Energy & Utilities
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White House launches clean energy youth workforce program amid labor shortage concerns
The American Climate Corps aims to put more than 20,000 people to work in its first year. The plan “harkens back” to the New Deal, said International District Energy Association CEO Rob Thornton.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 22, 2023 -
Boston launches pilot to help small housing owners go electric
Two- to four-unit buildings are the city’s most common building type. Boston hopes the new grant program will yield lessons on scaling up building decarbonization.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 22, 2023 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Drew Angerer via Getty ImagesTrendlineVehicle Electrification
Cities and states are trying to harness the growing electric vehicle market to meet decarbonization goals while ensuring the rollout of these vehicles is being done equitably. Their efforts are aided by an influx of federal support.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Highsmith, Carol M. (2011). "Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, headquarters of HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits
The first round of the $4.8 billion GRRP covers upgrades for 28 rent-assisted properties.
By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 18, 2023 -
Extreme heat disproportionately threatens Black renters, experts say
Black renters disproportionately experience energy insecurity, which stems from an inability to pay energy bills, and federal policy falls short in addressing it, a Brookings Metro report says.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 13, 2023 -
California must ban gas in new buildings, local officials tell governor
With a federal appeals court overturning Berkeley, California’s landmark gas ban, the state needs a unified standard to remain a climate policy leader, 26 local leaders told Gov. Gavin Newsom.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 11, 2023 -
Deep Dive
Accelerating EV adoption: Utilities partner with GM, BMW, Lyft and more in the auto sector
Automakers and utilities “are now partners until the end of time, whether they like it or not,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2023 -
EPA awards climate planning grants to New England cities, states
The Environmental Protection Agency is nearly done awarding such grants to communities nationwide and will soon launch the competitive phase of its climate pollution reduction program.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 1, 2023 -
Fleet electrification: 5 principles to help state and local governments plan
World Resources Institute researchers spoke with local governments, transit agencies and consultants to uncover the pitfalls of and best practices for shifting to electric vehicles.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 1, 2023 -
On clean energy tax credits, mayors want clearer federal guidance
New incentives could turbocharge local climate action, but resource-limited cities need clarity on how to use them, over 50 mayors said in a letter to the Treasury Department.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 28, 2023 -
Colorado mandates new building energy performance standards despite criticism
The ruling unfairly burdens existing buildings, operators and owners say. The state Air Quality Commission touts the rules’ flexibility.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 22, 2023 -
Public EV charger customer satisfaction drops: J.D. Power
"The results of this year's study should be very concerning to all those involved in the transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles," one expert said.
By Michael Brady • Aug. 18, 2023 -
Boston grants aim to lower carbon footprint of affordable housing
Building owners can get up to $10,000 each for comprehensive energy assessments.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 16, 2023 -
More GM electric vehicles will be able to charge homes in coming years
The bidirectional charging technology uses a GM vehicle’s battery as a backup power source in the event of a power outage.
By Eric Walz • Aug. 10, 2023 -
Washington building codes lawsuit dropped by gas, building groups
The litigation was an “aftershock” of a federal appeals court decision to overturn Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas in new buildings, an Earthjustice senior attorney said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 8, 2023 -
Boston mayor bans fossil fuels in new city-owned buildings
The executive order, which also prohibits fossil fuel use in renovations of existing city-owned structures, is part of a larger push for carbon neutrality by 2050.
By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 8, 2023 -
Q&A
How to safely store e-bikes, e-scooters in apartments
The uptick in micromobility battery fires shows electrification is "moving faster than we’re able to necessarily adapt to," a fire protection expert at an engineering consulting firm said.
By Mary Salmonsen • Aug. 3, 2023 -
Energy-efficient buildings save lives during extreme weather events: Department of Energy
Meeting or exceeding current codes can improve habitability by up to 140% during extreme heat events, a report found.
By Joe Burns • July 28, 2023 -
7 automakers form massive EV charging network joint venture
The collaboration will create one of North America's largest public EV charging networks and include 30,000 high-powered chargers.
By Eric Walz • July 27, 2023 -
Building code, energy code updates face pushback due to cost concerns
Codes that seek to curb emissions and fossil fuel consumption will save money in the long run, supporters say, but builders and facility managers wonder if “the juice is worth the squeeze.”
By Nish Amarnath • July 26, 2023 -
Low-income, disadvantaged communities urged to apply for $7B federal solar grants
The EPA Solar For All competition offers up to 60 grants for solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance like workforce development.
By Diana DiGangi • July 25, 2023 -
Cities can afford more climate projects with new tax incentives: report
Tax credits made available to cities through the Inflation Reduction Act are so significant “that they may warrant a re-evaluation of some previously assessed investment opportunities,” the Alliance for a Sustainable Future report says.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 25, 2023 -
Colorado releases new statewide building energy codes
The standards, set to take effect July 1, will require local municipalities to meet minimum requirements, including electric vehicle and solar panel compatibility.
By Joe Burns • Updated July 25, 2023 -
Vermont delays residential building energy code implementation to July 2024
A legislative committee wants more time to create a state entity to improve international energy conservation code compliance.
By Nish Amarnath • July 24, 2023 -
Northampton mulls adoption of energy efficient opt-in stretch code
The Massachusetts city is weighing the pros and cons of embracing a specialized stretch energy code to dissuade fossil fuel use in new building construction.
By Nish Amarnath • July 24, 2023 -
$90M for greener building energy codes awarded by DOE
“Modernizing energy codes is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses and make communities more resilient to extreme weather events,” the Energy Department said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 14, 2023