Brian Willis

Brian Willis

@bwillisful.bsky.social

Cleantech, Electric Vehicles, and Virginia

252 followers353 following246 posts

Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Massachusetts wants 10 GW of battery storage by 2035 — and it's backing that goal with incentives, faster permitting, and utility procurements. But soaring grid connection costs show why modernizing our electricity infrastructure matters. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat...

canarymedia.comMassachusetts sets big battery goals — and the policies to back them…Energy storage is taking off as the state moves to make development easier and more profitable, but the horizon isn’t all clear for the sector.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

New @eprinews.bsky.social data shows U.S. grid battery failure rates fell more than 97% from 2016 to 2025, even as cumulative installations grew 250-fold. Batteries now have failure rates comparable to conventional substation transformers. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat...

canarymedia.comAs US grid batteries surge, risk of fires plummetsConcerns about fires loom large in communities, but data shows the tech is no more at risk of failure than boring legacy infrastructure like substation…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

New Mexico reached its 2030 renewable electricity goal SIX years early. Now, its largest utility is planning major new investments in wind, solar, and batteries to meet growing demand. Ambitious clean energy policies work! via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...

canarymedia.comNew Mexico’s transition to clean energy is actually ahead of scheduleThe state is forging ahead on wind, solar, and batteries after hitting its 2030 renewables goal early. The transition for coal workers has been more…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Oakland has 74 electric school buses sending power back to California’s grid. They’ve delivered 1.7GWh in 2 yrs, w/ 99.5%+ uptime. A promising model for turning fleet batteries into grid assets—and offsetting operating costs. via @jamesondow.bsky.social in @electrek.co electrek.co/2026/10/20/h...

electrek.coHow electric school buses power 1,000 homes in California - and make moneyThese US-built V2G chargers power a thousand homes with school bus batteries, saving the grid and making money along the way.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Solar panels are helping revive two idle cranberry bogs in Massachusetts. The projects combine 5.4 MW of solar, battery storage, AND active farming. #Solar lease income helps make growing cranberries viable again—example of energy and agriculture sharing the same land. electrek.co/2026/10/16/s...

electrek.coSolar panels are bringing idle cranberry bogs back to lifeSolar panels are helping two Massachusetts cranberry bogs grow berries again, with lease income making farming viable on both sites.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

US clean energy is on track for record growth: 89 GW in 2026, with more expected in 2027. But AI data centers are also driving a major gas expansion. BloombergNEF's outlook shows how the electricity boom is creating opportunities—and trade-offs—across the market. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUS Clean Energy Set to Reach New Highs as Tax-Credit Cliff LoomsBloombergNEF forecasts record buildouts in 2026 and 2027, driven by expiring federal incentives and strong data-center demand.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Battery storage is getting much safer. @eprinews.bsky.social reports a 98% drop in lithium-ion storage failures per GWh from 2018 0 2025. But older indoor installations still carry greater risks. www.utilitydive.com/news/battery...?

utilitydive.comBattery system failures fell 98% in 7 years, but older systems need special care: reportThe Electric Power Research Institute analysis found a dramatic drop in energy storage system failures from 2018 to 2025 amid a host of technology and project improvements. “Early-vintage” systems may...
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

@wsj.com: #EV sales have fallen sharply, but the US charging network keeps growing. 12,000+ public plugs added in 2026. Tesla leads, Walmart is expanding, and operators are investing in faster, more convenient charging. Can demand catch up before costs overwhelm profits? www.wsj.com/business/aut...

wsj.comAmerica’s EV Downturn Hides a Silver Lining: Charging Is Quietly Getting BetterPublic EV chargers continue to be installed at a steady clip, even as the industry faces a tough road to long-term profitability.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

#Solar’s next leap could be tandem panels, which stack materials to capture more sunlight, potentially generating 25% more energy than most panels today. That could mean more power from less land—but early costs are higher than conventional panels. via @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/b...

nytimes.comUS Solar Panel Makers Try to Catch China With a Big Leap in TechnologyManufacturers say they are close to perfecting a new, more efficient solar panel that could help the United States reclaim ground it lost.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

FedEx is buying 2k electric trucks from Harbinger for $200M+. Harbinger projects $40M in annual fuel savings—about $20,000 per truck—and $800M over their 20-year service lives. For commercial EVs, the operating-cost case may be the bigger story. via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/810423/...

insideevs.comFedEx Just Ordered 2,000 Electric Trucks That Will Save $40 Million Every Year On FuelThe package delivery company will deploy Harbinger’s American-made EVs in the United States and Canada.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

New York selected nearly 1.7 GW of new clean energy: 950 MW of four- to eight-hour lithium battery storage plus 719 MW of solar, wind and hydro. @nyserda.bsky.social says the projects could generate $3.7B+ in private investment and support 1,000 jobs. www.utilitydive.com/news/nyserda...

utilitydive.comNYSERDA taps 950 MW lithium batteries, 700 MW renewablesLithium batteries and solar, wind and hydroelectric renewable generation were selected in the state’s first bulk energy storage procurement and its 2025 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

A lot of new U.S. power capacity may already be sitting on #solar farms. Replacing aging panels could unlock 29 GW by 2035, a new study estimates. Add #batteries and existing sites could become even more valuable! Interconnection rules and economics are what to watch. heatmap.news/energy/solar...

heatmap.newsThe Great Solar RepoweringA new study from energy company Foundry-Logic argues that simply replacing old solar panels could add significant new capacity to the grid.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Nevada’s #solar buildout is moving forward despite policy uncertainty. The state is also attracting power-hungry data centers. That puts more pressure on NV to add generation, batteries and grid infrastructure—and makes permitting increasingly important. via @wsj.com www.wsj.com/business/ene...

wsj.comNevada Is Making Surprising Gains in Solar EnergySolar projects on federal lands were left in limbo after the Trump spurned clean energy, but several proposals in Nevada are now moving ahead.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

DOE is putting $1.9B into 31 projects that can squeeze more capacity from existing power lines. The investment could push advanced grid tech from years of pilots toward broader deployment. Check out @jeffstjohn.bsky.social's full coverage in @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/tra...

canarymedia.comAdvanced grid tech gets a $1.9B DOE boostAs the U.S. grid strains to meet rising demand, 31 projects across 26 states get federal funds for high-tech cables, sensors, and controls to boost…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

The IEA expects global oil demand to fall 2.5% in 2026 due to the Iran War. The big energy-market question is whether high prices push enough investment into alternatives that some demand never comes back. via @evanhalper.bsky.social in @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

washingtonpost.comTrump dismantled U.S. climate policy. But his war is cutting emissions.While the president remains a climate-change denier, the war with Iran has triggered an unforeseen benefit in the fight against global warming.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

One year after the federal $7,500 #EV credit ended, the U.S. market is recalibrating: EV sales remain well below 2025 levels, hybrids are growing and automakers are revising product plans. Cali is testing a $3,500 state-backed rebate can help close part of the gap. www.usatoday.com/story/cars/s...

usatoday.comWhere the US EV market stands a year after Trump ended tax creditsPresident Donald Trump and Republicans in killed U.S. EV credits one year ago. Here's a look at what's happened in the industry since then.

Brian Willis reposted

Sierra Club
@sierraclub.org

While electricity prices continue to climb, many utility companies are keeping old and expensive coal plants online and building more pricey gas plants, rather than investing in renewable, affordable, clean energy. IN THIS ECONOMY?!?

Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

New York regulators approved the $3.26B Propel NY Energy project, a 90-mile transmission upgrade aimed at strengthening downstate reliability and moving more power between Long Island and the rest of the state. Completion is targeted for 2030. www.utilitydive.com/news/new-yor...

utilitydive.comNew York regulators approve 90-mile transmission lineThe $3.3-billion project aims to improve downstate power delivery by 2030. It is being developed by New York Transco and the New York Power Authority.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Joe Romm, the influential climate and energy expert, author and communicator, has died at 66. His career stretched from nuclear security and federal energy policy to climate journalism, documentaries and research into how we communicate complex ideas. web.sas.upenn.edu/pcssm/news/r...

web.sas.upenn.eduRemembering Dr. Joe RommIt is with great sadness that the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media shares news of the passing of PCSSM Senior Research Fellow Dr. Joe Romm. Please find below an obituary prepared ...
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Revolution Wind has installed all 65 turbines off Rhode Island. The 704-MW project is now commissioning turbines and expects commercial operation later this year. Its arrival comes as New England wind generation is already up sharply from 2025. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...

subscriber.politicopro.comPOLITICO Pro: Major offshore wind project completes constructionRevolution Wind said it had installed all 65 turbines off the coast of Rhode Island.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Electric school buses are becoming batteries on wheels. More than 230 U.S. buses are already V2G-enabled, letting fleets send electricity back to the grid during peak demand. The payoff: new revenue for schools and flexible capacity for utilities. www.utilitydive.com/news/utiliti...

utilitydive.comUtilities, schools see growing value in electric buses for virtual power plantsBy participating in programs that ease grid congestion, school districts can recoup thousands of dollars from the price of electric school buses.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

New cars are getting more expensive. Electric vehicles aren't. August average transaction prices: All new vehicles: $50,089, up 1.9% YoY #EVs: $54,813, down 2.7% EVs still cost $4,724 more on average, but the gap is narrowing. via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/808190/...

insideevs.comNew Cars Are Getting More Expensive. EVs Are Getting CheaperThe latest U.S. pricing data offers a surprising twist for electric car buyers: EVs are getting cheaper, and Tesla is helping improve EV affordability.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Bannock County banned utility-scale #solar and #wind in 2024. Now it may reverse course as Idaho faces rising power demand and local officials reconsider the costs of turning away investment, farm income and tax revenue. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...

canarymedia.comAn Idaho county banned renewables. It’s having second thoughts.Solar developments led county officials to ban renewables in 2024. Now, the Republican commissioner who instigated the moratorium is leading the charge to…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

The West is staring at 30% power-demand growth over the next decade—12,600+ miles of new or upgraded lines are needed. New efforts target planning, permitting and cost-sharing, but actual infrastructure remains the test. via @latitudemedia.bsky.social www.latitudemedia.com/news/is-the-...

latitudemedia.comIs the West on the cusp of a transmission breakthrough?Plans are underway to break through three big bottlenecks to large transmission lines in a region known for “rugged individualism.”
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

#EV sales are down, but interest is rising. A new U.S. index found 12% of gas-car drivers want to switch to an EV regardless of price—2x last year’s share. Better charging availability, faster charging and longer range are helping build confidence. via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/807725/...

insideevs.comMore And More Americans Are Interested In EVs: StudyA recent study shows that American car buyers are more interested in switching to EVs than they were last year, largely due to improved charging infrastructure.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Texas power demand keeps breaking records. ERCOT hit 91 GW on July 22, and weekly average loads topped the previous 2023 record for six straight weeks. #Gas supplied 48% and #solar 32% at the July peak. Now the grid is preparing for much more demand. www.utilitydive.com/news/load-er...

utilitydive.comERCOT load continues to reach record highsOver six weeks since late July, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ weekly average peak loads all exceeded a record set in 2023, the Energy Information Administration said.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

A potential answer to grid connection delays: connect sooner, but agree to use less power when the grid gets tight. PG&E says Flex Connect customers got their needed capacity in 90% of hours, while operational loads were affected less than 1% of the time. www.utilitydive.com/news/pge-see...

utilitydive.comPG&E sees rising interest in ‘customer-driven’ flexible interconnection pilotThe Flex Connect program allows larger distribution-connected loads to energize in months instead of waiting “several years” for firm interconnection, the Northern California utility says.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

US battery storage hit another record: 20.2GWh installed in Q2, w/ 71GWh projected for 2026. The drivers are converging—#solar growth + grid reliability + surging data-center power demand. The big constraint to watch now is supply-chain cost. via @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comUS Battery Installs to Hit Record in 2026, Industry Report SaysThe US added a record amount of energy storage in the second quarter and is on pace to reach an all-time high this year, according to an industry trade report.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

A Tesla Model Y reached 111,703 miles with only about 2MWh of DC fast charging—yet Tesla’s test showed 77% battery health. It’s a useful reminder: fast charging isn’t the only variable. Extreme heat, charge levels and overall usage can matter, too. via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/806653/...

insideevs.comThis 3-Year-Old Tesla Model Y Went 100,000 Miles And Barely Fast-Charged. Here's How The Battery Held UpThis three-year-old Tesla Model Y has over 100,000 miles on it and rarely ever used a DC fast charger. The battery degradation was still quite high.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

#Virginia is trying bulk buying for rooftop #solar commonwealth-wide by pooling customers together. Switch Together says this can cut installation costs 20%–30%. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

canarymedia.comVirginia to cut rooftop solar costs with nation-first bulk-buy programTeaming up to buy solar can get residents deep discounts. Virginia is the first to try a statewide campaign as utility bills rise and data centers stress…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Maine’s northern wind ambitions are moving forward: regulators selected an 800-MW #wind farm and 1.2-GW transmission project. Maine customers would cover less than 11% of transmission costs, with other New England states sharing the bill. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/win...

canarymedia.comIs Maine finally about to make wind power happen?For nearly two decades, the state has sought to bring wind turbines to its breezy northern reaches. Now it's one step closer to realizing the vision.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Walmart just reached 100 #EV fast-charging sites across 20 states after having zero branded chargers less than two yrs ago. It deployed 612 stalls in H1 2026. The bigger strategy: turn charging time into shopping time — w/ a Walmart+ discount. via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/805862/...

insideevs.comWalmart's EV Charging Network Just Hit A Big Milestone: 100 Stations In 20 StatesThe retail giant is ramping up installations, with the latest station opened at the Walmart Supercenter in Monument, Colorado.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Trump increasingly sees batteries as essential for AI, defense, and competing w/ China. But there’s a catch: #EVs remain the biggest battery market. Defense demand alone is too small to sustain full domestic supply chain U.S. wants. via @bradplumer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/c...

nytimes.comTrump Shuns E.V.s and Wind Power, But He’s Pouring Billions Into BatteriesThe president may disdain clean energy tech, but energy storage is also crucial for A.I. and defense — and China’s dominance in the sector has officials worried.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

PJM has cleared 50+ GW of projects, with #solar, #wind and #batteries making up the vast majority, per @rockymtninst.bsky.social data. via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/ene...

canarymedia.comPJM has finally greenlit a lot of new clean power. Can it get built?More than 50 GW of solar, wind, and batteries can now connect to PJM’s grid. It could help drive down costs — if states, utilities, and hyperscalers make…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

India’s #solar boom has created a new problem: too much power when the grid can’t use it. About 11% of solar generation was curtailed during the hottest months this year. With nearly 42GW of planned renewables still lacking buyers, batteries are becoming essential. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comIndia Bets on Battery Storage Boom to Reduce Solar Power LossesIndia is counting on increasing investments in battery storage to help abate the mounting curtailments of solar power that the grid is currently unable to absorb.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Is keeping an existing gas car greener than buying a new EV? A new @science.org study says not necessarily. Even including #EV manufacturing, emissions benefits can begin immediately. In one early-retirement scenario, cumulative emissions fell 44%! via @insideevs.com insideevs.com/news/805222/...

insideevs.comThe Results Are In: Scrapping Your Gas Car For An EV Is Better For The ClimateA recent study claims that retiring an internal combustion vehicle for a new electric vehicle is, in fact, better for the climate.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Ohio's biggest proposed #solar project is nearing another decision after 2 years of legal challenges. Regulators now have updated visual evidence requested by the state Supreme Court, while staff recommend reaffirming the permit. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

canarymedia.comAfter a 2-year wait, will Ohio’s largest solar project get the OK?The Oak Run solar and storage project has been in legal limbo since 2024, showing local opponents’ power to delay clean energy. A decision may come soon.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Battery demand is booming, but the grid is becoming the bottleneck. Projects are waiting yrs for interconnection because utilities need more transmission upgrades, substations, transformers, and skilled workers. Infrastructure is increasingly limiting deployment. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comBig Batteries to Bolster the Grid Are Stuck Waiting to Plug InAs energy storage projects flood the interconnection queue, costly grid updates needed to get them online are stretching the wait.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

The US clean economy rebounded in Q2 2026. Investment topped $75B, the second-highest quarter on record. Consumers drove much of the growth, with #EV demand recovering and residential battery sales hitting a record $11B as higher gas prices reshaped buying decisions. heatmap.news/daily/clean-...

heatmap.newsThe U.S. Clean Economy Has Snapped Its Losing StreakInvestment in zero-carbon energy and transportation surged this spring, driven by consumer EV and battery buying.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Illinois' coal-to-solar program didn't deliver as planned—but it may still provide a roadmap. Fixed incentives couldn't keep up with inflation, and site cleanup plus interconnection costs slowed projects. via @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

canarymedia.comWhy Illinois has struggled to turn old coal sites into solar farmsThe state’s plan to replace defunct coal infrastructure with renewable energy has fallen short, but the experience holds lessons for future coal-to-solar…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

Great rundown from @julianspencer.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com on the new U.S. solar tariffs. They should boost domestic manufacturers and encourage more investment in the U.S. supply chain, but they'll also raise costs for solar developers. www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...

canarymedia.comTrump launched big new solar tariffs. Here's what it means.The cost of installing solar panels will rise. But now the U.S. has a large and fast-growing solar manufacturing industry to take advantage of the trade…
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

PJM wants large new data centers to help secure their own electricity supply instead of relying entirely on the existing grid. Facilities w/o dedicated capacity could face curtailment during grid emergencies. via @jeffstjohn.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com www.canarymedia.com/articles/dat...

canarymedia.comPJM’s big new data center plan: Make the states figure it outGrid operator PJM wants states and utilities to hold data centers responsible for buying their own power — or risk being cut off from grid service.
Brian Willis
@bwillisful.bsky.social

NJ is moving toward a statewide virtual power plant program that would let customer batteries, #EVs, and other distributed energy resources support the grid beginning in 2027. Success depends as much on customer incentives and participation as the tech itself. www.utilitydive.com/news/battery...

utilitydive.comBattery-eligible New Jersey VPP program begins to take shapeUtility-owned storage could help mitigate grid congestion, a utility manager said at a July stakeholder meeting. Another said customer-centric program design is crucial to reducing attrition.