Fossil fuels

Politics

How Trump’s second term could derail the clean energy transition

The Inflation Reduction Act might not be completely repealed, but plenty of other climate policies could be undone — and fossil fuels could be unleashed.

By Jeff St. John . 6 November 2024

torn Trump signs on the ground — (Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

Hydrogen

The case against the US government’s big 'blue hydrogen' bet

A slice of the $7B in federal “hydrogen hub” funding will go to creating hydrogen with fossil gas and carbon capture. Advocates say that’s an emissions disaster.

By Jeff St. John . 18 October 2023
Utilities

Utilities still moving way too slow on clean energy

Despite historic wind, solar and battery subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, U.S. utilities remain hooked on fossil fuels.

By Jeff St. John . 16 October 2023
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 . 10 October 2023
Batteries

A big battery is replacing this old Massachusetts fossil power plant

Thanks to a state program incentivizing cleaner peak power, a developer is building a 45 MW grid battery at the site of a fossil power plant shut down in 2022.

By Sarah Shemkus . 13 September 2023
Clean energy

Chart: Renewables are on track to keep getting cheaper and cheaper

A new report says that ongoing improvements in solar and wind tech will keep driving steep cost declines that make them even more competitive against fossil fuels.

By Alison F. Takemura . 1 September 2023
Clean energy

Hawaii quit coal one year ago. Here's how it's been going

The lights stayed on, but the state's experience offers some lessons on what can go wrong in the transition to clean energy.

By Julian Spector . 31 August 2023
Fossil fuels

Natural gas is the pillar of the US electric grid. It’s also unreliable

Pro-fossil groups argue gas is more reliable than clean energy. But in extreme cold, gas pipelines and power plants are failing to deliver when they're most needed.

By Jeff St. John . 5 July 2023
Clean energy

Chart: Clean energy investment to hit $1.7T, widening lead on fossil fuels

That’s more than the $1 trillion oil, gas and coal will get this year — but still a far cry from the $4 trillion IEA says will be needed annually by 2030.

By Dan McCarthy . 2 June 2023
Fossil fuels

Vermont is moving from fuel oil to clean heat

The state legislature in Vermont overruled the governor’s veto to pass a law that will curb greenhouse gas emissions from heating homes and other buildings.

By Maria Gallucci . 16 May 2023
Utilities

The EPA has a controversial new plan to clean up power plants

Utilities and fossil fuel companies have touted carbon capture for years, but now they're unhappy that the EPA is telling them it's viable and ready for use.

By Joseph Winters . 12 May 2023