Building & Transportation Electrification: Page 4
-
Young777 via Getty Images
Is the EV revolution over?
Reports of inventory sitting on lots, production cuts and cold weather issues, as well as ongoing concerns about a lack of charging infrastructure, have raised questions about the future of EVs.
By Amanda Loudin • Feb. 5, 2024 -
EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
OpinionWe’re utility commissioners for Georgia and Colorado. Here are key issues we see for an EV future.
Even back-of-the-envelope math shows that both states may have massive load growth in the future, even beyond individual car owners charging at home, where 80% of charging occurs.
By Tim Echols and Eric Blank • Feb. 2, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Liudmila Chernetska via Getty Images
TrendlineBuilding 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 -
NewSaetiew via Getty Images
FEMA to help communities pay for net-zero energy projects post-disaster
Communities can now leverage the agency’s grant programs to install solar microgrids, heat pumps and passive cooling when rebuilding schools, hospitals, fire stations and other infrastructure in a disaster’s wake.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 2, 2024 -
bombermoon via Getty Images
2024 US power sector outlook
The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate in 2024 but faces question around transmission, financing, federal elections and other issues.
By Utility Dive staff • Jan. 31, 2024 -
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images via Getty Images
Chicago mayor proposes natural gas ban in new buildings
This marks the first time the city has introduced a building decarbonization ordinance, a city employee said. The proposal drew swift backlash from the local gas industry.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 26, 2024 -
Courtesy of Cummins
EV battery research gets $131M funding boost
Some $71 million from the Department of Energy will go to 27 projects focused on increasing EV drive range, lowering battery costs and advancing onboard EV charging systems.
By Kate Magill • Jan. 26, 2024 -
imacoconut via Getty Images
Deep DiveNew solutions emerge to better integrate renewables into the grid, Xcel, Eversource and others say
Requiring the 400+ GW of battery capacity in U.S. interconnection queues to have grid-forming capabilities could enable variable renewables growth “cheaper and faster than adding new transmission,” one expert said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2024 -
Courtesy of Daimler Trucks North America
OpinionAs trucking electrifies, how we prepare the grid must evolve
Fleets are often able to procure zero-emissions vehicles and chargers in less than a year. Grid upgrades can take upwards of five or more years.
By Cole Jermyn • Jan. 25, 2024 -
Fahroni via Getty Images
ASHRAE updates energy efficiency standard for existing buildings
The 2024 edition of Standard 100 contains new metrics for setting emissions targets and a “simple” compliance mechanism for energy efficient and low-emission buildings, it says.
By Joe Burns • Jan. 22, 2024 -
Bipartisan group of 12 senators proposes blocking DOE’s distribution transformer efficiency rule
Stricter standards and an “overnight” implementation proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy “jeopardize electricity distribution for millions” of Americans, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2024 -
Permission granted by RS Technologies
Sponsored by RS TechnologiesComposite poles vs. alternatives in the face of natural disasters
Composite utility poles have been shown to be highly resilient in ice storms, freezing rain, hurricanes and wildfires.
Jan. 22, 2024 -
jetcityimage via Getty Images
$104M for clean energy projects in 31 federal buildings announced by DOE
The selected projects are expected to save over $29 million in energy and water costs, generating an additional 27 MW of clean energy capacity, the U.S. Department of Energy says.
By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Hertz/GM
Hertz reverses course on electric vehicles
The company, which once said EVs would account for a quarter of its rental fleet by 2025, is selling some 20,000 electric vehicles and replacing them with gas-powered cars.
By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 16, 2024 -
Retrieved from California Governor Gavin Newsom/YouTube.
Gov. Newsom proposes $283M cut to California’s building decarbonization programs
The proposed 2024-25 budget would also delay $600 million of funding for the state’s electric vehicle rebate program, Clean Cars 4 All, and EV charging stations by three years.
By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 16, 2024 -
Scharvik via Getty Images
New buildings that use natural gas lose final utility subsidy in California
Incentives that indirectly help expand the gas system don’t align with the state’s climate goals, the California Public Utilities Commission said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 12, 2024 -
Biden administration awards $623M for EV charging, hydrogen buildout
The largest award, among recipients from 22 states and Puerto Rico, is $70 million for up to five hydrogen fueling stations in Texas, part of a plan to create a hydrogen corridor from Southern California to the Lone Star State.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2024 -
t_kimura via Getty Images
Buildings can reduce energy intensity by up to 38%: report
Undertaking energy savings and energy efficiency measures by 2030 can garner up to $2 trillion in annual savings, according to a white paper by the World Economic Forum and PwC.
By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 10, 2024 -
pidjoe via Getty Images
9 US power sector trends to watch in 2024
The U.S. march toward a decarbonized electric system will continue in 2024 as policymakers and others work to balance, climate, reliability, affordability and other goals.
By Robert Walton, Ethan Howland, Diana DiGangi, Larry Pearl, Kavya Balaraman and Emma Penrod • Jan. 10, 2024 -
mesh cube via Getty Images
PJM triples annual load growth forecast to 2.4% driven by data centers, electrification
The PJM Interconnection’s fastest-growing zones include ones served by Dominion Energy and FirstEnergy’s Metropolitan Edison and Jersey Central Power & Light utilities, per the grid operator’s load forecast.
By Ethan Howland • Jan. 9, 2024 -
Oliver de la Haye via Getty Images
Biden administration seeks public input to define zero emissions for buildings
The administration plans to base Part 1 of the definition on three pillars: an adherence to energy efficiency guidelines, the use of 100% clean energy and zero on-site emissions generation from energy use.
By Nish Amarnath • Jan. 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by Electric Era
OpinionTo spur more EV chargers, regulators must get creative with demand charges
No matter what the incentives for installing an EV charger, very few businesses will enter this marketplace if selling the product leads to thousands of dollars in charges that aren’t made up for with revenue.
By Chris Kaiser • Jan. 5, 2024 -
Legal threats to city, state natural gas bans in 2023: A timeline
The nation’s first gas ban was overturned. One state changed its building codes to avoid legal challenges. Here’s the biggest gas ban news of 2023.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 4, 2024 -
David McNew via Getty Images
9th Circuit declines to reconsider decision rejecting Berkeley, California, natural gas ban
If the city wants to continue to appeal the decision, its next step would be the U.S. Supreme Court.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Jan. 3, 2024 -
Silverman Media Services via Getty Images
$530M in building code technical assistance grants available from DOE
The grants will support a wider range of energy code and building performance standards activities, including workforce development, by state, local and tribal governments.
By Joe Burns • Dec. 20, 2023 -
Retrieved from U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Gas industry sues DOE over new furnace efficiency rule, citing cost and other concerns
The new rule will require gas furnaces to be 95% efficient, but the American Gas Association and other stakeholders say it effectively bans a product class and will drive prices higher for many consumers.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2023
Previous
