The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) has announced a Rapid Readout briefing on the impacts of severe drought to be held online on July 24, 2026.

• Event: Rapid Readout titled “Impacts of Severe Drought” on Friday, July 24, 2026, 12:00 – 12:30 PM EDT, Online Only via Livecast: www.eesi.org/livecast; Featured speaker: to be announced; Free and open to the public; attendees can RSVP and add the event to calendar via the provided ICS file.
• Focus & context: The briefing will connect this year’s water shortage to the broader multi-year megadrought in the West and discuss impacts on wildfire risk, reservoir levels, hydropower generation, and agriculture, as well as the role of federal policymaking in safeguarding communities; no funding amounts, speaker names, or panelists are specified in the announcement.

The Environment Agency has published an environmental permit application advertisement for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Limited regarding Eastern Green Link 2 at Bridgewater, TA5 2QR.

• The notice says the Environment Agency is consulting the public on the application and will decide whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include.
• It states the application relates to waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators; published 22 July 2026 and applies to England.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced funding for new AI-enabled science projects, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory leading 13 projects and partnering on more than 30 others as part of the Genesis Mission.

• DOE announcement: Berkeley Lab will lead 13 projects and act as a partner on more than 30 others under the Genesis Mission, a national initiative to build an integrated science discovery platform using AI, supercomputing, quantum systems, and advanced scientific instruments.
• Project scope: Phase 1 teams will design and demonstrate workflows that combine AI with scientific investigation across critical minerals, materials, manufacturing, fusion, energy, hydropower, grid infrastructure, nuclear waste, water security, geothermal, and related research areas; Berkeley Lab director Kathy Yelick said the mission will improve scientific impact and AI tools for science.

GE Vernova has announced its second-quarter 2026 financial results and raised its full-year 2026 guidance.

• The company reported backlog of $176 billion and said it is raising 2026 financial guidance after strong Q2 performance, with cash balance of $13.1 billion and $4.3 billion increase year over year.
• CEO Scott Strazik said GE Vernova expects at least 125 GW of gas equipment under contract by year-end 2026 and continued demand in Electrification, with data center orders over $5 billion year-to-date; the company also expects 20 GW annual gas turbine output in Q3 2026, 24 GW in 2028, and 30 GW in 2030.

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center has released its Q2 2026 edition of The 50 States of Grid Modernization.

• The quarterly report covers state regulatory and legislative actions on grid modernization, utility business model and rate reforms, energy storage, microgrids, and demand response.
• It says 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico took grid modernization actions in Q2 2026, with 481 total actions and over 300 introduced bills; top activity was in California, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey.
• NCCETC highlighted three trends: location-based incentives for distributed energy resources, scrutiny of utility infrastructure spending, and states enabling virtual power plants in wholesale markets.

The Philippines has announced Executive Order No. 119, the country’s first explicit data residency framework for government data.

• The order classifies government information into Restricted Access Data and Open Access Data, requires the most sensitive tiers to be stored within Philippine territory, and extends obligations to private companies handling government data in public-private partnerships, public services, utilities, critical infrastructure, and strategic or sensitive projects.
• A newly created Joint Oversight Committee for Data Classification, co-chaired by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Security Council, will issue implementing guidelines within 120 days; agencies must complete capacity building and data inventory in year one, meet Top Secret/Secret requirements in year two, and achieve full compliance in year three.
• The article is explanatory analysis about the implications of the order for infrastructure planning, cloud, AI, and compliance teams; it references Digital Edge’s Philippine facilities and data centre readiness but does not announce a new Digital Edge project.

Nature has published an article arguing that passive cooling materials could reduce reliance on air conditioning as heatwaves intensify.

• The article says cooling buildings already accounts for nearly 10% of global electricity use, and that by 2050 electricity demand for cooling could rise 210% above 2024 levels while air-conditioning emissions could triple.
• It cites research by Matthaios Santamouris and Negin Nazarian at the University of New South Wales and Nicole Miranda at the University of Oxford, highlighting technologies such as automated blinds, window slats, and passive radiative cooling materials.
• A cited coating reportedly reduced surface temperature by 5.26 °C and reflected 97% of solar energy; the article also notes up to 100 million families in India, Mexico, Indonesia and Brazil may still be unable to afford air conditioning by 2040.

NVIDIA has announced that Vera Rubin NVL72 is ramping into full production and is being deployed with partners CoreWeave, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

• Production ramp: Vera Rubin NVL72 racks are running at partners CoreWeave, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, supported by a supply chain spanning 350-plus factory sites in 30 countries.
• Performance and infrastructure details: CoreWeave reported 10x more throughput per megawatt on DeepSeek-R1 versus Grace Blackwell NVL72; Google Cloud’s first A5X instance is up for London startup Ineffable Intelligence; Microsoft and Mistral are using Vera Rubin for a new multibillion-dollar agreement to expand AI infrastructure in Europe; the platform also features liquid cooling, chiller-free dry-cooler operation, and claims to save millions of gallons of water per megawatt annually.

Greenpeace Canada has published an opinion piece linking Canada’s wildfires, fossil fuel policy, and opposition to AI data centres.

• The article argues that wildfire smoke is now a permanent part of children’s lives, criticizes pipeline deals and the federal “AI for All” strategy, and says Hamilton is moving toward a moratorium on data centres.
• It also highlights a Greenpeace Canada petition with 116,000 signatures for a strong federal Nature Law, and calls for an excess profits tax on oil and gas industry profits.

Transglobal has published an explanatory article about the transport risks of large lithium battery shipments supporting South Africa’s renewable energy projects.

• The piece says grid-scale lithium batteries used in solar and wind projects are creating a new logistics challenge, with containers weighing 35 to 43 tons and requiring abnormal-load and hazardous-goods compliance.
• It explains that in South Africa, lithium-ion batteries are classified as Class 9 hazardous materials under SANS 10228, and stresses that safe movement requires proper vehicle registration, documentation, load securing, route planning, port handling, and emergency response.

Gorilla Technology Group has announced that two recent bond financings are enabling accelerated execution of its AI infrastructure programmes in Indonesia, India, and Thailand.

• The company said the financings raised $232 million in aggregate gross proceeds and are being used to support NeutraDC Batam and the Yotta 2 programme; Gorilla also said its $125 million capital raise supports a signed contract representing about $2.5 billion of expected revenue over five years.
• In Indonesia, the first phase of NeutraDC Batam is targeted for September 2026 and December 2026, with remaining capacity in H1 2027; in India, Yotta 1 covers 640 servers and 5,120 GPUs and is expected by end of August 2026, while Yotta 2 is structured for 20,736 GPUs in New Delhi.
• In Thailand, Gorilla said the 200MW IT-load campus could support 100,000 to 110,000 next-generation GPU equivalents and has an illustrative gross revenue potential of $16 billion to $18 billion over five years, subject to contracting and financing.

This is a general explanatory video, not a first-time corporate announcement.

• It describes how data centers support everyday digital services such as email, streaming, online banking, digital maps, medical records, cloud applications, and instant access to information.
• It frames data centers as the physical infrastructure behind communications, financial transactions, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and business operations, and says building secure, reliable, and sustainable data centers is essential.
• The content is promotional/educational commentary accompanying a YouTube video and does not include a specific project, deal, or investment announcement.

Nature has published an analysis arguing that deep-sea oil and gas drilling is expanding rapidly and should be governed by stronger environmental accountability rules.

• Deep offshore investment is expected to exceed US$200 billion in 2026, with about $2.5 trillion projected for deep-sea drilling between 2026 and 2035; the article says deep-water oil currently averages about $43 per barrel and can be cost-competitive with US shale.
• The piece cites examples including Shell’s Whale and Beacon Offshore’s Shenandoah in the US Gulf of Mexico, CNOOC projects in the South China Sea and Bohai Sea, and Deep Sea No. 1, which supplied 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas in 2025; it also calls for satellite monitoring, independent verification, penalties, stricter methane rules, higher insurance costs, and delayed financing for projects with unverifiable emissions.

Natural Resources Canada announced that construction has begun on Enbridge’s Sunrise Expansion Program in British Columbia, following federal approval in April 2026.

• The project is a $4-billion expansion of Enbridge’s Westcoast natural gas pipeline, adding up to 300 million cubic feet per day of transportation capacity and about 140 kilometres of new pipeline through 11 looping segments plus compression and facility upgrades.
• The release says the project will add over $3 billion to Canada’s GDP, create 2,500 jobs, and generate $700 million in tax revenue; it also notes 100 percent Canadian melted and poured steel supplied by InterPro Pipe + Steel and more than $52 million spent on Indigenous businesses to date.

Moldova and India have announced plans to deepen economic cooperation at a business forum in Chisinau during Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s first state visit to Moldova.

• President Maia Sandu opened the forum and invited Indian firms to invest in medicines, renewable energy, infrastructure, and technology, including expanding interconnections with Romania and organizing tenders for new green energy capacity.
• Droupadi Murmu said Indian companies see opportunities in digital technologies, AI, cybersecurity, renewable energy, logistics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare; the article also cites Moldova’s 2025 exports to India at about US$259.4 thousand.

Japan has announced and advanced a series of investment, governance, and industrial-policy initiatives while deepening alignment with the United States.

• The article says Japan is channeling capital into the U.S. through the $550 billion U.S.–Japan investment deal announced in July 2025, with roughly $400 billion in potential projects identified and the first $2.2 billion loan signed on May 1, 2026.
• It also says Japan joined the Genesis Mission in June as a five-year, $1 billion R&D partnership, and that Japan’s government unveiled a ¥370 trillion (~$2.3 trillion) investment strategy for fiscal 2040, including ¥78.5 trillion for semiconductors.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that New York imported more electricity from Canada after the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line began commercial operations.

• On July 3, 2026, NYISO imported 52 GWh from Canada, with some power flowing on the new 1,250 MW CHPE line between Québec and New York City.
• A heat wave drove NYISO peak demand to 31,097 MW on July 2 at 7:00 PM; the article also notes CHPE was expected to meet up to 20% of New York City’s power demand and that the line was taken offline again on July 4 for repairs.

The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has announced that its scientists will lead nine and contribute to 32 additional Genesis Mission projects.

• ORNL will lead nine projects under DOE’s Genesis Mission, covering fusion energy, critical minerals, water for energy, next-generation materials and manufacturing, computing and networking strategies, and Earth system prediction.
• DOE announced the awards on July 22 at the Genesis Mission Summit in Washington, D.C. ORNL said its work will be supported by the American Science Cloud and by Lux, an AI supercomputer at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility that is being installed and is expected to be completed this year.
• ORNL researchers will also participate in 32 additional projects led by other national laboratories, universities, and industry partners.
• ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer said the projects will integrate AI with rigorous scientific workflows to test methods for accelerating discovery and scaling them for broader impact.

The Structure and Approval Directorate South (SGD Süd) has approved KMW’s motor power plant in Mainz, clearing the way for construction to support the Green Rocks data centre and the German grid.

• Approval granted on 20.07.2026 for the immissionsschutzrechtliche Genehmigung of KMW’s motor power plant on the Ingelheimer Aue; the facility will provide backup power for the Green Rocks data centre and contribute to grid stability.
• The plant comprises 12 gas engines with 54 MW total capacity, is planned for completion in December 2027, and can be converted to hydrogen operation; it is expected to feed electricity into the German grid for about 2,000 hours per year.
• The permit was officially handed over during a joint visit by Michael Ebling and Prof. Dr. Hannes Kopf; KMW says the plant is part of its strategy combining digital infrastructure, district heating from waste heat, and security of supply.

Moldova’s Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said the Vulcanesti–Chisinau Power Line will be energized up to the Chisinau electrical substation later this week, marking a step before commissioning.

• The minister visited the Chișinău Electrical Substation to review technical tests and preparations, and met with the contractor, the consulting company, and Moldelectrica.
• The line’s first 100 km were energized and tested last week; the full line is 157 km, spans 35 localities in eight districts, and can carry up to 630 MVA.
• Construction began in April 2024 under the Power System Development Project financed by the World Bank Group; total value is 61 million euros, including about 27 million euros for the line.
• The project connects the 400 kV Vulcanesti Substation with the 330 kV Chisinau Substation and is intended to allow electricity imports from Romania or other European markets without passing through the Transnistria-based Moldovan Power Plant.