Daily Digest for

Amazon is partnering with Energy Northwest and X-energy to develop the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, a planned SMR complex near Richland, Washington, using X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors with an initial phase of four SMRs (320 MW) and expansion potential to 12 units (960 MW). Construction is expected to start by the end of the decade with operations targeted in the 2030s, and Amazon has invested via its Climate Pledge Fund to support X-energy’s goal of delivering over 5 GW of new nuclear capacity to the U.S. grid by 2039.

Italian Undersecretary Giorgio Silli announced that Italy is finalizing a new Arctic strategic document to replace the 2015 policy, developed jointly by ministries, research bodies and institutions. The announcement was made at the First National Conference on the Arctic in Rome, stressing sovereignty of Arctic States, protection of indigenous peoples and biodiversity, scientific cooperation, and sustainable economic interests.

National Treasury published a consultation paper proposing reforms to modernise South Africa’s carbon credit market—covering legal recognition of credits, COAS registry upgrades, local certification, FSCA oversight, and classification as ‘unlisted securities’ to facilitate trading. Stakeholders can submit feedback via an online questionnaire by 1 December 2025; inquiries via Financial.Policy@treasury.gov.za or media@treasury.gov.za.

Eurostat published H1 2025 data showing the EU average household electricity price was €28.72 per 100 kWh, a -0.5% change from €28.87 in H2 2024, while taxes and levies increased to 27.6% of the bill. Germany recorded the highest household price (€38.35/100 kWh) and Hungary the lowest (€10.40/100 kWh); non-household prices fell slightly to €19.02/100 kWh.