Happy Monday. Just like heat pumps, EVs are stuck with the stubborn stereotype that they don’t work in the cold. That’s not true. But, as Alison Takemura writes in today’s top piece, there are some things you can do to get more juice out of your EV battery when the chill sets in.
Also up today: Battery factory news from Julian Spector, EV charging news from Jeff St. John, and a whole bunch of other energy headlines. Let’s dig in.
President Trump’s federal funding freeze is throwing electric vehicle, battery, and other clean energy manufacturing investments spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act — most of which were headed to Republican congressional districts — into uncertainty. (New York Times)
Renewables are booming in Texas, as nearly 4.4 GW of new battery projects and nearly 9.7 GW of solar came online in 2024 alone. (Inside Climate News)
Environmental justice advocates worry that plans for a hydrogen hub in the Philadelphia area could create unsafe conditions for residents without doing much to reduce emissions. (Philadelphia)
House and Senate Republicans introduce legislation that would require federal energy regulators to fast-track dispatchable projects, with support from fossil fuel industry groups. (Utility Dive)
Xcel Energy officials say the utility will rely mostly on wind and solar for new generation projects amid growing demand, despite the Trump administration’s early efforts to pull federal clean energy funding. (Utility Dive)
CARBON CAPTURE
The Trump administration appears unlikely to bolster the carbon capture industry, but experts and industry advocates say utilities will still pursue the technology as they try to meet state-level climate goals. (Associated Press)
CLIMATE
Most countries are unlikely to meet a deadline to file updated emissions reduction plans, but United Nations officials say it’ll give them more time to create stronger pledges. (The Guardian)
On stage: Conversations with clean energy experts, including Rep. Sean Casten of the U.S. Congress, Naomi Davis of Blacks in Green, Kara Demirjian Huss of TCCI Manufacturing, A.J. Patton of 548 Enterprises, David Roberts of Volts, Angela Tovar of the city of Chicago and more to be announced!
Off stage: Drink, eat, and socialize with clean energy leaders, investors, inventors, public leaders, and advocates.
🗓️March 27, 2025, 2:00 - 7:00p.m. CDT
📍 mHUB • 1623 West Fulton Street Chicago, IL 60612
Outback to Overdrive: How Australian EV Strategies Can Energize U.S. Grids
This mini-brief from Edge Zero explores how Australia’s innovative strategies in grid management, including grid visibility at the transformer level and smart managed charging, can provide solutions for U.S. utilities grappling with the same challenges.
