fossil fuels
Newsletter
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Trump budget axes clean energy funds for city fleets, sparking health and industry concerns
The Trump administration has moved to cut longstanding federal programs that support cities transitioning away from diesel vehicles, raising concerns from public health advocates and clean energy industry leaders.
In short:
- The GOP-led budget passed by Congress eliminates funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and a Department of Energy (DOE) program supporting cleaner municipal fleets, including school buses and delivery trucks.
- Clean Cities and Communities coalitions, which have supported electric, biodiesel, and propane vehicle deployment for over 30 years, say contract delays and funding shortfalls are already forcing staffing and program cuts.
- Advocates warn that losing these programs will undermine efforts to cut air pollution, particularly in communities that suffer from diesel-related health problems like asthma.
Key quote:
“A lot of this stuff has been caught up in the political discourse. At the end of the day, people care about reducing pollution. Everyone wants to breathe clean air.”
— Antoine Thompson, CEO and executive director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition
Why this matters:
Diesel exhaust is a well-documented public health hazard, linked to asthma, heart disease, and early death, particularly in low-income and minority communities near highways, ports, and industrial centers. Federal programs like DERA and Clean Cities have helped cities replace aging diesel fleets with cleaner alternatives — often electric, propane, or biodiesel — while supporting a growing clean vehicle industry in states like Alabama and Texas. Slashing these programs could stall progress in reducing transportation emissions, which make up the largest share of U.S. greenhouse gases. It also threatens local economic development tied to clean energy jobs and manufacturing, placing public health and climate goals at risk as political priorities shift.
Read more: Trump administration redirects clean energy funds in defiance of Congress
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Vietnam plans to ban gas-powered motorcycles in Hanoi to curb worsening air pollution
Vietnam will begin phasing out fossil-fuel motorcycles in central Hanoi starting July 2026, as the country attempts to improve air quality and reduce climate emissions.
In short:
- The Vietnamese government will ban gasoline-powered motorcycles and mopeds from central Hanoi beginning July 2026, targeting the dense urban core encircled by the city's ring road.
- Motorcycles account for the majority of vehicles in Hanoi, with about seven million in use, contributing heavily to the city’s choking smog and deteriorating air quality.
- Critics say the plan lacks clarity and sufficient support for workers who rely on motorcycles, raising concerns about economic disruption and limited transit alternatives.
Key quote:
“We need better public transport and more support before such a big change.”
— Hoang Duy Dung, office clerk who works in Hanoi's city center
Why this matters:
Motorcycles are a lifeline for millions in Hanoi, used for commuting, deliveries, and jobs. But they also pump out pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and fine particles, key contributors to the city’s severe smog. Hanoi consistently ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, with vehicle exhaust playing a central role. Long-term exposure to this pollution increases the risk of asthma, heart disease, and premature death. As incomes rise and more residents switch to personal vehicles, the burden on air quality worsens. Transitioning away from fossil-fuel vehicles is critical for public health, but without better transit and financial help, the shift could deepen inequality and hurt the city’s working class.
Read more: A global breath of concern: most nations fail WHO air quality standards
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Melting Arctic ice raises risk of oil spills, researchers warn of slow cleanup response
As ship traffic grows in Canada’s Hudson Bay, new research shows native Arctic microbes respond too slowly to oil spills to prevent widespread damage.
In short:
- University of Manitoba researchers working at the new Churchill Marine Observatory found oil-degrading microbes in Arctic waters take weeks to respond — far too slow to contain real-world spills.
- Melting sea ice is extending the Hudson Bay shipping season, increasing the likelihood of oil spills along the sensitive coastline, where many Indigenous communities rely on marine ecosystems for food and livelihood.
- The $45-million observatory allows controlled oil spill experiments in Arctic seawater, enabling safer, more precise studies that were previously impossible in the open environment.
Key quote:
"We do see that it takes at least a few weeks or a month for the microbes to respond and actually start to break down the oil, and that's just too long in the case of a real oil spill."
— Eric Collins, research lead and Canada Research Chair in Arctic Marine Microbial Ecosystem Services
Why this matters:
As Arctic ice recedes, new shipping routes are opening across previously inaccessible waters. That may bring economic opportunity, but also sharp environmental risks. Unlike warmer regions, Arctic ecosystems are slower to recover and more vulnerable to contamination. Oil spills in these waters could devastate marine life and threaten Indigenous communities that depend on it. Because cold temperatures slow microbial breakdown of oil, natural cleanup processes lag behind, allowing pollution to spread across coastlines and food chains. The Hudson Bay’s changing climate is a preview of similar changes across the circumpolar North.
Learn more: Melting Arctic ice is rewriting the planet’s future
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Europe’s power grid upgrades fall €250 billion short as demand surges
Europe’s top electricity grid operators face a massive funding gap as they race to expand and modernize infrastructure needed to meet rising demand, a new report warns.
In short:
- A Boston Consulting Group analysis finds a €250 billion shortfall in planned European power grid investments from 2025 to 2029, despite a planned tripling of capital expenditures to €345 billion.
- Demand is being driven by electrification, data centers, AI growth, renewables integration, and aging infrastructure, even as recent blackouts in Spain, Portugal, and the Czech Republic raise concerns about grid resilience.
- Transmission system operators are facing financial strain, with rising debt loads and limited access to equity markets, and will need to bridge the gap through debt, asset sales, or reduced shareholder payouts.
Key quote:
"Without rapid innovation in how we finance grid infrastructure, Europe risks having world-class renewable generation that can't reach consumers because the grid hasn't kept pace."
— Tom Brijs, BCG partner and co-author of the report
Why this matters:
Europe is pushing hard to decarbonize by adding renewable energy sources, yet those clean electrons won’t matter if the wires can’t carry them where they’re needed. Add in rising demand from electric vehicles, heat pumps, and data centers powered by AI, and the pressure on outdated infrastructure grows. Blackouts threaten public health, food security, and economic stability. As the climate crisis intensifies, the ability to move clean energy efficiently and reliably will become increasingly important for governments and utilities.
Read more: How fragile power grids and extreme weather combined to cause Europe’s biggest blackout in decades
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Texas grid thrives on renewables as Trump targets clean energy subsidies
President Trump is rolling back federal support for wind and solar power, but data from Texas — home to the nation’s most renewable-heavy grid — shows lower prices and fewer outages than fossil-fuel-heavy regions.
In short:
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) projects only a 0.30% chance of rolling blackouts in August 2025, down from 12% a year earlier, thanks to expanded battery storage and solar capacity.
- Texas residential electricity prices are 24% below the national average, while fossil-fuel-dependent grids like PJM are experiencing rising prices and worsening reliability.
- President Trump signed legislation eliminating most federal subsidies for renewable energy and ordered agencies to roll back support, citing cost and reliability concerns not supported by Texas data.
Key quote:
“ERCOT has done a good job of defining the products needed for energy and reliability.”
— Joshua Rhodes, research scientist at the University of Texas, Austin
Why this matters:
As demand surges from electric vehicles, data centers, and extreme weather, the way the grid is powered becomes a public health issue. Texas, long a symbol of fossil fuel dominance, has emerged as a case study in managing renewables effectively. With battery storage soaking up extra solar and wind energy for use during peak times, the state’s experience suggests renewables can stabilize the grid, not strain it. Meanwhile, fossil-heavy grids like PJM face steeper prices and more frequent outages, raising questions about which energy mix best serves consumers and the environment.
Related: Texas outpaces California in renewable energy growth
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Ohio regulators make tech companies pay more for energy-hungry data centers
Ohio's utility commission ruled that tech companies must shoulder more of the upfront costs for electricity used by data centers, citing strain on the power grid and rising consumer energy bills.
In short:
- The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a plan requiring data centers to pay 85% of their projected energy usage up front, up from the previous 60%, to fund necessary grid upgrades.
- The decision rebuffed a tech industry-backed proposal that could have shifted infrastructure costs onto residential ratepayers, amid growing demand fueled by AI development.
- Consumer advocates and residents welcomed the ruling as a measure to prevent Ohioans from subsidizing large corporations' energy use.
Key quote:
“We are grateful that the PUCO acted today to protect residential consumers from bearing excessive costs caused by data centers. It’s a step in the right direction for Ohio consumers.”
— Maureen Willis, agency director of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel
Why this matters:
The explosion of data centers, driven in part by the energy-intensive needs of artificial intelligence, is stressing the nation’s electric grid. These facilities run 24/7 and demand immense power, often outpacing local infrastructure upgrades. As utilities look to build new transmission lines and increase capacity, regulators face a critical question: Who should pay? Without cost-sharing rules, the burden often falls on households and small businesses, raising monthly bills. Ohio’s move could prompt other states to reevaluate who foots the bill for tech growth.
Related: States push new rules as data centers strain electric grids
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Democratic senator says fossil fuel lobbying has silenced climate action in Congress
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse accused fossil fuel companies of orchestrating a decades-long misinformation campaign and urged Democrats to confront the industry's political influence more aggressively.
In short:
- Sen. Whitehouse marked his 300th climate speech on the Senate floor, blaming both parties — but especially Republicans — for inaction driven by fossil fuel industry funding after the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling.
- He criticized Democrats for underestimating voter support for climate action, pointing to polling that shows as many as 74% of Americans want stronger government policies on climate.
- Whitehouse described the fossil fuel industry’s campaign against climate legislation as “malevolent,” calling it a “massive fraud” that has blocked science-based policy and endangered communities.
Key quote:
“The fossil fuel industry has run the biggest and most malevolent propaganda operation the country has ever seen.”
— Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island
Why this matters:
The fossil fuel industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually to shape public opinion and influence political outcomes, often delaying climate action even as the consequences become more visible and costly. From extreme weather events damaging homes to rising insurance costs and mortgage denials, climate change is rapidly moving from a distant concern to an economic reality. Yet, because of lobbying and disinformation, the public often underestimates its own support for bold policy shifts. This disconnect — what some researchers call the “spiral of silence” — limits meaningful action.
Related: Senate GOP maneuvers to block California’s plan to ban gas cars by 2035
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