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)

Utilities

The boards that regulate utilities are overwhelmingly white and male

Public utility commissions wield enormous power over state-level clean energy progress. But they lack diversity and tend to have political, utility or fossil connections.

By Lisa Prevost . 13 July 2023
Nuclear

The US may soon get its first new source of nuclear fuel in 70 years

Next-gen nuclear plants could be critical to the energy transition, but first, they’ll need fuel. Centrus has overcome a key regulatory barrier to meeting that need.

By Eric Wesoff . 12 July 2023
Marine transport

Dirty diesel ships can start decarbonizing now. Here's how

With the IMO's new emissions-reduction goals set last week, cargo shipping companies are under more pressure than ever to slash CO2 emissions.

By Maria Gallucci . 10 July 2023
Utilities

Hot trend: States banning utilities from charging you for their lobbying

Connecticut joins Maine and Colorado in a growing movement to block utilities from using ratepayer dollars to sway lawmakers and delay climate action.

By Akielly Hu . 10 July 2023
Marine transport

Cargo ships now have a net-zero goal — but critics say it's not enough

The U.N.’s IMO set new climate goals for the dirty ships that power the global economy. But they don’t align with the 1.5-degree pathway some nations pushed for.

By Maria Gallucci . 7 July 2023
Clean energy

New Hampshire's dormant climate plan revived by Inflation Reduction Act

State lawmakers are planning to use a $3 million federal grant to make good on climate promises set in 2009.

By Sarah Shemkus . 6 July 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
Marine transport

As emissions soar, cargo shipping faces a critical climate crossroads

A high-stakes meeting at the U.N.’s maritime agency could set aggressive emissions-reduction goals for the dirty ships that keep the economy humming.

By Maria Gallucci . 29 June 2023
Public transit

The US' billion-dollar EV bus program can’t keep up with demand

A new round of $1.7B in clean-bus grants saw $8.7B in applications. A carve-out for low-emissions fossil-fueled buses further limits federal EV bus funding.

By Jeff St. John . 29 June 2023
Solar

Agrivoltaics finds new fans in US Senate

Agriculture and solar: a winning combination for farmers, the climate and now — thanks to two recently introduced bills — maybe the Senate, too.

By Alison F. Takemura . 20 June 2023