Electrify Everything

ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING

CURRENT NEWS

Gov. Jared Polis orders state to phase out “loud, smelly, noisy” yard tools

By Shaun Boyd 09/14/23
Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order aimed at making Colorado greener, cleaner, and quieter. It requires the state - and state contractors - to phase out all gas-powered lawn and garden tools over the…
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California must mandate all-electric new buildings, local officials tell governor

By Ysabelle Kempe 09/12/23
Twenty-six local government leaders in California — including those from San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose — are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, to urgently pursue statewide standards requiring new buildings to be…
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Industrial Heat Will Electrify

By Michael Bernard 09/02/23
A while ago I had the opportunity to sit down for 90 minutes with Dilip Chandrasekaran, engineer, materials science PhD, and SVP of industrial heat leader Kanthal. That firm has electric heat products and experts…
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Airports Will Need A Lot More Electricity When Aviation Is Electrified

By Michael Barnard 08/18/23
Recently I published an assessment of whether a reasonably sized international airport, not Heathrow, Chicago, or Changi, but Edmonton YEG’s smaller one, could power all future aviation energy requirements with its 120 MW solar farm.…
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Landmark Washington gas ban survives legal challenge

By David Iaconangelo 08/08/23
Gas utilities and homebuilder groups in Washington state are asking a district judge to dismiss their legal challenge to the first statewide mandate for electric heat pumps in new buildings — a move that could…
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New Jersey BPU advances building electrification over opposition from fossil fuel supporters

By Robert Walton 08/02/23
New Jersey regulators at a July 26 open meeting approved a framework for utilities to submit building electrification plans, setting the stage for thousands of homes and businesses to install electric heat pumps.
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Grid Storage Of Electricity Will Continue To Be Dominated By Pumped Hydro

By Michael Barnard 07/31/23
As the grid decarbonizes and everything electrifies over the coming decades, a key part of the end game is electricity storage. However, it’s not a prerequisite to getting started, otherwise we wouldn’t have been building…
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Oregon plans to install 500,000 new heat pumps by 2030. Who’s going to do the work?

By Kavya Balaraman 07/13/23
Lawmakers in Oregon late last month passed legislation that adopts a goal for the state to have at least 500,000 new heat pumps in its residential and commercial buildings by 2030.
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Guess Who’s Been Paying to Block Green Energy. You Have.

By David Pomerantz 07/05/23
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we have to make two big transitions at once: First, we have to generate all of our electricity from clean sources, like wind turbines and solar panels,…
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The Race to Tesla-ify Heat Pumps

By Emily Pontecorvo 06/28/23
Gleaming solar panels, soaring wind turbines, sleek electric cars. These are the Avengers of the climate technoverse, the most widely recognized symbols of the fight to kick fossil fuels and halt global warming. But the…
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Washington state hits the brakes on landmark gas ban

By David Iaconangelo 05/25/23
The delay raises questions about whether additional cities will stand by their efforts to wind down natural gas use in buildings after a key federal court ruling.
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New Buildings in NY to be Electric, But the Job is Not Done

By Lauren Urbanek 05/22/23
New buildings in New York will soon be on a pathway toward zero carbon emissions, thanks to recent action by lawmakers in the state. The All-Electric Building Act, adopted as part of the Fiscal Year…
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KEY RESOURCES

Electricity Generation by State

09/08/23
Do you know where electricity comes from in your state? Depending on its location, energy can come from various sources, including nuclear, wind, and solar. There are also other power sources, like coal-powered energy in…

Heat Pump Systems

10/28/22
Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for all climates. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool…

Clean Energy 101: Heat Pumps

07/12/22
Summer in the northern hemisphere is just a few weeks old, but temperature records have already toppled as heat waves baked regions from Scandinavia to Japan to the United States. The heat came early in…

MORE NEWS

What the 9th Circuit decision means for the building electrification movement

05/04/23  
Following the recent ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the all-electric construction policy from Berkeley, CA – the first passed in the U.S. – here are some key points for local government…
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Insight Weekly: Utilities face headwinds; S&P 500 dividend hikes likely; dollar poised for rally

By Sarah Cottle   05/02/23  
In this edition of Insight Weekly, we take a close look at the earnings forecasts for global utilities in the first quarter of 2023. Analysts expect few US multi-utilities to report year-over-year earnings growth as…
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New York set to pass first statewide law banning gas in new construction

By Anna Phillips   04/27/23  
New York is on the cusp of becoming the first state in the nation to pass a law banning natural gas in most new buildings, according to a handshake agreement that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D)…
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A key part of America’s plan to slash carbon emissions:Plug in commercial kitchens.

By Nadja Popovich and Brad Plumer   04/14/23  
The United States still gets most of its energy by setting millions of tiny fires everywhere. Cars, trucks, homes and factories all burn fossil fuels in countless engines, furnaces and boilers, creating pollution that heats…
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N.Y. lawmakers near first gas ban for new buildings

By David Iaconangelo   03/16/23  
New York's Legislature could soon become the first in the country to ban natural gas in new buildings.
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A Gas Utility’s Astroturf Campaign Threatens Oregon’s First Electrification Ordinance

By Joseph Winters   03/07/23  
Last month, Eugene became the first city in Oregon to pass an ordinance requiring new residential buildings to be fossil fuel-free. But the policy may never go into effect — not if the natural gas…
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As heat pumps go mainstream, a big question: can they handle real cold?

By Elena Shao   02/22/23  
Over the past decade, heat pumps have been steadily making their way into more American homes. There was a major milestone last year when they surpassed gas furnaces in annual sales by a wide margin.
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Heat Pumps are Winning

02/14/23  
This is a big deal, folks. It shows that an electrical appliance is WINNING the race against a fossil-fuel based counterpart. Every time a household chooses to electrify another aspect of their life, Saul Griffith…
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California declared war on natural gas. Now the fight is going national

By Sammy Roth   02/09/23  
In July 2019, elected officials in the Bay Area city, a national leader in progressive politics and environmental protection, voted to ban gas hookups in most new homes. That meant no gas furnaces, boilers or…
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Does Your Home Have Backup Power? We Want to Hear From You.

By Peter Eavis   02/08/23  
Sales of generators and home batteries are up as people look to protect themselves from power outages, which are becoming more common....
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Electric vehicles can now power your home for three days

By Michael J. Coren   02/07/23  
When the power went out at Nate Graham’s New Mexico home last year, his family huddled around a fireplace in the cold and dark. Even the gas furnace was out, with no electricity for the…
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Heat pumps are defying Maine’s winters and oil industry pushback

By Anna Phillips   02/07/23  
The video starts with a Maine radio show host dressed in a bright red jumpsuit walking through the snow to a stranger’s door and delighting her with an offer of free heating oil. “My name’s…
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Heat Pumps are Winning!

02/06/23  
This is a big deal, folks. It shows that an electrical appliance is WINNING the race against a fossil-fuel based counterpart. Every time a household chooses to electrify another aspect of their life, Saul Griffith…
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This Guide Can Help You Save Money and Fight Climate Change

By Nadja Popovich and Elena Shao   02/01/23  
Many American consumers are now eligible to save thousands of dollars when they buy an electric car, heat pump, solar panels or energy-efficient appliances.
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Can electric companies win the smart home?

By Jason Plautz   01/19/23  
NRG Energy Inc. wants to have a bigger presence in customers’ homes, but first, the power company has some convincing to do. Houston-based NRG announced plans in December to buy Vivint Smart Home Inc. for…
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May the Best Stove Win

By Jacob Stern   01/14/23  
Somehow, in a few short days, gas stoves have gone from a thing that some people cook with to, depending on your politics, either a child-poisoning death machine or a treasured piece of national patrimony.…
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US considers gas stove regulation

By Lloyd Alter   01/10/23  
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is concerned by the findings of a new study: 13% of childhood asthma cases are caused by gas stoves.
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3 ways to tap billions in new money to go green — starting this month

By Shannon Osaka   01/02/23  
Earlier this year, Congress passed the biggest climate bill in history — cloaked under the name the “Inflation Reduction Act.” But while economists say the bill may not reduce inflation very much, it could do…
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Cold Climate Heat Pumps Warm Homes on the Coldest Days

By Catherine Poslusny   01/02/23  
In the US, about 13% of total CO2 emissions come from heating residential and commercial buildings. Because so many buildings rely on natural gas and heating oil, significant opportunity for reducing heating emissions lies with…
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3 ways to tap billions in new money to go green — starting next month

By Shannon Osaka   12/29/22  
Earlier this year, Congress passed the biggest climate bill in history — cloaked under the name the “Inflation Reduction Act.” But while economists say the bill may not reduce inflation very much, it could do…
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How states and utilities can lower consumer bills and accelerate the clean energy transition

By Sara Baldwin and Others   12/15/22  
By acting now, state policymakers and utility regulators can put more consumers and communities on a path to long-term energy affordability and mitigate the impact of future energy price spikes.
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LA mandates all new buildings be all-electric in major milestone

By Josh Niland   12/15/22  
LA City Hall had previously adopted a similar ordinance for all its municipal buildings in 2020 and passed a ban on gas appliances along with a mandate for emissions-free new constructions at the end of…
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EPA proposes rule to cut HFC use, speed transition to efficient heating and cooling technologies

By Robert Walton   12/14/22  
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose a new rule to limit hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, in some products including refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment, the agency announced Friday. The proposed rule will be…
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Biden administration to electrify buildings and clean up indoor air quality

By Lloyd Alter   12/12/22  
The White House announced that new and renovated federal buildings are getting off gas, with the intent to electrify 30% of all federal buildings by 2030. "As the country’s single largest energy consumer and building…
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Germans Have Seen the Future, and It’s a Heat Pump

By Melissa Eddy and Others   12/02/22  
After decades of heating their homes with relatively cheap Russian natural gas, Germans are facing exorbitant prices for energy. The search is on for an alternative source of warmth that is climate-friendly and free from…
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A Heat Pump Might Be Right for Your Home. Here’s Everything to Know.

By Thom Dunn   12/02/22  
They’re the cheapest and most efficient way to handle both heating and cooling for your home, no matter where you live. They’re also better for the environment. In fact, most experts agree they’re one of…
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Maryland’s Largest County Just Banned Gas Appliances In Most New Buildings—but Not Without Some Concessions

By Aman Azhar   12/02/22  
Montgomery County, Maryland, home to more than a million residents, passed landmark legislation this week requiring new residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric—barring some exceptions—starting 2027. While advocates celebrated the significance of the legislation,…
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Energy loss is single biggest component of today’s electricity system

By Karin Kirk   10/24/22  
Traditional electricity generation has a thermodynamics problem: Burning fuel to generate electricity creates waste heat that siphons off most of the energy. By the time electricity reaches your outlet, around two-thirds of the original energy…
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BRIEFING NOTE: Why getting off methane gas is right for communities

10/24/22  
The growing SAFE Cities movement of local governments working to stop the expansion of all types of fossil fuel infrastructure. This includes building electrification, especially in new buildings, in the US and Canada.
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Researchers Find Benzene and Other Dangers in Gas Piped to California Homes

By Elena Shao   10/20/22  
The gas that is piped into millions of California homes contains hazardous air pollutants including benzene, a chemical linked to cancer, a new study found.
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How to electrify everything, and why

By Larissa Johnson   10/12/22  
If you’re like most people, you probably only think about energy when filling up your car or paying a hefty electric bill. You probably don’t know that, since 1992, October has been designated “Energy Awareness…
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Feeling Overwhelmed About Going All-Electric at Home? Here’s How to Get Started

By Dan Gearino   09/29/22  
On a recent Sunday afternoon, I went to a room in the basement of a library in Upper Arlington, Ohio, for the first meeting of a group trying to go all-electric and ditch fossil fuels.
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California Moves to Ban Natural Gas Furnaces and Heaters by 2030

Angel Adegbesan   09/23/22  
California is committing to a plan that will make it the first US state to phase out gas-fueled furnaces and water heaters in homes, a move environmentalists are betting will provide a template for other…
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A decade after FERC tried to tackle New England gas issues, concerns remain and solutions are uncertain

By Robert Walton   09/13/22  
The New England energy system faces natural gas supply constraints that could threaten electric grid reliability this winter. It is an issue that has existed for years, and one that federal regulators have struggled with…
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Tips on saving money while helping the environment through the Inflation Reduction Act

By Teresa Murray   09/13/22  
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 represents a historic investment in clean energy. The new law with $369 billion dedicated to clean energy could bring consumers tens of thousands of dollars in tax incentives and…
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Can the Northeast slash carbon and keep the lights on?

By Miranda Wilson and Others   09/09/22  
New England needs to start pivoting away from natural gas to address its longstanding electric reliability issues, even as it leans on the fuel in the short term to keep the lights on, the head…
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Donnel Baird Raises Over $100 Million For BlocPower By Discovering The Right Problem To Solve

By David Reimer   08/30/22  
Donnel Baird created BlocPower to solve a huge problem that’s central to the global effort to address climate change. It is such a big problem that investors have poured over $100 million in debt and…
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Finally, a heat-pump water heater that plugs into a standard outlet

By Jeff St. John   08/29/22  
Last month’s launch of Rheem’s ProTerra 120-volt heat pump water heater might not seem like a big step forward in the fight against climate change. In terms of home electrification accessories, it’s not as sexy…
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Chinatown sees flood of new business after rough sailing during Covid

By Jeff Jeffrey   08/19/22  
The area of southwest Houston that is home to the second-largest Indochinese population in the United States was devastated by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic hardships left in its wake. But things…
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Renewable Energy, Electrification Big Winners in Inflation Reduction Act

By Darrell Proctor   08/12/22  
The U.S. House on Aug. 12 passed a bill with major implications for the power generation industry, joining the U.S. Senate in supporting the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The bill, which now heads to President…
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Heat pumps: what they do and why they’re hot now

By Justine Calma   08/11/22  
The humble heat pump has finally found its moment in the spotlight. The appliance can potentially save you money on your energy bills, fight climate change, and reduce Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, proponents say.…
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Opinion: Air-conditioner use will jump 280% in the next decades. How can we keep cool without making climate change worse?

By Mary Grady   08/09/22  
Recent heatwaves have led to thousands of deaths and captured headlines as we enter a dangerous new era of extreme heat contributing to dangerous wildfires and harming agriculture production. Yet, one of the quickest and…
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The US Climate Bill Could Make Now the Best Time to Go Solar

By Todd Woody   08/05/22  
If signed into law as written, the climate bill before the US Congress would change the calculus for American households thinking about going solar. The legislation stands to make that transition more affordable while also…
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Why crucial climate bills have stalled in liberal New York despite the deepening crisis

By Rosemary Misdary   08/02/22  
New York has some of the strongest climate laws in the country. But when the state Legislature ended its most recent session in early June, some essential bills — ones needed to meet environmental mandates…
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The Gas Industry Is Pumping Money Into A Tiny Local Race To Crush A Climate Champion

By Alexander C. Kaufman   07/30/22  
By the time Alex Ramel took office in 2020, his fellow Democrats controlled Washington’s House of Representatives and had already divvied up the work on electric vehicles, clean fuels and carbon pricing. So the new…
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Gas Piped Into Homes Contains Benzene and Other Risky Chemicals, Study Finds

By Elena Shao   06/28/22  
The natural gas delivered to homes contains low concentrations of several chemicals linked to cancer, a new study found. Researchers also found inconsistent levels of odorants — substances that give natural gas its characteristic “rotten…
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The U.S. Is Addicted To Gas Heating. A New Bill May Make Going Electric The Easy Choice.

By Alexander C. Kaufman   05/25/22  
When it’s cold outside, most American homes burn gas or fuel for warmth ― a big part of why buildings are the country’s fourth-largest source of climate-changing emissions. When it’s hot, an even bigger percentage…
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Forget ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’

By Derek Thompson   02/25/22  
Humanity’s existential crisis is straightforward. The world is getting richer, richer people use more energy, and the planet’s most popular sources of energy—such as coal, oil, and wood—are slowly cooking the biosphere. Saul Griffith, an…
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Gas Interests Threaten Local Authority

By Alejandra Mejia Cunningham and Others   01/19/21  
Continuing last year’s worrisome trend, efforts to strip local communities of decision-making authority over the health impacts and cost of their future homes and buildings have been introduced in several state legislatures. If adopted, these…
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