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In 2022, Norfolk City Council adopted a resolution around the commitment to reduce energy consumption by 20% as part of the Better Buildings Challenge. To increase awareness of participation, the City’s Environmental Sustainability Division created the Watts Going Down, Norfolk campaign, which has engaged 87% of City staff.

Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., a national engineering services firm, finished the installation and activation of its first company-owned, stand-alone electric vehicle charging stations.

Five years into The Climate Pledge, Amazon's 2023 Sustainability Report showcases its progress in becoming a more sustainable company. This column presents highlights from the report, including how the company is meeting its energy goals, making strides to decarbonize its transportation and delivery fleet, improving delivery efficiency to reduce emissions, investing in climate solutions and more.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the state received $12.1 million in federal funding as part of the first round of conditional awards to expand electric vehicle charging sites under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee announced the state’s achievement as the first state in the nation to complete Phase 1 of the alternative fuel corridor under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.

Starbucks announced a strategic collaboration to electrify over 100 stores across the U.S. with EV chargers.

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced the opening of the first electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Utah that is funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the University of Iowa a $16.4 million grant for improvements to the Cambus system, including the purchase of six new battery-electric buses that will help the university reach its sustainability goals.

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil speaks with Melissa Banks, Regulatory and Utility Advocacy Director at Trane Technologies, about the complex landscape of building decarbonization and sustainability. Banks discusses the increasing importance of regulatory compliance, utility incentives, and tax benefits in making energy efficiency projects financially viable for businesses and building owners. She explains the significance of understanding local utility incentives and shares examples of utility programs that offer substantial rebates for energy-efficient upgrades and emphasizes leveraging these incentives and working with experts to help maximize the financial benefits of their sustainability efforts — making the path to decarbonization both achievable and affordable.

Toyota Motor North America invested in a new high-powered charging network along with seven other automakers to support its buildout for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across North America.