The post Emerald Bluffs Solar Project Approved by PSC appeared first on RENEW Wisconsin.

A groundbreaking new radio image reveals the Milky Way in more detail than ever before, using low-frequency radio “colors” to map the galaxy’s hidden structures. The image is sharper, deeper, and wider than anything previously released, uncovering both star-forming regions and the remains of ancient stellar explosions. Scientists can now better distinguish where stars are being born versus where they’ve met dramatic ends. The discovery opens powerful new ways to study the life cycle of stars and the shape of our galaxy.

Astronomers have spotted a rare, rule-breaking quasar in the early Universe that appears to be growing its central black hole at an astonishing pace. Observations show the black hole is devouring matter far faster than theory says it should—about 13 times the usual “speed limit”—while simultaneously blasting out bright X-rays and launching a powerful radio jet. This surprising combination wasn’t supposed to happen, according to many models, and suggests scientists may be catching the black hole during a brief, unstable growth spurt.

Scientists are finding new ways to replace expensive, scarce platinum catalysts with something far more abundant: tungsten carbide. By carefully controlling how tungsten carbide’s atoms are arranged at extremely high temperatures, researchers discovered a specific form that can rival platinum in key chemical reactions, including turning carbon dioxide into useful fuels and chemicals. Even more promising, the same material proved dramatically better at breaking down plastic waste, outperforming platinum by more than tenfold.

Giant kangaroos that lived during the Ice Age may not have been as slow and grounded as once believed. A new study finds their leg bones and tendons were likely strong enough to support hopping, despite their massive size. Rather than traveling this way all the time, these animals may have relied on short bursts of hopping. This ability could have played a key role in escaping predators.

Chemotherapy’s gut damage turns out to have a surprising upside. By changing nutrient availability in the intestine, it alters gut bacteria and increases levels of a microbial molecule that travels to the bone marrow. This signal reshapes immune cell production, strengthening anti-cancer defenses and making metastatic sites harder for tumors to colonize. Patient data suggest this immune rewiring is linked to better survival.

New research suggests that auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia may come from a brain glitch that confuses inner thoughts for external voices. Normally, the brain predicts the sound of its own inner speech and tones down its response. But in people hearing voices, brain activity ramps up instead, as if the voice belongs to someone else. The discovery could help scientists develop early warning signs for psychosis.

In Guatemala’s Western Highlands, researchers found that the drinking water people trust most may actually be the riskiest. Bottled water from refillable jugs—seen as the safest choice—was frequently contaminated with harmful bacteria, while protected municipal wells were the cleanest.

Rare rocks buried deep in central Australia have revealed how a valuable niobium deposit formed during the breakup of an ancient supercontinent. More than 800 million years ago, tectonic rifting opened pathways that allowed metal-rich magma to rise from the mantle. These unusual rocks contain niobium, a key ingredient in high-strength steel, electric vehicles, and emerging energy technologies. The discovery offers fresh insight into how some of Earth’s most important mineral resources reach the surface.

Alzheimer’s may be driven far more by genetics than previously thought, with one gene playing an outsized role. Researchers found that up to nine in ten cases could be linked to the APOE gene — even including a common version once considered neutral. The discovery reshapes how scientists think about risk and prevention. It also highlights a major opportunity for new treatments aimed at a single biological pathway.

A rare fossil discovery in Ethiopia has pushed the known range of Paranthropus hundreds of miles farther north than ever before. The 2.6-million-year-old jaw suggests this ancient relative of humans was surprisingly adaptable, not a narrow specialist as once believed. Instead of being outmatched by early humans, Paranthropus appears to have been just as widespread and resilient. The find forces scientists to rethink how early human relatives lived—and competed.

Europa’s subsurface ocean might be getting fed after all. Scientists found that salty, nutrient-rich surface ice can become heavy enough to break free and sink through Europa’s icy shell, delivering essential ingredients to the ocean below. The process is fast, repeatable, and works under many conditions. It offers a promising new explanation for how Europa could support life.

Mercedes might have eased back on its electric goals in the face of slowing global demand, but it still has plenty of hugely important EVs on the way. And this is one of them, the first ever electric C-Class, which debuts later this year.

If Mercedes sticks to current naming convention it’ll be saddled with the clunky C-Class with EQ Technology name, something we’re familiar with from models like the new GLC with EQ Technology, which made its global debut at the Munich Motor Show last September.

Related: Mercedes Refuses To Let Its Luxury Electric Sedan Die Just Yet

And that’s not all the new zero emissions sedan shares with the electric GLC. Both ride on Mercedes’ new MB.EA platform, while the smaller CLA sedan uses a different MMA architecture.

The C-class – which will be sold alongside an updated version of today’s combustion C-Class – also adopts the large, illuminated, traditional-look Mercedes grille that the GLC debuted, and which is expected to be rolled out across multiple model lines in the next couple of years.

450+ mile range

SH Proshots

Based on what we know of the GLC EQ, the electric C-Class will get 800-volt electrics, and the C400 version should have a 483 hp (489 PS / 360 kW) dual-motor drivetrain that gets it to 60 mph (97 kmh) in well under 5 seconds.

It could also get the same 94 kWh lithium-ion battery pack as the SUV, and if that’s the case, expect the lower, lighter sedan to improve on the GLC’s already excellent 443-mile (713 km) range.

Pillar-to-pillar screens

Glimpses of the C’s interior in previous spy shot hauls indicate that it’ll feature the same 39.1 inches (99.3 cm) MBUX Hyperscreen display that stretches right across the dashboard.

That’ll give the C-Class a very different interior ambience to its electric BMW i3 sedan rival, which is also schedule to debut this fall, but is believed to feature minimal conventional dashboard screens, favoring head-up displays instead.

The i3’s Neue Klasse exterior should mean the BMW feels more modern on the outside, too, though it could prove too futuristic for some fans who like the way the current 3-series looks.

One thing’s for sure, and it’s that electric sedan buyers are going to be spoiled for choice come 2027 when both cars land in dealerships. Which would you pick?

SH Proshots

After years of leading the national shift toward electric vehicles, California may be approaching an inflection point. For the first time since the pandemic, EV sales in the state are expected to dip in 2025, even as several other states report a sharp rise in adoption.

Read: California Has A New Way To Make EV Owners Pay

Data from JATO Dynamics shows that during the first nine months of 2025, before the federal EV tax credit ended, roughly 302,000 electric vehicles were sold in California. That figure represents a 1.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year, hinting that the state’s EV market could be nearing saturation.

We don’t have figures for the last quarter of the year, but given the elimination of the $7,500 federal tax credit on September 30, it’s safe to assume the final numbers will look worse, unless buyers suddenly developed a taste for paying more.

Despite this, California remains well ahead of the pack. EVs now account for 21 percent of new vehicle sales in the state, placing it above the District of Columbia (19 percent), Colorado (19 percent), Washington (17 percent), Nevada (16 percent), and Oregon (13 percent).

ZEV States Surge

Several of these ZEV states saw marked gains last year. For example, New York’s EV sales rose 21.1 percent in the first three quarters, while Colorado posted a 30.1 percent increase. On average, EVs make up 13 percent of new car sales in ZEV states. In contrast, non-ZEV states average just 6 percent, contributing to a national average of 8 percent.

EV sales also rose sharply in many non-ZEV states during the same period. Florida, in particular, recorded an impressive 33 percent jump between January and September 2025, reaching 109,000 units, which now represent 9 percent of new vehicle sales.

That jump in Florida is notable not only for its scale, but also because it comes without the backing of ZEV mandates or aggressive state-level incentives. In a politically conservative state where environmental policy isn’t front and center, the increase suggests that consumer demand, not legislation, is doing the heavy lifting.

Texas followed with a 16.7 percent rise to 77,000 units. Illinois saw a 36.2 percent increase, reaching 32,000. Georgia posted a 23.3 percent bump to 28,000, while Michigan led in growth rate, soaring 90.7 percent to 31,000 EVs sold.

“The rapid uptake in BEV sales in Michigan is a clear example of why growth in traditionally non-ZEV states presents such a valuable opportunity for domestic brands,” JATO analysis and reporting specialist Anthony Puhl said.

“While it is possible for a brand to break into a new market, as Tesla has done on a national level, we expect BEV sales in other states to come from brands with which the population is already familiar.”

One of the key hurdles for EV adoption in non-ZEV states remains charging infrastructure. In ZEV states, there’s approximately one public charging point for every 880 people. In non-ZEV states, that number jumps significantly to one for every 2,216 people, highlighting a critical gap in support systems for EV owners.

Breaking into the electric performance space is a delicate task for a brand like BMW M, which has spent decades building its reputation on combustion-powered icons. But that’s exactly what it’s attempting with the Neue Klasse-based electric M3, or, as it may end up being called, the i3M.

The upcoming high-performance EV won’t replace the traditional ICE-powered model, though. Instead, it’s designed to sit alongside it, borrowing cues from BMW M’s most celebrated models to bridge the old and the new. Or at least that’s the promise.

Read: BMW’s Electric M3 Tries To Simulate Everything It Just Replaced

BMW M released the latest chapter in its video series detailing the development of the new super sedan, previewing the distinctive soundscape it plans to offer. Taking a page from Hyundai N’s playbook, BMW aims to replicate the sounds of some of its most iconic models, blending them with the unique tone of a high-performance EV.

Chasing the Sound of the Past

Rather than relying solely on software to mimic engine sounds, BMW assembled an M3 GTS with a 4.4-liter V8, an M4 GTS with its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six, and a classic BMW M6 featuring the brand’s iconic 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10. Their engine notes were recorded on a dyno, then layered into the soundtrack of the electric prototype.

The clip only demonstrates the soundtrack of the electric M3 for a brief moment while being put through its paces on BMW’s test track. As the driver hits the throttle, it begins to sound like a turbocharged engine building boost as the revs climb. There are also some notable turbo whistles, mixed in together with some of the high-pitched whine expected of an EV.

Performance to Match the Drama

Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N, BMW’s electric M3 will also include simulated gear shifts to match the synthetic engine notes. For drivers who prefer their EV experience unfiltered, these features are expected to be optional and easily switched off.

Of course, the electric M3 will need to be more than just good-looking to convince shoppers. BMW has confirmed it’ll be fitted with four electric motors and a 100 kWh battery pack that’s up to the task of track use.

While BMW hasn’t revealed any final power figures, we know that each wheel will be controlled individually, allowing for advanced torque vectoring for better performance and handling. There will also be an optional rear-wheel drive-only mode.

Volkswagen’s ID.4 electric SUV is getting a new suit and a new name to go with it. A report out this week suggests the ID.4 will soon be rebadged as the ID. Tiguan, confirming what we suspected in a recent spy shot story.

Also: VW’s ID. Polo Interior Brings Back Something You Thought Was Gone For Good

The name change will arrive alongside a comprehensive facelift later this year, according to Auto News. Their nformation reportedly came from the IG Metall labor union during a press conference in Germany, which is about as official as things get without VW actually saying anything. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen declined to comment.

Baldauf

This move fits perfectly with VW’s recent decision to abandon cold numeric names in favor of familiar badges. It was recently confirmed that the production version of the ID.2all hatch concept will be called ID. Polo when it arrives in European dealerships this year, and don’t be surprised if the ID.Every1 concept turns into an ID. Up.

We’ve already seen what the ID. Tiguan looks like in prototype form. Our spy shots revealed a heavily revised exterior with new doors, redesigned lights, fresh bumpers, and a reworked rear hatch. The shape remains familiar, but the surfacing is sharper and more upright, bringing it closer to the combustion Tiguan and the upcoming ID Cross.

Rediscovering Buttons

The changes are more than skin deep. Inside, Volkswagen appears ready to undo some of its recent interior mistakes. Physical buttons are expected to return, including a proper volume knob, along with better materials and a cleaner dashboard layout.

The touchscreen and digital cluster should grow in size, while updated software promises a smarter voice assistant that hopefully listens this time. The result should look something like the interior of the new ID. Polo, shown below.

Battery Upgrade

Underneath, the facelifted ID. Tiguan is expected to ride on a revised MEB plus platform. That likely means newer battery cells, including LFP chemistry in some versions, improving efficiency and potentially boosting real-world range. Don’t expect a voltage upgrade though, as it will stick with 400-volt architecture and modest charging speeds.

Performance updates should be mild, since VW already boosted the base single-motor version in 2024 to 282 hp (286 PS/ 210 kW), though dual-motor versions could get a lift to help them regain their advantage over rear-drive models. The focus overall though, will be on usability, refinement, and making the electric Tiguan feel like a natural alternative to the combustion SUV carrying the same name.

Production of the new ID. Tiguan will continue in Emden, Germany, through 2031, Auto News reports, suggesting VW sees plenty of life left in this model. And that makes sense, since the ID.4 was one of only two models that grew, rather than lost, sales in the US last year.

Baldauf

Natural gas daily spot prices at the benchmark Henry Hub rose sharply over the past week, reaching nearly $8.15 per million British thermal units on January 22 as colder weather increased demand for space heating across the country. Higher wholesale natural gas prices generally contribute to higher wholesale electricity prices.

(The Center Square) – A bill that would incentivize nuclear energy by providing credits and allowing companies to charge customers for developing the nuclear energy in Wisconsin passed the Assembly with an 86-11 vote despite opposition from multiple groups.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers does not plan to sign a bill currently in the Senate that would prevent individuals who were identified as male at birth from competing on women’s athletic teams in the University of…

(The Center Square) – People in Wisconsin didn’t let higher prices or higher interest rates stop them from buying a home last year.