West

Batteries

Vistra’s Moss Landing grid battery is on fire yet again

The California facility, with its outdated building and battery design, had a catastrophic fire in 2025. Now, a new fire ignited during the decommissioning process.

By Julian Spector .

18 September 2026

A view of a harbor with boats with flames in the background next to two smokestacks — A plume of smoke rises on the morning of Sept. 18, 2026, from Vistra’s Moss Landing, California, battery plant, which suffered a catastrophic fire in January 2025. (David Robinson)

Geothermal

Mazama Energy raises $135M for superhot geothermal at Oregon volcano

The startup hit a milestone last year when it drilled the world’s hottest next-gen geothermal well. Now it’s working to prove its tech can scale commercially.

By Maria Gallucci . 17 September 2026
Affordability

Newsom's last chance to tackle California's electricity costs

The governor has blocked efforts to harness distributed energy to rein in rising utility rates. Bills on his desk could reverse that trend — if he signs them.

By Jeff St. John . 16 September 2026
Heat pumps

California moves to cut red tape for heat pumps, solar, and more

Two bills on Gov. Newsom’s desk would reduce hurdles to heat pumps and home solar and batteries, which could reduce fees by $1,000 or more per project.

By Alison F. Takemura . 14 September 2026
Clean energy

Gavin Newsom’s complicated legacy on climate and clean energy

Newsom’s 8-year term as California’s governor is drawing to an end. Here’s how he helped — and hindered — the state’s energy transition.

By Jeff St. John . 14 September 2026
Clean energy

An Idaho county banned renewables. It’s having second thoughts.

Solar developments led county officials to ban renewables in 2024. Now, the Republican commissioner who instigated the moratorium is leading the charge to undo it.

By Julia Tilton . 14 September 2026
Transmission

This novel power line could link 3 grids across 3 time zones

North Plains Connector has earned backing from the Energy Department and utilities, and could deliver huge cost and reliability benefits — if states give it the OK.

By Jeff St. John . 3 September 2026
Geothermal

Fervo and Google sign world’s largest deal for next-gen geothermal power

The geothermal startup will supply 400 MW from its Cape Station project to a Google data center in Utah. An initial phase of the project will come online this fall.

By Maria Gallucci . 1 September 2026
Virtual power plants

California declines to fund its biggest virtual power plant

The Demand Side Grid Support program was given no money for next year, though supporters blocked an effort that could have disbanded the VPP altogether.

By Jeff St. John . 1 September 2026
Offshore wind

Trump’s $4B in offshore wind buyouts spur legal blowback from states

Interior is using tax dollars to pay firms to ditch offshore wind leases and invest in fossil fuels instead. California just became the eighth state to sue to stop it.

By Maria Gallucci . 1 September 2026
Balcony solar

California Legislature passes balcony solar bill

Unless Gov. Newsom blocks the bill, it will legalize plug-in solar in one of the world’s biggest economies. But the rules are more restrictive than some hoped for.

By Alison F. Takemura . 26 August 2026