Colorado AG, groups sue to block Trump coal order
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- Trump administration told the D.C. Circuit it alone decides energy emergencies, a stance that could keep coal plants running while crude inventories sit 900 barrels lower.link ›
- Apartment developers now heat 75% of new multi‑family units with electricity, cutting household greenhouse‑gas emissions by two‑thirds and enabling rooftop solar.link ›
- PG&E says its legacy billing system can’t process modern time‑of‑use rates, leaving a backlog of 26 new or revised rates and slowing dynamic pricing rollout.link ›
- BYD is in talks with Stellantis about acquiring a European plant, aiming to repurpose idle factories for its EV expansion.link ›
- DeepWay delivered 8,020 electric semis in 2025, proving rapid scaling of heavy‑duty EVs.link ›
Environmental groups and Colorado’s attorney general are suing the Energy Department to overturn a Trump‑era emergency order that forces a coal plant slated for retirement to stay online, arguing it lacks a true energy crisis and harms ratepayers.
The stories behind this week
Electrek Surveys Readers on Home Battery BackupHome‑battery makers and installers stand to gain clearer demand signals, while utilities may need to adjust grid‑integration plans as more households consider backup power today.
Trump Admin Says It Alone Decides Energy EmergenciesWith crude inventories down 900 barrels, the administration's claim to unilaterally declare emergencies allows higher-cost coal plants to stay online, benefitting utilities but raising emissions and increasing greenhouse gas output.
Heybike Ranger 3.0 Pro e-bike + $257 FREE bundle hits $1,399 low, Tesla Universal Wall Connector $550, Anker solar security cam, moreConsumers snag a high‑spec e‑bike at an unprecedented price, boosting e‑mobility adoption, while Heybike drives sales volume and brand exposure; Tesla’s charger discount supports its expanding EV and robotaxi network.
The surprising climate fix that Democrats and Republicans both loveApartment developers and renters gain lower energy costs as 75% of new units run on cheap electric heat, while natural‑gas utilities lose demand; the shift cuts household GHGs by two‑thirds, accelerating climate goals without new legislation.
Utilities Hampered by Legacy Billing Amid AMI RolloutUtilities face higher costs and slower rate rollouts, while ratepayers miss out on dynamic pricing that reduces peak demand; legacy billing bottlenecks cost utilities millions and delay grid‑balancing efforts.
Nature Study Finds Concentrated Rain Fuels DroughtWater managers and farmers gain a new predictive factor for drought, while drought‑prone regions could see earlier warnings, potentially averting massive crop losses worldwide across.
BYD eyes EU plant takeover from Stellantis, othersBYD gains new production capacity while legacy makers offload idle factories, preserving jobs and accelerating EV rollout across Europe; Stellantis and other partners see their underused sites repurposed.
DeepWay delivers 8,020 electric semisLogistics firms gain a new source of high‑volume electric trucks, while investors see a near‑term IPO opportunity; Tesla faces heightened competition as DeepWay’s 8,000‑plus deliveries prove rapid scaling.
Why it matters: Ratepayers face at least $20 million in extra costs while the order delays wind and solar projects, benefiting Tri‑State’s coal interests and the Trump administration’s fossil‑fuel agenda, and undermining Colorado’s climate‑change commitments, including its pledge to close all remaining coal plants by 2030.
