Extreme heat is disrupting more than just summer vacations. This week, we look at how climate change is forcing nuclear reactors in Europe offline, why heatwaves are delaying commercial flights, and how the International Energy Agency has once again underestimated the speed of the global EV transition. Plus, Laos takes a bold step by banning nearly all new gasoline and diesel car imports.

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• Heatwaves are forcing nuclear power plants across southeastern Europe to reduce output or shut down entirely as drought lowers river levels needed for cooling.
• Record heat is also disrupting air travel, with some aircraft forced to leave passengers behind because hot, thin air reduces lift.
• The International Energy Agency raises its global EV forecast, now expecting electric vehicles to account for 29% of worldwide new car sales this year.
• Emerging markets including India, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam and South Korea are driving the next wave of EV adoption.
• Laos bans imports of nearly all new gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles while expanding EV incentives and charging infrastructure.
• Wildfires continue to devastate parts of the northwestern United States.

• Australia reaches 500,000 home batteries and is installing roughly 2,000 more every day.
• Burying Austin's power lines would cost an estimated $50 billion.
• China's coal generation remains high, but electricity demand has grown even faster.
• 29 countries have now installed more than 10 GW of solar power.
• Solar supplied nearly 16% of Texas electricity in May.

The episode wraps up with a sobering look at what today's 1.4°C warmer world is already bringing—and why the decisions we make now will determine how much worse it becomes.

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Many countries are dealing with unprecidented wildfires this week. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Fire Weather author John Vaillant says entire countries could burn in the coming years as the world warms. Balcony solar finally arrives in the UK, making plug-in solar panels available to millions of apartment dwellers and renters. California's new $3,500 rebate program designed to help first-time EV buyers make the switch to electric. Plus, we look at a major upgrade to one of Europe's most important pumped hydro energy storage facilities.

• Brian and James catch up on wildfire smoke, summer travel, storm insurance claims, and the latest heatwaves across Europe.
• The UK legalizes plug-in balcony solar systems, opening rooftop-free solar to renters and apartment residents while paving the way for plug-in home batteries.
  https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/23/uk-households-free-install-plug-in-balcony-solar-panels
• July 2026 is becoming one of the worst wildfire months ever recorded. We discuss the fires sweeping Canada and Europe, hear from Fire Weather author John Vaillant, and explain how climate-driven "weather whiplash" is fueling larger and more destructive megafires.
• Watch CBC Vancouver's full John Vaillant interview on Patreon for free:
  https://patreon.com/cleanenergypod
• California launches its new "My First EV" program, offering a $3,500 rebate to first-time electric vehicle buyers after the end of the U.S. federal EV tax credit.
  https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/california-rebate-ev-buyers

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Brian broadcasts from Montreal while James holds down the fort as the Clean Energy Show dives into another week of climate and clean energy news. This episode explores Canada's worsening wildfire seasons, Honda's surprising new AI-powered electric lawnmower, Europe's struggle to adapt to deadly heatwaves, and why it's now cheaper to take an electric taxi in China than drive your own gas car. Plus, former NOAA scientists resurrect U.S. climate data after government cuts.

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In this episode:

• Brian reports from Montreal.
• Honda unveils a $33,000 autonomous electric commercial lawnmower.
• Why Canada's wildfire seasons are becoming larger and more destructive.
• The surprising truth about lightning vs. human-caused wildfires.
• Smoke from Canadian fires impacts air quality across North America.
• Europe's heatwaves expose a long-standing reluctance to embrace air conditioning.
• Alberta plans to end seasonal clock changes.
• Why electric taxis in China now undercut the cost of driving a paid-off gasoline car.
• Former NOAA scientists launch Climate.us after Climate.gov disappears.

The Lightning Round

• Ukrainian attacks cripple over half of Russia's oil refining capacity.
• Most Americans now connect extreme weather with climate change.
• China's grid batteries can shift 21% of its solar generation.
• CATL prepares mass production of sodium-ion batteries.

Contact Us

cleanenergyshow@gmail.com or leave us an online voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/clean

Support The Clean Energy Show

Join the Clean Club on our Patreon Page to receive perks for supporting the podcast and our planet!

Our PayPal Donate Page offers one-time or regular donations.

Store

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Copyright 2026 Sneeze Media.