As utility costs rise, can ‘background’ smart thermostats offer… Millions of smart thermostats auto-adjust temperatures to cut power bills or prioritize clean energy. Some utilities are mulling how that tech can help…

Millions of U.S. homes have smart thermostats on autopilot to save money or use more clean power. They're largely invisible to utilities — but vendors like Renew Home and EnergyHub say they're a valuable (and cheap) way to contain peak power costs:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/vir...
#energyhub

Exciting news for clean energy in the Southeast! This shift offers a great opportunity to balance renewable projects with utility demands. Together, we can drive a sustainable future! 🌱🔋

#energysky

Looking for a cheap car without having to pay for ever-volatile gasoline? A used EV may be your best bet: www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele... via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social

Georgia Power will now let data centers bring their own clean energy Large customers served by Georgia Power will soon be able to secure new solar and battery projects. But will that help reduce reliance on new gas plants?

#Georgia approved a new program letting big power users fund their own clean energy projects. The goal: support data center growth without raising rates. Big unknown—will it actually reduce planned gas buildouts?

via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com

www.canarymedia.com/articles/dat...

Gavin Newsom wants to cut $100 million in funding from California's biggest and most successful virtual power plant program, which funds home solar, battery storage and demand reduction: www.canarymedia.com/articles/vir... via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social

Georgia Power will now let data centers bring their own clean energy Large customers served by Georgia Power will soon be able to secure new solar and battery projects. But will that help reduce reliance on new gas plants?

Data centers and other big customers of Georgia Power have won a way to pay for their own new clean energy projects—a win for BYONCE in the Southeast. But can this new clean energy offset the utility's massive and costly gas-fired power plant plans?
www.canarymedia.com/articles/dat...
#energysky

This Ohio county put a ban on wind and solar. Will voters reverse it? Richland County blocked large-scale renewables in most townships. Voters now have a rare opportunity to overturn that policy at the ballot box.

Want to know what rural residents really think about clean energy in farm country? Ask them! My colleague Kathiann Kowalski talked to dozens of people involved in this Richland County, Ohio citizens referendum to lift clean energy restrictions:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
#energysky

Xcel Minnesota is building a first-of-its kind virtual power plant Minnesota regulators just approved Xcel’s plan for a utility-owned VPP. Supporters say it could serve as a model for other utilities — but critics aren’t…

Minnesota regulators approved Xcel Energy's controversial utility-owned battery-based virtual power plant. Foes say it shortchanges customer-based VPPs. Supporters say it can reveal how distributed energy can solve grid costs—if Xcel does it right:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/vir...
#energysky

Plus, as I pointed out last week, here in Tennessee there's no legislation allowing plug-in solar but if you ask your utility they'll probably allow you to do it.

Where does balcony solar stand in your state? Dozens of states are considering legislation to allow residents to use DIY plug-in solar. Follow the efforts here.

It's crazy how fast this map is expanding! Call it plug-in solar, balcony solar, DIY solar—it all adds up to more opportunities for renters and households that can't make rooftop solar work to cut their electric bills with a simple plug-and-play:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky

Bay Area startup introduces flat-rate, single-room heat pumps Merino Energy says its through-the-wall heat pumps are faster to install than ductless systems. They’ll be available for $3,800 — installation included.

Gotta love the form factors that the heat pump startups are coming up with.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...

Trump’s offshore wind opposition was never really about the whales The administration has made false claims that offshore wind hurts whales. It didn’t flinch when lifting protections for endangered whales to boost oil and…

The Trump administration does not care about saving the whales.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...

Could this huge CA solar+storage project help farmers cope with water shortages? – This Week in Cleantech On this episode of the This Week in Cleantech podcast, Jeff St John from Canary Media discusses a proposed 21 gigawatt solar and battery storage project in California, which is potentially the largest...

Thanks to Factor This for inviting me to talk about my reporting on the world's biggest solar-battery (and grid) project being planned in California's Central Valley! (PS - Mike Casey is doing some great work on rural clean energy...)
www.renewableenergyworld.com/podcasts/cou...
#energysky

Thanks Brendon!

How a community solar breakthrough took shape in Illinois Utilities, solar companies, and environmentalists worked together to fast-track flexible interconnection and build lots of community solar in record time.

Illinois utility ComEd, solar developers and environmental groups collaborated to enable flexible interconnection to fast-track 50+MW of community solar in record time. Participants think other states and utilities can follow their collaborative lead:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/tra...
#energysky

"Across the U.S., people like Shepard are finding that used EVs are more attractively priced than ever — and are snapping the cars up as a result," reports @jeffstjohn.bsky.social: www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele... 🔌💡

Good buy!

As @jeffstjohn.bsky.social points out it’s an even better time to get a used EV. My wife just did, 35K off sticker price with just 10K miles on it.

www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...

Life's better with an EV, especially second hand!

Will California fund or kill its thriving virtual power plant program? Gov. Newsom’s administration has proposed ending a program that’s brought a gigawatt of grid relief online. Lawmakers want to know what will replace it.

Will #California Fund Or Kill Its Thriving Virtual Power Plant Program?

@jeffstjohn.bsky.social reports for @canarymedia.com

#news #environment , @sejorg.bsky.social

EJ Today Headlines: sej.org/headlines/list

www.canarymedia.com/articles/vir...

Used #EVs are having a moment.
New EV sales: ↓28% YoY
Used EV sales: ↑12%
Prices: near parity with gas cars

Add $4–$6 gas, and the cheapest way to switch to electric is now… buying used.

via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com

www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...

Thanks Corey!

Love the comprehensive overview in @jeffstjohn.bsky.social story 👇 - very compelling reason to purchase a used EV especially if it's just coming off lease. Better maintenance, newer tech, and less of a upfront price delta between EV + ICE/hybrid

Check out his piece for @canarymedia.com

New EV sales are falling, but used EV sales are booming, driven by a flood of off-lease EVs that offer high-end value — and good range — at near-price parity with gas-fueled used cars. That’s a big opportunity for people facing pain at the gas pump:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
#energysky

Will California fund or kill its thriving virtual power plant program? Gov. Newsom’s administration has proposed ending a program that’s brought a gigawatt of grid relief online. Lawmakers want to know what will replace it.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration has two options for California's biggest and most successful virtual power plant program: Give it money to keep running this summer or scrap it altogether. State lawmakers are asking — why end a VPP that's working?
www.canarymedia.com/articles/vir...
#energysky

Want to know more about the world’s biggest solar- battery project being planned in California’s agricultural heartland? It’s called the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan, and here it is in a nutshell:

Haha - thanks for reading and sharing!

Thanks Justin!

Thanks for sharing Sammy! It was good to get back to where I used to work at the Fresno Bee … 20 years ago (?!?)…

That holds true in California, Mealoy said. “This is not just about clean energy. VCIP is marrying multiple California policy objectives and creating a master-planned solution.” The plan is set. Now the work of seeing it through begins.