Southeast

Green steel

Hyundai’s new steel mill sparks hopes and fears in Louisiana

The manufacturer is building a $6 billion facility that will use cleaner technology — and potentially green hydrogen. But residents question whether they will benefit.

By Maria Gallucci . 25 June 2026
Data centers

Virginia slaps data centers with big new tax — but no climate rules

The state’s Democratic trifecta couldn’t agree on clean energy or air-quality reforms in time for the budget, which passed this week after months of negotiation.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 23 June 2026
Data centers

Data centers are key to fight over Duke electric rates in North Carolina

Duke Energy wants to raise household rates by 18%. Clean energy and consumer advocates say there's a much better way to prepare for data centers.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 17 June 2026
Clean aluminum

Energy-hungry aluminum plant is swept up in Oklahoma governor’s race

The state’s Republican attorney general — a gubernatorial candidate — sued to stop the new Trump-backed smelter, which would double America’s aluminum output.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 June 2026
Solar

New Qcells plant doubles current US capacity to make solar cells

The company’s Cartersville, Georgia, factory is the largest of its kind in the nation — and it just started producing the key solar panel component.

By Julian Spector . 9 June 2026
Fossil fuels

North Carolina bill would prop up coal until new nuclear is approved

The Republican-backed House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, which could rein in some data center costs but extend the life of costly old coal plants.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 9 June 2026
Batteries

Why North Carolina’s electric co-ops are turning to grid batteries

From the suburbs to the barrier islands, the state’s local cooperatives are using aggregated battery systems to weather outages and protect consumers’ wallets.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 4 June 2026
Solar

Thanks to two new laws, more Virginians can save with community solar

The legislation expands subscription-based solar farms from 250 to 875 megawatts and is the product of the state’s “new affordability politics."

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 1 June 2026
Utilities

NextEra Energy wants to buy its way into Data Center Alley

The utility’s proposed merger with Dominion Energy would connect it with data center-rich Virginia. Consumer and clean energy advocates are wary.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 22 May 2026
Nuclear

X-energy gets federal environmental approval for Texas nuclear reactors

It’s a milestone for the Amazon-backed firm, which still needs safety approvals from the NRC before it can begin building its 80-MW gas-cooled reactors.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 18 May 2026