E.P.A. Sued Over $7 Billion in Canceled Renewable Grants

Groups take E.P.A. to court after administration cancels $7 billion worth of solar energy projects

After the Trump administration canceled $7 billion in solar energy grants, nonprofits, solar companies, unions, and homeowners have banded together to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Solar for All program was designed to help middle- and low-income families install solar panels on their homes. The Biden administration estimated that the successful completion of the program would give 900,000 households access to solar energy. The groups suing the E.P.A. claim that the agency illegally canceled the grants without approval from Congress. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Rhode Island’s federal court, follows a similar lawsuit filed last month, which an appeals court ruled against. Legal experts, however, are doubtful that this current lawsuit will have a similar outcome. Recently, the Energy Department canceled an additional $7.5 billion for renewable energy projects, primarily affecting states led by Democrats.

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Further reading: Groups Sue E.P.A. Over Canceled $7 Billion for Solar Energy

Share issue helps wind developer Ørsted raise $9.35 billion

As the Trump administration continues to shut down renewable and climate-focused projects across the U.S., sustainable companies are feeling the pressure. Danish wind energy company Ørsted has raised 59.56 billion Danish krones ($9.35 billion) in a share issue amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. projects. The price of the shares was 66.6 krones ($10.40), significantly down from the previous day’s 122.35 krones. Rasmus Errboe, the CEO of Ørsted, said, “The rights issue strengthens Orsted’s financial foundation, allowing us to focus on delivering our six offshore wind farms under construction, continue to handle the regulatory uncertainty in the US, and strengthen our position as a market leader in offshore wind.” Corporations can use ESG solutions to navigate shifting geopolitical uncertainties.  

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Further reading: Denmark’s Orsted raises $9.35 billion in share issue

Microsoft invests $2.9 billion in Japanese solar

Microsoft has partnered with Japan’s Shizen Energy to buy 100 megawatts of solar energy capacity. Through 2026, the tech giant will invest $2.9 billion in Japan, adding to the two data centers it already operates within the country. The agreement details four solar power projects over the next 20 years. This partnership with Shizen Energy is one of many sustainable deals made by the company in recent weeks. Since the start of 2025, Microsoft has added 1 gigawatt of solar energy to its total energy capacity. Companies committed to sustainability and the energy transition should consider ESG solutions for guidance.

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Further reading: Microsoft buys another 100 MW of solar, this time in Japan

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Renewable sources generate more energy than coal worldwide

Global think tank Ember released a report Tuesday stating that renewable energy has surpassed coal in energy generation for the first time. This is largely due to the rapid growth of the renewable sector in China and India. According to the report, China increased its solar energy output by 43% and wind power generation by 26%, resulting in a 2% decrease in fossil fuel use. Similarly, India increased its solar energy output by 31% and wind power generation by 29%, resulting in a 3.1% reduction in fossil fuel use. In the first half of 2025, coal supplied 4,896 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy, while renewables exceeded that with 5,072 TWh. Despite this positive growth in renewables around the world, the EU and the U.S. increased coal generation by 1.1% and 17%, respectively. 

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Further reading: Global renewable power output overtakes coal for the first time, report says

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Solar panels on the roof of a home. Cover Photo Credit: Joshua Bowers