renewable energy
Newsletter
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Australia scales back hydrogen ambitions as projects stall across multiple states
Australia’s push to lead the world in green hydrogen is faltering as state governments withdraw support and key projects stall, even as federal investment continues.
In short:
- Multiple state governments have canceled or paused major green hydrogen projects, citing costs and shifting priorities.
- Experts say the industry is entering a “disillusionment” phase common with new technologies, as cheaper and simpler electric alternatives outcompete hydrogen in many uses.
- Green hydrogen may still play a role in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like ammonia production and steelmaking, but expectations for widespread use have sharply narrowed.
Key quote:
“It has become increasingly clear that we’re not going to do all of those things with hydrogen, for the same reason that you don’t use a literal Swiss army knife for all the purposes that it has attachments for.”
— Tennant Reed, director of climate change and energy, Australian Industry Group
Why this matters:
Green hydrogen, once heralded as a key to decarbonizing everything from steel to shipping, is facing a reckoning. While it promised an emissions-free alternative to fossil fuels, especially for hard-to-electrify sectors, its rollout has been sluggish and expensive. As solar and wind power become cheaper and more widely available, the appeal of using hydrogen as a universal clean energy solution is fading. Instead, its role is narrowing to specific industrial uses like fertilizer production and high-heat manufacturing — important, but far more limited than once imagined.
That narrowing has consequences: fossil fuels continue to dominate these sectors, extending the release of both climate-warming gases and harmful air pollutants. For communities living near refineries, ports, and heavy industry — many of them already overburdened by pollution — the wait for cleaner air and healthier living conditions is only getting longer.
Related EHN coverage: Hydrogen hubs test new federal environmental justice rules
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Trump administration stalls $20B in clean energy funding as legal battles mount, imperiling projects nationwide
A growing legal and political fight over $20 billion in frozen climate grants has stalled clean energy and housing projects across the U.S., leaving nonprofits and developers scrambling to salvage work aimed at reducing energy costs.
In short:
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Trump is trying to halt $20 billion in climate grants awarded during the Biden administration, citing unsupported allegations of fraud and mismanagement.
- A federal judge rejected EPA’s bid to cancel the grants, but the money remains frozen, forcing organizations to delay or abandon clean energy, efficiency, and housing initiatives.
- The uncertainty has scared off private capital, weakened nonprofit coalitions, and could slow or kill projects intended to benefit low- and middle-income communities.
Key quote:
“It’s actually really scary. A lot of developers could go belly-up over the situation.”
— Megan Lasch, president of Texas affordable housing developer O-SDA Industries
Why this matters:
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $20 billion initiative created under the Inflation Reduction Act, was billed as a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s climate strategy — one aimed at bringing clean energy investment to communities that have long been left behind. By offering low-cost financing for solar panels, heat pumps, and efficient housing in disadvantaged areas, the program was meant to unlock private capital for projects that reduce both emissions and utility bills. But with the fund now stalled under the new administration, many of those plans are in limbo, and the wait is hitting smaller towns and lower-income neighborhoods hardest.
Projects that were teed up with months of planning are now on hold, leaving community developers, local governments, and climate-focused nonprofits scrambling. Critics warn that the disruption could widen the gulf in clean energy access between wealthy and struggling areas, while also undermining national climate targets.
Read more: EPA cancels $20 billion in climate grants amid legal battle
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Oil skills and tech are driving Texas’s unexpected geothermal surge
Oilfield veterans and drilling technology are fueling a quiet geothermal energy boom in Texas, aiming to bring steady clean power to the grid while offering oil workers a new lease on their careers.
In short:
- Oil and gas workers in Texas are transitioning to geothermal drilling, using the same tools and techniques that powered the fracking boom.
- Enhanced geothermal startups are attracting investment and political support by positioning themselves as a stable, weatherproof power source.
- These companies aim to meet rising electricity demand from data centers and crypto mines, but risk losing ground to natural gas if they can't scale fast.
Key quote:
“If geothermal doesn’t prove itself in this massive build-out to address data center demand, I worry that geothermal may never get off the ground.”
— Jamie Beard, founder of geothermal advocacy group Project InnerSpace
Why this matters:
As Texas grapples with the slow but steady decline of fossil fuel jobs, geothermal energy is emerging as a surprisingly promising contender in the state’s energy mix. Long known for its oil rigs and gas fields, Texas also sits on a deep reservoir of underground heat — one that could be tapped for clean, consistent power. Geothermal plants offer round-the-clock energy without the toxic emissions that accompany traditional drilling, and the work needed to build and maintain them often mirrors the skills of oilfield laborers. That overlap could soften the economic blow for communities historically tied to fossil fuels.
Still, questions remain about whether geothermal can grow quickly enough to keep pace with the state’s surging energy appetite — especially from data centers, AI infrastructure, and crypto mining hubs that demand nonstop electricity. If the industry can scale, geothermal could help Texas reduce its heavy reliance on gas-fired power, cutting air pollution while keeping the lights on in a digital-first economy. For now, it sits in a tense balancing act between potential and practicality.
Related: Texas turns to geothermal energy with former oil workers at the helm
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Credit: Claudio Olivares Medina/Flickr
Affordable e-bikes are transforming delivery work for Latin American migrants
For immigrant delivery workers in Colombia, affordable e-bikes — financed by start-ups like Guajira — are proving to be a game-changer, offering a faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective alternative to motorbikes.
In short:
- Many Venezuelan migrants in Colombia rely on app-based delivery work, but traditional motorbikes come with high fuel and maintenance costs. Start-ups like Guajira provide financing for locally made e-bikes, helping workers transition to a more affordable and eco-friendly alternative.
- E-bikes allow couriers to complete more deliveries with less physical strain while reducing emissions. Riders can lease or finance bikes through microloans, enabling workers without credit histories to access affordable transportation.
- Other organizations, like Nippy, are expanding services across Latin America to support gig workers with financing, insurance, and access to community spaces, highlighting the growing push for better conditions in the gig economy.
Key quote:
“For immigrants, a bike is something very noble — it is a tool that helps you get out of the difficult socioeconomic circle that any person who migrates and who leaves their country in complex conditions has.”
— Fernanda Rivera, mobility expert
Why this matters:
Affordable, clean e-bikes are reshaping the gig economy, giving delivery workers better tools, insurance, and even community spaces — things the tech giants behind these platforms rarely offer. As governments consider stronger labor protections, start-ups like Guajira and Nippy are stepping in to fill critical gaps in economic mobility and worker support while reducing pollution.
Read more: Another road is possible
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France’s new tidal turbines aim to power thousands of homes with clean energy
A tidal farm featuring some of the world’s most powerful underwater turbines is set to generate clean electricity off the coast of Normandy, marking a major step in Europe’s push for renewable energy.
In short:
- The NH1 tidal project from Normandie Hydroliennes will use four turbines to harness the Raz Blanchard tidal flow, one of Europe’s strongest, generating enough power for 15,000 homes.
- The project received €31.3 million from the EU Innovation Fund, part of a broader €4.8 billion push for clean technologies funded by emissions trading revenues.
- Developers claim the turbines will have minimal environmental impact, with studies suggesting they could even create habitat spaces for marine life.
Key quote:
“Being selected by the Innovation Fund is a major recognition of our work and the impact that our technological system... can have on decarbonisation and the energy mix.”
— Katia Gautier, director of Normandie Hydroliennes
Why this matters:
Tidal energy has long been the underdog in the renewables race, lagging behind wind and solar due to high costs and technical challenges. But projects like this could change the game, helping Europe cut emissions while ensuring energy security. Unlike wind or solar, tides are relentless — predictable, clockwork forces that don’t fade when the weather shifts. That kind of reliability makes them an enticing option for a stable, low-carbon energy future.
Read more: We don’t have time for another fossil fuel bridge
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California and Sonora sign agreement to boost clean energy and climate collaboration
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo Montaño have signed a four-year agreement to strengthen cross-border clean energy efforts and improve supply chain resilience.
In short:
- The agreement focuses on expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring reliable electricity access in both regions.
- California officials will collaborate with Sonora on supply chain development and research into clean energy and electric mobility.
- The partnership comes amid U.S. trade tensions, with California exploring ways to import renewable energy from Sonora.
Key quote:
“Despite the border that divides us, California and Sonora share the common challenge of adapting to a hotter, drier world. But we also share a common drive to advance real solutions.”
— Gavin Newsom, governor of California
Why this matters:
California and Sonora face intensifying climate challenges, from droughts to extreme weather, that threaten energy systems and economies. Cross-border collaboration could help stabilize clean energy infrastructure and strengthen supply chains for critical technology like electric vehicles.
This cross-border collaboration comes at a time of political friction. California’s aggressive climate policies have often diverged from the federal government’s approach, and trade policies under President Trump’s administration continue to shift. As California moves ahead with its green energy goals, federal tariffs, trade restrictions, and shifting diplomatic strategies could complicate the path forward. The agreement underscores the push-and-pull between state-led climate action and federal economic policy, raising questions about how much autonomy states have in shaping international environmental cooperation.
Read more: California to factor health and environment in energy decisions
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Europe cut Russian gas but hasn’t fully decarbonized its energy system
Europe has slashed its reliance on Russian gas and expanded renewable energy since the Ukraine war began, but deeper decarbonization remains a challenge.
In short:
- Europe has nearly eliminated Russian gas imports, cutting total gas consumption by 20% since 2021, but much of the reduction came from economic factors like factory closures and high prices rather than permanent clean energy policies.
- Renewables provided 47% of the EU’s electricity in 2024, with nuclear bringing the carbon-free total to 71%, while fossil-fuel generation fell to its lowest level in decades.
- Heat pump adoption surged after the war began but slowed in 2024 as gas prices declined, and policymakers face challenges in making electricity a more cost-effective heating option.
Key quote:
"Russian pipeline flows have been reduced to a trickle in Europe."
— Olympe Mattei, a gas analyst at research firm BloombergNEF’s London bureau
Why this matters:
Europe’s energy shift highlights the tension between geopolitical urgency and long-term climate goals. While the region has made progress in cutting fossil fuels, much of the change was driven by economic pressures rather than structural reforms. As gas prices stabilize, demand could rebound unless policies push for deeper electrification and renewable deployment. The transition also raises concerns about industrial competitiveness, as some factories shut down due to high energy costs. Meanwhile, the reliance on U.S. liquefied natural gas shows that fossil fuels remain embedded in Europe’s energy mix, despite emissions reductions in the power sector.
Learn more: Europe moves ahead with renewables as the U.S. doubles down on fossil fuels
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