newsmart – Environment

timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 7 hrs. 42 min. ago

Solar panels 10 feet above Massachusetts cranberry bogs revive farming and provide lease income

In Massachusetts, a groundbreaking approach has emerged as two cranberry bogs have implemented solar panels above their crops. This eco-friendly strategy not only cuts farming expenses but also creates extra revenue through solar energy production. The initiative fosters healthier soil and revives forgotten bog areas, ensuring ongoing agricultural yield.

Supported by state policies, this dual use of land is paving the way for agrivoltaics and sustainable farming practices.

solarpowerworldonline.com | 7 hrs. 42 min. ago

EIA: Renewables could overtake natural gas output in 2027

Renewable energy is still outpacing fossil fuels as the leading new sources of electricity on the U.S. grid. Electrical generation from renewable energy sources has increased by 10%, or more than 43 GW, in the first eight months of 2026, according to an analysis of Energy Information Administration (EIA) data by the SUN DAY Campaign.… The post EIA: Renewables could overtake natural gas output in 2027 appeared first on Solar Power World.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 10 hrs. ago

Irish farmer builds solar farm on 1.5 acres, powers 150 homes while sheep graze beneath panels

In County Cork, Sean Keating, a dedicated dairy farmer, has innovatively transformed a portion of his land into a solar farm. This eco-friendly venture enables him to harvest renewable energy while still allowing sheep to graze comfortably beneath the solar installations. Expected to power about 150 households annually, this project showcases the critical support from the government and could potentially motivate other farmers to explore similar sustainable energy alternatives.

theguardian.com | 11 hrs. 20 min. ago

Homes across UK to get low- or no-interest loans to fund solar panels and heat pumps

Government-backed Warm Home Loans scheme to help households cut energy bills by hundreds of poundsHouseholds across the UK can now cut their energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year at no upfront cost by applying for interest-free or “low-interest” loans to fund upgrades such as heat pumps, batteries and solar panels.The government-backed Warm Home Loans scheme, which launched on Tuesday, could mean thousands more households are able to access low-carbon energy alternative technologies, thanks to loans ranging from £7,500 to up £35,000.

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skepticalscience.com | 23 hrs. 47 min. ago

Fact brief - Do nearby wind turbines decrease home values by an average of 75%?

Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Do nearby wind turbines decrease home values by an average of 75%? Research has found much smaller effects on nearby home prices, and those effects fade with time and distance from turbines.

One 2024 study analyzing data from 1997 to 2020 found that visible turbines were associated with an average sale price decrease of about 1.1%, largely affecting urban areas. The effect disappeared within 10 years of installation and was not statistically significant for installations after 2017, indicating that the 1.1% average likely overstates future wind project impacts.

Another 2023 study examining half a million transactions across 34 states found that announcing a project within one mile could initially reduce nearby home values by up to 11% compared with homes 3-5 miles away. However, values recovered to within 2% of pre-announcement levels in 5 years of operation.

These effects have declined in recent years, which researchers suggest may reflect greater familiarity with turbines; responsible siting and community involvement can further reduce impacts. Go to full rebuttal on Skeptical Science or to the fact brief on Gigafact This fact brief is responsive to quotes such as this one.

Sources U.S. Department of Energy Do Wind Turbines Lower Property Values? PNAS The visual effect of wind turbines on property values is small and diminishing in space and time Energy Policy Commercial wind turbines and residential home values: New evidence from the universe of land-based wind projects in the United States American Clean Power Land-based Wind Turbines do not Affect Property Values Center for Rural Affairs Wind energy and property values Columbia Law School Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles Please use this form to provide feedback about this fact brief.

This will help us to better gauge its impact and usability. Thank you! About fact briefs published on GigafactFact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer "yes/no" answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents.

Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact — a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all of our published fact briefs here.

cleantechnica.com | 1 days ago

New Whitepaper Shows How Grid Operators & Energy Regulators Can Use Solar & Storage to Secure the Grid, Boost Reliability & Reduce Energy Costs

Report Shows How to Unlock the Full Potential of Distributed Energy Resources WASHINGTON D.C. — A new report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Current Energy Group outlines how grid operators and regulators can deploy distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar and battery storage to boost ...

[continued] The post New Whitepaper Shows How Grid Operators & Energy Regulators Can Use Solar & Storage to Secure the Grid, Boost Reliability & Reduce Energy Costs appeared first on CleanTechnica.

solarpowerworldonline.com | 1 days ago

Case study: Puerto Rican apartment complex relies on battery power

It’s no secret that Puerto Rico has an energy problem. An aging electrical grid and frequent hurricane activity have left the island with an unreliable power supply. Frequent and prolonged blackouts have led many Puerto Ricans to turn to solar energy. Ricardo Fonseca, owner of Ingenious Solution Services, has been installing solar and battery storage… The post Case study: Puerto Rican apartment complex relies on battery power appeared first on Solar Power World.

climatechangenews.com | 1 days ago

African governments strengthen waste rules as solar and battery use surges

With solar panels, batteries and inverters spreading, officials want to bolster weak recycling systems to protect the environment and reuse key materials The post African governments strengthen waste rules as solar and battery use surges appeared first on Climate Home News.

newsbeep.com | 1 days ago

Allianz UK puts multiple renewable technologies under one policy

Renewable Energy Select covers wind, solar, hydro, batteries and more at the same site under one operational wording…