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A coalition of 25 state governors announced a major push to reach 20 million deployed heat pumps by 2030, they said in New York City on Thursday.

That would represent a quadrupling of the 4.8 million heat pumps that were installed in the United States in 2020, according to a analysis of the announcement from RMI, independent, non-partisan, nonprofit clean energy think tank.

Heat pumps are energy efficient replacements for fossil fuel powered furnaces and air conditioners. They use electricity to transfer heat, as opposed to generate heat, and they can either heat a building when it is cold outside or cool a building when it is hot outside.

Compared to a gas boiler, heat pumps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% when operating on emissions-intensive electricity and as much as 80% compared when operating on cleaner electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. The operation of buildings accounts for 30% of global energy consumption and 26% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IEA.

Heat pumps can also save consumers money — around $300 a year in the United States, according to the IEA. In places like Europe, where gas prices are higher, having a heat pump can save customers around $900 a year, the IEA says.

The commitment to reach a total of 20 million heat pumps installed by 2030 comes from a bipartisan group of governors that represent 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population and which collectively call themselves the U.S. Climate Alliance. The governors of Washington, New York, and California started the U.S. Climate Alliance in 2017.

“Look, I think all Americans have certain rights, among those rights are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of heat pumps,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat, said on Thursday.

“And the reason this is so important to Americans is pretty simple: We want to be warm in the winter. And we want to be cool in the summer. And we want to prevent the climate from collapsing all year long,” Inslee said. “And there is no greater invention in human history to do those three things than a heat pump, not only because it can keep you warm in the winter, but it can keep you cool in the summer.”

Inslee said this greatest invention is “kind of unfortunately named” because while it is called a heat pump, it has can both heat cold spaces and cool warm spaces.

And “right now people are having as much trouble staying cool in the summer as they are staying warm in the winter,” Inslee said. “We’re starting to need air conditioning in Seattle, Washington. That means we got a problem.”

Indeed, from June 26 to July 2, 2021, Seattle had an “unprecedented” heat wave during which 100 people died from the heat, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

About 10% of households in the United States do not have air conditioning, and it’s especially prevalent in disadvantaged communities, according to a 2022 report from the Brookings Institution. To that end, 40% of the benefits of Thursday’s announcement will go to disadvantaged communities, the governors said.

“I’m so cognizant of the fact that we are the first generation to really feel the effects of climate change,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday. “We’re not talking about an impending threat. We’re talking about something that is in the here, and now.”

At this point, putting a gas furnace in a new dwelling is the equivalent of building a stable to house your horse instead of a garage to house your car, Inslee said.

“Gas is an old, antiquated, dirty, dangerous product,” Inslee said. “Climate change fundamentally is a fossil fuel problem. The source of climate change is fossil fuels. The source of climate change in our homes and offices is gas hookups, those gas hookups need to stop, and they need to stop today.”

“Whether it’s Georgia or it’s Maine, whether it’s the east coast or the west, this is a technology that works, and it works to reduce costs in a very aggressive way,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said on Thursday. About half of what a household spends on energy goes towards heating and cooling, Zaidi said.

States in the U.S. Climate Alliance will pay for these heat pump installations with a combination of financial incentives included in the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and with policy efforts in each individual state that is part of the coalition.

Maine, for example, has been remarkably successful in installing heat pumps with its own legislative action.

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Puerto Rico just got $1.2B in DOE financing to boost its grid with solar + storage

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January 17, 2025

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Puerto Rico just got .2B in DOE financing to boost its grid with solar + storage

Puerto Rico solar storage
Photo: Convergent Energy

The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $1.2 billion in financing to replace Puerto Rico’s fossil fuel plants with solar and battery storage through 2032.

The DOE’s Loan Programs Office announced two conditional commitments and one loan closing to power producers in Puerto Rico. Each supports a project contracted with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The announcements include:

  • The closing of a $584.5 million loan guarantee to subsidiaries of Convergent Energy to finance a 100 MW solar farm with a 55 MW (55 MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) in the municipality of Coamo and BESS installations in the municipalities of Caguas (25MW/100MWh), Peñuelas (100MW/400MWh), and Ponce (up to 100MW/400MWh)
  • A conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $133.6 million to a subsidiary of Infinigen for a 32.1 MW solar farm with an integrated 14.45 MW (4.76 MWh) BESS, and a co-located standalone 50 MW (200 MWh) BESS expansion in the municipality of Yabucoa
  • A conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $489.4 million to a subsidiary of Pattern Energy for three stand-alone BESS in the municipalities of Arecibo (50 MW/200 MWh), and Santa Isabel (50 MW /200 MWh and 80 MW/320 MW), and a 70 MW solar farm with an integrated BESS in the municipality of Arecibo.

If all are finalized, these projects would more than double LPO’s support for utility-scale solar generation and battery energy storage in Puerto Rico.

LPO provides low-cost financing and a rigorous due diligence process, making it a valuable resource for Puerto Rico as it works to rebuild an affordable, reliable, and clean energy system. As a result of reliance on imported fuel, the persistent threat of tropical storms, and underinvested infrastructure, Puerto Ricans today face average energy costs that are twice the US average – all while consuming only one-quarter of the energy of the US per capita.

LPO’s initial loan to a power producer in Puerto Rico, Project Marahu, closed in October 2024, and when complete will add more than 200 MW of solar and up to 285 MW of stand-alone energy storage to Puerto Rico’s grid.

Through its September 2023 partial loan guarantee to Project Hestia, LPO also supports virtual power plant (VPP)-ready rooftop solar and battery storage installations in Puerto Rico. As a nationwide project, Hestia’s sponsor is committed to at least 20% of installations under Project Hestia going to homeowners in Puerto Rico.

As part of its procurement plan, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority seeks to install 1,500 MW of battery storage and requires a minimum capacity of storage to be co-located with each utility-scale solar project. Energy storage systems currently online in Puerto Rico are being dispatched every day.

When including Marahu, LPO’s closed and conditionally committed financing supports over 100% of the capacity Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority aimed to procure under its initial request for energy storage project proposals, the first of six.

Read more: Cleantech investments to top fossil fuels for the first time in 2025

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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Chevy launches sweet new Equinox and Blazer EV deals that can slash prices by $5,000

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January 17, 2025

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Chevy launches sweet new Equinox and Blazer EV deals that can slash prices by ,000

Chevy-EV-deals

Chevy just introduced new deals on the Equinox and Blazer EV models to make them even more affordable. With 0% interest and a new trade-in bonus, Chevy is offering over $5,000 in savings.

Chevy adds new Equinox and Blazer EV deals in January

Although the Chevy Equinox EV is already “the most affordable” EV in its class with over 315 miles range, it’s getting even cheaper.

Earlier this week, Chevy launched new deals on the 2024 Equinox and Blazer EV models. According to a note sent to dealers, viewed by CarsDirect, the electric SUVs are now available with 0% APR financing for 60 months. You can also choose from 0.9% AP for 72 months and 2.9% APR for 84 months.

This marks the best financing offer on Chevy’s newest EVs to date. The previous best rates were 0.9% APR for 60 months, 3.9% for 72 months, and 5.9% for the longer 84-month option.

On a 7-year $45,000 loan, online auto research firm CarsDirect estimates the new deals amount to around a $5,200 price cut. The lower APR rates are already offered on the Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup.

Chevy-Blazer-EV-deals
2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS (Source: GM)

In addition, Chevy is offering a trade-in bonus of up to $3,000 on the Silverado EV and $1,000 on the electric Equinox and Blazer models. If you choose to lease, the bonus is cut in half: $1,500 for the Silverado and $500 for the electric SUVs.

Chevy’s new EV deals started on January 14 and run through March 3, 2025. The deals come as rivals like Hyundai and Ford recently launched new EV promotions.

Chevy-Equinox-EV-deals
2024 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

On Thursday, Hyundai launched a new promo on the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5, which includes monthly leases as low as $199 and a free ChargePoint home EV charger (or $400 charging credit). Meanwhile, Ford extended its “Power Promise” program earlier this month, which also includes a free home charger, among several other benefits.

The 2024 Chevy Equinox EV started at $41,900 with up to 315 miles range. Prices for the electric Chevy Blazer start at $43,690 with up to 279 miles range.

If you are ready to try out Chevy’s new electric SUVs for yourself, we’ve got you covered. You can use our links below to view offers on the Chevy Equinox, Silverado, and Blazer EV models near you.

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Podcast: non-Tesla EV Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales, Rivian $$$, and more

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January 17, 2025

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Podcast: non-Tesla EV Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales, Rivian $$$, and more

electrek podcast

In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss non-Tesla EVs getting Supercharger access, Cybertruck sales in the spotlight, Rivian getting some money from Biden, and more.

The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):

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