Stepchange News — 2026-07-01

1

Interior pays Duke Energy $129 million to abandon offshore wind lease — A Duke Energy subsidiary paid $155 million for the lease in 2022, saying it could support up to 1.6 GW of capacity. The utility now says it…

More: Utility Dive, Heatmap News, Electrek, CleanTechnica

2

First Solar shareholders file class action over tariff impact statements — First Solar is facing a class action lawsuit from shareholders over its response to US tariff policy and alleged “misleading” statements…

More: PV Tech, PV Magazine

3

European heatwave pushes electricity prices above €115/MWh — The weekly average electricity price stood in excess of €115 ($131.08)/MWh across most major European markets last week after much of the…

More: PV Magazine, GEM Energy Analytics

4

Supreme Court allows presidents to dismiss independent agency heads without cause, affecting energy regulators — The Supreme Court on Monday morning effectively OK-ed the firing of commissioners at independent agencies with no showing of cause,…

More: Heatmap News, via Bluesky, CleanTechnica

5

DOE support seen as key to scaling zinc-based battery manufacturing in US — Support from the U.S. Department of Energy will be critical to the industry’s near-term success as customers look to lithium alternatives,…

More: Utility Dive

6

Goldbeck Solar develops automated system to cut utility solar installation labor by 85% — Goldbeck Solar’s HeliomatiX system uses a container-based Assembly Hub, autonomous crawler, and robotic mounting to automate solar park…

More: PV Magazine

7

Battery quality control and contracts determine storage project performance, experts say — Industry experts at pv magazine Focus – held last week on the sidelines of Intersolar 2026 in Munich, Germany – said quality control,…

More: PV Magazine

8

Federal permitting delays put $121 billion in renewable energy projects at risk, Wood Mackenzie says — Wood Mackenzie estimates that $121 billion in solar, wind, and storage projects are exposed to extra federal scrutiny. The post As power…

More: Latitude Media, PV Tech, via Bluesky

9

Ireland's solar capacity expected to reach 3.3 GW by year-end — Ireland's solar market is continuing to mature rapidly, according to Solar Ireland's 2026 annual report which also identified the emergence…

More: PV Magazine

10

Chicago's lead pipe replacement costs exceed other major cities — This story is a partnership between Inside Climate News, Grist and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan region. No…

More: Inside Climate News, Grist

11

Swiss pilot project tests solar panels mounted between railroad tracks — Finding places to deploy new solar panels is often just as challenging as the construction project itself – with productive farmland, open…

More: Electrek

12

India's annual solar installations projected to reach 85 GW by fiscal year 2030 — A report by Equirus Securities predicts data centres, green hydrogen and night-time connectivity could add 15-20 GW of incremental solar…

More: PV Magazine

13

Florida law bars local governments from setting net-zero emissions targets — A new state law limits Florida communities’ aims to offset greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the global climate and intensifying…

More: Inside Climate News, CleanTechnica

14

Reflect10 demonstrates solar panel geometry boosting energy yield up to 20% — Canadian startup Reflect10 has unveiled a photovoltaic module architecture that it claims boosts average daily energy production by 20% by…

More: PV Magazine

15

FERC order requires grid operators to justify data center transmission cost allocation — A new federal order could strengthen Maryland’s claim that its households and businesses have been unlawfully billed billions of dollars…

More: Inside Climate News

16

Chevrolet holds Blazer EV price flat for 2027 despite adding features — The 2027 Chevy Blazer EV will retain the same price as the outgoing model, despite gaining a NACS port and additional features.

More: Electrek

17

Heatwave hits Europe as temperatures approach 100 degrees in parts of Italy — The start of a vacation really begins 10 days before departure, when your arrival date first appears on your weather app. Like the turning…

More: Heatmap News

18

UK researchers find floating solar on reservoirs can produce hydrogen while reducing water loss — Researchers assessed floating solar PV combined with hydrogen production on UK reservoirs using simulation tools, modeling electricity…

More: PV Magazine

19

EU sets 45 GW energy storage target across 22 member states — Tripartite agreement puts new energy storage obligations on 22 member states, while renewable and energy storage developers commit to…

More: PV Magazine

20

Decision-making delays hinder commercial and industrial solar deployment — The delays caused by the decision-making process required to deploy C&I solar projects are a key obstacle to installing C&I projects.

More: PV Tech

Jun 30, 2026 · 5:01 PM PT edition · 20 stories

Interior pays Duke Energy $129 million to abandon offshore wind lease — A Duke Energy subsidiary paid $155 million for the lease in 2022, saying it could support up to 1.6 GW of capacity. The utility now says it…

First Solar shareholders file class action over tariff impact statements — First Solar is facing a class action lawsuit from shareholders over its response to US tariff policy and alleged “misleading” statements…

European heatwave pushes electricity prices above €115/MWh — The weekly average electricity price stood in excess of €115 ($131.08)/MWh across most major European markets last week after much of the…

Supreme Court allows presidents to dismiss independent agency heads without cause, affecting energy regulators — The Supreme Court on Monday morning effectively OK-ed the firing of commissioners at independent agencies with no showing of cause,…

DOE support seen as key to scaling zinc-based battery manufacturing in US — Support from the U.S. Department of Energy will be critical to the industry’s near-term success as customers look to lithium alternatives,…

Goldbeck Solar develops automated system to cut utility solar installation labor by 85% — Goldbeck Solar’s HeliomatiX system uses a container-based Assembly Hub, autonomous crawler, and robotic mounting to automate solar park…

Battery quality control and contracts determine storage project performance, experts say — Industry experts at pv magazine Focus – held last week on the sidelines of Intersolar 2026 in Munich, Germany – said quality control,…

Federal permitting delays put $121 billion in renewable energy projects at risk, Wood Mackenzie says — Wood Mackenzie estimates that $121 billion in solar, wind, and storage projects are exposed to extra federal scrutiny. The post As power…

Ireland's solar capacity expected to reach 3.3 GW by year-end — Ireland's solar market is continuing to mature rapidly, according to Solar Ireland's 2026 annual report which also identified the emergence…

Chicago's lead pipe replacement costs exceed other major cities — This story is a partnership between Inside Climate News, Grist and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan region. No…

Swiss pilot project tests solar panels mounted between railroad tracks — Finding places to deploy new solar panels is often just as challenging as the construction project itself – with productive farmland, open…

India's annual solar installations projected to reach 85 GW by fiscal year 2030 — A report by Equirus Securities predicts data centres, green hydrogen and night-time connectivity could add 15-20 GW of incremental solar…

Florida law bars local governments from setting net-zero emissions targets — A new state law limits Florida communities’ aims to offset greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the global climate and intensifying…

Reflect10 demonstrates solar panel geometry boosting energy yield up to 20% — Canadian startup Reflect10 has unveiled a photovoltaic module architecture that it claims boosts average daily energy production by 20% by…

FERC order requires grid operators to justify data center transmission cost allocation — A new federal order could strengthen Maryland’s claim that its households and businesses have been unlawfully billed billions of dollars…

Chevrolet holds Blazer EV price flat for 2027 despite adding features — The 2027 Chevy Blazer EV will retain the same price as the outgoing model, despite gaining a NACS port and additional features.

Heatwave hits Europe as temperatures approach 100 degrees in parts of Italy — The start of a vacation really begins 10 days before departure, when your arrival date first appears on your weather app. Like the turning…

UK researchers find floating solar on reservoirs can produce hydrogen while reducing water loss — Researchers assessed floating solar PV combined with hydrogen production on UK reservoirs using simulation tools, modeling electricity…

EU sets 45 GW energy storage target across 22 member states — Tripartite agreement puts new energy storage obligations on 22 member states, while renewable and energy storage developers commit to…

Decision-making delays hinder commercial and industrial solar deployment — The delays caused by the decision-making process required to deploy C&I solar projects are a key obstacle to installing C&I projects.