The world "may have passed peak Trump," and there's a major opportunity for climate progress following his administration, said Al Gore during COP30. Gore pointed toward a recent string of promising events, including Democratic victories in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia and Georgia, as well as the Supreme Court's ability to hinder President Donald Trump's tariff initiatives. "Trump is shooting the US in both feet, really hobbling the US ability to compete in the leading economic sector of the 21st century," said Gore.

Peak load growth in the US is expected to increase by an incredible 166 gigawatts over the next five years, according to Grid Strategies. That represents a significant leap, compared to a 2023 estimate of 38 gigawatts by 2028. Grid Strategies attributes the uptick to data center development, which it expects to account for 90 GW of the new peak demand growth. That said, the report is based on forecasts submitted to grid operators and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with actual figures potentially lower.

Local restrictions on wind and solar are gaining momentum in many parts of the US, but residents of Richland County, Ohio, may be ready to push back. They are challenging a ban on wind and solar projects -- and will have the opportunity to vote against the rules in a first-of-its-kind referendum in May. "Lawmakers should be looking to repeal it and make a system that actually responds to the problems facing our electric grid right now," said Chris Tavenor of the Ohio Environmental Council.

Talks at the COP30 summit in Brazil are at a critical juncture, with a draft agreement released on Tuesday indicating lingering divisions about how to aid developing countries as they adjust to climate change. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to return to the talks, potentially aiding negotiations.

New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill promised on the campaign trail to freeze electricity rates and, now that she has won the gubernatorial election, many are wondering how she'll follow through. There are a couple of ways to go about a rate freeze, but it's likely state utilities will collaborate with Sherrill on the initiative and find ways to reduce spending, says Abraham Silverman of Johns Hopkins University. PSE&G has already indicated it intends to be part of the solution.

Solar technologies saw a record $554 billion in investments in 2024, marking a 49% increase over the previous year's average, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. It attributed the surge to policy support and cost reductions in both utility-scale solar and smaller installations. The current investment level brings solar close to meeting the annual targets needed to align with IRENA's 1.5°C scenario for climate action.

China is leading in the global race to expand solar power, with 671 gigawatts of prospective capacity, accounting for nearly 35% of the global pipeline, according to the Global Energy Monitor's Solar Power Tracker. The US and India are also making significant strides, with 237.9 GW and 170.7 GW of total future capacity, respectively. Emerging markets such as Mauritania and Colombia are also gaining momentum, appearing in the top 15 countries for planned solar projects.

Google is planning a data center on Christmas Island in Australia that will procure renewables using a subsea cable system to the Maldives and Oman. The project could be transformational for the island, which largely relies on imported diesel. "The power required for a connectivity hub can still be a lot for some smaller locations, and where it is, Google is exploring using its power demand to accelerate local investment in sustainable energy generation," it said.