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Utility executives’ salaries could become tied to their companies keeping electricity rates from rising faster than inflation if new legislati…
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Officials in Cuba report an islandwide blackout in the country of some 11 million people as its energy and economic crises deepen. The Ministry of Energy and Mines notes a "complete disconnection" of the country's electrical system and says it is investigating. President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday warned that the island had not received oil shipments in more than three months and that it was operating on solar power, natural gas and thermoelectric plants. Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. energy blockade. President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that would sell or provide oil to the island.
Oil and gasoline prices are rising as the war in Iran intensifies and other global conflicts affect supply. That means pain at the pump for drivers filling up with gas. But electric vehicle drivers are largely unaffected by spikes in oil prices. Electricity prices — even as different grids have different power mixes — are more regulated. Experts say prolonged high gas prices may drive some EV interest and sales. Car-buying resource Edmunds says it has seen an uptick in people researching EVs and hybrids. But the experts also say just how far that will go is unclear. And in the U.S., significant incentives to buy EVs have gone away.
A California watchdog is urging state lawmakers to make data centers cover their own power costs, so households do not pay more. The Little Hoover Commission warns that AI-driven growth could strain the grid and raise utility bills. The report says regulators need clearer data on where demand lands. It seeks confidential, facility-level reporting on electricity use. It also calls for a special rate class for extremely large power users. The plan includes prepaying for grid upgrades and helping cover wildfire safety costs. The report also flags backup diesel generators, carbon emissions, and water use by data centers as hampering California's climate goals.
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Tools that power artificial intelligence devour energy. But attempts to shield regular Californians from footing the bill in 2025 ended with a…
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Most PG&E customers who lost power in recent storms have had it restored, the company’s chief executive said Saturday, even as a San Franc…
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San Jose is now ground zero in California's battle over how to govern the rise of data centers used to power artificial intelligence. The county seat of Santa Clara is touting its partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric, claiming the city is "the West Coast's premier destination for data center development." Panelists at a CalMatters event in downtown San Jose clashed over key issues. Their discussion centered on how quickly California should move to accommodate new demand, what information the public should be entitled to and how to keep customers from shouldering the cost of infrastructure that may never be fully used.
Sure, California can swear off fossil fuels and shut down its nuclear plants, powering itself entirely with wind, water, and sun.
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A self-contained energy microgrid in Half Moon Bay’s downtown could be one solution to the climate event-induced power outages that increasing…
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After several hurdles, Caltrain has successfully negotiated with Peninsula Clean Energy and San Jose Clean Energy to receive compensation for …
