Policy & regulation

Electric vehicles

California to offer a novel $3,500 rebate for first-time EV buyers

Research shows that once drivers try an EV, they stick with them. That’s why these incentives target those who’ve never owned one to maximize the bang for the buck.

By Jeff St. John . 27 July 2026

Row of cars in front of a "Plug-in Auto" sign — Used electric vehicles on a sales lot in West Covina, California (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Clean energy manufacturing

US factories are struggling to get cleaner heat. These ideas may help.

Many manufacturers burn fossil fuels to make snacks, materials, and chemicals. High electricity costs are complicating their efforts to switch to cleaner technologies.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 July 2026
Clean energy

State legislatures are getting better at clean-energy permitting policy

Unlike in 2025, almost no states have passed laws that make it harder to permit and site renewables this year, a report finds. What’s driving the shift?

By Jeff St. John . 22 July 2026
Fossil fuels

A $100M Ohio energy fund lacks transparency — and excludes renewables

JobsOhio, which is administering the new fund, has drawn criticism for limiting the opportunity to nuclear and natural gas — and for its opaque process.

By Kathiann M. Kowalski . 22 July 2026
Energy efficiency

Energy Department disappears website’s energy-saving tips as costs soar

The agency purged resources for people looking to conserve energy and lower bills — right after it proposed a rule to “permanently end” appliance mandates.

By Kate Yoder . 22 July 2026
Wind

States join fight against Trump administration’s wind farm blockade

The Department of Defense has essentially frozen permitting for new wind installations over the last year, preventing more than 155 projects from moving forward.

By Dan McCarthy . 20 July 2026
Utilities

Massachusetts bill would end a costly gas pipeline repair program

Utilities say the GSEP program is essential for safety and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but critics contend it costs too much and achieves too little.

By Sarah Shemkus . 20 July 2026
Data centers

PJM’s old way of getting power built isn’t working. Has it found a fix?

Getting data centers to pay for new generation and batteries could be the best hope for the nation’s biggest power market to finally get a handle on costs.

By Jeff St. John . 17 July 2026
Data centers

New Jersey law will let data centers pay for home energy upgrades

In a first, the state could speed up data centers’ grid connection if they bankroll energy-saving residential tech like heat pumps and batteries.

By Alison F. Takemura . 16 July 2026
Energy equity

Massachusetts lawmakers try new way to kill ‘zombie’ wood power plant

Both chambers passed bills to stymie a key revenue source for the proposed polluting plant, but so far its developer hasn't flinched.

By Sarah Shemkus . 16 July 2026
Energy efficiency

New manufactured homes may get more efficient thanks to housing law

The Trump administration has a year to issue updated energy conservation standards for the homes, a move that would especially help the rural South.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 15 July 2026