Policy & regulation

Food and farms

California’s biofuel bias is hampering its EV future. Can that change?

The California Air Resources Board is at a crossroads: It can stay the course on its widely criticized Low Carbon Fuel Standard — or transform it to meet climate goals.

By Jeff St. John . 12 March 2024
Liquefied natural gas

How safe are LNG terminals? Nearby communities have no way of knowing

As more liquefied natural gas terminals are built along the U.S. Gulf Coast, residents say a lack of transparency leaves them unsure about the safety hazards.

By Pam Radtke, Floodlight . 7 March 2024
Solar

New policy proposal dims hopes of reviving community solar in California

State regulators and utilities could kill off a community-solar plan backed by lawmakers, pro-solar groups, environmental-justice advocates, unions and homebuilders.

By Jeff St. John . 6 March 2024
Recycling renewables

A new Energy Department program aims to recycle wind turbine magnets

Wind turbines often contain huge magnets made with valuable elements like neodymium. Scientists are exploring how to get a second life out of them.

By Maddie Stone . 5 March 2024
EV charging

EVs will put more stress on California's grid. Smart charging can help

What's the best way to get millions of EV owners not to charge all at once or sign their cars up as grid backup batteries? A new program will test different approaches.

By Jeff St. John . 4 March 2024
Hydrogen

The brewing rift within the Biden admin’s clean hydrogen strategy

The Energy Department's seven hydrogen hubs oppose the administration’s strict rules that aim to ensure the new 45V tax credits reward truly clean hydrogen.

By Julian Spector . 29 February 2024
Solar

Low-income communities will soon get $7 billion for local solar

Per a new analysis of 35 proposed state programs, the historic climate-law funding would benefit more than 700,000 low-income households. Here’s how.

By Alison F. Takemura . 29 February 2024
Liquefied natural gas

Inside the fight to stop LNG export projects in South Texas

Construction on the giant Rio Grande LNG export terminal has started, and plans for more LNG infrastructure are underway. Local leaders are rallying to stop the projects anyway.

By Maria Gallucci . 28 February 2024
Liquefied natural gas

This report puts a price tag on the climate impacts of US LNG exports

Drawing from the Energy Department’s own data, NYU researchers show that the climate harms of expanding LNG exports outweigh the benefits.

By Jeff St. John . 27 February 2024
Transmission

Smart tech could help fix the biggest barrier to building clean energy

A new report finds that "grid-enhancing technologies” can help gigawatts of solar and wind leapfrog the clean energy logjam — and save a ton of money.

By Jeff St. John . 22 February 2024