NHTSA weighs Tesla Robotaxi school-zone speeding probe
A defect petition claims Tesla's driverless fleet speeds through active school zones; NHTSA has opened a file but not yet a formal investigation.
Climate & Energy
The grid, materials, and climate technology.
Electric school buses pay off via grid services and cheaper charging
Two new reports show school districts and fleet operators are finding electric buses more affordable through grid revenue and lower infrastructure costs.
Mazama Energy raises $135M to test superhot geothermal at Oregon volcano
The investment backs an emerging, unproven technique to tap superhot rocks for clean electricity.
Musk's anti-EV political spending hits $366M, harming Tesla
Tesla's CEO has become the largest single donor to anti-EV campaigns, and the company itself acknowledges billions in lost revenue as a result.
VW's low-cost EVs draw 150k orders, but global sales slide
Volkswagen's new entry-level electric cars are winning European buyers, yet the group's overall EV deliveries fell 5.4% in the first nine months of 2026.
Green banks delivered $12.4B despite federal funding freeze
U.S. green banks financed $12.4 billion in clean energy projects in 2024–25 even as Trump administration clawbacks forced them to scale back.
Utilities turn inspection data into grid risk intelligence
Regulators now expect inspection findings to feed risk models, pushing utilities to centralize asset data.
Used Ford F-150 Lightning sales surge at 50% off sticker
Discounted used F-150 Lightnings are selling in about 20 days, signaling strong demand for electric pickups at lower price points.
Burlington Expands On-Site Solar Across Three-State Distribution Network
The off-price retailer will add solar generation at planned distribution sites in Arizona and California plus an existing Georgia warehouse.
Aquaculture's $300 Billion Footprint Under Scrutiny
A new podcast episode examines the environmental and social costs behind the booming fish farming industry.
Army's autonomous 6x6 Hunter WOLF pairs electric drive with diesel range extender
The Hunter WOLF, selected for a US Army logistics initiative, shows how hybrid-electric drivetrains are entering battlefield support roles.
Corpus Christi's Drought-Proofing Desalination Plan Backfires
A shale-boom-era scheme to make Corpus Christi drought-proof has become a financial and political quagmire, according to a joint investigation.
Private LTE for utilities: a business case about control, not just cost
A sponsored analysis argues utilities should weigh private LTE as a long-term control and cost decision, with spectrum scarcity and satellite alternatives shaping the tradeoffs.
California law lets households choose cash to electrify over new gas line
New state law requires utilities to offer a financial incentive to electrify when replacing gas service lines, potentially saving ratepayers money.
Dominion-NextEra merger draws broad opposition at Virginia hearing
Most officials who spoke at a Virginia hearing urged regulators to reject or condition the Dominion-NextEra merger over ratepayer, data center, and clean energy concerns.
Why utilities need independent testing to trust battery storage
As battery storage scales faster than any other grid resource, utilities must close the confidence gap with rigorous testing, modeling, and oversight.
States can counter Trump's EV slowdown, Sierra Club argues
A new opinion piece says state-level action may be the key to keeping electric vehicle adoption moving despite federal headwinds.
Huawei-backed AITO sets Europe launch for fall 2027 with four SUVs
The Chinese luxury EV brand is entering a crowded EU market while playing down its Huawei ties and facing new hybrid tariff limits.