California

Energy storage

Why we don't need to worry too much about the latest grid battery fire

Safety standards and industry practices have improved considerably since construction of the Moss Landing battery plant that recently burned up in California.

By Julian Spector . 27 January 2025
Batteries

Moss Landing, the world’s biggest grid battery, caught fire again

Vistra’s flagship energy-storage project in California turned into a towering inferno, forcing evacuations and raising fresh concerns about large battery installations.

By Julian Spector . 17 January 2025
EV charging

Without enough utility power, California EV-truck depots try microgrids

Truck-charging depots that need more power are installing solar, batteries, and fossil-gas generators. Could these types of microgrids serve the grid at large?

By Jeff St. John . 17 January 2025
Utilities

How to make EVs get along with the grid

Electric vehicles could overwhelm local grids. Managed charging offers a solution, and utilities are eager to get their EV-driving customers signed up.

By Jeff St. John . 13 December 2024
Carbon removal

Heirloom raises $150M for its limestone-based carbon removal tech

The startup opened the first direct air capture facility in the U.S. last year. The funding will help it build more plants capable of removing higher volumes of CO2.

By Allison Prang . 4 December 2024
ENN

Commentary: Heat pump-assisted water heater technology could make big lift

New technology lowers prices for food service operations to electrify.

By CalNEXT . 14 November 2024
Politics

California voters pass $10B bond to help protect people from climate change

States will need to ramp up climate action in the face of rollbacks from a new Trump administration. California is off to a good start.

By Jeff St. John . 6 November 2024
Solar

Chart: Which states rank highest for utility-scale solar?

Nevada, California, and Utah have the largest share of solar on their electric grids.

By Carrie Klein . 1 November 2024
Clean industry

Redoxblox raises $31M to commercialize its energy storage ‘booster’

The startup says its novel thermochemical storage system is a cost-effective way to provide clean heat to fossil fuel–reliant heavy industries.

By Jeff St. John . 30 October 2024
ENN

In nationwide first, California plans to rev up sales of electric motorcycles

Bikers — many of whom love their noisy combustion engines — say zero-emission motorcycles aren’t ready for long-distance rides. Motorcycles emit an “outsized portion” of smog-causing pollutants.

By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde / CalMatters . 29 October 2024