West

Solar

California's rooftop solar debate is raging again

Advocates fear more cuts to the state's battered rooftop solar incentives as regulators consider “cost-shift” arguments in their bid to lower utility bills.

By Jeff St. John . 6 March 2025
Clean industry

States are moving forward with Buy Clean policies despite Trump reversal

New York, Washington, and other states are forming coalitions to cut carbon emissions from building materials even as the federal government bows out.

By Maria Gallucci . 20 February 2025
Electric vehicles

As California EV sales stall, what happens to its landmark mandate?

After years of growth, flattening demand for electric vehicles raises questions about the state’s plan to ban sales of gas-powered cars by 2035.

By Alejandro Lazo . 19 February 2025
Air travel

Trump DOE OKs first LPO disbursement — after GOP senator voices support

A Montana refinery for sustainable aviation fuel will now get $1.44 billion in financing that had been previously approved by the Loan Programs Office under Biden.

By Maria Gallucci . 14 February 2025
Utilities

Colorado and Connecticut lowered utility bills by reining in lobbying

A handful of other states have introduced similar legislation with the aim of saving ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

By Akielly Hu . 13 February 2025
Energy storage

Kore Power has a new plan after canceling $1.2B battery plant in Arizona

Amid political chaos, the company ditched long-simmering efforts to build a factory from scratch. Now, it’s hunting for an existing plant where it can set up shop.

By Julian Spector . 7 February 2025
Energy storage

Why we don't need to worry too much about the latest grid battery fire

Safety standards and industry practices have improved considerably since construction of the Moss Landing battery plant that recently burned up in California.

By Julian Spector . 27 January 2025
Solar

Oregon to host nation’s largest solar-plus-storage installation

Massive projects like Sunstone Solar, which will extend across nearly 9,500 acres and have 1,200 MW of solar, are becoming more and more common.

By Akielly Hu . 21 January 2025
Batteries

Moss Landing, the world’s biggest grid battery, caught fire again

Vistra’s flagship energy-storage project in California turned into a towering inferno, forcing evacuations and raising fresh concerns about large battery installations.

By Julian Spector . 17 January 2025
EV charging

Without enough utility power, California EV-truck depots try microgrids

Truck-charging depots that need more power are installing solar, batteries, and fossil-gas generators. Could these types of microgrids serve the grid at large?

By Jeff St. John . 17 January 2025