As PNW utilities contemplate building decarbonization, affordability concerns linger

Decarbonization experts say all-electric new construction is more economic, but Puget Sound Energy sees a continuing need for natural gas in the near term. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 25, 2021

Electrifying 97% of the federal fleet by 2030 could save billions: report

More than $1 billion in savings would come over the lifetime of light-duty vehicles and buses if the federal government fleet switched to EVs, a new Atlas Public Policy report finds.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 23, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

California brainstorms approaches to a high-DER grid of the future

Multiple groups that commented on a sweeping new rulemaking at the California Public Utilities Commission urged regulators to prioritize affordability.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 20, 2021

The disintermediation red herring: How utilities can learn to embrace and profit from DER

Utilities that understand what tools customers value and make it easier for customers to access them can turn disruption into advantage, the authors write.

By Samir Succar and Val Jensen • Aug. 19, 2021

Energy Department grants Nikola $2M to study autonomous hydrogen refueling

Hydrogen may have better range than batteries, but electric infrastructure is already built in the U.S. — and it's everywhere.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 18, 2021

DOE planning public-private partnerships to develop new battery chemistries, supply chains for EVs

Battery cost and availability are key bottlenecks for electric vehicle adoption, but the federal government and private sector are confident about the next decade of technology developments.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2021

'An enormous lift': Biden's goal of 50% EV sales by 2030 will test supply chains, utilities, experts say

Utilities say they can meet the anticipated growth in electricity demand for charging, but right now "there is in no way, shape or form the availability of the raw materials to produce these vehicles" in the U.S., some analysts warn.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2021

[Podcast] Ensuring Grid Resilience in a Time of Change

This 3-part podcast series provides you with expert insights into the questions and topics utilities need to address to properly harden their systems for a future full of change.

By Utility Dive's studioID • Aug. 9, 2021

DHL Express orders 12 electric aircraft in step toward zero-emission logistics

The company will use the electric aircraft for regional feeder routes starting in the U.S., primarily for the Southeast and West Coast.

By Max Garland • Aug. 9, 2021

120 EV charging stations to be installed at California apartment complexes through state partnership

Backed by state funding, the initiative with platform EVmatch could entice lower-income renters to purchase an electric vehicle.

By Danielle McLean • Aug. 9, 2021

Kansas City streetlight-mounted EV charger pilot aims for equity, accessibility

Most EV charging happens at home overnight, but not for those without garages. The Missouri city's federally funded charging project meets residents where they are and is helping to guide others through uncharted territory.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 4, 2021

The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say

Renewables led the power sector's recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to take the transportation, building and industrial sectors to net zero emissions by mid-century.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2021

AES, Google moonshot factory, to partner on grid virtualization platform

The companies will work together on technology that could eventually give a real-time virtualization of the grid as it integrates renewables and distributed resources. 

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 4, 2021

Tesla works with suppliers to source alternative chips for EVs amid semiconductor shortage

The approach helped the automaker produce and deliver 200,000 electric vehicles in Q2, but it warned the workaround could be difficult to sustain.

By Max Garland • Aug. 2, 2021

Despite limited participation, advocates see potential for Northeast transportation cap-and-invest plan

Only four of the over a dozen original participants in the Transportation and Climate Initiative signed on to a final program to cut transportation emissions. Backers say there's still a bright future.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 2, 2021

Nikola to pay $125M to settle fraud charges

Federal authorities' indictment of the original equipment manufacturer's founder is unlikely to test the market's faith in electric trucks.

By Jim Stinson • July 30, 2021

Murkowski highlights potential boost to US critical minerals ahead of bipartisan infrastructure deal

Senators voted 67-32 to advance the latest version of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, securing the support of 17 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 29, 2021

Indiana DOT, Purdue developing wireless EV charging for highways

The aim is to create the first paved highway segment that contains contactless, wireless technologies to charge electric vehicles as they drive over it.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 28, 2021

Tesla further delays Semi production amid component shortages

UPS has the largest single pre-order for 125 Semis, but the logistics provider said it is "waiting on the market."

By S.L. Fuller • July 28, 2021

DOE says new building codes to cut energy costs by $138B, but EV backers see failure to advance charging

A requirement that new homes be wired for electric vehicle charging was not included in the final version after the National Association of Home Builders argued such provisions are outside the scope of the codes.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2021

California PUC unveils draft plan for 'forward-thinking' distributed energy policy

The plan focuses on integrating DERs into wholesale markets and ensuring they are fairly compensated for value stacking, among other measures.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 27, 2021

Hyzon targets regional hauls for hydrogen trucks, begins trading on Nasdaq

The company has focused on rolling out trucks in Europe, but CEO Craig Knight expects "substantial uptake in the U.S. market" next year.

By S.L. Fuller • July 20, 2021

California approves expedited pathway for near-term utility EV investments, despite cost concerns

Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, however, pushed for "a progressive way" to fund these investments, adding that "whenever we're using utility bills to pay for this, it's inherently regressive."

By Kavya Balaraman • July 16, 2021

The DER future is nearly here? Stuck in the weeds on Order No. 2222 implementation.

The full scope of benefits distributed energy resources offer has remained tantalizingly out of reach without wide-scale participation of aggregators in the wholesale markets, the authors write.

By Hampden T. Macbeth and Jessica R. Bell • July 15, 2021

Amazon, Exelon, others press Congress on EV incentives amid growing focus on potential grid role

Integrating electric vehicles onto the grid will require more than subsidies and regulators need to start crafting policies now, said Jacqueline Piero, vice president of policy at vehicle-to-grid specialist Nuvve.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2021