Energy & Utilities
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IRS finalizes direct pay rules, increasing access to IRA’s clean energy tax credits
Direct-pay-eligible entities like local governments, public school districts, churches and hospitals will more easily be able to jointly invest in clean energy projects under rules released Tuesday.
By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Jacob Boomsma via Getty Images
Thermal energy networks can decarbonize neighborhoods. Meet the US cities giving them a shot.
With federal dollars, cities want to leverage heat from waste sources and the ground to move buildings away from burning fossil fuels on-site.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 18, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineTop 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
Magnus Manske. (2006). "Como Park Zoo and Conservatory-2006" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
Automation, efficiency upgrades at Minnesota zoo could save city up to $1.8M over 3 years
Groundwater-based geothermal heat pumps and building automation systems are among the changes at St. Paul's Como Park Zoo, which a city official said accounts for about 25% of total energy use among city properties.
By Brian Martucci • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Timothy Epple via Getty Images
Local decarbonization, energy efficiency projects get over $17M from DOE
The “highly flexible” grant program allows communities to pursue a broad range of projects, from home energy efficiency rebate programs to workforce training initiatives, according to the Department of Energy.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Sarah Rice via Getty Images
State infrastructure ballot initiatives see mixed results
Approved bond funding and climate resiliency-focused state ballot measures could provide new ways for municipalities to fund improvements.
By Joe Burns • Nov. 13, 2024 -
BackyardProduction via Getty Images
Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead EPA
The Trump administration will likely roll back EPA regulations affecting fossil-fuel power plants, said the president and CEO of a trade group for owners of coal-fired plants.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 12, 2024 -
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Heat pumps could save these Texas households money, reduce grid strain: ACEEE
The state should focus on deploying heat pumps in homes that currently use inefficient electric resistance heaters, say the authors of a paper from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 11, 2024 -
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
Trump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue
“Most U.S. state, local, and private sector leaders are committed to charging ahead,” said Dan Lashof, U.S. director of the World Resources Institute.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2024 -
Photo illustration: Industry Dive; Joe Readle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images
How EV policy could be impacted by the election results
Electric vehicle infrastructure projects, like charging stations, are likely to maintain support, even under another Trump presidency, one expert says. EV tax credits, however, could be on the chopping block.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2024 -
Retrieved from Corix on October 30, 2024
Low-carbon district energy system launches in a Washington city’s waterfront neighborhood
The system, which captures waste heat for districtwide heating and cooling, is expected to help the buildings served meet Washington state energy code requirements, the Port of Bellingham says.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 31, 2024 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
NYC comptroller proposes stopping pensions’ private market investments in fossil fuels
The funds would be the first U.S. public pension plans to have exclusions on investing in fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.
By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 25, 2024 -
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California’s first carbon capture and storage facility gets local approval
The decision follows heated debate among community members about the project’s economic and health impacts.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 24, 2024 -
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What does it take to decarbonize a manufactured home community?
A community-scale retrofit project in Colorado offers a path toward lowering power bills for a population that faces high levels of energy insecurity.
By Leslie Nemo • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Courtesy of General Motors
EV owners can store more energy from the grid with GM Energy’s new ‘PowerBank’
The stationary energy storage unit can provide power to a home during an outage or help offset higher electricity rates during peak times.
By Eric Walz • Oct. 17, 2024 -
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How to address a key building decarbonization barrier: the ‘split incentive gap’
While landlords and developers foot the bill for efficiency upgrades, tenants benefit from lower energy costs. A Sustainable Markets Initiative road map outlines policies and other ways to address the mismatch.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 11, 2024 -
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Gas utility faces climate deception lawsuit by Oregon county
It's the first time a U.S. community has sued a gas utility for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate impacts of fossil fuels, advocates say.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 10, 2024 -
Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
1.6M customers still without power after Helene; some local grids must ‘be completely rebuilt’
Multiple utilities say they will need to completely rebuild, rather than repair, electric systems in the hardest-hit areas.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2024 -
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2025’s top smart city conferences
Smart city technology, housing, climate action, road safety and more will take center stage at events already announced for next year.
By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski • Oct. 1, 2024 -
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Affordable multifamily housing owners would get decarbonization help in NYC proposal
Building owners purchasing “offset certificates” to help meet Local Law 97’s greenhouse gas emissions-reduction requirements would pay into the fund.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 30, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Customer satisfaction with public EV charging is improving: JD Power
Electric vehicle owners are particularly satisfied with the speed of public fast chargers. But public charging infrastructure isn’t keeping up with the number of EVs in service, a J.D. Power executive said.
By Kalena Thomhave • Sept. 27, 2024 -
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Seattle boosts electric heat pump incentives with goal to eliminate oil-heated homes
With the city's new rebate, income-qualified households can access up to $8,000 each to switch from oil heat to an electric heat pump.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 24, 2024 -
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Biden administration proposes expanding tax credits for EV charger installations
The proposed rule would expand on January guidance from the Treasury Department, allowing the tax credit to be accessed per individual charging port installed.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2024 -
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How a 2nd Trump administration could ‘jeopardize’ Inflation Reduction Act climate funds
If elected, could Donald Trump claw back or withhold funds from communities? Experts from Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law offer insight.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Metropolitan Airports Commission and Miller Dunwiddie
Minneapolis airport unveils plans for geothermal heating, rainwater harvesting in $263M expansion
The terminal expansion effort will reduce 56% of water utility use, 19% of overall heating and cooling energy demand and 62% of exterior lighting energy demand, the airport commission said.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of General Motors
GM, EVgo plan 400 EV charging stations in US metro areas
Most flagship stations are expected to feature up to 20 stalls, but some select sites will offer significantly more chargers.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 18, 2024
