'Dramatic shift' in utility regulations, better pilot designs needed to propel energy transition, DOE report finds

Electric industry players call for innovations in the way regulators handle pilots of new utility and private sector technologies and system operations in a new Department of Energy paper.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2022

Invest federal funds in energy efficiency, dozens of groups, companies urge state officials

Buildings account for roughly 40% of global energy usage, a "figure that is projected to rise," according to Ryan Dalton, director of state policy and external affairs at SiemensUSA.

By Robert Walton • May 26, 2022

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

Collaborating on zero energy homes could help meet utility climate goals and grow affordable housing

Zero energy homes exceed building codes, feature a high-performance building envelope and cold climate heat pumps, and could help utilities meet their goals.

By Rebecca Foster • May 25, 2022

Electric evolution increasingly seen as inevitable for waste and recycling fleets

Timeline predictions vary, but conversations at WasteExpo suggested a wider consensus is forming that refuse fleets are destined for electrification. With that, the focus shifts from doubts about trucks to infrastructure stresses.

By Maria Rachal • May 17, 2022

Uber increases EV incentives to achieve its all-electric by 2030 goal

The company announced new efforts to entice drivers to switch to EVs and the addition of "premium" electric vehicles in a press conference yesterday on expanding its event, food delivery and travel services.

By Dan Zukowski • May 17, 2022

As California confronts the future of its natural gas system, who could get left behind?

Without a proper transition strategy, experts worry that potential declines in natural gas demand will lead to large increases in energy bills likely to fall on the state's most vulnerable customers.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 16, 2022

Washington, D.C., is 'ideally poised for electrification,' Sierra Club finds. The city's gas utility disagrees.

Renewable natural gas and green hydrogen could help the nation's capital avoid costly electric grid upgrades, according to Washington Gas.

By Robert Walton • May 13, 2022

Closing the gap on rural EV 'charging deserts'

Targeted federal funding and strategic regulation will be crucial to ensure that the charging network to power the electrical transformation is accessible and affordable for all, the author writes.

By William Policastro • May 13, 2022

States band together to push for nationwide fleet electrification

A coalition of nearly 20 states has drafted a plan to advance truck electrification efforts.

By Kate Magill • May 9, 2022

The fight for a national clean energy transmission system emerges on three fronts

DOE’s multi-part transmission study, FERC’s refocus on transmission planning, and macrogrid advocacy efforts could produce an interconnected nation ready for net zero electricity by 2035, industry, government and other experts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2022

Michigan awards grants to spur EV equity and economic development

The grant program aims to increase access to electric vehicles and charging stations in underserved communities while also creating EV-related jobs through public-private partnerships.

By Dan Zukowski • May 2, 2022

The race to add more public EV chargers

To meet President Biden's goal for half of all U.S. vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2030, the country will need 20 times more EV chargers. To support those ambitions, companies are developing innovative charging technologies.

By Dan Zukowski • May 2, 2022

Can the grid handle millions of EVs? In Tennessee, distribution systems will be 'canary in the coal mine'

Preparing for the coming wave of electric vehicles will require utilities to change traditional integrated resource planning and engage more with fleet owners and automakers, according to industry observers.

By Robert Walton • May 2, 2022

California readies regulations for zero-emission truck fleets

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are the next big frontier in transportation electrification. The move to EVs has been slower in this segment because of its higher energy needs.

By Dan Zukowski • April 27, 2022

US transportation sector could cut carbon emissions 34% by 2030: analysis

"We've actually made a lot of progress," said one researcher. Separately, the Biden administration announced $6.4 billion for states to use under the infrastructure law's carbon reduction program.

By Dan Zukowski • April 25, 2022

'Do you like minting money?': Musk urges entrepreneurs to enter lithium space as Tesla's supply woes persist

The company deployed 846 MWh of energy storage in Q1, but demand still outstrips its capacity, and it is working on ramping up production at a Megapack factory.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 22, 2022

Proposed California EV regs could be adopted by other states

In a bid to ramp up zero-emission vehicle sales, the policy move could ultimately enable regulators "to set the national standards that we need to meet our climate goals," said one transportation and clean air policy expert.

By Dan Zukowski • April 19, 2022

An opportunity too good to pass up: Time to weigh in on federal funds for electric vehicles

The Regulatory Assistance Project is calling on officials, advocates and executives to provide comments to the Federal Highway Administration on how to distribute $7.5 billion from the infrastructure bill to states.

By David Farnsworth and Camille Kadoch • April 19, 2022

Symbio awarded $2M to develop hydrogen fuel cell truck

As fleets eye a carbon-free future, a clash between battery electric vehicles and fuel cell EVs is quietly being waged over the future of the industry.

By Colin Campbell • April 18, 2022

California unveils proposed pathway to reach 100% ZEVs by 2035

The proposal recommends an annual zero-emissions vehicles requirement that begins at 35% in 2026 before ramping up to 68% in 2030.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 13, 2022

New Hampshire regulators approve new EV charging rates for Unitil, Liberty and cut demand charges in half

Advocates for electric vehicle infrastructure are split on whether the lower demand charge will help to expand public charging stations in the state.

By Robert Walton • April 12, 2022

California injects $40M into heat pump water heater effort amid broader push to decarbonize buildings

Regulators nearly doubled the funding authorized for heat pump water heaters as part of an initiative in the state's self-generation incentive program.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 11, 2022

For the Building Performance Standards Coalition to be effective, the White House must think bigger

The former head of the U.S. Green Building Council weighs in on how federal, state and local government partners can go beyond just reducing building emissions as they pursue decarbonization.

By Mahesh Ramanujam • April 11, 2022

Reliability concerns drive need for energy market design reforms, but regions diverge in FERC proceeding

Filings from FERC proceedings show a one-size-fits-all reform can't sufficiently address regional market diversity, but federal guidelines can target growing uncertainties and costs from rising variable and distributed resource penetrations.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 11, 2022

UN highlights potential of broad electrification as it stresses the role of cities in tackling climate change

Cities must push harder to decarbonize buildings and transform transportation norms, the report suggests, as the next three years are critical if the world is to change the course of global warming.

By Maria Rachal • April 6, 2022