Building & Transportation Electrification

  • Los Angeles's downtown skyline enveloped in smog.
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    Congress votes to rescind California vehicle emissions waiver

    Clean vehicle advocates say air quality and public health will suffer; auto and petroleum industry lobbyists supported the move to end California’s authority under the Clean Air Act.

    By Dan Zukowski • May 29, 2025
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    GCShutter via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    America’s climate brain drain is real — and it’s just getting started

    While Washington debates the existence of climate change, countries like Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands are vigorously funding battery innovation, green hydrogen and next-gen energy storage.

    By Joe Curtatone • May 20, 2025
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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
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    Permission granted by Bryan Fairbanks
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    Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

    Keep 3 key factors in mind for successful fleet electrification

    The road to fleet electrification starts with smart planning. Here’s what you need to know first.

    By Rose Lenoff • May 19, 2025
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    doug4537 via Getty Images
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    Thermal energy networks need municipal participation: report

    Cities and other entities can develop neighborhood-scale thermal networks to lower greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy consultants say.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • May 16, 2025
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump DOE’s latest move would roll some energy standards back decades

    Legal challenges are likely to the U.S. Department of Energy’s efforts to repeal or alter 47 energy efficiency, climate reporting and other regulations, experts said.

    By • May 13, 2025
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    aydinmutlu via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Why surging demand and grid transformation will define the utility sector in 2025

    The utilities that succeed will be the ones that can manage today’s operational stress while preparing for tomorrow’s energy ecosystem.

    By Kyle Jones • May 9, 2025
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    Deep Dive

    EPRI’s Open Power AI Consortium plans to fuel grid modernization with data sharing

    Utilities, tech companies and regulators are facing a conundrum: Utilities want to use AI, but AI needs access to unavailable utility data to be effective.

    By • Updated April 29, 2025
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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 it 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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    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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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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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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    Permission granted by WeaveGrid
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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