Energy & Utilities
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Courtesy of General Motors
GM, EVgo plan 400 EV charging stations in US metro areas
Most flagship stations are expected to feature up to 20 stalls, but some select sites will offer significantly more chargers.
By Eric Walz • Sept. 18, 2024 -
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2025 California energy code updates aim to drive heat pump adoption, save nearly $5B in energy costs
If approved, the new building energy efficiency standards are expected to drive 500,000 heat pump installations in the first three years, the California Energy Commission said.
By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 17, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineTop 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
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DOE spurs new building energy codes with another $90M
Construction-heavy states that lack the latest energy-efficiency codes are among the focus areas for this round of federal funding, a U.S. Department of Energy official said.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 16, 2024 -
iStock/ Hiraman
Sponsored by Schneider ElectricHow cities are stacking grant funds to achieve big sustainability goals
Why local governments are increasingly stacking multiple funding sources to finance sustainable infrastructure projects.
Sept. 16, 2024 -
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Low-income families face high energy burden, prompting calls for more government action
One in four low-income U.S. households spends more than 15% of their income on energy bills, finds an analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 13, 2024 -
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Retrofits more effective in cutting operational, embodied carbon emissions than new builds: study
Notre Dame researchers analyzed over 1 million Chicago buildings. The team plans to measure buildings’ embodied carbon in most U.S. metropolitan areas by the end of 2025, a researcher said.
By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 11, 2024 -
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Washington hopes to advance clean building standards implementation with nearly $8M DOE grant
The state’s Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network project aims to train at least 60 fellows to provide energy services to building owners and operators.
By Nish Amarnath • Sept. 10, 2024 -
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Robust community engagement good for locals, renewable energy developers: Berkeley Lab
In a first-of-its-kind survey, wind and solar developers cited community opposition and strict local siting ordinances as leading causes of project delays and cancellations.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 6, 2024 -
Haizhan Zheng via Getty Images
30 neighborhood decarbonization pilots allowed under bill passed in California
If the governor signs it, the legislation will let natural gas utilities planning to replace old gas pipelines decarbonize pilot areas instead.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 4, 2024 -
Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
Cooling is expensive, and more federal assistance is needed, advocates say
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is “chronically underfunded,” argues a policy brief by the Natural Resources Defense Council and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 29, 2024 -
Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
DOT awards $521M in EV charging grants amid slowing sales growth
Grant winners will deploy over 9,200 electric vehicle charging ports and build alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight tribal areas and Washington, D.C., the Department of Transportation says.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2024 -
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What to know about BERDO, Boston’s building performance standards law
While many buildings already meet 2025 emissions limits, facility managers and owners should start planning now for how they’ll meet future requirements, city officials say.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 28, 2024 -
David Ryder/Getty Images via Getty Images
State, local building energy codes get makeovers with over $240M from US DOE
Nineteen states and localities, including Seattle and New York City, got grants announced Tuesday by the Department of Energy. The agency encouraged more communities to apply by Sept. 13 for a second round of funding.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 28, 2024 -
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Cities assert tenants’ right to cooling in a warming world
Grappling with fatal heat waves, local governments are passing laws that make landlords provide working air conditioning. Financial and other challenges remain, however.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 27, 2024 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
Q&AWill New York City make landlords provide air conditioning? Its climate chief is optimistic.
Coordinating any such mandate with the city's building decarbonization law requirements could reduce the burden it might create for building owners, Rohit Aggarwala explained.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 26, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
More efficient electric vehicles can reduce grid stress, cut charging costs by almost a third: ACEEE
Local governments can leverage registration fees and subsidies to encourage EV efficiency, says research published Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Kent J. Edwards/Reuters
Deep DiveShould tenants have a right to cooling? More cities say yes amid record heat.
As rental cooling standards pop up around the country, experts warn that they aren’t a perfect solution to the rising danger of scorching temperatures.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 20, 2024 -
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New York encourages electrification with new affordability pilot, grid planning process
The pilot will ensure that about 1,000 low-income households spend no more than 6% of their annual income on electricity when they electrify their space and water heating.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2024 -
Permission granted by Oldcastle Infrastructure
Sponsored by Oldcastle InfrastructureTackling water loss with advanced AI technology
Transition to continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance.
Aug. 12, 2024 -
Retrieved from Cornell University on August 06, 2024
Thermal energy networks can slash water use in buildings, study shows
With thermal energy networks poised to expand in coming years, water usage data must be standardized and publicly available, the Building Decarbonization Coalition said.
By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 7, 2024 -
Andrey Popov via Getty Images
AI could halt energy use growth in US buildings: LBNL study
Combined with policy measures and low-carbon generation, building carbon emissions can decline over 90% by 2050 compared with business-as-usual scenarios, according to national lab researchers.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 6, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Electric company would pay $2B in pending Maui wildfire settlement
Hawaiian Electric Industries and its utilities were named in about 400 lawsuits related to the wildfires, with plaintiffs arguing utility power lines started the deadly blazes.
By Ethan Howland • Aug. 5, 2024 -
Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
$36M for low-income housing energy efficiency available from US DOE grants
Local governments and other entities can get up to $2 million each for weatherization and workforce training efforts.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 1, 2024 -
ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
Clean energy tax credits are tough. This new tool could help.
The free online navigator from Lawyers for Good Government can help cities determine if a project qualifies for Inflation Reduction Act direct-pay incentives.
By Ysabelle Kempe • July 31, 2024 -
Elijah-Lovkoff via Getty Images
US cities sharpen focus on building performance standards to meet net-zero goals
U.S. cities are turning to performance-based standards to meet climate goals after traditional energy-efficiency mandates fell short, a JLL report says.
By Nish Amarnath • July 29, 2024
