Policy & regulation

New clean power rules force utilities to take clean energy seriously

EPA’s “clean up or close” rules for coal and gas plants face strong pushback. But backers say clean power, batteries, and grid tech are ready to take over.

By Jeff St. John . 25 April 2024

Longview Power station left and The Fort Martin Power Station are seen from Maidsville, West Virginia — (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Policy & regulation

The US will struggle to meet its climate goals without penalties for utilities that fail to cut emissions, report finds

New analysis shows how Sen. Manchin's demand to cut the Clean Electricity Performance Program from the reconciliation bill would kneecap climate policy.

By Jeff St. John . 18 October 2021
Utilities

FERC deadlock clears the way for launch of controversial Southeast energy market

Utilities can move ahead on the region’s first energy trading market. But opponents say it doesn't go far enough to grow renewable energy and lower costs.

By Jeff St. John . 14 October 2021
Clean industry

Can the US take the lead on cleaner lithium production?

Three companies are attracting private and public funding for their potentially game-changing efforts to extract lithium from brine in California.

By Elizabeth McCarthy . 14 October 2021
Clean energy

The unstoppably good news about clean energy

Kingsmill Bond of Carbon Tracker says the transition to renewables is inevitable based on sheer economics.

By David Roberts . 13 October 2021
Utilities

Utility to California: Move faster on clean energy

Electricity purveyor pushes for swifter progress on electrification.

By Julian Spector . 12 October 2021
Utilities

California’s biggest all-electric utility has a plan to meet the state's tough 2030 carbon targets

Pedro Pizarro, CEO of SCE parent Edison International, says gaps in EV and electric building policies threaten state clean energy goals.

By Jeff St. John . 11 October 2021
Policy & regulation

North Carolina to mandate 70% cut in electricity CO2 emissions by 2030

The bipartisan compromise bill includes bold targets and regional firsts, but critics say it's too lax on Duke Energy.

By Jeff St. John . 6 October 2021
Emissions reduction

What to do about leaky methane

The EPA and the oil and gas industry are contemplating high-tech sensors to spot and eliminate leaks of this planet-warming gas.

By Julian Spector . 6 October 2021
Fossil fuels

Aerial and satellite imagery can find methane leaks. Will EPA bake the tech into new rules?

High-altitude detection methods are a vital tool in reducing methane emissions, experts say. Making them work in federal regulations is a trickier matter.

By Jeff St. John . 5 October 2021
Guest essay

Build Back Better Act would reduce the burden of household energy costs

The big budget bill being debated by Congress would help tackle climate change and also make clean electricity more affordable for strapped households.

By Maria Castillo, Jon Rea, Uday Varadarajan . 4 October 2021

Policy & regulation

New clean power rules force utilities to take clean energy seriously

The US will struggle to meet its climate goals without penalties for utilities that fail to cut emissions, report finds

FERC deadlock clears the way for launch of controversial Southeast energy market

Can the US take the lead on cleaner lithium production?

The unstoppably good news about clean energy

Utility to California: Move faster on clean energy

California’s biggest all-electric utility has a plan to meet the state's tough 2030 carbon targets

North Carolina to mandate 70% cut in electricity CO2 emissions by 2030

What to do about leaky methane

Aerial and satellite imagery can find methane leaks. Will EPA bake the tech into new rules?

Build Back Better Act would reduce the burden of household energy costs