“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]
“Ørsted Installs First Foundation At Changhua 2b And 4” • Ørsted has completed the installation of the suction bucket jacket foundation for the 920-MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan. The site is Ørsted first in the Asia-Pacific region to use SBJs, which minimize both installation noise and seabed disturbance. [reNews]
Installing an SBJ foundation (Ørsted via LinkedIn)
“How Trump’s Executive Order On Coal Could Impact Energy Use In The US” • President Donald Trump’s quest to conduct a resurgence of coal production and use in the US is farfetched and unlikely, energy experts say. Coal power capacity has been declining here and worldwide in recent decades, mainly because we have cheaper and cleaner fuels. [ABC News]
“Robots To Work With Humans To Demonstrate Solar Module Installation” • Rosendin, an electrical contracting company, has announced that its Renewable Energy Group will demonstrate its new autonomous robotic system for installing solar modules in Texas. The robotic system reportedly can install solar panels three times as fast as human workers. [pv magazine India]
“Do We Need Cocoa-Free Chocolate, And Is It Nice?” • The key ingredient of chocolate is cocoa, which is made from fermented, roasted and ground cacao beans. The wholesale price of cocoa increased by an astonishing 300% in 2024. This is due to climate change-related weather impacts on cacao farms, particularly in West Africa. There are alternatives. [BBC]
“La Niña Exits After Three Weak Months, Leaving Earth In Neutral Climate State” • La Niña, the natural cooling flip side of the better known and warmer El Niño climate phenomenon, has dwindled away after just three months. The La Niña that came into being in January, months later than forecast, was a weak one, according to NOAA. [ABC News]
“Renewable Energy Still Alive And Kicking In The US” • Even with efforts to prop up the US coal industry, renewable energy projects still attract global energy investors. The loss of federal support for renewables still stings, but at least the folks overseas still believe there is money to be made from clean energy in the US. As they say, money talks. [CleanTechnica]
Renewable energy (Courtesy of Sunraycer Renewables)
“India Plans 13 GW Hybrid Solar, Wind Hybrid Project” • A hybrid renewable energy park with a total capacity of 13 GW is planned for areas of the region of Ladakh, India. The project will include solar, wind, and battery storage systems, according to Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power Shripad Yesso Naik. [pv magazine International]
“Tidal, Wave Can Deliver £8 Billion Boost To Scotland” • Tidal stream and wave energy projects in the UK could deliver over £8 billion in economic benefits to the Scottish economy by 2050, according to a report by the University of Edinburgh. The report presents a scenario with a Scottish market for up to 8.8 GW of marine energy by 2050. [reNews]
“Why The Flooding In The South, Midwest Was So Severe” • A multi-day outbreak of tornadoes, torrential rain, and flooding that killed at least two dozen people in the Midwest and South was caused by a storm system that stalled and persisted in the area. With climate change, extreme precipitation events have become about 45% more common. [ABC News]
“Cleanup Underway Of The Keystone Oil Pipeline Spill In North Dakota” • When the Keystone pipeline ruptured Tuesday in southeastern North Dakota, it was shut down within two minutes by an employee who heard a mechanical bang. South Bow, which manages the pipeline, estimated the spill’s volume at 3,500 barrels, or 147,000 gallons. [ABC News]
This month, the Climate Council is hostingpublic engagement sessions to gather input on their updated climate action plan. There will be two virtual sessions—THIS THURSDAY, April 10, at 5:30, and then Thursday, May 1, at noon—as well as in-person sessions throughout the state (Hardwick, Hinesburg, St. Albans, Bennington, Bellows Falls, Barre, and Rutland—click the link above for dates).
The people who show up for these sessions are often those who oppose climate reform. We want to make sure the council hears from people who support our climate goals and also from people whose voices aren’t often heard. Let’s call for a just and effective climate plan for Vermont!
Can you commit to attending one of these public engagement sessions? If so, support is available:
Here are the talking points from our initial engagement with the council last month.
350VT volunteer Steve Crowley has offered to chat with anyone who might have questions or want more information.
A number of Vermont environmental groups are hosting online training sessions before the council input sessions. There’s one this Thursday, April 10, at 5 p.m., right before the kick-off virtual session—register here.
Thank you for joining a public engagement session if you can!
