West

Carbon-free buildings

San Francisco fast-tracks all-electric standard for major renovations

With the state set to pause code updates in October, the city is racing to close what some saw as a loophole in its existing all-electric building code.

By Alison F. Takemura . 8 August 2025

Utilities

California lawmakers have a radical idea for lowering electricity bills

Two bills would replace $15 billion in utility power-grid investments with cheaper public financing — a new approach to cutting sky-high electricity rates.

By Jeff St. John . 7 August 2025

Carbon-free buildings

California halts building code updates in a blow to electrification

Local jurisdictions may still be able to adopt ambitious codes that help homes ditch gas and promote heat pumps under exceptions in the new law, AB 130.

By Alison F. Takemura . 4 August 2025

A person using construction equipment holds a light fixture on top of a pole

Solar

LA has a plan to stop copper thieves: Solar-powered streetlights

As U.S. cities battle thieves who swipe copper wiring from streetlights, solar fixtures are becoming a financial no-brainer despite their higher price tag.

By Ysabelle Kempe . 4 August 2025

Electrification

Court upholds a landmark clean-heat rule in Southern California

The first-in-the-nation regulation, passed last year, will cut NOx emissions from more than 1 million boilers and water heaters in the smoggy Los Angeles area.

By Maria Gallucci . 23 July 2025

How DNV is helping partners slash energy bills with dual-fuel heat pumps

A DNV study for PSE confirms dual-fuel heat pumps reduce overall energy use and satisfy customers, providing a data-backed blueprint for decarbonizing homes.

22 July 2025

Aerial shot of rows of solar panels in a field by a large factory

Green steel

America’s biggest solar-powered steel mill has a new owner

Rocky Mountain Steel gets most of its electricity from a 300-MW solar project in Colorado. A private-equity firm is acquiring the steel mill’s owner in a $500M deal.

By Maria Gallucci . 16 July 2025

Energy storage

Redwood Materials built record grid storage project using old EV batteries

The EV battery recycler determined it could make good money by repurposing old battery packs for the grid, and found an eager data center customer.

By Julian Spector . 2 July 2025

Pacific Gas and Electric (PGE) gas meter and utility infrastructure against a building wall

Electrification

In California, plans to move low-income neighborhoods off of gas advance

Neighborhood-scale decarbonization is an efficient way to electrify communities that might otherwise be left behind.

By Twilight Greenaway, Inside Climate News . 26 June 2025

Man in grey pullover aboard electric stand-on mower at a park with grass and exposed soil and other electric lawn tools.

Electrification

Colorado landscapers are discovering the perks of electric lawn equipment

State regulations limiting gas-powered lawn equipment for public properties went into effect this month. Users are warming up to the cleaner, quieter tools.

By Alison F. Takemura . 23 June 2025

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West

San Francisco fast-tracks all-electric standard for major renovations

California lawmakers have a radical idea for lowering electricity bills

California halts building code updates in a blow to electrification

LA has a plan to stop copper thieves: Solar-powered streetlights

Court upholds a landmark clean-heat rule in Southern California

How DNV is helping partners slash energy bills with dual-fuel heat pumps

America’s biggest solar-powered steel mill has a new owner

Redwood Materials built record grid storage project using old EV batteries

In California, plans to move low-income neighborhoods off of gas advance

Colorado landscapers are discovering the perks of electric lawn equipment