Today’s headlines: Electric appliance rebates blocked, wind blockade challenged, and more

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.ka

EFFICIENCY

• New DOE guidance blocks states from distributing Inflation Reduction Act rebates to people who buy electric appliances to replace gas ones, curbing incentives for electric ovens, heat pumps, and weatherization upgrades. (Inside Climate News)

CLEAN ENERGY

• The U.S. installed 6.4 GW of new clean power capacity in the first quarter of 2026, down 17% from the same period last year, with another 6.4 GW of additions expected during Q1 ending up delayed. (American Clean Power Association)

BATTERIES

• Shares of energy storage company Fluence Energy Inc. rise more than 40% after the company announces it’s working with Siemens AG and Nvidia to build battery systems that can be replicated in other data centers. (Bloomberg)

WIND

• A judge declines to lift an order requiring that GE Vernova continue its turbine maintenance work with Vineyard Wind while GE’s effort to exit its contract makes its way through the courts. (Reuters)

• Renewable power groups sue the Department of Defense over its delay of critical reviews for wind projects, which has effectively halted permitting. (E&E News)

SOLAR

• SEG Solar announces it’ll build a third U.S. factory in Texas to produce solar panels and is searching for a location to construct a solar cell factory. (Reuters)

EMISSIONS

• The EPA finds its rollback of restrictions on planet-warming gases used as refrigerants will save companies as much as $976 million through 2050, but doesn’t specify that the cost of HFCs is likely to skyrocket in the coming years. (Bloomberg)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Insuring an EV is more expensive than insuring a gas car in much of the U.S., with the average EV owner paying 73% more than a gas car owner in Rhode Island, the state with the largest spread. (Grist)