Policy & regulation

Clean energy

GOP budget plan contains a massive poison pill for clean energy

“Totally unworkable” rules could kill manufacturing and clean energy investment by restricting tax credits for any project remotely tied to China, experts warn.

By Jeff St. John . 15 May 2025
Clean energy

New Hampshire budget bill would defund state renewable energy grant program

Under the proposal, penalties paid by utilities for missing renewable energy targets would be redirected to the general fund and to rebates for utility customers.

By Sarah Shemkus . 15 May 2025
Transmission

North Carolina eyes grid-enhancing tech to improve aging power lines

Regulators are prodding utility Duke Energy to deploy cutting-edge tools like dynamic line rating and carbon composite conductors to improve transmission.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 15 May 2025
Energy storage

Amid tariff uncertainty, US grid battery industry faces an uphill climb

Domestic battery manufacturing and deployments have been growing fast — but Trump’s tariff wars and looming budget cuts threaten to derail progress.

By Jeff St. John . 13 May 2025
Energy efficiency

Trump’s all-out war on energy efficiency

From targeting Energy Star to pausing more obscure rules, the Trump administration is derailing measures that help save money by reducing energy use.

By Alison F. Takemura . 12 May 2025
Energy storage

Illinois’ grid needs batteries. Can the legislature deliver?

State leaders are deliberating how to bring more energy storage online. But the clock is ticking to pass a pivotal bill as the legislative session nears its end.

By Kari Lydersen . 12 May 2025
Clean industry

‘It’s bleak’: Trump prepares to gut investments to clean up heavy industry

The Industrial Demonstrations Program would create thousands of jobs while helping modernize U.S. industries like steelmaking. It’s on Trump’s chopping block.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 8 May 2025
Solar

New California bill would undo some 20-year rooftop solar contracts

The bill would deal another blow to California’s ailing rooftop solar sector — and hardly move the needle on its stated purpose of reducing utility costs.

By Jeff St. John . 8 May 2025
Clean energy

Colorado’s rural electric co-ops are determined to build clean energy

The federal government promised to pay for upgrades to keep utility rates down. As Trump casts uncertainty over funding, what happens now?

By Keaton Peters . 8 May 2025
Transmission

How fast-tracking fossil gas could snarl the Midwest grid

MISO’s plan to let gas plants cut the interconnection line is unfair, costly, and counter to grid reliability goals, former federal regulators and advocates say.

By Jeff St. John . 6 May 2025