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Plug-in solar (also known as balcony solar) is becoming a new legislative hotspot in U.S. states. Utah led the way with legislation, followed by Colorado, Maine, Virginia, and others; California's Senate passed a related bill by a 35-to-1 vote, and the New York and New Jersey state assemblies have also passed bills awaiting gubernatorial signature. Author Stephan Scherer, based on German experience and differences in U.S. grids, recommends legislation adopting tiered power definitions (below 420 watts exempt from complex control systems) and a 400-watt export limit to balance home circuit safety and grid stability, while avoiding the safety risks of a single 1200-watt cap.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its annual report, stating that its 'cap-and-invest' carbon pricing program has generated a total of $36.2 billion in climate investment funds since it began operating in 2013. Of this, $15.5 billion has been invested in 122 programs, supporting over 600,000 projects, with 76% of deployed funds directed toward disadvantaged and low-income communities. The report also shows that the program has resulted in a reduction of 130.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and saved approximately $44.4 billion in costs.
Entergy CEO Drew Marsh said on Wednesday's earnings call that the company is seeking to 'mitigate' the impact of the $1.8 billion acquisition of the 1.26 GW Cottonwood gas plant in Texas. The deal requires approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and after PSC staff analysis suggested it could raise customer monthly bills by more than $7, it has drawn attention from the governor and the public.
During its Q2 2026 earnings call, FirstEnergy disclosed that its utility companies have signed contracts to serve 6.4GW of data center load through 2035, up 50% from Q1, and expects to sign another 1.5GW within two weeks. The company's total data center demand, including potential customer pipeline, grew 30% quarter-over-quarter to 24.8GW, with the West Virginia pipeline surging 155% to 4.1GW. The company is also advancing the Maidsville Energy Center project and has signed the White House Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
CMS Energy announced on Tuesday that it will sell the renewable energy development business under its unregulated subsidiary NorthStar Clean Energy Services to streamline its corporate structure and focus on core utilities. The plan is expected to generate approximately $500 million in net proceeds and enable nearly all of its earnings to come from regulated utilities after 2027. The company also disclosed challenges including a decline in second-quarter earnings, uncertainty regarding data center projects, and rising operating costs for the continued operation of the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant.
A new study by energy consulting firm E3, commissioned by General Motors, shows that in many electricity markets, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can create 5 to 15 times more value per electric vehicle than one-way managed charging (V1G). The study estimates that by 2030, the potential national value of V2G will reach approximately $7 billion. Despite a decline in new car sales this year and limited adoption of comprehensive V2G charging programs by utilities, General Motors says that 'bidirectional charging' electric vehicles, which can both charge from and discharge to the grid, will become more common in the coming years.
The Trump administration is considering revising distribution transformer efficiency rules approved during the Biden era, which were originally set to take effect in 2029 and require greater use of amorphous steel. Utilities and manufacturers generally support the original rules but worry about supply chain issues, suggesting extending the compliance period rather than repealing them. Steel giant Cleveland-Cliffs supports the revision to protect its GOES product market.
Lincoln Electric System (LES) is installing a 3MW/12MWh zinc-based battery energy storage system in its 30MW microgrid located in Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska. The system is expected to enter commercial operation within the next few weeks, increasing the microgrid's capacity by approximately 10%.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order on July 14 suspending environmental permits for new hyperscale data centers (consuming 50 megawatts or more) for one year to develop a regulatory framework. The order differs in scope from the Responsible Data Center Development Act (A11560), passed by the state legislature but not signed, which could affect existing facilities. Analysis indicates that the executive order has no grandfather clause and depends on DEC permit status, while the bill includes exemption mechanisms.
In California, one of the wealthiest states in the U.S., millions of people still struggle to pay their electricity bills, with an average overdue balance of $1,120. Community solar plus storage projects can provide renters or residents without suitable rooftops a way to subscribe to small-scale solar projects. If Bill AB 1813 passes, it is expected to narrow the energy affordability gap, bringing clean energy and bill savings to residents across the state.