportedly, the company’s long-term focus is on lithium-air battery technology. [CleanTechnica]
• “Scientists Blame Climate Change For UK Heatwave And Say 35°C In Spring Is ‘Absolutely Astonishing'” • The UK is in the midst of a spring heatwave, in which the temperatures in parts of the country are hitting highs of 35.1°C (95.2°F). As people struggle to find some relief, scientists are blaming climate change for the blistering heat. [MSN]
• “Why Solar Power Is Booming Under Trump” • The Trump administration may pivot away from renewable energies, but solar still rules. Newly released data from FERC shows that at the close of last year, solar energy additions were the single largest form of new energy capacity installations for the 28th straight month, starting in September of 2023. [MSN]

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

Headline News:

• “Innovative Strategies The Wine Industry Is Using To Adjust To Climate Change” • An increase in heat has been found to alter the chemistry of grapes and the taste of the wine. In response, some vintners are changing the way they cultivate their crops to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce their own carbon footprint. [ABC News]

Napa Valley vineyard (Daniel Salgado, Unsplash)

• “Governor Polis Signs Bill Countering Expensive Federal Coal Plant Orders” • Colorado Governor Polis signed a bill requiring more transparency on the costs incurred from running coal units past their retirement dates. It requires modern pollution controls for coal plants operating after 2033 and directs the PUC to help the state reach its 2030 climate targets. [CleanTechnica]
• “Fossil Fuel Imports Have Dropped Across The EU Since War On Iran, Except In Three Countries” • While the EU responded to the latest fossil fuel crisis by limiting fossil fuel imports, a trio of states, Germany, Italy, and Belgium, have “deepened their exposure by increasing them.” Overall, EU imports have fallen 1.2% since the war started in March. [Euronews]
• “Renewable Energy Is Overtaking Traditional Power Projects Across Africa, Industry Leaders Say” • Africa’s next generation of power projects is increasingly being built around solar and wind power with battery storage, as governments and investors shift away from coal and large hydropower dams in search of cheaper, faster, and more reliable electricity. [AOL.com]
• “Governor Lamont Signs Solar Energy Bill” • Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont signed a solar power bill to ensure that the state’s families and businesses can continue to choose to go solar. The new law extends rooftop solar programs, promises to bring faster solar permitting, and moves towards allowing sales of “balcony” solar systems. [Environment America]

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

Headline News:

• “Trump Delivers Boost To Coal Worth Hundreds Of Millions” • The Trump administration is putting $700 million into coal. Trump announced the move during remarks in the Oval Office, saying his administration is “taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal.” [The Hill]

Clean, beautiful coal mine (Carol M Highsmith, public domain)

• “France Accused Of ‘Climate Denial’ As Green Funding Quietly Shrinks Following Blistering Heatwave” • Last month, France sweltered under a powerful heat dome. Weather agency Météo France said that new monthly highs had been logged at 352 weather stations. The highest temperature was 37.1°C. But France repeatedly cut its funding to deal with heat. [Euronews]
• “Energy, Water Use And Pollution Of AI And Data Centers Rival Most Countries” • The environmental footprint of data centers already rivals some of the world’s largest countries, a United Nations University report says. The report predicts their water and energy use will double in just four years as use of AI grows. So will their pollution. [MSN]
• “Citing Cleaner, Cheaper Alternatives, Colorado Regulators Deny Xcel Energy’s $2.9 Billion Gas System Plan ” • Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission declined to approve much of Xcel Energy’s Gas Infrastructure Plan, which lays out the utility’s forecasted investments in methane gas infrastructure over the coming years. [CleanTechnica]
• “Wind And Solar Are Saving Texans $20 Million A Day” • In Texas, more than a third of electricity came from wind and solar projects as early as the first half of 2022. This year, wind and solar capacity have both set records already. RMI estimates that, on average, wind and solar projects in Texas have avoided $20 million per day in fuel costs. [RMI]

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

Headline News:

• “Regenerative French Farms Lost Only A Third As Much As Others To Drought” • Data on drought-hit French farmland reveals that the most promising solution could be the greenest. In a study of over 1,200 farms during the 2023 droughts, early findings show that highly regenerative farms recorded an 8% drop in yields, while the others lost 22%. [Euronews]

French farm (Lucas van Oort, Unsplash)

• “Higher Gas Prices Fueling Pain At The Pentagon” • A growing list of unplanned and rising expenses is increasingly straining the Pentagon, with fuel costs emerging as one of the most significant pressures. Oil and fuel prices have surged during the Iran war. That surge could saddle the Pentagon with more than $1 billion in unplanned costs this year. [ABC News]
• “BMW iX3 Starting $5,000 Cheaper Than Comparable BMW X3” • Is the new BMW iX3 about to shake things up? Based on the key facts we’ve seen released about it, it should! The iX3 is coming in a whopping $5,000 cheaper than the comparable version of the gas-powered BMW X3. And the iX3 also offers 434 miles of range. [CleanTechnica]
• “India’s Renewable Energy Boom, Over 4.4 Million Jobs By 2030: Report” • India’s push towards renewable energy could generate over 4.4 million jobs by 2030, according to a study released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water and NRDC India. The study forecasts rooftop solar to be the single largest employment engine. [Times Now]
• “US Will Dismantle The Ocean Observatories Initiative” • As the US seeks to halt science, the National Science Foundation announced it is “descoping” the Ocean Observatories Initiative. OOI is a vast ocean observation network that comprises more than 900 instruments deployed throughout the world’s oceans. It seems the US would rather not know. [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “Markey Demands Trump Cancel DOE Plan To Give Private Companies Enough Plutonium To Build 2,000 Nuclear Bombs” • Senator Ed Markey implored President Donald Trump to cancel his DOE’s plan to give private companies enough plutonium to build around 2,000 nuclear bombs, warning the move raises a number of important concerns. [Common Dreams]

Senator Markey (USDAgov, public domain)

• “Almost Everywhere Will Face Above Average Summer Heat, WMO Warns” • El Niño will hit this summer with 80% certainty, according to the latest forecast by the World Meteorological Organization. El Niño is expected to leave virtually nowhere untouched, with above-average temperatures forecast around the globe for June to August. [Euronews]
• “The UK Government Set A Target Of An 87% Cut In Carbon Emissions By 2042” • The British government said that it will stick to its net-zero goal, despite pressure on energy supplies from global conflicts. It will reduce the UK’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by 87% of 1990 levels in the next decade and a half. [ABC News]
• “What Hormuz Is Teaching Traders About Utilities” • The Strait of Hormuz shows how vulnerable electricity markets are to fuel price shocks, even after years of investment in renewable energy. The effects of the disruption are steadily working their way through natural gas markets, fuel contracts, and wholesale electricity worldwide. [OilPrice.com]
• “Sierra Club Applauds Northeast States For Challenging Trump Administration’s Illegal Offshore Wind Lease Buyout” • “These states recognize what this administration refuses to accept: Offshore wind lowers energy costs and strengthens our grid. Trump’s backroom buy-outs are a bad deal for families already struggling to pay their bills.” [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “A €100 Billion Queue: Why Europeans Wait Years For Clean Energy” • Over €100 billion of renewables are stuck in Europe, as communities across the continent wait years for solar panels and heat pumps. A report found that 375 GW of clean energy projects and 455 GW of battery storage projects are trapped in distribution grid queues. [Euronews]

Wind turbine (Wolfgang Weiser, Unsplash)

• “Electricity Prices Fall Across Australia As Renewables Build Momentum” • As bulk power costs decline in Australia’s eastern states due to high renewable energy inputs, the price reductions are finally reaching the household and small business consumer. More than 400,000 small-scale storage systems have a stabilizing influence on the grid. [CleanTechnica]
• “Australia’s First 8-Hour Battery Gets Go-Ahead As 144 Tesla Megapacks Prepare To Transform The Grid” • Australia’s first eight-hour battery energy storage system has cleared a major hurdle. The project pairs 144 Tesla Megapacks with an existing solar farm in New South Wales, aiming to help keep electricity flowing long after sundown. [The Cool Down]
• “Turning Point For Power Market As Storage Is No Longer Optional” • Battery storage is becoming conventional and a critical element of the electricity system, according to a panel held at Belgrade Energy Forum. Countries in Southeastern Europe must show clarity and enable operators to participate in multiple markets. [Balkan Green Energy News]
• “Court Dismisses GE Vineyard Appeal” • A Massachusetts judge has rejected GE Vernova’s request to throw out a previous order requiring it to continue working on CIP-Iberdrola’s 806-MW Vineyard Wind 1 array off the coast of Massachusetts. Turbine supplier GE Vernova is required to continue maintaining and servicing the project. [reNews]

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

Headline News:

• “In Venice, A Growing Flamingo Population Finds Refuge In Recovering Wetlands” • Flamingos started showing up in the vast Venetian Lagoon in the early 2000s, but they were rare enough that the local dialect has no word for them. Last year, climate change brought the number of wintering flamingos in Venice to a record of nearly 24,000. [ABC News]

Flamingo (Gislane Dijkstra, Unsplash)

• “The Race To Build The World’s Largest Solar Farms” • As panel prices fall and governments worldwide look to diversify their energy mix, some developers are launching mega-projects to meet the growing demand. One in China will have 16.9 GW of capacity. California plans a 21 GW solar project with batteries. They aren’t the largest. [OilPrice.com]
• “Wind Power Sets A Clear Course For Shipping’s $1 Trillion Energy Transition” • Conflict in the Middle East is driving fuel price uncertainty. Scientific validation shows that fuel saved by wind propulsion can be predicted with greater confidence and consistency than the commodity markets can. The value of the transition could be $1 trillion. [Energy Voice]
• “Ford Mustang Mach-E Cheaper than Ford Escape! (5-Year Total Cost of Ownership)” • The Ford Mustang Mach-E is clearly a superior vehicle to the Ford Escape. It’s got better tech, better driving quality, better acceleration, and a cooler look. It comes at a higher price. Nevertheless, its 5-year total cost of ownership is quite a lot lower. [CleanTechnica]
• “Energy Giant Switches On First Phase Of $1.1 Billion Texas Solar Farm Set To Power AT&T And Toyota” • Sequoia Solar, in Callahan County, Texas, has brought its first 400 MW of capacity online. That first phase is now operating, while a second 415-MW phase is due online before the end of the year. The two phases combine to 815 MW. [Yahoo Finance]

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

Headline News:

• “Clean Energy Saved EU €51 Billion In 2025 By Cutting Fossil Fuel Imports” • Using wind and solar to generate power meant significantly less reliance on imported oil and gas, according to energy think tank Ember. Europe looks set for further savings in 2026 as renewable energy generation hits record highs thanks to ideal Spring conditions. [Euronews]

Solar array in Italy (Sungrow EMEA, Unsplash)

• “Cuba Bets On Solar Power As Energy Crisis Deepens” • Cuba has gone through a worsening energy crisis for years, leading it to rely on Venezuelan oil. Following the US intervention in Venezuela in February, the energy crisis has grown even worse, as Cubans face regular blackouts and the economy suffers. Now Cuba is turning to solar power. [OilPrice.com]
• “California Has Lowest Wholesale Electricity Prices In USA” • Wind power, water power, and solar power all mean no fuel and low wholesale electricity prices. But given how much people love to exclaim “California is expensive,” it is a shock to find out that wholesale electricity is cheaper in California than anywhere else in the country. [CleanTechnica]
• “Company Bets $1.2 Billion On Massive Wyoming Solar And Battery Hub For Meta Data Centers” • A clean energy project tied to one of Meta’s data centers is drawing attention after Enbridge announced a $1.2 billion investment in Wyoming. The Cowboy Project combines 365 MW of solar capacity with battery storage of 200 MW and 1,600 MWh. [Yahoo Finance]
• “Connecticut Approves Plug-In Solar” • Small-scale solar is growing every year. Connecticut passed HB 5340, making the state the sixth to send a plug-in solar bill to the governor for final approval. Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Virginia, and Utah are the other states that are making it easier for consumers to add new types of solar. [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “European Energy Receives German Hydrogen Support” • European Energy secured support under Germany’s hydrogen auction framework linked to the European Hydrogen Bank for adding 150 MW of hydrogen production capacity in Denmark. Funding of up to €228 million will support additional hydrogen production connected to its Kassø site. [reNews]

Kassø hydrogen plant (European Energy image)

• “Four EU Countries Push Brussels To Ease Carbon Market’s Pressure On Industry” • Estonia, France, Germany, and Spain are urging the European Commission to rethink part of its planned carbon market reforms, warning that some industries could face serious competitive pressure under stricter emissions rules due to take effect between 2026 and 2030. [Euronews]
• “Iran Deal Coming Soon – Because Exxon Is Running Out of Oil” • Exxon Mobil Senior Vice President Neil Chapman warned that oil inventories are draining fast and could reach “really low levels” in the coming few weeks if the situation in the Middle East isn’t resolved. Naturally, if that happens prices will spike. We could be in for a real shock. [CleanTechnica]
• “Africa Is Embracing Renewable Energy” • African countries are increasingly looking to renewable energy to meet growing power demand. In 2025, African countries added a total of 11.3 GW of renewable capacity, up from 4.2 GW in 2024, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. And increasingly, renewables are displacing fossil fuels. [Yale E360]
• “Over 100 Home Heat Pumps Helped Balance Germany’s Grid For Nearly Three Years Without Affecting Comfort” • Viessmann Climate Solutions, part of Carrier Global Corporation, said it has concluded a pilot in Germany that shows residential heat pumps can actively support grid operations, according to Renewable Energy Magazine. [The Cool Down]

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

Headline News:

• “US Agriculture Industry Is At Risk As Drought Conditions Worsen” • Farms all over the country are bracing for the impact of drought after months of little precipitation, experts told ABC News. Over 60% of the continental US has been under moderate drought or worse conditions since April 7, according to the US Drought Monitor. [ABC News]

American farmland (Jonathan Singer, Unsplash)

• “European Energy Turns Sod On Cornwall Hybrid” • European Energy has started construction of the 68-MW Indian Queens solar and battery project in Cornwall, England. The company said construction began in May 2026 and is expected to continue for approximately one year, with grid connection scheduled in the first half of 2027. [reNews]
• “State Locks In Six Renewable Energy Zones After Final Round Of Nips, Tucks, And Rethinks” • Victoria has formally declared five onshore renewable energy zones and one “shoreline” REZ that will lay the foundations for the state’s step-change from its current share of around 45% of battery-backed wind and solar to 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035. [Renew Economy]
• “Public Service Commission Passes Georgia Power’s Costs To Ratepayers” • Despite the efforts of two commissioners, the Georgia Public Service Commission agreed to allow Georgia Power to continue automatically passing along all of its fuel costs to ratepayers rather than creating an incentive for the utility to manage fuel costs better. [CleanTechnica]
• “235 New Clean Energy Factories Opened In Five Years As A US Manufacturing Boom Powers Through Policy Headwinds” • According to SolarQuarter, an industry report said the US added over 235 clean energy factories in just five years, with domestic production emerging as a major force in both the economy and the energy transition. [The Cool Down]

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

Headline News:

• “Feared Data Center Power Surge Fizzles As Solar Shoves Coal Off The US Grid” • Fears that power-hungry data centers would trigger a surge in electricity demand across the US appear not to be coming true, at least not yet. Early 2026 data suggests the grid isn’t demanding much growth. Renewable energy is also doing well as coal declines. [The Cool Down]

Texas solar and battery system (Digitmed, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• “Nordic Coalition Urges EU To Stand Firm Against New Oil And Gas Drilling In The Arctic” • A Nordic coalition of financial institutions, trade unions, and climate scientists sent a warning to the European Commission, calling on EU leaders to maintain its existing ban on new Arctic oil and gas drilling, as the bloc revises its policy in the region. [Euronews]
• “Record Heat Has ‘Fingerprints Of Climate Change All Over It’” • Record May temperatures have sweltered huge parts of Europe, as countries remain trapped under a “powerful” heat dome. Record high temperatures in France and the UK have caused fatalities. But experts warn the worst is yet to come and this summer might be intensely hot. [Euronews]
• “15-Year Sustainable Aviation Fuel Deal For The UK’s Largest Regional Airline” • Loganair made a 15-year deal on SAF, and it did so at a good time. The SAF industry is far more expansive now than it was in the early 2000’s, when innovation in the field centered on bio-based versions of kerosene aviation fuel. Things have changed since then. [CleanTechnica]
• “TotalEnergies Files To Build 1.5-GW French Offshore Site” • TotalEnergies applied for planning permission for its 1500-MW Centre Manche offshore wind farm off the coast of Normandy. The filing comes eight months after the French State awarded the project. It marks a milestone in the development of what is called France’s largest renewables project. [reNews]

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

Headline news:

• “Last-Minute New York Budget Guts Climate Law” • New York lawmakers and the public got a first look at the Transportation and Economic Development section of NY’s $268.5 billion state budget, just hours before voting. It is the product of a secretive, one-sided negotiation process that weakens the state’s climate and community protection law. [CleanTechnica]

New York City (Mike Chavarri, Unsplash)

• “Bloom Energy Shows Why Fuel Cells, Not Nuclear, Are AI’s Future Power Source” • Bloom Energy announced a 2.5-GW fuel-cell deal with Oracle for its AI data center Project Jupiter, delivering electricity in months to years compared to nuclear’s 7-15 year timeline while reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 92% compared to fossil fuel generation. [AOL.com]
• “Rising Temperatures Are Putting Koala Populations At Risk, Scientists Say” • Rising temperatures are exacerbating threats to Australia’s iconic koalas, an already vulnerable species, scientists warn. Koalas are increasingly facing heat stress and even death when temperatures exceed a certain threshold, according to a paper published in Biology Letters. [ABC News]
• “Colombia EV Sales Report: Sales Grow 316% In April, EVs Now Over 20% Market Share!” • Beating all expectations, Colombia’s EV market is once again growing at explosive rates, with sales in April 2026 more than 300% above those in April 2025. The full battery EV market share alone almost reached 20%, compared with 7.4% 12 months ago! [CleanTechnica]
• “US Picks Potential Partners For Using Plutonium Surplus From The Cold War As Fuel” • The US government has chosen five companies, including Oklo, to enter advanced talks over potentially using its Cold War-era plutonium, originally made for weapons, as a nuclear reactor fuel. The plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years. [Al Jazeera]

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

Montpelier, VT — Governor Phil Scott signed landmark legislation into law today, making Vermont the first state in the nation to ban the toxic herbicide paraquat, which is linked to Parkinson’s disease. Health and environmental advocates celebrated the victory.

Large-scale epidemiological studies have shown that individuals exposed to paraquat have a roughly 250% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The risk is not limited to those who apply the pesticide directly. Because of the potential for drift, paraquat exposure is also a concern for people who live, work, or attend school nearby.  

“There are some agricultural pesticides that are just too poisonous to be used safely. Paraquat is now at the top of that list and therefore banning it in Vermont is absolutely the right thing to do,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.  

Unlike many herbicides that pose chronic risks over decades, paraquat is also acutely toxic. A single accidental sip can be fatal, and there is no known antidote. In Vermont, where small family farms and residential areas often intermingle, the risk of accidental ingestion or severe skin exposure remains a constant liability. 

The danger presented by paraquat is so great that more than 70 countries around the world have already banned its use. Syngenta, which has been the primary manufacturer of paraquat, is headquartered in Switzerland and produces much of its supply in the United Kingdom – yet both Switzerland and the UK have banned the use of paraquat on their own soil to protect their citizens. 

Only about 15% of people with Parkinson’s disease have a family history of the condition, meaning most cases are influenced by environmental factors — including exposure to paraquat. In testimony at the State House this year, Dr. James Boyd, a neurologist with UVM Medical Center, underscored that chronic exposure to paraquat can significantly increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Alternatives to paraquat are widely available to farmers in Vermont. Paraquat is not available to non-commercial users.

Polling done earlier this spring found that 77 percent of Vermonters favored eliminating the use of paraquat in the state when they learned basic facts about the herbicide.

It is not clear how much paraquat is used in Vermont today since current law allows farmers to use it on their own property without reporting that use to state officials. In testimony before House and Senate committees, however, it became clear that paraquat is widely used on Vermont orchards, strawberry fields, and other agricultural crops.

The new legislation will end many uses of paraquat in Vermont by the end of this year, while allowing for its regulated use on orchards and berries through 2030.

“This is a landmark win for public health in Vermont,” said Burns. “It should have been done long ago, but I’m proud that Vermont is the first to say, ‘No more” to paraquat.” 

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, incurable neurological disorder and the fastest-growing brain disease in the world. Early symptoms can include difficulty walking, depression, and cognitive decline, and the disease worsens over time.

Green Energy Times ran an article on Paraquat in the April, 2026 edition. It is “Is It Time to Ban Paraquat?“

Headline News:

• “Renewable Energy Just Broke A 100-Year-Old Streak” • When Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street electrical station fired up in Lower Manhattan in 1882, it ran on coal. Since then, Coal has survived the oil era, the nuclear era, and natural gas. Now it has been surpassed by renewable energy, according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026. [MSN]

Interior of Pearl Street Station (Energy.gov, public domain)

• “Strait Of Hormuz Turmoil ‘Serious’ Risk For Europe, Top UAE Adviser Warns” • Dr Anwar Gargash said at a conference in Prague that the Strait of Hormuz is a European energy problem, not a distant regional one, as the region faces the worst instability in decades. It is a direct challenge to European energy supply and trade. [Euronews]
• “Pope Calls For Robust Regulation Of AI In Manifesto” • In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV has called for robust regulation of artificial intelligence and for its developers to work for common good rather than profit. He issued the sweeping manifesto on safeguarding humankind as the technology impacts everything from work to war. [ABC News]
• “Evacuation Zone Shrinks After ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ Of Southern California Chemical Tank Explosion Averted, Officials Say” • About 16,000 people remain under evacuation orders for a possible tank explosion, Garden Grove Police Chief said at a press briefing. That’s down from 50,000. The tank’s temperature has been reduced. [ABC News]
• “Uber: Getting Hard to Justify High AI Costs” • Tech companies and large corporations are all gung-ho about using AI, so there’s a lot of early adoption underway. But how useful is the rush to adopt, and is it providing a positive return on investment? Uber is apparently starting to ask these questions, as AI does not seem to deliver as expected. [CleanTechnica]

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

Washington DC – New data recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, reveals growth of more than 11% in electrical generation by renewable energy sources in the first quarter of 2026. Moreover, utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage are projected to add more than 80.6 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity in the U.S. by March 31, 2027 while total fossil fuel and nuclear power capacity will fall by over 4.2-GW. In addition, multiple new studies by EIA and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) forecast continued strong growth by renewables and battery storage each year through 2030 and beyond.

Electrical generation by renewables sources grew over 11% and was nearly 29% of the U.S. total in the first quarter of 2026.

According to the EIA’s latest “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through March 31, 2026), renewably-generated electricity during the first three months of 2026 was 11.1% greater than in the first quarter of 2025. The growth was led by utility-scale (i.e., >1 megawatt (MW)) solar (up 23.9%), hydropower (up 21.9%), small-scale solar (i.e., <1-MW) (up 11.9%), and wind (up 2.1%). [1]

In addition, utility-scale battery energy storage capacity increased by 8.5%. [2]

By comparison, the electrical output of the nation’s coal plants fell by 11.4% while natural gas and nuclear both experienced weak growth – 1.1% and 0.9% respectively.

The mix of all renewables, including biomass and geothermal, accounted for over 28.6% of total U.S. electrical generation during the first quarter.

The combination of just wind and solar, including small-scale solar, provided over a fifth (20.3%) of domestic electrical production. Moreover, they out-produced nuclear power by 14.3% and coal by 31.1%. [3]

Renewable energy to add more than 57-GW of new capacity in the coming year.

As of April 1, 2026, renewable energy’s share of total U.S. utility-scale (i.e., >1-megawatt (MW)) generating capacity was 33.6%. EIA projects this to grow to 36.6% by March 31, 2027. Utility-scale solar will add 42,626.1-MW thereby expanding its share from 12.8% to 15.7% while wind will grow by 14,157.4-MW (including 4,155.0-MW of offshore wind), increasing from 13.0% to 13.6%. The mix of other renewables (i.e., hydropower, biomass, and geothermal) will add 297.1-MW.  

The combined capacity growth of all utility-scale renewable energy sources for the 12-month period (57,080.6-MW) is almost double that added during the previous 12 months (30,843.5-MW) – i.e., an increase of 85.1%.

Meanwhile, EIA projects no new generating capacity by nuclear power and a net decline of 4,266.2-MW in fossil fuel capacity. [4]

With the inclusion of new small-scale solar, renewables’ capacity will surpass natural gas by early 2027 – or sooner.

The figures cited above do not include small-scale solar. [5] The capacity of small-scale solar systems grew by 6,358.2-MW during the last year, bringing its total to 60,978.4-MW. EIA does not provide a forecast for small-scale solar but the SUN DAY Campaign assumes it will roughly equal that of the past year (i.e., an additional 6,000-MW or more). [6]

If small-scale solar does add approximately 6,000-MW more by April 1, 2027, it will bring renewable energy’s installed capacity up to about 533,319.7-MW. By comparison, natural gas’ generating capacity would total 514,868.4-MW.

Solar power’s share alone will be almost one-fifth (19.9%) of total U.S. capacity.  

Battery energy storage is projected to increase by over 50% by next spring:

Battery storage increased by 17,301.8-MW in the past 12 months and EIA foresees another 23,523.8-MW being added by April 1, 2027, bringing the total up to 69,971.1-MW – an increase of over 50%.

Thus, the combination of utility-scale renewable energy sources and battery energy storage will provide 80,604.4-MW of new clean energy capacity by early spring 2027. With the inclusion of small-scale solar, that figure could rise to close to 87,000-MW.

EIA forecasts continued strong solar, wind, and battery growth at least through the end of 2027.

In its latest “Short-Term Energy Outlook” report, EIA forecasts installed utility-scale solar capacity to rise 43.3% from 150 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2025 to 215-GW by the end of 2027. Actual electrical generation would increase by a comparable amount (41.6%) – expanding from 0.293 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) to 0.415 BkWh.

Similarly, wind capacity would grow 12.6% from 159-GW to 179-GW while generation would increase by 12.5% from 0.464 BkWh to 0.522 BkWh.

The capacity of battery storage was 42-GW at the end of 2025 and is expected to double and reach 85-GW by the end of 2027.

FERC foresees rapidly growing renewable energy capacity at least through the end of 2028.

In its latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report, FERC notes that between January 2026 and December 2028 (i.e., effectively the remainder of the Trump Administration’s term), net “high probability” additions of utility-scale solar could total 86,126-MW while those for wind might be 19,821-MW. The mix of hydropower, biomass, and geothermal could add another 540-MW.

Taken together, these additions would increase renewables’ share of installed utility-scale generating capacity from 33.0% at the end of 2025 to 38.8% by the end of 2028.

Meanwhile net natural gas additions during the three-year period would total only 8,154-MW. This would be more than offset by reductions in coal and oil capacities of 40,828-MW and 1,590-MW respectively. FERC does not foresee any new nuclear capacity during the period.

Renewable energy growth projected to continue through 2030 and beyond.

In its latest “Annual Energy Outlook” report, EIA expects utility-scale solar capacity to expand from 154.5-GW at the end of 2025 and to reach 257.7-GW by the end of 2030 – an increase of over two-thirds. Likewise, annual electrical generation would more than double from 275.3 BkWh to 578.7 BkWh during the five-year period.  

Meanwhile, installed wind capacity would expand from 159.0-GW to 204.4-GW, including a nearly ten-fold increase in offshore wind capacity (i.e., from 1-GW to 9.7-GW). Annual electrical generation would rise from 463.9-BkWh to 662.8-BkWh by the end of 2030, with almost 5% coming from offshore turbines.

The total capacity of all utility-scale renewables would rise almost 40% from 400.2-GW to 559.4-GW. Combined, their actual generation would reach 1,564.0-BkWh, up from 1,118.8-BkWh at the end of 2025.

“The Trump Administration has now passed the one-third mark and largely failed to stop the clean energy transition,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director Ken Bossong. “By a wide margin, renewables and battery storage will continue to dominate new growth in electrical capacity and generation.”

Notes:   

[1] In January-March 2026, wind produced 136,360-GWh (12.3%) of total U.S. electrical generation while utility-scale and small-scale solar combined produced 89,728-GWh (8.1%), hydropower produced 77,293-GWh (6.9%), biomass produced 11,340-GWh (1.0%), and geothermal produced 4,014-GWh (0.36%).

[2] EIA presents its capacity data as “summer capacity” defined as the maximum output that generating equipment can supply to system load at the time of summer peak demand. See Table 6.1 in the “Electric Power Monthly” report.

[3] In January-March 2026, the mix of wind and solar, including small-scale solar, produced 226,088-GWh while nuclear power generated 197,731-GWh and coal provided 172,493-GWh.

[4] Capacity factors for fossil fuels and nuclear power are generally higher than for solar and wind. For 2025, EIA reported capacity factors of 48.7%, 58.4%, and 91.0% for coal, natural gas, and nuclear power respectively. By comparison, the capacity factors for wind and utility-scale PV were 34.2% and 24.4% respectively. See Tables 6.07.A and 6.07.B. Capacity factors for small-scale solar systems (10%-25%.) are usually lower than for utility-scale solar.

[5] In its “Electric Power Monthly” report, EIA refers to small-scale or distributed solar as “Estimated Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic.” Unless otherwise indicated, all calculations presented in this release include electrical generation by small-scale solar which EIA estimates to have totaled 21,437 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in January-March 2026. Utility-scale solar totaled 68,291-GWh for the same period.

[6] Between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, estimated small-scale solar accounted for 6,358.2-MW in new capacity additions. The SUN DAY Campaign is therefore assuming that at least 6,000-MW in new small-scale solar capacity will be added during the ensuing 12 months.

Headline News:

• “Vertical Gardens Are A Practical, Beautiful Way To Cool Down Cities” • French botanist Patrick Blanc pioneered vertical gardens in the 1980s, and Europe has some striking examples. They are becomming common in South America. Botanist Ignacio Solano is breaking down misconceptions about the technology while he teaches people to turn cities green. [Euronews]

Ignacio Solano in Colombia (AlejandroOrmad, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

• “As Wars Hit Power Plants And Fuel Supplies, Rooftop Solar Can Be A Lifeline” • In a recent Guardian opinion essay, US Rep Lloyd Doggett and Michael Shank argue that attacks on Ukraine’s energy system and unstable fuel markets sparked by America’s war with Iran highlight just how vulnerable the infrastructure of fossil fuels can be. [The Cool Down]
• “Dajin Taps Jumbo To Deliver Heavy-Lift Ships” • Dajin Heavy Industry signed a contract with Jumbo Marine, a Dutch offshore shipping company, to build two high-end heavy-lift vessels. The Chinese foundations maker said that the vessels will be equipped with two 1200-tonne heavy-duty cranes with a combined lifting capacity of 2400 tonnes. [reNews]
• “RWE Lands Power Deal For 1.1-GW Oz Giant” • RWE has secured a Capacity Investment Scheme contract for its 1100-MW Theodore onshore wind project in Central Queensland. The company said that the Theodore project could feature up to 170 turbines and a battery storage facility capable of powering about 500,000 Queensland homes. [reNews]
• “US Adds Nearly 10 GWh Of Energy Storage Capacity In First Quarter, Best Q1 On Record” • The US energy storage industry installed 9.7 GWh of capacity in Q1 of 2026, the strongest first quarter in the sector’s history. Energy storage installations in Q1 were up 32% year-over-year despite actions in Washington that target clean energy. [CleanTechnica]

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

Headline News:

• “Earth.org Debunks Clean Energy Myths” • Mark Twain liked to say, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you near as much as what you do know that ain’t true.” Sadly, large corporations take advantage of our innate ability to believe false information for their private gain. Here is some myth busting that shows how wrong they are. [CleanTechnica]

Wind farm in China (Hahaheditor12667, CC BY-SA 4.0)

• “Due To Rising Gas Prices, Some Americans Are Staying Home On Memorial Day” • Despite a spike in gas prices in the country, more than 45 million Americans are projected to travel over fifty miles during Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA. But for those Americans who struggle financially, even short-distance travel is out of reach. [ABC News]
• “How Football Fans Are Tackling Sweden’s Fertilizer Problem Using Urine” • Eleda Stadion will open its toilets to an initiative aiming to gather 1,000 liters of human urine to defeat Sweden’s dependence on imported fossil fuel-based synthetic fertilizer. Researchers estimate that urine could replace up to 30% of the country’s synthetic fertilizer. [Euronews]
• “Four Western States Combine Forces To Kickstart A Geothermal Energy Revolution ” • After the Trump regime introduced its energy policy attacking solar and wind, four Western US states with copious geothermal potential (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah) formed the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium. [CleanTechnica]
• “Ukrainian Drone Attack Triggers Fire A At A Russian Oil Terminal” • A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at another Russian oil terminal overnight, officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region said, in what appeared to be the latest attack on Moscow’s vital oil industry. Authorities said falling drone debris sparked a fire at an oil terminal. [ABC News]

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