Thursday, 17 September 2026

More than 30 organisations have joined forces to launch Electrify Australia, an alliance pushing to accelerate electrification across homes, businesses, transport, farms and industry, according to RenewEconomy.

The alliance is aimed at broadening the reach of electric technologies beyond the power sector. RenewEconomy reports that electricity accounts for around 21% of the energy consumed in Australia, leaving the majority of end-use demand still met by other fuels.

The Sierra Club came out against H.R. 8330, a bill scheduled for markup by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee that would shield fossil fuel companies from laws or lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis and related disasters, according to CleanTechnica.

CleanTechnica reported the advocacy group's opposition as strong. The measure, as described in the committee notice cited by CleanTechnica, would extend legal immunity to fossil fuel companies against climate-related claims.

Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) is pressing ahead with plans to extend two thermal coal mines through 2045, according to IEEFA, which warns the state government against yielding to the operator's terms.

Responding to a query from the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), HVO warned that any change to its long-term plans would amount to rejection of its applications and closure of its HVO North and South mines, IEEFA reported.

IEEFA argues the 19-year extension case rests on withstanding coal price cycles but ignores the structural decline of the thermal coal market and the prospect of rising emissions-reduction costs. The specialist research group frames the proposal as carrying potential costs to the local community and the state government.

On community exposure, IEEFA cautions that uneconomic mines tend to close or be mothballed, producing material local impacts when no exit plan is in place.

Great British Energy opened GBP 30 million in funding for local and community-led clean power schemes, part of a planned envelope of up to GBP 1 billion that the UK government has said should back more than 1,000 projects across the country.

Councils and community energy groups can now advance their own generation plans, including solar, wind and hydro projects.

The government will publish further details in the Autumn on arrangements to give community energy groups an ownership stake in renewable projects, directing financial returns to local areas.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony on the Energy Efficiency Reform Act, legislation that would make it harder for the Department of Energy to update efficiency standards for home appliances including dishwashers, washing machines and boilers, according to Inside Climate News.

Inside Climate News reported the bill would add procedural steps to the approval of any new efficiency standard and convert the Department of Energy's periodic reviews of product standards into a voluntary exercise.

Beyond blocking future rules, the legislation would also open a path for the department to weaken existing efficiency mandates, per the same report.

Inside Climate News reported that the measure would codify the process changes in statute, making them harder for a future presidential administration to reverse.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 5109, the TWIC Efficiency (TWICE) Act, according to Offshore Engineer OEDigital.

National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito said the measure would create a clearer pathway for eligible individuals to obtain the credentials needed to work in the maritime and offshore energy industries.

NOIA applauded the House for advancing the bill and said it looked forward to continued progress in the Senate, per Offshore Engineer OEDigital.

Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, was in Houston, Texas from September 14 to 16, 2026 for the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Meeting, Natural Resources Canada said.

Talks at the ministerial covered energy security, affordability, investment and innovation, with Hogan positioning Canada as a global energy supplier alongside other energy ministers.

On the sidelines, Hogan held bilateral meetings with counterparts from the European Union, India, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, framed around trade diversification and bilateral trade and investment.

Hogan also sat down with business leaders in Houston to pitch Canada as an investment destination.