Wednesday, 26 August 2026Clear-eyed news, from daybreak on.
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Energy

President Trump signs a proclamation setting tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon, the material used to make solar panels and semiconductors.

Tariff vs. Price Floor: What Trump's New Solar Rule Does

The White House set a 15% tariff on polysilicon and, separately, a hard minimum price. The two tools do very different jobs, and the gap between them explains why solar makers are watching closely.

Climate  · 7 Aug 2026, 09:24  · Maya Calder
Rows of servers in a data center hall lit by blue indicator lights.

Why AI Data Centers Use So Much Electricity and Water

AI data centers are on track to use as much power as Japan by 2030. Here is why the chips draw so much electricity, how much water cooling takes, and what it means for your bill.

Tech  · 7 Jul 2026, 09:28  · Daniel Okafor
A person cools off in the water from an open fire hydrant during the July 2026 heat wave.

PJM Orders Emergency Power Cuts as Heat Strains the Grid

With 67 million people's power on the line, PJM leaned on paid demand cuts and data-center curtailments to keep the lights on through the heat.

Business  · 4 Jul 2026, 05:42  · Priya Raman