Down to the Wire | Deep dives into complex energy issues

Hydrogen

The power used to make green hydrogen must be tracked down to the hour

Big fossil incumbents claim that hourly accounting for hydrogen tax credits is too complicated — but plenty of startups and nonprofits are already doing it today.

Hydrogen

Is cheap, clean hydrogen possible? The 'green hydrogen' battle, continued

Big oil and energy companies say strict rules for hydrogen tax credits could kill a nascent industry. Clean-energy advocates say that's dead wrong.

Hydrogen

The great 'green hydrogen' battle

Tens of billions in federal tax credits could build a vital low-carbon hydrogen industry — or increase carbon emissions. We tackle the complexities in a series.

Emissions reduction

Carbon credits could soon help fund distributed clean energy projects

Voluntary carbon offset markets are under fire. WattCarbon CEO McGee Young sees heat pump retrofits, demand response and community solar as a better target.

Solar

How will low-income Californians access home solar and batteries?

Pending changes to net metering could put solar and batteries further out of reach for low-income households, renters, schools and churches, advocates warn.

Solar

As California guts solar net metering, batteries emerge as a moneymaker

Rooftop solar alone will earn less under new California policy, but firms are developing programs to make it lucrative to add home batteries that help the grid.

Solar

What to expect from California’s new rooftop-solar plan? More batteries

California is about to dump its net-metering regime and adopt a new system that emphasizes home batteries. Here’s how companies are preparing.

Climatetech finance

What challenges will confront DOE loan program for energy retrofits?

It takes more than money to retool dirty energy infrastructure to be clean. Can utilities, regulators and communities agree on how to spend it?

Climatetech finance

How will DOE loan out $250B to make dirty energy systems clean?

A new Biden admin program can help replace coal plants with clean energy, switch gas pipelines to hydrogen, upgrade transmission, and more. Here are the wonky details.

Energy markets

Texas plan to stop next grid disaster could cost customers billions

A new report finds that a proposal to improve grid reliability could cost much more than alternatives and still fail to prevent winter blackouts.