Building & Transportation Electrification


  • Autoworkers assemble a battery pack for an electric vehicle at the Volkswagen Group's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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    Courtesy of Volkswagen Group
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    Tennessee university to receive federal funding for EV battery recycling project

    Tennessee Tech University will develop a mobile preprocessing hub for EV batteries as part of a $4.8M DOE grant. It’s part of a larger federal effort to improve EV battery recycling economics, a priority for the outgoing Biden administration.

    By Megan Quinn • Dec. 3, 2024
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    Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    EPRI, Kraken advance DER interoperability standards to boost virtual power plant deployment

    “Without interoperability standards, VPPs cannot reach scalability, affordability, and reliability as soon or as efficiently as they will be needed,” said Arshad Mansoor, CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
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    Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Building Electrification

    Decarbonization goals are spurring building electrication efforts across the U.S. While the use of heat pumps and other technologies is expanding, some policies are facing legal challenges.

    By Utility Dive staff
  • Rivian R2 reveal
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    Phillip Faraone via Getty Images
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    Rivian lands conditional $6.6B loan from the Department of Energy

    The funds would revive construction of the company’s electric vehicle factory in Georgia.

    By Larry Avila • Nov. 27, 2024
  • Transmission towers in fog at dawn.
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    Andrei Ksenzhuk via Getty Images
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    2024 Elections

    2024 election: US electric power sector impacts

    The U.S. energy transition continues, but the shape and pace of change will be significantly impacted by the results of the federal election — for some issues more than others.

    By , , Robert Walton , Nov. 27, 2024
  • A Freightliner eCascadia at Electric Island
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    Courtesy of Daimler Trucks North America
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    North Carolina microgrid EV charging hub is a model for fleet electrification, Duke Energy says

    The microgrid, which includes solar, hydrogen, battery storage and other types of generation, includes six total fleet charging stations, ranging from 120 kW to 300 kW, and two level 2 chargers.

    By Nov. 22, 2024
  • A cityscape with sustainable buildings that include solar panels, wind turbines and green roofs
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    Eoneren via Getty Images
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    USGBC releases tool to bridge gap between sustainability targets and outcomes in buildings

    The digital platform is intended to help organizations meet reporting requirements and sustainability goals related to emissions, energy, water and waste, the U.S. Green Building Council said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Aerial shot of roads running through a dense urban area on the waterfront
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    Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images
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    Thermal energy networks can decarbonize neighborhoods. Meet the US cities giving them a shot.

    With federal dollars, cities want to leverage heat from waste sources and the ground to move buildings away from burning fossil fuels on-site.

    By Brian Martucci • Nov. 20, 2024
  • Two people stand next to flames in a barbecue with their hands stretched out over the fire. One person is wrapped in a blanket.
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    Go Nakamura via Getty Images
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    Heat pumps could save these Texas households money, reduce grid strain: ACEEE

    The state should focus on deploying heat pumps in homes that currently use inefficient electric resistance heaters, say the authors of a paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 13, 2024
  • President-elect Donald Trump giving the thumbs-up against a background of U.S. flags.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    2024 Elections

    What Trump’s energy plans could mean for commercial building efficiency and sustainability

    Building operators using Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives “will be talking with their senators and representatives to express the need to keep these in place,” a U.S. Green Building Council official said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Nov. 12, 2024
  • Rivian R2 LG Energy Solution cylindrical battery
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    Provided by Rivian

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    Rivian locks in 5-year battery deal with LG Energy Solution

    The U.S.-based electric vehicle maker’s agreement shores up its domestic supply chain.

    By Larry Avila • Nov. 12, 2024
  • As part of a maintenance check, a service engineer inspects the solar cell on a building roof for a damaged part.
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    NewSaetiew via Getty Images
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    DOE earmarks nearly $150M for 67 clean tech projects at federal facilities

    The Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies program grants will save a combined $41.7 million in energy and water costs annually, the Energy Department said.

    By Brian Martucci • Nov. 11, 2024
  • Industrial background group silhouette of transmission towers (or power tower, electricity pylon, steel lattice tower) at suburb area in Texas, USA.
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    Trong Nguyen via Getty Images
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    Transmission is ‘best low-risk, high-growth’ way to play the AI-energy boom, says Sempra CEO

    Sempra utility Oncor says it could be selected to build a “significant portion” of more than $13 billion in transmission projects planned for the Permian Basin of Texas through 2038.

    By Nov. 7, 2024
  • A blue transparent car with a green cylinder battery with a bright yellow lightning bold in its center, with a black background.
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    Just_Super for iStock via Getty Images
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    DOE awards Moment Energy $20.3M to repurpose used EV batteries for energy storage systems

    Moment plans to break ground early next year on a 1-GWh Texas factory, which would be “the first UL1974 Certified manufacturing facility in the U.S. dedicated to repurposing EV batteries,” the company said.

    By Brian Martucci • Nov. 6, 2024
  • President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    2024 Elections

    Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue

    Trump’s victory means a Republican will be selected to lead FERC, which will likely work to rein in transmission incentives, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program.

    By Nov. 6, 2024
  • A photo illustration of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump shoulder to shoulder facing away from each other. The background is a purple wave with a grid gradient.
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    Photo illustration: Industry Dive; Joe Readle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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    2024 Elections

    As US EV sales growth slows, election results could reverse or reinforce the trend

    U.S. electric vehicle sales are rising, though the rate of growth has declined in the past year. The next president can continue support for purchase incentives or seek to cut the popular tax credit, experts say.

    By Oct. 31, 2024
  • An exterior view of a Tesla showroom.
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    Courtesy of Tesla Inc.
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    Tesla energy storage deployments to double in 2024: CFO

    Residential Powerwall deployments hit a record for the second quarter in a row as Tesla targets 100 GWh in annual stationary storage shipments, company executives said.

    By Brian Martucci • Oct. 28, 2024
  • A map of the Smackover Formation region in the U.S., including the area sampled by the U.S. Geological Survey.
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    Retrieved from U.S. Geological Survey.
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    Arkansas could be a lithium treasure trove

    The state’s Smackover Formation region may contain up to 19 million tons of the critical mineral, more than enough to meet projected global demand in 2030.

    By Kate Magill • Oct. 28, 2024
  • A street lined with trees, cars and manufactured homes
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    eyecrave productions via Getty Images
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    What does it take to electrify, decarbonize a manufactured home community?

    A community-scale retrofit project in Colorado offers a path toward lowering power bills for a population that faces high levels of energy insecurity.

    By Leslie Nemo • Oct. 25, 2024
  • Mainspring Linear Generator
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    Courtesy of ABM Industries Incorporated
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    ABM to integrate Mainspring Energy’s power generation tool to strengthen EV charging solutions

    ABM’s EV charging services for fleet operators include design, engineering and installation, microgrids and power storage and on-site proactive maintenance.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 25, 2024
  • A facade of HouseZero retrofitted from a pre-1940s house into a prototype office building.
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    Retrieved from Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities on October 22, 2024
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    Building retrofit data sheds light on energy efficiency: Harvard study

    A two-year dataset on a residential-to-office building retrofit shows how low-energy and passive building systems can boost performance and sustainability in future projects, according to a paper published in Scientific Data.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 23, 2024
  • A 3D rending that shows the corridor of a data center server room.
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    Daniel Meglas via Getty Images
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    AI, data center load could drive ‘extraordinary’ rise in US electricity bills: Bain analyst

    Utility revenue requirements to serve growing data center electricity demand could increase customer bills by 1% annually through 2032, according to Bain & Company.

    By Oct. 23, 2024
  • Nissan Leaf ChargeScape Ford BMW Honda
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Nissan joins ChargeScape EV charging joint venture

    The company, along with BMW, Ford and Honda, will deploy electric vehicle charging software aiming to simplify charging and return power to the grid.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Oct. 22, 2024
  • A 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV driving on a two-lane road with green hills in the background.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford inks battery supply deal with LG Energy Solution

    Other automakers are also entering into strategic agreements to establish U.S. battery supply chains to qualify for the New Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of up to $7,500 on EVs.

    By Eric Walz • Oct. 22, 2024
  • A landscape photo of the Thacker Pass land being developed by Lithium Americas in Nevada.
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    Courtesy of Lithium Americas
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    GM invests $625M in lithium production capacity

    The automaker is partnering with Lithium Americas to develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, where GM agreed to buy up to 100% of lithium produced for 20 years.

    By Kate Magill • Oct. 21, 2024
  • Electric vehicles charging station on a background of a row of vans
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    stock.adobe.com/scharfsinn86

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    Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

    How to take charge of your fleet conversion

    Which comes first, the electric vehicle or the infrastructure? For those planning fleet electrification, both must be among the considerations in a comprehensive planning approach.

    Oct. 21, 2024