Skip to main content

Renewable Energy

Vox’s news coverage and updates on the latest in renewables like solar power, wind energy, storage, and batteries.

México podría estar en la cúspide de una de sus mayores transformaciones en décadasMéxico podría estar en la cúspide de una de sus mayores transformaciones en décadas
Climate

Claudia Sheinbaum, la nueva presidenta, ya está remodelando su industria energética.

By Umair Irfan
Democrats have embraced a surprising “America First!” approach on climateDemocrats have embraced a surprising “America First!” approach on climate
Climate

The strategy comes at a cost for the planet.

By Umair Irfan
Biden’s historic climate record has one big problemBiden’s historic climate record has one big problem
Climate

Arcane permitting rules are holding back clean energy. Speeding it up could have some big drawbacks.

By Umair Irfan
The hidden reason why your power bill is so highThe hidden reason why your power bill is so high
Technology

And a few things you can do about it.

By Adam Clark Estes
10 big things we think will happen in the next 10 years
Future Perfect

Obesity will go down, electric cars will go up, and a nuclear bomb might just fall.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
The propane industry’s weird obsession with school buses, explained
Climate

Electric school buses are better for kids’ health. The propane industry has other ideas.

By Rebecca Leber
Why Biden’s multibillion-dollar bet on hydrogen energy is such a big dealWhy Biden’s multibillion-dollar bet on hydrogen energy is such a big deal
Climate

Clean hydrogen can be a lot dirtier than it seems, especially when the fossil fuel industry gets involved.

By Rebecca Leber
The US power grid quietly survived its most brutal summer yetThe US power grid quietly survived its most brutal summer yet
Climate

Despite record power demand, the grid largely avoided blackouts. Don’t take this for granted.

By Umair Irfan
Is the future of energy ... pouring water on hot rocks in the ground?Is the future of energy ... pouring water on hot rocks in the ground?
Future Perfect

Geothermal’s “breakthrough,” and the challenges ahead, explained.

By Dylan Matthews
Why a “room-temperature superconductor” would be a huge dealWhy a “room-temperature superconductor” would be a huge deal
Future Perfect

The superconductor frenzy, explained.

By Dylan Matthews
4 winners and 1 loser in the EPA’s historic move to limit power plant pollution4 winners and 1 loser in the EPA’s historic move to limit power plant pollution
Policy

One winner: Natural gas.

By Rebecca Leber
The EPA’s long-delayed new rules for power plant pollution, explainedThe EPA’s long-delayed new rules for power plant pollution, explained
Climate

Biden hopes the third time is the charm for the first-ever regulations for power plant climate pollution.

By Rebecca Leber
How to fix clean energy’s storage problemHow to fix clean energy’s storage problem
Play
Video

We can’t truly switch to renewable energy without a breakthrough.

By Sam Ellis
A renter’s guide to the Inflation Reduction ActA renter’s guide to the Inflation Reduction Act
Climate

Time to approach your landlord or consider a window unit heat pump.

By Rebecca Leber
How you can take advantage of tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction ActHow you can take advantage of tax breaks in the Inflation Reduction Act
Climate

Make a home energy audit your resolution for 2023.

By Rebecca Leber
A mountain, a tower, a thermos of molten salt. These are the batteries that could power our renewable future.A mountain, a tower, a thermos of molten salt. These are the batteries that could power our renewable future.
Audio
Unexplainable

Climate change is pushing the power grid to the limit. Energy storage could help.

By Neel Dhanesha
The end of a battery’s life matters as much as its beginning
Technology

Americans are terrible at recycling. Electric cars are a chance to change that.

By Rebecca Leber
The real reason a heat wave is pushing California’s power grid to its limitsThe real reason a heat wave is pushing California’s power grid to its limits
Technology

Blaming blackouts on wind and solar power totally misses the point.

By Neel Dhanesha
4 underrated parts of the Inflation Reduction Act4 underrated parts of the Inflation Reduction Act
Politics

The new climate law is more than just tax credits.

By Rebecca Leber
Congress failed on climate. What can Biden do now?Congress failed on climate. What can Biden do now?
Climate

What Biden meant when he called climate change an emergency.

By Rebecca Leber
These batteries work from homeThese batteries work from home
Technology

How batteries can help power homes, buildings, and the grid.

By Rebecca Heilweil
There’s a climate solution hiding in our walls
Technology

Buildings waste a lot of energy. One low-tech solution could fix that.

By Neel Dhanesha
Clean energy is buried at the bottom of abandoned oil wells
Technology

The US is spending millions to explore a surprising source of untapped power.

By Neel Dhanesha
The hydrogen energy dream
Technology

Automakers, industries, and governments are betting on hydrogen again. Will it work this time?

By Umair Irfan
How to clear the air in the most polluted cities on EarthHow to clear the air in the most polluted cities on Earth
Future Perfect

How countries like India can have economic growth and cleaner air.

By Siobhan McDonough
Dirty energy pays more than clean energy. That’s a problem.Dirty energy pays more than clean energy. That’s a problem.
Technology

To outcompete Big Oil, the clean energy industry needs to unionize.

By Neel Dhanesha
Biden’s offshore wind plan is also a jobs planBiden’s offshore wind plan is also a jobs plan
Technology

Europe has already invested in offshore wind power. Now the US is getting onboard.

By Neel Dhanesha
The latest data on US climate pollution is very badThe latest data on US climate pollution is very bad
Science

Freight and coal drove emissions up in 2021.

By Rebecca Leber
Is this the beginning of the end of gas stoves and dirty heat in buildings?Is this the beginning of the end of gas stoves and dirty heat in buildings?
Climate

New York City is phasing out gas in new buildings. It’s a milestone in the fight to clean up climate pollution.

By Rebecca Leber
The infrastructure law aims to clean up pollution in your communityThe infrastructure law aims to clean up pollution in your community
Climate

Congress will inject unprecedented funding into replacing dirty school buses, lead pipes, and more.

By Rebecca Leber
An “attack on American cities” is freezing climate action in its tracksAn “attack on American cities” is freezing climate action in its tracks
Climate

The natural gas industry was losing in cities across the US. Then came an obscure partisan tactic called preemption.

By Rebecca Leber
One policy that could challenge a century of fossil fuel dominanceOne policy that could challenge a century of fossil fuel dominance
Explainers

A clean electricity standard could be “the biggest change in our energy policy since the lights went on.”

By Rebecca Leber
The US power grid isn’t ready for climate change
Technology

In recent weeks, you’ve either had power problems or you’ve heard about them.

By Rebecca Heilweil
The fastest way to get more people to buy electric vehiclesThe fastest way to get more people to buy electric vehicles
Explainers

America’s EV charging station infrastructure is woefully lacking.

By Ella Nilsen
How Biden could actually deliver on his climate goalsHow Biden could actually deliver on his climate goals
Climate

The road to the 2030 goal is clear. The road to 2050 is a little murkier.

By Rebecca Leber
Why every state is vulnerable to a Texas-style power crisisWhy every state is vulnerable to a Texas-style power crisis
Explainers

“The infrastructure we have built right now really isn’t ready.”

By Umair Irfan
2020 ties for the hottest year on record2020 ties for the hottest year on record
Climate

It’s time for the world to get more ambitious with its emissions targets.

By Jariel Arvin
The Earth itself could provide carbon-free heat for buildingsThe Earth itself could provide carbon-free heat for buildings
Climate

The world needs clean heat, and geothermal energy has it.

By David Roberts
Live results: Nevada renewable energy ballot initiativeLive results: Nevada renewable energy ballot initiative
Politics

Voters could require the state’s electricity supplies to shift to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.

By David Roberts
China’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060, explainedChina’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060, explained
Explainers

China just stepped up its climate goals. Is it enough to avert climate chaos?

By Lili Pike