BLM Opens More Federal Land to Permit-Free Geothermal

BLM IM-2026-024 reclassifies some geothermal exploration as “casual use,” removing permit and advance-notice requirements on more than 240 million acres.

PacWave South, a grid-connected ocean test site led by Oregon State University, opened after more than 15 years and now transmits power to shore.

DOE awarded 13 Phase 1 teams $75,000 each in the Digitizing Utilities Prize to build data tools for improving grid reliability and security.

Late August 2026 floods in Nepal and nearby China damaged hydropower, cutting about 10% of Nepal’s capacity; experts urge risk-based rebuilding and alerts.

Texas solar panel laws force sellers to register, delay enforcement to 1 November 2026, and give customers five business days to cancel contracts.

US battery storage grew by 20.2 GWh in Q2 2026, lifting H1 installs to 30.8 GWh as utility-scale projects and a new Tesla Megafactory drove the surge.

Tesla’s August Robotaxi build-up pushed shares 18%; Koyfin’s $390.09 target implies about 6% upside, and the platform’s message volume surged 1,444%.

ABO Energy has agreed with the City of Oulu to develop a 600MW Finnish green hydrogen plant on a 41-hectare site, with first phase target 2034–2036.

Europe wind power buildout rose 30% in H1 2026, with 8.8 GW added; Germany contributed 3.4 GW and installed wind capacity reached 311 GW by end-June.

Weber et al. (2026) show methane cuts are required to keep peak warming well-below 2C; under a 2050 CO2 net-zero pathway methane must fall by about 69% by