GoKawiil
Tech News
Scientists developed a method that pulverizes decommissioned wind turbine blades and applies bursts of energy to extract usable materials. These recovered materials, according to the researchers, could be incorporated into the manufacturing of new turbine blades.
New state laws now permit homeowners to install small solar panels that plug directly into an outdoor outlet, skipping the permitting, planning and professional installation typically required for rooftop solar systems. A reviewer tested one such kit and found setup as simple as connecting the panel to a wall socket, after which it begins feeding power into the home.
A Sierra Club report cited by Bloomberg estimates that planned AI data centers in the US could increase power-sector carbon emissions by 618 million metric tons between 2025 and 2030, a 42% jump that would push 2030 emissions to 2.1 billion metric tons. The group also estimates off-grid power sources built to supply data centers directly could add another 460 million metric tons, roughly Mexico's annual emissions.
The Sierra Club estimates that planned U.S. data center construction will push power-sector carbon emissions to 2.1 billion metric tons by 2030, a 42% jump from 2025 levels, according to Bloomberg. That figure, roughly equal to Mexico's total emissions, is two to four times higher than the group's earlier projections, and would effectively erase 15 years of U.S. emissions-reduction progress.
Energy analyst Kingsmill Jones says a sharp drop in solar panel prices in 2023-24 has made solar power unusually cheap, with panels now costing well under $100 and capable of generating electricity for 30 to 40 years with minimal maintenance. He describes the resulting cost level as 'offensively cheap,' pointing to solar's rapid expansion relative to nuclear power.
New figures cited from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show national electricity generation reached a record 4,528 terawatt-hours in 2025, with utility-scale capacity at 1,281 gigawatts plus about 60 gigawatts of rooftop solar. The lower-48 states also set a demand record of 759 gigawatts on July 29, 2025, while roughly 5% of power generated is lost as heat during transmission and distribution.
A new report from the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy finds that planned fossil fuel power capacity jumped from 5% of new US electricity projects in 2024 to 30% by mid-2026, even as electricity demand rises due to data centers, factories and EVs. The report notes solar and wind still generate more power than coal and that solar was the fastest-growing source added in 2024, but warns gas development could reach 68 gigawatts by 2030 if current trends hold.
Designer Stefan Sagmeister has created a line of shoes whose patterns double as infographics, displaying statistics on topics such as renewable energy adoption and homelessness rates across six countries. The visual designs translate numerical data into graphic patterns printed directly onto the footwear.
In Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Danish government-funded off-grid solar arrays and batteries now power an underground water pump in an eastern suburb, supplying residents with drinking water even after Russian strikes knocked out centralized power plants nationwide. The city has also installed five solar-powered desalination systems that convert saline or polluted water into drinking water when sunlight is available, switching to grid power at night or on cloudy days.
In a Fast Company panel discussion, Andrew Beebe of Obvious and Michael Obradovitch of Ecolab, moderated by Kristin Toussaint, discussed the electricity and water demands of data centers built to support AI. The panelists addressed topics including renewable energy, grid resilience, cooling technology, and water conservation as ways to manage the infrastructure's growing footprint.
Levi's and Marks & Spencer have launched the Fashion Renewable Collaborative, a joint initiative designed to help apparel suppliers switch to renewable energy sources. The effort targets emissions generated deep in supply chains, such as fiber and fabric manufacturing, rather than focusing solely on the brands' own operations.
New data shows that more than 70% of recently added solar power capacity in the United States is being built in states that voted for Donald Trump. This trend continues despite Republican-backed policies at the federal level that could slow renewable energy expansion going forward.