Green Energy

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Headline News:

“The Conservation Success Stories That Prove There’s Still Hope For Wildlife” • Research by the WWF and the Zoological Society of London says there has been an average 73% drop in the size of monitored wildlife populations in 52 years. But the report highlights the effectiveness of conservation efforts, saying there is still time to buck the trend. [Euronews]

Turtle (Wexor Tmg, Unsplash)

“Finland Orders Pause On Google AI Data Centers Over Environmental Concerns” • In September Google announced a €13 billion investment in Finland over the next two years to power its AI ambitions. It said this its single biggest investment in Europe. But Finland ordered Google to stop development over environmental concerns. [Euronews]
“Renewables Account For 42% Of Electricity On Australia’s Major Grids” • Renewables supplied 42% of the electricity on Australia’s major grids in 2025, while wind and solar generation continued to grow, according to the latest Australian Energy Statistics. Wind generation increased 20.9% in the year and solar generation grew 12.7%. [Asian Power]
“Pumpkin Prices Impacted By Extreme Heat, High Diesel Costs: Farmer” • Pumpkins are grown in all fifty states, according to the Agriculture Department, but farmers in regions have been facing a variety of challenges, including extreme heat, drought and fuel costs. Some crops were nearly wiped out by extreme heat over the summer. [ABC News]
“EPA Preparing To Roll Back Methane Safeguards” • US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in a closed-door meeting with the fossil fuel industry that the agency plans to roll back safeguards finalized in 2024 to limit methane pollution from the oil and gas sector. The new position would allow corporations to increase toxic pollution. [CleanTechnica]

Headline News:

“Like A ‘Huge Game Of Monopoly’: Green Councillor Not Impressed By Amazon Wind Farm Agreement” • The Shetland Islands Green councilor Alex Armitage says he is “disgusted at the way Shetland’s renewable resources are being passed around by huge corporations.” He said it is as if corporations are “playing a huge game of Monopoly.” [Shetland News]

Mossy Hill wind farm (Statkraft image, cropped)

“Australia Is Making Big Bets On A Slow Transition, But The Technology S-Curve Tells A Different Story” • Based on the historical Australian and global energy data, logistic S-curve projections suggest that renewable electricity growth and decline of fossil fuels are approaching the fastest part of a transition that has been under way for decades. [Renew Economy]
“Top Democrats Battle Over California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax” • Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna rallied in support of an initiative that would place a one-time, 5% tax on California billionaires’ wealth. Their efforts to barnstorm the state come as early voting begins. Millions of dollars have been spent to kill the initiative. [ABC News]
“OpenAI Safety Staffer Quits, Says AI Labs Should Run Like Nuclear Plants” • A leading member of OpenAI’s safety team has quit, warning that the company is not taking enough care with AI’s risks. In an essay for The Atlantic, David Robinson wrote that the ChatGPT maker “has thrived by trial and error.” He warned that approach no longer works. [The Next Web]
“Big Oil Fears The Evidence Of Its Deliberate Climate Lies” • No one knows how the US Supreme Court will rule in Suncor v Boulder, which will likely decide whether the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, will be able to put oil giants ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy on trial for deceiving the public for decades on the climate harms of fossil fuels. [Asia Times]