Climatetech finance

With scaled-back plans, green banks navigate Trump’s funding freeze

Green banks enabled $12.4 billion in hard-to-finance clean energy and climate projects in 2024 and 2025. But they had to scramble to make up for lost federal funds.

By Jeff St. John . 12 October 2026

A nun in a dark habit standing with arms outstretched by a solar panel on grass — Sister Judith Therese Barial of the Sisters of the Holy Family stands next to a community solar array built with green-bank financing. (Brett Duke/Together New Orleans)

Solar

North Carolina food bank gets microgrid backup for future storms

Marshall’s Beacon of Hope was spared during Hurricane Helene. Thanks to a state grant, solar panels and batteries make it even better prepared to help its community.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 1 October 2026
Batteries

Will New York's 1GW storage contracts finally break the state's big battery impasse?

The state stepped in with a market-based contract in hopes of jump-starting the big battery construction that has so far proved elusive.

By Julian Spector . 28 September 2026
Nuclear

With federal funding windfall, X-energy advances small nuclear reactor

The Amazon-backed firm is aiming to build up to 144 of its novel Xe-100 reactors as the U.S. government seeks to revitalize an industry beset by rising costs.

By Brian Martucci . 23 September 2026
Geothermal

Mazama Energy raises $135M for superhot geothermal at Oregon volcano

The startup hit a milestone last year when it drilled the world’s hottest next-gen geothermal well. Now it’s working to prove its tech can scale commercially.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 September 2026
Solar

Solar-plus-storage is having a global growth spurt

Investors spent a record amount in the first half of 2026 on projects that combine renewable energy — mostly solar — with batteries.

By Ysabelle Kempe . 4 September 2026
Geothermal

Geothermal has big potential. Here’s how states can help realize it.

Next-generation geothermal projects are underway in the U.S. West, but states will need more targeted policies for the industry to scale, a new report argues.

By Maria Gallucci . 18 August 2026
Batteries

In Puerto Rico, Trump admin backs big battery project but snubs solar

The Energy Department closed a $490 million loan to Pattern Energy for a 220-MW battery project in Puerto Rico, which could be tied to natural gas instead of solar.

By Maria Gallucci . 12 August 2026
Climatetech finance

Court rules against Trump EPA’s freeze of $20B in ‘green bank’ funds

A federal appeals court finds the EPA acted improperly in terminating grants to boost clean energy projects. The Trump administration may appeal to the Supreme Court.

By Jeff St. John . 4 August 2026
Nuclear

Microreactor startup Valar Atomics raises $1B

Valar, which has been called “the Trump administration’s favorite nuclear startup,” faces a steep path to realizing its vision — even with a giant funding round.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 4 August 2026
Geothermal

How to bring a geothermal well back from the dead

Startup Zanskar has created one of the most productive geothermal wells in the U.S. by squeezing more life out of a power plant that had been in decline for years.

By Molly Taft . 4 August 2026