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It was a big, big week in Resources news as the Biden administration announced new emission rules that will end coal-fired generation without carbon capture by 2039, $7 billion in funding to boost low-income solar and a new policy designating the Department of Energy to coordinate environmental and permitting processes for certain transmission projects of 230 kV or higher. NetZero Insider’s K Kaufmann had all of those stories, along with a report from the BloombergNEF Summit, where oil and gas executives argued for a key role in the energy transition.
OSW
The Biden administration also issued its latest Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report, this one describing how the U.S. offshore wind sector is adapting to challenges. Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk admitted that reaching the president’s goals is a “great test,” and DOE warned in its revised National Wind Energy Workforce Assessment that the wind energy sector is likely to face significant worker shortages in the coming decades unless outreach and training actions are taken soon.
Meanwhile, the Interior Department announced updated OSW regulations and a new five-year auction schedule. Our John Cropley has that news from the International Partnering Forum in New Orleans.
Correspondent Hugh Morley covered the Wind Institute Research Symposium, where speakers said innovation and in-state project development will be key to New Jersey’s offshore wind future.
Transmission
New England reporter Jon Lamson reports on an early-stage collaboration intended to bring together communities, tribes, nonprofits, companies, RTOs and government officials from the Northeast and Canada to increase coordination around interregional transmission.
And D.C. reporter James Downing reported from an Americans for a Clean Energy Grid webinar, where speakers said FERC is poised to take another major step forward in restructuring the power industry with its transmission planning and cost allocation rule, expected next month.
Wrapping this week’s original coverage, California reporter Ayla Burnett reports that assessing the social costs and “nonenergy benefits” of energy production is a key focus in implementing the state’s Senate Bill 100.
Renewables, Storage
Turning to our curated coverage, California saw a major clean energy benchmark as wind, solar and hydro exceeded 100% of grid demand for 30 of the past 38 days. In another first, battery storage became the largest single source of power for the state’s grid.
The U.K. also passed a milestone, with two consecutive quarters of wind power overtaking fossil fuels as the single-largest source of electricity generation for the first time.
And researchers led by McGill University reported that wind farms are more land-efficient than previously thought. They found that wind power infrastructure typically uses only 5% of farmland sites. Turbines sited in areas with existing roads and infrastructure can be seven times more efficient than projects developed from scratch.
Battery storage was the most invested-in energy technology in 2023, with the biggest-ever annual growth in deployments recorded, according to separate reports from the International Energy Agency and BloombergNEF. DOE reported that the Inflation Reduction Act had quadrupled the U.S. energy storage pipeline.
A Chinese lithium-ion battery OEM also generated headlines with its claim that its latest BESS product has no degradation for the first five years of use, prompting discussion and some skepticism.
Finally, some cautionary notes. A University of Michigan study concluded that energy storage can encourage markets to favor coal over natural gas. And IEA said global battery storage capacity needs to increase sixfold if the world triples renewable energy from current levels by 2030, as was agreed at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai last December.
JPMorgan Chase called for a “reality check,” calling the energy transition a “highly complex” process that “should be measured in decades or generations, not years.”
All this and more in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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Indiana
To secure high-demand industries industries and the high-wage jobs they bring, Indiana must consider a moratorium on fossil fuel fleet retirements until an adequate supply of dispatchable baseload power is established to ensure affordable and reliable electricity for Hoosier consumers and economic projects, writes Jon Ford, president of trade association Reliable Energy. Indiana Capital Chronicle
North Carolina
While monthly average carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reached a record high of 425.4 parts per million last month, Duke Energy's proposed carbon plan could delay legally required greenhouse gas reductions, rely on the expansion of natural gas, and burden low-income households with higher monthly energy bills -- as much as 73%. NC Newsline
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Minnesota
A Minnesota company is among a growing number of startups nationwide hoping to help customers replace diesel and natural gas with ammonia in industrial applications. Energy News Network
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North Dakota
North Dakota regulators have set hearing dates to review the Summit Carbon Solutions application for underground carbon dioxide storage wells, the end point for a carbon capture pipeline system connecting ethanol plants in five states. North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota
Mandan City Leaders have hosted a public hearing with the state Public Service Commission to discuss the CO2 pipeline at the city's Baymont Inn and Suites. The hearing focused primarily on the portions of the project that would be in Burleigh, Morton and Oliver counties, and addressed proposed route adjustments and supplemental filings and deficiencies noted in the commission's Aug. 18, 2023, order. KX News
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International
The market for water electrolysers will reach $70 billion annually by 2034, a growth rate of more than 40%, as large corporations invest in hydrogen technologies or develop products. Windpower Monthly
Mississippi
The special geology of Mississippi is again giving the state a stab at playing a key role in the energy sector, this time for a burgeoning renewable power source called "green hydrogen." Mississippi Today
U.S.
Kathleen Barr?n, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Constellation, said her company has begun producing hydrogen using electricity from one of its nuclear power plants and intends to file for the 45V production tax credit in spite of the fact that the project does not meet the draft criteria. The company is prepared to "visit with the courts to sort out whether the final guidance is consistent with the statute," if need be, Barr?n said. Utility Dive
U.S.
The second Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease auction, which is expected to take place in the fall, will be the first occasion where hydrogen production is permitted, according to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials. S&P Global
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National
Article explains why Utah's governor joined 24 other governors in urging Biden to lift pause on new LNG facility approvals. Deseret News
Texas
EQT, national natural gas production leader, will supply half of Texas LNG exports after it inked a new deal with a new facility. Houston Business Journal
U.S.
Three new LNG export facilities are set to open by the end of 2025, meaning US capacity to export gas will continue to grow despite pause as DOE studies impacts. EIA
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International
Companies are eager to scrape the Fijian seafloor for potato-shaped nodules rich with minerals that could be used to build electric cars in wealthy countries, and Maureen Penjueli, who is Indigenous iTaukei from Fiji, says "It's super critical that people understand that the [energy] transition is anything but just, and anything but equitable." Grist
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International
Europe has seen moderate prices for the past year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine scrambled EU policy/markets, but traders are looking ahead to some bumps next winter. Bloomberg
International
Report looks at gas' role in transition - it can improve emissions, but long term to hit net zero its use needs to be curtailed, impacts abated Atlantic Council
National
Article argues more planning is needed to expand pipelines with cheap gas stuck near production sites Natural Gas Intelligence
Ohio
Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter looks into back and forth decisions from regulator on a leaky gas well that was poisoning ground water. cleveland.com
Ohio
Ohio legislature weighing $20 million loan fund to help get natural gas pipelines built. NBC4 WCMH-TV
South Carolina
Op-ed argues bill seeking to back new natural gas plants in SC could lead to major rate hikes The Post and Courier
Texas
Permian Basin pipeline has started pre-filing process at FERC, gas is secondary to oil there and existing pipelines for it are near max, which can lead to frequent bottlenecks and recently, negative pricing. Midland Reporter-Telegram
Texas
Opinion piece argues cheap natural gas from Texas is vital to growing the clean hydrogen industry. Washington Times
U.S.
Data centers, manufacturing and electrification will drive rapid growth in demand for electricity over the next 10 years, requiring the U.S. to take a "portfolio approach" to ensuring resource adequacy, the Department of Energy said in a report. Utility Dive
U.S.
Biden Admin announces rule that will ban natural gas in new federal buildings starting in 2030, industry had stopped earlier implementation under Obama. Bloomberg
U.S.
LS Power selling 5 GW of natural gas generation that serves PJM for $2 billion. Bloomberg News
U.S.
AGA and EIA see residential gas prices dropping to match movement already seen at wholesale level American Gas Association
U.S.
Report sees up to 8.5 BCF/day of new demand for natural gas due to the growth of AI. Expects prices to average $4/MMBtu in second half decade. Reuters
U.S.
National Petroleum Council, in study asked for by Energy Secretary Granholm, sees 100+ year supply of domestic gas and predicts methane emissions set to fall 59% by mid century with current policies. Forbes
Virginia
Mountain Valley Pipeline indicates it is near operation in filing with FERC. Natural Gas Intelligence
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U.S.
Type One Energy CEO Chris Mowry said in a BNEF Summit New York panel discussion that electrons produced by nuclear fusion will hit the U.S. grid before the first "Type 4" advanced fission reactor comes online. Utility Dive
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California
California's Northern Chumash Tribal Council and wind-energy companies leasing sites near Morro Bay have reached a landmark agreement that may ease a path for developing offshore wind farms. Bloomberg
Delaware
More than a decade after Delaware first considered buying some of its electricity from future wind farms off the coast, it finally has a bill that would set it on a path to do so. Supporters say they're cautiously optimistic that lawmakers will pass the measure in the approximately 10 weeks that remain in the current legislative session. Delaware Public Media
Louisiana
Louisiana grit and ingenuity has helped power the world for the last 75 years. Now, it's time to harness that expertise and put it to work for the next century, writes Sam Eaton, CEO of RWE U.S. Offshore Wind Holdings. NOLA
Maine
The House rejected the measure last week and will now reconsider the Senate version, which would exempt sand dunes from environmental protection in a bid to advance Maine's drive to generate offshore wind. Portland Press Herald
Maine
Sears Island is simply a dead end. If the editorial board is truly committed to the rapid deployment of wind power from Searsport, then it must reevaluate its position and back Mack Point as the only practical and possible location for the wind port, writes David Italiaander, a shipping veteran and active member of Friends of Sears Island and the Alliance for Sears Island. Portland Press Herald
Massachusetts
A wind energy project off the coast of Martha's Vineyard can proceed after the First Circuit found government agencies properly considered its impact on whales. A group of Nantucket, Mass., residents tried to block the project, which could generate enough power for 400,000 homes, over concerns that it could harm North Atlantic Right Whales. Bloomberg
New England
New England lobstermen and fishery experts are taking aim at the Biden administration's latest moves to expand offshore wind energy projects, claiming that they are "rushing" to "political proof" a green energy plan insulated from a possible administration change in November. Fox News
New Hampshire
The Biden administration's announcement that it is on track to offer a lease auction for commercial scale offshore wind for the Gulf of Maine this year "puts the state on notice" that if it wants the jobs and the investment which comes from this renewable source, "we've got to work on it now," said state Sen. David Watters, D-Dover. InDepthNH
New Jersey
Mayors from eight Jersey Shore communities, including all six on Long Beach Island, are opposing the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' plan to allow wind developers to rebid previously approved proposals. The Sandpaper
New York
The hammer was brought down recently on no fewer than three prominent U.S. offshore wind projects totaling 4 GW of capacity. Two of these -- the 1.4-GW AttentiveEnergy One and the 1.3-GW Excelsior Wind -- had significant manager participation. Infrastructure Investor
Rhode Island
Rhode Island homeowners are leading calls for a federal judge to freeze construction of an offshore wind farm in New England, after the Biden administration reopened analysis of how the project could harm endangered whales and sea turtles. E&E News
U.S.
Looking to fill another gap in the capabilities needed for the U.S. offshore wind energy sector, a startup called Kalypso Offshore Energy announced plans to build the first U.S. cable vessel. The company reports it will be an innovative Cable Lay Vessel that will be Jones Act compliant for the offshore wind market. The Maritime Executive
U.S.
Surging price tags to build U.S. offshore wind projects have been driven by swollen borrowing costs, the head of Orsted A/S' Americas business said during an appearance on Bloomberg Television. Bloomberg
U.S.
After offshore wind in the U.S. experienced a rocky 2023, project developers are looking for ways to manage risk before making big investments, ?rsted Americas CEO David Hardy said at the BNEF Summit in New York. And Vinson & Elkins project finance attorney Eamon Nolan said derisked offshore wind projects are also considerably more attractive to bank lenders, as well as private equity firms. Utility Dive
U.S.
The century-old Jones Act requires domestic vessels to carry parts from U.S. ports to offshore wind sites. The first compliant ship, commissioned by utility Dominion Energy, has hit the water. Canary Media
U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy has released its latest report in the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff series, describing how the U.S. offshore wind sector is adapting to challenges and poised for continued progress to create tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs and expand access to clean energy for millions of Americans, with a path to deploying over 100 gigawatts by 2050. Department of Energy
U.S.
Two top Biden administration officials shaping the U.S. offshore wind sector pledged further action to boost the industry, as Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk admitted it faces a "great test" that it must pass to achieve liftoff. Recharge
Virginia
Many visiting Virginia Beach had little idea two 600-foot-tall wind turbines were there. But once Dominion Energy begins the installation of 174 additional turbines, that may not be the case anymore. It's a fact that has some people believing they were misled. WAVY
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International
Ark Energy has withdrawn its Wooroora Station Wind Farm project proposal from the federal environmental assessment process due to delays in the approval, adding that the project is unlikely to be approved. Asian Power
International
Recently, a United States federal judge rejected a request from Indigenous nations to stop SunZia, a $10 billion wind transmission project that would cut through traditional tribal lands in southwestern Arizona. Amy Juan, a member of the Tohono O'odham nation at the Arizona-Mexico border, told attendees of the the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues she was disappointed but not surprised. High Country News
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U.S.
There are operational and environmental gains to be realized for fleets that favor renewable diesel fuel over battery-electric vehicles, according to a new study by the American Transportation Research Institute. Transport Topics
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California
In a major clean energy benchmark, wind, solar, and hydro exceeded 100% of demand on California's main grid for 30 of the past 38 days. Stanford University professor of civil and environmental engineering Mark Z. Jacobson has been tracking California's renewables performance, and he shares his findings on Twitter (X) when the state breaks records. Electrek
Colorado
Black Hills Energy in Colorado, a subsidiary of U.S. utility group Black Hills, has proposed a plan to add 400 MW of new renewables to its Colorado state footprint. Renewables Now
Hawaii
Hawaii's renewable energy sector is stepping up support for policies aimed at financially bolstering Hawaiian Electric Co., which has been battered by accusations that the utility started the fire that killed 101 people and burned down much of Lahaina in August. Civil Beat
International
In 2023, solar photovoltaics and wind composed about 80% of global net generation capacity additions. Four times as much new solar and wind electricity generation capacity was installed in 2023 as compared with all other electricity sources combined. pv magazine
International
JPMorgan Chase said a "reality check" was needed on the timeline for a global energy transition, noting that the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy takes time in a report the bank unveiled last week. The report called the transition a "highly complex" process and said it "should be measured in decades or generations, not years." ESG Dive
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced a new renewable energy initiative. The Pennsylvania Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy -- also known as PA PULSE -- will see the commonwealth get 50% of its energy from solar arrays, starting in 2025. WGAL
Pennsylvania
The utility has proposed its four-year default service plan, which is under review. It would source 0.5% of its power from solar. PhillyVoice
U.S.
Wind PPA prices continue to rise as ongoing inflationary pressures limit development and make some new projects unprofitable, according to LevelTen Energy. Utility Dive
Vermont
By passing the renewable energy standard, the Legislature has a chance to further cement Vermont's reputation as a trailblazer on environmental issues. The benefits that the renewable energy standard brings will directly benefit Vermonters while still allowing us to contribute to fighting the global climate crisis, writes Luke Miller, an executive committee member of the Vermont Sierra Club. Vermont Digger
Virginia
Dominion Energy has put out Request for Proposals for solar, onshore wind, and energy storage development projects in Virginia. Proposals will be accepted on a continuous basis through the year, and can be for photovoltaic solar power and onshore wind, either combined with or with energy storage, and stand-alone energy storage projects. DataCenterDynamics
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U.S.
BlackRock and TotalEnergies working together to turn manure into renewable natural gas at projects around the country. IPE Real Assets
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Illinois
An Illinois bill that started as a protection for solar-powered doorbells has developed into comprehensive proposed legislation to break down the barriers confronting rural electric cooperative members seeking to install solar. Energy News Network
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California
The California Contractors State License Board has approved a new rule that would prohibit licensed solar contractors from installing new battery storage capacity to existing solar systems. It also prohibits solar contractors from performing maintenance on battery storage systems -- including systems they installed themselves. Those projects would now require a licensed electrician. Solar Builder
Oklahoma
Despite concerns expressed by neighboring residents, the Skeleton Creek solar energy and battery storage project southeast of Enid will be a big boost to the region and Oklahoma, state Rep. Mike Dobrinski said. Enid News & Eagle
Texas
With "rapid" additions of solar in ERCOT territory in 2023, often co-located with storage, the shape of the daily electricity supply has noticeably changed, according to analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Power Engineering
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New York
New York State's largest onsite solar plus storage project - a solar carport canopy at JFK International Airport - has begun construction. Once the solar carport comes online, it will help power the AirTrain and reduce electricity costs for residents of low-income neighborhoods in Queens. Electrek
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International
Brett Christophers's new book, The Price Is Wrong: Why Capitalism Won't Save the Planet, is convincing at times in its case that neoliberal schemes to deregulate electricity markets can undermine efforts to mitigate climate change. But without intending to do so, Christophers also shows why wind and solar energy alone are unlikely to get us very far in decarbonizing the global economy, writes Ted Nordhaus, executive director of the Breakthrough Institute. Foreign Policy
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California
California, boasting one of the world's largest power grids, recently achieved a significant feat in battery storage, drawing the attention of none other than Tesla CEO Elon Musk. A Renew Economy report highlighted that battery storage became the largest single source of power for the California grid for the first time. Benzinga
Illinois
A manufacturer in the southwest suburbs of Chicago received $2.6 million from electric utility Commonwealth Edison this week as part of a state program for generating its own electricity using solar panels and storing it in one of the largest batteries in the country. Capitol News Illinois
International
Lithium-ion battery OEM CATL's claim that its latest BESS product has no degradation for the first five years of use has provoked much discussion across the industry, with some skeptical of its merits. The China-based firm made the claim a week ago about its new grid-scale battery energy storage system DC block product, Tener, which has 6.25MWh of energy per 20-foot container. Energy Storage News
International
According to the International Energy Agency and BloombergNEF, battery storage was the most invested-in energy technology in 2023, with the biggest-ever annual growth in deployments recorded. The organizations have each just published a new report apiece, the IEA focusing on battery storage and BloombergNEF on the wider energy storage market. Energy Storage News
International
A new report from the International Energy Agency shows how the rapid growth of batteries is underpinning decarbonization of the electricity and transport sectors. The Engineer
International
Global battery storage capacity needs to increase dramatically by the end of the decade to support renewables and avoid grid bottlenecks, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. The report found that if the world triples renewable energy from current levels by 2030 -- as was agreed at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai last December -- battery capacity would need to increase sixfold and reach 1,200 GW by the same year. E&E News
Nevada
Energy Vault and utility NV Energy have put a 220-MW/440MWh battery energy storage system into operation in Nevada. The Reid Gardner BESS project in Moapa, Nev., was built on the site of a decommissioned coal plant, and the 2-hour unit is one of the largest BESS in the state. Energy Storage News
New York
The New York City Industrial Development Agency has announced its approval of financial assistance to three companies that will construct four battery energy storage systems on Staten Island and in Queens. One site, which is slated for development on a 15,910-square-foot parcel in Charleston, is located in the shadow of the Outerbridge Crossing. Staten Island Advance
New York
The New York City Industrial Development Agency has approved five battery energy storage system projects, while Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced groundbreaking on a sixth, totaling around 42.5 MW. Energy Storage News
U.S.
There is a four-fold difference between how much energy storage the U.S. Department of Energy forecasted would be deployed by 2040 before the Inflation Reduction Act and how much it now forecasts. Energy Storage News
U.S.
Adding battery storage to a power grid can encourage markets to favor coal over natural gas, University of Michigan researchers concluded in a new study. While both of those power sources give off carbon emissions, coal emits more carbon dioxide. Utility Dive
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U.S.
Story examining why DOE pulled back on recent efficiency rule and issues around producing metal that makes distribution transformers more efficient. Marketplace
U.S.
Building more regional infrastructure to distribute electricity in the West could help states more affordably meet their clean energy goals, a new study found. And they could turn hefty profits selling power out of state. Inside Climate News
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International
The UK saw two consecutive quarters of wind power overtaking fossil fuels as the single-largest source of electricity generation for the first time, per data from think tank Ember quoted by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire. Oilprice
Michigan
The Michigan Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling by the Tuscola County Circuit Court denying applications for wind turbines near the Tuscola Area Airport. The circuit court said the Supreme Court affirmed the decision in the Pegasus Wind, LLC vs. Tuscola County cases in a 6-1 decision. WNEM-TV
U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy warned that the burgeoning U.S. wind energy sector is likely to face significant worker shortages in the coming decades unless outreach and training actions are taken soon, according to its revised National Wind Energy Workforce Assessment. Recharge
U.S.
Former President Donald Trump repeatedly ranted about wind power during a fundraising dinner with oil and gas industry executives recently, claiming the renewable-energy source is unreliable, unattractive and bad for the environment. The Washington Post
U.S.
Decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels, but research led by McGill University finds that the wind power infrastructure typically only uses 5% of the entire farmland and that turbines sited in areas with existing roads and infrastructure can be approximately seven times more efficient projects developed from scratch. Tech Xplore
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