Fossil fuels

Booming power demand is slowing climate progress for US utilities

Sierra Club analysis finds that U.S. utilities are planning a huge expansion of fossil-gas plants — a shift that’s incompatible with climate goals.

By Jeff St. John . 9 October 2024

Turbines from the Mount Storm Wind Farm behind Dominion's Mount Storm coal power plant in West Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Just transition

Who should pay to help coal communities in the energy transition?

Staff at Arizona’s utility regulator say customers shouldn’t be charged more to fund a $144 million just transition package for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and other coal communities.

By Alison F. Takemura . 24 October 2022
Utilities

Charts: Utilities sticking with fossil fuels despite climate pledges

A new Sierra Club report highlights the major U.S. utilities that plan to burn coal and build new fossil-gas infrastructure through at least 2030.

By Maria Gallucci, Maria Virginia Olano . 21 October 2022
Wind

Oil, gas or wind: What produces more energy per offshore acre?

Canary's chart of the week highlights some drastic differences in the amount of energy produced from a single leased offshore acre.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 7 October 2022
Just transition

The best policies to help coal towns weather the switch to renewables

A new report singles out Colorado, Illinois and New Mexico as trailblazers in just-transition laws. Could fossil strongholds Wyoming and West Virginia follow suit?

By Alison F. Takemura . 3 October 2022
Utilities

Why does Duke Energy's carbon plan shortchange solar?

The utility wants to build new gas plants. Its critics want it to build far more solar and batteries. North Carolina regulators have until year's end to decide.

By Jeff St. John . 19 September 2022
Electrification

As the wealthy go electric, who will pay for aging gas infrastructure?

Electrification is ramping up. Advocates say we need plans to shield lower-income people from the costs of maintaining a deteriorating fossil-gas system.

By Sarah Shemkus . 6 September 2022
Fossil fuels

Hawaii just got rid of coal power for good

Next up: finding new roles for coal plant workers — and keeping the lights on during a global energy crisis.

By Julian Spector . 1 September 2022
Fossil fuels

EPA should crack down on fossil-fueled heating, climate groups argue

A coalition of activists is petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to phase out furnaces and water heaters that burn gas and oil.

By Emily Pontecorvo . 26 August 2022
Electrification

How much money can you save under the new climate law?

Rewiring America CEO Ari Matusiak breaks down the discounts, credits and incentives available to homeowners in the Inflation Reduction Act.

By Maria Virginia Olano, Julia Pyper . 25 August 2022
Solar

Hawaii's biggest solar+battery plant comes online — just in time

Despite supply-chain hurdles and other hiccups, developer Clearway Energy was able to get the solar-and-storage facility running before Oahu's last coal plant closes.

By Julian Spector . 15 August 2022