Sure, presidents have long promised economic rebirth to coal economies. This March 5 story contains, buried in observations of that fact, a hint at a real jobs generator: the conversion of coal mines to geothermal facilities.
This February 25 op/ed argues for a more open-minded and opportunistic risk analysis from financiers to African solar initiatives. She emphasizes the credibility, connections and centrality of African off-grid and minigrid projects.
The United States House of Representatives passed a clean-energy law on March 2 that, among other things, requires utilities to look for efficiency or demand-reduction solutions before building out new infrastructure. This March 4 article details the standards-stuffed bill, which now faces scrutiny in the Senate.
The President made promises. His cabinet looks promising. What do you watch for now?
Jennifer Granholm, former governor of the auto-manufacturing mecca in Michigan, became the United States secretary of energy on February 25. Granholm now oversees a revamped agency that includes energy-justice advocate Shalanda Baker in a key role and other clean-energy doers in high places. Is this a downpayment on President Joe Biden's promise to reach carbon-neutral electricity in 14 years? It just might be, and Biden's White House team reinforces the idea.
When you fiddle with spreadsheet cells or engineering models all day in pursuit of clean energy, the sound of stasis can clang in your ears. So after local and national politicians blamed wind turbines for a power outage that interrupted water supplies and left people freezing for days across the state, we decided to document who really pays when legacy asset owners refuse to update their energy plans. Our reporter took breaks from checking on her family in Austin to round up stories about real people's real chills and real hunger.
This February 20 op/ed highlights research suggesting that leasing,
financing and customized incentives can boost solar participation by lower-income folks.
This February 25 story spells out the risks in ratebasing fire-protection upgrades- including the risk that steep electricity prices make electrification less politically saleable.
