“Everglades Restoration Would Protect Florida Keys While Scientists Watch For Drought” • The Everglades is more than just swamps, fan boats, and alligators. And restoration efforts impact more than the land between Florida’s east and west coasts. High salt levels during dry periods can have fatal consequences for the plants and animals living in the region. [ABC News]
“Massive 2-GW Agrivoltaic Project Aims To Restore Desert In China” • China is leaning on agrivoltaic projects to help tamp down dust storms in its deserts, halt growing desertification, and restore vegetation, while generating clean electricity. A 2-GW project, part of a larger 100-GW system that is 250 miles long, is due to be finished this year. [CleanTechnica]
“Amaravati To Be World’s First Fully Renewable-Powered City” • Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s planned capital, aims to be the world’s first city powered entirely by renewable energy, targeting 2,700 MW of green energy. This ₹65,000 crore ($7.6 billion) project integrates solar, wind, and hydropower, setting a standard for urban sustainability. [The Economic Times]
“Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone Has Over 1,000 GW Of Windpower Potential” • Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone has a wind potential of 1,068 GW, nearly 470 GW more than earlier thought, a National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting report says. The UN Development Program and the Norwegian Embassy supported the report. [Theinvestor]
“Tesla Woes Continue To Pile Up” • A Tesla owner in California filed a lawsuit against Tesla in Los Angeles County, alleging that Tesla manipulated the odometer in his car in order to shorten its warranty period. Tesla will argue that its customers have all given up their right to sue the company and must submit their claims to binding arbitration. [CleanTechnica]
“How Climate Change Could Affect Arsenic In Rice” • Rice is a staple food for over half of the global population. It is consumed on a daily basis by more people than either wheat or maize. So it is with some concern that scientists have unveiled a finding: As carbon emissions rise and the Earth continues to warm, the levels of arsenic in rice rise also. [BBC]
“What Global Investors Must Know About China In 2025” • The world is in the middle of a structural reset. Global capital can no longer pretend geopolitics, climate, and industrial policy are background noise. Jefferies investment bank is hosting an event with a lineup of experts who bring unusually grounded insight into China’s role. [CleanTechnica]
“Longi Achieves 34.85% Efficiency For Two-Terminal Tandem Perovskite Solar Cell” • Chinese solar module maker Longi said it hit a power conversion efficiency of 34.85% for a two-terminal tandem perovskite solar cell. The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory certified the result, which represents a world record for the typology. [pv magazine International]
“High-Efficiency Energy Storage Device” • Researchers have created technology for high-performance supercapacitors. It could mean better, faster, and more stable energy supplies, especially where consistent power is hard to come by. A nickle foam improves both how much energy can be stored and how quickly it can be delivered. [AOL.com]
“China Walks Away: US LNG Expansion Plans Unravel As Trade War Escalates” • China has just suspended all LNG imports from the United States. No warning, no phasedown, apparently just a state directive that Chinese buyers, including the national oil companies, were no longer to sign, lift, or receive US liquefied natural gas. [CleanTechnica]
“NY Governor To ‘Fight’ Trump Empire Stoppage” • New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to fight the US government’s move to halt construction on Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 project. She said: “As Governor, … I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy, and New York’s economic future.” [reNews]
Governor Kathy Hochul (Courtesy of the State of New York)
“The End Of The Runway For Boeing In China” • One of the largest aerospace shifts in history is underway in China. Reports indicate that Beijing has instructed its domestic airlines to stop ordering US-built passenger aircraft. The move is not simply an act of retaliation or trade war chess. It’s a signpost for a deeper transformation in industrial strategy. [CleanTechnica]
“Ocean Energy Gains Ground In 2024” • Ocean energy made progress towards commercialisation in 2024 according to the latest data from Ocean Energy Europe. The pre-commercial tidal farm pipeline grew in 2024, and several full-scale wave devices were deployed. And there are plans to deploy about 165 MW more in the next five years. [reNews]
“Over Half Of Puerto Rico Has Power Restored After Island-Wide Blackout” • Electricity for over half of Puerto Rico was restored by Thursday evening after an island-wide blackout that left 1.4 million customers in the dark and disrupted service at hospitals, its international airport and hotels. Power had been restored to 57% of customers. [ABC News]
“V2G Program In California Kicks Off The Future” • There is a very interesting V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) pilot program, now being offered to GM EV owners in Northern California. They can enroll and get up to $4,500 in incentives to unlock bidirectional charging. Then they can supply energy back to their home, or in time, even to the grid. [CleanTechnica]
“Proposed Rule Change On Endangered Species Triggers Alarm For Environmentalists” • The Trump administration plans to eliminate habitat protections for endangered and threatened species in a move green activists say would lead to the extinction of critically endangered species due to such activities as logging, mining, and development. [ABC News]
“Trump Halts Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind ” • The Trump administration has moved to stop all work on Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 off the coast of New York State. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote he directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to “immediately halt all construction activities on the Empire Wind Project.” [reNews]
“Why Trump Is Only A Speed Bump On Road To Renewables” • Both the Energy Information Administration and Bloomberg New Energy Finance predict consumption of coal, natural gas, and oil will all decline in the coming decades, as renewable power generation rises and more people use electricity to power their cars and heat their homes. [Politico]
“Puerto Rico Plunged Into Darkness Again As Island-Wide Blackout Hits” • Puerto Rico was hit by another massive power outage, leaving the US territory in the dark for a second time in four months, officials said. Power company LUMA Energy said restoring service to 90% of the island’s customers could take two to three days. [ABC News]
“Volvo EX90 Claims World Luxury Car Title” • The all-electric Volvo EX90 is the most impressive new luxury car launched in the past 12 months, says the World Car Awards expert jury. The seven-seat family SUV claims the title of World Luxury Car with its comfortable and refined interior, advanced safety technology and distinctive Scandinavian design. [CleanTechnica]
“Renewable Power Generation To Increase 84% By 2030” • The BloombergNEF New Energy Outlook 2025 highlights the rapid growth of renewable capacity, predicting an 84% growth by 2030. The report outlines the transition to a lower-carbon energy system, with more inexpensive renewables meeting the growing global demand. [Windtech International]
“BW ESS Makes 1.5-GW German BESS Pact” • BW ESS and Zelos Energy Developments are planning to build a 1500-MW portfolio of battery energy storage system projects in the federal states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Sachsen-Anhalt in Northeast Germany. The projects are expected to achieve ready-to-build status in 2025-2027. [reNews]
“Ørsted Launches New SOV” • Ørsted has launched the Wind of Hope, which is now in use as the second Service Operation Vessel at its German offshore wind farms in the North Sea, carrying out maintenance work on the company’s 337 wind turbines. The 84-metre-long Wind of Hope has space for ninty cabins for service technicians and crew. [reNews]
“Aluminium Sector Could Add Up To 20 GW Of Solar And Wind Power Capacity By 2030” • A new analysis reported by JMK Research says that with around 4.5 million tonnes per annum of new primary aluminium capacity expected by 2030, India’s aluminium sector could add up 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by that time. [pv magazine India]
“GM And Mary Barra Place A $35 Billion Bet On EVs” • GM is bringing compelling electric cars to market, like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Equinox EV, and Chevy Blazer EV. The new Chevy Bolt is nearing production, and the electric Hummer, Silverado, and Suburban will be on sale soon. GM is partnering with LG Energy Solution on a battery plant. [CleanTechnica]
“Cubico Doubles Down On Queensland With Another Major Wind And Battery Project” • Despite the new Queensland LNP government’s about-face on renewable energy, developer Cubico is doubling down on the state with a proposal of another major wind and battery project. It is a 792-MW wind farm with 200 MWh of battery storage. [RenewEconomy]
Wind farm (Cubico Sustainable Developments Australia image)
“Electrathon America Comes To Homestead-Miami Raceway” • Electrathon America provides participants hands-on ways to learn about STEM principles as they design and build an EV for competition. Each contestant starts the race with a the same amount of electrical energy, and the winner is the car that goes the farthest in one hour. [CleanTechnica]
“Scientists Plan To Use Plants To Save Italy’s Historic Mussel Farming Sea” • Decades of industrial pollution at Italy’s Mar Piccolo have brought mussel farming to its knees. The climate crisis made things worse with water temperatures at 31.5°C (89°F), which can be fatal to mussels. Can harnessing the power of plants bring back a traditional way of life? [BBC]
“Ofgem Backs Overhaul Of UK Grid Connections” • Ofgem has approved a package of major reforms to the UK grid connection process, enabling viable clean energy projects to connect more quickly and support the transition to net zero. The proposals, submitted in December 2024, were developed by a colaboration of the energy industry, government, and regulator. [reNews]
“Tesla Model Y And Model 3 Continue To Dominate US EV Market – But …” • CleanTechnica just looked at overall EV sales in the US for the first quarter, comparing 2025 with the previous four years. Overall, the sales trend is great. Sales of fully EVs were up 200% from Q1 2021. While Tesla still accounts for 43% of the market, it saw its share decline. [CleanTechnica]
Join NEEP for a webinar series on community transportation planning. In the first installment, we’ll dig in to how various car share models improve mobility for communities with different challenges and needs. Guest speakers will present, compare, and contrast three different car share program models. Leaders from CarShare Vermont, Commute with Enterprise, and Good2Go will discuss how their programs work, who the programs serve, and how the remain economically sustainable.
“Solving Green Hydrogen’s Water Woes, With Seawater” • It takes a lot of fresh water to make green hydrogen, and that’s water people need for other things. One alternative is to use sea water, but that is not easy. The leading Chinese energy firm Sinopec is among those exploring an alternative pathway that depends directly on seawater. [CleanTechnica]
Solar plant in China (Courtesy of Sinopec via prnewswire)
“International Maritime Organization Reaches Agreement On Shipping Emissions” • After a decade of trying, the IMO agreed to a plan that it says will move the shipping industry toward net zero emissions by 2050. The heart of the plan is a levy of $380 per ton of CO₂ that ships will pay if they exceed a maximum level of emissions. [CleanTechnica]
“Extreme Weather Now A Global Threat To Insurability And Bankability Of Renewables” • Unmodelled extreme weather risks are emerging as a key challenge for renewable energy markets worldwide, raising concerns about the long-term bankability and viability of clean energy projects as the industry expands, a new report finds. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
“India Installs Nearly 30 GW Of Solar And Wind Power In FY 2025” • India continues to expand its renewable energy capacity as it installed nearly 30,000 MW of solar and wind power in the fiscal year from April 2024 to March 2025. According to JMK Research & Analytics, 23,832 MW of solar and 4,151 MW of wind capacity were installed. [Asian Business Review]
“New Research Exposes Critical Flaws In Supposed Benefits Of Bitcoin Mining: ‘Short-Sighted And Ill-Founded'” • Pro-bitcoin groups assert that mining the cryptocurrency can fuel the clean energy transition. However, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, “A close look at these bitcoin-is-climate-friendly claims shows they are short-sighted and ill-founded.” [MSN]
“Chinese Giant Envision Energy Has Its Eyes On Two Wind Power Projects In Vietnam’s Central Highlands” • Envision Energy Singapore Pte Ltd has proposed developing two wind power projects with a total capacity of 200 MW in Lam Dong province, as part of its parent company’s billion-dollar wind power journey in Vietnam. [Theinvestor]
Envision wind turbine (Envision image)
“Cuban Government Pledges 10,000 MW Expansion Of Solar Power In 2025” • Amid a sustained energy crisis with widespread power outages across Cuba, the regime has vowed to add 10,000 MW of solar power generating capacity by the end of this year. The plan is facing skepticism regarding its technical and financial feasibility. [CubaHeadlines]
“How Climate Change Is Supercharging Pollen Allergies” • In a warmer climate, seasonal allergy sufferers are hit with more pollen in a longer season. But they also have much worse allergy events, experts say. “Thunderstorm asthma” occurs when storms break up pollen particles in the air, releasing proteins, which make people suffer worse. [BBC]
“Market Volatility Complicates Work For Lawmakers In Alaska” • After President Donald Trump returned to office, Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska declared “happy days are here again.” But Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs made oil markets more volatile, compounding uncertainty for Alaska lawmakers, whose budgets are based the price of oil. [ABC News]
“Mojave Micro Mill Is First US Solar-Powered Steel Mill” • The Pacific Steel Group has begun construction of what it calls its Mojave Micro Mill. The factory is going up in California’s Mojave Desert, near Edwards Air Force Base, where it will produce rebar using electricity supplied by a solar panels and wind turbines located nearby. [CleanTechnica]
“Renewables Beat Fossil Fuels For First Time In Monthly US Energy Generation” • Renewable energy sources generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the US during March, data released by the global energy think tank Ember shows. This marks the first month on record where clean energy outpaced oil and gas in the nation’s power supply. [Straight Arrow News]
“Vesper Energy Launches 600-MW Solar Project In Texas” • A Texas-based solar energy developer inaugurated a large project in that state. Vesper Energy said the 600-MW Hornet Solar installation, which features some 1.36 million modules and covers more than six square miles in Swisher County, is now fully operational. [POWER Magazine]
“Geo Trasporti Toasts Delivery Of 27 Turbine Blades” • Wind transport company Geo Trasporti is toasting the successful delivery of 27 wind turbine blades for the Mondonuovo wind farm in Italy, owned by RWE. Geo Trasporti said transporting wind blades is a complex operation due to their length, weight and oversized dimensions. [reNews]
“Global Breakthrough To Tackle Emissions From Shipping” • Countries agreed on a global deal to tackle shipping emissions, after nearly ten years of negotiations. The agreement covers the vast majority of the world’s commercial shipping and means that starting in 2028, ship owners will have to use increasingly cleaner fuels or face fines. [BBC]
“UN Shipping Agreement A Victory For Multilateralism But A Failure For The Climate” • Negotiators at the UN’s shipping body managed to clinch a deal that might save multilateralism for another day, but will likely lead to destruction of rainforests by promoting first-generation biofuels, says T&E, the European environmental organization. [CleanTechnica]
