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Big batteries are cutting emissions and reshaping the grid

Large-scale battery storage is rising as a game-changer in the U.S. energy grid, reducing reliance on dirty "peaker" plants and extending the reach of clean energy.

Alexa St. John and Mary Katherine Wildeman report for the Associated Press.

In short:

Battery storage in the U.S. surged 71% in 2024, with California leading the way at 11 gigawatt-hours of capacity, followed by Texas, Arizona and Nevada.
Batteries reduce the need for natural gas-powered peaker plants, which disproportionately harm low-income and minority communities with pollutants linked to asthma and other illnesses.
Experts see battery storage as key to balancing the grid as renewable energy grows, addressing variability in solar and wind power, and meeting rising electricity demand.

Key quote:

“The beauty of the batteries is that if there’s energy in them, they can be used for unexpected needs.”

— Mike Jacobs, senior energy analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists

Why this matters:

When the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, these batteries step in to keep the lights on. It’s a win for the planet and for people’s lungs, particularly in low-income communities that have long borne the brunt of air pollution.

apnews.com

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a bridge that is lit up at night with wave breaking on a nearby lake shore in foreground.

Credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

Read the Full Article on

grist.org

Big batteries are cutting emissions and reshaping the grid

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