Policy & regulation

Transmission

Suddenly, US electricity demand is spiking. Can the grid keep up?

Data centers, factories, heat pumps, and EVs are putting increasing stress on a grid that isn’t growing fast enough, new data shows.

By Jeff St. John . 20 December 2023
Fossil fuels

Seattle and other cities mull creative workarounds to ditch gas

After a court ruling struck down bans on fossil gas, lawmakers are devising new and innovative ways to electrify buildings.

By Akielly Hu . 20 December 2023
EV charging

This welding supply company is venturing into the EV charging business

Established in 1895, Ohio-based Lincoln Electric exemplifies how existing American businesses can take part in the emerging clean-energy economy.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 19 December 2023
Electric vehicles

EV school bus rollout off to slow start despite billion-dollar subsidies

Some U.S. school districts face a learning curve in ditching their dirty diesel buses — even with big federal subsidies. But the challenges are solvable.

By Jeff St. John . 19 December 2023
Transmission

The clean energy backlog barely budged this year. What’s the way forward?

It takes way too long to connect new solar, wind and batteries to the grid. Policy fixes are needed, but they move slowly — in the meantime, new tech could help.

By Jeff St. John . 18 December 2023
Clean energy manufacturing

Clean energy factories, thermal storage get boost from new tax credits

The IRS just released rules on incentives for clean energy manufacturers that make stuff in the U.S. Long-duration storage and thermal batteries could benefit the most.

By Julian Spector . 15 December 2023
Geothermal

Harnessing the heat beneath our feet: Geothermal's past and future

It's been a niche power source for over a century, but advanced techniques drawn from the oil and gas industry could help geothermal energy hit the mainstream.

By Michael Thomas . 14 December 2023
EV charging

Will universally compatible EV chargers ever be a reality in the US?

A fragmented business landscape is to blame for many of the problems that plague EV charging. Government-backed standards could change that — if the industry obliges.

By Jeff St. John . 13 December 2023
Nuclear

Wins, losses and participation trophies for US nuclear power in 2023

From the long-awaited commissioning of Vogtle 3 to the NuScale pilot’s collapse, here are the biggest wins and losses for nuclear from this year.

By Eric Wesoff . 12 December 2023
EV charging

EV chargers have a big reliability problem. Can the government fix it?

If you don’t own a Tesla, charging an EV in the U.S. can be a headache. Two federal programs aim to fix that with $7.5B and a host of new rules and standards.

By Jeff St. John . 11 December 2023