‘A tripling of electrical output’: Tesla’s Musk urges power sector to anticipate higher demand

“My biggest concern is there’s insufficient urgency and people just don’t understand how much electricity demand there will be,” Elon Musk said at a PG&E event Tuesday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 26, 2023

EVs will bring ‘unprecedented’ power demand, but their flexibility can improve grid reliability, utilities say

Up to 27 TWh of annual new generation will be needed between now and 2050 to meet growing demand from EVs, according to the Zero Emission Transportation Association.

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2023

Explore the 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

DOE offers $32M for the production of rare earth and critical minerals from coal-based sources

The Biden administration is looking to develop production sites to extract materials such as lithium and cobalt.

By Kate Magill • July 24, 2023

New residential water heater standards will save consumers $11.4B annually, cut energy usage: DOE

Rinnai America, which sells tankless water heaters, says the standards will “unreasonably restrict consumer access” to some products and ultimately put domestic jobs at risk.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2023

Harnessing utility data to fast track energy goals

Electric utility companies are up against many challenges as the grid becomes increasingly more complex. Read what can be done to accelerate their digital transformation and impact decarbonization efforts.

July 24, 2023

$90M for greener building energy codes awarded by DOE

“Modernizing energy codes is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses and make communities more resilient to extreme weather events,” the Energy Department said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 17, 2023

3 top questions on the future of lithium, cobalt and nickel supply: report

The International Energy Agency is optimistic global supply of critical minerals can keep pace with demand, but is skeptical when it comes to diverse sourcing.

By Kate Magill • July 17, 2023

Recycling batteries necessary to meet growing EV demand: Guidehouse

Battery recycling could help automakers reclaim up to 98% of key raw materials for battery production, which make up nearly 80% of battery manufacturing costs.

By Eric Walz • July 17, 2023

Transportation electrification toolkit for cities published by DOT

The Transportation Department website aims to help cities, states and EV charging stakeholders plan and finance electric-mobility infrastructure.

By Dan Zukowski • July 14, 2023

Volkswagen overhauls its charging and energy business

The automaker’s new head of charging and energy, Giovanni Palazzo, will oversee the addition of load management, energy market optimization and energy trading services.

By Michael Brady • July 12, 2023

Hawai’i will be first state to install federally-funded EV chargers, with others soon to follow: officials

A first-year report on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program identified challenges to developing a national charger network, including grid constraints and utility interconnection times.

By Robert Walton • July 12, 2023

Scottsdale, Arizona, OKs commercial green code to boost energy efficiency, other building attributes

The code, which the Scottsdale City Council voted on last December, also intends to mitigate environmental impacts, protect natural resources and boost the resiliency of buildings. 

By Nish Amarnath • July 11, 2023

EV batteries can be repurposed as grid storage to reduce battery supply chain impacts: report

Doing so, however, would require better regulation around accessing battery management systems, as well as flexible liability frameworks for repurposed batteries, according to the report’s author. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 11, 2023

Toyota says ‘breakthrough’ in solid-state EV batteries could significantly drop costs

An executive said the new technology would deliver ranges up to 745 miles and halve current battery size and weight.

By Eric Walz • July 10, 2023

Xcel Energy should ‘reassess how it can best support transportation electrification,’ says Minnesota AG

Attorney General Keith Ellison supports Xcel withdrawing its plan. The utility “has not shown that it can build, operate, and maintain even the limited number” of charging stations already approved, he told regulators.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2023

Cambridge, Massachusetts, becomes first US city to require net zero emissions

The city has advanced its emissions reduction goal for large buildings by 15 years in an aggressive bid to ward off the worst impacts of climate change. 

By Nish Amarnath • July 6, 2023

US electric vehicle goals will require up to $127B to install 28M chargers by 2030: NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory expects there will be 30 million to 42 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads in 2030, requiring a rapid infrastructure buildout.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2023

DOE to release $2B in EV manufacturing grants

The grant program will prioritize retooling plants that face closure and help automakers tackle the cost of EV production.

By Megan Ruggles • July 5, 2023

On EV policy, states are making ‘incremental progress, not transformational’: ACEEE

Most state transportation policies ”scored poorly on equity metrics,” according to a new assessment by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2023

Local solar and storage are essential to the electrification movement

The key to lowering the cost of electrification is energy management and demand response, starting with local solar and storage.

By Robin Dutta • June 28, 2023

US will need to triple building retrofit rate to meet decarbonization targets: report

While electrifying building systems requires a large capital investment, it is more effective than incremental, small energy conservation retrofits, real estate firm JLL said in the report.

By Joe Burns • June 27, 2023

Federal agency awards $1.7B for cleaner transit buses, bus facilities

The grants will support the purchase of 1,700 transit buses, about half of which will be zero-emission vehicles. 

By Dan Zukowski • June 27, 2023

Ford, SK On secure loan commitment of up to $9.2B from DOE for construction of 3 battery plants

The loan will help finance construction of the companies’ three joint venture battery plants. 

By Megan Ruggles • June 23, 2023

To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits

Implementing the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program “will provide much-needed funding to reduce water and utility costs,” HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing Julia Gordon said.

By Mary Salmonsen • June 23, 2023

FlexCharging rolls out managed EV charging solution designed for smaller utilities

Aimed at cooperative energy providers, FlexCharging’s managed charging platform eases customer sign-ups and uses a virtual submeter to keep costs down, said CEO Brian Grunkemeyer.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2023