Policy & regulation

Data centers

Trump’s plan to make data centers pay for power plants has big flaws

Mid-Atlantic governors joined the White House to push grid operator PJM to make tech giants pay for new "baseload" power. But experts are skeptical.

By Jeff St. John . 16 January 2026
Data centers

Disputes over clean energy may doom Wisconsin data center bills

Democrats and Republicans want safeguards against rising power costs. But clashing visions for how data centers should use renewables stand in the way.

By Kari Lydersen . 16 January 2026
Clean energy

22GW of renewables thwarted or in limbo under Trump ‘blockade’

An Interior Department memo is hampering wind and solar on public lands. It’s one of many federal actions slowing the build-out of cheap, clean energy.

By Maria Gallucci . 16 January 2026
Energy efficiency

Cuts to manufactured-home efficiency rules would hit Southeast hard

A U.S. House vote to repeal new efficiency standards for manufactured housing is a blow to a region where such homes are common and energy burdens are high.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 14 January 2026
Offshore wind

Judge blocks Trump’s latest pause on a major offshore wind farm

The ruling allows Ørsted to resume work on its Revolution Wind project near Rhode Island after the Trump administration’s “unreasonable” suspension order.

By Maria Gallucci, Dan McCarthy . 13 January 2026
Fossil fuels

What a fracking-waste dispute says about Ohio’s energy double standard

Ohio is letting the oil and gas industry put more toxic waste underground despite community concerns — even as the state defers to local opponents of clean energy.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 13 January 2026
Clean energy

Trump’s DOJ turns its attention to local gas bans

The federal government is suing two San Francisco Bay Area cities over their right to bar gas in new buildings. Critics say the case’s legal argument is flimsy.

By Alison F. Takemura . 13 January 2026
Clean energy

Clean energy will take center stage in Virginia’s legislature this year

The state’s 60-day legislative session starts this week. Lawmakers will consider bills that tap clean energy to alleviate data center and affordability challenges.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 12 January 2026
Politics

How Trump’s offshore wind halt is derailing his party’s energy agenda

Construction on every U.S. offshore wind farm is on pause — and so are Congress’ once-promising negotiations on energy-permitting reform.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 9 January 2026
Fossil fuels

EPA plans to give 11 coal plants a free pass on toxic ash disposal

Under the proposal, the facilities would be able to flout federal coal-ash rules until 2031. The polluting plants would likely shut down without the lifeline.

By Kari Lydersen . 9 January 2026