Old Power Gear Is Slowing Use of Clean Energy and Electric Cars
The New York Times
Some people and businesses seeking to use solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles find they can’t because utility equipment needs an upgrade.
Seven months after workers finished installing solar panels atop the Garcia family home near Stanford University, the system is little more than a roof ornament. The problem: The local utility’s equipment is so overloaded that there is no place for the electricity produced by the panels to go.
“We wasted 30,000-something dollars on a system we can’t use,” Theresa Garcia said. “It’s just been really frustrating.”
President Biden is pushing lawmakers and regulators to wean the United States from fossil fuels and counter the effects of climate change. But his ambitious goals could be upended by aging transformers and dated electrical lines that have made it hard for homeowners, local governments and businesses to use solar panels, batteries, electric cars, heat pumps and other devices that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Donald J. Trump has embraced tabloids, reality TV, Twitter and cable news. This year, he moved on to podcasts and online streamers.
Donald J. Trump spent his first presidency on a collision course with America’s central bank. Will it intensify?
A little-known investment banker, a former hedge fund star and an acolyte of George Soros have the president-elect’s ear.
The U.S. presidential election result has ensured a sharp turn in economic policy expected to upend global commerce and diverge from decades of American norms.
Angel Sivado tries to move people from the streets to permanent housing. A new law makes helping her clients more of a challenge.
About 33,000 workers at the aerospace manufacturer had been on strike for nearly two months, having rejected two earlier contract offers.
Right-wing groups, which use Telegram to organize real-world actions, are urging followers to watch the polls and stand up for their rights, in a harbinger of potential chaos.
The billionaire has effectively become the star of his social media platform, transforming X into a reflection of his personal views before the election.
Many rural Americans engage in cashless barter systems to get food and firewood for heating and cooking. They value self-sufficiency, making them wary of government intervention.
Employers added 12,000 jobs in October, with hiring hit by strikes and storms. The unemployment rate was steady, at 4.1 percent, in the last major report before an election in which the economy is a top issue for voters.
To prepare for ever-longer shopping season, thousands of employees were assembled for a retail jamboree in Florida’s August heat.