Energy & Utilities

Washington, DC, is 'ideally poised for electrification,' Sierra Club finds. The city's gas utility disagrees.

Renewable natural gas and green hydrogen could help the nation's capital avoid costly electric grid upgrades, according to Washington Gas.

By Robert Walton • May 13, 2022

California approves $11.7M vehicle-to-grid pilots in PG&E footprint

The programs will support the build-out of bidirectional charging equipment, which regulators say can provide broader resiliency benefits.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated May 9, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Vehicle 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

The race to add more public EV chargers

To meet President Biden's goal for half of all U.S. vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2030, the country will need 20 times more EV chargers. To support those ambitions, companies are developing innovative charging technologies.

By Dan Zukowski • April 28, 2022

Latest UN climate change report shines new light on well-documented urban mitigation strategies

Cities must push harder to decarbonize buildings and transform transportation norms, the report suggests, as the next three years are critical if the world is to change the course of global warming.

By Maria Rachal • April 5, 2022

Gatik signals start of 'hyper-growth' phase with EV partnership

The autonomous middle-mile delivery operator is set to team up with ChargePoint to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across its North American locations.

By Kate Magill • April 1, 2022

Nearly $45B for climate and clean energy included in Biden's proposed budget

It calls for investments in zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure so federal agencies can provide "immediate, clear, and stable" demand. There are also carveouts for electrifying low-income homes.

By Ethan Howland • March 29, 2022

Boston moves to convert its charming but costly gas lamps to LEDs

The city is in the midst of a community engagement process to convert 2,800 of its remaining gas lamps  — which are 4% of the city's streetlights but 37% of its streetlight emissions — to LEDs in a bid to support climate goals.

By Cailin Crowe • March 25, 2022

Low-income Flint residents and others in Michigan to benefit from utility's energy efficiency program expansion

The expanded gas and electric efficiency programs are "a critical step towards fighting energy inequality" in the state, Earthjustice Senior Attorney Chinyere Osuala said.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2022

Washington state legislators again mandate 100% electric new car sales by 2030

The target is the most ambitious in the U.S. and was included in a broader $16.9 billion transportation package that is now headed to Gov. Inslee’s desk.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 14, 2022

Fullerton, California, to fund smart city projects with energy savings

The $8.4 million energy efficiency project is expected to save the city $12.1 million and support the implementation of technology like LED streetlights. 

By Cailin Crowe • March 7, 2022

Biden touts charging network expansion in State of the Union amid 85% jump in 2021 US EV sales

During his speech to Congress, President Joe Biden highlighted plans for a 500,000-charger national network supported by the federal government as EV sales surge and the market prepares for a flood of federal funding.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2022

As Biden plans EV charger rollout, location questions take the fore

From Denver to Seattle, cities are placing charging stations in under-resourced neighborhoods. The efforts could guide state plans that must meet equity goals to qualify for federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funds.

By Jason Plautz • March 2, 2022

Making corporate net-zero rhetoric real in 2022

Businesses' net-zero commitments are new promises to do good for broader society, going far beyond the company's own operations, the authors write. 

By Chris Deri and Sasha Mackler • March 1, 2022

Revisiting California's natural gas hookup subsidies

California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.

By Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 23, 2022

Dozens of lawmakers press Biden to prioritize appliance efficiency standard updates

There were 28 standards in need of review when President Joe Biden took office, and more deadlines are approaching. "The scale of the rulemaking task ahead is challenging," warned more than 50 lawmakers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2022

Louisville eyes forming public electric utility to meet climate goals

Its goal of achieving 100% clean energy communitywide by 2040 does not match the decarbonization plans of its current energy provider, leading the city to look for alternatives.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 11, 2022

States must develop EV infrastructure plans to access $5B in federal funding: DOE, DOT

Federal officials on Thursday unveiled the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program that will make $615 million available to states in fiscal year 2022. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2022

The number of natural gas customers will continue to rise, even as US decarbonizes: AGA report

While some cities have banned new gas hookups, efficient gas appliances are one key to ensuring an equitable transition to a net-zero carbon economy, according to the American Gas Association.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2022

Electric truck deployments could jump tenfold as interest surges, study says

Zero-emission truck deployments are heavily concentrated in California, New York and Texas. 

By Jim Stinson • Feb. 8, 2022

Turning ambitious decarbonization goals into reality requires an integrated approach

The truth is that establishing aggressive decarbonization targets is the easy part for city leaders. Far more challenging is setting the policies, strategies, budgets and responsibilities needed to make steady progress toward deep decarbonization.

Jan. 31, 2022

8 trends shaping cities in 2022

Cities continue to confront challenges surrounding the pandemic, the climate crisis, rising inequality and public safety this year.

By Cailin Crowe, Danielle McLean, Maria Rachal, Dan Zukowski and Jason Plautz • Jan. 26, 2022

Resiliency remains key as electric sector becomes 'tip of the spear' for decarbonization, trade group leaders say

The industry is facing new and old issues in 2022, according to experts at the U.S. Energy Association’s 2022 State of the Energy Industry Forum, including supply chain, labor, cybersecurity and reliability challenges.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 25, 2022

White House forms coalition with local governments to pursue building performance policies

In a federal show of support for locally led decarbonization and retrofitting efforts, the coalition will cover nearly 20% of the U.S. building footprint and aims to advance legislation or regulation over the next two years.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 24, 2022

DOE, DOT scramble to hire 'Energy Corps,' roll out EV charging network

The first chargers in a $7.5 billion national network could be deployed this year. The federal government is hiring thousands of new employees to support it and other clean energy programs.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2022

Creative financing needed to boost EV charging infrastructure: DOE

As the White House aims to roll out a network of 500,000 EV chargers, a speaker at the National EV Charging Summit said public dollars alone can't meet Biden's 2030 goal for half of passengers vehicle sales to be EVs. 

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 21, 2022