energyFriday, June 19, 2026
Two stories today question what counts as clean energy. Australia is funding biomass cement kilns that may emit more than coal, while Invenergy swaps offshore wind for geothermal. Meanwhile, Australia's renewable pipeline booms and datacenters complicate the grid.
Two pieces challenge the green credentials of certain energy choices, from biomass to offshore wind.
Australia's $53 million investment in converting a coal cement kiln to burn forest biomass is criticized as potentially worse for the climate than coal, based on scientific evidence.
Invenergy becomes the third developer to abandon offshore wind leases under Trump, redirecting proceeds into geothermal and natural gas, a notable pivot in renewable strategy.
Renewable capacity is climbing, but datacenter demand and fossil fuel lock-in complicate the picture.
Australia's renewable project pipeline hit a record 32.3 GW after government tenders, but financial commitments for new projects have dropped sharply, a mixed signal for the sector.
Datacenter growth is boosting wind and solar but also keeping fossil plants online, with the gas industry building new plants specifically for AI demand.
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