Policy & regulation

Clean fleets

‘Green bank’ launches $250M effort to electrify California’s port trucks

The program, from Climate United and Forum Mobility, will help secure the EV trucks and charging stations needed to phase out diesel trucks at the state’s busy ports.

By Jeff St. John . 29 October 2024

A driver plugs in an electric truck at a Forum Mobility charging depot at the Port of Long Beach. — A driver at Hight Logistics, a drayage operator at the Port of Long Beach, plugs in an electric truck at a charging depot operated by Forum Mobility. (Forum Mobility)

Batteries

California regulators cut incentives for rooftop solar even further

The CPUC insists it wants people to add batteries to solar systems to help the grid. But it just cut the compensation that households can earn by doing it.

By Jeff St. John . 4 December 2023
Solar

California’s rooftop solar policy is killing its rooftop solar industry

New projects have cratered and job losses are mounting in the six months since California regulators slashed the value of home solar systems.

By Jeff St. John . 1 December 2023
Liquefied natural gas

Sen. Merkley condemns Biden admin for rubber-stamping LNG buildout

The Democratic lawmaker spoke with Canary Media in a lively Q&A about how America's surging exports of liquefied natural gas undermine U.S. climate leadership.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 November 2023
Solar

AI-powered permitting is speeding up solar deployments in California

Symbium has signed up 22 California cities to try out its software, which uses automation techniques to slash the time it takes to process solar permits.

By Jeff St. John . 30 November 2023
Liquefied natural gas

The LNG export boom just hit a snag in Texas

A federal court has revoked a key permit for Sempra Energy, which plans to build an LNG facility in Port Arthur that could pollute Black and Latino communities.

By Lylla Younes . 21 November 2023
Video

LNG exports are a 'really, really big' climate threat, McKibben says

Canary Media talks with Bill McKibben about the Biden administration’s stance on LNG, the gas’s outsize climate impacts and the miracle of renewables.

By Nicole Pollack . 20 November 2023
Transmission

California's grid is hindering its climate goals. Can a new law fix it?

The state's grid isn't growing fast enough to support a surge of EVs, heat pumps and more. A new law offers a potential path forward — and could be a model for other states.

By Jeff St. John . 20 November 2023
Solar

California makes it harder for schools, farms and rental housing to go solar

Regulators have slashed the value of shared-solar systems, starting in early 2024. School districts, community advocates and politicians have expressed outrage over the decision.

By Jeff St. John . 17 November 2023
Clean energy

Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row

For nearly a week, the country of 10 million met customer needs with wind, hydro and solar — a test run for operating the grid without fossil fuels.

By Julian Spector . 15 November 2023
Utilities

Maine utilities eye move to time-varying electric rates to boost electrification

"Time-of-use" rates that encourage customers to cut energy use at times of peak demand could help the state meet its electrification goals without straining the grid.

By Annie Ropeik . 14 November 2023