Power Grid

Close-up of rooftop solar panel on sandy peach with tall palm trees.

Puerto Rico Pilot Program Harnesses Household Renewables

The experiment could become the largest renewable energy grid of its kind.

January 22, 2024 - Next City

Power lines with dense icicles hanging from them against blue sky.

Texas Grid Holds Up to Freezing Temperatures

Efforts made to prepare the state’s infrastructure for winter storms after 2021’s disastrous freeze are paying off.

January 18, 2024 - The New York Times

Electricity towers against sunset sky with green trees in background.

Energy Reliability on the Ballot in Texas

Texans will decide on November 7 whether to subsidize electricity generation to strengthen the power grid to prevent blackouts, but only with the construction of new natural gas power plants.

November 8, 2023 - The Washington Post

Department of Energy sign in front of modernist building in Washington, D.C.

Department of Energy Moves to Improve Grid Interconnections

Adding new renewable energy projects to local grids can take an average of five years, slowing the process of reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

October 30, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in orange shirt and white helmet works at top of power line.

Building Resiliency in Rural Power Grids

A National Science Foundation study seeks to understand the impact of climate change and extreme weather on rural electrical grids in diverse geographic areas.

September 28, 2023 - The Daily Yonder

High voltage power line towers sillhouetted against colorful sunset sky.

Utilities Spending Less on Energy Efficiency Despite Higher Fuel Prices

A survey of major utilities reveals a link between states with strict efficiency standards and incentive programs and efforts to improve efficiency on the part of utilities.

September 20, 2023 - Governing

Solar and Wind Energy

Federal Rule Update to Speed Clean Energy Approvals

A regulatory change at the federal level will shorten the time it takes clean energy projects to gain approval and start providing energy to the grid.

July 31, 2023 - The Verge

Red "Unstable Cliffs - Stay Back" sign on tall Pacific coast cliff

Coastal Climate Resilience to Receive $2.6 Billion Federal Investment

The Biden Administration announced the second massive investment of federal funds for coastal resilience on June 6. The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $3.3 billion to NOAA. In March, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act added $562 billion.

June 21, 2023 - The Hill

Wind turbines sillhouetted against a sunset sky along roadway in New Mexico

New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest

The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.

May 26, 2023 - U.S. News And World Report

Renewable Energy

Major Wind Power Transmission Line Approved by BLM

The new power line will connect the nation’s largest onshore wind project to southwestern states.

April 21, 2023 - Grist

Power transmission lines surrounded by orange California poppies and silhouette of mountains in background

Why California’s Power Lines Take So Long to Build

The years-long permitting process for new transmission lines is slowing the state’s shift to clean energy.

January 2, 2023 - Governing

Electric big rig truck plugged into charging station

How Utilities Can Prepare for Vehicle Electrification

As more electric cars and trucks hit U.S. roads, large charging stations could require as much power as a small town.

November 15, 2022 - Bloomberg Green

Array of solar panels in the foreground with palm trees and mountains in background, Death Valley, California

California’s Energy Emergency: Fodder for Democrats and Republicans

What are the lessons to be learned from California's 10-day power grid emergency this month? Democrats and Republicans in Congress have their own takeaways, and both may be right.

September 19, 2022 - E&E News

Power lines and towers at a substation

California's Energy Reality Check

Is California ready for an all-electric future? The California energy grid barely withstood its biggest test during last week's heat wave as residents cranked up their air conditioners. CalMatters columnist Dan Walters questions if the grid is ready.

September 14, 2022 - CALmatters

Power lines and towers at a substation against a red sunset backdrop

Disaster Averted!

The California power grid withstood its biggest test ever on Tuesday and passed—barely. The only rolling blackouts that occurred during the Stage Three Energy Emergency alert were results of miscommunication.

September 11, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Car Graveyard

The Beginning of the End of the Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle?

The California Air Resources Board voted unanimously on August 25 to begin a phased ban on the sale of passenger vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel beginning in 2026 when over a third of new vehicles sold in California must be zero-emissions.

August 29, 2022 - The New York Times

Diablo Canyon nuclear plant

Funding Allocated to Extend Life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

In order to to ensure that the lights stay on, the California legislature approved allocating up to $75 million to extend the life of the state's sole remaining nuclear plant and four natural gas powered plants, to the chagrin of environmentalists.

July 11, 2022 - CALmatters

Solar Installation

Grid Operator Calls for Two-Year Pause on Solar Projects, Citing Massive Backlog

The largest grid operator in the U.S. is asking for a new approvals process and two-year delay on current applications to ease the logjam of primarily solar projects in its queue.

February 8, 2022 - Inside Climate News

A grid of connected energy, shown as an imagined web over the night sky of an unnamed city.

Smart Power Grid Technologies for Smart Cities

Smart power grid solutions are becoming increasingly important for the development of smart cities. Here's what you need to know.

December 23, 2021 - Devin Partida

Solar Installation

California Could Drastically Cut Solar Incentives

Rooftop solar customers in California could face higher costs and reduced incentives if a proposed overhaul of the state's solar program is approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

December 23, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

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