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National Grid Renewables just brought South Dakota’s largest solar farm online in Pennington County.

Wild Springs is a 128-megawatt (MW) solar farm in the Southwest Power Pool, which manages the central US’s electric grid and wholesale power market. The solar farm has a 114 MW power purchase agreement with the utility Basin Electric Power Cooperative.

Wild Springs is expected to provide approximately $29.5 million in direct economic impact, including $12 million in new tax revenue, over the first 20 years of operations.

It will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of around 37,000 homes each year. Wild Springs will avoid 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – the equivalent of removing 42,000 cars from the road.

Additionally, in what National Grid Renewables says is “unique” to the company, the project will also contribute $500,000 in charitable giving to the local New Underwood school district over the first 20 years of operations. Jack Trullinger, the mayor of New Underwood, said that “the predicted tax revenue along with the generous charitable contribution to the school district is a very welcome bonus.”

Solar is fledgling in South Dakota and not expected to grow – according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the state has 268 MW of installed solar. It’s ranked 42nd among states for installed solar and is expected to drop to 47th place in the next five years. However, the Mount Rushmore State is a wind powerhouse – in 2022, wind provided 55% of South Dakota’s total in-state net generation, a larger share than in all other states except Iowa.

Overall, renewable resources provided about 84% of South Dakota’s in-state electricity net generation in 2022. The EIA points out that “South Dakota uses less total petroleum than all but two other states and the District of Columbia, but because of the state’s small population [900,000+], it uses more petroleum per capita than all but eight other states.”

Bismarck, North Dakota-based utility Basin Electric, which is purchasing Wild Springs’ solar power, went with the “all-of-the-above” line. Chris Baumgartner, Basin Electric’s senior vice president of member and external relations, said:

We are excited to add solar to our all-of-the-above generation portfolio which includes dispatchable resources such as coal and natural gas and non-dispatchable resources such as wind and now solar.

The Bismarck-based utility announced last month that it’s planning to build a multi-billion-dollar natural gas-fired power generation facility in North Dakota, which would become its largest power plant. North Dakota has an excess of natural gas as a byproduct of oil production.

Read more: Oxford sets a new world record for solar panel efficiency


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Nissan’s new LEAF EV was caught at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada

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Nissan's new LEAF EV was caught at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada

The next-gen LEAF is almost here, and it’s looking better than ever. This isn’t the electric hatch you are used to seeing. Nissan’s new LEAF EV has more range, a fresh crossover design, and yes, it can finally charge up at Tesla Superchargers with an NACS port. With the official reveal just around the corner, someone already spotted the new LEAF at a Tesla charger in Canada.

Nissan is launching the new LEAF in the US and Canada

A little over a week ago, we finally got our first look at the third-generation LEAF. Nissan’s iconic electric hatch has grown into a “sleek and spacious family-friendly crossover.”

The US and Canada will be the first to see the reimagined LEAF later this year. It will join the Ariya in Nissan’s North American EV lineup as it looks to spark growth in one of its most important markets.

Based on the CMF-EV platform, the same one underpinning the Ariya, Nissan promises the new LEAF will have “significant range improvements.” Although no other details were revealed, Nissan’s vehicle programs chief, Francois Bailly, told TopGear.com that it’s expected to have WLTP driving range of up to 373 miles (600 km).

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It will likely be lower on the EPA scale, but anything even close to 300 miles would be a major improvement over the current 212 EPA-estimated miles offered on the 2025 LEAF SV Plus.

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Nissan’s new LEAF EV (Source: Nissan)

The next-gen LEAF will also be Nissan’s first EV to feature an integrated NACS charging port. With its official debut later this year, the new model is out for testing and was just caught testing at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada.

Nissan’s next-gen LEAF charging at a Tesla Supercharger in Canada ahead of its debut (Source: KindelAuto)

If you didn’t know what vehicle it is, the LEAF is hardly recognizable. The new image from KindelAuto gives us a closer look at the new crossover design. It almost looks like a Tesla sitting in front of the charger.

The new LEAF is one of 10 new and refreshed Nissan vehicles set to launch in the US and Canada. It will arrive later this year, followed by the fourth-gen Rogue in 2026, which will be available as a PHEV for the first time.

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Nissan’s upcoming lineup for the US, including the new LEAF EV and “Adventure Focused” SUV (Source: Nissan)

Nissan also plans to build a new “adventure-focused SUV” at its Canton, Mississippi, plant in late 2027. The teaser shows what appears to be a rugged electric Xterra. We’ll have to wait for more details on that one.

Nissan will reveal additional info about the upcoming LEAF mid-year. Check back soon for more updates.

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Barcelona’s new electric commuter ferry runs for 21 hours on a single charge

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Barcelona's new electric commuter ferry runs for 21 hours on a single charge

The Port of Barcelona launched the Ecocat Tres, a highly efficient, all-electric commuter ferry powered by Molabo’s ARIES i50 electric motors.

Ecocat Tres is the latest zero-emission ferry in Bus Nàutic’s growing electric fleet, providing clean transportation between the Drassanes and Llevant wharves. In just its first three months, the Bus Nàutic service logged over 125,000 sustainable trips. Operated by ALSA and backed by the Port of Barcelona, the initiative offers locals and visitors an eco-friendly way to travel, cutting down on road congestion and air pollution in the bustling city.

Built by Spanish shipbuilder Metaltec Naval, Ecocat Tres is a 15-meter aluminum catamaran that carries up to 84 passengers. It even includes a rooftop deck, offering extra seating and a breezy ride across the port. The ferry runs every 15 to 30 minutes for at least 12 hours each day, with the entire trip taking about 10 minutes.

Under the deck are two powerful 48V Molabo ARIES i50 motors, enabling the electric ferry to hit a top speed of 12 knots. Cruising at its regular operational speed of 5 knots, Ecocat Tres can run efficiently for up to 21 hours on a single charge, making it highly reliable for daily commuters.

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Molabo’s motors have a low-voltage setup, which makes them safer to maintain compared to traditional high-voltage electric systems. Passengers also enjoy a smoother, quieter ride thanks to significantly reduced noise and vibrations onboard. Azimut Marine supplied the full propulsion and energy system, which includes two ARIES 50 kW electric drives, 36 batteries providing a total of 216 kWh, fast chargers, and integrated solar panels. Impressively, solar power alone can cover up to 40% of the ferry’s energy needs.

Ecocat Tres will cut around 90 tons of CO2 emissions each year, making a positive impact on Barcelona’s ambitious climate goals.

Port of Barcelona president José Antonio Carbonell said, “This 100% electric, zero-emission passenger ferry is helping us reshape mobility in the port and accelerate the decarbonization of our operations.”


To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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BYD’s new Qin L EV is off to a hot start with +10,000 sold in its first week

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BYD's new Qin L EV is off to a hot start with +10,000 sold in its first week

The stylish new electric sedan is the size of a Tesla Model 3, but it’s about half the cost at under $17,000. BYD’s Qin L EV is already off to a hot start, with over 10,000 sold in its first week on the market. Here’s a look at the new midsize model.

Meet BYD’s new Qin L EV

After launching the Qin L EV on March 24, BYD called it “the most attractive choice for young people in the era of intelligent driving.” Well, it’s already off to a good start.

The sleek new electric sedan starts at just 119,800 yuan, or roughly $16,500. That is nearly half the cost of a Tesla Model 3 in China, which starts at 235,500 yuan ($32,500).

At 4,720 mm long, 1,880 mm wide, 1,495 mm tall, and a wheelbase of 2,820 mm, the Qin L EV is a direct competitor to the Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,848 mm wide, and 1,442 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,875 mm) in China.

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After just a week on the market, BYD’s new EV already looks like a hit. The company announced it sold over 10,000 Qin L EVs in its first week.

It’s available with two BYD Blade battery packs, 46.08 kWh and 56.64 kWh, providing 470 km (292 miles) and 545 km (338 miles) CLTC range. BYD says it can also fast charge (30% to 80%) in 24 minutes.

The cheapest Model 3 (RWD) in China is rated with up to 634 km (394 miles) on the CLTC rating scale. For 275,500 yuan ($38,000), the Extended Range Model 3 offers up to 713 km (443 miles).

Like all of its new EVs, the Qin L is equipped with BYD’s “God’s Eye” smart driving tech, which includes functions like navigation on autopilot and remote-control parking.

The interior is based on BYD’s refreshed design with a 15.6″ floating infotainment, 12″ W-HUD, and 8.8″ driver display screens. It also includes its premium DiLink 100 smart cockpit system with voice control, 5G connectivity, integrated DeepSeek AI, and more.

Higher-end trims even include a built-in mini fridge that can heat and cool. However, even the most expensive model starts at just 139,800 yuan ($19,300).

Would you buy BYD’s Qin L EV for under $20,000? It looks like a steal. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

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