Amazon has announced a major investment in three new renewable energy initiatives across Greece, boosting its commitment to sustainable energy sources. These projects bring the total number of power purchase agreements (PPAs) Amazon has signed in the country to eight, aligning with the company’s broader climate goals as part of its Climate Pledge initiative. The pledge includes achieving net-zero carbon emissions across all its operations by 2040.

The latest projects, with a combined capacity of 657 MW of carbon-free energy, are expected to power around 330,000 households in Greece. Thanasis Patsakas, Country Manager for Greece at Amazon Web Services (AWS), stated, “Amazon is dedicated to driving the transition to carbon-free energy not just for our operations, but for the communities where we serve our customers. We’re proud to have secured eight wind and solar energy deals in Greece, positioning Amazon as the top corporate buyer of renewable energy in both Greece and Europe by 2024.”

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Among the recent agreements are the Elzet solar farm and Menelou wind farm, both owned by Portugal’s Greenvolt. Located in Thessaly and Western Greece respectively, these projects are part of a broader strategy to bolster the region’s renewable energy capabilities. The Hellas Green solar farm, developed by Luxcara, adds to this momentum in Western Macedonia.

Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, praised Amazon’s ongoing investments in Greece, highlighting the importance of renewable energy sources for the country’s energy transition. “Greece holds a natural advantage in renewable energy, and Amazon’s continued investment is a catalyst for achieving our national energy goals,” Skylakakis noted. “Such initiatives not only provide environmental benefits but also create new jobs and offer affordable electricity to local households.”

Looking ahead, Amazon has also committed to additional projects, including the Vermi wind farm in Macedonia and wind farms in Peloponnese’s Mesokorfi and Koukouras areas, which are expected to begin operations in 2026.

In a move raising eyebrows across Washington, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to the federal payment system, which handles trillions of dollars in government funds annually, according to US media reports.

While DOGE is not an official agency but a team within the administration, sources suggest the group now has access to sensitive personal data of millions of Americans, raising concerns about privacy and oversight.

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The situation reportedly led to a standoff at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where two officials were placed on leave after resisting DOGE’s efforts to access critical government systems.

The White House and Treasury Department have yet to comment. Just days after President Donald Trump announced the formation of DOGE, the team has spread across federal agencies with the goal of slashing government spending.

Musk, who helped establish the team, has enlisted support from allies in Silicon Valley and his private companies. This has created turbulence at agencies like the Treasury Department and USAID—two entities Musk has criticized on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Musk called USAID “evil” and accused Treasury officials of “breaking the law every hour of every day,” further stoking controversy.

The Treasury division involved in these changes handles critical federal payments, including Social Security, government salaries, and money allocated by Congress—totaling nearly $6 trillion.

The controversy also extends to USAID, which distributes billions in aid. The agency’s website went offline, and its X account appears to have been deactivated. Reports claim DOGE members sought access to a classified facility, a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).

Meanwhile, the broader federal workforce faces changes under Trump’s administration. Executive orders have sparked confusion, with employees receiving instructions to report colleagues allegedly disguising diversity efforts and encouraged to take paid resignations, leading to unease.

In response, many agencies, including the CDC, have removed references to diversity and inclusion and LGBTQ+ content from their websites, resulting in broken links, including those on LGBTQ+ health and mpox vaccines. While supporters argue diversity programs address historical inequalities, critics claim they can create new forms of discrimination, intensifying the debate.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Dr. Nikodemos Damianos, is set to visit Athens on Monday evening for high-level discussions on digital governance with his Greek counterpart, Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, will focus on advancing digital transformation efforts and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Key Discussion Points

The agenda will include:

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• The interconnection of Cyprus’ “Digital Citizen” application with Greece’s “Gov.gr Wallet”, aims to enhance digital accessibility and cross-border interoperability.
• Joint initiatives in digital governance, with an emphasis on optimizing e-government services, sharing best practices, and leveraging innovative technologies to streamline public administration.

Additionally, officials from both countries will engage in a series of meetings to exchange expertise and explore new solutions for delivering high-quality digital public services. Special attention will be given to process simplification and system interoperability, ensuring smoother and more efficient digital experiences for citizens.