Building & Transportation Electrification


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    Utilities need ‘broad culture change’ to deploy emerging clean resources at scale: DOE’s Shah

    “Failing to adopt new strategies and technologies is the higher-risk path for utilities today,” said Jigar Shah, director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office.

    By Sept. 9, 2024
  • A rendering of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV in a residential garage with GM's vehicle-to-home charging equipment mounted on the wall.
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    V2G law could grow California battery capacity 119 GWh in 2027: ClearView Energy

    The new law gives the California Energy Commission more discretion to mandate bidirectional EV charging capabilities than a stricter version that failed last year, the independent research firm said Tuesday.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 6, 2024
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    Trendline

    Building Electrification

    Decarbonization goals are spurring building electrication efforts across the U.S. While the use of heat pumps and other technologies is expanding, some policies are facing legal challenges.

    By Utility Dive staff
  • A photo of a ChargePoint EV charger outside an XtraMart convenience store, taken at a ribbon cutting for the charger on Sept. 19, 2023.
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    Courtesy of Global Partners
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    ChargePoint enhances charging stations with AI as shares slide amid slower EV sales growth

    Project delays on the fleet side of ChargePoint’s business were a drag on second quarter revenues, President and CEO Rick Wilmer said.

    By Sept. 6, 2024
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford, TXU Energy aim to make at-home EV charging more affordable

    The utility is offering the automaker's electric vehicle customers 125 hours of free home charging time a week.

    By Kalena Thomhave • Sept. 4, 2024
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    Haizhan Zheng via Getty Images
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    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, potentially via electrification or installing thermal energy networks.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 4, 2024
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    Courtesy of The Chemours Co.

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    Chemours opens EV battery innovation center in Delaware

    The research and development facility will focus on developing and improving lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

    By Sara Samora • Sept. 3, 2024
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    EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
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    Over $12M allocated for energy efficiency, clean energy projects in eighth round of DOE awards

    The 35 grantees announced Aug. 28 will use the funds for projects that include conducting energy assessments and installing EV charging stations, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 30, 2024
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    David Ryder/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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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    Courtesy of LG Energy Solution
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    Market headwinds force LG Energy Solution, others to pause EV manufacturing projects

    Financing woes, soaring material prices and waning demand are causing auto and battery makers to delay projects, even those that have already started.

    By Sebastian Obando • Aug. 28, 2024
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Uber taps former Tesla exec to oversee sustainability strategy, shift to EVs

    Rebecca Tinucci, previously Tesla’s head of charging, will oversee the ride-share giant’s transition to becoming an emissions-free mobility platform by 2040.

    By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 28, 2024
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    Courtesy of Business Wire
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    Avangrid, Schneider Electric among first cohort chosen for cleantech initiative

    The program will address barriers building owners face when implementing new decarbonization technologies, such as performance uncertainty and integration challenges.

    By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 27, 2024
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    DOT awards $521M in EV charging grants amid slowing sales growth

    The number of public electric vehicle chargers in the U.S. has doubled during President Biden’s term, with about 1,000 being added each week, according to the Department of Transportation.

    By Aug. 27, 2024
  • Worker inside Toyota's $1.3 billion EV plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
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    Courtesy of Toyota
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    DOE doles out another $50M to support EV manufacturing

    The Biden-Harris administration said the funding will go to six states with “significant automotive workforces” to help suppliers adapt their facilities.

    By Haley Cawthon • Aug. 26, 2024
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    Retrieved from General Motors on August 15, 2024
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    GM Fort Wayne plant cuts natural gas use by 30%, wins DOE award

    General Motors’ assembly plant captures waste heat from landfill gas-powered generators. The recovered heat can provide over 80% of the site’s building heating needs, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

    By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 20, 2024
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    Adam Gray/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    With 10 new climate resilience centers, DOE aims to translate research into local action

    Researchers will work on actionable science and tools to help local stakeholders combat extreme heat, flooding, drought and more, the U.S. Department of Energy announced last week.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 20, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    More efficient electric vehicles can reduce grid stress, cut charging costs by almost a third: ACEEE

    Improving average EV efficiency could also help reduce vehicle prices by almost $5,000, according to research published Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

    By Aug. 20, 2024
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    franckreporter via Getty Images
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    New York encourages electrification with new grid planning process, affordability pilot

    “The rate at which consumers are electrifying buildings and vehicles has the potential to outpace the existing grid planning processes,” the New York Public Service Commission said.

    By Aug. 19, 2024
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    Permission granted by Enel X Way North America
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    Opinion

    Reconciling two competing goals: residential electrification and grid stability

    By focusing on distributed resources, utilities will avoid overloading individual distribution feeder circuits and expensive upgrades that greater electrification might otherwise require.

    By Jerry Jackson • Aug. 13, 2024
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    GSA updates federal building standards in clean energy push

    The latest P100 update, which applies to 300,000 federal buildings, mandates clean energy use in facilities and sets new benchmarks for efficiency.

    By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 12, 2024
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    Bennett Raglin via Getty Images
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    Bill Gates-backed energy investment firm pulls in $839M for new climate fund

    Breakthrough Energy Ventures’ third fund will have an investment focus similar to that of its predecessors and target five key areas in climate innovation, including energy and transportation.

    By Zoya Mirza • Aug. 9, 2024
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    wolv via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Steering gas utilities toward calmer seas with an eye to the electric experience

    State regulators need to begin assembling their tools to manage the impact of the energy transition — on both gas customers and the electric grid — before crises in affordability and reliability are upon us.

    By Sarah Steinberg and Brad Cebulko • July 30, 2024
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    Elijah-Lovkoff via Getty Images
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    US cities sharpen focus on building performance standards to meet net-zero goals

    Over 40 cities will have these standards in place by 2026, compelling building owners to prioritize energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures, according to a report from JLL.

    By Nish Amarnath • July 29, 2024
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Sunrun, BGE launch first US electric vehicle-to-home virtual power plant

    The initiative kicks off with just three customers but is “a significant proof of concept ... and the goal is to expand these programs all around the country,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell.

    By July 25, 2024
  • A row of electric vehicle chargers is seen from one end with a dark red vehicle parked and plugged in to the nearest charger.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cities plan renewable energy, electrification projects as EPA unveils $4.3B in climate grants

    The grants “put local governments in the driver’s seat to develop climate solutions that work for their communities,” a federal official said. 

    By Ysabelle Kempe • July 24, 2024
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    Courtesy of Wallbox
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    EnergyHub to integrate Wallbox L2 chargers into grid flexibility programs

    About 80% of EV charging occurs at home, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, making residential customers a key to utilities looking to manage growing demand.

    By July 24, 2024