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Good morning and happy Friday,
Well, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Tuesday, so we could be looking at six more weeks of winter…fingers crossed he’s punking us.
In any case, things are still pretty wintry for the clean energy sector, with the latest report from E2 finding that companies cancelled 38,000 jobs and $35 billion in projects in 2025, nearly three times the amount of new investment.
Meanwhile, natural gas is surging. The U.S. now leads the world in new development, driven in large part by data centers planning to build their own plants. Cleanview reports that “developers are using anything they can get their hands on,” including gas generators strapped to semitrucks and turbines originally designed for aircraft and warships.
Current lead times for gas turbines are in the 5-7 year range – much longer than it takes to get a utility-scale solar project up and running. In a related move, Siemens Energy this week committed to spending $1 billion to expand its U.S. gas turbine manufacturing capacity.
On a more positive note, 2026 has already seen at least $2 billion in financing announced for energy storage projects, “demonstrating the strength of [the technology] as a core component of the U.S. power system;” Wood Mackenzie expects the sector to grow at an average annual rate of 10.8% between 2024 and 2034.
Read on for more.
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Fake Comments, Real Consequences
Ohio’s approval process for a large solar farm is under scrutiny after evidence emerged that many public comments opposing the project were likely fabricated. The controversy centers on Open Road Renewables’ proposed 94 MW Crossroads Solar Grazing Center in Morrow County, which now faces possible rejection by the Ohio Power Siting Board despite meeting technical requirements and showing substantial public support. Here’s what happened:
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At least 34 anti-solar comments submitted to the siting board appear to use false names or misrepresented addresses. Canary Media investigated the comments and could verify only one name at its claimed location, and even that contact information was invalid. All suspicious comments opposed the project.
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After removing anonymous, duplicate, and apparently fake submissions, Open Road found that more than 78% of commenters overall — and about 58% within Morrow County — supported the project. Even in the affected townships, support was significant, contradicting claims of “overwhelming” opposition.
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Ohio law allows local governments to restrict renewables, and the siting board has increasingly deferred to township resolutions. Critics argue this turns state-level permitting into a “local popularity contest” vulnerable to misinformation.
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Clean energy advocates warn that attempts to manipulate the system could derail future projects statewide, even those that demonstrably serve economic, climate, and grid-reliability goals.
⚡️ The Takeaway
Flip-flop fumble. The fake comments may have originated from individuals using false identities or locations; while likely linked to a small group of anti-solar activists, they do not appear to be reflective of widespread sentiments among local residents. OPSB staff initially found the project to be in the public interest but later reversed that position, raising concerns about whether permitting decisions are being driven by project merits or manipulated sentiment. A ruling is expected by March 19, and we’ll be watching closely — it’s a decision that could shape future renewable energy approvals across Ohio. |
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Stars, Stripes, and Solar
A new national poll challenges the notion that Republican voters don’t like solar energy. Commissioned by First Solar, the survey finds that GOP voters — including Trump supporters — express clear support for utility-scale solar, especially when it’s framed around domestic manufacturing, energy independence, and lower power costs. The results come amid policy moves by Republican leaders that have constrained renewable energy deployment, creating a disconnect between voter sentiment and political action. Here are some fast facts:
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The poll sampled 800 “GOP+” voters — Republicans, Republican-leaning independents, and Trump voters — a group highly relevant to current federal and state energy policy debates.
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A majority (51%) favor utility-scale solar power, with opposition at roughly 30%, giving solar a more than 20-point advantage.
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Support for solar jumps dramatically to 70% — and opposition drops to just 19% — when respondents are told the panels are made in the U.S., use domestic materials, and have no ties to China.
⚡️ The Takeaway
MAGA-watts. The polling suggests that resistance to utility-scale solar among Republican voters is highly conditional. For U.S. clean energy developers, the implication is clear: successful projects and permitting strategies hinge on connecting projects to American manufacturing, energy independence, and affordability, while emphasizing domestic supply chains, job creation, and cost savings. Further, political risk may stem more from policy decisions than from voter opposition, offering developers a data-backed case for engaging conservative lawmakers and communities.
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Hot Stuff: A Super-Safe Nuclear Fuel
Decades ago, nuclear scientists dreamed up a fuel so safe that a meltdown would be nearly impossible: “‘tri-structural isotropic’ fuel, better known as TRISO.” These tiny, poppyseed-sized pellets encase enriched uranium in three layers of ceramic, trapping radioactive byproducts and letting reactors run at temperatures far hotter than conventional fuel could handle.
Back then, TRISO was too expensive for most plants, so it was largely shelved — but now it’s making a comeback thanks to a new wave of U.S. startups and government-backed projects.
What’s driving the revival? For one, TRISO is incredibly safe. Its ceramic coatings make meltdowns virtually impossible and allow reactors to operate at 1,200 to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, unlocking higher efficiency.
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To be clear, the fuel is still pricey — about twice the cost of conventional uranium — but new production lines and process improvements are expected to bring costs down as manufacturing scales up.
What’s most interesting, however, isn’t the price drop; it’s reliability under extreme conditions. For military bases, spacecraft, or high-temperature industrial processes, TRISO’s resilience makes it worth every penny.
For U.S. clean energy, TRISO’s comeback could be a game-changer. It offers a way to expand nuclear power into sectors that solar and wind can’t reach, strengthens domestic leadership in advanced nuclear tech, and opens the door for resilient, high-temperature microreactors that complement the broader clean energy mix — all while keeping safety front and center.
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Thanks for diving into the Developer Dispatch with us.
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Building American power requires a powerful team. |
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