Stepchange News — 2026-08-16

Guardian Environment · Jasper Jolly

UK's biggest EV battery plant shelves expansion plans amid stalled JLR deal — Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars Andy Burnham moves to cut…

PV Magazine · Mark Hutchins

European data centers face 7-10 year grid connection waits, threatening buildout plans — A data center can be built in 18 to 24 months, but connecting it to the grid is another matter, writes Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof, Europe…

Grist · Molly Taft, WIRED

AI tools risk enabling expanded fossil fuel production, climate experts warn

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Trump administration considers farmland rule that could reshape renewables investment — The Trump administration is considering changing its interpretation of an obscure law related to farmland ownership to transform it into a…

CleanTechnica · Steve Hanley

European demand for Russian natural gas falls as renewables expand — There’s a line in a Bruce Springsteen song that goes like this: “Foreman says these jobs are going, and they ain’t comin’ back.” Something…

Climate Home News · Sebastian Rodriguez

South Africa's top court blocks Shell's offshore oil exploration — South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that Shell and its partners failed to consult affected communities and did not properly consider…

Inside Climate News · Wyatt Myskow, Jake Bolster

Environmental groups sue to block Colorado River reservoir expansion — SANTA FE, N.M.—Is climate change enough justification to stop the expansion of a reservoir that will take more water from the dwindling…

Inside Climate News · Gabriel Matias Castilho

Brazilian Indigenous leaders warn UN that energy transition must not repeat colonial harms — Leia este artigo em Português. Along the river the Xavante people of Brazil call Owawê are many of the Indigenous tribe’s sacred sites,…

More: Inside Climate News

Inside Climate News · Ajani Stella

NextEra Energy tones down renewable energy messaging after Trump takes office — NextEra Energy, the world’s largest publicly traded electricity company, has systematically erased or downplayed its clean energy messaging…

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Libertarian think tank shapes Republican data center energy policy — This week’s conversation is with Ryan Norris, senior fellow for energy policy at the Abundance Institute.

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Data center opposition falls short in Wisconsin as Trump envoy struggles to sway utilities — 1. Shelby County, Alabama — The Trump administration’s widening effort to intervene in rural energy project fights is facing an early test:…

TechCrunch Climate · Tim De Chant

Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion as funding concentrates among leading companies — Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.

PV Tech · JP Casey

Solar industry sees policy gains as tariff measures and subsidies advance — PV Talk: 'There’s a lot of good news here,' Hasan Nazar, head of policy at Crux, tells PV Tech Premium of the US solar policy landscape.

PV Tech · Will Norman

Recurrent Energy secures $695M for 330MW California solar project — IPP Recurrent Energy has secured US$695 million in financing to support a 330MW solar PV project in California.

Latitude Media · Maeve Allsup

Evergy extends coal plants to power Midwest data centers as utility tariffs align — As utility tariff approvals make data center pipelines less speculative, Evergy doubles down on existing plants.

TechCrunch Climate · Tim De Chant

Gas prices could spike as hyperscalers lock into long-term power deals — Natural gas prices could triple in some parts of the U.S., which could saddle hyperscalers with massive bills to power their AI data…

PV Tech · Shreeyashi Ojha

Mainstream Renewable Power's 50MW South Africa solar plant reaches commercial operation — Mainstream Renewable Power’s 50MW C&I Ilikwa PV Facility in South Africa’s Free State province has reached commercial operation.

PV Magazine · Sergio Matalucci

Neom hydrogen project reaches commissioning phase as HyScale German plant cancelled — In other news, the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Energy Transition reportedly confirmed the cancellation of the 2.1 GW HyScale 100…

Guardian Environment · Guardian sport

UK venues struggle with pitches and courses amid record drought — With the UK experiencing the driest summer on record, we look at how the weather is affecting the pitches and courses across the country…

PV Magazine · Emiliano Bellini

Extreme heat tests performance of solar panels and battery storage systems — Photovoltaics rely on sunlight. Battery storage systems rely on absorbing and releasing energy precisely when the power grid needs it.

Guardian Environment · Jasper Jolly

UK's biggest EV battery plant shelves expansion plans amid stalled JLR deal — Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars Andy Burnham moves to cut…

PV Magazine · Mark Hutchins

European data centers face 7-10 year grid connection waits, threatening buildout plans — A data center can be built in 18 to 24 months, but connecting it to the grid is another matter, writes Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof, Europe…

Grist · Molly Taft, WIRED

AI tools risk enabling expanded fossil fuel production, climate experts warn

Guardian Environment · Jasper Jolly

UK government considers cutting 2030 EV sales target to 50% from 80% — Possible cut from 80% down to as little as 50% could add millions of tonnes of CO2 to emissions and comes amid UK heatwaves Andy Burnham’s…

More: Electrek

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Trump administration considers farmland rule that could reshape renewables investment — The Trump administration is considering changing its interpretation of an obscure law related to farmland ownership to transform it into a…

CleanTechnica · Steve Hanley

European demand for Russian natural gas falls as renewables expand — There’s a line in a Bruce Springsteen song that goes like this: “Foreman says these jobs are going, and they ain’t comin’ back.” Something…

Climate Home News · Sebastian Rodriguez

South Africa's top court blocks Shell's offshore oil exploration — South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that Shell and its partners failed to consult affected communities and did not properly consider…

Inside Climate News · Wyatt Myskow, Jake Bolster

Environmental groups sue to block Colorado River reservoir expansion — SANTA FE, N.M.—Is climate change enough justification to stop the expansion of a reservoir that will take more water from the dwindling…

Inside Climate News · Gabriel Matias Castilho

Brazilian Indigenous leaders warn UN that energy transition must not repeat colonial harms — Leia este artigo em Português. Along the river the Xavante people of Brazil call Owawê are many of the Indigenous tribe’s sacred sites,…

More: Inside Climate News

Inside Climate News · Ajani Stella

NextEra Energy tones down renewable energy messaging after Trump takes office — NextEra Energy, the world’s largest publicly traded electricity company, has systematically erased or downplayed its clean energy messaging…

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Libertarian think tank shapes Republican data center energy policy — This week’s conversation is with Ryan Norris, senior fellow for energy policy at the Abundance Institute.

Heatmap News · Jael Holzman

Data center opposition falls short in Wisconsin as Trump envoy struggles to sway utilities — 1. Shelby County, Alabama — The Trump administration’s widening effort to intervene in rural energy project fights is facing an early test:…

Utility Dive · Herman K. Trabish

Quantum computing power demand poses planning challenge for utilities — “The load profile is different from anything utilities have planned for before,” said Aparna Prabhakar, chief strategy and sustainability…

Utility Dive · Keith Loria

WSP's power business surges to 40% of revenue as US generation work accelerates — Power now accounts for as much as 40% of the company’s revenue, CEO Alexandre L’Heureux said during a second-quarter earnings call.

Carbon Brief · Anika Patel

China's 15th five-year plan sets new coal targets, raising climate concerns — China has published a new five-year plan for coal, the latest in a slew of important policy documents for the… The post Q&A: What does…

Electrek · Peter Johnson

Kia EV3 undercuts Chevy Equinox EV on price for 300-plus mile range — The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox EV is now on sale, starting at $34,995. The 2027 Kia EV3 starts at $29,890.

More: Electrek

TechCrunch Climate · Tim De Chant

Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion as funding concentrates among leading companies — Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.

PV Tech · JP Casey

Solar industry sees policy gains as tariff measures and subsidies advance — PV Talk: 'There’s a lot of good news here,' Hasan Nazar, head of policy at Crux, tells PV Tech Premium of the US solar policy landscape.

Electrek · Peter Johnson

BYD launches Qin Max sedan at half the price of Tesla Model 3 — BYD’s new Qin Max is now on sale, another Tesla Model 3-sized electric sedan that’s about half the price.

More: CleanTechnica, CleanTechnica

PV Tech · Will Norman

Recurrent Energy secures $695M for 330MW California solar project — IPP Recurrent Energy has secured US$695 million in financing to support a 330MW solar PV project in California.

Aug 15, 2026 · 5:03 PM PT edition · 20 stories

UK's biggest EV battery plant shelves expansion plans amid stalled JLR deal — Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars Andy Burnham moves to cut…

European data centers face 7-10 year grid connection waits, threatening buildout plans — A data center can be built in 18 to 24 months, but connecting it to the grid is another matter, writes Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof, Europe…

AI tools risk enabling expanded fossil fuel production, climate experts warn

Trump administration considers farmland rule that could reshape renewables investment — The Trump administration is considering changing its interpretation of an obscure law related to farmland ownership to transform it into a…

European demand for Russian natural gas falls as renewables expand — There’s a line in a Bruce Springsteen song that goes like this: “Foreman says these jobs are going, and they ain’t comin’ back.” Something…

South Africa's top court blocks Shell's offshore oil exploration — South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that Shell and its partners failed to consult affected communities and did not properly consider…

Environmental groups sue to block Colorado River reservoir expansion — SANTA FE, N.M.—Is climate change enough justification to stop the expansion of a reservoir that will take more water from the dwindling…

Brazilian Indigenous leaders warn UN that energy transition must not repeat colonial harms — Leia este artigo em Português. Along the river the Xavante people of Brazil call Owawê are many of the Indigenous tribe’s sacred sites,…

NextEra Energy tones down renewable energy messaging after Trump takes office — NextEra Energy, the world’s largest publicly traded electricity company, has systematically erased or downplayed its clean energy messaging…

Libertarian think tank shapes Republican data center energy policy — This week’s conversation is with Ryan Norris, senior fellow for energy policy at the Abundance Institute.

Data center opposition falls short in Wisconsin as Trump envoy struggles to sway utilities — 1. Shelby County, Alabama — The Trump administration’s widening effort to intervene in rural energy project fights is facing an early test:…

Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion as funding concentrates among leading companies — Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.

Solar industry sees policy gains as tariff measures and subsidies advance — PV Talk: 'There’s a lot of good news here,' Hasan Nazar, head of policy at Crux, tells PV Tech Premium of the US solar policy landscape.

Recurrent Energy secures $695M for 330MW California solar project — IPP Recurrent Energy has secured US$695 million in financing to support a 330MW solar PV project in California.

Evergy extends coal plants to power Midwest data centers as utility tariffs align — As utility tariff approvals make data center pipelines less speculative, Evergy doubles down on existing plants.

Gas prices could spike as hyperscalers lock into long-term power deals — Natural gas prices could triple in some parts of the U.S., which could saddle hyperscalers with massive bills to power their AI data…

Mainstream Renewable Power's 50MW South Africa solar plant reaches commercial operation — Mainstream Renewable Power’s 50MW C&I Ilikwa PV Facility in South Africa’s Free State province has reached commercial operation.

Neom hydrogen project reaches commissioning phase as HyScale German plant cancelled — In other news, the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Energy Transition reportedly confirmed the cancellation of the 2.1 GW HyScale 100…

UK venues struggle with pitches and courses amid record drought — With the UK experiencing the driest summer on record, we look at how the weather is affecting the pitches and courses across the country…

Extreme heat tests performance of solar panels and battery storage systems — Photovoltaics rely on sunlight. Battery storage systems rely on absorbing and releasing energy precisely when the power grid needs it.

Aug 15, 2026 · 8:00 PM PT edition · 20 stories

UK's biggest EV battery plant shelves expansion plans amid stalled JLR deal — Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric cars Andy Burnham moves to cut…

European data centers face 7-10 year grid connection waits, threatening buildout plans — A data center can be built in 18 to 24 months, but connecting it to the grid is another matter, writes Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof, Europe…

AI tools risk enabling expanded fossil fuel production, climate experts warn

UK government considers cutting 2030 EV sales target to 50% from 80% — Possible cut from 80% down to as little as 50% could add millions of tonnes of CO2 to emissions and comes amid UK heatwaves Andy Burnham’s…

Trump administration considers farmland rule that could reshape renewables investment — The Trump administration is considering changing its interpretation of an obscure law related to farmland ownership to transform it into a…

European demand for Russian natural gas falls as renewables expand — There’s a line in a Bruce Springsteen song that goes like this: “Foreman says these jobs are going, and they ain’t comin’ back.” Something…

South Africa's top court blocks Shell's offshore oil exploration — South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that Shell and its partners failed to consult affected communities and did not properly consider…

Environmental groups sue to block Colorado River reservoir expansion — SANTA FE, N.M.—Is climate change enough justification to stop the expansion of a reservoir that will take more water from the dwindling…

Brazilian Indigenous leaders warn UN that energy transition must not repeat colonial harms — Leia este artigo em Português. Along the river the Xavante people of Brazil call Owawê are many of the Indigenous tribe’s sacred sites,…

NextEra Energy tones down renewable energy messaging after Trump takes office — NextEra Energy, the world’s largest publicly traded electricity company, has systematically erased or downplayed its clean energy messaging…

Libertarian think tank shapes Republican data center energy policy — This week’s conversation is with Ryan Norris, senior fellow for energy policy at the Abundance Institute.

Data center opposition falls short in Wisconsin as Trump envoy struggles to sway utilities — 1. Shelby County, Alabama — The Trump administration’s widening effort to intervene in rural energy project fights is facing an early test:…

Quantum computing power demand poses planning challenge for utilities — “The load profile is different from anything utilities have planned for before,” said Aparna Prabhakar, chief strategy and sustainability…

WSP's power business surges to 40% of revenue as US generation work accelerates — Power now accounts for as much as 40% of the company’s revenue, CEO Alexandre L’Heureux said during a second-quarter earnings call.

China's 15th five-year plan sets new coal targets, raising climate concerns — China has published a new five-year plan for coal, the latest in a slew of important policy documents for the… The post Q&A: What does…

Kia EV3 undercuts Chevy Equinox EV on price for 300-plus mile range — The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox EV is now on sale, starting at $34,995. The 2027 Kia EV3 starts at $29,890.

Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion as funding concentrates among leading companies — Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.

Solar industry sees policy gains as tariff measures and subsidies advance — PV Talk: 'There’s a lot of good news here,' Hasan Nazar, head of policy at Crux, tells PV Tech Premium of the US solar policy landscape.

BYD launches Qin Max sedan at half the price of Tesla Model 3 — BYD’s new Qin Max is now on sale, another Tesla Model 3-sized electric sedan that’s about half the price.

Recurrent Energy secures $695M for 330MW California solar project — IPP Recurrent Energy has secured US$695 million in financing to support a 330MW solar PV project in California.