Five years ago, Winter Storm Uri brought the Texas power grid to its knees. Temperatures plunged across the state for nearly a week, power plants froze, natural gas supply lines…
What’s behind your sky-high power bill: A region-by-region breakdown
This story was originally published by Grist . Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter . It’s no secret that U.S. electricity prices have been rising over the last few years:…
I let Duke Energy control my thermostat. I don’t regret it.
In the wee hours of Feb. 2, before temperatures plunged into the teens in North Carolina, Duke Energy pleaded with customers like me to conserve. Since electricity supplies would be…
Zero Homes nabs $16.8M to go big on easier heat pump installation
Heat pumps can save households money on their utility bills and are essential to cutting carbon emissions. The catch? The superefficient appliance can cost thousands of dollars more than a…
Stressed Out? Try Putting Together a Kids’ Puzzle
Jodi Jill hates flying. So when turbulence hits and her nerves start to fray, she reaches for the 50- to 75-piece kids’ jigsaw puzzle tucked inside her bag. Then she…
When Honesty Is Overrated in Relationships
From childhood, honesty is framed as a moral north star. Tell the truth. Don’t lie. Say what you mean, no matter the cost. But adult relationships quickly expose the limits…
Heron Power raises $140M to modernize electrical transformers
Since the late 1800s , the grid has used more or less the same devices to convert electricity to different voltages. They’re called transformers — and they’re in increasingly short…
Fear of farmland loss slows solar and wind development
This story was originally published in the Daily Yonder. For more rural reporting and small-town stories, visit dailyyonder.com . When Chad Raines took over his family’s Texas cotton farm in…
New England’s biggest grid battery is up and running in Maine
A massive new battery has entered service in southern Maine, providing a much-needed boost to the Northeast’s efforts to expand clean and affordable energy. Developer Plus Power wrapped up its…
Is Bleach Really Necessary for a Clean Home?
Bleach has a reputation for going scorched earth on bacteria. But not everyone is comfortable with using it; bleach can interact dangerously with other common chemicals and has to be…