Trends
Massachusetts is showing the way by going to the end users of the products and services governments buy. It’s good for suppliers as well, and produces better results for everyone.
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s plan would use mostly solar and wind power to cost-effectively meet the energy needs of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana while also reducing carbon emissions.
The police department has started implementing drones to track stolen and illegal vehicles, search for missing people and manage large crowds; the technology will only be used for specific events and not regular patrols.
Industry and government officials believe hydrogen can provide a powerful tool to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. But environmentalists warn questions remain about the hydrogen-production process.
Democrats say the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a regional cap and trade plan to reduce vehicle emissions, will help fight climate change. But Republicans are calling the plan just another gas tax.
If you see the Tesla Bot as a joke or a harbinger of a dystopian future, you could be missing the real threat, which has more to do with Elon Musk’s power than robots run amok.
A growing number of countries and companies have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. But there’s a catch – they still plan to keep emitting greenhouse gases.
The state will build a one-mile stretch of road that will recharge electric vehicles as they drive but details of how, when and where are still unclear. Indiana is working on similar tech, also vying to be the first in the country.
An industrial facility in Iceland will join a growing number of projects to remove CO2 from the air and put it underground. But major hurdles, including high costs, remain before this technology can be widely deployed and play a key role in tackling climate change.
The law will outlaw coal- and gas-fired electricity by 2045, but it doesn’t address the coal-mining industry. In 2020 alone, coal burning released more than 57 million tons of carbon emissions.
A landmark bill that promises to expand the state’s “green” economy, reduce CO2 emissions and close coal-burning power plants by 2045 has passed through the Legislature and will now move to the governor’s desk.
With three statewide measures on the Nov. 2 ballot, voters will have to decide on a retail marijuana sales tax increase, a property tax cut and legislative oversight of state spending.
The proposed rail link between Baltimore and Washington would provide a 15-minute ride and eventually extend to New York. Opponents of the $10 billion project cheered the Federal Railroad Administration’s notice.
Hotter days are increasing in Baltimore and can put vulnerable populations at risk. To combat the heat, the city is opening cooling centers, replacing blacktop with heat reflective material and expanding tree coverage.
The infrastructure bill being debated in Congress looks like a small but genuine down payment on a more climate-friendly transportation sector and electric power grid. What comes next is crucial.
The Biden Administration has promised to double offshore wind energy to 30 gigawatts by 2030 and offshore wind costs are expected to fall by 55 percent by that same year. But not all agree that it’s the best solution.
COVID-19 forced health care to offer appointments by phone and video. The state’s medical board has extended the use of telehealth until the end of the year, but may make the option permanent.
The U.S. has been pushing the electrification of appliances, cars and other household goods to cut back on carbon emissions. But shifting away from fossil fuels will require expanding the power grid and large upfront costs.
The proposed $4.1 billion desalination project would add as much as $90 to the typical Tucson-area monthly water bill, but if the region grows as predicted, it may be necessary. Many expect it could take decades to get approval.
One Ford plant converted into an electrification center and now makes parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, which allowed it to keep its workers. But the conversion hasn’t come without its challenges.
The Tennessee utility has promised that its entire fleet of passenger cars as well as at least half of its pickup and light cargo trucks will be converted to electric vehicles by 2030, in an effort to help electrify the region.
The massive bill has proposed funding to mitigate climate change and incentivize renewable energy. Many are wondering how these plans will impact the state, since it depends heavily on oil and gas production.
The national passenger railroad needs to rebuild its ridership. Lower fares seem like a surefire way to lure old and new riders. But greater reliability and faster speeds are factors too.
Cities like New York and Columbus, Ohio, have made significant headway in converting their fleets to electric vehicles, helping to push along the industry toward electrifying more than just cars and trucks.
Most lithium-ion batteries used in EVs today will last between 11 and 13 years. But eventually they stop working, creating millions of tons of battery waste per year. Recycling is difficult but potentially profitable.
The state is already home to the largest potable water reuse programs in the world. Massive expansions worth more than $11 billion are in the works to keep supply steady in the face of worsening climate impacts.
The heat wave that hit Clark County, Wash., has prompted officials to raise their utility demand forecasts and ensure infrastructure upgrades happen soon. The peak demand was 18 percent greater than the previous peak in 2017.
A new study found New Mexico’s renewable energy sector could contribute a multibillion-dollar boost and thousands of jobs to the state’s economy if it receives federal stimulus investments.
Of the state’s nearly 370,000 EVs, 40 percent of them are registered to just four Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino. Three electric vehicle startups are located in Irvine.
States like Arizona and Texas have positioned themselves as hubs for autonomous vehicle testing and deployments, in part, by creating regulatory landscapes that are easy for new companies to navigate.
The technology is taking root in the region, with states like Wyoming and Colorado opening doors to developers and agencies. But potential technical and regulatory barriers need to be addressed.
