European Parliament: Election Trend & seat projection 2026

• China has established dominant control over the global home battery market by securing the production of cells, raw materials, and energy sources. • The country achieved this position by prioritizing long-term strategic planning over the short-term quarterly financial goals common in other markets.

• A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Friday that the Trump administration illegally terminated the Solar for All program. • The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the $7 billion in funds in August, which were intended to provide solar power to over 900,000 lower-income Americans.

• China's clean power expanded fast enough in 2025 to meet a 5% rise in electricity demand. • Thermal generation, which is mostly coal-based, fell by 0.7% according to Ember’s China Energy Transition Review 2026.

• The Australian government has put a $25 million solar panel recycling scheme announced in January on hold. • The Australian Council of Recycling reports it has received no clarity regarding the nature of the complaint that caused the program delay.

• The Europe thin-film photovoltaic market, which uses thin layers of semiconductor material to capture sunlight, is projected to grow through 2029. • MarketsandMarkets valued the market at $1,154.1 million in 2024 and forecasts it will reach $2,405.9 million by 2029.

• California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to increase oversight and limit the growth of artificial intelligence. • The order considers requiring frontier AI companies to develop emergency "kill switches" and hire independent third parties to write safety plans.

• California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to regulate artificial intelligence to address safety and ethical concerns. • The move comes as Congress appears unlikely to pass meaningful AI legislation before the 2026 midterm elections.

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2281 into law to protect California's election infrastructure from potential federal interference. • The law requires the Secretary of State to determine if more state resources are needed to replace cybersecurity tools previously provided by the federal government.

• Congress is asserting its full constitutional authority to prosecute noncitizens who vote in elections. • Federal prosecutors are defeating legal defenses based on states' rights to determine voter eligibility.

• California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to strengthen the state's artificial intelligence safety and security laws. • A group of experts must create a formal guide for these safety improvements within the next two months.

• Diesel prices in the United States reached an all-time average high of just over $6.44 per gallon. • The American Automobile Association reported this record price increase for diesel fuel.