Policy & regulation

Policy & regulation

Can federal tax credits help build the transmission needed to green the US grid?

President Biden and Democrats in Congress home in on support for hard-to-build transmission as a linchpin for meeting clean energy goals.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant . 22 April 2021
Energy efficiency

How to reduce winter grid peaks from behind the meter

Weatherization, heat pumps and flexible loads could prevent Texas-style disasters, cutting peaker-plant and in-home carbon emissions to boot.

By Jeff St. John . 21 April 2021
Climate crisis

IEA: Post-Covid carbon emissions on the rise

A reminder that carbon emissions must be decoupled from economic growth to yield persistent climate improvements.

By Jeff St. John . 20 April 2021
Policy & regulation

Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders introduce Green New Deal for affordable housing

The legislation aims to zero out carbon in affordable housing and reduce the energy burden for low-income households.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant . 19 April 2021
Grid edge

Can a new way to pay for behind-the-meter flexibility help prevent rolling blackouts in California?

Marin Clean Energy’s Demand FLEXmarket merges efficiency and demand response to capture the value of behind-the-meter resources. Could it be the start of a statewide trend?

By Jeff St. John . 19 April 2021
Electric vehicles

DOE commits $100M in grants to put electric trucks on the road

The SuperTruck program funds research and development, and road tests are planned for this fall. But more real-world proof — and much more charging infrastructure — is needed.

By Jeff St. John . 16 April 2021
Electric vehicles

How to get the US to 100% electric vehicles by 2035

A new study finds massive carbon, health and jobs benefits to fast EV rollout — if policies can align to make it happen.

By Jeff St. John . 15 April 2021
Clean energy

US now ‘halfway to zero’ on electricity-sector carbon emissions

An LBNL report highlights the technology and economic changes that broke through pessimistic forecasts — and the challenges of cutting the rest of the power sector’s carbon footprint.

By Jeff St. John . 13 April 2021
Solar

The battle over net metering 3.0 in California: Energy equity and the future of rooftop solar

Utilities and solar groups are fighting over the cost shift. But both agree the next stage in policy must bring low-income customers and fundamental grid needs into balance.

By Jeff St. John . 12 April 2021
Policy & regulation

Biden's tax plan goes after the little fossil fuel subsidies, but not the big ones

Direct subsidies don't amount to much.

By David Roberts . 9 April 2021