Emily Flippen: Oil remains cheap, but politics are increasingly loud. We're breaking down the energy-related headlines investors may have missed and what 2026 can look like from here today on Motley Fool Money. Today is Tuesday, December 30th. Welcome to Motley Fool Money. I'm your host, Emily Flippen, and today I'm joined by full analysts Jason Hall and Keith Speights to dig into the latest energy headlines, including the oversupply of oil, a pause, and offshore wind energy projects, and how energy investo ...

Core Insights - Pivot Energy and Tapestry, Inc. have completed three community solar projects in Illinois, totaling 13.475 megawatts (MWac) of renewable energy capacity, marking a significant milestone in their partnership [1][2] Project Details - The three solar projects are located in Peoria, Dover, and Ottawa, and are part of a 15-year agreement where Tapestry will purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by these projects [2] - The projects are expected to produce over 23,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually, enough to power approximately 2,500 households in Illinois [2] - Two additional solar projects are planned to be completed by 2030, expanding the total capacity of Pivot's community solar initiatives in Illinois [2] Community Impact - Pivot Energy plans to invest over $115,000 in local initiatives across the five projects, with nearly $65,000 already donated to Illinois Central College and HIRE360 for workforce training programs [3] - The contributions aim to enhance access to solar careers, particularly for underrepresented groups [6] Corporate Sustainability Efforts - Tapestry's investment in the solar projects aligns with its commitment to sustainability, having achieved 100% renewable electricity across its global operations by December 2025 [4] - The partnership with Pivot Energy supports Tapestry's goal of integrating sustainability into its operations and contributes to a low-carbon future [5] Quotes from Leadership - Pivot Energy's Vice President of Development emphasized the importance of advancing renewable energy solutions while supporting local communities [5] - Tapestry's Global Head of ESG & Sustainability highlighted the collaboration's role in achieving the company's renewable energy goals and its commitment to measurable environmental impact [5]

Group 1 - Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. plans to redeem all outstanding Class A Preferred Limited Partnership Units, Series 7, for cash on January 31, 2026, at a redemption price of C$25.00 per unit, totaling C$175 million funded from available liquidity [1] - Holders of Series 7 Preferred Units as of January 15, 2026, will receive a final quarterly distribution of C$0.34375 per unit [1] Group 2 - Brookfield Renewable operates one of the largest publicly traded platforms for renewable power, with a diverse portfolio including hydroelectric, wind, solar, and storage facilities, as well as investments in nuclear services and carbon capture [2] - The company is part of Brookfield Asset Management, which manages over $1 trillion in assets [4]

Economic Environment - Economic uncertainty, easing interest rates, and increasing geopolitical tensions are key concerns for investors heading into the new year, prompting a focus on investment strategies that deliver steady income rather than cyclical upside [1] - Dividend-paying stocks, especially those yielding over 5%, are essential for building strong portfolios that balance income generation with long-term wealth creation, acting as a hedge against economic uncertainty [2] Investment Opportunities - Dependable income opportunities are found in core infrastructure businesses such as utilities, telecom, and pipelines, which are essential services with predictable demand, largely shielded from economic fluctuations [3] - These companies have resilient business models that allow them to generate steady operating cash flows and sustain dividend payouts across economic cycles [4] Company Highlights - Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (PAGP) is a holding company for Plains All American Pipeline, involved in the transportation, storage, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas liquids in the U.S. and Canada, with a disciplined investment strategy [6][7] - PAGP pays a quarterly dividend of 38 cents ($1.52 annualized) per share, yielding 8.09% at the current stock price, with a five-year dividend growth rate of 20.2% [8] - The AES Corporation (AES) is a global energy company investing in renewable energy solutions, with a 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2.65-$2.85 billion and plans to pay over $500 million in dividends [9][10] - AES pays a quarterly dividend of 17.59 cents (70 cents annualized) per share, yielding 5% at the current stock price, with a payout ratio of 34% and a five-year dividend growth rate of 4.3% [12] - Telefónica, S.A. (TEF) has launched a five-year strategy, Transform & Grow, targeting sustainable growth and operational evolution, with financial goals including €2.3 billion in savings by 2028 [13][14] - TEF has a dividend of €0.30 per share for 2025 and plans to allocate 40-60% of free cash flow to dividends for 2027-2028, with a current yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio of 76% [15]

Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension - Photomontage Photomontage of the Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boralex inc. (“Boralex” or the “Company”) (TSX: BLX) welcomes Scottish Ministers’ approval of its plans for Clashindarroch Wind Farm Extension near Dufftown in Moray. The approved project, located west of the operational Clashindarroch Wind Farm, will consist of up to 21 wind turbines and a 50-megawatt battery storage facility, contributing ...

Independent power producer Enery has obtained a green financing package from the DSK Bank for the construction and operation of its battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Nova Zagora, Bulgaria. This transaction is said to be one of the nation’s advanced energy storage financing deals, reinforcing Bulgaria’s shift towards a more flexible energy system powered by renewables. The commissioning of the standalone BESS facility, which will have a capacity of 150MW/600MWh, is planned for March 2026. ...

DENVER, Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pivot Energy ("Pivot"), a leading national renewable energy provider and independent power producer, today announced three important financing agreements totaling $225 million, showcasing the company's continued momentum and commitment to scaling renewable energy production and distributed generation solar. The financing includes: This announcement follows Pivot's $450 million debt warehouse facility secured last year, which was led by First Citizens and ATLAS and ranks ...

Core Insights - The solar industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by decreasing costs and increased demand, particularly in China, the US, India, and Brazil [3][6][10] - Renewables have overtaken coal in power generation for the first time, with solar, wind, and hydropower accounting for 34% of generation compared to coal's 31% [10][11] - The global power industry saw a decline in the number of deals but an increase in total deal value, particularly in North America [26][27] Group 1: Solar Industry Developments - Solar module prices have decreased, with average project costs dropping 81% since 2010 and expected to fall another 21% in the next five years [1] - The solar supply chain is currently oversupplied, with production capabilities nearly double the demand for polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules [2] - GlobalData projects that global solar capacity will reach nearly 3 terawatts (TW) by the end of 2025 and exceed 8 TW within the next decade [6] Group 2: Renewable Energy Trends - Renewables accounted for nearly half of the cumulative capacity mix this year, with solar PV contributing 64.1% and wind 16.4% [4] - Despite challenges, renewables continue to expand due to entrenched economics and supportive policies, with long-term frameworks like the US Inflation Reduction Act and EU Green Deal fostering project pipelines [11] - Coal remains a significant source of electricity, projected to contribute 85% of South Africa's power mix in 2025, highlighting the uneven pace of the transition [14] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Employment - The global power industry recorded 16% fewer deals in 2025 compared to 2024, but total deal value surged by 15%, with North America leading in both deal count and value [26][27] - Employment in the power sector saw dramatic fluctuations, peaking in Q1 and declining through Q4 due to various pressures, including regulatory changes and weather conditions [33][36] - Job postings related to tariffs increased by 657%, reflecting the impact of US trade policies on the energy market [37]

TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) has delivered a story of extremes over the past decade. The French energy giant navigated a devastating pandemic crash, rode the 2022 energy crisis to record profits, and now finds itself in a post-boom cooldown while attempting a gradual pivot toward renewable energy. For dividend investors, the question is whether that 5.92% yield remains sustainable as fossil fuel markets normalize. From Crisis to Boom and Back Again The past ten years split into distinct chapters for TotalEnerg ...

Core Insights - Scatec has formed an equity partnership with Norfund and EDF power solutions for the Obelisk project in Egypt, which combines solar and battery energy storage [1][2] - The project will generate over 3,000 GWh of electricity annually, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions [3][4] Investment Details - Norfund's Climate Investment Fund has committed Nkr400 million ($39.55 million) to the Obelisk project, acquiring a 25% stake in the holding company [2] - Scatec retains a 75% stake in the holding company, while EDF power solutions will hold a 20% interest in the operating company [2][3] Project Specifications - The Obelisk project features 1.1 GW of solar capacity paired with a 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system [1] - The project aims to support Egypt's increasing power demand and energy transition [5] Environmental Impact - The project is expected to prevent approximately 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, equivalent to about 3% of Norway's total yearly emissions [3][4]