Madison, Wisconsin, benchmarking program to phase in smaller buildings

Continuous benchmarking and system tune-ups can help owners and operators reduce annual energy use and provide cities with necessary information for setting performance targets, experts say.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

New York state offers $5M for existing building energy innovations

Providers that have already received federal, state, local or other incentive funds can receive up to $1 million to accelerate development of their energy efficiency solutions, the state energy research authority says.

By Joe Burns • March 18, 2025

Transit agencies continue to add zero-emission buses to their fleets

More than 7,000 full-size battery and fuel cell electric buses are in use or on the way, according to Calstart’s latest report, but shifting federal policies could affect future growth.

By Dan Zukowski • March 14, 2025

EPA revisiting dozens of climate, environment rules in ‘day of deregulation’

The agency said it would roll back a range of rules and programs, including some that are foundational to its efforts to address climate change. A new WOTUS definition is expected, as well as rollbacks to an emissions reporting program.

By Jacob Wallace • March 13, 2025

Washington state efficiency standards discouraging gas appliances prevail in federal court

A federal court ruling in Seattle will make it more expensive for builders who prefer to install or support natural gas appliances, critics say.

By David Weisenfeld • March 7, 2025

Massachusetts cuts $500M from state’s energy efficiency program

Eversource Energy thanked state regulators “for listening to customer concerns about affordability and taking the difficult action.”

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2025

Massachusetts to deploy 100 bidirectional EV chargers in first-of-its-kind ‘V2X’ pilot

The program is available for residential, commercial, municipal and school customers and could add 1.5 MW of flexible grid capacity by September 2026, program partners said.

By Brian Martucci • March 5, 2025

EPA $20B funding freeze leaves ‘green bank’ nonprofits unable to pay bills

“Local projects across the country will be unable to move forward without legal intervention” if EPA or Citibank does not unfreeze the funds, a Climate United Fund spokesperson said.

By Diana DiGangi • March 4, 2025

IRA tax credit repeal would drive up electricity prices, system costs: reports

Sharply lower deployments of new generating resources could lead to power shortfalls, studies commissioned by a conservative environmental nonprofit and an electricity buyers group found.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 27, 2025

Washington State grants $14.3M for public building retrofits

Twenty-six recipients will use the funds for energy-efficient improvements to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings, the Washington State Department of Commerce says.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2025

Ionna moves forward with EV charging network

The automaker-led joint venture remains committed to rolling out public charging infrastructure, despite the suspension of government funding.

By Larry Avila • Feb. 12, 2025

New York loans Revel $60M to expand NYC public EV charging

The financial arrangement is “an important and replicable precedent” to accelerate electric vehicle charging, NY Green Bank President Andrew Kessler said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 11, 2025

DOT suspends Biden’s $5B electric vehicle charging network effort

Most of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds have already been awarded to states, however, and some observers say the Trump administration cannot end the program with just a memo.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2025

EPA funding freeze endangers $7B Solar For All program

“We don't know how much money got out the door, we don't know how much money the administration can seek to claw back,” said Vote Solar’s executive director, Sachu Constantine.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 7, 2025

E-bike fire crisis won’t be tamed without federal support

Lithium-ion battery fires are causing deadly incidents across the country. Attorney Michael Mezzacappa points to New York as an example of how cities can respond but calls for Congress to take greater action on safety standards.

By Michael Mezzacappa • Feb. 6, 2025

The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025

California cities launch nation’s first public hydrogen utility

Although the Inflation Reduction Act's 45V tax credit was critical to its formation, the new utility hopes to avoid dependence on the federal incentive.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 30, 2025

Judge dismisses New York City’s lawsuit against Big Oil

A state judge ruled the city had failed to demonstrate that ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and the American Petroleum Institute had deceived consumers about the climate impact of their fossil fuel products.

By Zoya Mirza • Jan. 24, 2025

Trump freezes IRA funding

Trump also revoked what he calls the Biden administration's “EV mandate” and pulled out of the Paris climate agreement as part of several energy-related actions.

By Kate Magill • Jan. 22, 2025

Sonnen, SOLRITE Energy launch grid-optimizing virtual power plant in Texas

The program aims to relieve congestion and improve renewable power economics on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid, Sonnen USA CEO Blake Richetta said.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 17, 2025

GM using AI to find the best locations for EV chargers

The automaker says uncertainty about how to find charging stations remains a hurdle to prospective customers.

By Eric Walz • Jan. 14, 2025

DOT announces $635M in EV charging, other clean transportation grants

The grants will support installation of more than 11,500 electric vehicle charging ports as well as hydrogen and natural gas fueling infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2025

How to keep electric vehicle investments on track in the new political climate

A clean fuel standard has worked in several states to fund EV infrastructure. It should be tried in more places.

By Laura Sherman • Jan. 10, 2025

Microgrids boost grid reliability, lower costs: Colorado road map

In the face of rising transmission costs and extreme weather impacts, self-contained grids can benefit both rural areas and urban centers, according to state agencies.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 9, 2025

6 smart cities trends to watch in 2025

Transportation systems, housing policy and decarbonization approaches will evolve this year as the Trump administration assumes power and technology continues to advance.

By Ysabelle Kempe , Dan Zukowski • Jan. 9, 2025