Policy & regulation

Transmission

Fixing the US power grid: A challenge for 2023 and beyond

Lack of investment in the country's transmission grids has become a huge roadblock to clean energy and reliable power. Will 2023 be the year things start to change?

By Jeff St. John . 29 December 2022
Climate crisis

States have a huge role to play in enacting the Inflation Reduction Act

Congress finally took action on climate change in 2022, but the federal government can't implement IRA on its own. States will be vital actors in putting the act's incentives to work.

By Jeff St. John . 27 December 2022
Clean fleets

US Postal Service commits to buy 66,000 EVs — finally

After facing backlash for plans to add thousands of gas guzzlers to its fleet, the USPS has shifted course with a game-changing pledge to go electric.

By Eric Wesoff . 21 December 2022
Solar

These California programs steer solar+batteries to low-income households

California's new solar policy leaves low-income families behind. Community energy providers, nonprofits and vendors have come up with some creative workarounds.

By Jeff St. John . 21 December 2022
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