Hydrogen
The problem with making green hydrogen to fuel power plants
A new plant in Florida will produce green hydrogen to help power the grid. But experts warn that its approach would be wasteful and ineffective if scaled up.
By Jeff St. John .
Jeff St. John is director of news and special projects at Canary Media. He covers the intersection of technological, economic, and regulatory issues influencing the global transition to low-carbon energy in the electricity, transportation, and building sectors. His areas of expertise include innovative grid technologies, rooftop solar and batteries, clean hydrogen, electric vehicles, EV charging, and broader decarbonization policy.
He is the former managing editor and senior grid-edge editor of Greentech Media, and he previously reported for The Fresno Bee, the Tri-City Herald, and the Anchorage Daily News. He lives in Alameda, California, with his wife Tara Donoghue and his dog Lily, and enjoys hiking, baking bread, and playing guitar with his nieces and nephews.
He earned a master’s degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2001.
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Energy efficiency
These startups are using AI to cut energy waste from buildings
Buildings use — and waste — an enormous amount of energy. A growing number of startups are trying to wield buzzy AI technologies to fix this problem.By Jeff St. John .
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Solar
California looks to add solar and transmission along highways
Many states are building solar next to highways. Only one uses them as transmission corridors. A new bill orders California to explore both options.By Jeff St. John .
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Wind
California takes big first step toward floating offshore wind
The Golden State’s zero-carbon future depends in part on offshore wind. A new bill would let the state kick-start the sector by serving as an anchor customer.By Jeff St. John .
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Electric vehicles
Electric big rigs are going farther and charging faster
Heavy-duty battery-powered trucks running real cargo on U.S. roads are going hundreds of miles per charge — a good sign for cutting trucking emissions.By Jeff St. John .
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Heat pumps
New plan aims to quadruple heat-pump adoption in 25 states
The pledge, which covers 55% of the population, calls for accelerating home decarbonization by deploying 20 million heat pumps by 2030.By Jeff St. John .
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Carbon-free buildings
NYC’s big building-decarbonization law faces its first major test
Landlords and climate activists are sparring over the future of Local Law 97 — the country’s most ambitious citywide mandate to clean up building emissions.By Jeff St. John .
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Transmission
The US is building power lines faster, but not fast enough
Major transmission lines and grid plans have been approved in the past two years. But they're just 10 percent of what the country needs to decarbonize its grid.By Jeff St. John .
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Grid edge
Smart thermostats are helping Arizona's grid ride out brutal heat
Amid soaring temperatures, Arizona has seen success with utility programs that incentivize people to turn down the AC when the power grid is stressed.By Jeff St. John .
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Clean industry
Terra CO2 says its Texas factory will cut carbon and cost from cement
The startup is building its first large-scale plant to turn common rocks into cement additives that can reduce cement's hefty carbon footprint without raising costs.By Jeff St. John .
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