The Latest
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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.
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Sponsored by Sense
An advanced grid requires regulatory innovation
The need for innovation in utility regulation “springs” up on the heels of DOE paper, “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Innovative Grid Deployment.” Regulatory innovation is essential for meeting the grid requirements of the future.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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California PUC OKs $24/month fixed charge for IOUs with eye to equity, electrification
The fee, which comes with discounts for certain customers, “is a modest step towards making equitable electrification a reality,” Sierra Club Staff Attorney Rose Monahan said.
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PJM, MISO to study transmission upgrades to bolster interregional power flows
The grid operators plan to finish their interregional transfer capability study early next year.
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California PUC rejects PG&E plan to spin off 5.6 GW in non-nuclear assets
PG&E failed to show the proposed transaction meets “even the minimal public interest standard,” the PUC said in its decision.
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Midwest is a model for renewables development, but ‘well-meaning’ policies can raise concerns: panel
Despite the region’s competitive advantages for renewable energy, developers need to recognize local stakeholders’ concerns to keep the energy transition on pace, panelists said Tuesday at the Cleanpower conference in Minneapolis.
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Opinion
Why the EPA shouldn’t favor school bus electrification
The environmental benefits of vehicle electrification are not as obvious as once thought, and the grid is simply not ready to service the load.
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23 states, rural co-ops sue EPA over ‘unlawful, unreasonable’ power plant rules
“This rule intentionally sets impossible standards to destroy the coal industry,” North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Thursday.
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Google’s Nest Renew, OhmConnect combine with goal of managing 50 GW of residential demand by 2030
The new entity, Renew Home, says it is “North America’s largest residential virtual power plant” and can help to support the electric grid and manage home energy costs.
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Clean energy, gas generation in PJM may take longer to come online than expected: report
“Absent significant reforms or market innovations, most projects entering PJM’s queue today are unlikely to come online before 2030,” the report’s authors said.
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DOE doubles down on $1/kg clean hydrogen, sets sights on additional hydrogen cost targets
The DOE's goals are “aggressive” but will help the industry focus on cutting costs and scaling hydrogen technology, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association President Frank Wolak said.
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Opinion
Competition in transmission ownership does not lower consumer costs
Opponents of right-of-first-refusal laws claim that incumbent transmission providers have no incentive to reduce costs. The exact opposite is true.
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New Pennsylvania PUC policy sparks debate over who can own energy storage assets
PECO Energy and Duquesne Light urged the commission to allow utilities to own energy storage assets, while the Solar Energy Industries Association and others sought a path for third-party ownership.
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DOE unveils 10 potential ‘national interest’ transmission corridors where projects could be expedited
The proposed corridors, which total more than 3,500 miles across targeted regions, could unlock federal financing.
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NextEra Energy creates new chief risk officer position, citing growing energy demand
Current Chief Financial Officer Kirk Crews has been appointed to the position while Goldman Sachs alum Brian Bolster assumes the role of CFO, the company said Monday.
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EV-grid integration group launches utility collaboration forum with ConEd, PG&E, Ford, GM, others
Electric vehicles made up 7.3% of new vehicle purchases in the first quarter, and utilities say they are preparing to integrate millions of them into the power grid.
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BWX Technologies sees durable demand for large nuclear components and SMRs: CEO
On a Monday earnings call, the nuclear components supplier provided updates on a planned manufacturing plant expansion, longer-term demand for small modular reactors and more.
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US adds 5.6 GW of utility-scale clean energy in Q1, up 28% year-over-year: ACP
In the first quarter, solar’s project pipeline was up 16% year-over-year while the battery storage pipeline increased 61%, according to the American Clean Power Association.