Policy & regulation

Wind

California takes big first step toward floating offshore wind

The Golden State’s zero-carbon future depends in part on offshore wind. A new bill would let the state kick-start the sector by serving as an anchor customer.

By Jeff St. John . 27 September 2023
Heat pumps

New plan aims to quadruple heat-pump adoption in 25 states

The pledge, which covers 55% of the population, calls for accelerating home decarbonization by deploying 20 million heat pumps by 2030.

By Jeff St. John . 21 September 2023
Carbon-free buildings

NYC’s big building-decarbonization law faces its first major test

Landlords and climate activists are sparring over the future of Local Law 97 — the country’s most ambitious citywide mandate to clean up building emissions.

By Jeff St. John . 20 September 2023
Electric vehicles

What do EVs have to do with the autoworker strike? A lot, it turns out

Striking UAW members want to ensure that billions in EV investments translate into good-paying union jobs.

By Akielly Hu, Katie Myers . 19 September 2023
Solar

Florida is now adding more solar power than any other state

Sorry, California and Texas! Florida zoomed to the No. 1 spot for solar installations in the first half of 2023, despite a decidedly mixed policy landscape.

By Eric Wesoff . 15 September 2023
Grid edge

Smart thermostats are helping Arizona's grid ride out brutal heat

Amid soaring temperatures, Arizona has seen success with utility programs that incentivize people to turn down the AC when the power grid is stressed.

By Jeff St. John . 14 September 2023
Solar

Utilities in New Hampshire unexpectedly back solar net metering

In a sharp turnaround from their previous stance, Eversource, Unitil and Liberty Utilities testified in support of keeping the state's net-metering incentive intact.

By Sarah Shemkus . 14 September 2023
Batteries

A big battery is replacing this old Massachusetts fossil power plant

Thanks to a state program incentivizing cleaner peak power, a developer is building a 45 MW grid battery at the site of a fossil power plant shut down in 2022.

By Sarah Shemkus . 13 September 2023
Hydrogen

The biomethane boondoggle that could derail clean hydrogen

If the Treasury Department doesn’t get hydrogen tax-credit rules right, it could enrich factory farms and fossil fuel producers rather than boost green hydrogen.

By Jeff St. John . 11 September 2023
Solar

The fight over California community solar: 'It's everyone vs. utilities'

Α broad and unlikely coalition has united behind a proposal that would finally let community solar flourish in California. Utilities are trying to stop it.

By Jeff St. John . 5 September 2023