1 A new green aluminum plant could bring jobs — and clean energy — to Kentucky
The coal-rich state wants to land the first new U.S. smelter in 45 years. But the deal won’t happen unless Kentucky can furnish lots of clean energy.
The startup made a big splash, then ran aground this summer. Its story has a lot to teach us about trying to geoengineer our way out of climate change.
After raising doubts, Cleveland-Cliffs says it’s still pursuing a federal $500M award. The flip-flop points to the challenges of cleaning up the steel industry.
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Fun stuff
Canary Live Bay Area: We’re back! Get your tickets today
Join the Bay Area's climate community in Berkeley on November 13 for an evening of expert insights, networking, and fun.By Canary Staff
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Air travel
Air Company raises $69M to convert CO2 into jet fuel
The market for sustainable aviation fuel is small but growing. Brooklyn-based startup Air Company intends to use its new funding to expand production of its SAF.By Aaron Mok
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Energy efficiency
One way to help the grid? Smarter air conditioning for big buildings
Startups like Parity use software to make building HVAC systems more energy efficient — and to shift power demand to help relieve utility grids during heatwaves.
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Research and white papers
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Download the latest intel from our partners
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Carbon-free buildings
Major Ohio cities aim to cut building emissions with voluntary program
A $10M Inflation Reduction Act grant will help Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton collaborate on new building performance standards. -
Green steel
Nippon Steel's troubled merger with U.S. Steel has climate problems too
It’s possible to produce steel in a more climate-friendly way, but neither company seems ready to adapt. -
Clean energy
Exowatt aims to repurpose old tech to deal with new AI power demand
The startup has an ambitious goal of providing cheap, around-the-clock clean power to data centers. Exowatt's plan? String together a bunch of old energy technologies.By Eric Wesoff
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Carbon-free buildings
Are solar water heaters worth it? Here’s what to consider.
New data from the IRS shows an uptick of interest in the appliances, which provide one pathway to cutting the carbon footprint of water heating.
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Videos
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Policy & regulation
Switching California from gas to electricity, one neighborhood at a time
Clean-energy advocates hope a bill awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature will jump-start projects that shut down gas pipelines and help homes and businesses go electric. -
Clean energy
Chart: Texas plans to build the most clean energy of any state
The state has more wind and large-scale solar than any other, and batteries are booming. The growth is set to continue — but its grid is still far from clean.By Dan McCarthy
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Clean energy
Virginia’s bold plan to turn old coal mines into clean data centers
Data Center Ridge is the first phase in a state-endorsed plan to advance test sites for solar, wind, pumped hydro, small nuclear, and other clean energy innovations. -
Clean energy
How $7.3B will help rural co-ops build clean power—and close coal plants
This Inflation Reduction Act program is offering 16 rural electric co-ops financing to overcome the up-front costs of shifting from dirty coal to clean power.
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Clean aluminum
Cans to car parts: Inside the complex, crucial world of aluminum recycling
Recycling aluminum involves a vast supply chain, from trash pickers to factories that melt scrap. It’s also crucial to slashing the metal’s carbon emissions. -
Virtual power plants
Here’s a blueprint for building virtual power plants in every state
Utilities could save billions by tapping customers’ solar systems, EVs, and electric appliances. These firms and advocates have a plan to make it happen. -
Policy & regulation
Massachusetts cities embrace voluntary green building codes
Since state lawmakers approved an optional stretch code early last year, 45 municipalities covering about 30% of the state’s population have adopted the guidelines. -
Virtual power plants
California could cut utility bills with distributed energy. Why isn’t it?
Rooftop solar, batteries, EVs, and smart thermostats could help rein in rising grid costs — if only California could pass policies to make it happen.
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The clean hydrogen paradox
The world needs to complement clean electricity with some other low-carbon energy. Can hydrogen fill the gap? Canary Media kicks off a special series.
By Dan McCarthy
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Clean aluminum
A new green aluminum plant could bring jobs — and clean energy — to Kentucky
The coal-rich state wants to land the first new U.S. smelter in 45 years. But the deal won’t happen unless Kentucky can furnish lots of clean energy. -
EV charging
NYC looks to kick its curbside EV-charging plans into second gear
The city won a $15M federal grant to build 600 curbside EV chargers throughout its streets. It’s part of a broader push to build 10,000 curbside chargers in NYC by 2030.By Carrie Klein
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Solar
US solar manufacturing capacity has quadrupled thanks to climate law
The Inflation Reduction Act has sparked a boom in domestic solar panel manufacturing, though the U.S. still depends on China for certain steps of the supply chain.By Eric Wesoff
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Carbon-free buildings
Colorado’s plan to cut carbon from big buildings gets a $20M boost
The state is one of many with rules that mandate emissions cuts for big buildings. New DOE funding will help Colorado’s disadvantaged communities meet those targets.
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Are solar water heaters worth it? Here’s what to consider.
New data from the IRS shows an uptick of interest in the appliances, which provide one pathway to cutting the carbon footprint of water heating.
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Fossil fuels
Chart: The UK is about to stop using coal to produce electricity
This month, the United Kingdom will shut down its last operational coal-fired power plant, a major milestone as the country’s CO2 emissions continue to plummet.By Dan McCarthy
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Utilities
California lawmakers punt on chances to deal with utility bill crisis
Wildfire mitigation and grid expansion are driving up utility bills in California. But plans to contain those costs failed to make it through the legislative gauntlet. -
Clean industry
Advocates push back on DOE-funded plan to make steel with plastic-based fuel
After a Pennsylvania business scored $182.6 million in loan guarantees for the project, environmentalists called for the DOE to change course. -
Electric vehicles
EV sales are growing. So why are automakers getting cold feet?
From Ford to Mercedes-Benz, major automakers are walking back aggressive electrification goals they set just a few years ago.By Tim Stevens
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Chart: Texas plans to build the most clean energy of any state
The state has more wind and large-scale solar than any other, and batteries are booming. The growth is set to continue — but its grid is still far from clean.
By Dan McCarthy
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Carbon-free buildings
Berkeley’s gas ban was blocked in court. Now a new plan has emerged.
In November, the California city will have a chance to institute a first-in-the-nation tax on using planet-warming natural gas in large buildings.By Akielly Hu
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Utilities
Duke Energy’s plans for more gas gain traction with former critics
North Carolina’s state ratepayers advocate and clean energy developers have endorsed the proposal, though some still have concerns. -
Clean fleets
The country’s biggest electric school-bus fleet will also feed the grid
San Francisco-based startup Zum wants to turn electric school-bus fleets into grid batteries. This 74-bus depot in Oakland is testing the idea at large scale. -
Clean energy
Nevada solar-plus-storage project gets green light to use public land
The installation, with 200MW of solar and 600MW of storage, comes as the Bureau of Land Management releases its plan to streamline solar development in the west. -
Solar
Chart: Solar power is shattering global records
A staggering 428 gigawatts of solar capacity was installed last year — more than in the previous two years combined. -
Policy & regulation
California electric bill relief plan would gut low-income energy programs
Advocates say a last-minute push to rein in utility bills would crush useful clean energy programs — and not help the state’s energy affordability crisis. -
Nuclear
Last Energy nabs $40M to realize vision of super-small nuclear reactors
The startup wants to mass-manufacture 20MW nuclear reactors that can be built and shipped within 24 months. It’s looking to get its first reactor online in Europe.By Eric Wesoff
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Electrification
3 ways to speed up home efficiency and electrification upgrades
Detroit-based energy-efficiency contractor Carla Walker-Miller sees huge potential for electrifying homes equitably. But it’s going to take work to break barriers. -
Virtual power plants
Xcel Minnesota looks to mimic power plants with solar and storage
The utility’s “virtual power plant” proposal taps an emerging model to replace retiring fossil fuel generation, but advocates say the devil is in the details.By Frank Jossi
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Clean energy
Solar and batteries are helping Texas weather heat waves. Here’s how.
Relentless heat has caused Texas to keep breaking electricity-demand records this summer. Good thing solar and batteries are breaking records, too.
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