West

Utilities

Will PG&E’s $2B grid cutbacks derail California’s clean energy buildout?

The state’s utility wildfire liability conundrum could put clean energy projects in a delay doom loop — and solutions are going to be hard to come by.

By Jeff St. John .

5 November 2026

Photo collage of electric pole, fire, and solar panels — (Binh Nguyen/Canary Media; Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Climate justice

Trump cuts have left tribes without millions of dollars for clean energy

Canceled grants have stalled renewable energy, climate resilience, and infrastructure projects across Indian Country, adding to decades of federal underinvestment.

By Joseph Lee, Grist . 3 November 2026
Geothermal

Boise plans to tap its geothermal network to heat 300 affordable homes

Micron Technology gave $2.5 million to help fund work to expand the system for a new multifamily housing development, slashing utility bills for future residents.

By Alison F. Takemura . 2 November 2026
EV charging

California’s long road to make EV charging more reliable

Can the state regulate — and innovate — its way to more reliable public EV charging? Here’s what industry experts make of its latest efforts.

By Jeff St. John . 29 October 2026
Virtual power plants

What kind of virtual power plant would you choose?

Some 200 California households will help design VPPs that prioritize their needs in a Living Laboratory project. The goal: to vastly scale up VPP participation.

By Jeff St. John . 22 October 2026
Clean energy

New Mexico’s transition to clean energy is actually ahead of schedule

The state is forging ahead on wind, solar, and batteries after hitting its 2030 renewables goal early. The transition for coal workers has been more complicated.

By Julian Spector . 21 October 2026
Clean energy

Will a second US city tax billion-dollar firms to fund clean energy?

Eugene, Oregon, will soon vote on whether to set up a climate fund paid for by fees on companies like Amazon. Nearby Portland has already put the idea to the test.

By Alison F. Takemura . 20 October 2026
Geothermal

This geothermal startup produced a tiny bit of power from the seafloor

Endurance Energy tested its novel underwater geothermal tech off the coast of Oregon. The firm has raised $63 million for its “eyebrow-raising” approach.

By Maria Gallucci . 19 October 2026
Data centers

Nuclear-powered data centers? It’s a tough sell in Utah coal country.

To power two new data centers, companies are planning a giant gas plant and 456 small nuclear reactors in Carbon County. Locals are pushing back.

By Leia Larsen . 14 October 2026
Batteries

What to say to Californians worried about grid batteries

Large-scale batteries are safer than ever, but a few battery fires have spurred public backlash. Clean energy experts are working to win back trust.

By Jeff St. John . 13 October 2026
Electrification

A new gas line or cash to electrify? California lets households choose.

Before replacing gas service lines, utilities will need to offer customers a financial incentive to electrify instead, thanks to a new law.

By Alison F. Takemura . 12 October 2026