Policy & regulation

Politics

This newly elected firebrand wants to bring renewables to Louisiana

A political rookie who describes himself as "Entergy's worst nightmare" ousted a long-time incumbent by promising to advance clean energy and hold a reviled utility to account.

By Emily Pontecorvo, Lylla Younes . 19 December 2022
Solar

California slashes payments to new rooftop-solar customers

A controversial decision to cut the value of power that homes export to the grid by up to 75% could kneecap the nation's biggest rooftop-solar market, critics say.

By Jeff St. John . 15 December 2022
Solar

How will low-income Californians access home solar and batteries?

Pending changes to net metering could put solar and batteries further out of reach for low-income households, renters, schools and churches, advocates warn.

By Jeff St. John . 14 December 2022
Solar

As California guts solar net metering, batteries emerge as a moneymaker

Rooftop solar alone will earn less under new California policy, but firms are developing programs to make it lucrative to add home batteries that help the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 13 December 2022
Hydrogen

Will new US incentives for 'green' hydrogen actually reduce emissions?

The Inflation Reduction Act steers billions to boost green hydrogen, but unless carefully monitored, that money could spur an increase in climate pollution.

By Emily Pontecorvo . 12 December 2022
Solar

What to expect from California’s new rooftop-solar plan? More batteries

California is about to dump its net-metering regime and adopt a new system that emphasizes home batteries. Here’s how companies are preparing.

By Jeff St. John . 12 December 2022
Fossil fuels

How states are trying to fit gas utilities into a low-carbon future

California and Colorado are the latest states to boost oversight of how gas utilities spend their customers’ money. The goal: avoiding "stranded assets."

By Jeff St. John . 7 December 2022
Solar

Biden admin seeks $3B to fund rooftop solar+batteries in Puerto Rico

Geared toward low-income households, the federal funding could help avert future blackouts, but some question whether they'll ever see the money.

By Brett Marsh . 7 December 2022
Guest essay

LNG exports hurt Americans. It’s time for the Biden admin to take action

The Department of Energy is supposed to assess whether it’s in the public’s interest to ship liquefied natural gas abroad, but the DOE is falling down on the job, argues Tyson Slocum.

By Tyson Slocum . 6 December 2022
Just transition

To get tax credits, clean-energy firms must soon meet labor standards

In January, new wage and apprenticeship criteria will kick in for companies seeking popular federal tax incentives for renewable energy projects.

By Julian Spector . 2 December 2022