EV, battery projects lead clean energy manufacturing sector in March: E2

Last month showed over $2 billion in investments promising at least 1,660 jobs across five states.

By Joelle Anselmo • April 22, 2024

Improving the EV driver experience

Helping drivers navigate the complexities of this new landscape is critical for EVs to achieve their full mass market potential.

By Elizabeth Turnbull, Director of Market Development, Transportation Electrification, Franklin Energy • April 22, 2024

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

DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand

Rising electricity demand will require a portfolio of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2024

Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say

Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024

How cities are building out public EV charging infrastructure

As more electric vehicles hit the road, municipalities and property owners are working with contractors to deploy public charging infrastructure.

By Joe Burns • April 16, 2024

DOE awards $27M for communities to plan a clean-energy future

This is the first funding round for the Energy Future Grants initiative, which launched last year to help communities plan for transportation and building electrification, microgrids and solar projects.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 12, 2024

South Carolina tackles EV issues, including questions around utility investment in charging

A state consumer advocate wants regulators to take a skeptical approach to utilities investing ratepayer funds in charging stations.

By Robert Walton • April 12, 2024

Green Mountain Power, RMP offer strong virtual power plant blueprint: RMI webinar

VPP policy should promote widespread distributed energy resource adoption while enabling retail and wholesale market participation and preserving customer choice, webinar participants said.

By Brian Martucci • April 11, 2024

Battery manufacturing apprenticeships get a boost with new White House guidance

The guidelines are helping to standardize training in the sector as it leans into career paths that do not require four-year degrees.

By Kate Magill • April 10, 2024

How electric vehicles are lowering electricity bills for everyone

Electric vehicle drivers are saving everyone billions of dollars on their monthly electricity bills, a recent study by Synapse Energy Economics found.

By Jordan Brinn • April 10, 2024

Rooftop heat pump technologies can save US businesses $5B annually: DOE

A new commercial heat pump accelerator program aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs compared with natural gas-fueled heat pumps, the U.S. Department of Energy says.

By Nish Amarnath • April 9, 2024

Bidirectional EV charging, VPP bill passes Maryland Assembly, heads to governor’s desk

“Pairing battery storage with renewable generation will help Maryland achieve its clean energy goals, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,” Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo said.

By Brian Martucci • April 8, 2024

Building decarbonization goes beyond energy efficiency, US Green Building Council says

Other pathways like electrification, clean power and building grid integration can help owners and operators reduce building emissions, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

By Nish Amarnath • April 8, 2024

Indiana DOT, Purdue collaborate on highway that charges EVs

Researchers will embed coils in a quarter-mile stretch of concrete roadway to produce a magnetic field that can recharge vehicles while they drive.

By Matthew Thibault • April 4, 2024

National blueprint for building-sector decarbonization released by Biden administration

The plan, which sets specific targets for reducing on-site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, also recommends state and local building performance standards.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 4, 2024

Trucking groups blast EPA’s heavy-duty truck emissions rule, citing electric vehicle challenges

“Today, these vehicles fail to meet the operational demands of many motor carrier applications ... and lack sufficient charging and alternative fueling infrastructure to support adoption,” the head of the Clean Freight Coalition said.

By Colin Campbell • April 2, 2024

New Mexico regulators approve El Paso Electric $11M EV plan, including low-income rebates

The rebate program has a total budget of $200,000 and will be available to 50 customers. El Paso Electric will also offer smart charging programs and incentives for charging equipment.

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2024

A new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential

New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024

Sonnen CEO aims to repeat company’s Utah virtual power plant success

The company has been helped by Utah regulators and Rocky Mountain Power seeing the value in a distributed, dispatchable portfolio that could potentially scale faster than new fixed generation, Blake Richetta said.

By Brian Martucci • March 26, 2024

ICC’s decision on 2024 energy conservation code draws criticism, debate

The International Code Council, after receiving nine appeals, has voted to move provisions aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions from the main code to appendices.

By Nish Amarnath • March 22, 2024

EPA softens vehicle emissions standards, giving carmakers more time to ramp up EV sales

“Moderating the pace of EV adoption ... was the right call because it prioritizes more reasonable electrification targets in the next few (very critical) years of the EV transition,” the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s CEO said.

By Michael Brady • March 20, 2024

Electrifying US trucking could cost nearly $1 trillion

Fleets and charger operators would need to spend $620 billion, with utilities and the government paying $370 billion, per a Roland Berger report funded by the Clean Freight Coalition.

By Colin Campbell • March 20, 2024

New zero-emission freight strategy will help grow EV charging, hydrogen networks: White House

The plan will guide zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty truck charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure deployment through 2040.

By Colin Campbell • March 19, 2024

California lawmakers backpedal on income-based utility charges as IOUs, others propose alternatives

State legislators ordered regulators in 2022 to implement an income-graduated fixed charge to protect low-income customers and shift the funding for various policy goals. A new bill would repeal that.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 19, 2024

Bidirectional charging could unlock new potential for waste fleet electrification

A recent pilot by Veolia in the UK could lead to a future where electric trucks can feed energy back into the grid rather than just paying for it. But the U.S. market is still in the early stages of incorporating EV technology.

By David Richardson • March 18, 2024