Utilities

Clean energy

North Carolina energy bill pits clean energy advocates against Duke Energy's plans for new gas plants

New GOP legislation would boost solar but replace coal plants with natural gas and scuttle many of the Democratic governor's proposed reforms.

By Jeff St. John . 18 June 2021
Transmission

As blistering heat sets in, power grids in the Western US face a new round of challenges

In California and Texas, heat waves underscore challenges for electric grids under stress made more acute by climate change.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant . 17 June 2021
Grid edge

Housing developers and utilities join forces to create the next generation of microgrids

Sharing rooftop solar, batteries and grid controls between utilities and customers is a complex undertaking, but it could yield benefits greater than the sum of their parts.

By Jeff St. John . 15 June 2021
Nuclear

Nuclear fusion has attracted more than $2 billion in VC and private funding

Fusion fans have been saying for decades that success is just around the corner. Are they finally right this time?

By Eric Wesoff . 8 June 2021
Utilities

GridX raises $12M to bring utility rates into the distributed energy age

It can take years and cost millions for utilities to bring complex rate designs to their customers. The energy transition needs to move much faster.

By Jeff St. John . 25 May 2021
Batteries

Newsletter: Vermont's home batteries take on gas power plants

Vermont utility Green Mountain Power uses Tesla Powerwall batteries for frequency regulation.

By Julian Spector . 24 May 2021
Batteries

Green Mountain Power and Tesla break grid barriers with behind-the-meter batteries

Internet-controlled home Powerwalls are providing second-by-second frequency regulation — a big step for proving distributed energy’s grid capabilities.

By Jeff St. John . 21 May 2021
Solar

Swinerton goes big on solar-plus-storage, navigates Biden and unions

The president of the top U.S. solar engineering, procurement and construction firm talks to Canary about labor, unions, diversity and zip ties.

By Eric Wesoff . 17 May 2021
Energy storage

The architecture firm that wants to combine gravity storage with data centers

Data centers have to test their backup generators at least every month. WZMH Architects has a plan for what to do with the energy that is wasted.

By Jason Deign . 14 May 2021
Grid edge

Voltus raises $31M to go after the grid value of distributed energy

A VoltApp to aggregate DERs and a regulatory strategy to tap into new markets nationwide.

By Jeff St. John . 13 May 2021