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Data centers are reshaping Pennsylvania’s energy landscape—and not for the better
On February 3rd, during his annual address to the Pennsylvania general assembly, Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his concerns about how the rapid buildout of data centers in the state could contribute to rising electricity costs. His calls for guardrails on data center development may fall flat considering his previously unbridled support. Shapiro is currently backing…
Green hydrogen is not a silver bullet to decarbonize the fertilizer industry
Earlier this year, Yara, the world’s largest ammonia distributor, cancelled some of their green hydrogen projects citing cost concerns. This follows the trend of companies scrapping or scaling back their clean hydrogen plans, no doubt escalated by the early retirement of the 45V clean hydrogen tax credit. Yara planned to use this green hydrogen to produce ammonia, made by pairing hydrogen…
Three of the biggest harms from irresponsible data center development—and what communities can do to fight back
The unrestricted build-out of data centers across the country is threatening energy affordability, grid reliability, public health and state climate goals. A recent analysis found that at the current rate of expansion, US data centers will add an additional 44 million metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually and will drain up to 1,125…
Batteries, Batteries Everywhere: Battery-Powered Appliances are Reshaping the Electric Grid
In the not-so-distant past, home batteries were the domain of the early adopters: the solar fanatic with a Powerwall tucked in the garage or the off-grid enthusiast living by their own rules. But that is changing fast. Along with a rapid increase in home battery system installations, batteries are finding their way into the appliances…
Green hydrogen and ammonia are making waves in the shipping industry; will they do more harm than good?
In early March, a large ship made its way into Southampton’s port on the south coast of the UK. A green circle and the words “leading the way to real zero” plastered on the side sent a message: this isn’t your average ship. Named “Green Pioneer” and owned by Australian mining and green hydrogen giant…
Still Considering Solar and Storage? Run, Don’t Walk.
In the six weeks between the release of the House of Representatives’ version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) and President Trump’s signing of the final legislation, a decade of progress towards achieving cleaner, more reliable energy infrastructure was reversed. The speed with which the bill passed, combined with the severity of changes…
What Nonprofits Need to Know about the Investment Tax Credit in 2025
In the July 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Congress terminated key aspects of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar and wind projects and created barriers for projects pursuing energy storage and other zero emissions technologies. Under the revised ITC guidelines, solar and wind projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026, or be…
Hydrogen Got a Reprieve in the Reconciliation Bill, but It Needs More Than That to Be Cost Competitive
Utilities in at least 18 states are developing “hydrogen-ready” combined cycle (CC) or combustion turbine (CT) power plants. These plants are part of a larger shift towards maintaining a reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure, both by building new plants and keeping old ones online, spurred by a pro-coal and gas administration and fearmongering around grid…
Resilient Power in the Wake of Hurricane Helene
One of the things I cherish most about Western North Carolina is its patchwork of small, close-knit communities nestled among mountains and valleys, all interconnected by an endless web of creeks and streams. Many of these communities are rural and secluded, a contrast to the region’s population center of Asheville, where I live. Although beautiful…
Hydrogen production’s unbreakable ties to fossil fuels in the US
For the past few years, hydrogen has been proposed as a method of reducing emissions in almost every sector, from energy production, to transportation, to manufacturing. This has led to a boom in proposed hydrogen production plants, mainly focused on so-called low carbon hydrogen. But hydrogen production isn’t new. This gas has long been used…
In the News & Press Releases
Healing or harming? Boston hospitals struggle with emissions.
This article in the Commonwealth Beacon mentions the Clean Peak Coalition’s advocacy for the replacement of the MATEP plant’s older fossil fuel-powered turbines with renewable energy and battery storage.
Publications
Electrification with Equity, Part 2: Scaling Behind-The-Meter Solar+Storage in Massachusetts Environmental Justice Neighborhoods
