Publish Date: April 7th, 2025
For many, the current news cycle has likely felt chaotic and challenging. It may be tempting to put your head in the sand and ignore the news. However, it’s been found that finding positivity is the key to thriving during adversity.
At Namaste Solar, we believe in facing reality head-on while choosing to celebrate progress, persistence, and people-powered change. That’s why we curate this ongoing series: Good Climate News. It’s a reminder that momentum is building, communities are innovating, and yes—climate victories are happening all around us.
So, if you’re ready to trade doomscrolling for a little hope-fueled scrolling, here’s what’s lighting us up in Q1 2025.
A Look Back
The Top Ten Climate Developments of 2024 – While this article is from December 2024, it’s worth looking at the biggest developments of the previous year before moving forward. From batteries to cheaper energy to China reaching its renewable energy goal early, there’s plenty of good climate news to celebrate in this piece.
Renewables Soar
Solar accounts for 81.5% of new electricity sources added to US grid in 2024 – Renewable energy sources accounted for more than 90% of new electrical generating capacity added in the United States in 2024 and solar alone accounted for over 81%. This is 50% more than the solar capacity added in 2023.
Renewables made up almost 100% off new generating capacity in January 2025 – While the data above is impressive for 2024, 2025 is pacing impressively as well. The combination of solar and wind accounted for more than 99% of new U.S. electrical generating capacity added in January. Solar alone accounted for over two-thirds of the new capacity. And January was the 17th month in a row in which solar was the largest source of new capacity. Now, that’s some good climate news!
Texas broke its solar, wind, and battery records in one spring week – In just the first week of March, the ERCOT power grid that supplies nearly all of Texas set records for most wind production (28,470 megawatts), most solar production (24,818 megawatts), and greatest battery discharge (4,833 megawatts). Only two years ago, the most batteries had ever injected into the EROCT grid at once was 766 megawatts. Now the battery fleet is providing nearly as much instantaneous power as Texas nuclear power plants, which contribute around 5,000 megawatts.
Florida is now a solar superpower, despite state leadership opposed to climate action – The Sunshine State built more large-scale solar than California last year and was again number two for residential, second only to Texas. The state’s solar surge is a result of weather – both good and bad – and policies at the state and federal level that have made panels cheaper and easier to build. While extremely abundant sunshine is a factor, so is the growing number of extreme storms which are helping Floridians to understand that not only is solar good for your pocketbook, it’s also good for your home’s resilience.
A Virginia offshore wind project that was blocked now gets the go ahead – The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy said canceling America’s biggest offshore wind project under construction, off the Virginia coast, no longer makes economic sense. If this project is allowed to be abandoned, ratepayers would pay the price.
U.S. is set to shatter grid battery records this year – The U.S. is set to plug over 18 gigawatts of new utility-scale energy storage capacity into the grid in 2025, up from 2024’s record-setting total of almost 11 GW. Should that pan out, the U.S. will have installed more grid batteries in 2025 alone than it had installed all-time as of 2023.
America’s clean-energy industry is growing despite Trump’s attacks – Despite the Trump administration’s wide-ranging attacks on renewables like wind and solar power, the clean-energy industry is on pace for record growth this year. The buildout of big solar and battery plants is expected to hit an all-time high in 2025, accounting for 81% of new power generation that companies will add to America’s electric grids. Including wind projects, the share of new power capacity that’s expected to come online this year from renewables and batteries jumps to 93%.
Costs Down, Savings Up
Colorado and Connecticut saved residents hundreds of thousands of dollars on their utility bills – In 2023, Colorado, Connecticut, and Maine passed the first comprehensive laws to prevent utilities from charging customers for lobbying, advertising, and other political influence activities. In this report from 2025, customers in these states have already saved hundreds of thousands of dollars after regulators began enforcing these laws.
Greener Living, Close to Home
Spring gardening in Colorado – With the arrival of spring, it makes sense if you’re impatient to get planting. While warm weather crops in Colorado will do best if you wait until Mother’s Day, you don’t have to wait to increase your knowledge. Find sustainable lawn alternatives, pest control, and how to make the most of your spring garden with this resource from Colorado Public Radio.
Orange County’s Smart Landfills Are Slashing Methane – From compost piles to methane-sensing robotic dogs, Orange County in California is reimagining landfill management to reduce pollution and benefit communities. This is a model for methane mitigation and community care.
Driving Toward a Clean Future
Norway reached a big electric vehicle milestone – 9 out of 10 cars sold in Norway are EVs. Government incentives and a commitment to charging stations have made Norway a world leader in electric vehicle use.
Heat pumps outsold gas furnaces by their biggest-ever margin in 2024 – These uber-efficient, emissions-free heating appliances have been gaining popularity. Americans bought 32% more air-source heat pumps than the next-most-popular heating appliance, gas furnaces, in 2024. That smashes 2023’s record-setting precedence 0f 21%.
Global Wins
Silvopasture in the Amazon may be the key to reducing deforestation – Silvopasture is the intentional integration of trees, grasses, and livestock. The Molinas, a family featured in this story, have farmed their land in the Amazon and raised dairy cows for meat and milk for centuries. Since adopting silvopasture, they’ve almost doubled the number of cows they raise per hectare, and the dairy cows have made more milk. That increase in productivity is why some climate researchers see this approach to farming as a key solution for reducing deforestation in South America.
Portugal becomes the first European country to ban deep sea mining – Portugal passed a law this month that places a moratorium on deep-sea mining until at least 2050, pending the signature of the country’s president. This is a “landmark decision” that sets Portugal apart from its European counterparts.
Join the Movement Today
While it’s no doubt that we are in precarious times, our actions do have an impact.
Here in Colorado, going solar isn’t just a feel-good move; it’s a powerful climate action. The average residential system offsets as much carbon as burning over 225,000 pounds of coal over its lifetime. That’s real impact, close to home.
So, if you’re ready to turn good news into bold action, we’re here to help. Our non-commissioned solar advisors will walk you through it; no pressure, just honest guidance. Let’s make your home or business part of the solution.
