West

Heat pumps

Inside the Colorado factory where AtmosZero is electrifying steam

Many facilities need steam, but making it is CO2-intensive. AtmosZero is working to scale production of its heat-pump boiler to help decarbonize industrial heat.

By Alison F. Takemura . 15 October 2025
Solar

Canceled solar megaproject reveals new Trump-era threat to renewables

The Esmeralda 7 development would have been the largest solar farm in the U.S. But it was sited on federal land, so it needed an OK from the Trump admin.

By Julian Spector . 13 October 2025
Virtual power plants

Why did Newsom veto California’s virtual-power-plant bills?

Supporters say the bills would have helped ease the state’s energy affordability crisis while strengthening grid reliability.

By Jeff St. John . 8 October 2025
Geothermal

XGS Energy says its advanced geothermal tech is ready to scale up

The startup successfully operated a geothermal system for over 3,000 hours. The results should help it finance its first commercial deal: a 150-MW plant for Meta.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Did California just screw up the largest virtual power plant in the US?

Lawmakers axed funding for the state’s most promising effort yet to cut grid costs with solar-charged batteries and smart thermostats. Can the program be saved?

By Jeff St. John . 29 September 2025
Energy markets

New California law could expand energy trading across the West

Backers of a Western trading market say it could save billions and boost renewables. After years of delays, California is moving forward with the idea.

By Jeff St. John . 23 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Can virtual power plants relieve hot spots on neighborhood power grids?

PG&E, Sunrun, and Span are testing how rooftop solar, batteries, and other resources can ease stressed-out local grid circuits as a way to avoid expensive upgrades.

By Jeff St. John . 19 September 2025
EV charging

EV Realty lands $75M to expand electric truck charging in California

The startup has four mega-charging sites planned in the state, and says the underlying economics of electric freight hauling can withstand federal policy reversals.

By Jeff St. John . 18 September 2025
Policy & regulation

California just passed a suite of bills to tackle rising energy costs

The state’s lawmakers got serious about reducing electricity rates this session, with measures to help with summer bills and enable public financing for power grids.

By Jeff St. John . 17 September 2025
Virtual power plants

California could save big if virtual power plants target ‘sweet spots’

The state’s utilities could use rooftop solar, batteries, and EVs to cut $13.7B in costs — by applying those to the right parts of stressed-out local grids.

By Jeff St. John . 11 September 2025