A coalition of 17 state attorneys general, along with Washington D.C., filed a lawsuit Monday against former President Donald Trump’s attempt to halt the development of wind energy projects. The suit targets an executive order Trump signed on his first day in office, which effectively paused the approval, permitting, and funding of both onshore and offshore wind projects.

The attorneys general argue that Trump’s action oversteps his authority and jeopardizes the progress of wind energy—a critical source for both economic growth and environmental goals. They are seeking a federal judge’s declaration that the order is unlawful and asking for it to be blocked.

Leading the charge, New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed the coalition’s concern. She emphasized the significant economic and environmental consequences, stating, “This arbitrary and unnecessary directive threatens the loss of thousands of good-paying jobs and billions in investments, and it is delaying our transition away from fossil fuels that harm our health and our planet.”

In response, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed the lawsuit, claiming that Democratic attorneys general were undermining President Trump’s energy agenda. Rogers argued that the American people elected Trump to prioritize American energy independence and that blue states should not be burdened by what he termed the “radical climate agenda” of Democrats.

Trump’s executive order, which directly targets offshore wind projects, is a direct reversal of policies implemented by the Biden administration. Biden’s administration viewed offshore wind as a key strategy in the fight against climate change, setting national goals and approving multiple large-scale offshore wind projects. Trump, however, has focused on boosting fossil fuel industries like oil, gas, and coal, which he claims are necessary to ensure the U.S. maintains the lowest-cost energy in the world.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, also challenges Trump’s move to freeze the Empire Wind project—a wind farm located off the coast of Long Island, New York. The project, which was 30% complete, had gone through a rigorous seven-year permitting process under the Biden administration. Equinor, the Norwegian company behind the project, is now considering legal options following the abrupt halt. This decision adds to the growing tension between Trump’s rollback of renewable energy policies and the broader global shift toward sustainable power sources.

Wind energy now accounts for about 10% of the U.S. electricity supply, making it the country’s largest source of renewable energy. The attorneys general argue that Trump’s order undermines decades of bipartisan support for wind energy and contradicts his own national energy emergency declaration, which called for expanded domestic energy production.

The coalition of states behind the lawsuit includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Washington D.C. These states have collectively invested hundreds of millions of dollars into wind energy development and further investments to upgrade transmission lines necessary to bring wind power into the grid.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized Trump’s order, calling it chaotic for businesses that rely on stable regulations to operate effectively. East Coast states, in particular, see large-scale offshore wind farms as essential to their renewable energy plans, given the limited land available for such projects.

Massachusetts has been a significant player in advancing offshore wind energy, with projects like Vineyard Wind moving through various stages of development. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell emphasized the state’s commitment to ensuring its residents benefit from well-paying green jobs and affordable energy.

In a notable legal development, the U.S. Supreme Court recently denied a case challenging the Vineyard Wind project, a sign of the growing support for offshore wind in the U.S.

On the global stage, the push for wind energy continues to gather momentum. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a major wind power investment in April, and Nova Scotia is planning to offer leases for up to five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. Political leaders around the world are clearly committed to expanding wind power, while some, like Trump, continue to advocate for fossil fuels.

The ongoing legal battle highlights a deeper conflict over America’s energy future—one that pits the continued investment in fossil fuels against the accelerating push toward renewable sources.

Source: AP News – States sue Trump administration for blocking the development of wind energy

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A rare and widespread blackout swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, disrupting life for tens of millions and raising fresh concerns about the stability of Europe’s interconnected energy grid.

Around 12:30 p.m. local time, Spain lost 15 gigawatts of electricity—roughly 60% of its national demand—leaving major cities and rural areas alike in the dark. The blackout lasted well into the night and affected essential services like hospitals, public transportation, cell networks, and businesses across both countries.

Portugal experienced similar outages, marking one of the most significant electricity failures in Europe in recent memory.

New data suggests the grid may have shown early signs of trouble. Bob Marshall, CEO of U.S.-based Whisker Labs, reported abnormal voltage fluctuations from power sensors installed in homes around Madrid starting as early as 9:30 a.m.

By noon, the instability had worsened dramatically, with voltage swinging wildly every 1.5 seconds. “The grid was struggling. Something was wrong,” said Marshall.

The exact cause remains unclear. Spain’s grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España, confirmed two key “disconnection events” occurred prior to the outage. The first was recoverable—but the second triggered a cascade that also impacted France’s grid connection.

“It’s too early to pinpoint one root cause,” said Eamonn Lannoye of the Electric Power Research Institute. Factors like grid maintenance, technical failures, or a sudden imbalance in supply and demand could all be in play.

Power grids operate on a delicate balance between supply and demand. Even slight mismatches can destabilize the system. If one area goes down, the failure can ripple outward, affecting neighboring regions—even across borders.

“It’s like riding a tandem bike,” explained energy law professor Enric Bartlett. “Everyone must pedal in sync. Otherwise, you fall.”

Spain and Portugal both generate a majority of their electricity from renewable sources. While this is generally seen as a strength, the intermittent nature of solar and wind can pose challenges if not properly balanced with stored or backup energy.

Still, experts caution against blaming green energy for the blackout. “There’s no clear evidence yet that solar power caused the outage,” said Lannoye. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Because Europe’s energy systems are highly connected, Spain’s grid failure triggered protective shutdowns in neighboring countries. France, which shares a major power link with Spain, experienced some disruptions after the interconnector between the two nations tripped during the outage.

Both Spain and Portugal have ruled out a cyberattack as the cause. Spain’s High Court has launched an investigation to get to the bottom of what went wrong.

As more details emerge, one thing is clear: even in regions not typically prone to blackouts, power grids are complex, sensitive systems. Monday’s outage serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in managing modern energy infrastructure—especially as the world transitions to cleaner but more variable sources of power.

Source: AP News – What we know about Monday’s sweeping power outage in Spain and Portugal

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In a rural corner of North Dakota, cleanup crews have begun the delicate task of containing the aftermath of a significant oil spill from the Keystone pipeline. The rupture, which occurred early Tuesday morning, prompted a swift shutdown of the pipeline within two minutes of an employee hearing a mechanical bang. The cause of the rupture and the timeline for full restoration of the pipeline remain unclear.

An aerial photo released on Wednesday showed a black, pond-like pool of oil spreading across a partially snowy field, with tire tracks crossing through the area. Local farmer Myron Hammer reported smelling crude oil in the air, carried by the wind.

South Bow, the company managing the pipeline, has estimated the spill’s size at 3,500 barrels, or approximately 147,000 gallons of crude oil. Keystone’s entire pipeline system is currently shut down as a precaution, while the cause of the spill is under investigation.

As of now, the cause of the rupture remains unknown. South Bow is actively working to determine the origin of the spill and how long repairs will take. The rupture is significant, with experts noting that 3,500 barrels of crude oil equals the load of 16 tanker trucks. Paul Blackburn, policy analyst for Bold Alliance, pointed out that this isn’t an isolated event for the Keystone Pipeline, which has a troubling history of spills.

In fact, since 2017, Keystone’s system has spilled nearly 1.2 million gallons of oil, compared to just over 1,200 gallons from the Dakota Access pipeline. These figures underscore ongoing concerns about the pipeline’s reliability.

The Keystone Pipeline, stretching over 2,700 miles from Alberta, Canada, to Oklahoma and Texas, has faced its share of challenges. Built in 2010 at a cost of $5.2 billion, it is no stranger to criticism. The latest incident follows a similar rupture in Kansas in December 2022, which dumped 13,000 barrels of oil into a creek. Investigations attributed that rupture to a faulty weld, with long-term stress causing the pipe to crack.

Experts, including Ramanan Krishnamoorti from the University of Houston, explain that oil pipelines are susceptible to various stressors. These can include corrosive elements, temperature fluctuations, soil movements, and external pressures like construction and train activity. With such stressors, pipelines often face significant wear over time.

South Bow has begun deploying vacuum trucks to recover the spilled oil, and air quality monitoring is ongoing. The affected segment of the pipeline is isolated, and the company is assessing how to return the pipeline to service. Local landowner Myron Hammer, whose property lies near the spill, has reported minimal immediate impact beyond the strong smell of oil and the increased activity around his farm.

The spill site is located near Fort Ransom, a small, scenic town known for outdoor recreation. This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing debate about the safety and environmental risks of pipeline systems.

The company has expressed confidence that it is doing everything possible to address the situation, with crews working around the clock to contain and clean up the spill. However, questions about the pipeline’s safety record and the frequency of such incidents continue to raise concerns among environmental groups and landowners.

The shutdown of the pipeline could potentially affect gas prices in the Midwest, with ripple effects for diesel and jet fuel as refineries adjust to the loss of crude oil supply. Some experts warn that higher diesel prices could lead to increased costs for goods transported by truck, including groceries.

However, other industry analysts suggest that refineries likely have enough crude oil stockpiled to avoid any immediate price hikes. While gas prices have been rising for the past few weeks, the ongoing global trade situation could also influence prices in unpredictable ways.

As cleanup efforts continue, it’s clear that the Keystone Pipeline faces mounting scrutiny over its environmental impact and the frequency of spills. The future of the pipeline will depend on the results of ongoing investigations and the company’s ability to address these issues effectively. For now, residents and workers in the affected area will continue to deal with the aftermath, while questions about the long-term safety and reliability of the pipeline remain unanswered.

Source: AP News – Cleanup underway of the Keystone oil pipeline spill in North Dakota

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Sam Altman, the chairman of Oklo, is not just known for his role at OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company he co-founded. He’s also backing a revolutionary nuclear energy startup. Oklo, which aims to develop innovative nuclear power technology, is one of many nuclear ventures receiving support from Silicon Valley’s tech elite. But is this just a strategic move for AI progress, or does it hold potential for addressing wider global energy challenges?

The Rising Need for Energy

As AI technologies evolve, their demand for power grows. Data centers, essential for supporting digital infrastructure and AI development, already consume a large portion of global electricity, and this demand is expected to rise. In the United States, energy consumption from data centers has surged by 50% since 2020, with projections suggesting that it could account for 9% of total electricity consumption by 2030. This puts significant pressure on energy supplies, and without new sources of reliable, clean energy, tech companies risk jeopardizing their own operations and sustainability promises.

In response, many tech giants, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, are turning to nuclear energy as a solution. Unlike solar or wind power, which are intermittent, nuclear offers a stable, 24/7 energy supply essential for data centers. Microsoft, for example, has even secured a deal to restart a reactor at the infamous Three Mile Island, aiming to power its AI ambitions.

Tech Billionaires and Nuclear Ventures

Altman is not the only tech mogul interested in nuclear energy. He’s also invested in Helion Energy, a fusion energy startup, while Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and venture capital firm Mithril (backed by Peter Thiel) have also joined forces with Helion. Other notable figures, such as Bill Gates, have backed nuclear initiatives as well. Gates chairs TerraPower, a company developing innovative nuclear reactors, and has poured over $1 billion into the effort.

Meanwhile, tech giants like Google and Amazon are backing nuclear startups like TAE Technologies and X-energy, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has invested in the Canadian startup General Fusion. These investments point to a collective recognition that nuclear energy, particularly next-generation reactors, could be key to powering AI’s future while addressing climate change.

The Push for Clean, Reliable Power

The investments from tech leaders in nuclear power are often framed as a solution to the growing need for clean, baseload energy. “We need clean, baseload power that is free of carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and nuclear is a reliable, affordable source of that energy,” says Megan Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer at General Fusion.

General Fusion, which is still in the early stages of proving its technology, aims to create a safer form of nuclear energy: fusion. Unlike traditional fission reactors, fusion combines atoms instead of splitting them, making it more stable and less prone to catastrophic failures. While fusion is still years away from being commercially viable, it’s a promising long-term solution for both the energy and AI sectors.

The Safety and Regulatory Debate

Despite the optimism around next-generation nuclear energy, the industry faces significant challenges, particularly around safety and regulation. Many critics are concerned that the heavy influence of tech companies could lead to relaxed safety protocols and insufficient regulatory oversight. Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, voices concerns that Silicon Valley’s push for quick development could lead to regulatory changes that undermine public safety. He warns that the industry’s clout could result in safety and security rules being weakened.

However, proponents argue that these tech-backed nuclear projects, particularly those led by Bill Gates and Sam Altman, are focused on improving safety features. For example, TerraPower’s reactors include “passive” safety mechanisms that automatically cool the reactor if something goes wrong, aiming to avoid accidents like Chernobyl. Gates himself has expressed confidence in the regulatory scrutiny that his company faces, emphasizing that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will ensure that safety standards are met.

Oklo’s Vision: Small, Scalable Reactors

Oklo, founded in 2013 by MIT graduates, is focused on developing small, modular nuclear reactors that can produce cleaner, more efficient energy. These “fast reactors” are designed to use less fuel and recycle used nuclear fuel, making them cheaper and more sustainable. While Oklo has made significant progress, receiving approval to begin site investigations for one of its small reactors in Idaho, experts caution that the journey from concept to actual energy production will be a long and costly one.

Altman’s venture has seen strong stock performance, thanks to the increasing demand for clean energy to power AI, but the company is still far from generating revenue. Oklo’s reactors remain in the theoretical phase, and it will likely take years before they are commercially viable.

TerraPower: The Bill Gates Approach

Gates’ TerraPower is also racing toward developing next-gen nuclear reactors. The company broke ground in June on a demonstration plant in Wyoming, which is expected to be operational by 2030. TerraPower’s design is simpler than traditional reactors, using sodium for cooling instead of water. The plant is being built near a retiring coal power plant, where it will eventually provide power to a utility company, PacifiCorp.

Like Oklo, TerraPower’s reactors are designed with passive safety features, minimizing the risks associated with traditional nuclear plants. Gates has invested heavily in TerraPower because he believes nuclear energy is essential for combating climate change. While the project has garnered attention, it still faces public skepticism, particularly regarding its safety and regulatory hurdles.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While the future of nuclear energy remains uncertain, the push for cleaner, more reliable energy is intensifying. Tech companies, with their vast financial resources, are playing a pivotal role in driving these innovations. However, the public remains wary, and significant challenges remain, including safety concerns, regulatory approval, and high costs.

As AI technology continues to evolve and its energy demands grow, the need for a stable, sustainable energy supply will only increase. Whether nuclear energy can meet that need—while balancing safety and regulatory concerns—remains to be seen.

For now, tech leaders like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos are all-in on nuclear, hoping their investments will fuel both the AI revolution and a cleaner energy future. But the road ahead will be a long one, and the risks are high.

Source

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In a groundbreaking move for clean energy, Virginia is set to become the location of the world’s first grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant, according to an announcement from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) on Tuesday. If all goes to plan, the facility will begin generating electricity by the early 2030s, marking a major step forward in the quest to harness nuclear fusion as a viable energy source.

CFS, a leading nuclear fusion startup, will invest billions of dollars to build the plant near Richmond, Virginia. Once operational, the fusion facility will produce 400 megawatts of power, enough to supply around 150,000 homes, CFS CEO Bob Mumgaard said.

“This will be the first time fusion power is available at grid scale,” Mumgaard stated, calling the announcement a “historic moment” for both Virginia and the world. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin echoed these sentiments, praising the project as a major leap in the transition to clean, sustainable energy.

A New Era for Nuclear Fusion

The planned plant in Virginia represents a significant advancement in the commercialization of nuclear fusion, a process that powers the sun and promises to provide nearly limitless clean energy. Fusion involves fusing hydrogen atoms together to release energy, with the primary technology relying on a donut-shaped machine called a tokamak. Unlike fission— the nuclear process used in today’s power plants—fusion does not produce long-lived nuclear waste and does not contribute to climate change.

Despite its potential, the path to making fusion energy a reality has been challenging. For decades, fusion has been referred to as “decades away,” and turning it from a laboratory experiment into a practical energy source remains an enormous challenge. But CFS is pushing forward, determined to meet this challenge.

“We know nothing happens overnight in fusion,” Mumgaard said, acknowledging the hurdles ahead. “But we are moving quickly.” CFS, which spun out of MIT in 2018, has already raised more than $2 billion and is making substantial progress. The company is working on a tokamak designed to achieve “net fusion energy,” meaning it will produce more energy than it consumes. CFS plans to demonstrate the first plasma—the superheated gas where fusion reactions occur—by 2026 and hopes to achieve net fusion energy shortly thereafter.

Virginia’s Role in Fusion Energy’s Future

The James River Industrial Center in Virginia was chosen after CFS explored over 100 global locations. The site is owned by Dominion Energy, which will lease it to CFS and provide technical assistance. The region was selected due to its growing economy, skilled workforce, clean energy goals, and the opportunity to connect the plant to the grid, especially after a nearby coal plant is retired.

The decision to build in Virginia is seen as a pivotal moment. “In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy,” said Mumgaard. Additionally, Virginia is home to the world’s largest data center market, which increasingly demands vast amounts of energy. According to a Boston Consulting Group analysis, data center electricity consumption in the U.S. is expected to triple by 2030, requiring enough power to supply around 40 million homes. The fusion plant could play a key role in meeting this growing demand for clean power.

CFS views this Virginia plant as the first step in a larger vision. The company plans to eventually deploy thousands of fusion plants worldwide to support global energy needs.

Fusion Energy: The Road Ahead

While CFS and other private fusion companies are working hard to accelerate fusion commercialization, experts caution that the timeline remains uncertain. Jerry Navratil, a professor at Columbia University, notes the distinction between generating fusion energy and creating a safe, reliable system for putting power on the grid. “Fusion startups tend to be aggressive in what they promise,” he explained, “and there’s a big difference between demonstrating energy from fusion and having a practical, operating system.”

Mumgaard recognizes the challenges ahead but remains optimistic. “There will be bumps along the way, but now we have a specific location and a plan for the next chapter in the fusion journey,” he said.

The Virginia-based fusion power plant represents an exciting leap toward a cleaner energy future. With continued investment and innovation, it could help bring nuclear fusion from the realm of science fiction into the practical, sustainable energy solutions needed to combat climate change.

Source

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The investigation is looking into four accidents involving vehicles using the FSD feature. In one, a pedestrian was struck in killed, according to the agency. In another, there was an injury.

In each the accidents, the Tesla car using FSD “experienced a crash after entering an area of reduced roadway visibility….from conditions such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust,” said the agency’s statement about the start of the probe.

FSD is at the center of Tesla’s plans for future growth and profitability. The feature, which is sold as an $8,000 option, requires drivers to stay in the driver’s seat and be ready to take control of the vehicle in order to avoid accidents. But Tesla and CEO Elon Musk insist the feature is already safer than human-controlled driving, and the company has announced plans for true self-driving cars that would come without steering wheels, accelerators or brake pedals.

Musk last week unveiled plans for a fleet of self-driving “robotaxis” and a service that allows Tesla owners to rent out their cars for a ride service in order to make money when they aren’t using their cars. But while Musk has insisted such offerings would enable Tesla to become the most valuable company in the world, investors were mostly unimpressed with the presentation, sending shares of Tesla down nearly 9% the day after the evening presentation.

This is not the first time that the NHTSA has announced it is investigating Tesla’s self-driving features. In February 2023 the agency ordered a recall to change the FSD software on all of the more than 360,000 Teslas then on US roads with the feature. It found FSD “led to an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on insufficient adherence to traffic safety laws.” And it warned that FSD could violate traffic laws at some intersections “before some drivers may intervene.”

“The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution,” said the recall notice, posted on NHTSA’s website.

In December it ordered another recall of all 2 million Teslas on US roads to make software changes to limit the use of a less robust suite of driver-assist features known as Autopilot, following a two-year probe by the agency of roughly 1,000 crashes in which the feature was engaged.

Source

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