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Michelle Lewis

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Michelle Lewis is a writer at Electrek. She has previously worked for Fast Company, The Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. She lives in Massachusetts.

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Nissan EVs will help power Silicon Valley’s data centers

Nissan-Juke-electric

Nissan and ChargeScape just launched a new EV-to-grid (V2G) pilot in Silicon Valley, where demand on the power grid is growing fast thanks to the rapid rise of AI-driven data centers. The pilot is backed by the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program and is happening in utility Silicon Valley Power (SVP) territory.

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China’s wind + solar revolution is shaking up the global energy game

China wind solar

China’s clean energy surge is starting to transform the world’s energy systems, according to Ember’s “China Energy Transition Review 2025.” The report shows that China’s massive investments in solar, wind, storage, and electrification are cutting fossil fuel use at home while sending clean tech around the globe.

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Mercedes-Benz + Alpitronic to roll out 600 kW fast charging in 2026

Mercedes-Benz Alpitronic

Mercedes-Benz is expanding its DC fast-charging network with Alpitronic’s high-power technology. Starting in 2026, the automaker will roll out Alpitronic’s new HYC1000 fast charging system at its stations in Europe and North America, capable of delivering up to 600 kW at each charging point – or 200 miles in 10 minutes.

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Solar growth surges, but Trump roadblocks put 55 GW at risk

rooftop solar SolarEdge

The US solar industry put nearly 18 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity on the grid in the first half of 2025. Even as the Trump administration rolled out anti-clean energy policies, solar and storage still made up 82% of all new power added to the grid in the first six months of the year. But the growth picture isn’t as sunny as it looks, according to the SEIA.

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Costco members get up to $1,250 off certified Volvos –here’s how

Volvo-EX90

Costco members looking for a break on car prices can tap into a new Volvo deal this fall. Members can tap into limited-time manufacturer incentives through the Costco Auto Program, a year-round auto-buying service that secures prearranged low pricing. The latest: a Certified by Volvo Limited-Time Special launched this week.

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FERC: Solar + wind made up 91% of new US power generating capacity in H1 2025

RWE Texas wind H1 2025

Solar and wind accounted for 91% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the H1 2025, according to data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which was reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign of data. In June, solar alone provided 82% of new capacity, making it the 22nd consecutive month solar held the lead among all energy sources.

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US residential solar prices stay low, tax credit cuts and tariffs loom

residential solar installs

The US residential solar market hit a bumpy patch in the first half of 2025, according to the newly released 21st EnergySage Intel: Solar & Storage Marketplace Report. The semiannual report digs into millions of data points from EnergySage.com, where homeowners shop for solar panels, inverters, and batteries. This edition also includes EnergySage’s annual Electrification Contractor Survey, fielded between January and March 2025.

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H1 2025: China installs more solar than rest of the world combined

China solar 2025

Global solar installations are breaking records again in 2025. In H1 2025, the world added 380 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity – a staggering 64% jump compared to the same period in 2024, when 232 GW came online. China was responsible for installing a massive 256 GW of that solar capacity.

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These 3 August EV price drops are up to $150/month, but hurry!

Porsche-Hyundai-electric-sports-car

The clock is running out on some of the best EV lease deals of the year. With the 25% tariff on imported EVs already hitting and the federal tax credit set to vanish after September 30, automakers are dangling some serious end-of-the-month offers. If you’ve been waiting to go electric, now’s the time. CarsDirect spotted three August EV price drops worth a look, but you’ll need to move fast, because these deals won’t last past the holiday weekend.

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The first US floating solar tracker pilot kicks off in Colorado

US floating solar tracker

Colorado is about to see the US’s first floating solar tracker project hit the water.

Noria Energy has started construction on Aurea Solar, a 50 kW floating solar pilot in Golden, Colorado, that will use trackers. The project will power local water utility operations at the Fairmount Reservoir, which is owned and operated by the Consolidated Mutual Water Company (CMWC).

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EIA: Solar and wind leave coal in the dust with record 2025 output

US largest solar storage

A new review of US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data by the SUN DAY Campaign reveals that solar delivered almost 9% of US electricity in the first half of 2025. Wind and solar combined produced just over one-fifth of the country’s electricity, while renewables as a whole hit nearly 28%.

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China-made panels drive Africa’s 15 GW solar import milestone

Africa solar

Solar is taking off across Africa in a big way. According to a new analysis of China’s solar panel exports data from energy think tank Ember, solar panel imports into the continent jumped 60% in the 12 months through June 2025, setting a record that could reshape electricity systems in many countries.

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Save big on heat pumps and solar before Washington pulls the plug

heat pumps solar

Three years after the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law, Rewiring America is rolling out a new effort to make sure homeowners don’t miss out on major savings.

The Save on Better Appliances campaign is designed to help families take advantage of federal energy tax credits before they expire at the end of 2025, while also showing how modern electric appliances can cut long-term energy costs.

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