Gas, building groups drop lawsuit against new Washington building codes requiring heat pumps

The litigation was an “aftershock” of a federal appeals court decision to overturn Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation ban on gas in new buildings, an Earthjustice senior attorney said. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 8, 2023

Fleet electrification planning a struggle for federal agencies: GAO

High costs and a lack of suitable zero-emission vehicles hamper the government’s ability to meet Biden administration targets, a Government Accountability Office report says.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 4, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Fast charging, high costs: Eliminating demand charges won’t solve the problem

Demand charges are essential for a utility to recover the cost of maintaining, upgrading, and building the electric grid, according to the author.

By Chip Silverman • Aug. 2, 2023

New Jersey BPU advances building electrification over opposition from fossil fuel supporters

"We are not mandating anyone to give up their gas stove,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso. “Those who tell you otherwise are wrong and spreading lies.”

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2023

Biden administration proposes 58 mpg fuel economy standard to help drive transition to EVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended that fuel efficiency increase 2% annually for passenger cars and 4% for light-duty trucks starting in model year 2027. But it’s considering more aggressive targets.

By Michael Brady • Aug. 1, 2023

DOE opens up $8.5B to states, territories for home efficiency, electrification rebate programs

The programs require minimum allocations for low-income households, which experts say will help ensure underserved communities benefit from the “unprecedented opportunity.”

By Robert Walton • July 31, 2023

General Motors, Honda and 5 other automakers form massive EV charging network joint venture

The collaboration will create one of North America's largest public EV charging networks and include 30,000 high-powered chargers.

By Eric Walz • July 27, 2023

Cities can better afford renewable energy, EV and other climate projects with new tax incentives: report

Tax credits made available to cities through the Inflation Reduction Act are so significant “that they may warrant a re-evaluation of some previously assessed investment opportunities,” the Alliance for a Sustainable Future report says.

By Ysabelle Kempe • July 26, 2023

Machine learning, incentives and telematics: New tools emerge to manage rising EV charging loads

Utilities, distributed energy resource aggregators and research institutions are all developing methods to help manage electric vehicle charging.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2023

Xcel files new EV charging network proposal in Colorado after Tesla connector news upends market

The utility says “uncertainty and volatility” regarding which fast charger connector type will become the U.S. standard — one developed by Tesla or another nonproprietary connector — led its alternative proposal.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2023

‘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

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