Carbon Emissions Reduction News | Canary Media

Clean energy

A new way to power data centers: pair clean energy and peaker plants

An RMI report finds that solar and wind energy could connect to rarely used gas plants to meet gigawatts of data center demand, and still share power with the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 18 March 2025

Friday Apaliski wears black and turns on her wall-mounted heat pump unit in a green room.

Heat pumps

California unveils first state plan to unleash heat pumps

The new blueprint aims to help California reach its goal of deploying 6 million heat pumps by 2030, a target it is currently lagging behind.

By Alison F. Takemura . 17 March 2025

Utilities

Time-based rates convince Chicago-area residents to shift electricity use

ComEd is the latest major utility to adopt voluntary time-of-use rates, which can save residents — particularly EV owners — money on their energy bills.

By Kari Lydersen . 12 March 2025

Heat pumps

How closing the ‘spark gap’ can boost heat pump adoption

In cold-weather states where power costs much more than gas, heat pumps can make utility bills go up. Better electricity rate design can help avoid that.

By Alison F. Takemura . 11 March 2025

Large heat pump in blue installed at industrial facility.

Heat pumps

This map shows where to swap out industrial boilers for heat pumps

From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, ditching small industrial boilers for heat pumps could help clear smoggy skies.

By Alison F. Takemura . 4 March 2025

Electric vehicles

Electric school buses could help power Illinois’ grid

ComEd is preparing a vehicle-to-grid pilot program in which school districts will sell power to the grid by discharging parked electric school bus batteries.

By Kari Lydersen . 26 February 2025

Clean energy

Connecticut cities and towns push for greener, less-expensive power

Local leaders and energy advocates look to implement community choice aggregation to let municipalities negotiate lower electricity prices and more renewables.

By Sarah Shemkus . 25 February 2025