Politics

Podcast

Unpacking Newsom’s bold $22B climate plan in the California budget

The "California Blueprint" includes funding for everything from electric buses and building retrofits to support services for firefighters.

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By Julia Pyper . 38 min . 13 January 2022
Solar

California's Gov. Newsom says 'changes need to be made' to the state's polarizing net-metering proposal

But he says he won't intervene in the heated debate that's pitted solar and environmental groups against utility customer watchdogs.

By Jeff St. John . 12 January 2022
Politics

Here’s where things stand with climate legislation in Congress

The Build Back Better Act — and its $555B in climate spending — is not dead yet.

By David Roberts . 7 January 2022
Carbon capture

US government squandered hundreds of millions on 'clean coal' pipe dream

Federal investments in industrial carbon capture paid off, but investments in coal-plant CCS did not, watchdog finds.

By Jeff St. John . 5 January 2022
Policy & regulation

The top 6 ambitious state climate laws passed in 2021

Progress may be stalled in D.C., but there's real momentum on the state level, from blue states like Oregon to red states like North Carolina.

By Jeff St. John . 28 December 2021
Podcast

Build back never? Plus, tackling methane emissions

Is Build Back Better really dead? Could the climate and clean energy provisions live on?

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By Julia Pyper . 51 min . 23 December 2021
Politics

2021: The year clean energy consolidated its political power in Washington

A chat with Heather Zichal, the new top lobbyist for big clean energy, on how the industry is honing its powers of persuasion.

By Julian Spector . 21 December 2021
Solar

The solar industry in 2021: Big, complicated and kind of weird

The top 11 solar power trends, from rising component costs (a first!) to online sales of rooftop systems.

By Eric Wesoff . 20 December 2021
Politics

Rounding up the year in climate politics

What happened with climate and energy in Congress in 2021, what's ahead in 2022, and when will they pass the Build Back Better Act?

By David Roberts . 17 December 2021
Policy & regulation

The avoided-cost calculator: The controversial metric at the center of California’s solar net-metering fight

Tying rooftop solar payments to climate and grid benefits makes sense in theory. But in the real world, it could get very messy.

By Jeff St. John . 16 December 2021