Southeast

Batteries

Gigantic Form Energy battery to power Google data center in Minnesota

The startup has struck a deal with Xcel Energy to build a 30 gigawatt-hour battery plant that will deliver clean energy, round the clock, to a Google facility.

By Julian Spector . 24 February 2026
Virtual power plants

New Orleans’ latest bid for a better grid: a citywide virtual power plant

The storm-prone city is making its local utility design a $28 million incentive program to get hundreds more backup batteries into homes and businesses.

By Julian Spector . 24 February 2026
Guest essay

How solar and batteries help keep lights on during Texas winter storms

The recent boom in renewables and storage in Texas means its grid is much better prepared for bad weather than it was when Winter Storm Uri hit five years ago.

By Tam Hunt . 19 February 2026
Utilities

I let Duke Energy control my thermostat. I don’t regret it.

Throughout this freezing-cold winter, customers like me pitched in to save North Carolina’s grid, and we made a little money doing it.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 19 February 2026
Climatetech finance

Heron Power raises $140M to modernize electrical transformers

Transformers are an old technology that’s in short supply. Tesla alum Drew Baglino thinks his startup can help meet rising demand with new solid-state hardware.

By Jeff St. John . 18 February 2026
Climate justice

Residents along Louisiana’s Cancer Alley have a new worry: blue ammonia

The facilities would rely on carbon capture, which has yet to successfully scale up, and would still emit thousands of tons of pollution.

By Ames Alexander . 16 February 2026
Clean aluminum

Loss of green smelter highlights Kentucky’s need for clean electricity

Century Aluminum chose Oklahoma, not Kentucky, for a new smelter. Some say it’s a "wake-up call" for the Bluegrass State to modernize – and decarbonize – its grid.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 February 2026
Hydrogen

Green hydrogen hype has dried up. This US startup is pressing on.

Electric Hydrogen sees a real but short runway for U.S. green hydrogen projects. Can the company’s next-generation electrolyzer tech gain traction in Europe?

By Jeff St. John . 9 February 2026
Solar

Most of Virginia restricts solar farms. Lawmakers want to change that.

As more counties effectively shut out utility-scale solar, the legislature is advancing a measure that would block blanket bans and establish siting standards.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 6 February 2026
Energy storage

Startup unveils heat battery it says can decarbonize almost any factory

Electrified Thermal Solutions has started operating its first superhot, commercial-scale thermal battery in Texas to help manufacturers curb emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 29 January 2026