Energy & Utilities: Page 8

  • An overhead view of the six-lane Cross Bronx Expressway filled with bumper-to-bumper cars and large trucks.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    How many chargers will the Northeast’s electric trucks need? National Grid aims to find out.

    The U.S. Department of Energy-funded analysis will span some of the nation’s largest cities, targeting highways with heavy trucking traffic and commercial areas such as ports.

    By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2023
  • Hydrogen energy storage gas tank for clean electricity solar and wind turbine facility.
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    Vanit Janthra via Getty Images
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    DOE selects 7 hydrogen hubs for $7B funding opportunity

    The selection of several hubs focused on hydrogen production from fossil fuels and carbon capture drew the ire of environmental groups.

    By Emma Penrod • Oct. 16, 2023
  • smart city, smart cities Explore the Trendline➔
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    jamesteohart via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 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
  • A building inspector is completing an inspection form on clipboard.
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    Pixsooz via Getty Images
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    NYC project looks to support climate law with building inspection tech

    The AI-powered technology under development uses robots and drone scans to detect structural flaws that reduce energy efficiency.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 16, 2023
  • Turbines in an offshore wind park in Flevoland, The Netherlands, at sunset.
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    Fokkebok via Getty Images
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    Reworking the grid for offshore wind is a matter of ‘extreme urgency’: Clean energy company exec

    The need to solve transmission and interconnection issues has become more acute as the Inflation Reduction Act pumps billions of dollars into renewable energy production.

    By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 13, 2023
  • An HVAC worker is seen to perform heat pump maintenance
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    welcomia via Getty Images
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    Clean energy transition in buildings could create 2M+ jobs in US, Europe

    The study by Schneider Electric and Boston University estimates which U.S. regions will see the most new jobs as more buildings get solar PV, heat pumps and battery storage.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 12, 2023
  • Aerial view of wind turbines taken with a drone in Vermont.
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    Gabriel Shakour via Getty Images
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    Vermont utility wants to give all customers battery storage to prevent outages

    Green Mountain Power aims to shift the state’s grid to a distributed system — a future the utility’s CEO envisions for the entire U.S.

    By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 11, 2023
  • Aerial shot of city
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    New alliance aims to turn this Rust Belt city into a ‘Green Belt’ hub

    The Chicagoland Climate Investment Alliance wants $1 billion in federal funding for a “Rust Belt to Green Belt Initiative,” indicating the region is ready to move past its nickname from the 1970s.

    By • Oct. 10, 2023
  • Aerial shot of city with lines connecting different locations
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    alexsl via Getty Images
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    Notable 2024 conferences for smart city leaders

    Newly added events focus on traffic safety, technology and green infrastructure.

    By • Updated Aug. 2, 2024
  • A car salesperson shaking hands with a customer.
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    skynesher/E+ via Getty Images
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    Are EV tax credits too hard to use? The Biden administration thinks so.

    In January, car shoppers will be able to transfer their clean vehicle tax credits to dealers to lower the purchase price of electrified vehicles.

    By Michael Brady • Oct. 9, 2023
  • The U.S. General Services Administrations' building.
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    ‘Empty’ federal buildings under scrutiny

    Unused office space poses financial and environmental issues federal agencies must address, lawmakers from both parties said at a Senate committee hearing.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 9, 2023
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on February 01, 2023 in Sacramento, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    California governor signs bill to speed utility interconnections

    The Powering Up Californians Act aims to accelerate the state's electrification efforts and is one of several clean energy bills signed recently by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

    By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2023
  • A facade of a sustainable glass office building with a tree for reducing carbon dioxide.
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    Fahroni via Getty Images
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    US Green Building Council’s LEED v5 doubles down on decarbonization

    The proposal for existing buildings would set new requirements to boost climate resilience, assess social impact and cut emissions from embodied carbon, refrigerants and transportation.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 6, 2023
  • A facade of the White House in Washington, D.C.
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    Nick van Bree via Getty Images
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    Biden administration will define zero emissions for buildings

    Use of 100% clean energy and meeting strict energy-efficiency guidelines are part of the proposed definition, White House National Climate Adviser Ali Zaidi said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 2, 2023
  • An aerial view of a wind farm in Iowa.
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    Alena Mozhjer via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Community solar is hot. Why not community wind?

    Perhaps the biggest difference between yesterday’s community wind and today’s community solar markets is in their business models, which reflect their respective market and policy environments. 

    By Mark Bolinger and Bentham Paulos • Sept. 27, 2023
  • Workers walk among solar panels at the construction site of a new solar energy park as wind turbines spin behind on April 06, 2023 near Prenzlau, Germany.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    White House launches clean energy youth workforce program amid labor shortage concerns

    The American Climate Corps aims to put more than 20,000 people to work in its first year. The plan “harkens back” to the New Deal, said International District Energy Association CEO Rob Thornton.

    By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 22, 2023
  • Street view of several three-story housing buildings
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    DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images
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    Boston launches pilot to help small housing owners go electric

    Two- to four-unit buildings are the city’s most common building type. Boston hopes the new grant program will yield lessons on scaling up building decarbonization.

    By • Sept. 22, 2023
  • A curved beige building with rows of square windows.
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    Highsmith, Carol M. (2011). "Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, headquarters of HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
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    To improve multifamily housing energy efficiency and resiliency, HUD offers $4.8B for retrofits

    The first round of the $4.8 billion GRRP covers upgrades for 28 rent-assisted properties.

    By Mary Salmonsen • Sept. 18, 2023
  • A window air conditioning unit in the window of a blue house.
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    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Extreme heat disproportionately threatens Black renters, experts say

    Black renters disproportionately experience energy insecurity, which stems from an inability to pay energy bills, and federal policy falls short in addressing it, a Brookings Metro report says.

    By • Sept. 13, 2023
  • Close-up of lit gas stove.
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    FotoCuisinette via Getty Images
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    California must ban gas in new buildings, local officials tell governor

    With a federal appeals court overturning Berkeley, California’s landmark gas ban, the state needs a unified standard to remain a climate policy leader, 26 local leaders told Gov. Gavin Newsom.

    By • Sept. 11, 2023
  • The front of a silver car is connected to an electric vehicle charger.
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Accelerating EV adoption: Utilities partner with GM, BMW, Lyft and more in the auto sector

    Automakers and utilities “are now partners until the end of time, whether they like it or not,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America.

    By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2023
  • A close-up angular view of a government building in Washington, D.C. with a sign reading "United States Environmental ProtectionAgency"
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    Skyhobo via Getty Images
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    EPA awards climate planning grants to New England cities, states

    The Environmental Protection Agency is nearly done awarding such grants to communities nationwide and will soon launch the competitive phase of its climate pollution reduction program.

    By • Sept. 1, 2023
  • A blue electric New York City transit bus at an overhead charging station.
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    Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA
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    Fleet electrification: 5 principles to help state and local governments plan

    World Resources Institute researchers spoke with local governments, transit agencies and consultants to uncover the pitfalls of and best practices for shifting to electric vehicles.

    By • Sept. 1, 2023
  • Two people install rooftop solar on a building. One person is holding the panel and the other person is holding a drill.
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    Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    On clean energy tax credits, mayors want clearer federal guidance

    New incentives could turbocharge local climate action, but resource-limited cities need clarity on how to use them, over 50 mayors said in a letter to the Treasury Department.

    By • Aug. 28, 2023
  • The Colorado flag waves in the breeze in front of an American flag.
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    Colorado mandates new building energy performance standards despite criticism

    The ruling unfairly burdens existing buildings, operators and owners say. The state Air Quality Commission touts the rules’ flexibility.

    By Joe Burns • Aug. 22, 2023
  • A gray four-door crossover vehicle parked in an electric vehicle charging stall with a woman holding a charging cable to the car.
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    Courtesy of EVgo Services LLC. Used with permission.
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    Public EV charger customer satisfaction drops: J.D. Power

    "The results of this year's study should be very concerning to all those involved in the transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles," one expert said.

    By Michael Brady • Aug. 18, 2023