Today’s headlines: California EV sales rebound, utilities sign Trump’s data center pledge, and more

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• The oil and gas industry has known for decades that its wells were releasing far more planet-warming methane than companies publicly reported, according to documents identified by the Center for Climate Integrity. (New York Times)

• The world has found ways to adapt without oil from the Strait of Hormuz, but experts predict that fallout from a continued closure could be more severe as countries’ emergency stockpiles are close to depleted. (Grist)

• At a Tuesday meeting, the Trump administration’s coal advisory board urged the federal government to provide more financial support for the sector as EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin touts to the group that the administration has already fulfilled many items on the industry’s ​“wish list.” (Reuters, E&E News)

• Pushback to the Trump administration’s coal stay-open orders grows, with Wisconsin advocates saying the costs to utility customers could hit $117 million in coming years and a Colorado analysis estimating costs over $87 million. (Wisconsin Public Radio, Colorado Sun)

EMISSIONS

• Carbon dioxide emissions from the U.S. power sector rose by 4% in 2025 compared to the year prior, due to growth in electricity generation and coal use. (Utility Dive)

DATA CENTERS

• Utilities, including NextEra Energy and Duke Energy, join President Donald Trump’s pledge to limit the AI boom from driving up electric bills for other consumers. (Wall Street Journal)

• Data center developer Crusoe agrees to deploy ON.energy’s power-systems tech, which acts as a shock absorber to prevent computing facilities from destabilizing the grid as they quickly ramp up and down. (Latitude Media)

TRANSPORTATION

• California EV sales climbed between April and June after dropping to historic lows during the first quarter of 2026, with electric models accounting for nearly a fifth of all new vehicles sold in the second quarter. (E&E News)

• Electra plans to build an $850 million factory in Springfield, Ohio, to produce its nine-passenger hybrid-electric plane, although the aircraft has not yet flown. (Electrek)

UTILITIES

• JERA Co., which is planning to build a 500-MW plant powered by liquefied natural gas on Hawaiʻi’s Oʻahu, informs state regulators that it will try to create a new power utility to sell its electricity, threatening the monopoly utility that currently powers the island. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

NUCLEAR

• President Donald Trump approves a landmark deal with Saudi Arabia that would see the U.S. support the creation of a nuclear power program in the kingdom, although the agreement still requires a vote from Congress and could spark concerns about the spread of nuclear weapons. (NBC News)

STORAGE

• Maine announces plans to start competitive bidding to build out up to 360 MW of large-scale battery storage projects. (Maine Public)