Why and how to partner with your electric company

Smart Cities Council Chairman Jesse Berst explains why the local power utility is the best collaborator and supporter in the progression towards becoming a smarter city.

By Jesse Berst • March 25, 2019

Experiment without penalty: Can regulatory ‘sandboxes’ foster utility innovation?

The sandbox concept allows innovators to experiment without the usual regulatory impediments and long delays associated with traditional oversight, writes Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Brien Sheahan.

By Brien J. Sheahan and Jimmie Zhang • March 21, 2019

Report: San Francisco has the most solar jobs in the nation

California remained the top state for solar, with 76,838 jobs. Eight of the top 10 counties for solar jobs are also in California.

By Jason Plautz • March 21, 2019

Recycling plant’s closure forces nearby governments to suspend recycling services

Recycling plant’s closure forces nearby governments to suspend recycling services

By Jason Axelrod • March 20, 2019

Smart Cities Council announces winners of 2019 Readiness Challenge

The five winners will each receive year-long guidance on how to turn their smart city visions into reality.

By Chris Teale • Updated April 22, 2019

Smart Electric Power Alliance launches EV research program

Members of the Transportation Electrification program will work to ensure EVs' long-term success, with the likes of Ford involved in the effort.

By Chris Teale • March 13, 2019

Kansas City, MO pledges carbon-free government by next year

The city council voted unanimously to get its electricity from renewable sources as well as develop a community solar farm and buy more electric vehicles.

By Chris Teale • March 13, 2019

New resource library helps cities boost buildings’ energy efficiency

The scalable guidelines from the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council are based on results from strategies tested in 20 U.S. cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 4, 2019

The art of transformation

Publicly-run mural programs are fighting blight, creating identity and fostering community in cities.

By Jason Axelrod • March 4, 2019

How new ideas of mobility will shape public EV charging infrastructure

The future of mobility will be autonomous and electric, with more people opting not to own a vehicle. That means ride- and car-sharing services will need to play a role in helping utilities roll out charging infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2019

Are city climate goals too ambitious? Leaders worry about compressed timelines

During a WRI-hosted media briefing, some city sustainability leaders expressed concern that it may be too late to deal with the worst effects of climate change.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 28, 2019

Massachusetts house speaker introduces plan to allocate $1B for green infrastructure

The plan would give communities easier access to funds to install energy storage, solar grids, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 27, 2019

Bloomberg-backed accelerator to help cities meet renewable energy goals

The American Cities Climate Challenge Renewables Accelerator looks to help cities generate 2.8 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 26, 2019

Seattle mayor proposes EV readiness requirement for all new buildings

Jenny Durkan said they should be equipped for EV charging, and a certain number of new parking spaces must have the wiring and outlets to be ready for chargers.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 21, 2019

Los Angeles scraps plan to rebuild 3 gas plants

The decision, which follows efforts to pursue an all-clean energy strategy by 2045, marks the end of a multi-year debate over the plan to invest $2.2 billion in gas-fired power plants.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2019

Google Fiber to leave Louisville, KY after installation setbacks

The company called its departure a "tough decision," with service to be deactivated on April 15 after a new construction method caused issues on city streets.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 11, 2019

Green New Deal resolution calls for 100% zero-carbon power within 10 years

The plan would reportedly also call for a phase out of nuclear energy, which provides more than half of the zero-carbon electricity in the U.S. today.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2019

Michigan governor cites extreme weather in signing clean energy order

Gretchen Whitmer, D, committed the state to the U.S. emissions reduction target under the Paris Climate Agreement, noting the urgency of her actions in the context of extreme weather events last week.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 6, 2019

As solar-plus-storage surges, can smart devices help overcome deployment barriers?

As utilities move to reap the benefits of solar-plus-storage, manufacturing and interconnection barriers threaten to impede growth.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2019

VC funding for storage, smart grid and efficiency companies almost doubled last year

Companies raised a combined $2.8 billion across the three areas in 2018,compared to $1.5 billion raised in 2017, driven by a steep rise in energy efficiency interest.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2019

A new lease on life for Holyoke, MA’s former coal-fired power plant

The Mount Tom Station was recently replaced by a solar farm with a three-megawatt battery storage system and 17,000 solar panels — the state's largest.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 22, 2019

Colorado Gov Polis’ first executive order advances transportation electrification

The benefits of vehicle electrification will only increase as the state moves toward establishing a 100% renewable energy mandate, Polis said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 18, 2019

EPA won’t freeze fuel economy standards as Wheeler faces confirmation vote

News of EPA's policy shift came during a testy nomination hearing where the acting administrator faced pressure from activists and Democrat senators on climate change. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 17, 2019

San Francisco considering municipal utility as PG&E prepares bankruptcy filing

The city government's retail water and power provider is planning for when PG&E files for Chapter 11 protections, "including possibility of acquiring or building electrical infrastructure assets."

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 15, 2019

Bloomberg names final 5 American Cities Climate Challenge winners

Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX; Denver; Orlando, FL; and San Antonio will participate in the two-year acceleration program as part of a 25-city cohort.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 14, 2019