Author: Graham Foster

Dive Brief: In the first half of this year, project financing for the U.S. clean energy sector reached about $86 billion, rising from $80 billion in the same period last year, according to a report by Crux, a financial technology firm focused on tax credit transactions. Despite the political turbulence following President Trump’s administration, which saw some Biden-era policies rolled back, clean energy investment continued to grow. This included the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which affected certain tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. Crux CEO Alfred Johnson remarked that the market is expanding and diversifying.…

A complaint aimed at reversing the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) $22 billion Tranche 2.1 regional transmission portfolio has met with significant pushback. This was highlighted in comments submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Tuesday. The request to dismiss the complaint came from multiple parties, including MISO itself, six utility commissions, AES Indiana, Ameren, Xcel Energy, and various other utilities. Consumer-focused groups, such as the Illinois Citizens Utility Board and even Iowa’s governor, have also shown their support for MISO. On the other hand, those backing the complaint are mainly organizations representing large energy users, like the…

In the first half of this year, global solar capacity soared to 380 gigawatts (GW), a remarkable 64% increase compared to 2024 when 232 GW was added during the same period. This information comes from a report by clean energy organization Ember. According to Ember, reaching 350 GW of added capacity happened six months earlier in 2025 than it did in 2024, where it took until September. China was the leader in solar installations, contributing a staggering 256 GW—over twice the total added by the rest of the world combined—making up 67% of the global total. For comparison, China accounted…

JEA, the municipal utility in Jacksonville, Florida, has announced a significant investment of $1.57 billion to build a new 675-MW combined cycle gas plant. This new facility will replace an aging gas unit expected to be retired by 2031. JEA Board Chair Joseph DiSalvo emphasized the necessity of this development to ensure reliable energy for all customers. “The risk is unacceptable if we delay on this,” he stated during a recent board meeting. The board unanimously endorsed the plan on August 26. However, consumer and environmental advocates express concerns that this move could lead to higher energy bills and a…

Botswana is making a significant move by hiring Lazard to assist in taking control of diamond mining company De Beers. This comes just days after the country received a massive investment pledge of $12 billion from Qatar. Highlights from Today’s Business Report: EchoStar’s Exit from Telecom Plans: Charlie Ergen, after 45 years of striving to create a competitive mobile network in the U.S., has seen his plans crumble in just a few months. His company, EchoStar, has accepted a $23 billion deal to sell its wireless spectrum licenses to AT&T. This decision comes amid pressure from the Trump administration, which…

Key Findings: If the 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy projects contracted for New England had been active last winter, they could have saved ratepayers approximately $400 million on energy bills by offsetting rising natural gas prices, a report from Daymark Energy Advisors shows. The findings indicate that the savings from power purchase agreements would yield monthly bill reductions of between $1.32 and $2.68 for an average residential customer of Eversource Energy. RENEW Northeast, which commissioned the report, noted that ISO New England’s recent data showed natural gas prices this spring averaged $3.40 per million British thermal units (MMBtu),…

Global advertising giant Interpublic Group (IPG) appears to have strayed from its commitment to avoid fossil fuel promotions. This comes to light after the company proposed a campaign for Saudi Aramco and renewed contracts with oil and gas companies. In 2022, IPG had pledged to move away from fossil fuels, but a shift in its policy allowed it to continue working with firms like ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy. Two advertising professionals, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that the recent work for Aramco violated earlier guidelines. One former employee, frustrated with IPG’s approach, suggested that promoting fossil fuel companies…

The United States has stopped construction on a significant $1.5 billion offshore wind farm near Rhode Island, creating difficulties for the Danish energy company Ørsted as it works to stabilize its finances. On Friday, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a stop-work order, citing the need to address national security concerns, but did not provide further information. The project, called Revolution Wind, is being developed by Ørsted along with Skyborn Renewables, part of BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners. It was reportedly 80% complete, with foundations in place and 45 out of 65 planned turbines already installed. The wind farm was…

Key Highlights Challenges in the permitting process are hindering efforts to address the expected rise in U.S. energy demand, as noted by speakers at the recent Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo. With a growth in energy demand driven by AI and data centers, a combination of renewable and fossil fuel sources will be critical for power in the next five to ten years. Industry players pointed out that a lack of domestic manufacturing and transmission capabilities are significant hurdles, alongside uncertainties related to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Insights on Energy Demand The energy demand in the…

Dive Brief: Gravity Climate has introduced a new Energy Management Marketplace designed to help clients find ways to save both energy and money. This was announced on August 14. The platform uses carbon accounting data to pinpoint how switching to certain energy providers can lower costs or emissions based on specific business practices. It also offers financing options and forecasts the expected savings from energy-saving projects, which customers can monitor over time. Dive Insight: Gravity utilizes AI to track energy use and costs by scanning utility bills and invoices. By connecting with over 9,000 utility and telematics providers, the platform…