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• California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to increase safety measures and oversight for artificial intelligence. • Newsom stated the action is necessary to regulate the rapidly advancing technology before it is too late.

• Senate Democrats blocked a vote on Thursday for the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan bill previously passed by the House with a 417–3 vote. • The legislation aims to prevent electricity cost increases for general consumers that are caused by the high energy demands of data centers.

• A federal court ruled on Thursday that the Department of Education cannot cut funding for teacher training programs based on the Trump administration's objections to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. • U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley blocked the administration's 2025 decision to slash $600 million in grants from the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development program.

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of 13 bills on Saturday, September 19, 2026, to prevent interference in California's midterm elections. • One specific measure prohibits the seizure of ballots, election records, or voting technology before an election is officially certified.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• A projection of the European Parliament's seat distribution across 27 member states was released as of September 18, 2026. • The data tracks current election trends and majorities for various political groups across the member nations.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.