Utilities

Politics

Clean energy is on the ballot in these utility regulator races

Ten states elect their public utility commissions, which make big decisions about energy. This November, the stakes are high, especially in Arizona and Louisiana.

By Julian Spector . 25 October 2024

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
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
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
Long-duration energy storage

Form Energy closes its biggest deal yet for long-duration energy storage

The startup doesn't have any projects in commercial operation, but it has snagged another buyer with Georgia Power's order for a 15 MW/1,500 MWh iron-air battery.

By Julian Spector . 15 June 2023
Utilities

Rural electricity is getting its biggest boost since FDR — here's how

The Inflation Reduction Act earmarked $10.7B to make rural energy cleaner and more affordable. Now we have the details on how exactly the program will work.

By Jeff St. John . 24 May 2023
Electric vehicles

Crunching data to keep EVs from overloading California's grid

Startup Kevala forecasts California will need $50 billion in grid upgrades to meet electric-vehicle goals — and it can tell utilities where to start investing.

By Jeff St. John . 19 May 2023
Utilities

Colorado to bar utilities from charging customers for lobbying

A bill expected to be signed by the Colorado governor will be the most sweeping yet to prevent ratepayers from having to fund utilities’ political activities.

By Akielly Hu . 15 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
Utilities

New York state just approved publicly owned renewables

The state has set ambitious climate targets. Now it can build the clean energy it needs to meet them.

By Akielly Hu . 11 May 2023
Utilities

Octopus Energy is bringing clean, distributed energy to the masses

The clean-energy retailer is both serving and disrupting the utility sector — selling software, renewable power, smart home energy devices and more.

By Julian Spector . 10 May 2023