Denver adds flexibility to building performance guidelines

Following public input, including some backlash from building owners, the new rules will push back compliance deadlines, remove electrification report requirements and reduce penalty rates, the city said. 

By Joe Burns • April 9, 2025

Housing, utilities, food among top US needs in 2024: United Way survey

“At a moment when individuals and communities need more support, but national and local resources are uncertain,” the survey results can help identify cross-sector solutions, United Way Worldwide CEO Angela Williams said.

By Ryan Kushner • April 2, 2025

America’s aging water infrastructure faces new threats

The U.S. urgently needs to increase funding to shore up facilities, experts say, as climate change and emerging contaminants like PFAS pose growing threats.

By Julie Strupp • April 1, 2025

U.S. infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said.

By Michelle Havich • March 26, 2025

DOE withdraws, postpones multiple appliance energy efficiency rules

“We are returning freedom of choice to the American people,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. Appliance efficiency advocates warn the agency is in “uncharted territory.”

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2025

US infrastructure gets a C, its highest grade ever, in ASCE report card

Infrastructure needs long-term, continuous investment to maintain and continue to improve, however, the civil engineering group said. 

By Michelle M. Havich • March 26, 2025

Mobile servicing and specialized service centers keep public sector fleets in good working order

Local government fleet managers want to keep their vehicles rolling. Fleet service options can help keep vehicles on the road.

By Michael Keating • March 20, 2025

Madison, Wisconsin, benchmarking program to phase in smaller buildings

Continuous benchmarking and system tune-ups can help owners and operators reduce annual energy use and provide cities with necessary information for setting performance targets, experts say.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

Transit agencies continue to add zero-emission buses to their fleets

More than 7,000 full-size battery and fuel cell electric buses are in use or on the way, according to Calstart’s latest report, but shifting federal policies could affect future growth.

By Dan Zukowski • March 14, 2025

Choose from a variety of fuel storage tanks to meet municipal needs

Fuel storage tanks serve a variety of applications in local government, including generator backup, fleets and grounds maintenance.

By Michael Keating • March 13, 2025

EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025

Washington state efficiency standards discouraging gas appliances prevail in federal court

A federal court ruling in Seattle will make it more expensive for builders who prefer to install or support natural gas appliances, critics say.

By David Weisenfeld • March 7, 2025

Massachusetts cuts $500M from state’s energy efficiency program

Eversource Energy thanked state regulators “for listening to customer concerns about affordability and taking the difficult action.”

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2025

Massachusetts to deploy 100 bidirectional EV chargers in first-of-its-kind ‘V2X’ pilot

The program is available for residential, commercial, municipal and school customers and could add 1.5 MW of flexible grid capacity by September 2026, program partners said.

By Brian Martucci • March 5, 2025

EPA $20B funding freeze leaves ‘green bank’ nonprofits unable to pay bills

“Local projects across the country will be unable to move forward without legal intervention” if EPA or Citibank does not unfreeze the funds, a Climate United Fund spokesperson said.

By Diana DiGangi • March 4, 2025

Energy bills are crushing low-income families. Here’s how state and local policymakers can help.

Recent research found that a quarter of low-income households in the U.S. spend more than 15% of their income on energy bills, compared to the overall median of just 2.9%.

By Roxana Ayala • Feb. 28, 2025

IRA tax credit repeal would drive up electricity prices, system costs: reports

Sharply lower deployments of new generating resources could lead to power shortfalls, studies commissioned by a conservative environmental nonprofit and an electricity buyers group found.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 27, 2025

Washington State grants $14.3M for public building retrofits

Twenty-six recipients will use the funds for energy-efficient improvements to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings, the Washington State Department of Commerce says.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2025

Ionna moves forward with EV charging network

The automaker-led joint venture remains committed to rolling out public charging infrastructure, despite the suspension of government funding.

By Larry Avila • Feb. 12, 2025

New York loans Revel $60M to expand NYC public EV charging

The financial arrangement is “an important and replicable precedent” to accelerate electric vehicle charging, NY Green Bank President Andrew Kessler said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 11, 2025

DOT suspends Biden’s $5B electric vehicle charging network effort

Most of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds have already been awarded to states, however, and some observers say the Trump administration cannot end the program with just a memo.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2025

Reconciling induced demand with highway spending — a new way to think about transportation planning

With more than 4.2 million miles of public roads crisscrossing the United States, why does the country continue to pour billions of dollars annually into highway construction, expansion and maintenance?

By Wes Guckert • Feb. 7, 2025

EPA funding freeze endangers $7B Solar For All program

“We don't know how much money got out the door, we don't know how much money the administration can seek to claw back,” said Vote Solar’s executive director, Sachu Constantine.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 7, 2025

E-bike fire crisis won’t be tamed without federal support

Lithium-ion battery fires are causing deadly incidents across the country. Attorney Michael Mezzacappa points to New York as an example of how cities can respond but calls for Congress to take greater action on safety standards.

By Michael Mezzacappa • Feb. 6, 2025