Southeast

Solar

Is solar really overrunning farmland? Data in North Carolina says no.

Arrays occupy a “minuscule” share of farmland even though the state is a solar leader, a new study finds — belying claims from the Trump admin and others.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 29 January 2026
Solar

North Carolina may use batteries to give new life to old solar farms

A Duke Energy proposal backed by clean energy groups would let older solar farms renew their expiring contracts on favorable terms — if they build storage.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 27 January 2026
Clean aluminum

It takes two aluminum firms to build one power-hungry smelter, apparently

Century Aluminum was eyeing Kentucky for a new smelter, but in a surprise move says it’s teaming up with Emirates Global Aluminium to build one in Oklahoma.

By Maria Gallucci . 26 January 2026
Batteries

A Texas data center will open sooner thanks to an offline grid battery

While Eolian makes important upgrades to a 100-megawatt battery, the company will lend that grid connection to help CyrusOne’s data center get up and running.

By Julian Spector . 22 January 2026
Solar

After Helene, rural North Carolina turns to solar and battery hubs

More than a year after the storm’s devastation, clean-energy microgrids are springing up in remote areas thanks to a program that could become a national model.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 20 January 2026
Solar

Chart: Solar is finally bigger than coal in Texas

Sure, coal had a comeback in 2025. But the year also marked the first time Texas got more power from solar than from the increasingly expensive fossil fuel.

By Dan McCarthy . 16 January 2026
Batteries

PJM’s power-starved grid will finally get a big battery this year

Elevate Renewables just acquired a major energy storage project near Virginia’s “Data Center Alley” and plans to get it running by this summer.

By Julian Spector . 15 January 2026
Hydropower

Why is Duke Energy retreating from a major pumped-hydro expansion?

North Carolina’s largest utility was poised to double the capacity of its Bad Creek facility. Now, it’s backing off, casting doubt on state emissions targets.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 15 January 2026
Data centers

After a white town rejected a data center, developers eyed a Black area

Four million Americans live within 1 mile of a data center. The communities closest to them are “overwhelmingly” non-white.

By Adam Mahoney . 14 January 2026
Energy efficiency

Cuts to manufactured-home efficiency rules would hit Southeast hard

A U.S. House vote to repeal new efficiency standards for manufactured housing is a blow to a region where such homes are common and energy burdens are high.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 14 January 2026