Latest news with #RWECleanEnergy
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DNR halts state land leases for utility-scale solar projects
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will continue its halt on any new utility-scale solar projects on state-managed forestlands as it works on a framework for how to consider such projects. The policy change was made quietly earlier this month, without a public announcement. DNR spokesman Ed Golder said the agency made the policy change known via a May 9 email from DNR Director Scott Bowen to "a number of interested groups and to legislators who have contacted us" about a controversial proposal to lease 420 acres of state-managed forest land near Gaylord for a solar development in Otsego County's Hayes Township. That project, which raised some public ire over the removal of acres of trees to make way for a private company's solar panels, was scuttled when the company involved, RWE Clean Energy out of San Diego, decided not to pursue additional development on the state land in Hayes Township. But the DNR in January proceeded to pursue a request for proposals to lease the land and evaluate its viability for solar, possibly with another company. In his May 9 email, Bowen announced that the DNR "will not move forward" with utility-scale solar development on the 420 acres in Hayes Township. "The DNR made this decision following a four-month public comment period, and consultation with legislators and interested groups," Bowen stated. "We heard a significant amount of concern from the public, stakeholders and some lawmakers regarding the prospect of siting solar panels on 420 acres of partially forested land." Bowen added that DNR "will maintain a pause on any new utility-scale solar projects on state forestlands" until the agency develops "a specific framework for decision making if leasing lands for additional solar development were to be considered in the future." "As part of this framework, the DNR will solicit input from local communities and lawmakers early in the process if solar development is being considered," he stated. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's MI Healthy Climate Plan, an effort to combat human-driven climate change enacted in 2020, calls for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 and 60% renewable energy in Michigan by 2030. How reachable those goals will be without state land involvement to build large solar farms is uncertain. "I think there are potential avenues to meet those goals, but it certainly becomes a lot harder if you take these publicly managed lands off the table," said Ashley Rudzinski, climate and environment program director with the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, a Traverse City-based nonprofit organization with goals to "protect the environment, strengthen the economy, and build thriving communities." The center on its website is urging Michigan residents to ask the state to continue support solar leasing on public lands. "There's a fairly strong precedent for using lands that are already disturbed or marginal lands," Rudzinski said. "We're not talking pristine forestlands here; we are talking areas that are adjacent to highways or industrial sites. "We have to recognize that for us to combat the challenges that are very real that we are facing with the climate crisis, we need to be able to make some of these challenging decisions ... including using some of these already disturbed lands for these types of practices." More: Democrats' clean energy legislation sets up battle over local land use control More: As some neighbors seek to close it, Wayne Disposal hazardous waste landfill looks to expand State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, was among the first to sound public alarms over the proposed Hayes Township state forestland being used for utility-scale solar, prompting an outcry. He said DNR forestry officials contacted him in the days leading up to Bowen's May 9 email, and Borton said he was told the DNR was stopping solar project siting on state forest lands altogether. "The memo (DNR Director Bowen) made is nothing like what we talked about," Borton said. "I am extremely unhappy at this point, and I made it very clear to the department: There will be no more solar going up on publicly owned lands." The DNR manages 4.6 million acres of public land for uses including forestry, public recreation, hunting, fishing and wildlife habitat management. The agency historically has leased portions of public lands for a variety of perceived public goods, including industrial development. "Lands managed by the DNR host hydrocarbon processing facilities, pipelines and flowlines, mines, sand and gravel pits, an asphalt plant and cell phone towers," Bowen stated in his May 9 memo. The state has pledged to use no more than 4,000 acres of state-managed public land for solar development, and Bowen noted that some 350,000 acres of state-managed land is currently leased for gas an oil wells. Since 1928, more than 10,000 drilling permits have been issued on state-managed forestland. "With the state shifting toward more renewable energy options the DNR is seeking to be part of the state's transition to cleaner energy," Bowen stated. But oil and gas development and utility-scale solar farms are not analogous, Borton said. "I live in northern Michigan, there are gas sites all over, including next to the property I own," he said. "Those gas sites take up almost no property whatsoever. They are not fenced in; they are not blocked off. They do not stop wildlife from passing through." Borton said degraded state sites like brownfields or small solar projects at state fish hatcheries to provide energy to the facilities may still make sense. But "any industrial projects where they are coming in and clearing forest, I'm going to be opposed to it," he said. Two utility-scale solar projects already in the works on state-managed property will continue, Bowen stated: the Groveland mine tailings site, a 264-acre site in the Upper Peninsula's Dickinson County; and the Roscommon Conservation Airport site, on 1,050 acres of DNR-managed public land in Roscommon County's Higgins Township near Interstate 75 and the DNR Conservation Airport. The maximum buildable area for solar panels on that project would be 570 acres, DNR officials earlier said. Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR halts state land leases for utility-scale solar projects
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RWE completes nearly 1 GW of energy assets, adding to its growing U.S. operations fleet
RWE completed three projects in Texas, including a 300 MW solar project in Goliad, Texas called Peregrine Solar . The project team's efficient work enabled the project to safely commission 300 MW in 15 days. This project provided critical economic benefits and local employment of 250 workers during its construction phase. Additionally, RWE's project will provide a community benefit that will generate over $180,000 per year for local jurisdictions throughout the project's lifetime. The newly operating assets include an expansion of the Westside Canal Complex , adding a 119 MW (476 MWh) 4-hour battery energy storage project located in Imperial County, California. As the second phase of the Westside Canal Complex, which provided 160 construction jobs, it increases the total capacity to 250 MW (1,000 MWh). This addition strengthens California's energy resilience, supporting reliability and the grid. It will also support local economic growth contributing an estimated $20 million in property tax revenue over the project's 20-year lifetime. Andrew Flanagan, CEO, RWE Clean Energy: "RWE is meeting growing demand by providing homegrown energy and advancing U.S. energy leadership with six completed clean energy assets. These projects advance domestic energy security nationwide, while stimulating local economic growth and creating energy sector jobs. As we move forward, we'll continue to help meet the rising energy demand across the U.S." AUSTIN, Texas, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in the U.S., has expanded its growing operational asset base by completing six projects in recent months with a combined capacity of 999 megawatts (MW). The projects include one new wind farm, one repowered wind farm, three new solar installations and one standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) across four states. The newly completed projects strengthen U.S. energy infrastructure and independence, and will be capable of producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 177,000 homes and businesses nationwide. The six renewable energy projects brought more than 1,400 jobs during construction to local areas and will generate more than $130 million in local tax revenue over their operating lifetimes RWE adds one new wind farm, one repowered wind farm, three new solar projects and one standalone battery energy storage project across four different states, including its first operational project in Arkansas Story Continues Peyton Creek II, a 243 MW wind project in Bay City, Texas, was recently commissioned, bringing the total generating capacity of the Peyton Creek Complex to 394 MW. Peyton Creek II created approximately 250 jobs during construction, with the full Peyton Creek Complex now supporting 20 full-time local jobs in operation and adding approximately $60 million to the local tax revenue in Matagorda County over the project's lifetime. Also in Texas, RWE has completed commissioning of the repowered Champion Wind project, a 127 MW wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell counties, Texas. Originally commissioned in 2008, RWE extended the project lifetime for an additional 20 years, ensuring continued support for the local community and generating approximately $31 million in tax revenue over the project's lifetime. During construction, the project provided more than 200 local jobs. Marking RWE's first operational project in Arkansas, Quartz Solar, is a 135 MW solar project in Cross County, bringing new economic opportunities and added workforce in the state during a time of exponential power demand as data centers and manufacturing surge. The project supported 300 jobs at peak construction and will support additional permanent jobs during operation. Notably, Quartz Solar will provide $12.5 million in property tax revenue during its operating lifetime. In Virginia, RWE's 75 MW Wythe County Solar is now operational and is contributing to the region's power supply. The project employed more than 300 workers during peak construction and sourced locally for services during construction such as water, dumpsters, sanitary services, rental equipment and more. It will also add around $7 million in property tax revenue over the lifetime of the project. This project aligns with Virginia's "all of the above" energy strategy and helps meet growing energy demands. Generating Impact in the U.S. The commissioning of nearly 1 gigawatt of clean energy assets is providing American-made energy to the local grid and provides thousands of jobs, many of which are locally sourced. From coast to coast, these projects provide reliable and affordable power capacity. For more information, visit For further inquiries: Patricia Kakridas Sr. Manager, Media & Public Relations Corporate Communications RWE Clean Energy M + 619-753-5206 E RWE in the US Through its subsidiary RWE Clean Energy, RWE is the third largest renewable energy company in the United States, with a presence in most U.S. states from coast to coast. RWE's team of about 2,000 employees in the U.S. stands ready to help meet the nation's growing energy needs. With its homegrown and fastest-to-market product, RWE supports the goal of American Energy dominance and independence. To that end, RWE Clean Energy is committed to increasing its already strong asset base of over 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects, focusing on providing high-quality jobs. RWE invests in local and rural communities while strengthening domestic manufacturing supporting the renaissance of American industry. This is complemented by RWE's energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG). As an energy company with a successful history spanning more than 125 years, RWE has an extensive knowledge of the energy markets and an excellent expertise in all major power generation and storage technologies, from nuclear, coal and gas to hydro, batteries, wind and solar. Cision View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE RWE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Comstock Metals and RWE Clean Energy Enter Strategic Solar Recycling Partnership
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE American: LODE) announced today that its subsidiary, Comstock Metals LLC ('Comstock Metals'), a pioneer in sustainable, zero-landfill solar panel recycling has entered into a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with RWE Clean Energy, the U.S. subsidiary of leading global energy company, RWE. Comstock Metals will provide RWE with recycling, decommissioning, and logistics services for their expansive U.S. solar installations ensuring a zero-landfill solution for 100% of the recovered solar panel materials. Under the terms of this new agreement, Comstock Metals will serve as a preferred, strategic partner for the recycling, disposal, and decommissioning services for RWE's solar installations. These projects will include the recycling of solar panels and related equipment, logistics management, eco-friendly disposal practices, and the safe transportation of materials. 'This partnership underscores our shared commitment to sustainability and innovation,' stated Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. 'RWE has consistently showcased exceptional commitment to their mission of providing renewable energy solutions by leading the adoption of solar energy and reducing carbon emissions. Comstock Metals complements RWE's efforts as a trusted provider in the renewable energy market, ensuring environmentally conscious recycling of the solar panels and their components.' This agreement represents a continuation and expansion of the successful collaboration between the dedicated teams of Comstock Metals and RWE on multiple projects throughout Nevada and California. Comstock Metals has already successfully coordinated the decommissioning, transportation, and recycling of more than 4 million pounds of end-of-life solar materials for RWE, with much more anticipated as demand for responsible recycling grows. 'Comstock Metals continues to systemically identify and close critical gaps in the nascent solar panel recycling sector, creating new capabilities and long-term service opportunities for both the company and the entire supply chain,' said Comstock Inc.'s Executive Chairman and CEO, Corrado De Gasperis. 'With these rapidly expanding industry partnerships, we are creating unique, sustainable, and full-service solutions for the world's most renowned renewable energy companies.' About RWE in the U.S. Through its subsidiary RWE Clean Energy, RWE is the third largest renewable energy company in the United States, with a presence in most U.S. states from coast to coast. RWE's team of about 2,000 employees in the U.S. stands ready to help meet the nation's growing energy needs. With its homegrown and fastest-to-market product, RWE supports the goal of American Energy dominance and independence. To that end, RWE Clean Energy is committed to increasing its already strong asset base of over 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects, focusing on providing high-quality jobs. RWE invests in local and rural communities while strengthening domestic manufacturing supporting the renaissance of American industry. This is complemented by RWE's energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG). To learn more, please visit RWE Clean Energy website. As an energy company with a successful history spanning more than 125 years, RWE has an extensive knowledge of the energy markets and an excellent expertise in all major power generation and storage technologies, from nuclear, coal and gas to hydro, batteries, wind and solar. About Comstock Metals Comstock Metals is a leading, Nevada-based, zero-landfill recycling solution that specializes in the environmentally responsible recycling of solar panels and related renewable energy infrastructure and equipment. Comstock's unique thermal delaminating processes, ongoing material innovations, and sustainable practices differentiates its recycling leadership and strengthens the supply chain of domestically manufactured electrification products. About Comstock Inc. Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to energy abundance by efficiently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources, such as waste and other forms of woody biomass into renewable fuels, and end-of-life electronics into recovered electrification metals. Comstock's innovations group is also developing and using artificial intelligence technologies for advanced materials development and mineral discovery for sustainable mining. To learn more, please visit Comstock Social Media Policy Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at in addition to its LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Contacts For investor inquiries:William McCarthy, Chief Operating OfficerTel (775) 413-6222ir@ For media inquiries:Tracy Saville, Director of MarketingTel (775) 847-7573media@ Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'plan,' 'should,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'will,' 'would,' 'potential' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions; future changes in our research, development and exploration activities; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; land entitlements and uses; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, operational, tax, financial and restructuring initiatives, including the nature, timing and accounting for restructuring charges, derivative assets and liabilities and the impact thereof; contingencies; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings, limitations on sales or offering of equity or debt securities, including asset sales and associated costs; business opportunities, growth rates, future working capital, needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments, and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious and other metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; challenges to, or potential inability to, achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology and efficacy, quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence supported advanced materials development, development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related material production; commercialization of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and generative artificial intelligence development services; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund, or any other in to access your portfolio
Axios
12-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
RWE Clean Energy CEO says renewables keep overall costs down
HOUSTON — Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy, warns that taking renewables out of the equation would boost gas demand enough to raise prices for consumers and data centers. Why it matters: His message shows how a big onshore U.S. renewables player is navigating a White House that's hostile to wind and a Congress weighing the fate of clean power tax credits in budget talks. Driving the news: Flanagan, on the sidelines of CERAWeek, said he's pro-gas but that renewables help keep overall costs down. "We expect and we know that we need more gas-fired generation to get completed. We're fully supportive of an all-of-the-above approach," said Flanagan, whose company is a subsidiary of German energy giant RWE and features solar, onshore wind, and battery storage assets. "But if you pull out the renewables piece of that, which is one of the lowest-cost solutions, you're going to increase the costs to consumers, and that's going to have a negative effect," adds Flanagan. The big picture: President Trump is directly targeting marine wind, and RWE's separate U.S. offshore arm is already affected. Onshore, the threat is more complicated. Trump's anti-wind exec order also freezes federal onshore permitting, but RWE's work (and most of the industry's) is on private tracts. Still, private lands projects can need federal approval, such as permits from the FAA for tall structures. Tariffs, meanwhile, threaten to raise project costs. State of play: Flanagan said the company took proactive steps to secure supply chains ahead of tariffs to avoid "untenable exposure" across the value chain. It already has permits needed for the roughly gigawatt of wind that's currently being built. "We don't see any material risk to our projects that are under construction," he said. The company also has over two gigawatts of solar and roughly .75 GW of storage under construction. Yes, but: The effect on their longer term wind pipeline is less clear, he said, noting the "uncertainty that exists in the market." RWE will probably do less wind than initially planned in 2026 as they see how things shake out. Inside the room: RWE is making sure Capitol Hill Republicans know about the jobs and investment that renewables bring. "We bought a billion dollars worth of equipment last year [that was] manufactured here in the U.S.," he said, adding they're working with partners to re-shore even more manufacturing capacity. What's next: The domestic landscape has obviously gotten tougher. But Flanagan expressed optimism about the firm's 40-gigawatt wind, solar and storage pipeline. "The demand for electricity is significant, and we know we can be that solution now, and we can be a very cost-effective solution," he said.
Reuters
06-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US clean power investors see strong outlook despite gas plant rush
The rapid uptake of AI and cloud computing is rapidly increasing U.S. electricity demand and raising the need for 24/7 power supply solutions. Solar, wind and battery storage have dominated new power installations but data centers need a steady supply of power both day and night, requiring either dispatchable power plants or a combination of generation technologies. The growing use of electric vehicles will also require more overnight power supply as owners take advantage of lower power prices. Power demand from data centers is predicted to reach 325 to 580 TWh in 2028, compared with 176 TWh in 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said in December. Data centers are representing a growing share of power demand, shifting the overall shape of demand and opening up new opportunities for power generators. Virginia has the greatest concentration of data centers, hosting 536 facilities of which the vast majority are in a tiny area just west of Washington DC, according to the Data Center Map website. By 2030, data centers will require 50% of Virginia's power generation, compared with 26% in 2023, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) said. Solar and wind are the cheapest form of power in many parts of the U.S. but the rising need for 24/7 power has spurred a flurry of new gas-fired power generation projects. In one example, Entergy plans to build its first gas-fired plant in Mississippi for half a century and the 754 MW facility is set to supply Amazon data centers from 2028. CHART: US planned power generation installations in 2025 For renewable energy developer RWE Clean Energy, the fundamentals of the U.S. market remain unchanged, Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy, told Reuters Events. RWE group owns gas-fired capacity in Europe but is yet to invest in U.S. gas plants. Broad-based demand growth in the coming years will "require the deployment of all available energy resources 'as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy," Flanagan said. U.S. power demand is set to grow by at least 1.5 to 2.5% per year over the next 15 years, 'driven by data center demand, the relocation of industry and manufacturing back to the U.S. and broad-based electrification,' he said. Join hundreds of senior executives across energy, industry and finance at Reuters Events Global Energy Transition 2025, opens new tab. In one example, Arizona utility Salt River Project (SRP) aims to double the generating capacity on its power system over the next ten years to meet growing demand in the Phoenix metropolitan area, in part due to new data centers, an SRP spokesperson told Reuters Events. SRP has committed to cut carbon emissions by 82% by 2035 in its Integrated System Plan, by adding renewables, energy storage and gas-fired capacity, while retiring 1,300 MW of coal capacity. Dispatchable power Utilities and developers are seeking to build gas-fired plants to supply data centers as 'firm capacity is valued more than intermittent capacity," Patrick Finn, Senior Analyst, North America Power Markets at Wood Mackenzie, told Reuters Events. Blackstone Energy Transition Partners announced in January that it would acquire Potomac Energy Center, a 774 MW gas plant in Loudoun County, Virginia to supply local data center requirements. The plant is close to 130 existing data centers. Virginia utility Dominion Energy recently lowered its renewable energy forecast to 80% of power production within 15 years, down from 95% previously, and the company is now building a new 1,000 MW gas-fired power plant in Chesterfield County. MAP: Change in US commercial sector power demand by state Despite the surge in gas plant activity, 'renewables are still a valuable piece of the puzzle' so it makes sense for clean power developers to identify areas with large load growth, Finn said. The need for 24/7 supply boosts the business case for battery storage, although the deployment of batteries will face tariff and supply chain challenges as most are imported from China or other Asian countries, Tom Atkinson, Portfolio Manager, AXA Investment Managers, told Reuters Events. Many Big Tech companies have ambitious zero carbon goals but several are also looking to develop new nuclear plants as they seek dispatchable power capability. Anything that provides 'firm and clean capacity would be ideal', including long duration energy storage and nuclear small modular reactors, Finn said. Deployment speed While some utilities are seeking gas-fired power capacity, overall the outlook for clean power developers remains positive as solar and wind are faster to develop, have fewer supply chain constraints, and are cheaper than new gas capacity in much of the U.S., Atkinson said. Tech groups are seeking fast deployment of power resources to meet soaring AI demand and solar and wind can be built faster than gas-fired plants. Some companies are even partnering with power developers to co-locate power generation and data centers and speed up development. To minimise development times, solar and wind developers must find suitable land areas and navigate bottlenecks in grid capacity that can delay grid connections. A lack of skilled labour can also be a challenge. Surging demand from tech groups is accelerating clean power activity - download our exclusive report, opens new tab. President Donald Trump has injected fresh uncertainty into the clean energy sector by freezing federal funds pending a review and issuing policies that promote fossil fuel development, but years of cost reductions in clean power have bolstered the underlying fundamentals. Trump has also thrown his support behind a $500 billion pledge by tech groups and investors to develop infrastructure for AI facilities. Meanwhile, a lot of clean power deployment is being driven at state level, through Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that require energy providers to supply a stated minimum of zero carbon power. The RPS directives 'remain binding and instruct the technology mix of new capacity," Atkinson said. "We do not think they are vulnerable to federally led change," he said.
