West

Solar

A rare plant species thrives amid solar panels in the Nevada desert

The Gemini Solar Project has become a haven for the threecorner milkvetch — yet more proof that solar farms can be designed to minimize ecosystem disturbance.

By Matt Simon . 2 February 2026
Hydropower

A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project

Rye Development got a federal permit for a massive grid megaproject in the Pacific Northwest. Construction will start once it finds buyers for the electricity.

By Julian Spector . 26 January 2026
Solar

California bills would cut red tape for balcony solar and heat pumps

State Sen. Scott Wiener wants to tackle energy affordability by making it easier than ever for households to adopt increasingly popular clean-energy tech.

By Alison F. Takemura . 19 January 2026
Clean energy

Trump’s DOJ turns its attention to local gas bans

The federal government is suing two San Francisco Bay Area cities over their right to bar gas in new buildings. Critics say the case’s legal argument is flimsy.

By Alison F. Takemura . 13 January 2026
Solar

The biggest US solar-storage project yet takes shape in California

Westlands Water District approved 21 gigawatts of solar and batteries on water-parched fields in the Central Valley, giving farmers a way to profit from fallow land.

By Jeff St. John . 12 January 2026
Long-duration energy storage

A novel long-duration storage project is coming to the California desert

Hydrostor’s 4-gigawatt-hour project received state approval last month. Construction could start this year — so long as the startup can nail down more customers.

By Julian Spector . 8 January 2026
Fossil fuels

Trump admin orders Washington state coal plant to stay running

TransAlta’s Centralia power plant was meant to close at month’s end and be converted to burn gas by 2028. DOE’s must-run order complicates that plan.

By Jeff St. John . 17 December 2025
Electrification

California’s plan to boost plug-in heat pumps and induction stoves

Regulators greenlit a $115 million, first-of-its-kind effort to drive demand for tech that can make home electrification easier and cheaper.

By Alison F. Takemura . 17 December 2025
Geothermal

Why this Colorado coal town is digging geothermal

Hayden is tapping renewable thermal energy to affordably heat and cool its new business park — and entice companies looking to reduce energy costs.

By Alison F. Takemura . 15 December 2025
Geothermal

In a geothermal milestone, Zanskar claims major discovery in Nevada

The firm says it has found an unknown, untapped geothermal resource that is viable using conventional drilling — a first in the U.S. in more than 30 years.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 4 December 2025