Originally published by Union of Concerned Scientists, The Equation.
By John Rogers
With its passage out of a key committee in the House of Representatives last week, the Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) is a step closer to reality, as part of the powerful budget reconciliation bill (the Build Back Better Act). The bill, and that provision, still have a ways to go to get through Congress, as the House and Senate negotiate a final package. But it’s really important for clean energy to have this and complementary pieces moving — and even more important to get strong versions of them across the finish line.
To understand why, consider how the current design of the CEPP component answers the questions we had recently offered for gauging the robustness of the policy. The good news is that there’s a lot to like in what our elected representatives have laid out so far, and a whole lot to want to defend as its legislative journey continues.
And as for those five questions … the answers are very close, quite possibly, check, TBD, and yes. Here’s how the House language stacks up.
Would the targets be as strong as needed? Very close.
While “as needed” is tricky, since we need much more globally than has been put on the table so far, one useful benchmark might be the current US commitment under the Paris climate accord (50- to 52-percent reductions in heat-trapping emissions below 2005 levels by 2030), and specifically the power sector implications of that (approximately 80-percent clean electricity).
The focus of the CEPP is retail electricity providers — investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and third-party retail electricity providers in states with competitive power markets. The CEPP that passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) would reward those providers that increased their clean electricity supply by at least 4 percentage points in a given year (or per year, given some multiyear flexibility written into the plan). And it would collect payments from those that missed that benchmark.
That level of annual growth across the board, coupled with other complementary programs moving through the Build Back Better Act, such as clean energy tax incentives, would get us most of the way to the national target of 80 percent by 2030, according to analysis by the Rhodium Group. And the CEPP as envisioned provides a strong incentive for providers to beat that 4-percent-per-year level of growth to get us the rest of the way, together with all the clean energy pushes from states, utilities, companies, institutions, and households.
Would there be enough funding to power the transition? Quite possibly.
The early stages of the budget reconciliation process had the House and Senate approve the key top line number of $3.5 trillion, plus the allocations to the various committees. That resulted in $150 billion carved out for the CEPP within the portion the E&C is shepherding.
Is that sum enough? The performance grants for providers hitting the 4-point target would be $150 per megawatt-hour (MWh) of increased clean energy above a certain level. And that math — $150/MWh times the number of MWh needed to get to 80-percent clean electricity — works out pretty well, coming in close to the $150 billion.
So the next question is whether the resulting credit (including avoided payments for coming in too low) is enough to motivate providers to make the necessary push — and make the transition as easy and affordable as possible for customers. That level of incentive should make the willingness to invest in new renewables (directly or indirectly) at the pace and scale required all the more powerful.
So grants at that level under the CEPP could be a powerful complement to the extensions of the tax credits also included in the House reconciliation package to drive high levels of clean energy deployment.
Photo credit: John Rogers
Would the funding be used well? Check.
The current House text is explicit about what a provider can do with the performance grants it earns: use it “exclusively for the benefit of the ratepayers.” It then includes examples, such as direct bill assistance, clean energy and efficiency investments, and worker retention.
We agree: The CEPP grants should be used for purposes that directly and solely benefit the public by achieving the transition to clean electricity at a low cost and for maximum gain to consumers. So that’s good, strong language.
And it can be built on. We’ve recommended to lawmakers that they further specify allocation of the resources to ensure that this policy is doing its part to meet the administration’s Justice40 effort aimed at getting at least 40 percent of the benefits from federal investments to flow directly to disadvantaged communities.
Another clause in the E&C bill helpfully addresses the penalty portion for providers that don’t make the threshold in a given period: The legislation would let those payments be recovered only from “shareholders or owners.” That stipulation is particularly important in the case of investor-owned utilities.
Will it drive the cleanest sources? TBD.
As I’ve noted before, there’s low-carbon energy and then there’s really clean energy. Wind and solar would be the overwhelming favorites for providing the bulk of the new electrical capacity fueled by the CEPP. But the House does leave the door open to other options.
The E&C bill doesn’t spell out particular sources for inclusion or exclusion, instead setting a carbon intensity target — the maximum carbon pollution (carbon-dioxide equivalent on a 20-year global warming potential basis) per unit of electricity allowed for a source to qualify.
The good news is the House’s carbon intensity target is potentially quite strong, if it includes the emissions from the fuel supply (“upstream” emissions), although that isn’t clear from the current bill language. If upstream emissions are in there (again TBD), any fossil fuel generation would need a pretty high level of carbon capture and storage to count for the CEPP. A colleague has estimated that, with those upstream emissions included, coal or gas plants would need to capture and store at least 80 to 90 percent of their carbon dioxide emissions.
But the legislation needs to be clearer about those upstream emissions indeed being in the calculations. And the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) also has recommended other changes to make sure this section is as strong as it needs to be:
- explicitly excluding particular sources, such as municipal solid waste incineration and conventional natural gas generation;
- prorating performance grants for resources that meet the carbon intensity standard but are still above zero; and
- putting in place strong guardrails for bioenergy, hydroelectric, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear projects to address other environmental and fuel-cycle impacts.
Would all electric utilities be covered? Yes!
This one is maybe the most straightforward. The E&C language seems quite clear that all retail electricity providers, regardless of type or size, would be covered. That’s good news, because it means that all electricity customers would benefit from the transition to clean energy.
Stronger is better
So a strong performance by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, with a few things to strengthen and a lot worth defending as this piece continues through Congress.
And all this is in the context of maintaining the crucial top line $3.5-trillion number — and the boldness needed for a “rapid, just transition to clean energy.”
Be assured that UCS will continue to push for the reconciliation package as a whole — and you can, too, by contacting your members of Congress. And we also will continue to weigh in to make sure that the Clean Electricity Performance Program lives up to its full promise and becomes a powerful tool for our clean energy transition.
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Build Your Dreams (BYD) is gearing up for what has the makings of an epic launch event this coming Monday. The Chinese automaker announced several incoming debuts coming early next week, including a new “BYD Super e-Platform,” described as a “new benchmark in electric.” What’s most interesting, however, is that BYD is teasing a new ultra-fast EV charger with up to 1,000 kW of power – that’s twice as powerful as the current best on the market.
Automotive conglomerate BYD is at it again, continuously showcasing its innovation and market expansion as a clear force that will not be ignored by the global automotive segment. In addition to several EV marques, including its new ultra-performance Yangwang brand, BYD develops and implements EV battery technology and EV charging infrastructure.
Earlier this week, BYD shared that Yangwang will be launching its new U7 sedan at an event held at the former’s headquarters in Shenzen, China, later this month. Before then, however, BYD is preparing for a launch event for its own namesake as early as this Monday at HQ.
According to a Weibo post from earlier today, BYD’s launch event on the 17th promises the debut of a new high-performance EV platform, the start of pre-sales of two new models, and an unveiling of new EV charger technology capable of up to 1,000 kW. Eat your heart out, Tesla. You, too, Electrify America.
BYD to unveil 1,000 kW fast charging tech on 3/17
According to the Weibo Post from BYD, its next launch event will take place this coming Monday, March 17 at 7 PM Beijing time (7 AM EDT). The post was translated to English, but essentially promises the debut of its new “BYD Super e-Platform,” which will reinvent pure electric technology.
As reported by CnEVPost, an invitation to the event elaborated on the capabilities of the Super e-Platform, stating it will “use disruptive technology to completely solve the biggest headache in EV use.” That’s assumedly the charging process and how long even the fastest chargers still take in comparison to a gas station visit.
On that note, the BYD event also includes the debut of a new 1,000 kW EV fast charger. Per the post seen above:
1,000-kW flash charging that allows refueling and charging to have the same speed.
A 1,000 kW BYD fast charger would be a marvel and a potential game changer for EV adoption, doubling the power of current industry leaders like Tesla. The American automaker began rolling out its V4 Superchargers in North America in 2023, which are currently capable of 325 kW. However, Tesla has shared plans to boost those capabilities with 500 kW cabinets this year.
Even so, BYD is on the cusp of introducing EV charging capabilities that are double that prospective target, and it already has the technology out in the wild. CnEVPost also shared reports from several auto bloggers in China that captured images of what seems to be the new BYD charger, relaying that specifications listed on the pile support up to 1,000 volts and power of up to 1,000 kW.
BYD also intends to open pre-sales of its Han L and Tang L EVs at the same event. Because of this, there is speculation that both models will sit atop BYD’s Super e-Platform and support charging power of up to 1,000 kW.
We won’t know for sure until Monday, but this sounds like it will be an exciting one from BYD. Circle back to Electrek on Monday for a full recap.
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![Check out Kia's cool new 'Unplugged Ground' EV experience center [Images]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Kia-EV-experience.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia opened its new “Unplugged Ground” on Friday, a unique EV experience. The complex has Kia’s latest EVs, including the EV4, on display for visitors to meet and interact with.
Kia opens new Unplugged Ground EV experience
The Kia Unplugged Ground first opened in 2021 following the launch of its first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6. It’s located in
Since then, Kia has revamped the brand with a new logo, branding, and sleek new styling. It has also introduced an entirely new generation of mass-market EVs that are now rolling out globally.
Kia introduced its first electric sedan, the EV4, earlier this year during its 2025 EV Day event (see our event recap). We also got our first look at the PV5, Kia’s first electric van, and the EV2, its smallest, cheapest model set to launch next year.
These will join the three-row EV9, and smaller EV3 and EV5 electric SUVs in Kia’s wide-ranging lineup. As part of its “EVs for all” strategy, prices will range from under $30,000 to upwards of $80,000.
To coincide with the launch of the EV4, Kia transformed the EV experience center. The upgraded facility opened in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, on Friday with a futuristic look and cool new interactive technology.
The EV experience center now displays Kia’s entire lineup, including the EV4, EV3, EV6, and EV9. Visitors can interact with the vehicles using Apple’s mixed reality headset Vision Pro, racing simulators, and more. They can even try out the EV9’s advanced driver assistance systems virtually.
Kia’s upgraded EV brand experience comes after it opened EV4 orders earlier this week in Korea. The EV4 starts at 41.92 million won, or roughly $29,000.
| Kia EV4 Trim | Starting Price |
| Kia EV4 Standard Air | 41.92 million won ($28,900) |
| Kia EV4 Standard Earth | 46.69 million won ($32,000) |
| Kia EV4 Standard GT-Line | 47.83 million won ($32,900) |
| Kia EV4 Long Range Air | 46.29 million won ($31,800) |
| Kia EV4 Long Range Earth | 51.04 million won ($35,000) |
| Kia EV4 Long Range GT-Line | 51.04 million won ($35,900) |
With a 58.3 kWh battery, the standard EV4 Air is rated with up to 237 miles (382 km) driving range. The long-range model, starting at 46.29 million won ($31,800), features an 81.4 kWh battery for up to 331 miles (533 km) range.
Later this year Kia will launch the electric sedan in the US, Europe, and other global markets. Maybe, we could get one of these futuristic EV experience centers, too?
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Rad Power Bikes has announced the appointment of Kathi Lentzsch as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership change as the company leans further into retail expansion and reduces its emphasis on direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales.
Earlier this week, Electrek broke the news regarding Rad’s previous CEO Phil Molyneux’s sudden unannounced departure from the brand, whose sales once topped the US e-bike market but has since been eclipsed by a number of younger e-bike companies.
Lentzsch, described as a seasoned executive with experience in consumer-facing and business-to-business (B2B) companies, steps in at a critical moment as Rad transitions away from its D2C roots toward a stronger retail presence.
Lentzsch brings more than thirty years of leadership experience, having held executive roles at Bartell Drugs, Pottery Barn, Pier 1 Imports, and Cost Plus World Market. She played a key role in transforming brands, guiding companies through growth phases, and deepening customer engagement—an experience that should align with Rad’s push toward a more traditional retail model.
“Rad Power Bikes is at an inflection point, shifting from a direct-to-consumer model to a more retail-focused approach, and it’s an incredible time to come on board,” said Lentzsch. “This shift creates new opportunities to reach more riders, strengthen customer relationships, and evolve the brand in meaningful ways. What drew me to Rad is its unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainable transportation, and, most importantly, putting riders first. I’m eager to work alongside this talented team to build on Rad’s strong foundation of producing great products and partnering with the best bike shops to bring those ebikes to riders, complete with a Rad Grin.”
Her appointment follows Rad Power Bikes’ recent moves to establish brick-and-mortar retail partnerships, a departure from its early days as a purely online D2C brand. The shift comes as the broader electric bike market matures, with more companies hoping to leverage the importance of in-person sales and service to reach mainstream customers.
Lentzsch previously served as CEO of Bartell Drugs, where she led the company through a pandemic-era transformation and an eventual merger with Rite Aid. Her leadership at Pottery Barn was instrumental in repositioning it as a premium home brand, while her tenure at Enesco helped earn the company a “World’s Best Workplace” distinction in 2015.
As Rad Power Bikes continues refining its retail strategy, the company is hoping that Lentzsch’s experience in brand evolution, strategic growth, and customer experience will position her to lead the company into its next phase. While Rad built its reputation as a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, this latest move signals a major strategy rethink to expand access to its e-bikes through physical stores and bike shop partnerships.
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