All articles tagged with #clean energy
Researchers from Edith Cowan University say magnetite in Western Australia’s Pilbara iron ore could naturally generate hydrogen underground when hot water reacts with it; lab-like conditions and fracture access influence production, and injecting certain solutions could boost output, suggesting a potentially vast clean-energy resource for Australia and future export opportunities.
POLITICO’s analysis shows roughly $600 billion of Biden-era climate and infrastructure funding—grants, contracts, and direct spending—still available to spend, despite Trump’s rollback of about $540 billion in clean-energy tax incentives; with court battles and political fights ongoing, the fate of these funds remains uncertain and could shape jobs, energy costs, and future tech leadership.
In a July 15 federal court filing, the Energy Department said it recommended terminating more than 600 clean-energy grants in states that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, with 284 grants canceled in October 2025, acknowledging the decision was based on the political identity of the recipient’s state. Democrats condemned the move as partisan retaliation and weaponizing federal spending against blue states, while the administration argues the action was part of a broader policy push.
A new E2/BW Research analysis finds Trump-era clean-energy rollbacks have cost the US about 470,000 jobs and $68.2 billion in private investment, with 216 large projects canceled or downsized since January 2025. The losses would have generated over $90 billion in construction GDP and $55 billion in annual GDP once online, plus $48.4 billion in ongoing spending and $53 billion in construction wages and $31 billion in ongoing wages. Tax revenue losses could reach nearly $20 billion during construction and around $12 billion annually thereafter. The biggest hits are in battery storage, solar, and EV manufacturing, signaling a broad economic cost from shifting policy away from clean energy.
Google reports a 37% jump in total electricity use in 2025—the largest annual rise in its history—driven by AI infrastructure and data-center growth, while operational emissions fell 2% as the company expands 24/7 carbon-free energy efforts and record renewables purchases; supply-chain emissions rose 25% and total emissions reached about 14.5 million metric tons CO2e, highlighting ongoing decarbonization challenges even as Google invests heavily in renewables and energy tech.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid out a seven‑point plan to end fossil-fuel dependence and accelerate a just transition to clean energy: peak and cut emissions this decade toward net zero by 2050; end fossil-fuel subsidies and tax their profits; require AI data-centres to disclose environmental footprints and run on renewables by 2030; ensure a just transition with jobs and development benefits; boost resilience and adaptation finance; unlock affordable climate finance for developing countries; and defend science against disinformation, warning that the 1.5°C limit remains at risk amid ongoing energy shocks linked to Middle East tensions.
Q1 2026 saw 54 new large-scale renewable projects totaling more than $18 billion and adding over 12 GW of generation and storage, signaling a robust build-out as developers push to beat looming incentive changes; however, 38 projects were canceled in the period, removing about $13 billion in potential investment and thousands of jobs, highlighting policy uncertainty's chilling effect on financing—especially for EV and battery manufacturing—while grid/transmission manufacturing remains steadier and overall electricity demand climbs.
In southern France, ITER—the world’s largest fusion reactor and a $22 billion multinational project—strives to sustain 150-million-degree plasma in a tokamak using superconducting magnets, aiming to prove fusion can provide abundant, emission-free energy; despite delays, heat-shield cracks, and a $5 billion cost overrun, ITER’s open-science model and global collaboration are shaping the path for private fusion startups.
Federal regulators are closing public comments on a proposed fusion-energy rule, with final regulation expected this fall; the framework treats fusion as different from fission, aiming for a much lighter oversight that could even exempt fusion from NRC jurisdiction while state regulators supervise facilities. Industry leaders say this move is a pivotal step toward commercial fusion in the 2030s–2040s, lowering financial risk even as scientific and engineering hurdles remain.
The Iran war is driving a shift toward Chinese clean-energy tech—EVs, solar, and batteries—as oil markets swing and nations seek energy security, boosting Beijing’s influence ahead of Trump-Xi discussions while the U.S. doubles down on hydrocarbons.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rolled out a five-point energy and climate agenda aimed at making clean energy cheaper, reviving Inflation Reduction Act incentives, easing permitting for wind/solar, expanding transmission and storage, and broadening the energy mix to include geothermal and nuclear, with a focus on lowering electricity bills and creating jobs ahead of likely midterm shifts in power.
Xcel Energy will power Google's new Pine Island data center in Minnesota under an Electric Service Agreement that will add 1,900 MW of new clean energy—1,400 MW wind, 200 MW solar, and 300 MW long-duration storage—plus a 300 MW/100-hour Form Energy iron-air battery (about 30 GWh). Google will cover its service costs, and the package includes a $50 million Capacity*Connect investment; the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will review the agreement. The move aims to support Minnesota’s economy and energy goals while keeping current customers’ bills stable.
California filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s cancellation of about $2.7 billion in Biden-era clean-energy funding, including $1.2 billion for a hydrogen hub, arguing the cuts violate congressional authorizations and threaten jobs, energy prices and the U.S. lead in clean energy; the suit is joined by several other states and cites due process and separation of powers.
California and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration on clean-energy technologies, especially offshore wind, easing UK firms’ access to California’s market, boosting joint research, and reaffirming commitment to UN climate goals amid U.S. policy shifts.
Former President Donald Trump attacked California Gov. Gavin Newsom and derided a new UK-California clean-energy pact signed in London, calling Newsom 'Newscum' and saying the deal was inappropriate; the agreement aims to boost cooperation on clean energy tech, offshore wind, and give British firms access to California's market as Newsom tours Europe ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run.