The Latest
-
25 GW of new solar to boost summer grid reliability, but extreme heat poses widespread risks: NERC
The North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s summer grid assessment, released Wednesday, concludes that seven regions face an “elevated risk” of energy shortfalls in extended heat waves.
-
FERC transmission rule likely boon to consumers, but Christie dissent is a blueprint for litigation, analysts say
The rule also gives state utility regulators an “unprecedented role” in transmission planning and cost allocation, said Christina Hayes, executive director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.
-
Opinion
FERC Order 1920 is a big step forward on transmission planning, but it is not the end game
The rule provides the raw ingredients to transmission providers and states, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements writes, but the grid of the future will not be built if these entities do not come together and start cooking.
-
Voltus, Resideo expand residential virtual power plant to 11M ComEd, PSEG-LI customers
The smart thermostat demand response program will help manage loads in the PJM Interconnection and NYISO regions during grid emergencies, company representatives said.
-
AEP Ohio proposes data center, crypto financial requirements amid 30 GW in service inquiries
The proposed tariffs aim to ensure data centers and cryptocurrency operations pay for their share of any transmission buildout needed to serve them in the PJM Interconnection.
-
Electric co-ops ask court to stay EPA power plant rule, citing multibillion compliance costs
EPA says generators can achieve compliance with carbon capture and sequestration, but that technology “has not been proven at a commercial scale,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.
-
AEP in $315M deal to sell distributed resource business to Basalt Infrastructure funds
While AEP has been moving to sell its unregulated assets, it has decided to retain its AEP Energy competitive power and gas subsidiary, finding it may be able to serve load growth in deregulated states.
-
DOE awards $1.7B conditional loan guarantee to Plug Power to build 6 clean hydrogen factories
The loan guarantee, which follows several similar awards to other companies, will help accelerate hydrogen industry growth, according to an industry association.
-
Geopolitics, decarbonization driving ascendant nuclear power industry: NEI CEO
Anticipated load growth from data centers, AI and new manufacturing hubs is the latest tailwind for conventional and advanced nuclear, NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick said Tuesday.
-
Global banks have spent $6.9 trillion on fossil fuels since 2016: report
U.S. banks accounted for 30% of the $705 billion private global banks spent on fossil fuel financing in 2023, per the Banking on Climate Chaos report.
-
FERC issues landmark transmission planning, cost allocation rule, with dissent over state roles
In a 2-1 vote, the agency’s commissioners disagreed on the role states will have under the rule.
-
FERC revises its backstop permitting rules for national interest transmission corridor projects
The agency’s new rule could affect power line projects in 10 transmission corridors the Department of Energy proposed last week.
-
Biden hikes tariffs on China-made EVs, batteries, solar cells
The tariffs align with U.S. efforts to get ahead of China in clean energy and advanced technology manufacturing while also increasing supply chain control.
-
DTE seeks 120 MW of standalone energy storage in Michigan
The utility plans to have almost 3 GW of energy storage online by 2042, more than doubling its current capacity.
-
Clean energy groups praise FERC transmission order but want more reform
American Clean Power Association Vice President of Markets and Transmission Carrie Zalewski called the rule “an important milestone” but added that it “cannot be the finish line.”
-
Opinion
Requiem for a DRAM: Charting the future of demand response in California
The current situation is anathema to California’s long-running efforts to build a balanced and open market for demand response, one in which utilities and third-party providers compete on a level playing field.
-
Supply chain constraints may force new approach to offshore wind transmission: GE Vernova, others
The reduced availability of appropriate AC cables and equipment means constructing a mesh-style transmission network off the East Coast may be infeasible, according to a DNV transmission consultant.
-
University of Texas at Austin launches pioneering hydrogen demonstration research hub
The “proto-hub” will serve as a center for testing complex hydrogen systems in the real world — and could train professionals in hydrogen technology in the future.
-
Column
FERC in Focus: How will 2 Supreme Court cases — on Chevron deference and ALJs — affect the commission?
The court may be poised to limit the leeway courts give to federal agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when interpreting ambiguous laws and to require changes to how it handles market manipulation cases.
-
FERC issues watershed transmission planning, cost allocation reform rule on 2-1 vote
The agency also approved changes to its backstop siting authority for power lines built in national interest electric transmission corridors.
-
Small modular reactor startups Oklo and Nano Nuclear Energy make US stock market debut
The advanced fission companies, both of which are designing very small modular reactors for remote or mobile heat and power applications, completed their initial public offerings and began trading on U.S. exchanges last week.
-
Fluence pipeline jumps $2.9B from Q1 to Q2
The company downplayed political risk ahead of the U.S. election in November, revealed plans to ship its first “domestic-content” batteries next year and debuted its most energy-dense Gridstack Pro offering yet.
-
Virtual power plants, DERs and home electrification get boost from trio of new Maryland laws
The laws could help Maryland meet its goals to generate 14.5% of electricity from solar by 2028, achieve a 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and install 3 GW of energy storage by 2033.
-
Opinion
With 78% of requested investments approved, US regulators are backing grid modernization
Contrary to the conventional opinion that regulation is an obstacle to grid modernization, regulators have, in fact, largely demonstrated strong support over the past six years.
-
Training gaps, lack of diversity and ‘bad PR’ constrain clean energy workforce: Cleanpower 2024 panel
Renewables developers need to think creatively and look at largely untapped labor pools to source talent, executives from Mortenson, Pattern Energy and MasTec Renewables said at the Cleanpower Expo in Minneapolis.