Alternative energy

The big picture

Climate change boosts support for divisive tech

Climate change experts say they're necessary to combat the problem.

Dec 14, 2020 - Energy & Environment
Biden's climate plan tries to bring unions into clean energy

Renewable energy has grown a lot, but union jobs have not.

Jul 20, 2020 - Energy & Environment
Wind and solar would struggle to replace coal-mining jobs

Renewable energy helps combat climate change, but the jobs potential is less clear.

Feb 5, 2020 - Energy & Environment
Why some in Big Oil are looking to go big in offshore wind

European oil and gas majors are leading the way.

Oct 30, 2019 - Energy & Environment

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Ben Geman, author of Generate
3 hours ago - Energy & Environment

Environmental and rights groups link to push for equity in Biden's solar efforts

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

A new coalition has formed aimed at helping ensure federal efforts to expand solar power don't leave the poor and communities of color behind.

Driving the news: The dozen-plus members of the Solar Access for All Coalition include Earthjustice, Coalition for Community Solar Access, GreenLatinos, Solar United Neighbors and the NAACP.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Apr 16, 2021 - Energy & Environment

Appliance electrification a growing divide between renters and homeowners

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Data: Energy Institute at Haas, UC Berkeley; Chart: Axios Visuals

U.S. renters are more likely than homeowners to have electric heat and key appliances, new research from a UC-Berkeley expert shows.

Why it matters: Expanding electrification, paired with an increasingly low-carbon power grid, can be a tool against global warming.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Apr 14, 2021 - Energy & Environment

Projections for electricity emissions underestimated the pace of power transition

Data: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

A new study explores how the U.S. power sector evolved on a much lower carbon path than analysts were projecting about 15 years ago.

Why it matters: The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report is a reminder about the limits of our ability to look into the energy future. But it also shows that while energy transitions are generally slow, that's not some ironclad law of nature.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Apr 13, 2021 - Energy & Environment

Private equity's renewable investments hit a record in 2020

Data: PitchBook; Chart: Axios Visuals

Private equity investments in U.S. renewables hit a record $23.7 billion last year, per a new report on deals from American Investment Council, which is the industry's lobbying and advocacy arm.

Where it stands: "PE invests in renewable energy in two major ways: buying and expanding established power generators and increasing their production over the long term, and financing development costs for new renewable power companies," it states.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Apr 8, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Treasury puts a number on its fossil tax plan

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Treasury Department estimates its plan to end subsidies for fossil fuel companies would bring in over $35 billion in federal revenue over 10 years.

Driving the news: "The main impact would be on oil and gas company profits. Research suggests little impact on gasoline or energy prices for U.S. consumers and little impact on our energy security," officials said in a report on the wider White House tax policy proposal.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Apr 7, 2021 - Energy & Environment

Report: Energy jobs pay far above the national average

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Data: Energy Futures Initiative et al. report; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

New data shows both the promise and peril of the White House push to speed deployment of renewables while also accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.

Driving the news: A report on energy industry wages across sectors shows that they're far above the national median and more likely to provide healthcare and retirement benefits than the national average.

John Frank, author of Denver
Apr 1, 2021 - Axios Denver

Solar energy set to more than double in Colorado in 2021

Data: SEIA/Wood Mackenzie. Chart: John Frank/Axios

The annual solar energy capacity installed in Colorado is expected to more than double this year and continue to reach new heights in the future, a new report shows.

Why it matters: The new installations are resetting the energy landscape as the state moves toward the goal of 100% renewables by 2040.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Mar 31, 2021 - Energy & Environment

The U.S. is way behind in offshore wind

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Data: International Energy Agency; Chart: Axios Visuals. Note: 2020 figures are estimates.

The U.S. currently lags way behind Europe and China in offshore wind, a fact the Biden administration hopes to change with plans to spur the development of 30 gigawatts of offshore U.S. wind generating capacity by 2030.

Why it matters: While several big commercial-scale projects along the Atlantic Coast are already in the works, there's only one small project in operation off Rhode Island as of now.

Ben Geman, author of Generate
Mar 31, 2021 - Economy & Business

Biden's clean energy infrastructure plan draws interest of lobbyists

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

President Biden's attempt to steer huge energy infrastructure plans through Congress and his wide-ranging executive agenda are together creating intense lobbying and advocacy efforts to shape the policies.

Why it matters: The new proposal for an energy infrastructure package is vastly larger than the roughly $90 billion for clean energy in the 2009 stimulus, and the constellation of interests in play is huge.

Luján: Diversifying New Mexico's economy will bring in more "homegrown" opportunities

New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D) said at an Axios event Tuesday that diversifying New Mexico's economy will create "homegrown" opportunities, providing a different type of job security for workers who rely on oil and gas industries.

Why it matters: Politicians have sparred over environmental justice and its impact on workers in the oil and gas industries. But even major oil and gas producers across the U.S. are making changes now, Luján said, which means New Mexico needs to move fast about planning for the future.

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