Energy Affordability Clash (Maryland): Maryland electricity bills rose 50.9% in five years, now 24% above the national average, as Gov. Wes Moore blames utility profiteering and data-center demand while critics argue decarbonization mandates are forcing heavy power imports and raising blackout fears by summer 2027. Climate Finance Push (Pacific): Cook Islands PM Mark Brown urged the Asian Development Bank to loosen climate-resilience funding and allow more flexible debt servicing for small, disaster-hit economies. Protest for Fossil-Fuel Exit (Europe): About 40,000 marched in Amsterdam demanding an end to fossil fuels and faster clean-energy transition. Grid Expansion Plan (US): The U.S. DOT floated leasing highway and rail land to speed power-line builds, aiming to cut costs and pressure lower rates. Climate Risk Recalibration (UK): King’s College London warns future disasters like cyclones and heatwaves could be worse than past estimates, citing how historical records can miss worst-case severity. Forest Governance Lesson (Ecuador): An Ecuador Amazon study found Indigenous territories can maintain forest health comparable to state-protected areas, even without formal conservation contracts. Renewables vs Farmland (Bulgaria): Bulgarian groups called for a temporary moratorium on solar and wind on agricultural land, warning local pastures could be lost. Data Centers Face Backlash (South Africa): Rights groups want reviews and a pause on new data centers over concerns about water, land, and electricity strain. Carbon Storage Shift (North America): Research finds lake carbon burial accelerated sharply after 1850, changing both the rate and consistency of long-term carbon storage. Rural Resilience Upgrade (PNG): PNG’s Madang rural hospitals and health centers received a K2 million boost for solar, batteries, water systems, and climate-resilient building upgrades.