March 20, 2024

The Department of Energy continues to shell out the dough, and K Kaufmann covered the moves this past week. First, the department put up $750 million for 52 clean hydrogen projects. Then its Loans Program Office announced a $72.8 million loan guarantee for the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians to build a microgrid, followed by $2.26 billion for a lithium processing plant in Nevada that could help put 800,000 electric vehicles on the road per year. 

K also covered DOE’s latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report, this one focusing on next-generation geothermal energy technology, and all of the energy-related bills passed by the Maryland General Assembly that could soon be before Gov. Wes Moore for his signature. 

John Cropley was also busy with, what else, offshore wind news. The South Fork Wind project off of New York began fully operating, while BOEM finalized its proposed wind energy area in the Gulf of Maine. And this week, three conservative organizations sued Dominion and several federal agencies over the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. 

John was also at the IPPNY Spring Conference in Albany and heard about the challenges of retrofitting buildings in New York City. Keep an eye out for more coverage of the conference this week. 

Here’s some more of what happened this past week: 

• Drop in Wash. Carbon Price Spells Uncertainty for Budget, Gas Costs 

• Massachusetts Clean Heat Standard Reignites Debate over Biogas 

• New Jersey Lawmakers Back $250 Annual EV Fee 

• NJ Offers Path Forward for Stalled, Stranded Solar Projects 

• Public EV Charging Gets Boost in California 

• Shapiro Proposes Cap-and-trade, More Renewables for Pa. 

• WRI Webinar Examines How to Expand Grid-enhancing Technologies 

See you next week!