Energy & Utilities
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Biden's infrastructure plan goes big on EVs, but his first budget starts small, analysts say
The Biden administration's infrastructure plan includes $174 billion to electrify transportation, though the FY22 budget request starts cautiously.
By Robert Walton • April 15, 2021 -
Getty Images
Few states taking steps for equitable EV infrastructure investment, report cautions
Benefits of the shift to electric transportation could be constrained to higher-income populations without the right policies, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy lays out.
By Robert Walton • April 12, 2021 -
Opinion
US building codes need a major retrofit to meet climate goals and spare consumers
The International Code Council, which recently rolled back local governments' say in energy efficiency regulations for buildings, needs to adapt to the times or step aside, writes Energy Innovation's Sara Baldwin.
By Sara Baldwin • April 07, 2021 -
Permission granted by First Solar
Local governments set record for new renewable energy procurement in 2020, groups report
Transactions last year grew renewable capacity 23% from 2019's totals, according to World Resources Institute and Rocky Mountain Institute data.
By Chris Teale • April 05, 2021 -
Retrieved from Business Wire.
As EV economics improve, medium- and heavy-duty trucking may be 'next big frontier' for clean transportation
Heavy-duty trucks represent just 5% of vehicles on the road, but experts say they account for more than a quarter of overall U.S. transportation emissions.
By Robert Walton • March 26, 2021 -
Permission granted by Fermata Energy
New coalition calls on Biden admin to prioritize electrified transportation
CHARGE, a group of 37 organizations, is urging EV charging infrastructure be especially deployed in communities traditionally underserved by transportation or that have struggled with pollution burdens.
By Chris Teale • March 25, 2021 -
Permission granted by Bergen County Utilities Authority
Climate-driven water infrastructure failures risk becoming 'business as usual'
Monday's World Water Day comes one month after extreme weather wreaked havoc on Texas' water supply, an event that experts warn could become the new normal if leaders fail to invest in resiliency.
By Chris Teale • March 22, 2021 -
Arizona utility opposes legislation barring state regulators from decarbonization mandate
As with many other states, Arizona is embroiled in a debate about the extent of regulators' authority when it comes to decarbonization.
By Emma Penrod • March 17, 2021 -
San Antonio power provider sues ERCOT, citing 'unlawful' pricing
Mayor Ron Nirenburg gave the city's full support for the suit against the Texas grid operator, saying "state regulators are presiding over one of the largest illegal transfers of wealth" in state history.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 16, 2021 -
Retrieved from Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
DOE to spend billions on electric vehicle R&D in jobs fight with China
President Biden's administration is tackling transportation electrification in part to prevent China from cornering a $23 trillion market in carbon-reducing tech, according to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
By Robert Walton • March 11, 2021 -
House Democrats clear pathway to 100% clean energy by 2035
The bill would require economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, targeting transportation electrification, environmental justice and building efficiency.
By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2021 -
Getty Images
USPS to continue purchasing gas vehicles, despite Biden all-electric pledge
The postal service says the procurement allows for flexibility, and hinted at the ability to "retrofit" some vehicles. But EV advocates say "this will lock USPS into an outdated technology for many years."
By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2021 -
Screenshot via America Is All In
Climate leaders go 'all in' to halve emissions by 2030
The new "America Is All In" coalition of U.S. communities, businesses and institutions, has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 with support from the federal government.
By Chris Teale • Feb. 22, 2021 -
Economic rebound could derail progress on Paris climate goals, experts warn
The U.S. power sector has exceeded previous emissions goals and will continue to do so, a new report says. Progress could be thwarted by rising emissions in the transportation sector.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Deep DivePower sector experts fight misinformation around Texas outages
Operators will often prepare for peak loads based on historical data, but those forecasts can be less predictable under a changing climate, one expert said.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 18, 2021 -
SonderBruce. (2017). "I-5 southbound traffic approaching Downtown Seattle" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
The system of GHG emissions reporting is broken, experts say
As the media points fingers at cities for underreporting carbon emissions, some argue the blame should instead be placed on a lack of guidance.
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 11, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Lawmakers vs. regulators: The fight over Arizona's zero-emissions mandate
Conservatives say the Arizona Corporation Commission's proposed zero-carbon mandate oversteps its constitutional authority while defenders say the legal debate is an excuse to impede the state's climate fight.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 11, 2021 -
Auto industry embraces Biden's electrification efforts
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation said it will work with the administration on an electrification program to bring all automakers "under a unified set of common requirements."
By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2021 -
sestovic/E+/Getty via Getty Images
Security flaws enabled Tampa-area water utility hack
Authorities found poor security hygiene — weak passwords and an outdated operating system — played a role in the hack.
By Samantha Schwartz • UPDATED: Feb. 12, 2021 at 10:05 a.m. -
Natacha Kiler
US could derail decarbonization without equitable policies: report
Decarbonization is technically and financially feasible, but government must ensure the coming economic transition is just and fair to all, experts said.
By Emma Penrod • Feb. 04, 2021 -
As GM gives 'huge' boost to EVs, states vary in advancing supportive policies
Washington lawmakers are considering legislation to ban the sale of internal combustion light duty vehicles by 2030, and others are setting 2035 goals.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 03, 2021 -
Seattle mayor approves updated energy code
Mayor Jenny Durkan signed the updates into law, dubbing the city's building energy code as "among the strongest in the nation."
By Kristin Musulin • UPDATED: Feb. 12, 2021 at 9:51 a.m. -
Barton, Ben. (2017). "Downtown Houston" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Houston, Uber and BP partner to aid EV transition for drivers
The trio will explore the deployment of BP's rapid charging electric vehicle (EV) stations throughout Houston, aiming to support the city's EV adoption goals and plans for an equitable charging network.
By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 02, 2021 -
Boston kicks off community choice electricity program, aiming to surpass state's renewables requirement
Starting Monday, the Massachusetts capital becomes a key East Coast adopter of a locally-driven utility model championed in major California and Ohio cities — its latest effort toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: Feb. 2, 2021 at 2:44 p.m. -
Yujin Kim, Industry Dive
Fleet electrification can have 'outsized influence' on EV adoption: RMI
Electrification will require a fundamental business restructuring, but if executed poorly "can be a series of very costly errors," according to a new report from Rocky Mountain Institute.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2021
