Welcome back for another week of net zero resources coverage.
As we have reported many times, the buildout of new transmission is not keeping up with the demand for new renewable generation. NetZero Insider’s James Downing quantifies this in his story on the latest Advanced Energy United scorecard on how the nation’s seven ISOs and RTOs are doing in meeting that demand. The answer is a mixed bag, with plenty of D’s and F’s but some A’s as well.
Jon Lamson takes a look at how grid operators’ increasing demands are prompting Hydro-Quebec to look at repurposing its extensive hydropower assets from baseload energy to long-duration energy storage supplementing wind and solar.
John Cropley reports that Constellation Energy saw its stock jump 17% in one day after the company told investors its nuclear generation fleet, boosted by state and federal policy incentives, has locked in earnings growth for years to come.
K Kaufmann has a story on the Department of Energy’s announcement of $366 million in infrastructure funding including spending to provide off-grid homes in rural areas and tribal communities with solar and storage systems. The grants also include funding for renewable microgrids.
Cropley also has a story on an industry report that flagged potential quality control problems with battery energy storage systems. Renewable energy infrastructure insurer GCube reports that 59% of the failures it analyzed were within the first two years of operation, markedly higher than seen in other energy systems.
NetZero Insider also continued its coverage of the U.S. offshore wind industry:
Cropley reports on New York’s decision to award new contracts to two wind farms that canceled previous contracts that the developers had deemed financially untenable. Under the new contracts, Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind would have a weighted average lifetime development cost of $150/MWh —more than twice as much as ratepayers
would have been charged under the previous deals.
Federal regulators issued the environmental impact statement for Park City Wind and Commonwealth Wind off the New England Coast, a two-phase project that also canceled its offtake contracts for financial reasons.
On the West Coast, Ayla Burnett reports on Oceantic Network’s Floating Offshore Wind Port and Vessel Summit, highlighting some of the challenges facing wind energy development in the Pacific Ocean. Attendees said the early struggles of the offshore wind sector on the East Coast have highlighted the need for a domestic supply
chain.
As always, we have also gathered the most important resources coverage from other media outlets:
First Solar made headlines, with CNBC calling its strong quarterly financials a rare bright spot in the domestic solar sector and Electrek examining the company’s impact on the U.S. economy.
Attempts to influence tax policies for hydrogen production are coming to a head: Energy News Network reported on environmental justice groups urging the federal government not to weaken the rules while Hydrogen Insight reported that ExxonMobil threatened to scrap the world’s largest blue hydrogen project — produced from natural gas with carbon capture — if the draft tax guidance goes through as written.
The Motley Fool ran an explainer on key points of the General Electric spinoff that will carry GE’s renewable and fossil power businesses forward, and Electrek dove into GE’s financials to discover that the company has shelved plans to supersize its Haliade-X offshore wind turbine.
Much more news in the Intelligence Report below:
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California
Switzerland-based energy storage specialist Energy Vault Holdings said Feb. 22 it has launched construction of a pioneer hybrid green hydrogen plus battery energy storage system in California that will be able to provide 293 MWh of dispatchable clean energy. Renewables Now
Georgia
Georgia Power executives gave state energy regulators chapter and verse last month on why the company needs a huge increase in electrical generating capacity to serve its 2.7 million customers. Soon, environmental and consumer advocates will get their turn. The Georgia Public Service Commission will hold a second round of hearings Feb. 29 and March 1 on Georgia Power's request for 6,600 megawatts of additional capacity, up from just 400 megawatts the company forecast it needed two years ago. Capitol Beat
Idaho
The Seattle Times asked the question that if the Lower Snake River Dams were removed and salmon response didn't meet expectations -- then what? The answer encompasses more than benefits to migrating salmon -- a functional waterway can have immense value, writes Bert Bowler, who worked for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for 29 years. Idaho Capital Sun
Utah
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced $60 million in funding for three geothermal energy projects, including a Milford, Beaver County, effort. Gephardt Daily
Carbon capture is being heralded as one of the technologies needed to battle climate change. The Louisiana House's Natural Resources and Environment Committee held a hearing today to learn more about the process. KPLC
The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved a $300,000 grant for carbon capture education. WZFG
Arecent North Dakota poll shows state voters split over the seriousness of climate change, and the majority skeptical of the effectiveness of carbon capture. This should serve as a warning to state officials who have been promoting carbon capture. The Bismarck Tribune
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U.S.
Because of the emissions produced by land use change and the process of growing crops and refining biofuels, crop-based biofuels are not an effective tool to curb climate change. World Resources Institute
U.S.
The government currently restricts sales of E15 gasoline, or gasoline with 15% ethanol, in summer months due to environmental concerns over smog, though the biofuel industry says those concerns are unfounded. Reuters
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Alaska
Bill could
enable enhanced oil recovery, sequestration of emissions from new coal-fired power. Juneau Empire
International
The International Energy Agency has called for the oil and gas industry to let go of the "illusion" that carbon capture is a solution to climate change, pushing instead for energy majors to ramp up investments in clean energy. CNBC
International
Restoring whale populations could revive biodiversity and sequester vast amounts of carbon. But the methods through which they would achieve this are more bizarre than you might imagine. Fair Planet
International
Canada faces a "critical problem" in meeting its 2030 emissions target because businesses are delaying building low-carbon projects due to uncertainty over the future of the country's climate policies, a new report warns. Financial Post
International
Germany's vice chancellor says the country plans to enable underground carbon storage at offshore sites, pushing ahead with a much-discussed technology in an acknowledgement that time is running out to combat climate change ABC News
Louisiana
Environmental groups
have challenged the Biden administration's decision to give primary permitting authority to Louisiana over the state's carbon sequestration wells, which the U.S. government says are key tools to address climate change. Reuters
Massachusetts
Explore the strategic collaboration between 1PointFive and BCG to enhance Direct Air Capture technology and accelerate the fight against climate change through innovative business solutions. BNN News
North Dakota
Environmental group criticizes
government promotion of CO2 industry; Industrial Commission to vote on plan next week Grand Forks Herald
North Dakota
Some lawmakers don't want the grant
as the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline awaits approval, but an Industrial Commission member said the grant won't be used to promote the project The
Dickinson Press
U.S.
ExxonMobil firmly believes oil and gas will play a vital role in fueling the global economy in the decades ahead. One factor driving that view is the emergence of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as an increasingly economically viable solution to reducing carbon emissions. Exxon believes that CCS could become a $4 trillion global market by 2050. The Motley Fool
U.S.
Industry is responsible for approximately 30 percent of total global carbon dioxide emissions. More than half of these emissions come from industries that are hard-to-abate due to high-temperature and high-pressure processes that are difficult to economically electrify or decarbonize through other carbon-free methods. These industries are also characterized by large investments in facilities and equipment with decades of useful life, slow turnover of that capital stock, and low economic margins. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
Wyoming
State leaders are poised to double down on a mandate that requires utilities to implement carbon capture systems (CCS) on coal fired power plants with the unanimous advancement of SF42 out of the Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee last week. Gillette News Record
Wyoming
Wyoming's carbon capture mandate at coal-fired power plants saw several amendments last week and will head to the Wyoming Legislature's Senate Appropriations Committee before potentially being considered on the Senate floor. Wyoming Tribune Eagle
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International
Examination of Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator's virtual power plant program with Energy Hub - it has 100,000 homes in Canada's largest such program The Cool Down
International
Arcus Power and Enel are working to improve DR offerings to large customers with a new partnership StreetInsider.com
International
New Zealand is considering creating VPP made up of 10k solar panels and batteries to help meet winter peak demand Newsroom
Massachusetts
Massachusetts sees record heat pump installations in 2023 with 28k across the state StreetInsider.com
Virginia
Virginia picks Voltus as DR provider for state facilities after a competitive bidding process to offer it to 400 facilities around the state. Yahoo/Voltus
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International
While this broad panorama is understood by the utilities, more granular details are harder to track, the survey found, with data showing a lack of clarity as they try to understand the location, size and activity of these resources. Smart Energy International
U.S.
VPPs offer utilities a powerful tool to grapple with the parallel challenges of enabling electrification and equitable decarbonization while maintaining grid reliability and resilience, Patty Cook and Steve Fine of ICF write. Utility Dive
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Colorado
Colorado neighborhood is already fully electrified and Canary reporter went there to see how it works. Canary Media
Maine
DOE gave Maine $10 million to install heat pumps in rural mobile and manufactured homes. Maine.gov
National
States are getting ready to roll out rebates for consumers for heat pumps, electric stoves, other efficient products using funding from the Inflation Reduction Act Bloomberg
National
Examination of the tension between needing to save energy and the higher consumption AI and other advanced computing requires DatacenterDynamics
Wisconsin
A new weatherization jobs resource hub in Wisconsin is part of advocates' effort to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle that followed previous increases in federal energy efficiency funding. Green Workforce Connect is a program of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, which recently rolled out the platform in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma with hopes to eventually expand it nationwide. Energy News Network
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Alaska
Unalaska is closer than ever
to building a geothermal power plant on Makushin Volcano, but the project is facing investment challenges and the city is weighing its options. KUCB
Illinois
The key to building low-carbon infrastructure in the city? Its trademark alleys. Grist
Illinois
Naomi Davis won't lose her
faith in the earth. At a recent community meeting in Chicago's South Side she wanted to drive the point home -- that the city's Black community will not be left out of the new, emerging green economy. WBEZ Chicago
Illinois
The key to building low-carbon infrastructure in the city? Its trademark alleys. Grist
New York
Brightcore Energy will be providing turnkey services for a new geothermal heating and cooling system in Bard College, New York. Think GeoEnergy
Pennsylvania
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, Swarthmore College is replacing its natural gas-fueled heating and cooling systems with state-of-the-art, renewable-powered geoexchange. Inside Climate News
U.S.
On Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Young Kim
(R-CA) and John Duarte (R-CA) introduced legislation that will streamline geothermal energy infrastructure development and production. Daily Energy Insider
U.S.
Explore the efforts of U.S. Senators in championing a $118 million budget for geothermal energy research to pave the way for a sustainable and reliable energy landscape in the United States. BNN News
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California
The 293 MWh green hydrogen and battery storage facility is being built in utility Pacific Gas & Electric's service territory in Northern California. pv Magazine
California
Energy Vault announced it has started of construction on the Calistoga Resiliency Center, the largest green hydrogen storage project in the U.S. The project is being developed for PG&E on less than one acre of land in Calistoga, Calif., and is expected to be completed by July. The project is a hybrid consisting of utility-scale green hydrogen plus ultra-long duration battery energy storage system with 293 MWh of dispatchable carbon-free energy. The project's BESS portion will be used to support grid forming and black start (the procedure to recover from a total or partial shutdown) capabilities. Emerging Technology News
International
A nanoporous material that holds hydrogen at twice the density of cryogenic liquid H2 could address the challenges of large-scale liquid and gas storage that have held this clean fuel back. A team of Korean researchers synthesized nanoporous magnesium borohydride (Mg(BH4)2), a framework with partly negatively charged hydrogen atoms forming the nanopore's inner surface, enabling the uptake of hydrogen and nitrogen. Although both nitrogen and hydrogen can enter the pores, the researchers found that the gas uptake for hydrogen was larger by a factor of three as both occupy different adsorption sites in the pores. New Atlas
U.S.
While industry voices criticise cost impact, others argue that guardrails will be necessary to prevent extra emissions from power supply. Hydrogen Insight
U.S.
The comments note the need for improved methodology that would prevent harmful false solutions from being repackaged as clean hydrogen. Friends of Earth
U.S.
Industry says leniency is needed while the market develops, but community groups say hydrogen production must not siphon clean energy off the grid. Energy News Network
U.S.
Requirements to use zero-carbon electricity in H2 production processes could push the project into the tax break's lowest bracket Hydrogen Insight
U.S.
It will always take more energy to manufacture hydrogen than that hydrogen contains, writes Jonathan Lesser, president of Continental Economics. New York Post
U.S.
A growing body of scientific research is highlighting the indirect ways hydrogen could worsen climate change -- and critics say the risks are largely being ignored by the federal government. Energy News Network
U.S.
The Energy Department's seven hydrogen hubs oppose the administration's strict rules that aim to ensure the new 45V tax credits reward truly clean hydrogen. Canary Media
U.S.
Analysis commissioned by renewables group argues that average carbon intensity could increase as more blue hydrogen projects would come on line instead. Hydrogen Insight
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Pennsylvania
A battle over a massive plot of land in York County has been going on for decades. One company wants to bring a two billion dollar hydroelectric dam along Clark Creek. However, local and politicians are worried it will destroy that part of York County. WHP
U.S.
FERC has rejected several proposed hydropower projects on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. ABC News
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Nevada
In November 2022, a metric tonne of lithium carbonate was priced north of $84,000. Now it's less than $14,000, a result of weaker-than-projected demand for EVs, accompanied by additional lithium production, led by Argentina and Australia, and supply surpluses. Nevada Current
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Alaska
New plan to get gas from Alaska's North Shore is to ship it to consumers in Alaska before sending it along to Asian markets. Alaska Public Media News
National
API and major trade groups sue Biden over LNG Pause as likelihood of Congress stopping policy wanes Natural Gas Intelligence
U.S.
Drawing from the Energy Department's own data, NYU researchers show that the climate harms of expanding LNG exports outweigh the benefits. Canary Media
Texas
After major gas explosion rocks city, Ft. Worth paper asks candidates for Railroad Commission whether/how they would increase transparency of the industry they have regulated with a light hand. AOL/Ft. Worth Telegram
Texas
Arlington, Texas city council approves new drilling despite concerns from neighbors over noise/pollution. Fort Worth Report
South Carolina
Santee Cooper CEO pens op ed arguing state needs new natural gas, cannot run reliably on all solar. Commentary - The Post and Courier
Pennsylvania
Look into how the LNG pause will impact politics in gas-rich/swing state Pa., where both US Senators (both Ds) have come out against it. E&E News by POLITICO
Ohio
Ohio oil and gas regulator approves permits for drilling below state parks, wildlife areas. ABC News
National
Rocky Mountain Institute argues the natural gas supply chain needs to be fixed to prevent leaks before LNG exports offer real climate benefits over coal Rocky Mountain Institute
National
Mild winter has prices very low, but gas could bounce back up from record depths. Natural Gas Intelligence
National
Deep dive on how record low natural gas prices are forcing tough decisions on producers - whether to cut back or wait for the market to turn E&E News by POLITICO
National
Natural gas prices are at their lowest level in 27 years, even beating covid's plunge. OK Energy Today
National
Domestic oil and gas production is booming under Biden, but the President only focuses on clean energy The New York Times
California
City of Palo Alto, Calif, is pulling back on ban of natural gas in new buildings after court stopped Berkeley's policy. Palo Alto Daily Post
National
Profile of Cornell Scientist Robert Warren Howarth and his work on methane emissions, which influenced LNG pause Bloomberg
Mississippi
Gulf LNG seeks an extension until 2029 from FERC to build a previously approved LNG facility. It's one of 10 FERC-approved LNG export facilities that have yet to start construction. E&E News by POLITICO
Maine
Orono, Maine residents sue gas utility over the construction of a gas pressure regulating station in their neighborhood Bangor Daily News
Louisiana
Write up an activists' speech arguing against the insurance for LNG infrastructure in the light of cliamte change Between The Lines
Louisiana
Dispute between offtakers and Venture Global LNG spills over into developer's extension request at FERC Natural Gas World
International
Australia's largest LNG producer expects demand for its product to grow rapidly in the next decade Yahoo Finance
International
Germany has not imported Russian gas directly since 2022, but it gets it indirectly from the Low Countries, across the border from its industrial heartland High North News
International
Article on major oil and gas conference in London highlights changes in the industry due to rising renewables, warming winter weather and growing LNG supplies The Guardian
International
Article on Carbon Tracker report that argues big oil and gas is moving too slow to cutback on supplies and invest in alternatives, despite predictions that demand will peak in 2035. Forbes
International
Little Russian gas is flowing to Europe over pipelines or LNG these days as the Continent has largely moved on from its one time dominant supplier two years after Russia invaded Ukraine. spglobal.com
Colorado
Gas developer says efforts to ban produciton in Colorado will fail on call with investors Natural Gas Intelligence
U.S.
Drawing from the Energy Department's own data, NYU researchers show that the climate harms of expanding LNG exports outweigh the benefits. Canary Media
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Tennessee
Tennessee would lead states in the Southeast when it comes to return on investment for constructing new nuclear reactors, along with the creation of related jobs and wages, according to trade association E4 Carolinas. AOL
U.S.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on nuclear regulatory legislation that once again would put the proverbial fox in charge of the henhouse, writes Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. The Hill
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Massachusetts
Public-private partnership will advance second such port in Massachusetts, positioned to support construction of floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine Salem city government
Massachusetts
Residents of the community filed a last-minute challenge to a state air quality permit the company needs to begin construction. Commonwealth Beacon
New York
The FSF argues that the Draft PEIS, while prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, fails to adequately mitigate the impacts of offshore wind development on the Mid-Atlantic scallop resource and does not sufficiently reduce wind farm interference with scallop fishing activities. Accesswire
New York
Renews reported that a South Fork Wind spokesperson told the news outlet, "With the last turbine having been installed at South Fork Wind, commissioning work is ongoing and we are working toward full power." Electrek
Oregon
In this update, we look at the process BOEM used in identifying the final WEAs and at the areas now excluded, outline the EA scoping process that is now open, and highlight challenges for floating wind on the West Coast. JD Supra
U.S.
The company made project losses in its offshore wind business last year. It expects margins to remain challenged in 2024 as it executes its Haliade-X backlog. Electrek
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California
The movement to prohibit new gas stations began in 2021 when Petaluma, California, became the first town in the United States to prohibit new gas stations. Grist
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U.S.
One company adds saw-like edges akin to owl feathers to its turbine blades to reduce noise. Business Insider
U.S.
Many turbines rely on high-demand rare-earth minerals. A new Department of Energy program aims to keep them out of landfills. Grist
U.S.
Through the Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy initiative, USDA is setting an initial goal of helping 400 individual farmers nationwide deploy smaller-scale wind projects. Renewable Energy Magazine
U.S.
Overall, it seems that some of the world's largest data center operators believe the benefits of wind power outweigh the drawbacks, as they have invested significantly in wind as a power source for their facilities. Data Center Knowledge
U.S.
U.S. wind energy generation fell last year, with the greatest decreases recorded in the Midwest. Inside Climate News
West Virginia
There is a popular perception in West Virginia that renewable energy has been killing the coal industry. However, that narrative is incomplete. Jobs in coal had been in decline decades before the wind turbines came to Keyser in 2012. WBUR
Wyoming
Wind projects costing billions of dollars that expect to produce thousands of megawatts of wind power are in the pipeline to be built in Wyoming. But predicting when they could be connected to the electric grid is much more difficult to predict. Cowboy State Daily
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Maryland
The Maryland Clean Energy Center is launching the Climate Catalytic Fund, to support projects that implement clean energy measures and technologies intended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. With $15 million to distribute over three fiscal years, MCEC will support projects and investments with a special focus on assisting low-income households and communities by committing to distribute a minimum of 40% of all funds to these projects. University of Maryland
Texas
Over 70% of the energy Texans used Sunday came from wind and solar power -- a record for the state power grid. KUT
U.S.
Companies have a smoother road for getting management to greenlight clean energy projects now than they did five years ago, thanks to corporate climate commitments, federal incentives and more. And if last month's turnout of more than 800 people for the Greater Cleveland Partnership's sustainability summit is any guide, businesses want support and guidance on navigating a process that is more compelling yet also more complex than it was years ago. The Jan. 23 program drew twice as many attendees as last year's inaugural event. GreenBiz
U.S.
An expanding body of research suggests these disagreements are part of a trend, rather than isolated incidents. As solar and wind projects are proposed in more places, more communities seem to be deciding they don't want anything to do with them. Inside Climate News
U.S.
As solar and wind projects are proposed in more places, more communities seem to be deciding they don't want anything to do with them. Though these residents are not the majority, members of the industry, along with policymakers and researchers, worry that such increased challenges will slow the overall pace of decarbonization and efforts to respond to climate change. Inside Climate News
U.S.
This funding, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support a variety of energy projects in rural and remote regions, such as building microgrids for community health centers or constructing a new hydroelectric facility on Tribal lands to improve access to energy. Renewable Energy Magazine
U.S.
DTE Energy announced the company is seeking proposals for renewable energy projects totaling approximately 1,075 megawatts to support DTE Electric's CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan; continued demand for the company's MIGreenPower program; and Michigan's new renewable energy standard of 60% by 2030. Each of these initiatives are prerequisites for DTE's overarching carbon reduction goals. North American Clean Energy
U.S.
U.S. utility-scale renewable electricity generation fell in 2023 due to weather patterns that reduced output from wind farms and drought that affected hydropower. Data released by the Energy Information Administration shows a decrease of 0.8% compared to the prior year. This is a stunning result, considering that utility-scale renewables have been a fast-growing part of the electricity mix and are a crucial resource for the country's transition away from fossil fuels. Inside Climate News
U.S.
More than $303 billion in energy financing was deployed in 2023, according to the Sustainable Energy in America 2024 Factbook from The Business Council for Sustainable Energy. The spending followed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. The U.S.'s investment is second globally only to China, which spent $676 billion. GreenBiz
U.S.
My research indicates that renewable energy innovation contributes to higher GDP. The Conversation
U.S.
This will strengthen Tribal energy sovereignty through local clean energy generation, while increasing energy access, reliability, and security. CleanTechnica
U.S.
Power generated from renewable sources of energy is setting new records in the U.S. and is expected to keep growing as wind and solar become the preferred options to replace coal power generation over natural gas. Nearly a quarter of U.S. electricity demand was supplied by renewable sources in 2023 and just under 9% of total energy used came from green sources, according to a new report from BloombergNEF. The Wall Street Journal
U.S.
The Department of Defense has been an early adopter of solar power at its own facilities, especially out West where abundant space is available. Now the agency aims to deploy its buying power towards parts East. This month, DOD hooked up with the General Services Administration in a scheme to draw more renewable energy resources from a wide swath of the U.S., covering 65 million people in 14 Atlantic and Midwest states along with the District of Columbia, all with the aim of transitioning its facilities to 100% carbon-free electricity. CleanTechnica
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Arizona
About 1.4 million customers in Arizona will be paying more for electricity now that regulators have approved a rate hike proposed by the state's largest utility. U.S. News & World Report
Indiana
Net metering's incentives were replaced with a system that pays homeowners much less for that excess power they generate from the rooftop or residential solar installation. The erosion of these economic incentives by Indiana's lawmakers has resulted in a reduction in rooftop solar installations. IndyStar
Texas
In addition to the costs of the panels themselves, ratepayers with customer-sited solar are subject to fees and other policies, varying by utility, the report concluded Power Engineering International
U.S.
When government policies take money out of the hands of those who can least afford to lose it and transfer the money to those at the upper end of the income scale, there's a clear problem. The Butner-Creedmore News
U.S.
In 2022, rooftop solar generated 61,281 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, which is enough to power nearly 6 million U.S. homes, according to Environment America, a research and policy group. Wyoming Public Media
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California
For context, the state has about 43 GW installed cumulatively to date, according to SEIA. The state's new 2035 electricity emissions goals include 19 GW of new solar power, 20.6 GW of new wind and 15.7 GW of new battery power. pv Magazine
California
In the western Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles, the world's largest and highest-capacity solar farm is setting a new precedent for the way solar energy is collected and used. Located partly on land belonging to Edwards Air Force Base, the Edwards Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage facility went online this month following announcements that the project had reached substantial completion in January by Terra-Gen and Mortenson, its main contractors. The Debrief
International
The shift of non-Chinese polysilicon being exported elsewhere is mostly due to the AD/CVD case in the United States against Chinese manufacturers working in Southeast Asia. If Southeast Asian solar exports do not use Chinese wafers, they don't have to pay the tariffs beginning in June. Solar Power World
International
Some industry representatives and consultants say reliance on imports, combined with a global module glut and plummeting prices, are jeopardizing domestic factories. Renewable Energy Magazine
Massachusetts
Johanna Neumann, acting director of Environment Massachusetts, urged lawmakers to take action to consider adopting a "million solar roofs" equivalent in the state. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's million solar roofs initiative helped the state launch the nation's largest rooftop solar market, which represented roughly 50% of the nation's rooftop solar deployment at its peak. pv magazine
Michigan
It is difficult to overstate the impact of the $900 million Corning investment on Michigan's solar profile. CleanTechnica
Ohio
Either way, the 120 MW Frasier Solar project will provide Knox County with tens of millions of dollars more than it currently gets. Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio
A property-tax alternative chosen by an Ohio county will likely give it more total financial benefits from a proposed solar project than the property tax option would, according to an independent academic analysis. The Ohio State University analysis undercuts recent claims by critics who have alleged the payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, plan for the 120 megawatt Frasier Solar project is a bad deal for Knox County. Energy News Network
Ohio
A property-tax alternative chosen by an Ohio county will likely give it more total financial benefits from a proposed solar project than the property tax option would, according to an independent academic analysis. The Ohio State University analysis undercuts recent claims by critics who have alleged the payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, plan for the 120-megawatt Frasier Solar project is a bad deal for Knox County. Energy News Network
U.S.
The Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office has announced its intention to issue a funding opportunity titled Concentrating Solar Flux to Heat and Power. This potential funding opportunity announcement will award up to $30 million for research, development and demonstration projects that accelerate the large-scale development and deployment of concentrating solar-thermal power technology. Department of Energy
U.S.
However, higher demand is colliding with the hesitant shipment strategies of manufacturers. Apparently, after the shock of large inventories caused by overproduction last year, capacity in China has been significantly reduced and market oversupply has been curbed. pv Magazine
U.S.
States are vying for a share of a historic $7 billion in federal funding to help low-income families access clean solar power through the Solar for All program. Canary Media
U.S.
Eland Solar 2 and Skeleton Creek are two high-capacity factor renewable power plants moving through development. pv magazine
U.S.
First Solar is a major job creator, backing approximately 16,245 jobs in various sectors across the U.S. This translates to $1.59 billion in labor income. Electrek
Utah
Bill gives a grace period for customers to back out of contracts. Deseret
News
Virginia
Legislation that would have limited Virginia localities' ability to restrict development of solar projects is dead for the year after a House subcommittee voted Tuesday to carry the proposal over to 2025. But its patron said he "will be back" with the proposal next year because he sees it as crucial to meeting the mandates of the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, the state's plan to decarbonize its electric grid by midcentury. Virginia Mercury
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Hawaii
Hawaiian Electric's anticipated new rooftop solar and energy storage programs, initially set for a March 1 start, will now launch on April 1. This delay allows for the implementation of changes approved by the Public Utilities Commission aimed at offering customers more options, streamlining existing programs and supporting the grid's shift towards renewable energy. BNN Breaking
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Michigan
Earlier this month the commission laid out its plans to implement that legislation, including larger energy waste reduction goals and requiring utilities to generate at least 50% of their energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 60% by 2035. The Manchester Mirror
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Georgia
To rid the use of fossil fuels and meet its decarbonizing energy goals, Georgia Power is adding Battery Energy Storage Systems to its clean energy portfolio. BESS creates more flexibility with energy use from demand fluctuations and adds more capacity to the energy system. The Ledger-Enquirer
International
The inverters at an upcoming 300-MW/600-MWh battery energy storage system project in Scotland, UK, will enable the asset to deliver inertia that is "essential for the grid to function efficiently." Referring to the company's latest contract award from repeat customer Zenobe Energy, Andy Tang, head of Wartsila Energy Storage & Optimisation, said the South Kilmarnock BESS will provide stability services including "true synthetic inertia" and Short-Circuit Level system voltage management. Energy Storage News
International
A growing crop of startups plans to use heat and rocks to tackle some of the hardest decarbonization problems, from chemical production to long-term grid storage. Canary Media
Maine
However, these resources will need to be properly valued and compensated by the regional capacity market, the report finds. Utility Dive
Maine
Long-duration energy storage could provide significant value to Maine's grid during multiday stretches of low wind and solar production, especially during the winter months when heating needs drive up electricity demand, according to a report from the Maine Governor's Energy Office. The report, submitted to state legislators Feb. 1, also found that in order to incentivize long-duration energy resources on the grid, changes will need to be made to the regional capacity market to ensure the resources are adequately valued and compensated. Utility Dive
Texas
With cheap land and a competitive market irresistible to energy storage developers, the Lone Star State will even overtake California in battery deployments this year. Canary Media
U.S.
A growing crop of startups plans to use heat and rocks to tackle some of the hardest decarbonization problems, from chemical production to long-term grid storage. Canary Media
U.S.
Utility Xcel Energy has revealed energy deployment plans for the Upper Midwest region, including 3.6 GW of renewables and 600 MW of energy storage by 2030. While the utility did not specify where the projects would be built, or how the new capacity would be split between solar and wind projects, it noted that the initiative would reduce the company's carbon emissions by 80-88% by 2030. Energy Storage News
Virginia
Appalachian Power is seeking state regulatory approval to build a battery energy storage system in Southwest Virginia to improve service reliability on what the utility says is one of its worst-performing circuits. The $57.3 million project would create two battery energy storage sites, one each in Smyth and Grayson counties, totaling 7.5 megawatts of capacity, Appalachian said in a filing with the State Corporation Commission. Cardinal News
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International
This funding, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support a variety of energy projects in rural and remote regions, such as building microgrids for community health centers or constructing a new hydroelectric facility on Tribal lands to improve access to energy. TechXplore
U.S.
If the all-in wager being made on big transmission fails, it promises to take with it our aspirations to rapidly electrify and decarbonize our economy, writes Vincent Duane, principal at Copper Monarch. Utility Dive
U.S.
Private utility companies are blocking new interregional transmission lines. IEEE Spectrum
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Connecticut
The capped landfills will now host solar projects with an aggregate size of 2.15 MWdc and will produce more than 2.6 GWh of clean energy per year. Solar Builder Magazine
International
An international research team has produced a comprehensive overview of more than 300 works of published literature on floating PV, spanning 2013 to 2022. The scientists laid out the benefits and challenges of the technology and pointed to gaps that should be filled with future studies. pv Magazine
New Hampshire
Unitil Corporation has begun site work on a 4.9 MW solar energy project in Kingston, New Hampshire that will be the largest of its kind operating in the state. Renewable Energy World
U.S.
Defenders of farming as it was a century ago never stop to think that spreading millions of tons of pesticides and fertilizer each year may actually degrade the land along with the lakes, rivers, and aquifers nearby. CleanTechnica
U.S.
High interest pummeled the highly leveraged residential solar sector but First Solar's focus on large, utility-scale projects has insulated the company from the macroeconomic headwinds so far. CNBC
U.S.
BloombergNEF says U.S. clean energy generation grew by 0.9% in 2023. Wind and hydro generation fell, while solar generation grew by 15.4%. pv magazine
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U.S.
The General Electric name is set to disappear. The forthcoming spinoff of GE Vernova (trading under the ticker GEV) in early April will result in the remaining company trading as GE Aerospace. Yahoo Finance
U.S.
Repowering may offer the better return on investment for many wind developers, an Enverus Intelligence Research analyst said. Utility Dive
U.S.
In 2023, for the first time in more than a decade, the United States had a decrease in utility-scale electricity generation from renewable sources, according to the Energy Information Administration. The decrease was small--0.8%--but it's still significant considering substantial growth is considered "normal." Inside Climate News
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