Switching to efficient electric heat pumps and appliances could save Oregon $1.1B through 2050, study finds

In Portland, for instance, households that electrify could save $161 a year on energy compared to homes that burn gas. Meanwhile, the city of Eugene is pursuing a local policy to wean developers off natural gas in new construction.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2022

Seattle residents can request an EV charger on their street

By installing EV chargers on utility poles and freestanding structures, Seattle aims to meet the charging needs of residents in multifamily housing or others who don’t have garages, carports, or driveways.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 29, 2022

General Motors aims to make EV charging accessible to apartment residents

Working with cities, states and local GM dealers, the automaker wants to solve the challenge of charging access for those who live in multifamily dwellings, its EV charging analyst explains.

By Dan Zukowski • June 28, 2022

Carpooling’s solution to rising gas prices

Commuters that carpool to work can offset the mounting costs of increased gas prices while helping the environment.

June 21, 2022

California needs to triple historical decarbonization rates to meet 2030 carbon target, report finds

“The key takeaway is that California is leaving beneficial, earlier action on the table,” said Chris Busch, research director with Energy Innovation and primary author of the report. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 17, 2022

DOT proposes rules for national EV charging network, including 97% uptime and 150 kW requirements

The proposal, which requires fast-charging stations to offer a standard plug and at least four charging ports, would apply to projects funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2022

All signs point to a ‘growing appetite’ for digital twins: report

Implementation is expected to increase 36% over the next five years, according to a Capgemini Research Institute report. But one smart city expert cautions city leaders against falling for the technology's "hype.”

By Cailin Crowe • June 8, 2022

Inside Ithaca’s plan to electrify 6,000 buildings and grow a regional green workforce using private equity funds

The city has mustered $105 million in private funds to support low-cost loans for businesses and residents to install heat pumps.

By Robert Walton • June 3, 2022

Austin’s new chief resiliency officer talks equipping communities in face of extreme weather, violence, injustice

Former Houston official Laura Patiño talks about lessons learned from Winter Storm Uri, the push to enact "resilience hubs" and the potential for a national chief resilience officer. 

By Maria Rachal • May 31, 2022

Washington, DC, is ‘ideally poised for electrification,’ Sierra Club finds. The city’s gas utility disagrees.

Renewable natural gas and green hydrogen could help the nation's capital avoid costly electric grid upgrades, according to Washington Gas.

By Robert Walton • May 13, 2022

California approves $11.7M vehicle-to-grid pilots in PG&E footprint

The programs will support the build-out of bidirectional charging equipment, which regulators say can provide broader resiliency benefits.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated May 9, 2022

The race to add more public EV chargers

To meet President Biden's goal for half of all U.S. vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2030, the country will need 20 times more EV chargers. To support those ambitions, companies are developing innovative charging technologies.

By Dan Zukowski • April 28, 2022

Latest UN climate change report shines new light on well-documented urban mitigation strategies

Cities must push harder to decarbonize buildings and transform transportation norms, the report suggests, as the next three years are critical if the world is to change the course of global warming.

By Maria Rachal • April 5, 2022

Gatik signals start of ‘hyper-growth’ phase with EV partnership

The autonomous middle-mile delivery operator is set to team up with ChargePoint to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across its North American locations.

By Kate Magill • April 1, 2022

Nearly $45B for climate and clean energy included in Biden’s proposed budget

It calls for investments in zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure so federal agencies can provide "immediate, clear, and stable" demand. There are also carveouts for electrifying low-income homes.

By Ethan Howland • March 29, 2022

Boston moves to convert its charming but costly gas lamps to LEDs

The city is in the midst of a community engagement process to convert 2,800 of its remaining gas lamps  — which are 4% of the city's streetlights but 37% of its streetlight emissions — to LEDs in a bid to support climate goals.

By Cailin Crowe • March 25, 2022

Low-income Flint residents and others in Michigan to benefit from utility’s energy efficiency program expansion

The expanded gas and electric efficiency programs are "a critical step towards fighting energy inequality" in the state, Earthjustice Senior Attorney Chinyere Osuala said.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2022

Washington state legislators again mandate 100% electric new car sales by 2030

The target is the most ambitious in the U.S. and was included in a broader $16.9 billion transportation package that is now headed to Gov. Inslee’s desk.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 14, 2022

Fullerton, California, to fund smart city projects with energy savings

The $8.4 million energy efficiency project is expected to save the city $12.1 million and support the implementation of technology like LED streetlights. 

By Cailin Crowe • March 7, 2022

Biden touts charging network expansion in State of the Union amid 85% jump in 2021 US EV sales

During his speech to Congress, President Joe Biden highlighted plans for a 500,000-charger national network supported by the federal government as EV sales surge and the market prepares for a flood of federal funding.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2022

As Biden plans EV charger rollout, location questions take the fore

From Denver to Seattle, cities are placing charging stations in under-resourced neighborhoods. The efforts could guide state plans that must meet equity goals to qualify for federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funds.

By Jason Plautz • March 2, 2022

Making corporate net-zero rhetoric real in 2022

Businesses' net-zero commitments are new promises to do good for broader society, going far beyond the company's own operations, the authors write. 

By Chris Deri and Sasha Mackler • March 1, 2022

Revisiting California’s natural gas hookup subsidies

California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.

By Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 23, 2022

Dozens of lawmakers press Biden to prioritize appliance efficiency standard updates

There were 28 standards in need of review when President Joe Biden took office, and more deadlines are approaching. "The scale of the rulemaking task ahead is challenging," warned more than 50 lawmakers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2022

Louisville eyes forming public electric utility to meet climate goals

Its goal of achieving 100% clean energy communitywide by 2040 does not match the decarbonization plans of its current energy provider, leading the city to look for alternatives.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 11, 2022