Policy & regulation

Emissions reduction

New York state gives up on its most ambitious climate targets

Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat up for reelection in November, pushed hard to water down the state’s 2019 climate law. With a new budget vote, she’s succeeded.

By Ysabelle Kempe . 27 May 2026
Solar

This Vermont town embraced a wind farm. Solar is a different story.

Vermont aims to wean off fossil fuels faster than most of America — but large-scale solar projects are facing resistance from locals across the rural state.

By Austyn Gaffney . 21 May 2026
Emissions reduction

California cap-and-invest proposal would threaten state climate goals

Changes suggested by state regulators could put 2030 emissions goals out of reach and shift billions of dollars from state programs to polluters, critics say.

By Jeff St. John . 20 May 2026
Electrification

Bay Area looks to exempt some households from gas water-heater phaseout

The region is finalizing its first-in-the-nation rule to limit the sale of polluting gas water heaters, which will take effect next year.

By Alison F. Takemura . 20 May 2026
Fossil fuels

Trump admin defends its coal must-run orders in court

The administration told judges that it alone has the power to decide whether an energy emergency exists, a claim that a Michigan official called “unprecedented.”

By Marianne Lavelle . 19 May 2026
Utilities

Ohio utilities report subpar grid reliability as they seek a lower bar

FirstEnergy and Duke say factors like worsening extreme weather led to missed 2025 targets. The state will soon decide whether to accept more and longer outages.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 18 May 2026
Data centers

Elon Musk’s xAI adds more unpermitted gas generators for data centers

Mississippi residents want relief from the air and noise pollution caused by 46 'temporary' generators — and the 41 permanent ones the state just approved.

By Alex Rozier . 15 May 2026
Solar

North Carolina groups fight regulator’s order to cancel solar for 2026

The state’s top utility regulator issued a surprise directive to halt Duke Energy’s solar investments for the year. Industry advocates are petitioning to revoke it.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 14 May 2026
Fossil fuels

The Indiana community caught between coal and the data center boom

In rural Jasper County, two defining energy trends of the Trump era — reviving coal and building gas-powered data centers — are converging.

By Kari Lydersen . 14 May 2026
Solar

Mid-sized solar could help bring down electricity bills in Pennsylvania

Distributed solar developers say they could build gigawatts of projects to help ease the state's power crunch — if lawmakers and regulators set clear rules.

By Jeff St. John . 13 May 2026