Energy & Utilities
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Permission granted by Carlos Chavez & Schneider Electric
Sponsored by Schneider ElectricNew tax credits are spurring resilience and clean energy shift in cities
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) enables cities to adopt clean energy with new tax credit benefits.
April 15, 2024 -
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5 ways cities can accelerate EV charger deployments equitably
Seek community input, learn from other cities, reduce regulatory barriers and other ideas from participants in the DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities Program.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2024 -
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TrendlineTop 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them in 2024.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
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DOE awards $27M for communities to plan a clean-energy future
This is the first funding round for the Energy Future Grants initiative, which launched last year to help communities plan for transportation and building electrification, microgrids and solar projects.
By Ysabelle Kempe • April 11, 2024 -
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How cities are building out public EV charging infrastructure
As more electric vehicles hit the road, municipalities and property owners are working with contractors to deploy EV chargers at libraries, airports, parks and other sites.
By Joe Burns • April 10, 2024 -
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Rooftop heat pump technologies can save US businesses $5B annually: DOE
A new U.S. Department of Energy program aims to bring higher-efficiency rooftop heat pump technologies to market as soon as 2027.
By Nish Amarnath • April 9, 2024 -
Courtesy of Consensus Digital Media/Purdue University
Indiana DOT, Purdue collaborate on highway that charges EVs
Researchers will embed coils in a quarter-mile stretch of concrete roadway to produce a magnetic field that can recharge vehicles while they drive.
By Matthew Thibault • April 8, 2024 -
Inside the rise of groundwater-based geothermal heat pumps
The technology, which is cost-effective across 75% of the U.S. landmass and ideal for space-constrained users, could eventually displace utility gas service, proponents say.
By Brian Martucci • April 5, 2024 -
Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
These 8 nonprofits got $20B from the Biden administration for local clean energy financing. Now what?
The “green bank” funds must be obligated by September 2024 amid efforts by Republican lawmakers to repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
By Ysabelle Kempe • April 5, 2024 -
AerialPerspective Works via Getty Images
High-priority local actions in Biden’s new plan to slash building GHG emissions
The Department of Energy blueprint lays out specific goals to lower U.S. building emissions 90% by 2050 compared with 2005 levels.
By Ysabelle Kempe • April 3, 2024 -
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OpinionUtilities must come clean about the full value of community solar
Utilities often oppose customer-driven, third-party-owned energy projects like community solar because they threaten to supplant utility investments and utility shareholder profits.
By Jeff Cramer and John Farrell • April 3, 2024 -
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IRS direct pay framework opens doors for tax-exempt entities to access clean energy credits
The U.S. Treasury Department’s final rule for the program paves the way for organizations to receive more than 30% of a project’s cost in direct cash payments for clean energy investments.
By Brian Martucci • April 2, 2024 -
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New Mexico regulators approve El Paso Electric $11M EV plan, including low-income rebates
The rebate program has a total budget of $200,000 and will be available to 50 customers. El Paso Electric will also offer smart charging programs and incentives for charging equipment.
By Robert Walton • April 1, 2024 -
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To chart its path away from gas, Massachusetts launches energy transformation office
Headed by a former utility executive, the office will convene a task force with representatives from utilities, municipalities, business, labor and the supply chain industry.
By Ysabelle Kempe • March 25, 2024 -
Permission granted by InductEV
Wireless charging for electric transit buses: Here’s how it works
Inductive wireless charging avoids the power requirements of depot charging and can be more efficient and cost-effective, said an executive for a wireless EV charging supplier.
By Dan Zukowski • March 25, 2024 -
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Opinion5 tips for building highly utilized curbside EV chargers
Think about EV charger placement and features that provide value to community residents, visitors and business owners, says the president and CEO of EV charging company Volta.
By Brandt Hastings • March 22, 2024 -
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Energy Department’s weakened EV mileage rule allows more gas-engine car sales through 2030
A more aggressive timeline originally proposed by the Biden administration drew pushback from the auto industry.
By Michael Brady • March 20, 2024 -
Courtesy of Skanska
Electrifying construction: Zero-emission compactor piloted on major Los Angeles transit project
After testing an electric excavator on the $9.5 billion Purple Line project in February, contractor Skanska deployed this month one of the first all-electric compactors used on an ongoing U.S. project.
By Zachary Phillips • March 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Veolia
Bidirectional charging could unlock new potential for waste fleet electrification
A recent pilot in the UK could lead to a future where electric trucks can feed energy back into the grid rather than just paying for it. But the U.S. market is still in the early stages of incorporating EV technology.
By David Richardson • March 18, 2024 -
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California regulators approve power line undergrounding program to prevent wildfires
Moving power lines underground can reduce the risk of wildfire ignition by 98%, according to Pacific Gas & Electric, but critics of the practice argue there are cheaper methods.
By Robert Walton • March 14, 2024 -
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New York City bill would mandate solar panels on public buildings
The legislation would prohibit the use of power purchase agreements to meet solar targets, leaving the city to figure out who should handle routine operations and maintenance of the systems.
By Nish Amarnath • March 12, 2024 -
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ASHRAE commercial building code standard now requires on-site renewables
The Energy Department estimates that ASHRAE’s updated Standard 90.1 will drive energy savings nationwide. States have two years to certify that they have reviewed and, if needed, updated their codes.
By Nish Amarnath • March 8, 2024 -
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Building energy code revamps can get another $90M from DOE
More energy-efficient homes can remain habitable longer during extreme heat and cold events, which could save lives, a Department of Energy-commissioned study finds.
By Ysabelle Kempe • March 5, 2024 -
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LA City Council plans to streamline solar, battery installation review process
The move, which echoes a similar initiative in New York City, aims to help Los Angeles reach its goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035.
By Joe Burns • March 5, 2024 -
Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
Fuel cell electric buses up 75% in transit fleets last year
Battery-electric bus fleets also grew last year, but at a slower rate than in 2022, according to Calstart’s annual report on zero-emission buses.
By Dan Zukowski • March 4, 2024 -
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NYC defines ‘green economy,’ projects job growth in new action plan
The 124-page plan released yesterday is the city’s latest signal that it is hungry to be at the center of climate change-related business and workforce growth.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 29, 2024
