Utilities: Page 11
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Opinion
Utilities 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 -
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 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineEnergy Codes and Building Performance Standards
Cities are using these levers to meet climate goals and address everything from data centers to building decarbonization.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
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 -
Metal buildings could solve urgent infrastructure needs for cities and counties
Metal buildings could solve urgent infrastructure needs for cities and counties
By Michael Keating • March 25, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
Opinion
5 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Deep Dive
Congressional action on energy permitting remains stuck, but states, developers are finding solutions
States are resolving local objections to projects through community engagement while transmission developers are making innovative use of existing rights-of-way to bypass permitting logjams.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 29, 2024 -
Local, tribal clean energy projects can tap into $18M from DOE
Microgrids and downtown revitalization efforts that create energy-efficient buildings are potential projects the Department of Energy suggested could be eligible.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 28, 2024 -
Ocean City, Maryland, ‘cannot be bought’: Mayor rejects offshore wind developer’s benefits package
Mayor Rick Meehan said US Wind offered community benefit packages in exchange for local officials refraining from negative comments about the planned renewable energy project.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 28, 2024 -
Utility Con Edison to reward NYC EV charging operators for reducing demand at peak times
Rideshare and fast-charging provider Revel will be the first participant in Consolidated Edison’s new EV charging program. Officials say program incentives should help to lower station operating costs.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Heat pumps would cut energy bills for majority of US homes: NREL research
Even so, “we need work to bring down the cost of installing heat pumps,” said a senior research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 23, 2024 -
EV startup Rivian to lay off 10% of salaried workforce
Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said that Rivian still firmly believes in the full electrification of the automotive industry.
By Michael Brady • Feb. 23, 2024 -
Why Colorado cities don’t want to pay for any of a $2B electric transmission project
The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska and three of its municipal utility members in Colorado contend they won't benefit from the project, which Xcel Energy’s Public Service Co. of Colorado is building.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 22, 2024 -
Building decarbonization guide to be developed by ASHRAE, Noresco
The guide will provide case studies, guidance and key takeaways to help building owners and operators establish robust plans and feel confident in their decarbonization endeavors, says the chair of the guide’s working group.
By Nish Amarnath • Feb. 21, 2024