Energy markets

Transmission

Prices just spiked in the biggest US power market. Blame the grid backlog.

PJM’s inability to get wind, solar, and batteries online will cause utility bills to rise for 65 million customers from the Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic.

By Jeff St. John . 6 August 2024

Liquefied natural gas

As Europe shifts to clean energy, does it still need so much US LNG?

Gas exporters point to Europe's energy demand to justify building more LNG terminals, but Europe's clean energy transition could change that calculus.

By Julian Spector . 28 March 2024
Liquefied natural gas

One big downside of LNG exports: Price swings for US gas consumers

The global gas trade has brought new volatility home to domestic markets — a factor the White House is considering as it reassesses the LNG buildout.

By Julian Spector . 6 March 2024
Energy storage

Texas will add more grid batteries than any other state in 2024

With cheap land and a competitive market irresistible to energy storage developers, the Lone Star State will even overtake California in battery deployments this year.

By Julian Spector . 26 February 2024
Liquefied natural gas

Does LNG really fight climate change? 5 common LNG claims, examined

The LNG industry frames itself as a tool of foreign policy and a climate solution. Canary Media digs into the details.

By Julian Spector . 20 February 2024
Batteries

Chart: The remarkable rise of California’s grid battery capacity

In 2020, California had 500 megawatts of grid battery storage. Now, just three years later, it has over 5,000 megawatts.

By Julian Spector, Maria Virginia Olano . 22 September 2023
Energy storage

Texas hooked up its first virtual power plants to help the grid

Select customers now have the power to participate in Texas energy markets with their own devices — and to get paid for doing so.

By Julian Spector . 31 August 2023
Energy storage

Tesla alum aims to build the power company of the future

Equilibrium Energy is live in Texas with an offering to rent grid batteries and make money with them in the ERCOT markets. But CEO Ryan Hanley says it's just the start.

By Julian Spector . 1 August 2023
Fossil fuels

Natural gas is the pillar of the US electric grid. It’s also unreliable

Pro-fossil groups argue gas is more reliable than clean energy. But in extreme cold, gas pipelines and power plants are failing to deliver when they're most needed.

By Jeff St. John . 5 July 2023
Politics

Clean energy dodges a bullet in the Texas legislature

Proposals to kneecap renewables and stick Texans with costly new gas power plants were removed from bills at the very end of the legislative session.

By Jeff St. John . 31 May 2023
Climatetech finance

Congruent raises new $300M climatetech fund despite market slowdown

Climatetech investment dropped 36 percent last quarter, but that didn't stop the early-stage investor from launching a new fund that nearly doubles its assets under management.

By Julian Spector . 19 April 2023