Policy & regulation

Batteries

A fight between Con Ed and developers is slowing NYC’s battery buildout

The utility says too many battery projects will overwhelm its grid and drive up costs. Battery developers say the utility is trying to protect its profits.

By Jeff St. John . 22 September 2026

NineDot Energy’s Soundview community battery project under construction in the Bronx — NineDot Energy’s Soundview community battery project is under construction in the Bronx. (NineDot Energy)

Solar

Ohio’s biggest solar project finally gets permit after long legal limbo

Regulators’ approval of Oak Run Solar after a court forced them to consider more evidence is a rare clean-energy win in a state where it's tough to build renewables.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 21 September 2026
Guides and how-tos

How to stick up for renewable energy projects near you

Showing up at local government hearings to support a proposed wind, solar, or battery project could be the most effective climate action you ever take.

By Alison F. Takemura . 21 September 2026
Emissions reduction

Trump's EPA decimated climate rules for power plants. What now?

The agency just gutted a Biden-era policy that would have slashed planet-warming pollution — but that doesn’t mean clean energy will slow down.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 18 September 2026
Affordability

Newsom's last chance to tackle California's electricity costs

The governor has blocked efforts to harness distributed energy to rein in rising utility rates. Bills on his desk could reverse that trend — if he signs them.

By Jeff St. John . 16 September 2026
Heat pumps

California moves to cut red tape for heat pumps, solar, and more

Two bills on Gov. Newsom’s desk would reduce hurdles to heat pumps and home solar and batteries, which could reduce fees by $1,000 or more per project.

By Alison F. Takemura . 14 September 2026
Fossil fuels

Trump’s DOE keeps forcing coal plants to stay open. Here’s the latest.

We’re tracking the seven fossil-fuel plants the Trump admin has required to operate past their retirement dates — and which facilities could be hit next.

By Ysabelle Kempe . 14 September 2026
Fossil fuels

Court rules that Trump can’t force a Michigan coal plant to keep running

A long-awaited court decision finds fault with the DOE’s use of "emergency" powers to force aging, costly, polluting power plants to run past their retirement date.

By Jeff St. John . 11 September 2026
Solar

Coal-to-solar project lands a rare clean-energy win in Ohio

The solar-plus-storage project faced no opposition despite growing pushback to clean energy in the state — likely because of its brownfield location.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 10 September 2026
Batteries

Trump emergency order casts uncertainty over grid battery growth

A sweeping yet vaguely worded national emergency declaration targeting Chinese grid tech could put gigawatts of grid battery projects on uncertain legal ground.

By Jeff St. John . 10 September 2026
Fossil fuels

Virginia kept its climate law. Dominion sees a loophole.

To power data centers, the state's largest utility is proposing a massive 3-gigawatt gas plant that tests the limits of the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 9 September 2026