For stretch energy codes, Massachusetts gets nearly $4M DOE grant

The grant will provide field-based training to local building code officials and help communities share regional best practices.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 16, 2023

Nikola recalls electric trucks due to battery pack fire risks

The manufacturer halted new sales of the Class 8 vehicles and advised customers and dealers to store the vehicles outside.

By David Taube • Aug. 15, 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

Department of Energy earmarks $46M to reduce energy waste in buildings

The Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies funding will be channeled toward 29 projects across 15 states.

By Joe Burns • Aug. 10, 2023

A community solar boom will test Xcel, other utility plans against developer, customer needs: analysts

New state and federal funding and initiatives for community solar can bring equity and system reliability to the emerging energy transition, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 10, 2023

New York offers $12M for innovations in EV deployment, load management

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority says the state will need to “rapidly electrify” medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to meet its climate goals.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 9, 2023

Electric bus maker Proterra files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Citing "market and macroeconomic headwinds," the U.S.-based manufacturer looks to restructure its business.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 9, 2023

GM’s future Ultium-based EVs will support vehicle-to-home charging

The bidirectional charging technology uses a GM vehicle’s battery as a backup power source in the event of a power outage.

By Eric Walz • Aug. 8, 2023

Mayor Michelle Wu issues order to ban fossil fuels in Boston buildings

The executive order, which also prohibits fossil fuel use in renovations of existing city-owned structures, is part of a larger push for carbon neutrality by 2050.

By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 8, 2023

EPRI launches initiative to ready grid for increased EV loads, joined by Amazon, Xcel, ConEd

“Utilities are going to need, in some cases, two to four years of heads-up time to react and to do planning,” said EPRI Director of Transportation Britta Gross.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 8, 2023

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

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