Key developments
Clean power met new demand in 2025
Ember reported that low-emissions sources met all new global electricity demand in 2025 for the first time, with solar supplying three-quarters of 849 TWh in incremental demand and wind covering almost all of the rest. BusinessGreen's readout of the IEA Global Energy Review said electricity demand rose 3%, renewable capacity additions reached 800 GW, and energy-related CO2 still rose to 38.4 billion tonnes.
Why it matters
It suggests clean generation is now scaling fast enough to cover incremental demand, but not yet fast enough to stop emissions from rising.
Sources & driving stories
AL JAZEERA · John T Psaropoulos
Al Jazeera coverageBUSINESSGREEN
BusinessGreen coverageGOP bill targets climate Superfund laws
Republicans led by Rep. Harriet Hageman and Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a federal bill aimed at stopping New York and Vermont from enforcing climate Superfund laws that require major fossil fuel companies to pay for climate-related damage. The bill would retroactively bar lawsuits, block state enforcement, and dismiss pending cases; New York's law seeks $75 billion over 25 years, and the Justice Department is already suing to block implementation.
Why it matters
If it advances, the bill could upend the most aggressive state polluter-pays climate liability efforts in the US.
Sources & driving stories
NEWSDAY · Keshia Clukey
Newsday coverageData centers are keeping fossil plants online
Deutsche Welle reported that Reuters analysis found PJM Interconnection postponed or canceled planned closures for 60% of its fossil-fuel plants last year as data-center demand surged across the 13-state grid, including Virginia. Eleven of the affected units were peaker plants, and utilities including Dominion Energy, NV Energy and NextEra Energy have revised clean-energy plans as analysts cite IEA estimates that natural gas supplies more than 40% of US data-center electricity and coal about 15%.
Why it matters
Data-center growth is already changing utility planning and slowing the fossil-fuel exit in key US markets.
Sources & driving stories
DEUTSCHE WELLE
Deutsche Welle coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Georgia Power opens customer-led clean energy program
The commission-approved program could let customers bring new clean-energy projects onto the grid, a potentially useful model for serving large industrial and data-center loads.
WORTH NOTING
Long Island solar adapts after credit lapse
The local market is adjusting to the end of the federal residential solar credit, showing how policy changes are reshaping rooftop economics.
WORTH NOTING
China tests world-first grid stabilizer
The reported direct-connection synchronous condenser signals another step in grid-stability hardware for wind- and solar-heavy power systems.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Can grids add flexibility fast enough for data centers?
PJM delays and utility plan changes suggest the limiting factor may be transmission, storage and dispatchable flexibility rather than clean generation alone.
OPEN QUESTION
Will climate Superfund laws survive federal and court challenges?
The proposed federal bill and active litigation could determine whether state polluter-pays climate liability regimes remain viable.