This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate in 15 minutes or less, featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm’s Mike Casey.
This week’s episode features special guest Kathiann Kowalski from Canary Media, who wrote about how Ohio’s House Bill 1 is seen as a win by the solar industry.
This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Adam Hall, who had his 8th-grade students give him a “Solar Mohawk” at their Viva el Drágon festival. Students at the festival demonstrated the power of the sun with student-built solar models. Congratulations, Adam!
BYD overtook Tesla in European EV sales for the first time ever in April, despite facing higher EU tariffs (BYD at 17%, Tesla at 7.8%, other Chinese EV makers at up to 35%). Tesla faces backlash linked to Elon Musk’s politics. BYD’s Europe volumes rose 359% in April from last year, whereas Tesla’s dropped 49%. BYD also outperformed European brands, such as Fiat, in key markets like France. BYD’s growth precedes the commencement of production at a new plant in Hungary.
Read here.
Federal judges have ruled against Trump’s tariffs on China and other US trading partners, declaring he exceeded his authority under an emergency-powers law that concerns trade embargoes and sanctions, but doesn’t mention tariffs at all. Trump used the law to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico, citing their alleged involvement in sending fentanyl to the US. The court gave the executive branch 10 days to begin ending the tariffs, but the Trump administration has filed an appeal.
Read here.
New executive orders from the Trump administration are giving nuclear startups a boost through faster construction and licensing. Policy could allow companies to develop reactor designs more quickly without having to undergo a lengthy and costly licensing process. Last Energy and other nuclear startups are racing to build test reactors in the US as soon as next year.
Read here.
The $20B US residential solar industry’s future hinges on whether moderate Senate Republicans will challenge the House bill and preserve clean-energy jobs in their states. The sector is already struggling with tariffs on imported equipment, high interest rates, and reduced state incentives, especially in California, its largest market. Sunnova Energy is preparing for a potential bankruptcy, and analysts say the bill could effectively shut down the industry starting in 2026.
Read here.
Ohio’s House Bill 15 was promoted as boosting “dispatchable” energy sources like gas and nuclear, but many of its incentives are technology-neutral. This allows solar developers to benefit from property tax exemptions, grants for site preparation on brownfields and minelands, and expedited project reviews, making solar development more viable in Ohio. It also eases restrictions on behind-the-meter power generation, opening the door to shared clean energy systems and microgrids.
However, significant permitting barriers from earlier laws remain, particularly local approval requirements that still disproportionately hinder large-scale solar projects.
Read here.
