Fueled partly by rising energy costs, Democratic candidates swept key climate races across the country on Tuesday. The trend was most potent in Georgia, where two challengers ousted incumbents for seats on the Georgia Power Commission, the board that approves (or denies) utility companies’ rates and power plans. And in New Jersey, governor-elect Mikie Sherrill sped to victory on a core campaign promise to freeze utility bills, which have risen faster in The Garden State than almost anywhere in the country.
Looks like the EPA may keep its mitts of Energy Star. In May, the Trump administration was set to scuttle the popular product-certification program, which saves utility customers $450 a year on energy costs by helping them easily ID efficient appliances. Now, The New York Times reports that pushback from both sides of the aisle and a coalition of appliance-industry leaders has the EPA reconsidering whether or not it will follow through on its plan to sunset the iconic blue badges.
The nations of the world have turned in their homework ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil next week. Their grade? Shows effort; needs improvement. The U.N. released its annual assessment of countries’ plans to cut emissions in order to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C. A decade ago, when the goal was set, the world was on pace to be 3 to 3.5 degrees hotter by the end of the century. There’s been progress, but the current trajectory will still lead a 2.3- to 2.5-degree increase by 2100 without “faster and bigger reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”
Portland, Oregon, is trying out a first-of-its-kind plan to power data centers without driving up utility bills. Startup Gridcare announced that Portland General Electric had used its software to bring an 80-megawatt data center online, reports Canary Media. What makes this time special is that it’s the first proof point we have for what’s known as data-center flexibility; Gridcare’s software allows the data center to reduce its power use during moments of high demand. This allows the utility company to serve its customers without having to build out tons of costly new infrastructure.
Wake up and smell the (plant) bacon! MyForest Foods’ MyBacon and MyPulledPork are now available at Whole Foods Markets in the U.S. The popular plant-based bacon is made from oyster mushrooms mycelium—essentially the thread-like bits of fungi that stretch underground. The alt-pulled-pork, the company’s newest offering, has the same core ingredient. MyForest’s products have a tender, savory texture that’s evocative of meat, and, compared to other popular mock meats, have a super-short ingredients list. A pack of 8 slices of bacon or 8 ounces of pork each run about $10.