24/7 Renewables Could Happen Sooner than You Think
A new IRENA report shows that combining solar, wind and battery storage can deliver firm, 24‑hour electricity at costs that already undercut new coal or gas plants in many high‑resource locations. In China, modeled solar‑battery sites achieve as low as $46 per megawatt‑hour, while Brazil, South Africa and the Persian Gulf are also nearing fossil‑fuel parity. The United States lags, with Nevada’s best‑case cost at $113/MWh today but projected to fall to $77/MWh by 2030. The findings signal a shift toward large‑scale hybrid renewable megaprojects and give corporate buyers like Google a viable path to 24/7 clean power.
This Vermont Town Embraced a Wind Farm. Solar Is a Different Story.
Northland Solar is seeking permits to build a nearly 5‑megawatt solar farm on a 44‑acre hayfield in Lowell, Vermont, a town that previously embraced a 63‑megawatt wind project. Local residents, the select board, a school and a cemetery have rallied...
How Big Can Solar Go? These 3 Projects Show Us the Gigascale Future
Solar developers are now pursuing gigawatt‑scale plants, reshaping the renewable landscape. India’s Adani Green Energy is building the 30 GW Khavda Renewable Energy Park, combining solar, wind and a 1.1 GW battery. China’s Talatan Solar Park in Qinghai already delivers around 17 GW...
Ohio Utilities Report Subpar Grid Reliability as They Seek a Lower Bar
In 2025, four of Ohio’s six regulated electric utilities failed to meet state‑mandated reliability targets, marking the tenth consecutive year at least one utility fell short. FirstEnergy’s three Ohio utilities and Duke Energy Ohio, serving roughly 2.9 million customers, have filed...
Soaring Gas Prices Have Drivers Turning to EVs — Except in the US
Rising gasoline prices triggered by the Iran war have spurred a sharp jump in electric‑vehicle (EV) purchases across Europe, where sales rose 27% in April year‑over‑year. The surge is driven by cheap Chinese EV imports priced around $25,000, a segment...
The World Is Installing Grid Batteries at a Blistering Pace
In 2025, 112 GW of grid‑scale batteries were installed worldwide, a ten‑fold increase from 2021 and a 48% rise over 2024. China contributed more than half of that capacity, while the United States added 16%. Australia, the United Kingdom and sub‑Saharan...
Mid-Sized Solar Could Help Bring Down Electricity Bills in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is grappling with rising electricity demand from data centers and limited new capacity, prompting interest in mid-sized solar projects that sit between utility farms and rooftop arrays. Around 2,100 such projects are in the pipeline, including a recent 4.9 MW...
Balcony Solar Bill Dies in Illinois After Union Voices Opposition
Illinois lawmakers abandoned Senate Bill 3104, which would have cleared the way for plug‑in balcony solar panels, after a union‑driven amendment raised safety concerns. The amendment would ban all such panels until the National Electrical Code updates, a change not...
250+ Onshore Wind Projects Stalled as Pentagon Freezes Permitting
The U.S. Department of Defense has halted its routine permitting reviews for onshore wind projects on private land, creating a de‑facto moratorium that affects more than 250 projects nationwide. The pause threatens roughly 30 GW of potential generation capacity, according to...
Maine’s Community Solar Boom Is Going Bust
Community solar in Maine, once the nation’s most intensive per‑capita, has stalled after a 2025 law eliminated net‑energy billing for new projects and imposed new fees on existing installations. The change halted development, prompting developers to cancel pending projects and...
We Bet You Can’t Guess Which States Rely Most on Wind and Solar Power
According to the American Clean Power Association, Iowa, South Dakota and New Mexico led U.S. states in 2025 by obtaining the highest shares of electricity from wind and solar—61%, 59% and about 50% respectively. Iowa’s mix is dominated by wind,...
Europe’s Quest for Green Steel
Europe is racing to decarbonize its steel industry by replacing coal with green hydrogen, a shift led by Sweden’s Hybrit joint venture and other pilots such as Stegra. The new direct‑reduction process can slash CO₂ emissions from roughly 1.8 t per...
Resident-Led Campaign Fails to Reverse Ohio County’s Ban on Renewables
Residents of Richland County, Ohio, voted 53% to 47% to retain a July 2023 ban on utility‑scale solar and wind projects across 11 of the county’s 18 townships. Turnout was about 30%, underscoring modest voter participation. The ban, permitted by a...
Tesla Semis Are About to Hit the Road. That’s Good News for California.
Tesla has begun high‑volume production of its Semi at the Sparks, Nevada plant, delivering a Class 8 electric truck with up to 500 miles range and a median price just under $300,000. California’s HVIP program received 965 voucher applications for the Semi,...
Offshore Wind Firm that Took Trump Payout Hits a Milestone in Europe
Ocean Winds, the Engie‑EDP joint venture, announced that its 30‑MW floating offshore wind farm off southern France has started delivering electricity to the French grid, marking a key milestone for deep‑water wind technology. The company simultaneously abandoned two U.S. offshore...
Top US Nuclear Regulator Is Rewriting Its Rules for New Era of Reactors
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is rewriting its rules under the 2024 ADVANCE Act, which expands the agency’s mission to weigh the risks of delaying nuclear power alongside radiation safety. The overhaul follows a series of Trump‑era executive orders that...
For Cheaper Power, Virginia’s Local Utilities Build Small Grid Batteries
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Power Agency is commissioning five 5‑megawatt battery systems that will go live this summer, projected to save member utilities about $100 million over a 20‑year horizon. Lightshift Energy, the developer, highlights its ability to move from contract to...
Hydropower Is in Hot Water. Will Trump’s DOE Release Funding to Help?
U.S. hydropower, which supplied nearly 6% of electricity in 2025, faces a licensing crunch as hundreds of aging dams—averaging 65 years old—require costly upgrades or risk shutdown. The Biden administration earmarked $430 million from the 2021 infrastructure law for safety, grid‑resilience,...
Used EVs Are on the Upswing in America
U.S. new electric‑vehicle sales have stalled, while the used EV market is booming. Cox Automotive reports a 34% jump in used EV sales in 2025 as lease returns swell, with 300,000 EVs expected to hit the secondary market in 2026....
New Winter Rates Saved at Least $37M for Massachusetts Heat-Pump Owners
Massachusetts introduced seasonal electricity rates that discount winter power for heat‑pump owners, saving more than 140,000 households about $37 million—roughly $250 per home—between November and March. The rates trim the delivery charge by 4.3 to 7.5 cents per kilowatt‑hour, a relief...
America’s Big New Aluminum Smelter Is Still Waiting on a Power Deal
The United Arab Emirates‑based Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum are moving ahead with a $4 billion, 750,000‑metric‑ton annual aluminum smelter in Oklahoma, the first new U.S. primary smelter since 1980. The plant would more than double domestic capacity but hinges...
Two California Bills Would Push Utilities to Get More Out of Their Grids
California lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 1975 and Senate Bill 905 to force PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric to measure and improve grid utilization, especially during peak demand periods. The bills aim to shift reliance from...
A New Bill Would Help VPPs Replace Peaker Plants in California
A California Senate bill, SB 913, would let virtual power plants (VPPs) compete with fossil‑fuel peaker plants by counting customer‑owned batteries, EVs and smart devices toward resource adequacy. The legislation passed the Senate Energy Committee and now heads toward a...
Local Policies to Get Buildings Off Gas Keep Winning in Court
Federal courts across the United States are consistently upholding local policies that require new buildings to be all‑electric, despite the 2023 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down Berkeley, California's gas‑ban ordinance. In six post‑Berkeley lawsuits, judges have rejected the Energy...
US Battery Startup Builds Factory in China After Nixing Kentucky Plant
EnerVenue, a Silicon Valley battery startup, abandoned a planned $264 million Kentucky factory and redirected $300 million of new funding to build a manufacturing line in Changzhou, China. The company claims its nickel‑hydrogen batteries can deliver 30,000 cycles, superior fire safety, and...
Why Are Blue States Scapegoating Energy Efficiency?
Democratic‑led states including Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are proposing steep cuts to energy‑efficiency programs as a quick fix for soaring utility bills. Maryland’s legislation would lower emissions targets and promise roughly $150 in annual savings per household, while Massachusetts...
Virginia’s New Law Blocks Counties From Banning Solar
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a law that voids county‑wide bans on large solar farms, taking effect on July 1. While local governments can still deny permits, they must now provide written justification to state regulators. The measure supports the...
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal in Ohio Utility Bribery Case
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, leaving their federal racketeering convictions intact. Their case stemmed from the HB 6 scandal, in which FirstEnergy secured over $1 billion in...
Trump Is Blocking Solar for Farmers. Can the Farm Bill Fix That?
President Donald Trump halted the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), freezing nearly $1 billion in promised funds, canceling a key application window and imposing strict limits on ground‑mounted solar and foreign‑made panels. The House Farm Bill, slated for a...
Fossil Fuel Promoters Tied to Campaign to Keep Ohio County Renewable Ban
Richland County, Ohio, is voting on a May 5 referendum to overturn a ban that blocks utility‑scale wind and solar projects in 11 of its 18 townships. The pro‑ban campaign is led by Richland Farmland Preservation, which spent over $12,400 on...
Duke Energy’s Proactive Grid Upgrades Under Fire From Electric Co-Ops
Duke Energy is proactively upgrading poles and wires in North Carolina to clear space for up to 3.7 GW of new solar, spreading the $57 million cost across all ratepayers rather than charging developers fully. Electric cooperatives, which purchase wholesale power from...
Which Countries Lead the Way on Nuclear Energy?
Global nuclear power is entering a resurgence, with the United States still topping electricity output but China rapidly expanding its reactor fleet. China now operates 60 reactors and is constructing roughly 36 more, positioning it to overtake the U.S. by...
An Ohio Court May OK Fracking-Waste Wells Despite Pollution Concerns
A Franklin County Court of Appeals magistrate has recommended dismissing a lawsuit filed by Buckeye Environmental Network that challenges two fracking‑waste injection wells proposed by DeepRock Disposal Solutions in Washington County, Ohio. The court reasoned the state had no clear...
San Francisco Helps Home Child Care Centers Wean Off Gas
San Francisco’s Environment Department has launched a $300,000 pilot to replace gas water heaters with electric heat‑pump units at up to 30 home‑based child‑care centers in low‑income neighborhoods. The program, funded by a Clean California Quick Start Grant and administered...
Why Smartphone Cameras Could Unlock Cheaper, Faster Rooftop Solar
U.S. jurisdictions are increasingly adopting smartphone‑based virtual inspections to streamline rooftop solar permitting. Maryland counties report faster follow‑up inspections, while California legislators back bills extending remote checks to heat pumps and water heaters. Early adopters such as Pima County and...
A New Thermal Battery Could Help This Minnesota Campus Electrify Heat
The University of Minnesota, Morris, which already generates more wind power than it consumes, has launched a pilot thermal‑battery project with Cache Energy. The containerized unit converts excess electricity into 1,000 °F heat, supplying continuous steam‑heat to a large campus workshop...
The World Is Embracing Offshore Wind — Even as the US Retreats
Global offshore wind capacity grew 16% in 2025, adding over 9 GW to bring the total to about 92 GW worldwide, while the United States has stalled under the Trump administration’s leasing freeze. Europe and Asia are accelerating projects, with the United...
Are Long-Promised Solar Perovskites Finally Hitting Mass Production?
Startup Tandem PV has opened a 65,000‑sq‑ft automated factory in Fremont, California, to mass‑produce perovskite‑coated glass panels that raise solar‑cell efficiency from roughly 22% to about 30%. The line already outputs panels 60 times larger than its laboratory cells and has...
As Utility Costs Rise, Can ‘Background’ Smart Thermostats Offer Relief?
Smart thermostats are increasingly used by utilities for demand‑response, but a growing number also shift household temperatures autonomously to avoid peak‑price rates. In Arizona, Salt River Project partnered with Renew Home’s Energy Shift program, finding that 28,500 homes reduced peak...
Tiny North Carolina Town Takes a Big Step Toward Geothermal Energy
Enfield, North Carolina secured a $300,000 seed grant to launch a shallow‑geothermal thermal energy network that will heat, cool and provide hot water to a new 34‑unit affordable‑housing development. The pilot is part of a larger $5 million plan to eventually...
Battery Recycling Still Isn’t Easy. Just Ask Ascend Elements.
Ascend Elements, a battery‑disassembly startup that launched a plant near Atlanta in 2023 and is building a Kentucky facility, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 9 after losing $274 million in federal grants and facing delayed buyer commitments. The collapse reflects broader...
What to Know Before You Get Balcony Solar
Plug‑in balcony solar, a DIY system that plugs into a standard 120‑volt outlet, is poised to hit U.S. markets as states adopt supportive legislation. Utah led the way in 2025, and six other states are now considering similar bills, while...
China Exports a Ton of Cleantech — and the World Is Poised to Want More
China remains the world’s leading producer of solar panels, batteries and wind‑turbine equipment, and it is rapidly expanding exports of electric vehicles and batteries, especially to Europe. Despite EU tariffs introduced in October 2024, Chinese EVs captured 9% of EU...
Vermont’s First Neighborhood Geothermal Project Prepares to Break Ground
Vermont Gas and nonprofit developers are set to break ground on the state’s first neighborhood‑scale geothermal heating and cooling system at the Riggs Meadow affordable‑housing project in Hinesburg. The scheme will serve 36 residential units and an on‑site childcare center...
What to Expect as Ohio Utility Corruption Trial Heads for a Do-Over
A Ohio judge declared a mistrial after a hung jury in the criminal case against former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and senior VP Michael Dowling, prompting a retrial set for Sept. 28. The state charges center on a $4.3 million bribe to...
California Bill Would Limit EV-Charging Access in Affordable Housing
California requires new multifamily developments to include EV‑charging outlets for residents with parking, a policy hailed as the nation’s most equitable. A February‑introduced bill, AB 2748, would suspend this requirement for affordable‑housing projects until at least 2036, reverting to the...
This Ohio County Put a Ban on Wind and Solar. Will Voters Reverse It?
Richland County, Ohio, used Senate Bill 52 to ban large‑scale wind and solar projects in 11 of its 18 townships last July. A grassroots coalition gathered thousands of signatures to place a referendum on the May 5, 2026 primary ballot, letting voters...
Data Centers Are on the Ballot in 2026 — and Just Failed the First Test
AI‑driven demand is spurring a wave of new data‑center construction, but communities are pushing back. In Port Washington, Wisconsin, voters approved a measure requiring voter approval before granting tax breaks to data‑center projects, a direct response to a $15 billion OpenAI‑Oracle...
In a First, Renewables Beat Natural Gas on US Grid Last Month
U.S. electricity generation in March 2026 saw renewables outpace natural gas for the first full month, according to data from Ember. Solar and wind together supplied more megawatt‑hours than gas, while emissions‑free sources accounted for just over half of total...
AES Pulls Out of San Diego Area Battery Project After Local Opposition
AES Corp. withdrew its application for the 320 MW Seguro battery project in Escondido, California, after intense local opposition. The site, slated to sit within 1,600 feet of Palomar Medical Center and nearby homes, raised safety concerns following recent lithium‑ion battery fires...