Building & Transportation Electrification

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    Atlanta to launch Climate Resilience Action Plan

    The city plans to move forward even as federal support is uncertain and the plan’s focus on energy burden equity has put the program in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 21, 2025
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    New York expands EV purchase, charging equipment incentives

    New York is making $30 million available to assist with the lease or purchase of new electric vehicles. The state is also expanding efforts to reduce equipment installation costs for Level 2 chargers.

    By • April 21, 2025
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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
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    Trump administration ordered to resume IRA funding

    The decision, which stated federal agencies lacked authority to pause funding, follows the president’s executive order to freeze the money on his first day in office. 

    By Kate Magill • April 17, 2025
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    "The Capitol of Puerto Rico" by Jorge Láscar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    LUMA installs Puerto Rico’s first smart meter

    Through a partnership with Itron, the smart meter installations are starting in the capital of San Juan and will extend island-wide over three years, LUMA says.

    By • April 15, 2025
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    More public EV charging, including curbside, envisioned in Chicago plan

    “By prioritizing equity and public input, we’re creating a roadmap for electric transportation that serves every neighborhood and helps drive down emissions across Chicago,” CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney said.

    By Ryan Kushner • April 14, 2025
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    Bill to undo Biden-era water heater efficiency rule heads to Trump’s desk

    Republicans say former President Biden “waged war on our home appliances” and are looking to undo energy efficiency rules and standards.

    By • April 11, 2025
  • A light gray Chevrolet Bolt EV parked outside at a charging station at a Chevrolet dealer in Colma, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    EnergyHub partners with GM to use EVs as grid resources

    General Motors’ sales of electric vehicles jumped 94% in the first quarter. EnergyHub said its managed EV charging programs can help utilities maintain grid stability as EV demand rises.

    By • April 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of GE Vernova
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    US electricity demand will grow 50% by 2050, electrical manufacturer study finds

    Data centers and transportation electrification will drive U.S. electricity demand about 2% higher each year for the next quarter century, according to a new analysis completed for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

    By • April 7, 2025
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    PG&E announces microgrid awards for $43M as Sunrun joins its 2025 VPP

    The nine microgrid projects will serve about 9,000 customers in disadvantaged or vulnerable Northern California communities, the utility said.

    By Brian Martucci • April 2, 2025
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    Courtesy of Stadler
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    Where battery and hydrogen-powered trains are coming to US commuter rail

    Three global train manufacturers with zero-emission trains operating in Europe are vying for U.S. contracts.

    By Dan Zukowski • April 1, 2025
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    imagedepotpro via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    We asked 100 utility program leaders for their top challenges and opportunities. Here’s what they said.

    Grid modernization, growing demand and artificial intelligence are among the top issues facing electric utility leaders, according to an ICF survey.

    By Justin Mackovyak • March 31, 2025
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    Sponsored by WeaveGrid

    What your grid models aren’t telling you about electric vehicles

    Traditional load management ignores the biggest EV grid impacts. Distribution orchestration is key.

    March 31, 2025
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    Courtesy of Pacific Gas & Electric Company
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    GM Energy joins PG&E bidirectional EV charging pilot in California

    Certain electric vehicle owners are now eligible for discounts on charging equipment that can be used to power homes during blackouts.

    By Kalena Thomhave • March 28, 2025
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    Courtesy of Schneider Electric
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    Schneider Electric to invest $700M in US manufacturing

    The investment will help expand production of electric grid equipment and research into microgrids and AI-driven automation.

    By Kate Magill • March 27, 2025
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    Cavan Images via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Trump executive order threatens transmission, interconnection initiatives: former FERC commissioners

    President Trump’s executive order compromises FERC’s independence, is “unhealthy, unwarranted, and unprecedented,” threatens power system reliability and is “plainly illegal,” the former commissioners say.

    By • March 26, 2025
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    Retrieved from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
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    DOE withdraws, postpones multiple appliance energy efficiency rules

    “We are returning freedom of choice to the American people,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement. Appliance efficiency advocates warn the agency is in “uncharted territory.”

    By • March 25, 2025
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    "Fountain Square Evanston" by Madcoverboy is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Building performance standards set to proliferate, evolve in 2025

    State and local governments continue to develop building standards that draw on existing frameworks and implement new metrics for measuring performance. 

    By Joe Burns • March 25, 2025
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    "Approaching the Academic Podium UAlbany" by Beyond My Ken is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    UAlbany decarbonization project to cut fossil fuel consumption 16%

    With geothermal wells, heat recovery and chiller replacements, the university will be able to shut off its gas-fired boilers during the summer, it says.

    By Joe Burns • March 24, 2025
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    Gerville via Getty Images
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    Cloud data centers get bigger, denser amid AI building boom

    AWS, Microsoft and Google accounted for 59% of all hyperscale compute capacity as the number of large facilities grew to more than 1,100 last year, Synergy Research Group said.

    By Matt Ashare • March 21, 2025
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    Courtesy of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd
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    Nissan, SK On announce $661M EV battery supply deal

    The automaker will use the batteries for electric vehicles manufactured at its assembly plant in Mississippi.

    By Kelly Stroh • March 20, 2025
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    Utility energy efficiency investment hit record $8.8B in 2023: ACEEE

    Utilities are investing more than ever to reduce bills and cut emissions, but the increases are concentrated in just a few states, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy concluded in its policy scorecard. 

    By • March 19, 2025
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    Microgrids called a low-burden way to ensure backup power

    Facilities managers can lower upfront costs and avoid disruptive maintenance checks by subscribing to a resiliency-as-a-service platform, a microgrid executive says.

    By Robert Freedman • March 17, 2025
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    New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

    Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

    By Joe Burns • March 17, 2025
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    Gas appliances suffer setback in Washington state

    A federal court ruling in Seattle will make it more expensive for builders who prefer to install or support natural gas appliances, critics say.

    By David Weisenfeld • March 12, 2025
  • A man in a red uniform repairing a heat pump.
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    Utilities should consider heat pump-specific rates to encourage adoption: ACEEE

    Winter discounts and technology-specific electric rates can help homeowners save money with heat pumps, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy said.

    By • March 12, 2025