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Tech News
A new analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air finds China is exporting record volumes of clean energy technology and equipment, driven partly by surging renewable demand amid the Iran-linked energy crisis. Once installed abroad, these 2026 exports are projected to avert roughly 450 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, an amount comparable to Brazil's total annual emissions.
The Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, the Crane Clean Energy Center at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, and the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa are being brought back online after years of shutdown, together expected to add 2.25 GW to the grid. Palisades, which had begun decommissioning, is furthest along and is projected to generate 800 MW by March 2027, while Crane's Unit 1 is expected to add 835 MW in 2027 under a 20-year supply deal with Microsoft. Each project relied on Department of Energy loans, with Palisades funded under a 2024 Biden-era program and the others under a 2025 Trump administration initiative.
Firma Power is offering data center operators a way to source power from new wind, solar and battery storage projects rather than defaulting to gas plants. The startup's pitch comes as the U.S. is set to add a record 86 gigawatts of clean energy capacity this year, with many more low-cost projects awaiting connection to the grid.
A roundup gathers perspectives from 30 executives across industries on laws and proposed bills shaping their sectors, spanning AI accountability, healthcare policy, tariffs, clean energy and consumer protection. The leaders describe how they are responding to or advocating around legislative changes that affect their companies and customers.
Apple expanded its third-party accessories lineup this week with eight new products, led by the Aqara Thermostat Hub W200, which first launched in April after debuting at CES 2026. The device sells for $169.95 through Apple, about $10 more than on Amazon, and supports Apple Home features including Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance. Apple also began selling the Aqara Climate Sensor W100 alongside six other new accessories.
A new analysis from Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan think tank, estimates U.S. households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy cumulatively through 2040 due to federal policy shifts under the Trump administration. Five states — Oregon, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming — are projected to see costs rise by about $9,000 per household.
Apple has continued reducing its overall emissions even as it invests in AI infrastructure, a trend that contrasts with rivals whose emissions are rising due to power-hungry data centers. The company has previously pledged to become carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and product life cycle by 2030.
Amazon's chief sustainability officer Kara Hurst said at an Axios event that the company does not yet know exactly how it will reach its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. She said Amazon remains committed to the goal, citing its position as one of the largest corporate buyers of clean energy with 42 gigawatts in its portfolio, while acknowledging emissions reduction requires cooperation from suppliers and governments across many sectors.
Researchers identified more than 1,400 local policies across 157 cities addressing clean energy, building efficiency and extreme heat preparedness, according to a new study. The findings come as the Trump administration has restricted states from using Inflation Reduction Act rebates to help homeowners replace fossil fuel appliances with heat pumps.
Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order requiring data centers with peak demand above 25 megawatts to supply their own clean power meeting state renewable energy standards, or fund new generation or pay into a ratepayer protection fund. The order also discourages communities from signing non-disclosure agreements with developers and pauses a recently enacted data center sales tax exemption while regulators implement the new rules.
New reactor designs, including smaller modular units, are being developed to make nuclear fission a more flexible and reliable source of carbon-free electricity. This shift comes after decades in which nuclear power failed to deliver on early promises of cheap, abundant energy following its transition from wartime use to civilian power generation.
Fervo Energy is launching its first utility-scale power plant, aiming to prove that enhanced geothermal technology can produce reliable, round-the-clock clean energy at commercial scale. The project follows a period in which geothermal has lagged far behind solar and wind as a share of the renewable energy mix.