AI Firms Are Getting Creative as They Scramble for Energy
AI firms are scrambling for power as utility interconnections lag behind soaring compute demand, prompting a wave of on‑site energy projects. Companies like Crusoe and Oracle have signed multi‑billion‑dollar contracts for jet‑engine turbines and fuel‑cell arrays, treating electricity as a core infrastructure asset. At the same time, startups are pitching sea‑based buoys and space‑solar beaming as futuristic power sources, though many remain experimental. The immediate result is a rise in localized emissions and a growing regulatory debate over the environmental impact of these behind‑the‑meter solutions.
Minnesota Now Has a Wind-Powered Green Ammonia Plant
The University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center commissioned a wind‑powered green ammonia plant near Morris, capable of producing several hundred kilograms of anhydrous ammonia each day. The facility uses wind‑driven electrolyzers to generate hydrogen and nitrogen, combining...
Want a Job Drilling for Geothermal? A Northeast Training Hub Is Coming.
The nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team and the Geothermal Drillers Association are launching the nation’s first Geothermal Drilling Center of Excellence in Framingham, Massachusetts, backed by a $1.2 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The center will expand the...
New QCells Plant Doubles Current US Capacity to Make Solar Cells
Qcells has launched commercial silicon‑cell production at its Cartersville, Georgia facility, the largest U.S. plant of its kind. The integrated site will reach 3.3 GW capacity, more than doubling the nation’s existing solar‑cell output of roughly 3 GW. The factory combines silicon...
Pioneering Grid Battery Nudges California Closer to 24/7 Clean Energy
The Tumbleweed project in Kern County became the first U.S. utility‑scale battery capable of eight‑hour discharge, doubling the duration of typical storage. Built by Rev Renewables, the 125 MW facility now delivers 75 MW to California Community Power and 50 MW to Ava Community...
Why Is Massachusetts Sitting on $64M in EV-Charger Funding?
Massachusetts has yet to install any electric‑vehicle chargers on its major highways despite receiving $64 million in federal NEVI funding. The state selected three vendors two years ago, but only Applegreen and Global Partners have signed contracts, while the third vendor remains...
Ohio Has Blocked a Lot of Wind and Solar. Its Residents Pay the Price.
Ohio’s courts and regulators have stalled more than 5.3 GW of wind and solar projects over the past decade, including a partial reversal of the Oak Run 800‑MW solar permit. State laws such as the 2014 setback rule and Senate Bill 52...
House Passes Bipartisan Measures to Speed Geothermal Energy Projects
The U.S. House approved a bipartisan package of six geothermal permitting bills, including the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 5631). The measures create an interior‑agency ombudsman, grant categorical exclusions, set 60‑day permit reviews, clarify royalty rules, publish best‑practice guides, and allow...
Indiana Coal Plant that Trump Forced to Stay Open Is Not Operating
The Department of Energy, under the Trump administration, issued a 90‑day emergency order forcing Indiana’s R.M. Schahfer coal plant to remain operational despite its scheduled retirement. The plant has been offline for repairs since February and is not expected to...
Thanks to Two New Laws, More Virginians Can Save with Community Solar
Virginia enacted two new statutes requiring Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to add 525 MW and 100 MW of shared‑solar capacity, respectively, expanding community‑solar options for households and farms. The laws build on the 2020 Clean Economy Act and a 2024 measure,...
Voters in 9 States Will Pick the People Overseeing Their Power Bills
The 2026 election cycle brings utility commissioner races to nine states, where voters will directly choose the officials who set electricity rates and approve power projects. Republicans currently dominate elected seats on state public utility commissions, but recent Democratic wins...
As Geothermal Networks Grow, so Does the Call for a New Utility Model
Massachusetts is poised to create a dedicated geothermal utility model. A new bill would establish a "thermal commons" and a commission to define ownership of subsurface heat, while Eversource proposes a flat‑fee pricing structure—$10 per month plus $14.95 per ton...
Charge Your Car at Menards? Its Illinois Stores Are Adding EV Ports.
Menards, the Midwest’s third‑largest home‑improvement chain, is teaming with JOJO Superfast EV Charging and XCharge North America to install public electric‑vehicle chargers at nine Illinois locations. Two suburban Chicago stores already host four dual‑port units, allowing eight cars to charge...
The Grid Is in Better Shape This Summer. Thank Solar and Batteries.
The North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) reports that the U.S. grid is better positioned for the 2026 heat wave, thanks to a surge in solar and battery installations rather than aging coal plants. Since last summer, 30.5 GW of solar...
This AI Tool Helps Community Solar Developers Connect to the Grid Sooner
MeanderX, an AI‑driven platform launched last year, now serves developers in the service territories of more than 20 investor‑owned utilities across eight states, including ConEd, Xcel and Ameren Illinois. The tool scrapes publicly available utility data to provide live tracking...